Showing posts with label Shoals Indiana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shoals Indiana. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

William Wallingford (1831-1902)

 Beautiful Martin County, Indiana

William Wallingford (1831-1902)
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by Carolyn Ann Howard

When I lived in Lost River Township in rural Shoals, Indiana, I was delighted that there was a cemetery on the property. A lot of people might think that's weird, but I love cemeteries. When I see a cemetery, I see stories that need to be told!

The cemetery on that beautiful farm is known by several names including Wallingford Cemetery, Walls Cemetery, and Walls Farm Cemetery.  This is a family cemetery with nine known entries recorded and five headstones. The cemetery most likely is with us to this day because of those stones. So many rural family cemeteries in the 1800s were lost because there were no tombstones. Wallingford Cemetery, fortunately, lives on!

According to the Martin County, Indiana Historical Society, the nine entries are: James F. Ballard, Hiram Evans, Infant Hall, Silvester Hall, Tillitha Hall, Charlotty Wallingford, Laura A. Wallingford, Mary Wallingford, and Tabethe Long Wallingford. If I understand correctly, the Wallingfords were the ones who lived on the property where I lived, and so I was super hype to learn more about them!

The patriarch of the Lost River family, William J. Wallingford, was born perhaps in Alabama or Tennessee, in December 1831 to John Wallingford and Ellen Cooper. William was a bit all over the place as far as where he lived. In the 1850 census, he lived with his parents and siblings in Crittenden County, Kentucky. He married Tabethe Long in 1852 in Daviess County, Indiana. His first three surviving children were all born in Tennessee. In the 1860 census, he is listed in both Gibson County, Tennessee with his wife and children, and then with his mother in Crittenden County. He was most likely visiting his mother when the census enumerator came by.

An event that affected many, many lives of those pioneers was the Civil War. Our William Wallingford enlisted as a private in the 65th Indiana Infantry on 01 Aug 1862 in nearby Washington, Indiana. Company F of the Indiana 65th were the men from Martin County. He, however, was in Company I, which were men from Daviess County. It could be that he did not yet live in Martin County. His commander was John Foster, whom I wrote about in The Cliffords & Mr. Orr. The regiment left for Henderson, Kentucky in August that year. Five days later, they settled in Madisonville, Kentucky and did service at the fort there. And that's about it for that. William was discharged in March 1863 for a physical disability and sent back home.

In the 1870 census, the Wallingfords are in Lost River Township in Martin County! But I have questions. His wife on this census is listed as SOPHIA. Not TABETHE. Are they that similar? I guess it might have been that similar and enumerators did the best they could. The age is correct, and their five children are all listed with them: Charlotte, John, Mary, Virgil, and Laura.

It was then that death hit, as it surely did in many families at that time period. William and Tabethe lost their daughter Mary on Christmas Day in 1870. Charlotte died 01 Sep 1872. Then the mom, Tabethe, died 11 Nov 1872. All three are buried in the Wallingford family cemetery.

This is where another "if" enters the picture.  William's daughter Roseanna was born in 05 Jul 1872, so naturally, she belongs to Tabethe, right? The three family trees, besides mine, on Ancestry shows Roseanna's mom as Sarah Ann. This woman is a mystery. For one, Martin County kept really good marriage records, but they don't have one for a Sarah Ann and William Wallingford. Sarah Ann was previously married to a Mr. Wilkinson, and he is also a mystery! Sarah brought two children with her: John S. and Lydia Elizabeth Wilkinson. They are all living together with William and his children in Lost River Township in the 1880 census.

In the 1900 census, Sarah Ann lived with her son, John, in Missouri. He is listed as single. She is listed as married. In 1900, William lived in the Northwestern Michigan Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, listed as a widow. William died in 1902.

I wish I had more pictures of the cemetery but honestly, it was so overgrown, there wasn't much to photograph. I didn't know how to clear the land nor had the funds at that time to hire someone. Because of that, when I moved away, the cemetery stayed in its unfortunate condition. I was, however, able to add this cemetery to Find-A-Grave. The five stones I photographed are below.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC





 

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Blood of My Ancestor Family Reunion!


Beautiful Martin County, Indiana

Blood of My Ancestor Family Reunion!
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by Carolyn Ann Howard

Last year, 2019, I cooked up an idea and didn't know where it would end up. I was looking for ways to connect with the family I had found through writing Blood of My Ancestor. Some of the family members I heard from after writing "Blood" were the step-grandson of Earl Howard, the Brown family, who live in Evansville and are descended from the Cannons, as well as several descendants of my 4x great grandfather, Godfrey Howard. Although its good to be on Facebook with them, I was hoping for more! So I put the idea out there about having a family reunion, meeting together in Martin County, Indiana. I made a Facebook event page and sat back with anticipation watching to see if anyone would join. Click on photos to enlarge

When it looked like the event had some interest, I began to plan. What in the world would we do for two days in Martin County? Fortunately, I have friends in Martin County to help! Soon my plans came together, and the family reunion was all set! I didn't know going in, however, that it was going to be one of the highlights of my entire life!

Thursday evening, we all met together at Stoll's Restaurant (pictured above). Stoll's is located on the banks of West Boggs Lake in Loogootee, Indiana. Not only is the view gorgeous, but its also the best place to have a party like the one above. There's plenty of space to spread out and be comfortable, and they have something for everyone on their buffet. We had such a good time talking together!

Kenny and I stayed the next two nights in my friend Marie's cabin, and I think we were the last to do so as she sold the cabin in 2020.  The cabin is special to me, because this is the area my ancestors first lived when they came to Martin County in or around 1850. Staying in the cabin held so much meaning for me and Marie went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable!

This is the view from the backyard of the cabin. The cabin is located on what's called The Overlook, because it looks over the East Fork of White River. Its my belief that my Howard ancestors came into Martin County from the East Fork of White River. When they saw how beautiful the countryside was, they stayed!








The next morning, Friday, Kenny and I ate at Velma's Diner in Shoals, Indiana. Velma's is a wonderful breakfast place, a fine diner. From biscuits and gravy to eggs over easy, they have anything you might want for breakfast, perfectly made to order!

Kenny and I then made our way to NSWC Crane Naval Base. Yep! Southern Indiana is home to a naval base! According to the Indianapolis Star, 21 Jun 2016, Crane employs around 5,000 civilians and adds around $800 million each year to our state economy. The base came into Martin County in or around 1941 and took the land of about three of Martin County's townships. They fenced off a lot of where my ancestors lived, including Goldsberry Hollow, where Joel Lyon lived with his wife, my grandaunt Adaline.

Fortunately, I had also learned because of Blood of My Ancestor, that the soldiers and staff at the naval base are gracious and kind. They had even reached out to me after I wrote "Blood" and threw a huge all-day event to celebrate the book! Because of this, I knew the odds were good that we'd be able to do cemetery visits as part of the reunion.

There are somewhere around 29 cemeteries behind the gates of the naval base. When I emailed them about a group of us taking a tour, the offer was made that we could tour three of the cemeteries.  I chose Boggs Creek, West Union and Williams. Seven of us gathered at the naval base. Two others joined later, just for the Boggs Creek Cemetery tour.

I was super nervous, just on edge. I had six people counting on me to make it worth their while for all they had put into being a part of this reunion. The couple from Evansville, Indiana, Laura and Bill, were staying at a hotel in Washington, Indiana. Ann, from Pennsylvania and Greg and Mary from Wisconsin were staying in Jasper. What if it turned out that they had wasted their time? What if it turned out they were bored to tears? My anxiety level was through the roof!

We made a caravan to follow the two soldiers who had been assigned to us. We were told we could take pictures in the cemeteries only. Kenny and I followed behind the soldier's truck. Bill and Laura rode with us. Ann, Greg and Mary rode together in behind us.

Crane Naval Base is HUGE!!! It took us forever to get from cemetery to cemetery, and my anxiety level was still great. Was everyone having a good time? Was anyone bored with all the driving?

When we got to Boggs Creek cemetery, the decision was made to only allow the two people who had joined only to go to this cemetery. To get to this cemetery, you must climb a very steep and long hill. The soldiers decided one would take the extra couple up in the truck and, warning us that the road wasn't very good to
the cemetery, we were told to wait behind with the other soldier. They told me I could join in going up to Boggs Creek, but I decided to stay behind with the others. It was a good decision. For August, it was a particularly pleasant morning, and it was so much fun talking with my extended family. The soldier talked a little about how he had asked to be assigned to Crane, but he gave very little away. Greg would laugh later, saying that he made a very good soldier indeed, being a man of few words.

I don't have any family members buried in Williams, but it is one of the larger cemeteries and so I thought it would be fun.


This is an interesting stone in Williams Cemetery.

After we were finished with our tour of the three cemeteries behind the gates of Crane Naval Base, we traveled by caravan back to Loogootee to enjoy lunch together. I knew by this time that the two-day reunion was going to be successful, although I still didn't realize how much it was going to mean to me in the end.

All pictures in this blog posting are from the Carolyn Ann Howard Family Collection. The photos of the cemeteries in Crane Naval Base were taken with permission.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC


Friday, March 8, 2019

Indiana's Historic Pathway Is Scenic, Especially through Martin County, IN

The Travel Blog

Indiana's Historic Pathway is Scenic, Especially through Martin County, Indiana

Note: You can see larger images by clicking on the image you want to view.
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by Carolyn Ann Howard

Martin County's treasures are abundant, including its breathtaking scenery at every turn. Consider a road trip on U.S. 150 that runs from Loogootee to Shoals, Indiana, and then onward to twin towns of West Baden/French Lick. Click on photos to enlarge

U.S. 150 enters hilly Loogootee as flat farmland.



U.S. 150 enters Loogootee, IN, running concurrently with U.S. 231 and another historic route, U.S. 50.


The routes run together until the main intersection of Loogootee at JFK Avenue where U.S. 231 runs north and U.S. 150 and 50 run east.




The road running from Loogootee to Shoals, which is the county seat of Martin County, is fabulous.




It is a spectacular drive, especially when you go down that hill and it opens up into a valley. It's magical.



Keep driving and taking in all the beauty of the hills, valleys and plains.



Before crossing the bride into Shoals, you might want to veer right onto Capital Avenue. This street comes up as soon as you pass the Pilgrim Holiness Church that my great-uncle John Carroll founded. The Martin County Museum is housed in the old courthouse on Capital Avenue. This beautiful building was built in 1876 to replace the old one that had burned down. It now houses the Martin County Historical Society and Museum.


Upon arriving in the charming town of Shoals, you will cross the East Fork of White River. Its so breathtaking.




Shoals was platted in 1844 under the name of Memphis. I've heard different theories as to how the name Shoals came about, but I don't know which stories are true.


On you're right, before you to turn right on U.S. 150, you might want to pull into the iconic Bo-Macs for burgers and fries. You might then want to stop at the Marathon next door for gas and a restroom break. Be sure to turn right at the intersection, though. If you go straight, it'll take you to Bedford. We want to end up in the twin towns of West Baden and French Lick, so turn right, staying on US 150.




As you begin down this road, you'll notice heavily wooded areas. One of my best friends here in Evansville, Indiana, worked at a lumber yard for many, many years. He supplied many of the merchants in Martin, Daviess, and Spencer Counties in Indiana with lumber products.

Bob Tedrow is one of those buyers: "I purchased many loads of lumber from your friend. I would often spend an hour a week talking to him on the phone, we got to be very good friends." He continued, "As you travel Hwy. 150 there are many curves and hills, some of the “old timers” say the highway was built this way on purpose to make you slow down and take in all the scenery."

Beautiful scenery, indeed!







The next landmark is called Singing Hill. My great-uncle John Carroll, the great Pilgrim Holiness pastor, helped to build this Holiness Campground. I don't know much about it's history, but I'll bet it's interesting!




Look at that old gas station! I love old buildings. Always try to envision what they looked like in their heyday.




The road continues to be beautiful as we cross over from Martin County, Indiana to Orange County.




We'll soon be at the junction of US 150 and Indiana 56. Turn left to continue on US 150 onward to Paoli. Or turn right onto Indiana 56 to enter the beautiful twin towns of West Baden and French Lick. Get a room at either of the two grand hotels in the area and enjoy your stay!

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC
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Google Photos are used with permission by giving the proper attribution

Monday, March 4, 2019

Our Mysterious Howard: Elizabeth Nancy Smith Woody

Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

Elizabeth Nancy Smith Woody Howard (abt 1832 - aft 1858)
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by Carolyn Ann Howard
This post was updated August 30, 2021.

Elizabeth Nancy Smith Woody Howard has been such a puzzle for Howard family researchers. One of the reasons is that her last name was Smith. What a difficult name to research as it is one of the most common last name in the Unites States. Another reason is my immediate family's unusual history in Pilgrim Holiness, taking it a notch further. It sometimes feels that the criteria for being a part of this line is that the entire family must be holy, including our ancestors.

I don't believe our Howard line was particularly holy, including Abraham Howard I, Abraham Howard II, nor his son Henry, who was Elizabeth's husband. And by saying this, I'm not saying that these Howards were BAD people. Not at all! I just don't think they went to church, that's all. But perhaps that has nothing to do with our story, because Elizabeth is mysterious. We know very little about her, and it doesn't appear anyone else knows much about her, either. Again, Elizabeth Smith isn't a unique name.

Abraham Howard I was born in Grafton, New York. As a young man, he moved with his family from Grafton to then Genesee County, New York, now Wyoming County. Not his entire family but his father and mother, and his brothers Jacob and Elias. Jacob and Elias both became involved in The Free Will Baptist Church of Dale, New York and are listed next to each other in the 1850 census. Not so Abraham. Abraham settled in nearby Attica while the rest of his family stayed in Middlebury. It was said in a letter from the Middlebury Historical Society that Jacob and Elias were much more involved in church "than the other ones."

Abraham I broke with his family in his move to Martin County, Indiana, firstly settling in Shoals and then shortly later in Loogootee. Abraham and his wife, Mary Ann, along with their children, except for Joanna, arrived in Martin County in or around 1854.

When Ancestry came along, with their advanced tools, I linked Elizabeth Nancy Smith with Morris Woody, a potential first husband. It didn't feel like it could be true, but if so, she had 3 children with him, Samuel, John and Henry. Is it telling that her youngest son has the same name as her potential second husband? Unfortunately, I have Elizabeth's son Henry born the same year as Henry Howard and Elizabeth Smith's oldest, Ella, so, of course, that can't be correct, yet still, something doesn't quite add up.

When I started my public Ancestry tree, I once again linked Elizabeth Nancy Smith with Morris Woody, because, in essence, it fits. Even so, I almost deleted all the Woody's. But something stopped me and now more than ever, it feels that this union really happened.

Elizabeth Smith and Morris Woody married in 1850. In the 1850 census, they lived with Elizabeth's father, Samuel and mother Temperance Roberts Smith, in Spice Valley, Lawrence, Indiana. Living with parents after first getting married was common place at this time. Their first son, Samuel, was born about 1850, John in 1853 and Henry in 1856. However, the tree overlaps as Elizabeth married Henry Howard in 1854.

According to the 1870 census, Elizabeth and Henry's daughter, Ella, was born in New York in 1856. Their son, Emory was born in 1858 in New York.

I doubled my efforts to locate Henry Howard in the 1860 census. I looked through all the relatives and all their 1860 census records and did not find him. I couldn't find Elizabeth, either. I then decided to look at the Perry County, Martin, Indiana 1860 census. The rest of the Howard family is there as is Samuel Smith, Elizabeth's father. But here we see that Elizabeth's father is no longer married to Elizabeth's mother, Temperance. He is instead married to a different Elizabeth. I realized then I have Temperance's death date as prior to 1860 and the ages and names of the children all add up. Abraham Howard is family number 60, Samuel Smith 61 and there at family number 64 is the Crays family. Henry married Nancy Crays in 1861.

One last conundrum about our mysterious Elizabeth. On her Martin County marriage certificate to Henry Howard, her name is listed as Elizabeth Smith, not Elizabeth Woody. Although in that time, you could tell people any name you wanted. No background checks! No secure IDs!

When younger, I'd listen to my father banter about our genealogy and many times he would ask, "Did Elizabeth Smith die?" And I would think, "Let's not jump to conclusions!" But... maybe she did. Perhaps she died in childbirth with Emory. Childbirth was one of the number one causes of death in women at that time. And, after her death, Henry would've been forced to reunite with his Martin County family in order to have childcare. Click on photos to enlarge

Shoals Overlook
Courtesy of Marie Hawkins

I don't know why Samuel Smith brought his family from Lawrence County to Martin County. Abraham and Samuel go all the way back to when the Howard family first landed in Martin County, as he sold Abraham land along the gorgeous Overlook at Shoals, overlooking the East Fork of White River. But in the 1860 census, Abraham Howard and family are no longer in Shoals and Samuel Smith and family are no longer in Spice Valley. Instead, the two families are together just outside Loogootee. Henry and Elizabeth are nowhere to be found, and my family has been searching through census records for years without success.

Was this a scandalous love affair between Henry and Elizabeth? I think yes. Was Henry in on it? I think yes. He may have even been the instigator. Or she. What did his father Abraham and her father Samuel think? What did her husband Morris think? We may never know the answer, but if we had the answers, it would make a great story!

One reason it feels this was a scandal is that the couple went to New York. We know this, because their two children were born in New York. Were they banished there by their family? Were they banished there by the community? Did Henry's second wife, Nancy Crays, know about this? Well, Henry came back to Martin County with two children, so she knew at least that he likely had been married once.

In the 1860 census, Elizabeth's first husband Morris is living with the Dickerson Family in Spice Valley, Lawrence, Indiana. The three children are living with the William Woody family in Halbert Township, Martin County, Indiana. In the 1870 census, Morris Woody had married Nancy Chastain, had a little girl, Ellen, and the three boys are back together with their father and stepmother.

Henry married Nancy Crays in 1861. He did not fight in the Civil War and most likely never left Martin County again. He died in 1872 of tuberculosis. Upon his death, his daughter with Elizabeth, Ella, moved to Vincennes with her grandmother. We do not know Emory's fate. The last we hear from him is on the 1870 census with his step-family.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Abraham Howard II - Husband, Father, Fallen Soldier

Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

Abraham Howard II (1837-1862) Husband, Father, Fallen Soldier

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by Carolyn Ann Howard

This post was updated 01 May 2022

Abraham Howard I was my 3x great-grandfather and the only son of John Godfrey Howard to settle in beautiful Martin County, Indiana. This occurred in or around 1854, when Abraham bought 50 acres along the breathtaking East Fork of White River, near the famous Overlook. According to records, Abraham, who is listed on the 1850 census as a blacksmith, purchased these acres from Samuel Smith for $1,000. Click on photos to enlarge

 

The Overlook at Shoals, Indiana
Overlooking East Fork of White River
Photo courtesy Marie Hawkins

 
Abraham's third son was Abraham II. He was my 3x granduncle and was about 15 years old when the family journeyed from New York to Shoals. Abraham's life was tragic yet interesting and victorious. He was a laborer, a husband, a father, a son-in-law, and a fallen soldier.

Abraham's brother, Eleazer, was around 17 at the time of their move from New York to Indiana. Although some family members think several different Howard families left New York together at the same time, I have proof that these were the only Howards to leave New York on this particular journey.

Of the children of Abraham I, only Henry stayed in Martin County, from whom I am descended.

Perhaps Abraham II and his older brother, Eleazer, wanted adventure. Maybe they thought a move would mean financial gain. Maybe Abraham was already in love with Eliza Raney. Whatever the reason, when the Raney's wagon train left Martin County, Indiana for Muscatine County, Iowa, Abraham and Eleazer tagged along.

We can only speculate what Iowa held for the two brothers - at least until and unless more information surfaces - but it could have been the opportunity for employment with building the Muscatine and Oskaloosa Railroad. Ground broke on this important railway 08 Feb 1854 by the M&M Railroad Company. It was built at a cost of $2,557,500, which was an average of about $27,000 per mile. [1]

Thursday, 28 Oct 1858 was surely a happy day for Abraham II, as he married Eliza Jane Raney, the niece of Valentine Raney. Eliza's parents had died early in her life and Valentine had taken his niece into his household, adopting her. Eliza was just days away from turning 17.

After the wedding, Eleazar, Abraham and Eliza Jane lived together in the same household. [2]

Another happy celebration occurred as Abraham and Eliza had a son, Abraham Frank III, born 25 Jun 1859.

Unfortunately, this may have been the last of happy days for our friend Abraham. Muscatine County became somewhat of a thoroughfare for those heading to California to find gold. Heading west, moving through Iowa, the gold rushers brought disease, namely cholera. [3]

Eliza Jane contracted rheumatic fever after the birth of her son.  While this may or may not have anything to do with people traipsing through Muscatine County or whether it had to do with recent childbirth or another cause, Eliza Jane Raney Howard died 15 Jan 1860. She is buried in Harker Cemetery, Muscatine County, Iowa. Her Find-A-Grave memorial opens in a new window.

What happened to a man in 1860 who lost his wife, has to work to make ends meet and has no childcare? He must find help. Many times, that help came in the form of a new wife. For Abraham, however, the answer was to return to Martin County. Eleazar came back with him, along with his infant son. On the 1860 census, Abraham II, Frank, and Eleazar are living with their parents, Abraham I and Mary Ann. How happy Mary Ann was to have her sons back home, and she willingly took care of her grandson.

Abraham II enlisted in the United States Army, mustered in 07 Jun 1861 in Terre Haute, Indiana, Regiment 14, Company A. From there, he marched to Indianapolis and from there to Western Virginia. On 03 Oct 1861, his first battle of the Civil War was fought at Pocahontas County in what is now West Virginia at the Battle of Greenbrier River. Five were killed and eleven wounded.

Abraham was promoted to corporal 07 October 1861. In April 1862, he became ill and was in the hospital at Strasburg, Virginia for a few days. Between 12 May and 23 Jun 1862, his company marched 339 miles. Most of the men were without shoes and short of rations.

In September, the 14th Indiana took part in the Maryland Campaign, which included the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. According to Wikipedia, Colonel William Harlow's report stated that Abraham's regiment fought for four hours under heavy fire within 60 yards of Confederate forces. Abraham took a mortal wound in the thigh and died on the battlefield. His death likely was extremely painful, and yes, I imagine he cried for his mother. Abraham died a hero.

Battle of Antietam
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

The Union won the Battle of Antietam, although both sides experienced heavy casualties.

Abraham's Find-A-Grave opens in a new window.

It is good that Abraham and Eleazar went back to Martin County after the death of Abraham's wife, Eliza. Their son, Abraham Frank, found a formidable guardian in his grandmother, Mary Ann. After Abraham's death, she adopted and raised Frank.

Abraham's brother Eleazar eventually moved to Michigan and, in March 1865, enlisted in Michigan's 24th Regiment, Company H. Eleazar was in the military for only a few months when he suffered a disabling hip injury. He would continue to have debilitating pain in his hip the rest of his life.

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1. Parker, Nathan H. Iowa as It Is in 1855. Keen and Lee, 1855.
2. Records from The National Archives
3. Richman, Irving B. History of Muscatine County, Iowa.  The S.J. Clark Publishing Co., 1911.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC