Sunday's Obituary - Margaret H. Roberts (1896-1957)

For the last few months, I have been transcribing the obituaries that my paternal grandmother, Mamie Olive (Martindale) Spurlock, had saved in her scrapbook. This last obituary puzzled me. All the other obituaries were for immediate family, but I couldn’t identify this person—Margaret H. (Lashly) Roberts. So off I went to research her and see what I could find.

My first search was for a death certificate on FamilySearch; success! I found that Margaret was born 25 December 1896 in Missouri, the daughter of [—?—] Lashley and Sarah Robinson, and that she died on 26 November 1957 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, where she had lived for 30 years. Her mother’s maiden name of Robinson rang a bell because I knew that A.B. Martindale (my great-grandfather) had been married to Zilla Robinson prior to his marriage to my great-grandmother Sarah Belle Forshee.

I next searched Missouri marriages on FamilySearch to see if I could find her parents’ marriage. I found a Sarah J. Robinson who married James J. Lashley on 2 December 1882 in Iron, Missouri (an area where my Martindale and Forshee ancestors had lived).

I turned next to the federal census. I found Maggie Lashly (born Dec 1896 in Missouri) living with her mother Sarah (widowed, born April 1860 in Missouri) and the siblings named in her obituary in Concord, Washington County, Missouri, on the 1900 census. I then found Sarah Robinson, age 20, in the 1880 census living with her parents Wm. (born about 1838 in Missouri) and Margareth (born about 1840 in Tennessee) in Concord, Washington County, Missouri. Sarah (age 2/12) was listed in the 1860 census in Concord, Washington County, in the household of Thomas W. and Margaret Robinson.

Back to Missouri marriage records! Thomas W. Robinson married Margaret Forshee on 2 April 1857 in Washington County, Missouri. Margaret was the sister of my great-grandmother Sarah Belle Forshee.

Voila! This obituary was for a relative like all the others in the scrapbook. Margaret Lashly Roberts was the first cousin once removed of my grandmother.

“MARGARET H. ROBERTS, 60, of 1127 West 30th Ave died 8:30 AM Tuesday in her home. Survivors: Sons, Lee S. and Louis H. Roberts, both of Houston; brothers, Benton Lashly, Port Arthur, Clyde and Tom Lashly, both of Lufkin; sister, Mrs. Ethel Perry, Lufkin; four grandchildren. Services 4 PM Wednesday Boulevard Funeral Home chapel, the Rev J. Kelly Neal. Burial Forest Park Cemetery. Boulevard Funeral Home.”

Source: Undated obituary for Margaret H. Roberts from unknown newspaper, 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.

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

2012 SNGF Genealympics - Event 1 - Descendants

Earlier today, Randy Seaver announced the opening of the 2012 SNGF (Saturday Night Genealogy Fun) Genealympics; see his post here for more info on this event. 

The Flag of Me

My first event is the descendants' challenge that Randy described as follows:

Pick any one of your 16 great-great-grandparents, or one of your spouse's 16 great-great-grandparents.  How many descendants of that person do you have in your family tree records or database?  (Hint, a Descendants Report in your genealogy software should easily provide this number).

Medal Awards:
*  Bronze:  over 50 descendants
*  Silver:  over 100 descendants
*  Gold: over 150 descendants
*  Diamond:  over 200 descendants
*  Platinum:  over 250 descendants

Since I was working on my paternal 2^nd great-grandfather James Forshee earlier today, I decided to use him for this event. Of his seven known children, three sons died during the Civil War without issue, so I was surprised to find that

I have 156 descendants of James Forshee in my database!

Woo hoo! A GOLD medal!

I really enjoy doing descendancy research, but have not spent too much time on this particular family line. Need to add that to the list of things to do!

I'll be posting about other events during the next two weeks.

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Surname Saturday - Ancestor #22 - James Forshee

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 paternal 2^nd great-grandfather James Forshee was born 25 December 1810[1] in Tennessee[2]. His parents are believed to be John Forshee and Agnes Weston.

On 15 September 1830, he married Sarah Parker,[3] probably in Monroe County, Tennessee. The couple had seven known children:

George J. Forshee (Abt 1830[4]-1903[5])

Richard Forshee (1834-1905)[6]

John H. Forshee (Abt 1836[7]-1864)[8]

Benjamin Thomas Forshee (1838-1865)[9]

Margaret Forshee (1840-1917)[10]

Joseph F. Forshee (Abt 1842[11]-1863[12])

Sarah Belle Forshee (1856-1923)[13] – my great-grandmother

James was born, raised, married, and fathered his oldest children in Monroe County, Tennessee. Sometime before the mid-1850s, he moved his family to Missouri, settling in the southeast part of the state. He was a miller[14] in Tennessee and a farmer in Missouri.[15]

James and all of his sons served the Union during the conflict, either in the Enrolled Missouri Militia or the 32^nd Missouri Infantry. The family lived in an area of Missouri that was plagued by guerrilla activity; see the post Death Threats in Southeast Missouri for more on how it affected my ancestors in the area.

The Civil War took a great toll on the Forshee family. Two of the five sons died of disease during the Civil War: Joseph, the youngest, died of consumption in Vicksburg;[16] John died of consumption also, while at home in Washington County, Missouri.[17] Benjamin died in February 1865 and is buried in Washington County; I have not yet been able to locate more information about his death.

James died 28 June 1878 and is buried at Hopewell Cemetery in Washington County, Missouri.[18]

I would like to learn more about James’ life both in Missouri and Tennessee. I have searched for deeds without little deeds; however, the surname FORSHEE is spelled many different ways and another search may be in order to look for alternate spellings. I would like to do some newspaper research, but need to make a list of newspapers of the area and see if any have been digitized. From an acquaintance who lived in St. Francois County, I understand there are still many Forshee descendants in the area; I need to see if I can find some living cousins!

---

[1] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 Mar 2010), James B. Forshee, Find A Grave Memorial# 5268992, created by Larry G. Flesher, 12 March 2001 (includes gravestone photograph).

[2] 1850 U.S. census, Monroe County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 11, p. 3B, dwelling 39, family 39, household of James Foshee; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll M432_891.

[3] Sarah Forshee, certificate #231457, Declaration for Mother's Army Pension, filed 26 Jul 1880; Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans, ('Navy Widows' Certificates'), 1861-1910; Record Group M1279; National Archives, Washington.

[4] 1870 U.S. census, Washington County, Missouri, population schedule, Concord, p. 25 (penned), 67 (stamped), dwelling 167, family 169, George Forchee; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Jul 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll 825.

[5] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 28 Jul 2012), George Forshee, Memorial #5268986, created by Larry G. Flesher, 12 March 2001 (includes gravestone photograph).

[6] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 28 Jul 2012), Richard Stephen Forshee, Memorial #12418359, created by Kaaren Crail Vining, 20 November 2005.

[7] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., District 11, Monroe, Tennessee, p. 3B, dwell. 39, fam. 39, household of James Foshee.

[8] Compiled service record, John H. Forshee, private, 31st Missouri Infantry; Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890 - 1912, documenting the period 1861 - 1866, Civil War; 94; digital images, "Civil War Soldiers - Union - MO," Footnote (www.footnote.com : accessed 27 Jan 2011).

[9] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 Mar 2010), Benjamin Thomas Forshee, Memorial #5268979, created by Larry G. Flesher, 12 March 2001 (includes gravestone photograph).

[10] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 28 Jul 2012), Margaret Ellen Forshee Robinson, Memorial #39384670, created by Ruth Carver, 12 July 2009 (includes gravestone photograph).

[11] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., District 11, Monroe, Tennessee, p. 3B, dwell. 39, fam. 39, household of James Foshee.

[12] Compiled service record, Joseph F. Forshee, private, 31st Missouri Infantry; Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890 - 1912, documenting the period 1861 - 1866, Civil War; 94; digital images, "Civil War Soldiers - Union - MO," Footnote (www.footnote.com : accessed 27 Jan 2011).

[13] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 4483 (1923), Sarah Belle Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 2 May 2011).

[14] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., District 11, Monroe, Tennessee, p. 3B, dwell. 39, fam. 39, household of James Foshee.

[15] 1860 U.S. census, Washington, Missouri, population schedule, Concord, p. 44, dwelling 274, family 296, household of James Foshee; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll M653_659.

[16] Compiled military service record, Joseph F. Forshee, private, 31st Missouri Infantry, Civil War, 94.

[17] Compiled military service record, John H. Forshee, private, 31st Missouri Infantry, Civil War, 94.

[18] Find A Grave, entry for James Forshee, Find A Grave Memorial# 5268992.

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #11 – Sarah Belle Forshee

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 paternal great-grandmother Sarah Belle FORSHEE  was born 11 April 1856 in Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri,[1] the youngest child of James B. FORSHEE and Sarah A. PARKER.[2]

She grew to maturity in Missouri, and on 1 June 1879, married Ambrose B. MARTINDALE in Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri.[3] A.B. and Sarah had six children, four of whom lived to adulthood:

• William Clarence (1880-1889)[4]
• Maude Alberti (1881-1958)[5]
• Walter Ivan (1883-1958)[6]
• Mamie Olive (1884-1971)[7]
• Mamie Viola (1886-1886)[8]
• Arthur Bryant (1887-1961)[9]

I know little about her life, except that she raised two step-children from A.B.’s first marriage along with her own. It is likely that she was active in church activities, probably at the Methodist church in Cushing, Texas, for which her husband donated most of the lumber to build and where two of her daughters were organists.[10]

She died on 17 February 1923 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, and was buried the following day at Hollywood Cemetery.[11]

Although I have found many records regarding the life of Sarah’s husband, nothing has surfaced with details of her life. As I continue to review materials already in my possession and continue to conduct research about this family, I hope to find additional clues to my great-grandmother’s life.

---

[1] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 4483 (1923), Sarah Belle Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 2 May 2011).

[2] 1860 U.S. census, Washington, Missouri, population schedule, Concord, p. 45, dwelling 274, family 296, household of James Foshee; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll M653_659.

[3] Martindale-Forchee marriage, 1 Jun 1879, Washington Co., MO, Marriage Book C, p. 363.

[4] Wayne County, Missouri Cemeteries (St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Genealogical Society, n.d.), 26.

[5] Hopewell Cemetary Listing (http://www.rootsweb.com/~mowashin/cemetery/).

[6] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 21812 (1958), Walter Ivan Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 21 Apr 2010).

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

[8] Wayne County Cemeteries, 26.

[9] 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.

[10] Mina Beth Seelbach Helpinstill, “Cushing, Texas – The Piney Woods Town,” p. 14; unpublished manuscript dated 1956, a copy of which was obtained from City Hall, Cushing, held by Denise Spurlock, {ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY], Lomita, California, 2012.

[11] Texas death certificate 4483 (1923), Sarah Belle Martindale.

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Sunday's Obituary - Sarah Belle (Forshee) Martindale

The following obituary is for my great-grandmother, Sarah Belle (Forshee) Martindale; she died 17 February 1923, in Houston, Harris County, Texas.

“MORTUARY

Mrs. Sarah Belle Martindale, aged 66, died at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Mamie Spurlock, corner of Gainesville and Harbor. The body was taken in charge by the Sid Westheimer Company and the funeral will be held from the residence at 4 this afternoon. Burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery.

Surviving are two sons, W. I. Martindale of Houston and A. B. Martindale of Tyler; two daughters, Mrs. R. A. Thompson of St. Louis and Miss Mamie Spurlock of Houston; a stepson, R. E. Martindale of Houston, and a stepdaughter, Mrs. D. R. Upton of Gallatin.”

[SOURCE: Undated clipping from unknown newspaper, 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.]

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: September 15

1830: James B. Forshee and Sarah A. Parker, my paternal 2^nd great-grandparents, were married, probably in Monroe County, Tennessee. Their marriage record has not been found. James and Sarah had seven children: George, Richard, John, Benjamin, Margaret, Joseph, and Sarah (my great-grandmother).

[Source: Sarah Forshee, certificate #231457, Declaration for Mother's Army Pension, filed 26 Jul 1880; Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans, ('Navy Widows' Certificates'), 1861-1910; Record Group M1279; National Archives, Washington.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Thriller Thursday - Death Threats in Southeast Missouri

During the Civil War, Missouri was a hotbed of Confederate guerilla activity. Bands of guerillas often retaliated against pro-Union citizens when one of their number was killed as a result of the fighting.

The following news article, published in the September 23, 1864, edition of the St. Louis Union[1], reports an incident of such activity and the death threat that was discovered afterward.

BUSHWHACKERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY—UNION MEN SPOTTED

Washington, County, September 20, 1864
To the Editor of the St. Louis Daily Union:

The guerrillas are still at work in Washington county. On last Thursday morning two of these armed villains attacked the house of Mr. Fred Will, whilst he was at breakfast with his family. One of them entered the house by the front door, and stepping, unperceived by the family, to the door of the dining room, asked Mr. Will to step into the hall. This done, he demanded Will's arms, stating that he was a United States detective, and that his captain was at the door waiting for him. Mrs. Will immediately ran into the hall and boldly told Mr. Detective that that game was played out; they succeeded in getting the villain out of the house, when his captain rose from behind a chicken coop with revolver in hand, evidently with the intention of shooting Mr. Will, so soon as they got him to the door, but they were foiled in their attempt at murder, and forthwith made a hasty retreat to their horses, which were tied in the brush, not more than one hundred and fifty yards from the house. They next visited the house of Thos. Blakewell, stole his rifle and put out. The neighborhood was soon aroused and gave chase to them, but owing to the dust in the roads and the woods being so very dry, they were unable to track them successfully. They next went to the house of Mr. Patterson and stole a rifle and revolver, and also some money and jewelry. When they decamped from Patterson's, they went to the house of Mr. M.A. Todd, late Sheriff of Washington county; they robbed him of a shot-gun, a revolver, money and jewelry. From Mr. Todd's they went to the farm of Mr. Nicholson and stole a fine horse belonging to George Towl, of Potosi. The troops in Potosi were soon out in pursuit of the thieves, and pressed them so hard that Mr. Towl's horse and one other were recovered from them; but the rascals made good their escape.

The country is full of bands of guerrillas. No Union man's life or property is safe, while rebels and rebel sympathizers feel perfectly safe and secure from any guerrilla depredation. They are fed and harbored by their friends, and get all the information they want from sneaking sympathisers who are permitted to live in our midst unmolested. Had Order No. 107 been faithfully carried out, and two full companies put into active service, I venture to say that guerrillas would be scarce.

On last Sunday morning a son of Rev. S. Brown found a dropped letter on the road, between Potosi and Hopewell, signed, O.A.K. It was evidently written by these desperadoes with a view to alarm Union men. The contents of the letter was a direct threat to have the lives of thirteen Union men in retaliation for their late chieftain, old John Hiley.

They commenced the work by the killing of Lieutenant H.C. Beckett; Captain Fred Will was to be the next victim, and there is no doubt but they intend to carry out their threat, unless they are speedily arrested in their career. The men whom they have selected as their victims are all unconditional Union men, now and forever. I give you a list of doomed: old John Evans, young John Evans, James Thompson, Elbert Thompson, F.R. Boyd, Captain W.H. Evans, Captain Fred Will, Lieut. John Hewey, old John Forshee, Marshall Ronjey, Captain A.R. Eaton, Captain John Jamison, Lieut. Wesley Yeargan. Lieut. H.C. Beckett, killed.

Signed,

INDEX.

Two of the men on that list—old John Forshee and A. R. Eaton—were members of my paternal ancestral families. Old John was brother to James Forshee, my 2nd great grandfather; A. R. Eaton was the younger brother of Mary Elizabeth (Eaton) Martindale, my 2nd great-grandmother. It must have been a terrifying experience to have received such threats.

[1] Ross, Kirby, "Retaliatory death list for killing of John Highley," posted at The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board, 12 February 2011 (http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/mocwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=16501#Responses : accessed 12 July 2011).

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: June 1

1879: My paternal great-grandparents, Ambrose B. Martindale and Sarah Belle Forshee, were married at Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri. [Source: Martindale-Forchee marriage, 1 Jun 1879, Washington Co., MO, Marriage Book C, p. 363.] Here is a copy of their marriage record:

Ambrose and Sarah had six children: William, Maude, Walter, Mamie (my grandmother), Maggie, and Arthur.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: April 11

In 1856, my paternal great-grandmother Sarah Belle Forshee was born in Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri, the youngest child of James B. Forshee and Sarah A. Parker. She died on February 17, 1923, in Houston, Harris County, Texas. [Source: 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).]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock