Surname Saturday – William Stephens descendants

Well, this has been a pretty hard week in our house, so there wasn’t alot of genealogy research getting done.  So instead of writing part 2 for my William Stephens research, I thought I’d post my descendant chart for William instead.  I sure would love to communicate with anyone else researching this line of Stephens from Russell County, Kentucky!

….. 1   William Stephens b: Abt. 1813 in North Carolina, USA, d: 1885 in Adair, Kentucky, USA

…..   + Dorothy Wiggleton b: Abt. 1815 in South Carolina, USA

……….. 2   George W. Stephens b: Abt. 1836 in Alabama

……….. 2   George Stephens

……….. 2 Andrew Jackson Stephens b: 06 Aug 1837 in Mississippi, US, d: 23 Apr 1920 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

……….. + Lucy Stephens b: 16 Dec 1842 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 14 Jun 1928 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 Nancy E Stephens b: Aug 1859 in Ripley, Missouri, USA, d: 09 Jun 1861 in Metcalfe, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   William Dudley Stephens b: 13 Oct 1861 in Metcalfe, Kentucky, USA, d: Bef. 1910

…………….. + Ella J Dockery b: Abt. 1875 in Kentucky, USA, m: 27 Dec 1888 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 11 Jun 1967 in Adair, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Avery Stephens b: 1891 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Geneva Stephens b: 1894 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 Mary Elizabeth Stephens b: Sep 1864 in Metcalfe, Kentucky, USA, d: Feb 1905 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + William George b: Abt. 1840 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 03 Nov 1889 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: Abt. 1898 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ollie B. George b: Sep 1890 in Kentucky, USA

…………………..   + Logan Dunbar 

………………….. 4 Lucy Jane George b: 26 May 1893 in Kentucky, USA, d: 16 Jun 1940 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. + Joseph Buford Bennett b: 13 Feb 1888 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 02 Aug 1956 in Pulaski, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4 Luther George b: 10 Jan 1894 in Kentucky, USA, d: 06 Sep 1939 in Livingston, Illinois, USA

………………….. + Olga Lee Blankenship b: Abt. 1890 in Kentucky, USA, m: 11 Dec 1912 in Russell Springs, Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 18 Dec 1977 in Chenoa, McLean, Illinois, USA

………………….. 4 Lelar George b: 25 Dec 1896 in Russell Springs, Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 02 Oct 1927 in Russell Springs, Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. + Enos Seymour Bennett b: 14 Sep 1885 in Russell Springs, Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 04 Mar 1917 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 03 Jun 1965 in Franklin, Johnson, Indiana, USA

……………..   + John Flanagan m: 15 Jan 1899 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + Rice Wilson Stephens b: 16 Apr 1863 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 10 Sep 1880 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 26 Mar 1940 in Windsor, Casey, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4 James Lewis Stephens b: 01 Aug 1881 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 29 Oct 1918 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. + Parmelee Barnard b: 21 Jul 1888 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 17 Jan 1914 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 George Howard Stephens b: 13 May 1866 in Kentucky, USA, d: 01 Jan 1918 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + Sarah J Coffey b: Abt. 1870 in Kentucky, USA, m: 28 Mar 1889 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Marce Stephens b: Abt. 1897 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Charley Stephens b: Abt. 1899 in Kentucky, USA

 …………………. 4   Ory O Stephens b: Abt. 1905 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Amon Stephens b: Abt. 1907 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   George A. Stephens b: 1908 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Cornelius Stephens b: Oct 1870 in Kentucky, USA, d: 18 Apr 1932

……………..   + Lula Roy b: Aug 1877 in Kentucky, USA, m: Abt. 1893

………………….. 4   Terrell W Stephens b: Nov 1896 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 Cortez Stephens b: 06 Jan 1873 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 25 Apr 1947 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

……………..   + Essie Tarter b: 11 Jun 1880 in Kentucky, USA, m: Abt. 1897, d: 30 Mar 1953

………………….. 4   Marvin G Stephens b: Abt. 1903 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Alvin R Stephens b: Abt. 1904 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Cora E Stephens b: Abt. 1906 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Allie Stephens b: Abt. 1911 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ermine L Stephens b: Abt. 1913 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Avery Stephens b: Abt. 1915 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3 Andrew Jackson Stephens b: 10 Mar 1875 in Kentucky, USA, d: 11 Feb 1954 in Pulaski, Kentucky, USA

……………..   + Lola Tarter b: 03 Feb 1879 in Kentucky, USA, m: 28 Feb 1892, d: 01 Jul 1964

………………….. 4   Ezra Stephens b: Sep 1896 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Eva Stephens b: Abt. 1904 in Kentucky

………………….. 4   Aquille Stephens b: Abt. 1906 in Kentucky

………………….. 4   Ruby G Stephens b: Abt. 1908 in Kentucky

…………….. 3 Uriah Stephens b: 13 Jun 1877 in Kentucky, USA, d: 21 Aug 1961 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + Laura Ellen Bennett b: 20 Mar 1883 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, m: 1909 in Russell, Kentucky, USA, d: 02 May 1940 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Zilpha M Stephens b: Abt. 1910 in Kentucky, USA 

………………….. 4   Ova Stephens b: Abt. 1913 in Kentucky, US 

………………….. 4   Buell Stephens b: Abt. 192 

………………….. 4   William Stephens b: Abt. 1925

…………….. + Laura Ellen Bennett b: 20 Mar 1883 in Russell Co, Kentucky, US, m: 1909 in Russell Co, Kentucky, d: 02 May 1940 in Russell Co, Kentucky, US

………………….. 4   Zilpha M Stephens b: Abt. 1910 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ova Stephens b: Abt. 1913 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Buell Stephens b: Abt. 1923

………………….. 4   William Stephens b: Abt. 1925

…………….. 3   Dock Garfield Stephens b: Mar 1879 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Armilda Jane Stephens b: Jun 1881 in Kentucky, USA, d: 1933 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. + William Thomas Aaron b: 16 Nov 1877 in Adair, Kentucky, USA, d: 13 Jun 1941 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ella R Aaron b: Abt. 1899 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ada S Aaron b: Abt. 1904 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Dernon S Aaron b: Abt. 1907 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4 Larue V Aaron b: 20 May 1908 in Kentucky, USA, d: 04 Apr 1937 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Lula F Aaron b: Abt. 1908 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   George H Aaron b: Abt. 1912 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Louie Aaron b: Abt. 1909 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Loren Aaron b: Abt. 1914 in Kentucky, US 

………………….. 4   Lilburn Aaron b: Abt. 1915 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   James N Aaron b: Abt. 1917 in Kentucky, USA

………………….. 4   Ollie M Aaron b: Abt. 1921

………………….. 4   Henry J Aaron b: Abt. 1923

………………….. 4   Teddie R Aaron b: Abt. 1924

………………….. 4   Luther Aaron b: Abt. 1914 in Kentucky, USA

……….. 2   Mary Ann Stephens b: 1841 in Mississippi, USA

………..   + Anderson Stephens b: Abt. 1823 in Kentucky, m: 06 Dec 1877 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Rice W. Stephens b: Abt. 1864 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Cassa E. Stephens b: Abt. 1867 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Sevanah Stephens b: Abt. 1879 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Savannah Stephens b: Abt. 1870 in Kentucky, USA

………..   + James Riley Stephens m: 09 Oct 1877 in Russell County, Kentucky

……….. 2   Caroline Stephens b: 1845 in Mississippi, USA

……….. 2 Martha Jane Stephens b: 02 Mar 1849 in Alabama, USA, d: 02 May 1887 in Russell Co, Kentucky

………..   + Andrew J. Stephens

…………….. 3   Elmerine Stephens b: Apr 1876 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Lucy A. Stephens b: Mar 1878 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Helen Stephens b:

……….. + Andrew J. Stephens b: 06 Oct 1846 in Kentucky, USA, m: 14 Sep 1875 in Russell Co, Kentucky, d: 27 Jan 1907 in Russell, Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Elmerine Stephens b: Apr 1876 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Lucy A. Stephens b: Mar 1878 in Kentucky, USA

…………….. 3   Helen Stephens b:

……….. 2   John G Stephens b: Abt. 1851 in Alabama, USA, d: 11 May 1911

………..   + Sarah A. Moles b: Abt. 1856 in Alabama

…………….. 3   Ulyssus Stephens b: Abt. 1875 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Lenora Stephens b: Abt. 1877 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Dorotha Stephens b: Abt. 1878 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Elmer Stephens b: Jun 1885 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Ethel Stephens b: Abt. 1887 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Estell Stephens b: Apr 1889 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Pearly Stephens b: Sep 1891 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Elzy Stephens b: May 1893 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Elsie Stephens b: Abt. 1895 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Ethard Stephens b: Abt. 1896 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Edgar Stephens b: Jan 1897 in Kentucky

……….. 2   James Stephens b: Abt. 1854 in Mississippi, USA

………..   + Louisa E. Criswell b: Abt. 1858 in Kentucky, m: 10 Jul 1876 in Russell County, Kentucky

…………….. 3   William L. Stephens b: Abt. 1877 in Kentucky

…………….. 3   Leona Stephens b: Abt. 1879 in Kentucky

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Timeline Tuesday – Nov. 1897 Election Violence

The Presidential Election of 1896 was one of the most exciting elections in our history. Party loyalties were still fierce for the local elections of 1897 and violence was rampant.  At first, I only planned to post the first 2 clippings from the Adair County News from Nov. 3, 1897, but the following clippings from the next week fit so well with them that I decided to post them all at once. 

Russell County names:  Merrill Tarter, William Redmon, Bailey, Shackleford, Hindman, W.W. Jones, N.H.W. Aaron, H.H. Dunbar, W.E. Miller, W.T. Sharp, J.P. Clayton, J.T. Sullivan, John D. Irvine, A. Baugh, W.S. Stone., Lilburn Phelps, J.N. Meadows, T.R. Morrison, O.B. Vaughan, V. Dockery, J.T. Bernard, J.B. Wheat, Emerine Lapsley, Jno. Wooldridge, Theodore Johnson.

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Family Friday – William Stephens part 1

William Stephens – 1813 – 1885

Birth:

Based on census records, William Stephens was born around 1813 in North Carolina.  His father is widely said to be Welcome Stephens but I have no source for that and I’m unclear on the identity of his mother.  Some researchers have his mother listed as Nancy Bailey, but I cannot confirm that.  The same researchers have a marriage date of 29 Apr, 1830 in Russell Co, Kentucky. 

I have found a marriage record for Welcome Stephens and Nancy Stephens in Russell Co, Kentucky for that date, so I believe that is the source for this information.  I have to wonder if some researchers aren’t jumping to conclusions because the Stephens family eventually appears in Russell Co, but perhaps someone has a source that says Nancy Stephens was previously married and her maiden name was Bailey. That is purely speculation since I have not seen a source. So maybe Nancy Bailey is the correct name, but the Russell County marriage cannot be for William’s parents. At least it cannot be for the mother of Welcome’s children because they were all born before this date. Welcome’s son, William, would have been about 15 years old in 1830 and it seems strange that Welcome would have been in Russell County at this time while William doesn’t show up in Russell County until the 1870 census.  This makes me wonder if this particular Welcome could be related to William, but not his father.  I need to search for available records at the time of Welcome’s death in Russell County to see if any of his children are mentioned.

Marriage – 1839

William was married to Dorothy “Wiggleton” (last name not confirmed) around 1835, most likely in Alabama or Mississippi.  In the 1850 census, the oldest child – George W – is listed as being born around 1836 in Alabama, which is why I have chosen 1835 as a likely marriage date.   There may have been an older daughter – based on a possible 1840 census from Tishomingo Co, Mississippi – but she does not appear with the family in the 1850 census.  If there is an older daughter, then my approximation for a marriage date could be off by a couple of years.

According to the FHL research guide for Alabama, before statewide registration of marriages began in 1936, the clerk of the probate court in each county issued licenses and recorded marriages, usually within 10 years of the creation of the county.  Marion County was established in 1818, so I should do a search for these records.  I should not limit my search to Marion County only.  I chose Marion County because I know this family resided there in 1850, but they also lived in Mississippi before 1850.  There are clues that he may have lived in Tishomingo Co, Mississippi, but Tishomingo County was not established until 1836, so I don’t believe they were married there. (Note:  I have since discovered that a fire at the Marion County courthouse in 1866 and again in 1883 may have destroyed all vital records.)

Following clues in the 1850 census, I know that William’s family was located in Alabama and Mississippi during the early years of their marriage.  The oldest child, George, was born in Alabama around 1836, but the 2^nd child, Andrew J, was born in Mississippi by 1837.  Looking for likely census matches based on this information lead me to possible matches in Marion Co, Alabama; Franklin Co, Alabama; and Tishomingo Co, Mississippi between 1840 and 1860.  (As a side note, many public family trees have Andrew’s place of birth as Cooke Co, Mississippi.  There is no Cooke County in Mississippi and as far I can find there never was.)

If I can determine if George or Andrew served in the Civil War, I may be able to find a more exact date of birth or location.  I have lost track of George after the 1850 census, but I haven’t really spent time looking for him either.  At one time, I thought I had found the pension file for Andrew, but it turned out to be the wrong man (but ironically, still part of my family tree).  Since then I have discovered Andrew’s marriage record in Ripley County, Missouri in 1858 and I know Andrew, his wife and daughter lived with William’s family in Franklin Co, Alabama for the 1860 census.  I have found  that Andrew’s daughter died in Metcalfe Co, Kentucky in 1861.  A son and daughter were also born in Metcalfe Co in 1861 and 1864, so there are several options for locations where Andrew may have entered the military.  He could have fought for the North or the South but Andrew Stephens is a common name, so I have had no luck so far.

I have found three 1839 land grants for William Stephens in Marion County, Alabama.  All three grants were written on the same day, but 2 of them were written for “William Stephens of Marion County” and 1 was written for “William Stephens of Lawrence County”.  During my research, I have found that there was a 2^nd William Stephens in Marion Co, Alabama around this same time.  He was approximately 6 years older than “my” William and was also born in North Carolina.  They both lived in District 14 of Marion County in the 1850 census, so I’m not sure how to distinguish if the land grants belong to the man I am researching or not.  I don’t know how to determine where District 14  is in Marion County and but that could be helpful.  There is also a William Stephens in Lawrence County in the 1840 census who is about 6 years younger than “my” William.   To help keep these men straight in my mind, I am going to number them.  “My” William will be William(1).  The older “Marion Co. William” will be William(2).  Lawrence County William will be William(3).

I decided to compare the land grants that I had found on http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch  with plat maps I had found in the book Family Maps of Marion County, Alabama by Gregory A. Boyd.  I matched the land grants with the correct locations on the map and I suspect that the all of the land parcels belonged to the same man. The 3 land grants from 1839 (shown in blue) were all dated 1 Aug, 1839 and the certificates are numbered 98, 99 and 100.  Two of the grants are written to “William Stevens, of Marion County, Alabama” and 1 of them is written to “William Stevens, of Lawrence County, Alabama”.  It seems quite likely that because the certificates are sequential and are all on the same date, they would belong to the same man.  It also seems more likely that land being granted in Marion County would have accidentally been written to “William of Marion County” than to accidentally write “William of Lawrence Co.”  Two of the parcels of land are in the same section on the township.  Later, in 1858, another grant is given to “William Stephens of Marion County”.  This grant describes 3 parcels of land, (shown in orange) one of which is exactly between 2 of the parcels given in 1839.  To me, that makes it most likely that it belongs to the the same William who was granted land in 1839.  

William(2) can be found in the Marion County census records in 1850 and 1860 as well as a likely match in 1840, so based on that information, it seems all of the land could belong to William(2).  Because of the “Lawrence Co” wrinkle, I have to wonder if all of the land belongs to William(3)however William(3) is living in Itawamba County for the 1850 and 1860 census so I’m not sure if this makes sense.  Itawamba County is just west of Marion county, but would that be a significant distance in 1850?  “My” William(1) seems to be the least likely choice because he seems to be found in Tishomingo Co, Mississippi in 1840; Marion Co, Alabama in 1850 and Franklin Co, Alabama in 1860. However, these 3 counties are all in the same general area, so I cannot completely rule him out.

I need to do more research on what records are available (if any) when a man applied for a land grant.  Land records are new for me and while I’ve done quite a bit of research using deeds from Russell County, Kentucky, I know nothing about the process for receiving a land grant.

This part of William and Nancy’s life is full of questions and guessing based on information in the 1850 and 1860 census.  Part 2 will have a little more that is certain.

Questions to research:

• When and where was William born?  Confirm parents.
• When and where did William get married? What was his wife’s maiden name? What records might tell me this?
• Was there a daughter that was older than George?
• Do the Land Grants that I have belong to “my” William Stephens?

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Timeline Tuesday – Nov. 3, 1897

I currently have a copy of a microfilm for the newspaper “Adair County News” beginning with Nov. 1897 and I’m scanning articles or newsbits that are from Russell County, Kentucky.  I’ve also come across some obituaries from Adair County that I just felt like someone would love to have – especially if it’s a woman since they seem to be so difficult to research.

I’m going to post one or two a week and call it “Timeline Tuesday”.  If you click on the image, it should pop up in an enlarged format so it will be easier to read.  I’m also going to try to include a list of the names mentioned so that they might be picked up in a search engine.  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I’ve enjoyed looking for them!

Names:  Mrs. G.F. Jones, Mrs. A.C. Adams, Mr. Louis Parmley, S.A. Gann, Miss Lillian Phillips, E.O. Stone, S.A. Simpson, A.P. Simpson, Hon. L. Eastham, W.A. Eastham, Rev. Tabor (death), Miss Ethel Patterson, Rev. Bash (death) Mrs. M.M. Scholl, G. Self

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Batch Researching

Recently, I was presented with a glorious gift!  A new friend is allowing me to borrow a whole box of various microfilms for Russell County!  I decided to begin with the Marriage Bonds Books.  I began by using FTM to make a list of all married individuals along with the marriage dates, if known.

I then transferred those names into an Excel file with columns for Males, Marriage Date, County and Females.  I wanted to be able to sort by chronological order of marriage date, or alphabetically by men or women.  Then, because I was missing some marriage dates, I added a column for birth dates so that I could make an estimate of marriage dates – guessing men were married around age 20.

I printed 3 versions of the list – Chronologically by marriage date, alphabetical men, and alphabetical women.  I took the lists to the library with the microfilm and began by looking for the men’s names in the indexes (which I discovered are pretty inaccurate).  I looked for permission slips, bonds and certificates for every couple on my list.  Some were easy to find.  Some were surprisingly different from the dates I had in my database.  And some were like finding Easter Eggs.  I discovered some middle names and maiden names that I didn’t have before.  I was able to find just about all of the ones I was looking for.  I also found potential records for names that I had approximate birth dates based on census records that “dropped out of site” once they moved away from home.  More clues to follow up on! The ones that I couldn’t find will be first on my list for surrounding counties. (After I look  just one more time….)

I’m now in the process of entering/correcting dates along with sources into my Family Tree Maker, Ancestry, Groups Sheets and Notes.  I don’t know what I’d do if I had trees in several internet sites to update!  As I am updating group sheets, I’m seeing additional names that didn’t show up in my original FTM report because I didn’t have a spouse listed, but I can add those names to look for potential matches.

I’m also happy that I have the beginnings of an Excel database with all of my Russell County names that I can add too.  I did end up adding a column for notes so that I could indicate if a record was a POSSIBLE match or if I came across a clue to follow up on.  I can add death dates and burial locations so that I can sort based on that information as well.  I like the idea of sorting males based on birth dates so that I’ll know when they turned 21 and should start appearing in tax lists.  When men or women are sorted alphabetically, it keeps family groups together as well so that I can look for other patterns.  When visiting cemeteries, I can sort so that all names from the same cemetery are together.

The only drawback that I can see to this “batch researching” is that I have a feeling that I’m missing clues by not taking the time to work on one specific family at a time.  I’ll have to be sure that as I put this information into each set of notes, that I’m thinking through what I’m reading and what the next step would be.  All questions or trains of thought should be writing into my Research Log as I go along.

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Deed Work – Part 13

1855	Ballew, Harry	Flanagan, Mason	F
1853	Blankenship, John & c	Blankenship, James atty	F
1855	Bryan, George, conv.	Meadows, Andrew	F
1854	Bryan, George, conv.	McFarland, Dweitt	F
1855	Bernard, W.W.	Bernard, John F	F
1855	Bryan, George conv.	Webb, John	F
1855	Brown, Kenyon	Warriner, Lewis T.	F
1855	Bryna, Beorge conv.	Stephens, Joseph	F
1855	Barger, Janiah	Grider, Fredrick	F
1856	Blankenship, David & c	Ballenger John & c	F
1856	Bryan, George, conv.	Owsley, John E.	F
1856	Bryan, George conv.	Cravins, John	F
1855	Belk, Milton	Wooldridge, Jesse & c	F
1856	Bibey, Allen	Warriner, Lewis T.	F
1856	Brown, Benjamin T.	Vaughan, Benjamin T.	F
1856	Bernard, W.W.	Prather, Gideon H.	F
1854	Bryan, George conv.	Miller, John	F
1856	Brown, Kenyon	Warriner, L.T.	F
1856	Bryan, George conv.	Leach, Hubert & c	F
1856	Ballenger, Daniel	Ballenger, Berryman	F
1857	Bradshaw, Fields	Litrill, John	F
1856	Bradshaw, Albin & c	Ruse, James H.	F
1857	Beck, John & c	McFarland, Madison	F
1857	Bradshaw, Seth	Bradshaw, Timolin	F
1856	Blankenship, Jesse	Blankenship, Cornelius	F
1856	Barshim, Isham	Coffey, Jackson	G
1856	Bradshaw, Jonas & c	Bradshaw, Elijah	G
1854	Bryan, George conv.	Long, Samuel	G
1856	Bryan, George conv.	Long, Samuel & Edward	G
1857	Bryan, George conv.	Gabhardt, George	G
1857	Burchett, John	Jackman, Adam	G
1857	Bernard, John T. & c	George, Henry C.	G
1855	Brown, William J.	Ruyley, Bryant W.	G
1858	Briley, George W.	Simpson & Walkup	G
1857	Boyd, John & c	Boyd, James	G
1858	Bradshaw, Elijah & c	Gosser, William H.	G
1854	Barger, Daniel B.	Barger, Josiah	G
1858	Bradshaw, William A.	Wheat, John R.	G
1858	Buster, William L. & c	Boyd, James	G-103
1858	Boyd, James & c	Buster, Lucy	G-103

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Flu Epidemic

As a high school math teacher, I’m VERY aware of the current flu situation, especially as it relates to younger people.  In one grade level at our school 2/3 of the students were home ill yesterday and today. Each day, I spend time disinfecting desks, passing around the bottle of hand sanitizer and watching students for signs of fever.  

I’ve heard this flu epidemic compared to the flu epidemic of 1918 and it made me think about how my ancestors could have been affected.  It takes alot of extra time to work with students who have missed classes, so my library research time has been limited, but Ancestry is available 24/7!  Tonight, I decided to calculate the number of deaths attributed to flu during 1918 in Russell County. 

On Ancestry, for 1918 there were 128 death certificates for Russell County.  25 of those deaths were due to flu and all of those occurred between September and December.  In 1919, there were 11 deaths out of 117 recorded.  I thought the number would be higher, so I wonder if that means a lower population (hmmm, the math teacher in me wants to figure out the percentage) or if families were more spread out or if the flu in this part of the state wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.  During the same time, there were many still births and a few with unknown causes of death and I wonder if those were flu related.  I made a list of documented flu deaths for Russell County.  I am absolutely CERTAIN that some of these names are incorrect.  The handwriting on some of these certificates was very difficult to read!  I didn’t find anyone from my family in these certificates, but I thought they might be helpful to someone. The list format is image number – cause of death;  name – age – date of death. 

1918

65 – Spanish influenza;   Lanis Biba – age 10 – 9/14
66 – Spanish influenza;    Dortha Grant – age 1 – 9/18
67 – Pneumonia complicated by Spanish influenza;   Robert Grant –age 32 –;   9/16
70 – Haematimesis – caused possibly from influenza;   Avert Andrew Meece – age 6 mos – 10/24
72 – Pneumonia following influenza;   Voda Thomas – age 34 – 10/25
75 –  Influenza;   Lilian Johnson – age 2 – 10/25
76 – Influenza;   Cora Wilson – age 34 – 10/26
77 – Influenza;   Evona Wilson – age 2 – 10/27
78 – Asthma and influenza;   Lola McBeath – age 21 – 10/30
79 – Influenza;   Ollie McGormd – age 22 – 10/27
81 – Influenza;   Rosa Gosser – age 13 – 10/19
82 – Influenza;   Medron Weir – age 2 – 10/19
84 – Influenza;   Lucy Muses – age 21 – 10/17
87 – 5 months child caused from mother having influenza;   Sallie Grider – 10/16
89 – Influenza;   Bertha Downey – no age – 10/22
94 – Influenza;   Estal Popplewell – age 5 – 11/5
96 – Spanish Influenza;   Reltz Morgan – age 35 – 12/3
104 – Influenza;   Doretha Tarter – age 39 – 12/29
106 – Asthma and influenza;   Vinnie Wade – age 21 – 12/29
107 – Influenza;   Maggie McKinley Cook – age 17 – 12/17
110 – Influenza;   Verl G. Jasper – age 26 – 12/31
111 – Influenza;   Wealthy Perkins – age 38 – 11/11
114 – Influenza;   Pauline Ross – age 5 – 12/20
115 – Influenza;   Anibell Johnson – age 38 – 12/11
122 – Spanish Influenza;   Tina Morgan – age 41 – 12/5

1919

4 – Influenza;   Stanley Brown – age 14 – 1/15
5 – Influenza;   James Cecil – age 8 mos – 1/17
6 – Influenza;   Annie Kearns – age 34 – 1/16
7 – Pneumonia following flu;   Rutha Eliza Morrow – age 63 – 1/3
8 – Influenza;   Bennie D Wilson – age 1 – 1/20
10 – Influenza;   Jackson Jasper – age 4 mos – 1/11
24 – Influenza;   ?? J. Gossage – age 26 – 2/23
31 – Flu;   Alta E Wilson – age 2 – 2/16
35 – Bronco Pneumonia resulting from influenza;   Alma Harris – age 23 – 4/3
48 – Epilepsy (contributory Influenza);   John Q Phelps – age 60 – 6/24
53 – Influenza;   Jonathon Blakey – age 82 – 6/11

After making this list, I decided to do a simple count for Adair County as well.   In 1918, there were 76 deaths out of 296 due to the flu.

How long will the current flu epidemic last?  I don’t know, but I hope it isn’t 2 years like the Spanish Flu epidemic was!

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Deed Work – Part 12

This is a continuation of my transcription of the Russell County Deed Index book.  Working on the B’s.  Some pages were microfilmed in such a way that the page numbers were unclear.  If that was the case, I noted the Book only.

1851	Belk, Logan S.	Helm, James	E-322
1851	Bernard, William W.	Robison, Mathew	E-381
1851	Bernard, william W.	Judd, Jesse S. atty	E-384
1850	Buster, Claudius C.	Heurns, Richard H. & c	E-391
1852	Blair, William	Stone, Witham	E-396
1852	Browder, William	Browder, James	E-415
1852	Belk, Milton	Wooldridge, Christian	E-418
1852	Bernard, william W.	Williams, Susan & c	E-433
1851	Blankenship, G.W.	Jackman, Thomas & c	E-440
1852	Bowlin, John C.	Richardson, Richard B.	E-446
1852	Beck, John & c	Cloghun, J.W. & c by atty	E-450
1842	Bowmer, James	Bowmer, John	E-461
1852	Ballew, Harry	Wooldridge, Alexander & c	E-465
1852	Bernard, John T.	Rexroat, Silas	E-467
1852	Beau, Robert	Miller, George W.D. Sheriff	E-469
1852	Brown, Joel	Bernard, Abner	E-487
1853	Bradshaw, John	Shepherd, Franklin	E-505
1852	Bernard, W.W.	Satterfield, S.H.	E-534
1852	Blankenship, Hudson	Helm, Jacob	E-555
1853	Bernard, W.W.	Bryan, George	E-556
1853	Blankenship, Joel	Green, Wm M.	F-2
1853	Bebu, Allen	Hays, David & c	F-45
1852	Bowlin, Isham	Coffey, Franklin	F-69
1853	Ballinger, Joseph	Wright, W.R.	F-75
1853	Belk, Logan S.	Wright, Hiram B.	F-76
1853	Brown, William J.	Higginbotham, John W.	F-84
1853	Blair, Burton	Perryman, George W.	F-88
1853	Bernard, Slanghter	Bernard, John	F-91
1852	Bryan, George	Caldwell, William	F-104
1853	Barger, Daniel B.	Bryan, George	F-107
1853	Bailey, James	Bernard, Allen	F-109
1854	Blankenship, Joel	Singleton, Moses	F-125
1854	Bryan, George atty	Weseley, G.W.	F-133
1854	Barger, Stephens	Worsley, George W.	F-140
1850	Bowlin, Ishham	Bolin, John C.	F-158
1854	Bernard, W.W.	Owens, Hestor	F-171
1854	Brown, George W.	Coffey, Anderson	F-191
1854	Barger, Janiah	Stephens, Jonah	F-201
1854	Bradshaw, William A.	George, Henry C.	F-206
1854	Barger, John H.	Barger, Verlinda	F-215

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Deed Work – Part 11

 This is a continuation of my transcription of the Russell County Deed Index book.  Working on the B’s.  Some pages were microfilmed in such a way that the page numbers were unclear.  If that was the case, I noted the Book only.

1848	Buster, Arthur	Roy, Joseph	E-5
1848	Brown, Rebecca	Stone, N.B. & c conv.	E-13
1848	Browder, William	Turpin, Salmon	E-16
1848	Bolin, Isham	Happer, William	E-22
1847	Barnes, Ozias	Cain, Smith W.	E-29
1848	Bowmer, John	Muse, Janas	E-71
1848	Bryan, George	Smith, George H.	E-88
1848	Bryan, George	Semple, George D.	E-90
1844	Benedict, Harrison	Stephens, Robert C.	E-99
1849	Barger, Jonah	Coffey, Janiah	E-140
1849	Bryan, George	Lawless, John	E-160
1848	Bowlin, John C. & c	Brock, John	E-166
1849	Bruding, Barnett	Shearer, Hiram	E-167
1833	Bernard, Hiram	Wooldridge, William	E-170
1847	Blair, James	Brider,	E-171
1850	Brock, John  C.	Bolin, John C.	E-195
1848	Bryan, George conv.	Owens, Sarah	E-204
1847	Bryan, George conv.	smith, Elias	E-206
1849	Barger, Daniel B.	Haynes, William H.	E-209
1850	Beck, Aann	Shoul, Martain S.	E-241
1847	Bryan, George conv.	Stephens, Joseph	E-271
1850	Bryan, George conv.	Stephens, Joseph	E-272
1849	Beldon, James	Judd, Daniel T.	E-291
1849	Bryan, George conv.	Flowers, Berryman H.	E-300
1848	Bryan, George conv.	buster, Charles R.	E
1849	Beldon, James & c Trustee	Smith, Ambros	E
1851	Brown, Rebecca	Cook & Hays	E-330
1851	Belk, Cynus W.	Nicols, Solomon J.	E
1851	Boyd, Isiac B.	Coffey, Robert F.	E
1851	Bowlin, Benjamin P.	Webb, John	E-369
1851	Bernard, Elizabeht & c	Holt, Berryman	E
1851	Belk, Clabourn	Chapman, Edward	E
1852	Browder, James H.	Browder, William	E
1852	Ballew, Haney	Wooldridge, Alexander	E
1852	Bowlin, B.P.	Stone, N.B. & c conv.	E
1852	Bowmer, John	Bowmer, James	E
1852	Bernard, William W.	George, H.C.	E
1852	Bashears, John	Grisham, John	E
1852	Browder, William	McClure, Nathan atty	E
1852	Bernard, John	Jones, William	E

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Deed Work – Part 10

This is a continuation of my transcription of the Russell County Deed Index book.  Working on the B’s.  Some pages were microfilmed in such a way that the page numbers were unclear.  If that was the case, I noted the Book only.

1840	Ballenger, David	Owsley, Bryan Y.	D-54
1841	Basheers, John	Judd, Nathaniel	D-59
1841	Bradshaw, Asuri	White, John	D-82
1841	Blankenship, John	Cravens, Virginia B.	D-83
1841	Bullock, Edward J.	Garrett, Lewis P.	D-84
1841	Ballew, George	Cook, David	D-91
1841	Bullock, Edward J.	Shakelfone, Reubin B.	D-93
1842	Boyd, William & c	Boyd, John & c	D-98
1842	Barger, Josiah	Kerns, Silas	D-112
1842	Bledsoe, Joseph & c	Turner, Smith	D-145
1842	Bolin, Istham	Bolin, John	D-153
1844	Blankenship, John	McKinley, Peter	D-193
1844	Boleu, E.T.	Cheatham, N.B.	D-210
1842	Barger, Isiac	Haynes, John	D-220
1842	Barger, Daniel B.	Patterson, Charles	D-226
1842	Barger, Daniel B.	Rowe, Joseph T. conv.	D-237
1844	Blankenship, John	Blankenship, Jess Sr.	D-264
1842	Brown, Joel	Wilson, Moses	D-305
1845	Beck, Aann	Semple, Charles D.	D-337
1844	Ballew, Hustin	Akers, Thomas & c	D-377
1845	Barnes, Charles C.	Patterson, Charles Agt & fam con	D-394
1846	Bowmer, James	Bowmer, John	D-401
1846	Boyd, George	Helm, George	D-416
1846	Brown, Berry & c	Owsley, Bryan Y.	D-417
1847	Bradshaw, Seth J.	Popplewell, Simca	D-467
1847	Beard, Rebecca	Perryman, Richard	D-518
1847	Boyd, William & c	Boyd, George	D-532
1847	Boyd, William & c	Boyd, James	D-533
1847	Brown, Kenyon	Flowers, Berryman H.	D-545
1848	Bolin, Isham	Owsley, Bryon Y.	E-47
1848	Buster, John P.	Jones, Allen	E-68
1847	Bryan, George	Lair, William D.	E-78
1846	Blair, James	Wolford, J.M.	E-98
1849	Brown, Berryman	Wooldridge, Lewis	E-110
1849	Bryan, George	Collins, James Sheriff	E-138
1848	Brock, John	Bowlin, John C. & c	E-166
1850	Bolin, John C.	Brock, John	E-195
1850	Blankenship, Jesse	Garner, Quarles	E-212
1850	Bradshaw, Seth J.	Selby, James	E-232
1848	Buster, Charles R.	Bryan, George	E-302

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