In 1900, the family consisted of James, a farmer, born Jun 1873 [1900 census entries gave the month and year of birth], Lizzie, born Jan 1870, married seven years and mother of three living children, Troy, can’t read the month, but born in 1894, James (so Bill may have been James William or William James), Feb 1896, Mary Ann (this must be Molly), Apr 1898, a lodger and an aunt, Bettie Atwell, born Jan 1855.

As you may know, the 1890 census was destroyed in a fire, so we have to go back to 1880. James or Bettie might be located but I have no clues yet for Lizzie’s last name. Actually, I just looked and found two white boys named James Atwell. Just because I haven’t found him yet doesn’t mean he wasn’t there.

Ancestry.com has North Carolina death records. Bill Atwell’s wife’s death certificate reads: Dorcas Atwell, age 24, daughter of Sam C Alexander and wife, — Johnston, died Mar 24, 1927, of tuberculosis. Their baby Mauda died a week later, Mar 29, 1927, at the age of eight months, also of tuberculosis. How very sad, back before medicines were available.

William Atwell’s World War I Draft registration in June 1917 says he was born Nov 19, 1895, married, a farmer, could sign his name, was medium height and slender, with black hair and black eyes.

Troy Atwell’s World War I Draft registration also in June 1917 says he was 24 years old, born Sep 23, 1892 (year not clear), was married, a farmer, could sign his name, was tall and slender, with black hair and black eyes.

Not all birth or death records were officially recorded. Odessa Atwell married Luther Brown and had two babies in 1927 and 1930. The baby in 1930 was born and died on the same day, so sad, in Kannapolis, so you may know this already.