For a long time I have tried to find the child of Mattie Harris. Mattie was the daughter of William Christopher and Alice Virgillia Harris Harris. Not much is known about her from the time her mother passed away in 1912 until 1918.
On November 23, 1918, she gave birth to a son, WC Harris Jr. Mattie was a 14 year old homeless girl. Corilla Harris delivered the baby and states “The name of father of child not-known as yet.”
On 24 May 1919, JW Lemons was appointed guardian of Mattie. Her father states her estate is worth about $500. One significant detail of this document is the evidence that her father is in Montgomery County during this time. If Mattie ever said who the father was, it is not in any court documents I have found.
Shortly after Mr. Lemons was appointed guardian he asked for a disbursement to pay debts of Mattie. From this, we find out that Mattie lived with Mrs. Janie Morgan of Moratock for seven months which is about the time from when WC was born until present. The court ruled that $235 be disbursed to pay Mattie and her son’s bills.
In 1920, William Christopher, Mattie, and WC Jr are living with Ling and Janie Morgan as boarders. William is a farm laborer.
Until the recent AI transcription of records through FamilySearch, I have been unable to find what may have happened to WC Junior. I have searched exhaustively and theorized who/what/where he may have gone or become. The other night, I was looking for new records for William Christopher and found WC Jr at least for a while.
On 11 August 1922, J. S. McKinnon petitioned the court to adopt the minor child of Mattie Harris and JW Lemons, her guardian. Finally, I know what happened to WC Junior! The adoption was granted on the same day.
Having this new information, I can find William, the 11 year old son of James S and Emma McKinnon on the 1930 US Census.
As with all things genealogy, I hit another brick wall! An interesting tidbit is a World War II Draft card for William Carl McKinnon who lists his next of kin as Lacy Haywood (adoptive father).
Next Questions:
What happened to William? Was he adopted twice or is William Carl McKinnon someone different?
Sources:
- “Montgomery, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSBY-T35P-D?view=explore : Oct 11, 2024), image 264 of 608; W C Harris, Jr.
- “North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S7WF-3481-K9?cc=1867501&wc=32L1-L2Q%3A169766801%2C170099401 : 21 May 2014), Montgomery > Guardian Records, 1901-1947 > image 163 of 430; county courthouses, North Carolina. JW Lemons appointed guardian of Mattie M. Harris.
- “North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S7WF-3W7K-Q9?cc=1867501&wc=32LY-4WP%3A169766801%2C170239801 : 21 May 2014), Montgomery > Orders and Decrees, 1918-1922, Vol. F > image 184 of 266; county courthouses, North Carolina. JW Lemons petition for Allowance from Ward’s Estate. Mattie M. Harris.
- “North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RXW-64R?view=explore : Oct 11, 2024), image 909 of 1204; United States. National Archives and Records Administration. 1920 US Federal Census. North Carolina. Montgomery County. Uwharrie Township. Household of Wm Harris living with Ling Morgan.
- “North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GHL-KXP?cc=1867501&wc=32L1-16J%3A169766801%2C170252101 : 21 May 2014), Montgomery > Orders and Decrees, 1921-1923, Vol. G > image 234 of 341; county courthouses, North Carolina. Petition to Adopt Minor child of Mattie Harris.
- “North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RC9-K7R?view=explore : Oct 11, 2024), image 159 of 1115; United States. National Archives and Records Administration. 1920 US Census. North Carolina. Montgomery. Mount Gilead. Household of James S McKinnon.
- “North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P3-2QGP?view=explore : Oct 11, 2024), image 753 of 4641; United States. National Archives at St. Louis (Missouri). World War II Draft card of William Carl McKinnon.
Chasing the Past 
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