Roxanna Perdue Smith Brazier

White female born in September 1860 in Alabama, probably Perry County. Identified on her death certificate and in the Pensacola City death records as “Mrs. Bazier” and “Mrs. Bazur,” respectively, she died on 27 September 1905 in Pensacola, FL. She was 45 years old, married, and had been in the state 2 months at the time of her death. She died at her residence at 500 E. Chase St., of yellow fever. She was buried in the Escambia County Poor Farm cemetery.

Luckily for researchers, her death made front page news in the Pensacola News and the Pensacola Journal of 28 September 1905, as the 1905 yellow fever epidemic was well-covered. Three mentions, altogether, confirm the spelling of her name was “Brazier.”

Later news articles identify her husband as Capt. W.H. Brazier. On November 24, 1905, an ad in the Pensacola Journal told readers, “Mr. W.H. Brazier, of 500 E. Chase St.” was an agent for the National Silverware Co. “He is a confederate veteran and passed through the recent scourge of yellow fever with a bitter experience. He was given up to die, and lost his wife on September 27, who left him a dear little boy of 3 years to love and support.”

Further research on Capt. W.H. Brazier revealed his marriage announcement in the 29 January 1892 Canebrake Herald of Uniontown, AL: “Married: At the residence of C.L. Pollard on Thursday by Rev. Mr. Dickerson, Capt. W.H. Brazier and Miss Smith, the sister of the wife of Mr. Pollard. Capt. Brazier is one of the most prominent planters of the Canebrake, well known and liked by all, and his bride is adorned with all the graces which make southern women lovable.” Again, history managed to avoid naming this woman, but a search of Alabama marriage records cross-referenced against the Pollard family at last produced her identity: Roxanna Perdue Smith, probably at times called “Anna.”

Roxanna appeared in the 1870 U.S. Census of Perry County, AL in the household of George Pollard, a farmer, 23 years old. Also in the household was Harriet Smith, 33, listed as “keeping house.” Her children were Willie, 14; Hallie, 13; Charles, 11; and Anna, 9. Also in the household was a teacher from New York named John Cerel, presumably a boarder.

There is no relationship between George Pollard and the Smith family mentioned in the census, though Willie Smith would go on to marry him. Hallie was the wife of C.L. Pollard mentioned in the wedding announcement. Both George and Harriet Smith were identified as being illiterate. Everyone but the teacher was born in Alabama.

In the 1880 Census of Perry County, AL for the township of Walthall, Harriet was listed as the head of the household, age 34 (which puts her age in the 1870 census in some doubt). She was identified as widowed (which she was in 1870 as well; her husband; Solomon F., last appeared in the 1860 census and wrote a will in 1864). She was a housekeeper, born in Alabama. Her parents were both born in Mississippi. There was no indication in the 1880 census that she was illiterate.

Also in the household were Harriet’s son Charley F. Smith, 21, a farmer; and Anna, 19, no occupation indicated. Both children were born in Alabama, as were both of their parents.

In the household next door lived George Pollard, Jr. (age 32) and his wife, Willie (age 24), with three young daughters. Hallie would have presumably already have married Charles L. Pollard at this point.

The next time Roxanna appeared in the records was her marriage license and certificate for 22 and 28 January 1892, in Uniontown, Perry Co., AL.

The Canebrake Herald announced in its 30 November 1893 issue that the residence of W.H. Brazier, five miles away (from Uniontown) had burned to the ground the day before. The house and all its contents were lost, with a declared value of $2,000. Apparently insurance covered $1,000 of it.

Capt. Brazier and Roxanna appeared in the 1900 Census for Dallas County, AL, township of Browns. W.H. was 58 years old, having been born in November 1841, and had been married for 7 years. He was born in Georgia; both his parents were born in North Carolina. He was a farmer who rented his land. Roxanna was 39 years old, born in September 1860. The census indicates she had given birth to two children, neither of which were still living. Her birth place was given as Alabama, but her father’s was given as Virginia and her mother’s as Mississippi, which disagrees with information given in previous census records.

The Canebrake Herald published an ad for the sale of a plantation called “Brazier” near Uniontown on 25 February 1904. It ran again March 24. I have not yet confirmed that this was the property of W.H. Brazier, but it seems likely.

Capt. Brazier was mentioned in The Canebrake Herald of 24 November 1904 as having participated in a confederate veterans event; he was identified as being of Elmore, Dallas County, AL.

According to available records, W.H. would abandon farming to become a sales representative for a silver company, moving to Pensacola about 8 months after the above mention in the Uniontown newspaper.

William H. Brazier appears in the 1907 and 1908 Pensacola City Directories as a lumber inspector, living at 603 E. Chase St. I have been unable to find him in city directories after that, nor in the 1910 U.S. Census.

Capt. Brazier died 2 January 1911. Announcements were made in the Montgomery Advertiser, the Canebrake Herald, and the Pensacola Journal. He was identified in the announcements out of Pensacola as “an old resident of Pensacola and adjutant of Camp Ward, Confederate Veterans,” but in Uniontown he was described as having “lived in this vicinity until he moved to Pensacola several years ago.” He died at the home of Alex Brown, 824 E. Gregory St., and was buried at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Pensacola. No death certificate appears to be extant. The Pensacola Journal described him as 65 years old, having died of indigestion.” It was also mentioned that he left no “near relatives with the exception of Mr. Brown.”

Preliminary research on Alex Brown does not produce an apparent familial relationship. This is an avenue I would like to pursue further, especially as I have found no trace of the 3-year-old boy Roxanna reportedly left behind in 1905.

FAMILY:

Mother: Harriet Smith

Father: Solomon F. Smith

Siblings: Charles F. Smith, Willie Smith Pollard, Hallie Smith Pollard

Husband: Capt. William H. Brazier

Children: At least three, as yet unknown

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