Before I Forget

          I could spend all day here. But then I've a heap of ancestors who migrated to Missouri long ago when it was the hinterlands:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh

          A court database with old records is available for limited viewing. Type in last name then first name--separated by a comma. Example:  Baker, William

https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Records/Archives/ArchivesDb/JudicialRecords/Default.aspx 

          Civil War records:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/CivilWar

          Find anything that made you hoot out loud?  I did. (And I just sent the link to my sister).

Mahlon Jordan James is my very photogenic maternal 3xGreat-Grand Uncle. Son of John Abraham James (born Barren County, Virginia in 1790) and Rachael Anne Bray James (born 1794 Chatham County, North Carolina), Mahlon was the eighth of 12 (known) children. Word! 

Hear me now, People! When in my dotage I'm asked what was the greatest achievement of the Twentieth Century? Two words: BIRTH CONTROL.

Allegedly born in Missouri 1828 (with only his grave marker as "proof"), Mahlon married Jane Campbell in 1860. They made a home in Moniteau County, Missouri for their ten children. Their last child was Jesse James (1877-1906). Pranksters that they were, I'm certain they named their youngest Jesse for one reason: to confuse descendants into believing they are related to the infamous bank robber. Not so. THAT Jesse lived in nearby Clay County. 

Uncle Mahlon and Aunt Jane lived long. I hope they prospered. She died in 1914 at age 75, and Mahlon lived to be 96 years. They are both buried in the Highland Cemetery in Moniteau County. I appreciate Larry Hutchison for sharing Mr. James' marvelous photo. 

NOTE TO COFFEE COUSINS: You too are related to Mr. James through John Willis Coffee's mother, Nancy James (wife of John Hanna Coffee). 

          I've spent this evening learning of my paternal 2xGrandmother's father-in-law. Matilda never met him, as she married his son, James A. Price (her third husband), in 1900 long after Linsey was killed in the war between the states.

          Several databases are uploading military records which is a boon for family historians. I especially like learning the physical descriptions of my ancestors. Why, unless you committed a horrendous crime and had your face splashed across a newspaper's front page, few documents from the 19th century describe a person's coloring, height, and weight as do military enlistment docs. The Union Army's records offer more detail than do those of the Confederacy.

          Linsey Price enlisted June 5, 1863 and served with Company F of the 11th Regiment Cavalry. While Price may have been born and bred in Kentucky, he joined a Missouri unit with the Union Army. Many researchers spell his name "Lindsey." But I only find his signature showing a spelling of Linsey. See for yourself in these splendid actual docs:

          Did you see Pvt. Price was "5 foot 7 inches high," fair complected, hazel eyes, with dark hair. And his health record, word! The detailed questions. I've not seen that before in Civil War records.