Her Face

I don't always get around to posting a photo on Instagram for the #genealogyphotoaday challenges. I do post more than I blog, though. On the 22nd of this month the prompt was #face And I couldn't think of anything unique or new to share.

This month is National Letter Writing Month, my fellow blogging, genealogist, sister-in-law, recently started working for the post office, and has been encouraging us to write more letters. She is right. While packing and then unpacking I have loved coming across my stack of old letters from various people, mainly my paternal grandmother, Mammy. I have a few letters she wrote to me and at least one letter to each of my three children. One of the people I chose to write to this month was her eldest sister, Frances. Today, much to my surprise, and enjoyment, was her return letter. Tucked inside the folded pages she included this picture of her paternal grandmother, my 2nd great grandmother, Leona Bass Jones.




The only pictures I have ever seen of Leona before this one, were very tiny, grainy, black and white newsprint-like pictures that were printed in one of my favorite books, Between the Wichitas. You couldn't see the details of her face, only her small stature and her hair pulled back into a bun. On the back of this picture, Aunt Frances writes that Leona was only 4' 5" tall and that she was 1/4 Cherokee Indian. And that her Uncle Frank said that Leona had long black hair and black eyes.

In my research I have found her application into the Cherokee Indians, as well as those of her siblings and her father. They were all denied entry, stating, "It does not appear that ancestors were ever enrolled, or were parties to the treaties of 1835-6 and 1846. Applicant shows no connection with Eastern Cherokee "

Her paternal grandfather was Samuel Bass. His descendants with his first wife were granted citizenship.

Leona was the daughter of James Martin Bass and Margret Ann Miller. On 20 Oct 1881, she married John Calvin Jones in Cooke County, Texas.

Aunt Frances also tells me she herself was named after both her grandmothers, Ora Frances McClung and Leona Bass.

I plan on writing her to tell how far back I have found the name 'Frances' on her mother's side.

I hope this post encourages you to write to a few of your family members. Who doesn't love getting a letter?

Until next time,
Becky

Civil War Roll Call

This won't be a blog post full of immense detail unless I come back to edit it. For now it will just be a quick reference of my Civil War Ancestors with the units they were in. If the name is highlighted that means a blog post has been written about them or they are at least mentioned. Maybe if I'm having writers block this will be a good place to come back to for writing material. Hopefully every name will eventually be highlighted.

Some of these men fought for the duration, some were imprisoned, some died from disease, some at the hands of bushwhackers, but I don't believe I had any that died from injuries sustained during battle.

• John Middleton Nall (3rd great grandfather) - Co. H 19th Texas Infantry, CSA
• Thomas Franklin Rutherford (3rd great grandfather) - Co. A 34th Mississippi Infantry, CSA
• Asa Franklin Moore (4th great grandfather) - Co. G 34th Georgia Infantry, CSA
• Malcolm 'Mack' Foster (3rd great grandfather) - Co. D Stone's Regiment, 2nd Partisan Rangers, CSA; no service records found, only pension.
• James Martin Bass (3rd great grandfather) - Co. E 1st Regiment Alabama Cavalry; no records found, only pension index.
• Francis Marion Melson (3rd great grandfather) - Co. A 2nd Arkansas Infantry, USA
• Absalom Patton Melson (4th great grandfather) - Co. A 2nd Arkansas Infantry, USA
• John Leander Martin (4th great grandfather) - Co. A 2nd Arkansas Infantry, USA
• William Henry Boyer (5th great grandfather) - Co. F 10th Reg't Arkansas Militia, CSA; Co. L Hill's 7th Reg't Arkansas Cavalry, CSA switched sides Co. A Arkansas 4th Infantry, USA transferred Co. I Arkansas 2nd Infantry, USA
• William Bynum (4th great grandfather) - Co. D 2nd Arkansas Infantry, USA
• Levi Pitts (5th great grandfather) - Co. H 2nd Arkansas Infantry, USA
• James M. Boen (4th great grandfather) - Co. H 26th Arkansas Infantry, CSA
• William Stepp (3rd great grandfather) - Co. A 60th North Carolina Infantry, CSA
• William Gordon Acord (4th great grandfather) - Co. H 10th Arkansas Militia, CSA
• Joseph Josiah Evans (3rd great grandfather) - Co. C 8th Missouri Cavalry, USA
• James Kossier (4th great grandfather) - Co. H 1st Regiment Texas Infantry; no records, only  index card
• Worley Daniel Linville (4th great grandfather) - Co. E Third Alabama Reserves (Lieutenant)

I have two ancestors that were the right age that I can't find any record for involvement in the Civil War:

• Abner Merrell/Merrill (3rd great grandfather) - North Carolina -- One researcher says Abner paid someone to fight on his behalf.
  
  
  
• Killian Rich (3rd great grandfather) - Texas -- Since found one document saying he was a Private Co. Spear's R Corps C.S.A
  
  

I suggest this film by Ken Burns to get a deeper glimpse into the war:

Death And The Civil War or these excerpts from his series The Civil War.