Delsie Jane "Toots" Estep

Della's biological father
Posted 28 Oct 2022 by tresbran
Melinda (Reynolds/Wilson) Claytor, who was Della's mother,, lived on a share cropper's farm with her husband William Henry Harrison Claytor. Melinda worked as a house girl for a prominent white family with the surname Wood/Woods. It was told she got pregnant with Della, by Mr. Wood/Woods who was the head of the family. Mr. Wood/Woods was a married man and would not claim Della. Therefore, William Henry Harrison Clayton's name was put on the birth certificate as Della's father.

Per Delsie (Basham) Estep, Della's daughter

Della & John Clifton Basham moved to Ohio in 1936; when Eva was 10, Delsie was 6. They moved because the landlord died and the farm was sold. Their son, John Basham heard about a farm in Ohio (the Smith Farm) and told his Dad (John Clifton Basham). By this time, part of the family had already moved to Ohio. There were only 6 kids still living at home when John Clifton & Della decided to make the move to Ohio. They lived on & farmed the Smith Farm for several years. The children thought it would be easier in Ohio, but once there found they had many more acres to farm & more cows to milk. The work was hard and the hours long. They had chores before & after school.

Della home schooled the kids until they moved to Ohio. Once in Ohio, the younger children attended school in Sunbury, Ohio.

Before bed at night, Della would go to the outhouse to pray. There was, of course, no indoor plumbing at that time and the out house was where she could be alone. She, I understand, was a prayer warrior for her family.

Those were tough years but years that built a bond that would never be broken. They continued to be close throughout their lives.

• https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/948824...

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• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 31 2022, 18:19:21 UTC

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• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 8 2023, 23:31:50 UTC

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• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 10 2023, 16:30:15 UTC DNA

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