Friday Funny: The Black Sheep

Those Places Thursday: Rock Island Barracks

Speidel, C. Rock Island Barracks, IL. Rock Island, Ill., C. Speidel, 1864.  Available from http://www.loc.gov/item/99447349.

 Since April is Confederate History Month, I thought it would be a good time to write about John G. Gatlin (a Confederate soldier and my 3rd-great-grandfather William Dow Gatlin's brother) and the place where he was held prisoner, Rock Island Barracks in Rock Island, Illinois. John was a private in the 10th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, Company D.

Rock Island Barracks was constructed in 1863, and in December, the first prisoners arrived. John G. Gatlin was captured near Knoxville on 3 December 1863 and was confined on 6 January 1864. The prison was not quite finished when the earliest prisoners began to arrive. The winter was extremely cold, and clothing and blankets were in short supply. All the prisoners were exposed to smallpox. A hospital had not yet been built, and disease spread. Many prisoners died.

By July 1864, the prison hospital was finished, and conditions improved. Some of the prisoners helped to construct the camp's reservoir and sewer system and were able to earn money for their labor. Prison labor was voluntary.

John signed an oath of allegiance to the United States and was released on 21 March 1865. The last prisoners at Rock Island Barracks were released in July 1865. The prison buildings no longer remain; only the cemeteries still exist. 

References
England, Otis Bryan. A Short History of the Rock Island Prison Barracks (Revised Edition). Rock Island, IL: Historical Office, U.S. Army Armament, Munitions and Chemical Command, 1985. Available from http://www.jmc.army.mil/Docs/History/Short%20History%20of%20the%20RIA%20Prison%20Barracks.pdf.
Walker, T. R. "Rock Island Prison Barracks." Civil War History 8 no. 2 (June 1962): 152-163.

John G. Gatlin compiled service record. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Tennessee. NARA microfilm publication M268A, roll 0044 . ARC ID: 586957. War Department Collection of Confederate Records, Record Group 109. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Wedding Wednesday: Carl Joseph Schneider and Christina Nagel

My great-great-grandparents Carl Joseph Schneider and Christina Nagel were married in Bonn, Germany on 31 January 1878. Carl Joseph Schneider was born in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland on 22 January 1855. He was the son of Wilhelm Schneider and Sibilla Lindlohr. Christina Nagel was born on 27 February 1851 in Kendenich, Rhein-Erft, Rheinland. She was the daughter of Johann Nagel and Anna Maria Aussem.

Gussie's Gift

Since today is April Fools' Day, I thought it would be a good time to write about a prank played by one of my relatives on another. My great-grandmother Paulina (Gersbacher) Schneider's sister Augusta "Gussie" hated it when her brother-in-law John Schneider (Paulina's husband) used the expression "horseshit." He continued to use the expression, even though it bothered Gussie. Gussie decided to get her revenge. She obtained some horse manure. One version of the story has John and Paulina's son Carl going to the stables to procure the horse manure. She put it in a box and wrapped it. Some family members say that she gave it to him on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day; another family member says it was during the holiday season, but not on Christmas. (The family heard the story from my grandmother, who is no longer alive, and no one still alive was present when it happened, so there are some inconsistencies.) According to my uncle Dobby, when John Schneider opened the gift, he exclaimed "Horseshit!" and Gussie replied "I thought since you were so fond of the word you would like some of the real thing." He was not amused.

Mappy Monday: Map of Chicago, Showing the Burnt District

 Freeman & Burr.. Map of Chicago, showing the burnt district , Map, [1871]; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth187603/), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas at Arlington Library, Arlington, Texas.

Before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, John Bennet Winters, his wife Ann, and their daughter Elizabeth lived at 247 S. Jefferson, Chicago. They did not live there after the fire. Looking at this map of Chicago showing the burnt district, it appears that the family was probably affected by the fire and had to move.

To zoom in for an even closer look, go to http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth187603/.

Census Sunday: The Russell Family in 1840 and 1850

In 1840, my 5th-great-grandmother Hannah (Hardgrave) Russell was enumerated as head of household in Civil District No. 14, Davidson County, Tennessee. Her son James Russell was listed as head of household on the same page of the census return.

1840 United States census, Davidson County, Tennessee, roll 520, page 349, image 718. 

 Hannah's household included one free white female age 40-49 (likely Hannah, although the age is incorrect; perhaps the census taker marked the wrong column, or Hannah's age was reported incorrectly), two free white females age 30-39, one free white female age 10-14, one free white female age 5-9, two free white females under age 5, and two free white males age 5-9.

In 1850, many of the same people were listed on the same census return page for Davidson County, Tennessee.

1850 United States census, Davidson County, Tennessee, population schedule, roll M432_875, page 279B, image 564.

Hannah and her daughter Sobrina (my 4th-great-grandmother) are enumerated in the same household, and her son James and his family are listed nearby. Two of the other households enumerated on this page also belong to the same family group. "Elvira Carrington" is Hannah's widowed daughter Malvira (Russell) Carrington, but her name is incorrect (perhaps the census taker misheard the informant), and her age is way off. Malvira and her children were probably living with Hannah in 1840. Hannah's granddaughter Amanda (Russell) Tarkington (Sobrina's daughter, and my 3rd-great-grandmother) was probably also in Hannah's household in 1840. Amanda married Joseph Tarkington in 1849, and she and her husband (my 3rd-great-grandfather) and their baby son James (my great-great-grandfather) lived near Amanda's mother, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousins. Four generations of my family are listed on this census page.

Sibling Saturday: The Five Anderson Siblings Who Came to America

Five of the children of Troed Andersson and Christina Jacobsdotter left Sweden and came to the United States.

Andreas Troedsson, my great-great-grandfather (born 24 February 1851 in Grevie, Skåne, Sweden), was the first come to the United States. He immigrated in 1872 and changed his name to Andrew T. Anderson; the middle initial T was from his original patronymic, Troedsson. He settled in Chicago, Illinois, where he married Marthe Elisabeth Erickson on 31 March 1877. They had seven children. He died in Chicago on 24 Jaunary 1916 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Johanna (born 16 February 1849 in Grevie, Skåne, Sweden) came to the United States in the mid-1870s and settled in Chicago. She married Frans Ludvig Oscar Sandquist, a widower, on 19 December 1885. They had four children. Johanna died in Chicago on 4 February 1934 and was buried in Oak Woods Cemetery.

Sven (born 30 December 1856 in Grevie, Skåne, Sweden) came to the United States in the mid-1870s. He changed his name from Sven Troedsson to Sven T. Anderson. In 1880 he lived in Suez Township, Mercer County, Illinois. By 1885 he had moved to Morris County, Kansas. He married Hannah Louise Abramson on 18 October 1887. They had thirteen children. Sven died on 6 October 1914 and was buried in Hebron Lutheran Church Cemetery in Morris County, Kansas.

Nils (born 14 November 1852 in Grevie, Skåne, Sweden) came to the United States in the early 1880s. He changed his name from Nils Troedsson to Nils T. Anderson. He settled in Chicago, where he married Ida C. Anderson on 27 November 1886. They had three children. Nils died in Chicago on 6 July 1928 and was buried in Rosehill Cemetery.

Elna (born  in 23 August 1845 in Grevie, Skåne, Sweden) married Nils Jonsson in Grevie on 15 April 1864. Their children came to the United States. In 1903, Elna and her son Sven Peter Nilsson came to the United States. Elna changed her name to Elna Nelson, because her children used the surname Nelson. Elna died in Chicago on 27 September 1925 and was buried in Graceland Cemetery.