Essie was born on a Thursday, probably at Bakerton. As the second child and only daughter of Thomas B. and Maggie V. Flanagan Welsh, Essie Tamson was given her name from the Flanagan side of the family. Maggie chose the name Essie after her sister, and Tamson after her Uncle John Griggs Flanagan's late wife.

5 year old Essie is enumerated in her parents' household near Bakerton. It is noted that she attended school for 8 months out of the census year. Her parents state that they had been married for 10 years. Her father, Thomas, was working as a day laborer, and had been unemployed for about 6 months of the year due to a severe quarrying accident in the spring of 1899.

15 year old Essie is enumerated in her parents' household near Bakerton. Both Essie and her brother, Martin, attended school within the year. Essie's father, Thomas, is working as a laborer for the quarry, and her brother is working in the Cooper shop with his Uncle Billy Welsh and cousin Roy Martin Welsh. Her parents state that they had been married for about 17 years.

18 year old Essie married a 30 year old Walter Lee Manuel at Charles Town on a Wednesday. The marriage was performed by J. C. Hawk of Bakerton. The couple applied for their marriage license on May 14th. Essie's parents were absent, however, due to her young age they gave their consent through Raleigh Houser. Walter was the son of Jasper and Ella Brandenburg Manuel.

The couple's first child, Bertha, was born on a Wednesday at Bakerton.

The couple's second child, Walter Alexander, was born on a Friday at Bakerton.

Essie lost her mother, Maggie, on a Thursday due to obstruction of the bowel. The family laid her to rest in Elmwood Cemetery at Shepherdstown.

Essie lost her father, Thomas, on a Tuesday due to heart disease, only about a month after his 80th birthday celebration. Essie and her brother, Martin, laid him to rest beside their mother in Elmwood Cemetery in Shepherdstown.

Essie became a widow on a Friday at 9:30 a.m. At 65 years old, Walter suffered a heart attack while in Charles Town at Hyman Viener & Sons. Essie buried her husband in Elmwood Cemetery at Shepherdstown on Monday, October 11.