Our Family Blacksmiths

We have had a few blacksmiths in the family. The first family blacksmith that comes to mind is great-grandpa Henry Stewart. Henry's father, Harrison Stewart, and several of his sons were also blacksmiths. Above is a letterhead/logo found on a letter in Henry's Civil War pension file.

"THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH"

Under a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan:
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate'er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,
You can hear his bellows blow,
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door;
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church,
And sits among his boys;
He hear the parson pray and preach,
He hears his daughter's voice,
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise!
He needs must think of her once more,
How in the grave she lies;
And with his hard, rough hand he wipes
A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing,
Onwards through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought!

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Hous Holt's Pardon

(Transcription at bottom of this post)

Northly Houston Holt, commonly known as Hous Holt, was married to Sarah Ann West, daughter of John & Barbara (Harmon) West. John West was the brother to our director ancestor, Susan Evaline West Leffel.

Hous Holt got into a fight with his wife's uncle, John Haning (husband of Rebecca West Haning). As a result of injuries received during the fight, John lost his eyesight and was blind the rest of his life. Some say it was a gun fight in a saloon. The minutes of the Old Settler's Association of Grayson County, Vol. 1, gives the following report of the fight: "This is the man (John Haning) who lost his eyesight in 1870 through the merciless attack of a desperado named Hous Holt, well known to our community and now wearing stripes for murder."  An 1879 newspaper article from Denison Daily News (Denison, Texas) states the following: "This famous desperado, is the same who punched out the eyes, with a pistol, of a man now in Sherman being led about by a little boy."

Denison Daily News, 9 April 1879

In 1878, Houston Holt was charged with murder in two cases. First was the 1878 murder of a man by the name of Powers for a remark about his horse (Sherman Daily Register). Hous was also charged with a second murder that had occurred years earlier. This was the murder of a man named Beard who has accused Houston Holt's father of being a member of an insurrection party. He was mostly referring to the "Peace Party" or Unionist party that had so many members hanged in the Great Hanging at Gainesville in neighboring Cooke County.

Houston was not charged with killing Beard until after the charges of killing Powers was filed against him. He was found guilty of both murders and sentenced to life-time or a total of 104 years in prison (99 years plus 5).

In the 1880 census, N.H. Holt listed in the Huntsville, Walker County, Texas as an inmate in prison. His wife Sara is listed in the 1880 Denton County, Texas with her two children by Holt, James & Ninnie, and her son by Calvin Dale, John F. Dale.

In the 1890 Veteran Schedule, which was suppose to list only Union Veterans, N. H. Holt is listed in the Rusk Penitentiary, Texas. No records have been found to support his service in the Union or Confederate armies. His obituary, states that he was a confederate veteran.

In 1894, Houston Holt was pardoned by Governor Hogg after serving 15 years for the murder of Beard and Powers. (Sherman Daily Register, Friday, 8 June 1894)

Sarah divorced Hous prior to 1887 when she married again in 1887 to George Mead. She would live the rest of her life in Vermilion, Illinois where in 1919 she died and was buried. Their daughter, Nina, died in 1886 shortly after the birth of her only daughter. Son, James, died in 1908, when he was hit by a train.

Northley H. Holt can be found in the 1910 census for Denton County, Texas. He is living alone and states he is a widower. He also stated he was a veteran of the Civil War.

Houston lived out his life in Denton County, Texas. He married again to a Mrs. Polly Solomon, who was left his widow. Hous died 20 Apr 1915 at his home near Club Lake community in Denton County, Texas and was buried in the Cooper Creek Cemetery.

Obituary: Denton Record Chronicle; N. Houston Holt; Death 20 Apr 1915; obit 21 Apr 1915

Below Transcription of the newspaper article at beginning of this post:

Hous Holt's Pardon (News Article) Date: 1894-06-08; Paper: Dallas Morning News Historical Archive

HOUS HOLT’S PARDON
Sentenced to One Hundred and Four Years in the Texas Penitentiary.
After serving Fifteen Years He is Liberated by Executive Clemency – Holt’s Experience within the Wall – The Crime
Seated at the corner of a grocery store here was a man surrounded by a good sized crowd of auditors. He was Houston Holt, who was the past week pardoned by Gov. Hogg after serving fourteen years in the state penitentiary on a 104 years sentence. He was convicted of murder in two cases, first for killing an old man named Beard during the war. The killing was said to be the results of an accusation that Holt’s father was a member of some insurrection party. The last killing was about the year 1878 and was brought on by some remarks made by Powers about a horse Holt was riding and trying to trade.
The versions of the killing are told differently and the opinions about them are diverse. One fact, however, is that Holt was not tried for the killing of the old man Beard until after the charge of murdering Powers was filed against him. The first trial was for the murder of Beard and was before the late Judge Joseph A. Carroll. A conviction was had, as heretofore stated, which resulted in a life-time sentence or ninety-nine years. The other case was tried in Cooke county on a change of venue and resulted in a conviction and a five years sentence.
The “Hous” Holt, as he was familiarly known, was a hale and hearty man, had a long beard, large brilliant blue eyes and he possessed activity uncommon for a man of age. Now he is minus the beard, with a face which looks careworn and wrinkled. The cases are notable and at the time they were disposed to attract wide attention. The best legal talent was employed on both sides, the state was represented by Judge J. Millert (?), who is now on the court of criminal appeals. Senator ___ C. Smith, Messrs. Lovejoy and Dickson and District Judge D. E. Barrett. The defense had such counsel as the late Gov. Throckmorton, Judge Hare of Sherman and Judge Piner of Denton.
“The penitentiary is a peculiar place,” he told those who stood around him. “I was there long enough to find out what it is, and I want to say that people have a deluded idea regarding the place. Prisoners there are treated humanely, and not abused, as I have heard. During my fifteen years’ confinement there I was only in the hospital five days. When I first went there I was closely watched. I knew I was and I determined to impress upon the officers that I was not such a bad man as I was reported to be, although then I bore a terrible name. Privately one day Capt. West came to me and said: ‘Holt, we have been receiving some letters from Denton county giving you a hard name, but I have watched your course since have been here and I do not think you are as bad a man as you are reported to be.’
“I thanked the captain very kindly and told him that he could rely upon my doing a man’s part. And I did it. No matter what kind of labor I was ordered to do, I did it if I was able, and as a result I fared better and am her today to begin life anew. I know a man that you Denton county people are acquainted with, sent from Wise county, who is now studying medicine in the penitentiary, and is making wonderfully rapid progress. He is a bright fellow, and being trained by such skill as the penitentiary affords, cannot but make a success.
“I never was whipped,” he continued. “The nearest I ever came to receiving the licks was on an occasion when I was called to Superintendent Goree’s office and told that I was guilty of insubordination and mutiny. I was charged along with a number of others. When my turn came I demanded to know of the superintendent who had made the charge against me. He replied a convict, hereupon I replied that no convict would dare come before him in my presence and make the charge, and I requested that I be given a chance to defend myself. The case against me was dismissed.
“But those days are past and gone. Let them be what they are, but from now on Houston Holt will found a different man. I have tasted of the bitter, and now it is time to enjoy the sweet.”
Such is the history of a man whose name was a household word throughout north Texas fifteen years ago.
Judge F. E. Piner, who defended Holt in both cases and who has worked unceasingly for his pardon was asked how it came about that Gov. Hogg pardoned Holt. He said: “The main reason, I suppose, why Gov. Hogg pardoned Holt was that Holt ought never to have been indicted or convicted for the killing of Beard. I have no disposition to exercise or find fault with those extra patriotic citizens of Texas, who during the dark days of the war took the law into their own hands and executed men for political opinion. Communities in those dark and bloody days were easily wrought up into a state of unreasoning excitement, and upon very slight evidence or no evidence at all took the lives of those who differed from them on the questions of the hour. Holt killed Beard because that man caused an angry and excited mob to arrest his (Holt’s) old father and because he was arraigned on false testimony before the then influential vigilance committee as the leader or a member of a secret society of union men whose object was to rise in rebellion against the confederacy and after committing all the outrage possible to go north and fight against the confederacy. Under the circumstances then prevailing such a charge sworn to and filed in the hands of the vigilance committee almost amounted to a death sentence, and but for the cooler heads among the mob and the good sense and wise supervision of a conservative and honest vigilance committee would have caused the death of old man Holt.
“A young man appeared at about the same time, Mr. Cox, tried to escape from the guards and was shot and mortally wounded. This man had been guilty of no offense, nor had Holt. Both were prisoners suffering from Beard’s lies. It is true that after the excitement had been aroused to the fever heat he retracted his charges and admitted that his entire testimony was false. But this was not announced until the chairman of the vigilance committee read out the testimony to the crowd and also the retraction. It was learned for the first time that Hous Holt learned upon whose testimony his father had been so wrongfully imprisoned and threatened with death. Smarting with the wrong done his father and feeling that the man had cruelly and causelessly wronged the old man, Holt went to the house where Beard was and killed him. His crime, committed under the sudden heat of passion, was nothing more than man-slaughter.” Were all other men indicted and convicted for all the technical and real violations of law committed during the war, then it would be proper to punish Houston Holt, perhaps, but I know of no reason for singling him out as the only one to punish for a war time act. As for the Powers case, I have only to say that Holt was tried by as good a jury as ever assembled in Cooke county, found guilty of murder in the second degree and served his sentence without motion for a new trial or appeal. And besides, he has served nine years for killing Beard. No one can complain that Holt was not well prosecuted in the Powers case, when the state was represented by Judge J. M. Hurt, Senator Emory Smith, Judge D. E. Barrett and Lovejoy and Dixon

Hous Holt Info

Hous Holt, born about 1837 in Tennessee, was the son of James & Minerva Holt. His parents divorced a few years later.  In 1850, he was listed as 12 year old Northley H. Holt in the James Holt household of the 1850 census of Tishomingo County, Tennessee. He was also listed as Northly Holt, age 22, in the 1860 census of Sugar Loaf, Arkansas.  Hous often went by his initials: N. H. Holt

Hous left Arkansas and moved to Texas in July of 1860. On the 25 July 1860, N. H. Holt bought land located on the waters of the Choctaw Bayou in Grayson County, Texas from Susan West Leffel. Susan's niece, Sarah Dale, later married N Houston Holt on 18 Mar 1863, in Grayson County, Texas. Sarah Ann West Dale was the divorced wife of Calvin Dale.

Hous and Sarah Holt are found enumerated in the 1870 census for Sherman, Grayson County, Texas. He was listed as N. H. Holt, age 30 born Tennessee, a farmer, $2000 real property, $100 personal property, wife, Sarah A., 30, f, m, keeping house, Illinois. They had two children, James F.S. age 7 and Nina B. age 5. Sarah's widowed mother, Barbara West, was also living with them.

Related Posts:

Sarah Ann West and Her Husbands 

John Haning of Grayson, Texas

Michael Box of Tippah County, Mississippi

Many thanks to a group of Box Family Researchers that have been sorting out the different Michael Boxes.  Verna Stone prepared short histories for the Five Michael Boxes.  This information can be found on the Box Family message board on Ancestry.com (formally RootsWeb.com):  Message Boards (ancestry.com) 

Our family descends from Michael Box who lived in Tippah County, Mississippi.  His information is given below. 

Michael Box of Tippah County, Mississippi 

Michael Box, born about 1780, moved from Laurens County SC to Knox County, TN where his sons, James Francis, William, and Thomas were born. Michael married Mary Fulcher, daughter of Cason Fulcher, in about 1798 in Tennessee.

Wade in The Box Book indicates Michael Box was performing marriages in Knox County TN in 1809. By 1810, he was on the tax rolls of Madison County, Mississippi Territory (which became Madison County, Alabama) and his sons, John Box and Grief Johnson Box and his daughters Mary Box and Lydia Box were born in Alabama.

During the War of 1812, he was a private in the 16th Regt. of Mississippi Territory militia. He served with his brother-in-law, Grief Johnson, husband of half-sister, Mary Hellums Johnson. They were apparently good friends, because Michael would later name his youngest son, Grief Johnson Box.

In the 1815-1817 census of Mississippi Territory he was listed as Michael Box, 1 male over 21; 4 males under 21; 1 female over 21 and 2 females under 21; along with a Benjamin Box.
On Feb. 28, 1818, Michael Box, his wife, Mary, and Mary Hellums, were received into membership of Bethel Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa County, AL.
In the Census of 1830, Fayette County, AL, Michael Box, age 50 to 60, is listed along with his sons, William and John. The 1830 census for Michael lists the following household members (my guess to who they were in parentheses) : Males: 1 under 5 (?), 1 age 10-15 (Grief J. Box), 1 age 50-60 (Michael Box); Females: 1 age 20-30 (Lydia Box), 1 age 50-60 (Mary Box).

On August 2, 1838, Michael, William, and John Box made application for Land Patents on Quarter Sections of land in Tippah County, Mississippi. The Certificate Numbers were 961 for Michael Box and 962 for William Box and both were for land that had been previously assigned to Joseph Warren Mathews. On November 16,1840, Lewis Garret and Thomas Box obtained a Land Patent for Quarter Section that was located in the area that became Benton County, MS. On November 28, 1843, Grief Johnson Box obtained a Land Patent for a Quarter Section.

The 1840 Census of Tippah County, MS lists Michael Box, his sons Thomas, Grief J., John, and Elizabeth “Elspeth” Box, Michael’s daughter-in-law and widow of William Box.

Michael Box died intestate in 1841 according to Mississippi Supreme Court records and his wife, Mary, died shortly after. The court records also state that Michael's estate started probate in January term 1844 in Tippah County, MS. (Note: Son, Thomas, states his father, Michael died 20 Jan 1844 and his mother, Mary, died in Feb 1844. But since probate started in Jan 1844, the 1841 year of death given in the court records is probably correct.)  Burial site is not known.

Michael Box Probate Notice
Ripley advertiser, 27 Apr 1844, Ripley, MS

In 1846, his son, Grief J. Box, as administrator of Michael Box’s estate was sued by Lydia Box McCollum as a daughter of Michael Box. The value of Michael Box’s estate at the time of his death was appraised at nearly two thousand dollars with debts totaling less than thirty five dollars.

Known children of Michael Box and his wife, Mary Fulcher Box:

• James Frances Box: md (1) Jemima Babb - 4 children, (2) Elizabeth Matthews - 2 children, (3) Jane Goddard
• William M. Box: md Elspeth - children unknown
• Thomas Box:  md (1) Clarkey Carpenter - 5 children, (2) Belinda Marden
• Mary Box Henderson:  md Hugh Henderson - 9 children
• Lydia Box McCollum:  md George McCollum - 5 children
• John Box: md Margaret - children unknown
• Grief Johnson Box:  md Roenna Johnson - 10 children 

Michael's son, Thomas Box, became a member of the LDS Church in Texas in 1856 and provided family information to the church that indicated his father, Michael Box, was the son of James and Mary Box. That would make Thomas's grandparents James and Mary Box.  Thomas also stated he was a grand-nephew of Stephen F. Box and 2nd cousin to Rolan Box (son of John Morris Box). That would make his grandfather, James Box, a brother to Stephen F. Box and John Morris Box. 

Upon James Box’s apparent death, his widow Mary Box, then married William Hellums, and was mother to Michael Box’s half brother, John Hellums and half sisters, Mary Hellums and Anna Hellums. William Hellums, his son, John Hellums, and Carson (Cason) Fulcher, father of Michael's wife, Mary, are all listed on the 1806 tax list for Knox County, Tennessee. Michael's son, Grief Johnson Box, married his half cousin, Roenna Johnson, daughter of half sister, Anna Hellums.

Notes:
1. Michael Box is often listed with the middle initial of "B". As you can see from the signature of the document below, the "B" appears to be his "mark" instead of his middle initial. He signed his name Michael (B) Box. The (B) was in parentheses with "his" written above the (B) and "mark" written below the (B). 
Instead of signing documents with an "X" because he could not read and write, Michael used a "B" for Box.

Michael Box signature: signed his name with a "B"

2. Many online databases have our Michael Box of Tippah County, MS married to Mary Lawrence on 25 May 1837, Lowndes, MS. This is an error - Michael Box of Tippah County, MS was NOT married to Mary Lawrence. This marriage belongs to one of the other Michael Boxes - Michael J. Box.
Our Michael Box was married to Mary Fulcher and all of their children were born before 1837.

TIMELINE for Michael Box
1780: Born in Laurens, South Carolina.  Parents may be James Box and Mary Box.
1798: Married Mary Fulcher (dau. of Cason Fulcher), probably in Tennessee
1799: Son, James Frances Box born in Tennessee
1801: Son, William M. Box born
1804: Son, Thomas Box, born 8 Aug 1804 near Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee
1806: Daughter, Mary Box born in Madison, Alabama
1807: Bondsman for Marriage Bond for Grief Johnson to Mary Hellums, Knox County, Tennessee, 24 March 1807
1807: Son, John Box born
1808: Daughter, Lydia Box born
1812: Military Service, Served in the War of 1812 from Mississippi Territory. During his military service, he served with Greef Johnson, who he would later name his youngest son after.
1816: Monroe County, Alabama Residence Tax List
1818: Michael Box and wife, Mary Box, were received into membership of the Bethel Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama on 28 Feb 1818. (John Hellums a founding member.)
1819: Son, Grief Johnson Box, born 1819 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
1824: Fayette County, Alabama Voing precinct
1830: Fayette County, Alabama Census Males: 1 under 5 (?), 1 age 10-15 (Grief J.), 1 age 50-60 (Michael); Females: 1 age 20-30 (Lydia), 1 age 50-60 (Mary)
1838: 2 Aug 1838 Application for land patent in Tippah County, Mississippi
1840: Tippah County, Mississippi Census: Box, Michael 1 white male 60-70; 1 white female 60-70
1841:  Death.  Michael died intestate in 1841 according to Mississippi Supreme Court records (1846) and his wife, Mary, shortly after. The court records also state that Michael's estate started probate in January term 1844 in Tippah County, MS. (Note: Son, Thomas, states his father, Michael died 20 Jan 1844 and his mother, Mary, died in Feb 1844. But since the probate started in Jan 1844, the 1841 year of death given in the 1846 Mississippi State Supreme Court records is probably correct death year.)
1844: Probate started in Jan 1844.

Box Family Posts:

Michael and Mary Box Family 
Thomas Box 

Lydia Box McCollum Lawsuit

Lydia Box McCollum 

Lydia Box McCollum Lawsuit Against Her Brother, Grief J. Box

Lydia Box, daughter of Michael and Mary (Fulcher) Box, was born about 1808/1810 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She is most likely the 20-23 year old female listed in the 1830 Census of Fayette County, Alabama for the Michael Box family.
In about 1830 Lydia married George McCollum. They both appear as original landowners in Fayette County, Alabama. Lydia and George moved to Tippah County with the rest of the Box Family in about 1838.
The family of George and Lydia McCollum (at least 1 son and 3 daughters) was  found in the 1840 Tippah County, MS census and 1845 Tippah, Mississippi State Census.  In 1874, Clarkey Carpenter Box (wife of Thomas Box), gave information to the LDS church stating she had a sister-in-law by the name of Lydia Box, who was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Clarkey Box also mentioned a niece, Martha McCollum, who would have been one of the daughters of Lydia and George McCollum.
Lydia Box McCollum and her husband, George, sued her brother, Grief Johnson Box, over the mishandling of their father Michael Box's estate. Below are the first two pages of the 1847 Mississippi Supreme Court Case, McCullom vs Box. The complete case can be found online at Google Books.

This entire book can be found on google books.

http://books.google.com/

http://books.google.com/books?id=4eYDAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPA619,M1

Lydia and George cannot be found in Tippah County records after the 1847 lawsuit.  Where did they go?  Any additional information on this family would be appreciated.

***Update 2013***

In 1850, Lydia and George moved to Henderson County, Texas. Lydia's brother, Thomas Box lived in Henderson County, Texas at that same time.  From George McCollum's 1855/1856 probate papers in Henderson County, five children are known: Mary, Martha, Melissa, George, and William.   More information on Lydia and George McCollum can be found here. 

Happy 1st Blogoversary

clmroots has just celebrated it's first Blogoversary!

Here are a few milestones and Top Three picks:

We have posted 82 blog posts during our first year. There have been 1,503 visits to our blog. Of those, 813 visits were through search via 683 keywords. More visits came from Texas than any other state, but considering that most of our ancestors came from Texas, that was to be expected. Most of the visits came from the United States but we received visits from all over the world, including places like Sri Lanka, China, Turkey, Belgium, Denmark.
The first set of Top Three picks come from Google Analytics info:
Top three most visited blog posts: 1. Jonathan Lindley - Alamo, 2. Wilson Family Birth Record, 3. Thomas Box - Early Mormon Convert from Texas.
Top three most used "key words" to find our blog: 1. David Miller Leffel, 2. Samuel Washington Lindley, 3. Emma Josephine Box.

Top three states to visit our blog: 1. Texas (212), 2. California (72), 3. New York (39)

Top three countries to visit our blog (outside of US & Canada): 1. United Kingdom (19), 2. Spain (4), 3. Australia (3)

The next set of Top Three are personal picks:
Top three most interesting persons to research: 1.(tie) Thomas Box & Josephine Box Cunningham, 2. David Miller Leffel, 3. Bettie Medlin Stewart

Top three most tragic stories: 1. Mother & Daughter Die Same Day, 2. Box Family Massacre, 3. Kozette Perkette Stewart.

Top three most inspiring stories: 1. Uncle Gus Wilson, 2. Eleanor Wilson, 3. Col. Joseph Leffel

Top three favorite photos: 1. Fixin' dinner the Minnie Pearl style, 2. Jess on a horse, 3. Maymie's slide show.

Feel free to vote for your favorite post or person in comments.

The Will of Michael West

Michael West was born on 30 May 1793 in Maryland or Kentucky. He married Susannah McKee on 16 Oct 1812 in Adams County, Ohio. Most of their children were born in Mason County, Kentucky. The family moved to Champaign County, Ohio about 1826. Then in 1838, the Michael West family moved to Vermilion County, Illinois. Michael's wife, Susannah, died before 1848, when the family moved again. Michael arrived in Texas (Peter's Colony) prior to July 1848 as a widower with two daughters (Elizabeth and Louisa) and one son (Michael). He obtained 640 acres in Grayson County, Texas. Michael's will was written on the 29 day of January 1858 and he died on 28 Jun 1858.

Michael West's will lists the following descendants:

• Granddaughter, Susan R. Haning, daughter of John & Rebeca J. Haning
• Heirs of daughter, Mary Ann West (deceased), wife of John W. West
• John W. West
• Susan E. Leffel, wife of David M. Leffel
• Joseph J. West
• James H. West
• Elizabeth Boyles, wife of William Boyles
• Rebeca Jane Haning, wife of John Haning
• Louisa Thomas, wife of Jesse Thomas

 "A child bearing the name Sarah Jane West, daughter of my son (deceased) Michael P. West's wife ...not the offspring of my said son Michael ... not my grandchild."

Michael West's Will can be found in the Grayson County, Texas Probate Minutes, Vol. E, page 9, August Term, 1858.

Last Will and Testament of Michael West

Below is the transcribed copy of the will:

Grayson County, Texas
Probate Minutes
Vol. E, page 9
August Term 1858
Last Will and Testament of Michael West

I Michael West being in my proper mind do make and establish this my last Will and Testament. First I give and bequeth to my Grand Daughter Susan R Hanning, Daughter of John Rebeca J. Hanning my young horse Job Fisher a Dark bay. Second, I bequeth the entire remainder and ballance of my Estate between the following persons to wit. The heirs (residing in Ohio) of Mary Ann West my daughter, the said Mary Ann being the wife of John W West The heirs are residing in the State of Ohio, John W West, Susan E Leffel wife of David M Leffel, Joseph J West, James H West, Elizabeth Boyles wife of William Boyles, Rebeca Jane Hanning wife of John Hanning, and Louisa Thomas wife of Jesse Thomas. The above named devises being my children and grand children & heirs. The Grand children ment are the children of my said Daughter Mary Ann West deceased. I hereby appoint my son John W. West my Executor to carry out this my last will and testament and it is my desire and request that the Probate County nor any other Court whatever shall have any thing to do with my Estate except to record this my Will and to inventory my property and my said Executor is to have the entire control of the same and to superintend the division of said property according to the bequest above mentioned. It is my wish and desire that a child bearing the name Sarah Jane West Daughter of my son Michael P Wests wife shall have no part of my Estate whatever because I am satisfied and have sufficient evidence to satisfy me that said child is not the offspring of my said son Michael and that the same is not my grandchild and that my son Michael is not its father. Given under my hand and scroll for Seal this 29th day of January AD 1858.
Michael "X" West
The indulianation and names on this page was made and done before signing
Attest H G Hendricks
James d Frazor  


Related Posts:
West Land in Grayson County, Texas 
Mysterious Death of Michael Perry West 
Rebecca West Haning  
Elizabeth West Boyles  
Susan West Leffel 

Joseph J West 

Louisa West Thomas

Mysterious Death of Michael Perry West

Michael Perry West and Priscilla Stanley

Michael Perry West moved to Texas with his widowed father, Michael West, in 1848. He, along with his father, applied for and received land grants in Grayson County, Texas through the Peters Colony. He is mentioned in the book on the Peters Colony of Texas:

• "Michael P. West came to the colony as a single man before July 1, 1848. He reported to Ward in 1850 and received a certificate for 320 acres, which his heirs patented later in Grayson County (Fannin Third Class No. 1282). He is listed on the 1850 Census (Grayson County, family No. 12) as a 23-year-old farmer, born in Ohio."
• Connor, Seymour V., Peters Colony of Texas, A History and Biographical Sketches of the Early Settlers, Texas State Historical Association; Austin, Texas; 1959, page 426, Family History Library, 35 N. West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150, USA, www.familysearch.org, 976.4 D3c FHL US/CAN Book.

Michael married Priscilla Stanley on 28 Feb 1850 in Grayson County, Texas. She was the daughter of Page and Elizabeth (Martin) Stanley. Page Stanley, a neighbor and friend to the senior Michael West, was a witness to Michael's land deed in 1850.

In the Grayson County, TX 1850 census, Michael P. and his wife, Priscilla Stanley West were living between their parents, the Page Stanley family and Michael West, Senior.

The Page Stanley family left Texas in Aug 1851 to meet with a wagon train on the Platte River bound for Oregon Territory, arriving in the Territory in 1852. Did Priscilla leave with her family or did she leave at a later time?
Sometime before Sep 1853, Michael Perry West died. He was only about 26 years old at the time of his death. Why would Michael die so young??

His probate started in the Grayson County Court in Sep 1853. According to his probate, Michael's wife & child had left for "California or Oregon" and could not be found. After probate, what was left of his estate (originally 320 acres) after debts were paid, was less than $50 dollars. And that remainder went to the State of Texas, because his wife, Priscilla and their daughter, Sarah Jane, could not be found.  Why did it not go to his father or siblings who still lived in the area?

Priscilla was alive in 1878, because she is included in her father's, Page Stanley's will. (Early Oregon Wills Vol 1, Multnomah Co., Probate Book 2, 7 Aug 1878) But no residence is mentioned and she could not be found in census records. No records have been found of her daughter.

In January 1858, the Michael West (Senior) Last Will & Testament, states: "It is my wish and desire that a child bearing the name Sarah Jane West, Daughter of my son Michael P. West's wife shall have no part of my Estate whatever because I am satisfied and have sufficient evidence to satisfy me that said child is not the offspring of my said son Michael and that the same is not my grandchild and that my son Michael is not its father."

Questions about Michael P West that need to be answered:

• What caused Michael P. West's death?
• When did Michael's wife, Priscilla, leave Texas?  Did she leave when her parents left in 1851? Or, did she  right after Micheal died?  Why did she not try to claim any inheritance for her daughter?  
• If Sarah Jane West was not Michael's daughter, who's daughter was she?  Was Priscilla pregnant when she married Michael?
• Why didn't Michael's family (father or siblings) claim his inheritance when his wife could not be found?

There are a lot of unanswered questions concerning the death of Michael P. West and the distribution of his estate.

Michael had a debt of $50.00 and was given only one day to come up with the money. He had to use 220 of 320 acres of his Texas Headright to cover the debt. Soon after this transaction, his probate started. At no time are his father, brothers or sisters mentioned. His wife and daughter could not be located and the State of Texas ended up with what was left of his estate. The ones involved in the debt ended up with the 220 acres, so Coleman Watson ended up with most of the Michael's estate. Coleman Watson was a Notary Public at the courthouse in Grayson County and most likely had an "in" with the judge and other county officials. Michael's land bordered the land that Watson owned.

Did Watson manipulate the probate, so he could end up with Michael's land??

Was Michael's debt to Watson a gambling debt?
Was this a case of land grabbing?
Was Michael Jr murdered??
Did the fact that his father did not believe Michael's daughter was "really" his biological daughter have something to do with Michael's death?

===
Abstracts of the Michael P. West Grayson County, Texas Probate Records,

Vol. A-B 1846-1854, pg 447; September Term 1853: Patrick T. Andrews was first administrator for the Estate of Michael P. West Decd.
February Term 1854, P. T. Andrews petitions to sell land in the estate.
Vol. D, 1854-1858, pg. 3; 100 acres is sold to Riley E. Butridge for $180.00.
Vol. D, pg 67; December Term 1854; Coleman Watson & Enoch Moss file debtor vouchers.
Vol. D, pg 201-204; February 1856; Final Settlement of Estate; After all the court fees and debts paid $49.42 are left to the heirs: widow and one child "who were living somewhere in California or Oregon."
Vol. D, pg 272; Court ordered the administrator of the estate to pay over to the Treasurer of the State $47.?7, since the heirs of the estate cannot be found.

Below are transcribed copies of Vol. D of Michael P. West's Probate in Grayson County. Transcribed by Mazie Coker in 1990.

WANTED -- Any information concerning Priscilla Stanley West. Did she marry again? What happened to their daughter, Sarah Jane West? Where did they live after leaving Texas?

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

Catharina Castner & Mathias Martin of Rock Island, Illinois

Mathias and Catherine Castner Martin

German Immigrants

Maria Catharina Castner, called Catherine or Kate, was the daughter of Georg Castner & Susanna Dorothea Fickenscher. (Castner is sometimes spelled Kastner.) She was born 5 Jun 1822 in the small town of Rothenbach, Germany. The parish register states that she was born in house number 20 between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Witness to the birth was Maria Catharina Castner, wife of Johann Castner, who was most likely the godmother to little Catherine. Catherine's father, Georg Caster, died in February of 1847.


Sometime in her early twenties, Catherine met Mathias Martin.  Mathias was from a town called Thierstein about 10 miles away from Rothenbach, where he learned the trade of a shoemaker.  Mathias was born 30 Nov 1809 in Thierstein, Oberfranken, Bayern, Germany.  He was twelve years older than Catherine.  They apparently fell in love because Catherine had his child, a baby boy, born the 28th of November 1847. The baby was named Johann Stephan.  (No parish register in Rothenbach or Thierstein can be found of the baby's birth, so it is not known if Catherine was living someplace else during the birth.)  Both Catherine and son, John Stephan, were listed with the Kastner surname on the ship's register when they immigrated to America.

If Mathias was still an apprentice shoemaker, they could not have afforded to get married yet. German customs and laws of primogenitor (oldest heir inherits everything) often kept people from marrying until in their 30's. Being an apprentice often meant 10 years or so of learning one's trade for only room and board.

To see Martin Family Parish Register Records from Thierstein, Germany, click here.
To see Kastner Family Parish Register Records from Arzberg, German, click here.

Mathias and Catherine must have felt that they would have more opportunities for their family's future in America. Mathias decided to emigrate to America first, then send for Catherine and the baby. America was a land of promise, of opportunity, and of land ownership. A descendant of Johanna Martin Franing, said that his grandmother's family, the Henry Martin Family, had sent money to Mathias so he could come to America. Even though everything points to Henry Martin being an older brother to Mathias, the relationship between the Henry Martin and Mathias has not been proven with records.
The naturalization papers (in Jefferson County, Wisconsin) for Mathias state that he landed at the port of Milwaukee on October 1847. He has not been located on any ship lists. He lived in Jefferson County, Wisconsin next to the Adam Martin family. It is not known how Mathias might be related to Adam Martin.
Copies of the Naturalization Record can be found on another post on this blog.  Click here to see them.

According to the Rothenbach parish register, Catherine emigrated to America on 22 March 1848. Catherine traveled with her young son, Johann Stephan. Her older sister, Barbara, also traveled with her. The parish register states that Barbara emigrated on 3 April 1848. It may have taken her sister a few more weeks to prepare her emigration papers. They boarded the ship 'Telegraph' at Bremen, Germany and landed in New York on 21 Jan 1848.
Below is a copy of the ship's list.
Cath. Kastner, age 25, female; Barb. Kastner , age 29, female; Joh Steph Kastner, age 2, male.

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany; Ship Name: Telegraph; Port of Arrival: New York, New York; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls); Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Microfilm roll: M237_73; Line: 18; List number: 590.

Both a Rock Island, Illinois county history and Catherine's obituary state that Mathias and Catherine married in 1849 -- on Christmas Day, although no marriage record has been found in Jefferson County. Although, Catherine and Mathias can be found in the 1850 Census Farmington, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. They are living next to the Adam Martin family.

1850 Census, Farmington, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, page 104

Catherine's sister, Barbara, cannot be found in the census. She apparently died before the 1850 census, because Catherine's obituary states the following: "In 1848 she and her sister emigrated to this country and located in the town of Farmington, Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Her sister died soon after they arrived."  Catherine had a younger brother, Johann Michael Kastner, who emigrated to America in 1849.  He settled in Milwaukee and lived there until his death in 1899.

Catherine and Mathias lived in Jefferson County, Wisconsin until 1864, when they moved to Rock Island County, Illinois. They became the parents of eight children and 28 grandchildren: (1) John Stephan, 1847-1919, md Elizabeth Weiss, 5 children; (2) Rosina, 1850-1919, md Henry Rogge, 5 children; (3) Lawrence, 1854-1920, md Emma Johnson, 3 children; (4) Henry, 1855-1929, md Mabel Hynes, 7 children; (5) Susan Dorothy, 1856-1916, md Edward Charles Love, 8 children; (6) Christina, 1859-1901, md William Wittick, no children; (7) Mary K., 1860-1925, never married; and Ahart, 1862-1910, never married.

Both Catherine and Mathias belonged to the Lutheran Church in their native Germany, but joined with the Methodist Church after coming to America. Catherine's obituary states that "she was converted to God under the labors of George Miller and ever since was a member of the Evangelical Association." The county history on Mathias states that he was Methodist. The following information was found online: The Evangelical Association of North America was founded by Jacob Albright. George Miller completed and published the Discipline in 1809. It was identical with major portions of the German edition of the Methodist Episcopal Church Discipline of 1808.

In the photo below, Catherine is seated on the right side.  She is at a Methodist Camp Meeting with her family.

Back row standing: John S. Martin holding Wilber, ?not known?, Christina Weiss, Mary Martin, ?not known?, Ahart Martin, Christina Wittick

Front row sitting: Elizabeth Martin, Emma, Elmer, John, Catherine Martin (mother of John)
The above photo was taken about 1896 at the Methodist Camp Grounds in front of the John Martin cabin.

A cousin sent a photocopy of the picture below with the notation: Mathias Martin Homestead.

Mathias Martin Homestead

Mathias died 11 Sep 1890 in Bowling Township, Rock Island, Illinois. Catherine died 8 Mar 1907 same place. Both Mathias and Catherine were buried in the Preemption Cemetery, Mercer County, Illinois.

Below is the information from 2 different county histories and Catherine's obituary.

"History of Rock Island County", Chicago, 1914, Munsell Publishing Company, Volume II, pg 1273-1274; information on Mathias is given in the history of his son, John S. Martin.
Mathias Martin was born November 30, 1809, and was married in Germany to Katherine Castner, who was born June 5, 1828. In his native country Mathias Martin learned the trade of a shoemaker, and on first coming to the United States settled at Farmington, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he followed his trade and engaged in farming for twelve years. He had come to this country in 1847, and in the following years sent for his wife and baby, who joined him at Farmington.

"Martin, Mathias, Farmer; Sec. 23; P.O. Milan; Rep; Methodist; owns 200 acres of land, valued at $5000; born in Dhierstien, Germany, Nov. 30 1809; came to Jefferson Co., Wisconsin, in 1847; lived there seventeen years; came to this Co., May 15, 1864; wife was Mary Kestner, who was born in Redenboch, Jan. 5, 1822; married Dec. 25, 1849; eight children."
Past & Present of Rock Island County, Illinois"; H.F. Kett & Co., Chicago; 1877; pg. 435.

One of Catherine's obituaries reads: "Catherine Martin, nee Kostner, was born June 5, 1822, in Roetenbach, Bavaria, Germany. In 1848 she and her sister emigrated to this country and located in the town of Farmington, Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Her sister died soon after they arrived. The same year she was converted to God under the labors of George Miller and ever since was a member of the Evangelical association. In 1849, she was united in marriage with Matthias Martin and to this union were born four sons and four daughters. The husband died sixteen years ago and one daughter about five years ago. In 1864, she with her family, moved to Bowling, Rock Island county, Illinois. She leaves four sons, three daughters, twenty four grandchildren, three treat-grandchildren and many friends who mourn her departure, March 8, 1907 after an illness of about a week, she fell peacefully asleep, like one who weary with life's labors, sinks sweetly to rest, aged 84 years, 9 months, 8 days."
Reynolds Press, Rock Island County, Illinois, 22 Mar 1907.

The above photocopies of the pictures of Catherine & Mathias were sent by a wonderful cousin. We only have older xerox photocopies to post on the blog and would would appreciate scans of the originals - if possible!  Thanks!

German Naming Patterns

The names our German ancestors named their children confused me until I took a beginning class on German Research and learned how the children were named.  

Reason for confusion -- a typical family might have 3 sons, all with the first name of Johann: Johann Georg, Johann Michael, and Johann Christoph. And their 3 daughters might have the same first name: Anna Dorothea, Anna Maria, and Anna Elizabetha.

When a child was baptized, two names were usually given. The first name was a spiritual or saint name. The second name was a secular or "call" name. This second "call" name was the name the child was called by or known by to family, friends, and the rest of the world.

So in the example above, the three boys with the first name of Johann would be known, respectively, as Georg, Michael, and Christoph. The three girls with the first name of Anna would be known, respectively, as Dorothea, Maria, and Elizabetha.

Sometimes every child in the family would have a different first or "saint" name but it's not unusual as in the example above, for a family to have had a favorite saint and use that name for every child in the family.

Also, if a family had a child that died as an infant, they often named the next child of the same sex the very same name of the child who died. So if two Johann Michael's were in the same family, the first child by that name most likely died before the birth of the second by the same name.

Johann and Johannes -- If a son's first name was Johann followed by a a second name, then Johann was the saint name and the second name was the call name. Sometimes only the name Johannes is used without the use of a second name. Then the child is called Johannes.

Easter Picnic

The only Easter pictures I could find were from an Easter Picnic in the Arizona desert in about 1934. Jess & Mabel Baldwin and their family had just moved to Arizona from Oklahoma. It was during the depression and Grandpa Jess Baldwin had moved to Arizona to work for his Uncle Charlie (Charles Vester Stewart). The picnic included the following known families: Jess Baldwin family, Charles Stewart family, Kirby Leffel family.

According to the info on the back of the pictures, the Easter Picnic took place off of Elliot Road in Mesa Arizona. It would be interesting to see a present day picture the same hill or rock formation.

I love this first picture with everyone trying to pile on top of the rock

Guys in above picture:

Front row: ? boy, Weldon Baldwin, Claude Kane, ?, Joe Bailey, Kirby Leffel, ?boy in pilot hat, Charlie Stewart, ?Jim Mitchell, Clyde Baldwin

Middle row: Charlie Baldwin, Jess Baldwin (hat & vest)

Top row: Joe Burton, Leland Stewart, Leon Stewart, Joe Finley

Lutheran Register Records of Arzberg, Germany

Castner Parish Records of Arzberg, Germany 

Catherine Castner (Maria Catherina Castner) married Mathias Martin on Christmas Day 1849 in Jefferson County, Wisconsin (marriage date according to information Mathias gave to a county history). Mathias Martin had emigrated to the United States in October of 1847. According to the Arzberg Parish register, Catherina emigrated on 22 Mar 1848 to America (New York Passenger Lists show arrival as 21 Jun 1848.) She may have been waiting for their son to get a little older before making the voyage. Their son, John Stephan (our direct ancestor), was born on 28 Nov 1847 in Germany. If you are thinking the dates don't add up, you are right. Our little John Stephan was born several years before his parents were married.

Below are copies of the parish registers of of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Arzberg, Wunsiedel, Oberfranken, Bayern, Germany. The Castner family lived in the small village of Rothenbach but attended church in Arzberg -- a mile or so away.

The first record shown below is the baptismal or christening record of our grandmother, Maria Catherina Castner. On top is the translation and on the bottom is the actual parish register. The parish priest made a notation in the first column on the left concerning Catherine's immigration on 22 Mar 1848.

Baptismal Record: Maria Catherina Castner

 Next is the marriage record of Catherine Castner's parents: Johann Georg Castner and Susanna Dorothea Fickenscher.

Marriage Record
Johann George Castner to Susanna Dorothea Fickenscher

 Below is the baptismal record of Catherine's father, Johann George Castner. This record also shows the death date of 19 Feb 1847.

Baptismal Records: Johann Georg Castner

 This last record is the parish register for Catherine's mother, Susanna Dorothea Fickenscher.

1786 Baptism Book Record: Susana Dorothea Finkensher

Children of Johann Georg Castner and Susanna Dorothea Fickenscher: 

1. Johann Castner 1806-1838 
2. Johann Matthaeus Castner 1808-  
3. Anna Elisabeth Castner 1811-  
4. Elisabetha Margaretha Kastner 1814-1893 
5. Margaretha Barbara Kastner 1817-1849 
6. Susanna Catherina Kastner 1820-1880 
7. Maria Catherina Castner 1822-1907 
8. Johann Michael Kastner1826-1899 

Note: Castner is sometimes spelled with a "K" -- Kastner. Some of the parish records for the Castner family used the spelling "Kastner" instead of Castner.

Castner/Kastner Family Posts:
German Naming Patterns
On the Trail of my German Immigrant Ancestors
Catherine Castner/Kastner

Martin Parish Register Records from Thierstein, Wunsiedel, Germany

In 1987, I corresponded with the Parish Priest of the Lutheran Church in Thierstein, Germany, and received the following information concerning our Martin Ancestors who had lived there.

Below are copies of records from the Registers of Evangelical Lutheran Parish in Thierstein, Germany. (According to the Standard Finder we should use the following place name: Thierstein, Wunsiedel, Oberfranken, Bayern, Germany.)

There was a "great fire" in Thierstein in 1725 and the parish registers were destroyed. So, records are not available prior to 1725 (at least according to the parish priest).

The first record shown below is a chart (made by the Parish Priest) showing our ancestors who lived in Thierstein. On the top of the chart is our earliest recorded ancestor, Johann Martin, down to our immigrant ancestor, Johann Mathias Martin.  Mathias Martin was born in 1809 in Thierstein, Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1847.

Below the chart are the individual records or certificates showing births and marriages that occurred in Thierstein.

Starting at bottom with Johann Mathias Martin

Key Words:

German > English
geboren > birth
kind von > child of
taufzeugnis > christening certificate
trauzeugnis > marriage certificate

Johann Matthaus Martin Christening 1809

Johann Christoph Martin Christening 1788

1808 Marriage Record
Johann Christoph Martin - Elisabeth Katharina Radel

Johann Christoph Martin Christening Record

Elizabeth Catharina Radel Christening Record

Johann Melchior Martin Christening Record

beruf > occupation

gutsbesitzer > landowner

Marriage Record
Johann Martin - Maria Sophia Reiss