Henry Oscar Belcher

  General Notes:

Oscar lived in Bluefield, West Virginia but was living in Danville, VA with his sister, Lula, in 1900 ... see notes on Lula's husband, William T. Adkins.
This is where Oscar met his future wife ... see general notes on Willie Ann Milstead for 1900 census facts.

Henry O. Belcher enlisted in the Army at Richmond, VA on February 6, 1897. He is listed as 22 years 5 months of age and born in Mountain Valley, VA. He is 5' 6 1/2" with a ruddy complexion and brown eyes and dark brown hair.

The 1910 Federal Census, West Virginia, Mercer Co., Ward 7 Bluefield, District 127 records Harry O. Belcher (35) with wife Willie (34) and children Gladyce (7) and Harry O. Jr. (5) living at 16 Bedford Street. Harry is listed as a brakeman for the steam railroad.

The 1920 Federal Census for Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia, District 82, page 156A, dated January 6, 1920 records Henry O. (45 - VA/VA/VA) and Willie A. (43) with children Gladys L. (16) and Harry O. (15) living at 118 Bedford Street. Henry is a flagman for a steam rail road.

The 1930 Federal Census for Beaver Pond District, Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia, District 10, page 181B, dated April 4, 1930 records Harry O. Belcher (55 - VA/VA/VA) (indexed as Pelcher at ancestry.com) with his wife Willie (54 - VA/ VA/VA) and children Gladys S. (26 - WV) and Harry (25 - WV). Harry and Willie have been married for 28 years. Harry is a Rail Road Brakeman, Gladys is a Private Nurse, and son Harry is a Designer Florist. It is of interest that son Harry is listed again with his new wife and step son in the 1930 Census as married just 10 days later. (see notes on son Harry)

The 1940 Federal Census for Beaver Pond District, Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia, District 28-19, page 268A, dated April 3, 1940 records Harry O. Belcher (65 - VA) with his wife Willie (64 - VA) and daughter Gladys (36 - WV) living at 370 Union Street. Harry is a Rail Road Brakeman while Gladys is a Graduate Nurse working Private Duty. Henry earned $2,098 during the last year.

Bluefield City Directories
1940 Henry O. Belcher (Willie A.) brkmn N&WRyCo h370 Union
1940 Gladys L. Belcher nurse 370 Union
1942 Henry O. Belcher (Willie) brkmn N&WRyCo h370 Union
1942 Gladys L. Belcher nurse Bluefield Sanitarium r370 Union
1944 Henry O. Belcher (Willie) brkmn N&WRyCo h370 Union
1944 Gladys L. Belcher nurse 370 Union
1946 Henry O. Belcher h370 Union
1946 Gladys L. Belcher r370 Union

According to Nancy Lee Adkins McMahon, Oscar Belcher was alive in 1945.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Flagman/1920, Conductor on Norfolk and Western R. R.

Henry married Willie Ann Milstead, daughter of William Milstead and Annie Hill, circa 1902. (Willie Ann Milstead was born on 30 Jul 1875 in Lynchburg, Campbell Co., VA, died on 11 Dec 1944 in Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia and was buried on 14 Dec 1944 in Monte Vista Cemetery, Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia.)