Saturday Spotting - Snow Storm Affects the Seventh Cavalry

Published on Friday the 18th of April in 1873 in the Sioux City Journal in Sioux City, Iowa

WIND AND SNOW

A Terrific Snow Storm at Yankton

Snow Bound Trains – Suffering of the

Seventh Cavalry – Rumored Loss of

Life, Esc.

From all the facts we have been able

to gather concerning the recent snow

storm that seems to have made Yankton

its center, we conclude the like of it has

never been experienced in the North

est. The storm commenced as a light

rain on the morning of the 13^th inst, but

soon turned into snow, which continued

to fall lightly until about noon, when

the wind changed from the west to the

northwest and finally to the north, and

blew a perfect gale, accompanied by an

avalanche of snow.

The snow did not seem to fall in

flakes, but seemed to come down in a

 body which was separated into particles

 and dashed furiously in every direction.

The air was darkened by the snow, and

persons could not see five feet in any di-

rection.

The Dakota Southern passenger train

which left Sioux City Monday morning,

after worrying through the storm for

some time above Vermillion, finally ran

into a snow drift one mile and a half

above Gayville and stuck fast. The

freight, which was at Yankton, went to

the passengers’ relief, and managed to

get stuck in the same drift, where they

both remained until Wednesday evening.

The Seventh Cavalry fared very badly.

They had not yet completed their camp

arrangements, when the storm burst

upon them. Their tents were blown

down, and drifts of snow formed so

rapidly, and the storm was so furious,

that the men could do nothing to pro-

tect themselves. Men and horses were

buried up in the snow, and general con-

fusion and not a little consternation

prevailed everywhere. The officers

sought shelter and the hotels, and some of

the men followed their example by

seeking the hospitalities of private

houses, indeed, protection from the storm

wherever they could find it. Many of

the soldiers, however, did not fare thus

fortunately. They remained buried in

the snow until relief came to them from

the town. They were dug out of the

snow and hauled to more comfortable

quarters on hand-sleds. Many of them

were exposed for thirty six hours, and

when rescued were weak and exhausted,

and wept like children. It is said that

these poor fellows presented a most

pitiable appearance, which was well

calculated to excite the sympathies of

the most indifferent heart. And many

kind and generous hands responded

promptly to their wants. Up to last

reports quite a number of men were

still unaccounted for, and it is

not known whether they have

perished or have wandered off

in the storm and are still suffering in

some snow drift. What has been said

of the sufferings of the men is reported

true of the horses. Some were removed

to stables by great effort, others re-

mained tied and were drifted under, and

some broke loose and wandered off and

had not been recovered at last accounts

General Custer, who is regarded as

good authority, said in the presence of

our informant, that it was the worst

storm in every particular, excepting in-

tensely Cold, that he ever experienced

in his life. This seems to be the testimony

of everyone who witnessed the storm. In

many places the drifts in and about

Yankton were twenty feet high. They

had to cut down and dig as into a cellar,

to get into some of the stores. To con-

vey some sort of correct idea of the

avalanche of snow that fell it need only

be stated that on the river, in less than

three hours after the real violence of

the storm set in, there were six inches of

snow and slush floating.

The southern limit of the heavy snow

 fall on the Missouri River was about

eighty rods below Vermillion, where the

line was as distinct as a ridge of snow

could make it.

We shall rejoice if the losses which are

 conjectured to have resulted from the

storm prove really less than one can

hardly hope for.

We endeavored to reach Yankton last

evening by telegraph in order to present

 in connection with this report any later

 developments that might have been

made since morning, but could get nothing.

(*above article located on the Genealogy Bank website) 

Sunday Cemetery - General Henry Van Ness Boynton

Published on the 8^th of June in 1905 in the Baltimore American out of Baltimore, MD

BURIED WITH MILITARY HONORS

GENERAL BOYNTON NOW RESTS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY

A Funeral Befitting the Rank of a Brigadier General – The Services Held at New York Ave. Presbyterian Church – Representatives Present From Gridiron Club – Remains Taken to Cemetery on a Gun Caisson – Salute of Eleven Guns From Fort Myer.

     Washington, June 7 – Gen. Henry Van Ness Boynton was buried today in Arlington National Cemetery with distinctive military and civic honors. Although a civilian at the time of his death, he was accorded a funeral befitting an office of the rank he at one time held in the United States Army, that of brigadier general. The funeral services, which took place at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, were conducted by Rev. Dr. Wallace Radcliffe and were participated in by a numerous representation of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, the Loyal Legion and the Gridiron Club, in all of which organizations General Boynton had for many years past been a leading spirit.

     The funeral services were unostentatious, being in strict accord with the wishes of the deceased. The church ceremony consisted principally of an eulogy by Dr. Radcliffe and the singing of two hymns by the Gridiron Club Quartet. Dr. Radcliffe’s eulogy was an eloquent review of the career of a lifelong friend. The floral tributes were many and of varied design, the casket being literally buried in masterpieces of the florist’s art.

     Among the tributes was large floral wreath sent by the city of Chattanooga, where General Boynton was well-known, and a delegation of whose citizens attended the funeral, President Roosevelt, in expressing sympathy to Gen. Andrew S. Burt, Chairman of the committee representing the Army of the Cumberland in the funeral arrangements, took occasion to pay a high tribute to the character and public services of General Boynton, saying that he regarded him as the highest type of a soldier and a citizen, and one of the best examples of patriotic American manhood.

     At the conclusion of the church services two troops of cavalry escorted the remains, which rested on a gun caisson, with artillery sergeants as body bearers,  to their resting place in the historic Arlington. As the funeral cortege passed Fort Myer a brigadier general’s salute of 11 guns was fired and the last military honors were rendered by a volley over the distinguished soldier and citizen’s grave.

     General Boynton, up to within a few weeks of his death, had been president of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia, and as a tribute to his memory the public schools were closed for the day. The flag on all District buildings were placed at half staff.

     The pallbearers, eight in number, selected by the General before his death form the Gridiron Blub, introduced an innovation. Each member of the club wore a boutonniere of lavender sweet peas, tied with black and white ribbons, the colors of the blub. At the Arlington Cemetery, after Dr. Radcliffe, the officiating clergyman, had pronounced the benediction over the open grave, the eight Gridiron pallbearers advanced and unpinning the flowers from their coats, dropped them in upon the casket as a last tribute to the memory of their fellow member.

Saturday Spotting - St.Valentine's Ball in Cleveland

Appeared on Friday the 15^th of February in 1889 in the Knoxville Journal out of Knoxville, Tennessee

FROM CLEVELAND.

Unexpected Wedding…Going to the Inau-

guration…Hall in Honor of St. Val-

entine…. Boughs Paint the

Town Red.

CLEVELAND, February 14, - Another

very unexpected wedding occurred last

night. The contracting parties were Mr.

William Cate, a prominent citizen of this

place, and Mrs. Fannie Hancock, widow

of the late James Hancock. The mar-

riage took place at the splendid resi-

dence of the bride, on Berry street, Rev.

A.J. Duncan officiating.

Quite a number of Clevelanders will

take in the inauguration. The following

gentlemen have expressed their inten-

tion of being present, as taken form the

Herald: H. J. Parks, T.D. Steed, T.M.

Montgomery, J.H. Gaut, H.W. Horner,

L. D. Campbell, F.D. Clark, G.B. Cate,

J.A. Denton, M.L. Julian and Gus

Cate. The St. Valentine ball at the opera-

house last night was a very delightful

affair, and was well attended. The mu-

sic was excellent and every one pro-

nounced the affairs a grand success. The

elegant costumes of the ladies were espe-

cially commented upon, and the young

gentlemen were splendidly attired.

Among those who participated were:

Mr. F.T. Hall, Miss Agnes Hartdegen,

Mr.Will Sebring, Misss Lucille Bennitt,

Mr. s.J. Rogers, Miss Lula Carter, Mr.

L.S. Kelley, Miss Annie Sharp, Mr. W.

F. Marshall, Misses Nellie McConnell

and Tillie Gray, Mr. Will Johnston,

Miss Kelley, Mr. J.N. Davis, Miss Fan-

nie Craigmiles, Mr. Charles price, Mrs.

Emma Steed, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wil-

liams, Mr.and Mrs. Walter Cragmiles,

Mr. Luke Williams, of Knoxville; H. S.

Tipton, Fred Newell, Freman Surguine

and Will Gaut.

Mr.F. P. Kanister, is preparing to

build a residence in North Cleveland.

There is trouble brewing in the public

school, it seems between one of the

teachers, the principle and the school

board. It is to be hoped that the trouble

will be amicably settled at once.

A gang of rough characters, evidently

drank,”painted the town red” last night,

by tearing up steps, breaking down

fences, smashing up street lamps, etc.

The city officers are looking into the

matter, and if they are found out they

ought to be punished in such a way that

will forever stamp out such outrageous

conduct.

Hon. John Devor, who was the repub-

lican elector for the fourth district of

Ohio during the last campaign, is in the

city visiting his estimable wife, who has

been in the city during the past two

months for her health. Mr. Devor is

perfectly delighted with our little city,

and we hope tat he may conclude to

make it his permanent home.

Arrivals at the Hatcher House to-day:

Jno, f. Sprager, Baltimore; S.J. Samre,

Cincinnati, O.O. Jones, Selma, Ala; H.

Rose, New York: T.C. Long, West

Chester, Pa.;N. P. Cannon, Atlanta,

Ge; O.C. Waller, Union Springs, Ga.,

J.J. Boyd, New York; Rev. Jos. J.

Jones, Georgia; J. A. Quitman, Atlanta,

Ga.

(*above article found on Genealogy Bank website)

Sunday Cemetery - Missing Cemetery Deed

Published the 14^th of June in 1904 in the Sun out of Baltimore, MD

HAD TO POSTPONE FUNERAL

Family of Mrs. M. E. Curley Could Not Find Cemetery Lot Deed.

     The funeral of Mrs Mary Elizabeth Curley, who was instantly killed Wednesday by being caught in the machinery in a mill at Elizabethport, N.J. where she had called to visit her husband had to be postponed yesterday because the deed to the family lot in Mt Alphenaus Cemetery could not be found. That the deed was missing was not discovered until a few hours before the time set for the funeral service.

     Mr. John Curley, her husband, and numerous friends and relatives of the deceased had gathered at the home of Mr. Chas Hoddinott, SN Waipert avenue, Waverly, whence they were to go to the cemetery.

     Mr Curley immediately sent his son, Jas Curley , to Elizabethport to search among Mrs Curley’s effects for the missing document. Meanwhile the body is lying in a vault at the cemetery. If the deed is found the funeral will be held today; otherwise it may be again postponed.

     Mrs Curley was born in Baltimore 58 years ago and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Fuchaberger. Thirty-one years ago she was married to Mr Curley and for the last 21 years they had been living in Elizabethport.

The family has been particularity unfortunate. Four of the children have died and a brother of Mrs Curley was drowned. The husband and one son survive. 
                                          (*above article found on Genealogy Bank website)

Saturday Spotting - Sopatski, Polish Girl Stands Strong

Appeared on Wednesday the 4^th of January in 1893 in the Worcester Daily Spy out of Worcester, Massachusetts

NOT HER VALENTINE.

A Young Girl Refuses to Marry on Her

Wedding Day.

  MERIDEN, CONN., Jan 3. – The parents

of Annie Sopatski, a comely Polish girl,

have tried to force her to marry a young

Pelander who hails from New Britain and

is known as Valentine. About two weeks

ago Annie met him for the first time, and,

yielding to the importunities of her

parents, agreed to marry him.

     The wedding was set for Dec. 20, but

when Valentine appeared the girl refused

to fulfil her part of the agreement. Val-

entine gave her two days’ grace and ap-

peared again on Saturday. The girl had

awakened to a realizing sense of the

“deal,” and absolutely refused to get

married.

     This so enraged her mother that she

burned up the girl’s wedding trousseau

and otherwise abused her. Annie sought

police aid, and her lover was ordered out

of town under penalty of arrest. Before

he went, however, he demanded recom-

pense for her failure to keep her agree-

ment, and the girl gave him $15 of her

hard-earned money.
(*above article found on Genealogy Bank website)

Sunday Cemetery - Floating Coffins

Published the 24^th of September in ?? in the Philadelphia Inquirer out of Philadelphia, PA

FRENCH TOWNS INUMDATED

A Cemetery Undermined and Coffins Float Down the River

     PARIS, Sept. 23 – The floods in the Department of Grad have caused much damage to property. On Sunday the river Rhone rose nineteen feet and the town of Beaucaire was flooded. At Vallerangue, on the Herabit, 39 miles northwest of Nimes, the river overflowed its banks and undermined a portion of a cemetery. A number of coffins were washed out, and together with their contents floated down the river.

     The Ardeche river is greatly swollen. At Aubenas a dike collapsed and the surrounding country was flooded. Houses were undermined by the waters and fell and the vineyards throughout the district were devastated. Three persons were killed.

     The Gardon River, in the Department of Gard has also overflowed its banks. The country along the river with its standing crops is an immense swamp. The Mousae bridge has been destroyed and the railroad and telegraphic services have been stopped. 
                                         (*above article found on Genealogy Bank website)

Saturday Spotting - Double Wedding Stelzer Family

Appeared on Thursday the 30^th of September in 1897 in the St Louis Republic out of St Louis, Missouri

A DOUBLE WEDDING IN SOUTH ST. LOUIS

VALENTINE STELZER AND HIS

SON CHRISTIAN CELEBRATE THEIR

WEDDING TOGETHER.

It Was The Father’s Sliver Wedding

 and a Happy Time Was Had.

A wedding ceremony a little out of the or-

dinary was celebrated in South St. Louis

yesterday. Christian Steizer of 2620 Arsenal

street and Lena Brandschwede of 1615 South

Broadway were joined in wedlock, and on

the same occasion the silver anniversary of

the marriage of Valentine Stelzer and his

wife, parents of the groom, was celebrated.

The young people were married in the

Church of St. Francis de Sales at Texas

and Cherokee streets at 8 a.m. The old

folks also went through a church ceremony,

the blessings of the church being again

bestowed upon them. John Stelzer, a broth-

er of Christian Stelzer acted as best man

and Anna Drisler as bridesmaid for the

young people. Joseph Abele and Mrs. Al-

bert Reldermelster acted in similar capaci-

ties for the old folks.

A reception was held last night at the

Southwestern Turner hall at Texas and

Cherokee streets. It was largely attended

by the friends of both parties. A number

of handsome presents were received by

both couples. Some of the presents were

from Chicago, where the elder Stelzer lived

before they came to St. Louis.

The occasion was a triple celebration

for Valentine Slelzer. Besides being the sil-

ver anniversary of his wedding, the year is

the twenty-fifth anniversary of his arrival

in this country from Germany; and he has

been 25 years employed by the same firm.

He went to work shortly after his arrival in

this country for Fairbanks & Co in Chica-

go. Four years later he was transferred to

the St. Louis branch where he is now em-

ployed. 

(*above article found on Genealogy Bank website)

Sunday Cemetery - Veterans Cemetery Assignments

Published on the 1^st of May in 1904 in the Philadelphia Inquires out of Philadelphia, PA

NEWS OF INTEREST TO THE VETERANS

CEMETERY ASSIGNMENTS FOR LOCAL POSTS ON MEMORIAL DAY ARE ANNOUNCED

GENERAL OSTERHAUS TO BE GIVEN RECERTION BY THE DEPARTMENT COMMANDER

     The commanders of the Philadelphia Grand Army posts announce the following assignments to cemeteries for Memorial Day: George G. Meade Post, No. 1, is assigned to North, South and Central Laurel Hill; Post 2 will hold services at Monument Cemetery. General U. S. Grant Post, No. 5, will visit All Saints’, the Philadelphia side of Mount Moriah, and St. James’, the Old Swedes, Burial Ground at Sixty-ninth and Woodland avenue. Ellis Post, No. 6, will decorate the graves of comrades buried in the cemeteries of Germantown and the Chelten Hills. Camp No. 9, of the Sons of Veterans, will assist them at Holy Sepulchre and Ivy Hill Cemeteries. Captain Walter S. Newhall Post, No. 8, will visit the Palmer and Hanover Cemeteries, and decorate the W. S. Newhall Monument. Glenwood Cemetery will be visited by General E. D. Baker Post, No. 8.

     Lieutenant John T. Greble Post, No. 10, is assigned to St. Paul’s and Lafayette Cemeteries. Hetty A. Jones Post, No. 12, of Roxborough, will visit the Leverington, St. Timothy’s and the Presbyterian, Lutheran and also the Hetty Jones monument. Colonel Ulric Dahlgren Post, No. 14, is assigned to Greenmount, Laurel Hill, St. Michael’s and New Cathedral Cemeteries, and the grave of Colonel Dahlgren. General G. K. Warren Post, No. 15, Manayunk, will decorate the graves of comrades at the German Reformed, St. David’s, St. John’s, German Catholic and the Presbyterian Cemetery, at Manayunk. Colonel W. L. Curry Post, No. 18, will observe the day at the south side of Fernwood Cemetery, and at Colonel W. L. Curry’s grave; South Laurel Hill. The services at the Od Fellows’ Cemetery will be in charge of Colonel Fred Taylor Post, No. 19. Courtland Saunders Post, No. 21, is assigned to Woodland and Cathedral, the Quaker Cemetery, at Darby, and the Baptist, at Blockley.

     The Hebrew cemetery at Eleventh and Federal streets will be visited by Admiral Dupont Post, No. 24. John W Jackson Post, No. 27, will attend services at Merion Cemetery. The Cavalry Post, No. 35, is assigned to West Laurel Hill Cemetery and the McClellan monument. Colonel Gus W. Town Post, No. 46, will decorate graves at Ronaldson, Philanthropic, St. Peter’s, at Third and Pine streets, and the Old Pine Street Church burial grounds. Captain Philp R. Schuyler Post, No. 51, is assigned to Franklin, St. Ann’s, Belleview, St. Peter’s and Holy Redeemer Cemeteries. General Phil Kearney Post, NO. 55, will decorate graves at St. Joachim’s, Cedar Hill. North Cedar Hill, Cheltenham, Oxford Church, Pennypack, Bridesburg, Magnolia and Bustieton Cemeteries. The graves of comrade in the west side of Mt. Moriah and also at Graceland Cemetery will be decorated by Colonel John W. Moore Post, No. 56. General D. R. Birney Post, No. 63, will visit Oakland and Knights of Pythias Cemeteries, and also the grave of General D. B. Birney. General John F. Reynolds Post, No. 71 is assigned to Old Swedes, Union, Mutual and Whatron Street Cemeteries, and to the Reynolds monument. Post 77 will go to Olney. The graves of Union soldiers at Wilmot and Bethel Cemeteries will be decorated by Robert Bryan Post, No. 80. The observance of the day at American Mechanics’ Cemetery will be in charge of Anna M. Ross Post, No. 94. Olive Cemetery will be visited by Charles Summer Post, No. 103. Winfield Scott Post, No. 114, will visit Mt. Vernon and St. James the Less Cemeteries. General John A. Logan Post, No. 115, is assigned to the Baptist Cemetery at Broad street and Passyunk avenue, and also at Trinity Lutheran. General Hector Tyndale Post, No. 160, will decorate graves at Mt. Peace Cemetery and also the grave of General Tyndale at North Laurel Hill. Pennsylvania Reserves Post, No. 191, is assigned to Fifth and Arch streets, Fernwood, Christ Church Cemeteries, and also the tomb of Robert Morris. John A. Koltes Post, No. 228, will visit the German Lutheran Cemetery and grave of Colonel Koltes at Glenwood. General Robert Patterson Post, No. 273, is assigned to St. Mary’s and to the Philadelphia Cemeteries and to General Paterson’s grave at Laurel Hill. Lieutenant Edward W. Gay Post, No. 312, will visit Northwood, Milestown, Baptist and Methodist Cemeteries and the grave of Lieutenant Gay. Colonel James Ashworth Post, No. 334, of Frankford, will decorate graves at the Methodist, Presbyterian, Mt. Smai, Hedge Street, Holmesburg, All Saints’, Collegeville, German Hill and Torresdale Cemeteries, and also the grave of Colonel Ashworth at Cedar Hill, as well as Section 6 at that cemetery. The services at the National Cemetery at Germantown will be in charge of General T. C. Donovan Post, No. 363. Naval Post, No. 400, will visit the Mt. Moriah Naval Plot and St. Mary’s Fourth and Spruce streets.

     Department Commander Walton and his staff will tender a reception to Major General Osterhaus, who is now visiting America for the first time since the Civil War, at the German Society Hall, Seventh and Spring Garden streets, Tuesday evening. All veterans are requested to attend the affair in Grand Army uniform.

April's History

Appeared in Grand Forks Daily Herald out of Grand Forks, North Dakota on April 16 1898 

APRIL IN AMERICAN HISTORY

April is an eventful month in American history. Thirty-seven years ago, two days after the firing of the shot that initiated the bloody battles of our civil war. Fort Sumpter surrendered. Thirty-three years ago Abraham Lincoln, who exhausted every honorable means to avert that conflict, and whose statesmanship saved the republic, was assassinated. The fatal shot was fired on the night of April 14 and death ensued on the following day.

April witnessed both the beginning and the end of the war of the rebellion: Sumter was fired upon on April 12, 1861, and Lee surrendered to Grant April 9, 1865. The same is true of the revolutionary war; the battle of Lexington was fought on April 19, 1775, and the preliminary treaty of peace with Great Britain was ratified by congress on April 15, 1783. The Mexican war began in the same month, the first battle being fought on April 23, 1846.

Three momentous events in our earlier history have their dates in the month of April; the first congress met on April 6, George Washington was inaugurated president on April 30 of the same year and the navy department was organized on April 30, 1798. It was on the last day of April, 1803, that the treaty was made with France for our purchase of Louisiana.

The necrology of the month is too voluminous to be considered, but from the list of earth’s greatest who died in April may be singled out the name of Benjamin Franklin, philosopher, statesman, scientist, patriot and father of the printing craft.

As a natal month of historic events April has a fruitful record, and at the rate we are now making history the April of 1898 will contain many important additions. –Chicago Times Herald. 

Sunday Cemetery No Room in the Cemetery

Published on the 21^st of January in 1908 in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader out of Wilkes-Barre, PA

CATHOLICS MAY SELECT ANY PLOT

Germans Have No Room For Cemetery

GIVEN SPECIAL PERMISSIION

DARLING STREET BURIAL PLOT FILLED AND NO NEW ONES ARE AVAILABLE

     Inability upon the part of Monsigner Nagel, pastor of St Nicholas German Catholic church, to find a suitable plot in which to bury the dad of his congregation has led the clergyman to announce to the members of this flock that hereafter they may secure a lot in any cemetery they desire and that when the interment is made a priest will be sent to bless the ground.

     The announcement of Mongsignor Nagel came as a surprise to the members of the church.

     During the pas t few years the Darling street cemetery has filled up rapidly until at the present time there are few available lots. Last year Monsignor Nagel made an effort to purchase several properties but without success.

     It was planned to secure a plot near the Hanover Catholic cemetery, but when the negotiations were about closed it was ascertained that the Lehigh & Wilkes Barre Coal company are to start operations in the vicinity and this plan had to be abandoned.

     After searching the city and vicinity for a site Monsignor Nagel decided that an available one could not be found and according announced to the congregation that this being the case he was privileged to allow them to bury their dead in any cemetery where they might purchase lots and that when the burial was made a priest would bless the ground. 

Saturday Spotting - Cholera Ship

Published on the 6^th of January in 1854 in the Delaware State Reporter out of Dover, DE

CHOLERA, - The ship New England, with emigrants, has arrived at New Orleans, having had seventy deaths on the passage from cholera. 

Sunday Cemetery Annie Sullivan

Published the 16^th of January in 1894 in the Sun out of Baltimore, MD

COLORED CENTENARIANS

Annie Sullivan Died at the Age of 109

Minnie Jefferson Living at 107

[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun]

     NEW YORK, Jan. 15 – One-time slave Annie E. Sullivan died January 9 at the Colored Home and Hope at Sixty-fifth street and First avenue, at the age of one hundred and nine years. Her body was to buried in Potter’s field Saturday, when it was claimed at the morgue by her sixty-five-year-old son, Geo. Sullivan, who lives with the O’Dell Family at Hastings-on-the-Hudson. The son placed the body in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Long Island, yesterday.

     The aged colored woman was the daughter of Philip Pickering, who fought with Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” in the Revolution. She was born a slave in the Carroll family in 1735 and in later days often recalled visits made with her master and mistress to General Washington at Mount Vernon. By the dying request of her mistress she was given her freedom, and removed to Washington, where she entered the service of the Buchanan family. At a banquet given in Lafayette’s honor she was waiting upon the guests when the French General, stuck with pleasant manners spoke to her kindly. She was fond of recalling those recollections of her childhood. One of her brothers fought under Jackson at New Orleans. When Jackson became President this brother was made assistant gardener at the White House.

     She married in Washington and in XXXX moved to this city, John Garrison, of No. Old East One Hundred and Twenty-fourth street, was nursed by Mrs. Sullivan thirty years ago. He says there is no reason to doubt the truth of the woman’s great age. Her son at Hastings has a bible in which is a record of her birth. She entered the home about eighteen months ago and rarely spoke to any one, sitting bent double, with her head resting upon her knows, motionless. Her death was due to old age.

     A colored woman, named Minnie Jefferson who claims to be one hundred and seven years old, and that she was a slave born in Shenandoah Valley, VA. in the family of Thomas Jefferson when he was President of the United States, is now lying in a small room in the rear of the house No. 147 West Twenty-seventh street this city. She has now living four generations – three children, fifty-six grandchildren, eight great – grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Her eldest daughter, who was also born in the “Jefferson family, and who was named Caroline Jefferson, is seventy-seven years old, and when she was born her mother was thirty years of age.

     Her husband belonged to Daniel Taylor, who was one of the largest slaveowners of the revolutionary times. At the time of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to General Washington the man she afterword married was a drummer-boy in the Continental army. Several years before the late war Granny Jefferson bought her freedom for $100. Her husband paid $450 for his freedom. The old woman has been confined to her bed since she lost her sight three years ago. She retains all of her other faculties. On January 23 a benefit will be given for her at St. Paul’s Colored Baptist Church in lower Seventh avenue. Her grandson, who is janitor at a factory, is her mainstay. 

Saturday Spotting - Four Legged Pickpocket

Many of us spot some unusual things during our research. Some of the things we might view as a little on the strange side, funny, gross or even unusual. Most of the time some of these things we spot during our research have nothing to do with the individual we are actually researching, I know that’s the case with me, some of the time. Then I began to realize what might not be useful to my research might be useful to someone else. So that’s why I’ve came up with “Saturday Spotting’s”. My plan is to continue posting some of these unusual things that I’ve spotted during my research every Saturday. You will find everything from newspaper articles, photos, advertisements, obituaries’ and more. Hopefully some of you will find it useful if not just entertaining, enjoy. This article I found while doing some research  using Genealogy Bank.

Published the 17^th of January in 1854 in the Delaware State Reporter out of Dover, DE

A MYSTERY SOLVED – Mr. Lamprey, of North Hampton, (N.H.) on retiring to rest some time since hung his coat, as was his custom, on the bed post. Next morning, having occasion to examine his wallet, which was in his pocket, several bills and half of a $5 were missing, for which he was unable to account, until a few days since Mrs. L, while heating her oven, discovered in the ash place a mouse next, in which she found three one-dollar bill, and fragments of other bills, with four young mice wrapped up in them.

Reality of Powers

Printed on Monday the 6th of July in 1818 in the Spirit of the Times & Carlisle Gazette out of Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Reality of Witches

An old woman, Jane Wenbam by name, was tried for witchcraft at the Hertford assizes in England, in the year 1712. The judge, who presided at the trial, wishing to save her life, told the jury that some young women unquestionably possessed the powers of witchcraft; but he believed that they always lost those magical powers when they grew old. 

Ghost visiting The Mohawk Valley

The Mohawk Valley seems to have had its share of tragedy and the spirits there feel as if it is their responsibility to continue  to reminding everyone. 

Printed on Thursday the 8th of February 1872 in the Schenectady Reflector out of Schenectady, New York

GHOSTS IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY – A HANGED DARKEY AND A MURDERED PEDDLER – A DESERTED WIFE.

 – A correspondent, writing to the Troy Times, from Johnstown, gives the following account of several haunted houses in the valley of the Mohawk: “ There have been several haunted houses in the valley of the Mohawk and also in the vicinity of this place, and I have often thought that something should be said on the subject. There was a house in the village which many years ago had the reputation of being haunted by a negro, who had been hanged here and afterward dissected by the village surgeon. The house where this was done was thence afterward occupied by the ghost of this unfortunate darkey which hovered in the garret where the body had been cut up. Noises also might have been heard like the sawing of human bones, which was very annoying to all who heard them. The ghost, however, never cid any damage, but only seemed of a discontented turn, as though things went all with him; but they got worse instead of better, for the house was afterward pulled dozn and the ghost was turned out of doors, and never again heard of. There are several haunted houses on the Mohawk turnpike which have had a first class set of ghosts. Some of these are the old taverns which once filled with guests when the traveling was done with stage coaches. But they stand forlorn and empty now, with the exception at least of some rooms which a tenant may occupy. One of these is haunted by a peddler who was murdered there about sixty years ago, and he is often heard going round with is pack on his back, and trying to escape form a fierce looking man with a butcher knife in his hand. The Mohawk turnpike is full of old associations, and some of these are suggested by the rates of toll which are still seen at the old guesthouses where “stages” and six-horse teams are quoted, and also wagons “with broad tyre,” etc., all of which refer to the days when both traveling and freighting were done by teams, and when this road was crowded with business. There are in this valley tow old churches built before the Revolution, and one of them is said to be haunted. I will not mention in print which is this particular one, but the ghost is that of and old dominie who was half starved by his congregation, and was finally frozen to death while going round trying to collect his salary, which was payable in a large degree sourcrout. The ghost never appears on Sunday, but in stormy weather it may be herd rolling a keg of sourcout up and down the aisles, and blessing the society in Germany for its liberality. There is also a haunted house not far from Amsterdam, which is spooked by a pretty Dutch girl who fell in love with a handsome stage driver, and her parents opposed their marriage. This driver was the son of a great family in New York, but was wild and would not do anything steadily (except drink,) and hence he was left to shirk for himself. He drove a fine team and a handsome coach, and was a great favorite. The girl clopped with him, and of course they lived unhappily. She returned to her father, but he would not receive her, and after that she was found drowned, but whether accidentally or intentionally is not known. She appears about Christmas and New Year, and has a sweet and pleasant look, but always is anxious as though waiting to hear the coachman’s horn, and she wears hat and cloak like one ready to travel off at a moment’s notice.”