Amanuensis Monday: Andrew Russell Enters 100 Acres of Land on Pitmans Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky

Pulaski County, Kentucky. Court Orders, Vol. 1, 1799-1803. No. 171, Andrew Russell, 24 June 1801. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969. Microfilm 804646.

N. 171) On the motion of Andrew Russell Satisfactory proof was made to this Court that the said Russell is Intitled to one hundred acres of land by Virtue of his having Improved the same agreeably to an act of the General assembly Kentucky for Settling and Improving the Vacant lands of this Commonwealth and located as followeth (to wit) Andrew Russell, Enters 100 acres of land on the waters of Pitmans Creek adjoining A Mills Esq on the East & North Jeremiah Boon Esq on the South & to extend westwardly for quantity whis is Ordered to be Certified

Amanuensis Monday: Deed, James Robertson to Elisha Garland, 100 Acres on Big Harpeth

Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book G, page 156

Elisha Garland                                            June 10th 1807
This indenture made upon the Eighth day of April one Thousand Seven hundred and ninety nine Between James Robertson of the State of Tennessee and County of Davidson of the one part & Elisha Garland of the State & County Aforesaid of the Other part Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of  Pounds Virginia Currency the Receipt thereof he doth hereby Acknowledge hath Granted Bargained Sold Alliened Enfeeof Convey and Confirm unto the said Elisha Garland his heirs and Assigns forever a Certain Tract or Parcel of Land lying and being in the State and County Aforesaid Containing one hundred Acres on the South side of Cumberland River Begining at a Birch on the North Bank of Harpeth Running Down the River North forty five Degrees to the West fifty four poles then North fifty five Degrees to the West one hundred and forty poles to a Sugartree and Red Oak under the foot of a Bluff then North fifty two poles to a Small Sugartree  and two Elms thence East one hundred and Twenty poles to a Hickory on the East boundery line of the Original Survey thence South with the same two hundred poles to the River Bank About two poles Above the Begining being part of six acres of land granted unto Ebennezer Alexander Assignee Originally of the heirs of William Mathews April 17th day 1793, To have and to hold the  Aforesaid Land and Premises to him the said Elisha Garland his heirs and Assigns forever with all and Singular the Rights Privilages or Emoluments belonging or in anywise Appertaining thereto And I the said James Robertson my heirs & do hereby Release and Relinquish all my Right in the said Tract & do Vest the Same to said Elisha Garland and for him to have hold Enjoy Possess and Occupy the Aforesaid Tract of Land And the said James Robertson do Covenant and Agree for myself my heirs Executors and Administrators with the said Garland to warrant and forever Defend the Aforesaid Land from all manner of Persons Claiming the Same through by or under me my heirs etc –– In testimony thereof the said James Robertson hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the year and Day first Above Written
Witness __ __ _ _____                           Jas Robertson         LS
State of Tennessee [ ] Best Remembered that on the 14th day of August one Thousand Seven hundred and ninety nine Personally Came James Robertson who has Subscribed the within Indenture before me Andrew Jackson one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law & Equity for the State Aforesaid and Acknowledged the Signing Sealing and Delivery of the written for Deed for the uses and Purposes therein Contained and mentioned and Requested that the same might be Registered
                                                                                         Andrew Jackson
Let the same be Registered upon the Legal fees being paid

Amanuensis Monday: Names of Men Naturalized Since May 7, 1894

Detroit Free Press, 3 November 1894, page 1

The November 3, 1894 issue of the Detroit Free Press published a list of names of men that could not vote in the November 6 election because they had declared their intentions to become citizens less than six months prior to the election. One of the men was William Mapplebeck, the half-brother of my great-grandmother's stepfather/adoptive father James Mapplebeck. He was born in England and came to Canada when he was very young.

THESE CANNOT VOTE

____________________________________________

 
NAMES OF MEN NATURALIZED SINCE
MAY 7 LAST

____________________________________________

HAVE NOT BEEN ON THE LIST THE

NECESSARY SIX MONTHS

 ____________________________________________

DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGERS WILL 

LOOK OUT FOR THEM

 ____________________________________________

Other Bits of Talk from the Field of Local Politics.

____________________________________________

 The Democratic city committee have prepared the following list of names of those who have been naturalized in this city since May 7 last. None of these are entitled to vote, as only those who have declared their intentions to become citizens at least six months prior to an election have the right of suffrage under the law. The challengers of the committee will have instructions to challenge any of the following list who will present themselves at the polls next Tuesday. Republicans have been making the boast that as they now have control of the office of county clerk they have not been losing sight of the advantage to be gained by thus fact, and it has been used to make as many Republican voters as possible:
  Michael Alet, Joseph Andrews, Clement Abraham, Frank Ammon, Julius Adam, Guiseppe Angottel, John Adas, C. Alonbrondt, Frank W. Aainslie, Jacob Anspach, Peter Anderson, Walter J. Arnold, Louis Applefield, Joseph Audrich, Charles Aust, Henry Allendorf.
   John Bennett, Hubert Bowerman, John Bestak, August F. Blum, James Brownlee, William J. Bray, Valty Borgocki, Dennis Beausoliel, O. James Byrne, Charles Bieras, Joseph Bozowaka, Martin Buchholz, Joseph Borewicz, Karl Bormask, Albert Brunke, Alex Brandon, Harry Beatty, Wilhelm Buckow, Gottlob Bohenberger,Francis Bach, John Bakanoioik, Anton Barns, John Burnatt, Douglas D, Brown, Richard Bamford, George S, Balmer, Frank Blagl, Brock E. Bruch, Charles E. Bellamy, Carl Bransch, James H. Beecroft, William Blythe, William Benninger, Andrew Bry, Ferdinand Beyer, Richadr Browning, Jacob Boyke, John M. Baillie, John Baxter, George Bonds, Samuel H. Bradley, Jan Bosinshur, Felix Bizewski, Anthony Bock, Samuel Brooks, Joseph Begott, James Bullen, Joseph Bobilion, William Baldwin, Owen C. Brown, M. D., C. Wesley Baker, John Braun, Henry Bellinger, M. D., Charles A. Bojork, Edgar R. Bosley, Herman Buvack, Ben Berringer.
   Thomas Carr, James Campbell, W. A. Campbell, Frederick Clarahn, Richard Conrad, Damiano Coffoge, Chas. J. Clapham, Samuel Clapham, Alfred Clark, Alex Cowan, John M. Cotton, Robert Campbell, James Cameron, John P. Craine, Charles Cloutier, Ernest Clay, John A. Coulter, Joseph Clehoulas, John Crosson, James Thos. Cotter, Carden T. Crofts, James Curlett, Martin Cascadan, Sidney Coltis, John Czygewick, Michael Choyka, James Common, John A. Cale, Chas H. Cogan, Peter Thos. Carolan, James Cochrane, Alex Campbell, Michael Caria, Washington E. Cornell, Gustave Cischke, Joseph Cummings, John Croft, Joseph Carolan, Nathan F. Currie, Michael Cotter, John D. Case, John D. Costello.
   Frank Duthiewiz, Peter Dybars, Charles De Balke, Alex Demay, Jules De Feone, Jules De Roy, Ludwig Dally, Ludwig Darrid, Francis Derlick, Carl Degen, Geo. W. Duncan, Fred Dunke, Louis Dorr, Peter Duna, August Demsky, James De Beaumont, Francesca Defazio, Nya A. Di Collelino, Chas A. Dutton, Alfonse Di Luccia, Anthony Dempler, Wilfred Defour, James O. Dwyer, David Doran, Constant Decluck, J. E. Delaney, Samuel Derbyshire, Edwin Davenport, Karl Demankopski, Thomas Davison, Reuben S. Davis, Max Diedrich, Theo. Debroski.
   Carl Erdinas, Carl Aug, Engler, Julius Engel, Geo. Einkorn, James A. Eastman, Benjamin Ellerton, Robert Elcone, Adolph Ewald, Richard Eastcot, Alfred E. Edwards, John E. Ellis, Frank Errinck.
   Wm. Fryer, Benard J. Franks, Emil Friedrich, Andrew Felsen, W. H. Franks, Frank Feother, John Felzya, Hermann Fritz, Wm. Fea, Henry Froehlin, Wm. Fair, Albert D. Frank, Thomas W. Fowles, Fred Fischer, John Fenske, Wm. Ferguson, Edmund S. Ferguson, Richard J. Farrell, Wm. C. Farrell, Patrick Fogarty, Thomas Wm. Foster, Joseph Funke, Bernard Funke, John M. Flannery, Fred Frick.
   George Geddis, Herbert Hervey Gamble, Andrew Gosegosewski, Teofil Gorereiviz, Joseph Golembieski, Melchior Ganche, T. H. George, Thomas E. Gustin, Gustave Givosehheim, John Gorman, Walter C. Goddard, John F. Geraghty, Albert Gehrisch, Emil Groesev, John Gaw, Katl Gittinger, Andrew Gore, Joseph Gabriel, Albert E. Griffith, John Galubski, Carl Grose, Frederick Ganzel, Wm. Galpin, Henry Gessert, Manuel R. Gabell, Wilhelm Grabert, John Gillis, John Genais, Herman Grumavohe, John Golke, Reno Gieogio, Wm. G. Gibbs, Chas. wm. Gould, Frank Gabowski, Henry Glinz, Bernard Goldberg, John George, Wm. Gibson, Chas. Greenlaw, Wm. Goik.
   Francis H. Hall, Carl Hoffman, Geo. L. Humphries, George Harker, James Hayes, Louis Hory, John Heenan, William Hamilton, Jacob Hahn, Robert J. Higgins, Henry A. Howry, John Hewick, Peter Howlatka, Frederick A. Herman, Herman Hoffman, Carl Holwedel, Albert E. Humphrey, John Henning,William Hayball, Wm. L. Helkie, Edward R. Huston, Andrew Roy Hackett, Joseph W. Humphrey, Frederick Heiden, Amiel Hath, Geo. F. Howe, Henry Herzig, Simon Hock, Frederick Howe, Stephen Hollis, Peter H. Highland, William Harper, August Hart, Frank Raymonf Hardinge, King Houston, Robert Hogg, John Haciaz.
   James Ingram.
   Adam Jacowiz, Edward Jersehke, William Jago, Herman Jordan, Charles Just, Frank Jahnke, Seiv Janos, Herman Johnson, Henry P. Jeiffer, Loren C. Jesperson, Albert Jelich, Charles Johnson, August Jowske, Anton Jankowski, Michael Jamorz, Toepil Jarembski.
   John Klever, Anthony Krause, Lawrence Karas, Francis Karahan, Andreas Kulasit, Michael Krych, John Kufel, Damuel Kingsbury, John H. Keller, Theodore Kramp, Thoedore Kress, Louis Klein, Chas, Kirchoff, Hugh Kay, Arnold Kern, James Kane, Browiestaw Krosiecki, Frederick K. Kappler, Leopold Kowalski, Robert Kanehl, Karl Kubitaki, Mihaly Koesis, John Kabalin, Joseph Kabalin, Peter Kaeppel, Michael Kuezajda, Otto Kurpp.
   Desire Lauckriet, James M. Lonergan, Frank Lieder, Gustave Letz, Chas. Lindsay, Geo. Laralee, Gustave Lecureux, Alex. Lersch, Adolph Lacharize, Luigi Liperota, Francisco Liperota, Vinzens Ley, Mathew A. Layton, Chas. S. layton, Frank Liuski, Chas. Laforais, Henry Leitzan, Moritz Lewison, Henrich Lester, Aloise Lindenberger, Karl Lawrenz, Leopold Lanba, Carl A. Linde, Lonzo Ley, Jacob London, Chas. Lampard, Robt. James Lethersich, Victor Lapiere, Max Levy, Chas. E. Leat, Frank Lorenz.
   Thos. McGrath, Thaddeus McLeod, Donald McDonald, Hugh McDonald, Adam A. McDonald, Thos. McCulloch, Allan J. McLaughlin, John McKay, David L. McCarter, John J. McCready. Edmund McGrath, Donald McKay, Wm. R. McDalan, Albert McDonald, Chas. A. McDougall, Alfred H. McLeod, Joseph McVeigh, John McDermitt.
   Wm. Marshall, Geo. R. Malcolm, Vincent Muzyk, Jacob Milke, Frank E. Melville, Thos. J. A. Milliken, Anton Muller, Owen Malloy, Thos. H. J. Martin, Salvatore, Mucciardi, Thos. Matthews, Max Mattutal, Ben Magee, Robert G. Meath, Jacob Miller, Robert Meyer, Wm. Murchey, Anunziato Miniaci, James J. Murdoch, John a. Maisel, Fred K. Misch, Albert Muller, Fredk. Mamer, James Manzies, Lidwig Mielo, Andrew Maryonski, Jacob Mosdeisz, John H. Macalpine, Geo. H. Miller, John Miko, Joseph Monforton, Herbert Mickle, Albert N. Masterson, John Miehalk, W. H. Middleditch, Albert G. J. Muller, Frank Mieloch, John Martin, Wm. Mapplebeck, Jacob John Miller, Gustave A. Mueller, Gustave Manquadt, Ernest Maenk, R. W. Meachaur, Jr., Adoplhus Martin, Wm. J. Marshall, Nicholas Manes, James J. Mouish, Henry Mueller.
   Edward Nieland, John Nowecki, Robert Norris, Cyrus L. Noble, Jacob Nieaskiski, Frank Nowak, Joseph Nowicke, August Nafez.
   Michael Olejiniazak, John Ostrowski, Jerry D. O'Mara, Joseph Olymezak, Chris. Ouellette.
   Geo. E. Penton, August Pond, Samuel Payne, John Palmer, Peter Provort, Henry Paget, Frank J. Peddie, Edward Petz, Chas. M. Petersen, Wm. Pangkoff, Edward Pohlman, Wm. J. Publow, Herman Pezdtke, E. Austin Pickard, John W. Purcell, Bartholomew Picha, Waldislas Poslier, Rudolph Pachale, Herman A. Pieger, Rudolph Prausch, Thos. Piechniecki, Malachi L. Poole, Wm. W. Prosser, Andrew Petruzzo, Giovani Petruzi, Ferretti Pasquale, August Poysikus, Ferdinand Papke, Gilbert Pappinan, Micoclan Prokapp, Robert Palmer, John Pope, John Prsybysz, Chas. Prost, Samuel Palmer, Jacques Pari, Chas W. Payne, Herman Plaum, John Piorthopsku, Geo. E. Potter, Sidney Pagen.
   Daniel Quandt.
   Ferdinanie Retz, Chas. Ringer, Wm. Roberts, John Rechloski, Robt. C. Robinson, Anthony Radzicki, Joseph Radossewicz, Chas. Rawlinson, Mier Richstein, Karl Rollin, Hans Rutishauser, Joseph F. Rudiger, Eugene Riffel, Arthur E. Radcliff, Clemens Ricken, Patrick J. Ryan, Rine Reggan, Aug, Rablowski, John M. Rowed, Augst Radthe, Fredk. Rubitzki, Mederic Raethe, Wm. Rochford, Thos. Rowe, Christian Rosenthal, John T. Robinson, Thomas Robertson, Fredk. Rutger, Herman Richter, Francis Reilly, Fredk. J. Reid.
   James Shaw, Peter Sherry, Fredk. Schlump, Lepold Schoen, Horace J. SZeres, Ambrose Siegel, Reinhold Steiger, Otto Schultz, John Sowenfeld, Wm. R. Somerville., Tony Serpeon, Robert Stewart, Fred. J. Schoweder, James Sheaver, Alex. Smith, Gus. Sprang, Jacob Shamburg, August Scheva, Herman Scheel, Maciej Salek, Fred G. Sell, Richard Spigada, Rudolph Schumacher, Ferdinand Schuberg, Samuel Schultz, Carl Seelke, Hugh Shields, Wm. Schepke, Max H. Theodore Schuett, Frank Schaeller, Hardy Shay, Rudolph Sagetzki, Wm. Straude, Otto Sknou, Jules Sybrestre, Karl Hansen Schwartz, John Shimming, Louis Schmitt, Wilhelm Schroder, Wm. Sarr, Jas. L. Stewart, Robt. Symington, Oscar Schroeder, J. J. Sawdick, Martin Schimelfenny, Joseph Schirp, Barton Siepin, Lawrence Scott, Albert Scott, John Smith, Wm. Schurrphase, Wellington Southwood, Edward Schulst, Jno. W. Schraz, Peter Sowatzki, John A. Sinclair, Antoine Sozzafare, Vincenso Sposito, Vinncenco Stantoui, Albert Stahmke, Rudolph Schyier, Albert G. Smythe, Joseph Siegrist, Frank Sutton, James Sumemrfield, August Srock, Anton Seyway, Francis Stycki, Frank Strelkowski, Joseph Smidt, Maciaj Syplik, Stanislaus Stentil, John Skoweott, John Schaster, Henry Saeallisch, Albert Spain, John A, Stephens, Bartal Simae, henry Robert Smith.
   John Tighe, Martin Trybus, V[?] Thom, Hubert Taylor, Frank Joseph Troston, John Trzeciak, Michael Tapalka, Carl E. Taube, Thos. H. Trethewey, Pietra Tasca, Iastam Terenzia, Abraham Trombley, Anthony Thomas, Jas. T. Teevin, Telsira Tonalczyk, Michael Tedman, Geo. E. Tiromey, Donald W. Thompson, Chas. Trickey, Ben Terres, Albett Twanski, Fredk. Theel, Wm. Tea, James Thornton, Chas. Thlybert.
   Joseph Uhrig, Jos. L. Utter.
   Jasot Van Leyen, Wilhelm Varban, Albert Voss, Modeste Vanhove, Daniel Varga, Christian Viriogge, Wm. VanSickle, Henry VanDe Grehnetske, Chas. VanDen Berghe, Jos. Viler.
   Thomas Wilson, Herman Wunderlich, Robert Wilson, Wm. Wainwright, Con. Withad, Ludwig Wagner, Peter F. White, Wm. Whellham, Joseph Williamson, Wilhelm Wedell, Alex. Wayas, Henry Wharton, Jas. Wharthy, Chas. R. Wendland, Chas. Williams, August Weghaupt, Wm. Wellmeier, Geo. L. Whitehead, Wm. Williams, Herman Winkler, Chas. Winkel, B. J. Wermers, John Wochele, Wm. H. Williams, Geo. Wanless, Wm. walsh, Jacob Wittenberg, Henry L. Wortman, Wm. F. Webber, Chas. Wasmund, Geo. Walz, John Lawrence Watson, Albert J. Wilson, John Willer, Geo. Ward, Herman Weomach, James Wright, J. W. Wilson (M. D.), Albert Winkler.
   Wineas R. Yankelimas, Emil Yost, John Yager, Thomas Young, Samuel A. Young.
   August Zilke, Anton Zulawski, August Ziebron.

Amanuensis Monday: John Schneider's Letter to His Daughter Margaret

My great-grandparents John Schneider and Paulina Gersbacher celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on 23 July 1952. Their daughter Margaret (Schneider) Boe (my maternal grandmother) visited them on their anniversary, and not long afterward, on 10 August 1952, John wrote her a letter.

                                        MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
                                       TRANSIT CAMP No. 11364
                                                   John Schneider, Secretary
                                                                    2024 Russell Boulevard
                                                                      ST. LOUIS 4, MO.
 
                                                             8/10/52.

Dear Margaret : -
              Just a few words. We are getting ready to leave to-morrow morning and I just had to write a few words to you. I doubt if you really know how much we appreciated your visit at our Anniversary; we will ever be grateful to you.
             You might have wondered that when you leave here, you probably do not see me when the train pulls out, or when you pull away from the house; well, I have a confession to make : - my heart hangs so much on you, that I just can't take it to see you go, and I do not want that you see me with a sad face and a tear in my eye. that's the reason I make myself a little scarce; enough said.
              will write you as we go along, our very best wishes to you, John, and the children, and of course, all our love goes with it.
                                                                    Pop & Mother
PS.
Got this clipping from the Royal Neighbor Paper. You are still a member of that, and I thought that maybe you will get to meet some of these people.
                                                                          Pop.

Amanuensis Monday: Amanda Tarkington's Confederate Widows Pension Claim: William Tillett's Statement

The statement that William Tillett gave in support of my 3rd-great-grandmother Amanda (Russell) Tarkington's Confederate Widows Pension is transcribed below.

GEO B. GUILD, President                                                               HON. FRANK DIBRELL
  FRANK A. MOSES, Special Examiner                                                 ATT'Y GEN. CHAS. T. CATES
      W. H. COLEY                                                                           JOHN P. HICKMAN, Secretary


                                                          HEADQUARTERS
                                           Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners
                                                BOARD MEETS SECOND TUESDAYS IN JANUARY, 
                                                                                APRIL, JULY AND OCTOBER
                                                       Nashville, Tenn. ______________  190____
       _____________No.__________________________
                                     (Must give number when writing)

State of Tennessee  }                  Personally appeared before
Davidson County      }                 me William M Tillett whom I
know to be a man of truth and integrity of character who after being sworm to me makes the following additional statement in the case of Mrs Amanda Tarkington the widow of Joseph Tarkington decd she being an applicant for a state pension as follows. I was present at the marriage of Amanda Russell and Joseph Tarkington they were married at the old Russell place on the Harding pike in Davidson County Tenn on the 12th day of June 1850 by Esquire Porch a justice of the peace. I have known them as man and wife up to the death of Joseph Tarkington in 1903 and that they were living together at that time as man & wife ____

I also remember distinctly the time in 1863 when Joseph Tarkington came home from the army on sick leave with asthma & pneumonia, he remained sick for a long time, I know the fact that he never was able to rejoin his command on account of his continued sickness which lasted till the war closed and for a long time afterwards, in truth he never was a well man again and suffered till he died in 1903 with this complaint. I know these facts because I saw him frequently during the time I speak of and that he never was fit for military service after he came home  –  I have no interest further than to see justice done in the application of Mrs Tarkington in her case

witness                                                                                         his
Mrs Julia Johnson                                                                W .M.  x   Tillett
                                                                                                    mark
Subscribed and sworn
before me this 2nd day Jan 1909
                                    Aris Brown
                                       Notary Public

Statement of William Tillett. Tennessee Confederate pension application 2079, Widow's Indigent Pension. Amanda Tarkington, widow of Joseph Tarkington. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Statement of William Tillett. Tennessee Confederate pension application 2079, Widow's Indigent Pension. Amanda Tarkington, widow of Joseph Tarkington. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Note: William Tillett was wrong about the date of Joseph Tarkington and Amanda Russell's marriage. They married on 12 June 1849, not 12 June 1850.

Amanuensis Monday: Carl Schneider's Letter from Germany

The below letter was written in 1900 by my great-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider to his wife Christina (Nagel) Schneider and their children. He had gone to his native Germany to visit family and friends. The letter appears to be a typed copy and may be a translation. The typographical errors in my transcription are also present in the typed letter.

Dear Tina and Children!

Yesterday I received the dear letter from you and the children and I am very pleased the good news from all of you. Thursday the 5th was my day for Erpel. Although Joseph and Marion are no longer there (the first is in Düren and Marion is married in Cologne). I was nontheless very well received by all the friends in Erpel, especially by Pether Schmitz - Scholl is dead and Peter is in Erpel since then. Lena lives in Remagen, although both are almost thirty they are not married yet. We made a trip to Heister (?) where they only now begin to work at our stoneworks, then to Arsberg, Bruchhausen, Severinsberg (?), Karsbach (there I visited the Weber family) and finally to Erpel where everybody brought me to the Rhine at a very late hour to go back home. It was an elegant tour, Webers were delighted to see me and I had to promise to come back in a week from Sunday for Kirmes. Friday morning we had copany in Remagen and we arranged for a tour to Neuenahr. Peter . . . . (the neighbor's boy) teacher Martin Demm and I zipped by bike to Ahr and there I met Krupp and baker Nelles as well as a former from Albermann Bonn who now has a large hotel in Neuenahr. He showed ma all and we had a great time with him - at nine in the evening we returned to Remagen.

Neuenahr is a much larger and more elegant place now. Krupp has a large two family house there like a large hotel, but his wife is dead now for seven years. Generally things have changed a lot, but only the better. Tomorrow, Sunday, I will go to Erpel and at the beginning of next week to Bonn, Brühl, and Haimath (?); I will write again from there. I enjoyed getting the letter from the children. There are plenty of news to tell. I have made a lot of notes, particularly about Remagen. The boys are still very much alive. Unfortunately the weather is bad, always rain and that, of couse, limits my bycycling. The cold weather bothers me a lot and an overcoat would feel good. I caught quite a cold and have my famous very stuffy nose. most of my time here, althoug I am careful.

Many regards from everybody here
Your Carl and Papa


This letter is full of clues to follow up on.  I recognize the names of several ancestral places, but do not know of any family connection with some of the places. Many people are mentioned, but I do not know who they are. Joseph and Marion may be Carl's half-siblings Wilhelm Josef Schneider and Maria Schneider. I suspect that Agnes Schmitz from Kendenich, a sponsor at the baptism of Carl and Christina's son Johann Wilhelm Schneider, may be Christina (Nagel) Schneider's sister Agnes. Christina was born in Kendenich. Perhaps Pether Schmitz was Agnes Nagel's husband.

Amanuensis Monday: Carl Schneider's Letter Announcing His Return Home

In 1900, my great-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider traveled to Germany to visit family and friends. On 30 July 1900, he wrote to his wife Christina (Nagel) Schneider and their children and told them when he would be coming back to their home in St. Louis, Missouri. The below letter may be a typed translation.

Remagen, July 30, 1900

Dear Mamma and Children,

Today I am writing to Anterp to announce my arrival there on the 4th of August in order to leave with the steamer Nordland. I hope to be with you again between August 18th and 20th. I will probably stay in New York for a day because I have something to take or order for Peter Wickel.

I don't write in detail because I will see you soon and then will tell you all the news. I received John's as well as brother's letter and enjoyed them both. I am healthy and feel fine and hope the same of you. I hope I have a good journey.

Regards and kisses to all of you
Your Carl and Papa.


Charles Schneider was listed on the passenger manifest for the Noordland, which sailed from Antwerp, Belgium on 4 August 1900 and arrived in New York, New York on 16 August 1900.

Manifest SS Noordland, arrival in New York, NY, 16 August 1900. Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957. Microfilm Publication T715. Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Amanuensis Monday: Joseph S. Tarkington's Southern Claims Commission Claim: Cross-Examination of Witness, Alfred Smith

When Joseph S. Tarkington filed Louisiana claim #12265 with the Southern Claims Commission, another of his witnesses was his former slave Alfred Smith. I do not know if Alfred was related to Joseph's other former slave who testified, Jack Smith. Alfred's cross-examination is transcribed below.

Cross-examined by the Commissioner - Witness answers as follows:

My name is Alfred Smith, I am 40 or thereabout. I live in New Orleans and am engaged as fire-man on a Mississippi river boat. I was born a slave of the claimant and lived with him until the end of the war. I do believe that the claimant always had been a strong Union man, during the war I have often heard him talk against the Confederacy and say he did not want anything to do with it and would not be mixed up with it. I have heard men threaten to whip the claimant and drive him out of the parish on account of his Union sentiments, and for a long time he could not go to town for fear of these threats being executed. The claimant and his wife often gave United States soldiers food, milk, &c. but he never gave the Confederates anything at all - they were too much against him. I used often to go to Franklin with the claimant and the people would beset him to join them in Secession and threaten to whip him if he did not, but he would always refuse and take no part at all in the fuss. One time I remember of they were going to cow-hide him because he would not join them and had he stood they would have whiped [sic] him, he ran away manfully jumped into his skiff and went home. I feel sure that the claimant never could prove loyalty to the Confederacy if the same had been maintained as a separate government because of the reasons I have already expressed. I have no interest in this claim at all.                   
                                                               his
                                                    Alfred  X  Smith
                                                             mark

 Sworn before me this 25th day of June 1872
                                              Wm. Grant
                                              Special Comm

Cross-examination of witness, Alfred Smith, 25 June 1872; Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Available from Fold3.

Cross-examination of witness, Alfred Smith, 25 June 1872; Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Available from Fold3.

Cross-examination of witness, Alfred Smith, 25 June 1872; Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Available from Fold3.

Amanuensis Monday: Joseph S. Tarkington's Southern Claims Commission Claim: Cross-Examination of Witness, Jack Smith

Joseph S. Tarkington filed Louisiana claim #12265 with the Southern Claims Commission. One of the witnesses was Jack Smith, his former slave and employee. When Joseph married Nancy (Sanders) Theall (the widow of Joseph Theall), Jack became his slave. Jack's cross-examination is transcribed below.

Cross-examination of witness, Jack Smith, by the Commissioner

My name is Jack Smith, I am 45 years old, and reside at present at 20 St. James St. New Orleans La. I am at present working as a gardner [sic]. Before the war I resided in the Parish of St. Mary La. J. S. Tarkington was my master, for thirty years before the war, I became his servant through marriage, and I resided with him until the close of the war, but after the proclamation of emancipation he paid me wages. I left him in 1865, because he broke up, being too poor to continue farming. The claimant was always called a Union man among the coloured people. I have heard the claimant openly speak against the Confederates to white people, and if he had been a younger man they would have prosecuted him. I know that the claimant never took any part in the war and did all in his power to assist the Union cause. I heard the claimant urge the young men at the Court house not to go to the Confederate Army, but I do not know of any other act done or language used by claimant which would have prevented him establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy. I have no interest in this claim.

                                                                    his
                                                            Jack x Smith
                                                                  mark

Sworn before me this
12th day of April 1872
Wm. Grant

Cross-examination of witness, Jack Smith, 12 April 1872; Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Available from Fold3.

Cross-examination of witness, Jack Smith, 12 April 1872; Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Available from Fold3.