FREDRICK

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Fredrick, Fred or February, as he was listed in the 1870 Census, was the second child born to Isaac and Elizabeth around 1852. He and the three oldest siblings worked on the family farm until around 1879 when he decided to marry his sweetheart, Sophie Clark, and start his own family.

 

In the June 1880 Census record, Fred was living in Ward 2 of Tangipahoa Parish with his new bride and her two sisters, Lavina - 16, Lottie - 14 and Lavina's 4-year-old daughter, Larcena. All, including their parents, were born in Louisiana.  Fredrick and his sisters-n-law worked on the farm while Sophie kept house.  Fourteen-year-old Lottie was the only one in the household who could read and write.

Aah, looks like Fred was born in February of 1852 according to the 1900 Census which was recorded on June 14th. This could explain his name in 1870.  It was the custom for some, in particular slaveholders, to name a child according to his birth month.  

Fred and his family of 6 children were now renting a farm in Ward 2 of Washington Parish.  His oldest son, Eddie, worked on the farm while the other children attended school. Fred and Sophie had been married for 20 years and it was noted that Sophie had 6 children with 6 living.  It's likely that their daughter, Mattie Eva, was not included in her count.  Mattie Eva was born around 1881 and died before 1900.  She was married to Samuel Jackson Jr. and had two children, George and Mary Ann.  Sophie indicated this time that her father was born in Virginia and that it was unknown where her mother was born.  All the children except the younger two were literate and all except the baby, Albert, had attended school in the past four months.  

On May 4, 1910, Fred - 58, and his family were renting a farm on the Osyka Road in Ward 2 of Washington Parish.  Sophie - 46, was recorded as now having 8 children with 6 living.  Her father's birthplace was recorded as Mississippi.  No idea who the 8th child was.  Their daughter, Lelia, was living at home and was employed as a public school teacher.  Also living with the family was Fred's aunt, Clory - 80, who was the widow of the senior Moses Dyson - one of the names in the How Are They Related document.  Clory and her parents were born in Louisiana and she had 4 children with 4 living.  All, except Aunt Clory, were listed as mulatto.  Since Clory was listed as Fred's aunt, possibly the senior Moses Dyson was Isaac's or Elizabeth's brother.  Fred, Sophie and Clory were illiterate.  

Several of Fred's relatives were living nearby.  Fred's brother, Moses, and his family was living on one side and Sophie's dad, Ambros Clark - 72, a two-time widower, and his family on the other.  Ambros stated that he was born in Louisiana, his father in Virginia and his mother in North Carolina. All in Ambros' family were listed as mulatto and all were illiterate.

On January 30, 1920, Fred - 66, was still farming in Ward 2 of Washington Parish.  Sophie - 62, was at home with their three grandchildren, Shanon Johnson - 5, Wallace Anderson - 6, and 2-month-old Clarence Anderson. Again, the record states that Sophie and her parents were born in Louisiana. Their daughter, Elizabeth - 26, was also employed as a public school teacher and was listed as the only literate member of the family. 

Fred, a widower, died of old age on January 26, 1929 at age 70, per his death certificate. His age should have been 76 based on prior census records.  Henry Burkhalter, Fred's son-n-law - Elizabeth's husband, was listed as the informant and the undertaker on the death certificate. Burial was at Union Church, aka Union Chapel AME, in Kentwood, Louisiana on January 29th.  The death certificate listed Fred's parents as Isaac Dyson and Betty Brumfield, both born in Louisiana.  Sophie Clark Dyson died a little over a year earlier on November 7, 1927.

Fredrick and Sophie had 7 children, 15 grandchildren...  

Some of their descendants are listed with photos.