Russell County Brainstorming

Generally, I “work best under pressure” – but what that really means is that I procrastinate and then am amazed at what I get accomplished in the final hours before a deadline.  So in an effort NOT to feel overwhelmed on the way to the family vacation to Russell County, I’m going to try to think through my options over the next couple of weeks to be as organized as I can once I get there.  I want to make the best use of my research time and not feel guilty for being away from my family during our trip.  Who knows, maybe I’ll get a hint or two from someone who lives in or researches in Russell County.

It seems like a pretty safe bet that I’ll be able to find many tombstones in the cemeteries of my ancestors.  After visiting Concordia Cemetery in Chicago with over 80,000 graves, I feel hopeful that finding gravestones will not be as tricky.  Although I do worry that a cemetery might not be well maintained since this will not be as urban an area as Chicago.  Actually, I’ve always pictured Russell County as being pretty “countrified”, so I may be very surprised when I get there!  Luckily for me, the Russell County Historical Society has completed a couple of books in the last few years of tombstone transcriptions, so I’ll begin with a visit to the Allen County Library to go through those books to make an Excel spreadsheet of the cemeteries and the stones I’d like to photograph.

I’ll also do my best to make a map of the cemeteries using Google Maps.  I have visited the Kankakee County, Illinois Genealogical Society web site and it contains maps showing the locations of all of the county cemeteries.  It would be great to find something like that for Russell County as well!  Perhaps I’ll find something along those lines by doing a PERSI search.

But I think the very first thing I’ll do is to print out my 5 gen charts and use my highlighter to organize my thoughts on exactly what I’d like to find and where I’d be most likely to find it.  I see a new Excel file coming!

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Elias Smith – Civil War Soldier

In honor of Memorial Day, I’d like to profile the military information that I have for my great-great-grandfather, Elias Smith. I am a complete novice when it comes to military information, so all of the military information I have on Elias comes from his pension packet and from information posted on http://www.geocities.com/~etelamaki_home/8thkent.html which states that the information for this company was supplied by Judy Shamp.  A transcription of the Adjutant General’s Report was supplied by Larry R. Henson.  (Thank you Judy and Larry!)

Elias served with the 8^th Kentucky Cavalry, Co C.  He enrolled in Casey County, Kentucky on July 28, 1862 to serve for 12 months.  He mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862 at Russellville, Kentucky. 

This battalion (second) was organized by Colonel Bristow and commanded by Major J.M. Kennedy.  The second and third battalions were engaged in a number of skirmishes with the rebel Colonel Woodward, and, finally, by a night march under Major Kennedy, they came upon his forces at Camp Coleman, in Todd County, Ky., dispersing the whole force.  Upon the invasion of Kentucky by Bragg, General Buell ordered the second and third battalions to join his command at Bowling Green, Ky. In conjunction with a part of the 4^th Kentucky Cavalry, were assigned to the responsible duty of guarding General Buell’s immense wagon train across Green river. Upon returning to Bowling Green, two companies of the 8^th Cavalry were sent upon a scout into Tennessee, where they surprised and captured a party of over one hundred rebel soldiers who were engaged in collecting supplies for Bragg’s army.  During the winter and spring the first and second battalions were engaged in many skirmishes, and were assigned the duty of protecting the country west of the Nashville railroad.  This regiment and a battalion of the 3^rd Kentucky Cavalry, under command of Colonel Bristow, were in pursuit of John Hunt Morgan in his raid through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, and did good service in that long and fatiguing march, and were present at the taking of the notorious raider.

The regiment was mustered out of service at Russellville, Ky., September 23^rd, 1863.

Elias was reported “present” on October 31, but contracted the measles in November.  On the muster rolls for November and December, he was listed as “absent on detached duty in hospital”.  A note in his file indicates that he was “left at the hospital in Russellville, Kentucky for 15 days on or about December 24, 1862.  For January and February of 1863, he was present, but “sick”.  Considering the fact that 117 men from the regiment died, and 109 of those were from disease, I think Elias was one of the lucky ones.

Elias honorably mustered out of service on Sept. 17, 1863 in Lebanon, Kentucky.

I wish this could be more eloquent and detailed!  I plan to continue researching Elias’ military service and would love to hear suggestions and comments.

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1890 Precinct #8 A – M

Allen, James *- 12 Ky Inf

Ballenger, Daniel – 3 Ky Inf

Blankenship, David – 32 Ky Inf

? (Brumley), John W – 32 Ky Inf

Burkett(?), (Joel?) – 13 Ky Cav

Burton, Gilmore – 3 Ky Inf

Carnes, James F – 1 Ky Cav

Cook, William – 13 Ky Cav

Cooper (?), John – 13 Ky Cav

Dutton, Martin R. – 13 Ky Cav

Harmes, David H – 13 Ky Cav

Johnson, Henry M – 5 Ky Cav

Long, Samuel – 13 Ky Cav

Long, Travis – 13 Ky Cav

Long, Wiley – 13 Ky Cav

Loyd, John * – 13 Ky Cav

Marin, James – 12 Ky Inf

McFall, William – 12 Ky Inf

McFarland, John – 13 Ky Cav

McKinley, Hector A – 3 Ky Inf

McWhorter, John F – 13 Ky Cav

McWhorton, John B – 13 Ky Cav

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1890 Wolfs Creek

John Bailey – 12 Ky Inf

James Bowman drafted in 1864 furnished substitute – William Bowman – blank

William Decker – 12 Ky Inf

William Eads – 13 Ky Cav

Thomas Hampton – 3 Ky Inf

Martha Hicks widow of Isaac Hicks – 12 Ky Inf

Hector C Johnson – 3 Ky Inf

Christopher C Lafever – 12 Ky Inf

John W Lands – 13 Ky Cav

Fred Lick – 40 NY Inf

Rachel Mays widow of William H Mays – 8 Ky Inf

John Pitman – 12 Ky Inf

William Polston – 5 Ky Cav

William R Ray – 13 Ky Inf

John Scales – 13 Ky Cav

Harrison M Stephens – 13 Ky Cav

Fountain Thomas – 1 Ky Cav

Joseph S Woldridge – 12 Ky Inf

Clifton S Wright – 3 Ky Inf

Daniel Zimmerman – 30 Ky ?

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1890 Precinct #8 O – Z

Oaks, Hiram H – 5 Ky Cav

Oldham, Edward – 8 Ky Inf

Pierce, Aaron – 3 Ky Inf

Piercey, Wiley B – 12 Ky Inf

Polsen, William T – 13 Ky Cav

Robinson, Milton E – ? Ky Cav

Elizabeth widow of Rogers, James – 12 Ky Inf

Russell, Duncan – 13 Ky Cav

Nancy A widow of Sullivan, Rubin Q – 12 Ky Inf

Walters, Henry H – 1 Ky Cav

Wells, Isaac M – 3 Ky Inf

Westin, James R – 13 Ky Cav

William, John – 13 Ky Cav

Williams, William H – 13 Ky Cav

Sarah E widow of Wooldridge, James – 13 Ky Cav

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1890 Census – Webbs Cross Road

Cravens, Josiah – 13 Ky Cav
Cunningham, George * – 6 Ky Cav
Foley, W.N. – 13 Ky Cav
Holt, Benjaman – 3 Ky Inf
Mary J widow of Hudson, Simeon P – 1 Ky Cav
Irvin, John – 5 Ky Cav
Lucas, Henry C – 3 Ky Inf
Luttrell, Richard D – 5 Ky Cav
Samantha Oaks soldiers widow – blank
Mary A widow of Passmore, Isaac – 19 Ky Inf
Elizabeth E widow of Rexroat, John B – 12 Ky In
Rexroat, Hardin P – 3 Ky Inf
Sheperd, Elzy C – 5 Ky Cav
Shepherd, Doctor G – 5 Ky Cav
Stackhouse, Bennette D – Confederate
Walter, John (Conf) – 2 East Tenn Cav
Webb, John A – South C.B.x
Whittle, Robert – 13 Ky Cav
Williams, W.H. – 10 Tenn Cav
Wilson, J.D. – blank
Wilson, John W – South C.B.x
Womack, Morgan – 13 Ky Cav

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Tombstone Tuesday – Oliver and Mintie Smith

 

These are my great-grandparents – my grandfather’s parents.  They spent most of their lives in Russell County, Kentucky, but moved to Franklin, Indiana around 1946.  They are buried in the cemetery of First Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Franklin.

Mintie was the daughter of Joseph Scott and Nancy Jain Gilpin – the subject of my Madness Monday!  Oliver Smith’s parents were Elias Smith and Victoria Coffey.

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1890 Creelsboro District H – Z

Celina H answered for *** of Hadley Charles – 12 Ky Inf

Hadley, Thomas – 3 Ky Inft

Helm, John W – 12 Ky Cav

Higginbottom, George A – 13 Ky Cav

Holt, Jerry – 125 Ky Inft

Hughs, John A - 12 Ky Inf

Jackman, Sou**le – 108 Ky Inf

Lawless, James – 5 Ky Cav

Lawless, Joseph – 5 Ky Cav

Loyd, Henry – 12 Ky Inf

Mann, John – 13 Ky Cav

Maynard, Waymire W.  – 5 Penn Cav

Miller, Benjamin W – 14 Ky Inf

Miller, Jacob – 3 Ky Inf

Louiza V widow of Moore, Jimy – 13 Ky Cav

Morrison, James W – 13 Ky Cav

Northrip, William M – 13 Ky Cav

Oliver, John C. – 12 Ky Inf

Ramsey, Joshaway W - 32 Ky Inf

Shearer, Allen – 13 Ky Cav

Shearer, William – 12 Ky Inf

Vigle, William T – 5 Ky Cav

Talitha A widow of Wheat, B.C.W.  – 5 Ky Cav

Wheat, Wesley – blank

Wilburn, William – 13 Ky Cav

Woldord, Fo**tain – 12 Ky Inf

Wooldridge, John B – 13 Ky Cav

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1890 Creelsboro District A – G

Abbott, Richard - 22 Ind Inf
Antle, William – 12 Ky Inf
Baily, Winton B. – 12 Ky Inf
Eliza widow of Ballinger, Benjamin – 32 Ky Cav
Belk, William T – 3 Ky Inf
Blakey, Milton – 13 Ky Cav
Blankenship, George S – 3 Ky Inf
Bradshaw, William – 13 (Ohio?) Inf
Brummett, John R – 13 Ky Cav
Bunch, Milton – 13 Ky Cav
Sallie S Hill for ****of Buster, P.G. – 32 Ky Inf
Cape, Thomas – 12 Ky Inf
Chapman, Anderson – 5 Ky Cav
Clayton, Zack – 42 N.S. Col***
Coe, Sonville – 3 Ky Inf
Coe, Thomas – 5 Ky Cav
Collins, John W – 13 Ky Cav
Ann L Widow of Dixson, John R – 12 Ky Cav
Francis Mann for **** of Elmore, Robert – blank
Garner, Abriham – 5 Ky Cav
Elizabeth widow of George, John – 2 Ky Inf
Goodman, Jessie J – 32 Ky Inf
Guthrie, William – 13 Ky Cav
Celina H answered for *** of Hadley Charles- 12 Ky Inf
Hadley, Thomas – 3 Ky Inf
Helm, John W – 12 Ky Inf
Higginbottom, George A – 13 Ky Cav

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Madness Monday – Joseph Scott 1860

Joseph Wade Scott and Nancy Jain Gilpin were my great-great grandparents.  My “madness” comes from trying to find this family in 1860.

According to his death certificate, Joseph Wade Scott was born in April of 1834 in Kentucky to Andrew Scott and Elizabeth Wade.  Andrew Scott is listed in the tax lists for Russell County, Kentucky for every year from 1826 to 1838 with the exception of 1830, 32 and 34.  Andrew is listed along with his family in the 1840 and 1850 Russell County census records.  Andrew continued to be listed in the tax records for Russell County through 1855 when I believe he died.

Elizabeth Scott and Joseph Scott both are listed in the 1856 – 1858 tax records.  Joseph was 24 years old when he showed up in his first tax records.  1858 is the last year for tax lists on the microfilm until 1875.

On Nov. 12, 1857, Joseph Scott married Nancy Jain Gilpin in Casey County, Kentucky. 

In 1860, Elizabeth Scott is found with 4 of her children in the Russell County census.  Nancy’s father is living with her brother, William, and his family in Casey County. 

But where are Joseph and Nancy Jain?  Joseph Scott is listed in the 1860 Casey County tax list, however, he owned no land.  This is the only year that Joseph is listed in the Casey County records.  I have searched census records for Russell County and Casey County, as well as Tennessee and Ohio in general.  Based on possible listings I found in the Ancestry Civil War Soldiers Records collection, I also searched Kosciusko Co, Indiana and Cumberland Co, Illinois.  (I ordered the service records for the most likely civil war soldier and ruled him out.)  Joseph is not listed in the Russell County militia lists for this time period either.  He is not found in the 1890 special census for veterans for Russell County or Casey County, so perhaps he did not serve.

Joseph and Nancy’s first child was born around 1860.  She died in Russell County on June 19, 1941.  No date of birth is given on her death certificate, but her age is listed as 81 years, 6 days.  The 6 days seems pretty specific to me, so I have her date of birth potentially set at June 13, 1860.  There is a family tree on Ancestry that lists her place of birth as Casey County, so that’s the area I have been searching, but I have not personally confirmed the date or location.  If she was born in 1860 in Casey County and Joseph Scott was in the tax records for Casey County for 1860, it would seem that he should be in the Casey County census records.  I have spent significant time searching the Casey County census and have not found the family. (I believe I have done an every page search, but I usually indicate that in my notes.)

The family can be found in the 1870 census for Casey County.

In the 1880 census, 2 of Joseph and Nancy’s 9 children have their birth location as Indiana, while every other member of the family was born in Kentucky.  These 2 children were born in 1865 and 1868, which leads me to believe the family spent at least a few years at least.  I have not been able to locate specific birth records for either of these children.

Joseph passed away in Russell County in 1914.  I have other records for this family, but I’ve included the records that seem to be the most helpful for finding this family in 1860.  I have searched for the 1860 census for this family for many years.  I would love to finally put this in the “solved” file!

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