Note: The Web version of this issue of The Roots Tracer contains all of
the words and all of the non-decorative graphics of the original paper
version, but does not preserve the original typographical formatting.
ISSN0736-802X
THE LIVERMORE ROOTS TRACER
VOLUME XIII SPRING 1994 NUMBER 3
Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
PO Box 901, Livermore, California 94551
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME XIII NUMBER 3
Editors' Notes 474
Calendar of Events 475
Addendum to "Cemeteries of Pleasanton and Dublin, California 475
Computer News 476
The Bookshelf 479
Genealogy and Your Vacation 481
Civil War Notes and Stories 482
From the Knoles Family Album 486
Audio Tapes Available to Members 488
Queries 489
Meet the Members 490
EDITORS' NOTES
George Anderson reminded us that several years ago the Roots Tracer ran a
series of ancestor lists. Including the Anderson's list, several other
long-time members of L-AGS submitted their ancestor lists. George has
suggested that since L-AGS has many new members who are quite far along
on their family histories, we should reinstitute this series with their
contributions. Your editors have a sample, provided by George, which may
help you format your ancestor lists. Those that are submitted will be
published throughout the year.
Members should keep in mind that the Roots Tracer has distribution beyond
the local area. We send our publication to many other genealogy
societies; in exchange, they send their publications to us. We also send
the Roots Tracer to genealogy libraries around the country.
The free "publicity" you receive by publishing in the Roots Tracer may
bring wonderful surprises!
********
Your editors neglected to credit the source of two articles submitted
last quarter. "Polish Research" and "To Research Passport Records" were
submitted by Beverly Schell Ales. We apologize for our omission.
********
In this issue of the Roots Tracer we have published a list of audio tapes
now owned by L-AGS. If there are any other tapes of general interest you
would like L-AGS to purchase, please let George Anderson know.
LIFE MEMBERS OF L-AGS:
Beverly Schell Ales
Anastasia Alexander
Carrie Alexander
Terry Crane
G. E. "Robbie" Robinson
BENEFACTORS:
Judy and Don Person
David and Linda Curry
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS:
Trent and Evelyn Edwards
Albert E. Bueche and Carol Simonsen-Bueche
Nancy Horne
Barbara Beck Farris
Jay Gilson
Jean Hartley
Carol Ann Pleasant
Mildred Freitas
CALENDAR OF SELECTED GENEALOGICAL EVENTS
(From various sources)
12 April 94 LIVERMORE GENEALOGY SOCIETY regular meeting. George Anderson
will discuss "How to 'yoomp' the Atlantic to find Scandinavian
ancestors".
15 - 16 April 94 California Genealogical Society 9th Family History Fair
a The Fashion Center, 699 Eighth Street, SF. Many very fine speakers and
programs. 415-777-9936 for more information.
19 April 94 San Ramon Valley GS regular meeting: Jolene Abrahams will
speak on finding her birth family and adoptions.
26 April 94 Southern California Genealogical Society program will feature
Kathleen C. Beals, Calif. Genealogical Society: Using the CGS Library.
7 May 94 San Ramon Valley GS & Contra Costa GS seminar, Danville Theatre:
Lloyd DeWill Bockstruck, Dallas Public Library.
10 May 94 LIVERMORE GENEALOGY SOCIETY regular meeting. Rose Mary Kennedy,
from the National Archives, will be our featured speaker.
21 - 22 May 94 Southern California Genealogical Society 25th Annual Gen.
Jamboree, Pasadena Convention Center; contact SCGS, P. O. Box 4377,
Burbank, CA 91503.
1 - 4 June 94 National Genealogical Society annual conference, Houston,
TX: Explore a Nation of Emigrants.
11 June 94 LIVERMORE GENEALOGY SOCIETY regular meeting. NOTE:
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM This meeting will be at the Pleasanton Library, 400 Old
Bernal Ave.
ADDENDUM TO THE "CEMETERIES OF PLEASANTON AND DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA"
Published January, 1990
FALLON PLOT, page 104, Sect A-Row 7
MARY CATHERINE FALLON MURRAY
b. 17 May 1847
w. Mission San Jose, 1st white child born at Mission
d. Oct 1941 (age 94 yrs)
w.b. St. Raymond's Pioneer Cemetery, Dublin, California
Daughter of Jeremiah Fallon early pioneer of Dublin.
Submitted by Beverly Schell Ales, March 1994
The Bookshelf
Campbell County, Tennessee, USA: A History of Places, Faces, Happenings,
Traditions, and Things. 1993. By Miller McDonald. Published by County
Services Syndicate, LaFollette, Tennessee. 355+xi pages, 11x13 inches,
hard cover, photos, illustrations, maps. No index. Donated to LAGS by
Judy Person, in memory of Harvey Grant Hatmaker.
Figure 1. The easiest form of ingress into what is now Campbell County
in pioneer times was by flatboating or rafting. Settlers floated down
the Powell and the Clinch Rivers into this area. Others came on foot or
by horseback, with more difficulty, leading their oxen and cattle into
the wilderness.
Illustration and caption from "Campbell County, Tennessee, USA"
Campbell County lies near the Cumberland Gap, the historic, unique breach
in the Appalachians through which funneled the first westering pioneers
in the 1700s. The county is laden with history, and also with scenery, as
this book attests.
This is a coffee-table book, in size and attractiveness. Large pictures
decorate each oversize page. The author scoured the county, interviewing
the citizens, borrowing their old pictures, and studying their historic
manuscripts and diaries.
The result is a book that is interesting even to those who have no
connections to the county, and undoubtedly a treasure to those who have.
There are hundreds of names scattered throughout the text and in the
captions, but the lack of an index is, to genealogists, a serious fault.
The analogy to the "mug books" published by most counties in the 1800s is
evident - many genealogical societies have had to undertake the indexing
of these books in recent years, to make them useful to their members.
********************
Upshur County, West Virginia, Marriage Records; Book 5, October 1896 to
November 1899, and Book 6, September 1899 to May 1902. 1993. By Karon
King and John Walden. Published by the authors. Available from John
Walden, 715 Catalina Dr., Livermore, CA 94550. 82+iii pages, 8 1/2x 11
inches, soft cover. Index. Donated to LAGS by John Walden.
Over 1600 individual names are listed in the index of this compilation,
co-authored by LAGS' own John Walden. The entries themselves give twice
as many additional names, because the parents of both marriage partners
are listed there. The actual count for the parents is probably less,
because many of their names are repeated when others of their children
were married. These parents' names are not indexed.
Entries are listed sequentially as they appear in the marriage books.
This is close to chronological in most cases. Each entry contains the
names of the bride and groom, their ages, their places of birth and
residence, and their parents' names. In addition, the entry lists the
date of the record of marriage from the minister's return and the county
marriage license book number and page where listed. If the bride or groom
is widowed or divorced, this fact is noted.
********************
Upshur County, West Virginia, Births, 1853-1897. 1993. By Billie Faye
Drost and Karon Janet King. Published by Heritage Books, Bowie, Maryland.
214+vii pages, 8 1/2x11 inches, soft cover. Self-indexed. Donated to LAGS
by John Walden.
As in the other Upshur County book just described, the entire entry in
the county record book was transcribed. One of the authors (Karon King)
of this book was also a co-author on the other Upshur County book.
Almost 13,700 births are listed alphabetically by surname in this book.
The entry gives the child's full name, sex, date of birth, and parents'
names, and the book-page-line citation for the original records. The
county records are those from Books 1 and 2, parts of Book 3, and the
Delayed Birth Book.
********************
Ohio Families; A Bibliography of Books about Ohio Families. 1993. By
Donald M. Hehir. Published by Heritage Books, Bowie, Maryland. 6x9
inches, 403+xii pages, soft cover. Index. Donated to LAGS by the
publisher.
The cover blurb for this book says that it contains over 1800 Ohioan
surnames, but my estimate from the index comes out to over 3000. In any
case, it is a large and comprehensive list of Ohio family histories.
The author compiled his list from the catalogs of major libraries. Most
of the entries were taken from the catalogs of the Library of Congress,
the National Genealogical Society Library, and the DAR Library, all in
Washington D.C. or vicinity. Among the many others listed is the San
Francisco Public Library, which long ago turned its genealogy collection
over to the Sutro Library, so he is either late in publishing, or has
misstated his source.
Deciding whether or not a given book concerns Ohio is hard to do from
catalog information. Actually looking into the book is the only way to
decide, and that was impractical for Mr. Hehir to do. He is careful to
point out that some books published in Ohio might not be about Ohio, and
others might have been omitted from his list because the catalog
information did not mention Ohio. In addition, he cautions, there may be
many Ohio family histories that were privately published and did not make
it into public libraries.
Entries in the book are listed alphabetically by the surname subject of
the family history. A cross index is also provided to catch names that
are buried in subtitles.
To test the index, I looked up my only surname, Black, that has any
connection with Ohio. Not surprisingly, I found many Blacks, but not
mine. Then I looked for Welhoff, a very rare name that over many years I
have yet to find in the Genealogical Helper index. And there it was, in
the variant spelling, Willhoff! So books like this are worth searching.
********************
Maryland and Delaware Genealogies and Family Histories. 1993. By Donald
Odell Virdin. Published by Heritage Books, Bowie, Maryland. 114+v pages,
8 1/2x11 inches, soft cover. Index. Donated to LAGS by the publisher.
Similar in nature to the Ohio listing just described, this book claims
800 titles for Maryland and 200 for Delaware. My estimates agree.
However, this author provides no critical discussion of his methods, and
of the completeness of his work, as did the author of the Ohio book.
Delaware and Maryland are covered in separate, similar sections. Titles
are listed alphabetically by the surname concerned, and a separate index
lists hidden surnames. Both sections contain a list of historical and
genealogical organizations.
My personal testing of the book came out positive. The family history,
"Mullikins of Maryland," was listed, although the book seems to be rare -
it took us 5 years to find a copy to purchase.
********************
A History of the City of Pleasanton. 1994. By Herbert L. Hagemann, Jr.
Published by the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society, Pleasanton,
California. 6x9 inches, 65 pages, soft cover, staple bound. Photos, maps,
index. $5.00. Donated to LAGS by George and Harriet Anderson.
Pleasanton will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its incorporation on
June 18th of this year. As part of the commemoration of that event, ALVHS
requested Herbert Hagemann to write this history of the city. He was the
logical choice, since his great, great grandfather, Juan Pablo Bernal,
was the first settler on the land that was to become Pleasanton, and his
great grandfather, Judge John Kottinger, was the founder of the town.
Hagemann's book is easily and pleasurably read in an hour. It is brimming
with local pride, which some would call boosterism. The author is clearly
not a slow-growther. For instance, he points out with evident approval
that Pleasanton is now sixty times as large as it was in 1894. Yet he has
been a leader in ALVHS and in local historic preservation.
It comes as a shock to recognize some of the bygone buildings in the
photos, and realize that they were part of our lives thirty years ago,
but now are worthy of being pictured in a history book! To paraphrase
Pogo, we have discovered history, and it is us. Or, to quote our own LAGS
motto, "Tomorrow, today will be history."
That there is an index is laudable, but it seems to be faulty, as
evidenced by its lacking the name of the town's eponym, General
Pleasonton, who is mentioned on page 20.
GENEALOGY AND YOUR VACATION
Jolene & David Abrahams
So, you're going on vacation - and taking your family history and
genealogy notebooks with you. Perhaps this is the year you will make some
wonderful discoveries about your ancestors. Here are some tips we have
gathered from listening to our friends and lecturers through the years.
Have you contacted all living relatives, including in-laws and out-laws?
Good friends of the family? Do you know of or have access to family
bibles? Try to photo-copy pages with family names and dates for your own
records. Have you researched all known family histories? Have you checked
(and perhaps copied) all birth, marriage and death records? Church
records may fill in some gaps in your research.
Then there are wills, estate and probate records. Who left what to whom?
Do you know where your ancestors went to school? And how about fraternal
organizations and business societies?
You should visit cemeteries (but not at midnight when the moon is full!)
to read the headstones. This can prove to be very useful. Church records
may once again be helpful. In many areas, the cemeteries are directly
connected with their respective churches.
Have you checked military records? There is some information in this
issue of The Roots Tracer regarding Civil War records. Look for
applications for pensions and widow's pension land grants.
Other interesting (?) information may come from civil and criminal
records (do you really want to brag about Uncle Joe being a horse
thief?). Included in civil records are such things as citizenship, voter
registration tax rolls and other vital statistics.
Interviewing family members may result either in enthusiastic support of
your cause, or "why are you doing this - our family did nothing out of
the ordinary". Here's where you have to be creative. Keep your interviews
"light"; make it a fun experience for your interviewees to tell you about
how things were in "the good old days".
Last year, Allison Hamaker gave L-AGS a presentation on how to take your
family history. She has a list of 70 questions that she asks people in
her conversations with them. From these questions, we have excerpted a
few to fill the page:
1. Where have you lived; how did you dress when you were child; what
games did you play.
2. Do you remember your friends names.
3. What did your mother look like; what are your favorite memories of
her.
4. What did your father look like; was he stern; what are your favorite
memories.
5. What did your father do for a living; did your mother work as well.
5. What kind of music did you listen to as a teenager; how did you wear
your hair.
6. What did you do for vacations; where did you go; camping; favorite
memories of vacations.
7. What do you remember about school; your teachers; your favorite
subjects.
8. Did you take music lessons; did anyone else play an instrument or sing
or dance well.
9. What kind of religious training did you have; where did you worship.
10. Did you participate in any volunteer organizations in the community.
11. Were you in the military; any famous battles; how about the same for
your parents.
12. Will you discuss your politics; conservative or liberal; and your
parents views.
13. What are your hobbies.
CIVIL WAR NOTES AND STORIES
Jolene and David Abrahams
After meeting with our Civil War "Favorite Son" and L-AGS member Rhett
Williamson, we quickly realized the many avenues to take in researching
your Civil War ancestors. Time and space (dedicating an entire Roots
Tracer) do not allow us to write a comprehensive document. However, we
hope you will enjoy the stories and information we have presented in this
issue.
The newspaper article on the next page, reproduced from the original,
appeared in the Valley Times before Rhett's presentation at a L-AGS
meeting in 1993. Rhett participates in many re-enactments of Civil War
battles. Below we have listed those re-enactments that may be of interest
to our members, and that are not too far from home (from the NCWA
Dispatch).
April 17: Dunsmuir House, Oakland. Living history event sponsored by
Civilian Corps. (Coordinator: Vida Jones, 707-795-3010)
April 23-24: Gardner's Cove, Modesto. Public battles and encampment.
(Coordinator: Don Ulery, 209-836-9606)
May 28-30: Kelley Park, San Jose. Public battles and encampment.
(Coordinator: Gary McLeod/Memorial Day Event Committee, 408-554-6472)
July 16-17: Skyline Park, Napa. Public battles and encampment.
(Coordinator: Elizabeth Ontis, 707-557-2552)
August 13-14: Watsonville. Public battles and encampment. (Coordinator:
Derek Walls, 408-724-7754)
September 10-11: Pioneer Park, Nevada City. Public battles, encampment
and parade. (Coordinator: Grover Cleveland, 916-432-9036)
October 8-9: Kearney Park, Fresno. Public battles and encampment.
(Coordinator: Roy Wells, 408-946-7228)
November 5-6: Naval Weapons Station, Concord. Public battles and
encampment. (Coordinator: Laurie Rogers, 510-825-5483)
The "Excerpts From a Civil War Diary" was copied from the Hayward Area
Genealogy Society H.A.G.S. Informer, August 1993.
The short notes on Page 485 were taken from various recent genealogical
publications.
Rhett provided us with a copy of the 1994 Annual Calendar of Civil War
Events, published by The Civil War News. This calendar has a listing of
many reenactments, encampments and other historical programs to be held
throughout the country during the year. Information about Civil War
societies may also be found in this calendar. Subscription information is
available from your editors.
Rhett Williamson of Livermore sports a replica of a uniform that his
great-grandfather wore during the Civil War.
Bringing history to the present
By Sarah Colby
STAFF WRITER
LIVERMORE - Fitzpatrick James Rhett Wiliamson has a close relationship
with his greatgrandfather, despite never having met him.
Williamson reels off his name with a laugh, "just to show you how
Southern I am."
A Livermore resident, Williamson is originally from New Orleans and his
family's ancestral home is in Alabama. Friends call him Rhett, but all
three surnames carry family history into the present and future - a goal
Williamson's Southern side devotes itself to in more ways than one.
If you meet Williamson at the right moment, you might think you're
looking into the face of the past and in a way you would be. A genealogy
enthusiast. Williamson decided 3 1-2 years ago to begin playing his
great-grandfather, Samuel Thomas Williamson, in Civil War re-enactments.
"I thought if I could play my great-grandfather, I could get a feel or a
sense, sort of almost crawl into the skin of his being. The fact of the
matter is you can't do that. You're in the 1990s. No matter how well we
try to re-create 1863, we can't," Williamson said.
But in recreating his grandfather, a surgeon for the Confederate Army,
Williamson has learned much more about his own genealogy and history than
he ever had before - about where his grandfather was on precise days,
what conditions he lived under, what clothes he wore, what food he ate.
"Now my objective is a double objective. I'm still acquiring more and
more information about my great-grandfather ... but in addition, I'm
focusing in the direction of making the public ... aware of their
heritage," Williamson said.
Area residents will get a chance to view some of Williamson's methods
when he performs as his great-grandfather at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the
Beth Emek Temple in Livermore.
"Everyone has family and when people come to reenactments, one person in
the crowd might say, 'Well, gee, wouldn't it be nice if I knew what my
background was.'" he said.
Genealogy is quickly out pacing other hobbies such as stamp collecting.
Almost everyone thinks at some point about where they came from,
Williamson said.
EXCERPTS FROM A CIVIL WAR DIARY
These excerpts were taken from a diary kept by Horatio N. Robinson, Co.
C, 1st Regiment Mass. Volunteers Infantry, Boston. He kept the diary for
approximately 1-1/2 years. Although it is a one-year diary, he used it
from Jan. 1, 1863 to Friday, May 27th, 1864 when he was mustered out of
the service of the United States. Horatio Robinson was the brother of my
great-grandfather, William A. Robinson, also of Boston, and the diary
comes to me from Emily Hook, Horatio's granddaughter.
One interesting note, Horatio Robinson took ill and was sent to the
hospital with "Typhus Fever" just four days before the Battle of
Gettysburg, in which three members of his company were killed and 14 were
wounded.
- Lois Elling
Monday, April 27, 1863
Fair Weather. Warm. Had a review at 7 o'clock by Secty Stanton & Lord
Lyons. Inspection Dress Parade. Wrote Home.
Tuesday, April 28, 1863
Rainy On Guard. Broke camp and started on a march with 8 days rations
toward Fredericksburg. Started about 5 o'clock bivouacked for the night
in the wood near the Rappahanock about 10 o'clock.
Wednesday, April 29, 1863
Cloudy and foggy this morning the sun worked its way out about noon but
began to rain towards evening. Got ready about 6 o'clock and marched
about a mile into another piece of woods. Here we stopped until next
morning. Recd 2 days rations. Recd a letter from home.
Thursday, April 30, 1863
Cloudy & foggy with little rain. Cleared off about noon. Mustered out for
pay. Got ready to move again about 10 o'clock. Started about noon and
marched about 12 miles toward Banks ford. Stopped in a field for the
night about 4 miles from the Rappahanock. Halted about 11 o'ck at night.
Friday, May 1, 1863
Fair Weather. Got ready about 5 or 6 o'clock to move again. Our regiment
guarded the wagon train to the river. Arrived at the Rappahanock and
crossed about 3 o'clock. Joined the Brigade about an hour after. About 5
o'clock received orders to move when we got within a mile of the enemy we
formed a line of Battle in the woods & halted - lying behind our stacks
at night in the immediate vicinity of the Chancellor House. There was
considerable fighting during the day but by 8 o'clock all was quiet and
we retired for a nights rest.
"Chancellorsville" 1863
Saturday, May 2, 1863
Fair Weather. Today we laid behind our stacks until about 6 o'clock when
we were called on to go to the front. We went about 1/2 a mile and formed
in the woods. Threw out skirmishers and throwed up a breastwork and laid
there all night. The enemy made a Sortie during the night. Capt Rand
killed & 2 or 3 men were wounded during the engagement. Both sides were
shelling during the day but the fighting did not become general until
about 3 o'clock.
The 11th Corps broke. Stonewall Jackson was wounded during the night and
died from his wound.
Sunday, May 3, 1863
"Chancellorsville"
Fair Weather. This morning we went at it bright & early. About 4 o'clock
our line was broke and we retreated back to where we were on Saturday -
in the afternoon we moved to the right and stopped and got dinner after
changing positions several times. We formed line of Battle about 7
o'clock and turned in for the night. Gen Berry was killed. Nichols,
Hoffman and Woods were wounded. Estabrook wounded and prisoner. Munroe
and Tuells prisoners. There was a large number of Rebels taken. Our Regt
lost 9 killed, 40 wounded and 67 prisoners. 2 day rations given out.
Battle of Chancellorsville May 3d 1863
Monday, May 4, 1863
Fair Weather - Warm. Laid on our arms all last night. Gen Whipple was
wounded this morning. News arrived in camp that Gen Sedgwick had taken
Fredericksburg capturing 39 pieces of artillery & all the commissary
stores of the enemy at that place. There was some skirmishing during the
day. Our batteries opened but there was no general engagement. At night,
Gen Whipple died from the effects of his wounds.
Tuesday, May 5, 1863
Foggy this morning - few Thunder Showers during the afternoon. Laid on
our arms all last night. We were turned out once during the night but it
amounted to nothing more than picket firing. Had a little shelling and
skirmishing this forenoon. Had 2 or 3 wounded by it. Jake Holmes of Co.
B, 1 man in Co. A. About 9 o'clock PM we got orders to guard a battery to
the River. Got down and crossed about 1 o'clock PM. Stopped in the woods
for the night about a quarter of a mile from the River.
Wednesday, May 6, 1863
Rainy all day. The whole army crossed the Rappahanock last night and
today on the retreat. We arrived in our old camp near Falmouth, Va about
6 o'clock.
CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS SYSTEM
The development of a new database containing the names of Union and
Confederate soldiers who served in the United States Civil War has been
announced.
Scheduled for completion in about three years, the Civil War Soldiers
System will identify about 3.5 million soldiers, their regiments, and
which battles the regiments fought in. Because many soldiers served in
more than one regiment and under more than one name, including aliases
and spelling variations, the database will include about 5.5 million
names.
When finished, the database will be available at the National Park
Service Battlefield Sites, National Archives branches, the Family History
Library and its family history centers, and other major genealogical
libraries and archives.
The creation of this database will be a cooperative effort between the
National Park Service, the National Archives, the Federation of
Genealogical Societies, the Civil War Trust, the Genealogical Society of
Utah (a parent organization of the Family History Library), and hundreds
of volunteers throughout the United States.
Volunteers are needed to do data entry on personal computers in their
homes and on microcomputers at National Parks sites, National Archives
branches, the Family History Library, and societies belonging to the
Federation of Genealogical Societies. The Family History Library and the
Genealogical Society of Utah encourage all interested persons to
participate in this unique project.
Participation is not limited to members of genealogical societies; anyone
may volunteer. For more information, write to:
Civil War Soldiers Index
Federation of Genealogical Societies
P. O. Box 3385
Salt Lake City, UT 84110-3385
CIVIL WAR PICTURES
If you have a Civil War ancestor, you may be able to obtain his picture
by writing to the U. S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle
Barracks, Carlisle, PA 17013-5008. The Institute has a large collection
of Civil War photos and are constantly adding pictures.
CIVIL WAR GRAVE LOCATION PROJECT
The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs is working on a project to list
the grave locations of all persons (male and female) who served the
Government of the Confederacy and also the supporting organizations of
the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Send information about Confederate Veterans buried outside of Oklahoma to
Confederate Grave Location Project, c/o Ricky Snider, P. O. Box 450,
Bradford, NY 14815.
Information on Union Veterans buried in Oklahoma is also being collected.
Send details to Oklahoma Union Veterans Grave Project, c/o N. Dale
Talkington, 2011 Iowa St., Norman, OK 73069.
CIVIL WAR BOY SOLDIERS
Taken from the Government records, the following figures reflect the
total enlistment and ages of Northern soldiers during the Civil War:
10 yrs old - 25
11 yrs old - 34
12 yrs old - 225
13 yrs old - 380
14 yrs old - 1,602
15 yrs old - 104,987 (3.5%)
16 yrs old - 231,051 (8%)
17 yrs old - 884,981 (28%)
18 yrs old - 1,158,434 (38.5%)
19 -22 yrs old - 617,511 (20.5%)
22 - 44 yrs old - 52,696
45 and older - 0
The 15 to 18 year olds made up 78% of the total enlisted force. The 10 to
12 year olds were drummer boys.
FROM THE KNOLES FAMILY ALBUM
Jolene Abrahams
THE SEVEN KNOLES BROTHERS, 1872.
This photo of the Knoles Brothers was taken about 1872. By coincidence,
they are in the same order as in the photo below, which was taken many
years later. Thomas S. Knoles was my great-grandfather. He is in the back
row, on the left end. Family tradition tells that Thomas, although only
eleven years of age in 1861, ran away from home several times to Camp
Butler near Springfield and tried to enlist as a drummer boy. The post
commander, annoyed at his persistent attempts to join up, eventually
threatened personally to "boot him of the post" if he returned one more
time.
THE SEVEN STALWART KNOLES BROTHERS, BACK IN 1904 -
Here is a family of seven brothers to be proud of - the Knoles family -
citizens of Springfield and Central Illinois over a long period. Five of
the seven shown in this old photograph taken in 1904, about the time of
the St. Louis World's Fair, went through the Civil War. Back row, left to
right: Thomas S. Knoles, Pert M. Knoles, Eli A. Knoles. Front row: Jacob
J. Knoles, John L. Knoles, Samuel S. Knoles, Martin V. Knoles. Jacob and
Samuel Knoles were in the battles of Guntown and Tupelo. Samuel Knoles
later served in the Illinois legislature for two terms. Jacob and John
Knoles took up blacksmithing and wagon-making. The other three war
veterans farmed in Menard county. Samuel and Thomas Knoles conducted the
Petersburg Democrat for several years, then moved to California, where
Samuel Knoles became a district judge. All seven brothers lived to be
over 80 years old. The youngest brother, Eli S. Knoles, now 88, still
resides in Springfield at 1131 East Miller street, and has been a
Register subscriber for 58 years. The Knoles family has a wide range of
relatives and friends in Springfield and Central Illinois.
From the State Register, 1938 (date unknown).
The packet of letters described in the article below now resides with one
of Jolene's third cousins. Samuel Stone Knoles was a brother of Jolene's
greatgrandfather. Although we were allowed to handle and photograph the
packet, we were not allowed to unwrap it and read the letters!
BULLET STOPPED BY LOVE LETTERS
Packet Carried Over Heart in Civil War Saved Life of San Diego Veteran
In his office, room 11, McKee Building, United States
Commissioner S. S. Knoles yesterday sat gazing at a faded package of
letters, in the midst of which was a woman's lock of hair and a battered
bullet. Precious as only love letters can be, this particular packet is
even more precious to Commissioner Knoles, for it saved his life.
To a Union reporter the battle-scarred veteran, who served
through the Civil War, told the story of the memorable incident.
"It was 44 years ago, in 1864," he said. "Some 15,000 strong
we of the blue had started from Memphis with a train of supplies, headed
for the right wing of Sherman's army, then in Alabama. When we got about
60 miles away into northern Mississippi we were engaged by a large force
of rebels under command of Forrest and one of the Lees. A terrific fight
followed.
"It was in the midst of the battle that suddenly I felt a
bullet strike me over the heart. I thought it had gone clean through, and
knew I was a dead man, but examination later disclosed the fact that the
bullet had lodged in the packet of love letters I carried in my inside
vest pocket. The letters saved my life.
"Just before we went into battle I turned to my comrade, a
brother-in-law of Miss Belle Terhune of Petersburg, Ill., the young lady
from whom I had received the letters, and handing him the letters
requested him to send them back to her if anything happened to me. He
took them and declared that as they were to his sister-in-law he would
read them.
"'I'll be damned if you do!' I said, and snatched them out of
his hand. A short time after they stopped the bullet that was heading
direct for my heart. A few minutes later I got a bullet through my left
lung, but it never hurt me as much as did the one the love letters
stopped."
As the old veteran leaned back in his chair the reporter rose to go.
"By the way," the latter asked, "how did that battle terminate?"
"The rebs whipped hell out of us!" replied the major with a wry smile.
(From the San Diego Union, 12 July 1908)
Audio Tapes Available on Loan to LAGS Members
The LAGS Board decided last year to assemble a small library of audio
tapes on genealogy, to see if they would be popular with the members. We
now have a reasonable sample of tapes available from commercial vendors.
All of them were recorded by well-known genealogists at national
meetings. We also have been taping some LAGS meetings for two years, and
those cassettes are also in the library.
The tape collection will be kept in my home, not at the LAGS Library. It
will be brought to all LAGS meetings. Members may borrow the tapes free
of charge for one month by signing for them at the meeting. Between
meetings, members may borrow or return tapes by making arrangements by
telephone with me at 846 4265.
George Anderson
Tapes Recorded at LAGS Meetings
No., Title of Talk, Speaker, Date
L1 "How Native Americans Trace Their Ancestry" Gerri Parker, April 14,
1992
L2 "Beginning Genealogy" Shirley Terry, September 8, 1992
L3 "It Pays to Join Local Genealogical Societies" (two tapes) Jeanne
Tanghe and Shirley Terry, November 10, 1992
L4 "Sources and Evidence" Mr. Reeks, December 8, 1992
L5 "Census Research" Barbara Edkin, September 14, 1993
L6 "Why Mormons Study Genealogy" Mary Lynne Horton, January 11, 1994
L7 "Preserving Valuable Records" Julia Purdie, March 8, 1994
Commercial Tapes
No. - Title of Talk - Speaker - Source
P1 "How to Conduct Effective Courthouse Research" Marsha Hoffman Rising,
Triad #BIL-49
P2 "Census Records and the Experienced Researcher" Sandra H. Luebking,
Triad #FORL-04
P3 "Tax Rolls to Document Marriages, Births, Deaths, Migrations and
Relationships" Elizabeth Shown Mills, Triad #BIL-95
P4 "Tracing the Immigrant Ancestor: Clues from Seldom Used Sources"
Arlene H. Eakle, Triad #DEC-04
P5 "The Use of Computers in the Publishing of Quarterlies" Gary T.
Hawbaker, Triad #DCA-177
P6 "Where Haven't You Looked? Little-known and Neglected Records"
Christine Rose, Von.T #S-134
P7 "Basic Procedures in German Genealogical Research" Larry O. Jensen,
Von.T #W-19
P8 "A New Spot on Your Ancestral Map: Strategies for Researching an
Unfamiliar Locality", James W. Warren, Repeat Performance #T-78
P9 "Ohio Land Records: an Overview" Carol Willsey Bell, Repeat Performance
#FW-79
QUERIES
Donald F. Foxworthy, 510 Overbrook Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212-2101
Would appreciate help with MARY REILLY (a.k.a. RILEY). She was a daughter
of Terrence (John) REILLY and Margaret GLYESEE/GLEESE. Following the
death of her parents in Ireland, Mary came to America about 1862 with two
sisters, Catherine and Margaret, accompanied by an aunt. Tradition has it
that they initially resided with an aunt in Irvington (Alameda Co.), CA.
Catherine was married to William H. MARTIN on 13 Jul 1865 at Mission San
Jose, CA. She died on 5 Feb 1933 in Pleasanton, CA. Margaret was married
on 15 Jun 1875 to Daniel H. FALLON in Dublin, Ca. She died on 23 Oct 1934
in Livermore, CA. Mary was the maid of honor at Margaret's wedding.
Neither obituary mentions Mary as a survivor. It is believed that Mary
may have married a DONA(O)HUE. Date and place of such marriage not known
as well as her death.
Would also appreciate vital data for William MURRAY, his wife, and
daughter Mary (said to be a COLLIER). He and his family came to CA
sometime after 1850. A plat of Santa Rita Rancho, CA, 1860/62, shows his
home about five miles east of Michael MURRAY'S home on the road between
Dublin and Livermore. William and his wife had at least three children,
i.e., Peter, Mary and John. Peter died 3 Oct 1888 and John died 9 Jun
1861 and is buried at St. Raymond's Cemetery in Dublin. The name of
William's wife is unknown. It is believed that the family was from County
Roscommon, Ireland. When William and his wife were married is not known,
nor when they were born. Mary may have been born between 1834 and 1843,
the respective dates of birth for Peter and John. Would like to know when
William and his wife died and where they are buried. Likewise for Mary.
Grateful for any help.
LOST AND PHOUND!
At the February meeting of L-AGS, our phamous photographers photographed
old photos for our members. We still have one unclaimed copy photo in our
possession, which we would like to turn over to its rightful owner.
Please call David or Jolene Abrahams to claim this lovely child.
NEW MEMBERS INTERESTS
Barbara Beck FARRIS, 112 Ramona Way, Tracy, CA 95376: BECK - Ohio,
Livermore; ARMSTRONG, Livermore.
Nancy HORNE, 4745 Mulqueeney Common, Livermore, CA 94550: GIBBS (prior to
1665), VARNER, WHITENECK (prior to 1735), CLECKNER, KEARNEY, METZ, LEE,
DRAKE, HODSON (England prior to 1846) - New England, PA, NY, NJ.
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Last modified: 16jan03.0007