Christmas Miracle . . . .

Absolutely, positively . . . .

Delivering the Christmas miracle has left precious little time for researching these past two weeks. I'm looking forward to the end of the holiday season, and dedicating more time to the family tree. In the absence of any new research to share, let me restate and summarize what my goals are for this winter. Research focuses on George J. Mathews, my great great great grandfather. Thus far, research and oral history reveal that he was born about 1824, and claims his "nativity" as Meigs County, Ohio. He married Charlotte Shuler about 1855, most likely in Linn County, Kansas and they welcomed a son, George W. Mathews in 1856.

George volunteered for, and was assigned to, the 1st Kansas Battery - Light Artillery on January 2, 1862, but died at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on May 2, 1862. That's where it ends. Here is what I'm searching for:

1) Where is George buried - no online records of his interment at Ft. Leavenworth, or at various cemeteries around Linn County, Kansas.
2) George's Parents - thus far there has been no positive way to identify him through Federal Census records. Without his parents, his immediate ancestry remains unknown to me.

Doesn't seem like much, only two questions. But searching for answers has proven fruitless, and frustrating.
 
I've begun some indirect research through Jesse Woodson James, notorious outlaw, and Missouri guerrilla. George was on the eastern Kansas border during the "Bleeding Kansas" period of the 1850s leading up to the Civil War, as was Jesse James. Yesterday, I checked out a book from the Sheridan County Fulmer Library titled, The Lost Cause: The Trials of Frank and Jesse James, by James P. Muehlberger. While focused more on the misdeeds of the James boys, Muehlberger still sketches the intense political setting of western Missouri and eastern Kansas in the 1850s, as abolitionists and free soilers sought to bring Kansas into the Union as a free state, while pro-slavery people sought to extend slavery west into Kansas. George Mathews and his in-laws lived in eastern Kansas during this time, and they were surely impacted by both sides. For me, it is interesting to read of the schemes and ambitions of the pro-slavery and abolitionist factions, and place my ancestors in this historic context. So perhaps Muehlberger's work will provide a new lead to follow, as he will certainly provide me with a better understanding of regional political forces and the impact that it had on my own people.

"Endeavor to persevere."

Winter Project Continued . . . . . .

With online records running short on George J. Mathews, I've begun looking to his survivors for clues. His wife, Charlotte Mathews (nee' Shuler), and son, George W., are recorded on the 1865 Kansas State Census living with her parents, Joseph and Jane Shuler in Linn County, Kansas. That record also shows George W's age as 6, which would put his date of birth about 1859; however, George W's gravestone records his date of birth as 1856. Another interesting note on George W.: in the Federal Census' from 1900 to 1940 he give his father's birthplace as Illinois, not Meigs County, Ohio. Additionally, a handwritten note from my Great-Grandmother Edna Mathews shows George W's place of birth as Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence is in Douglas County, Kansas. Perhaps George, Charlotte, and George lived there prior to his volunteering for the Union Army. With that in mind, I'll try searching Douglas County for records, and if that yields nothing, I'll have to consider Illinois. Many, many possibilities.

 For more information, please follow this link to this family tree on ancestry.comhttp://trees.ancestry.com/tree/9028819/family?cfpid=-860026035&selnode=1. Or reach out to me directly via this blog, or searching Kohler et al. Family Genealogy on FB. Happy, happy, researching . . . . . . . .

Winter Project Update (Post-dated from 25 Nov 2013)

Here is a pension application filed by George Mathews' widow, Charlotte. The date is 17 Jan 1863, some 8 months after George succumbed to disease at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Unfortunately, no other information regarding his residence, or burial is recorded. Need to find a death record, or an obit would be nice (but unlikely).

He could be buried at Ft. Leavenworth, although there is no record of a George Mathews, or derivative of that name in the online database; or he could be among the "unknown soldiers" buried in the soldiers lot at the Mound City Cemetery (http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/lots/moundcity.asp). Seems unlikely that he would have been hauled back to Ohio. Somewhere out there is a box with a record(s) that has all the information . . . Happy Thanksgiving.

Winter Project Update (Post-dated from 19 Nov 2013)

Ongoing research . . . . I've found two George Mathews in the 1850 federal census in Ohio. Both individuals are about the age he would have been (26). However, since I don't know the names of his siblings or parents, there is no way (at this time) exclude either.

Ohio was where George came into the world, Kansas was where he left it. So I've looked for him in Kansas as well. He was married to my GGG grandmother near Trading Post, Kansas about 1855 and volunteered for the Union Army in January 1862. It is reasonable to expect that he would be in the 1860 census in Kansas, but neither he, nor his wife or child can be found. Crud.

Here is the last documented evidence of old George. His enlistment into the Union Army (see line 84) . . . as documented by the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas, Volume I,, 1861-1865. To be continued . . . .

Winter Project Update (Post-dated from 9 Nov 2013)

An update from this week's ongoing research for grampa' George Mathews. I spent two lunch hours looking at the 1850 census for Ohio and an Abstract of Probate Records, Washington County, Ohio, 1789-1855. No solid leads, but more names to follow up on. It seems that Meigs County (George's birthplace) derived from the division of first Washington County, then Gallia County. New research will consider these counties as well . . . "won't you come home George Mathews, won't you come home . . . . " More next week.

Winter Project (Post-dated from 30 Oct 2013)

Winter project . . . . . In pursuit of George J. Mathews, my 3rd paternal great grandfather, b. abt 1824 in Meigs County, Ohio, d. 1862 Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Civil war volunteer, assigned to 1st Kansas Battery - Light Artillery. Beyond that, record of his parents, siblings, residence, or interrment location have been elusive.

Launch . . . . (Post-dated from 20 Oct 2013)

Hello Friends and Family. Welcome to what has been one of my greatest passions and lifelong pursuits. This small step is the first toward what I hope will create a place where we can peacefully share stories, photos, memories, research, and maybe even unburden ourselves from time to time. I'm looking forward to sharing my own discoveries and ongoing research, as I hope you are. Stay tuned.