My Memorable Monthly Mentions (AKA My Favorite Blogs)

I admit, I love reading genealogy blogs...daily. AND...I keep a list of my favorites. Each month, I am happy to share these with you. I call them my monthly mentions. I hope you enjoy them too. Blogs I've liked in the past month are:

Fun quiz about how much you know about genealogy: http://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/whats-your-genealogy-know-how-score-find-out-with-our-fun-quiz/

Photos of immigrants wearing their native clothes in the early years of Ellis Island:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/24/what-americas-immigrants-looked-like-when-they-arrived-on-ellis-island/?postshare=8711445706882243

Do you wonder if there are railroad pension records for your ancestor?  You can check an index for free by scrolling to the US Railroad Retirement Board under collections: http://quicklook.midwestgenealogycenter.org/

This couple took a photo of themselves every Christmas 1900-1942.  See how they and their circumstances changed: http://historydaily.org/richard-and-anna-wagner-christmas-portraits/

Three types of genealogy databases explained (finally!): http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/11/dear-randy-why-buy-genealogy-software.html
Remarks on being the family historians – pros and cons: http://www.whoisnickasmith.com/genealogy/dear-family-historian/

Funny article about the new ancestry.com: http://www.cluewagon.com/2015/11/14-reasons-the-new-ancestry-is-the-worst-thing-since-unsliced-bread/

Hints on using google to find information more efficiently: http://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/6-secret-google-search-tricks-for-genealogy-thatll-help-you-find-your-ancestors/

A comparison of different photo editing programs.  Some are free: http://rootsbid.com/blog/6-options-for-bringing-old-photos-back-to-life/

Instructions for using google alert: http://www.familytree.com/blog/how-google-alerts-can-help-genealogists/

November Genealogical Events in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs (and most are free)

Every month, the first week of the month, I list genealogical events being held in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for about the next six weeks.  Most events are free, but sometimes you will need to register in advance, especially sponsored by a public library.  If it is sponsored by a genealogy society, you probably will not need to register unless there is a fee (which is designated by the $).  Check the website listed for more information.

If you’d like individual help, the following public libraries’ websites state that you may make an appointment with a librarian or genealogy volunteer: Schaumburg, Palatine, Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect. On the first Thursday of the month from 3-4:30 PM, the Indian Trails Library, Wheeling has a genealogy question and answer session with the librarian.  The Bloomingdale Public Library has a similar group on the fourth Thursdays of the month at 6:30 PM.  See the library websites for more information and the Palatine Public Library holds a group on the second Thursday of the month at various times.  Check the websites for more details.

If you know of any events that I have missed, please email me. I hope you see an event you’d like to attend.

November 2 7:00 PM
A Guide to Overseas Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner $
Prospect High School
http://ce.d214.org/adult_classes/continuing_education.aspx

November 7 10:00 AM

Time Travel with Google Earth by Lisa Louise Cooke (webinar)
Arlington Heights Senior Center
http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

November 10 7:30 PM

Researching World War I & II Military Records by Jennifer Holik
Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg
http://genealogywithtony.wordpress.com/2013-programs/

November 11 7:00 PM

Finding More in the Census by Dan Hubbard
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

November 14 1:00 PM

Find Your Roots in Naturalization Records by Steve Szabados
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

November 17 7:00 PM

Finding Your Roots in Naturalization Records by Steve Szabados
Indian Trails Library, Wheeling
http://www.indiantrailslibrary.org/

November 18 7:30 PM

Introduction to Polish Genealogy by Jason Kruski
DuPage County Genealogical Society
www.dcgs.org.

November 19 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

December 9 6:30 PM

Archived Newspapers
Palatine Public Library
http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

Most organizations take a holiday break in December, so there are few events.  The next event  list will be posted at the end of December. Hope you enjoy the holidays with your families.

My Memorable Monthly Mentions (AKA My Favorite Blogs)

I admit, I love reading genealogy blogs...daily. AND...I keep a list of my favorites. Each month, I am happy to share these with you. I call them my monthly mentions. I hope you enjoy them too. Blogs I've liked in the past month are:

 

An answer for questions you have about Dutch genealogy (and more)  http://www.dutchgenealogy.nl/dutch-genealogy-webinar-questions-about-records/

Why it is difficult to let go of our possessions: https://estatelady.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/letting-go-of-our-possessions-is-hard/

Fourteen fast genealogy tasks – do one on your lunch hour: http://familytreemagazine.com/article/lunch-hour-genealogy

A grandfather, a violinist who died on the Titanic, had a big secret.  Interesting story and how the grandson found it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3237565/How-discovered-guilty-secret-Titanic-violinist-grandfather-CHRISTOPHER-WARD-explains-bargained-uncovered-story-doomed-relative.html

Just in time for the holidays – easy genealogy DYI gifts: http://familytreemagazine.com/article/family-history-DIY-projects

Recently 567 databases suddenly disappeared from ancestry.com.  This explains why: http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/10/where-did-567-databases-n-ancestrycom.html

Easy to follow instructions to find overseas records available on familysearch.org: http://rejoiceandbeexceedingglad.blogspot.com/2015/10/putting-historical-record-collections.html

Top nine heirlooms that people save: http://blog.myheritage.com/2015/09/top-9-family-heirlooms/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MyheritageBlog+%28MyHeritage+Blog%29

Books to include in your genealogical library: http://emptybranchesonthefamilytree.com/2015/10/building-a-genealogy-reference-library-updated/

Donating your personal papers?  Read this, including the links: http://upfront.ngsgenealogy.org/2015/10/before-you-donate-your-genealogy.html

 

Rice Dunbar - Family Black Sheep Part 3

Prison Life
The Huntsville Penitentiary was the only prison of the eleven Confederate states still standing at the end of the Civil War, Built in 1849 Huntsville had one brick building surrounded by temporary log buildings. It was strictly a white person’s (for both men and women) prison until the Civil War. Until then, blacks were punished by being hanged or whipped. After the war, Huntsville was the first racially integrated prison. Prisoners were most often housed two to a cell, and the number of inmates serving time fluctuated widely, generally ranging in the neighborhood of 500.

The increase in lawlessness at the end of the war resulted in more persons being sentenced to prison, at a time when state government found itself virtually bankrupt. The public was unwilling to support tax increases to provide for additional prisons to house the larger number of inmates. Looking for a way to support the prison, the state entered into lease arrangements with private individuals who hired state prisoners to work on private farms, on railroads, and in mines and quarries.

Prisoners not leased out remained in the prison where they worked in a variety of shops producing goods for sale on the open market. Inmates also made a number of permanent improvements to the Huntsville facility. Prisoners built workshops, new cellblocks, warehouses, and outbuildings; remodeled existing structures to provide room for a hospital, a chapel, and a library; constructed residences for senior prison officials; and undertook major renovations and expansions of the outside wall.

Rice entered the prison on August 4, 1875 to serve his two year sentence.  He was described as 27 years old, married, a smoker, 175 pounds, dark hair, grey eyes and fair skin.  5”10.  He had a common education, but he was known to have an unpredictable and volatile temper. He arrived with fourteen other convicted felons from Fannin County. Most were for robbery. Half were black. Rice was from Illinois and served as a Union soldier … in a southern prison.

Immediately, Rice Dunbar, as part of the prisoner lease program, was assigned to work on wood chopping crew. There was a large forest near Huntsville where wood was used for many projects.  These prisoners would leave the prison each day to work.

On September 30, 1875, having been in prison for less than two months, while on this wood chopping crew, Rice suddenly died.  Was it a fight with the Southern men?  Was it his volatile anger getting him in trouble?  Or the heat of the Texas sun?  We will never know.  The convict records state “No cause given”. 

So we now know why Rachel was a widow in the 1880 census.  What happened to her, her sons and the other people involved in this case.

Shortly after Dunbar and Vanvickle’s trial on July 27, 1875, the court found that there was no evidence against M.G. Bobbitt. He was free.

In exchange for his testimony, William Truitt’s arrest warrant was dropped on October 30, 1875, as unfounded, by the Sheriff, J.W. Dunn. He appeared before the court several times between 1875 and 1877, each time the sheriff reported the evidence against William Truitt was unfounded. He remained single and live in Texas most of his life.

Thus, all the southerners served no time for the crime.  Dunbar, the only Yankee, was the only one found guilty.

Meridon Gentry Bobbitt – a Confederate Soldier, he married Virginia in 1876.  They raised six children, living in Kaufman County TX most of their lives. Worked as a farmer.  Died in 1917.  He and his wife received a pension for his service as a Confederate soldier.

Winfield Scott Vanvickle – After being found innocent in the trial, no other information could be located.  His parents and siblings lived in Missouri for many years.

Of the 15 prisoners that entered Huntsville with Rice, eleven served their sentence and were released.  Three, including Rice, died on the wood chopping force; two the cause was unknown and one died of typhoid fever.

Rachel, his wife, married Howard Boyer in 1883.  They raised their five children in Leavenworth, Kansas and where Rachel died in 1908 in an accident.  Rice’s son, John married three women and had 12 children.  Luther and Mary Alice never married.  

Amos Emory Gibson married Mary Lake in 1876, Fannin County They raised one son, who gave them three grandsons. Amos worked as a laborer in Texas, then to Oklahoma. In 1897, he was found guilty of theft, but was pardoned in 1898.  Amos was killed in 1900 when a renter named HD Hudson, hit him over the head with a pistol. 

Rice Dunbar - The Family Black Sheep Part 2 of 3

The Crime
Amos Gibson, a 18 year old farm labor, was living with a widow, Mrs. Mary Ann Kinder, in Savoy, Texas. Amos Emory Gibson was born in Illinois, to a large family who frequently moved. Amos lived with his parents in Missouri before the family moved to Texas in about 1870. At a preliminary hearing on May 3^rd, he reported the following incident[1]:

Amos E Gibson being sworn says I am acquainted with Rice Dunbar, Scott Vanvickle and M.G. Bobbitt and recognize the defendants as being present. Mr. Dunbar, Mr. Bobbitt, and Vanvickle come to the house where I was on the 25^th of April. I recollect as if I was there, He (Dunbar) called me out, told me I was his prisoner.  I asked him of what authority I was his prisoner, he Dunbar told me it was none of my business and told the other boys to take me.

They, Dunbar, Vanvickle and Bobbitt took me some fifty or sixty yards from the house.  They asked me where a certain pistol was and told me they knew I had it that day.  Mr. Dunbar said if I did not get the pistol, he would take me out and hang me up.  They gathered me up and rolled me in the mud and rubbed mud in my face.  They told me if I did not get the pistol for them, they would hang me.  I went and got the pistol and gave it to Mr. Dunbar.  I gave the knife to Mr. Bobbitt.  Then they took me out on the Bonham Road and asked me where I had been at work last.  Told them at Mr. Fleming’s.  (William Fleming was a 55 year old farmer from Tennessee.  He and his wife Louise, who was 20 years younger had 8 children occasionally employed Amos as a farm laborer.)

They asked me if I could find the way down there. (about a 10 mile walk.)  I told them I could if it was important.  They told me to take the road and go to Flemings and stay there until they came after me the next morning when they would march me to Bonham.  I got off about ten steps from them, one of them said “Let’s shoot.”  I don’t know which one said so I then went to Mr. Carroll’s, (There are several Carroll families in the area) then to my brother’s. (His brother Cornelius, who is two years older lived in the area.)

I changed clothes.  Next morning went to Flemings and asked if they (the men) had been there.  Fleming told me they had not been there.  All this took place in Fannin County about 10:00 o’clock at night at Mrs. Kinder’s (Mary Ann Kinder, a recent widow from Virginia in her mid-sixties, lived in the area.  Amos was probably a boarder).  The night was dark and cloudy.  I have not told anyone that other than parties connected to the robbery.

I have not seen nor heard of the pistol since I gave it to the parties.  Mrs. Kinder lives in Fannin County. I never told anyone that any other person except Mr. Bobbitt got my knife.  I have not said since (that) Mr. Vanvickle and Dunbar were the parties that committed this offense.

The other men arrested with Rice were all southerners.  Rice was the only Yankee.  This may have been a factor in this trial.  The other named men are:  

Winfield Scott Vanvickle – born in Iowa 1852, and grew up in Missouri.  Oldest of seven children born to Jackson and Eliza Vanvickle.  Jackson was a Confederate soldier.

Meridon Gentry Bobbitt – born in Tennessee 1849, Confederate Soldier

William R. Truitt – probably born about 1848 in Alabama and lived in Texas most of life. 

A second witness came forward to the sheriff on May 3, 1975. Thomas Richardson was a tall slender 25 year old farmer.  Born in Missouri, married for 7 years to his wife Nancy, they had four children including one infant daughter. Thomas was sworn in and gave this information.

I live in Fannin County.  Last Sunday night between nine and ten  o’clock I heard Mr. Dunbar, Vanvickle and Bobbitt come out of Mr. Updegraff’s house which was vacant. (The Dencer Clinton Updegraff family had lived in Savoy for just a couple of years, where D.C. had worked as a laborer. Dencor and his wife, and infant son had recently moved to Hennipen, Putnam, Illinois so the house was vacant.)  I heard Mr. Dunbar holler (I know his voice). These parties went to the Updegraff house about early candle light and stayed there until half past nine or ten o’clock, crossed the fence in the direction of Mr. Dunbar’s house.  I have no time piece, but to the best of my knowledge, I think it was about the time I have stored.” T.J Richardson.

On the same day, May 3, 1875, one of the four men turned confessed. The court papers state: William R. Truitt co-defendant in the above entered cause, who upon his oath says that if the court will protect him from prosecution, he is ready as a witness for the state to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, that he can and will tall who the parties were and to the best of his knowledge, what said offense was committed.

William R Truitt, co-defendant being duly sworn says there was four persons went to Mrs. Kinder’s last Sunday night one week ago.  These four persons were myself, William Truitt, Rice Dunbar Bobbitt, and Vanvickle.  We called Gibson out, took him down the road, some of the party got from Gibson a pistol and knife.  Mr. Dunbar asked Gibson for the pistol.

While Truitt was given immunity for his testimony, it was determined that there was enough evidence for a trial for Rice Dunbar, Scott Vanvickle, M G Bobbitt. They were accused of having falsely personated themselves as officers of the law and having robbed Amos Gibson. Bond was set at $750 for each defendant. ($17,000 in 2015 dollars) Dunbar was able to pay and be free until he appear in county court in July 1875.  Rice’s bond was probably posted by his wealthy father.  Vanvickle and Bobbitt could not post bond and remained in jail.

The jury trial began on Monday, July 12, 1875, in the Fannin County seat, Bonham, Texas.   The county court house consisted of two log cabins with a breezeway connecting the two. Jurors sat above the courtroom in a loft that could be reached only by an outside ladder. The trial was short.  The charge was robbery and fraudulently taking from Amos E Gibson a crime committed with violence and fear of life or bodily injury. The pistol was valued at $10, ($220 in 2015) and the knife $1. ($22 in 2015).  Dunbar and Vanvickle pleaded not guilty.  Only Amos E Gibson, Thomas Richardson were called as witnesses for the prosecution and they gave the same accounts as they did in May.  The defense tried to discredit Gibson by implying that Gibson had no regular home.

Dunbar came to the stand and testified: Gibson had become to me nuisance and my object in helping to roll him in the mud was to get rid of him.  We took nothing else from him but his arms.  Gibson was accused of stealing horses.

J.T Bradford was the single witness for the defense.  He was a respected, older citizen, (54 years old), and served as Savoy’s doctor. His testimony included: I have heard Amos Gibson to be accused of horse stealing.  I know nothing of my own knowledge only hearsay.  These defendants are industrious, working men.  They live on my farm.   

After the trial, the judge’s instructions were given to the jury on the same day. If convicted the sentence could be 2-10 years in prison. Dunbar was confined to the county jail to wait the jury’s decision.

After hearing the evidence, the jury deliberated for about a day.  On July 15^th, the jury foreman, H. S Randell announced these decisions; We the jury find the defendant Rice Dunbar guilty as charged in the indictment and assess his punishment in the state penitentiary for 2 years.  Scott Vanvickle found not guilty.

This meant Rice O. Dunbar was a convicted felon and going to Huntsville, Texas.  

                                                         Huntsville in the 1870's

---

[1] Information in parenthesis and not italicize were added by the author to clarify.

Rice Dunbar – The Family’s Black Sheep Part 1 of 3

A Surprise Find
Having a little extra time, I type in “Rice Dunbar” into ancestry.com. To my surprise, I find a new entry for a Rice Dunbar, a prisoner, in Huntsville, Texas prison in 1875!  I know of three Rice Dunbars.  The Huntsville record shows age and birthplace.  This Rice Dunbar is my 3x gr-uncle.  Born in 1848, Hennipen, Putnam, Illinois, served for the Union in the Civil War. Why was he in Texas?  And in PRISON?  The short answer is robbery.  Are there more details?  I hunt for Rice’s story.

Up until this revelation, I knew that Rice was the ninth of ten children born in Putnam County, Illinois to Hiram and Jamima (Wolf) Dunbar. His parents were religious and progressive, involved in a church which supported the underground railroad, helping black families come north.   Rice’s father was a wheel maker and farmer.   The family’s fortunes considerable improved when Hiram went to California in 1850, during the gold rush. He came back wealthy. (The family was listed as being the town’s millionaires.)  Clearly, Rice’s childhood was rather easy.

As three of his older brothers did, Rice volunteered to serve in the Civil War.  While his muster papers list him as 18 years old, he was actually only 14 when he enlisted in the company B of Illinois 77^th Infantry in August 1862, and served as a musician.  This position, usually held by younger men, were drummers, buglers, and fifers who regulated every event in camp and served as major source of communication on the battlefield. Between battles, these men also boosted spirits by playing music for the soldiers.  Many popular Civil War songs such as "Dixie" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" are still popular today. Rice served mostly in the south, including New Orleans, the Battle of Vicksburg and was in July 1865, discharged from Mobile, Alabama.   In 1866, he was living in Earlville, LaSalle, Illinois.  In 1868, Henry County, Illinois, he married Rachel Griner, and they had two sons, John (1869) and Luther (1872).  This all seems rather normal.  In the 1870 census, Rice, Rachel and their oldest son, John live in with Rice’s brother in Henry County. In the 1880 census, Rachel, a widow, is living with her sons back in Putnam County, Illinois. 

In digging deeper, there may have been early signs of a darker side to Rice. In 1865, Rice was ordered to pay back $18 ($275 in 2015) after he was court martialed in New Orleans.  Probably for stealing. There is a daughter, Mary Alice born in 1866, mother unknown.  All of these acts were ascribed to his young age, until now.

I ordered the files from this court case from Fannin County, Texas.  The writing on the wrappers is serious and reads:

Case Number 1705 – 6^th Judicial District Court of Fannin County

                 The State of Texas VS Rice Dunbar, Scott Vanvickle, M G Bobbitt
                Offense: False personations of officer & robbery from the person of
                                                        Amos Gibson, April 1875
                                 Held at Savoy, Fannin County of May 3, 1875

Savoy, Texas? Why was Rice living so far from his Illinois family?  Savoy is a tiny town established about 1863 by Colonel William Savoy, a pioneer settler and landowner.  The settlement grew slowly until after the Civil War, when hundreds of settlers began arriving in the area. In 1873 a post office opened. About the same year, the Texas and Pacific Railway extended its tracks through the community. With opportunities made possible by the railroad, Savoy became an agricultural shipping center for area farmers, who produced cotton, corn, grain, and numerous other products.  Still, at the time, the town had less than 300 inhabitants.

For as far as the eye can see, there are rolling hills, with grasses up to four feet high.  Most months, the weather was warm. In the winter however, there were intense rain storms with high winds and tornados.  Savoy is located ten miles west of Bonham in extreme west central Texas, in Fannin County, near the boarder of Grayson County to the west, and just eight miles north is the Oklahoma state line.

Why would a Union soldier go to the Confederate south after the war?  Perhaps Rice saw an opportunity to work for the railroad.  Perhaps he liked living or the weather in the south.  We do know that he went there alone, Rachel and the boys were home in Illinois.

October Genealogical Events in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs (Most are Free)

Every month, the first week of the month, I list genealogical events being held in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for about the next six weeks.  Most events are free, but sometimes you will need to register in advance, especially sponsored by a public library.  If it is sponsored by a genealogy society, you probably will not need to register unless there is a fee (which is designated by the $).  Check the website listed for more information.

If you’d like individual help, the following public libraries’ websites state that you may make an appointment with a librarian or genealogy volunteer: Schaumburg, Palatine, Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect. On the first Thursday of the month from 3-4:30 PM, the Indian Trails Library, Wheeling has a genealogy question and answer session with the librarian.  The Bloomingdale Public Library has a similar group on the fourth Thursdays of the month at 6:30 PM.  See the library websites for more information and the Palatine Public Library holds a group on the second Thursday of the month at various times.  Check the websites for more details.

If you know of any events that I have missed, please email me. I hope you see an event you’d like to attend.

October 8, 7:00 PM
Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

October 10 1:00 PM

Sound Research Practices: Sources and Citations by Ginger Frere
Northbrook History Museum
http://nsgsil.org

October 13 7:00 PM

A Guide to Overseas Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner
Fremd High School $
http://adc.d211.org/academics/continuing-education/continuing-education-home/

October 13 7:30 PM

Sound Research Practices, Sources and Citations by Ginger Frere
Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg
http://genealogywithtony.wordpress.com/2013-programs/

October 15

Using Find-A-Grave by Bob Allen 
Elgin Genealogical Society
http://www.elginroots.com

October 19 6:30 PM

Using Familysearch.org
Palatine Public Library
http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

October 20

Genealogy at the Library by Rose Lehne
Bartlett Public Library
http://www.bartlett.lib.il.us/

October 27

Family Stories that Bind; How to Capture the Stories of Your Life
By Mary Beth Sammons and Monica Dougherty
Indian Trails Library, Wheeling
http://www.indiantrailslibrary.org/

November 2 7:00 PM

A Guide to Overseas Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner $
Prospect High School
http://ce.d214.org/adult_classes/continuing_education.aspx

November 7 10:00 AM

Time Travel with Google Earth by Lisa Louise Cooke (webinar)
Arlington Heights Senior Center
http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/