Workday Wednesday - Houston Compress Company

Sometimes it seems like all my ancestors were farmers, but the records tell me differently. Some of the occupations I've found: shoemaker, milliner, wheelwright, mine worker, preacher, and sawmill owner. I will be using the "Workday Wednesday" theme for sharing photos, stories, and records related to my ancestors' work lives. If you like, join me in posting on your own blog, or as a comment here, how your ancestors spent "Workday Wednesday!"

Last week I posted a copy of the SS-5 (Application for Social Security Number) filed by my father, Jasper Jackson "Jack" Spurlock on which he indicated he was employed by the Houston Compress Company.

This week I discovered that the Baker Library at Harvard Business School holds a circa 1920 photograph album from the Houston Compress Company in its collection. From the description, I learned that the company received cotton into its warehouse at Houston and compressed the bales prior to shipment. [Source: Harvard Business School, Baker Library Historical Collections, Photograph Albums (http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/pc/photo-albums.html : accessed 7 August 2011).]

From the railroad cars in the background, I believe this photograph of my dad (third from right) and his coworkers may have been taken at the Houston Compress Company:

Digital image. Original photograph circa 1936 in the possession of
Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS WITHHELD], Lomita, CA. 2011.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: August 9

1838: Howell Brewer Martindale and Mary Elizabeth Eaton, my paternal 2nd great-grandparents, were married at Bismarck, St. Francois, Missouri. I present here a copy of their marriage record:

Source: "Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002," database and online images,
 Ancestry.com　(www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Aug 2011),
entry for Martindale and Eaton, 8 August 1838; citing Marriage Book A: 162.

Nine children were born to this union: William, Lucinda, Ambrose (my great-grandfather), Permelia, Sarah, Howell, Missouri, James, Randolph.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Tombstone Tuesday - Rev. John F. Spurlock

Rev. John F. Spurlock
Aug. 22, 1846 - Mar. 18, 1945
Antioch Cumberland Presybterian Cemetery
Quitman, Jackson Parish, Louisiana

As mentioned in my post of John Spurlock's obituary, my research presents conflicting evidence regarding his date of birth. He likely was not as old as is reflected on his tombstone and in his obituary.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - Accounting of the Estate of Thomas Cook 1820

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.



My two previous posts regarding the estate of Thomas Cook include his will and the inventory. Today I am posting an image and transcript of the accounting of the property sold, or available to be sold, to cover debts which was presented to the court in the May term 1820.

[Source: Wilkes County, North Carolina, Wills, 3: 223, Thomas Cook, deceased; FHL microfilm 393,950.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Sunday's Obituary - Rev. John Spurlock

Funeral Services

Held March 20 For
Rev. John Spurlock
__________

Funeral services for Rev. John

Fed Spurlock, age 98 years, 5
months, resident of Jonesboro,
were held March 20th, at Antioch
church.
  Rev. Spurlock, a native of Geor-
gia, was reared and educated in
Bienville parish. He was ordain-
ed as a minister of the Gospel in
1885 and was very active in this
work until forced to retire be-
cause of failing health. Rev. Spur-
lock was of the Cumberland
Presbyterian faith.
  Surviving are six sons, Bill
Spurlock of Paxton, Texas; John
Spurlock of Paxton, Texas; A. H.
and H. R. Spurlock of Jonesboro;
G. H. Spurlock Houston, Tex.,
and C. D. Spurlock of Hodge; eight
daughters, Mrs. E. H. Crawley, of
Arcadia; Mrs. G. V. Conville, of
Arcadia; Mrs. J. L. Thrasher, of
Lufkin, Texas; Mrs. Velma Vance
of Campti, La.; Mrs. Terrell Don-
aldson, and Mrs. Easter Lamb, of
Orange, Texas; Mrs. Reita Thomp-
son, of Crossett, Ark., and Mrs.
Jewel Carson, of Jonesboro. In
addition to his children, Rev.
Spurlock is survived by fifty-
four grand children, forty-five
great grand children, and five
great, great grandchildren.
  Funeral services were conducted
by Rev. Joe Pace, Rev. J. W.
Buckner, Rev. G. L. Scott, and
Rev. Wise. Interment was in the
Antioch cemetery under direction
of Southern Funeral Home.
  Pall bearers were: Sol Thomp-
son, Terrell Donaldson, Linden
Thrasher, Otto Lamb, Dayton
Carson and Travis Pardue.


I don't know who wrote this obituary for John F. Spurlock, my paternal great-grandfather, who died on 18 March 1945. My research shows that statements in the obituary regarding his age and place of birth are in conflict with many other records.

[Source: "Funeral Services Held March 20 for Rev. John Spurlock", undated, unknown newspaper; privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, CA. Bettye Lou (Conville) Gleason, granddaughter of John Fedrick Spurlock, gave  me this newspaper clipping in Dec 2000; Mrs. Gleason is now deceased.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: August 6

1641: Thomas Holman, one of my maternal 7^th great-grandfathers, son of John Holman and Anna Bishop, was born on this date in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts. He was a cordwainer (a shoemaker) and served as a soldier in King Philip’s War. He died 4 August 1704 at Milton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, and is buried at Milton Cemetery.

Photo by Scrib & Barb Kelly; findagrave.com, digital images, (www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 Jul 2011),
 Find A Grave Memorial# 21151415, Thomas Holman,
created by Nareen, et al, 25 August 2007.

Source: Alfred Lyman Holman, "John Holman of Dorchester, Mass., and His Descendants," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1918, 196; digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (www.americanancestors.org : accessed 23 Dec 2010).

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Treasure Chest Thursday - Post 1 - Dear Sis

My grandfather J. J. Spurlock died many years before I was born; because he was estranged from his children, my father did not speak of him. In December 2000, I had the pleasure of visiting Spurlock family members in Louisiana. At that time, Bettye Lou (Conville) Gleason, my first cousin once removed, gave me the following letter written by my grandfather to her mother, Sarah Elizabeth "Sis" (Spurlock) Conville.

Letter from J. J. Spurlock to Sarah Elizabeth Spurlock Conville

Envelope postmarked 25 Oct 1929

The letter, written in pencil on paper now yellowed with age, reads:

                   10/25/29 

Dear Sis 

          I received your letter o.k. and

was certainly glad to hear from

you. sorry to hear of all the deaths

but time is slipping by and old age

will get us all. 

          In regard stone for Ma's grave

I want to do my part but will not

be able to put up the money until

after xmas. I have some big bills

to pay between now and xmas and

just now I dont know where the

money is coming from. but you

can count on me for $40.⁰⁰ in

January. 

          Love to all,

                   your brother

                             Jack 

Hope to be able to visit
you all some day.

Writing on the eve of the Great Depression, my grandfather speaks of having bills to pay. I wonder how he fared during the 1930s. I don't think my great-grandmother's stone was ever replaced; the grave stone where she is buried in Hurricane Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, appears to have been made at a time closer to her death in 1893. I am saddened that there is no evidence that he had the chance to visit his siblings in Louisiana  and Texas before his death in 1940.

This is a rare treasure that connects me to one of my ancestors I never knew. I am lucky to have it.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock