I attribute my initial interest in knowing my family history to my great-grandfather, Barfield Koonce. Barfield lived from March 15, 1886- April 10, 1953. I first learned of Barfield at the funeral of my aunt Ella’s funeral in 1984 when I was 9 years old. One of the headstones in the cemetery was Barfield’s and I very clearly remember my father telling me that Barfield was his grandfather. My father never knew him, having been only a year when Barfield died. When my grandmother died a couple of years ago, she was buried in the same cemetery so I was able to take a picture of Barfield’s grave.
From the family history perspective, you’ll notice that Barfield’s tombstone says he was born in 1884, but all census records as well as his WWI Draft Registration Card, indicate he was born in 1886. He died in 1953 as a result of a fall, a fact I learned when I received his death certificate last year.
I believe Barfield to be the son of a Caroline Koonce, but am not as sure about his father. Barfield married Josephine Holloway around 1904 according to census records and they would go on to have 11 children. Two of their daughters are still living.
Happy Birthday to my great-grandfather!
Family history starts to become an obsession. Mine started w/our annual family reunions and people would come and my grandmother couldn’t even tell me how they were related..but knew they were cousins. I’m a year into it and I tell my grandmother things and she can’t even believe it.