Eugene Walter Ellis, s/o Walter & Annie Ellis, Greenville SC
Betty Jane Poole married Eugene Walter Ellis in 1941. Both lived in Greenville (city), Greenville County, SC, at the time of their marriage; however no marriage record has been located in Greenville County. Officials say, because of Betty's age (17 to 18), it is possible they were married in GA or NC.The couple eloped.Eugene was working as a salesman in downtown Greenville. Betty was working in the office at Dunean Mills and living with her sister, Etta Poole.
Eugene, known as Gene (photo available), is said to be the son of Walter and Annie Ellis. Annie is supposed to have been a beautician.
The above information is by word of mouth and written family records.
1930 census: Found an Annie Ellis (sister-in-law) living with the Morgan Davis family, Chick Springs, District 11, Household 50/226/227. Eugene Ellis, age 8,lives there as well and is listed as the nephew of Morgan. Annie is 25, married at 16, and is from Alabama. Both her parents are from Tennessee.The wife of Morgan Davis is Perdita; she was born in Tennessee, as were her parents. Based on this, it appears that Perdita is the sister of Annie. Walter, said to be Annie's husband, is not listed in the 1920 census. No other Ellis family in the 1930 census fits family memories of these people. I believe this may be the correct family group.
Betty and Eugene Ellis were no longer living together in March 1942. Divorce was not legal in SC until 1948. According to County officials, Betty would have had to have gotten a divorce in the state and county (unknown) in which she was married. She married Gerald L. Moore 17 Sept 1949 in Greenville, SC.
Adoption paper for Betty and Eugene's daughter cite desertion by Eugene as the cause for their divorce (State of SC, Aiken County, 1951, Court of Common Pleas, Gerald Leonard Moore and Betty Jane Poole Moore, Petitioners versus Henry S. Poole, Mrs. Lottie Williamson Poole and Patricia Delories Ellis). I have a copy of these legal documents.
I am the child of Betty and Eugene. My stepfather's adoption of me was approved in 1951 in Aiken County. In SC this means all court records, including birth certificates, are sealed. I've been told, even with legal representation, it is unlikely this decision would be reversed.
Nor have I been successful in obtaining a birth certificate for Eugene. Based on the 1930 census report, I've requested birth certificates in SC for him in 1922, 1921, and 1923. No luck. Barring a miracle, I'm at a deadend in tracing this side of my family tree.
Please contact me if you have any information about Eugene and his parents, Walter and Annie Ellis. Please send any response directly to my email address and reference it with "Ellis". Thank you for any help you may provide. Any lead, including guesses and possibities, will be appreciated.
Pat