The Unforgotten -- William D Shaw

Welcome to my series about the unknown, yet unforgotten people I encounter through genealogy research. These are individuals for whom few records remain—many who likely didn’t reach adulthood, left no descendants, and are otherwise lost to time. Some stories survive only because one person cared enough to write a few lines in a fading newspaper. Today’s post begins with one such man—William D. Shaw—whose brief notice preserved the memory of two people who might otherwise have vanished entirely from the historical record.

In May 1859 he published in the newspaper, a death notice for a man named Sewell Cavin, who had been in his employ for nearly two decades, as well as the death of a beloved Cherokee woman who had tragically drown in the Grand River.

The Arkansian - 21 May 1859

Further research reveals that Sewell Cavin did indeed purchase 4 parcels totaling 320 acres of land in Washington County, Arkansas, along Moore’s Creek and Muddy Fork, at the junction of what is now Fat Nash Road and Bethel Blacktop near the Rheas Community in the years 1838 and 1843.

Adjoining Sewell's land and purchased on the same date in 1843 was an 80‑acre parcel belonging to Michael Asher.

And in Washington County there is a marriage record for Michael Asher and Lucretia Caven three years later in 1846.

That same year, also in Washington County, Elizabeth Cavin married William Buchanan, and then ten years later in 1856, Martha Cavin married Marcus Buchanan. Martha named her first child, born in 1857, Sewil (sic)—likely in honor of the man whose name appears in the death notice. 

In the 1850 census, Martha—then age 17—is enumerated in the household of William Cavin, age 61, and Mary, age 58, in Marrs Hill, Washington County, Arkansas.

These records leave me wondering: was Sewell an older unrecorded son of William and Mary, remembered only in the quiet ways families keep their dead alive, by naming a son after him.

No additional records for Sewell Cavin have surfaced so far.

Unfortunately, the only records I have found for a Cherokee woman by the name of Jane Ketchum, are all dated well after the date of her death.

Even if very little of Jane’s story remains in the written record, the fact that Sewell died in the manner he did on the day after her demise, shows how deeply she mattered to him. Even without documentation, the impact of her life is unmistakable.

And this brings me back to Mr. William D. Shaw. Several records indicate that he was involved in Indian affairs. He appears to have been associated with the Western Creek Agency, and he was also active among the Cherokee at Fort Gibson. While no census record can be found confidently as him. He does appear in several military‑related accounts as a blacksmith, in the testimony of various government proceedings and the Gilcrease Museum preserves a note requesting that he "pay Drew and Fields $17.46" in part of their John Drew Manuscript Collection. I also found a surviving letter in the Gilcrease Museum’s online collections revealing that Shaw corresponded very personally with John Drew, they were more than mere associates, they were family friends.

Other records in the Gilcrease collection mention Shaw alongside the name Lanigan. Researching these names together gave me the bigger picture. They were the proprietors of the Mercantile at Fort Gibson. 

Times Record, Fort Smith, Wed, Feb 5, 1913, Page 6

The online library of Texas Tech also has a letter from Alfred B Green returning their license to "trade with the Cherokees".

Living amongst the natives in Indian Territory very few typical genealogy records have been found. So, I decided to search more diligently in old newspapers and in doing so have been able to piece together a much more complete picture of his life and more importantly his family, individuals who would otherwise be lost and forgotten: his very own son, Houston R. Shaw, who died in 1843 after a three‑week illness, his wife, Delilah Rogers Shaw who died 26th Feb 1857 and another son Robert G. Shaw, who died in Nov 1859.

Perhaps this is why Shaw published the death notice for Sewell Cavin and Jane Ketchum—because he had known the ache of personal loss and understood how fragile remembrance could be in a time when society was less connected, and records could all too easily be forgotten to history.

Arkansas Intelligencer
Van Buren, Arkansas • Sat, Dec 30, 1843Page 3

The St Louis Republic, Fri Dec 23, 1859

The St Louis Republic, Thur March 19, 1857

Weekly Arkansas Gazette, Sat March 14, 1857

Every so often, a small clue—a name, a line of print, a forgotten notice—reveals a life worth remembering. This post begins with one such clue: a death notice written by William D. Shaw, a man whose own story began as elusive as those he tried to preserve.

In gathering these fragments, we do what Shaw once did: we carry their names forward, so they are not forgotten.

Effie BULL Follow Up: And Some Historical Geography

 

I felt my earlier post had a lot of information on several different families so I wanted to post this one to narrow the focus down to Effie and Joseph.


Passed down via word of mouth through all the descendants of Joseph H. Conner and his wife Effie is that her maiden name was Bull... this is my attempt to establish enough evidence to give this theory a leg to stand on.

In the 1850 and 1860 MO State census, Effie, wife of Joseph H. Conner, gives her birthdate as 1795 and birth location as NC. Joseph H. Conner gives his birthdate as 1803, being born in Virginia (1850) and TN (1806). Their son Thomas Conner's military records narrows his birth location to that of Knox Co., KY.

Looking at that area we see it is right near the border of TN, VA and NC. All four of these States and their counties' border lines were constantly changing during the late 1700's and early 1800's.  If you were to look at formation maps between then and the turn of the century you can see how quickly this area changed. In fact in 1784 several of these counties formed the now extinct provisional State of Franklin.... I say this to remind you not to get too hung up on Counties and States when gathering your records for this line during this time period.


Keeping in mind that this is modern day boundary lines... here is a picture of the region these families are found in, excluding their brief stint in IN. The area outlined in blue is a rough estimate of the now extinct State of Franklin.

Okay.

If you search records for this area you will see that a John Bull (sometimes listed as John Bull Sr.) appears on the 1783 Greene Co. tax list (*Note that during that time it was actually NC but by 1796 it had become TN.)

This John Bull eventually migrates to Knox County, KY where he can be found in the 1810 census where it would appear it is just he and his wife, both over the age of 45. Next door to him is a James Bull, then three more houses down, is John Bull Jr. I find no record for John Bull Sr in the 1820 census but 17 Jan 1818 shows John Bull (no suffix) with a land grant in Knox Co. KY, for 50 acres on water course Fk Yellow Cr.

Knox Co., KY, was formed in 1799/1800 and maps show it included "Indian Lands" in the southwest portion. These Indian Lands, which are not shown on maps after 1800, appear to have included the area that later became the western part of Josh Bell Co. when it was formed in 1867 and encompassed the Clear Creek land of the Bull family at the time.

Fellow researcher Darlene Ply found a warrant transfer of 50 acres from John T. Bull to Joseph Conner on Clear Creek in Knox Co.Ky. The land was bounded by William Evans, Richard Bull and John T. Bull. It was signed 10 Sept.1827 by John T.Bull

In 1825 Joseph Conner (Effie's husband) purchased 50 acres on Little Clear Creek. That same year a John Bull is listed as having 150 acres also on Little Clear Creek.

Now Joseph and Effie's son William lists in his military papers that his birth location was Hendricks Co., IN. A John T. Bull Jr. ( whom I believe to be Effie's brother) purchased about 30 acres in Morgan Co., IN which sits right below Hendricks Co. And in the 1830 census there is a John T. Bull Sr. and a John T. Bull both listed in Morgan Co. I believe the John T. Sr. to be the same mentioned above (Effie's brother) and the other John to be John T.'s son, Effie's nephew.

I can find no definitive trace of John Sr (Effie's father) in the years 1820-1830. But the 1820 census of Knox Co, KY lists an aged female (45+) living with the suspected son of John Sr., Richard Bull, and in 1830 Knox Co. there is an aged male (70-79) also living with Richard Bull. I believe the 1820 census refers to Richard's mother and the 1830 to be John Sr. living back at home with his son.

John Bull Sr. and Richard Bull are petitioners on 19 Jan 1799 in Grainger Co., TN, seeking to prevent any part of Grainger Co. from being split off to Jefferson Co., TN

Grainger Co. was formed from Hawkins & Knox Cos. in 1796 when TN was admitted as a state. The 1800 & 1810 census records for Grainger Co., TN were burned during the War of 1812. Richard is said to have moved his family (probably from Grainger Co., TN) to Knox Co., KY, in 1811-1813.  Richard Bull first appears on the Knox Co. tax list in 1815. He owned a mill on Clear Creek in an area of Knox Co. that partly went into Harlan Co. in 1819 and completely into Josh Bell Co. in 1867.  Richard is on the Knox Co., KY, tax lists annually between 1815 and 1829, with the exception of 1818.  *These tax records aren't on Ancestry*

John Bull Jr married Eleanor "Nelly" Collins in Grainger, TN in the year 1800 and Richard Bull married Fanny Bray there in 1805.

Richard Bull witnessed the 1822 Knox Co. will of neighbor, Joseph Haynes. Joseph Haynes' son Richard Haynes married Nelly *BULL* it is suspected that she is the daughter of Richard Bull's brother John who married an Eleanor "Nelly" Collins but it is plausible that she could be the daughter of Richard and Fanny Bray and was named after her aunt.

So from this I gather that sometime after 1825 and before 1834 that John Sr., John Jr and Joseph Conner migrated north to IN.... But by 1834 (the birthdate of Joseph's son Thomas) at least John Sr and Joseph had moved back down to KY. 

I can find NO census record for Joseph Conner prior to 1850. And Joseph gives his birth state as both TN and VA

I suspect he and Effie were married in Grainger County, as were here brother's. Grainger County was formed from neighboring Hawkins and Knox Counties in 1796, the same year Tennessee became a state.

I have found a likely prospect for Joseph's father in a man named Julius Conner. He can be found in the early land records of Hawkins County, TN on the dates of 15 Aug 1814, 9 Aug 1816, 22 Apr 1817 and 28 Oct 1817. Hawkins Co is right on the TN-VA line bordering Lee Co, VA making him my favorite candidate for Joseph's father. Julius is also found in Carter Co, TN during the years 1796-1799. The 1830 census find him in Cocke Co., TN with his wife and a young slave girl. He is aged (60-69), his wife (50-59). I suspect his wife's name to have been Katherine as there is a Katherine Conner (age 76) living with a Brooks family in Hawkins Co in the 1850 census. Julius and wife may have been living with a son Thomas in 1840.

The 1840 census of Hawkins Co lists several Conners - Two by the name of James, a Thomas, Edmund, Luke and a female household of a Fanny Conner in her 50's


So as you an see in researching the origins of Joseph and Effie you may find yourself getting an intense lesson in our nations early geography. We may never find out for sure who their parents were, but I'm sure I'll keep coming back and adding little pieces and nuggets here and there. HOPEFULLY if I'm lucky I'll stumble across a will.... now that I know where to look.

Becky
† Follow up: After further research I have learned that Julius' wife was indeed named Katherine/Catherine maiden name Cobb, daughter of Pharaoh Cobb and Barshaba Whitehead. I've seen in a few trees that they had a son named Joseph but a name is all they have for him.

† Follow up: Something to note - John Bull Jr.'s FIL, David Collins, died in Morgan County, IN.

Martha Teel - wrapped up.

I apologize that all I seem to be able to offer up on this ancestor is speculation at best. I do hope to share with you a few links to some of my finds. I will start with this link to the 1909 edition of the Atlanta, Texas newspaper,  The Atlanta News . Direct your attention to the article titled OFF FOR MEMPHIS. The Bradberry Teel mentioned is Martha's brother. He is also mentioned in this article as well. He was born 22 Nov 1836 in Georgia and married Susannah Williams in 1858. He enrolled April 4 1862 and was enlisted with the Confederacy, Co. E 46th Alabama Infantry, Stevenson Division. By the year 1880 he and his family are living in Cass Co., Texas, and at his death he was buried in Atlanta, Texas in 1915. In this article about the Confederate reunion, it mentions a J W Hughes. I'm wondering if this is Martha's second husband since I'm not certain if "Mack" was a given name or nickname. Again... speculation. A far leap in my honest opinion.

I have recently discovered a resource in my constant searching for Mack and Mattie Hughes; a book written by Millie Porter. In her book she speaks of a Hughes family living in Wheeler county Texas in the late 1800’s. Millie wrote that an MC Hughes supplied milk to the soldiers of Fort Elliott, a military fort two miles southeast of Mobeetie. She also wrote that both MC and his wife had been previously married, a fact which would fit my Mattie Hughes, though I have no idea about Mack. Also written was that the family had been hit by a cyclone and their milk business was disrupted. Is this cyclone the reason for such a lack of records in my search? **NEW INFORMATION** If you click the link about the cyclone it speaks of a young girl named Anna Belle Masterson... Anna Belle Masterson's father was RB Masterson and her sister was Fannie Fern. Both of whom signed, as witnesses, on my Mattie Teal's DIL's Cherokee Nation application papers saying they had known her for 15 years. AND John Calvin named one son Ben MASTERSON Jones, and a daughter Fannie Leigh. Was this after Fannie Fern?

I'm feeling nearly certain this is my family as Mattie's son John Calvin and his young family were living in Mobeetie, Wheeler Co. in the late 1890's - 1908 at the latest according to tax records and the 1900 census. The 1910 census places them in Knox Co. **I believe I have finally found Mattie and "Mack" Hughes (listed as Mc Alester C Hughes ) in the 1910 census, living in Cordell Ward 4, Washita, Oklahoma. It lists Mattie as being the mother of only one child and as my Great Aunt Frances relayed to me, in Mattie's will she says that Johnnie Calvin is her only child.**

In the June 1940 edition of The Pampa News there's a story by a Mrs. Lillie Throstle, as she recalls her early childhood in 1886, Wheeler Co. Texas. She mentions neighbors Joneses and a Mack Hughes. Again, I'm feeling nearly 100% that this is my Mattie's spouse, Mack Hughes, but where are all their records? Is this all I'll ever find? Only newspaper clippings and second hand stories? I remain hopeful that someday more evidence will surface of this family.

Another source of information is the Cheyenne Sunbeam, a publication out of Cheyenne, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma Territory. In the 1895 publication you can find the following:  "MC Hughes is back again.  His better half is away for a month at Mobeetie and Mac looks lonely." This is the first evidence I've found that would suggest MC was also known as Mac!!  Mobeetie was located just across the state/county line to the west. And often mentioned with MC Hughes is the community of Elk Creek. In the November 1899 publication this snippet was published: "Mr. Bradley and Mr. Hughes have moved their families back to their homes on Sweetwater." Sweetwater was the previous name for the community of Mobeetie.

 

In my previous post I ended with a bit of interesting information about Mattie being known as quite the sharp shooter. If you look at where she was living during that time and what had taken place there the previous decade with the Red River Wars and the constant tension between the early settlers of the area and the local Indian tribes of that day, I could see how learning to be a good shot would be incredibly beneficial. She truly lived in the Wild West. In reading about the history of Mobeetie and all that transpired there in the 1870's I'm reminded of the 1990's television series The Young Riders. And after reading one account of a couple of buffalo hunters being scalped by Indians in 1874, I'm also reminded of that terrible scene in Dances With Wolves where the wagon driver and his two mules were slaughtered. 

What a brave and hardened woman she must've been to lose her first husband to the Civil War and then to leave her parents and several siblings behind in Georgia to make a fresh start for herself and her young son in such an untamed place. I'm sure she was full of true grit. And even though I don't have many facts about her life, I admire her for the strength she must've had to survive during that time period in such dangerous place.

Please don't forget to click over to these great genealogy blogs as well - Days of Our Lives and Theology for Mom