Two Harrys. No doubt persons possessing a certain uh, strong constitution, as they would have been teased most all their lives.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=137513723
I'm reading old Missouri newspapers this afternoon while someone hoots and hollers in the other room over West Virginia's first touchdown within two minutes of the game against Oklahoma State University's Cowboy football team. Three items of interest:
The third clipping from a September 1836 paper finds poor Mrs. Metcalf and her five children in a bind. I can't imagine what limited choices she faced, and the feelings of panic felt.
Chattel:
Most American treated married women according to the concept of coverture, a concept inherited from English common law. Under the doctrine of coverture, a woman was legally considered the chattel of her husband, his possession. Any property she might hold before her marriage became her husband's on her wedding day, and she had no legal right to appear in court, to sign contracts or to do business. Although these formal provisions of the law were sometimes ignored—the wives of tradesmen, for example, might assist in running the family business—married women technically had almost no legal identity.
(This was posted in October of 2014, long before I knew much about Virgil Wantland's family. That has since changed)
This family photo was shared on Facebook last week by a cousin (Thanks, Loi!) who snapped the photo from an album that once belonged to our Great-Grandmother Evie (Baker) Childers. The three men are identified as Sam Childers, Sam Baker and Virgil Wantland. Was Virgil a cousin by marriage or blood? A family friend? As of this date, no one has put names to faces in this undated photograph. A few of us think it is the two Sams who stand behind Virgil, each with a hand on Virgil's shoulder.
Thanks to draft registrations from World War I, we have a brief description of the three men. Childers has brown hair, Baker has black hair, and Virgil's hair is "auburn." See their three cards in the gallery below. Click to enlarge for easy reading. Remember to click again to return to this page:
Virgil was lucky not to have suffered permanent paralysis. He sued, and his employer later appealed Virgil's lawsuit:
Source: PETROLEUM IRON WORKS CO. v. WANTLAND, 1911 OK 104, decided March 21, 1911 by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma at URL: http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/deliverdocument.asp?id=4108&hits=6627+3553+3547+3270+3245+274+268+6+
Let me back up and lay groundwork as to the possible history between these three men. First, Sam Baker is my Great-Grand Uncle, the younger brother to my Great-Grandmother, Ora Evaline. His full name: Samuel Oscar Baker, born February 14, 1890, in Gallatin, Daviess County, Missouri--two years after the birth of his sister "Evie." And Sam was born three weeks after Virgil in early 1890-- also in the town of Gallatin. Might they have been boyhood friends? Schoolmates? Kin?
By 1900, Sam and Evie Baker's mom, born Matilda Anna Lee, is widowed, having lost her second husband, William Henry Ward. This census page below is from the 1900 Fed. Census for Daviess County, Missouri, showing their race, gender, birth month and year, age and marital status:
Just south of the Kansas border where our Wantlands and Bakers would later live, a pivotal event occurred. The Nellie Johnstone No.1 blew in as a gusher, producing up to 75 barrels of oil a day before it was capped in early 1897. Bartlesville in Indian Territory was "the place you ought to be."
Along with the gushing black gold came even more "intruders" to Indian Territory. Intruders = the term applied by the U.S. Government to uninvited squatters on tribal land. Plenty of jobs became available as new communities popped up. With new employment came families, and young people who later tied the knot. I've copied/pasted the transcription of Virgil's marriage to Mayme Saunders, with spelling errors intact:
The Childers/Baker ceremony took place in Basin, a small community in Pawnee County, Oklahoma Territory. Here is Evie Baker and Sam Childers' marriage license in January of 1907. Oklahoma would become a state later that year:
Another time I'll continue with the marriage of Sam Baker to Virgil's younger sister, Della Wantland:
(To Be Continued)
-- This was updated with minor corrections in August 2017.
FIRST: On Fold3, a popular military site, I found some records of family who had fought for the Confederacy. Attached are two images George Freeman Hurley's military file. My mother's great-grandfather, G. F. Hurley, of Company K, 34th North Carolina Regiment, was captured April 2, 1865 in Virginia and sent to a prison in New York Harbor. After swearing an oath of allegiance to the United States, he was released from Hart's Island on June 17, 1865. Researchers are happy to learn physical descriptions of ancestors, as shown here on the second page of my red-headed ancestor's record:
HART's ISLAND: In 1865, as the Civil War was ending, the Federal government used the Island as a prison camp for Confederate soldiers. Hart Island was a prisoner of war camp for four months in 1865. 3,413 captured Confederate soldiers were housed. 235 died. Their remains were relocated to Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn in 1941. It was the final prison established by the Union...and it quickly evolved into the city's most horrible site. Located in Long Island Sound about twenty miles north of the city and just a few miles south of David's Island, Hart Island wasn't even used until April 1865, the month the Civil War came to an end. Within three weeks of its opening, 3,413 POWs are crammed into the post's tiny enclosed area Hart does not become completely cleared of prisoners until July. Within the four months of its operation, nearly 7 percent of all the camp's POWs died, mostly from illnesses brought with them, such as chronic diarrhea and pneumonia.
Green beef shoes? 2d Lt. T. D. Lattimore wrote: "During this winter, which was so rigorous, even to those in comfort, many of the soldiers, for want of shoes for their frost-bitten feet, covered their feet with green beef hides." From The Histories Of The Several Regiments And Battalions From North Carolina, In The Great War 1861-'65, wonderfully shared online at URL: https://archive.org/details/01300611.3315.emory.edu
SECOND: My 2nd Great-Grandfather Welk Wilhelm saw many battles with and a few captures by the Union Army. This image shows Welcome "took the oath" so as to save his hide from having to spend further time in some hellish POW camp. Soldiers who signed the oath were then released, and very often rejoined their regiments to continue the fight elsewhere. I have no idea if this is his actual signature. If so, it is yet another variation of what I believe to be his legal name: William Welcome Wilhelm. Cousins might want to see the 18 images from Welk's military file that I shared back in April 2014. (Type the name Wilhelm in this blog's Search menu on the left). May I also suggest you google the Battle of Vicksburg and its siege? Nasty business, that.
From 1940 to 1946 over ten million American men were called to register for military service in the second World War. As of September 2014, there is only one set of these draft cards made available to the public (due to privacy concerns). It is a WONDERFUL collection for family history buffs to view because of what each card details:
The most common birthday shared by people born between 1973 and 1999 is today--September 16th.
(I see you using your fingers to count back nine months...)
I'm not sure "casualty" is the correct word as young Hurley died of disease. But because he was in the service of the Confederate Army at the time of his death, I consider him a casualty of war. A hideous war in which more men died from illness than did by battle. You may recall nearly 620,000 men/women perished during the War Between the States.
Caswell died March 8, 1862--just six months after enlisting with the 34th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, Company C, on September 9, 1861. Here's a copy from his military file downloaded from Fold3.com/
Caswell was the first of eight children of Daniel and Melissa (Gibson) Hurley of Montgomery County, North Carolina. Daniel had died in July of 1859, and missed seeing his first and his third sons go to war. Caswell didn't actually go far from home with his regiment, but trudged around nearby counties. Poor rations and miasma left many ill. I found a couple of paragraphs (below) describing his last couple of months. Due to critical health, several in their regiment were left at Williamston while the unit continued on towards Roanoke. It was in Williamston that Caswell died. Was he lying in a tent or shelter? Was this 18 year old exposed to the elements his last day in March?
"This regiment was organized at Camp Fisher, near High Point, where it was mustered into state service on October 25th, 1861, for twelve months' service. The regiment was ordered to Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, and was transferred to Confederate service on January 1st, 1862. On January 14th the regiment arrived at Goldsboro, where it went into camp while awaiting the distribution of arms. It's strength was reported as thirty seven officers and seven hundred and nine men present out of an aggregate of nine hundred and ten. Arms were issued on January 22nd. At about the same time, the regiment was reported, without further elaboration, to be 'becoming more and more unhealthy daily.'
On February 8th, 1862, a Federal amphibious force under General Ambrose E. Burnside captured Roanoke Island, and a Federal fleet began moving up the nearby coastal rivers. The 34th Regiment was ordered to Halifax, where it arrived on February 13th; it was then sent, in succession, to Jamesville, Weldon and Tarboro. On March 1st the Regiment moved to Hamilton under orders to prevent the enemy from ascending the Roanoke River."
I found an 1862 North Carolina map along with a charming photo of General Burnside's chops. Click to open the gallery:
Caswell's younger brother, George Freeman Hurley, served in this same regiment. He fared better, but spent time at one of the harshest Yankee prisons: Hart's Island--just off New York City, from April 7, 1865 to June 17, 1865. Records indicate he was fair complected, red headed, 5'7" with gray eyes. He swore an oath of allegiance to the United States on June 17, 1865 prior to his release. --NC Regiments, Walter Clark, Vol Z, p 589.
"On April 1, 1865, the regiment with the brigade, occupied a position on the right, south of Hatcher's Run. We learned soon after daylight that the Confederate lines between us and Petersburg had been broken. After this saddening news the regiment repulsed a force of Federal cavalry and then retreated to Southerland's Station, where a portion of Heth's and Wilcox's divisions hastily constructed breastworks from a rail fence behind which we repulsed two desperate assaults of the enemy, killing and wounding a large number and capturing a stand of colors and many prisoners. Discovering that we were vastly outnumbered we fell back to the Appomattox River. There was no way of crossing the river except in a small boat which was scarcely sufficient to carry the higher officers. The regiment marched all night and reached Amelia Court House the next day. At this time the ranking officer was LTC George Norment, of the 34th Rgt, from Mecklenbery County. Here we joined the main army and General Lee provided for us the much needed rations." T. C. Lattimore, Shelby, NC, April 9, 1901.
Meet Caswell Hurley's younger brother and my 2xGGrandfather, George Freeman Hurley, in a photo taken in 1902. Texas has a bit of a political biography on my populist red-headed ancestor:
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fhuae
Months ago I posted a dilemma concerning my earliest Wiser immigrant to Texas. Records and census images show the spelling of Hannah's four young sons to be WISER. Her maiden name has yet to be discovered. This 2nd Great-Grandmother remarried an aging San Jacinto veteran (GO TEXAS!) in 1853, and the handwriting on the marriage license indicates, oh, take a look for yourself, is it WOSTA or WOSTE or what-the?
http://treepig.posthaven.com/1853-marriage-of-hannah-wosta-to-samuel-leeper
Look on the left-hand sidebar where the Galveston Court Clerk wrote "Leeper" and "Wosta?" See it? Many descendants have scratched their heads at this handwriting thankfully recorded for posterity. And many a researcher has run variations of Wosta through databases looking for immigration records, ship notes, earlier census records, etc.
Phoey, it raises more questions than answers. Is Hannah's name on this marriage certificate that of her last husband or her maiden name? And could it be that our last name is NOT "Wiser" but another name? BTW, when you boarded a ship in Bremen or Hamburg long ago (in what later became Germany) you could not do so by just paying cash. You had to show papers validating your full name and residence. Captains were required to keep logs. Thousands of these logs are preserved. Many died when crossing the Atlantic. Their deaths were recorded, too. Both the originals and transcriptions of these records are available. And many cities' newspapers published the names of the first class arrivals. MORE: http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/passenger-arrival.html
WHICH BRINGS ME TO TODAY: A wonderful new database is available of World War I prisoners of war. Two of Hannah's Texas grandsons fought in France and Germany in 1918. I've long found it curious that two sons of a native German immigrant fought "the Huns" in a war that was to end all wars. Did they know much about their dad's ancestry? Surely it crossed their minds that they might engage in hand to hand combat in a muddy trench with a cousin or two, no? If I ever asked Grandpa this, I've since forgotten his response. And goodness knows he LOVED to talk about his time in the War. Do you know more from conversations with Elton?
http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/ Prisoners Of The First World War
I ran a few surnames. Found several Wisers in the German Army. Found several of my husband's surnames in the French Army (let the teasing begin). But this result below REALLY interested me. Of all the combinations of WOSTE I've not thought of or seen this spelling: Woster. Do you see the similarity to the handwriting on the 1853 document? Click on both pictures:
I shall now be on the alert for all things WOSTER.
I'm knee deep in West Virginia genealogy today researching my husband's Brown family. He lost an uncle to cancer this week, and the cousins have been sharing photos and memories on Facebook. All this serves to pique my interest in his maternal ancestry. I was up until 2:00 a.m. clicking away on Ancestry dot com and the Familysearch site. Very happy to find photos and stories that researchers have shared of Clay County residents 130+ years ago.
Did you know my husband's fourth great-grandfather Alexander Brown fought in the War of 1812? I thought not. He served with Yancey's regiment in the Virginia militia.
Alexander and his wife, Mary (Polly) Foster, lived in Monroe County, Virginia. One researcher reports that Alex and Polly had 16 children (gulp). Before marrying, Alex and his father in law posted a marriage bond on November 14, 1805 for a then HUGE sum of money. See a researcher's transcription below:
We Alexander Brown and Isaac Foster acknowledge our __ indebted to John Page ___ Governor of Virginia and ___ therefore in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars with condition that there is no legal cause to obstruct a marriage intended to be solemnised between the said Brown and Polly Foster of this county with our hands and seals this 14th day of November 1805 Alexander Brown (Seal) Isaac his X mark Foster (Seal) John Hutchison
Bob Legg wrote: "This appears to be a marriage license, where Alexander Brown and Polly Foster's father, Isaac, had to promise to pay a $150 fee. (Equal to about $2100 today) John Page was a former member of the 1st US Congress who was later Governor of Virginia from 1802 to 1805." I appreciate Mr. Legg for sharing this document.
Among the alleged 16 children were a couple of sons trained as physicians. I found a colorfully worded bio for a grandson of Alexander and Polly. I too look forward to passing the psalmist's span of three score years in good health.
Source: The History of West Virginia, Old and New. Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 538.ANTHONY R. BROWN, M. D., of Clay, judicial center of Clay County, has passed the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, but is still engaged in the active and successful practice of his profession, in which he has made a record of faithful and effective service, the while he has broadened the province of his work to include also practice as a veterinary surgeon.Doctor Brown was born in Nicholas County, West Virginia, February 15, 1848, and is a son of John and Susan (Neal) Brown, both likewise natives of that county and both representatives of pioneer families there. John Brown was born in the year 1812, was reared on a pioneer farm, and he eventually became one of the successful practicing physicians in his native county, where he remained until 1855. He then removed to Clay County, where he built up a large and substantial general practice, in connection with which he manifested a high sense of personal and professional stewardship. He became a loyal supporter of the cause of the republican party, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Of the nine children only two are now living, the subject of this sketch being the younger, and the elder brother, Dr. George W., being engaged in the practice of medicine at Lizemores, Clay County.Dr. Anthony B. Brown was reared on the home farm and attended the schools of the locality and period. He was a lad of sixteen years when his youthful patriotism led him to enter the Union service in the Civil war, and as a member of a West Virginia regiment of volunteer infantry he continued in service until the close of the war. Thereafter he studied medicine under effective private preceptorship, and after thus duly qualifying himself he engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, in which his success attests alike his technical skill and his unqualified personal popularity. He has maintained his residence in the Village of Clay since 1902, and in his professional service he has ever been ready to minister to those in suffering or distress, no matter how great the labor involved, how inclement the weather or how difficult the incidental traversing of muddy or unimproved roads. He has thus gained the gratitude and appreciative regard of those whom he has thus unselfishly served, and he is one of the substantial and honored citizens of Clay County. He is a republican in politics and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic.As a young man Doctor Brown wedded Miss Elizabeth D. Jarett, and her death occurred in 1908. Of the six children of this union four are living. In 1909 Doctor Brown married Miss Ella Taylor, who was born in Braxton County, July 1, 1887, the three children of this union being William R., Ardelle M. and Naomi V.
_________________________
West Virginia became a state in 1863. This family had earlier moved from a pro-Confederacy part of Virginia to a rural area more friendly to Yankees. I know not whether politics was a reason for the move. I've not yet run the many names through Civil War databases to see who enlisted on which side. What led whole families to up and relocate? Perhaps it was merely a need for more land. More space for large families. Do you ever wonder how birth control might have changed history if made available centuries ago? Mothers would have lived longer. Husbands would have had fewer wives.
My Mother's Great-Granddad served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was 20 years old when he signed on in May of 1864. I don't find that he saw battle, but do find that Corporal McCormick's unit had "garrison duty" at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for a few months before being mustered out in Saint Louis, Missouri.(1) Other records indicate he was 6'2", dark hair, black eyes, and dark complected. This height was passed to many of his grandchildren.
He married, had seven kids on his farm in Illinois. When he was 62 he joined other family who were homesteading in New Mexico Territory. Today I found mention of him in a rural newspaper.(2) William McCormick and other "old soldiers" had been awarded military pensions. William, now living near the town of Hagerman, got a whopping $12 a month. I've no clue what that sum would be in today's dollars, do you?
A couple of columns over from this article was a cute Mark Twain story. You know, Samuel Clemons was so very popular long ago. Oklahoma's Will Rogers later matched Twain in the public eye. WE NEED A NEW HUMORIST of their quality.
William died in 1921 at age 75. He didn't live as long as his 90 year old dad. A kind soul shared William's parents' tombstone photo which appears to have been taken after sunset. But what the heck is that gargoyle on top? I've tried to brighten these photos, but failed. Click to see all three in the gallery:
Before I return to reading 100 year old newspapers, here's a brief bit of data on William's ancestors. Thanks for stopping by!
SOURCE:
1. http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UIL0138RI
2. The Spanish American, Feb. 1, 1908, Image 12, newspaper from Roy, Mora County, New Mexico. URL as of July 10, 2014: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92061524/1908-02-01/ed-1/seq-12/#
