Bessie Irby

Bessie Irby

• Father: John B. Irby b. February 1830, d. between 1900 and 1910
• Mother: Harriet Townsend b. April 1839, d. 7 March 1910

• Bessie Irby was born circa November 1866 in South Carolina.
• John B. Irby and Harriet Townsend appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumerated next to the household of John's brother William.. Other members of the household included Bessie Irby, Sarah Irby, James Leland Irby, Rebecca Irby and Elizabeth Irby.
• John B. Irby and Harriet Townsend appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included Bessie Irby, Sarah Irby, James Leland Irby and John B. Irby.
• She married James A. McArthur circa 1896.
• John B. Irby and Harriet Townsend appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included Bessie Irby, Sarah Irby, John B. Irby, James A. McArthur and Bessie Irby McArthur. Also, boarding in the household was one male farm laborer. And son John also was enumerated in the Brownsville household of his mother's brother John R. Townsend, working on the farm.
• The following appeared on 12 March 1910 in The Watchman & Suthron: (Bennettsville, March 8) Mrs. Harriet Irby, widow of the late John b. Irby, of this county, was burned to death at the home of her sister, Mrs. W. F. Kinney, near Blenheim, this morning between 6 and 7 o'clock. Mrs. Irby's body was almost completely destroyed. Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Kinney were saved from a like fate by a faithful old family servant Pleasant Gibson. The three women were alone when the fire was discovered.
       W. L. Kinney, a son of Mrs. W. F. Kinney, went to see his uncle, Jno. R. Townsend, on business before breakfast, and left the lamp buring in his room. From this, it is assumed, the house caught fire. The occupants escaped, but Mrs. Irby, though warned not to go in again, could not be held back and entered the buring building. There she met her death. It is supposed that she fainted or was overcome by the smoke and heat.
       Mrs. Dudley was painfully burned in an effort to rescue her sister. She and Mrs. Kinney were restrained by the negro from rushing into the burning building.
       The terrible news was a shock to the entire county. Mrs. Irby was a member of a large and influential family. She was respected and revered by everyone. She leaves surviving her one brother, John R. Townsend, two sisters, Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Kinney, and four children, James L. Irby of Boykin, Mrs. Bessie McArthur and Mrs. Sallie Hilliard and John B. Irby, of Cheraw.
• James A. McArthur and Bessie Irby appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included Bessie Irby McArthur and Harriett Townsend McArthur. Also, boarding in the household was one male farm laborer.
• James A. McArthur and Bessie Irby appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included Bessie Irby McArthur, Harriett Townsend McArthur and John B. Irby.
• James A. McArthur and Bessie Irby appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina, at 702 Fayetteville Street.
• Bessie Irby became a widow at the 10 July 1930 death of her husband James A. McArthur.
• Bessie Irby died on 24 December 1938 in Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina.
• She was interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina.

• Last Edited: 15 Aug 2015