Digging Up Your Family

The Famous Foto-Flex Camera 1947

(DISCLAIMER: I try to refrain from using adverts that have store names and/or addresses and usually, if that can’t be avoided, will “erase” it from the ad in an effort to keep people who may not realize that the offer is no longer valid from attempting to procure the item or service. I did leave the store in this ad for a reason, though. THIS AD IS FROM 1947 AND THEREFORE NO LONGER VALID. KROGER/PIGGLY WIGGLY IS NOT OFFERING THIS ANYMORE AND HASN’T FOR 64 YEARS. DO NOT GO TO KROGER/PIGGLY WIGGLY EXPECTING THIS.)

I tried to find information on this particular camera, but I couldn’t. I did, however, find a Wikipedia page about twin lens reflex cameras here.

Foto-Flex Camera-Kroger Piggly Wiggly 1947

How great was this camera? Let’s see! Foto-Flex Camera-Kroger Piggly Wiggly 1947

Mistake Proof! See the entire picture you want! Just frame and snap! No more headless and legless people!

This woman was super thrilled with her new camera! Foto-Flex Camera-Kroger Piggly Wiggly 1947

You want to know why I really chose this ad for today? Finding out that Kroger and Piggly Wiggly were at one point in time the same store. I never knew that. I looked it up and apparently after Clarence Saunders, the founder of Piggly Wiggly, lost out on a ton of money the chain was divided up and some stores were bought out by other chain supermarkets, including Kroger. Foto-Flex Camera-Kroger Piggly Wiggly 1947

Anyway…pretty much all cameras now make the same claims, but the quality of the photo still relies on the photographer. A good photographer can take a decent photo with a terrible camera and a bad photographer will always take bad photos with even the best equipment.

Cornelia A McMillan (McMillen)-UPDATED

My relationship to Cornelia Ann McMillan:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

Minnie Virginia Richards (great-grandmother)

Minnie DeMumbrie (2nd great-grandmother)

Cornelia Ann McMillan (3rd great-grandmother)

Cornelia Ann McMillan was born about 1833 in Tennessee to parents MC McMillan (about 1808-?) and Minerva (Manerva) Unknown (about 1810-?).

The US Federal Census did not record the names of every person in a household until 1850, though a handful of state census records did. Because of this the first census record that Cornelia can be found on is the 1850 US Census enumerated September 25, 1850 in District 14, Shelby County, Tennessee. She is shown as 18 years of age and her place of birth is Tennessee. She is listed as living with her parents MC (age 41 years) and Manerva (age 40 years). The family name is spelled McMillen. Also living with them is a man by the name of William P Day (age 24 years). It doesn’t appear that any of them have a job, though I can see on the 1850 Slave Schedule that MC is the owner of one slave, a black female (age 11 years).

Cornelia married (John) Spencer DeMumbrie sometime between September 25, 1850 and May 13, 1858, though I don’t know what state they married. On May 13, 1858 Cornelia gave birth to her daughter Minnie (whose name, judging by what I know now and matching it up to the initials on the 1860 census, may have been Cornelia Ann Minerva DeMumbrie).

The second, and final, census record that I can find Cornelia on is the 1860 US Census enumerated July 23, 1860 in Tunica, Tunica County, Mississippi. Cornelia is listed as C.A. and 27 years of age. Also listed in the household is her husband Spencer (listed as S., a farmer, age 38 years) and her daughter Minnie (listed as C.A.M., age 2 years).

I believe Cornelia passed between the time the 1860 census was enumerated and the time the 1870 census was enumerated since she is not found in 1870 with Spencer and Minnie, nor can I find her anywhere else. I don’t know her death date, nor where she is buried, though I assume in Tunica is where she died. If the plantation they lived on was washed away by the Mississippi River slowly eroding the land around it then it is quite possible her grave is now under water.

I’m still trying to locate more records for Cornelia’s parents. Once I find more I will update!

UPDATE

I just went back and looked at the 1870 census record for Spencer DeMumbrie in Tunica, Mississippi. I had forgotten that two older women in their 60’s were living in the household. One of the women was named Mary Mcmillen, age 62 years and born in North Carolina. I believe this Mary was Minerva (Manerva), Cornelia’s mother. Since she was listed as “House Keeper” she may have moved in to help raise Minnie, who was 13 years of age at the time, before Spencer married Effee Jane Gilchrist.

I also found Minerva (Manerva) living in Tunica, Mississippi with Minnie in 1880 after Minnie had married Jerome Richards. This census says that she was born in Tennessee rather than North Carolina as the other census records I found have said. Because her name is listed as M.H. McMillen (age 70 years) I am beginning to think that the spelling in my Granddaddy’s baby book of McMillan may be incorrect. I know that his baby book has Caroline McQueen’s first name spelled as Carolyn (see first photo above), which was incorrect.

Nathaniel A Perry

My relationship to Nathaniel Perry:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

Minnie Virginia Richards (great-grandmother)

Jerome Edward Richards (2nd great-grandfather)

Caroline McQueen (3rd great-grandmother)

Nathaniel Perry (Caroline McQueen's half-brother, my 3rd great-grand-uncle)

(note: this is kind of a Part One for Nathaniel Perry. there are a lot of Civil War records that won’t be in this post, but are saved for future posts!)

Nathaniel A Perry was born about 1846 in Crittenden County, Arkansas to parents Claiborn Perry, Sr (about 1814-?) and Elizabeth Freeland (about 1804-?). He, like his brother, had a very short life.

The first record I have found of Nathaniel is the 1850 census. He is listed as 5 years of age and living in Jasper Township, Crittenden County, Arkansas with his family: Claiborn (listed as Charles, father, age 36 years), Elizabeth (mother, age listed incorrectly as 37 years) and Claiborn (brother, age 8 years). Also on this census is the mysterious Mary McQueen (age 37 years).

The next record of Nathaniel is the 1860 census. This is also the last census record of him. He is listed as Nathan, 13 years of age and living in Hot Spring County, Arkansas with his family: Claiborn (listed as Clayborn, father, age 46 years), Elizabeth (listed as Elisabeth, age 56 years), a mystery Sarah McQueen (possibly Elizabeth’s daughter due to placement of name on list, age 25 years) and Claiborn (listed as Claiborne, brother, age 18 years).

On November 20, 1863 Nathaniel, his father Claiborn and his brother-in-law Edmund Richards voluntarily enlisted in the Union Army at Benton, Saline County, Arkansas. Nathaniel’s muster-in and descriptive roll have him listed as Nathan A Perry, age 18 years, mustered in on April 6, 1864 at Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas as Private in Company F, 4th Regiment Arkansas Calvary. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, black hair, black eyes and fair complexion.

Less than a year later, on January 15, 1865 Nathaniel died in the post hospital at the Calvary Depot in Devall’s Bluff (De Valls Bluff), Prairie County, Arkansas. The cause of death was typhoid pneumonia.

Some records say that he died on January 16, but his belongings were handed over to his father on January 15, 1865. These belongings consisted of: one great coat, one pair of trousers, one pair of boots, one woolen blanket and one poncho.

NOTE:

I was just about to post this when I noticed that Ancestry had a “Historical Record” concerning his death and grave. According to the record U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006 Nathaniel died on January 3, 1865 and was also interred that same day.

This is very different from what the actual Civil War records have. I called the Little Rock Memorial Cemetery where Nathaniel is buried and was told that they only have that date for him. They don’t actually have an interment date. Little Rock Memorial Cemetery, I was told, did not become a national cemetery until 1868, so the records prior to 1868 were given to them. Since Nathaniel died in Devall’s Bluff then he had originally been buried in Devall’s Bluff. When Little Rock Memorial Cemetery became a national cemetery the bodies of about 3000 soldiers’ bodies were moved from Devall’s Bluff and reinterred in Little Rock Memorial Cemetery. I can’t even guess as to why the death date is different from the actual Civil War records to the records the cemetery has, but at least it’s known that he died in January 1865.

Wordless Wednesday: William Harcourt Gollings and Coworkers at Lumberyard

Elizabeth Pitt

My relationship to Elizabeth Pitt:

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, father)

Elbert “Shorty” Tracey Vincent (grandfather)

Lucy Johnson Breedlove (g-grandmother)

Margaret Stringer (gg-grandmother)

Elizabeth Pitt (ggg-grandmother)

(note: I found all of these records on Ancestry)

Elizabeth Pitt was born December of 1817 in Kentucky to parents Joseph R Pitt (1762-1836) and Elizabeth Waller (1776-1839). She more than likely was born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky given that in 1810 her parents were living in Isle of Wight County, Virginia and had moved to Lewisburg, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky by 1820.

Elizabeth married Gray Stringer on December 28, 1837 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

I can’t find them on the 1840 census, so they may have been living with relatives, possibly Gray’s parents.

In 1850 the Stringer family lived in Subdivision 2, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Gray, age 41 years, was a farmer. Elizabeth, age 32 years, kept house. The children in the household were America (age 11 years), Lucy (age 9 years) and Margaret (age 7 years). There was also a young man named Balis Stringer (age 15 years) listed as a laborer. I haven’t yet figured out how he is related to the family. If he were a son he would have been listed before America. Since he is last on the family list he may be a nephew.

Gray died in 1857 leaving Elizabeth a widow. In 1860 she is found living in McLean County, Kentucky. Here she is 40 years of age. The children living in the household with her are Virginia (age 8 years), Sally M (age 6 years) and John S (age 3 years). Also living with the family are John D Beasley (farmer, age 20 years) and Lucy E Beasley (age 18 years). I think that Lucy may be Elizabeth’s daughter, but I couldn’t find a marriage record for Lucy Stringer and John Beasley. I did, however, find a marriage record for America Stringer and Johnson Beasley. I thought that maybe America had passed and her husband remarried to her sister, but there are several America Beasleys on later census records who are widowed. Any one of them could be her!

The 1870 census shows Elizabeth remarried and living in Sacramento, McLean County, Kentucky. Her husband Joseph C Moore is shown as head of household, a farmer and age 54 years. Elizabeth is listed as 53 years of age. The children living in the household are Virginia Stringer (age 18 years), Sallie Stringer (age 16 years), John Stringer (age 13 years) and Benjamin Stringer (age 3 years). We will find in a later census record that Benjamin Stringer is her grandson. We will also end up being very confused by Benjamin Stringer. Also, I haven’t found a marriage record for Elizabeth to Joseph.

I assume by 1880 Joseph C Moore has passed. Elizabeth is shown living in District 19, Sacramento, McLean County, Kentucky by herself. She is listed as Elizabeth W Moore, age 58 years.

No census for 1890…of course.

In 1900 Elizabeth is head of household in District 98, Sacramento, McLean County, Kentucky. Her last name is not legible at all, so I don’t know if she remarried after Joseph C Moore died. She is listed as 82 years of age and widowed. Living with her is Ben A Moore, her grandson, age 36 years. Ben A Moore is the same person as Benjamin Stringer listed in the 1870 census. If we go back and look at the records for Elizabeth’s daughter Margaret then we will see that Benjamin is her son, but I don’t know who his father was.

Elizabeth Pitt died sometime after the 1900 census, but I am not sure when. I cannot find any death or burial records for her. Her parents are buried in McLean County, Kentucky, but she doesn’t appear to be buried in the same cemetery. Like I said, I don’t know if she ever remarried after Joseph died, nor do I know if she and Joseph were actually married or if they were common law married. Either way, I haven’t yet found her grave.

The Waldorf-Scott Tissue 1942

I looked up the history of The Waldorf toilet tissue and found on several websites that initially the Scott Tissue company was just as embarrassed to have their name on a roll of toilet paper as people were to buy the stuff. According to Webster’s Online Dictionary: “later 19th century: Scott Paper Company sells toilet paper on a roll, although initially they do not print their company name on the packaging. Toilet paper was sold under the name of various industrial customers, including the Waldorf Hotel, which led to the popular Waldorf brand of toilet paper.”

I guess asking for “The Waldorf, please” was classier than “hey, I need some toilet paper”.

Thomas Craft UPDATED

*I have updated this post to remove the Civil War records for Thomas Craft. Through a cousin I found that these records are actually for his son Thomas Craft! I am very thankful to Ann for pointing this out to me and being so helpful! I will not be changing all of the information in the post, but I will be writing another supplemental post for him with further and corrected information, which I will link to after it is written.

My relationship to Thomas Craft:

Virginia Marie Stalls (my mom)

Ruth May Craft (my grandmother)

Henry Corbett Craft (my great-grandfather)

John Craft (my 2nd great-grandfather)

Thomas Craft (my 3rd great-grandfather)

Thomas Craft is the furthest Craft ancestor I can trace back to with confidence, though I am still stuck on finding some records for him. I can only post what I have on him.

Thomas Craft was born about 1810 in North Carolina. I’m not sure who his parents are, and it seems that no one is positive. The thought is that a man named Prestley (Presley)/Ezekiel Craft is his father due to a certain appointment record for the estate of a Hendrix man, but it has not yet been proven. I have seen some reports that Thomas was married prior to 1839 to an unknown woman and fathered several children with this woman, but I haven’t found a record for this marriage yet, therefore I do not know her name nor the date. Thomas did marry Dicey Hendrix (Hendricks) sometime around 1840, though I can’t find the record for this marriage either, and therefore cannot provide an exact date.

In 1850 Thomas and family can be found on the census living in Humphreys County, Tennessee. Thomas, a farmer, is 39 years of age and Dicey is shown as 26 years of age. The children living with them are: William (age 17 years), Lucinda (age 14 years), Martha (age 12 years), Sarah (age 10 years), Thomas (age 7 years), Rebecca (age 3 years) and Mary (age 1 year). I’m not sure if Sarah is from Thomas’ first marriage or from his marriage to Dicey. Also listed on this page of the census are the families of HP Craft (born in North Carolina, age 35 years) and Presley Craft (born in North Carolina, age 66 years)-possibly Thomas’ brother and father.

The 1860 census once again has the family living in Humphreys County, Tennessee. Thomas, now shown as 52 years of age (man, how did he gain three extra years?) is still a farmer. His wife Dicey is now shown as 38 years of age (gaining two extra years!). The older children have now moved out of the house and the children living with the family on this census are: Rebecca (age 13 years), Mary (age 11 years), Arrena (Irene or Irena, age 9 years), Susan (age 6 years) and George (age 4 years). Living next door to them is the family of Thomas’ oldest son William.

In 1870 the family is still living in Humphreys County, Tennessee. Thomas, now listed as a framer and 60 years of age, and Dicey, now 48 years of age, have the following children living with them: Rebecca (age 23 years), Irena (age 19 years), Susan (age 16 years), George W (farm laborer, age 14 years), John (farm laborer, age 11 years), James (age 8 years), and Ester P (age 2 years). Also living with the family is John Johnson (farm laborer, age 24 years), Mary E Johnson (age 20 years) and William T Johnson (age 8 months). I think Mary E Johnson may be Thomas’ daughter Mary, but I can’t find a marriage record for Mary Craft having married John Johnson (yet).

The 1880 census is the last census where Thomas Craft can be found. His age is listed as 70 years on this census and is still farming away. Dicey is now listed as 58 years of age and keeping house. The children living with them are: Susan (without occupation, age 26 years), John (works on farm, age 18 years), James (works on farm, age 16 years) and CA (at home, age 13 years). I do not have a clue who CA is, unless she’s Ester P (from the 1870 census). Living next door to the family is the family of George W Craft, Thomas’ son.

Thomas Craft died sometime after this census. I would imagine he died in Humphreys County, Tennessee. I saw some people have him listed as having died in Canada, though I don’t have the foggiest why he would have just gone up there away from his family and died. Stranger things have happened, though.

I’m going to keep looking for records on Thomas Craft, particularly who his parents were. I would like to go further back in my Craft line.

Veteran’s Day 2011: James Paul Stalls, Jr

My Granddaddy James Paul Stalls, Jr (1917-1987) enlisted in the Seabees (US Navy) on November 4, 1943. When he told his mother Minnie Virginia Richards (1896-1974), she became very upset and worried. He told her that she had nothing to worry about because the Seabees went in after the fighting was over to rebuild. Shortly after telling her this an article appeared in the newspaper about the Seabees holding off an enemy until the troops arrived to defend.

Throughout his life Granddaddy went by his middle name Paul, but in the Seabees he was known as Jimmy.

Granddaddy was stationed in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. On the troop ship to the Aleutian Islands there were torpedo boats all around them. A lot of the men were crying, scared. Granddaddy decided to just go to sleep so that if they were hit by a torpedo he wouldn’t be awake for it.

Granddaddy fell in love with Alaska and years later wanted to return for a visit, but he never got the chance.

While he was stationed in the Aleutians he was assigned to the sign shop. Officers were impressed by his artistic talent and would ask him to do various artistic projects for them. As a result of these projects he and his friends were provided with special reserved seating for movies. There were frequent earthquakes in the Aleutians, and he said that it was difficult to watch a movie as the image would bounce from the ceiling to a wall and to another wall.

His best friend was William Yernipcut from Anadarko, Oklahoma. Once when Granddaddy and William were shooting craps, William refused to shoot. He told Granddaddy that friends don’t gamble against each other.

One day one of Granddaddy’s friends came into the sign shop to tell him that a Russian Navy ship had arrived at the harbor and there were women sailors aboard. Granddaddy had not seen a woman in so long that he ran right out to the dock. He said that there was only one woman on the deck waving to them. Even though it had been so long since he had seen a woman he still did not find this one attractive. He said, “She was the ugliest damn woman and had no teeth.”

Russian and American soldiers alike kept notebooks with them to exchange vocabulary. The pages of Granddaddy’s Seabee notebook are below.

James Paul Stalls, Jr WWII Russian Notebook

Lewis Stewart in the Civil War Part Three

My relationship to Lewis Stewart:

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, father)

Elbert “Shorty” Tracey Vincent (grandfather)

Martin Riley Vincent (great-grandfather)

Emmie Stewart (2nd great-grandmother)

Lewis Stewart (3rd great-grandfather)

Ok, these are the final records of Lewis Stewart during the Civil War that I found on Fold3. Remember how he was in the hospital sick, but no reason was previously given? Well, I know everyone has been dying to know, so here we go!

The first page is a Muster Roll that tells us that he was in the hospital in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Next we have his information sheet for that hospital in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Diagnosis? Acute Diarrhea. And Small Pox dated January 21, 1865.

Treatment? I don’t know! It’s blank!

The result? He returned to duty February 20, 1865.

On July 10, 1865 Lewis Stewart mustered out, or discharged, from the Union Army in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina.

I hope to find the information for Lewis Stewart’s life outside of the military soon. He apparently had a lot of children, I just can’t track them all down. As soon as I can I will be back with more about him!