Background information on White family documents

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Background Information on F. B. White's Pension

Artificer

"These men were specialists who were paid an additional rate like teamsters. In winter camps and during lulls in active campaigning they broke out their tools from the battery wagon and forge and went to work. The artificer was primarily a blacksmith - he repaired the wood and iron parts of the battery carriages." (Hanson, R.B., "Field Artillery Battery Positions and Duties", The Civil War Artillery Page)

Rev. G. L. Brokaw

Rev. George L. Brokaw was a minister from the village of Monroe, Green Co., Wisc., who performed the wedding of Thomas White and Elizabeth Glattin Davis. He was born July 1849 in Illinois and resided with his 24 year old wife Mattie and children Diana (age 3 in Iowa) and Roy (4 months, b. Jan. 1880 in Illinois) at the time of the 1880 Census, taken on June 5, 1880.

By 1900, George was working as an editor and resided at 2309 University Ave. in the 4th ward of Des Moines, Polk Co, Iowa with his wife Martha H. (age 44, b. Feb. 1856), son Roy W. (20, Jan. 1880) and daughter Zell (10, July 1889).

At this time, the connection between Rev. Brokaw and Elizabeth Davis or Thomas White is not known (i.e. why a minister from Green Co., Wis. would be brought up to perform a wedding in Vernon Co.).

• 1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 1428, Page: 149, Sheet: 15C, dwelling/family: 149/162.
• 1900 Federal Census: Series: T623, Roll: 453, Page: 155, Sheet: 3A, dwelling/family: 48/49.

Camp Nelson

Referred to in Wm. Danford's affidavit in French B. White's pension application.

Company I of the Ohio 1st Heavy Artillery

Company I was mustered in at Cincinnati, Ohio in 1873 by Captain P.W. Stanhope. They mustered out July 25, 1866 at Knoxville, Tennessee, by Thomas McDermott, Captain U.S.A., 1st Division D.C. (Ohio Roster).

Dr. Harvey D. Danford

Born Sept. 1844 in Ohio (1900 Census), Dr. Harvey D. Danford, was a Private in Company I of the Ohio 1st Heavy Artillery. He mustered into Co. I at the age of 18 on June 25, 1863 and mustered out with the company on July 25, 1865 (Ohio Roster). At the time of his statement, Harvey lived in Trimble, Athens Co., Ohio and was 45 years old. In 1880, Harvey worked as a physician and resided in the Village of Trimble with his wife Lydia A. (age 27), son Vernon G. (3), brother Silas J. (35, a grocer), and brother Freemont E. (23, school teacher)

In 1900, he continued to reside in Trimble with his wife Lydia (age 47, b. May 1853 in Ohio). Harvey is buried in the Sands Cemetery in the town of Trimble, Athens Co., Ohio (SUVCW).

• 1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 993, Page: 207, Sheet: 28D, dwelling/family: 242/248.
• 1900 Federal Census: Series: T623, Roll: 1239, Page: 20, Sheet: 5A, dwelling/family: 96/100.

Elizabeth Glatten Davis

Second wife of Thomas White. We still don't know much about her outside of the marriage registration with Thomas. It's possible she previously lived in Green Co., Wis., since the presiding minister at her wedding with Thomas was from there. An Elizabeth Davis was found in several Green County censuses as the wife of a farmer named James N. Davis, and the mother of several children.

Here's what I've found:
1860: James Davis (age 34, b. Penn.), farmer; Elizabeth Davis (35, Penn.); Lyda Davis (8, Wis.); Aura (4, Wis.); Eva (2, Wis.). (1860 Federal Census: Series: M653, Roll: 1411, Page: 181, dwelling/family: 1967/295.)
1870: James Davis (42, Penn.), farmer; Elizabeth (46, Penn.), Keeping House; Lydia Davis (18, Wis.); Ora (14, Wis.); Eva (12, Wis.); Lucinda (9, Wis.); Austin (7, Wis.); Frank (4, Wis.); Nora (2, Wis.). (1870 Federal Census: Series: M593, Roll: 1715, Page: 93, Sheet: 15, dwelling/family: 104/104.)
1880: James N. Davis (52, Penn/Penn/Penn), farmer; wife Elizabeth (56, Penn/Penn/Penn), Keeping House; daughter Aura (23, Wis/Penn/Penn), at home; daughter Eva (21, Wis/Penn/Penn), at home; daughter Lucinda (19, Wis/Penn/Penn), at home; son Austin (17, Wis/Penn/Penn), works at home; Alva Davis - ward (9, Wis/Penn/Penn); Frank Davis - ward (6, Wis/Penn/Penn). (1880 Federal Census: Town of Decatur, Green Co., Wis.
Series: T9, Roll: 1428, Page: 69, Sheet: 7C, dwelling/family: 65/68.)
1900: James N. Davis, retired farmer, Widowed (age 72, Penn/Penn/Penn), daughter Aura (age 44, Wis/Penn/Penn) (reside next door to Austin Davis, farmer, age 38).(1900 Federal Census: Town of Clarno, Green Co., Wis.
Series: T623, Roll: 1789, Page: 72, Sheet: 13B, dwelling/family: 35/35.)  I would guess that this Elizabeth Davis is not the same who married Thomas White.

A second Elizabeth Davis is also found in the 1880 census in Green Co.  This one lived alone in Spring Grove, age 68, b. VA, father b. Ohio, m. b. Ger. On the same sheet is a Joe D. Davis, age 44, b. Indiana, father b. Ind., mother b. Virginia. (1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 1428, Page: 199, Sheet: 13A, dwelling/family: 128/132.).  This same Elizabeth appears to have been married to Archibald Davis per the 1870 census of Spring Grove, P.O. - Oakley.  Archibald was a farmer, age 64, b. Maryland. Elizabeth - age 58, b. Va.  Others in the household all with last name Davis and b. in Wisconsin include: Albert (age 21), Maria (17), Anna (15), Nellie (8).(1870 Federal Census: Series: Series: M593, Roll: 1715, Page: 261-2, Sheet: 26-7, dwelling/family: 196/196.) Upon further review, it appears this is not the correct Elizabeth Davis either - see this account from History of Green County, 1884.

• 1860 Federal Census: Series: M653, Roll: 1411, Page: 461, dwelling/family: 1590/113.
• 1870 Federal Census: Series: Series: M593, Roll: 1715, Page: 261-2, Sheet: 26-7, dwelling/family: 196/196.
• 1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 1428, Page: 199, Sheet: 13A, dwelling/family: 128/132.
• Mrs. Elizabeth A. Davis from History of Green County, Wis., 1884, p. 1069.

Ozro Eddy

The Burr Oak postmaster in 1890, who testified on John T. Shepherd's character in the French White pension application. In 1870 and 1880, Ozro (age 21 and 31, respectively) farmed in Trimble Twp, Athens Co., Ohio with his wife Fannie.

• 1870 Federal Census: Series: M593, Roll: 1171, Page: 220, Sheet: 28, dwelling/family: 207/194.
• 1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 993, Page: 195, Sheet: 3C, dwelling/family: 24/26.

John Morton Hill

Brother-in-law of French B. White. John married French's sister, Rebecca. Likewise, French's first wife, Sarah, was the sister of John M. Hill. John was also a Civil War veteran, serving in Company H of the Wisconsin 50th Regiment Infantry, mustering in March 8, 1865 and mustering out on June 14, 1866 at the expiration of his term (Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, as found at the Wisconsin Historical Society web-site).

• 1870 Federal Census: Series: M593, Roll: 1738, Page: 458, Sheet: 3A, dwelling/family: 21/21.
• 1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 1449, Page: 372, Sheet: 13, dwelling/family: 7/7.

William H. Lefever

Born around 1844, William H. Lefever was a Private in Company I of the Ohio 1st Heavy Artillery. He mustered in at the age of 18 on June 25, 1863 and mustered out with the company on July 25, 1865 (Ohio Roster). William grew up in the "same neighborhood" as French. An 1865 Plat of Trimble Twp, shows that William's property was a section and a half south of the White's.

In 1880, William farmed in Trimble Twp., Athens Co., Ohio with his wife Frances (age 28), and children Minnie A. (11), Orris E. (8), Barnet L. (5) and Iva L. (3).  His father Isaac (80), a retired farmer resided with him (1880 Census).  (NOTE: William resided nearby John White - uncle of French? - both listed on same page of 1880 Census)

At the time of his statement on French White's pension, William was 44 years old. William died in 1899.  In 1900, his widowed wife Francis (48, b. June 1852) lived with daughter Iva (Age 23, b. March 1877) in East Glouster Precinct of Athens Co., Ohio. William is buried in the Bishopville Cemetery in Glouster, Athens Co., Ohio (SUVCW).

• 1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 993, Page: 194, Sheet: 2B, dwelling/family: 15/16.
• 1900 Federal Census: Series: T623, Roll: 1239, Page: 154, Sheet: 2A, dwelling/family: 13/13.

Dr. S. A. Mellen

Dr. Stebins A. Mellen was the family physician of the White's and resided in Retreat, Town of Sterling, Vernon Co., Wisconsin. He was born in January 1839 in New York and married his wife Susan around 1865/6. In 1880, he was 41 years old and resided with his wife Susan A. (age 41, b. June 1838 in NY), daughter Hattie (15, b. Wis.) and son Willie (6, b.June 1874 in Wis.).

In 1900, Dr. Mellen was listed as a physician/surgeon and continued to reside in Retreat with his wife Susan (61) and son William A. (25), a farm laborer. By 1910, Dr. Mellen had passed away.  His widowed wife, Susan (age 72), resided with son William, a bachelor farmer in the Town of Sterling, Vernon Co., Wis. By 1920, William (age 44) had married Nora (43, b. Missouri), and farmed one township over in the Town of Wheatland, Vernon Co., Wis.

• 1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 1449, Page: 372, Sheet: 13, dwelling/family: 6/6.
• 1900 Federal Census: Series: T623, Roll: 1746, Page: 8, Sheet: 8B, dwelling/family: 138/138.
• 1910 Federal Census: Series: T624, Roll: 1740, Page: 220, Sheet: 11B, dwelling/family: 191/194.
• 1920 Federal Census: Series: T625, Roll: 2019, Page: 59, Sheet: 1B, dwelling/family: 29.

Calvin C. Mingus

Born May 1816 in Ohio or New York (1900 Census), Calvin C. Mingus received an appointment on July 21, 1863 as a First Lieutenant in Company I of the Ohio 1st Heavy Artillery. He resigned that appointment on July 17, 1866 (Ohio Roster). At the time of his statement, Calvin resided in Ballard, King Co., Washington and was 74 years old.

In 1850, at age 35, Calvin was listed as a carpenter and resided in Trimble Twp, Athens Co., OH with his wife Irene (age 33), and children Eveline (8), Marcus (6), Melinda (5), Louisa (4), and Lovisa (2). All were listed as having been born in Ohio.

In 1860, at age 43, Calvin resided with his family in Trimble Twp, Athens Co., Ohio.  He's listed directly before French White and family in the census, indicating he was a neighbor of some proximity.  The enumeration lists that he was born in Ohio, and that his profession was carpenter and farmer. He resided with his wife Irene (age 40, b. OH), and children Eveline M. (18, OH), Marcus D. (16), Malinda L. (15), Louisa M. (14), Lorisa S. (12), Sardina D. (9), Daniel F. (7), and John W. (2), all born in Ohio.

In 1870, at 53 Calvin worked in saw and grist mill and resided near Lynchburgh, Hughes Twp, Nodaway Co., Missouri (NW corner of state) with his wife Lucinda (age 33), and children Dudley (20), Louisa (19), and John W. (12). In 1900, Calvin resided with his wife Emma in Cinebar, Lewis Co., Washington. At that time he was listed as a farmer and Emma was listed as 65 years old and born Sept. 1834 in Delaware.

There was a Bartlett J. Mingus, Private, who also served in Co. I during this period of time. Unsure if or how he is related to Calvin. Bartlett resided in Trimble Twp, Athens Co, Ohio in the 1870 Census.  He was 30 years old at that time.

• Calvin Christopher Mingus, from Popp Family Gedcom, Worldconnect, Ancestry.com
• Calvin Christopher Mingus, similar, but different info from Popp Family Menges/Mingus Family Web Page, Rootsweb.com
• 1850 Federal Census: Trimble Twp., Athens Co., OH, Series: M432, Roll: 660, Page: 198, dwelling/family: 384/392.
• 1860 Federal Census: Trimble Twp., Athens Co., OH, Series: M653, Roll: 934, Page: 5, dwelling/family: 33/33.
• 1870 Federal Census: Lynchburgh, Hughes Twp, Nodaway Co., MO, Series: M593, Roll: 795, Page: 553, Sheet: 6, dwelling/family: 42/44.
• 1900 Federal Census: Series: Cinebar, Lewis Co., WA, T623, Roll: 1746, Page: 8, Sheet: 8B, dwelling/family: 138/138.

Point Isabel

Now known as Burnside and located in Pulaski, Kentucky, Point Isabel was "settled about 1800 by pioneers from the Carolinas and Virginia. During the Civil War the Union army, in 1863, set up a troop rendezvous and supply base here as a prelude to East Tennessee campaign of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside. The area became known as Camp Burnside in official dispatches and the name Burnside was retained after war." (Kentucky Historical Marker Database)

John T. Shepherd

A fellow Artificer and Private in Company I of the Ohio 1st Heavy Artillery. He mustered into Co. I on June 10, 1863 at the age of 22 and mustered out with the company on July 25, 1865. He was reduced from Artificer to Private on Aug. 10, 1863 (Ohio Roster).  John grew up in the "same neighborhood" as French, near "Bishopville, O(hio)". At the time of his statement, John lived near Burr Oak, Athens Co., Ohio and 53 years old, which would put his birth year around 1837. John notes that he had not seen French since 1865 when he moved to Wisconsin.

There is also a William J. Shepherd, four years younger, who was a private in Co. I.  Unsure if/how he's related.

Dr. Henry J. Suttle

Dr. Henry J. Suttle was a physician in Viroqua, Wis. He was born August 1848 in Wisconsin. In 1900, he resided in Viroqua with his wife Hattie (age 37, b. July 1862 in Illinois), daughter Lois (10, Nov. 1889), son Henry M. (4, June 1895), and sister Irene (age 32, Oct. 1867).

By 1910, Dr. Suttle was 61 years old, widowed and continued to reside in Viroqua on Rock Ave. with his daughter Lois (20) and son Henry (14). In 1920, at age 71, he continued to reside at 209 Rock Ave. and was still listed as a physician, where his sister Irene (52) resided with him once again.

• 1900 Federal Census: Series: T623, Roll: 1820, Page: 238, Sheet: 2B, dwelling/family: 40/43.
• 1910 Federal Census: Series: T624, Roll: 1740, Page: 232, Sheet: 2B, dwelling/family: 35/39.
• 1920 Federal Census: Series: T625, Roll: 2019, Page: 255, Sheet: 8B, dwelling/family: 153/156.

Silas D. Taylor

Silas Delos(s) Taylor was born in New York on May 12, 1843 and was a farmer in Sterling Twp, Vernon Co., Wisconsin. He married Anna S. Bates on July 3, 1864 in West Bend, Wisconsin.  On October 3 of that same year, he mustered into Co. E of the Wisconsin 33rd Regiment Infantry, where he was a Musician, until he mustered out on July 18, 1865. In 1880, at age 37, he farmed in Sterling Twp. with his wife Ann (age 34) and children Ephraim (14), Alice (12), Warren (10), Winfield (7), Myrtle (5), Samuel (3), and a baby (around 2 weeks old - "1/24 - May").

Anna S. Bates was the same as Sally Anna Bates, daughter of John and Emeline (TRACY) BATES and sister of Ruth Marie BATES, 2^nd wife of French White. Sally and Ruth appear in the 1860 U.S. Census with their parents and other siblings in the Town of Richland, Oswego Co., NY.

In the 1870 Federal Census, John and Emeline BATES appear as neighbors to French's in-laws, John and Isabel HILL, which may explain how French met both his second wife Ruth and his friend, Silas.

• 1860 Federal Census: Series M653, Roll 959, Page 503, dwelling/family 2133/2145.
• 1880 Federal Census: Series: T9, Roll: 1449, Page: 372, Sheet: 14B, dwelling/family: 14/14.
• 1900 Federal Census: Series: T623, Roll: 1746, Page: 8, Sheet: 8B, dwelling/family: 138/138.
• Foster, Catherine Hazel Taylor, "Jack D. and Veronica (Foster) Taylor", Vernon County Heritage, Dallas, Tex.: Vernon County Historical Society, p. 578.
• Taylor, Clara, "Lawrence E. and Clara (Johnson) Taylor", Vernon County Heritage, Dallas, Tex.: Vernon County Historical Society, p. 579.

William and Mary Wade

Listed as "subscribing witnesses" to the marriage of Thomas White and Elizabeth Glattin Davis. Not yet sure who these folks are and their connection to either Elizabeth or Thomas. Could Mary be a sister or daughter of Elizabeth?

Weldon Railroad

Civil War battle at which Thomas H. White, son of Thomas and Rachel White, brother of French Blackstone White was mortally wounded. The first battle of Weldon Railroad, more commonly known as the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road,  was on June 21-24, 1864. The Second Battle of Weldon Railroad is more commonly known as the Battle of Globe Tavern, which took place August 18-21,1864. It seems more likely (to me) that Thomas H. White was wounded at the 2nd battle. 

• First Battle of Weldon Railroad, Americancivilwar.com
• Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, Wikipedia
• Jerusalem Plank Road Battle Summary, Historical Preservation Services, National Park Service
• Battle of Globe Tavern, Wikipedia
• Globe Tavern Battle Summary, Historical Preservation Services, National Park Service

Wilber T. White

Son of French B. White.

William B. Witcraft

Brother-in-law of French B. White. William B. Witcraft was born in Franklin Co., Missouri around 1839/40. He married the sister of French, Mary Margaret White (b. 25 June 1845 in Ohio, died 22 July 1922). They farmed in the Town of Genoa, Vernon Co., Wisconsin and had at least 10 children.  William died on 9 October 1899. It is likely that William was also a Civil War vet, but the details of his service are not known.

• 1850 Federal Census: Page: 30, Sheet: 37, dwelling/family: 258/258.

Sources

• Info on soldiers rank - National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
• Info on soldiers burials - (SUVCW) Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Grave Database
• Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Historical Society web-site
• (Ohio Roster) "Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion," 1861-1866, vol. X, p. 294-297. Available via Google books.

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Please direct any comments or questions to
Scott White - scottwwhite@sbcglobal.net
Last modified: Date: 28 May 2012