Two Civil War Families

First, I'd like to apologize for taking so long in getting back to people who e-mailed me. That particular account is my secondary account and I sometimes go several weeks without looking at it. Obviously, I must mend my ways!


Now. I thought perhaps it was time I started putting some names and dates here, and I mentioned I was going to enter some information about relatives of mine who fought in the Civil war, so here's the first installment:

Browns Corners, Huntington Co., Indiana, 1860: Sometime between 1850 and 1860, William H. Boston moved his family from Fairfield Co., OH to Huntington Co., IN, by ox-cart according to the obituary of his son Jacob. The family consisted of

• William H., b. abt. 1801, maybe Virginia, maybe Maryland
• his wife Rachel Rader, b. 1804 in Virginia
• daughter Mary, b. 1830, Fairfield Co., OH
• daughter Lucinda, b. 1834, Fairfield Co., OH
• son John A., b. 1838, Fairfield Co., OH
• son Jacob, b. 1840, Fairfield Co., OH
• son William H., b. 1842, Fairfield Co., OH

The elder William was a wheelwright, and his three sons worked as carpenters. In 1862, the oldest son, John, enlisted with the 100th Ohio Infantry, Co. E. The regiment's history, according to the National Park Service Soldiers and Sailors site (http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm)

Organized at Toledo, Ohio, July to September, 1862. Ordered to Cincinnati, Ohio, September 8, thence to Covington, Ky., and duty there till October 8. to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to October, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Kentucky, to January, 1863. District of Central Kentucky, Dept. Ohio, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, Army Ohio, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to June, 1865. SERVICE.-Ordered to Lexington, Ky., October 8, 1862, thence to Richmond, Ky., December 1, and to Danville, Ky., December 26. To Frankfort, Ky., January 3, 1863. Duty at various points in Central Kentucky till August. Expedition to Monticello and operations in Southeastern Kentucky April 26-May 12. Burnside's Campaign in East Tennessee August 16-October 17. Telford Station and Limestone September 8. (240 men captured at Telford Station while guarding railroad.) Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 23. Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5. Pursuit to Blain's Cross Roads. Duty at Blain's Cross May 1-September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Cartersville May 20. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Muddy Creek June 17. Noyes Creek June 19. Cheyney's Farm June 22. Near Marietta June 23. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Duty at Decatur till October 4. Pursuit of Hood into Northern Alabama October 4-26. Nashville Campaign November-December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. At Clifton, Tenn., till January 16, 1865. Movement to Washington, D. C., thence to Federal Point, N. C., January 16-February 9. Fort Anderson February 18-19. Town Creek February 19-20. Capture of Wilmington February 22. Campaign of the Carolinas March-April. Advance on Goldsboro, N. C., March 6-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 21. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Near Raleigh April 13. Bennett's House April 26. army. Duty at Greensboro, N. C. till June. Mustered out June 20, and discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 1, 1865.

John returned to his family in Indiana after the War, where he worked as a "house-joiner" in 1870. Then I lose him until 1900, when he's living in the Dayton Military Home, Montgomery Co., OH, and where he died in 1918; he's buried in the Dayton National Cemetery. (Here's a link to a virtual tour of the old Dayton Military Home, now the Dayton VAMC: http://www.dayton.va.gov/museum/index.asp) I haven't been able to learn whether John was ever married: I haven't been able to locate him anywhere in the 1880 census, while the 1900 and 1910 censuses show him as being a widower, and his death certificate indicates he was single.

The middle son, Jacob, enlisted with the 153rd Indiana Infantry, Co. C, in 1865.

Organized at Indianapolis, Ind., March 1, 1865. Left State for Nashville, Tenn., March 5. Stopped at Louisville, Ky., while en route and sent to Russellsville, Ky. Operating against guerillas in vicinity of Russellsville till June. Lyons County April 29 (Detachment). Moved to Louisville, Ky., June 16, and duty at Taylor's Barracks till September. Mustered out September 4, 1865.

Jacob somehow met Mary Meyer of Brunswick, Chariton Co., MO, married her, and returned to Browns Corners, where he lived and raised a family until about 1882 or 1883, when he moved his family to his wife's hometown. He died in 1932.

I haven't been able to ascertain whether the youngest brother, William, served in the War or not. There is a William Boston in the roster of the 10th Indiana Light Artillery, and one in the 8th Ohio Infantry. He died young, apparently unmarried, in 1872.

Lafayette Co., MO, 1860 - Sometime between 1840 and 1850, Alexander Richard Brown moved his family from Breckinridge Co., KY, to Lafayette Co., MO. The family consisted of:

• Alexander Richard Brown, b. 1795, Virginia
• his wife, Harriett A., b. 1808, KY. I believe her maiden name may have been Colville, and that she had Hales connections, but haven't yet been able to prove either idea
• daughter Elizabeth, b. 1838, KY
• son John Hales, b. 1840, KY
• daughter Harriett A., b. 1842, KY
• son Alexander Richard, b. 1844, KY
• son James Oscar, b. 1846, KY
• daughter Sarah Louise, b. 1848, MO
• son Colville G., b. 1850, MO

In 1862, oldest son John enlisted with the 3rd Regiment Missouri Infantry Volunteers, Co. F.

3rd Infantry Regiment [also called 2nd Regiment] was organized near Springfield,
Missouri, in January, 1862. Many of the men were from St. Louis and Jefferson
and Franklin counties. The unit soon moved east of the Mississippi River and was
active in the engagements at Iuka and Corinth. Later it was assigned to Bowen's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The 3rd fought in various conflicts during the Vicksburg siege and was captured on July 4, 1863. Exchanged and assigned to General Cockrell's Brigade, it was consolidated with the 5th Regiment. This command participated in the Atlanta Campaign, endured Hood's winter operations in Tennessee, then aided in the defense of Mobile. The 3rd lost 5 killed, 65 wounded, and 23 missing at Corinth, had 13 killed, 63 wounded, and 44 missing at Champion's Hill, and during the Vicksburg siege had 18 killed and 83 wounded. In the Atlanta Campaign, May 18 to September 5, the 3rd/5th reported 128 casualties and 68 at Allatoona. Very few surrendered in May, 1865. Its commanders were Colonels William R. Gause, James A. Prichard, and Benjamin A. Rives; Lieutenant Colonels Finley L. Hubbell and James K. McDowell, and Major Robert J. Williams.

The two middle Brown boys, Alexander Richard (who sometimes appears in records as Alex and sometimes as Richard) and James Oscar (frequently listed as J.O., sometimes as Oscar), signed up with Co. C., Elliot's Regiment.

Col. Benjamin Elliott's Cavalry regiment was also known as the "1st Missouri Cavalry Battalion" or the "10th Missouri Cavalry Regiment" as well as the 9th Missouri Cavalry. 1st Cavalry Regiment was formed during summer of 1861. Many of its members had served with the Missouri State Guard. The unit fought at Elkhorn Tavern, then moved east of the Mississippi River and was dismounted. After fighting at Iuka and Corinth, it was assigned to M.E. Green's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It took an active part in the fight at Big Black River Bridge and on July 4, 1863, was captured at Vicksburg . After the exchange it was assigned to General Cockrell's Brigade, and consolidated with the 3rd (Samuel's) Missouri Cavalry Battalion. It fought with the Army of Tennessee throughout the Atlanta Campaign and was part of Hood's operations in Tennessee. Later it was involved in the defense of Mobile. On May 4, 1862, the regiment contained 536 effectives and lost 9 killed and 54 wounded at Corinth. The 1st/3rd Battalion reported 25 killed, 80 wounded, and 3 missing during the Atlanta Campaign and sustained 56 casualties at Allatoona. The small command surrendered with the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The field officers were Colonel Elijah Gates; Lieutenant Colonels Richard B. Chiles, George W. Law, and William D. Maupin; and Majors Robert R. Lawther and William C. Parker.

The youngest boy, Colville, was not necessarily too young to have served, perhaps as a drummer, but I haven't found any indication that he ever enlisted.

Alex and Oscar married and raised families in Lafayette Co., MO. Alex and his wife Julia were admitted to the Confederate Veterans Home in Higginsville, MO; Alex died in 1928 and is buried in the Higginsville Confederate Cemetery. (http://www.mostateparks.com/confedmem/geninfo.htm)

J.O. had 5 sons, but in 1910 is living with one of Alex's daughters and her family. He applied for a Confederate pension from the State of Missouri in 1914. I haven't been able to find a death certificate for him, nor have I been able to find him or any of his sons in the 1920 census, in
Missouri or any other state, but the search continues.

Young Colville went to live with his eldest brother John after the death of their mother, and died in 1876. He's buried in the Brown Family Cemetery in Chariton Co., MO.

John married Drucilla Raiford Agee of Brunswick, Chariton Co., MO, where he farmed his mother-in-law's land. The couple had 5 children, only one of whom survived to adulthood. John died in 1907.

Being an incurable romantic, I love the parallels between the two families--both families making a long and arduous move to new territory at about the same time, sons from one family fighting for the Union and from the other for the Confederacy and being at the same place at least once (the siege of Atlanta), one brother from each family ending his days in a veterans' home and being buried on the grounds, the youngest son in each family dying young.

And the best part? John Hales Brown's son Lon married Jacob Boston's daughter Nora, and they became my great-grandparents.

(If you have any questions about any of the principals mentioned above, please contact me, as I have more information about the various Browns and Bostons.)

Brick walls and a stop in the swamp

We all have 'em, right?

Here are a few of mine:

Maria Susannah Agee. B. abt. 1785 in Buckingham Co., VA, d. 1861, Buckingham Co., VA. Married Vincent Reid Brooks, had 11 children. The problem is that no one seems to know for sure which Agee family she belongs to. Buckingham Co. was crawling with Agees at that time, but when you consider that they were all descended from the 3 sons of Matthew Isaac Agee, who arrived in Virginia with a group of Huguenot immigrants around the end of the 17th century, you wouldn't think it would be that hard to track. No go, though. Buckingham Co. is a "burned" county, and most of the official records are gone, and what information I have found about her seems unlikely.

William Butler Ensor. How cool a name is that, anyway? B. 1856 in Washington Co., KY, d. ? Married Mary Agnes Megown, had 3 children, is last seen officially in the 1915 Kansas state census, last mentioned unofficially in his sister Fanny's obituary in 1925. Vanishes without a trace.

William H. Boston - b. abt. 1801, maybe in Virginia, maybe in Maryland. First officially shows up in marriage records in Fairfield Co., OH, when he married Rachel Rader in 1825. Had 5 children, died in Browns Corners, Huntington Co., IN in 1872. Can't go any farther back with the Bostons than William.

John A. Boston - eldest son of William, b. 1838, Fairfield Co., OH. Served with the 100th Ohio Infantry in the Civil War, went back home and worked as a carpenter with his brothers in 1870, then disappears until 1900, when he's listed as living at the Dayton Military Home. In 1900 and 1910 censuses, he's shown as a widower; on his death certificate it says he's single (which, technically, he was at the time of his death). Where was he between 1870 and 1900, and was he or wasn't he married?

Harriett L. Brown - b. 1808 KY; d. 1873 Ray Co., MO. Don't know what her maiden name was. She married Alexander Richard Brown, and had a son named Alexander Richard--Brown family names. There was also a son named John Hales Brown, and a son named Colville G. Brown. It's purely a guess that Hales and Colville are from her side of the family: I have enough information to know it's not from the Brown side, and Colville is a fairly unusual name. Problem is, I can't find any Hales or Colvilles/Colvils/Colevilles in KY in the 1800 or 1810 census.

Bezaleel Brooks. Great name, isn't it? You wouldn't think I could lose someone named Bezaleel. Bezaleel is one of the sons of Maria Susannah Agee and Vincent Reid Brooks, b. 1822 in Buckingham Co., VA. He was a 1st Sgt/2nd Lt. of the "Jeff Davis Guard," Co. A. of the 57th VA Infantry. I've found nothing to indicate he was killed in action. I can't find him or his wife, Ann Moseley Brooks, in any post-Civil War census; his son, William Reid Brooks, went out to join the Chariton Co. Agees by 1880, which would seem to indicate that his parents had died.

Hales. If Harriett Brown's maiden name was Hales, or if her mother's maiden name was Hales, my next question is: Is there an Agee connection? When I talk about the genealogical swamp, it's the Agees I'm talking about. The Agees and their extremely complicated family relationships. With the Agees and "allied families," as the genealogists say, you have to enter everyone in every family into your database, because if you don't, 2 or 3 generations down the line you're going to find out that person A married person B, who turns out to be the son of the guy whose half-sister's mother was the daughter of person A's grandfather's younger brother. You can get lost for days following the twists and turns of these people, until you get dizzy and fall in. They would fit right into The Shire (you may remember that hobbits love genealogy and everyone knows who is related to whom in what degree). Fortunately, they're reasonably easy to track because of their naming habits, and if a name like Darby or Mourning pops up, you know you need to backtrack and see where it came from, and if there's a Maria Susannah in someone's family, there's likely to be a Maria Susannah or Mary Susan in the families of all of Maria Susannah's siblings (so you'd better get your dates straight).

Therefore, when John Hales Brown shows up and marries Drucilla Raiford Agee (Drucilla Raiford married John Dickerson Mask, and is the great-grandmother of Drucilla Raiford Agee), AND when Elizabeth Hales marries Matthew Ayres, who is the father of Nathan Ayres, who married Mary Agnes Bondurant, who is the first cousin 3x removed of Drucilla Raiford Agee (are you dizzy yet?) -- well, I just get suspicious, that's all!