COD: War, Bushwhackers and Disease

I haven't blogged along with Amy Crooks and the 52 Ancestor prompts very consistently this year. This week though, a prompt caught my attention and prompted me to write about my HORNER family. The prompt was cause of death.

For as long as I can remember I've always been intrigued by the Civil War. I think it may have stemmed from growing up in Prairie Grove where there was a Battlefield Park. My maternal grandfather worked there for 15 years and it was where I square danced every August from 1984-1988.

Researching genealogy, I have come across many ancestors who fought in the Civil War. There are many stories, but none have given me such strong sympathetic feelings of anger, sorrow and desperation as those stories coming from my Johnson County, AR, families.

My Johnson County lines easily cross and double back. It was a tight knit community where neighbors married  neighbors, siblings married siblings, and people remained for generations --communities were literally family! You really have to stay on your toes when entering names and families into your family tree or you'll have double entries.

Getting back to my prompt.

My 3rd great grandmother, Oma BOEN, was the daughter of James BOEN and Zilpha HORNER. In the cemetery book my grandmother loaned me this past summer is a little snippet about James Boen's death:

"James M. Boen was in the Confederate army and was killed. One story was that he was working in a field near Fallsville, Arkansas, and the bushwhackers came through. Supposedly, they beat him to death and Zilpha was said to have held his head in her lap as his brains oozed out into her lap."

This is just one horrific story to come from the BOEN/HORNER line. I do want to say though, that James M. Boen's military records state he died in a Hospital at Crystal Hill 12 Aug '62.

CSA Camp Crystal Hill was located on Crystal Hill, northwest of present-day Burns Park (near I-40 and I-430 interchange).

Zilpha's parents were Spencer HORNER and Permelia TURNER.
James's parents were William BOEN and Narissa FARMER

The TURNER and BOEN families had 3 siblings that married.

James BOEN and Zilpha HORNER
Mary Ann "Polly" BOEN and William Riley HORNER
Jesse BOEN and Mary Ann "Polly" HORNER

Two HORNER sisters also married the same man, a John BOWEN name later becomes BOWMAN. Oma HORNER married him first, after her death, her sister Kissiah married him.

Spencer and Permelia had the following children:

1. John Turner married Susanna BOEN (daughter of Lewis BOEN and Mary HODGE)
2. Zilpha married James M. BOEN 
3. William Riley married Mary Ann "Polly" BOEN
4. Elizabeth married Francis Marion Acord (his brother William is another ancestor of mine)
5. Oma married John BOWEN
6. Mary Ann "Polly" married Jesse BOEN
7. Andrew 
8. Pleasant
9. Kissiah married John BOWEN/BOWMAN and later a William H. BOEN
10. James married Lucy RAY
11. Sarah married George VAUGHT

John Turner survived the Civil War and became a well known doctor in Missouri. Zilpha's husband, as previously mentioned, did not. He died either from a beating, wounds from war or illness Aug 1862. William Riley died a horrific death at the hands of bushwhackers in Aug 1864, Elizabeth died from pneumonia in March of 1864 and her husband Francis a month later in April. Oma died from causes unknown sometime before 1873 when her sister Kissiah married her widow. Mary "Polly" died in 1868, her husband died in 62 just weeks after his brother James M. BOEN.

Andrew and Pleasant both died in the war in July and Aug of '64, respectively.

Below is a story I found on Ancestry. I'm not certain who the original author is as the website it was attributed to is no longer in operation:

The Civil War was devastating to the Horner family. Spencer Horner was very much opposed to secession which made him and his sons very unpopular with their neighbors. All of Spencer's sons except young James and possibly his eldest, John, served in the Union Army. Several sons-in-law served the Confederacy. Their losses during the war were not limited to the death of their daughter Elizabeth.  In 1862 son-in-law Jesse Boen, husband of Mary Ann Horner, died only four days after enlisting in the Confederate Army. On 31 July 1864 son Andrew Jackson Horner died of measles in camp at Lewisburg Ridge with the 2nd Arkansas Infantry. Before 1864 daughter Oma passed away.
In August 1864, Spencer's son William R. Horner, went AWOL from the Union 2nd Arkansas Infantry and returned home. He was at his father's house along with most of the Horner family, including Spencer's recently orphaned grandsons John Samuel Acord and Christopher Columbus Acord, on 2 August 1864. The family was enjoying a fried chicken dinner but were concerned about bushwhackers so they sent some of the children out to watch the road. Several men appeared coming off the mountain and the children ran into the house yelling "Here they come Grandpap!" William bolted out the back door hoping to cross the potato field and disappear into the woods. Spencer recognized the men as neighbors and went into the yard to talk to them as the family watched from the house. They were in no mood to talk, they shot and killed Spencer where he stood then chased down William. They caught him in the potato field, pistol whipped him and, according to Spencer's daughter Sarah, "crushed his privates," then left him for dead. The women were afraid that if they took him back to the house, the bushwhackers would come back to finish the job so they took him into the woods and hid him in a cave or overhang. Each day they would take him food and care for home as best they could. They were afraid that if the bushwhackers saw them going into the woods with supplies, that they would realize William was alive so they wrapped their supplies into bundles to resemble a baby. Unfortunately, William died eight days later on 10 August 1864. The epitaph on William's tombstone reads, "Wm. R. Homer Born Aug. 1, 1834 Killed Aug. 10, 1864 by parties known to his family." It is generally believed that one of the Stewarts from Yale participated in these killings, probably Henry Stewart who is buried in Yale Cemetery.
Just two days after this incident Spencer's son Pleasant Horner died in camp at Lewisburg Ridge with the 2nd Arkansas Infantry. Family lore states that after Spencer and William's death, all the buildings and fences were torn down and Permelia was unable to make repairs so she sold the property for a chunk of a mare and a old wagon. She loaded up the wagon and was seen leaving town, perhaps joining some of her family in Webster County, Missouri. Another account states that son John Turner Horner organized a wagon train of Union sympathizers and moved the remainder of the Horners to Webster County, Missouri. Permelia and some of the other Horners returned after the war. Spencer's estate was settled in 1865. 

Anther story found online:

A family history was told in 1942 by Professor John Turner Horner, to Eva Horner, his daughter, about Dr. John Turner Horner of Cassville, Missouri.
"His dad (Spencer Horner) was a slave owner, but he was a Union man. When war came up all his boys joined the Union Army except Dad (Dr. John Turner Horner). The Confederates conscripted him, so he was on one side, and his three brothers were on the other side. His (Dr. John Turner Horner) younger brother was Will. He (John Turner Horner) managed to get away, slipped out on them and joined the Union Army. His oldest boy, Louis, was 15; he was afraid Louis would be conscripted too, so he took Louis with him. He recruited one whole company in the federal army, Company K. Bill Mullen, Cassville, was one of the men he recruited. His son Louis got a pension. Now then the lines were drawn. Most of Arkansas was rebel. Dad (Dr. John Turner Horner) and his brother got a furlough to go home to visit their folks. He would dodge around through the mountains to go to the house at night, etc. Dad (Dr. John Turner Horner) said his horse needed shoeing and he had to go out on the mountain 5 miles to get it shod. He told his brother, Will, and his father Spencer Horner that whatever they did, never go to the house in the daytime. But the mother (Permelia Turner Horner) was killing a chicken so the father Spencer Horner and Will went to the house. Wasn't long till about 20 rebels came riding up. Grandfather (Spencer Horner) went out into the potato patch and said, 'I surrender!' and they shot him down. Will ran through the lot and up on the mountain side and was shot in the head. He lived several days in a cave.

Dad (Dr. John Turner Horner) had a squad of men, including Wash Middleton and Fate Arnold, desperate men, to go back into the hills and clean out that bunch. They killed 17 out of the 20 bushwhackers.

Dr. John Turner Horner knew that after he was conscripted and deserted the Rebel Army, if he ever became a prisoner, they'd shoot him. That's why he never got on the Union Army record. He was either afraid, or too careless to get an honorable discharge. Dad's (Dr. John Turner Horner) squad was equal in number to the other squads. One day they met in a corn field and each man picked out his man. Dad picked out the leader; couldn't shoot him, threw his pistol at him. They caught one man walking between his wife and his mother. Wash Middleton shot him down. One night they surrounded a house where the bushwhackers were having a dance. Wash Middleton took the man who killed grandfather (Spencer Horner) by the hair and dragged him out, 'Now you'll kill a helpless old man' and killed him. Fate Arnold didn't know what fear was. 'I (Prof. John Turner Horner) heard so much about him that I expected to see a wonderful man. When I got a certificate in Stone County, his son-in-law was a County School Commissioner, and I told him I wanted to see Fate Arnold.' He was a little wizened old man.

Father (Dr. John Turner Horner) helped to take a refugee train of Union people out of Clarksville, Arkansas, to Marshfield, Webster County, Missouri. That was where dad met mother (Mary Gillian Dunlap) and her two girls, in that refugee train. Fate Arnold would volunteer to go through 20 miles of Rebel lines to get ammunition, and he'd always come back. Once he jerked his horse's head up, and the horse got shot in the head. Arnold got wounded. He stayed with my father (Dr. John Turner Horner) in Marshfield, Missouri until he got well. Mother (Mary Gillian Dunlap) said there'd be a pool of blood under his chair. In Marshfield the folks were suspicious of the Union soldiers who came up from Arkansas. Fate Arnold and dad (Dr. John Turner Horner) passed a saloon one day and heard some man say, he didn't believe there ever was a Union soldier who came up from Arkansas. Fate Arnold says, 'Did you hear that?' 'Yes, but there's just two of us. We'd better let it pass.' 'No, I'll not.' They went back, ordered drinks, dared the man to repeat it, and they let it pass. Dad's name was always on the list of GAR at the Cassville Reunion.

Grandfather, Spencer Horner, had a pot of gold and silver and paper money, but they never did find it after he was killed. Louis had a dream about 'a black gum tree in the middle of a field - put my back to the tree, took ten steps toward the house, dug down, and found the pot of gold.' Dad's, (Dr. John Turner Horner) brothers and sisters were Will, and two who died in the Union Army, Sarah and Jim Vaught Eva Horner saw Sarah near Oark. Arkansas one time, Zilphie and Bob Mooney. Bob Mooney, after his wife died, went to live with one of his girls, and said she objected to his spitting in the fire. He say's 'I went and found me a woman and now I've got a place to spit.' Dad (Dr. John Turner Horner) said Jess Wilson was a brave man too. One time they left Jess Wilson to hold their horses when they went to fight. Jess was another little measley, looked like he wouldn't fight a chicken.

He Made My House His House

My 4th great grandfather on my mother's side was William Bynum. Today I wanted to share with you the answers he supplied to a few questions, when interrogated on behalf of one Noah Ledford, when Noah was applying for reparations from the Southern Claims Commission.

To start, I wanted to inform you of William's service during the Civil War. He fought in Co D of the 2nd Arkansas Infantry (Union). He enlisted  15 March 1864 in Clarksville, AR. He was 46 years old and gave his birth place as McCreary and McNairy TN - there is no McCreary TN - take that for what you will. William's father Eli was enumerated in McNairy TN in 1830 and Lawrence County TN in 1820. So it's safe to say McNairy County is where William was indeed born.

William was described as being 5'11", grey eyes, light hair, fair complexion.



Noah Ledford was a loyalist. In his application file we're told he voted for Lincoln and was threatened to be hung. He was arrested on three occasions and after the last one, in fear for his life, was sworn into the Confederacy. He was able to seek protection and switch sides whenever the Union took over Fort Smith. In the later part of 1863 his house in Franklin County, Arkansas, was burned to the ground by rebels because of his loyalty. During Noah's own deposition when asked who the leading Unionists in his vicinity during the war were and if they were called to testify and why or why not, his answer was:

William Bynum, William Parker, Hinson Harris. William Bynum is called to testify, William Parker is dead; Hinson Harris* cannot be obtained on account of distance to his present residence. 

Below is my transcription of William Bynum's testimony which took place 5 March 1878:

William Bynum being duly sworn answers as follows 

1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation? My name is William Bynum. I am forty nine years old. My residence is Pope County, Arkansas.  Have been residing in Pope County about two years. I am a farmer by occupation.
2. If you are not the claimant, in what manner, if any, are you related to the claimant or interested in the success of the claim? I am neither related to the claimant nor interested in the success of his claim.
3.  Skips ahead to questions 52 - 65

• 52. In whose favor are you here to testify? Mr. Noah Ledford
• 53. How long have you known that person altogether, and what part of that time have you intimately known him? I have known him about 27 years and intimately known him all that time.
• 54. Did you live near him during the war, and how far away? At the beginning of the war I lived in Fort Smith about 40 miles from Mr. Ledfords. But when he could no longer stay at his house he made my house his house. [I love this part]
• 55. Did you meet him often, and how often, during the war? I met him on average once a week during the war. 
• 56. Did you converse with the claimant about the war, its causes, its progress and its results? If so, try to remember the more important occasions on which you so conversed, beginning with the first occasion, and state, with respect to each, when it was, where it was, who were present, what caused the conversation and what the claimant said in substance, if you cannot remember his words. I conversed with the claimant frequently, about the war, its progress, its causes, but don't exactly remember the occasions nor the persons present. Before our country was taken by the Union Army our talk had to be private. The substance of all his conversations was that he desired to see the Union cause prevail. 
• 57. Do you know of anything done by the claimant that showed him to be loyal to the Union cause during the war? If you do, state what he did, when, where, and what was the particular cause or occasion of his doing it? Give the same information about each thing he did that showed him to be loyal. He never took up arms against the Union cause nor served in the Confederate cause in any way except one time he was forced to drive a team about a month. I know he went to the Union Army as soon as he could safely get to them.
• 58. Do you know of anything said or done by the claimant that was against the Union cause? If so, please state, with respect to each thing said or done, what it was, when it was, where it was, and what particular compulsion or influence caused him to say or do it. I do not except the driving of the team above mentioned. And he was compelled to do that to save his life.
• 59. If you have heard of anything said or done by the claimant, either for the Union cause or against it, state from whom you heard it, when you heard it, and what you heard. I never heard of him saying or doing anything against the Union. I never heard of him doing anything for the Union. What he did I know of my own knowledge.
• 60. What was the public reputation of the claimant for loyalty or disloyalty to the United States during the war? If you profess to know his public reputation, explain fully how you know it, whom you heard speak of it, and give the names of other persons who were neighbors during the war that could testify to his public reputation. His public reputation as far as I know was for loyalty to the Union. I know this from William Sewell, George Pillows, Cager Stone and Hinson Harris who were his neighbors who can testify to his reputation if they are living.
• 61.Who were the known and prominent Union people of the neighborhood during the war, and do you know that such persons could testify to the claimant's loyalty? Hinson Harris*, Cager Stone and George Pillows and I know they can if living.
• 62. Were you yourself, an adherent of the Union during the war? If so, did the claimant know you to be such, and how did he know it? I was most assuredly. He knew it by my course and conversation with him. 
• 63. Do you know of any threats, molestation, or injury inflicted upon the claimant, or his family, or his property, on account of his adherence to the Union cause? If so, give all the particulars. I know that one Jacob Bean, a Confederate Captain, threatened to and tried to kill Mr. Ledford, the claimant on account of his adherence to the Union Cause. Also, that his house was burned for the same reason by Confederate troops but don't know who commanded them.
• 64. Did you know of any act done or language used by the claimant that would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy? If so, what act or what language? I know that he refused to assist the Confederate cause and that when forced to go with them he made his escape to the Union Army. Also that he hid out a good deal of time to keep out of the way of the Confederate Army. 
• 65. Can you state any other facts within your own knowledge in proof of the claimant's loyalty during the war? If so, state all the facts and give all the particulars. I know that he was in favor of the Union cause from the beginning to the end of the war. He voted against successive abuse.

William Bynum
J H Battenfield (Special Commissioner) 

Until next time,
Becky

*I suspect Hinson Harris could have been Henderson Harris.

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.

John Middleton Nall - Confederate POW

My recent post on Thomas Franklin Rutherford and the resources I came across while researching has prompted me to research another Confederate War ancestor. My 3rd great grandfather, John Middleton Nall.

John was the son of Thomas J Nall and Catherine Harris. He was named after Thomas' brother Middleton F Nall. John was born 24 Mar 1829 - this date comes from his headstone, but I don't believe it is correct. In the 1830 Henry, Georgia, census Thomas doesn't have any male children in his household, only a young girl under 5, more than likely John's sister Margaret. I believe John was actually born closer to 1833. Its the age given in the 1850 census as well as the age given when he enlisted into the military.

In 1840, John is listed as the only male child 5-9 living in Meriwether, Georgia, with his father. Also in the household are two male children under 5 (Nathan & Davis), Thomas is listed as being between 30-39 and cannot read or write. There is a female child 5-9 (Margaret) and Catherine is listed as being between 30-39 and also cannot read or write.

In 1850, John is listed by his initials last name Nale  still living in Meriwether, Georgia. His older sister Margaret has since married a Harris Scroggins and is living in Coweta. But still living at home with Thomas and Catherine is Nathan, Davis, and a new member to the family, 6 year old little sister D S A Nale. I never have found her in any of the other records. I don't know if she died or married extremely young. She isn't with the family in 1860.

Sometime between 1850 and 1857 when I find my next record, this Nall family traveled about 650 miles to Rusk County, TX (Nathan Harris Nall's widows pension application says that the family moved here in 1857).

On 6 Aug 1857 John Middleton Nall marries Mary Jane Garner in Rusk County, Texas. I'm uncertain of her parentage. I know she was born in 1838 in GA. I thought she may have been the daughter of Thomas W Garner and Sarah Reeves, but I'm not confident in that assumption. <---- wrong assumption. Read on to see how I find her REAL parents.

Three years later this young family is still living in Rusk, TX.  Right next door to his father. Their post office is listed as Minden. There are twin little boys listed with the family under the initials DH & S Nawls. They are six months old. I later discover D H to be David Harrison. I think S must have died as an infant because I never see him again. Also living with this family are John's sister Margaret, her husband and their children, James T, C A (female), John E and Wm F Scroggins.

The next few years would be very difficult for this family and countless others across this nation. On 10 May 1862 John  Middleton Nall enlisted into Capt. Harvey Wallace's Co., Waterhouse's Regiment at Minden, Rusk, Texas. This unit later became known as Co. H 19th Texas Infantry.

"Walker's Texas Division Battle Flag - This flag, from a...n unidentified Texas regiment, is inscribed with battle honors "Mansfield, April 8th 1864" and "Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864." This flag is important for two reasons. First, it was carried by a Texas unit in the two desperate Louisiana battles that turned back Union General Nathaniel Bank's Red River Expedition, thus saving east Texas from conquest. Second, it is one of only two so-called Taylor battle flags still in existence. [Taylor flags are named for General Richard Taylor, son of President Zachary Taylor, and Confederate commander in western Louisiana.] The Taylor flags are unusual because they are Saint Andrews cross rebel flags with the colors reversed, i.e. a blue field instead of the famous red field, and a red rather than blue cross with white stars."

Co H 19th regiment Texas Infantry was attached to the 3rd Brigade (along with the 16th Infantry, 16th Cavalry, 17th Infantry and Captain Edgar's Battery of Light Artillery). This brigade with 3 others was placed under the command of Major Gen'l John G. Walker and was known as 'Walker's Division' until the close of the war. So the above flag is the one my ancestor would have more than likely fought under.

Right from the start (remembering he enlisted in May '62) he was a victim of the outbreak of measles, dysentery, and diarrhea that killed twenty-four men and necessitated leaving between thirty and forty sick behind. He was left in Jefferson, TX in Aug. I'm sure he had barely recovered when he had to march to Camp Nelson in AR during the Sept-Oct muster and had to be left behind at a convalescent camp in Little Rock. He registers as present in Jan & Feb at Camp Wright in AR but was once again absent from muster due to illness in May-June '63 He was in Monroe, LA while the rest of his regiment was 'in the field'. He makes muster in July-Aug at Camp Texas, LA as well as Camp Bayou in Sept & Oct but is still noted as sick. He is STILL sick but makes muster in Jan & Feb at Fort DeRussy where he is shot in the shoulder and captured March 14.

Can you imagine all those miles marching, and fightin in hot and cold, carrying your rifle (which was NOT as light as one may think) while recovering from the likes of dysentery for over a year?

In all his service records he's listed as a Private except for the records documenting his gunshot wound and capture. In those records he's listed as a Corporal. According to those records he was taken to New Orleans and on July 22 1864 he was transferred from there and exchanged at Red River Landing. At some point prior to the exchange John Middleton was taken to the USA General Hospital in Baton Rouge where his gunshot wound was treated. He was to 'Return to Duty' April 30th 1864, a little over 6 weeks after he we shot, at which he was turned over to the Provost Marshall.

Below is a picture of the hospital where he was treated. There is a medical card in his file that only gives his name, unit and rank (here it says Pvt) with the following number: 1787156

After his exchange I'm not sure what happened. Did he return to his unit? I'm not sure. The only record after that date is one for a Regiment Return April 1865 where under the heading for "Absent enlisted men accounted for" it says: Detached Service. Post Duty. Marshall. Feb 7/65 S.O. 34 Dept Hd qrs 

I have no idea what any of that means, but I'm looking into it.

I do know that in February 1865 John Middleton Nall's family makes it onto the list of Indignant Solder's Families, Rusk County, Texas with 3 dependents. By 1865 the members of John's family NOT including himself would've been his wife, Mary Jane, his son David, and then my ancestor John Thomas who was born about 7 April 1861 (according to his Death Certificate). This would mean baby 'S' had already passed away. This list was of the soldiers and families that were "without the means of comfortable support" at the close of the war. I wonder if baby S Nall died from malnourishment?

In 1870, John had survived the war and this family, reunited,  is still living in Rusk County, but this time their post office is listed in Henderson (about 12 miles North of Minden). All members listed are John, Jane, David, John T. Sarah and Ophelia.

In 1880 they had moved to Collin County, Texas. Those listed are John, Mary J, Sarah, P O (Percelley Opehlia), C A (Charles Alexander/Elexander) and J W (James Wesley).


In 1899 John files for pension from Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas. There isn't too much new information to be gleaned from this file. It does state that he has lived in Waxahachie for 5 years. BUT I just now picked up on something! How have I missed this all these years? In his application one of his witnesses is JJ GARNER. John Middleton's wife's maiden name is GARNER!

{Sidebar: JJ Garner is Josiah J. Garner whose father was John R. Garner Jr. Guess who Josiah J. Garner is married to. Mary A. Nix. Guess who else was a witness in John Middleton's pension application. Thomas L Nix Sr! Thomas Nix Sr. is Mary A. Nix's half brother. Thomas also was a member of Co H. 19th Texas Infantry. Also in Co H 19th Texas Infantry is a J T Garner aka John Thomas Garner who is also the son of John R. Garner Jr. Folks I think I just found Mary Jane Garner's siblings/parents! So  much for nothing new being gleaned, lol.}

{{Sidebar to my Sidebar -THIS is one reason I love blogging. It makes me slow down and take in ALL the information in a more concentrated manner and I often times pick up on things I otherwise would've missed. End Sidebar(s)}}

The other witness in this pension application is Joseph Mabra who claims to have known John since 1847. Joseph shows up in the 1860 census just a few doors down from John. He mentions that John was wounded in the shoulder AND the jaw during the war. John's pension was approved, file #01233.

In 1900 John is living in Ellis County, Texas. Several children have since moved out and married and there's a new child listed. Everyone listed this time is John, Mary J, Alexander, and Lenny (daughter) who is 19 so she barely missed the last census. John can read and write and he rents his property. Occupation is listed as farmer.

In 1910 John is living with his son Charles Elexander and his family in Hall County, Texas. Mary isn't with him and she doesn't show up anywhere else. She's still alive as she shows up in the 1920 census with John, their granddaughter Alice Hester (daughter of Pervelly Ophelia and Oscar Hester) and their son James Wesley still in Hall County, Texas.

On 8 March 1922 John Middleton Nall passed away. He is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Memphis Texas. Mary Jane went on to live another nine years before she joined him.

Memphis Democrat 16 March 1922

Until next week,
Becky

As always please take the time to check out my SIL's blog Days of Our Lives

Thomas Franklin Rutherford - Confederate POW

I haven't really been keeping up with the 52 Ancestors prompts this month for a litany of reasons. Mainly I haven't had much time for research with the kids home during the summer. This morning when I checked my Facebook there was an invitation to submit stories to a webpage chronicling the lives of Tippah County Confederate Soldiers. I have one of those! But I haven't written about him yet. So this post will be about my 3rd great grandfather, Thomas Franklin Rutherford. I have written about his mother here, and his great grandmother here.

Thomas Franklin Rutherford was the third eldest son of Thomas Rutherford and Margaret Adeline Lemmond. He was born 27 Oct 1836 in Union County, Georgia. In 1840, Thomas would've been listed with his father. In Union County GA 1840 census there is the Thomas Rutherford family with two boys under five (Thomas Franklin and younger brother John Lemmond), two boys ages five through nine (William Williamson and James McCullough) then two males  ages 20-29 (Most likely the younger brothers of Margaret Adeline as Thomas became the guardian of Robert and John Lemmond the same date as his marriage to Margaret Adeline 27 Feb 1832 ). Then Thomas Sr. 30-39, one female under five (Elizabeth) and one female 20-29 (Margaret Adeline).

Presumed to be a pic of Thomas Sr.

When Thomas was about 12 years of age his family moved to Falkner,Tippah County, Mississippi. At the age of 14 he is found by name (Franklin) with his parents in the 1850 Tippah County census with siblings William, James, Elizabeth, John, Robert, Flynn, Alexander, and Mary Ann. At the age of 24 he married Martha Ann Wright on 22 Nov 1860. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Wright and Dorothy Blair.

On 25 February 1862 Thomas Franklin, along with three of his brothers, James M, John L and Robert W, as well as his brothers-in-law, George W. and William C. Wright, along with 70 other men, met at James Childer's and enlisted with Co. A of the 37th Mississippi Infantry. This company later became Co. A of the 34th Mississippi Infantry. There is a book written by David B. Boone, Jr. titled Honor Without A Stain; The 34th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, 1862-1865 with a lot of information in it. It mentions Thomas Franklin by name on pages 12, 87, and 92. Also if you have a subscription to Fold3 his military records can be found here.

According to Fold3 records his regiment was organized in April of 1862. They saw their first battle just 20 days later at Corinth/Farmington on 9 May. Thomas first appears on the Muster Rolls for July & Aug of '62 as Present. After the Battle at Farmington Thomas's Company was sent 221 miles (he would've marched on foot) to Chattanooga where, joined with Gen. Bragg's army they marched another 271 miles to Kentucky where they engage in the Battle of Perryville. In his records it mentions that he was severely wounded at that battle, which was fought on the 7th & 8th of October 1862. Four days later, back at home, his wife would give birth to their first son, Thomas Nathaniel Rutherford.

It's here that I want to pause for a moment, considering all the debate that is taking place across this Nation about the Confederate flag, and what it means today to many people who defend it. And what it meant then, to some.

While researching this line and finding that Thomas Franklin and 5 of his brother's all fought on the side of the Confederacy, one has to ponder their motives. Was it slave related? Was it to protect their homes/land/way of life? Why Thomas Franklin and his brothers fought for the Confederacy may never be known, but I do want to give some history on his family so that we get a bigger picture.

I'll start with the name Thomas. Thomas was a family name. We have Thomas Nathaniel, son of Thomas Franklin. Thomas Franklin son of Thomas (no known middle name) so I'll say Thomas Sr.  Thomas Sr. was the son of David Rutherford who had a half-brother named Thomas Todd. Thomas Todd mentions David's children in his Will.

David Rutherford died when Thomas Sr. was only six or seven years old. David's widow, Elizabeth Williamson Rutherford didn't remarry until Thomas Sr. was 18.  And while Thomas Todd mentions his half-brother's children in his will, it's the other contents of this will that are so interesting to me.

Thomas Todd, of Rowan County, NC, wrote out his will in 1858. He didn't die for another 11 years.

In his will Thomas makes provisions for his slaves to be set free. Their names were listed in the following order: July, Bob, Tom, Summer, Eliza, Rachel and Parker. In the 1860 slave schedules there are seven slaves listed under the ownership of Thomas Todd. Two males age 50. One female age 50. One male age 20. One male age 18. One male age 15. And one female age 13. If the above named individuals were listed by age that would mean July, Bob and Eliza were born about 1810, Tom about 1840, Summer about 1842, Parker about 1845 and Rachel about 1847.

Here is the transcription of Thomas Todd's Will:

In the name of God, Amen - I Thomas Todd being in good health and sound mind and memory but knowing the uncertainty of human life, do make and constitute this my last Will and Testament at the same time revoking all former wills which may have been made by me.

Item 1st: In the first place, I desire that all my just debts be paid and that my executors cause a Tomb Stone of a respectable article to be erected over my grave; and pay all of my burial expenses.

Item 2nd: It is my will and wish that all my slaves be emancipated and released from servitude but knowing that this cannot be accomplished without their removal from this State, I declare it to be my will, and I hereby expressly direct my executors that as soon after my death as it can conveniently be done they cause all my negroes to wit: July, Bob, Tom, Sunnon (possibly Lunnon), Eliza, Rachel, and Parker and the increase of Rachel and Eliza if they should have any from this date to be removed and settled in some free State or States. But if it should happen that my said slaves cannot be removed and settled in a free State or States either in consequence of the law of such State or States prohibiting their introduction & settlement or rom any other sufficient reason then and in that even it is y will and direction that my said slaves be sent to Liberia in Africa and for the purpose of enabling my executors to carry out my will in regard to my slaves I will and bequeath to them eight hundred dollars to be raised out of my personal estate and if my personal is insufficient to make the sum then take out of my land property and to be held by them in trust and applied in discharge of their expenses of the removal of my said salves to a free State or States or to Liberia as the case may be and if there should be any balance of the trust fund herein created remaining after paying the expenses of the removal of my slaves as aforesaid then to pay over such balance to my said slaves to be equally divided among them. If my executors should find in impractical to remove my slaves immediately after my death and it should become necessary to hire them out for a time it is my will that all money received by them for hire be held used and paid over as herein before directed in regard to the fund of eight hundred dollars. If the fund I have herein set apart to defray the expenses of the removal of my slaves in manner as above directed should prove to be insufficient, I hereby authorize my executors to appropriate such further sums or sums from my estate ass may be necessary to cover the expenses of the removal.

Item 3rd: I will and direct three hundred dollars to be paid out of my Estate to my niece Mary Ann Gheen.

Item 4th: I will and bequeath all the remaining part of my estate which may be left after complying with the above bequeaths to my Brother John B Todd and my sisters Nancy S. Thomason, Elizabeth P Trott and Mary Kerr* or their heirs or assigns should make any effort to brake or set aside this my last Will and testament as I have directed It is then my will that part I have allowed to go to my Brother and Sisters as above mentioned go to my half Brother David Rutherford's children vis, James Rutherford, Thomas Rutherford, William B Rutherford and Mary Ann Gheen. But if my Brother and Sisters or their heirs or assigns admit this my last will and testament to stand as I have directed it I allow them to have above mentioned, Share and Share. I appoint DA Davis and Archibald H. Caldwell executors of this my last will and testament.

*to be divided equally among the four share and share; now if my brother John B Todd and my sister Nancy S. Thomason, Elizabeth P Trott and Mary Kerr

6th: It is my will that my Executors sell all my property and personal except my slaves and make the distribution herein before directed in money.

Witness my hand and seal this 16th day of January AD 1854

Witnesses N F Hall & J C Gillespie

I hereby decline to qualify as Executor of the will of Thomas Todd as above appointed and relinquish all claims to qualify as such Executor. July 29th 1869 signed DA Davis

Witness SH Wiley

 To find out more you can read through his Estate File here . For anyone researching their African American/Slave ancestors I would like to note that in the Estate File last names for the former slaves are given as July Todd, Lunnon alias Lane Henderson, Bob dies no last name given, Tom Henderson, Eliza Henderson, Rachel marries a Caesar Robertson and Parker dies no last name given.

So from this we know that Thomas Sr.'s Uncle was an Abolitionist. Thomas Sr. was a mill right and while he didn't have any slaves listed with his family in 1840 he did have 3 listed under his name in 1850. A 40 year old woman and two young female babies age 2 and 10 months. In 1860 he is not found in the slave schedules. Thomas Franklin doesn't show up anywhere in 1860 other than his marriage record. Non of Thomas Franklin's brothers show up in the 1860 slave schedules. And his Father-in-law Nathaniel Wright isn't listed in the slave schedules either. There is a record for Thomas Sr. with the Southern Claims Commission where he states that he didn't vote for succession. He said there was not a Union Candidate so he did not vote. He goes on further to say:

"I was a Union man at the commencement of the war, still I can't say I did not sympathize with my sons in the Confederate Army."

From there he goes on to list what was taken from his mill - bacon, corn meal, horses etc. and in closing says,

"I believe the property taken was necessary for the use of the US Army, was taken under circumstances that justifies the taking and would justify the US Gov in paying for the same."

 A witness to Thomas Sr.'s claim, a teacher named J W Thompson, says that Thomas Sr. was a "Union man in theory".

Due to his sons' enlistment with the Confederacy, Thomas Sr.'s claim was denied.

So with a father who was a "Union man in theory" and a great uncle who was an Abolitionist, what would motivate these six young men to volunteer for the Confederacy? ** Here is a newspaper article about Thomas' daughter Lillie that also says, though he was against slavery, he fought for the confederacy.. The Odessa American

At the time of their enlistment William would've been around 30, James 28, Thomas 26, John 22, Robert 20 and David Flynn only 18.

Now to continue with the rest of Thomas Franklin's military story:

After being severely wounded at the Battle of Perryville, Thomas Franklin continued in the fighting. He would travel to Shelbyville, TN, where he was 'Present' for Nov & Dec of '62. On the 31st of December,  the 34th would engage in the Battle of Stones River at Murfreesboro, TN. Again Thomas Franklin shows as 'present' for Jan & Feb of '63. For March & April '63 he was 'present' and promoted from Private to 5th Sergeant on the 15th of April.

A little online research provided the following information on the rank of 5th Sergeant:

5th Sgt was the most junior Sgt in the Company & not all CS units had a 5th Sgt as some of the CS units only alowed for 4 Sgt's. If there had been a 5th Sgt prior to that point he would likely have been demoted to 1st Corporal. In the ranks he would have stood behind the battle line as a file closer in the middle area of the battle line IIRC.

As to their duties, the NCO's had varying degrees of responsability w/ the 2nd Corporal being responsible for 6-12 men depending on the situation. The 5th Sgt would typically have been responsible for 2 Corporals and about 20 men. But as casualties, attrition and detachments quickly dropped a 1000 man Regiment to often less than 300 you can see why 5th Sgt's were dropped from the establishment. They just weren't needed anymore, eliminating them from the organization saved some coin and unneeded rank.

For the months of July & Aug, Sgt Thomas Franklin Rutherford was 'present'. It would seem there was quite a bit of down time (about 8 months) between the battle of Stones River and the last two battles Thomas Franklin would take part in. On 18 September 1863 he would fight in the Battle of Chickamauga and then moved to Look Out Mountain where he and his brother Robert Walker were captured and taken prisoner on 24 Nov 1863.


Regimental flag of the 34th Mississippi Infantry captured at Lookout Mountain Nov. 24, 1863 by the 149th N.Y.

The two brothers were first taken to Nashville and from there taken to the Union Military Prison in Louisville, KY for holding. They were kept until Dec 3rd when they were then loaded onto the train and shipped to Rock Island. They arrived December 5th. He and his brother appear to have been able to stay together through this ordeal. Both were "housed" in Barracks #9; Thomas Franklin registered as #36 and Robert Walker as #37.

To read a first person account of what it was like at Rock Island Prison please click here.
On the 18th of March 1864 Thomas Franklin Rutherford signed his Oath of Allegiance and he, his brother, and over 1,000 other soldiers were transferred for exchange of Union prisoners on March 20, 1864.

In his service records where his name appears on the rolls of soldiers who took the Oath of Allegiance in the remarks it says "Wishes to go home."

Nothing remains of the prison buildings today. Visitors on the island, as they view the island's beautiful scenery, see nothing to recall this period in the island's history. Where once the Headquarters buildings of the prison was located stands the mansion of the Commanding General of the Ordnance Weapons Command. The stockade and the prison barracks area is now a part of the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Course and officers quarters. The non-contagious disease hospital is the present site of two Arsenal shop buildings. The pest houses of the day have given way to a huge shop building. All that remains of the period of the island's history are the Confederate and National Cemeteries, which lie in quiet and peaceful groves of elms and oak trees. Perpetual care of the graves give these peaceful sites with their rows of white headstones in long straight rows, completely encircled by the towering trees, a serene and peaceful resting place for those who died so far from home and friends.

 After his release I'm not sure what happened as the war didn't end for the 34th for another year, when they surrendered 26 April 1865.

After the war Thomas Franklin returned home to Tippah, Mississippi where he fathered five more children, Grandville Gregory, Mary, Alice, Margaret, and my ancestor James Walter Rutherford who was born in 1877.

By 1880 Thomas, with his wife and children, left Mississippi and settled in Ellis County, Texas. And by 1900 he was in Coleman County where he died in 1906 and is buried at Santa Anna Cemetery. Children born to him while living in Texas were, David Williamson*, Minnie Elizabeth, and Lillie Carl. I have never been able to find a military pension or a widows pension.  From all of the census records his occupation was always listed as farmer. I wish I could find out more from his life in Texas. Maybe I will in time.

Until next week,
Becky

*Williamson was also a family name. It was his paternal grandmother's maiden name. Her first name was Elizabeth. When her husband David died, her father William became guardian of Thomas Sr. and his siblings, James, William Brandon, Mary Ann, and David.

As always please check out my Sister-in-law's blog at Days of Our Lives. And for more on the Tippah County Rutherford's you can check out this page.

Son, Husband, Father, Soldier, Teacher, Freemason and Justice of The Peace

The prompt set for this week by No Story Too Small is 'wedding'. The first story that came to mind was that of my great grandparents Rufus and Wille Belle Nall and how they were married in a car garage and then as soon as they said their "I dos" they went to slaughter hogs. But I've already written about them here.

I couldn't recall any other wedding stories so I put out a Facebook request to anyone who might suggest an ancestor for me to write about. My Aunt Diane suggested my 3rd great grandfather Francis Marion Melson. And I think he will fit the bill perfectly.

According to his Civil War service records, Francis Marion Melson was born in DeKalb County, AL on 31 July 1838, to Absalom Patton and Ferbia Melitia (Upton) Melson. Absalom Patton Melson was a member of the House of Representatives for the State of Arkansas.


Francis Marion was the oldest child, followed by a sister, Mahala Kathleen, then a brother James W, sister Jemima, brother Andrew Jackson, sister Sarah and the baby of the family, named after his father, Absalom Patton Jr.

According to a family history, compiled by Andrew Melson, the family made their way from near Rome, GA to Mobile, AL in 1852.  They were said to have traveled in a homemade covered wagon and a team of oxen. At Mobile, Absalom sold most all of his possessions and got on a boat to travel to the mouth of the Mississippi River then to the Arkansas River to Morrison Bluff Landing near Clarksville where they unloaded and traveled up into the mountains about 12 miles NW of Clarksville and settled on a tract of land about six miles west of Ozone, AR or one and half miles SW of what is now known as Log Gap Springs.

In their Civil War Service Records, Francis gave his place of birth as DeKalb, AL and his brother James W gave his place of birth as Floyd Co. GA. Looking at Formation maps of the two states during the time of their birth we can see that these counties are VERY close one another. Absalom gives his place of birth as Burke Co, NC.

On 27 Dec 1860, two days after Christmas, Francis Marion Melson married Mary Emmaline Kinnerly. She was the daughter of John P. and Lucinda (Harbour) Kinnerly.

On 20 February 1862, Mary gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Amanda Catherine. Nearly one year later, on 6 February 1863, Francis enlisted on the side of the Union into Co A, 2nd Regm't of the Arkansas Infantry along with his father, Absalom and brother James W, at Warren, Arkansas. They mustered in on December 7th at Ft. Smith. Absalom was discharged due to disability caused by old age 25 Oct 1864. From the Adjutant General's office there is a record dated 1867 where the charge of desertion is removed from Francis' file and replaced with 'absent without leave' from 25 September 1864 - 1 Dec 1864 . He "deserted" from Lewisburg, AR.  I wonder why he left or where he went? One record shows that he "joined from desertion" Dec 1/1864 Johnson Co. On March 3, 1864 it shows he was "reduced from sergeant to the ranks" no further information is given.

I suspect the answer to Francis' "desertion" and reduction in rank comes from the previously mentioned book, compiled by Andrew Melson. On page 38 it gives the sad story of Francis and Mary's second child, Lucinda Anglin born 6 Jan 1864.

James W. Melson could be called the undertaker. While his brother, Francis Marion Melson was away in the Civil War, he scouted during the night taking care of his family and his brother's family - Mary and two small children. One morning, just before daylight, he went about one mile down on Bear Branch to where Francis had settled before the war when he married. Jim found that his brother's baby, Lucinda, had died during the night. He split out boards and made a box for the baby. He put it on his shoulder, with a pick and a shovel, his rifle in the other arm, and walked about four miles up the head of Bear Branch Canyon and buried the baby the next night himself, out on the mountain in what is now known as Sherman Cemetery.

Lucinda died 6 Feb 1864. I wonder if the right brother was given credit for this story as James W. was enlisted and serving with his father and brother. In his records it actually shows him as "present" for Jan & Feb '64.  I suspect it to have actually been younger brother Andrew Jackson "Jack" Melson that did the scouting and buried the baby, as I have found a few **errors in this book. Jack would've been only 16 at the time of baby Lucinda's death. Between the death of his baby and the lawlessness that plagued Johnson County, I suspect Francis left Lewisburg and went back home to check on his family.

The best information I have been able to find about the roll of the 2nd Regm't Arkansas Infantry is as follows:

 

Organized at Springfield, Mo., and Fort Smith, Ark., October, 1863, to March, 1864. Organization completed at Fort Smith March 13, 1864. Attached to District of the Frontier, Dept. of Missouri, to January, 1864. District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corp., Dept. of Arkansas, January, 1864. 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corps, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Corps, to May, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Corps, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th corps, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Corps, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Skirmish at Clarksville December 15, 1863. Affair at Jacksonport, Ark., November 21, 1863. At Fort Smith until March, 1864. Steele's Expedition to Camden March 23-May 3. Prairie D'Ann April 9-12. Moscow April 13. Limestone Valley April 17 (Detachment). Jenkins' Ferry, Saline River, April 30. Duty at Little Rock until July and at Lewisburg until September. Ordered to Little Rock September 10, and duty there until October 18. Escort train to Fort Smith October- November. Moved to Clarksville December 31, and duty there and at Fort Smith until August. Mustered out August 8, 1865.

 

 

Francis' family lived in a notorious place for lawlessness during the Civil War. According to the 'Melson Book',  while Francis and most of the men were gone, Mary helped dig the first two graves in the Oark Cemetery and buried two men who had been found shot by bushwhackers in the road above Oark near a spring in 1863.

After returning home from the war, Francis is said to have taught the first term of school that was taught in Low Gap Township, Johnson County. The school house was a little log cabin about 200 yards north of Low Gap Springs.

Children born to Francis M. and Mary E. Melson after the war were:

Sarah Isabell b. 15 Sept 1865
William Robert b. 21 Dec 1867
Clerica Armindo b. 10 Dec 1869
Mary Elizabeth b. 20 July 1871
John Wesley b. 17 Jan 1874 and died 28 Sept 1875
Alabama b. 27 March 1876
Ida Lee b. 2 March 1878
Francis Elmer b. 9 Jan 1880 and died 10 May 1881
Columbus C. "Bud" b. 18 March 1882
Tennessee Easter b. 13 April 1884
Absalom b. 14 Oct 1886 d. 6 August 1887
Benjamin Harrison (my ancestor) b. 10 Sept 1889



 Back row: Columbus Melson, Benjamin Harrison Melson, Easter Tennessee 'Tennie' Melson. Sitting: Francis Marion Melson, Mary Melson holding grandson George Washington Campbell, whose mother, Amanda Catherine had died during childbirth.

Francis Marion also served as the Justice of the Peace in 1870, where he performed the marriage of his younger brother Andrew "Jack" Melson to Jane Heinsley on 22 Jan 1870. In going through the old marriage records I also found where he married Zecharia Cowen and Polina Wagers on 6 March 1870, as well as J T Sykes and Martha Ann Summers on 11 Sept 1870.

Francis Marion Melson was also a Freemason - as you can see from his headstone.

Francis can be found in the Abstracts from Masonic Records from the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, for the years 1873-1879, 1880-1883 & 1884-1886.

There is one more piece of lore I would like to add to the life story of Francis Marion Melson. My grandfather, Leroy Harrison Melson, has always told of a story involving treasure. Family lore says that during the war Francis discovered or somehow came into some gold and by the end of the war he had enough money to buy all of his children their own homestead. I haven't been able to find much else about this story... but in the mean time here's another Civil War hidden treasure story from not far off in Madison County.

**I want to address that I mean no disrespect in pointing out that the "Melson-Book; 1813-1973" has errors. In fact I have the utmost respect and appreciation for those who put these books together. Most were done before all the easily accessible information we have today. A lot of information that was given was done so by word of mouth and were taken from the memory of those most acquainted with the individuals documented. Mistakes happen. Memories fail. Even today with all the information that can be gathered, mistakes happen. So to Andrew Melson, I am extremely grateful.

Captured At Vicksburg

This week the prompt from No Story Too Small is 'Military', and I have chosen to write about my 4th great grandfather Asa Franklin Moore.

According to census records, Asa was born about 1830 in South Carolina. I am not certain of his parentage, but I believe it to be Hutson and Susanna Moore. In the 1850 Laurens County South Carolina census, dwelling #1941, is Hutson  (53), Susanna (44), Oliver (22), Alsey F. (21), Luraney (19), William (18), Stephan B. (16), Parthena (14), Perncey (12), Malissa (10), John B. (8), Lei M. (6) and Munro (4).

I believe "Alsey F." to be my Asa. I have looked up the will of Hutson Moore, who died in 1874 and he makes no mention of any of his children -- only his wife, Susanna. But "Perncey" aka "Perneecy" from this household ends up marrying William Marion Riddle and settling not far from my Asa Franklin Moore in the same county (Johnson) in Arkansas. Also - my ancestor Franklin Redford Moore, son of Asa, named his first child, a daughter, Alsey. Maybe Alsey was his nickname?

Also in Laurens County, SC 1850 census is family # 1717 - the household of Solomon and Barbary "Golasby" (Gillespie) with several children, including 19 year old daughter Amanda. Sometime between 1850 and 1852 Amanda and Asa Franklin Moore marry.  In 1852 Amanda gives birth to their first child Mary J. Moore. I find Asa that same year in the Franklin County Georgia Tax books. I also find him in the tax lists for the years 1854, 1858 & 1867. In 1854 Amanda's father Solomon is also in Franklin County, GA, where he remarries a MUCH younger Elizabeth Pierce. His former wife, Barbara is still alive and in Laurens, South Carolina, living with a Vaughan and Bolt family.

In 1855 Amanda gave birth to their second child, Martha, then George Washington in 1859, and Amanda Silvenus in 1863 (I'm sure Asa was gone fighting, possibly at the siege of Chattanooga, at the time of her birth.).

On May 12 1862 Asa F. Moore, along with his brother-in-law *Simeon Thomas, volunteered on the side of the Confederacy in Franklin County GA with Captain Russell A. Jones Company, Johnson's Regiment Georgia Infantry which later became Company G, 34th Regiment Georgia Infantry.

"This unit was sent to Tennessee, then Mississippi where it was assigned to T.H. Taylor's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It participated in the battle at Champion's Hill and was captured at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. Exchanged and reorganized it was placed in General Cummings' Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 34th was active in many engagements from Chattanooga to Nashville, and ended the war in North Carolina. It reported 34 casualties at Chattanooga, contained 369 men and 266 arms in December, 1863, and had 219 fit for duty in Janaury, 1865. Very few surrendered in April. The field commanders were Colonel J.A.W. Johnson, Lieutenant Colonel J.W. Bradley, and Majors Thomas T. Dorough and John M. Jackson" ~ Taken from The National Park Service.

Below is the roster in which Asa F. Moore is listed as prisoner #351, captured at Vicksburg.

Known skirmished that Asa's unit fought in are:

Vicksburg Campaign (May-July 1863)
Chattanooga seige (Sept.-Nov. 1863)
Battle of Cahttanooga (Nov. 23-25, 1863)
New Hope Church (May 25 - June 4, 1864)
Atlanta (July 22, 1864)
Jonesboro (Aug 31-Sept 1,1864)
Nashville (Dec. 15-16, 1864)
Bentonville, NC (March 19-21, 1865)
they were at Joe Johnston's surrender on April 26, 1865.

 

Asa with his youngest son William.
(Notice the way he holds his right hand)

After Asa returned home from war Amanda gave birth to my ancestor, Franklin Redford "Red", in 1866, the following year they had Rosanna E.

In 1870, the same year Amanda gave birth to Solomon Jasper, the family can be found living in St. Clair County, AL where they are also found 10 years later in 1880. By then Amanda had given birth to their last child William T. who had been born in 1873. I wonder what prompted them to move.

By 1889 Asa and his family had moved again to Johnson County, AR where on Christmas Eve of that year Amanda passed away at the age of 58. She is buried in Stillwell Cemetery, in Johnson County.

In  July 1897 Asa filed his application for his pension. According to his application on July 25th 1864, at the Battle of Atlanta, he was shot in the forearm of his right hand. Dr. John W. Mitchell said in his report that the wound was "of right forearm midway between wrist and elbow" When asked  how this wound was cause for disability pension the doctor's response was "Feeble heath incapacity due not only to old age, but the wound lacerated muscle of arm causing wasting or atrophy and inability to grasp anything and at times becoming almost useless."


Fellow members of the 34th Regiment who came forth as witnesses for Asa's pension were Benjamin F. Ellis, Andrew J. Burgess and of course, *Simeon Thomas.

In March of 1901 Asa's pension was approved and he was allowed $60.00 to be drawn from.

On 25 Mar 1909, Asa Franklin Moore passed away. He was buried in Stillwell Cemetery, Johnson County, AR with his wife.


*Simeon Thomas married Amanda Gillespie's sister, Elizabeth Jane Gillespie.

Until Next Week,
Becky

When The Way Is Hard

This week's blog post will need to be credited to Edith Boyer Suggs (1906-1992), my first cousin 5x removed. She complied a book in 1963, known as The House Of Boyer. It is probably one of the many reasons I fell in love with genealogy. It is the perfect mix of names, dates, (and the best part) stories about the lives of my ancestors and many of their descendants.

 

 

The theme for this week is 'There Is A Way' and I've decided to retell the sad story of my 5th great grandparents, William Henry Boyer and his wife Mary Cooper Boyer. The Civil War left people without many choices. And the choices they did make, were life altering, and weren't without consequences. They couldn't have been easy choices to make. The story of my ancestors isn't unique. Many of those living in Johnson County, Arkansas, during the Civil War had similar stories. There was extreme lawlessness at the hands of bushwhackers who took advantage of the unfortunate circumstances. Many of the men were off fighting the war, leaving older men, women and children to fend for themselves. Any kind of law enforcement were also busy fighting a war. There was no one to hold these renegades responsible for their crimes, and many brutal, and bloody crimes were committed.  I have several ancestors from this era and this area who met just as awful circumstances. Some didn't survive. But those tales will be told another day.
 

William Henry Boyer was the son of Henry and Mary (Gambell) Boyer. According to Civil War records, he was born in Humphreys County, Tennessee in the year 1818. *In one page of his records it lists his birthplace as Hampton Co, Tenn - which does not exist, and in The House of Boyer it lists his birth place as Hamilton Co * I am going to go with Humphreys Co.,  as I have found census records for a Henry Boyer with wife Mary and a few of their children in 1850 living in said county. I took the time to look at a formation map during the time of William's birth - the borders changed significantly between the years 1817-1819. And the population for the entire county for the year of 1820 was only 4,067.

 

The first proof of William H. Boyer's residence in the State of Arkansas, I have, comes from the affidavit of his wife Mary Cooper in her application for a widow's pension. She states her marriage date as 4 March 1841 in Spadra, Johnson County, AR. Mary's family moved to Johnson County, AR, from Rhea, Tennessee, sometime before 1836 where I find tax records in Johnson County for her father Kennedy Cooper. In 1830 Kennedy Cooper and family were found in Rhea, TN. so that narrows the date of their arrival to a window of 6 years.  In Edith's book, The House of Boyer, she states that there is a land grand for William H. Boyer in 1839, I have not found it. *Keep in mind that Mrs. Boyer-Sugg's did genealogy the old fashioned way. Traveling miles and researching records from court houses, libraries, and writing letters to any connection she may have found a long the way. I have the utmost respect for her and those like her.*
 

Mary Cooper was the daughter of Kennedy Cooper and Sussana Keesie/Kessie. She was born 6 January 1825 in Rhea, TN.
 

William Henry was a farmer by trade and the same year as the birth of his oldest child Mary Martha (who married William Wallace Swift), I find a land certificate registered in Fayetteville land office for 80 acres. His place of residence is listed as Pope County, which is directly to the East of Johnson County. In 1844, his daughter Parmelia (my ancestor), was born, then in 1846 his daughter Melinda was born. That same year, William Henry, enlisted into Company A, Gray's Battalion, Arkansas Volunteers, to fight in the Mexican American War. It's suspected that this was a way to improve his standing and gain more land. William Henry was one of about 380 men who were sent to Indian Territory to keep peace and allow U.S. forces there to enter the war under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Gray. In Edith Boyer-Suggs book she mentions that William received an Honorable Discharge in 1847, at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, and received 165 acres of Bounty Land, located in Horsehead Township, Johnson Co. I have not been able to locate this record but Fold3 has an unindexed record, warrant # 47-160-15474 assigned to William H. Boyer.
 

In 1849, William Henry and Mary had another daughter Sarah Ann and in 1851 Mary finally gave birth to a son, James W. Next came Elizabeth in 1854 and Susan in 1857 then Mary Emeline in 1861
 

In February 1862 William Henry once again enlisted in the military on the side of the Confederacy. This time to fight in Company 'F' 10th Regiment Arkansas Militia for a period of only 3 months. Then in October 1863 he enlisted in Company 'L' Hill's 7th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry, this is the same month and year that his youngest child, the father of Edith Boyer-Suggs, was born, William Smith Boyer.

 

 

By this time the Civil War was well under way. William and Mary's two oldest daughters were already married. Mary Martha to a Yankee and my ancestor, Parmelia, to a Rebel. Sometime in the early part of August 1864, William was warned by neighbors that he would be one of three men who were to be attacked by the outlaws that pillaged Johnson Co.  William and the other two men on the list, were thought to have money. The other men were caught and tortured and their feet badly burned. But as soon as William had received warning he and Mary and their children quickly loaded their wagon with as many necessities and provisions as they could and left the Boyer Homestead. They barely made it. Just as their place was nearly out of sight they could see smoke rising into the sky, telling them that their home and all the belongings they had to leave behind were being burned.

This next part I will quote directly from Mrs. Boyer-Sugg's book:

With very little food and bedding, the farm wagon was still overloaded with 6 children of theirs and a niece (4 year old Jennie Ogilvie, daughter of Lavinia Boyer and Wm. Smith Ogilvie, a Confederate Soldier) and possibly some of Henry's married daughters. They started to Little Rock, AR, 112 miles away. Wm. Henry and Mary are said to have walked most of the way, with very little food. It was at Little Rock, on Aug 20, 1864, that Wm. Henry joined the Union or Federal Army. (Note: he changed sides.) He was in Company 'I' 2nd Arkansas Infantry. In return, the U.S. Government sent Mary Boyer and her children (my father, Wm. Smith Boyer, was only 10 months old) to Winona Co., Minn. for the duration of the war by the way of the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers.

Wm. Henry Boyer was transferred back to Clarksville, AR, to serve in the Medical Corps., having been assigned to the Post Isolation (Smallpox) Hospital. The building being used for the hospital was an old log residence that stood on the east side of what is now College Avenue, some 500 feet south of the railroad tracks. It was while nursing the Federal Soldiers there that he contracted Smallpox and died Feb. 16, 1865, at the age of 47, only a few months before the close of that terrible war. He was buried in the northern part of what is now Oakland Cemetery, at Clarksville. Then in 1867 the U.S. Government exhumed the remains and buried him in the National Cemetery at Ft. Smith, Ark. No one can say, as no one will ever really know, if this brave and courageous man, Wm. Henry Boyer, was a strong, opinionated man and was always willing to fight for his convictions, or if he was a husband and father who thought of the betterment and safety of the ones he loved. Whichever it be, the decision must not have been an easy one, as he had family and friends on both sides of that terrible conflict.

 Mrs. Boyer-Sugg's father was too young to remember the sad day his family said good-bye to his father, but her Aunt "Liz" (Elizabeth Boyer - Bramlett) was not. She was the one who shared this sad story and conveyed the fears of the dangerous journey from Arkansas to Minnesota.  She vividly remembered the tearful parting of her father and mother on the boat dock at Little Rock (they never saw each other again) and the long journey up the Mississippi River.

Mary Cooper and her children to didn't return to Johnson County, AR, until 1868, as there was strong resentment against them and other similar families who were northern sympathizers. Several Johnson County residents had fled the area and moved north during the war. I have other ancestors that went to stay with family further north into MO.

Mary's pension papers were originally filed in Winona Co., Minn. and had to be transferred back to Johnson Co. She was awarded $8/month as well as $2/month for every child under the age of 16. At the time of her application those children were James W., Elizabeth, Susan, Mary Emeline, and Wm. Smith.

Mary must have been a strong woman (as I'm sure many were during that time period). When she and  her children returned, she rebuilt her home at the same location of the one that had been burned. She raised her young children alone and never married again. She died at the home of her oldest daughter, Mary Martha Swift, in Franklin County, AR, on November 7, 1907 at the age of 76. She is buried in the Arnold Cemetery, one mile south and west of the Boyer Homestead.


If you are reading this and would like copies of the records I have collected, just ask, and I will be happy to share any information I have.

Until next week,
Becky