ANDREW TURNER: Case Study, Part I

© Kathy Duncan, 2014

Andrew Turner - Case Study - Part I

The search for Andrew Turner's father begins now. As I posted earlier, at the time of his death, the Patrons of Husbandry published a tribute to him which contained information on his birth and early life. According to the tribute, he was born in 1803 in York County, South Carolina, and as a small child moved with his father to Lincoln County, Tennessee.  Andrew Turner removed to Hardeman County, Tennessee in 1824.

A preliminary google search for Turners with sons named Andrew in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and in York County, South Carolina, turned up nothing.

My first step, then, was to look at all the Turner households in Lincoln County, Tennessee in 1820. I am guessing that since Andrew did not move to Hardeman County until 1824 that he was still living at home in 1820. In this step, I am looking for households with a sons who are Andrew's age - 17ish.

Lincoln County, Tennessee, 1820:

Turner, Jane 0013 - 0023101
Turner, John 21001-02101
Turner, John 001
Turner, White 1001- 0001
Turner, Woodson 0011

Of the households above, John Turner, White Turner, Woodson Turner, and Jane Turner have young men in the 17 year old range. Since John Turner is living alone, his household is ruled out. Since White Turner's household contains only himself, his young wife, and a son under the age of ten, his household is ruled out. That just leaves the households of Jane Turner and Woodson Turner. Since Jane Turner is evidently a widow, I am up against more of a challenge.

My second step was more involved. It required looking at the York County, South Carolina census beginning with 1800 through 1820 to see who, with children about the right age, disappeared.

The 1800 census was included in my search even though Andrew Turner had not been born yet because his family may have removed to Lincoln County, Tennessee before the 1810 census.

York County, South Carolina, 1800:

Turner, David 11201 - 2001
Turner, Thomas 00101 - 03101
Turner, John 001 - 1001
Turner, Samuel 3001 - 0211
Turner, Robert 03201 - 00101
Turner, David 2001 - 3001
Turner, Wilkinson 00201 - 00001
Turner, Pierce 2001 - 00 [page torn]
Turner, Thomas 00101 - 00101

York County, South Carolina, 1810:

Turner, James 1001 - 00021
Turner, Solomon 201 - 00011
Turner, John 1001 - 3101
Turner, Thomas (TC) 20001 - 10021
Turner, Jeremiah 2001 - 1001
Turner, Robert 00301 - 01101
Turner, John (CC) 1011 - 201
Turner, Christopher 2001 - 2001
Turner, Samuel 02101 - 00301
Turner, Elijah 1201 - 3001
Turner, Thomas (AC) 00011 - 00201
Turner, Wilkinson 3001 - 0001
Turner, Richard 2001 - 0001

In comparing the two census returns, both David Turners and Pierce Turner appear on the 1800 census, but not on the 1810 census. Since no widows appear on the 1810 census, I am guessing that all three families removed from York County. All of them seem to be reasonably young men with growing families, so they are all candidates.

York County, South Carolina 1820:

Turner, John 21001 - 1201
Turner, Christopher 2201 - 2101
Turner, Robert 200011 - 10101
Turner, Daniel 00001 - 2001
Turner, William 00001 - 2001
Turner, Wilkinson 421101 - 0101
Turner, Jeremiah 21001 - 02001
Turner, John 0001 - 10101
Turner, Thomas 100001 - 02011
Turner, Jeremiah 30001 - 1001
Turner, John 0001 - 12

In comparing the 1810 census to the 1820 census, there are four missing households: James Turner,
Solomon Turner, Elijah Turner, and Richard Turner. All four of these men are young with growing families, so they are all candidates.

Now I have seven candidates to look for in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

I tried going back to google to see what I could shake loose. I got lucky with a David Turner. There was a David Turner (ordained elder) who died in Lincoln County, Tennessee in 1817. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, Tennessee which was organized in 1812. [Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee Pioneers, vol. 1 no. 1 Sept. 1970.] The Goodspeed history of Lincoln County, Tennessee reads as if David Turner may have been a founding elder of the church. It also notes that a founding member was Mrs. Turner. From that I conclude that David probably left a widow. Jane Turner who appeared on the 1820 census is a likely candidate.

There is an inventory for David Turner in Lincoln County, Tennessee's probate that was filed during the May term of 1817.

Right now, I am partial to David and Jane Turner as candidates for Andrew Turner's parents. The next step will be to check the Lincoln County, Tennesse records  that are in print. Fortunately, the Mesquite Library has a good selection of these materials, and I can go by there after work one day this week to see if there are any mentions of an Andrew Turner. Although I hope it will be that easy, I know it likely will not be.

ANDREW TURNER, husband of LAVINIA CHISUM

ANDREW TURNER: Case Study Part 2

ANDREW TURNER, husband of LAVINIA CHISUM

© Kathy Duncan, 2014

Thanks to the digitalization of newspapers featured on Chronciling America's web page, new information keeps coming to light. Such is the case with Andrew Turner of Hardeman County, Tennessee. Mostly, he has been noted for marrying Lavinia Chisum and engaging in several land transactions. Luckily,  he left a will in Hardeman County that makes it possible to link him to his children: Frances (Turner) Brooks, Mary A. (Turner) Moore, John C. Turner, Lucretia (Turner) Parker, Nancy E. (Turner) Byrum, and Labon D. Turner. Census records indicated that he was born in South Carolina c. 1803. However, not much else has been known about him.

Fortunately, Andrew Turner's death notice appears in the The Whig and Tribune of Jackson, Tennessee:

As far as research goes, this is a lucky find since not many people's passing was noted in the newspapers of the time. The reason for that may be similar to the reason many people's obituaries are not published today: cost. Around the time of Andrew Turner's death the newspapers were charging 2 cents a word for obituaries. This obituary, while lovely, does not tell us much more than we already knew about Andrew Turner although is does document his death date, provides some information on where he lived, and tells us he had lived in Hardeman County since before 1834.

Continued searching and playing with keyword terms, this time searching for Lavinia Turner in google, turned up a tribute from the Patrons of Husbandry that appeared in the Bolivar Bulletin, which is also on the Chronicling America site, but which had not turned up in my previous searches there. (Such is the mystery of search engines.)

Tribute of Respect

"At a regular meeting of Clover Creek Grange No. 502, Patrons of Husbandry, held August the 8th, 1874, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:

"Whereas. It is seldom that we are called upon to record the death of a better citizen, a purer man, or a more industrious farmer than Major Andrew Turner. He died on the 30th day of July, half past seven in the evening, after a servere and protracted illness of a complicated nature.

"Major Turner was born in York, South Carolina, May the 7th, 1803, and moved to Lincoln county, Tennessee, with his father when a small boy. Visited this country in 1823, and settled here permanently in 1824.

"The first day of January, 1827, he married Miss Lavinia Chisum, daughter of Major James Chisum and sister of John G. Chisum of this county. The Major was honest in his dealings and eminently social in his character. But few men had a more kindly nature or a better heart. He inspired confidence wherever he went. Intemperance, the curse of this age, he despised and abominated. His zeal in the farmer's movement was truely [sic] earnest.  Something to benefit the farming interest he regarded one of the greatest necessities of the present age. He is gone to that spirit land from whence he no traveler returns. His race is run, his course is finished, and he now rests from labor beyond the dark and turbid waters of death. And while there is an aching void, let us now submissively to the will of the Grand Master of Universe, knowing that all things worketh together for good.

"Resolved, That we tender out condolence to the bereaved family.

"Resolved, That the usual badge of mourning be worn by the members for 30 days, and that a copy of the proceedings be furnished the Bolivar Bulletin for publication.

"Resolved, That the secretary be ordered to spread them upon the minutes and that a copy be sent the bereaved family.

Phil Northern,  }
John G. Chisum }
J.F. Roach}  Com
T. W. Tate}
J.R. Anderson}"
[Source: The Bolivar Bulletin; Bolivar, Hardeman County, TN; 14 Aug 1874]

The Patrons of Husbandry's tribute is loaded with new clues for locating the parentage of Andrew Turner. Born in York County, South Carolina, he would belong to a Turner family with young children that might appear there on the census in 1800 or 1810. He may have had grandparents living in York County, South Carolina as well. Next the Turner family would appear in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Given that Andrew did not relocate to Hardeman County, Tennessee until 1824, at the age of 21, he is likely still living at home on the 1820 Lincoln County, Tennessee census where he will be a seventeen year old tick mark. Since his parents are not named in the tribute, it seems possible that they were unknown in Hardman County, so they may have remained in Lincoln County. The Lincoln County, Tennessee wills and probates need to be searched for a mention of a son or brother named Andrew.

This has set me wondering why he is termed "Major."  He would have been too young for the war of 1812. There a couple of Indian Wars that he might have been the right age for - The Black Hawk War (1832) and The Second Seminole War (1835 - 1842). Then there was the Mexican War (1846 - 1848). He would have been in his forties by then, but it is possible that he participated. So the quesion is how did he attain the rank of major, especially since no military service is mentioned in either his death notice or the Patrons of Husbandry's tribute? Did the Patrons of Husbandry have offices with military ranks attached to them? Is it a military rank, an honorary rank, or a given name?

As ALWAYS, still lots of research to do here.

Andrew Turner: Case Study, Part I

Andrew Turner: Case Study, Part 2


Keywords: Chism, Chisum, Chisholm

DEATH OF JOSE RAFAEL SANDOVAL

© Kathy Duncan, 2014

My New Mexico research would have suffered greatly without the supreme efforts of so many transcribers making records available online. It is because of this that I finally stumbled across the death record of Rafael Sandoval, father of Diego Antonio Sandoval of Taos, New Mexico:

3 Oct 1856: Rafael Antonio Sandoval widower Freques Apolonia, burial; Lady of Guadulape, died suddenly and did not receive the Sacraments, no city of residence named
[Source: 1856 Taos County Record of Deaths, transcribed by Louanna Gortarez, 2008]

Of interest in this record is the addition of the middle name Antonio, indicating that his name was Jose Rafael Antonio Sandoval. This adds another name variation for my searches.

Everything indicates that he is the same Rafael Sandoval who was the father of Diego Antonio Sandoval: he is a widower, specifically of Apolonia Fresques.

Unfortunately, there is no age provided, and I have yet to find Rafael Sandoval on the 1850 census.

WILLIE S. and MARY CHARLOTTE "MAGGIE" (CAWTHON) CHAPMAN: A Story Told In Pictures

© Kathy Duncan, 2014

This is the story of my great-grandparents told in the few pictures that they left behind.

First, the pictures taken of Willie Sargent Chapman and Mary Charlotte "Maggie" Cawthon at about the time they married on 24 Dec 1889 in Mt. Pleasant, Titus County, Texas.

Willie Sargent Chapman Sr.

Willie Sargent Chapman Sr. was the son of Martha Frances (Meadows) and Abner Chapman, who had removed from Marion County, Georgia to Titus County, Texas prior to the Civil War.

Mary Charlotte "Maggie" Cawthon

Mary Charlotte Cawthon was the daughter of Susan Jane (Mason) and Rutherford Porter Cawthon. She was called "Maggie." for most of her life.

In these portraits they look so young and healthy - with their whole lives ahead of them.

Only a couple of years later this photograph (below) was taken at Willie's instance and over the objections of Maggie. She had been at the creek doing laundry when an iterinent photographer appeared at their place. She was upset because she did not have time to fix her hair. How lucky we are that Willie insisted on this photograph being taken any way because it is the only surviving photograph of them together.

Willie Sargent and Mary Charlotte "Maggie" (Cawthon) Chapman

A few short years of hard work were beginning to take their toll. Both of them look leaner, a bit pinch faced, and work worn. Willie Sargent Chapman Sr. died a few years later in 1893 in a hunting accident, leaving Maggie a widow with two small children. Photographs became a luxury she would no longer be able to afford. Maggie and the children spent the next several years living with one relative or another. At one point, they lived in Mt. Pleasant, Texas with Maggie's mother-in-law, Martha Frances (Meadows) Chapman, widow of Abner Chapman.

Martha Frances (Meadows) Chapman

At another point, Maggie and the children lived with Maggie's brother Willie Porter Cawthon and his wife in Collin County, Texas. When Willie Porter Cawthon went blind, Maggie and her children returned to her mother-in-law's in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

Willie Porter and Maggie Cawthon

Fortunately, Maggie's brother Jesse Franklin Cawthon stepped in and financed additional photographs over the years. He was a bachelor, living in a small cabin in Spokane, Washington. He wrote regularly to Maggie and on several occasions enclosed money for her to have portraits made of her or the children. He was convinced that he would always be a bachelor and would not have much use for his money.

Jesse Franklin Cawthon

This photograph (above) was taken of Jesse Franklin Cawthon in his cabin. "Uncle Jesse" eventually, however, married "Aunt Clara."

Clara, wife of Jesse F. Cawathon

This photograph (above) of Clara Cawthon was taken in my grandfather W.S. Chapman Jr.'s home in Avery, Texas. But back to the photographs that Uncle Jesse Cawthon made possible.

Willie Sargent Chapman Jr. and Mattie (Chapman) Schuler

This is a photograph (above) of Maggie's two children: Willie Sargent "Bill" Chapman Jr. and Mattie (Chapman) Schuler.

Left to right: Willie S., Maggie, and Mattie Chapman

This photograph (above) was taken of the three them  - Bill, Maggie, and Mattie - probably within a few years of the time that Maggie's brother Willie Porter Cawthon died.

Willie Sargent "Bill" Chapman Jr. and Maggie (Cawthon) Chapman

Mary Charlotte "Maggie" Chapman

These two photographs (above) were probably made near the time that Willie Sargent "Bill" Chapman Jr. was drafted into World War I.

Willie Sargent "Bill" Chapman Jr.

This is a photograph of Willie Sargent "Bill" Chapman in his World War I uniform. Prior to leaving for basic training, he took his mother to live with his sister Mattie (Chapman) Schuler. 

Back row left to right: Mattie (Chapman) Schuler and Maggie (Cawthon) Chapman

This is the last photograph that I have of Maggie (Cawthon) Chapman, taken with her daughter Mattie (Chapman) Schuler and Mattie's children. This picture would have been made some time prior to Maggie's death in 1918. While at the Schuler's, Maggie contracted measles and died. Willie Sargent Chapman Jr. also contracted the measles and had to postpone his entry into the service for a few weeks. Prior to leaving for Ft. Hood, he purchased a tombstone for his parents and had it erected in Damascus Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

Many years later, W. S. "Bill" Chapman Jr. had curbing added around his parents plot. Their tombstone had to be moved out of the way and then returned. In the process, it was turned around so that Willie Sargent Chapman's name is over Maggie, and Maggie's name is over Willie's. My grandfather often grieved over this, saying that once he was gone there would be no one left who knew the difference. 

WASHINGTON SELPH

© Kathy Duncan, 2014

As newspapers continue to be digitalized, we can recover information about family events that have been lost in our oral traditions. Little is known of  Rev. Duncan H. Selph's son Washington Selph. He was named after his eldest brother who died as an infant. He, in turn, also died young. This event from his early childhood is a particularly poignant account of one evening in the life of the Selph family household.

"Badly Burnt - Little Washington Selph, youngest son of Rev. D.H. Selph, President of the Baptist Female College, was badly burned, last Wednesday evening. Dr. Selph was at prayer-meeting and Mrs. Selph had just left the room for a few minutes, when the little fellow, in endeavoring to get something out of a bureau drawer, upset a candle against himself. His linen waist instantly took fire, and in a moment the upper portion of his person was wrapped in flames. His screams brought Miss Fickle to the rescue, and she promptly extinguished the blaze, by throwing her shawl around him. He is very painfully burned on the chest, throat, and face: but Dr. T.S. Smith, who was called in to attend him, thinks no serious or permanent injury will result from it."
[Source: The Weekly Caucasian; Lexington, Lafayette Co., MO; 28 Oct 1871]

REV DUNCAN H. SELPH'S APPOINTMENT TO THE BAPTIST FEMALE COLLEGE AT LEXINGTON, MISSOURI

© Kathy Duncan, 2014

Information continues to present itself through the digitalization of America's newspapers. Through them, we can continue to flesh out our ancestors. Such is the case with Rev. Duncan Hyder Selph's election as President of the Baptist Female College at Lexington, Lafayette Co., Missouri.

In 1870 he was the president of Union University in Murfreeboro, Tennessee. With his health in decline, he evidently thought it prudent to seek out a position at a smaller educational instituion, so he accepted the appointment at the Baptist Female College in Lexington, Missouri and relocated his family.

The following announcement in the Lexington newspaper heralded his new appointment:

"The Rev. Duncan H. Selph, A.M., professor of moral philosophy and theology of Union University, at Murfreesboro', Tenn., was yesterday chosen as president of the Baptist Female College, and will be here at once to assume the duties of his place. His faculty is not yet, fully chosen but will be, and announced, in a few days. It is proper to say, however, that Miss Mary Frank Hawkins, and Miss Gabriella Hawkins, both of this city, and for years identified with that school, it is expected, will each have a place in it. President D.H. Selph for many years conducted one of the most successful female colleges at Danville, Ky."
[Source: The Weekly Caucasian; Lexington, Lafayette Co., MO., 30 July 1870]

The follow up article was rich in biographical detail:

The Baptist Female College  

Its New President 

"We have already announced that Rev Duncan H. Selph, A.M., has been elected President of the Baptist Female College in this place. We have now the pleasure to announce that Mr. Selph has definitely accepted the position, and is actively at work in preparations for the ensuing session. The Board of Trustees have not been hasty in their selection, and we consider that they have both acted fortunately and wisely in refusing to fill the vacancy until it was found possible to secure the services of such a teacher as they have.

"Mr. Selph is a native of North Carolina but in early life emigrated to Tennessee, and graduated with distinction at the institution of which he subsequently became President - Union University at Murfreesboro. His first active labor was with Madison College, Tennessee, which has built up under his labors and acquired much celebrity. Since that time, and indeed before that, in humbler positions, he has been energetically engaged in fostering and maturing educational interests, the most prominent of which was the Baptist Female College at Danville, Ky., which he carried through the whole extent of the war, with honor and profit. From this institution he went to the Presidency of his Alma Mater, in Tennessee; succeeded in saving the property from passing out of the hands of the original owners, and securing it for time to come. Ill-health, consequent to unusual labor, and desire to enter a field in which the better to superintend the education of his children, induced him to resign that position, against the protests of the friends of the University, and in the face of an enlarged salary.

"We hope our people will extend to President Selph a cordial welcome, and express their gratification at his accession to our society, by granting him a liberal share of their patronage. He is still young, and capable of great effort in building up the institution over which he presides, to a higher standard than it has ever attained.

"We understand that the new President will shortly return to the East in order to secure a full outfit for the College. The furniture and pianos will be entirely new, and of the most modern patterns. We have not heard the names of the corps of teachers selected, but we expect to be enabled to publish full particulars in our next issue. We congratulate the friends of the Baptist College upon the favorable prospect before them."

[Source: The Weekly Caucasian; Lexington, Lafayette Co., MO; 13 Aug 1870]

Fortunately, the Lexington papers reprinted the article that was published in Mufreesboro, Tennessee newspaper, announcing Rev Duncan H. Selph's departure: 

"President D. H. Selph - The gentleman who has been President of Union University has accepted the Presidency of the Baptist Female College at Lexington, Mo.

"President Selph has labored long in our midst for the advancement of our schools, and while he may have felt it his duty to leave us, it is to be regretted that one so gifted and energetic could not be retained in our midst. He is a zealous and working friend of schools, and possesses superior talents as a teacher. A true christian and upright gentleman, his counsel and teachings cannot fail of being beneficial to students, and we commend him to the people of Lexington as an instructor worthy of any position that the may be placed, and one in whom every trust may be reposed. [Murfreesboro (Tenn.,) Paper."

[Source: The Weekly Caucasian; Lexington, Lafayette Co. MO.; 10 Sept 1870]

Regrettably, the poor health that forced Rev. Duncan H. Selph to preside over a smaller school continued to plague him, and he died a few years later.

Nathaniel Holcomb III House on YouTube

Here is a link to a slide show of the house Nathaniel Holomb III  built in Granby, CT for those of us who cannot travel to see it. Lots of pictures of the interior.