Year: 1920; Census Place: Monroe, Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1557; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 29

In 1910, the Flowers children lived with their mother, a Mrs. N.J.P. Flowers, in Jacksonville, Florida. A decade later, Rachel, Vincent, Gladys, and Hilda resided with their father, Harry F. Flowers (H-Head of Household), in Monroe Township, Pennsylvania (outside of Boiling Springs). In the column listing an individual’s martial status, the letter ‘D’ stood in the space for Harry’s. He and Mrs. N.J.P. Flowers were no longer married. According to the 1930 Federal Census, N.J.P (Nancy) remarried Henry Sams around 1913. They had a child in 1915, Henry Sams Jr.

In 1920, only four out of the eight Flowers children remain in the home–Rachel Helen (19), Vincent Allen (14), Gladys (12), and Hilda C. (9). Chauncey married Ernestine Flowers of Georgia. The two resided about fifteen miles from the family’s home in Harrisburg, the state’s capital. Together they had two children, Chauncey Jr. and Margaret. No information was found on John, Theodore, or Fred. A missing 14 year old Theodore raises some questions. In edition to a 10 year old Clifford (male), listed on the 1910 census; however, I believe Clifford is Hilda Clifford.

Per this census document, a 74 year old Harry worked as a carpenter. His eldest daughter, Rachel, was the only working child in the household. Her job, “housekeeper,” employer, “at home.”

Some lingering questions: Why did this family choose to reside in the Monroe Township? Why the shift from Mulatto to Black? Where is Nancy Sams and why do the children reside with their father and not their mother? 

Christina