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Josephine Dennee

Josephine Dennee



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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Josephine Dennee was born in 1847 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA (daughter of Charles Dennee and Mary B. Cowan); died on 31 Mar 1936 in 25 North 6th street, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried on 3 Apr 1936 in 201 South 30th street, Penbrook, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA.

    Other Events:

    • Web Address: https://digitalharrisburg.com/commonwealth/100names/davidson/
    • Name: Josephine Bibb
    • Name: Josephine Davidson
    • Name: Josephine Denny
    • Residence: 1850, North Ward, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Residence: 1880, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Obituary: 1 Apr 1936, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA

    Notes:

    My Contribution: I was the oldest living member at Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church in the 1930s having been a member for 68 years. I was a prominent member of the Household of Ruth and made significant speaking contributions to Harrisburg’s cultural community.

    My Legacy: I was an exemplar of women’s activist work and a voice in the community, whether I was speaking at Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church or serving the Household of Ruth. Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church still exists today, thanks to my investments.

    About Me: “Don’t forget this evening to go to West Street A.M.E. Zion Church to hear the Sabbath school concert and to hear Madame Josephine Dennee-Bibb, one of the finest elocutionists of her race. If you hear her once you will want to hear her again. She can move you to tears or to laughter. In rendering the ‘Black Regiment’ she is truly eloquent and sublime and sways her audience at will.” - Carlisle Evening Herald, March 2, 1894.

    Full Name: Josephine L. Dennee Bibb Davidson

    Birth Date: 1849

    Death Date: March 31, 1936

    Place of Birth: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

    Sex: Female

    Race: “Mulatto” (Federal Censuses of 1880 and 1910), Black (Federal Census of 1920), and “Negro” (Federal Census of 1930)

    Places of Residence: Hamilton, Ontario (early childhood); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (late 1800s/early 1900s); Harrisburg residences: 514 South Avenue (1880), 113 Cowden St. (1892, 1893), 503 Cowden St. (1910), 109 Anna Street (1916-1936).

    Connection to the Old Eighth Ward: I lived in the Eighth Ward, spoke in the Eighth Ward, and belonged to organizations in the Eighth Ward.

    Family Members: Father: Charles Dennee. Mother: Mary Dennee. Husband: M1: William H. Bibb (until 1894). Husband: M2: Jeremiah Davidson (1895-1936). Son: Alexander Dennee Bibb.

    Education: Educated in Ontario.

    Occupations: Dressmaker. Homemaker. Elocutionist.

    Church Membership: Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church

    Activism: Miriam Household of Ruth No.1, Judith Household of Ruth, Woman’s Relief Corps Convention, A.M.E. Zion Sunday School Conference, Secretary of Pennsylvania Afro-American Convention.

    Connections: William Howard Day, A. Leslie Marshall (nephew), Alexander Dennee Bibb (son), John Quincy Adams, Joseph Bustill, Jacob C. Compton, George H. Imes, James Auter, John W. Simpson, J.W. Grant, David Stevens, Joseph Thomas, and Anne E. Amos.

    Buried:
    Lincoln Cemetery

    Family/Spouse: William H Bibb. William was born in 1851 in Kentucky, USA; died in 1894. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Children:
    1. Alexander Denee Bibb was born on 12 Apr 1887 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 3 May 1934 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried in 201 South 30th street, Penbrook, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA.

    Josephine married Husband Unknown Davidson in 1895. Husband was born in 1845. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Charles Dennee was born in 1811 in Massachusetts, USA.

    Other Events:

    • Race: Mulatto
    • Name: Charles Denny
    • Name: Charles Denny
    • Name: Charles Denny
    • Residence: 1850, North Ward, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; 39 Age: 39
    • Residence: 1854, Ontario, Canada
    • Residence: 1858, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Charles married Mary B. Cowan. Mary was born in 1817 in Marysville, Perry, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 8 Jan 1886 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried in 201 South 30th street, Penbrook, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Mary B. Cowan was born in 1817 in Marysville, Perry, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 8 Jan 1886 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried in 201 South 30th street, Penbrook, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA.

    Other Events:

    • Race: Mulatto
    • Name: Mary A. Dennee
    • Name: Mary B Cowan Dennee
    • Name: Mary Denny
    • Name: Mary Denny
    • Residence: North 10th street, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Residence: 1850, North Ward, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; 31 Age: 31
    • Residence: 1876, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Residence: 1880, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA

    Notes:

    Buried:
    Lincoln Cemetery

    Children:
    1. Alexander William Dennee was born on 1 Jan 1846 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; died in Dec 1923 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA.
    2. 1. Josephine Dennee was born in 1847 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 31 Mar 1936 in 25 North 6th street, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried on 3 Apr 1936 in 201 South 30th street, Penbrook, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA.



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