king brisco
1876-1959
Life Story
From the Fields of Mississippi to the Promise of Movement
The life of King Brisco (also recorded as Briscoe) reflects the quintessential journey of the Great Migration—a movement that reshaped Black life in America.
Born in the aftermath of the Civil War in rural Mississippi, King’s story begins in a world still defined by the remnants of slavery and evolves into one shaped by industry, migration, and self-determination.
Early Life in Mississippi (1876–1900)
King Brisco was born in Newton County, Mississippi, around 1876 (with records varying slightly between 1876 and 1881). He was one of at least nine children born to John and Laura Brisco. His father, John, was born in Georgia, while his mother was a native Mississippian.
Growing up in Beat 4 of Newton County, King lived in a large, labor-intensive household where survival depended on collective effort. By the age of 23, he was already working as a farm laborer, contributing to the family’s livelihood in the agrarian South.
During this period, King remained single and lived at home with his widowed mother and siblings. Like many Black men of his generation, access to education was limited; census records indicate that he did not learn to read or write in his early years.
The Great Migration to Illinois (1910s–1920s)
At some point in the 1910s, King made a life-altering decision—to leave Mississippi.
Seeking greater opportunity and relief from the rigid constraints of the Jim Crow South, he migrated north to Madison County, Illinois. By 1920, he had settled on Webster Street in Venice, a growing industrial community that would later be associated with the Granite City area.
In Illinois, King’s work shifted dramatically. No longer tied to the rhythms of agriculture, he entered the industrial workforce, securing employment as a concreter for the Barber Asphalt Company. The work was physically demanding, but it offered something the South often could not: wages, mobility, and the possibility of advancement.
It was during this period that he married his wife, May (also recorded as Mary), establishing a new household in the North.
Homeownership and Community Building (1925–1940)
The mid-1920s marked a turning point in King’s life.
On May 20, 1925, local news reported that King Brisco purchased Lots 15 and 16, Block 18 in the Newport subdivision from Ralph D. Brown for $650. For a Black migrant laborer, this was more than a transaction—it was a declaration of permanence.
By 1930, several key indicators reflected his progress:
- Property Ownership: King owned his home at 815 Webster Street, valued at approximately $1,000.
- Literacy: Despite a childhood without formal education, census records show that he had learned to read and write—a powerful testament to self-determination.
- Employment Stability: He continued working as a laborer, including employment connected to the “Car Line,” and later participated in government-sponsored work during the final years of the Great Depression.
Through steady labor and discipline, King transformed his circumstances, moving from tenant laborer to homeowner and contributing member of an industrial community.
Later Years and Enduring Presence (1940s–1959)
King remained a fixture on Webster Street for decades, embodying stability in a rapidly changing world.
Even into his sixties, he continued working, as evidenced by his 1942 draft registration at age 63—an indication of both necessity and resilience. Following the death of his wife, Mary, he lived as a widower in the home they had built together, as recorded in the 1950 census.
King Brisco passed away in August 1959. He was laid to rest at Booker T. Washington Cemetery in Centreville, Illinois.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| c. 1876 | Born to John and Laura Brisco | Newton County, Mississippi |
| 1900 | Working as a farm laborer | Newton County, Mississippi |
| c. 1919 | Married May/Mary | Madison County, Illinois |
| 1920 | Employed as a concreter | Venice, Illinois |
| 1925 | Purchased Newport property for $650 | Madison County, Illinois |
| 1930 | Homeowner; recorded as literate | Madison County, Illinois |
| 1959 | Passed away; buried in Centreville | St. Clair County, Illinois |
A Life That Mirrors a Movement
King Brisco’s life is more than a personal story—it is a reflection of a generation.
He was born into the uncertainty of the post-Reconstruction South, where opportunity was limited and advancement was difficult. Yet through migration, labor, and persistence, he carved out a new life in the industrial North.
His journey—from a young farm laborer in Mississippi to a property-owning worker in Illinois—captures the essence of the Great Migration: a search for dignity, stability, and self-determination.
In the end, King did what so many sought to do—he claimed space, built a home, and left behind a legacy rooted not in wealth, but in perseverance.
Resting Place
Booker T Washington Cemetery, Centreville, Illinois
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1880, 1900, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950 Federal Censuses
- Adams County, Illinois, U.S., Card Index to Deaths, 1877-1990
- U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
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