My Black Sheep Ancestors, Part 2

I suppose everyone has a black sheep or two in their family tree, but through online newspapers, I discovered I have two great-great-grandfathers who were murderers!  I wrote about the first one, my maternal great-great-grandfather, Daniel Batson, in part one:

My Black Sheep Ancestors

Daniel Batson killed his son-in-law because he continually beat his wife, Dan's daughter, and he never served prison time, although he was jailed locally for a couple of years.  Killing the bad guy sort of makes him a bit of a hero, not a man of whom to be completely ashamed.  However, my paternal great-great grandfather, John Feland Button, is an entirely different story.  It was a shock to find his story revealed in online newspapers.  Unlike Dan Batson whose actions lived through family stories in my mother's family, John F. Button's were a dark secret family members took to their graves.  Even now, there are family members still living who are a bit too close to the people involved, so I have not shared this information with them.  However, I think it's important information to share.  I and my mother before me have researched the Button family for decades, and there is so much that is unknown about this family.  One thing that was never answered among all the Button cousins and Button research I found available--what happened to John Feland Button and his wife?  Because so many want to know that answer, I decided to post what I learned on this blog to be found by those who diligently search for the answer.  It's not a story I'm proud to broadcast freely.

John Feland Button

John Feland Button was my great-great-grandfather on my father's side.  His daughter, Clara, was my great-grandmother, and I knew her until I was eight years old when she died shortly before her eighty-sixth birthday.  Her son, Emanuel Tillman Warner, was my grandfather, father to my Daddy, Francis Eugene Warner.  

John Feland Button was the son of Harmon M. Button and Sarah Adaline Cain.  He was born 15 May 1845, in Mississippi, probably Wilkinson Co.  His siblings were James J. Button (1839-1862, died in the Civil War), Benjamin A. Button (1842-?), and Frances F. Button Brannon (1850-1890).  He married Mary Elizabeth Huff (1852-1896), daughter of Holloway Huff and Caroline Pomeroy, 26 November 1874, in Wilkinson Co., Mississippi.  They had the following children:  Francis Jones Button (1875-1951), Caroline Elizabeth "Bessie" Button Foster (1877-1923), Clara Adaline Button Warner (1880-1966), John Feland Button Jr. (1882-1971), Byron Pomeroy Button (1884-1896), George Allen Button (1886-?), Catherine Theresa "Katie" Button Hughes (1889-1930), Mamie Huff Button (1891-?), Nellie Verna Button Justice Case (1893-1969), and Claude Howard Button (1896-1978).  The 1896 death date routinely found online for John Feland Button Sr. is just one person's guess that has been copied over and over by other researchers.  It's based on a rumor that he and his wife and son Byron died in some epidemic.  There's another rumor that his wife died in childbirth in 1896 with her last child, Howard.  I believe that one to be true; she died in childbirth or soon thereafter, as evidenced by the information I found in the newspapers.  As for John Feland Button Sr., he died 20 May 1899, in a prison in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.  The morbid story is revealed in the following newspaper articles:

Article in a January 22, 1898, St. Landry, Louisiana, newspaper.

The date and the age of the young mother makes her my great-grandmother, Clara Adaline Button.  Her 21-year-old sister, Bessie, was married and living with her husband by this time.  The younger Miss Button mentioned in the article would have been Katie, not quite nine at the time.  Mamie and Nellie would have been six and four, resp.  It is obvious that Clara's mother was not alive at this time.  It seems logical to me that Mr. Sheppard who was living with the Buttons may have moved in after her death and was very likely the father of the baby.

Follow-up article dated January 24, 1898.

The Grand Jury found enough evidence to charge J. F. Button and Sheppard with murder.

February 19, 1898, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Convicted:

March 12, 1898, St. Francisville, Louisiana.

John F. Button and W. C. Sheppard are sentenced to life in prison:

March 19, 1898, St. Landry.

The appeal failed:

May 17, 1898, New Orleans, Louisiana.

From the register of the Louisiana State Penitentiary:

It states that John F. Button was born in Kentucky, and I've seen that elsewhere.  That's where his father was from, but as his older and younger siblings were all born in Mississippi, I believe that is where he must have been born.  He did list Mississippi as his birthplace in some records.

Here are closer views:

He was sentenced March 12, 1898, and arrived at the penitentiary July 30, 1898.  He died May 20, 1899, in prison.

Death recorded at the Louisiana State Penitentiary:

Closer views:

John F. Button died in prison on May 20, 1899, at the age of 54.  The above record shows 53, but I show it would have been five days past his 54th birthday.  Had he lived, he would have been eligible for early release for good behavior July 13, 1913, after serving 15 years.

The Rest of the Button Family 

John Feland Button's children were scattered in the 1900 census.  Frank was a lodger with Henry T. Brooks in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.  Bessie was married to her first husband, Claiborne Kimble, living in St. Landry Parish.  Six-year-old Nellie lived with her.  20-year-old Clara, my great-grandmother, lived alone in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, and was a schoolteacher.  Feland Button was 18 and living in the home of Theogene Smith in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.  Byron had died in 1896.  I've been unable to find George Allen anywhere at any time.  Katie lived with her Aunt Katie Huff in Wilkinson Co., Mississippi.  I've been unable to find Mamie anywhere at any time.  As stated before, Nellie lived with sister Bessie.  I can't find four-year-old Claude Howard in 1900, but he shows up in 1910 in brother Feland's house in Natchez, Adams Co., Mississippi.

Frank married Emmeline Victoria Foster 23 May 1905, in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.  Bessie's second husband was Samuel Foster Jr., who was Victoria's brother.  Clara married my great-grandfather, Kavanaugh Warner, in 1904.  I wonder if he ever knew her secret.  If anyone in my family ever knew it, they certainly didn't talk about it.  Feland married Eva Estelle Hammett in 1906.  Byron died young, and George may have, too, as I can't find him anywhere.  Katie married James Franklin Hughes about 1913 and lived in St. Louis, Missouri.  I have no idea what happened to Mamie.  Nellie married first Ernest Justice and then William E. Case.  Howard married Daisy Mae Pollard and then Leola Anthony.

Sam and Bessie Button Foster

Clara Button Warner

John Feland Button, Jr.

Catherine "Katie" Button Hughes

Howard Button

The living Button siblings as of the early 1960's:  Nellie, Clara, Howard, and Feland

I welcome any and all comments, additions, or corrections.  I'd love to correspond with Button cousins.  Thank you!    

My Black Sheep Ancestors

I suppose everyone might have a black sheep or two in their family tree, but through online newspapers, I have discovered two murderers in mine!  The first one I had heard rumors about, but the second was an unexpected and shocking find, not to mention very disturbing.  I'll save him for later.

Daniel David Batson

Dan Batson is my great-great-grandfather on my mother's side.  My mother told me a story about her Daddy's grandfather.  Her father was N. D. Fleming.  N. D., that's it, only initials.  The initials were for his grandparents, Nan and Dan Batson.  On some later occasion when only initials were not acceptable, he called himself Norman Dee Fleming, and most people just called him Dee.  

Anyway, back to Dan Batson.  The family story goes that he killed his son-in-law because he was beating his wife, Dan's daughter.  He ran away and hid in the woods and never went to prison. 

Daniel David Batson was born 4 February 1839, in Tennessee, probably Cannon Co., as his family was there in the 1840 census.  His parents were Dennis Riley Batson and Mary "Polly" Stanfield.  Siblings were Calvin B. (b. 1837), Thomas J. (1842), Clark A. (1846), Sarah Ann (1849), G. Washington (1852), and Bodecia (1854).  By 1860, the family lived in Jefferson Co., Alabama.  Dan married Nancy Delilah Patman (1844-1945), daughter of Upson Leggett Patman and Mary Gilley Gooding, on 31 October 1867, in Shelby Co., Alabama.  They had the following children:  Sarah Angeline (b. 1869), Alice S. (1871), George H. Lewis (1874), John Louis (1878), Ada Idella (1881), and Martha Jane (1885), my grandfather Dee's mother.

Batson Family (circa 1910)

From left to right, Clara Leona Hunnicutt Sawyer, Viola Hollis, Stephen Hollis holding baby Ran Hollis, Alice Batson Hollis, Nancy Delilah Patman Batson holding baby possibly Irene Sawyer, and Daniel David Batson

It was the husband of Dan's oldest daughter, Sarah Angeline, whom he killed.  It took me the longest time to figure out who the husband was.  It seemed Sarah was first married to Eli Wadsworth and then to James Hunnicutt.  In 1900, Sarah Wadsworth was widowed and living with her parents, so I always assumed it was Eli Wadsworth whom Dan must have killed.  She married James Hunnicutt in 1902 and lived with him until his death in 1933.  But there were Hunnicutt kids and dates that just didn't match up.  Then lo and behold, 1890 Birmingham, Alabama, newspapers held the answer!  Sarah had been married to another unrelated Hunnicutt before she married Eli Wadsworth!  And because he came and went during that awful 1890 missing census period, there was no record of David Hunnicutt being Sarah's husband except for these newspaper articles.  

Sarah married David Hunnicutt about 1888.  He was the son of James R. Hunnicutt and Sarah Phillips.  Dave and Sarah, or Angeline, as she was called during that time, had a daughter Elzie who was born 25 November 1888.  Sarah Angeline was pregnant with their second daughter, Clara Leona, when the tragic event happened on April 7, 1890:

Article in a Livingston newspaper dated April 11, 1890

At first, it seems no one knew who had killed Dave Hunnicutt:

Article in a Jacksonville newspaper on April 12, 1890

Either this article made a mistake on the age of the child, or the child was not Dave and Sarah's daughter.  Their daughter would have only been a year and a half.  I did find many errors in all these articles, but I have no doubt that they do tell the story of my great-great-grandfather, Dan Batson.

Article in a Birmingham newspaper dated April 10, 1890

Obviously, this article misspelled Dan Batson's name.  It also called his wife Mary instead of Nancy.  Nancy Patman Batson did have a sister named Mary who was married to Berry Barksdale Nunnelly.  Alice Batson was Sarah Angeline's sister who would have been about 19 and still single at that time.  Martha Adeline Batson was Dan's sister-in-law married to his brother Calvin.

Article in a Birmingham newspaper dated April 11, 1890

Again, Alice Batson is Dan Batson's daughter, Sarah Angeline's sister.  George Batson is Dan Batson's son.  Dave Batson is Dan Batson; he was Daniel David Batson.  Wash Batson was Dan Batson's brother who was married to Sarah Jane Isbell; Abel Isbell was her brother.  Dan Batson's father's name was Dennis Batson, but I have no evidence he was still living in 1890.  There was a younger Dennis Batson living in the area who would have been about 20 years old.  I have been unable to connect him to Dan Batson at present.  Lafayette McComb, Jesse Poe, Lolo Stone, Will Mickel, and J. M. Hardin appear to be friends and neighbors.

Article in a Vicksburg newspaper dated April 20, 1890

Daniel Batson wasn't really captured.  He surrendered.

Article in a Montgomery newspaper dated April 19, 1890

He's Daniel D. Batson, not Daniel E. Bateson, but it's him, all right.

Article in a Birmingham newspaper dated April 18, 1890

Article in a Birmingham newspaper dated April 23, 1890

Daniel Batson murdered his son-in-law, David Hunnicutt.

Article in a Birmingham newspaper dated July 12, 1890

Dan Batson was still in the Jefferson County Jail as of July 12, 1890.  The asterisk after his name indicated he was under indictment and would be called for trial.

Article in Birmingham newspaper dated November 8, 1891

A year and a half after the crime, Dan Batson was still waiting for his day in court which was supposed to take place the following week.

Article in Birmingham newspaper dated May 31, 1892

Over two years after the crime, Daniel Batson's murder case was continued.

That is the last article I could find on the case.  I searched the Courts section of the Birmingham paper for the next three years and did not find any mention of Dan Batson's case.  However, I did see a couple of general references to witnesses not showing up and cases having to be continued, so perhaps that happened in his case.  My mother did say that nobody really cared, and he never went to prison.  I feel certain that if there had been a trial, it would have been big news.  I did a search of Alabama prison records and found that Daniel Batson never went to prison.  Maybe after a couple or few years in county jail, they quietly dismissed his case with time served.  I do know he was back home with his family in the 1900 census.  By 1910, the family had moved to Marion County, Mississippi, where Dan Batson died of malaria on July 18, 1918, in Pinebur.  He is buried in Caney Cemetery in Columbia, Mississippi.

Sarah Angeline Batson Hunnicutt married Eli Wadsworth on October 15, 1891.  They had a daughter, Della, who died as a baby.  They had a son, William Otis Wadsworth, born March 4, 1895.  Sarah and Eli divorced on April 17, 1902, but they were evidently estranged long before that, as Sarah Wadsworth was living with her parents in the 1900 census with her children, Elzie, Clara Leona, and Willie.  Sarah married James F. Hunnicutt, son of John Fletcher Hunnicutt and Mary Jane Head, in 1902.  I have thus far found no relationship between James Hunnicutt and David Hunnicutt.  James was a widower with many children.  Sarah and James had a son, Jim, in 1903, and a daughter, Nannie Mae, in 1906.  James Hunnicutt died in 1933 in Marion Co., Mississippi, and Sarah died there on July 31, 1953.  Both are buried in the Caney Church Cemetery.

Sarah Batson Hunnicutt (right) with daughter, Nannie Mae Hunnicutt

Elzie Hunnicutt married first Union Gaddis and then Richmond Dennis Morgan after her first husband died.  Elzie died 11 March 1981.  Her obituary proved she was the daughter of Dave Hunnicutt.

Clara Hunnicutt first married Bud Sawyer and then J. Hulon Bell after her first husband died.  She died 1 October 1960.  Her obituary also proves that David Hunnicutt was her father.

I welcome any comments or additions to the story.  I didn't post all my genealogy on this family, but I would be glad to share any of it.  I would love to find someone who knows what became of Eli Wadsworth.  Thank you!

My Black Sheep Ancestors, Part 2

Paul Skarry and Josephine Wrobleski Skarry

I have some copies of old photos of a family I no longer wish to research, but I want to share them with family who may have an interest.  Most of them have been posted on Findagrave.com, but I couldn't find this couple there, so I am posting it here, hoping a search in the future will bring it to someone who's delighted to find it. 

This is Paul Skarry (1881-1945) and Josephine Wrobleski Skarry (1885-1950):

Here is Josie with the Wrobleski sisters, at least the unmarried ones at the time this photo was taken:

Left to right, back row, is Josephine Skarry, Cecelia Olesch; left to right, front row, probably Elizabeth Witucki, and Antonia Zinda.

A Life Story by Rufus Henry Null

The following was found written in a notebook by my great-grandfather, Rufus Henry Null, when he was 82 years old, apparently found after his death.  Rufus Henry Null was born June 12, 1882, in Rockingham Co., Virginia, the son of Samuel Henry Null and Emma Catherine Rodgers.  His daughter, Virginia Sunshine Null Warner, was my grandmother, being the mother of my dad, Francis Eugene Warner.  There is a bit of genealogical data included in this writing, as well as other names and places and events of interest.  However, reader beware!  There are some bits of family lore, too, but those are so obvious, I believe you'll know them when you see them.  Hint:  It seems everyone in my family tree is descended from someone famous!  I made a few numbered footnotes if I found something that might actually be misleading, and if I have missed any or have made any errors, I welcome any comments and corrections.

Above is a portrait of Rufus Henry Null.  Now on with his story:

Oakdale, La.   April 6, 1965

As I sit here tonight reading a story of the life of a young couple just married and went from the east to the state of Montana to make their home in the unsettled country and being one of the pioneers of the now state of Montana, makes me think of the life I have lived in the 82 years I've spent in the different parts of the country, and taking a retrospective view of the past, I am going to state the happenings of the past, some of which I am not proud of, but may be helpful to someone else if they are found by my children after I have passed away.

First, I was born at Port Republic, Virginia, on the north fork of the beautiful banks of the famous Shenandoah River.  My grandfather was a native of Germany, came to the U.S. before the Civil War, married a Miss Evers in what is now known as Rockingham County near the county seat of Harrisonburg, Virginia (see footnote 1).  My grandfather gave each of his children 40 acres when they were married as a wedding present.  My grandfather had 2 sons and 1 daughter by his first wife who died at my father's birth (fn 2).  The daughter married Scott Hook (3).  My Uncle Leonard Null married Miss Laura Crown (4).  My father married Emma Rodgers, the daughter of Canaan Rodgers, a direct descendant of John Rodgers and Pocahontas (5), a daughter of Powhatan, chief of the Powhatan tribe of Virginia.

My grandfather Rodgers had 2 sons, James and William, and John who was killed at Blacksburg in the Civil War; 3 daughters (6), Sis, Eliza, and Emma who was my mother.  Sis married John Hinkle (7); Eliza married LaFayette Smith, a descendant of Captain John Smith (8); Emma married Samuel H. Null, my father, who lived in Rockingham County, Virginia, near Port Republic, a small village situated in the forks of North and South Fork forming the historical Shenandoah River of Virginia.  I have stood on the very spot where Stonewall Jackson stood when he dared the enemy to cross in the Battle of the Shenandoah.

Samuel Henry Null and Emma Catherine Rodgers Null

I had 2 brothers and 1 sister.  Both brothers were older than I and my only sister 2 years younger than I was.  My oldest brother was named Abram Evers after my mother's people.  My next oldest brother was named George Ellis.  Then I came on and named Rufus Henry after a noted crooked attorney.  My only sister named Cora Edna after some of Mother's people.

My father decided he could make a living for the family.  He sold his 40 acres to his sister's husband, Scott Hook, and we moved to Faquier County near Washington D.C.  He bought a section of land.  After moving across the Blue Ridge Mountains via road wagon, walking and driving the stock, we finally took possession.  My uncle by marriage to my mother's sister Eliza, LaFayette Smith, wanted my father to take him and his family on as partners which he did to his own sorrow.  My father and my uncle (Smith) bought a section 360 acres in partnership, each to pay 1/2 of the price of the land and divide the section equal 180 acres each.  When my father went to the county seat to pay the final payment on his 180, he discovered that Smith had defaulted on payment of his part, and the crooked lawyer from whom they had bought the section from demanded full payment of the part Smith was to pay, and my father couldn't make the default payment.  Consequently, the lawyer foreclosed the lien on all the section.

My father lost his 1/2 of section, and decided to take the stock he had left, after selling some to get money to move back to Rockingham County.  Temporarily he rented the home his father had given him and my father sold to Scott Hook, and after we moved in the house, Hook would not let us keep the stock father had on the place.  And my father and mother had to go 2 miles twice a day to feed and look after our stock.  The consequences were we all had the typhoid fever.  During the early winter months my mother walked in the snow twice a day to milk her cow.  Hook wouldn't even let her keep her milk cow in the barn while we were all down sick with typhoid.

As soon as we were all able to move, my father moved to a small boom town at that time named Shendun, and went to work for C. H. Rose Mfg. Co. manufacturing toilet seats and tanks, the early bathroom fixtures.  After about 4 or 5 years Rose went broke or claimed to.  Never paid the last two months' salary of around 200 employees.  The Rose Company main offices and sales force were in New York City.  The brick factory was sold to a young financier named William Livers, who manufactured telephone boxes and general equipments made of wood.  Mr. Livers was a Pennsylvanian and his father died in Pa., and young William and his 2 sisters moved to the town of Shendun whose name was and now is the present town of Grottoes, Va.  After Mr. Livers took over the Mfg. plant, he moved his 2 sisters to Grottoes, and the older one took charge of the office for her brother, and I at the age of 12 years was the office boy.  So I got to be well acquainted with the family and associated with them.  The youngest sister Anne and I became infatuated with one another, she being only 2 years older than I.  All of a sudden the bottom fell out of the use of wood parts for telephones and the factory was forced to shut down.  Only 2 people were employed, a night and day watchman.

My father had bought some lots in town and built a house for us, but it was not all paid for.  His obligation necessarily made him seek unemployment.  He went to the adjoining county seat.  There he connected with the W. W. Putnam Organ Co.  We moved to Staunton, Virginia.  And the organ factory was in its infancy only working 8 men.  After being with them several months, my dad got them to put me on as his helper, and I worked with them 5 years.  At the age of 17 I quit and went to Hagerstown, Md., and a great uncle of mine (a United Brethren Minister) named Abram Evers took me to the Hagerstown Pipe Organ Co. and introduced me to the owner who was a member of his church.   

I worked there 18 months and quit, went to N.Y. City.  Spent week, couldn't get a job there, came back to Philadelphia, Pa., got on with Henry Diston Saw Works manufacturing all kinds of circular saws, all sizes from 8 inch diameter up to 48 in. in diameter.  I had a roaming disposition after working some 7 or 8 months at Diston's.  I had met several young people my age and one day a boy that I had been chummy with, Charlie Knell by name, said to me, I hear they are begging for help in West Virginia, let's quit and go to West Virginia.  Having a roaming disposition, I had a partner and we hit the road.  But snow was on the ground and all the work was outdoor building mostly dwelling houses.  So we took the road again and landed at Columbus, Ohio, and got a job at Casparis Stone Company, 5 miles from the city.

I worked as an oiler for 1 month, then got a job as night engineer running a 350 horsepower Hardy Times Corliss Engine.  While working for W. W. Putnam Organ Co. in Staunton, Virginia, they had bought a 350 horse Hardy Times engine and I had helped Pat Mitchell the engine company man install for organ co., so I felt I could handle the engine and I did for a year, and I decided I wanted to go home and visit my people in Virginia.  So I gave notice and went back home.

When I got home I had spent all my money but $4.50 out of $95.00 when I quit the stone company and to top it off, the next day after I got home Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bro. circus were showing in town.  And I had a sweetheart whom I had kept in touch with in all my roaming around and I borrowed $5.00 from my brother which gave me $9.50 to take her to the circus.  I finally got a job with the Stacy Furniture Mfg. Co. at Ronceverte, West Va., was working there when I married the girl I had kept in touch with in my roaming, Miss Mary Lazette Potter, a grand niece of the late Bishop Potter, a bishop of the Methodist Diocese of New Jersey (9). 

Mary Lazette Potter Null

After our marriage (5 February 1904) I was offered a foreman's job with Stacy Mfg. Co. which I accepted and held successfully until Mr. Chas. Stacy sold the shop.  The General Supt, Mr. George Sensbaugh accepted a job with a large furniture mfg. co. at Greenwood, Miss.  I took an asst. foreman's job with Basic City Witz Furniture Corp. when Sensbaugh left the Stacy Co.  After Sensbaugh had been with Lockwood Mfg. Co. at Greenwood 2 or 3 months he wrote asking me if I would consider a job as shipping clerk.  He also told me my oldest brother was his Machine Room Foreman which I didn't know about.  So I took the job as shipping clerk but didn't take my family because of my wife's health.  

After being at Greenwood about 10 or 11 months I got a telegram to come home at once, my wife was seriously ill.  When I got home to Staunton she was in critical condition.  That was first of January and she never put a foot on the ground till Labor Day of that year.  I put her in a buggy and took her to a parade and Labor Day celebration.  When I got home from Miss. her doctor told me that I had to get Lithia Water for her to drink, that the limestone water would kill her if she kept using it.  I knew there was a big spring at Basic City, and I went to Mr. Witz and explained the situation to him and he told me that he was making some changes and if the changes he was making didn't work, he would be glad to put me on.  So I was told Karl Barkoff was starting a branch of Barkoff Pipe Organ Co. at Basic City.  I went to see them and got the job of making pipes for their organs.  

I learned the method of making the pipes of wood out of which all the sound and notes come from in a pipe organ.  All the metal pipes on the front of the large pipe organs are a decoration, not a sound comes from them.  It was from the organ manufacturers I learned to be a glue expert.  The mixes and usages of glue in pipe organs are different from any other usages of animal or chemical glues made.  The secret lies more upon the application of the glue because of the fact that a nail screw or any metallic instrument or scale or object, even a pit in the wood, will change the tone of the pipe which range from 14 inches in length to 16 feet in length and from 2" square to 14" square made of soft yellow poplar.  

After working for the pipe organ company a little over a year, I had a letter from Tallahatchie Furn. Mfg. Co. at Greenwood, Miss. offering me a fancy salary to come to Greenwood and take charge of the factory as draftsman and Asst. Supt.  After talking it over with my wife who seemed to be improving in her health, we decided I'd accept if they let me have 30 days to get my affairs straightened up.  After writing the company when I would be there, my wife said she had changed her mind and wasn't going with me, afraid she would die there in Miss.  I told her I was going if I didn't stay but a day, that she should not have agreed for me to accept the offer.  So she asked me to take her to her Daddy's.  When I was buying my railroad ticket, she slipped up behind me and said get me one, too, which I did.  

And when we got to Greenwood she was the sickest person I ever saw.  I thought she was going to die.  I took her to a boarding house, asked the woman running the house to tell me a good Dr.  She told me there was an old country Dr. named Campbell just a block from the boarding house.  I hustled off to see him.  He asked me what was the matter.  I told him what the Dr. in Virginia told me and she had been two days and two nights on a train, but she had been sick for about 10 or 12 months.  He said no use for him to see her, that he would give her some medicine and if it didn't help her he would come to see her.  I took the prescription to the druggist and had it filled, cost me 65 cents.  She took that medicine and she took that one bottle of medicine and we lived in Greenwood from 1907 to 1913 and she never took another dose of medicine while we lived there (10).  And when the worst flu epidemic that ever hit this country, she and I nursed all the people in the part of the city we lived in, and she never was sick while we lived there except when Ed was born.  I asked her if she remembered what she said to me when she told me to buy her a ticket.  She said to me I'm going with you but you are taking me there to die, not realizing that by following me she would be made well.  Many times she regretted saying it.  But she never mentioned it to me and many happy years we had after that took place.  4 years we enjoyed life together after I took her to Greenwood to die, she thought.  And never after that when I changed jobs did she ever refuse to risk my judgment.  

When the flood of 1913, the Dr. told me to take Ed and the family and get away, that there was going to be lots of sickness and the weak condition of Ed, he would die.  So I up and got me a job in Memphis, Tennessee with the Florence Table Co., with them 6 years and they moved to Indiana, and I got a job with Weatherford Cooperage Co.  Was with them 2 years, then I went from there to Alexandria, La., Bolton & Heyden 5 years (11), from there to Leesville, La., Hooker Furn. Co., there 4 years, to Orange, Texas.  Built factory in Orange, stock company went broke, went to Pineland, Texas, Temple Lumber Co. 2 or 3 years, went to Benton, Ark., bought farm, built log house.  Went to Owosso Mfg. Co. in Benton, with them 5 years, Furniture and Plywood and Veneer Mill built a new addition to Owosso Plant, back to Alexandria, La., novelty shop of my own, to Oakdale, La. 1945, business of my own.  Lost my wife 19.

That is where the journal ends.  There was a definite period after "19", but I am not sure what he was trying to say.  Mary Lazette Potter Null died on 3 Feb. 1953, 12 years before the start of his journal, almost 15 years before his death on 3 Jan. 1968.  It's possible there could be missing pages.


Footnotes:


(1) My records show his grandfather to be George Null born 1813 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, who married Diannah Evers.

(2) I show that George and Diannah had two sons and four daughters--Margaret, Catherine, Sophia, and Josepha.  His father was Diannah's last child, but she died 23 October 1857, almost 2 1/2 years after his father's birth on 15 June 1855.

(3) The daughter who married Abraham Scott Hooke was Sophia.  

(4) Leonard Null actually married Laura Crabill.

(5) Pocahontas was actually married to John Rolfe.

(6) My records show there were 7 daughters--Frances, Serena Margaret, Emma, Eliza, Annabelle, Mary Henriette, and Cora Lee.

(7) Sis appears to be Frances who married John Henkel.

(8) Captain John Smith never married or fathered any children.

(9) Although this fact is possible, I think it is doubtful.  To be Mary Lazette's great uncle, it would have to be her grandfather James Potter's brother.  I can find no relation to the more famous Potter bishops who were bishops of the larger state dioceses.

(10) According to my records, Robert Null was born May 3, 1907, in Virginia; Edward Null was indeed born in Mississippi on Feb. 18, 1911; but Virginia Null was born in Virginia on August 6, 1912.

(11) My records show that in Nov. 1916, daughter Mary was born in Greensboro, Guilford Co., North Carolina, there when he registered for the draft in Sep. 1918, and still in Guilford Co. in the 1920 census.  Rufus Henry Jr. was born in Greensboro, NC, in Aug. 1922, and Leonard "Rabbit" was born in NC in Dec. 1924.  The 1930 census finds the family in Memphis, Tennessee, and in 1940, in Arkansas.

Lines on the Death of Owen Hilton

Included in the journal of Algernon Hilton were many poems, songs, and even a supposed real life tale of Kate Percival, "by the author of Ellen Gamble".  A few have the author's name, but many do not.  I really don't know if any of those could have been written by Algernon Hilton, or if he simply did not know the author's name.  I am only including this one poem because it contains the names of members of the Hilton family.

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Lines on the death of Owen Hilton, son of Elias and Lottie Hilton, who died in North, April the 3rd, 1849, aged 18 years and seven months, by Hepsibah Hilton

Sweet cherished son of thy love, so early called away
Why should we mourn departed friends who can no longer stay
Yet still the silent falling tear will bring the soul relief
And soothe the anguish of the heart in hours of deepest grief

The dread destroyer sealed his fate & marked him for the tomb
And lured him from us, away in days of manhood's bloom
In yonder bright Celestial Heaven his spirit is at rest
And free from care forever there he will always be blessed

Oh weep not for the cherished one of whom you have been grieving
For faith points out the happy day when you shall meet in Heaven
The angel spirit of your boy is free from every care
The happy day comes hastening on when you will meet him there

Weep not a tear, are cruel words to greet the mourner's ear
Thy sacred memory of the dead will bring the falling tear
Weep on I say, keep not thy tears but weep not in despair
But look to Heaven & seek relief & you will find it there

Dear brother of the lovely boy place not your heart on earth
Oh may you feel a lasting joy of high and heavenly berth
Then God will bless your future days with happiness & peace
And you will meet in Heaven at last where sorrow soon will cease

God nothing does, nor suffers to be done
But what ourselves would do if we could see
The end of all events as well as He

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Back to Algernon Hilton's Income and Expense Report from June 1844 through January 1846

Algernon Hilton's Income and Expense Report from June 1844 through January 1846

(June 1844 entries appear already in progress)

2nd - Left Washington St. Landry Parish on the steamboat Gen. Morgan.  We had $5.30 when we started.

3rd - Landed at Plaquemine.  Paid for passage $5.00.  From the 5th to the 29th done work to the amount of $8.10.  From the 5th to the 30th expenses $7.70.

July 1844

5th - Left Plaquemine on a flatboat, landed on Bayou Lafourche at Joel Leftwich's plantation, the same day made an agreement with Leftwich to build a dwelling house & kitchen for $150.00.

10th - Commenced the kitchen.

15th - Raised the kitchen.

25th - Finished the kitchen.

29th - Commenced the dwelling house.

August 1844

To work at the dwelling house.

September 1844

23rd - Raised the dwelling house.

October 1844

To work on the dwelling house.

November 1844

To work on the dwelling house.

December 1844

15th - Finished the dwelling house.

January 1845

1st - Commenced another house for Leftwich, agreed to build it for $55.00.

February 1845

5th - Finished said $55 house.

21st - Commenced a mill for Leftwich, agreed to set it running for $25.

March 1845

20th - Finished the mill, settled with Leftwich for the dwelling house and kitchen, $150.00; for the second house $55.00; for the mill $25.00; for extra work $30.00; = $260.00.  Expenses while to work for Leftwich $160.00; left $100.00 24th.

26 - Left Bayou Lafourche on the steamboat Missouri Maid.

27th - Landed at New Orleans.

April 1845

1st - Left New Orleans on the Joan of Arc for Memphis.

6th - Landed at Memphis.

10th - Left Memphis on the Annawan for St. Louis.

13th - Landed at St. Louis.

14 - Moved in a house.  From the 20th of March till the 14th of April passage paid on steamboats 28 dollars.  Sundry other expenses 28 dollars.  From the 14th to the 30th expenses for rent & etc. $20; = $76, left $24.00 on the 30th.

May 1845

1st - Cash in hand 24 dollars.  Done work to the amount of $20 in May, = $44.00.  Expenses from the 1st of May to the 25th of June 29 dollars.

June 1845

25th - Cash in hand $15.00.  Left St. Louis on the Denizen.

30th - Landed at Donaldsonville.  Passage $10.00, sundries $3.00, left $2.00 on the 30th.

July 1845

7th - Commenced building a cistern for Mr. Marsh, a cooper agreed to build it for $25.00.

13th - Hyram commenced work on a flat boat at $9 per month.

21st - Finished the cistern, received payment $25.00, = $27.00.  House rent & sundry other expenses $18.00.

31st - Cash in hand $9.

August 1845

13th - Received for Hyram's month's work $9.00.

19 - Received of Mr. Proffit $5.00, = $23.00.  Expenses from the 1st to the 31st - 18 dollars, = $5.00 31st.

September 1845

10th - Received of Mr. Wollard for month's wages of Hyram $9.00.

14 - Received of Mr. Proffit $5.00.

20th - Received of Mr. Proffit $3.00.

30th - Received of Mr. Proffit $17.30, = $39.30.  Expenses from the 1st to the 30th $32.30, = $7.00 30th.

October 1845

2nd - Left Donaldsonville went down to Napoleonville 15 miles below on Bayou Lafourche to work for Robert R. Barrow at his Locust Grove Plantation.  We bargained to work for $50 per month.

24th - Received of Mr. Barrow $5.00, = $12.00.  From the 1st to the 31st expenses $9.15, = $2.85 31st.

November 1845

22 - Received of Mr. Barrow $10.00, = $12.85.  Expenses from the 1st to the 30th $9.85, = $3.00 30th.

December 1845

2nd - Received of Mr. Barrow $5.00, = $8.00.

6th - Moved from Locust Grove to Mr. Barrow's home place on Terrebonne.

8th - Commenced working building a shed.  Expenses from the 1st to the 31st $7.50, = 50 cents 31st.

January 1846

Mr. Barrow paid us in this month $81.00 of which we spent $45.00 which left us on the 1st of February $36.50.

Lines on the Death of Owen Hilton

Diary of Algernon Hilton, December 1849

5 - Hyram got back on the 28th ult.*  Had engaged no work.  He went again this morning.  I expect him back this evening or tomorrow.  Mr. Thompson, one of Mr. Alan's hands commenced the perjeri** walls yesterday morning.  We finished fitting in sash on the first.  This week we are idle entirely.  Mr. Johnson commenced fixing up the saw mill this morning.  This forenoon Holt and Master Peter bargained for next year.  He, Mr. Holt, gets $700.00 for his services.

10 - Hyram got back on the 6th.  Had engaged no work.  We did nothing last week worth speaking of.  Yesterday & today so far has been cold & rainy.  The brick layers are idle, today.  They got the foundation of the perjeri** all laid last week.  Mr. Hickman has said nothing to us about any more work as yet, altho I have no doubt he wishes us to do more.

12 - It has been so cold this week so far, that the brick layers have done nothing yet.  Yesterday & today Mr. Holt is getting out girders for perjeri**.  He will finish getting them out today.  Hyram has had a sore throat very bad for 3 or 4 days back, but it is better today.  It is freezing cold & raining now.  Bad weather.  There is no telling when we will get done here.


* - My mother's glossary indicated this meant "in the past month".  Indeed, I found that it is from the Latin "ultimo" and means "in or of the month preceding the current one".

** -  According to my mother's glossary, this word was written as spelled phonetically, but neither she nor I could find the correct spelling or meaning.

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This is where the 1849 diary ends, but there is a bookkeeping section of expenses from January 1847 through February 1850.  My mother noted that the next three pages were torn from the journal following the February 1850 expense listing.  Then there are a few written pages of songs.  There must have been more torn pages, because after that is an income and expense record already in progress for 1844.  I have no idea why an 1844 expense report would follow entries from 1847 to 1850, but that is the order in which my mother transcribed the journal.  I will record this section of the income and expense report, as it mentions many names and places and may be of some interest to some:

Algernon Hilton's Income and Expense Report from June 1844 through January 1846

Back to November 1849