A birth record is preserved on FamilySearch.org, disclosing that Odessa Hopkins was born on 1^st March 1913, in Straven, Shelby County, Alabama, United States. Her race was entered as ‘Black’.

These details are to some extent contradicted by her 1932 marriage record, which gives her place of birth as Bamford, Shelby County, Alabama, USA, and by her Social Security Numerical Identification File, which also favours Bamford and gives her date of birth as 19^th March 1913. The original record is preferred here.

Odessa is listed in the 1930 United States Census, living in the family home at Precinct 5, Bamford, Shelby County, State of Alabama. She was then aged 16, single, not attending school and was unable to read or write. She was without occupation.

In a sworn, subscribed statement, dated 7^th June 1932, at the time of her marriage to Leroy Cargle, she gave her height as 5 6 (presumably 5 feet 6 inches); weight as 120 (presumably pounds). The address entered for both parties was Bamford, also given as their place of nativity and in each case ‘Religious Belief’ was left blank. So far as Odessa is concerned, this last statement is somewhat contradicted by her obituary, according to which she was a Baptist.

Mrs Odessa Cargle, aged 33, of Verda, Kentucky, acted as informant on her husband’s 1946 death certificate.

Odessa Hopkins Cargle died on 2^nd March 1991 in Evarts, Harlan County, Kentucky, aged 77. Her burial took place in the Evarts Memorial Gardens, Kildav, Harlan County, Kentucky.

Her obituary appeared in the Harlan Daily Enterprise, 5^th March 1991:

Odessa Hopkins Cargle    Odessa Hopkins Cargle, 77, Verda, died Saturday, March 2 at Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital.    A native of Alabama, Cargle had lived in Harlan County for the past 50 years. She was a housewife and believed the Bap- tist faith.    The daughter of the late Susie Hopkins and Henry Hopkins and the widow of Samuel Cargle, she is survived by four children, Hor- ace Cargle, Hardinsburg; Rob- ert Cargle and Diana Cargle, both of Verda; Charles Cargle, Louisville; and 10 grandchildren.    The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Evarts Funeral Home with the Rev. Burley Blevins officiating.    Burial will follow in Evarts Memorial Gardens.    Visitation will be held Wednes- day from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the chapel of Evarts Funeral Home.

Forebears

Odessa’s 1913 birth record names her parents as Henry Jackson Hopkins and Susie Hopkins.

Her 1991 obituary identifies them as Henry and Susie Hopkins.

This is enlarged upon by her Social Security Numerical Identification File, which gives their names as H. A. Hopkins and Susie Lacey, this presumably being Susie’s maiden name.

The following picture emerges from the 1930 United States Census (Enumeration District No. 59-10; Supervisor’s District No. 4; Enumerated by Thomas R. Morris on 2^nd April 1930):

Henry Hopkins was the owner and head of his (unnumbered) household in Precinct 5, Bamford, Shelby County, State of Alabama. This property was not a farm. His ‘Color or race’ was entered as ‘Neg’, the approved abbreviation for Negro. His age at last birthday was 79 (implying a birth year of either 1850 or 1851; in all probability, Henry was born a slave) and he had been 25 at the time of his first marriage, in either 1875 or 1876. He spoke English and was able to read and write. His, his father’s and his mother’s place of birth was in all cases recorded as Alabama. He had no occupation and was not a veteran of either the U.S. military or navy.

Living with Henry were his wife, Susie, aged 40, who had been 17 at the time of her first marriage; daughter, Odessa, 16; sons Henry Jr, 13 and James, 7; Winslow Fildes (implying that Susie had previously been married to a Mr Fildes), 21, who had first been married aged 19 and was not a veteran of the U. S. military or navy, and niece Eula McMurray, 14.

Apart from Henry, Susie and Winslow, all were single. Eula alone was attending school and, apart from Henry, was the only other resident able to read and write. In every case, they were entered as born in Alabama, as were their parents. All were able to speak English but none had an occupation.

Brothers and Sisters

Odessa had two younger brothers, both known from the 1930 United States Census. These were Henry Jr, born c. 1916, and James, born c. 1922.

It is duly noted that on the occasion in 1846 on which Samuel Leroy Cargle was shot dead by Jess Dillard, the victim was accompanied by one James Hopkins, the only other eye witness to the murder who subsequently gave evidence at the trial. It is surmised on the evidence of the 1930 United States Census that the two men of that name were one in the same and that the witness was Samuel’s brother-in-law.