Reuben B. Fanning

My husband's Virginia and Missouri family connections are extensive. Most of his family that ended up in each of those states originated mostly in North Carolina, and even more specifically, mostly in Randolph County. The families I've decided to highlight today are a few generations removed from their North Carolina origins though.

Reuben B. Fanning was born in Virginia around 1804. First cousin, once removed of the David Fanning that ransacked both Randolph and Guilford County, North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War just a generation before.

Reuben married his first cousin, Martha Lineberry, on 4 May 1828 in Giles County, Virginia. She was born in Grayson County, Virginia around 1812. Reuben's father was Martha's mother's sibling. Together, Reuben and Martha had at least the following children:

• Jacob Fanning, born 1829
• Mary Ellen Fanning, born 1831
• Martha Jane Fanning, born 1838

In 1830, Reuben and Martha are living in Wythe County, Virginia.

Clipping from 1830 Census showing Reuben, his wife, their son, and another male adolescent

There seems to be an extra male child, between age 10 and 14, living with them. I am unsure who this could be. It is possibly a younger sibling or nephew, but I can't be sure. The child is too old to be their natural child, so I can safely rule that possibility out.

In 1840, the family is seen living in Lee County, Virginia.

Clipping from 1840 Census showing Reuben, his wife, and their three children.

Martha died sometime after this census, presumably around 1844. If that's the case, her widower didn't seem to wait long after her death to find another woman to help him raise his children. Reuben married Mary S. Owens on 7 April 1844 in Linn County, Missouri.

Excerpt from Linn County, Missouri Marriage Records

Whether they were living in Missouri when they got married or they moved there after they got married is unclear, but by 1850, the family is shown living in Sullivan County, Missouri. 

I know very little about Reuben's second wife. I do know that Mary was born in North Carolina according to the 1850 census. Reuben and Mary had at least the following children together:

• Rebecca Fanning, born 1846
• Reuben Fanning, born 1849
• David Fanning, born 1850
• John Fanning, born 1852

Mary is still living with her children in Missouri in 1860 after Reuben dies around the birth of their youngest child, John. I am unsure when or where Mary died.

Sources:

• 1830 Wythe County, Virginia U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1840 Lee County, Virginia U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1850 Sullivan County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 Owasco, Sullivan County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Linn County, Missouri Marriage Records (accessed on Ancestry)

John and Rosanna L. Bennett

The family that I've decided to highlight this week is a family I haven't researched very much on my own. Most of the information in this post is a compilation of the work of various other researchers on this line. I am hoping by posting this information that others will be able to find me and assist me with this line further.

John Todd Bennett was born about 1786 in Guilford County, North Carolina to Elisha Bennett and Elizabeth Coble (also seen spelled Gobel).

He married Rosanna Lineberry on 5 September 1807 in Orange County, North Carolina.

Marriage Record

Rosanna was born about 1785 in North Carolina to Jacob Lineberry and Rebecca Chrisman. Together, John and Rosanna had at least the following children:

• Daniel Bennett, born about 1810
• Emanuel Bennett, born about 1810
• Sarah Bennett, born about 1815
• Emily Bennett, born about 1816
• Mary Bennett, born about 1818
• Jeremiah Bennett, born about 1819
• John Bennett, born about 1821
• William Bennett, born about 1823
• Eliza Bennett, born about 1824

Based on the birth and death locations of the children, I know that sometime before Eliza was born in 1824, the family moved to Tennessee. Sometime after their daughter, Mary, died in 1833 in Tennessee, the family moved to Illinois.

It is said that the family moved to Savannah, Georgia sometime just before John's death in 1836; he is supposed to have died in Cherokee Nation. This puts Rosanna moving to Illinois as a widow sometime between John's death in 1836 and her own death in 1873. Rosanna is buried at Shiloh Valley Cemetery in Shiloh, St. Clair County, Illinois.

Sources:

• Marriage Record, John Bennett and Roseanah Loinberry (as found on Ancestry - uploaded by melody_pryor)
• Tombstone, Rosanna Lineberry Bennett (as posted by acl on Find A Grave)

Benjamin Beeson

The following is an edited repost of my Patriots Remembered post on DAR Patriot Benjamin Beeson.

Benjamin Beeson was born 14 January 1715 to Richard and Charity Grubb Beeson. Benjamin and his family is rather special to me because my husband and I connect through this family via a few intermarriages of our families. (I love seeing families that married or had friendships centuries ago coming back together in later generations!)

Benjamin was given his Patriot status with the Daughters of the American Revolution because of "patriotic service." His source of service is from the "North Carolina Revolutionary War Army Accounts." He is credited as having "furnished supplies" for the War. As a Quaker by faith, it makes sense that he would not have taken up arms against the British in the War (even though his son, Edward served as a Captain in the War).

Benjamin married Elizabeth Hunter in 1738. According to the New Garden (located in Guilford County, North Carolina) Monthly Meeting Minutes, Benjamin and Elizabeth had the following children:

• Isaac Beeson (born 26 December 1739)
• Benj. Beeson (born 9 February 174?)
• William Beeson (born 11 November 1743/1744)
• Frances Beeson (born 10 December 174?)
• Richard Beeson (born 11 March 1747)
• Ann Beeson (born 3 May 1749)
• Charity Beeson (born 25 August 1751)
• Betty Beeson (born 30 July 1754)
• Edward Beeson (born 1 January 1757)
• Rachel Beeson (born 14 February 1759)
• Jane Beeson (born 22 March 1760)
• Mary Beeson (born 21 September 1762)

Taken from New Garden Monthly Meeting Minutes

Supposedly, Benjamin died in Randolph County on 4 June 1794. I haven't found any supporting documents for this date and location, but that is what other family researchers tend to have recorded for him. I hope to visit his grave in the Centre Friends Meeting Cemetery in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina this summer when we visit North Carolina.

Sources:

• Centre Monthly Meeting Minutes (accessed at the Florida State Society Daughters of the American Revolution Library, Orlando, Orange County, Florida)
• Deep River Monthly Meeting Minutes (accessed at the Florida State Society Daughters of the American Revolution Library, Orlando, Orange County, Florida)
• New Garden Monthly Meeting Minutes (accessed at the Florida State Society Daughters of the American Revolution Library, Orlando, Orange County, Florida)

John B. and Christina W. Smith

John Benjamine Smith was born 25 November 1815 in North Carolina. His parents were Frederick and Elizabeth Lineberry Smith.

John married Christina Charlotte Walk, daughter of Johann Joseph Alexander and Elizabeth Goss Walk. Together, they had at least 11 children. They are:

• Martha Elizabeth Smith, born 1843
• Webster Smith, born 1845
• Lawrance Smith, born 1845
• Caroline Lucetta Smith, born 1846
• John Reuben Smith, born 1850
• Joseph Coke Smith, born 1851
• William J. Smith, born 1854
• Constantine A. Smith, born 1856
• Benjamin Alford Smith, born 1859
• Louisa V. Smith, born 1862
• Frederick F. Smith, born 1863

I couldn't help but notice that the children stopped before the end of the Civil War. I decided to look for military service for John. I thought I found him in the 35th North Carolina Infantry, but that man died in the War, and I know from John's tombstone that John lived until 1895.

Clipping from 1860 Census

John still could have enlisted in the War, but I haven't found him in the service rolls yet in North Carolina, but maybe I've been looking in the wrong state. I do know, sometime between 1860 and 1870, the family moved from Davidson County, North Carolina to Carroll County, Virginia. I've been trying to pinpoint the exact timeframe of their move, and I think I have a pretty good idea of when that happened.

As far as I can tell from census records, all of John and Christina's children were born in North Carolina, so that means the family would have moved sometime after 1863. So, I thought, maybe John enlisted in the War after moving to Virginia. This would have put their move between 1863 and 1865. In my mind though, I imagine moving to another state during the Civil War, even within the South, would have been incredibly dangerous. 

Or maybe the family moved to Virginia after the War since it would have been too risky to move with so many young children during such a turbulent time. This would have put their move between 1865 and 1870. This would mean John probably did not serve during the Civil War. He would have been rather old compared to the 20-something year olds that often enlisted, but I won't be convinced until I check the Virginia records a little more.

The last thing I will say about this family is how I love the work ethic that they seemed to have according to the census records.  In the census clipping above, you see how John had $800 of Real Estate and $400 of Personal Estate in North Carolina as a farmer. Just 10 years and an entire Civil War later, he's moved to another state and he's not much worse off for it.

Clipping from 1870 Census

Most farmers that didn't move lost most of the value of their property after the War. John went from $800 down to just $600 during this time. That's pretty impressive on its own. When you consider he was starting over from scratch with a new farm in a new state in a country still trying to rebuild, it is truly an incredible story. I think I would have liked to have known this man very much.

Sources:

• 1850 Davidson County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 Salem, Davidson County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1870 Fancy Gap, Carroll County, Virginia U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Tombstone, John B. Smith (as posted by Dan Stevenson on Find A Grave)

Mothers in Worthville in 1900

This shall be my second post in the breakdown of the 1900 census in Randolph County, North Carolina. (You can read my post on "Farmers in Cedar Falls in 1900" here.) In this post, I will jump from Cedar Falls (in East Franklinville) to West Franklinville.

There are 37 families living in Worthville, located in West Franklinville, in the 1900 census as enumerated by John F. Routh. Rather than discuss farmers this time, which mostly tend to be males or widowed heads of household, I thought I would focus on the mothers of Randolph County.

Taken from 1900 Census

The 1900 census is one of the few census years that enumerates the number of children a woman has born and the number of children still living. I will now attempt to database the women of the area.

1. Mary E. Julian, wife of Jesse G. Julian for 15 years, born August 1865 in North Carolina, was the mother of seven children. Six of those children were still living in 1900.
2. Rebecca J. Underwood, wife of W. D. Underwood for 15 years, born January 1860 in North Carolina, was the mother of seven children. Four of those children were still living in 1900.
3. Sarah Underwood, wife of Henry Underwood for 40 years, born July 1830 in North Carolina, was the mother of two children. One of those children was still living in 1900.
4. Lucina Redding, wife of Solomon Redding for 48 years, born July 1832 in North Carolina, was the mother of four children. Three of those children were still living in 1900.
5. Joanna Nixon, wife of John Nixon for seven years, born November 1869 in North Carolina, was the mother of three children. All three of her children were still living in 1900.
6. Sallie E. Nelson, wife of James M. Nelson for 10 years, born January 1869 in North Carolina, was the mother of three children. Two of those children were still living in 1900.
7. Alda Nelson, wife of David Nelson for five years, born August 1875 in North Carolina, was the mother of one child. That child was not living by 1900.
8. Mary Julian, mother of Lorenzo W. Julian, widow (*of William Gaston Julian), born January 1822 in North Carolina, was the mother of nine children. Four of those children were still living in 1900.
9. Henry E. (*Henrietta) Julian, wife of Isaac A. Julian for eight years, born April 1869 in North Carolina, was the mother of four children. All of her children were still living in 1900.
10. Phebe Julian, wife of Tobias C. Julian for 46 years, born February 1836 in North Carolina, was the mother of seven children. Five of those children were still living in 1900.
11. Ella Wood, wife of W. J. Wood for five years, born July 1874 in North Carolina, was the mother of one child. That child was still living in 1900.
12. Mary Wood, wife of John C. Wood for 27 years, born August 1855 in North Carolina, was the mother of nine children. Seven of those children were still living in 1900.
13. Vinna A. Patterson, wife of M. H. Patterson for 26 years, born November 1848 in North Carolina, was the mother of five children. All five children were still living in 1900.
14. Martha M. Murphy, wife of Wm. J. Murphy for 13 years, born May 1869 in North Carolina, was the mother of four children. Two of those children were still living in 1900.
15. Anna C. Gaster, wife of Thomas D. Gaster for 14 years, born December 1864 in North Carolina, was the mother of three children. Two of those children were still living in 1900.
16. Mary E. Saunders, wife of Wm. A. Saunders for three years, born April 1880 in North Carolina, was the mother of three children. Only one of those children was still living in 1900.
17. Mary E. Smith, wife of Henry Smith for 32 years, born October 1851 in North Carolina, was the mother of 14 children. Nine of those children were still living in 1900.
18. Sallie Johnson, wife of James E. Johnson for 17 years, born February 1862 in North Carolina, was the mother of 10 children. Three of those children were still living in 1900.
19. Sofrona J. Trogdon, wife of Esron (*Esriam) R. Trogdon for 31 years, born June 1843 in North Carolina, was the mother of three children. All three children were still living in 1900.
20. Sarah Underwood, wife of Joseph Underwood for 20 years, born September 1857 in North Carolina, was the mother of seven children. Six of those children were still living in 1900.
21. Martha L. Un., wife of John P. J. for 24 years, born May 1853 in North Carolina, was the mother of three children. Only two of those children was still living in 1900.
22. Armeta R. Brown, wife of Oliver P. Brown for 10 years, born April 1864 in North Carolina, was the mother of four children. All four children were still living in 1900.
23. Emma R. Winning., wife of M. F. Winning. for 20 years, born January 1860 in North Carolina, was the mother of six children. All six children were still living in 1900.
24. Bu. Hill, mother of Rufus M. Hill, widow, born December 1837 in North Carolina, was the mother of two children. Only one child was still living in 1900.
25. Easter R. York, wife of Edgar L. York for 27 years, born July 1854 in North Carolina, was the mother of 11 children. Nine of those children was still living in 1900.
26. Anna M. Hinshaw, wife of Zeno Hinshaw for 26 years, born April 1857 in North Carolina, was the mother of eight children. Seven of those children were still living in 1900.
27. Becca E. Morris, wife of Chas. H. Morris for 13 years, born March 1867 in North Carolina, was the mother seven children. Four of those children were still living in 1900.
28. Edna J. Glasgow, wife of (?) C. Glasgow for seven years, born April 1871 in North Carolina, was the mother of three children. Two of those children were still living in 1900.
29. Martha J. Glasgow, wife of Wm. M. Glasgow for 34 years, born June 1846 in North Carolina, was the mother of six children. Five of those children were still living in 1900.
30. May J. Unncanon, wife of Jones C. Unncanon for 14 years, born April 1856 in North Carolina, was the mother of four children. All four of those children were still living in 1900.
31. Priscilla I. Shaw, wife of Richard H. Shaw for 17 years, born January 1850 in North Carolina, was the mother of seven children. Six of those children were still living in 1900.
32. Cora H. Fentriss, wife of Ptolemy P. Fentriss for four years, born April 1868 in North Carolina, was the mother of one child. That child was still living in 1900.
33. Aseneth Fentriss, mother of Ptolemy P. Fentriss, widow, born February 1828 in North Carolina, was the mother of one child. That one child was still living in 1900.

*information provided is from additional personal research completed previously

Sources:

• 1900 Worthville, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)

B. L. Saunders

B. L. Saunders (sometimes seen as Sanders) was born 19 April 1809 in Montgomery County, North Carolina. His parentage is largely unknown. His name is also debated. (Some say his first name is Britton, but no solid proof of that has been found.)

The first time I find B. L. in records is in the 1850 census. He is living with his wife, Lydia Yow, some of their children, and some laborers.

Clipping from 1850 Census

B. L. is listed as a constable.

In 1860, B. L. has picked up farming in addition to his job as a constable. Apparently, the occupation shift has been beneficial for B. L. In 1850, his real estate was valued at $150, but, by 1860, his real estate is up to $1,500.

Clipping from 1860 Census

Rumor has it that B. L. Saunders was also a gunsmith. A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds guns. I haven't found any records of B. L. as a gunsmith, but some of his guns are supposedly on display some place in North Carolina. I hope to find out where they are located before our next trip to North Carolina.

B. L. and Lydia had at least the following children:

• Sarah Saunders
• Aaron T. Saunders
• Martha Saunders
• Nancy Saunders
• Andrew Edward Saunders
• Alexander A. Saunders
• Benjamin Franklin Saunders
• David S. Reid Saunders

B. L. remarried between 1860 and 1864 to Mary Loftin. They had at least the following children:

• Daniel Wesley Saunders
• Mary Amarentha Saunders
• Lyda Saunders

B. L. died 23 June 1890. He is buried in the Bruton-Saunders Cemetery in Montgomery County, North Carolina.

Copyright Brittany Jenkins, 2011

Sources:

• 1850 Montgomery, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 Brutons, Montgomery, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1870 Troy, Montgomery, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1880 Troy, Montgomery, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Tombstone, B. L. Saunders (photo taken 24 December 2011)

22nd North Carolina Infantry, Company M

The following is a repost of the first of an eight-part series I am currently working on for my Civil War Souls blog. It features the 22nd North Carolina Infantry, Company M, also known as the Randolph Hornets. This post in particular covers the Captains in the Company.

Today, I thought I would focus on an entire Company, rather than a single person. This post will feature the "Randolph Hornets," also known as Company M, 22nd North Carolina Infantry, Confederate States Army. (I also shared this post on the Randolph County NCGenWeb site, which I now coordinate, as my first contribution.)

Taken from Company Service Records

The Company was mustered in 10 March 1862, but they had been training at camp since at least 10 June 1861. Here's what the Record of Events shows for the time between 10 June and 31 August 1861:

Taken from Company Service Records

As mentioned in the above muster roll, John Milton Odell was the first elected Captain to the Company. The 28-year-old was Captain from 10 June 1861 to 27 April 1862.

November 1861 to January 1862, he and the Company appear in Evansport, Virginia. In March 1862, he was present at camp near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

On 27 April 1862, John Milton Odell is listed as being "defeated" as Captain causing a vacancy in the position. I'm not sure what that necessarily means, but I know he didn't die in the War since he lived until 1910. He also doesn't simply get demoted, as far as I can tell, because he simply disappears from the War records.

Whatever happened to John Milton Odell, his successor as Captain of the Randolph Hornets is listed as his younger brother, Laban Odell.

Taken from John Milton Odell's Service Records

Laban Odell was promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Captain upon his brother's defeat. (Warren B. Kivett was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in Laban's place.) Laban was Captain from 27 April 1862 until 6 (or 16) March 1863 when he was promoted to Major of entire the 22nd North Carolina Infantry. This was not, however, a good move for Laban. He was killed in action at Chancellorsville on 2 May 1863.

Taken from Laban Odell's Service Records

Just as when Laban was promoted to Captain and Warren B. Kivett replaced him as 1st Lieutenant, Warren B. Kivett replaced Laban as Captain when he was promoted to Major. (Not bad for a guy that started out as a Private when he enlisted!) Warren didn't seem suited for the role of Captain though, or maybe the death of his own former Captain affected him on more than one level, or maybe he just didn't like it, because on 3 May 1863, he resigned from the post.

The final person to fulfill the role of Captain of the Randolph Hornets, and also the youngest person to hold the position in the Company, was Columbus Franklin Siler. This young man may very well be my favorite of all of the soldiers in this Company.

When Columbus enlisted, he was originally elected Sergeant. On the first muster roll I find for him, though, he's listed as "absent" from the Company. But, instead of being missing from the War, he is merely missing from "action." It seems he was sent to Fredericksburg to care for the sick being seen there.

Taken from Warren B. Kivett's Service Records

As far as I can tell, Columbus was not experienced in the medical field. He was still a student before the War, and after the War he was a teacher. Still, I find it honorable that he went to fulfill a need.

Columbus shows up absent once again in July 1862. This time, he is the one wounded. He was wounded in June and sent home on furlough as a result. (Columbus has been promoted to 3rd Lieutenant by this time in the War.) By September though, Columbus had failed to return to duty. I almost got mad at him thinking he was deserting the Company, but he shows back up in October without another mention of it. At some point while on furlough, it seems Columbus was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Columbus made his way up the ranks quickly. I wonder if he was simply that strong of a leader, or if he was simply the result of good fortune. was promoted 16 April 1863 to 1st Lieutenant. Then, just a few weeks later on 3 May 1863, Columbus was promoted to Captain of the Company when Warren resigned his post.

This quick promotion through the ranks didn't seem to help Columbus much though. On 7 May 1863, he was sent to Raleigh from Richmond having been shot.

Columbus shows up as a Prisoner of War being paroled at Appomattox on 9 April 1865. I'm not sure what really happened to the Company (or to Columbus) during those two years between his being shot and the end of the War, but until I find out otherwise, I imagine it must have been rather uneventful.

This look at the experiences of this unit will definitely require some further work, but here is at least an overview of the people in the Company with their highest ending rank (within the Company).

Captains

• John Milton Odell
• Laban Odell
• Warren B Kivett
• Columbus F Siler

1st Lieutenants

• Lewis F McMasters
• James M Robbins

2nd Lieutenants

• Henry C Allred
• John M Lawrence
• James M Pounds

Sergeants

• James E Campbell
• William Coble
• Thomas B Hays
• William Franklin Hays
• William A Pounds
• Henry C Smith
• Stephen W Trogdon
• William P Willey

Corporals

• M R James
• William C Jones
• James M Routh
• Wesley C Siler
• John T Turner

Privates

• Stephen Adkerson
• Simon E Allen
• Benjamin F Allred
• Calvin C Allred
• Emsley Allred
• James A Allred
• Samuel H Allred
• William F Allred
• William Aldridge
• Alfred Norman Arnold
• Thomas Arnold
• John Henry Baker
• Nathan David Barker
• William C Birne
• York Braxton
• Abraham Breedlove
• Henry Breedlove
• Joseph Breedlove
• Newman Breedlove
• Henry Brewer
• James B Brown
• Peter P Brown
• Riley J Brown
• W P Bryant
• Franklin F Burgess
• John P Burgess
• Samuel M Burgess
• W Burgis
• Jackson Cannon
• James Cannon
• H Spain Carroll
• Wesley E Caudle
• John A Caviness
• David O Coble
• John R Coble
• Riley Coble
• J G Conley
• William L Cook
• James M Cox
• Enoch S Craven
• Henry Craven
• Jacob Franklin Craven
• James Cross
• Thomas F Cross
• Samuel Darr
• Marcus Deal
• William H Dean
• J E Dollinger
• Alex P Ellington
• Grandison Euliss
• Andrew J Fields
• Jesse Fields
• William Fields
• Jacob Flinchum
• Josiah F Foster
• Levi Foster
• Christian Foust
• Jacob Foust
• James M Foust
• Peter Foust
• T P French
• James Furgerson
• John D Gatewood
• Jefferson Gentry
• John W Glasco
• William M Glasco
• Calvin Gray
• William R Hardin
• John Hart
• Elias W Hays
• James Madison Hays
• Oliver P Hays
• William A Hays
• Joseph A Henson
• James R Hix
• Lewis F Holder
• Nelson Hulin
• Henry M Hutson
• Stephen W Ivy
• John Jackson
• Peter Jennings
• James Johnson
• Willis Johnson
• Craven Jones
• George Kinney
• J M M Kivett
• Jacob Kivett
• James F Kivett
• Joel Kivett
• John Wesley Kivett, Jr
• John W Kivett, Sr
• K M Kivett
• Stanley Kivett
• Talton Kivett
• Troy Kivett
• John C Lane
• Bartley Yancey Langley
• E Tyson Langley
• William T Laughlin
• Austin W Lawrence
• William A Lingle
• James P Lowe
• A Green McDaniel
• Calvin McLemore
• William McNeil
• A Manis
• E P Miller, Jr
• James Oda
• William O'Dear
• W A Oseley
• Alvens Pen
• James Perry
• Alpheus Pugh
• Daniel P Pulley
• Marshall S Ranes
• William D Reece
• Joseph M Reese
• S M Robbins
• William Thomas Robbins
• Aaron Routh
• George E Routh
• Jesse Routh
• Joseph Alson Routh
• Joshua M Routh
• Wesley P Routh
• William C Routh
• William R Routh
• Enoch P Scott
• James M Scotton
• Edmond T Shouse
• Howard E Smith
• Madison Smith
• J D Spinks
• J G Spronce
• Abner B Steel
• Thomas Stewart
• Wesley A Stewart
• Lorenzo D Stout
• W G Stout
• William O Strickland
• W S Sudderth
• John R Sumner
• Spencer Thompson
• H C Trogden
• Jeremiah F Trogden
• Lyndon A Trogdon
• Samuel Trogdon
• Solomon Trogdon
• Andrew J Turner
• M S Turner
• Thomas Turner
• William B Wall
• James A Webster
• Daniel C Wilkerson
• James M Wilkerson
• William J Wilkins
• Adam O Williams
• Benjamin Williams
• D E Williams
• J R Williams
• James M Williams
• Joel Williams
• Lindsey Williams
• William M Williams
• William A Woosley
• David Wright
• Doris Wright
• Isaac Wright
• Daniel Yergin
• Draxon York
• Clarkson York
• Darius York
• J L York
• Joseph York
• Larkin C York
• Lindsy J York
• William J York

Sources:

• 1850 North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1870 North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1880 North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1900 North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of North Carolina (accessed on Fold3)

Martin and Ruth B. Southard

Martin Southard was born about 1838 in Surry County, North Carolina. His parentage was originally thought to be Job and Morning Snow Southard, but their son Martin doesn't seem to be the right age as my husband's Martin. Because of this, I think Martin's father was John Southard (mother's name is currently unknown).

The first time I find Martin Southard enumerated by name in the census records is 1850.

Clipping from 1850 census

Here, you can see 12-year-old Martin, living with John, whom I assume to be his father, and Martin and Elizabeth, whom I assume to be John's parents.

Then, living just one page over, there is Martin's future wife, Ruth Ball.

Clipping from 1850 Census

Ruth and Martin got married on 22 February 1852 in Surry County, North Carolina.

Clipping from Marriage Record

By 1860, the family moved to Dobson in Surry County.

Based on the 1860 census and a couple of death certificates I have found, Ruth and Martin had (at least) the following children:

• W. W. Southard (born c. 1853)
• H. W. Southard (born c. 1855)
• Wiley Southard (born c. 1857)
• Melindia Southard (born c. 1858)
• Sarah Frances Southard (born November 1860)

I struggle to find them in the 1870 census, but I am still investigating this family. With the question of Martin's parentage looming, I have a feeling this family will be a strong focus of mine all weekend. If I happen to find any more information on this family today, I will edit the post and add it in. Otherwise, I will save any new findings for another post.

Sources:

• 1850 Hotel, Surry County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 Dobson, Surry County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Death Certificate, Sarah Southern Jenkins (accessed on FamilySearch)
• Death Certificate, Wiley Southard (accessed on FamilySearch)
• North Carolina Marriage Records (accessed on Ancestry)

Edmund and Mary S. Sheron

This week, I thought I would focus on a family about which I know relatively little. Edmund Sheron, my husband's third great-grandfather, was born about 1835 in North Carolina. He married Mary Self on 7 July 1861.

Clipping from the Guilford County Marriage Records

They had at least the following children:

• Sarah Sheron
• Elizabeth Sheron
• William Henry Sheron
• Nancy Sheron
• Charles Wheeler Sheron

I have found this family living in Walkertown, Middle Fork, Forsyth County, North Carolina in 1870. 

Clipping from 1870 Census

I have also found this family living in Huntsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1880. I lose everybody in the family until 1920 when I find their son, Charles, living in Providence, Randolph County, North Carolina. I have also found their son, William, living in Guilford County, North Carolina. But Sarah, Elizabeth, and Nancy are still mysteries to me.

This family definitely requires quite a bit of work, but I hope to keep digging into them to find more about them and where they originated. (I don't even know where they are buried.) The only clue I have was found in the 1880 census for Edmond. It states that Edmond's father may have been born in Virginia and his mother may have been born in North Carolina. Here's to open genealogical doors!

Sources:

• 1870 Walkertown, Middle Fork, Forsyth County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1880 Huntsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1920 Providence, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Guilford County Marriage Records (accessed on Ancestry)

Joseph C. and Julia L. Smith

Joseph Coke Smith was born 31 March 1851 in probably in either Davidson or Randolph County, North Carolina. He was the sixth of 11 children born to John Benjamin and Christina Charlotte Walk Smith.

Clipping from the 1860 census

Joseph married Julia Ann Lineberry on 27 December 1868 in Randolph County, North Carolina. Same as Joseph, Julia was a middle child herself. She was born 14 February 1849 in Randolph County, North Carolina. She was the fourth of seven children born to Jacob B. and Edith Wilhoit Lineberry.

Joseph and Julia had at least the following children:

• Jacob Friel Smith, born 13 October 1870
• Ada Luretta Smith, born 16 April 1873
• John Webbster Smith, born about 1876
• Lucy Jane Smith, born 24 March 1878
• Charley Coke Smith, born 6 Sept 1881

Joseph was a farmer his entire life. 

Julia died 27 July 1909 in Randolph County, North Carolina. Two years after Julia's death, Joseph remarried. Her name was Nannie Crawford.

Copyright Brittany Jenkins, 2014

Joseph died 28 March 1928 in Grant, Randolph County, North Carolina of angina pectoris. Joseph and Julie are buried together at Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Coleridge, Randolph County, North Carolina. Nannie is also buried at Cool Springs.

Sources:

• 1850 Randolph County, North Carolina Census U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 New Salem, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 Salem, Davidson County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1870 Fancy Gap, Carroll County, Virginia U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1870 Sandy Creek, New Salem, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1880 New Salem, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1900 Grant, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1910 Grant, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1920 Grant, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Death Certificate, Joe Smith (accessed on Ancestry)
• Death Certificate, Nannie Smith (accessed on Ancestry)
• Tombstone, J C Smith (photo taken June 2014)
• Tombstone, Julia A Smith (photo taken June 2014)
• Tombstone, Nannie Crawford Smith (photo taken June 2014)