Cole Family Bible

Cole Family Bible

Three pages of information copied from the Cole Family Bible and one page of remarks were sent to me in 1987 by Ruth Cole Sauter.  At that time (1987) Ruth said the Cole Family Bible was in the possession of a cousin who would not let anyone see or touch it.  But earlier in 1955 when the bible had been in the possession of Ruth's aunt, a paid researcher by the name of Almon E. Daniels was allowed to see the Cole Family Bible and record the information from the bible.  Other family records were also examined and recorded by the researcher, such as information from the family hair sample book. (Remember that 1955 was before the age of Xerox copy machines.)

The Family Bible belonged to Joseph and Rhoda (Gifford) Cole.  Joseph Cole was the son of Nathan Cole and Judith Colburn.  During the last years of her life, Joseph's mother, Judith Colburn Cole (wife of Nathan), lived with him and his wife, Rhoda.  Therefore, Judith would have given input into the information contained in the bible and hair sample book.  By 1977, the hair sample book was missing and not found.

Cole Family Bible Transcription

Cole Family Hair Sample Book Transcription

Obituaries found in the bible.

Remarks about bible information

Transcription of the Bible information:

Nathan Cole born 31 July 1760 died 29 Dec 1827 in his 67th yr.

Judith Cole born 22 July 1767 died 28 Feb 1854 (7?) in her 90th yr.

Luther Cole born 22 June 1790

Sabra Cole born 15 Aug 1792

Nathan Cole, Jr. born 15 Sept 1794

Joseph Cole born 20 Dec 1796 died 16 Oct 1871, aged 74 yr. 9m. 26d

Betsy Cole born 8 June 1799

Judith Cole born 10 Jan 1802

Roce.enath Cole born 30 May 1804

William H. Cole born 13 Mar 1810

James M. Cole born 13 Dec 1823

Julia M. Cole born 25 Apr 1828

Frank M. Cole born 4 Dec 1856 died 17 Mar 1923

Mary F. Cole born 22 Sept 1858

Joseph Cole married 21 Mar 1823 to Rhoda Gifford

James M. Cole married 15 Feb 1854 to Julia M. DeWitt

Frank M. Cole married Feb 1876 to Ida Jane Bull

Rhoda Cole baptized 13 Sept 1829

James M. Cole baptized 9 Feb 1840

Frank M. Cole baptized 29 Jan 1871

Additional Posts about Nathan Cole:

Nathan Cole - Patriot

Nathan Cole's Revolutionary War Button

Our Weiss Immigrant Family

Our First American Ancestors in the Weiss Family

Philip Jacob Weiss & Maria Barbara Maendle

Philip Jacob Weiss was born 14 December 1794 in Uhingen, Wurttemberg, Germany.  He was the third child of Michael Weiss and Catherine Traub Weiss.  On 18 June 1822, he married Maria Barbara Maendle.  Barbara, the daughter of Johann Michael Maendle and Susanna Kissling, was born 6 Apr 1802 in Uhingen, Wurttemberg, Germany.

Below is a copy of the Parish Family Record for the Philip Jacob Weiss family. It is from the Family Register of Uhingen, Vol II, page 426.

Family Register; Uhingen, Wuerttemberg, Germany

Philip Jacob Weiss and his family emigrated to America from their home in Uhingen, Wurttemberg, Germany.   The German people were tired of religious persecutions, wars, political oppression, and social unrest.  And, the Weiss family was looking for a better way of life and a place to raise their children.

The Weiss family sailed from Havre, France on the ship “Seth Sprague”, which was captained by Alexander Wadsworth.  

Ship Seth Sprague, Captained by Alexander Wadsworth

Passenger list of the ship Seth Sprague.  Weiss family starts on line 23.

After a three month voyage, the Weiss family arrived at New Orleans on June 17, 1848.    Soon after, the family started their travel up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri.  Jacob Weiss became ill and died of cholera in St Louis.  He was buried in a cemetery that was later destroyed by fire so no trace of his grave has ever been found.

After the death of Philip Jacob Weiss, the family continued by boat up the Mississippi River to Rock Island, Illinois.  There was a large German settlement in Coal Valley Township, Rock Island County and it was there that Maria Barbara Weiss and her family settled.  It is possible that they located in that particular area because neighbors or friends in Germany may have located there before the arrival of the Weiss family.  In a short time after their arrival Maria Barbara purchased a two hundred acre farm for which she paid $1,060.00.

It is not known where the Weiss family stayed when they arrived at their destination. After they settled in their new home, a log house, members of the family started getting the farm ready for crops.   While their log house was not very large it always had room for others.  Many people coming from Germany stayed at the Weiss home until they could locate a farm of their own.  As in all German families everyone worked, including the younger children.  They were sent to the store, a distance of about fourteen miles.  They carried butter which was wrapped in a shawl and this was exchanged for necessary supplies.

Pages from the Weiss Bible brought from Germany

Maria Barbara Weiss only lived ten years after coming to America, passing away in 1858. She was buried on the Weiss homestead, Rural Township, Rock Island County, Illinois.  The small cemetery, located north of the house of John Michael Weiss, is now abandoned and supposedly has three tombstones, and several more unmarked graves.  The cemetery is on private property and was posted with a "No Trespassing" sign in 1997.  Alta made the following chart of the cemetery.

Much of the above story came from the book, Weiss Family by Alta Sherrard Waugh.

Sources:

Family Register: 

Evangelische Kirche Uhingen (OA. Göppingen), Parish Record; Uhingen, Donaukreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany; Uhingen Kirchenbuch, 1634-1900.

Ship Passenger List:

Ancestry.com. New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA. Original data: New Orleans, Louisiana. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902. Micropublication M259. RG036. Rolls # 1-93. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Weiss Family Book:

Waugh, Alta S., Weiss Family 1600-1983.  Washington, District of Columbia: American Memoirs Publishing, 1983.  First edition in possession of blog author. 

See post about the book, click here.

Related Posts:
Weiss Family 1600-1983
Elizabeth Dorothea Weiss Martin
Our First Families in America

Jesse Stewart, Baptist Preacher - part 2

See more on Jesse Stewart here.

Jesse Stewart of Putnam county, Tennessee

 Biography, Signature and Bible Pages

Jesse Stewart Signature
From an affidavit signed 11 Oct 1832 for John Rany's Revolutionary War Pension Application.

The following copies of a family record from a Bible belonging to Jesse Stewart were sent to me years ago by J.T. Stewart.  (He did not send a copy of the title page or publication information of the Bible and this is the best copy I have.)

Jesse Stewart Bible Pages 1 & 2

Jesse Stewart Bible Pages 3 & 4

Transcription of Bible pages:
Pages 1 & 2
Jesse Stewart was borne July the 5th - 1790
Jemimah Stewart was borne November the 18th - 1795
Janey Stewart was borne Febuary the 26th - 1813
Preston Stewart was borne July the 12th 1815
Harrison Stewart was born May the 7th - 1817
Hirum Stewart was born March the 30th 1819
Enon Stewart was born May the 6th - 1821
Ceburn Stewart was born February the 10th 1823
Pages 3 & 4
Asa Stewart was born February the 19th 1825
Anthony Stewart was born January the 21 - 1827
Ervincy Stewart was born October the 22th 1829
Levashure Stewart was born October the 17th 1831
Almirminda Stewart was born January the 14th in 1834
Jemimah Stewart was born January the 19th 1836
Mary Stewart was born Febuary the 21st 1838
Ceburn Stewart was borne Febuary the tenth 10 1823
?Not sure why Ceburn is listed twice in the bible record?


The following story was also sent to me by the author, J T Stewart of Watertown, Tennessee.

Chronological Data Pertaining to Jesse Stewart 

by J. T. Stewart

Jesse Stewart came to Overton County with his father Joseph Stewart from Jefferson County, TN about 1800. He was about 10 years old at the time. By 1820, he was married and head of a family according to the 1820 Overton County census. In July 1824, Jesse Stewart bought 55 acres of land in White County on Calfkiller River from Thomas Ussery. In July 1826, he sold this 55 acres of land to Jeptha West. It is not certain that he resided on this land.

Richard F. Cook’s survey book shows that 75 acres of land on Bear Creek was surveyed for Jesse Stewart on 18 Feb 1831. The chain carriers were Richard Harris and Preston Stewart. This land was partly in Jackson and partly in Overton counties, which later became Putnam County. An affidavit dated 11 October 1832, signed by Jesse Stewart submitted in connection with John Raney’s Revolutionary War Pension application gives Jesse Stewart’s place of residence as County of White. (John Raney was his brother-in-law.) But, in census records of 1830 and 1840 Jesse Stewart was enumerated in Overton County. (White County marriage records show that Jesse’s son, Enon, was married to Sarina Cordle on 4 January 1845.)

Census records show that in 1850, Jesse Stewart was in Todd County, Kentucky with wife, Jemima, and children, Asa, Ervina, Lavisha, Almarinda, Jemima, Mary and Sarah. In 1852, Jesse Stewart along with sons, Enon, Asa and Lavasha, bought 450 acres of land in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on Long Creek. But by 1860, Jesse was back in Putnam County again with wife, Jemima (age 64) and children, Jemima Jr. 24 and Mary 22. This was in the Double Springs community and he was shown living next door to Preston and Jane Stewart. (Preston was his oldest son.)

But, sometime after 1860 at about the time of the Civil War, he supposedly went back to Kentucky again. (This comes from J.H. Grime’s “History of Middle Tennesse Baptists”, p. 277.) Circumstantial evidence indicates that both Jesse and Jemima died in Kentucky about 1864. The two girls, Jemima (Jr.) and Mary, evidently went to live with their aunt and uncle, Sarah (West) Davis and Jacob Davis. Todd County, Kentucky marriage records show that Jemima (Jr.) Stewart was married to Francis M. Seger at the home of Jacob Davis on 11 December 1864.

Jesse Stewart was a Baptist preacher and he was involved in some of the early controversies of the church. He was probably ordained by the Roaring River Baptist Church of Overton County, of which he was a member in the early 1800’s and he was in these associations: Stockton’s Valley, Freedom Association of Kentucky, Salem Association, with Putnam County as a center, and later Johnson Association. According to Spencer’s “History of Kentucky Baptists” Jesse Stewart was excluded from Stockton’s Valley Association in 1843, after which he became affiliated with Freedom Association.

See previous post about Elder Jesse Stewart here.

Never Too Old To Learn

Sally Carr Brown

Sally Carr Brown is a fourth great-grandmother on my Baldwin Family line.  

Grandma Sally set a wonderful example of living life fully until the end.  According to a notation made in her daughter's bible, Sally learned to read late in life -- when she was 76 years old!  She proved that one is never too old to learn!  

"Sally Brown lerned to read in hir 76th yeare"

Sally was married to John Brown.  They lived in Putnam county, Tennessee.  Two of their daughters, Jane and Sarah, married brothers, Preston and Harrison Stewart, repectively.   We descend through her daughter, Sarah Brown who married Harrison Stewart.

The above copy is from the family bible of Preston and Nancy Jane Stewart.  I love the added information about Sally and Jane learning to read.  Transcript below:

"John Brown was borne 1790

Deceast this life 1858

Salley Brown was borne 1792

Deceast this life Aug 25 1868

Salley Brown lerned to read in hir 76th yeare.

Jane Stewart lerned to read when

she was about 40 years of age.

She read the new testament through

10 times & the olde scriptures

through 5 times."

Family Bible of Preston and Jane Stewart of Jackson County, Tennessee

Years ago, J.T. Stewart of Tennessee, sent me copies of the Family Bible of Preston and Nancy Jane Stewart.  (Preston Stewart was the oldest son of Rev. Jesse Stewart of Putnam County, Tennessee.)  Back then, the copies we used were not high quality scans but regular xerox copies - some of the copies seemed to be copy of a copy.  But, even if they are not the greatest copy, I thought it best to share them. The bible was printed in 1878.  The first page of the family record shown is the births, then deaths, marriages and a page with information about Jane's parents, John and Sally Brown. 

The page below has information concerning Jane Brown Stewart's parents, John and Sally Carr Brown.

For a transcript of above page, go here.

William S. McNeil Family Record

The following is a copy of the original William S. McNeil Family record. The family record was written on both sides of a 5x8 lined sheet, which over the years had aged to a brownish-yellow.  The record was found in papers belonging to William's granddaughter, Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson, and had been stuck inside the Family Bible. It appears to have been written in about 1889.

McNeil Family (front)

McNeil Family (back)

Transcription of the above family record:

(front)
William S. McNeil was born Jurly the 21 , 1818
Sarah M. McNeil was born Febery the 21, 1826
Eliza Jane McNeil was born August the 12, 1848
Susanah A. McNeil was born November the 19, 1849
Thomas C. McNeil was born Janery 21, 1852
Rockcy E. McNeil was born Febery the 18, 1857
Nancy H. McNeil was born May the 23, 1860
Nathan H. McNeil was born August the 25, 1864
(back)
James H. McNeil was born December 18, 1867
*Also on back are dates of years from the birth of last child in 1867 consecutively to 1889.  A small  detailed heart is drawn in red and green.  The size of the heart is 1-1/16 x 1-3/4.

William S McNeil and Sarah M Cole Family

William S. McNeil was born on 21 Jul 1818 in Ohio. He died on 5 Feb 1894 in Cedarville, Smith, Kansas. He was buried in Feb 1894 in Cedar Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. William married Sarah Margaret Cole, daughter of Nathan Cole Jr. and Anna Margaret Goble, on 17 Oct 1847 in Parke, Indiana. Sarah was born on 21 Feb 1826 in Sullivan, Indiana. She died in 1905 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. She was buried in 1905 in Cedarville Cemetery, Smith, Kansas.

They had the following children:

1) Eliza Jane McNeil was born on 12 Aug 1848 in Parke, Indiana. She died about 1856.

2) Susanah A. McNeil was born on 19 Nov 1849 in Parke, Indiana. She died on 23 Jan 1930 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. She was buried on 26 Jan 1930 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. Susanah married Levi Taylor Ball son of Henry Ball and Nancy Wise on 29 Aug 1876 in Ottawa, Missouri. Levi was born on 17 Jan 1847 in , Trimble, Kentucky. He died on 20 Aug 1919 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. He was buried on 21 Aug 1919 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas.

3) Thomas C. McNeil was born on 21 Jan 1852 in Terre Haute, Parke, Indiana. Thomas never married. He died on 18 Nov 1923 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. He was buried on 20 Nov 1923 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas.

4) Roxie Ellen McNeil was born on 18 Feb 1857 in Hopkins, Nodaway, Missouri. She died on 22 Feb 1936 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. She was buried on 24 Feb 1936 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. Roxie married Albert R. Reed on 5 Dec 1878 in Cedar, Smith, Kansas. Albert was born on 28 Apr 1856 in Malvern, , Ohio. He died on 18 Dec 1928 in , Smith, Kansas.

5) Nancy Abbagail McNeil was born on 23 May 1860 in Hopkins, Nodaway, Missouri. She died on 18 Jan 1946 in Egbert, Laramie, Wyoming. She was buried on 20 Jan 1946 in Pine Bluffs Cemetery, Laramie, Wyoming. Nancy married Martin Monroe Hatfield son of John Martin Hatfield Jr. and Martha Jay on 1 Jan 1879 in Harvey Twp., Smith, Kansas. Martin was born on 18 Apr 1857 in Boone, Iowa, United States. He died on 31 May 1918 in Dove Creek, Dolores, Colorado. He was buried on 4 Jun 1918 in Dove Creek, Dolores, Colorado.

6) Nathan H. McNeil was born on 25 Aug 1864 in Bedford, Taylor, Iowa. He died on 21 Apr 1939 in Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas. He was buried on 24 Apr 1939 in Douglas, Kansas. Nathan married Susan Emma Hoyt daughter of Joseph King Hoyt and Mary Jane Lukehart on 24 Nov 1889 in Holdrege, Phelps, Nebraska. Susan was born on 27 Feb 1871 in Illinois.

7) James Harmon McNeil was born on 18 Dec 1867 in Hopkins, Nodaway, Missouri. He died on 16 Jan 1936 in Cedar, Smith, Kansas. He was buried on 19 Jan 1936 in Cedar Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. James married Minnie B. Newbrey daughter of George Franklin Newbrey and Margaret E. Dear on 14 Oct 1896 in Smith, Kansas. Minnie was born on 9 Feb 1876 in Iowa, United States. She died on 30 May 1941 in Smith, Kansas. She was buried in Cedarville Cemetery, Smith, Kansas.

Also see:
1902 McNeil Reunion

1902 Photos of the McNeil Family

William S McNeil Family Birth Record
Ball McNeil Hatfield Wilson Family Bible
Nancy A McNeil Hatfield Family
Susanah McNeil Ball Family

"Ball McNeil Hatfield Wilson" Family Bible

These copies from the original Family Bible were made in 1970 when I was given permission to briefly see the bible.  Sorry, but back then I did not know I should make a copy of the title page of the Bible.  Also, color copies were not available at that time.  According to a deposition by Levi T. Ball in his Civil War pension file, the bible was published in 1851 (see bottom of this post). 

Bible history:  The original Henry Ball Family Bible bible was given to his son Benjamin then to Benjamin's daughter, Laura.  Laura gave the bible to her uncle Levi Taylor Ball when he needed proof of his birth for his pension application (see below).  The bible most likely came into the possession of the McNeil family through the Susannah McNeil Ball, wife of Levi Taylor Ball.  The bible then eventually came into the possession of Susannah's sister, the Nancy McNeil Hatfield family.  As the bible was passed down through the McNeil and Hatfield families,  information was added to the bible in the form of family records written on the back of the bible photos and loose sheets of paper, and obituaries, newspaper clippings, etc were tucked into the bible.
Nancy McNeil Hatfield's daughter, Lillie Hatfield Smith had the bible in the late 1950's and left the bible with her sister, Pearl Hatfield Wilson, of Cortez, Colorado.  Pearl added Wilson family information and records to the bible.  As the bible passed down through the different families, it became the:

Ball-McNeil-Hatfield-Wilson Family Bible

After Pearl Wilson died in 1966, the bible was given to her son, Clayton Pat Wilson.  His widow, Anna Wilson of Oregon, was still in possession of the bible in 2004.  It has not been cared for and has not been kept in good condition.  The extended  family has not been given access to it.  A few years ago (2004), a grandson of Anna Wilson was permitted to make copies.  He said the bible was falling apart with the cover and title page of the bible missing and many of the pages loose.   clm

Ball Family Bible Pages
Henry Ball was born 1798 in Kentucky and died 1880 in Parke County, Indiana.  He married Nancy Wise who was born 1804 in Kentucky and died 1856 in Indiana.  This first page shown is the Births of the Henry Ball Family.

Henry Ball Family Births

The following pages appear to have been torn out of another bible and stuck into the Ball Bible.  They appear to be miscellaneous information for the Henry Ball family.

Henry Ball family births

Henry Ball family deaths

The next pages shown are bible page entries for the Levi T and Susannah McNeil Ball family.  There are also a few entries for the McNeil family.  Loose McNeil family records from the bible can be found by clicking here and here.

Levi T Ball children deaths

Deposition by Levi Taylor Ball, found in his Civil War Pension File, dated Dec 17, 1912, giving reference to the Ball family bible. 

"My age is 65, having been born January 17, 1847...The bible from which the date of my birth as above given was taken, was my father's family bible, the first one he ever had in his house, and the only one. The record of the date of my birth is in my father's handwriting. He and mother told us that they made the records of our births at the time each child was born. At the time of my father's death the bible passed into the hands of my brother Benjamin Ball. After his death, two or three years ago, his daughter, Laura, husband's name not known, now living at Bedford, Iowa, gave me the bible.

I had six brothers and five sisters, all of whom are now dead.

Their names and the dates of their births as given by my fathers bible are as follows:

Elizabeth, born July 24, 1821
Manlinday, born April 13, 1823
Calamata, born March 3, 1825
Benjamin L, born January 16, 1828
James H, born February 1, 1830
William E., born October 3, 1831
Daniel W. born December 27, 1833
Mary, born April 10, 1836
David W., born August 6, 1838
Nancy, born March 1, 1841
James H., born February 18, 1843
Phebe, born July 26, 1844
Levi T. W., born January 17, 1847
Both of the children named James Henry died in infancy

When I enlisted I was 16 years of age but my age was put down as 18. I enlisted December 9, 1863, in Co. C 10. Ind. Vol. Cav. and was discharged August 31, 1865 as shown by a copy of my discharge certificate...I am a married man - my wife's maiden name was Susana A. McNeil. We were married August 27, 1876 near Hopkins, Mo., by Rev. Edward Otis. Neither of us had ever been previously married...Since you have called my attention to the fact that father's bible was not printed until 1851, I do not know what to say. My understanding always was that my father made those birth records at the time of birth of each child. The records are in my father's handwriting; I can swear to that..."
signed Levi T. W. Ball

Related Posts with information that came from the bible:
Levi Taylor Ball
William S McNeil Family
William and Sarah McNeil Family Record
Pearl and Charles Wilson Family Record


Note: These bible pages have been added and can be viewed on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.

John Stephen Martin Family Bible

John Stephen Martin and his wife, Elizabeth D. Weiss Martin, lived in Bowling Township, Rock Island County, Illinois. The John Stephen Martin family bible has his name engraved on the front of the bible -- "J.S. MARTIN". The bible was published by the Holman Company in 1882.

John Martin Family Bible

B.F. Baldwin Bible

Benjamin Franklin Baldwin was an older brother to our ancestor, Francis Marion Baldwin. He was born in Illinois a couple years before the family moved to Texas in 1838. He lived in Limestone & Walker Counties in Texas. He married Maggie Mosely Guerrant on 18 Feb 1859. They had one son, Benjamin Franklin Baldwin, Jr.
B.F. Baldwin was sheriff of Walker county Texas the year before he died (1868-1869).

Below are copies of the B.F. Baldwin Bible pages I received in 1986 from a B.F. Baldwin descendant.

Henry Stewart -- Civil War Veteran

Our grandpa, Henry Riley Stewart, was a veteran of the Civil War. Henry was born and raised in the South, but when it came time to take a stand, he joined the Union to fight against slavery. On 31 December 1863 at Carthage, Tennessee, Henry enlisted in the Union Army as a private in D Company 1st Tennessee Volunteers, Mounted Infantry. His pension is File # 1244,834.  At the end of the war, Henry was discharged honorably from the army on 25 April 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.

To see additional information from Henry's Civil War Pension file, go to:
Henry R Stewart Civil War Pension I
Henry R Stewart Civil War Pension II

Henry was born 10 Dec 1843, the third child of Harrison and Sarah (Brown) Stewart. In his pension application, Henry states that he was born in Double Springs, Jackson County, Tennessee. Putnam county was created from Jackson county and it is in Putnam County that the records for the Stewart family will be found.

Sixteen year old Henry can be found living with his parents in the 1860 Census for Putnam county. His father, Harrison's occupation is listed as a mechanic. In other records, Harrison's occupation is listed as shop work or blacksmith. Blacksmithing is the profession that Henry followed during his lifetime. Below is the letterhead Henry used for his blacksmith shop in Mountain View, Oklahoma.

After the Civil War, Henry married Elizabeth Brown. Henry and Elizabeth are enumerated in the 1870 census for Putnam County, Tennessee.  In the census below, Henry, Elizabeth, and son, John M, are on the bottom of page 207, and son, Elijah is listed on the top of the next page 208.

1870 Census, Putnam County, Tennessee, pg 207B

Elizabeth died in 1871, just a few days after giving birth to her third son. It is not known who helped Henry with his sons after Elizabeth died.  Only records for John M. Stewart have been found.  It is not known what happened to Elijah and William after the death of their mother.

A year later in 1872, Henry married Bettie Medlin. Bettie's mother, Rebecca, had died when she was just an infant and Bettie was raised by the Barnett Richardson family. In 1870, Bettie was living in Putnam county with the William Brown family. It was through these relationships that Bettie met the young widower, Henry Stewart. Henry and Bettie were married at the Brown's home by Rev. Jacob Stewart (Henry's brother.) Below is a copy from the Stewart Family Bible giving the marriage information for Henry & Bettie.

Stewart Family Bible

Religion played a large roll in Henry's life. His grandfather, Jesse Stewart, was a well known Tennessee Baptist pastor, as was his brother, Jacob M. Stewart.  Henry's father, Harrison, was a clerk for the Mine Lick Church -- named after a creek by that name on the head waters of which the church was located. This church was situated some eight miles west of Cookeville in Putnam County on the table lands of Cumberland Mountain. In his later life, Henry was considered as lay minister and would often preach at revivals in Texas and Oklahoma. His grandchildren can remember hearing him preach sermons at church gatherings.

In 1880, Henry was a 34-year-old a millwright living in Cheatham County, Tennessee with wife, Bettie, and their two children, Mary J. and Joseph.  Mary Jane Stewart is our direct ancestor. She married Allen Baldwin and was the mother of Grandpa Jess Baldwin.

Henry and Bettie had eight children: Mary Jane Stewart Baldwin, David Hargon Stewart, Jospeh R. Stewart, George Thomas Stewart, Henry P. Stewart, Evert Walter Stewart, Charles Vester Stewart and Mattie May Stewart.  Descendants of these children can be found throughout the western states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and California.

Henry's brother, John Calvin Stewart, moved to Texas around 1882. A year later, Henry also moved his family to Texas. In his pension record, Henry states that "I came to Texas Aug 1883." He was living in Young County, Texas in 1890, when he showed up on the 1890 Veteran's Schedule. Ten years later in 1900, the Henry Stewart family seems to be unsettled. In March, when Henry started applying for his Civil War Pension, he gave Round Tree, Baylor County, Texas as his residence. But several months later in June, when the 1900 Federal Census was taken, Henry was in Throckmorton County, Texas.

The family made another move in 1901. This time to Cloverton, Kiowa, Oklahoma Territory. In 1902 and 1907, Henry still gives Kiowa County, Oklahoma as his place of residence. The pictures of the Stewart Stone House were taken around 1907 or 1908.

Henry (in overalls & black hat) is standing to the far right looking away from the camera.

For some reason, the family was back in Texas for the 1910 Census, in Wise County, Texas. Maybe they were just visiting, because they are next found back in Oklahoma in the early part of 1912. Henry's health seems to be deteriorating. In a letter written to his brother, Jacob, in May of 1912, Henry talks about being sick for about 3 months and going to Hot Springs (Arkansas). According to Jacob M. Stewart, this is the last letter he received from his brother, Henry.

Henry Stewart letter to brother, Jacob. 1912, pages 1-2

Henry Stewart letter to brother, Jacob. 1912, pages 3-4

As Henry indicated in the letter above, he ended up going to the Army Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  He died of prostatic hypertrophy with chronic cystitis in the Army Hospital on 19 September 1912. Henry R. Stewart is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.  His grave is in Section 8 site 6139.

You can search the National Gravesite Locator on the US Department of Veteran Affairs website for your US Veteran:  National Gravesite Locator

Other posts about Henry Stewart:
North and South
Our Family Blacksmiths
Stewarts of Putnam County, Tennessee
Old Stone House 

Henry R Stewart Civil War Pension 

Henry R Stewart Civil War Pension II