William H. Wiseheart: It’s Easy as AB…H (52 Ancestors #31)

Posted on August 5, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Family History, Genealogy, Military, Photographs, Wiseheart Family

Often, I have to remind myself to broaden my scope when I research my ancestors. I think this is the first time I’ve had to consciously narrow my scope. Grandpa used to tell me about his grandfather, William Henry Wiseheart. Most often, the stories would be about the Civil War or chair-making. Whatever the story, he was always “William H.” Even now, when I talk about him with my dad or my uncle, I have to be sure to refer to him as William H., because that is the name everyone is familiar with.

As I began researching, I looked for all William Wisehearts in the area. After all, Wiseheart is a fairly uncommon name. I started in what I call a “gathering mode,” wherein I find documents and save them for future perusal. I had intended to write about William H. a few weeks ago, but another ancestor called to me and I ended up putting him off. However, while I was initially preparing to write about him, I realized that some of the documents I had saved were for a different William Wiseheart. He is probably still related, but not the one I’m working on at the moment.

How did I realize I had two different William Wisehearts? The Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana. There are two William Wisehearts listed: William Wiseheart who mustered in on August 19, 1862 and William H. Wiseheart of Fredonia, Indiana who mustered in on August 18, 1862 and was promoted to Corporal.¹

William H. was the one I wanted, so I looked at that entry some more. He enlisted in Company F, Indiana 71st Infantry Regiment. This helped me narrow down which military records I needed. After he was promoted, he transferred to Company F, Indiana 6th Cavalry Regiment.^1,2 His pension card, which also lists his wife, shows both regiments.³ William H. mustered out on June 17, 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee.^1,2

I had heard from my grandpa that before William H. married my great great grandmother, he had married Sarah Myers. I wanted to know more about this, so I started collecting non-military resources to learn about his life.

William Henry Wiseheart was born on November 14, 1833, in Kentucky, to parents Harman and Jemima (Jacobs) Wiseheart.^4,5,15 In 1860, he lived with L. Blankenbaker and family in Shelby County, Kentucky, where he worked as an apprentice plow stacker (this last word is difficult to read, but that’s what it looks like).⁶ He then enlisted in the army in 1862.^1,2

William H. married Sarah Myers on March 10,1865. They had four children, that I know of.⁴

Jacob H. (08 Feb 1866 – 08 Feb 1866)⁴
Emma A. (14 Oct 1868 – 14 Oct 1868)⁴
Catherine A. “Kitty” or “Katie” (29 Dec 1869 – 9 Jun 1915)^4,7
Infant son (26 Jun 1872 – 21 Aug 1872)⁴

Sarah died on August 1, 1872.⁴ Since her death was so close to the birth of her son, I’m thinking she probably died of complications from childbirth.

William Henry and Frances Lydia (Browning) Wiseheart, circa 1900.

William H. married Frances Lydia Browning on May 10, 1876.^4,11 They had twelve children, but I’ve only been able to account for nine.⁹

Daniel Signal (14 Jan 1877 – 23 Nov 1956)^4,8,9
Mary Elizabeth (4 Feb 1878 – 15 Dec 1965)^4,8
Rosey H. (18 Apr 1879 – 15 Oct 1902)^4,8
Infant daughter (20 May 1880 – 20 May 1880)⁴
Infant son (22 Mar 1881 – 25 Mar 1881)⁴
Infant daughter (4 Mar 1882 – 14 Mar 1882)^4,12
Chace Dudley (27 Dec 1883 – 30 Dec 1883)⁴
Joseph M. (4 Mar 1886 – 10 Mar 1959)^4,9,10
Sanford Wesley (30 Oct 1890 – 25 Mar 1966)^4,9,10

I have heard that Sanford Wesley, my great grandfather, had a twin who was stillborn, but I have not yet found any evidence of it.

At various points in his life, William H. had been a wagon maker, chair maker, and general wood worker.^7,8,9,10,15 He was also a member of the Sanderson Post No. 191, Grand Army of the Republic.^13,14 I looked for him and found him in the member book in the archive where I work. He is on the same page as Francis Rakestraw, whose granddaughter later married William H.’s son, Sanford. That may be how they met.

William H. Wiseheart died on May 28, 1910 of cardiac asthma. He was buried in New Albany National Cemetery (or Soldiers National Cemetery) in New Albany, Indiana.^4,14,15,16

Tombstone of Corporal William Henry Wiseheart, New Albany National Cemetery. Photograph taken by Melissa Wiseheart, 1 September 2014.

Sources

Terrell, W.H.H. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana. Volume 6. Indianapolis: Samuel M Douglass, 1866. 148-149. Print.
Historical Data Systems, comp.. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2009. Accessed 30 Apr 2011.
“United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-ZD5S : accessed 27 April 2011), William H Wiseheart, 1910; citing Indiana, United States, NARA microfilm publication T288 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm .
Transcription of the William H. Wiseheart Family Bible.
1850 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com, 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. 1st District, Jefferson, Kentucky. p.? (smudged). Family #619, lines 22-28.
1860 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com, 2009. Web. 4 Aug. 2015. 1st District, Shelby, Kentucky. p.161. Family #72, lines 14-25.
1870 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com, 2009. Web. 9 Jun. 2015. Washington, Owen, Indiana. p.6. Family #54, lines 32-34.
1880 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com, 2009. Web. 3 Jun. 2015. Boston Precinct, Jefferson, Kentucky. p.2B. Family #18, lines 45-50.
1900 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com, 2009. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. New Albany, Floyd, Indiana. p.5B. Family #108, lines 70-74.
1910 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com, 2009. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. New Albany, Floyd, Indiana. p.16B. Family #339, lines 85-88.
“Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979,” index, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4QC-G98 : accessed 9 June 2015). Wm. H. and Fannie Browning, 10 May 1876; citing Long Run, Jefferson, Kentucky, reference Bk11, P257, L10; FHL microfilm 482,712.
“Kentucky Deaths and Burials, 1843-1970,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWP2-7MS : accessed 5 August 2015:. W Wiseheart in entry for Wiseheart, 14 Mar 1882; citing reference bk 5 p 209 no 41; FHL microfilm 209,702.
Roll of Members W. L. Sanderson. Post No. 191. G. A. R., box 1, Grand Army of the Republic Records, 1889-1931, IR MSS 160, New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, Stuart B. Wrege Indiana History Room.
“Deaths (Obituaries)” New Albany Evening Tribune 30 May 1910, Monday ed.: 1. Print. column 7. Accessed 04 Feb. 2015, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room.
Floyd County Health Department. Microfilm. Floyd County, Indiana Deaths (1901-1910): book CH-21, p.98. Retrieved 18 Feb 2015 from Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room.
National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA : Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006. Accessed 30 April 2011.

Nicholas Springer: I Pledge Allegiance (52 Ancestors #27)

Posted on July 8, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Family History, Genealogy, Military, Photographs, Springer Family

I haven’t done much research on my Revolutionary War ancestors. Most of the ancestors I’ve been researching lived in the nineteenth century. My grandparents had told me that Nicholas Springer fought in the Revolutionary War and that he was my sixth great-grandfather.

One day, as I was helping a patron research at the library, I happened upon Nicholas Springer in one of our DAR books. It yielded the following information. Nicholas Springer was born on August 5, 1743 in New Castle County, Delaware. He married Elizabeth McIlvaine in January of 1772. He was a recognized patriot, having signed the Oath of Allegiance on June 9, 1778. His children were Mary (1772), Robert (1774), Samuel (1776), Hannah, George (1779), Nicholas (1782), Stephen (1785), and Elizabeth (1789). He died on March 30, 1792 in New Castle County, Delaware.^1,2,3,4,5,6

This all seemed right, according to what information I already had, but I wanted to know who his parents were and I wanted to know more about his military history. So I began a search and turned up a few things, though for primary sources, I think a trip to Delaware is in my future.

In addition to the above information, I learned that Nicholas (or Niclas) was the son of James Springer and Mary Bishop.^2,3,5 He was christened on August 8, 1743 at Holy Trinity or Old Swedes Church in Wilimington, Delaware, which is the church that his grandfather, Carl Springer, helped start.⁵ He was buried in White Clay Creek Church Cemetery in New Castle County, Delaware.^2,6

Tombstone of Nicholas Springer, FindAGrave.com, courtesy of Richard Morrison, 16 November 2007.

Oath of Allegiance

I, Nicholas Springer, do solemnly declare and affirm that I do not hold myself bound to yield any allegiance or obedience to the King of Great Brittain, his heirs or successors and that I will be true and faithful to the Delaware State, and will support and maintain the freedom and independence and constitution thereof against all open and traitorous conspiracies, and will disclose and make known to the Commander-in-chief for the time being, or to some Judge or Justice of the Peace for this State all treasons or traitorous conspiracies, attempts or combinations against the same, or the government thereof, which shall come to my knowledge.

(Signed) Nicholas Springer.

June 9, 1778³

Sources

1. Daughters of the American Revolution. “Springer, Nicholas.” A Roster of Revolutionary Ancestors of the Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution: Commemoration of the United States of America Bicentennial, July 4, 1976. Vol. 1. Evansville, IN: Unigraphic, 1976. 601.HeritageQuest Online [ProQuest]. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.

2. Morrison, Richard. “Find A Grave – Millions of Cemetery Records.” Find A Grave – Millions of Cemetery Records. Jim Tipton, n.d. Web. 07 July 2015. (http://www.findagrave.com/). Find A Grave Memorial# 22945430.

3. Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Accessed 07 July 2015.

4. Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2004. Accessed 07 July 2015.

5. “Delaware Births and Christenings, 1710-1896,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7HD-V2Q : accessed 7 July 2015), Niclas Springer, 08 Aug 1743; citing ; FHL microfilm 908,217.

6. “Delaware Vital Records, 1680-1971,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9R-FTYM : accessed 7 July 2015), Nicholas Springer, 1792.

Francis Rakestraw: The Effects of War (52 Ancestors #21)

Posted on May 25, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Military, Photographs, Rakestraw Family

George William “Willie” Rakestraw, Charles M. “Charlie” Rakestraw, and Francis Marion Rakestraw, circa 1900. Three generations.

Francis Marion Rakestraw was born on December 22, 1847 in New Albany, Indiana to parents Milton and Mary Susan (Henderson) Rakestraw.^1,2,3,4 He was the oldest of three children, all boys.⁴ When Francis was seven years old, his father died.⁵ Mary Susan married James Hand two years later.^6,7

Francis enlisted in the army on December 28, 1863 in New Albany. He had just turned sixteen, but he told the recruiter that he was eighteen. He gave his occupation as fisherman. Francis entered as a Private and was assigned to Company B of the Thirteenth Cavalry, 131st Regiment of the Indiana Infantry.^8,9,10,11

The Thirteenth Cavalry was the last cavalry organized in Indiana. Recruiting for the companies began in September of 1863 and ended in April of 1864. Colonel Gilbert Marquis Lafayette Johnson was the commanding officer. On April 30, 1864, the Cavalry left Indianapolis and boarded a train for Nashville, Tennessee. They trained in Nashville for a month and then departed, again by train, for Huntsville, Alabama to garrison the post there. They were engaged in several skirmishes while trying to keep the supply lines clear.^8,10 In Nashville, Francis was thrown from his saddle mule, which caused a back injury. In Huntsville, he contracted malarial fever.^12,13

On October 1, 1864, the Thirteenth Cavalry held the post against the command of the rebel General Buford. On October 16th, six of the companies went to Louisville, Kentucky for fresh horses. Company B remained at the post. The companies that had gone to Louisville did not come back to Huntsville, but were rerouted to fight in Nashville. Company B and the remaining five companies were sent to Nashville as well. The Thirteenth Cavalry fought in the Battle of Nashville, alongside several other regiments, against Hood’s troops and defeated them on December 16, 1864. After the battle, all of the companies were reunited and assigned to the Second Brigade, Seventh Division of the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of Mississippi under Colonel Johnson.^8,10

On February 11, 1865, the Thirteenth Cavalry boarded transports bound for New Orleans, but were rerouted to fight at Mobile Bay. Mobile fell in April of 1865. The Cavalry then participated in a number of raids in the area, until they were assigned to garrison at Macon.^8,10

Francis mustered out with the rest of the regiment at Vicksburg, Mississippi on November 18, 1865. His discharge paper says that he was eighteen at this time, which is accurate.^8,9,10,11

Francis Rakestraw’s Civil War belt buckle.

Francis Rakestraw’s Civil War sword.

Having some disability after his accident, Francis took a job with J. Bragdon & Co., proprietors of New Albany Rolling Mills.¹⁴

On October 22, 1867, Francis married Mary Elizabeth (Gilliland) Brown.^1,3,15 They had two children, Zerilda Eleanora “Ella,” born in 1868, and George William “Willie,” born in 1873.^3,16,17

After Willie’s birth, Francis began working as a driver for Israel P. Park’s coal yard.¹⁸ In 1882, he began working for Ohio Falls Iron Works, as a laborer.¹⁹ In 1886, he took a job as a driver at E. W. Fawcett’s coal and ice company.²⁰ Francis became a driver at John Newhouse & Bro. coal company in 1892.²¹

Francis’ daughter died in June of 1894 of consumption.²² George Shrader was the undertaker, and it was at about this time that Francis began working as a driver for Shrader, who also owned a livery.^23,24 He worked for the Shraders until November of 1910, when he contracted Pulmonary Tuberculosis.^1,25,26

Francis Marion Rakestraw died on January 27, 1911 and was buried at Soldier’s National Cemetery in New Albany, Indiana.^1,2,3,11

Francis Rakestraw’s G.A.R. Information Committee ribbon.

Francis Rakestraw’s G.A.R. 3rd Annual Convention (1896) ribbon.

Francis Rakestraw’s G.A.R. In Memoriam ribbon.

Tombstone, #3054, New Albany National Cemetery, New Albany, Indiana. Photo taken 25 May 2015 by Melissa Wiseheart.

Sources

1. Floyd County, Indiana Death Records, Book CH-22, p. 17, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room.

2. Obituary, New Albany Evening Tribune, Friday, 27 January 1911, p. 4, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room.

3. Transcription of the Rakestraw Family Bible.

4. 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Jeffersonville, Clark, Indiana, pp. 313-314, Ancestry.com.

5. Clipp, Mary Cuzzort, et al. Fairview Cemetery, Volume 1, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. New Albany, IN: Southern Indiana Genealogical Society, 1991. 62. Print.

6. Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Volume 4, p. 340, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room.

7. 1860 U.S. Federal Census, New Albany, Floyd, Indiana, p. 134, Ancestry.com.

8. Terrell, W.H.H. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana. Volume 3. Indianapolis: Samuel M Douglass, 1866. 290-296. Print.

9. Terrell, W.H.H. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana. Volume 7. Indianapolis: Samuel M Douglass, 1866. 306-308. Print.

10. Powell, John W. History of the Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry Regiment, 1863-1865. Utical, KY: McDowell Publishing, 1987. Print.

11. Discharge papers, Francis Marion Rakestraw, 18 November 1865.

12. Notice, New Albany Evening Tribune, 7 January 1888.

13. Letter, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions to Francis Marion Rakestraw, 14 September 1904.

14. Sholes, A.E., compiler. Sholes’ Directory of the City of New Albany, 1873-1874. New Albany, IN: John R. Nunemacher, 1873. 134. Print.

15. Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Volume 6, p. 369, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room.

16. 1870 U.S. Federal Census, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, p. 15, Ancestry.com.

17. 1880 U.S. Federal Census, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, p. 4D, Ancestry.com.

18. Caron, C.K. Caron’s Directory of the City of New Albany for 1877-78. New Albany, IN: C.K. Caron, 1877. 166. Print.

19. Caron, C.K. Caron’s Directory of the City of New Albany for 1882-83. New Albany, IN: C.K. Caron, 1882. 218. Print.

20. Caron, C.K. Caron’s Directory of the City of New Albany and Jeffersonville for 1886-87. New Albany, IN: C.K. Caron, 1886. 237. Print.

21. Caron, C.K. Caron’s Directory of the City of New Albany and Jeffersonville for 1892-93. New Albany, IN: C.K. Caron, 1892. 310. Print.

22. Clipp, Mary Cuzzort, et al. Fairview Cemetery, Volume 4, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. New Albany, IN: Southern Indiana Genealogical Society, 1991. 71. Print.

23. Shrader receipt written to Francis Rakestraw for burial preparations, 14 June 1894.

24. Caron, C.K. Caron’s Directory of the City of New Albany and Jeffersonville for 1895-96. New Albany, IN: C.K. Caron, 1895. 381. Print.

25. Caron, C.K. Caron’s Directory of the City of New Albany and Jeffersonville for 1909-10. New Albany, IN: C.K. Caron, 1909. 308. Print.

26. Letter, George William Rakestraw to Francis Marion Rakestraw, 15 December 1910.

Doppelganger

Posted on March 21, 2015 by melissawiseheart under Family History, Genealogy, Military, Photographs, Research Process, Springer Family

I was killing time on Facebook one day, just clicking on links to 22 weirdest things kids ever said, etc., when I came across a post on old black and white photos that had been colorized. As I looked through them, I came across this one.

The staff of Andrew Porter with George A. Custer reclining next to a dog, 1862.

The man lying down on the far left of the photo looks remarkably like my great great great grandfather, John Alexander Springer.

John Alexander Springer, photo courtesy of Susan Huber, Findagrave.com

Side by side comparison.

John (1836-1919) was certainly an adult when the colorized photo had been taken, though the man in that photo looks a little older than John would’ve been. But, it wouldn’t have been outside of the realm of possibility, or it could have been his brother or father. I had to know who these men were. The photo wasn’t labeled and was credited simply as Reddit.

After some digging, I found it on Reddit and it was labeled “The staff of Andrew Porter with George A. Custer reclining next to a dog, 1862.” I also found that the black and white original of the colorized version had been taken from the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress photo was labeled “The Peninsula, Va. The staff of Gen. Fitz-John Porter; Lts. William G. Jones and George A. Custer reclining.” So, the man in the photo is Lt. William G. Jones, who is no relation that I know of. But this was fun, and at least I know.

Side note: This is why it’s important to always credit your source.

Sanford Wiseheart: Wise, Resourceful, and Industrious (52 Ancestors #09)

Posted on March 2, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Family History, Genealogy, Military, Photographs, Stories, Wiseheart Family

“Pap used to say, ‘If you can’t find work, make work.'” These are words I frequently heard from my grandpa about his father.

Sanford Wesley “Sandy” Wiseheart was born on October 30, 1890 in Elizabeth, Indiana to parents William Henry and Frances Lydia “Fannie” (Browning) Wiseheart. In the 1910 Census, he was still living with his parents. He was a peddler working on his own account and owned his own wagon. Grandpa told me that when his dad was younger he used to buy things in town and load them up on a wagon and sell them at a slight profit to the people who couldn’t make it into town.

In 1917, Sandy filled out a Draft Registration Card. His occupation was “driver for David Brubeck.” According to the 1917 New Albany City Directory, David Brubeck was the owner of Brubeck Ice Cream Company. About a month later, on Sandy’s marriage application with his first wife, his occupation is listed as paper hanger, that is one who hangs wallpaper.

In August of 1918, Sandy went to France and served in the occupation of Privenelle Sector, west of Moselle (Second Army Offensive).

Sanford Wesley Wiseheart (ca. 1918)

While there, he was a medical transporter in Field Hospital 22. He frequently wrote to his mother and to his friend, Mildred Springer. One such letter contained the following:

if you could of saw what I have over here you would learn that there is no use to worry about anything we must just keep a brave heart and meet our trouble half way for we cannot change what must be.

Sandy married Mildred Gertrude Springer, his second marriage, on May 5, 1920 in Floyd County, Indiana. Here, Sandy’s occupation was “transfer business,” which is delivery service. On the 1930 Census, he was a salesman of medicines and toiletries.

Grandpa also told me that during the 1937 flood, Sandy and one of his friends borrowed a neighbor’s rowboat and took hay around to the stranded cows.

The 1940 Census lists Sandy as being a general contractor, working on his own account, who repairs and builds homes. In 1941, he bought a farm and the family raised crops and chickens as well.

Sanford Wiseheart on the farm.

Sandy wasn’t afraid of hard work, and he did whatever job was necessary and available in order to provide for his family.

A Wise Heart's Journey

Finding ancestors one step at a time.

Category Archives: Military

William H. Wiseheart: It’s Easy as AB…H (52 Ancestors #31)

Nicholas Springer: I Pledge Allegiance (52 Ancestors #27)

Oath of Allegiance

Francis Rakestraw: The Effects of War (52 Ancestors #21)

Doppelganger

Sanford Wiseheart: Wise, Resourceful, and Industrious (52 Ancestors #09)