Finds from Chilton Union Banner newspaper archive: Smith and Higgins

I have found Facebook to be a great resource for genealogy.  There are many pages specific to the history of  certain surnames and places.  One that I have been following is the Chilton County (Alabama) Historical Society page. My husband's maternal grandmother is from Clanton, Alabama.

A recent post was in regards to the newspaper archive of the Chilton Union Banner provided by the University of Montevallo.  It can be accessed through their website here:  W. M. "Mack" Wyatt Digital Archive and through Archive.org. 

 From this archive I came across some great finds!

The death notice of my husband's third great grandmother Josephine Smith Higgins (1845-1913).  This is from the issue dated May 8, 1913.

Also the wedding announcement of his great grandparents Milton Smith and Inez Higgins.  This is from the issue dated April 7, 1921. 

I spent a day or two trying different search methods to locate the information I wanted.   Since I already knew the death date and the wedding date, I went to the issue immediately after the event I was interested in.  Opening up that issue, I could search within that issue for the name I was looking for. 

For a more broader search, I used the Google site search of Archive.org with the name Union Banner in quotes followed by a full name or surname.   I came up with several articles that mentioned my husband's ancestors or family. 

Alice D Lenoir White and N J Callaway

Alice D Lenoir was born January 30 1859 or 1860 to Robert C Lenoir and Emeline Jones.
(She states in her widow's pension application after the death of N J Callaway that she was born in 1859.  The 1900 census says 1858.   Her tombstone says 1860.)

The 1870 Baker Co., AL census lists Alice D Lenore age 10 in the household of RC Lenore.

She married David Robert White on November 20, 1879 in Chilton County,  Alabama.  This marriage record is available at FamilySearch.org in Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950.

The 1880 Chilton Co., AL census lists Alice White age 19 wife of Robert White.  They later have two daughters, Eva born November 1880 and Annie born February 1882.



David Robert White died in 1885.  You can view his FindaGrave Memorial here: David R White

Alice Lenoir White marries second N J Callaway on  January 5, 1891 in Chilton County, Alabama.
N J Callaway was widowed and Alice becomes the step-mother of his seven children:  Evan, Lucian, Luther, John, Ammie, Bettie, and  Katie.  They have one daughter together, Gussie Callaway.

The 1900 Chilton County, Alabama census lists N J Callaway, Alice, John, Luther, Katie, Gussie and Eva White.


N J Callaway died 1921 in Chilton County, Alabama.  You can view his FindaGrave memorial here: N J Callaway  His first name is listed as Newton in the 1850 and 1860 census records. All other records say N J.

Alice D Lenoir White Callaway died 1931 in Chilton County, Alabama.  You can view her FindAGrave memorial here:  Alice Callaway
 
You can find the transcribed obituaries of Alice and N J Callaway (here spelled Calloway) at http://www.alagenealogy.com/Some-Obituaries-of-Central-Alabama.htm.
These transcriptions say Alice Drucilia and Newton Joseph.  I do not know if those names are in the original obituaries or were added.  

Obituary of Thomas Hart

I found this obituary for Thomas Hart, the husband of Malissa (or Melissa) Moon Hart, in the Maryville Times, January 23, 1896.  Melissa Moon is the daughter of William Moon (abt 1800 - abt 1841) and Asenith of Sevier County, TN.  A picture of his headstone can be seen here:  Find A Grave Memorial # 83035273

This obituary can be found on the website Chronicling America at Chronicling America Maryville Times.

Obituary of Melissa Moon Hart

I found this obituary of Malissa (or Melissa) Moon Hart in The Maryville Times, December 12, 1913.  It references a brother who came to see her before she died, a Mr. Moore of Indiana.  I believe this is her brother James Moon who lived in Illinois.  My husband has two DNA matches to descendants of this James Moon.

This obituary can be found on the website Chronicling America at : Chronicling America Maryville Times

Searching for Martha Leatherwood, the heir of John Leatherwood

In the estate settlement of Daniel Leatherwood referenced here:  http://amysgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/06/estate-settlement-of-daniel-leatherwood.html, four heirs are listed for his son John who is deceased.  The four heirs of John are Martha Leatherwood, Columbus Leatherwood, John Leatherwood, and Mary Roberts.  I have been unable to find any records of Martha Leatherwood.  I thought perhaps she was the Martha listed in the 1880 census living with Daniel Leatherwood and listed as a daughter, age 10.  But I now believe this is Martha Wilson, daughter of Ellen Leatherwood Wilson and George Wilson.

I found this article that mentions her name: 

This article was posted in the Maryville Times, April 1, 1891.  It can be found on the website Chronicling America http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

Estate Settlement of Daniel Leatherwood

This estate settlement can be found online at FamilySearch.org here: Estate Settlement of Daniel Leatherwood.

Daniel Leatherwood was born in 1806 and died in 1891 in Blount County, Tennessee.  He died without a will.  His wife died before him.  His possessions were sold and his debts paid and the remainder was divided among his heirs.  The settlement lists 11 heirs.

1.  John Leatherwood - deceased.  His portion was divided among his four heirs listed in the settlement as Martha Leatherwood, Columbus Leatherwood, John Leatherwood, and Mary Roberts.

2. Rachel Wilson, wife of Joseph Wilson

3.Thomas Leatherwood

4. Elizabeth Dennis, wife of Isaac Dennis

5. Joseph Leatherwood

6. Francis E. Thomas, wife of A. J. Thomas

7. Mary Wilson, wife of William Wilson.

8. Martha Orr, wife of John Sanders Orr

9.  George H. Leatherwood

10. W. L. Leatherwood

11. Sarah Large, wife of Samuel Large

Daniel Leatherwood had three other children that I assume died without heirs prior to 1891.  Jane Leatherwood seems to have died young between 1850 and 1860.  Nancy Leatherwood died in 1875.  Lemons Leatherwood died sometime after 1860.

The mystery here for me is in the four heirs of John Leatherwood.  I can only find children Columbus, John Jr., and Mary in census records.  I can find no record of Martha Leatherwood, heir of John.

Higgins Family Cemetery, Chilton County, Alabama

While doing genealogy searches I came across the Lake Mitchell Home Owners and Boat Owners Association.  Located in Chilton County, Alabama, Lake Mitchell is near the town of Clanton.  A local resident with an interest in the history of the area posted an article about the nearby Higgins Family cemetery.  One of the photos is the headstone of Benjamin Franklin Higgins and Josephine Smith.

B F and Josephine Higgins are my husband's 3rd great grandparents.  Look here to read the article and see the photo of their headstone: Higgins Family Cemetery article and photos

Audio of Mamie Cordelia Smith

We've had an old cassette tape for some time of my husband's great great grandmother being interviewed about her family.  I'm not sure who the interviewer is, but the tape was originally recorded in 1959.  What we have is most likely a copy of the original.   Now we've found a way to convert that cassette tape to a mp3 file that we can save and share!   I'm so glad to be able to save such a treasure from being lost if that tape were to become damaged or destroyed.  I've been listening to tapes of my own grandmother also that were made in the 1980s.  Some of them have already been damaged and are almost unusable.  Hopefully we will be able to preserve these and share them with our families.


As you will hear in this clip from the tape, Mamie Cordelia Smith was born in 1875 in Bullock County, Alabama.  Her parents were Jasper William Smith and Dulcena Elizabeth Moss.  This clip is just the beginning of about 30 minutes of dialogue.  She goes on to give the names and birth dates of her children and tell about what her life was like.  If you are interested in hearing the entire tape, let me know. 
Audio of Mamie Cordelia Smith

Malissa Moon Hart

I found this book online that gives information about Malissa Moon Hart:
Joseph Hart and His Descendants By Rev. Charles Coffin Hart (Published 1901).

Malissa Moon is the daughter of William (1810-1841) and Asenith Moon and the sister of my husband's ancestor William Mitchell Moon.  Chapter 2 gives the following information about Malissa Moon and her husband Thomas Hart:

Thomas Hart was born Aug. 28, 1825; died Jan. 22, 1896, aged 72. He united with New Providence Church Sept. 2, 1838, with his sister Abagail and his brother John. On Oct. 1, 1856, he brought to the old home, as his wife, Miss Malissa Ceneth Moon, and on the family homestead they spent a long and happy married life, and there his widow and three of their daughters still live (February, 1900). The house has been remodeled, but a part of the original structure-as built by the patriarch, Joseph Hart, in 1793-remains in good condition. A railroad has been built near the dwelling, thereby mutilating the farm. But the "old spring" is still there, supplying an abundance of pure water, as it did in 1792, when the land was first claimed. Thomas Hart led a consistent, godly life, and on Aug. 27, 1865 he was ordained ruling elder in Rockford Church, with which church in course of time, all his family became members. For many years he was a trustee of Maryville College, and had at heart the good of all religious and educational institutions. Nine children were born to Thomas and Malissa Hart: Margaret Eliza, Laura Josephine, Effie Cenith, William Edward, Cora, Belle, Thomas Samuel, Ella Blackburn and Nellie Jane (twins) and Jessie Ann.

William Moon's land grant 1808 - East Fork of Little Pigeon River

A recent email I received from a fellow researcher reminded me of a discovery I happened upon last fall.  I decided it was something I should post about here.  The researcher said, "I attempted to determine the location of the Wm. Moon farm from the legal description but was unable to do so.  Do you know where the farm actually was located?"  I realized that, possibly, I did know that.

My husband and I enjoy going to the public library in Knoxville to do research in the McClung Historical Collection. So we took a weekend last November to do just that. They have genealogy manuscripts that have been donated by previous researchers.  In the files of Christine Moon Armstrong, I happened upon a hand drawn map of land grants along the East Fork of Little Pigeon River.  It looks like it was drawn out on graph paper and in the upper right hand corner is written, "Plat" and a number that I can't decipher, possibly 12.  William Moon's 385 acre land grant is marked there along with those surrounding it.  These are all to the East of Sevierville.

Once I returned home, I realized that I had a larger map showing earlier land grants from 1806-1807.  However William Moon's land and the others in this area are not marked.  But, by comparing the two maps, I could tell where the smaller map showing Moon's land fit with the larger map.  Land grant number 25 for M C Rogers on the large map along with the one for James Cannon below it, are also noted on the smaller map.  And, the larger map had taken the land grants and overlayed them onto a map with some modern day land marks.  This helped me to identify where the land was located. 

Using a map website, some land marks and looking at the curve of the river, I think I can pinpoint the location of the land grant. It appears to lie between Witt Hollow Rd and Murrell Meadows Dr., north of the river.

I was delighted to find that there is a Bed and Breakfast Inn located on the property today.  This just might mean a future trip to Sevierville to stay on the land where my husband's ancestor originally settled!

newspaper article from 1896 about Sam Houston McGown

Found this newspaper article from 1896 about Sam Houston McGown from Hemphill, Texas giving details about the accident that caused his death.  S. H. McGown is not a direct ancestor, but my fathers 1st cousin 2x removed.  http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86090270/1896-07-23/ed-1/seq-2/

I am excited about more and more digital newspaper archives becoming available.  What a great source of information!

Petition Sundry Inhabitants South of French Broad River 1789

In 1789, William Moon (1744-1822) and his son Jesse signed their names to a "Petition Sundry Inhabitants South of French Broad River".

Petition


A good description of this area is given on the TNGenWeb Project Surveyors' Districts

In 1807/08 William was given land grant No 268 by the State of Tennessee, Sevier County, for 385 acres of land in the district South of the French Broad and Holston. (Sevier County Land Grants, Book 1-1, page 236)

William Moon 1744-1822

William Moon 1744-1822 Genforum posting

Residency of William Moon 1744-1822 Genforum posting

These are excellent postings by Ronny Bodine on Genforum from several years ago.   The letter he refers to is part of the Sharp Collection, Moon Folder at the McClung Library in Knoxville,TN.

William M Moon 1852 document

State of Tennessee, Sevier County
Know all men by these presence that I Wm. M. Moon have this day remised and quit claim and by these presents doth remise and quit claim unto the said Jesse Stafford his heirs and assigns forever to a certain tract or parcel of lands it being my undivided interest in the tract or parcel of land belonging to the heirs of William Moon deceased with the appertenences thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining situate lying and being in the county of Sevier, state of Tennessee containing three hundred fifteen acres & one half be the same more or less adjoining the of S. O. Dickey the heirs of James Henderson & others to have and to hold the same to the said Jesse Stafford his heirs and assigns forever for the consideration of three hundred dollars to same in hand paid, I being a lawful heir of Wm Moon deceased and have a right to convey said share of land.  I do covenant with the said Jesse Stafford that I am lawfully seized of said land have a good right to convey it and that the same is unencumbered.  I do further covenant and bind myself my heirs and assigns to warrant and forever defend the title to the said land and every part thereof to the said Jesse Stafford his heirs & assigns against the lawful claims of all persons whatever.
Given under my hand & seal this 2nd day of February 1852, signed sealed in the presence of us
Test.  Tunis Scott                            William M. Moon 
Wilson Burchfiel 


Amy's Note:  William M. (Mitchel) Moon is the son of William and Asenith Moon.  This record is on microfilm at the McClung Library in Knoxville, TN.  It may also be available in the Sevier County Public Library's Genealogy Department.  It is listed in the Deed Records Index available at the Sevier County Genealogy and History website:  http://sevier.tngenealogy.net/research-aids/30-databases/152-sevier-county-deed-records-index-searchable-database

Wm M. Neal and Eliza Goswick marriage record

Wm. M. Neal is the brother to James W. Neal, my great grandfather.  His marriage record is online in the GA's Virtual Vault.  http://cdm.georgiaarchives.org:2011/cdm/landingpage/collection/countyfilm  Dawson county marriages, 1858 - 1883. William Neal married Eliza Goswick in Dawson county GA on September 11 of 1879.

William M Neal is listed in the following censuses:
1860 Dawson county GA - with his father Daniel
1870 Dawson county GA - with his father Daniel
1880 Dawson county GA - with his wife listed as Mary?
1900 Forsyth county GA - with wife Lizzie and son John
1910 Forsyth county GA - with his son John, daughter-in-law and granddaughter
1920 Forsyth county GA - with his son John, daughter-in-law and grandchildren


He died in Grayson county, TX in 1927.  His cemetery record is online on Texas Genweb.  He is buried in West Hill cemetery. http://txgenweb3.org/txgrayson/
His son John Neal is in the 1930 Grayson county TX census.

Candy Neal and Samuel Turner marriage license in GA's Virtual Vault

The marriage license of Candy Neal and Samuel Turner from GA's online Virtual Vault.  Candy Neal is the daughter of Daniel Neal.  I believe Daniel Neal is my great great grandfather.
Dawson County marriage records, 1883-1894
http://content.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/countyfilm.php

Daniel Neal, Dawson County, GA militia roll 1864 in GA's Virtual Vault

Militia enrollment lists from 1864 are available at GA's Virtual Vault.  Daniel Neal is on line 40.  He is listed as a farmer, age 47, born in SC.  It says he is a Minister of the Gospel and he owns a rifle in good condition.
http://cdm.georgiaarchives.org:2011/cdm/landingpage/collection/countyfilm

Snyder County [Pennsylvania] Pioneers By Charles A. Fisher

Snyder County [Pennsylvania] Pioneers

 By Charles A. Fisher
http://books.google.com/books?id=T8XwW7YQZXIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=snyder+county+pioneers&hl=en&ei=680kTImJAsX6lwejloSoAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

This book is online in Google Books.  Searching for "Moon", I found on page 63:  Casper Moon, SR, Casper Moon, JR., James Moon, John Moon, Nathaniel Moon, Thomas Moon,  and William Moon.


Snyder county was formed in 1855 from parts on Union county.  Union county was formed in 1813 from parts of Northumberland county.  Northumberland was formed in 1772. 

I believe my husband's ancestor William Moon went to Tennessee by 1788 and likely came from Northumberland County, PA.

Marriage of James Neal and Malinda Fouts in Dawson County, GA

Dawson Co GA marriage records April 1884 for James Neal and Malinda Fouts


ID: 864
HUSBAND  Neal, James
WIFE  Fouts, Malinda
DATE  4/6/1884
OFFICIAL P. J. Clark, JP
BOOK B
PAGE  50

These are my great grandparents.

This is also available in GA's Virtual Vault in the Dawson County Marriage Book 1883-1894
http://cdm.georgiaarchives.org:2011/cdm/landingpage/collection/countyfilm

Daniel Neal civil war records available at Footnote.com

http://www.footnote.com/image/35662194

Daniel Neal
Co. C, 11 Batt'n Georgia Inf.
(State Guards) Confederate

July 14, 1863
Dawsonville, Dawson County, GA

Remarks:  Refused to be mustered in.

In the 1864 Census for Reorganizing the GA Militia (available on Ancestry.com), Daniel Neal (age 47)  is listed in Dawson County with an exemption because he is a minister of the Gospel.  It also says he was born in SC.