Laura's maiden name has been seen as: Cowser, Cousart, Cousar, Causer.
Her death notice appeared in The Monroe Journal on Tuesday, July 16, 1935, page 5 (transcribed 'as is' with a few details left out in keeping with Find A Grave's transcription rules -pmp).
One of the old landmarks around the Seaboard station has passed away...Aunt Laura Dennis, which occurred at three o'clock last Friday afternoon, July 12th. For about forty years she had been a fixture...her restaurant served food to white people. She was a favorite cook among railroad people and often also served special dinners to families in town. Before the present brick station was built she had her place between the two depots. Then a small brick building on Main street was put up for her by the later Mr. Henry Shute and she occupied this till her death.
She was born in Buford township December 4, 1869, the daughter of William Cousar. She was twice married and by her first husband had two children, who are now dead. She is survived by her second husband, James Dennis, who will carry on the restaurant work.
The funeral was held at A. M. E. Zion church [Mt. Calvary] Sunday afternoon by Rev. Strass of Charlotte.
She was a life member of this church and took great interest in its work.
About six months ago she retired from active work on account of poor health.
[Obituary from the files of the Union County Public Library, Monroe, NC]
------------------------------------------------------------
Her death certificate notes she was buried at the Methodist Cemetery which is another name used for the original burial grounds now part of Hillcrest. Methodist referred to the Mt. Calvary A. M. E. Zion church because they used the grounds for many of their burials. Her maiden name on the dc looks like "Causer".
-----------------------------------------------------------
Parents on dc: Billie Causer and Jane Howie.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Her first marriage:
Name: Laura Cousart
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1867
Marriage Date: 6 Feb 1886
Marriage Place: Union, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Julius A Richardson
Spouse Gender: Male
Spouse Race: Black
Spouse Age: 20
Event Type: Marriage
[her parents are listed as "Wm & Jane" in Frances Small's "Union County, North Carolina, Marriages, 1843-1899", p319. On page 68 of this same book, two probable brothers of hers are listed with their marriages: Isom Cowsart to Mittie MCrary on 4-24-1884 and Henry Cowser to Ola Stewart on 12-30-1896. Henry's parents are listed as "Billy & Jane" and Isom's as "Wm & Jane".]
---------------------------------------------
1900 Census information: Union County, NC, City of Monroe
Laura Richardson, age 27, with birth month year listed as Dec 1872, head of household
Marital status: Widowed
Children: Has given birth to 3, with one living
Household contains her daughter, Ada (age 6) and her sister Martha Couser (age 17)
Occupation: Boarding House
Literacy: Laura can read and write
Own or rent home? Rent
--------------------------------------------------
A newspaper article from The Monroe Journal, Feb. 15, 1921, Tuesday, p1 reveals she was also operating a boarding house along with her restaurant (later known as the Belmont Cafe from other information found in regards to her second husband, James Dennis). The 1921 article had the headline of: Instead Of The Jail, Two Negro Hobos Got A Dollar. A summary of the article was that they had hopped a train as they had been doing all over the country. Upon arriving at Monroe and having no friends, they went to the police station and asked for the Chief. They were told he wasn't in but Sheriff Clifford Fowler was there and he asked them, "What was the trouble?" They told him they had illegally rode the train to the city but being friendless they had hoped the Chief would lock them up for the night and that they intended to look for work the next day. The Sheriff laughed and told them they had better be careful as the Chief might just hand them a road sentence. The last paragraph is as follows, transcribed as is but leaving out a word that might be taken in offense, the transcriber feels that the word does not detract from the historical note:
"There was a pause. The Sheriff recalling that work was scarce, and that thousands were homeless, began to soften. "Here," he said, motioning to the nearest..., "here's a dollar. You told the truth. Take it and go down to Laura Dennis' boarding house. She'll feed and house you for the night." [End of Article]
It is interesting to note that the Sheriff called it "Laura Dennis' boarding house" as when viewing the 1922-23 Monroe, NC, city directory (the first one made for Monroe which can be seen at Internet Archive) it will be found listed as: "Dennis Jas furn[nished] rms". It was at 509 N Main Street. Obviously the locals saw her as the owner and operator of the boarding house as well as the restaurant judging by her obituary.
The restaurant, listed under "Eating Houses", a term which seemed to be reserved for black established eating places, was simply called also by "Dennis Jas" and was at 611 N Main Street. Both of these addresses no longer exist as that part of N. Main Street was absorbed by the now government complex buildings of the county (as of 2021).
-Patricia Poland
------------------------------------------------
Her death notice appeared in The Monroe Journal on Tuesday, July 16, 1935, page 5 (transcribed 'as is' with a few details left out in keeping with Find A Grave's transcription rules -pmp).
One of the old landmarks around the Seaboard station has passed away...Aunt Laura Dennis, which occurred at three o'clock last Friday afternoon, July 12th. For about forty years she had been a fixture...her restaurant served food to white people. She was a favorite cook among railroad people and often also served special dinners to families in town. Before the present brick station was built she had her place between the two depots. Then a small brick building on Main street was put up for her by the later Mr. Henry Shute and she occupied this till her death.
She was born in Buford township December 4, 1869, the daughter of William Cousar. She was twice married and by her first husband had two children, who are now dead. She is survived by her second husband, James Dennis, who will carry on the restaurant work.
The funeral was held at A. M. E. Zion church [Mt. Calvary] Sunday afternoon by Rev. Strass of Charlotte.
She was a life member of this church and took great interest in its work.
About six months ago she retired from active work on account of poor health.
[Obituary from the files of the Union County Public Library, Monroe, NC]
------------------------------------------------------------
Her death certificate notes she was buried at the Methodist Cemetery which is another name used for the original burial grounds now part of Hillcrest. Methodist referred to the Mt. Calvary A. M. E. Zion church because they used the grounds for many of their burials. Her maiden name on the dc looks like "Causer".
-----------------------------------------------------------
Parents on dc: Billie Causer and Jane Howie.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Her first marriage:
Name: Laura Cousart
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1867
Marriage Date: 6 Feb 1886
Marriage Place: Union, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Julius A Richardson
Spouse Gender: Male
Spouse Race: Black
Spouse Age: 20
Event Type: Marriage
[her parents are listed as "Wm & Jane" in Frances Small's "Union County, North Carolina, Marriages, 1843-1899", p319. On page 68 of this same book, two probable brothers of hers are listed with their marriages: Isom Cowsart to Mittie MCrary on 4-24-1884 and Henry Cowser to Ola Stewart on 12-30-1896. Henry's parents are listed as "Billy & Jane" and Isom's as "Wm & Jane".]
---------------------------------------------
1900 Census information: Union County, NC, City of Monroe
Laura Richardson, age 27, with birth month year listed as Dec 1872, head of household
Marital status: Widowed
Children: Has given birth to 3, with one living
Household contains her daughter, Ada (age 6) and her sister Martha Couser (age 17)
Occupation: Boarding House
Literacy: Laura can read and write
Own or rent home? Rent
--------------------------------------------------
A newspaper article from The Monroe Journal, Feb. 15, 1921, Tuesday, p1 reveals she was also operating a boarding house along with her restaurant (later known as the Belmont Cafe from other information found in regards to her second husband, James Dennis). The 1921 article had the headline of: Instead Of The Jail, Two Negro Hobos Got A Dollar. A summary of the article was that they had hopped a train as they had been doing all over the country. Upon arriving at Monroe and having no friends, they went to the police station and asked for the Chief. They were told he wasn't in but Sheriff Clifford Fowler was there and he asked them, "What was the trouble?" They told him they had illegally rode the train to the city but being friendless they had hoped the Chief would lock them up for the night and that they intended to look for work the next day. The Sheriff laughed and told them they had better be careful as the Chief might just hand them a road sentence. The last paragraph is as follows, transcribed as is but leaving out a word that might be taken in offense, the transcriber feels that the word does not detract from the historical note:
"There was a pause. The Sheriff recalling that work was scarce, and that thousands were homeless, began to soften. "Here," he said, motioning to the nearest..., "here's a dollar. You told the truth. Take it and go down to Laura Dennis' boarding house. She'll feed and house you for the night." [End of Article]
It is interesting to note that the Sheriff called it "Laura Dennis' boarding house" as when viewing the 1922-23 Monroe, NC, city directory (the first one made for Monroe which can be seen at Internet Archive) it will be found listed as: "Dennis Jas furn[nished] rms". It was at 509 N Main Street. Obviously the locals saw her as the owner and operator of the boarding house as well as the restaurant judging by her obituary.
The restaurant, listed under "Eating Houses", a term which seemed to be reserved for black established eating places, was simply called also by "Dennis Jas" and was at 611 N Main Street. Both of these addresses no longer exist as that part of N. Main Street was absorbed by the now government complex buildings of the county (as of 2021).
-Patricia Poland
------------------------------------------------
Laura's maiden name has been seen as: Cowser, Cousart, Cousar, Causer.
Her death notice appeared in The Monroe Journal on Tuesday, July 16, 1935, page 5 (transcribed 'as is' with a few details left out in keeping with Find A Grave's transcription rules -pmp).
One of the old landmarks around the Seaboard station has passed away...Aunt Laura Dennis, which occurred at three o'clock last Friday afternoon, July 12th. For about forty years she had been a fixture...her restaurant served food to white people. She was a favorite cook among railroad people and often also served special dinners to families in town. Before the present brick station was built she had her place between the two depots. Then a small brick building on Main street was put up for her by the later Mr. Henry Shute and she occupied this till her death.
She was born in Buford township December 4, 1869, the daughter of William Cousar. She was twice married and by her first husband had two children, who are now dead. She is survived by her second husband, James Dennis, who will carry on the restaurant work.
The funeral was held at A. M. E. Zion church [Mt. Calvary] Sunday afternoon by Rev. Strass of Charlotte.
She was a life member of this church and took great interest in its work.
About six months ago she retired from active work on account of poor health.
[Obituary from the files of the Union County Public Library, Monroe, NC]
------------------------------------------------------------
Her death certificate notes she was buried at the Methodist Cemetery which is another name used for the original burial grounds now part of Hillcrest. Methodist referred to the Mt. Calvary A. M. E. Zion church because they used the grounds for many of their burials. Her maiden name on the dc looks like "Causer".
-----------------------------------------------------------
Parents on dc: Billie Causer and Jane Howie.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Her first marriage:
Name: Laura Cousart
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1867
Marriage Date: 6 Feb 1886
Marriage Place: Union, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Julius A Richardson
Spouse Gender: Male
Spouse Race: Black
Spouse Age: 20
Event Type: Marriage
[her parents are listed as "Wm & Jane" in Frances Small's "Union County, North Carolina, Marriages, 1843-1899", p319. On page 68 of this same book, two probable brothers of hers are listed with their marriages: Isom Cowsart to Mittie MCrary on 4-24-1884 and Henry Cowser to Ola Stewart on 12-30-1896. Henry's parents are listed as "Billy & Jane" and Isom's as "Wm & Jane".]
---------------------------------------------
1900 Census information: Union County, NC, City of Monroe
Laura Richardson, age 27, with birth month year listed as Dec 1872, head of household
Marital status: Widowed
Children: Has given birth to 3, with one living
Household contains her daughter, Ada (age 6) and her sister Martha Couser (age 17)
Occupation: Boarding House
Literacy: Laura can read and write
Own or rent home? Rent
--------------------------------------------------
A newspaper article from The Monroe Journal, Feb. 15, 1921, Tuesday, p1 reveals she was also operating a boarding house along with her restaurant (later known as the Belmont Cafe from other information found in regards to her second husband, James Dennis). The 1921 article had the headline of: Instead Of The Jail, Two Negro Hobos Got A Dollar. A summary of the article was that they had hopped a train as they had been doing all over the country. Upon arriving at Monroe and having no friends, they went to the police station and asked for the Chief. They were told he wasn't in but Sheriff Clifford Fowler was there and he asked them, "What was the trouble?" They told him they had illegally rode the train to the city but being friendless they had hoped the Chief would lock them up for the night and that they intended to look for work the next day. The Sheriff laughed and told them they had better be careful as the Chief might just hand them a road sentence. The last paragraph is as follows, transcribed as is but leaving out a word that might be taken in offense, the transcriber feels that the word does not detract from the historical note:
"There was a pause. The Sheriff recalling that work was scarce, and that thousands were homeless, began to soften. "Here," he said, motioning to the nearest..., "here's a dollar. You told the truth. Take it and go down to Laura Dennis' boarding house. She'll feed and house you for the night." [End of Article]
It is interesting to note that the Sheriff called it "Laura Dennis' boarding house" as when viewing the 1922-23 Monroe, NC, city directory (the first one made for Monroe which can be seen at Internet Archive) it will be found listed as: "Dennis Jas furn[nished] rms". It was at 509 N Main Street. Obviously the locals saw her as the owner and operator of the boarding house as well as the restaurant judging by her obituary.
The restaurant, listed under "Eating Houses", a term which seemed to be reserved for black established eating places, was simply called also by "Dennis Jas" and was at 611 N Main Street. Both of these addresses no longer exist as that part of N. Main Street was absorbed by the now government complex buildings of the county (as of 2021).
-Patricia Poland
------------------------------------------------
Her death notice appeared in The Monroe Journal on Tuesday, July 16, 1935, page 5 (transcribed 'as is' with a few details left out in keeping with Find A Grave's transcription rules -pmp).
One of the old landmarks around the Seaboard station has passed away...Aunt Laura Dennis, which occurred at three o'clock last Friday afternoon, July 12th. For about forty years she had been a fixture...her restaurant served food to white people. She was a favorite cook among railroad people and often also served special dinners to families in town. Before the present brick station was built she had her place between the two depots. Then a small brick building on Main street was put up for her by the later Mr. Henry Shute and she occupied this till her death.
She was born in Buford township December 4, 1869, the daughter of William Cousar. She was twice married and by her first husband had two children, who are now dead. She is survived by her second husband, James Dennis, who will carry on the restaurant work.
The funeral was held at A. M. E. Zion church [Mt. Calvary] Sunday afternoon by Rev. Strass of Charlotte.
She was a life member of this church and took great interest in its work.
About six months ago she retired from active work on account of poor health.
[Obituary from the files of the Union County Public Library, Monroe, NC]
------------------------------------------------------------
Her death certificate notes she was buried at the Methodist Cemetery which is another name used for the original burial grounds now part of Hillcrest. Methodist referred to the Mt. Calvary A. M. E. Zion church because they used the grounds for many of their burials. Her maiden name on the dc looks like "Causer".
-----------------------------------------------------------
Parents on dc: Billie Causer and Jane Howie.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Her first marriage:
Name: Laura Cousart
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1867
Marriage Date: 6 Feb 1886
Marriage Place: Union, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Julius A Richardson
Spouse Gender: Male
Spouse Race: Black
Spouse Age: 20
Event Type: Marriage
[her parents are listed as "Wm & Jane" in Frances Small's "Union County, North Carolina, Marriages, 1843-1899", p319. On page 68 of this same book, two probable brothers of hers are listed with their marriages: Isom Cowsart to Mittie MCrary on 4-24-1884 and Henry Cowser to Ola Stewart on 12-30-1896. Henry's parents are listed as "Billy & Jane" and Isom's as "Wm & Jane".]
---------------------------------------------
1900 Census information: Union County, NC, City of Monroe
Laura Richardson, age 27, with birth month year listed as Dec 1872, head of household
Marital status: Widowed
Children: Has given birth to 3, with one living
Household contains her daughter, Ada (age 6) and her sister Martha Couser (age 17)
Occupation: Boarding House
Literacy: Laura can read and write
Own or rent home? Rent
--------------------------------------------------
A newspaper article from The Monroe Journal, Feb. 15, 1921, Tuesday, p1 reveals she was also operating a boarding house along with her restaurant (later known as the Belmont Cafe from other information found in regards to her second husband, James Dennis). The 1921 article had the headline of: Instead Of The Jail, Two Negro Hobos Got A Dollar. A summary of the article was that they had hopped a train as they had been doing all over the country. Upon arriving at Monroe and having no friends, they went to the police station and asked for the Chief. They were told he wasn't in but Sheriff Clifford Fowler was there and he asked them, "What was the trouble?" They told him they had illegally rode the train to the city but being friendless they had hoped the Chief would lock them up for the night and that they intended to look for work the next day. The Sheriff laughed and told them they had better be careful as the Chief might just hand them a road sentence. The last paragraph is as follows, transcribed as is but leaving out a word that might be taken in offense, the transcriber feels that the word does not detract from the historical note:
"There was a pause. The Sheriff recalling that work was scarce, and that thousands were homeless, began to soften. "Here," he said, motioning to the nearest..., "here's a dollar. You told the truth. Take it and go down to Laura Dennis' boarding house. She'll feed and house you for the night." [End of Article]
It is interesting to note that the Sheriff called it "Laura Dennis' boarding house" as when viewing the 1922-23 Monroe, NC, city directory (the first one made for Monroe which can be seen at Internet Archive) it will be found listed as: "Dennis Jas furn[nished] rms". It was at 509 N Main Street. Obviously the locals saw her as the owner and operator of the boarding house as well as the restaurant judging by her obituary.
The restaurant, listed under "Eating Houses", a term which seemed to be reserved for black established eating places, was simply called also by "Dennis Jas" and was at 611 N Main Street. Both of these addresses no longer exist as that part of N. Main Street was absorbed by the now government complex buildings of the county (as of 2021).
-Patricia Poland
------------------------------------------------
Gravesite Details
Wife of James J.; on the original burial grounds now known as Hillcrest.
Family Members
Children
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