52 Ancestors - #16: Caroline B. Hobbs

Caroline B. Hobbs, daughter of Nathan Augustus Hobbs Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Lankford, was born in Greene County, Georgia on January 13, 1821. Caroline was the fourth child of eight—Robert L., Joel Garner, Rebecca B., Caroline B., Nathan Augustus Jr., Minor Smith, Elizabeth Fanny, and Marian Langford Hobbs. Caroline is my third great-grandmother.

Now I don’t want to spread misinformation regarding Caroline’s birth year so will state publicly that this one has me confused. The 1850 census listed her age as 26. In 1860 she was 36, 1870 she was 47, and in 1880 she was 50. The 1900 census listed her birthdate as January 1830. Her February 1901 pension application listed her birthdate as January 13, 1821 and said she had lived in Georgia for 80 years “since my birth.” And finally, her 1903 and 1904 pension applications listed her birth year as 1819. Since the 1901 pension application is the only record that listed a full date and the fact that James McWhorter, Greene County Ordinary, signed an affidavit stating that Caroline was born in 1821, I choose to go with 1821, although technically she would have been 81 years old since she was born in January and she filed the application in February. If anyone can prove otherwise, please let me know.

The 1830 Greene County census record for Nathan Hobbs shows that two “Free White Persons – Females  ages 5 through 9” lived in the home. The 1840 Greene County census record for Nathan Hobbs shows that two “Free White Persons – Females ages 15 through 19” lived in the home. I assume in both cases that this would have been Caroline and her sister Rebecca. Of course, it’s not safe to assume so again, know that I could be wrong.

Caroline married James Meriweather Lankford, son of Charles L. Lankford and Miss Moore, on December 1, 1844 in Greene County. The ceremony was performed by Jeremiah Lindsey. Together they had seven children—Mary F., James C., Emma S., Emerette R., Nathan, Laura J., and Marion Lankford. I would love to figure out who Miss Moore is.

Caroline gave birth to her first child, Mary F., on September 1, 1845 in Greene County, Georgia. Her second child, James C., was born in November 1849 in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia.

On August 14, 1850, Caroline and James lived in the 14th district of Greene County. Her parents lived three houses away. Their last name was spelled Langford vs. Lankford in this record. I’ve found that the “k” and “g” are often swapped out in the name Lankford. Their two children, Mary and James, lived with them.

Caroline’s third child, Emma S., was born in 1852 in Georgia, most likely Greene County. I believe Emma married James L. Wilson and died before 1880. She was buried at Penfield Cemetery in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. Her fourth child, Emerette R., was born on October 1854 in Penfield. Emerette (AKA Nannie) lived with her mother her entire life. Caroline’s fifth child, Nathan, was born in 1856 in Georgia. Her sixth child, Laura J., was born in 1857. Her seventh and last child, Marion, was born in January 1859. Marion, like Emerette, lived with her mother her entire life. Emma, Nathan, Laura, and Marion were most likely born in Greene County.

I wrote this paragraph for my blog post on James M. Lankford. Because Caroline was mentioned, I will repeat it here: An 1860 slave schedule shows that James owned three slaves—a 65 year old male, a 50 year old male, and a 26 year old female. The word “Murder” is written beside the female’s name. A Southern Watchman article dated April 5, 1860 speaks of a female slave—most likely the 26 year old female listed in the 1860 slave schedule: “Three Children Drowned! We learn from the Washington Independent that a negro woman belonging to Mr. James M. Lankford, of Penfield, threw her three children into his well on Tuesday night of last week, and to make sure of their destruction she descended herself by means of the rope. She was drawn out next morning, and turned over to the authorities.” Bryant’s book How Curious a Land* devotes two and a half pages to the story of slave Becky, age 26. As the mother of three children, Becky was considered valuable to the Lankford’s. When Caroline caught Becky stealing dough, she threatened to severely punish her. The next day, Mary Lankford, daughter of James and Caroline, discovered Becky and her three children in the bottom of their well. Becky was still alive but her children had died. Local officials ruled the deaths murder and Becky was taken to jail in Greensboro. There were rumors of different versions of the event—did Becky murder her children to get back at the Lankford’s for threats made by Caroline? Or was Becky despondent over the threats, attempt suicide, and decide to take her children with her in death? James was known to drink and lie. Did he make up the story in a drunken stupor? Becky was valuable property to a slave owner so George Dawson, the lawyer hired by James, took the suicide angle. She was only tried for one death and it was never mentioned that it was her child. Becky was eventually found not guilty and returned to the Lankford household. If Becky thought her life was hard before, what must she have thought after all this!

On July 21, 1860, Caroline and James lived in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia. Their last name was spelled Lankford in this census record. All seven children lived in the home with them at this time.

On April 24, 1861, James joined the Confederate cause and enlisted in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia as a private in Company C of the Third Regiment Georgia Infantry, or the Dawson Grays, C.S.A. Caroline was left to raise the children alone when he mustered into service at Augusta, Georgia on May 3, 1861. James served until May 1865 when he was honorably discharged with his command and returned home.

On July 6, 1869, Caroline filed for and received a plot of land in Penfield under the Homestead Act, a federal law enacted to help with Reconstruction after the Civil War ended. The plot contained four acres and was bounded by lands of Robinson and Mercer University, belonging to her husband James M. Lankford. I personally don’t understand how the Homestead Act worked. Why was Caroline filing as head of household when James was still alive? Why was she given property bounded by land owned by her husband? If anyone can shed some light on this for me, please leave a comment to this blog. Caroline was required to attach a list of personal property to the application. She declared the following items:

Household and kitchen furniture          $100.00
25 hogs                                              $50.00
5 cows and yearlings                           $75.00
1 gold watch and chain                        $30.00
1 horse wagon                                    $20.00
Total                                                $275.00

The land, which could not be worth more than $2,000, was awarded on July 17, 1869. The homestead petition stated that Caroline was the head of household, consisting of herself and five children—Emma Lankford, Amerette B. Lankford, Nathan Lankford, Samuel Lankford and Maria Lankford. Caroline’s children are a mystery to me. Who is Samuel? I don’t find him listed in any other record for this family. I would consider that Samuel was Nathan’s middle name but Nathan was listed as one of her five children along with Samuel. Mary married in 1867 and James in 1868 so they were no longer in the home. And what about Laura? She would have only been 12 so why wasn’t she listed? She was with the family in 1860. I have no further information about her after that year. Most of Caroline’s children have been hard to track. Obviously, more work needs to be done on this line.

On June 21, 1870, the family lived in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. Mary, James, and Emma have left the home and James is farming. They lived at the corner of Watson Spring Road. Caroline was “keeping house.”

By June 10, 1880, Caroline and her family have moved to Falling Creek, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. The enumerator listed her husband as J. L. Lankford. Only three children lived in the home then—Emerette, Laura, and Marion. Grandsons Walter Wilson, age 8, and Julien Wilson, age 6, are living with the family. Walter and Julien (or possibly Julius) were the sons of daughter Emma, who had apparently died. James and Caroline’s son, James C., lived next door with his family.

On several Indigent Widow’s Pension records, Caroline stated that her husband James died in Lithonia, DeKalb County, Georgia on October 29, 1887. J. Boswell and E. S. Powell, who fought with James during the war, signed affidavits stating that James died in 1888.

By June 16, 1900, Caroline had moved back to Penfield. Daughters Emerette (AKA Nannie) and Marion lived with her. Caroline was enumerated as being 70 years old, born January 1830. The record also showed that she had seven children, five of which were living. Caroline was able to read, write, and speak English. She rented her home.

Caroline first filed for and was approved an Indigent Widows of Confederate Soldiers pension in Greene County on February 22, 1901. She lived in Penfield. Caroline stated that she had been a resident of Georgia for 80 years since her birth. She further stated that she was born on January 13, 1821 in Greene County, Georgia. She declared that her husband was James Meriweather Lankford (this is the only time I’ve found his middle name spelled out) and that he was born in Jackson County, Georgia in 1820. Caroline also stated that she and James were married in Greene County, Georgia. James served with Company C, Third Georgia Regiment for six months and then with Company C, State Troops Regiment for more than two years. He was with the State Troops and not the Third Georgia Regiment when they surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. She stated that James died in Lithonia, Georgia in 1888. Caroline’s application was based on her age and poverty—she had not been able to support herself for more than 15 years. She had previously supported herself as a seamstress. Caroline stated she had no real or personal property or income and that she had not owned a “dollars worth” of property since the death of her husband. She had been supported by help from her two daughters. Her application was approved by John W. Lindsey, Commissioner of Pensions. She authorized James B. Park Jr. of Greene County to receive the pension on her behalf and to remit the same to her at Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia by his check or registered mail.

James H. McWhorter signed an Ordinary Certificate on February 22, 1901. McWhorter certified that Caroline resided in Greene County and had been a bonafide resident of Georgia since the day of her birth in 1821. McWhorter further certified that the tax digest of Greene County showed that Caroline returned zero dollars worth of property for taxation in her own name in 1899 and 1900.

On February 22, 1901, J. O. Boswell and E. S. Powell also supported Caroline’s application by swearing that she had lived in Penfield and that they had known her for 50 years. Both Boswell and Powell were acquainted with and knew her husband for 50 years as well. They were present when James M. Lankford enlisted with Company C, Third Georgia Regiment on May 3, 1861 and served in the same regiment. They stated that Lankford left his command in Portsmouth, Virginia when he transferred to the Georgia State Militia. Boswell and Powell both stated that Lankford died in Lithonia, Georgia in 1888; however, he was a resident of Greene County and had been all of his life. They knew Caroline to be his lawful widow and that she had remained unmarried since her soldier husband’s death. They also knew Caroline had no income of her own; she lived in their town, had no property since her husband’s death, and they knew that she was destitute. Both stated that Caroline was physically unable to wait on or support herself. She had been supported by her two daughters for 1899 and 1900 with Caroline contributing nothing. Their full and complete statement of Caroline’s physical condition was that she was 80 years old and not able to do anything whatsoever. Both stated that they had no interest or relationship in the recovery of the pension that Caroline would receive.

On February 23, 1901, J. M. McGaughey, MD and J. Wilson, MD swore that they had carefully examined Mrs. Caroline B. Lankford, applicant for a Pension under Act of 1900, and after such personal examination said that her physical condition was that she was 80 years old and extremely feeble and infirm on account of age and was absolutely unable to earn a living and could not leave her house. They had no interest in said pension if allowed.

George N. Boswell supported Caroline’s pension application by swearing an oath on October 8, 1901 to the following facts: James M. Lankford, Caroline’s husband, joined the army at Penfield, Georgia in February 1864 and served in the Georgia State Troops up to the surrender in 1865. Boswell swore that James M. Lankford was with his command in Augusta, Georgia when the command surrendered. Boswell swore his means of knowing the above facts were that he joined the company at the same time that Lankford did. Boswell stated that Lankford made a good and faithful soldier and was honorably discharged with his command in Augusta, Georgia at the surrender.

I don’t find an Indigent Widow’s Pension application for 1902 but find applications for 1903, 1904, and 1905 that basically state the same information each year. In each application, Caroline also authorized James B. Park of Greensboro, Georgia to receive her pension and requested that he remit it to James H. McWhorter at Greensboro. On January 16, 1905, Caroline declared that she was feeble due to age and that she was confined to her bed most of time.

Caroline died in Baldwin County, Georgia on January 8, 1906 according to an Application for Pension Due to a Deceased Pensioner filed by her son James C. Lankford on February 14, 1906. James declared that Caroline was on the Widow’s indigent Pension Roll of Greene County at the time of her death and that an unpaid pension of $60 was due to Caroline at that time. The application further stated that she left two dependent daughters and had no estate of any value sufficient to pay her funeral expenses which amounted to $65. It’s interesting that James C. declared that Caroline left two dependent daughters as Emerette would have been in her 50s and Marion in her late 40s in 1906 and both had been supporting their mother before she received her first pension payment in 1901.

The connection to Baldwin County is another mystery to me. Why was Caroline there when she’d lived in Greene County the majority of her life? Why can’t I find a death record for Caroline? A third mystery is the burial location for Caroline and her husband James. Why weren’t they buried in Penfield where other Lankford family members are buried? James and Caroline were prominent in the area during their lives.

I definitely need to do more work on this line. There are still too many questions that need to be answered.

*Bryant, Jonathan M., How Curious a Land: Conflict and Change in Greene County, Georgia, 1850–1885, published by the University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1996.

Genealogy Goals for 2015

For the first time ever, I’m setting goals for the upcoming year – genealogy goals that is. My hope is that by writing them down I’ll feel compelled to spend time in 2015 actually working on these goals. Most have been in the back of my mind for a while. I have many goals so have decided to start with just five. In no particular order, my genealogy goals for 2015 are:

1. Finish the 52 Ancestors challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow on January 3, 2014. I didn’t start the challenge until September 21, 2014 so I have a lot of catching up to do. 15 blog entries done, 37 to go.
2. Start documenting our family treasures to include a photo and short history of each item.
3. Scan 2 boxes of the 10 to 12 boxes of slides given to my husband by his aunt in 2012. Each box contains approximately 200 slides so it’s more work than it sounds. I managed to get through 5 boxes in 2012 but the process was interrupted when we remodeled our house and everything we owned went into storage for close to a year. The boxes haven’t been touched since then.
4. Load the new Family Tree Maker software I bought for myself, I mean my husband gave me for Christmas. It’s been years since I upgraded my software so this means I need to spend time checking out the new features.
5. Update my five Lankford surname notebooks. I’ve done a lot of research on my Lankford lines since I first put the notebooks together. I’m sure most of the family group sheets are out of date.

Let’s give it a shot and see what happens.

52 Ancestors - #15: Bertha Edna Smith

Bertha Edna Smith

Bertha Edna Smith, the daughter of John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne, was born on January 24, 1898 in Paulton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was the sixth child of seven—Benjamin Gordon, George Nelson, Edith McCrum, Howard Stanley, Helen Margaret, Bertha Edna, and John Thompson Smith.

On June 25, 1900, two year old Bertha lived with her family in the Washington Township of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was listed as Edna B. Smith in the census record.

Bertha’s 18 year old sister Edith, blind as the result of measles, died of typhoid fever on October 24, 1906 at Mercy Hospital. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

On April 26, 1910, the family still lived in Washington Township. A neighbor two doors away is John A. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was also a neighbor in 1900 so they must be living in the same house. Bertha was able to read and write.

Bertha’s father, John, died in Westmoreland County on March 9, 1912. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Another sister, Helen, died in Paulton on March 18, 1913. She was only 17 years old. Helen was buried on March 20 in the family plot at Apollo’s Riverview Cemetery. She shares a tombstone with her parents and sister Edith.

On January 26, 1920, 22 year old Bertha lived with her 60 year old widowed mother in the North Washington District of Washington Township. The home was located on Greensburg – Apollo Road. Bertha was single and had no occupation listed in the census record. Three adult brothers lived in the home with Bertha and her mother—Ben (age 37), George (age 34), and John (age 18). Her brothers all worked in a steel mill.



George Athya in white shirt, Bertha beside him

Bertha married a Scot, George Durie Athya, son of James Athya and Jemima Durie on June 14, 1924 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Together they had four children—John Thompson, Howard George, Mary Margaret, and James Jem Athya. Family names were apparently important to Bertha and George. Bertha’s father was named John. Her grandfather and brother were both named John Thompson Smith. She had brothers named George and Howard. Her sister Helen’s middle name was Margaret. On George’s side of the family—obviously George was her husband. His father was named James and his mother named Jemima so possibly their son James Jem was named after both of them. George also had sisters named Mary and Margaret, and a brother named John. I do find it interesting that George named his daughter Mary as his 1920 immigration record shows that he left a wife named Mary behind in Glasgow, Scotland. No one knows if they ever divorced or what happened to her in general.



Bertha, her brother Howard, and his wife Myrtle

On June 12, 1925, Bertha gave birth to her first child, John, in Pennsylvania.

Late 1926, early 1927, Bertha and George lived in a third floor apartment over a bar. When the owner found out that Bertha was pregnant with her second child (Howard), he wanted to move her to the second floor. Before Howard was born, Bertha’s mother Amanda and her son Ben took John home to stay with them hoping to make life easier for Bertha. John was not quite two at the time. Amanda and Ben planned to keep John there until Bertha got back on her feet. However, as young as John was, he decided that was where he would stay and so he did. He’d only been staying at Amanda and Ben’s house for a few weeks at that time but he had visited often and was comfortable and used to being with them. It hurt Bertha’s feelings but she realized it was best for her as living on the second floor with two children, having to carry laundry, groceries, etc. would be hard. Howard was born in Apollo on April 2, 1927.

Two years later Bertha’s only daughter, Mary, was born on February 9, 1929 in Paulton. She often mentioned that her birthdate was 2 9 29.

On April 12, 1930, census records show Bertha, George, John, Howard, and Mary lived in Paulton Mine, Westmoreland County. By the time their fourth son, James (AKA Jim), was born on June 7 they had moved to 213 South 4th Street in Apollo. Bertha’s elderly aunt, Electra Smith Jack, lived with Bertha and George in Apollo. Electra died in the South 4th Street home on April 22, 1932 at the age of 91. Bertha was the informant on Electra’s death certificate.

On April 15, 1940, Bertha, George, Howard, Mary, and James lived in Apollo. The census record shows the highest grade Bertha had completed was the 8th grade. Her 75 year old single aunt, Josephine Horne, lived next door.

Bertha and George lost two houses in the 1940s—one to taxes and one when the Kiskiminetas River flooded in Apollo. After the flood, they moved in with Bertha’s mother, Amanda, in Washington, Westmoreland County. Amanda was bedridden from a stroke and died on January 11, 1943. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Bertha in the center

After the death of her mother, Bertha, George, and their son Howard moved to Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio. John stayed in Pennsylvania with his Uncle Ben where he lived until his high school graduation. Jim moved in with Bertha’s brother George and his wife Verda. Mary lived with a neighbor for a month so she could participate in 8th grade graduation ceremonies. John, Mary, and Jim eventually joined the family in Warren.

In 1953, Bertha and George took a two week vacation to Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. Bertha had chronic obstructive lung disease and the doctor told Bertha it would be good for her. They ended up staying there after George called work several times to ask for more time off. Once moving to Phoenix, George, with Bertha’s help, worked as a church caretaker at two different churches—First Presbyterian and then Westminster. He was paid $100 per month and of that, $50 was used to pay rent. Bertha and George lived off the other $50 for a while until he started receiving a Social Security check.

Mary, her husband, and daughter moved to Phoenix the summer of 1955. They lived with Bertha and George for a year before returning to the East coast.

Bertha’s brother Ben died at the Elks Home in Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia on December 15, 1957. He was buried in the Elks National Cemetery, a section of Oakwood Cemetery designated as the burial place for residents of the Elks National Home.

Bertha’s brother George died on April 24, 1959 in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Her brother Howard died on January 14, 1961 in Apollo. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

At the age of 72, Bertha’s husband George died  in Phoenix of lung cancer on August 30, 1964. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Scattering Rose Garden (section 48) at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix on September 2. After George’s death, Bertha left Arizona and moved back to Warren to live with her oldest son John. In the mid-1960s, she moved to the city of Falls Church, Virginia to live with her daughter Mary. She stayed there a while and then went back to Ohio to live with her son Jim.

Bertha lost her last brother, John, on September 23, 1969. He was buried at Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

Sometime between 1971 and 1972, Bertha moved to Manassas, Prince William County, Virginia to live with Mary. She lived there until she died of a heart attack on April 22, 1979. She was 81 years old and the last member of her family to die. In her personal papers, I found a note handwritten by Bertha dated October 12, 1977 expressing her last wishes for a funeral: “To the undertaker: I want everything over as soon as possible. No need for viewing time, as simple and plain. No fuss. I want to be cremated and ashes scattered where ever they do it. No one needs to go to the [unreadable]. No embalming. No charge. No make-up. No charge. I never wear it.” Bertha left behind four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. She was cremated and her ashes scattered at All Souls Cemetery, a Catholic cemetery in Warren.

Bertha was a homemaker most of her adult life, except when she helped George take care of the churches in Phoenix. She never drove a car. She had a wealthy cousin named Effie Evans Beale who wanted Bertha to learn to drive so she could be her driver. Bertha always regretted not learning to drive. She was a gracious lady and a very nice person. She was quiet and stayed to herself a lot. Bertha never left the house without a head scarf. She enjoyed watching religious television shows such as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, and Pat Robinson. She also enjoyed Panorama, a midday talk show hosted by Maury Povich, game shows, and the roller derby.

Bertha read the Bible often and attended church when she lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio. For some reason, she didn’t attend church once she moved to Manassas, although other family members did.

Bertha liked to play cards—rummy was her favorite card game. I’m told she counted cards, not that she ever used this skill in a casino. She taught her grandson to count them too. He tells me she taught him the statistics of cards being played during games of Go Fish.

By the time Bertha lived in Manassas, she no longer cooked regular meals. When she did cook, it was usually Seafoam Candy (a brown-sugar version of Divinity), peanut brittle, or pies. She’d work for hours making Seafoam Candy using old school kitchen equipment. No fancy food processors for her. She did it all by hand.

Bertha would also spend hours swinging in the front yard with Mary and her first great-granddaughter, described to me as “being a handful.” I find it hard to believe that my dear niece could be a handful. In her defense, I’m told she was instigated by her uncle. To keep her distracted from mischief, Bertha would help her pick animal formations in the clouds while they swung in the front yard.

Bertha liked to keep her hands busy. She passed time by tatting and crocheting. She made sock monkeys and puppets out of anything she could get her hands on around the house. She’d make paper sailor hats and ships for her grandson and accordion paper doll cut outs.

She kept a Listerine bottle in the bathroom and for years her grandson thought she was taking a nip when he’d see her drink from the bottle. To his surprise, he eventually found out it actually was Listerine.

Bertha had curly dark hair and hardly a gray hair in her head when she died. She never wanted to be a burden.

I have a photo album that belonged to Bertha that is filled with photos taken in the early 1900s. Not a single photo has a name attached to it. Fortunately, I’ve been able to identify some of the photos from other photos we found in her possessions. Some are of a school age Bertha. Some are her brothers. A few are of her mother and aunts. Note to self … get busy labeling the many photos that I have. Someday someone may want to know who these people are!

When my in-laws retired and moved out of the home they’d lived in for 25 years, I found the picture to the right of a 20 year old Bertha in their attic. It was wrapped in newspaper and sitting in a cardboard box. The bubble glass was broken in half so I assume that’s why it ended up in the attic. I told my mother-in-law that I was taking the picture home with me that day. I was surprised when she let me take it because she just didn’t give things like that away. I brought the picture home and promptly put it upstairs out of the way for safe keeping. Sixteen years later, I finally decided to invest in new glass for the frame so we could hang it downstairs for all to see. It cost me $300 for the glass so I gave it to my husband for Christmas that year. He was thrilled with it and so we packed it up to carry with us on the hour drive to my in-laws house Christmas Day. My mother-in-law was in the final stages of emphysema and we knew when we arrived at their house that she was in bad shape that day. She was in bed so I spent a long time sitting with her in the bedroom. We talked when she was able to and held hands when she couldn’t do anything else. She wasn’t up to eating Christmas dinner but was finally able to come and sit in the living room while we made an attempt to celebrate the day. At times she was hallucinating—she was talking to a couple of presidents from the 1800s at one point. We finally showed her the newly framed picture of Bertha. Even in the state she was in, she immediately knew it was her mother. Her face lit up, she smiled, and a long ‘awwwww’ came out of her mouth. Christmas Day turned out to be her last full day on Earth as she died overnight. I was so thankful that we took the picture with us that day so she could see it.

I have only heard good things about Bertha. She must have been a very special woman.

52 Ancestors -- #14: Elijah Jeffers Holland

Elijah Jeffers Holland

Elijah Jeffers Holland, the son of Leroy Thomas Holland and Amanda Elizabeth Scott, was born September 25, 1872 in Anderson County, South Carolina. He was the 9th child of 11—Eliza Ann, Marion Scott, John Newton, Thomas N., William Harrison, John Louis, Brown Lee, Maggie Idora, Elijah Jeffers, Andrew Turner, and William Charles Holland.

Siblings John Newton, John Louis, and Maggie Idora died prior to Elijah’s birth. All were buried at Neals Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson.

Elijah’s mother Amanda died on December 18, 1877. I haven’t found a death record yet but assume she died in Anderson County. She was buried at Neals Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson along with the three Holland infants. Elijah was only five years old when she died.

On August 3, 1879, Elijah’s father married Cindarilla Darliska Amanda Hall, daughter of Aaron Hall and Clementine Ann Norris, in Anderson. Together they had three children—Aaron Hall, Lawrence Lafayette, and Joe Norris Holland.

On June 1, 1880, Elijah lived with his family in Broadway Township, Anderson County, South Carolina. His 11 year old brother, Brown, was listed as working on the farm. Nine year old Elijah didn’t have an occupation listed. As most of you know, sometimes the enumerator would make a note that the individual was “in school.”

The fall of 1883 brought death twice to the Holland family. Elijah’s sister, Eliza Ann, died on September 10 at the age of 27. His brother Thomas died on October 22 at the age of 12. Both most likely died in Anderson County.

The spring of 1890 brought death twice again to the Holland family. On March 26, 1890, Elijah’s brother, William Harrison, died at the home of Jap Vandiver. He was 24 years old. Brown Lee died at the home of Mr. A. A. Carpenter on April 5 at the age of 21. Both died in Broadway, Anderson County. Brown had tended to Harrison during his illness and then came down with pneumonia immediately after Harrison’s death. Both were buried at Neals Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

At the request of family members, in 1964 Aaron Hall Holland, Elijah’s half-brother, wrote a family history for the Holland and Hall families. In it, he tells of his family’s move from Anderson County, South Carolina to Whitfield County, Georgia. His father, Leroy, supported the family living off land inherited from his father, Captain John Holland. After John’s death in 1877, the land was divided and Leroy built a house on his part where he planned to raise his family consisting of 14 boys and girls. The land was poor and it was hard to make a living so Leroy was forced to borrow money from Elisha Shambley. Unfortunately he didn’t have the money to re-pay the loan so lost the land for non-payment. Now Leroy was faced with needing a place for his family to live so he contacted his friend George Brownlee in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia and made a deal to buy a tract of land which he agreed to make payments on. Leroy also bought 80 acres adjoining the Brownlee land which he paid cash for. Around January 1891, Leroy, second wife Amanda (Hall), and sons Elijah, Andrew, Charlie, Aaron, Lawrence, and Joe took a train from Anderson County to Atlanta where they spent the night. The next morning, they left for Dalton where they were met by Brownlee. Their household goods were held up for 15 days so they stayed with Brownlee at his home in Deep Springs. Once they finally moved to their land, Elijah’s brother Andrew found the work too tough and hitchhiked back to South Carolina.

A little over a year later, Elijah’s father Leroy died on May 4, 1892 in Beaverdale, Whitfield County, Georgia. He was buried at Deep Springs Church Cemetery in Dalton.

On March 12, 1894, Elijah married Cornelia Jane (AKA Janie) Dove, daughter of John E. Dove and Eliza Amanda Holland, in Whitfield County, Georgia. Janie’s mother was sister to Elijah’s father, Leroy Thomas Holland, making them first cousins. 

Marriage record

Together they had three children—Roy, Nellie, and Samuel Jackson Holland. A fourth child did not survive. Elijah and Janie’s first child Roy was born on July 12, 1897. Their daughter Nellie was born on October 4, 1898.

1900 Soundex Card

On June 14, 1900, Elijah, Janie, Roy, and Nellie lived in Hart County, Georgia. Elijah was a farmer. There was also an 18 year old boarder named Charley Williams living in the home. The enumerator listed Charley’s occupation as farm laborer so maybe he helped Elijah on the farm. The family lived seven houses from Janie’s sister, Sallie Dove Bowers and her family. Sallie and Janie’s mother Amanda lived with Sallie. The 1900 census record shows that Janie was the mother of three children, two of which were living. This census record entry is the only proof I have found of Elijah and Janie having had four children. The fourth child, Sam, wasn’t born until 1904.

Sometime between 1900 and 1910, the family moved back to Whitfield County. My aunt remembers hearing the story of Elijah and his family travelling to Dalton in a covered wagon.

My grandfather, Samuel Jackson Holland, was born in Whitfield County on October 13, 1904.

On May 4, 1910, Elijah, Janie, Roy, Nellie, and Sam lived in Whitfield County. Elijah was a farmer on a general farm. Janie, Roy, and Nellie helped out as farm laborers. Sam, only five years old gets to play.

Elijah’s stepmother, Amanda, died on December 20, 1914 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.

Two and a half months after the death of his stepmother, Elijah died on March 4, 1915 in Dalton. He was buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery. His death was reported in the newspaper as “Elijah Holland, a highly respected resident of the Deep Springs section, this county, died last Thursday. Interment was made in Deep Springs cemetery Friday.”

Death’s always seemed to come in multiples for this family. Fourteen days after Elijah’s death, his brother Andrew died on March 18, 1915 in Washington, DC. Andrew was buried at Congressional Cemetery in DC.

52 Ancestors -- #13: Helen Margaret Smith

Helen Margaret Smith

Helen Margaret Smith, daughter of John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne, was born on November 16, 1895 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was the fifth child of seven—Benjamin Gordon, George Nelson, Edith McCrum, Howard Stanley, Helen, Bertha Edna, and John Thompson Smith. Helen’s middle name may be a nod to an aunt, Margaret McIlwain, her father’s stepsister.

Helen was four years old when the enumerator visited the family home in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on June 25, 1900.

On October 24, 1906, Helen’s 18 year old sister Edith, blind as the result of measles, died of typhoid fever at Mercy Hospital. Edith had been a resident of the West Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind for 16 days prior to her death. Edith was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

The enumerator visited again on April 26, 1910 when Helen was 14. She and her family lived in Paulton, Washington Township.

At some point in 1911, Helen fell ill from endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart according to Wikipedia.


On March 9, 1912, Helen’s father died in Bell Township, Westmoreland County. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Sadly, Helen’s life was a short one. She suffered for two years until her death in Paulton on March 18, 1913 at the young age of 17. Helen was buried on March 20, 1913 in the family plot at Apollo’s Riverview Cemetery. She shares a tombstone with her parents and sister Edith.

The red glass etched with Helen’s name and the year 1904 shown in the picture was given to me after my mother-in-law died in 2006. I had never seen it before it was given to me but was told by my father-in-law that she wanted me to have it. I was also given a smaller glass that belonged to Helen’s sister, Bertha, my husband’s grandmother. My sister tells me that these glasses were souvenirs from a fair visiting the area and very common in the early 1900s.

Helen is in the front row, first girl from the left

 

52 Ancestors -- #12: Andrew Turner Holland

Andrew Turner Holland, son of Leroy Thomas Holland and Amanda Elizabeth Scott, was born May 12, 1877 in Anderson County, South Carolina. He was the 10th child of 11—Eliza Ann, Marion Scott, John Newton, Thomas N., William Harrison, John Louis, Brown Lee, Maggie Idora, Elijah Jeffers, Andrew, and William Charles Holland.

Andrew’s young life was shattered when at the age of seven months his mother died on December 18, 1877. She was only in her mid-30s. Andrew’s father didn’t stay single long. Less than two years later, Leroy married Cindarilla Darliska Amanda Hall, daughter of Aaron Hall and Clementine Ann Norris, on August 3, 1879 in Anderson. Together they had three children—Aaron Hall, Lawrence Lafayette, and Joe Norris Holland.

On June 1, 1880, five year old Andrew lived with his family in Broadway, Anderson County, South Carolina.

On September 10, 1883, Andrew’s sister Eliza Ann died at the age of 27. She was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson.

Times were hard for the Holland family in 1890. Two of Andrews’s brothers died within two weeks of each other—William on March 26 and Brown on April 5. Adding to their suffering, Leroy struggled to make a living and was forced to borrow money to support his family. Unfortunately, he lost his land in Anderson County when he was unable to pay his debts. He had a friend in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia, so around January 1891 Leroy loaded the family up, moved to Georgia, and bought land in Whitfield County. Once the family was settled in their new home, Andrew found the work too tough so he hitchhiked back to South Carolina where he started working for Asbury Churchwell Latimer, a Democrat from South Carolina. Latimer served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1893 to 1903 and then as a Senator until his death in 1908.

On May 4, 1892, Andrew’s father died in Whitfield County, Georgia. He was buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

By 1899, Andrew was living in Washington, DC so I’m assuming that he followed Representative Latimer there around 1893 when he was elected to the House. I have no proof to back up that assumption however. On July 1, 1899, I found Andrew listed in the Official Register of the United States, Containing a List of the Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service. It appears that he worked as a civilian for the War Department as a messenger in the Office of the Surgeon General—Medical Department at Large. He was compensated $600. Andrew was still there on July 1, 1901. In 1903, he was an assistant messenger and was compensated $720.

On June 18, 1900, Andrew was 23 years old, single, lived in a boarding house, and worked as a government clerk.

In looking at early 1900s city directories for Washington, DC, it appears that Andrew moved around a lot. He lived at 312 C Street NW in 1900. In 1901, he lived at 633 I Street NW. In 1903, he lived at 913 NY Avenue NW.

Andrew was at Walter Reed General Hospital from November 30 to December 24, 1904 according to a register of U.S., Returns from Military Posts, 1806-1916.

In 1905, Andrew lived at 913 Newark Avenue NW in Washington, DC. The address in 1905 is so similar to the address in 1903 that I wonder if it’s a transcription error and that he lived in the same house during that time period.

Death notice for Alice Davis Holland, WashingtonTimes, October 22, 1908

On August 18, 1906, Andrew married Evelyn E. Padgett, daughter of George Thomas Padgett and Mary C. Rockett, in Washington, DC. Andrew was 29 years old and Evelyn was 31. Together they had one daughter, Alice Davis Holland, born in Washington, DC in 1907, exact date unknown. Little Alice died of cholera infantum on October 20, 1908 and was buried at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.

City directories again show frequent moves. In 1907, Andrew lived at 207 B Street NE. In 1909, he lived at 304 C Street NE. And in 1913, Andrew lived at 1200 C Street SW, Washington, DC.

Death notice for Andrew Holland, WashingtonTimes, March 19, 1915

On December 20, 1914, Andrew’s stepmother Amanda died in Houston, Harris County, Texas. She was buried at Italy Cemetery in Italy, Ellis County, Texas. A little over two months later, his brother Elijah died on March 4, 1915 in Dalton. Elijah was buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery. We’ve always heard that deaths come in threes and sadly 14 days after Elijah’s death, Andrew, age 37, died on March 18, 1915 at 605 Maryland Avenue SW in Washington, DC. He was buried (plot R26/36) beside his infant daughter at Congressional Cemetery on March 21, 1915. Both Andrew and Alice are in unmarked graves. His death was reported in The Washington Times on March 19, 1915: HOLLAND—On Thursday, March 18, 1915 at 3 p.m., Andrew T., beloved husband of Evelyn Holland (nee Padgett). Funeral from residence of Mr. Padgett, 208 6th street NE, Sunday, March 21 at 3 o’clock. Relatives and friends invited (Belton, S.C. papers please copy).

Our family knew that Andrew had moved and died in Washington, DC but no one knew what happened to him otherwise. He was always in the back of my mind. It took several years but I finally found Andrew and his family in historical newspapers digitized and stored on the Library of Congress website. I’m thankful for this free resource that the Library of Congress provides. Andrew’s life had a sad ending but at least we know that he had a young family and was loved.

52 Ancestors -- #11: Benjamin Gordon Smith

Benjamin Gordon Smith

Benjamin Gordon Smith was born on November 18, 1882 in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, a small town 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. He was the first of seven children born to John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne—Ben, George Nelson, Edith McCrum, Howard Stanley, Helen Margaret, Bertha Edna, and John Thompson Smith. Honoring his paternal grandmother Jane Gordon, Ben was given her maiden name as his middle name. Ben never married nor had children.

In 1884, Ben’s mother made a baby dress (pictured below) for young Ben. We found the dress in a dirty plastic bag inside a box hidden away in a shed after my mother-in-law died in 2006. Inside the bag was a note handwritten by Ben’s sister, Bertha, stating that it was Ben Smith’s baby dress made by his mother about 1884.

On January 21, 1900, Ben, or Bennie as he was often called, joined the Apollo Presbyterian Church. He was listed as Ben G. Smith in the registry. On June 25, 1900, Ben lived with his family in the Washington Township of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was a clerk in some sort of depot (I’m unable to read the type of depot in the census record).

On October 24, 1906, Ben’s 18 year old blind sister Edith died of typhoid fever in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On April 26, 1910, 27 year old Ben still lived at home in Paulton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was a Doubler in a sheet mill.

Ben's baby dress made in 1884

Ben’s father died on March 9, 1912 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On March 18, 1913, Ben’s 17 year old sister Helen died of heart disease in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On September 12, 1917, Ben registered for the World War I draft. He lived in Apollo and worked as a Catcher for the American Sheet Mill and Tin Plate Company in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His World War I Draft Registration Card states that he was short and slender and that he had blue eyes and dark hair.

On January 26, 1920, Ben lived with his widowed mother and siblings George, John, and Bertha on Apollo Road in Greensburg, Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Ben was a Catcher in a steel mill.

On April 8, 1930, Ben, a laborer in a steel mill, still lived at home with his mother and a four year old nephew, John Athya. Ben and his mother Amanda moved John into their home to help Ben’s sister Bertha out at the birth of her second child. John ended up staying there and was raised by Ben and his mother.

Ben and nephew John Athya

On April 5, 1940, Ben was the head of the household, living with his mother and nephew John in Paulton. He was a helper in a steel mill.

On April 27, 1942, Ben registered for the World War II draft. He lived in Apollo and his telephone number was Vand. 1557-L. Ben listed his mother as the person who would always know his address. He was apparently retired as he listed his employer as “Pensioned.”

Ben’s mother died on January 11, 1943 in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On December 17, 1949, Ben moved to Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia to live in the Elks Retirement Home after he was unable to care for himself. According to a 1949 Elks medical record, he had been employed as a clerical worker at Illinois Steel Corporation; his desired place of burial was Riverview Cemetery in Apollo, Pennsylvania; he had a sister who had epilepsy; he had previously had measles and mumps; he’d broken a finger on his right hand as a child; and had a hemorrhoidectomy in 1946. Ben wore glasses and had had dentures for 10 years. He weighed 100 pounds at the time, but had weighed 120 pounds six years previous. Ben’s hair was black and his eyes blue. He had hardening of the arteries and a hernia.

Ben was made a permanent resident on May 8, 1950. He left the home in November 1951. I assume he went home to Pennsylvania but don’t have any facts to back that assumption. He was re-admitted to the Elks Retirement Home in Virginia on March 7, 1953. He’d had no operations or illnesses since leaving the home in 1951. He complained of poor vision.

On December 15, 1957, Ben died at 1 PM in Bedford within 10 minutes of having a heart attack. He was buried in the Elks National Cemetery, a section of Oakwood Cemetery designated as the burial place for residents of the Elks National Home.

52 Ancestors -- #10: Minor Smith Hobbs

Keeping with the Civil War veterans ...

Minor Smith Hobbs, the son of Nathan Augustus Hobbs, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Lankford, was born on July 24, 1830 in Greene County, Georgia. He was the sixth of eight children—Robert L., Joel Garner, Rebecca B., Caroline B., Nathan Augustus Jr., Minor Smith, Elizabeth Fanny, and Marian Langford Hobbs.

On August 14, 1850, Minor lived with his family in the 14th district of Greene County. He was a 19 year old farmer. His sister Caroline B. Hobbs and her husband James M. Lankford lived three houses away.

On June 4, 1860, the family lived in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. Minor was 27 and still living at home. His occupation was painter.



3rd Georgia Regiment Battle Flag, Georgia State Capitol

3rd Georgia Regiment Kettle Drum, Georgia State Capitol

On April 26, 1861, Minor enlisted as a Private in Company C (Dawson Grays) of the 3rd Georgia Infantry claiming residence in Greene County. He was wounded on May 3, 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia. He was promoted to Full Corporal 4th Class in 1864. Minor was wounded again on July 30, 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia (Crater). He stated in his pension application that one wound was by gunshot through his left shoulder, disabling it. He also stated that his right groin was affected so that the leg at times became useless and painful. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9, 1865 having served from enlistment to surrender. He was discharged as a Corporal where he had served the Confederacy with Distinguished Service. Robert L. McWhorter stated that Minor made an excellent soldier.

Before leaving Appomattox, Minor took the regimental kettle drum and carried it home to Greene County. In 1888, Minor attended a 3rd Georgia Regiment reunion and presented the drum to the Regiment. It was determined that “Commodore” Dexter should become the custodian of the drum. After Dexter’s death, the drum was passed to William A. Wright, the son of General Ambrose C. Wright, the first Colonel of the Regiment. The drum was eventually placed on display at the Georgia State Capitol.

Before the drum was displayed (possibly in 2003), my sister, Dad, and I visited the museum and was given the opportunity to view the drum, in storage at the time. A piece of paper on the side of the drum reads: This drum was the original drum of the 3rd Georgia Regiment of Infantry, C.S.A. The drum came to the Regiment with Company C, Dawson Grays, from Greene County, at the organization of the Regiment, April 26, 1861, at Portsmouth Virginia. The first and only drummer was Seaborn Barnwell of Company C, who was the Drummer of his Company, and when the Regiment was organized he was made Regimental Drummer. The drum beat all the calls made for the Regiment for all purposes, from April 26, 1861, to the surrender at Appomattox, Virginia, April 9, 1865. When the Regiment surrendered and stacked their guns, the drum was hung on the stack by the Drummer and left to its fate. Minor Hobbs, one of the truest and best soldiers of Company C, could not walk away and leave it, but turned back and took it from the stack of guns on which it hung, swung it around his shoulders and brought it to his home in Greene County, Georgia, where he kept and cared for it until, in his old age, he delivered it into the hands of Capt. W. A. Wright, he being a member of the Regiment, who has kept it and delivered it to the committee to be placed in this case.

The Hobbs family suffered a loss during the Civil War when Minor’s brother, Nathan Augustus Hobbs, Jr. died on July 2, 1863 in the Battle of Gettysburg, Adams, Pennsylvania.

On November 1, 1864, Minor married Elizabeth Lankford, daughter of William A. Lankford and Nancy Goodman, in Oglethorpe County. Together they had one son, William, born in 1865.

Minor, Elizabeth, and William lived in Penfield on June 11, 1870. They lived next door to Elizabeth’s parents.
He was a painter and Elizabeth was keeping house.
The value of his personal estate was $300.

Minor’s wife Elizabeth died in Penfield on August 11, 1872 after a protracted affliction. She was buried at Penfield Cemetery.

On September 5, 1879, Minor married Elizabeth A. Nash, daughter of Thomas and Mary Nash, in Oglethorpe County.

In June 1880, Minor’s brother Robert was murdered in Spaulding County, Georgia.

On June 18, 1880, Minor, Elizabeth, and William lived in Woodstock, Oglethorpe County. Elizabeth’s brother John and her sister Margaret lived with them. Minor was still a painter.

Minor’s father died on June 21, 1889 at the age of 99 years. His sister Marion Hobbs Jenkins McCarthy died on November 1, 1889. Both were buried at Penfield Cemetery.

In March 1892, his brother Joel Garner Hobbs died. He was buried at Glade Baptist Church Cemetery in Point Peter, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

In 1894 and 1895, Minor owned three acres of land in Greene County which he eventually sold for $40. He lived off the $40 during the years 1896 and 1897, along with what he earned from painting when he could get work and be able to do it.

On February 4, 1898, Minor filed for an Indigent Pension in Taliaferro County, Georgia. Drs. Nash and White stated that he was physically debilitated owing his age it being near 68 years.

On June 9, 1900, Minor and Elizabeth lived in District 605 of Taliaferro County. His occupation was landlord.

Minor’s sister Caroline Hobbs Lankford died on January 8, 1906 in Baldwin County, Georgia.

On May 4–6, 1910, Minor and Elizabeth lived at Crawfordville and Philomath Roads in District 605 of Taliaferro County. His occupation was listed as own income. He owned his home, free of mortgage.

Minor’s second wife Elizabeth (Nash) died on May 11, 1911. She was buried in the Thomas Nash Cemetery in Philomath, Oglethorpe County.

Minor died in Oglethorpe County, Georgia in August 1912 and was buried at Hobbs Cemetery in Oglethorpe County.

52 Ancestors - #9: Daniel Jack—a Civil War Veteran

Daniel  Jack

Daniel Jack, the son of Samuel Smith Jack and Catherine Beck, was born on August 30, 1840 in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was the first child of eight—Daniel, Samuel Smith, John M., Matthew A., George W., Mary, David R., and Harry F. Jack. Looking at other researchers work, it appears that Samuel Smith Jack married multiple times so Daniel may have half-siblings. I’m only aware of this family so will leave it at that.

On October 9, 1850, Daniel lived with his family in the Township of Kiskiminetas, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer. Census records show the home was valued at $500.

Daniel was first alto in Apollo’s first brass band organized in 1857. The band disbanded at the start of the Civil War. After the war ended, another band was formed with Daniel as a member.

On July 5, 1860, 20 year old Daniel lived at home in the Kittanning subdivision of Apollo. He was a laborer.

On April 27, 1861, Daniel was one of the first recruits to enroll in support of the Union Army when he enlisted at Camp Wright. His unit—Company G, Pennsylvania Eleventh Reserves, 40th Infantry Regiment—was recruited by S. M. Jackson at the first call for troops to fight in the Civil War. Daniel held the rank of Sergeant. On May 7, 1862, Daniel was detached to build bridges. He was captured with other members of his regiment at Fredericksburg, Virginia on December 13, 1862 and confined at Richmond, Virginia on December 17, 1862. Daniel was in the General Hospital from March 18 to April 1, 1863. On May 4, 1863, he was sent from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Annapolis, Maryland. On January 10, 1863, he was paroled at City Point, Virginia and reported at Camp Parole, Maryland on January 14, 1863. On May 16, 1863, Daniel was sent to defend Washington. He was honorably discharged on June 13, 1864 and mustered out of the company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a little over 30 miles from his home in Apollo.

Three years later, Daniel married Eunice Alvira Smith, daughter of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon, in Apollo on June 27, 1867. Together they had six children—Charles Stanley, Effie Gordon, Ethel, Alice T., Samuel Howard, and Frank Walter Jack.


On June 23, 1870, Daniel, Eunice, and Charles lived in the Kelly’s Station subdivision of Apollo. Daniel must have made a good living working in a planing (lumber) mill as his real estate was valued at $4500. The planing mill was probably owned by his father. Eunice’s half-brother, James Xenophon McIlwain and his family were neighbors, living four doors away.

Daniel’s five year old daughter Ethel died in Apollo on August 19, 1879. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On June 26, 1880, Daniel and his family still lived in Apollo. His occupation was planing mill man. Eunice is keeping house with four children. Their four month old son, Howard, is sick with neuralgia.

On March 19, 1890, Daniel’s wife Eunice died in Apollo at the age of 45. Her daughter Effie and niece Edith E. Cochran were present in the home when she died. Eunice was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Six years later on February 20, 1896, Daniel married Electra Burnette Smith, daughter of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon, and sister of his first wife Eunice. The marriage took place at the Apollo Presbyterian Church. Both were 55 years old.

On March 13, 1896, Daniel submitted a Declaration for Invalid Pension in Armstrong County. It states that he is “partially unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of general disability.” His address is Apollo, Pennsylvania.

On March 28, 1899, Daniel filed papers with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, claiming that his wife was Erectra B. Jack (maiden name Erectra B. Smith). He further states that they were married February 20, 1896 at Apollo by Rev. J. Q. A. Fullerton. The marriage was recorded in the county seat. He was previously married to Eunice A. Jack. He stated that he had living children and their names and dates of birth were Charles Stanley born May 3, 1868, Effie G. born May 16, 1872, Alice T. born May 28, 1874, Samuel H. born December 28, 1880 and Frank W. born April 28, 1885.

Daniel, Electra (center in white blouse and dark skirt), and some of the Smith women

On March 30, 1899, Daniel declared that he had been employed in the military and that he has suffered from muscular rheumatism for about five years. He also suffered from heart trouble but did not consult a physician. Daniel did not know the name of the disabilities until shortly before his application was filed for pension and that by [unreadable] of each disabilities has been disabled for five years and upwards.

On March 30, 1899, John Milton Smith (Eunice and Electra’s brother) declared that he has been acquainted with Daniel Jack the claimant for 30 years and upwards and worked with him almost constantly for 15 years at and about Jack’s Planing Mill at Apollo, Pennsylvania up to October 1893. He knows positively that he had a lame or crippled right arm from long prior to that year and knows from seeing claimant frequently and living near him that this disability has continued since that year to the present date. That he did not know what caused it at that time but has been informed since that physician called it muscular rheumatism.

On March 30, 1899, D. R. Jack of Apollo claimed that he is a brother of the claimant and has worked with claimant in and about the planing mill of Samuel Jacks and Sons at Apollo Pennsylvania for 14 years and upwards constantly and knows positively that claimant has suffered from crippled right arm and hand and has been incapacitated for general service for five years and upwards and that disability has continued until the present time, and that there is many kinds of labor that claimant cannot perform and is not in condition to do any hard labor and is incapacitated at least three fourths. That he has been informed that physicians call his disability muscular rheumatism.

Civil War Veterans. First row: Ed Dentzel, Henry Blystone, Mr. Ross, Joseph McGuire, Daniel Jack, Thomas Cochran, Sylvester Hildebrand, John Fiscus. Back row: Unknown, Enoch Whay, unknown, Samuel Ams, James Rowland, David Coulter, Hugh Owens, Col. S. M. Jackson.

On June 1, 1900, Daniel, Electra, Howard, and Frank lived in Apollo. He lived between his oldest son, Charles, and his brother Harry. There isn’t an occupation listed for Daniel, however, the census record shows zero as the number of months not employed. Daniel is able to read and write. He owns his home “free” of mortgage.

On April 15, 1910, Daniel and Electra lived in Apollo. The census record shows that Daniel has been married two times, 14 years to Electra. His occupation is listed as “own income.”

A newspaper article that ran in July 1916 stated “Mr. Daniel Jack is a life long resident of Apollo. He has been quarter-master of the local G.A.R. post for a long term of years and until two years ago has carried the colors to the cemetery on Memorial Day since the organization of the post. His residence is on S. Fourth Street.” Unfortunately I don’t know the name of the newspaper.

On January 2, 1920, the Apollo, Armstrong County census shows that Daniel owns his house and that he can read and write. There is a woman named Margaret Hunter living with Daniel and Electra. Margaret’s occupation is housekeeper; she is single and 20 years old. In an affidavit dated May 18, 1922, Margaret stated that she was 22 years old and “is employed in the home of Daniel Jack, Civil War Veteran, Pension Certificate Number 983474. That said Daniel Jack requires almost constant attention, having to have someone help dress him every day. That his mind is in such condition that if he leaves the house even for a short distance by himself he becomes lost and has to have some neighbor bring him home. Affiant has lived in the home almost three years and knows the above facts from personal knowledge. That she is not in any way related to the Soldier.”

On May 1, 1920, Daniel described himself at enlistment as 5 feet, 7 ¼ inches; complexion Florid; color of eyes Gray; color of hair light; that his occupation was Cooper; that he was born August 30, 1840 at near Apollo Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and that he requires the regular personal aid and attendance of another person by reason of sore and crippled feet, scarcely able to walk, continuously.

On April 15, 1921, Daniel appeared before a justice of the peace in Apollo to file a declaration of pension. He claimed that he was 80 years old, a resident of Apollo, and the identical person who enrolled at Apollo under the name of Daniel Jack on April 27, 1861 as a Sergeant in Captain James H. Mills Company G, 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves Infantry, in the service of the United States in the Civil War. He further claimed that he was honorably discharged at Pittsburgh on June 13, 1864, ending his service.

On June 26, 1922, Daniel received a medical examination in Apollo. The doctor reported the following: Heart beats very irregular. Mitral regurgitation, hypertrophy dullness extending from two inches below nipple to left border of sternum ... Rheumatism [unreadable] in right and left shoulders, limitation of motion in each shoulder 1/3. Limitation of motion in left leg 3/4, in right leg 3/4, hands drawn out of shape the result of rheumatism. .... Mental condition bad, very forgetful and dull. Insane but not dangerous. He imagines people are following him, persecuting him and robbing him and trying to torture him in many different ways. No evidence of nervous habits. Eyesight—can read ordinary print with glasses but not without. The claimant can dress, eat, and attend to the calls of nature unassisted. But from disease of heart, rheumatism mental imbecility and insanity it is unsafe for him to go out unattended.

Daniel died at home at 2:30 p.m. on December 10, 1925 of a paralytic stroke. He was 85 years, 3 months, and 10 days old. He and Electra lived in the home of George Athya and his wife Bertha (Smith) Athya in Apollo. Bertha, the daughter of John Milton Smith, was Electra’s niece. Electra was the informant on Daniel’s death certificate. His obituary read: On June 27, 1867, Mr. Jack was married to Miss Eunice Alvira Smith, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. A. Orr, pastor of the Apollo Presbyterian Church. To this union six children were born, five of whom survive: Charles S., of Vandergrift; Mrs. A. H. Biehl, of Pittsburgh; Mrs. W. H. Clark, of Lebanon; S. Howard, of Apollo, and Frank W. of Chicago. On March 19, 1890, Mrs. Jack passed away and for six years her husband traveled alone, when on Feb. 20, 1896, he married Miss Electa B. Smith of Apollo. Funeral services were conducted at the late home on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, in charge of Rev. W. E. E. Barrens, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, who was assisted by Rev. W. L. Moser, pastor of the Presbyterian church. Interment was made in the Apollo cemetery. Daniel Jack had an enviable military record. He was a soldier, one might say, all his life. Away back in the early forties an organization was formed, known in those days as a militia company. This company was known as the Apollo Independent Blues. When a young boy, Daniel Jack joined this company and served until the beginning of the Civil War. The militia company was disbanded, but troops were called by S. M. Jackson who had been captain of the local militia company. One hundred men were enlisted for three years service, Daniel Jack being one of the first recruits to answer the call. At the organization of the company he was made a sergeant and left with the company on a canal boat the latter part of May 1861, and reported at Camp Wright on the Allegheny Valley railroad at Hulton station. The following month ten companies located there and were organized into a regiment of one thousand men and served throughout the war as the Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. This organization took part in many of the great battles of the Army of the Potomac. Daniel Jack was always on hand and ready to take part in any duty he was called on to do. He took part in the following battles: Gaines Mill, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg. On Dec. 13, 1862, he with others of his company were taken prisoners around Fredericksburg. [unreadable.] He then reported to his company and again took part in the battle of Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Ann River and Bethesda Church. The last battle in which he was engaged was fought on the last day of May, 1864, and some of his comrades were killed, and some were taken prisoner and never again heard from. This was also the last day of his three years’ service, the regiment’s time expiring the following day, June 1. He was honorably discharged and left for home after three years of service. Out of the company of 100 men leaving Apollo on the canal boat, but one man now survives, Benton Coulter, of Colorado. James S. Whitworth Post No. 89, G.A.R., of Apollo, was organized January 1, 1878. Daniel Jack was among the first to join their ranks and was made quartermaster at the organization meeting. This office he held faithfully for 40 years when his health failed and he was compelled to give it up. During all those years he handled all the funds of the Post and never made a miscount of one cent. He was a faithful member and on all occasions when the Post would turn out he was always seen at the head of the column carrying the flag, in which duty he took a delightful pride. [Editor’s Note—We are indebted to Sylvester F. Hildebrand, of Armstrong ave., for the excellent military history of Mr. Jack. Mr. Hildebrand is the youngest member of the local post and is exceptionally diligent in keeping the records of his comrades intact.]