Tabitha Rosella (Flint) Casey was the daughter of Amaziah Flint and Mary (Randolph) Flint. Born and raised in Doddridge County, West Virginia, Tabitha Rosella was the fifth of seven children.

Like his father before him, Amaziah Flint was a property owner and farmer. Tabitha's mother, Mary Fitz Randolph, was the daughter of Jesse Fitz Randolph who had relocated to New Salem, Virginia (as it was then known) with the Seventh-Day Baptist Church from Piscataway, New Jersey, as a child, and who grew up to own a tavern that was a popular stage coach stop in New Salem. Jesse Fitz Randolph's father, Samuel Fitz Randolph, had been commissioned an Ensign by the Governor of New Jersey in 1777, and had served throughout the American Revolutionary War. Tabitha's first cousin on her mother's side, also named Jesse Fitz Randolph, was a founder and the first President of Salem College Board of Directors, Salem, West Virginia in 1888.

Amaziah Flint married Mary Fitz Randolph in Harrison County, Virginia, in November 1851. By the 1860 Census, Amaziah and Mary were living on their own property in West Union, Doddridge County, Virginia, with their three sons, Joseph (age 8), Lloyd (age 6) and Jesse (age 2). Into this family, Tabitha Flint was born in September 1863. A month later, in October 1863, Amaziah registered for the Civil War draft as a married farmer living near Indian Fork, Doddridge County, West Virginia. These events closely followed the admission of West Virginia to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the United States' 35th state.

The 1870 U.S. Census found Tabitha, age 7, living with her family in New Milton, Doddridge, West Virginia. Her father listed his occupation as Farmer, working a property worth $800 and having personal property worth $450. Tabitha's mother was 42 years old, and Tabitha lived with 4 brothers (ranging in age from 19 to 4), and 2 sisters, ages 9 and 6 months.

By 1880, the U.S. Census document records that Tabitha was 18 years old and her family consisted of her father, mother, and two siblings, Samuel (14) and Flora (12). The next year, Tabitha married John Meredith Casey on July 7, 1881 in Doddridge County, West Virginia, at the age of 18, while the groom was 23 years old.

Nine children were born to Tabitha and John Meredith Casey:

Mary Margaret (1882 - 1974)
Anna Myrtle (1884 - 1959)
Nathan Lee (1887 - 1971)
John M. (1890 - 1969)
Guy Filmore (1892 - 1973)
Ernest Franklin (1895 - 1964)
Grace May (1898 - 1981)
James Edward (1901 - 1973)
Iva Blanche (1905 - 1999)

The 1900 U.S. Census found the family of Tabitha and John living in the Greenbrier District of Doddridge County, West Virginia, where John's occupation was listed as "farmer" and Tabitha noted her occupation as "merchant." Actually, John was known to operate a country store, for which he would receive merchandise via the train which stopped in Salem, West Virginia.

Just a week after the birth of their last child, Iva Blanche, John Meredith Casey died in January 1905, leaving Tabitha a single mother of nine children, including a newborn infant, at the age of 42. Iva's birth certificate indicates that the family was living at Zinnia, Doddridge County, West Virginia, at this time. The older boys went to work to help support the family, and continued to support their mother throughout her life. By 1910, the U.S. Census recorded that all the children continued to live with Tabitha on the family farm, and that the four older boys were working locally in the oil and other industries.

Even 10 years later, the 1920 U.S. Census would record that seven of the children continued to live with their mother on the family farm. Tabitha (56) continued to list her occupation as farmer. Her son Nathan Lee (32) was completing his education to be a minister, while sons Guy F (27) and Ernest (24) were working in the oilfield industry. The two youngest children James (18) and Iva (15) were in school.

Ernest Franklin Casey owned the family farm in Doddridge County by the date of the 1930 U.S. Census. Tabitha (66) and daughter Anna (46) lived on the farm with Ernest (34), who worked for the Gas Company, his wife Dessie (30), and their three children.

The 1940 U.S. Census found Tabitha (76) and her daughter Anna M (56) living in the home of Tabitha's daughter Iva B. Flanigan (35) and her husband Jackson L Flanigan (43) and their two boys, in Tenmile District, Harrison County, West Virginia. This census indicates that Tabitha had completed 8 years of school, while her daughter Iva had completed high school. Jackson Flanigan was a farmer, born in West Virginia, who had completed 8 years of school. Tabitha Casey and Jackson Flanigan were each listed in the Salem, Rural Route 2 section of the 1940 Clarksburg, WV, City Directory.

Tabitha (Flint) Casey died in Tenmile, Harrison County, West Virginia, on July 1, 1943, at the age of 79. She was survived by all of her nine children and eighteen grandchildren.
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FUNERAL NOTICE
CASEY, Mrs. Tabitha, 79, died at
the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jackson
Flanagan, of Salem, Rt. 2, Thursday,
July 1, at 12:45 p.m. The body will
be removed to the home Friday, and
will remain there until Saturday af-
ternoon at which time it will be re-
moved to the Salem Methodist church
for funeral services at 2 p.m., with
the Rev. V. C. Cutright officiating,
assisted by the Rev. Glen Ney, of
Jarvisville. Interment in the Mt. Olive
cemetery, near Salem. The Spurgeons
Funeral Home has charge of funeral
arrangements.
(Source of newspaper clipping unknown.)
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Biography by: Anne Gleason
Last update 24 FEB 2016