Wordless Wednesday - Clarence Brassfield

This one is captioned on the reverse, "on right Clarence Brassfield 1917." It also says Novelty Postcard Studio, 605 4th Street, Sioux City, Iowa. Clarence Brassfield (1895-1941) was the older brother of my great grandfather, Floyd Gipson, Brassfield. Unfortunately, the caption does not indicate who the one on the left is, perhaps a friend or maybe a cousin or other relative.

Nellie and Clarence Brassfield

This photo is captioned "Nellie Brassfield & baby Clarence Brassfield & aunt Roses dog."

Nellie Belle (Bates) Brassfield's oldest son was Clarence Dixon Brassfield. She had an older sister known as Rose, (Rosa on some of the census documents) so that's who owned the dog. As to the date, Clarence was born January 7, 1895 and Floyd was born in 1898, so it was in that time period. Nellie was born in November 1873, so she was in her early 20's in this photo. Clarence was born in Sergeant Bluff, Woodbury County, Iowa, but this photo says "Brown & Silver Hawarden, Iowa" on the bottom border. Maybe that's where the photo was copied or reprinted rather than the original photographer.

Nellie (Bates) Brassfield was the mother of Floyd Gipson Brassfield. She is my 2nd Great Grandmother.

Clarence Brassfield Portrait

This a a portrait of Clarence Dixon Brassfield, son of Elvis H. Brassfield and Nellie Belle Bates-Brassfield.

Clarence was born 116 years ago on January 7, 1895. He and Jennie Martinson had two boys prior to his death in 1941. So somewhere out there might be some cousins of Elvis John Brassfield. They would be between 70 and 80 years old, their names are in the 1959 Higginson Brasfield-Brassfield book, but if they are still living, I'm not going to list them here for privacy reasons.

One note about the photo, the original 1200 dpi scan shows a bit of detail on the pins he is wearing, the one on his upper left lapel appears to be masonic. I can't make out the other object though.

Clarence D. Brassfield arrived overseas

This is a newspaper clipping from November 11, 1918, the day of the Armistice that ended World War I. The caption is:

C. D. Brassfield,
Clarence D. Brassfield, ambulance company 134, 109th Sanitary Train, has arrived overseas.

The reverse side of the clipping indicates that it is from a newspaper in the Sioux City, Iowa area, where Clarence lived.

As noted in a previous post. Clarence D. Brassfield (1892-1941) served in the Iowa Army National Guard during World War I. He was in the 34th Infantry Division, 109th Sanitary Train, Ambulance Company 134. The 34th Division arrived in France in October 1918, a month before the war ended and fortunately did not see combat.

Clarence was married to Jennie Elvera Martinson in 1924 and he died in Los Angeles County, California in June 1941. He was buried at Floyd Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa. I have no details about his death at age 46.

Clarence was the brother of Floyd Gipson Brassfield and my great grand uncle.

Wordless Wednesday - Nellie Brassfield and children

This is Nellie Belle Bates-Brassfield with her three sons. From left to right, Clarence (1895-1941), Adrian (1902-1919), Nellie (Bates) (1873-1940) and Floyd (1898-1961) Brassfield. Nellie's husband, Elvis H. Brassfield died in 1904, so I'm assuming this photo is after 1904. Floyd Gipson Brassfield is my Great Grandfather.

The Shop in 1920

This photo is a pretty interesting one. In the album it's easy to zip right past. It's dark and hard to make out details, but after scanning it at 1200 dpi, it looks very interesting. Click the image and take a look at the details. It is captioned as follows:

1920
left to right
Floyd Brassfield
Clifford Bates
Boss of shop
office girl
Clarence Brassfield (partner in shop)

This shop was probably in Sioux City, Iowa. You may remember that Clarence and Floyd are brothers, sons of Elvis H. Brassfield and Nellie Bell Bates. Clifford Bates is a cousin of theirs, son of Robert Bates, Nellie's brother. Notice that Floyd is leaning on an engine block. There is also a large "Bull Dog" No. 52 vise made by Prentiss Vise Company on the bench.

Everyone has some kind of tool, but I found it a bit amusing that the "office girl" has the largest one, a huge pipe wrench. Floyd moved on to being a rancher near Fairfax, South Dakota sometime after his son Elvis John Brassfield was born in November 1920.

Nellie Belle Evers with the family

Here is another photo from Elvis Brassfield's Brassfield-Hunt memories album. It is captioned, "Grandma, Clarence, Floyd, Jennie, Elvis, Thelma."

Grandma is Nellie Belle Evers, she married Ben Evers after Elvis H. Brassfield died. Her two sons Clarence and Floyd Brassfield are standing next to her. A third son, Adrian, died a few years before this photo was taken. Jennie (Martinson) is in the front row at left. Clarence married Jennie in 1924. In the front row on the right is Thelma Sarah (Hunt), wife of Floyd with her son Elvis John Brassfield. Elvis was born in November 1920, so that dates this photo to 1922 or so.

Wordless Wednesday - Floyd, Nellie and Clarence

Floyd, Nellie Belle and Clarence Brassfield

This is another photo from Elvis John Brassfield's photo album. It is captioned, Floyd, Grandma and Clarence.

Floyd Gipson Brassfield was Elvis John Brassfield's Father. Floyd and Clarence were the sons of Nellie Belle (Bates) Brassfield (later Evers). I can only estimate that this photo was taken in the 1910s, Floyd was born in 1898, Nellie in 1873 and Clarence in 1895. The third brother Adrian died in 1919, so perhaps he is not in the photo because it was after his death.

Aunt Jennie and Uncle Clarence

Aunt Jennie and Uncle Clarence

This is another photo from Elvis J. Brassfield's album. It is captioned "Aunt Jennie and Uncle Clarence". The photo appears twice in the album and is grouped with photos of the funeral for Nellie Bell (Bates/Brassfield) Evers, in 1940, though the date I have was late October, and doesn't seem to match the tree foliage and clothing.

Clarence Dickson (Dixon?) Brassfield was born January 7, 1895 in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa to Elvis H. Brassfield and Nellie Bell (Bates) Brassfield. He was Floyd Gipson Brassfield's older brother. He married Jennie Elvera Martinson May 4, 1924 in Sioux City, Iowa. Clarence died in California June 23, 1941. He is buried at Floyd Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa.

Jennie Elvera Martinson was born June 24, 1891 in Iowa. She died May 13, 1975 in Inglewood, California.