Walter Thomas Gravitt
Farm Agent
Notes:
• The 1940 Census says he was born in Tennessee. The 1920 Census says he was born in Alabama. - Editor's Note
• In the 1940 Census, he is listed as the head of the household and his wife is named Lula M. They are both listed as "Negro". He is 68 and his wife is 60. His highest grade in college was 2nd year. He is a Farm Agent, County Work. His farm is on U.S. Highway 241 Meridianville, Madison County, Alabama. - 1940 Census
• Father of:
Private Male
Private Female
Walter R Gravitt (1900-)
Wesley M Gravitt (1902 - )
Veda Irene Gravitt (1904 - )
Ida T Gravitt (1906 - )
Eva Mae Gravitt (1908 - )
Henry Gravitt (1912 - ) - Ancestry.com
• "In 1916 George Patterson became the first Negro County Agent in Madison County. For about two years he rode the countryside in an effort to start 'demonstrations' in improved farming methods.
In 1918 W. T. Gravitt was appointed county agent by Thomas M. Campbell, the Negro State Extension Director at that time.
Gravitt traveled by horse and buggy the first year, and many times spent the whole week out in the county with the Negro farmers.
Some of the things he assisted Negro farmers with were: inoculating hogs for cholera, spraying of orchards, health campaign, building of sanitary toilets, and advocating the planting of Japanese Clover, general farming and mixing of fertilizers.
A home demonstration agent, Lovella Hanna, was appointed to assist Gravitt in working with the Negro farm women. They traveled together to various communities where clubs were organized. During the early years, fifteen 4-H Clubs were formed for Negro boys and girls with an enrollment of 650 youths.
Projects carried by these 4-H Club members were: home improvement, sewing, gardening, canning, pigs, corn and poultry projects.
During the time W. T. Gravitt was county agent (from 1918-1946) meetings were held to bring the agents up to date on latest developments. There were district meetings, state and regional meetings. These were called shortcourses. Regional meetings were held in Tennessee and Virginia.
In 1932 and 1933 Gravitt spent one week of each month in Jackson County working with Negro farmers.
There were seven home agents in the county during the time Gravitt was county agent.
E. C. Dobbs was the district Extension agent for six North Alabama counties with headquarters at Normal. The counties were Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan and Jackson.
A typical week spent with farmers started on Monday by going over the mountain to Big Cove, Berkley, Little Cove, Gurley, Brownsboro and arriving back home on Friday night.
W. Q. Scott became county agent, February 1st, 1947, shortly following the retirement of W. T. Gravitt." - Sesquicentennial
Related Links:
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Sesquicentennial
| Nickname: | W.T. |
| Born: | c. 1872, Alabama |
| Died: | September 24, 19958, Madison County, Alabama |
| Buried: | Cedar Hill Cemetery, Scottsboro, Alabama |
Notes:
• The 1940 Census says he was born in Tennessee. The 1920 Census says he was born in Alabama. - Editor's Note
• In the 1940 Census, he is listed as the head of the household and his wife is named Lula M. They are both listed as "Negro". He is 68 and his wife is 60. His highest grade in college was 2nd year. He is a Farm Agent, County Work. His farm is on U.S. Highway 241 Meridianville, Madison County, Alabama. - 1940 Census
• Father of:
Private Male
Private Female
Walter R Gravitt (1900-)
Wesley M Gravitt (1902 - )
Veda Irene Gravitt (1904 - )
Ida T Gravitt (1906 - )
Eva Mae Gravitt (1908 - )
Henry Gravitt (1912 - ) - Ancestry.com
• "In 1916 George Patterson became the first Negro County Agent in Madison County. For about two years he rode the countryside in an effort to start 'demonstrations' in improved farming methods.
In 1918 W. T. Gravitt was appointed county agent by Thomas M. Campbell, the Negro State Extension Director at that time.
Gravitt traveled by horse and buggy the first year, and many times spent the whole week out in the county with the Negro farmers.
Some of the things he assisted Negro farmers with were: inoculating hogs for cholera, spraying of orchards, health campaign, building of sanitary toilets, and advocating the planting of Japanese Clover, general farming and mixing of fertilizers.
A home demonstration agent, Lovella Hanna, was appointed to assist Gravitt in working with the Negro farm women. They traveled together to various communities where clubs were organized. During the early years, fifteen 4-H Clubs were formed for Negro boys and girls with an enrollment of 650 youths.
Projects carried by these 4-H Club members were: home improvement, sewing, gardening, canning, pigs, corn and poultry projects.
During the time W. T. Gravitt was county agent (from 1918-1946) meetings were held to bring the agents up to date on latest developments. There were district meetings, state and regional meetings. These were called shortcourses. Regional meetings were held in Tennessee and Virginia.
In 1932 and 1933 Gravitt spent one week of each month in Jackson County working with Negro farmers.
There were seven home agents in the county during the time Gravitt was county agent.
E. C. Dobbs was the district Extension agent for six North Alabama counties with headquarters at Normal. The counties were Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan and Jackson.
A typical week spent with farmers started on Monday by going over the mountain to Big Cove, Berkley, Little Cove, Gurley, Brownsboro and arriving back home on Friday night.
W. Q. Scott became county agent, February 1st, 1947, shortly following the retirement of W. T. Gravitt." - Sesquicentennial
Related Links:
• 1940 Census - As viewed by an Ancestr.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1940usfedcen&h=60195808&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=70507.)
• Ancestry.com - Page owned by beckycloud and can be viewed only with an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/53398344/person/13886119415.)
• Find A Grave - Page created by Donnie Holderfield
• Sesquicentennial - Article titled "Negro Extension Work In Madison County" for Commemorative Album, Celebrating our City's Sesquicentennial of Progress, Huntsville, Alabama, by James E. Taylor, General Chairman, 1955, pages 174 & 175.
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Sesquicentennial