Notes for Francis 'Willard' Biddix
Burial: Lakeside Cemetery, Canon City, Fremont Co, Colorado
Had light brown hair & hazel eyes.
Member of the Masons
Moved from North Carolina to Colorado in 1890 after a run in with a Revenuer
1870 NC census in Marion Twp., McDowell Co, NC, Page #631, Dwelling & Household #134.
John W. Biddix, 36 m, -Farmer, born in NC;
Esther, Keeping House, 20 f, born in NC;
Willard, 11 months (born in the month of August) m, born in NC;
Purline?, 33 f, Asst. in House, born in NC;
William D. Coe, 14 m, Farm Laborer, born in NC;
Louisa Coe, 12 f, Dom. Servant, born in NC;
Barber York, 14 m, Farm Laborer, born in NC.
1880 NC census in North Cove Twp, McDowell County, Page #393, Dwelling & Household #163.
J. W. Biddix, 47 m, Head of House, - Farmer, born in NC;
Ester, 30 f, Wife, - Keeping House, born in NC;
Williard, 10 m, son, - works on farm, born in NC;
Bulow, 9 m, son, born in NC;
Sallie, 7 f, daughter, born in NC;
Lucious, 3 m, son, born in NC;
Badger, 1 year m, son, born in NC;
Louisa Coe, 20 f, Cousin, - At Home, born in NC.
Willard was a Moonshiner and ran a still in North Carolina and had to leave the state of North Carolina quickly in 1890. In a letter that his daughter wrote in 1973; she states: "Lou Poteet and Daddy were such good friends. I knew he could tell me something about our family. I asked him if he knew about the episode of Daddy shooting at a Sherriff back in North Carolina. He said 'Yes, it was so.' Daddy was running a still, the Sherriff came to destroy the still. They were both on horses. As I heard Daddy tell it, he was trying to shoot the ears off the Sherriff. I think he must have been a Federal Officer. No wonder he always carried a gun. He always had a pistol with him, and many times a rifle too. He was a very good marksman."
Willard's daughter, Amy Toothaker stated that Willard left North Carolina about 1890 and went to Colorado with Ed Curtis. Also said that Willard would buy vegetables, load them into a wagon and take them to Cripple Creek & Teller Counties to sell. (per telephone conversation of Nov. 13, 2001)
Francis "Willard" Biddix moved to Colorado where he is mentioned in a Poem:
A poem, "Queer Things", was written in the year 1894, about the young folks of Beaver Creek, Colorado. It was written and read, at the literary and debating society, by Charles G. McGowen. In the poem the name Willard Biddix appears, he was seen in his new buggy with Nettie Coffman. In the footnotes of poem, 'Nettie ended up marrying Robert Burns'.
According to Nina Nelson Biddix obituary: "Mr. and Mrs. Biddix resided at Cripple Creek where he mined for six or seven years after their marriage then returned to Canon City, their home since. They ranched in Garden Park until 1937 when they moved to East Canon."
1900 census in Precinct #23, Teller Co, Colorado, dated June 5, 1900, SD #2, ED #131, Sheet #3, page 184A, Dwelling & Family #67:
Francis W. Bittix, Head of house, w m, born: Aug. 1869, 30, married under a year, born in NC, parents born in NC, - Dairyman, owns his farm free of mortgage.
1910 Colorado census in Eldred Precinct #16, Fremont County, CO, dated April 15, 1910, page 285?, Dwelling #1 (Canon City & Cripple Creek Road): Francis W. Biddix, Head of house, w m, 40, married 10 yrs, born in North Carolina, Parents born in North Carolina, - Farmer, can read & write, renting his farm;
Nina A., wife, w f, 32, married 10 yrs, given birth to 4 children - 3 children still living, born in Colorado, Father born in New York, Mother born in Wisconsin, can read & write;
Francis, daughter, w f, 9, single, born in Colorado, Father born in North Carolina, Mother born in (listed as Wisconsin should be Colorado), can read & write, attending school;
Ester M., daughter, w f, 7, single, born in Colorado, Father born in North Carolina, Mother born in (listed as Wisconsin should be Colorado), can read & write, attending school;
Robert A., son, w m, 5 months, single, born in Colorado, Father born in North Carolina, Mother born in (listed as Wisconsin should be Colorado).
****Easter M. Biddix died in 1903, why is she listed on this 1910 census? And why isn't Bertha P. Biddix, born June 1905 listed??
1920 Colorado census under the name Francis W. Vittix in Fremont County, page #135, Dwelling & Household #8. Francis W., Head of house, owns his Farm, 50 w married m, born in North Carolina, both parents born in NC, - Farmer; Nina, wife, 41 w married f, born in Colorado, Father born in New York; Mother born in Wisconsin; Frances, daughter, 19 w single f, born in Colorado, Father born in North Carolina, Mother born in Colorado; Bertha, daughter, 14 w single f, born in Colorado, Father born in North Carolina, Mother born in Colorado; Andrew, son, 10 w single m, born in Colorado, Father born in North Carolina, Mother born in Colorado; Fay, daughter, 6 w single f, born in Colorado, Father born in North Carolina, Mother born in Colorado.
1930 census in Canon City, Fremont Co, Colorado, dated April 8 & 9, 1930, page 129B, Household #1223, Dwelling #163, Family #176, Line #84-85:
Francis W. Biddix, Head of household, renting his house for $16.00 a month, w m, 60, married at 30, can read & write, born in North Carolina, parents born in North Carolina, can speak English, - Guard for State Penitentiary, did not serve in the Military;
Fay Biddix, Daughter, w f, 16, single, attending school, can read & write, born in Colorado, parents born in North Carolina, can speak English, - none.
1930 census in Precinct #13, Fremont Co, Colorado, dated April 11 & 12, 1930, page 167A, Household, Dwelling & Family #11, Line 41-45:
Francis W. Biddix, Head of house, owns his farm, w m, 59, married, at 1st marriage - 29, can read & write, b: NC, parents b: NC, can speak English, - Guard at State Penitentiary, Veteran - no;
Nina A. Biddix, Wife, w f, 52, married, at 1st marriage - 22, can read & write, b: CO, father b: NY, mother b: WI, can speak English, - none;
Robert A. Biddix, Son, w m, 20, single, can read & write, b: CO, father b: NC, mother b: NY(CO), can speak English, - Laborer on Farm;
Clara (Sarah) F. Biddix, Daughter, w f, 16, single, attending school, can read & write, b: CO, father b: NC, mother b: NY(CO), can speak English;
Annie (Amy) L. Biddix, Daughter, w f, 6, single, attending school, b: CO, father b: NC, mother b: NY(CO).
See Photos: Francis Willard Biddix
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