Continuing with research in the States, I have a source for Arkansas. The Arkansas History Commission, found at Www.ark-ives.com, has many sections to search.
The News and Events tab shows a chronological list of general messages regarding special hours for research on various holidays, but also posts of interesting articles regarding Arkansas history. There is an article dated from 6 January 2016, which reports a story of the desegregation of Little Rock School. The Black History Commission of Arkansas will partner with the Arkansas History Commission in this presentation to be held on 6 February 2016.
The Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives has a tab that directs you to their page, which features "One Hundred Fifty Years Ago Today in Arkansas". This is an on- line exhibit regarding Arkansas in the Civil War. Selected images and articles are showcased to give a glimpse of the extensive collection held by the Commission. This is a searchable database to allow inquisitive persons to explore various subject matter of the Civil War in the South. There is also a feature entitled "Today in Arkansas History". I found that on today, 30 January , the southern boundary line was completed in 1831, as well as by the act of the state legislature, the Apple Blossom became the state flower in 1901.
Another tab, entitled CARAT, allows the researcher to browse various collections by title. Some of the topic collections include:
Manuscripts
County Records
Newspapers
Military Records, just to name a few.
The most interesting and valuable records about land ownership, Confederate Pensions and WWII discharge papers will probably attract anyone who wishes to research their Arkansas kin.
Looks like the data in CARAT is worth your time to review.
The Black History tab sends the researcher to the page for The Black History Commission of Arkansas. Although they have a collection , they are continually seeking donations of letters photos, business records, and other documents of the Black History of Arkansas. The Curtis H. Sykes Memorial Grant Program is available to help fund projects related to Black History of Arkansas.
Lastly, there are databases to help the researcher find more information like these topics:
African American legislators
African Americans manuscripts
African American yearbooks
African American newspapers, and several others.
Furthermore, there are resource guides to aid teachers in their classroom plans to study the above listed topics.
Although I have no family connections to Arkansas, Www.ark-ives.com, I will browse this website just because it holds such interesting information. Just the thing for a ho-hum rainy day.
Showing posts with label African American history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African American history. Show all posts
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Saturday, February 7, 2015
The History of the U.S. Lifesaving Service : an African American History Story
The January 2000 Vol IX Number 1 issue of the Carolina Trees and Branches publication had an article that sent me researching into a subject of which I had no knowledge.....until now. I kept this copy since I picked it up on the White Elephant table at a conference sometime....somewhere. It stayed in my "to look at later" file, until I decided to clean my home office. You see, there was upwards of 19 inches of snow outside my door, and this prompted me to do a little housecleaning.
Browsing the articles, published by the Family Research Society of Northeastern North Carolina, I came upon an article, The United States Lifesaving Service, (with Emphasis on the Pea Island Lifesaving Station). I had never read about the terrible problem with shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina. Evidently, in the eighteenth century, there was no organized way of dealing with this type of tragedy. Many ships grounded and were washed ashore, and those persons, Bankers, as they were called, tried their best to save maritime refugees.
The article mentions a newspaper notice in 1812, which was written about the schooner, Independence, which sailed from New Jersey to St. Domingo, having a cargo of sugar and coffee. It met with a fierce storm and lost nearly all of its cargo, and only one man of the eight person crew had survived. At that time, wreck commissioners were allowed to handle maritime disasters. They gathered their own groups to rescue ships, and whatever cargo they could. The ship owners were responsible to the wreck rescuers to reimburse them for their trouble.
The North Carolina General Assembly had put this type of rescue service in place, but it depended solely on the integrity of those wreck commissioners to do the right thing. The U.S. Congress appropriated funds to sponsor a new lifesaving station idea. In 1852, funding paid for surf boats to be stationed along the coast, at Wilmington, Ocracoke, and Bodie Island. It worked a little better than the wreck commissioner idea, but was not perfect. Later, in 1871, the government decided that a better idea was needed, as the shipwrecks became more numerous with the increase of shipping imports and exports. The Revenue Marine Bureau was founded, which provided the construction of seven lifesaving stations along the coast. These were built in 1873 and 1874. Great idea. But the stations were not sufficiently staffed. And, these were all located on the northern shores of the Carolinas, leaving little patrol for the southern shores.
In 1877, the wreck of the ship, Huron, which had a loss of 103 lives, and the ship, Metropolis, where 85 persons lost their lives, prompted the government to revise its plans for ship safety and rescue. The U. S. Lifesaving Service (USLSS) came unto its own, overseen by the Treasury Department.
Pea Island station, built in 1878, was staffed with an all white crew. Their first mistake was to completely miss a grounded ship. Four men were killed. Two of the high ranking officers had to resign from the station. The first black station keeper, Richard Etheridge, was assigned and placed at Pea Island in 1880. Mr. Etheridge hired an all black crew for Pea Island., probably because no white man would have taken orders from a black man at that point in history. The station was burned to the ground in May of that year. It was thought that the damage was due to arson, although no one was ever charged. Captain Etheridge commanded his crew to rebuild the station. He was hard on his crew, making them drill ever more than what was expected. He wanted his crew to be the best.
The Pea Island group performed their duties very well for many years, assisting in the rescue of ships and schooners through storms and hurricanes. Captain Etheridge ran a very professional unit at this station for over 20 years. He passed away at the station in 1900, at the age of 58. Another black man was assigned in his place, and the station continued to run until it deactivated in 1947.
Twenty-nine more lifesaving stations were built along the Carolina coast. In 1915, the U.S. Lifesaving Service was merged with the Revenue Cutter Service, and was called the United States Coast Guard. The Lighthouse Service was incorporated into the USCG in 1939. And now you know the rest of the story....the Coast Guard today not only performs rescues, but it also oversees customs violations, and national maritime regulations.
Browsing the articles, published by the Family Research Society of Northeastern North Carolina, I came upon an article, The United States Lifesaving Service, (with Emphasis on the Pea Island Lifesaving Station). I had never read about the terrible problem with shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina. Evidently, in the eighteenth century, there was no organized way of dealing with this type of tragedy. Many ships grounded and were washed ashore, and those persons, Bankers, as they were called, tried their best to save maritime refugees.
The article mentions a newspaper notice in 1812, which was written about the schooner, Independence, which sailed from New Jersey to St. Domingo, having a cargo of sugar and coffee. It met with a fierce storm and lost nearly all of its cargo, and only one man of the eight person crew had survived. At that time, wreck commissioners were allowed to handle maritime disasters. They gathered their own groups to rescue ships, and whatever cargo they could. The ship owners were responsible to the wreck rescuers to reimburse them for their trouble.
 |
| U.S. Lifesaving Service Emblem, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_Island_Life-Saving_Station |
The North Carolina General Assembly had put this type of rescue service in place, but it depended solely on the integrity of those wreck commissioners to do the right thing. The U.S. Congress appropriated funds to sponsor a new lifesaving station idea. In 1852, funding paid for surf boats to be stationed along the coast, at Wilmington, Ocracoke, and Bodie Island. It worked a little better than the wreck commissioner idea, but was not perfect. Later, in 1871, the government decided that a better idea was needed, as the shipwrecks became more numerous with the increase of shipping imports and exports. The Revenue Marine Bureau was founded, which provided the construction of seven lifesaving stations along the coast. These were built in 1873 and 1874. Great idea. But the stations were not sufficiently staffed. And, these were all located on the northern shores of the Carolinas, leaving little patrol for the southern shores.
In 1877, the wreck of the ship, Huron, which had a loss of 103 lives, and the ship, Metropolis, where 85 persons lost their lives, prompted the government to revise its plans for ship safety and rescue. The U. S. Lifesaving Service (USLSS) came unto its own, overseen by the Treasury Department.
Pea Island station, built in 1878, was staffed with an all white crew. Their first mistake was to completely miss a grounded ship. Four men were killed. Two of the high ranking officers had to resign from the station. The first black station keeper, Richard Etheridge, was assigned and placed at Pea Island in 1880. Mr. Etheridge hired an all black crew for Pea Island., probably because no white man would have taken orders from a black man at that point in history. The station was burned to the ground in May of that year. It was thought that the damage was due to arson, although no one was ever charged. Captain Etheridge commanded his crew to rebuild the station. He was hard on his crew, making them drill ever more than what was expected. He wanted his crew to be the best.
 |
| Richard Etheridge and his crew, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_Island_Life-Saving_Station |
The Pea Island group performed their duties very well for many years, assisting in the rescue of ships and schooners through storms and hurricanes. Captain Etheridge ran a very professional unit at this station for over 20 years. He passed away at the station in 1900, at the age of 58. Another black man was assigned in his place, and the station continued to run until it deactivated in 1947.
 |
| Pea Island crew, 1942, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_Island_Life-Saving_Station |
Twenty-nine more lifesaving stations were built along the Carolina coast. In 1915, the U.S. Lifesaving Service was merged with the Revenue Cutter Service, and was called the United States Coast Guard. The Lighthouse Service was incorporated into the USCG in 1939. And now you know the rest of the story....the Coast Guard today not only performs rescues, but it also oversees customs violations, and national maritime regulations.
 |
| Memorial Plaque, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_Island_Life-Saving_Station |
 |
| Grave site of Capt. Etheridge and his family at Pea Island, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_Island_Life-Saving_Station |
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Research Strategies and Stories : The Wisconsin African-American Genealogy Conference
Strategies and Stories:
African-American
Genealogy Conference
Saturday,
October 18, 2014
8
am-5 pm
 |
| http://cms.wisconsinhistory.org/cmsgallery/Large/1933 |
This weekend, I attended the 2nd Annual African-American Genealogy Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Remember, I am researching the life of Civil War veteran, Corporal Thomas Nelson, who enlisted in the ranks of the Union Army in 1864 while he lived in Rock County, Wisconsin. I thought perhaps I would learn a bit more about research techniques and strategies that would be useful to me in my project. I did not leave Madison disappointed.
Conference speakers, Janis Minor Forte', Carolyn Mattern and Lori Bessler, shared their knowledge and experiences with a room full of conference participants. Ms. Forte' reviewed the research she had done on her ancestor, Sallie Campbell Driver. She had developed her research question : How many children did Sallie have?...14, 15, 16,.... We listened intently as she showed us her research plan and rode along with her as she guided us on the trail to review the smallest items of information on the census sheets. Comparing the details of vital records, historical reports and genealogies, she determined, at the end of her presentation, that Sallie was the mother of 16 children.
Ms. Forte' gave a second presentation about the World War I draft registration in the United States. She entitled her program, "Even Gangsters Had to Register". Why name it that? Well, you see, she just happened to have an ancestor who had a rather interesting life....as a gangster. And, yes, she did show his draft registration form, and highlighted the wonderful personal information that could be gleaned from it. She also added the draft registrations of several notorious mob figures, noting that every man had to register, regardless of who you were or what you did. We talked briefly about non citizens who were not required to serve in the armed forces. Of course, I had to pipe up and tell my story of my grandfather, a non citizen, who was drafted. He told the members of the draft board that he was an alien, and furthermore, he had a brother serving in the army of the Kaiser in Austria. They still sent him to boot camp in New Jersey. However, when they asked the new recruits to write a letter to their families, telling how they would be leaving to go to war...my grandfather wrote a letter in German and Hungarian....to his family members living in the Austo-Hungarian empire. The government needed no more convincing. Grandpa was discharged as an enemy alien and sent home with what pay he had earned from the US Army.
 |
| Frank J. Bognar, Sr., orders to return home, labeled as an enemy alien. From the personal papers of F J Bognar, Sr. |
Carolyn Mattern gave a wonderful presentation about collecting information, forms and packets regarding the Civil War service of African-Americans. This was of special interest to me. Remember that Corp. Thomas Nelson served in the Union Army, 1864-1865. Carolyn reviewed my collection of information on Mr. Nelson, and suggested that I write to the National Archives for the complete pension file for him. She promised that it would be chocked full of wonderful family information....something that I need more of for my file. Recently I found a photograph of the members of the GAR of Hinsdale, Illinois, taken in the early 1900s. Mr. Nelson can be found in the middle of the back row, proudly standing with his fellow veterans.
 |
| "Village on the County Line" by Hugh Dugan |
Lori Bessler, of the Wisconsin Historical Society reference librarian, followed up with two presentations. The first was to give advice on organizing research materials and data...something that we all need to review from time to time. The second presentation was the discussion of resources available to those who wish to research African-American heritage and genealogy. Most of the nationally known websites were mentioned. In addition, some of the more specialized websites were reviewed. Afrigeneas, found at www.afrigeneas.com , is a good resource to help those researching their ancestry. Another that I have recently found is BlackRefer, found at www.blackrefer.com , which is a portal for sites. The Center for African-American Genealogical Research, found at http://www.caagri.org/, is another well-respected website. Don't forget the the Freedmen's Bank Records, and many of the others listed on Ancestry, found at www.ancestry.com
Sunday, April 6, 2014
African American Research Resources for the Nelson/Boswell Family and Relatives
In the NGS Magazine, July-September 2012 publication, Pamela Lyons Brinegar, CG, wrote an article entitled, "Researching Nineteenth-Century African American Women." The following were online resources that Pamela had suggested to enrich your African American historical projects :
Records of the field offices for the Bureau of Refugees,
Freedmen, and Abandoned Land
Digital Library on American Slavery
African American Women
Notable Kentucky African Americans
African American Records and Research – FamilySearch.org
In the coming weeks, I will explore each of these, and reveal if I am successful in revealing additional information regarding my Thomas Nelson/Eliza Boswell family project. In the meantime, if you are also researching families who might have records in these areas, please try them yourself.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
More Clues for Corpl. Thomas Nelson
Saturday, January 21, 1911, Hinsdale Doings, page 1, vol. XVI no.16
"Well Known Character Dies
Thomas Nelson, a much respected and well known colored citizen of Hinsdale passed away, Tuesday, January 17, at his home, corner of Vine and 3rd Streets. Mr. Nelson was born in Mississippi and at the time of the Civil War believed himself to be about 30 years old. He served as army nurse in a small pox hospital during the conflict, and later entered a colored regiment where his strict attention to duty soon caused him to be raised to the rank of Corporal.
While in the Army he received much praise also for bravery. At the close of the war he came North and had been a resident of Hinsdale 33 years last April. Soon after coming here he married Eliza, his wife, a woman who has done more for her race, in proportion to her means than many a millionaire whose gifts have received world wide fame. Mr. Nelson was an honored member of the GAR and marched with their ranks on each recurring memorial day celebration. For the last five years he has been in the express business and has always been held in high regard by all in Hinsdale.
He was buried from his late residence on Friday afternoon. He leaves a widow and many who find comfort in his many high qualities and kindly deeds."
Wow. This obit is chocked full of information about our Thomas Nelson.
Let's go comb through the obit for each tidbit:
1. Confirmation of his date of death : January 17, 1911. Also given, the day of the week : Tuesday.
2. Confirmation of his place of residence, at the corner of Vine and 3rd Streets, which is 307 South Vine Street as recorded on other documents.
3. Mentions his place of birth as Mississippi. This matches the information on half of our previous documentation. Other places mentioned in census records and pension records have recorded his place of birth as Alabama. Hmmm.
4. He believed himself to be about 30 years old at the time of the Civil War. Well, his death record states he was about 85 years in 1911. Other records state various other ages that could pin his birth anywhere between 1827 and 1839. Hmmm.
5. He served as an Army nurse in a small pox hospital. Really? A search for military hospital records might bring some new information.
6. He joined a Colored Regiment and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. This is documented in his compiled service record, which I was able to obtain through www.fold3.com.
7. He was a resident of Hinsdale for 33 years. This would mean that he first came to Hinsdale about 1878. According to census records he lived outside Janesville, Wisconsin in 1870, and indeed he was a resident of Hinsdale in the the census of 1880.
8. Marriage is mentioned, to Eliza, soon after he arrives in Hinsdale. Well, partially true. He was living in the same household with Eliza in 1880, in Hinsdale. She is mentioned as being his wife. However, their marriage is not recorded in the county of DuPage until 1886.
9. Eliza was obviously involved in some organization (s) that would have been of benefit to the African Americans of the time. This is another avenue to research in the future.
10. Thomas Nelson was a member of the GAR and marched with the ranks each Memorial Day. He should be mentioned in the local GAR membership publications of that time, and perhaps in the newspaper articles written around the time of each annual celebration. More research on the horizon.
11. Thomas was in the express business during the last five years of this life. Looking in to the business directories, advertisements, etc. in the early 1900s, along with any business records might prove to be interesting. The Hinsdale Historical Society may have these in their files and records.
12. The day of burial was on a Friday, and he left a widow, Eliza. It does not mention the two children that were living with them in the census records of 1900 and 1910. Magnolia and Henry were two children that I had assumed were the offspring of Thomas and Eliza. Time to look into birth records and announcements.
Just look at all of the things that came from one, very well written, obituary on the front page of a local newspaper. And the research goes on.
"Well Known Character Dies
Thomas Nelson, a much respected and well known colored citizen of Hinsdale passed away, Tuesday, January 17, at his home, corner of Vine and 3rd Streets. Mr. Nelson was born in Mississippi and at the time of the Civil War believed himself to be about 30 years old. He served as army nurse in a small pox hospital during the conflict, and later entered a colored regiment where his strict attention to duty soon caused him to be raised to the rank of Corporal.
While in the Army he received much praise also for bravery. At the close of the war he came North and had been a resident of Hinsdale 33 years last April. Soon after coming here he married Eliza, his wife, a woman who has done more for her race, in proportion to her means than many a millionaire whose gifts have received world wide fame. Mr. Nelson was an honored member of the GAR and marched with their ranks on each recurring memorial day celebration. For the last five years he has been in the express business and has always been held in high regard by all in Hinsdale.
He was buried from his late residence on Friday afternoon. He leaves a widow and many who find comfort in his many high qualities and kindly deeds."
Wow. This obit is chocked full of information about our Thomas Nelson.
Let's go comb through the obit for each tidbit:
1. Confirmation of his date of death : January 17, 1911. Also given, the day of the week : Tuesday.
2. Confirmation of his place of residence, at the corner of Vine and 3rd Streets, which is 307 South Vine Street as recorded on other documents.
3. Mentions his place of birth as Mississippi. This matches the information on half of our previous documentation. Other places mentioned in census records and pension records have recorded his place of birth as Alabama. Hmmm.
4. He believed himself to be about 30 years old at the time of the Civil War. Well, his death record states he was about 85 years in 1911. Other records state various other ages that could pin his birth anywhere between 1827 and 1839. Hmmm.
5. He served as an Army nurse in a small pox hospital. Really? A search for military hospital records might bring some new information.
6. He joined a Colored Regiment and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. This is documented in his compiled service record, which I was able to obtain through www.fold3.com.
7. He was a resident of Hinsdale for 33 years. This would mean that he first came to Hinsdale about 1878. According to census records he lived outside Janesville, Wisconsin in 1870, and indeed he was a resident of Hinsdale in the the census of 1880.
8. Marriage is mentioned, to Eliza, soon after he arrives in Hinsdale. Well, partially true. He was living in the same household with Eliza in 1880, in Hinsdale. She is mentioned as being his wife. However, their marriage is not recorded in the county of DuPage until 1886.
9. Eliza was obviously involved in some organization (s) that would have been of benefit to the African Americans of the time. This is another avenue to research in the future.
10. Thomas Nelson was a member of the GAR and marched with the ranks each Memorial Day. He should be mentioned in the local GAR membership publications of that time, and perhaps in the newspaper articles written around the time of each annual celebration. More research on the horizon.
11. Thomas was in the express business during the last five years of this life. Looking in to the business directories, advertisements, etc. in the early 1900s, along with any business records might prove to be interesting. The Hinsdale Historical Society may have these in their files and records.
12. The day of burial was on a Friday, and he left a widow, Eliza. It does not mention the two children that were living with them in the census records of 1900 and 1910. Magnolia and Henry were two children that I had assumed were the offspring of Thomas and Eliza. Time to look into birth records and announcements.
Just look at all of the things that came from one, very well written, obituary on the front page of a local newspaper. And the research goes on.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Corporal Thomas Nelson, the Person I Wish I Had Known
Since I last wrote, in June, so much has happened with my research concerning Corporal Thomas Nelson.
I found that the rule of confirming research data is very important. If you will recall, I had thought that his wife, Eliza, passed away in Wisconsin while living with a daughter. Since then, I found that not to be true.
Eliza passed away in DuPage County, Illinois on the 23 of January in 1920. This is what I found in the Illinois Death Index :
This is a document that I wish to order from the State Archives. It lists her burial place as Bronswood Cemetery. However, I read the original burial index, which stated that originally Mrs. Nelson purchased a burial place for her deceased husband and herself. But a notation mentions that she sold the plot that was meant for herself. Furthermore, I believe that the records at the cemetery office do not have a record for her burial there. I will visit the cemetery this week to confirm this and ask if they will allow me to see the plot purchase records for her husband and the adjoining lot. There should be confirmation as to her selling a plot either to the cemetery or to another person, if indeed she did so.
Next, I browsed the Illinois Marriage Index for DuPage County, Illinois which can be found at this web address : http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/marriage.html It covers 1763 - 1900. The index search shows this result :
Nelson, Thomas Bussell, Eliza 1886 02 05 Vol 1 Page 99 Lic. 1287 DuPage County
The last name of Bussell sounded a little strange to me, so I proceeded to search this a little more. FamilySearch shows that her surname was Russell, which made more sense to me. However, It could also be Boswell. It also stated the name of the officiate as Dorathy, P. M. I assume the initials stand for Protestant Minister, but a little more research will make things more believable.
I attended the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in August. Sitting in the audience of Tim Pinnick, a known African-American researcher, I learned more about the types of evidence and resources that I should be using for this couple.
Since I knew the town of residence, I proceeded to look for city directories for the Nelson family. I did find one which I photographed with my cell phone. It appeared that Mrs. Eliza Nelson lived on South Vine Street in Hinsdale, Illinois. It matched with the census records that I found.
The Civil War Pension Index provided two cards : One which was for Thomas Nelson's application for an invalid pension in 1897, and another for the Widow's Pension application in 1911 where Eliza had applied for support. Each has an application and certificate number. I'll use those to request the compiled and full file for the supporting papers of each request.
A nice trip to the library in Hinsdale proved to be very beneficial with my work. They had microfilm of The Hinsdale Doings, a local newspaper which is published weekly and provides many years of local information. Looking at the first page of the 21 January 1911 edition, there I found a rather nice obit for Mr. Nelson.
After I research a bit more that is mentioned in the obit, I'll report back and reveal what more I have found on our Civil War Veteran that I Wish I Had Known. Wish me luck. This is getting good.
I found that the rule of confirming research data is very important. If you will recall, I had thought that his wife, Eliza, passed away in Wisconsin while living with a daughter. Since then, I found that not to be true.
Eliza passed away in DuPage County, Illinois on the 23 of January in 1920. This is what I found in the Illinois Death Index :
| Eliza Nelson | |
| Birth Date: | abt 1851 |
|---|---|
| Birth Place: | Virginia |
| Death Date: | 23 Jan 1920 |
| Death Place: | Hinsdale, DuPage, Illinois |
| Burial Date: | 26 Jan 1920 |
| Cemetery Name: | Bronswood Cemetery |
| Death Age: | 69 |
| Occupation: | None |
| Race: | Black |
| Marital Status: | W |
| Gender: | Female |
| FHL Film Number: | 1562397 |
This is a document that I wish to order from the State Archives. It lists her burial place as Bronswood Cemetery. However, I read the original burial index, which stated that originally Mrs. Nelson purchased a burial place for her deceased husband and herself. But a notation mentions that she sold the plot that was meant for herself. Furthermore, I believe that the records at the cemetery office do not have a record for her burial there. I will visit the cemetery this week to confirm this and ask if they will allow me to see the plot purchase records for her husband and the adjoining lot. There should be confirmation as to her selling a plot either to the cemetery or to another person, if indeed she did so.
Next, I browsed the Illinois Marriage Index for DuPage County, Illinois which can be found at this web address : http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/marriage.html It covers 1763 - 1900. The index search shows this result :
• Illinois Statewide Marriage Index ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
Search Criteria: Nelson, Thomas
Nelson, Thomas Bussell, Eliza 1886 02 05 Vol 1 Page 99 Lic. 1287 DuPage County
The last name of Bussell sounded a little strange to me, so I proceeded to search this a little more. FamilySearch shows that her surname was Russell, which made more sense to me. However, It could also be Boswell. It also stated the name of the officiate as Dorathy, P. M. I assume the initials stand for Protestant Minister, but a little more research will make things more believable.
I attended the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in August. Sitting in the audience of Tim Pinnick, a known African-American researcher, I learned more about the types of evidence and resources that I should be using for this couple.
Since I knew the town of residence, I proceeded to look for city directories for the Nelson family. I did find one which I photographed with my cell phone. It appeared that Mrs. Eliza Nelson lived on South Vine Street in Hinsdale, Illinois. It matched with the census records that I found.
The Civil War Pension Index provided two cards : One which was for Thomas Nelson's application for an invalid pension in 1897, and another for the Widow's Pension application in 1911 where Eliza had applied for support. Each has an application and certificate number. I'll use those to request the compiled and full file for the supporting papers of each request.
A nice trip to the library in Hinsdale proved to be very beneficial with my work. They had microfilm of The Hinsdale Doings, a local newspaper which is published weekly and provides many years of local information. Looking at the first page of the 21 January 1911 edition, there I found a rather nice obit for Mr. Nelson.
After I research a bit more that is mentioned in the obit, I'll report back and reveal what more I have found on our Civil War Veteran that I Wish I Had Known. Wish me luck. This is getting good.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Writing About Someone You Don't Know, But Wish You Did
I have taken an inventory of burials at a local cemetery with the help of a few friends. There were some mysteries that I had encountered along the way. For instance, there was a tombstone issued by the United States government at the plot of a Civil War soldier, who was interred in the "single grave" section of the cemetery. It was the only one of this type in this cemetery.
Thomas Nelson, a deceased veteran, was laid to rest alongside some of the older burials, and in the area of the only African American persons interred there. Mr. Nelson was a black man who served our nation in the United States Union Army, finishing his service with a rank of Corporal. Here is photo of his stone :
Thomas Nelson, a deceased veteran, was laid to rest alongside some of the older burials, and in the area of the only African American persons interred there. Mr. Nelson was a black man who served our nation in the United States Union Army, finishing his service with a rank of Corporal. Here is photo of his stone :
My question is : Why is this man buried here in a cemetery in northern Illinois? This is a predominantly white populated area, and has been since the 1840s. Why is it that this man has no family buried near him? How did he get here? What is his story?
My quest is to find his military service records, find his family, and learn more about this "lone soldier" laid in the back area of a very old cemetery. I have found his service records from Fold3 at www.fold3.com.
- Company F, 18 Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry
- Enlisted at Janesville, Wisconsin, at the age of 26 on August 17, 1864
- He was 5' 8 1/2" tall, with black complexion, black eyes and black hair
- born in Alabama
- occupation : Laborer
I have found a few census records noting his occupation as a laborer, living in the nearby town with a wife and children. Noting that he was born in Alabama, I will have to search those records, in addition to marriage records, births of his children, and the death of his wife.
But, as we all know, moving backward in time is the best way to chart the life of an individual. So, I looked at the burial log of the cemetery and found the notation of Mr. Nelson. The lot had been purchased by his wife, with a notation that the next lot was to be reserved for Mrs. Nelson. It also gave the name of the undertakers and date of death, his age, as well as his cause of death. He is the first name on this page of interments.
- died 17 January 1911, burial 20 January 1911
- cause : Organic disease of the heart
- age : about 85
- undertaker : Fredricks & Pfeifer
Not long ago, I found Mrs. Nelson's death in Wisconsin. She had been living with one of her children at the time of her death.
My final goal : To learn about the life of this African-American man, Corp. Thomas Nelson, who is buried in a single grave, with no relatives interred nearby. Somehow, I feel that there is a very interesting story to be told about Mr. Nelson. When I have uncovered his past I will be sharing his story with all of you.
Go out and find someone that seems to have a mystery about them. Research them and get to know them. Then, share it with others. Imagine how many new stories we can reveal.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Published Family Histories
Have you wondered how to write a genealogy report or family ancestry story? I like to read published ancestry books. Recently I purchased "The Ancestry of Mayor Harold Washington" by Curtis G. Brasfield, 1993, Heritage Books, Inc., Bowie, Maryland.
I thought that it would be a good read about the first African-American mayor of the City of Chicago. After reviewing just the table of contents, I was very impressed with the author's organization of documents, tables and genealogy summaries. In the second half of the book, Mr. Brasfield explained the methodology that was used in his research of the Washington family. In my opinion, this was a very well crafted genealogy and biographical publication. Well done, Mr. Brasfield.
In my experience with writing my own research projects, and reviewing the writings of other researchers, I have found various styles of organization of the vital records and general family stories. There are so many ways that an author can present his/her research results. However, finding just the right words to keep the reader interested and involved can be a task in itself. Learning to write with excitement and describing the picture of the history and lives in a family are so important for the author to achieve.
I suggest that before you try to write a family history, genealogy report or ancestry, take a trip to your local library and read several works that have been published. Take note of how the information is presented. Are there parts of the work that keep you intrigued? What made it grab your attention? Are there parts of the book that seem to be uninteresting? What would make those parts more interesting to you? Take notes from reviewing the works of others. There is really no right way or wrong way to write your family history. Whatever way you choose to present your work, make sure that it still grabs your attention time after time that you read your own work. Make changes and ask someone else to review your work, asking for suggestions.
When you are sure that what you have written is the best work that you can present, then get it published. Even if it is just a few copies for family members to keep, at least it is written and can be passed onto others. But do consider giving a copy of your work to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City for their collection. There are also fine research libraries in other states that will accept your work for their special collections. Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana and St. Louis County Public Library in Frontenac, Missouri hold many published family histories. Ask others for their suggestions about where to send your book. Reading published family histories can be so interesting, and just might get you in the mood to finish that writing project that you never finished.
Family History Library
Salt Lake City, Utah
I thought that it would be a good read about the first African-American mayor of the City of Chicago. After reviewing just the table of contents, I was very impressed with the author's organization of documents, tables and genealogy summaries. In the second half of the book, Mr. Brasfield explained the methodology that was used in his research of the Washington family. In my opinion, this was a very well crafted genealogy and biographical publication. Well done, Mr. Brasfield.
In my experience with writing my own research projects, and reviewing the writings of other researchers, I have found various styles of organization of the vital records and general family stories. There are so many ways that an author can present his/her research results. However, finding just the right words to keep the reader interested and involved can be a task in itself. Learning to write with excitement and describing the picture of the history and lives in a family are so important for the author to achieve.
I suggest that before you try to write a family history, genealogy report or ancestry, take a trip to your local library and read several works that have been published. Take note of how the information is presented. Are there parts of the work that keep you intrigued? What made it grab your attention? Are there parts of the book that seem to be uninteresting? What would make those parts more interesting to you? Take notes from reviewing the works of others. There is really no right way or wrong way to write your family history. Whatever way you choose to present your work, make sure that it still grabs your attention time after time that you read your own work. Make changes and ask someone else to review your work, asking for suggestions.
When you are sure that what you have written is the best work that you can present, then get it published. Even if it is just a few copies for family members to keep, at least it is written and can be passed onto others. But do consider giving a copy of your work to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City for their collection. There are also fine research libraries in other states that will accept your work for their special collections. Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana and St. Louis County Public Library in Frontenac, Missouri hold many published family histories. Ask others for their suggestions about where to send your book. Reading published family histories can be so interesting, and just might get you in the mood to finish that writing project that you never finished.
Family History Library
Salt Lake City, Utah
St. Louis County Library
Frontenac, Missouri
I'm looking forward to reading your work!
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