52 Ancestors-Week #7-John Mabe Autrey

This post is part of Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.  The object is to write something about 1 ancestor each week.  More information can be  found at her blog No Story Too Small.

Here are the basic facts I have about my probable but so far no conclusively proven paternal great great grandfather John Mabe Autrey:

He was born in Selma, Alabama 12 Aug 1828 to Absalom and Elizabeth H. Norris.(1) 

In 1850 John is in living in Absalom's household in Union Parish Louisiana. (2)

On the 3 October 1851 John and Dianacy Wallace were married in Union Parish, Louisiana.(3)

1860-1870 John and Dianacy lived in Union Parish and had about 10 children during this period.(4)

In 1880 the Autrey's are living in the neighboring parish of Lincoln, Louisiana. (5)

By the 1900 census, Dianacy is living in Hardin, Texas with one of her son's family and is listed as a widow. (6)

In 1911, Dianacy filled out a widows pension  application and stated that John had died in 1903.(7)

John served the Confederate army during the Civil War.  He enlisted on 11 May 1862 in Monroe, Louisiana and was discharched on 8 June 1865. (8)

After 1880, John Mabe seems to have disappeared completley.  No death, probate, property or tax record has been located in Louisiana or Texas.   
My next step is to visit Hardin,  Texas and see if I can locate anything. 

I have also seen unsourced references to them living in Robertson County, Texas and owning a store.  So far, nothing I've checked verifies this so it looks like I'll be taking a couple of road trips in the not too distant future. 

Sources:

(1) Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Births [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. (2)1850 U. S. census, Union Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, p. 791 (written), dwelling 706, family 706, Absalom Autrey; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 April 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication M432 roll 241. (3)"Louisiana, Marriages, 1816-1906," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4C2-Z5T : accessed 21 Apr 2013), John Autry and Dianacy Wallace, 03 Oct 1851. [4] 1860 U. S. census, Union Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, p. 25 (written), dwelling 154, family 154, Jno Autry; digital, image, Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 April 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication, M653, roll 426.Ancestry.com. Arkansas, Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. [4] 1870 U. S. census, Union Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, p. 42 (written), dwelling 319, family 319, John Autry; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 April 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 534. [5] 1880 U. S. census, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, p. 59 (written), dwelling 488, family 501, J. H. Sample; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 April 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 456. [6] 1900 U. S. census, Liberty County, Texas, pop. sch., p. 237 A (stamped), dwell. 252, fam. 252, Dianacy Autrey. digital image, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com: accessed 11 April 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623.

[7]Ancestry.com. Arkansas, Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

[8]National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online <http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/>, acquired 2007.

52 Ancestors-Week #6-John Stephen Renfro

This post is part of Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.  The object is to write something about 1 ancestor each week.  More information can be  found at her blog No Story Too Small.

John Stephen Renfro (1846-1923)

 



John Stephen Renfro-date unknown





John Stephen Renfro-date unknown



According to the 1954 application for a headstone that was filled out by his son James Herbert Renfro (1887-1973) John was born on 12 June 1846.  The US census records where he appears has his birthplace as Alabama. 

By 1880 he had moved to Little River County Arkansas and worked as a farmer.  In 1910 he was living in nearby Sevier County, Arkansas and remained there until his death in 1923. 

He died on 8 December 1923 and is buried in Brownstone Cemetery in Sevier County.



He served in the Civil War and his pension application from 25 June 1906 states that he is "60 years of age...I am physically broke down...just wore out...I am very hard of hearing, could be from firing during the war...Eyes weak."



Here is a transcription of his obituary from the Arkansas History Commission:

John Stephen Renfro



     The friends and acquaintances of John Stephen Renfro, aged 77 years, 6 month and 26 days, will be grieved to learn of his death which occurred at the family home near Paraloma, Friday night, December 7.  The remains were laid to rest near Brownstown Saturday, Dec. 8.

     He was a Civil war veteran, being a member of Newton’s Cavalry.  He leaves a wife, one son, two daughters, Herbert Renfro and Miss Maude Renfro of Paraloma, and Mrs. Dena Sample of White Cliffs, other near relatives and a host of friends.

Application for Headstone or Marker

Application for Pension

Arkansas Death Index

52 Ancestors-Week #5-Mary Elizabeth Bailey

So far with my genealogy I have found that if I have a photograph of someone, I seem to have very little information on them other than census records.  If I don’t have a picture, I have better luck tracking down more information such as soldier pensions, newspaper articles or snippets and the like.

Mary Elizabeth BAILEY Renfro

According to her headstone, Mary Elizabeth Renfro was born on 9 August 1861. 

I have been able to track her in the census just before and then after her presumed marriage.

1870-Little River County, Arkansas

Name	Age	Birth place
Bailey, Cyrus	37	Arkansas
Mary Ann	421	Arkansas
Mary E.	8	Arkansas
Millie	5 months	Arkansas

1880-Little River County, Arkansas

Name	Age	Birth place
Renfro, John	33	Alabama
Mary E.	18	Arkansas
John Sims	10 months	Arkansas
Skidman, Charlie (hand)	20	Arkansas
Renfro, Ben (father)	69	Georgia

Just a few households down reside her parents Cyrus and Mary Ann Bailey. 

1900-Sevier County, Arkansas

Renfro, John	53	Alabama
Mary E.	39	Arkansas
Susan M.	15	Arkansas
James H.	12	Arkansas
Dena (my grandmother)	8	Arkansas

1910-Sevier County, Arkansas

Renfro, John	64	Alabama
Mary E.	48	Arkansas
Susan M.	25	Arkansas
James H.	22	Arkansas
Dena P.	18	Arkansas

1920-Sevier County, Arkansas

Renfro, John	75	Alabama
Mary E.	59	Arkansas
Susan M.	35	Arkansas
James H.	32	Arkansas
Dena P.	28	Arkansas

1930-Sevier County, Arkansas

Mary E. (widowed)	69	Arkansas
J.H.	42	Arkansas
Maud	45	Arkansas
Sample, D. P. (grandson)	9	Arkansas

According to the Arkansas Death Index Mary Elizabeth died on 25 November 1931.  Her headstone in Brownstown Cemetery in Sevier County, Arkansas has the date as 28 November 1931. 

Unfortunately, I don't have any memories of my paternal grandmother Dena P. or my fathers siblings ever talking about the family history to us while we visited them in Arkansas.  Now it seems odd because my father was the one in the family who was interested in genealogy and I have letters between him and his mother discussing these very questions I am having now. 

I recall that when my maternal grandmothers brothers would visit they would often discuss their father and tell family stories. Unfortunately, no one there recorded or kept any kind of notes about what was said and now we have to go by our memories.   

Sources:

1870 U.S. census, Little River County, Arkansas, population schedule, p. 6 (written), dwelling 55, family 83, Mary E. Bailey; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com) : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm publication M593 roll 58.

1880 U.S. census, Little River County, Arkansas, population schedule, p. 20 (written), dwelling 181, family 199, Mary E. Renfro; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com) : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm publication M593.

1900 U.S. census, Sevier County, Arkansas, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 155, 302A (stamped), sheet number 7(penned), dwelling 113, family 116, Mary E. Renfro; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestrylibrary.com : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623.

1910 U.S. census, Sevier County, Arkansas, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 176, (stamped), sheet number 6B (penned), dwelling 114, family 116, Mary E. Renfro; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestrylibrary.com : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 66.

1920 U.S. census, Washington County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 228, 109 (stamped), sheet number 17A (penned), dwelling 151, family 167, Dennis McFadden; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestrylibrary.com : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 1427.

1930 U.S. census, Sevier County, Arkansas, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 0020, 2B (stamped), sheet number 2B (written), dwelling 43, family 43, Mary E. Renfro; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestrylibrary.com : accessed 5 February 2013); citing National Archives microfilm publication T626, roll 95.

Findagrave.com, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com/ : accessed 14 June 2013), photograph, gravestone for Mary Elizabeth Renfro (1861-1931), Sevier Brownstone, Arkansas.

Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950,  database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 June 2013), entry for Mary Elizabeth Renfro.

52 Ancestors-Week #4-Margaret McFadden Ferry

Margaret McFadden (1845-1905) was the sister of my great grandfather Dennis McFadden (1847-1924).  According to family stories, when Dennis and his brother John arrived in America circa 1852, they stayed with a sister who was already living in Ohio.  She was also said to have been married to a man named Dennis or Daniel Ferry.

No information so far has been discovered about her life in Ireland, her immigration and her eventual residence in Ohio.  The earliest record of her so far comes from several newspaper notices published at the time of her death in 1905.



Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, 1905 Sep 30

                                               Dangerously Ill                                                                                                          
                                              Mrs. Margaret Ferry is lying danger-
                                              ously ill at the home of her daughter,
                                              Mrs. Herman Schildhauer, of Bucking
                                              ham street.
 



Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, 1905 Oct 7

                                                      Mrs. Margaret Ferry
                                                   Mrs. Margaret Ferry died at the
                                                home of her daughter, Mrs. Herman
                                                Schildhauer, No. 349 Buckingham
                                                street, Saturday.   The deceased was
                                                aged 60 years and leaves three sons
                                                and two daughters and one brother
                                                besides a circle of friends.   Funeral
                                                services will be conducted at St. Fran-
                                                cis de Sales church Monday at nine
                                                o'clock  and the remains will be laid
                                                to rest in the Cedar Hill cemetery.
                                                
Here is her Find A Grave memorial at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newark Ohio. 



 

                                                                   CARD OF THANKS
                                                    We wish to express our most sin-
                                                 cere thanks to our friends, relatives
                                                 and kind neighbors for the many acts
                                                 of kindness and sympathy shown us in
                                                 our sad bereavement in the loss of our
                                                 rearly (sic) beloved mother, Margaret Mer-
                                                 ry.  We wish to thank the employees of
                                                 the B & O machine shop, the Royal
                                                 Neighbors of America, and Neighbors
                                                 for their floral offerings.  Mr. and Mrs.
                                                 Herman Schildhauer.
                                                                                       


Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, 1905 Nov 25

      
                                                                      Wills Probated
                                                  The wills of Margaret Ferry, de-
                                                  ceased of Newark, and Jacob Benner,
                                                  deceased. of Hartford, have been ad-
                                                  mitted to probate.                          



Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, 1906 Apr 11

                                                                      Probate Court
                                                  ...Margaret Schildhauer has been ap-
                                                  pointed executrix of the last will and
                                                  testimony of Margaret Ferry, de-
                                                  ceased, of this city.   Bond, $2000(?).

                                              ADMINISTRATORS DOCKET
                           No. 1505 Estate of Margaret Ferry      late of Newark
                           Licking County, Ohio (Decedent died,    Oct. 7th 1905
                           Margaret Schildhauer  Executrix  P.O. Address, Newark Ohio         

With this I was able to order the probate records for Margaret Ferry.  I have not transcribed the full document yet, but I have pulled out some key information that will help me continue my search into this line.

Her probate file states that she died on 1905 Oct 7 in Licking County, Ohio.  It also includes a transcription of her will which names several family members, their relationship to Margaret and where they lived at the time, if known:

1. Margaret Schildhuaer, daughter, Newark, Ohio, 349 Buckingham
2. Daniel Ferry, brother, Crooksville, Ohio
3. Dennis Ferry, brother, unknown.
4. Katie Ferry, sister, unknown, Portsmouth, Ohio, where last heard of.

 The link between Margaret Ferry and Dennis McFadden is indirectly supported by this notice published in 1919:

 

Evening Independent, Massillon, Ohio, 1919 Oct 1

                                             Mr. and Mrs. Dennis McFadden
                                          of Pittsburg returned this afternoon
                                          after visiting their niece, Mrs. Her-
                                          man Schildhauer, of West Charles
                                          street.




Sources:

Cousin Kathleen, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth, letter, 2 January 1997, sharing unsourced and uncited genealogical information on Dennis McFadden; Personal Correspondence, 1997; McFadden Family; McFadden File; privately held by Daniel Sample, [ADDRESS WITHHELD], Stafford, Texas.

Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, NewpaperARCHIVE.com

Evening Independent, Massillon, Ohio, NewspaperARCHIVE.com.