Military Monday - Andrew Hurst (Union) Pension (1897)

I find it very interesting to see the differences in the question formats used by the Union & Confederate military organizations. 

I also got a bit of humor from the line used in the questionaire below, "The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your family."   Little they did they know that it would be very helpful to his family 110+ years after he signed this form. 

Andrew Hurst is a third cousin to Mr. Brown Eyes.

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      Southern Division
     _______ No. 599666
    Andrew Hurst
   Co. I, 2nd Reg't, Tenn Vol. Cav.                     Department of the Interior
                                                                           Bureau of Pensions
                                                                           Washington, D.C.  Sept. 3, 1897

Sir: Will you kindly answer at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below?  The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your family.
     Very Respectfully,
        J. H. (L.?) ___________   acting commissioner

Mr. Andrew Hurst
 Girard, Crawford Co. Kansas

No. 1 Are you a married man?  If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer:  Yes, her full name is Harriet L. Williams, died Oct. 1st, 1887.
No. 2. When, where and by whom were you married?  Answer: Married Oct 20/65 at Severe (Sevier) Co. Tenn, by Rev. Wm. Ogle
No. 3. What record of marriage exists? Answer: I have family record and ______ in County Clerks office in Severe (Sevier) Co., Tennessee.
No. 4. Were you previously married?  If so please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.  Never previously married or divorced.
No. 5. Have you any children living? If so please state their names and their dates of birth.  Answer: Lena Petty nee Hurst born June 4, 1870, Lee Harriet born July 2, 1872, Wm Hurst born July 8, 1874, Otto Hurst born Jany 10, 1877, Milas Hurst born Dec. 28, 1880, Mary Jane Allsi May 16, 1884.

Date of reply, Sept. 11, 1897
     /s/ Andrew Hurst

E.W. Ansley (1830-1863)

Being a Confederate makes things difficult enough but to locate an obituary (or mortuary notice as they were once called) for someone during the civil war is just a real find.  This one I found online at GenealogyBank. 

From the Augusta Chronicle,  11 JAN 1863, Pg. 3 -

Death of Captain E.W. Ansley - Another name must be added to Augusta's list of the heroes of Murfreesboro; another gallant spirit has departed; another victim to Yankee vindictiveness has fallen upon his country's alter.  Captain A.E. Ansley, who was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro, died of his wounds at Atlanta yesterday morning while enroute for this city.
  He was a young man - about 30 years of age - of fine promise and considerable popularity; well and favorably known as one of the merchantile firm of D.H. Wilcox & Co., of this city.  When a call was made for troops to defend Savannah, and Oglethorpe Infantry, Co. B., was promptly organized under that call, Capt. Ansley was elected its command.  When the company's term of service had expired, it was reorganized and proceeded to the west, were it was, for a time connected with the 5th Georgia Regiment, but was subsequently transferred to Cox's Battalion of Sharpshooters, and participated in the great battle at Murfreesboro.  Its gallant Captain accompanied it though all its Vicissitudes and trials, and has, at length, fallen while leading his brave comrades against the vile invaders of his country.  Beloved and respected by his men, honored for his several good qualites in the community, his loss will be deeply regretted by all who knew him.
  His remains are expected to arrive here this morning, and the funeral will take place at 11 1/2 o'clock on tomorrow (Monday) morning, from the family residence on the Sand Hills.


**

E.W. was one of 14 children born to Jesse Ansley and his wife, Catherine Urquhart. He is a second cousin 7 generations removed...

Tombstone Tuesday

Fanny Hurst nee Nunn, was born ca 1789 probably in Virginia.  I do not know who her parents were.  She married William Hurst, son of John "Mill Creek" Hurst and his wife, Elizabeth Breedwell, ca 1815 probably in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  They were the parents of at least six children -
- Jackson Columbus Hurst, Jefferson Hurst, Levi Hurst, Malinda Hurst, Claiborne Hurst aned Washington Hurst. 

She died 20 APR 1873 and is buried next to her husband in Deer Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana. 

Work on this family is on going, so if you have more information on this family I'd love to hear from you. 

Tombstone Tuesday - Big Spring Church Cemetery, Claiborne Co., TN

This is pretty much all that's left of the Big Spring Church Cemetery, a few small headstones here and there.  The meeting house is still standing after all these years.  Over in one corner you find this large stone. I find it interesting as the stone clearly states, the memorial is for "...Pioneers buried in the Reuben Floyd Stone Family Cemetery".   Many Hurst and Breeding family members are buried in Big Spring Cemetery and they intermarried with the Stone family.   Below is the old Big Spring Church meeting house. From the air conditioner in the window it would suggest that perhaps the church is still in use today.

Wedding Wednesday - Nunn & Harrell (1838)

 

 Marr Rec Abner Nunn & Margaret Harrell

Claiborne County, Tennessee

15 DEC 1838

Pg. 64

Abner Nunn was a second cousin to Mark thru his Hurst line.  Abner's parents were Elisha Nunn (1791- ?) and Delilah Hurst (1817- ?).  Abner and Margaret Harrell, who was also the daughter of a Hurst, were the parents of 8 known children -
  Calloway, Mary, Isaac, Rhotin, Julian, Harmon, Martha and Floyd. 

Research on this line is currently ongoing. 

Wedding Wednesday - Hurst & Nelson (1845)

I certify that I solemnized the rights of matrimony between Nelson Evans & Elizabeth Hurst by uniting them together as husband & wife Nov. 9, 1845
     /s/ G. M. Clerk
I do certify the of matrimony were celebrated by me between the within named persons Nov. 9, 1845. 
   /s/ W.L. Turner, Minister of the Gospel
                                                     ***************
 Elizabeth Hurst was the 3rd great aunt of Mr. Brown Eyes.  She and Nelson were the parents of 10 children - James, George, William, Isaac, John, Thomas, Sarah, Mary, Nancy and Granville.  Nelson dies in 1864 in the Union Prison, Rock Island, Illinois.  It is unknown to the compiler the date & location of Elizabeth's death & burial.

**Claiborne County, Tennessee marriage records, 1845, Pg. 84, marriage of Nelson Evans and Elizabeth Hurst.

Wedding Wednesday - Prince & Ligon (1900)

The Bee, (Earlington, Kentucky), 18 OCT 1900, Pg. 7 -

    Phoenix Hotel the Scene of a Wedding Wednesday

  Mr. John T. Prince, a young farmer from Peacher's Mill, Tenn., and Miss Laura E. Ligon, a pretty young school teacher, were married at the Phoenix Hotel, Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, by Elder H.D. Smith of the Christian Church.  The bride is a sister of Elder J.W. Ligon, of Slaughterville, and Elder Henry Ligon, of Hanson.

  She has been teaching school in the Peacher's Mill neighborhood.  They were accompanied to the city by several couples of young people. -- Hopkinsville Kentuckian

   Miss Ligon has many friends in Earlington, where she had made her home for some time, who offer congratulations and best wishes.

Wedding Wednesday - Eudaley & Curry (1902)

Ben Curry & Fannie Eudaley 

Earlington Bee,  5 June 1902, p. 7

Curry-Eudaley

At 1:30 p.m. Tuesday June 3rd at the M.E. church south Nebo., Ky., Rev. B.M. Curry of this city and Miss Fannie Eudaley, of Nebo, were united in the holy bonds of wedlock. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. H. Harrison, President of Vanderbilt training school Elkton, Ky., under whom the groom graduated.

The church was beautifully and attractively decorated by Mrs. J. T. Robards, and Miss Lillian Robards played the wedding march with her usual charming skill. Ushers Robt. Payne and Travis Sights seated the large crowd as best they could, but the house was far to small to accommodate the many friends of the bride and groom.

Mr. Minnos Cox and Miss Nannie Winstead were waiters. The bride was dressed in pure white and the groom in solid black. After the ceremony they were driven to Earlington where a sumptuous repast was partaken of with Mr. and Mrs. Y. Q. Walker and the happy couple left on the eleven o'clock train for the groom's home in Brownsville, Tenn., where they will spend the honeymoon. We sincerely hope the guiding star if true love may ever shine down the dim vistas of their coming days and light the journey along the pathway of life, rest o'er their couch when time with them shall be no more, then pilot them to their appointed places in the heavens where it will continue its ceaseless revolutions around the glittering throne of His Majesty on high.

Military Monday - Robert Eudaley

Robert Eudaley was the son of David Eudaley and his wife, Sarah Jane Baldwin Eudaley.  Robert was born 8 JAN 1824 in Jefferson County, Tennessee and died 29 JAN 1901 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee of pneumonia.   He married 3 OCT 1871 in Davidson County, Tennessee to Martha Lanier (1838-1911). 

Robert & his wife, Martha were the parents of at least four children - Tennie B. (1872-1874), William F. (1876-1953), an unnamed child who died young, and Annie R. (1884- ? ).

Military Monday - Authority Issues?

 16 FEB 1863 -   "...must ascertain by what authority Col. Hurst is  ........ and why he is thus destroying property."

16 APR 1863  - ".. for the purpose of destroying property has ordered the furniture removed from some of the houses and threatens to burn them."  "..I don't know by what authority he destroys the property."

After his military service he was appointed to the position of Judge - and even there his behavior continued to cause outrage.

   From The Daily Memphis Avalanche, 5 APR 1867, pg. 2 --

  The radical convention of McNairy County have recommended that miserable pretender Fielding Hurst for Congress in this district.  The resolution says, "that, as the emphatic choice for Congressional honors, we earnestly recommend the name of our galiant, patriotic and tried fellow citizen, the Hon. Fielding Hurst, and do hereby instruct our delegates to do all in their power to secure his nomination."

   Memphis Daily Appeal, 20 Jan 1870 --

     Hurst, Judge Fielding, has been appointed U.S. Revenue Collector of Middle Tennessee, and he is being sued by Dr. Wood of Hrdeman County, whom he forced to pay $1000 to prevent the burning of his house. (Memphis Daily Appeal - 18 Jan 1870).  In the winter of 1863, Hurst and his 7th Tennessee came to Bolivar and demanded of Dr. George Wood $1600 in gold or they would burn the housses of George Wood, Robert H. Wood, J.H. Billis, R.P. Neely and J.J. Neely. Hurst pocketed the money.


Fielding Hurst who was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1810 and died in McNairy County, Tennessee 03 APR 1882, was one of the most hated men in Tennessee during the Civil war.  His reputation for his brutal attacks and his ruthless destruction of property made him much feared.  On 04 MAR 1830 he was married to Milocky Huddleston (1809-1892), daughter of John Huddleston (1780-1833) and Rachel McBee (1786-1862).

Fielding was the son of Elijah Hurst (1785-1850) and his wife, Margaret Breeding. 

 For more information on Fielding Hurst, see Sons of Confederate Veterans Magazine, March-April 1902, Pg. 20, HURST!  by W. Clay Crook.

I have much information on the HURST family and would be happy to share with anyone willing to do same.  Contact me for more information.

Obituary - John L. Ligon (1867)

Died

Ligon - At Bristol, Tennessee, on Saturday, the 16th instant, Mr. John L. Ligon, formerly of this city, in the sixty sixth year of his age.

**Richmond Whig, 19 NOV 1867, Pg. 4 (Via Genealogybank)

John Leigh Ligon was the son of William Ligon (1765-1829) and his wife, Sarah Leigh Ligon (no dates).  He was born 12 FEB 1802 in Prince Edward County, Virginia.  He married 8 OCT 1828 in Henrico County, Virginia to Mary Anne Puryear, daughter of Hezekiah Puryear and his wife, Eudocia.

Wedding Wednesday - Ligon & Prince

The Bee, (Earlington, Kentucky), 18 OCT 1900, Pg. 7 -

Phoenix Hotel the Scene of a Wedding Wednesday

Mr. John T. Prince, a young farmer from Peacher's Mill, Tenn., and Miss Laura E. Ligon, a pretty young school teacher, were married at the Phoenix Hotel, Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, by Elder H.D. Smith of the Christian Church. The bride is a sister of Elder J.W. Ligon, of Slaughterville, and Elder Henry Ligon, of Hanson.

She has been teaching school in the Peacher's Mill neighborhood. They were accompanied to the city by several couples of young people. -- Hopkinsville Kentuckian

Miss Ligon has many friends in Earlington, where she had made her home for some time, who offer congratulations and best wishes.

**Laura Ellen Ligon was the daughter of William Rufus Ligon and his wife, Susan Ellen Wales.  John T. Prince & Laura were the parents of John Lewis Prince, Mary Del Prince, Thomas Rallow Prince and William Robin Prince.  All issue of this couple born in Clarksville, Tenn.

Tombstone Tuesday - Reuben Stone Family (TN)

Located in the Big Spring Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Claiborne County, Tennessee. Note that it references the Reuben Floyd Stone Family Cemetery which used to be located down the road.

Tombstone Tuesday - Roy Acuff (1903-1992)

My mom has always been a big country music fan so several years ago, Mark & I took mom on vacation with us. One of our stops was Springhill Cemetery in Tennessee so that mom could visit the grave of one of her all time favorites, Roy Acuff. 

Military Monday - Andrew P. Eudaley - 1863 Civil War Oath of Allegiance

 Andrew P. Eudaley was the son of David D. Eudaley & his wife, Sarah Baldwin Eudaley.  He was born 4 OCT 1840 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.  Some have shown his death to have taken place in 1860, but the finding of this Oath* in 1863 sort of rules that out.  The death date & place of Andrew are unknown to the compiler of this blog, nor do I know of a marriage for him.

If you have further information on Andrew feel free to drop an email or comment, I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Researching!
Karen

*Source: Oath of Allegiance - Footnote.com, search word Eudaley. 

Tombstone - Tuesday - George Eudaley

*George A. Eudaley, Hopkins County, was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., June 13, 1842, and is the youngest of sixteen children born to David W. and Sarah J. (Baldwin) Eudaley, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of the North Carolina, and of Irish and scotch decent, respectively.
 
David W. Eudaley was married in his native state, where he followed farming for several years. He was a veteran in the war of 1812, and was stationed most of the time at Norfolk, Va. About 1820 he moved to Jefferson County, Tenn., where he held the office of county trustee, and various other official positions during his life. He was also extensively engaged in farming. he died in September, 1878, in his eighty seventh year. He and his wife were from early life members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he was for many years a local preacher.
 
George A. remained on his father's farm until he was nineteen years old, and in the fall of 1861, enlisted in the First Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, Confederate States Army, in which regiment he served until January, 1863, when he was transferred to the artillery service, and served until the close of the war. He took part in the battle of Stone River, and many other engagements. In the spring of 1865, he came to Nebo, Hopkins Co., Ky., where with the exception of five years, he has since been involved in the brick business. For the past five years also he has carried on a general merchandising business at that place. He is in partnership with Leroy Graham, under the firm name of Eudaley & Graham. they carry a well selected stock in their line, and are doing a good business.
 
Mr. Eudaley was married July 24, 1865 to Miss Mary M. Winstead, a native of Hopkins County, Ky. Eight children have blessed their union; three sons and four daughters are living. Mr. Eudaley and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal and Christian Churches, respectively. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat.
 
*Source: Kentucky Genealogy & Biography, Vol. IV, Pg. 73

Tombstone Tuesday - Reuben Floyd Stone Family Cemetery

This stone for the Reuben Floyd Stone family cemetery is actually located in the Big Spring Baptist Church Cemetery,  Claiborne County, Tennessee.

Both the Stone & Hurst family were members of the Big Spring Baptist Church, with many of the Hurst family serving as ministers.

Happy Researching

Karen

Fehn's 1891 House

This past week we made a quick trip down to Florida to bring mom back with us.  The trip down was rather boring and straight to the point - get there!  Coming home however we took a bit of a side trip. 

We sometimes do this sidetrip thing just to get off the freeway and see what the road less traveled has to offer.  This side trip was well worth the effort.  We took a route less traveled and ended up in a small town, Dayton, Tennessee.  The town itself isn't alot to look at, but there are some some things there worth taking a second look at. 

One of those gems is a place called Fehn's 1891 House Restaurant.  Located at 449 Delaware Avenue in Dayton, Tennessee, this is definitely a place worth going off the fast track for.

We chatted with the owners, as Colleen was actively talking with the customers during the dinner hour.  We were there quite a while as the food was out of this world - Mom had the country ham with a good sized sweet potato & salad,  Mark had the Salmon with dill sauce, I had the jumbo fried shrimp with a baked potato.  The salad dressings are primarily made by the chef & co-owner Don.  The wasabi cucumber ranch dressing was to die for!  The perfect topping for a crisp salad, and the homemade rolls made the perfect sidekick to all the meals!  Everything was very tasty and very nicely presented, with good size portions.  The macaroon pie was delicious.  

They do have one guest room available upstairs if you are looking for a great B&B stay, but they do need a bit of notice if you want that.  We did tour the kitchen and the main floor, and you can see the hard work & committment they have put into this beautiful old home. 

The house was originally built as a Catholic school for the children of the coal miners in Dayton.  Colleen & Don bought the house and basically gutted it, saving as much of the original floors and wall coverings as possible.  They've done a beautiful job - the atmostphere in the dining rooms was just awesome!  I can't say enough good about Fehn's 1891 Restaurant - except if you are passing thru Tennessee be sure to get off that beaten path called I-75 and swing thru Dayton, Tennessee.  You'll be so glad you did!

Happy Researching!
Karen

Note: Interesting side note - while touring the kitchen we were introduced to a gentleman who was helping out with food prep.  He mentioned that his wife makes homemade goatsmilk soaps.  We chatted with him for a bit and ended up buying some wonderful soaps from his wife, Becky.  She owns Dixie-Soaps.   Smells wonderful and from what I've seen so far, another gem from Dayton, Tennessee.

Researching There When You Are Here...

Today as we drove south from Michigan I began to think about all the places along the way that I had researched. I was really quite surprised with the list and how much of my time has been spent researching there...

We left Michigan at about 9:30 this morning. Although I say we have no ancestors in the state we actually have some family members of ancestors who spent time over near Grand Rapids and up in the Traverse City area. Researching in Michigan on those parties was not real difficult as I used the resources at the library of Michigan, primarily birth/death & marriage records and the old newspapers in the newspaper collection. Those vital records are now on line at Family Search

After leaving Michigan we crossed into Ohio. I have more fun researching in Ohio. With friendly county clerks and an abundant supply of online records how can we loose? That same record site I mentioned for Michigan has Ohio death certificates thru 1953 that can be saved to your hard drive or printed and viewed. What an awesome resource. With studmuffins relatives being in Cuyahoga, Lorain & Medina counties and mine being in Montgomery, Preble, Darke & Miami Counties we've always had tons of Ohio research to do. Most of those counties being within driving range, its easy for us to make a weekend run and photograph headstones or spend a day at the library.

Took us a bit to get thru Ohio but after a while we finally got into Kentucky. I have no ancestors in the state of Kentucky but Studmuffin does. Primarily in Hopkins & Christian Counties - with a spattering of Daviess County as well. Ancestry has quite a bit of Kentucky resources and the state of Kentucky has done its own Vital Records project as well. So Kentucky death records are availble on line without you spending a dime!

Tennessee was up next - and again I have no ties to Tennessee but stufmuffin does. Claiborne and McMinn Counties are the primary area's of focus but a few other counties also have area's of interest as well. Tennessee has some records on line, some of the genweb pages are loaded, Ancestry also has some Tennessee stuff. Not alot outside those that I have found so far.

Georgia - the birth place of my father and his ancstors. The research here can be frustrating but rewarding. Finding info on the internet can really be a challenge. George death certificates are on line but only thru 1927, how I wish that number would change. The University of Georgia campus in Athens has an awesome newspaper collection and my semi yearly trips there for newspaper stuff has been a tremendous help. Cemetery photography here can be difficult with its own challenges. Probate courts also offer big challenges.

Florida - very minimal research here but what I have needed I have been able to find, some on line, some with the very helpful staff at the Manatee County public library. Florida has all its Civil war Confederate pensions on line - a great move for them and for those lucky enough to need them!

This is just the tip of the iceberg on our research journey's. I won't go into the coastal states and our research there in this blog, that's material for yet another day.

All in all I have to say, despite the obstacles that researching "there when you are here" (Michigan) seems to toss at us, we still seem to be able to find the things we want and need, it just takes a wee bit of extra work and sometimes thinking out of the box, but it is doable!
Happy researching!

Karen

The Tale of Two Betsy's

[Image is our friend and possible cousin, Michael Reck who is pondering whether or not he is related to studmuffin. Until we resolve the issue of the two Betsy's, Michael is left in a state of uncertainity.]


There's something to be said for having a name that the rest of the world doesn't share. I mean, think about it, if your name happens to be Betsy or Elizabeth, and your surname happens to be HURST, you might be surprised to know that there are so many of those that its almost impossible to differentiate between them. And no, age is not even a good stat to use. We all know that no woman EVER lies about her age right?

And so it is with the tale of the two Betsy's.

One the one hand we have John & his wife, Mary Hurst. Parents of at least 14 children, the eldest being Eliza Ann aka Betsy, born ca 1824 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.

Enter stage - George R. Fletcher, born ca 1819 in Lee County, Virginia. And he's married to... (insert drum roll here) Yep, you got it! He's married to one Betsy Hurst. Okay as if the name isn't enough to make things confusing, lets toss in she was born Apr 8, 1824, yep, right again, Claiborne County, Tennessee. Or so her census shows. George & Betsy were married 19 NOV 1840 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.

To some people that would be enough. But not yet. I recently spent some time at the Tennessee State Library & Archives, searching for ANYTHING that might say, these two women are one in the same. But it was not meant to be. Her marriage record did not name parents names. I searched for but did not find a will for either of her parents. I have her on every census that is available for her and no parents ever show up in the Fletcher household.

I wrote to the library in Wise County, Texas, where Betsy Hurst Fletcher dies, 24 AUG 1899, thinking maybe an obituary would resolve the issue. Nope, no obituary found. Get a death certificate you say... nope, Texas did not begin keeping "official" records until 1903.

So for now the tale of two Betsy's remains unresolved. For my friend Michael - this keeps him from answering one of his most pondered questions, "Am I related to Studmuffin or not?"....

So for now.. the tale of two Betsy's goes on, no answers, only questions. One of hundreds hanging around in my files ... just waiting for someone to come along with the proof that we've been waiting for.....