Obituary Observations: George Alexander Morris of Covesville, Virginia and Princeton, West Virginia (1875-1938)

My great-great grandfather, George Alexander Morris, is an enigmatic figure, and possibly the great-great grandparent I'm the most interested in. When I began my research, it took a long time to begin to unravel his life. Firstly because his name, like that of many Southerners, was constantly reported differently. Was his name George? Alexander? Alexandra? Earley? Even Nicholas? It seems like it was George Alexander, but we can't be sure. When I first made contact with my sort of cousin Tony, I did not know that an obituary was even published for great-great grandpa George, but he had found it and uploaded it to his tree: 

Transcription: 

ALEXANDER MORRIS TAKEN BY DEATH

WASHINGTON AVENUE STONE MASON PASSES AFTER SHORT ILLNESS; FUNERAL SERVICES TO BE THIS AFTERNOON

Alexander Morris, 63, died at his home on Washington Avenue at 10:10 o'clock Friday morning following a twenty four-hour illness. He was taken ill Thursday. 

He was born April 19, 1875 at Cavesville, Va., where he resided until 1912 when he moved to Princeton. He was a stone mason. Besides his widow, Rebecca Hall Morris, Morris leaves his mother, Mrs. Al Morris, of Cavesville, Va., one brother, Gene Morris, of Cavesville; and twelve children, Gene, Emmett, Theodore, George, Harvey, Alley, Mrs. Nelle Parish, Mrs. Julia Hardwell, Mrs. Elsie Hare, Mrs. Mary Sadler, Annie Morris, of Princeton; and John Morris, Tug River. Mr. Morris was a member of the local Presbyterian church. 

Funeral services will be conducted at the home at 2 o'clock this afternoon by the Rev. W. R. Smith, Jr., pastor of the Presbyterian church. Burial will be in Helsel Cemetery. 

This Obituary ends up being one of the most useful documents that exists in terms of unraveling the life of my great-great grandfather. Here are some of the facts that I observed:

• His name is given as Alexander. While this was probably not his full name, it is very likely that he was chiefly known as Alexander to friends and family. 
• His birth date is listed, April 19, 1875. In the unfortunately extremely common habit endemic to Southern genealogy, this date contradicts the only other specific birth date given, of April 19, 1873 in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. At the very least his birthday is confirmed as April 19, although this contradicts (!) the 1900 Census, which says he was born in January. The reason I believe 1875 is more accurate then 1873, is because the obituary was printed before the Social Security claim. However, the 1920 and 1930 Censuses report his age as closer to 1873. The claims are still useful genealogically, since they give his SSN: 233-12-4029. 
• His hometown, as well as the current residence of his mother and brother, is listed as "Cavesville" in Virginia. This is a misprinting of Covesville, an unincorporated community of Albemarle County. Morris is shown living in Albemarle County in both the 1900 and 1910 Censuses, and in 1910 was living directly in Covesville. 
• Two facts about his life are included, that he was a Stone Mason and a Presbyterian. He must have attended church regularly, as he is listed as a member of the church. 
• Very importantly, the obituary dates the family's move to Princeton from Covesville as being in 1912. This adds up well with established evidence, and helps prove that his daughter Mary, my great-grandmother, was born in Covesville and not Princeton. In August 1912, his son Emmett was born in Princeton, and in April 1915, his son Gene was born in Princeton. 
• Death dates are unknown for both his mother and father, but this obituary helps narrow them down. His father is not mentioned as a survivor, meaning that he is already dead, and since his father appears in the 1930 Census, we can date his death as happening between 1930 and May 1938. His mother is still living however, so we can date her death as happening after May 1938. The obituary also gives the name of his father as Al Morris. 
• The obituary states that he lived on Washington Avenue in Princeton, which helps narrow down the family's residence, although his address is not given. 
• Twelve children are mentioned as living, and the name of one comes to mind, Harvey, which was also the name of his father-in-law, the unknown Harvey Hall. 
• His burial site is listed, Helsel Cemetery. 
• His cause of death is not listed in the obituary, although it was a sudden illness. His death certificate confirms it to be Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. 

Obituaries are often overlooked, but they can be gold mines of genealogical information for confusing and complicated families such as the Princeton Morris's.