Amanuensis Monday - 1889 Tax Sale - H.T. Owens

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

Times must have been hard for my 2^nd great-grandfather, H. T. Owens, in 1888 and 1889. The following deed represents the sale of property for delinquent taxes for 1888 and costs associated with the sale by the parish sheriff and tax collector. 

“State of Louisiana   )

Parish of Bienville     )

Be it known that this day before me J W Tooke Clerk & Ex officio Recorder & Notary Public in and for said Parish duly qualified came and appeared J A Mays Sheriff and Ex officio Tax collector of State and Parish taxes in & for said Parish, acting herein by virtue of the authority visited him by the constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana in such case made and provided and in the name of the State of Louisiana who declared that he does by these presents sell convey and deliver unto Southern land and improvement company the following described property assessed to H. T. Owens upon the tablet of taxes in & for said Parish for the year 1888 to wit. North West qua[r]ter of section Eight (8) south West qua[r]ter of south East qua[r]ter and North East qua[r]ter of South West qua[r]ter of Section Five (5) Township Eight  (18) Range Five (5) The said property was advertised in the Louisiana Advance, a news paper published in said Parish from the 17^th day of May 1889 to the 22^nd day of June 1889 making full thirty ^[?] days from the date of first mention to the day of sale, announcing said sale to take place at the front door of the civil District court house of said Parish within the legal hours of sale on the 22^nd day of June 1889.

When on said sale day between the said legal hours of sale and at said ^courthouse front door after first having read the advertisement announcing the amount of Taxes interest and cost due on said property for the year 1888 he proceeded to offer said described property for sale for cash without appraisment[?] in legal tender money of the United States to pay and satisfy said taxes interest and cost.

When at said offering the said Southern Land and improvement company having big the sum of sixteen & ³⁰/₁₀₀ Dollars for said property they became the purchasers thereof for that price subject to redemption as provided by law.

This sale is therefore made for the consideration of sixteen & ³⁰/₁₀₀ Dollars cash in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the said sale being for

                                                taxes                 8.14

                                                Interest              .97

                                                Advertising      3.50

                                                Cost                  3.74

Making said sum of   16.35

Done and passed in said Parish of Bienville in the presence of the attesting competent witnesses, on this the 31^st day of July AD 1889.

Attest.                                                 J. A. Mays

F. L. Mayfield                                     Shff & Tax Coll

J. C. Thens

                                    J. W. Tooke

                                    CDC & Ex Of NP

Attest: a true record this August 2^nd 1889.

                                                            J. C. Thens Dy CDC

                                                            & Ex Of Recorder”

 

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, BB: 323, State of Louisiana (H.T. Owens) deed to Southern Land and Improvement Company, tax sale, 2 August 1889; FHL microfilm 266,017.]

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #5 – Mamie Olive MARTINDALE

One of my goals for 2012 is to use the Surname Saturday blogging prompt as a way to assure that I spend some time researching each of my family lines and that I have appropriate source citations for the genealogical facts related to my ancestors. I’ve decided to use my ahnentafel report and work back through the generations starting with my grandparents, writing a summary of each ancestor. If you discovered this post through a search engine and find one of your ancestors listed here, please leave a comment to let me know.

My grandmother, Mamie Olive MARTINDALE, was born 26 September 1884 in Colmanville, Carter County, Missouri, and died 7 January 1971 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.[1] She was the fourth child of Ambrose B. and Sarah Belle (FORSHEE) MARTINDALE.[2]

She married Jasper Jackson SPURLOCK on 15 November 1905 in Cushing, Nacogdoches County, Texas.[3] Jack and Mamie had four children:

·         Dorothy Belle (1906-1987)[4]

·         William Taft (1908-1974)[5]

·         Arthur Bryant “Otto” (1911-1951)[6]

·         Jasper Jackson “Jack” (1912-1978)[7]

Shortly after the birth of their youngest child, her husband left her and headed west. He never returned. Although it is believed that he married again, Mamie never did.

Mamie’s father, A. B. Martindale, died during the influenza epidemic of 1918.[8] Mamie and her children were enumerated in her mother’s household in the 1920 census.[9] Her mother died in 1923.[10]

In 1930, Mamie was enumerated with her three youngest children in Houston, Harris County, Texas. She was employed as a waitress in a school cafeteria.[11] Her oldest child, daughter Dorothy Belle, had married Walter Magee on 31 January 1924.[12]

Mamie is buried in Forest Park Cemetery, Lawndale, Harris County, Texas.[13]

I did not know my grandmother. When I was about 12, we went to Texas to visit family but we spent more time with the family of my dad’s first wife than we did with Gram. When she died in 1971, only my father and sister Jane went to the funeral. I have photocopies of the pages from her scrapbook which show that she was actively involved in church activities. She was apparently an avid reader as she had library cards for both the Houston Public Library and the Corpus Christi Public Library. I believe she had a companion, “Aunt Mary,” with whom she lived in her later years.

Here are some of the things I need to research about my grandmother:

1. Although the index to the Nacogdoches County, Texas, marriage books refers to a record for the Spurlock-Martindale marriage, the actual record does not appear on the Family History Library microfilm nor is it present in the marriage book in the county courthouse.
2. The newspaper clipping regarding the marriage found in my grandmother’s scrapbook is undated and from an unidentified newspaper. As with the marriage record, I have been unable to locate identifying information for the clipping.
3. I have not searched for a divorce record for my grandparents. The logical places to look are in San Diego and Los Angeles counties in California, where my grandfather lived, or in Harris County, Texas, where my grandmother lived.
4. Family tradition is that A. B. Martindale gave each of us children property. According to the 1930 census, Gram owned her home at the time, but I have not researched Harris County deeds to see what transactions are recorded.
5. It is possible that there might be more information about her in the records of the various churches with which she was affiliated.
6. I need to interview my cousin Jean to see what she can tell me about Gram.
7. I need to see if I can locate any other of her grandchildren to share information.

---

[1] Harris County, Texas, death certificate no. 03613 (1971), Mamie Olive Spurlock; Texas Department of Health, Austin. 

[2] 1900 U.S. census, Nacogdoches County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 6, enumeration district (ED) 47, sheet 15B, dwelling 265, family 267, household of Bryan Martindale; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll T623_1661. 

[3] Spurlock, Mamie Olive (Martindale), Scrapbook, ca 1950-1970; privately held by Cheryl Anne (Chaney) Beaver, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lone Grove, Oklahoma. 2010. Photocopy in possession of Denise Spurlock.

[4] "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 Jan 1912), entry for Dorothy Belle Magee, died 22 September 1987; citing Death Records, Harris County, Texas; Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas.

[5] Texas, death certificate no. 82719 (1974), William Taft Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," FamilySearch (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 6 Jul 2011).

[6] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 52346 (1951), Arthur Bryant Spurlock; digital image, Footnote.com, Texas Death Certificates  (http://www.footnote.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 15 Jul 2010).

[7] Carter County, Oklahoma, death certificate no. 02625 (1978), Jasper J. Spurlock, Jr; Oklahoma Department of Health, Oklahoma City.

[8] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 41191 (1918), A. B. Martindale; digital image, Footnote.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.footnote.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 20 Apr 2010). 

[9] 1920 U.S. census, Harris, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 1, enumeration district (ED) 120, sheet 32A, dwelling 681, family 695, household of Sarah Martindale; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 Dec 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll T625_1812; Page: 32A; Enumeration District: 120. 

[10] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 4483 (1923), Sarah Belle Martindale; digital image, Footnote.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.footnote.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 2 May 2011).  

[11] 1930 U.S. census, Harris County, Texas, population schedule, Houston, enumeration district (ED) 144, sheet 15A, dwelling 311, family 336, Mamie O. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Jan 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626, roll 2351.

[12] FamilySearch database, Family Search (www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 Aug 2011), Walter Magee-Dorothy Spurlock marriage (1924). 

[13] Harris County, Texas, death certificate no. 03613 (1971), Mamie Olive Spurlock; Texas Department of Health, Austin. 

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Wordless Wednesday - Easter Spurlock

Digital image. Original held by J. D. Carson, 1999.

My grand-aunt

Easter Spurlock

(1910-1988)

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - 1886 Deed - H. T. Owins to Mrs. D. C. Ratcliff

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

Today I have transcribed a deed in which my 2^nd great-grandfather, H. T. Owens, conveyed a parcel of land to Mrs. D. C. Ratcliff at the end of 1886. In consideration he accepted her note for payment to be made 1 November 1887, nearly a year after he sold the property to her. The deed was not recorded until 1888.

“H. T. Owins

To  } Deed

Mrs. D.C. Ratcliff

State of Louisiana     )

Parish of Bienville     )

Know all men by these presents that for and in Consideration of the Sum of ($140⁰⁰) one hundred and forty dollars payable Nover 1st 1887, which is hereby acknowledged I, H. T. Owens of the above named State and Parish have this day bargained and sold to D C Ratcliff of the same State and Parish a Certain tract or parcel of land viz: South wet fourth of the South West quarter of Section five, Township Eighteen, Range five west being and lying in the Parish of Bienville, To have and to hold the Said described property to the use of the Said. D C Ratcliff her heirs and assigns forever and the Said H T. Owens, for himself his heirs and assigns, Shall and will warrant and defend against the claims of all other persons whosoever by these presents in favor of the Said D C Ratcliff her heirs and assigns forever. Given under my hand and Seal, This December 13th A.D. 1886.

                                                              H. T. Owens

Attent:

D H Burt Sr

J C Ratcliff

State of Louisiana     )

Parish of Bienville     )

Before me the undersigned authority personally came and appeared J C. Ratcliff who on oath says he saw all theparties sign the above and foregoing deed for the purposes therein expressed and now recognizes the signature to be genuine.

                                                              J C Ratliff

Sworn to and subscribed before me this March 8th 1886.

                                                              A. J. Moore

                                                              Clk Dist Court

I hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a true record of the Original Deed.

This the 16th day of July 1888.

                                                     A. J. Moore

                                                     Dey Clk Dist Court and Ex officio Recorder”

 

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, AA: 544, H. T. Owens deed to Mrs. D. C. Ratcliff, 16 Jul 1888; FHL microfilm 266,016.]


© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #4 – Jasper Jackson SPURLOCK (1876-1940)

One of my goals for 2012 is to use the Surname Saturday blogging prompt as a way to assure that I spend some time researching each of my family lines and that I have appropriate source citations for the genealogical facts related to my ancestors. I’ve decided to use my ahnentafel report and work back through the generations starting with my grandparents, writing a summary of each ancestor. If you discovered this post through a search engine and find one of your ancestors listed here, please leave a comment to let me know.

My grandfather, Jasper Jackson “Jack” SPURLOCK, was born 24 September 1876 in Louisiana and died 19 April 1940 in Los Angeles, California.[1] He was the oldest child of John F. and Dialtha SPURLOCK.[2]

He married Mamie Olive MARTINDALE on 15 November 1905 in Cushing, Nacogdoches County, Texas.[3] Jack and Mamie had four children:

·         Dorothy Belle (1906-1987)[4]

·         William Taft (1908-1974)[5]

·         Arthur Bryant “Otto” (1911-1951)[6]

·         Jasper Jackson “Jack” (1912-1978)[7]

His early years were spent in Claiborne[8] and Bienville[9] parishes in northwestern Louisiana. As an adult, he moved west, first to Texas[10] and then to Arizona.[11]  By 1914, he was in San Diego, California,[12] and by 1930 in Los Angeles.[13]

After learning to repair clocks by watching itinerant repair men, he received additional training as a watchmaker at the Canadian Horological Institute. He was an active member of the California Horological Association, serving on its technical committee.[14] In the spring of 1940, he was elected as Vice President of the association.[15]

Several challenges remain in my research of my grandfather’s life:

1. Although the index to the Nacogdoches County, Texas, marriage books refers to a record for the Spurlock-Martindale marriage, the actual record does not appear on the Family History Library microfilm nor is it present in the marriage book in the county courthouse.
2. The newspaper clipping regarding the marriage found in my grandmother’s scrapbook is undated and from an unidentified newspaper. As with the marriage record, I have been unable to locate identifying information for the clipping.
3. The 1930 census record indicates that my grandfather married a second time after moving to California. I have been unable to locate a marriage record for him and Wilma Camille (maiden name unknown).
4. I have not searched for a divorce record for my grandparents. The logical places to look are in San Diego and Los Angeles counties in California (where my grandfather lived) or in Harris County, Texas, where my grandmother lived.
5. I have not researched all records that may be available in the various locations that my grandfather lived. 

---

[1] Los Angeles, California, death certificate no. 19-442238 (1996), Jasper Jackson Spurlock; County of Los Angeles, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. 

[2] 1880 U.S. census, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, 6th Ward, enumeration district (ED) 14, p. 30B, dwelling 266, family 301, household of J. F. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 451.

[3] Spurlock, Mamie Olive (Martindale), Scrapbook, ca 1950-1970; privately held by Cheryl Anne (Chaney) Beaver, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lone Grove, Oklahoma. 2010. Photocopy in possession of Denise Spurlock.

[4] "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 Jan 1912), entry for Dorothy Belle Magee, died 22 September 1987; citing Death Records, Harris County, Texas; Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas.

[5] Texas, death certificate no. 82719 (1974), William Taft Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 6 Jul 2011).

[6] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 52346 (1951), Arthur Bryant Spurlock; digital image, Footnote.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.footnote.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 15 Jul 2010).

[7] Carter County, Oklahoma, death certificate no. 02625 (1978), Jasper J. Spurlock, Jr; Oklahoma Department of Health, Oklahoma City.

[8] 1880 U.S. census, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, 6th Ward, enumeration district (ED) 14, p. 30B, dwelling 266, family 301, household of J. F. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 451.

[9] 1900 U.S. census, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Police Jury Ward 1, enumeration district (ED) 2, p. 11A, dwelling 180, family 180, household of John F. Spurlock (continued from previous page); digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 558. 

[10] 1910 U.S. census, Cherokee County, Texas, population schedule, Jacksonville City, enumeration district (ED) 17, sheet 18-B, dwelling 360, family 374, Jasper J. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Jan 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 1538.

[11] Arizona Directory Co., Los Angeles, Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1913 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens of Phoenix, Buckeye, Glendale, Mesa, and Tempe 474, 486; digital images, Ancestry www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 Sep 2011.

[12] "Business Improving; Jewelry Firm Forced To Increase Its Staff," The San Diego Union, 15 April 1914, p. 3, col. 2; digital images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 6 Jan 2012).

[13] 1930 U.S. census, Los Angeles County, California, population schedule, Los Angeles, enumeration district (ED) 424, sheet 2A, dwelling 22, family 39, Jasper J. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Feb 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626, roll 148.

[14] "Finds Pleasure at the Bench," Horology: The National Magazine for Advancement in Timekeeping, August 1938, 31.

[15] "Horologists, Jewelers End Conventions," The San Diego Union, 1 Mar 1940, p. 13-A, col. 1; digital images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 6 Jan 2012).

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Wordless Wednesday - Uncle Bud

Digital image. Original held by J. D. Carson, 1999.

My grand-uncle
"Uncle Bud"

Gus Hobson Spurlock

1899-1968

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - 1853 Deed - H. B. Martindale to John Chandler

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

This week I have transcribed a deed in which my 2^nd great-grandparents, Howell B.  and Mary Elizabeth Martindale, sold approximately one hundred acres of land in Washington County, Missouri, to John L. J. Chandler of St. Genevieve County, Missouri. I believe they sold the property in preparation for a move to Texas where their son James Austin Martindale was born in 1856. The witness to the deed, John Robinson, is likely the father of Zilla Melissa Robinson, the first wife of my great-grandfather A. B. Martindale. A. R. Eaton, the justice of the peace who “examined” Mary E. “Separate and apart from her Husband” to assure her free will in the sale was likely her brother. The clerk’s penmanship and the poor quality of the microfilm copy made the transcription difficult.

“This Indenture made this twelfth Day of August in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and fifty Three between Hewel B. Martindale and Mary Elizabeth his wife of Washington County Missouri of the first part and John L. J. Chandler of St. Genivieve County Missouri of the Second Part, Witnesseth That the Said part of the first part for and in Consideration of the Sum of Six Hundred Dollars, to him paid by the party of the Second part, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged hereby Give grant Bargain Sell transfer and Make Over unto the Said John L. J. Chandler, his heirs and assigns forever the following Described tracts, lots or parcel of Land Lying in the North West Corner of a tract of Six Hundred and forty acres of land confirmed to Lemuel Makeley situated in Township [?] North [?] Thence East in a the County of Washington aforesaid Said tract is bounded and Described at follows, beginning at the North West Corner of the Lemuel Makeley Survey numbered 2181, Thence East One Hundred and Twenty four Poles with the Old line of Confirmation Thence North Seventeen Degrees west One Hundred and Thirty Seven Poles, to a Chinkapin Oake ten inches, in Diameter, Thence North four Degrees East to the line of James Harrison Survey Thence West with Said Harrison's line to the interaction of the Western line of the Confirmation Thence South with the Old line of Confirmation to the beginning Containing one Hundred and four Acres of Land more less to have and to hold the aforementioned tract or parcel of Land being a part of the Said Lemuel Makely Survey No. 2181 and him the Said John L. J. Chandler his heirs, and assigns, forever and the Said Howel B. Martindale and Mary Elizabeth, his wife do for themselves, their heirs, Executors, and Administrators, Covenant, [?] Warrant and Defend the aforegranted premises, unto the Said John L. J. Chandler his, heirs, and assigns, forever Against the Lawful Claim or Claims, of all and every person or persons, whatsoever. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto Set our hands, and affixed Our Seals, the Day and Year first above written.

Attest,

John Robinson )                                H. B. Martindale {seal}

                                                            Mary E. Martindale {seal}

[next page]

State of Missouri                  )

County of Washington         )

Be it Remembered that on this Thirteenth Day of August in the Year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and fifty three personally came Howel B. Martindale and Mary E his, wife being both known to me to be the persons whose names are Subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing as having Executed the Same and Severally acknowledged the Same to be their act and Deed for the purposes, therein mentioned. She the Said Mary E being by me first made acquainted with the Contents thereof and Examined Separate and apart from her Husband as to whether She Executed the Said Deed and relinquished her Dower to the Land, and tenements therein Mentioned acknowledged and Declared that She Executed the Said Deed and relinquishes her Dower to the Lands, and tenements therein mentioned Voluntarily freely and without Compulsion or undue influence of her Said Husband.

                                                            A R. Eaton

                                                            Justice of the Peace

Filed September 13^th 1853.

                                                W. A. Matthews, Recorder”

[Source: Washington County, Missouri, Deed Records, 1813-1920, H: 407, indenture from Howell B. and Mary E. Martindale to John L. J. Chandler, 13 September 1853; FHL microfilm 915,372.]

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Sunday's Obituary - Jessie Munsell Spurlock (1906-1959)

"RITES HELD FOR JESSIE SPURLOCK

Mrs. Jessie Munsell Spurlock, wife of Jack Spurlock 54, of Richland Springs died at 12:03 a.m. April 21 in San Saba Memorial Hospital after a lingering illness.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the First Baptist Church in Richland Springs, conducted by the Rev. George McHorse.

Native of Richland Springs, she was born Dec. 19, 1904, the daughter of the late L. D. and Winnie Bolinger Munsell. She had lived in the Richland Springs community all of her life.

She and Jack Spurlock were married on June 26, 1924, at Richland Springs. She was a member of the Baptist Church in which it was said that she was an active and faithful worker. She was a charter member of the Dorcas Sunday School Class which was organized about 30 years ago, and was the first member of the class, which maintains a membership of about 30 ladies, to die. The Dorcas Class attended the service as a group.

She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Mrs. Bennett Hefte of Robstown; a son, Billie Ray Spurlock of San Antonio; and four grandchildren; five sisters, Mrs. Earl Hamrick of San Saba, Mrs. Cy Reynolds of Red Lake Falls, Minn., Mrs. B. D. Sheppard of Crane, Mrs. Raymond Wheeler of Raymondville and Miss Minnie B. Munsell of Mexio; three brother, C. I. Munsell of Richland Spgs., L. D. Munsell of Mason and J. W. Munsell of Ft. Stockton.

Pallbearers were Arnold Maeker of Lubbock, Glen Lewis of Richland Springs, Jimmy Hamrick of San Marcos, Charles Sheppard of Crane, D. L. Munsell of Zapata and Bobby Bryan Spurlock of Garland. Burial was made in Richland Springs Cemetery. Arrangements were in charge of Howell-Dorsa funeral directors."

[Source: "RITES HELD FOR JESSIE SPURLOCK," The San Saba News, 30 April 1959, p. 9, col. 7; digital images, NewspaperARCHIVE (www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 7 Jan 2012).] 

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Wordless Wednesday - Girl in a Railyard

Digital image. Original held by Cheryl Beaver, [ADDRESS
WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY], Ardmore, Oklahoma, 2011.

Gloria Jane Spurlock, circa 1940, 

in a railyard in the Houston, Texas, area.

My sister Jane talked about living in a boxcar when she was young. She said the family lived there so that she and her mother would be close to where Daddy worked. I am looking forward to trying to find the family in the 1940 census.

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - Plan of the Town of New Canaan, Madison County, Ohio - 1831

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

For the past three weeks I have transcribed deeds conveying various parcels of land located in Madison County, Ohio, to Abijah Gandy, my 3^rd great-granduncle. This week I have transcribed the Plan of the Town of New Canaan, which was surveyed for Abijah by David Chapman. The plan for the town shows the location of the home of Luther Cary (my 4^th great-grandfather) slightly below and to the left of the town lots.

Source: Madison County, Ohio, Deed Books 1810-1922, 7: 195, 

town plat, Town of New Canaan, 11 April 1831; 

FHL microfilm 522,905.

"Plan of the Town of New Canaan.

Recorders Office April 11^th 1831.

March 26.^th 1831. Surveyed for Abijah Cary the Town of New Canaan in Canaan Township Madison County Ohio. Beginning at letter B The South west corner of Lot No. 1. which is N 10 E 8 poles and 11 links from the North East corner of the house that Luther Cary now lives in. the Town is laid out one teir[tier] of Lots on each side of a County Road, Known by the name of the Chillicothe road. and the road is the Main Street through the Town and is four poles wide all the lots except No 32 and 33 are Six poles square. Bounded as follows. beginning at the south Corner Thence N 5  ½ West 6 poles. S 84 ½ W. 6 poles S. 5 ½ E 6 poles, containing 36. square rods. of land. each lot No 32 being at its South west Corner N 16 West 6 poles and 3 links N 84 ½ E 5 poles and 22 links S 5 ½ E 6 poles S 34 ½ W 4 poles and 15 links. S 5 ½ E 6 poles S 84 ½ W 3 poles and 8 links Containing 23 ³/7 Square rods of land. the Alley on the west side of the west side of the street and 40 links wide and between lots No.s 4 and 5 one between lots No 8 and Nine and one between 12 and 13 the ally on the south side of the street are 30 links wide. one between lots No 20 and 21. one between lots No. 31 and 32 the course of Main Street from Letter B. No[r]therly is N. 30 W. and from B. southerly S. 16 E.

                                    David Chapman

                                                Surveyor."

© 2012 Denise Spurlock