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The Family Garden
Notes
Jeremiah Terry SEELY
SEELEY, JERMIAH TERRY AND SARAH BERT STEWARD
BY W. B. THIELE (extract)
Jeremiah Terry Seely was married to Sarah Bert Steward in Aberdeen, Miss., and they moved to Texas in 1853, settling in Lamar County near Paris. Wood and water were scarce and red bugs plentiful, so the moved after the first harvest, coming to visit her brother, George Washington Steward, and Mr. Seely's sister in Steward's Mill, Freestone County (TX). They liked this part of Texas and bought land near Longbotham. Lather they built a home in Wortham (Longbotham), then on Highway 27 near where Keithley's Station now stands. Elder Jerry Terry Seely was a Primitive Baptist minister traveling throughout Texas to establish churches. An old Primitive Baptist Journal recorded the tribute paid to him which said in part, "We feel that the death of Elder J. T. Seely, we have lost a faithful Minister of the Gospel, a valiant soldier of the cross, whose armor was always on, whose zeal was untiring, whose faith was unwavering and who had withstood the enemy in a fierce conflict…we miss greatly and sadly his strong and manly form, his grave and familiar face, his commanding voice and magnetic influence in the pulpit, in council and in the social circle."
*Source: History of Freestone County Texas, by the Freestone County Historical Commission, First Edition 1978, p. 565 (article # 733). Repository: Personal Copy
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1850 Census, Monroe County, Mississippi (Copy in files)
J. T. Seely, age 35, Occupation: Farmer, value of real estate: 1000, born in Indiana
Sarah Seely, age 35, born in So. Carolina
Susan M. Seely, age 12
Malinda E. Seely, age 9
James R. Seely, age 7
Martha Seely, age 5
Mary M. Seely, age 2
William M. Seely, age 1/12 months
All children born in Mississippi
John STEVENS
Immigrated in 1650 to Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut Will in sourcebook names four children: John (in England), Thomas, William, and Mary
Source: Savage, James (1860) A GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE FIRSTSETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND
John and Mary Stevens were among the first settlers at Guilford, Connecticut, but not original founders. John shared in the first division of homelots and lands. He had a 14-acre homelot and a 36+ acre parcel of land outside town. Other recorded evidence of John in Guilford includes:
October 9, 1645 - fined for neglect of fencing
1650 - planter
1652 - planter
1656 - on freeman’s list
1670 - in March, deeded 36+ acres and division rights to son Thomas
September 1670 - died; will dated August 1670
Two ships had arrived in New Haven in July of 1639, the passengers of which largely settled at Guilford. John was a passenger on one of these ships as were John Stone, perhaps a cousin.
At his death, his estate showed 32 pounds 15 shillings worth of property at Killingworth and 93.05.01 at Guilford. His will made the following provisions:
son Thomas - a mare, brass kettle, best sute, cloak, bed, sheets and other bedding
son William - house, homelot, meadow, providing he pay to
son John - in old England 20.10, and to
dau Mary - the amount of 10 pounds
To each of four grandsons, he left four pounds each, and to his two granddaughters, a pair of sheets each. His children were:
Thomas b. 1628 England m. Mary Fletcher d. November 1685 William b. 1630 d. 1702
John b. 1632
Mary b. 1623 m. Henry Kingsnorth
m. 2nd John Collins
*Source: Internet
Francis (Frank) Marion STEWARD SR
The City of Stewards Mill no longer exists. Francis is buried the the Steward's Family Cemetery in what was once the town of Steward's Mill. It is near Fairfield, TX. I haven't ever verified this, but old family story is that Fairfield and Steward's Mill were both small towns, but when the railroad came, it came throughFairfield instead of Steward's Mill. Supposedly, the city of Fairfield, which still exists today, grew and Steward's Mill slowly went out of existence. See more on notes for George Washington Steward (Francis' father). Also see the notes on Jeremiah Terry Steward (Francis' brother). I have copies of several letters Jerry wrote home during the civil war which contain several references to Francis ("Frank").
NOTES - With the generous assitance of Jo Watson Turner, I had the opportunity to copy the following entries from the Steward's Mill Store for the accounts of FM Steward, SR. For some time, it was thought that these ledgers were lost, but recently the new Fairfield Museum curator found them. Due to age and the fading ink, they cannot be photo copied, but the curator and her assistant Jo Turner, are working on indexing the many volumes. Time did not permit me to copy records from other volumes, but a brief glance at these entries can tell many things about Frank's life. I unfortunately had only a few hours to spend at the museum, and hope to return there - Jo Turner is an amazing fount of information about this Steward family and was able to point out many things about the entries. Of particular note in these entries are the purchases made in the beginning of 1873 - Frank bought an expensive new suit of clothes, began taking cash from his account monthly and in May of that year, purchased perfume. This was during the time he was "courting" our Annie Eliza Cain - they married later the same year. Early in 1874, we began to see "ribbon" purchased for his wife, calico and other cloth, needles, buttons and thread, and other sundries for his wife. We also see large amounts of nails and other buildiing materials being purchased as Frank was building a new home for his new wife. Although I did not get to see the later volumes (unfortunately the museum had closed and the curator had graciously allowed me to remain an extra 2 hours after closing as it was!), Jo Turner told me that in later years the sad story of Annie's death is reflected in the accounts when Frank begans to purchase large amounts of various medicines, and later we see Frank once again purchasing new clothes and obtaining cash when he began to court his second wife. We know that Frank smoked from his frequent purchases of tobacco, didn't seem to drink alcohol much since we see only 2 purchases of alcohol in the 3 1/2 years these accounts cover. He once purchased violin strings - did he play the violin? We also see many purchases and credits made by others to Frank's account - as noted in my comments for his father - the store was used as a bank - people who did work often were paid by allowing to "charge" things to Frank's account and people who owned money to Frank often paid by applying a credit to his account. Many of the residents of Fairfield used the store accounts in this manner. Then there is the story of Silvy, told to me my Jo Turner - the slave who stayed on after the war and lived as a free person. For services rendered during her years as a slave to the family and her advanced age, she was allowed to make any purchases she needed and they were charged to family accounts and the various family members paid for her support. With luck, someday I will have the opportunity to return and copy the remaining entries from Frank's accounts. (Note the spelling is exactly as it is in the ledgers).
1871
Page 72
22-Apr 4.00 1 hat
0.50 1 bot snuff
0.75 1 yd of Irish Linen
1.50 1 lb tobacco
0.80 3 1/2 yds insertion @ .25
6-May 5.40 1 pair boots & socks
19-May 0.75 3 yds fine bleached domestic @ .25 yard
10-Jun 1.35 Tobacco & violin strings
12-Jun 0.75 1 mill saw file
26-Jun 0.50 Balance on the brandy
11-Jul 0.75 1 file
1.25 1 shirt
27-Jul 1.65 1 lb tobacco
1.75 flour, sugar & collards
18-Sep 0.50 order for Gibson
12-Oct 5.25 1 pair boots & salt block
12-Oct 3.00 order for Sam
30-Nov 2.00 order for Lewis
1872
20-Jan 25.00 cash
31-Jan 92.85 1,966 lbs iron & coal & freight in coin
16-Mar 150.90 by cash
8.50 credit
1.50 1 empty barrel
21-Mar 1.00 tobacco
25-Mar 1.00 1 bottle OC bitters
1.75 1 pair gloves
0.25 collar
26-Mar 0.50 36 grams quinnine
0.10 1 dozen wood screws
27-Mar 34.19 settled balance on iron, coal and freight
30-Mar 12.00 paid by cash on acct
1-Apr 1.25 1 lb tobacco
6-Apr 1.25 1 lb tobacco
15-Apr 1.25 1 lb tobacco
0.25 1 plug tobacco for John
0.85 cash due Sol
2.50 sundries for Bill Price
20-Apr 4.20 30 lbs bacon
2-May 1.80 4.5 yards of hickory (this is a heavy weight material that was used to make men's vests and pants)
29-May 4.70 34 lbs bacon & kerosene
20.50 by cash
188.72 BALANCE
p. 156 188.72 Amt brought forward
28-Jun 0.80 edging cambric
8-Jul 1.75 (unreadable) for John
22-Jul 7.49 2 bars of iron (99 lbs)
22-Jul 2.25 1 set of bands (would have been used on a horse or buggy livery)
26-Jul 0.55 2 plugs of tobacco
26-Jul 1.00 7 yards of calico
8-Aug 2.25 1 pare pants
28-Aug 1.25 1 lb tobacco
12.05 ordered by George Bradley
31-Aug 0.50 order for Pete
7-Sep 0.25 box of collars
9-Sep 0.75 1 can & a quart of oil
11-Sep 1.25 1 pocket knife
14-Sep 0.90 shirting
25-Sep 1.50 monkey rench
25-Sep 8.00 1 pair calf boots
30-Sep 3.10 cash to Rafe
1-Oct 2.00 2 lbs tobacco
14-Oct 1.25 1 hat
14-Oct 4.50 1 pair boots
1.50 shoes for Eli
12-Oct 20.00 1 suit of cloths
19-Oct 7.25 balance from Bill
24-Oct 0.10 riding switch (crop)
1.50 tobacco & scwapps
2.05 credit by cash
9-Nov 0.75 1 shorel
14-Nov 0.65 powder & shot for Peter
0.25 plug tobacco
18-Nov 1.00 1 par drawers
0.10 pencil
28-Nov 10.00 order for Jim
14.00 credit
272.41 BALANCE
258.31 BALANCE (after 14.00 credit)
7-Dec 1.00 order for Peter
1.75 to cash
261.06 BALANCE carried over to Page 194
p. 194 261.06 Amt brought forward
9-Dec 2.00 4 pair halter braces
0.45 4 curry combs & hinges
16-Dec 6.50 pair of boots
19-Dec 1.00 lb of tobacco
3.90 credit by Folk
1.25 order from Bill
1873
14-Jan 21.00 1 coat & pants
1.25 lb of tobacco
20-Jan 1.70 cash for Trammell (credit)
8-Feb 0.50 1 bottle R&R Relief
4-Mar 10.00 Amt charged David Folk (credit)
8-Mar 5.00 bacon for Todd
79.25 Bill Rendered
30.00 cash
26-Apr 25.00 cash
17-May 21.00 cash
31-May 5.00 perfume
10-Jun 1.00 lb of tobacco
25-Jun 20.00 cash
20-Aug 20.00 whiskey
1.25 pair of chairs
1.10 bleaching & hose
2.00 order for Silvy
23-Aug 1.00 tobacco
26-Aug 0.25 1 oz borax
30-Aug 3.85 order for Todd
9-Sep 5.05 order for Todd
13-Sep 0.80 1 gallon K oil
0.30 padlock
3-Nov 1.70 6 yards of drilling (according to the curator of Fairfield Museum, this was used for canvas for wagon tents)
4 spools of thread
3.60 3 yards of curduroy
9-Dec 10.00 coat & vest
0.45 needles, thread, ax handle
0.55 bar of soap, segars
21-Dec 0.50 tobacco
22-Dec 0.20 nails
516.56 BALANCE
Page 195 502.63 Balance brought forward
25-Dec 3.00 2 undershirts
26-Dec 0.50 5 us nails for Sam Manahan
29-Dec 1.00 1 knive for rashe
1.20 buttons & thread
5-Dec 9.00 cash
517.33 Balance
20-Dec 4.75 cash
1.50 pair of suspenders & shaving cream
1.90 11 1/4 yards prints, thread & thimble
26-Dec 2.50 25 lbs nails
0.10 ribbons for his wife
1874
1-Jan 1.50 15 lbs nails
6.00 paid by cash
1.40 14 lbs nails
7-Jan 1.00 10 lbs nails
20-Jan 0.40 4 lbs nails
2.10 butts & s____(unreadable)
3.20 loeks, bolts & screws
8.75 merchandise for his wife
3.75 by cash
546.43 BALANCE
2.60 26 lbs nails
9.75 credit
541.03 BALANCE
181.38 To iron bill
30-Jul 516.33 By ___(unreadable) tools & iron
721.41 Balance
729.41 Balance
13.98 cash
213.08 50 @26 (credit)
198.15 Balance
8.00 by material (credit)
190.15 BALANCE DUE
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Marriage license
Mr. Francis M. Steward to Miss Annie E. Cain, 29 Oct 1873, Freestone County, Texas
(copy in files)
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1880 Justees? Precinct, Freestone County, Texas (copy in files)
F. M. Steward, age 33, occupation: farmer, born in Mississippi, father born in Ala, mother born in S. C.
A. E. Steward, age 26, wife, born in Mississippi, fathr born in Wisc, mother in Miss.
F. M. age 1, son, born in Texas
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1900 Census Limestone County, Texas
Vol. 73, Ed 52, line 10, Pct 1
Stewart, Frank M. b. Dec 1846, age 53, b. Mississippi
Amelia M., b. Mar 1875, age 25, b. Georgia
Erma A., b. Dec 1890, age 10, b. Texas
Carrie L., b. Nov 1895, age 4, b. Texas
Minnie C., b. Feb 1899, age 1, b. Texas
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1920 Census Limestone County, Texas
Data sent by Ann Daberko
F. M. Steward, age 74
Amelia, age 44
Minnie, dau, age 20
Washington, son, age 19
Edith,dau, age 14
John, son, age 11
Ruby, dau, age 8
Hazel, dau, age 5
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The below info is taken from Soldier's Application for a Pension, State of Texas filed Sept 1, 1914. (Soldier's Pension # 29149) (Copy in files)
States he is 67 years old, was born in Monroe County, MS and has been a resident of Texas for 64 years. That he lives in Freestone County and that for the past 32 years his address has been Kirvin, Texas, R. F. D. No. 1. That he is a farmer and his physical condition is "feeble". That he enlisted in the Infantry, Walker's Divison, served about 13 or 14 months in Co. H. 28 Texas Regiment and was discharged at Hempstead, TX at the close of the war. Two affadavits are attached (dated 17 Sep 1914).
I. J. C. Anderson, knew the applicant, F. M Steward. I knew him in the War between the States. We served in the Confederate Army together. We served in Co. H. 28 Texas Regiment. He served about a year of something over. He did not desert the Confedearcy or abandon his pos. of duty.
I. W. R. Davis, knew the applicant F. M. Steward in the War between the States. We served in the same company together. We served in Co. H. 28 Texas Regiment. Applicant served in said war more than a year. He made a good soldier; he did not desert the Confederacy nor abandon his post of duty. I know these facts, because as aforesaid, we served together in said war.
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"The following companys were in active service (Freestone Freeman)......Mean's Company (Captain J. C. Means)....privates: Steward, Frank
*Source: History of Freestone County, by the Freestone County Historical Commission, Vol I, 1979, Repository: Personal Copy, pp. 42, 45
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The below is taken from an "Application for Mortuary Warrant" filed by Mrs. Amelia Steward.
States that she is the widow of Francis M. Steward who died on 24 Mar 1921 in the town of Mexia, Limestone County, TX. Includes a "Certificate of Undertaker", wherein the undertaker certifies that he prepared the body of F. M. Steward, who died 24 Mar 1921 for burial and that he was buried in Stewards Mill Cemetery. Also includes a "Certificate of Physician" who states that he attened Mr. Steward in his last illness and that his ailments were: Senility followed with Lateral Paralysis.
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CSA Pension Claims from Limestone County:
Steward, Amelia 37502 Claimant: Steward, Amelia
Pension Number: 37502
County: Limestone
Husband: Francis Marion
Pension Number: 29149
Note, this is an application for death pension benefits from Frank's Civil War pension.
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In the Mexia Daily News (Texas) dated 4 June 1863 Woodland College opened in Kirvin area (Freestone Co., Texas). 1963 marks the marks the centinneal of the college on land donated by Col L. R. Wortham as use as a campus, church and cemetery. The class registration as presented by JR Seely on Aug 17, 1867 lists, SM Stewart, FT Seely, Frank Stewart (Francis Marion), the Egger children and others. - Sharon Kay (Young) Sager
In the land records dated 19 Aug 1874 in Freestone County (Texas) in the division of the land which was owned by Sally Steward, deceased and Washington Steward im which it appears the children were receiving their part of their mothers estate, has the following listed children: Franklin M. Steward, Susan M. Steward of Freestone Co., Texas and Mary M Egger a resident of Tarrant Co., Texas (and it lists other children) - Sharon Kay (Young) Sager.
*Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~stewartclanscms/pafn06.htm#249
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Follows is a deed wherein Frank purchased 125 acres of land in 1875:
The State of Texas
County of Freestone
9 Feb 1875
Know all men by these presents that we, J. W. Lake and Martha Lake, wife of said J. W. Lake, residents of said State and County, for and in consideration of the sum of Three Hundred and Seventy Eight Dollars gold to us in hand paid by F. M. Steward, also a resident of said State and County, the receipt whereof we hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained sold and conveyed and do by these presents grant, bargain, sell and convey, unto the said F. M. Steward, his heirs and assigns, all our rights, title and interest in and to the following described tract or parcel of land to wit: Situated in Freestone County Texas, and Beginning at the S. W. corner of the John Watson survey in the W. boundary of the W. B. Read H. Right, Thence S. 833 ½ vrs, to the N. W corner of the Catherine Reed survey. Thence E. with the south boundary of the same 833 1/3 vrs. To a stake. Thence North along the West boundary line of a 200 acre survey now owned and occupied by M. E. Falk by deed from J. W. Lake 833 1/3 vrs to the N. W corner of said 200 acre survey, Thence W. 433 1/3 vrs to the Beginning containing 125 acres, more or less, and being the same land conveyed from J. W. and M. E. Falk to J. W. Lake on the 19th of December 1870, as appears upon the Records of Freestone County Texas, in Book "L", pages 84 & 85. To have and to hold the above described premises together with all the rights ____, and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, unto the said F. M. Steward, his heirs and assigns, in fee simple, forever, And we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to forever warrant and defend the title to the above granted premises unto the said F. M. Steward, his heirs and assignees, against the lawful claims of all persons, whomsoever claiming the same or any part thereof.
Witness our hands this 9th day of February A. D. 1875
Annie Eliza CAIN
This picture may not be Annie Cain. It could also be Frank's second wife, Amelia Kaufman. If anyone knows which wife this is for sure, would love to know!
George Washington STEWARD
Before going to Texas, George traveled to Indiana where he married Sarah Seely. They emigrated to Mississippi and settled in Monroe County, then later moved to Falls County, TX. All of his children except one were born in Falls County, TX. When he left Mississippi, he brought with him six horses, a wagon, a hack and six slaves. It was his intention to go to Dallas County. Along the way he was constantly prospecting for a site for a grist and flour mill. Two years later, in the newly formed county of Freestone, he found the perfect place in a good timber region with many springs of good water . Here, in 1852, he bought 320 acres of land and erected his mill. The millstones for his mill came from Grindstone Creek, near Fairfield. It was said that it was the only mill between Dallas and Houston. He built his home north of the spring and the mill. Soon after, he started a store and it wasn't long before the US Mail was being left there and the community of Steward's mill came to official being. A number of years later, the springs almost failed and slowed the work at the mill, so Washington procured two large steam boilers to power the mill. In the early years the settlement made everything possible by hand and nearly all other necessities were provided at home: bread, meat and even clothing. When the meat was scarce, the woods provide game. Before the Civil War, Washington gave most of his attention to the mill. Many small grains were raised in the area and kept his mill busy. People came from miles around in wagons, hacks, buggies and even horseback. Many camped overnight, or even days, waiting their turns. Steward's Mill was growing. About 1860, Washington gave ample ground for a church and Cemetery nearby. He was doing well financially and took his rightful place as one of the leading citizens of the county. The fall of the Confederacy found him greatly depleted of his wealth. As most of the families of Freestone County, they gave food, clothing, medicines and monies to the cause until there was little left for the necessities of life.
ARTICLE BY Lucille Riley Steward
From a letter of a descendant:
Washington's second wife was Rebecca Hinton Whitaker. Two months after she died, he married a Mrs. Singleton. When one of his friends told him that it was too early for him to marry again, he said "Well, John, she is just as dead now as she will ever be." He had two daughters by his third wife.
WHY IS GEORGE WASHINGTON'S NAME STEWARD WHEN ALL HIS ANCESTORS ANDSIBLINGS ARE STEWART?
Family lore says that that there was another George Washington Stewart in the same county where our George grew up. When he became a young man and started out on his own business ventures, he wanted to be distinguished from the other George Washington Stewart, so changed the spelling of his last name to Steward. There is ample documentation in the Fairfield, Freestone County, TX library that our George Washington is indeed the original George Washington Stewart, descendant ofWilliam Stewart and Nancy Hurt Stewart. Second source: Article by Lucille Riley Steward, Lucille states that there were two other George Washington Stewarts in the area, so he changed his name to Steward.
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STEWARDS MILL, TEXAS. Stewards Mill is at the intersection of Farm roads 833 and 2547, seven miles north of Fairfield in north central Freestone County. It was established in 1849 and named after Washington Steward of South Carolina, who built a gristmill in the area. The mill was one of only a few in the vicinity, and people came from as far away as Ellis and Dallas counties to have wheat and corn ground into flour and meal. A general store built in 1867 by Dr. James I. Bonner was known as Stewards Mill Store. Both the Harmony Presbyterian Church and the Stewards Mill Church were established in 1876. The town also had a brick plant, a sawmill, and the county's first phone exchange. A school founded in 1891 had an enrollment of twenty-five in 1893. The post office opened as Steward's Mill with Jeremiah T. Steward as postmaster in 1872. The apostrophe was dropped from the name in 1894. The post office was discontinued in 1914, and mail was sent to Kirvin. Cotton and corn were the main crops of the area, but livestock was also raised. The community became known for its mules. Mule raisers from as far away as Tennessee purchased stock at Stewards Mill. A school district was formed in 1906 but was consolidated with the Fairfield district in 1929. In the late 1930s the community had a population of fifty-five and two businesses. In 1959 the Fairfield and Harmony churches merged to become the Fairfield Harmony Presbyterian Church. In 1968 the population of Stewards Mill had dropped to twenty-two, and by the late 1980s the community had only a church, a cemetery, and a few scattered dwellings. In 1990 the population was still estimated at twenty-two. The Stewards Mill Store was recorded as a Texas historical landmark in 1964. *Sources: T. Lindsay Baker, Ghost Towns of Texas (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1986). Freestone County Historical Commission, History of Freestone County, Texas (Fairfield, Texas, 1978). Freestone County Historical Survey Committee, Official Texas Historical Markers of Freestone County (Fairfield, Texas?, 1974). (From the Handbook of Texas)
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Conspicious among those who settled in the northern half of the county (Freestone) between 1849 and 1853 were the families of John Burleson, Washington Steward, John Watson, Dr. John Bonner, Oliver and William Carter. These families and their neighbors formed the nucleus of the later communities of Woodland, Bonner, and Stewards Mill. Mr. Steward's contribution to the new county varied somewhat from that of the others. Shortly after he arrived he built a flour mill which came to be patronized by citizens of counties other than Freestone. Some say that customers were known to come from as far away as Ellis and Dallas to have wheat ground and to trade for flour.
*Source: History of Freestone County, Texas, First Edition 1978. Published by the Freestone County Historical Society. Repository: Personal Copy. p. 11
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1850 Monroe County, Mississippi Census (copy in files)
Washington Steward, age 39, occupation: ____ Maker), b. So Carolina
Sarah Steward, age 37, born Kentucky
William R. Steward, age 18, occupation: laborer
Jeremiah T. Steward, age 15, occupation: laborer
Mary M. Steward, age 14
Huett B., age 12
George W. Steward, age 9
Margt M. Steward, age 7
Nancy V. Steward, age 5
Francis M. Steward, age 4
Sarah R. Steward, age 1
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1 Feb 1841
Washington patented 40.19 acres of land in Huntsville, Monroe County, Mississippi. Columbus Land Office. Certificate No. 105
27 Feb 1841
Washington patented 40.09 acres of land in Huntsville, Monroe County, Mississippi. Columbus Land Office. Certificate No. 15395
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Deeds for land transactions: (copies in files)
IN THIS document, GW Steward, SR buys 320 acres of land for $320 in 1852. I may have the woman's name, Orpha Angelin - the seller, wrong, it's very hard to read. I have entered blanks where I can't read the words. The State of Texas
The County of Freestone
This deed made this __ day December 29th, A.D. 1852 between Orpha Anglin of the County of Limestone and Sate of Texas of the first part and Washington Steward ___ part that the said Orpha Anglin for and in consideration of the Sum of three hundred and Twenty dollars to her in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath ___ and quit claim and by these Presents doth ___ and quit claim unto the said Washington Steward of the County of Freestone and State of Texas, his heirs and assigns forever, a certain tract or parcel of Land with the apparatus there unto belonging or in any wise appertaining (To wit) three hundred and twenty acres of Land it being apart of the headright Survey of F. Gancy (T. Sancy?) __ & Lying and being in the County of Freestone and State of Texas and beginning at the North West Corner of Said Survey at a Stake from which a P. O. 20 __ ___ bears, S 29, W 4 vis also another P.O 12 ___ ___ S. 72 E 10 vis, Thence N. 60 E with the north boundary line of said Lot No 6 - __60 vis to a stake on line from which a B. __ 12 __ __ ___N 60 E. 3 6/10 vis also another B.J. 12 ___ ___ Markers S. ___ S12th E 10 vis - Thence S. 30 E, 1529 vs _____ Southern boundary of Said Lot No 6 to a stake on line from which a B. M. ___ ___ ___ ___ S. 60 W. 2 vs. Thence S. 60 W with the Southern boundary 1532 vs __ to the __W. corner of Said Lot No 6 at a stake from which a P. O. 10 ___ ___ vs S 45 E vs also another P.O. 24 __ __ N 26 ___12 vs. Thence North with the west boundary 1743 vs to the place of Beginning containing an Area of 320 Acres of Land to the Said Washington Steward, his heirs and assigns forever to have and to hold the Said Land and premises with the apparatus thereunto belonging in any wise appertaining unto the Said Washington Steward, his heirs and assigns forever and the Said Orpha Anglin for herself and her heirs will Warrant and forever defend from herself and her heirs and assigns and no further ____ whereof I hereunto set My hand and Seal ring a ____ for here on the day and year above written.
Her
Signed Sealed and delivered Orpha x Angelin (Seal)
Mark
In presence of
Illegible
Garson B. James
James A. Billington
*Source: Will Book E, pp. 632-633. Repository: Freestone County Courthouse, Fairfield, TX
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In this document, Washington Steward pays $500 for 151 ½ acres of land from Jesse Clark.
State of Texas
Freestone County
16 Jan 1868
Know all men by these presents that I, Jesse Clark of the above State and County for and in consideration of the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to him in hand Paid hath this day bargained, sold, and delivered unto Washington Steward a certain tract of land being and lying in said County known as the Barley Anderson tract lying in the NorthWest Corner of the E. B. Davis league on headright assignee of John Bradly and Bonded as follows. Beginning at the Northeast corner of said tract or league then running South sixty west 654 ____ thence South thirty east 1908 vs thence East with ___ degrees of said Survey 654 vs ___ Back to the Place of beginning so as to include one hundred and fifty one and a half acres to have and to hold with all improvements therein and by these presents do deliver unto Washington Steward and his heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby bind myself my heirs Executors and Administrators to warrant and defend forever all and ____ the above tract of land unto the said Washington Steward his heirs and assignees against every Person whosoever doth ___ Claiming the same tract or any part thereof.
Witenss my hand and seal this 16th January 1868.
Witness W. E. Seely
Eli Clark
Deed Book H2, pp. 154-155, Repository: Freestone County Courthouse, Fairfield, TX
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This document is a correction to the DEED of January 16, 1868, wherein Jesse Clark sold land to Washington Steward. The original deed was for 151 ½ acres, this is corrected to 147 acres. The State of Texas
County of Freestone
16 April 1868
Know all men by these presents : That I Jesse Clark of said Freestone County, State of Texas for and in consideration of the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to me paid by Washington Steward also of said County & State, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted bargained sold and conveyed and by these presents do grant bargain sell and convey unto the said Steward the following described tract or parcel of land to wit: a part of the South East quarter of the E. B. Davis league situated in said Freestone County the ____ being one half of the Bailey Anderson tract of 303 acres in Said League and described as follows to wit: Beginning at a point in the East and West division line of said League between Landrums (?) and _______ 654 ____ S. 60 W from where said division line from joins the East boundary of said League; thence S. 30 E. 1308 vs.; thence S. 60 E. ____ the degrees of said League 66 vis; thence N. 30 W 1405 vs to the place of beginning containing 147 acres and being the West half of the said Barley Anderson tract. To have and to hold the above described tract of land together with all the improvements and appurtances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to the said Washington Steward, his heirs and assigns forever; And I Jesse Clark for myself my heirs executors & Administrators do hereby warrant and defend the title to the said above described tract of land to the said Steward his heirs and assigns against all persons whomsoever claiming or to claim the same or any portions thereof. It is understood that this Deed is made as a duplicate or substitution for a certain original Deed made by me to the said Steward on the 16th day of January A. D 1868 for the purpose of correcting a mistake in the description of said land in said original Deed which is recorded in the Office of the County of the Freestone County in Book H, vol. 2 of Records page 154-155.
Witness of my hand and sealed using ____ for Seal, this the 16th day of April A. D. 1868.
Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of W. Cotton
Jesse X (his mark) Clark
G. S.
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In this document, dated 1879, J. T. Steward (son of Washington Steward) sells half interest in the land originally belonging to Washington from the 1852 purchase, less 1/7 which he describes as his separate interest. Some of it may have been sold before - not sure, but the original purchase was for 300 acres, and 1/7 of that would be about 42 acres, not 26 ½ acres. The State of Texas
County of Freestone
10 May 1879
Know all men by these presents that I, J. T. Steward a resident citizen of said State and County for and in consideration of the sum of $400.00 to me in hand paid by A. T. Watson, also of said Sate and of the County of Limestone, the receipt whereof is herby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, soled and conveyed & by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said A. T. Watson an undivided one half interest in the hereafter described survey of land less one seventh or about 26 ½ acres of said survey (this amount being my separate interest in said survey) being situated in Freestone County, Texas and being a part of the J. James League. Beginning 790 vis south from the NW corner of the J. James League - thence N 85 ½ E 342 vis intersecting Spring Branch - thence following the meanderings of Spring Branch intersecting the S line of the survey granted by Orfila Anglin to Washington Steward S 60 W 164 vis from the S. E. corner of said survey. Thence S 60 W with the boundary line of said survey granted by said Orpha Anglin to Washington Steward 16_8 vis to the S W corner of lot No 6 (the same being the tract of land granted by the same Anglin to said Steward. Thence North 306 vis with said West boundary line to the beginning said survey including my said 1/7 interest 183 ½ acres. To have and hold all and singular the said undivided ½ interest after deducting 1/7 of the whole of said survey unto the said A. T. Watson, his heirs and assigns forever ___ ____ simple.
And I further agree to bind myself, heirs and adm ___ to forever warrant & defend the title to said promises unto the said A. T. Watson, his heris and assigns against all persons whoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof, by ____ or under me. In testimony, I have hereto subscribed my name this the 10th day of May A. D. 1879.
J. T. Steward
*Source: Will Book P, pp. 515-516. Repository: Freestone County Courthouse, Fairfield, TX
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The State of Texas
County of Freestone
19 May 1879
Before me T. W. Sims, clerk of the court in and for said county personally appeared J. T. Steward to me well and to me acknowledged that the had executed and delivered the foregoing Deed of conveyance bearing even date herewith for herewith for ____ ____ ____ and considerations therein contained. Given under my hand and offical seal this the 19th day of May 1879. T.W. Sims *Source: Will Book P, p. 516. Repository: Freestone County Courthouse, Fairfield, TX
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The State of Texas
County of Freestone
21 May 1879
I, T. W. Grims, clerk of the county court in and for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument of writing with the certificate of authentication was filed in my office for record on the 19th day of May 1879 at 2 o'clock P.M. and was duly and correctly recorded in my office on the 21 day of May 1879 at 10 o'clock A. M. In witness thereof I hereunto sign my name and affix the seal of said court my office in Fairfield this 21 day of May 1879. T. W. Sims
*Source: Will Book P, pp. 516-517. Repository: Freestone County Courthouse, Fairfield, TX
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From the Family Bible of G. W. Steward (copy in files)
(note-images are availabe from the home page)
MARRIAGES
Washington Steward and Sarah Seely October 27 1831
Marriages of their Children Below
John T. Egger and Mary Matilda Steward 27 of January 1832
Terry V. Keel and Margaret Malinda Steward 10 of February 1859
Jer. T. Steward and E. J. Whitaker Dec. 20th 1860
Washington Steward and Rebecca J. Whitaker Sept 21st 1868
Washington Steward and Mary Jane Singleton January 22nd 1872
BIRTHS
Washington Steward October 25th 1811 Aberville, South Carolina
Sarah Seely Sept. 20th 1813 in the state of Ohio
*Twin Boys born Aug. 10 1833 Born dead
The Births of their Children:
William Randolft September 1st 1832 Monroe County, Mississippi
Jerremiah Terry, Nov. 1st 1834 Miss.
Mary Matilda Aprile 29th 1836
Huet Burt Sept 12 1838
George Washington February 3rd 1841
Margaret Malinda December 15 1842
Nancy Victoria February 13 1845
Francis Marion Dec. 14th 1846
Sarah Rebecker December 24th 1848
Susan Martha Sept 14th 1851
J. T. Stewart. Jun. September the 7th 1862. This was the son of J. T. and E. J. Steward
Written in the margin:
__atilda Seely was born Aprile 29th 1820
Written in the margin at the bottom of the page:
A killing frost the 15th of Aprile 1849
A killing frost the sixth of Aprile 1857 deep snow on the 12 same date
Mary Caroline Egger, the daughter of J. T. Egger and Mary Oct 26th 1852
Ada Josephene Steward March 18 1873 daughter of W and M Steward
Jane Steward January 31st 1877 Freestone Texas
Washington Worth Steward Nov the 23rd 1867
Pleasant Alexander Steward December the 11th 1868
Jerry T. Steward Jr, Sept 1, 1862
Charles Burt Steward, Aug 15 1876
*Note, written the right hand margin beside these last 3 children is: Son of J. T. Steward
DEATHS
There are notes in the left margin of the following page detailing the cause of death. I have included them in parenthesis following each person.
George W Steward December 7th 1861 at Hopkinsville Kentucky, Private in Capt. Mosby Company (measles and pneumonia)
Sarah Steward July 8th 1862 age 48 yrs 10 months 12 days (measles)
Margaret Malinda Keel Aug 17th 1862 (measles and pneumonia)
Huett B. Steward April 16th 1862 Departed this life at Camp Douglas Chicago Ilinois (died from fever)
W. R. Steward Oct 14th 1863 (consumption)
J. T. Stewart, jun. Departed this life August the 29 1864 (notation on cause of death is illegible)
Pleasant Alexander Steward Sept 12th 1869
(notation on cause of death is illegible)
Francis Marion, 3-21-1921 (note this is written in a completely different hand, and suspect it was added in recent times)
Rebecca Jane Steward wife of Washington Steward departed this life Dec 9th 1871 of cronic ulcer of the bowels
Sarah Rebecca Lake
Nancy V. Wells Sept. 8, 1906
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When Washington proposed to Rebecca Jane (his second wife), he put his saddle on her porch and told her if it was gone in the morming, then he would come in and they would get married, and if was still on the porch in the morning, he would just get his saddle and be on his way.
*Source: Story told to me by Jo Watson Turner, descendent, in Sept. 2002
Rebecca Jane HINTON
She married (1) William Capps and had one child with him, he was killed by Indians in Falls County, TX. She married (2) Major Pleasant Clarke Whitaker in 1841 and they had 8 children, he was killed by her brother - William (Bill) Hinton in 1859. She married (3) George Washington Steward. The unmarried children were living with her at the time of her marriage to Washington.
In 1862, Washington Steward rode up to the Widow Whitaker's home in Falls County. He was not a stranger, for Eliza Jane Whitaker (sic, Rebecca's daughter) had married his son (sic, Jeremiah Terry Steward) in 1860. He said, "Mrs. Whitaker, I've come down here to ask you to marry me. Tonight I'm gonna leave my saddle bags here in the hall. If I come down in the morning and they're still here, I'll know you answer is "No" and I'll leave. If they've been put somewhere else, I'll know your answer is "Yes and I'll stay". Romance had won again. The entire family removed to Stewards Mill soon after that. It is important to list these children and who they married. Otherwise, inclusion in a Freestone County book will not be relevant. Elvira Pearl Capps, "Aunt Y" Capps married Thomas B. Jones
Eliza Jane Whitaker married Jeremiah T. Steward
Mary Worth "Molly" Whitaker married (1) John Lamb, (2) Silas Jasper Lake
Martha Elizabeth "Matt" Whitaker married Alexander Tazewell Watson.
Annie Whitaker married Marcus Seely.
Henry McKenzie Whitaker m. (1) Charity Sellers (2) Anna LNU, a "mail-order bride".
*Source: History of Freestone County Texas, by the Freestone County Historical Commission, First Edition 1978, p. 632 (article # 870). Repository: Personal Copy
Note: There is another version of the story of Washington's proposal to Rebecca as told by Jo Watson Turner - he left his saddle on her front porch and told her if it was in the house, he'd come on in, and if it was still on the porch, he'd just take it and ride away. See notes for George Washington Steward.
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She died of cronic ulcer of the bowels.
*Source: Washington Steward Family Bible
Anderson (Andrew) STEWART
1850 Monroe County, Mississippi Census (copy in files):
Anderson Steuard, age 27, Occupation: Farmer, Value of Real Estate: 160, born in Mississippi
Elizabeth Steuard, age 26, born in Mississippi
William F. Steuard, age 3, born in Mississippi
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He lived in Calhoun County in 1860. His heirs are listed in Deed Book#7, pages 465 and 466. The price of said land $825, Estate papers#2154 and #6, Chancery Court year of 1871 in Monroe Co, MS. He served in the 31 MS Infantry in the Civil War and was killed in battle. It has been said that he died in the battle of Shiloh. All of Anderson's children are documented with name and birthdate in his family bible. The family bible pages state that Anderson died on 17 Oct 1863 in a battle in Abbeville.
*Source: Kathy Longhurst Website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~stewartclanscms/pafn04.htm#18
Jeremiah Terry STEWARD
Jeremiah Terry Steward
By Lucille Riley Steward
(extracts)
He came to Falls County, Texas, with his father, George Washington Steward, in the fall of 1850 from Monroe County, Mississippi. He was the second son of the family of five boys and five girls, and was a young man of eighteen when his father built the grist and flour mill in Freestone County, the place that was soon to become known as Stewards Mill. He took charge of the farm and when needed, helped with the mill. Evidently, he was his father's right hand because he was so needed at home that he was the last of the 3 sons of Washington to go to war. Too, on December 20 of 1860, Jeremiah Terry Steward and Eliza Jane Whitaker, daughter of Major P. C. Whitaker, were married when he was 26 and she was 16. They started their married life in a log cabin built near, what was to be the site of the beautiful home he built there in the late seventies {1870s}. In 1862, ..he enlisted in Capt. L. D. Bradley's Company of men, under Colonel Randall's Regiment of Infantry and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. He took part in the Battle of Mansfield, Millekon's Bend and many skirmishes, being Second Sergeant of Company H., with Capitan Means in command. The Company was disbanded at Hempstead, Texas. Upon his return from the war, he resumed farming. He disposed of his mercantile interest in the mill and in 1867, with his father and Dr. James I. Bonner, formed a partnership and built the present store and they became leading merchants in this area. On November 26 of 1872, he became the first Postmaster…..Dr. Bonner operated the store for a short time, then sold his interest to A. T. Watson in 1882, Jerry's brother-in-law. He succeeded well in all his business enterprises. He soon owned 1,200 acres of land besides other properties. His home was one of the most beautiful in the county. Since he had so little formal education, Jerry T. was determined that his sons would have the best he could give them. Both sons, W. W. and C. B. attended the newly organized A & M College at College Station {Texas}. In later years, Jerry disposed of the store and engaged in the running of his cotton gin and grist and flour mill business. At the time of his death, he was Treasurer of the W. L. Moody Camp NO, 87 of United Confederate Veterans. He died Step 2, 1894. Quoting from the September 1894 Fairfield Recorder, “Jeremiah Terry Steward was one of Freestone County's best men. A high-minded, honorable, exemplary and public spirited man. He belonged to that high type of citizenship of which any country might be proud. A good and true man has gone from among us”. *Source: History of Freestone County, Texas, First Edition 1978, published by the Freestone County Historical Commission, pp. 590-591
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12-20-1860 J. F. Steward--E.J. Whitaker
*Source: Marriage records of Falls Co, TX
NOTE: J. T. was born in Falls Co, TX.
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The following are letters written between Jeremiah and his wife during the civil war. Spelling is exactly as in the original letters, blanks are used when the word couldn't be read. It's interesting to note that he clearly signs his last name as Stewart. (copies in files):
Camp 20 miles north of little Rock Dec the 23/62
My dear Wife,
I take the present opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no how I am getting a long. I am only tolerable well this morning. I have a very bad cold and coff and have had ever since I left camp Nelson. I have been puny every since then tho I have never stoped. I have been going al the time. I ast the Capt to excuse me from general Review. he told me I would have to go the the Dr and get him to let me off. I tolled him I would not. I tolde him I would go if it killed me before I would go to the Dr. there is a great deal of sickenss in camp. the diseases are janders Pneumonea and diarear. we have lost and other man. George McMilan is dead. this makes 12 that has died out of our company. it looks like we wil ketch up with Wood co if we keep on. it is thought that we will got Vikburg yet. if we go then whitch must I do. come home or go the see my kin folks when I get a furlough. I am satisfied that it will be some time before I get to come home if General Holmes turns me lose. he is gon up to _____ man's army and it will be some time before he returns. if that letter does not do try the subscription. I think it will have to go the secatary of war. you said something about Frank coming to the army. tel him to wate just as long as he can. not to come until he is old enof to be conscripted. tel him he wil soon get tired of the service. I believe that I am better off than anyone. I have no brother to died and leave me and I can't leave them grieving after me. when a man dies in camp if he has no brother with him there is but little fus make about it. there would be more fus make about a dead hog than a dead man. you said something about having fatty bread. I got your letter last night and yesterday we got two hog feet to our mes and after reading your letter I was determining you should not live better than I did so I put the feat on to boil and when ______________it is very uncertain about our being mounted aain. if you keep growing you will be longer than I am when I get home if I ever do get there. I just weight 175 pounds with my heavy close on. the boys say I look very pale lately. I have not been clear of the head ache in some time. tho it is cold we have 19teen report for duty in our co. I did not mean to hurt your feelings about the Jim story. I said it in a joke. I hope you will for give me this time and kiss him if you want to or wait until………(rest of the letter is missing).
I did not send them that ring.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Dec. 25, 1862
Camp 20 miles north of little Rock on Ark river
Dear Sister
I take the present opportunity to let you no how I am getting along. I am not very well this morning. I believe I am taking the janders. I have been on the decline for some time. I keep going tho I feal very weak. there is several cases of janders in our company. have orders to march tomorrow in the directin of Pine Bluff Ark. it is thought that we will go to Vicburg yet. we will have to go somewhere. it is impossible for Ark to fead us more than a month long. that is this part. we will have to go to Vicburg or fall back to the Red River on accoaunt of provisions. our boys seem to be very ancious to get in battle. we are armed with enfield rifles, Belgium rifles and muskets. we are very well armed and we would do some good fighting if we had an opportunity. Nan I no what to think when Tom looks so mutch better than he use too and has got so mutch smarter. that is a mity good sine that there is some thing ______. Nan let him run until the war ends. there is many a poor woman that would be a heap better of than they are if they had of been single when this war commensed. look at Jane and see. suppose I never get back. it is rumered here that we have sunk sixteen of the feds gun boats at Vickburg. there is but little talk of pease. rite soon. tel the rest to rite.
J T Steward
(Notations across top of this letter seems to refer to rings he sent his wife and sisters during his service).
~~~
February the 9 1863
My Dear I am again permitted to drop a few lines to let you now how I am getting a long. this leaves me in tolerable health. I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may finde you all enjoying the best of health and doing well in this world.
we have had some very cold weather this winter. we have had four snows this winter. one has just melted off and it looks very mutch like rain this morning.
NOTES: This letter made envelope style from steam boat receipts folder over. It is addressed on the front to Mrs. J. T. Stewart, Fairfield, Freestone Texas. The return is J. T. Stewart, Co. H. Randal Reg. _____ _____ Calvary. The Postmark is unreadable. There is also a broken sentence written on the envelop side. Can make out what may the county of _________.
~~~
Camp near Pine Bluff Ark April 18, 1863
Miss N V Stewart
My dear and affectionate sister
It is with great pleasure that I am permitted to answer your kind letter whitch came to hand yesterday. it found me enjoying good health and I hope when these few lines comes to hand that they may find you all enjoying the same good blessing. we lost another man the other day ______. J.B. Taylor he died with the typhoid fever. this is 14 men that has died out of our co. the health in camp is very good at this time. Josh Burleson is not wel. he has had the mumps and has had lite fever for too or three days. the rest of the boys is all wel. we have no nuse in camp and have not had for too months. I never saw as dul times in my life. there is no movements at all that we can here of. sometimes I think that they are trying to make pease and then I think that they are fixing to do some of the biggest fighting that ever has been dun since the war commenst. I would be glad that they would do one or the other. if I had my choice I would have them to make pease. we look every ______ mail for some nuse tho it never comes. I would like to see home one more time tho it looks like it is a long ways off. tho I hope the time wil come soon. you nead not be afraid of my shoing my letters to my mess. I never sho mine and I never keap them on hand. I read them and then burn them so no one reads them but me. the young men shos there letters that they get to there mess. if I could see you I could keep you company of sundays and I could interest you too., I hope that time is close at hand.
J T Stewart
~~~
Camp near Pine Bluff Ark April the 24th, 1863
My dear wife
It is with pleasure that I am permitted to answer your long and interesting letter. it found me wel and I hope that this may find you all injoying the same good blessing. the report is that the feds has taken Elexandra and that Old Banks is ther with sixty thousand men. we are going to take up the tine of march tomorrow morning for that plase. if they are there when we get there we wil have a lively time. Josh Burleson and Dave wil be left here. Josh had the mumps and they have fel on him. Dave has the rheumatic pains so bad he can't go. I can't write mutch. everything is in sutch a stir fixing to get off. if that subscription does wel and goes on to the war department and comes there before it comes to me you had better wait until you here from me when I stop before you start it to me. it mite be that it would get lost. tel Molie and Nancy that I wil write to them when I stop. it may be some time before you here from me. you must not get uneasy. an I wil write every cance I have. you must be more cautious how you write for I mite come home some time. if the boys was to ready your letters whitch they would be shure to do if any come after I left they would make a heap of sport of them. direct yours as you have until you here from me. I will close. leave off the sweetnes in your letters. just say dear or something of that kind. give my respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself.
J T Stewart
NOTES: The curator at the Fairfield County Museum said that they were several other letters between JT Steward and his wife passed down to descendants. At one point, a family member destroyed the letters because they were considered "too warm" for others to read.
~~~
State of Ark, county of Drew April 29, 1863
My dear wife
I take the present opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no how I am a getting along. this is the fourth day of our march. I am wel and getting along tolerable wel with my nap sack on my back. It has rained a great deal sinse we left and the roads is very bad. if they wer a little worse we could not go at all. we are on our way to Monroe La. you must not write to me until I write to you again. I have no nuse to write to you. I hope when those few lines comes to hand that they may find you all wel and doing wel. that dres pattern that man give to you you must keep it until you see me. and if you never see me keep it any how all the time. I wil write soon as I ______ (letter torn here) before. give my respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself. may the blessings of God be with you forever is my prayer.
J T Stewart
~~~
NOTE: This letter is written on a ledger sheet marked Monticello, La….185, Dealers in Hardware, Cutlery, Dry Goods & Groceries, _____of OLIVER & TRAVIS.
Delp______La July the 3/63
Dear and beloved wife
it is with pleasure that I am again permitted to drop you a few lines to let you no that I am in good health and I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may find you enjoying the same blessing. we have had another fight with the feds and negros. we killed a large number of negros and a few feds and taken eleven hundred negros and 40 feds. our loss too killed and thirteen wounded. we detroid several large farms and ________ that the feds had planted in cotton. we will strike them again in a few days. we fout this battle last Monday. this is the third battle. the other too was fought on Sunday. we heard yesterday that Johnson had whip Grant out a Vikburg but whethere it is so or not I can't tel. I hope it is. we have been on the march ever sinse the 25th of April. and I have marched a heap of it in the night. I stood it as wel as any of them. I have got to be a small man. I weight one hundred and sixty pounds tho my health is very good. Several of the boys is sick. one has died. James Gorman (possibly Norman or Newman) died last Sunday with the flue. Josh Burelson had got a very bad bile on his neck. the Chancelors are both wel. I saw Josh and John Guffee about a weak ago. they were both puny. we have 37 men for duty in our company. I rote to pa about that petition but perhaps he did not get the letter. I will write again. the one they sent was no account. they said the government did not need any cotton _________. if he wil get up another one and get it up write it wil do some good. tel him to send it to me this time. Mr Yarbro, Carner, Gorden (Garner?) and Dr. Adams, George Bradley has been to see us. Dr. Adams and _______ staid at home yesterday. Yarbro, _______ and Geo Bradley has gone over the Misp Riuver. if you can see any chance you may send me some close. send me one shirt one pare of pants and three pare of yarn socks. put pockets in the shirt. you (letter torn). I had plenty of (letter torn) to throw them away. patch the pants the first thing you do to them. you no where they will ware out first. on the seat and on the nease. tel the girls that I have got letters from all of them and was glad to get them but for the want of time and paper I could not answer them. I have got plenty of paper but had to leave it at Alexander. When we left Alexander we though we would go back in eight days. we started back but the order was countermanded and do not no when we will go back there. I would like to come home to see you all but the time looks like it is a long ways off. I am glad you can dream sweet dreams about me if you can't see me. I am so tired when I lay down to sleap that I do not take time to dream. when we march all day and until midnite we camp and then have our next days rations to cook you can get wheter we have time to dream or not. the boys all look like they was nearly worne out and we wil not get to rest until the fight is desided at Vixburg. I here heavy cannonading there this morning. kiss that big boy for me. that is all I can write.
J T Stewart
(Notes: Letter has been folded into enveloped shape with the last page left blank so as to form an addressable front. Post marked Shreveport, La, July 10 1863. Addressed to Mrs. J. T. Stewart, Fairfield, Texas. Return to J. T. Stewart, Co. H, Randals Regiment Cavalry.
~~~
Chenieville La Oct 4 1863
My dear and affectionate wife
I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you no that I am wel and I hope when those few lines reach your hand that they may find you all well. I was very sorry to hear of Randolf's death. tho we all have to die sooner or later the plan is to try to be prepared to meet death. there is no getting around that death. my dear I did play cards some times for fun but while Randolph was out here I quit and wil not play any more. you may depend on that. the health of our co is very good. they were all wel the last time I herd from them. I have not been with the command in over two weeks. I am detailed on provo guarde. I do not no how long the detail wil last. the winter I hope. I am acting ordily while I am on the detail and I have a house to stay in. you are talking about coming to see me. if you wait until you get this letter you had better wait unti Spring. the weathe wil be getting so colde and worse. by that time I wil be closer to home than I am now. unless Mr. Guffee comes. if he comes and brings a wagon you can come with him if you want to. If Mr Guffee does not come tel Pa to send Frank with my close. tel him to come by the country so the Jay Hawkers will not ketch him. what Mr. David tolde was so. if yuou was to to come to see me, if you was here now we could do fines as I am away frome the comande and we could have a house to stay in. tho I do not no long I will stay here. I saw John Guffee about two weaks ago. he was well. you must tel Mary Jane that I would have been very proud to have been at home to of seen her. give her my warmest respects. maby your petition wil do some good. it looks like you intend to have me to come home if there is any chance. wel that is rite. if at first you donte sucsead you wil sucsead this time I hope. you ned not send me any suspender buckles. I have aplenty. you may send me some buck skin to make me some shoe strings and you may send me an over shirt. I do not want any ten dollar________ move down in the morning. our calvary has taken too hundred fed prisoners in the last too weaks. I would like if you could have my filley got up tho you nead not_______ yourself to too mutch trouble. if she is lost it is not mutch. if I every get home I will try to finde he. what is the reason your Ma does not get some boddy to attend to her stock. I would think that they would not increase mutch running at larte.
(NOTE: Rest of letter is missing)
~~~
Camp near Evergreen La October the 11th, 1863
My dear and affectionate wife
it is with the greatest pleasure that I am permitted to drop you a few lines in answer to your kinde letter that came to hand last night. I was glad to here from you all tho sorry to hear of McNabbs bad health. I am wel this morning and I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may finde you all well and doing well. the health of our company is very good. the Burleson boys is wel. we have been expecting a fight for too days tho it is reported that the feds has fel back this morning. Col Spates Brigade has a fight last weak. they killed about 40 yanks and taken 484 prisners. one col and one lieutenance col. I saw the prisoners. our loss was bout 30 killed. I do not no the number wounded. the skirmishers has been light fighting several days. it is hard to tel when we will have a fight or wil not have one. tel Randolph that our boys that was in jale when he was hear is out. they was not punished only kept in jale about a month. I rote to you about my close. I wil want too shirts as I have lost one and one over shirt. send me too shirts and one over shirt. and if you can make me a good heavy blanket. I do not ______ one like Randolph had. weave it like jeans heavy. it is said that the jay hawkers are stoping the people that are moving to Texas and rob their wagons. turn them back and tel them to stay in La. there has been a protracted meeting going on in our Brigade for about a month and it is still going on and it is doing a great deal of good. there has been something near fifty joined the church. it is a babtis meeting. you said you wanted me to use every means to come home. I want to come home worse than you want me to come but there is no chance for me to come unless I desert. I don't think you want me to come that way. I want you to send me Huet's testament if you can and if you send my close by Mr. Gufee or by Frank send me your ambrotype. that one that is in the double case. make a leather packet to put it in buckskin. my dear I am glad to hear of you being in sutch fine health and so large and stout. you are larger than I am. I exspect you are the best man now. I would like to take a rastle with you to see whitch could throw down. you mite throw me but I would turn you mity quick. I dreamed the other night that I ent home and staid three days and nites and you would not sleep with me and hardly talk to me. that makes twiste that I have drempt that. I exspect that it is so. is it. direct your letters to Marshall. I have been to preaching. there was six baptized today and 8 yesterday. I had just got back from the lodge. I feel just as happy as any boddy could feel so fare from home. J T Stewart to his wife
~~~
Camp Near Marksville, La - January the 11, 1864
My Dear and Affectionate Wife,
it is with pleasure that I am onste more permited to drop you a few lines in answer to your kinde letter that you directed to Chenneyville. It found me wel and doing as wel as a man could in camp so far from his friends and his home. these few lines leave me the best of health and I hope that they may find you all we and doing wel.. My dear, you say that you have lost all hope of ever seeing me again. I am sorry to hear that you have. I have a brighter hope of seeing you now than I ever have had, that is for a long time, and have more hope of the war ending soon. I don't see how the war can last more that one more year, for if the feds donte let us alone in that time, we will have to give it up in that time for all the corn growing lands in this has been destroyed. that is all the fences has been burned and the negroes run off, all that did not go off with the feds and the whole army west of the Misps (Mississippi ??) River will have to look to Texas for support and if the feds take that, I donte see what we will do. You have heard so many reports about Walkers invasion. It is all false. There has been only one brigade and too Regt of walkers Division in a battle yet there was Skwnynd (??) Brigade last summer at Milikens Bend and Robbert's and Kings's at appaloulas last fall. that all of the walkers division that has every been in a fight yet. Randals Brigade has never fired a gun in battle yet. only Robbert Regt. there was a few killed. I do not no how many and a bout 20 taken prisner they were taken to new Orleans but they have also been exchanged and are now back in with their Regt. we taken more of them them then they did of any men. they were all exchanged Christmas day at neworlean. everything is very still now and times is very dul in Camps. we have plenty of blue beaf and yellow corn bread to eat. this may make you laugh but I wil tel you the taste the vituals that we have to eat here a dog would not eat it unless he was very hungry. the beaf is so ______ that when it is boiled it shrivels up and makes a pot full of jelly. I tel you that it looks too nasty for a dog to eat but it is that or nothing. some times we come by a little pork at a dollar a pound. Chickens is seling from too to four dollars a pease. you note that you was nearly out of money. I donte no what you wil do for I have got no more to send to you. everything is so xxx and I wil buy something to eat and my wages is so little tht it takes all I get to keep me up. I use to save all my money and send it to and when I had sent enof to pay my debts though I would try to live off of the rest. the reason that note to you not to send me any more close I thought I would try to draw my closths from the government. I have not drawn any cloaths yet and have not got any clothing money yet and I thought that the you taken to make my cloaths that you could knit or sew and get money to buy sutch little thing as you need. if I could draw my cloathing money I would sent it to you. they owe me over a hundred dollars for cloathing but there is no teling when I wil get it. they was to of payed it last September but it is not payed yet and I have not got all the money fro my horse yet by a hundred and 15 dollars. If I had all that is owing to me I could send you too hundred dollars but I do not no when I wil get it. I have a hundred dollars by me now but I want to keep it so if I get a furlow that I wil hae money to bare my expenses home. my Dear I am comeing the first chance I get that you may depend on. I have plenty of paper and ink and envelopes and more than I wil use. I want you to lend me that golde pen of George's by Jose Burleson if you get this letter before he starts back. donte send mine send Georges. Nancy had it when I left home. I donte want a holder. I only want the pen point. Send me a pare of socks by Josh and you may send me them shoes and ____ Carter wants you to knit him a pare of gloves like mine as soon as you can and send them to me. knit them as soon as you can and send them first chance you have. my Dear if I never see you and the feds comes where you are donte do like the ladys of La. take your jewlry and bury it for if you them and the negros will get it but keap it on and in your trunk. the best way wil be to keap I on tho I hope they may never come where you are. my Dear I think I wil get a furlow the next time there is any ones forlowed from our company. I am coming if there is any chance for me to come if it was not for the after affect I would come furlow or no furlow. I would take me of one and come any how. I tel you I am getting very tired of this war now. xxxx I am given my best respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself my dear. if I could tel you my dream I had last night, you would nearly kill yourself laffing. good bye sweetness. J T Stewart
~~~
Camp near Clarksville La March the 1/64
My dear and affectionate wife
I take the present opportunity to answer your kinde letter which came to hand yesterday. they found me wel and I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may finde you all wel and doing wel. I have no war nuse to write. only our officers has opened free trade with the feds and have got all the government wagons hauling cotton. they trade cotton for all kinds of good and the calico they get is issued out the officers and the privates gets nothing and it is causing great dissatisfaction among our soldiers and a great many swares that they wil go home if it is stoped or explained. they want to no what it means having free trade with a nation and fighting at the same time and it does look strange to me tho it may all be for the better. I hope it is. you rote to me to come home. I intend to come home the first change and maby before tho you need not think that I will desert to come home. if I do not get home by the first of May I want you to put off coming a month longer. say the first of June. that wil be soon enof for you to start to see me. you may tel Tarlton that he can't sho the paper that has got my name in it published as a deserter. it was James Story, Bill Day and bill Driver. tel him my name was not in it and he noes it and I hope it will never be said to our boy your father was a deserter. I would like very mutch to go with you and the girls to the Falls a fishing. if you and them will be ready if I get a furlow this Spring we wil go by after Mr. J_____ and take a _____. I think I could enjoy a trip of that sort now. finely I wi not tel you what them presents are that I have got for you and the girls but I no you all wil like them. I have got one for Mrs. Wells tho I have nearly got out of the notion of giving it to her. I think if nothing happens I will get to start home by the middle of April. Josh Burleson says your boy is the ugliest childe he ever saw in his life. he says he is ugly as a mud fence stucked and ____ with tadpoles tho I hope he is mistaken about him. I hope the time won't be long before I can see for myself tho it may be some time yet. my dear I try to write you a letter every weak. my dear we have some mity fine fish here. we are camped too miles from the River. we have a very strong forte on the River tho I hope wil never have no use for it. I hope this war wil end some of these days. I will close. give my best respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself. tel Mollie I wil answer her letter in a few days.
J T Stewart
~~~
Camp Bayou de lack March the 8th/64
My dear wife
I take the present opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no that I am wel and I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may finde you all wel and doing wel. we have moved our camp. we had to move on account of water. we moved about ten miles. my dear we had a great excitement up in our Regt last weak about this cotton trade. all of our Regt refused to do duty until it was esplained. the officers was too days a getting things to wright. the men are now getting to become satisfied. the officers has promised and explaination in a short tiem. I hope it wil turn out rite. my dear I wish I could write you a long letter tho it is implosible for me to do it at this time. my dear you can make my clouths as you spoke of doing. I do not like the culler of my overshirt as wel as I thought I would. you make them to please yourself and they wil please me. my dear I hope it wil not be long before I can have the opportunity to come and bring you a verble letter. that would please me better than any thing I no of at this time. my dear the longer I stay here the worse I want to come and see you. our mail has not come in this weak. I have a chance to send a ltter by Mr. A. C Anderson who has just come acrost the River. he is a member of Moody's olde company and if any of you wants to sende letters across the River you can send them by him when he goes back and they will go threw safe. his command is in Georgia. my dearl tel the girls not to get tired of writing to me for I wil not get tired of reading letters. I would be glad if it was so that I would read a new one every morning. I will write every chance I have. I can't complain of your for I do think that you do very wel. it does me so mutch good to read a letter from my affectionate wife. my dear I am in fine spirits this morning. I wish I new you was in as good spritis as I am. tho I am in too big a _____ to write muctch this time. when the mail comes in I will write again. _____ my respects to all inquiring friends and receive my love to yourself.
~~~
Camp Twenty Miles East of Alexand___ 5/64
My Dear and beloved wife
I take the opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no that Frank and I are well and hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may find you all well and doing well. We had a hard rain day before yesterday there was to omen shot in our Regt. This moring they was shot accidently…a man had his gun cocked and was working with it and it went off and shot one man in the knee and one in the thy. They one ____ baly wounded. It was a veary careless trick. The war nuse is ___ if it be so you hae heard it before. This letter wil get to you & hope it may be So. There is some talk of our moveing over on Black River. If we go over then it will be for the purpose of getting forage. We have to hall all of our corn from there now. Take my star and tassel off of that hat and give it to bill and tel him if he says another word to you after you give it to him he had better not let me see him for I will lick him ___ when I come home if he says another word about it. Tel Mrs. Awalt that I have not seen Isace but one time since he came back & tolde him all she tolde me to tel him and he tolde me that he would come over the next day and get me to write a letter for him and I have not seen him since. He is well and I tolde him about Sinda? Linda? And he said that his mother need not troble her self one minute about him every living with Sinda again. That he thought if he did go back and lived wither again that god was not a just god if he did not send a streak of lightning to kill him. He says the way that it got out that he was a going to live with her was any time Coraley? Robinson rote to his wife he would tell her to tell Sindy that __ was well. He sais he does not claim her as his wife and does not want the County to let her have any thing on his account. He tolde me that he was a going to write to Pa? About it and I thought he had note long ago.
My dear, I want you to keep the money that you have for I do not nead it. I have not spend a dollar since I came to camp. There is nothing here to spend money for. You must be kinde to Mrs. Awalt for if you are not mistaken, you will have a particular use for in about eight months. So in Stands you in hand to keep on the good side of her. My Dear I hate to ask you to work for me and it looks like I never will have the opportunity to do any thing for you. It looks to me like that it would be very little satisfaction to me if I was a woman and had a husband in the army and he would come home and leave the prospect of another child and so little prospect of his ever coming back to help me raise, then it looks to me like I had rather he would stay away until he came to stay with me. I tel you what I want, cloth enof to make I and Frank a small tent but you must do your own work first. Then if you have any time you can make the cloth for the tent. It wil take twelves yards and if you make it, it aught to be very strong. My Dear I am sorry to learn that you have got so ill ___ I no if you have got so ill you will rinche your fase and fourhead and you will look so ugly with a frown on your fase all the time. What makes you so ill. My knap sack and blanket has not come yet. they ___ sent often then, they will be in a few days. I rote to some of you how we lived it has got no better. We have not drawn flour since I got to camp. I am worse dis-satisfied with camps then I was before I went home but I hope this war will end by next Spring and any how. If not before.
I will close. Give my respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to your self. My the blessings of god rest upon you is my _____.
Jerry
~~~
J T Stewart to his dear wife you must write ofter I wil not get of reading your letters.
Camp Mag______ (Magruder?) near Mindon La Decenber 30/64
Dear Jane
It is with pleasure that I am one time more permitted to drop you a few lines to let you no how I get a long. the too first days was as colde as every I felt. the next day was more moderate. the next day it rained nearly all day and after riding in the rain until nine in the night we got to a house that we could stay at. next morning it was clear. we went on our jurney. that night it was equally as hard to get to stay at a house. I never had as hard a time in getting to stay at houses in my life before. some had no corn to fead horses on and others had no house room. some did not want soldiers to stay for fear they would steal something and some did not want soldiers to stay for fear they would steal something and some did not take Confederate money. we got to camp the seveth moring safe and sound with a windshake or wood pecker hold. we found a 11 in moderate health and comfortably situation in good houses and getting nearly enuf to eat. the Burleson boys are wel and the Chancelors. I saw Isack Awalt the other day. he was wel. he belongs to Gools Battalion. he is campted about four hundred yards from us. Frank is wel. I found all the things that was sent to me. the pants that pa sent for me to give away did not come. Bill Blair said they were left at Fairfield. he did not bring them. I want to no if you put a pare of socks in my alet when I started. if you did I lost them before I got to camp. if I did lose them that was all I did losse on the way to camp. I am wel pleased with the couler and the make of my coat tho it is too short waisted and too small in the waist. tho it does very wel. I do not like the couler of my pants as wel as if they had of been brown. I never did like red pants tho they do mity wel. I think my coat is very pretty. if you ever have to make me another one make it a little longer in the waist. it large enof every wher else. frank has too many clouths and I intend to send some of them home. I thought I would send my new over shirt but frank has worn the bindings of his and he wanted mine because it was warmer than his and I let him have mine. ma can make me one if the plase of it next year if I nead it. I like the make of it too ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ the pockets is made. you lacked one pocket of putting pockets enof in my coat. you aught to have put one side pocket in the right side. Frank has the itch very bad tho I think I will cure him in a short time. there is several of the boys got it. the reason that I did not start the horses rite back is Henry Arp has sent up a furlow and if he gets it he wants to ride one of them home. it taken nearly all the money I had to have (haul) our _____ to camp ______. I wil have enof to send them back it wil be a tite fit. tho they say that the government wil pay us all it ows us next month. if they do pay I have money plenty to do me. my dear I thought I would write a few lines this morning just to ask your for your new years gift while I was traveling Christmas Day. I got a fine egg Christmas. that is more than I have got _____ this morning. It is colde that ails me. I don't think it wil hurt me mutch. I hope these few lines may find you all wel and doing wel. I wil write a few lines when Steve gets ready to start. Jan 5, 1865…my dear I got your letter you sent by John Guffee. it found me wel and I hope these few lines may finde you all wel and doing wel. I would like very mutch to see you now. I could tel you something that would interest you. I wil try to write a ltter that wil be interesting to you next time. I do not feel like writing more this time. may the blessing of god rest upon you now and forever is my prayer.
~~~
Camp near Pine Bluff Ark March the __________
Molie Dear Sister
it is with pleasure that I am again permitted to wright you a few lines in answer to your kinde letter of the 22nd of February. I was glad to hear that you all was wel tho sorry to hear that Jane bothered paw so mutch and was so mutch trouble to him. it makes me feel very sad. I hope she wil not trouble mutch more. the health of our company is better than it has ever been. we have but too sick men. they are not dangerous. their was too men shot last friday for desertion and one to be shot next friday and seven to be shot next friday weak for the same act. tho none of them belonged to our Regiment seven of them was from our Brigade. they are all Ducth but one. they tried to get to the feds and was caut by our pickets. there is but little nuse in camp now and there is _____ prospect of the war coming to and end soon. there is talk of our being ordered to Missour as soon as the roads gets so we can move. they are so bad that we can not move now. as for my part do not no where we will go too. Molie suppose that Bob is a prisner. I have not heard a word of him since the fight. I saw him about too weaks ago before the fight. he was wel and on his way to the Post. I inquired of all the boys that away and they did not no whiter he was killed or taken prisner. it has been some time since I herd from Josh and John. John had been sick tho he was getting wel. Molie I have a ring for you if you want it. it is like Jane's and Nancy's. I would have sent it to you but I thought I would get to come and bring it.
Jerry to Molie
(This next part goes with a letter to his sister Molie. There is no date on either letter other than March)
Miss Nancy Stewart
Dear Sister a few lines to answer to your short letter. I do not ____ you for that short letter for there is plenty of nuse in the country that you could wright and that I would like to hear and if I was at home and had nothing to do I could wright a letter a mile long. there is a great difference between writing at home and in camp. when at home you have a cair sister Nancy to set on and a good table to wright on. while in camp I have to set on a chunk and wright on my nee and so mutch to do that I hardly have time to wright before I am called to do something. this leves me wel with the exception of a bad cold. the weather is very pretty at this time. looks like foolishness for so many men to be in camp doing nothing. it looks like we aught to be at home making something to live on. the sap has just commenst rising. the froot trees is just now in bloom. I think that there will be a fine froot crop here this year. there wil be but little corn made here this year. all the negrows has been run of and but few has returned yet. the wheat that is sown here looks very promising. General ______ has been suspended by Kerby Smith. they was that Jane bothered paw so mutch was she was all ways wanting him to carry her to Falls to see her ma and it caused him to have to marry her so that Jane could see her with out his having to quit his work to go with here. the trouble is all over now. he said that was the sole cause of his marrying. I donte think so. I think it was something else.
Terry to Nancy
~~~
Somewhere in Ark. April the 5
(NOTES: there is no year on this letter - this is only part of a letter from Jerry to his wife)
this leaves me tolerably wel. I can't say that I have been rite since the first of last December tho I have been going all the time. that is I always have went on duty when my time come. the small pox has broke out in out Regt and they have stoped furlowing. they do not want it cartered over the country. they say it is better for a man to stay in camp than for him to go home on furlow and carry the small pox and give it to his family and I think so too. you wanted me to get a furlow and come. tho you see that furlowing is dun for some time. there is but one cacel for me and that is that subscription. I hope it may do wel. I no if the people want me there they can get me there. My dear I have not got that pretty wife yet tho I do not no what I may do. there has been a many a soldier married in Ark that had wives at home. the owmen of Ark say that they wil give a hundred dollars to see a married man from Texas. they say they are all single. that they _____have seen a married man from Texas yet. they say they do not no the caus unless there is no women in Texas. our officers say that we wil start down the country in a short time. they say we wil go down to ______ on the coast. they say we are going down there to see Olde Banks. they think we wil start in a weak or too tho it is unserten when we wil start. the weather is very _____ now. we had sleat and snow on the 29 of March.
~~~
Piney Wood Camp thirty miles west of Alexander La March the 17
(Note: No year on this letter)
My dear wife--------in haste I drop you a few lines to let you no that I am wel tho the tierdes person you every saw. the feds got after us last monday morning and we have been on a forse martch ever since. they taken fort ______. there was eleven companys in the fort. some of our men got away. I do not know how many. there was one co from our regt they all got away but tren. they got in this evening. we are ordered to put all of our bggage but one blanket. the train wil start by day lite tomorrow morning. I do not no whether we wil go to meat the enemy or not. that is the talk. they are in possession of ?Alexander. I do not no how far they are this side. I expect we will have _____ time for awhile now. when this fus is over it wil be my time to come home. I can not tel when that wil be. the reason we had to march so hard as the feds was a coming from too ways and was about to cut us off from the hills. if we had some cavalary we could holde our own with them. they have sent for ______. we wil have to wate for _____ him. I would not be surprised at a fight any day. there has one gun boat gone above the shoals. they have six at Alexandra but could not get any more above the shoals. I have lost my gloves on this trip. we have had some very colde weather lately for the time of year. I saw the boys from falls this morning. they were all wel. Jasper, John, Jo and Larkin. give my respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself.
J. T Stewart
~~~
NOTE: This letter is from Eliza Jane Steward to Jermiah Terry Steward
Stewart's Mill Sunday night March the ____ 186___
My Dear - I was very agreeable surprised this eavening by receiving two letter from you. I was not expecting a letter and received one friday dated March the 5th and two tonight 10th and 15th. Talton saw Capt. Means yesterday in Fairfied. My Dear I will not write much tonight. I hope I will see you soon. I am coming to see you if possibly can. Talton wants to come. I think Pa or Talton one will go with me. Sarah says she is going if I go to see you. I have bin to church today. Parson Green and Caperton boath preached. the preacher Mrrs. Awalt ____ Mel____ and Albert Lemons spent the eavening hear. I sent to the office this eavening. I thought maby you had writin for me to come to see you but you say you will tell me when to start. Mrs. Ownes sent me word I was perfectly welcome to here wagon when I wanted to go to see you. I reckon I can get a mule. Jim belongs to Pa now. I most know I can get him. I did the cloath cut out your pants and intended to finish them last night but I hear ____ Robinson would not start until Wednesday. I did not know wheather he would go to you or not so I never finished them. Ma has the cloath to make your tenet. Mat is writing to _____ and Mary to. Sarah has just finished writing to Adam C. I told Sarah what you said. she said they would be in Germany before you would get home. Hardleman's Brig. that is Green's old Brig is at Cotton Gin or what friday. I will quit for tonight. I don't feel well. Jane
Monday night, March the 20th. My Dear I will write you a few lines tonight. I sent to Mr. Johnson's today for my ring ____ and your gloves. I got them. I am very much obliged to you for them. I hope I will be able to pay you for them. I think I will if you ever get home to stay long enough. I will have me a hat as soon as I can. I do think my ring is the pretties one I ever saw. My Dear we had the hardest hail this eavening I ever saw. Pa says it was the largest hail he ever saw. it hailed a half lites out of the widowns in the north end of the MIll House. that was all that was in that end of the House. Tuesday morning-My Dear all is well this morning. the wind is in the north. very cold but the rain has stopt. My Dear you don't know how I felt about you last night and yesterday when it was raining and hailing so hard. I could think of nothing but you. I heard good news yesterday it is so. it was in the ____. if says Jeff Davis has peace in his hands now. if he is a mind to make peace it will be very soon. it also says that Sherman's army is split all to peaces. we heard that Richmond and Charleston and Branchville was in the hands of the enemy but is was only Yankee account. I do hope peace will soon be made. Tom has not come in yet. we have not heard anything of him. I believe from the way Pa talked he is in good humor with him now. he misses him so at the Mill. I am sorry now that I wrote to you anything about it but it is too lat now. I am just as mad with them now as I was at first. you will see the names of all but the guilty on the top of this page. if you see any name missing you will know who I spoke of in my last letter. My Dear I am waiting patiently for another letter to say for me to come. I have no idea who will come with me. I don't want to go with Steve if there is any other chance. it looks to me like the women is all trying to see what they can do. this woman that is in jail here and another owman dressed in men cloaths and went at night and robed a war widows house nand then burnt it. they said they went to kill the lady of the house but she was not at home. it was Mrs. Wilder. lives near Cotton Gin. they caught boath of the woman. bill Wood went and got one of them and took her off. the one that is in jail had a little baby. she says her husband has bin gone four year. they was a soldier talking to her through the jail window. she said she had not seen her husband in four years. he says he surely sent you a damed good letter. Pa and Ma is going to town. I must quit. excuse mistakes.
I am yours truly, E. J. Stewart
NOTES: There are no names at the top of any of the pages on the original of this letter. Unsure of what Jane was referring to or who she was mad at. In his letter of June 5, 1864, J. T. asks for enough cloth to make a tent. In this letter Jane says "Ma has the cloath to make your tent". Unsure if this is the same or a different request, or if this letter should be dated 1864 or 1865.
Eliza Jane WHITAKER
Obituary
DEATH OF MRS. STEWARD
Mrs. Jane Steward, wife of the late Jerry T. Steward, of Stewards Mill, died last Saturday morning in Dallas. She went there last week, accompanied by Dr. W. N. Sneed, of this place, and her sister, Mrs. Seely, of Wortham, to have a surgical operation performed, which was done in the hope of prolonging her life, as death was said to be only a question of short time as she was. The operation was performed on Thursday of last week, but she died from the effects of it on Saturday.
The deceased was a well known lady or our county and especially the section where she resided. She was about 60 years old, and we learn was born in Texas, her father having come to the State at an early date and settled first in Falls county, where, we understand, the deceased grew to womanhood. She was a noble-hearted Christian lady, and was held in highest esteem by all around her. She was a lady of kind heart, and forgiving disposition, and her many good acts that embellished her Christian character will; live long in the memory of many who knew her. She was a lady who will be long missed in her community, and her death is a great loss to her family and neighborhood. She was a member of the Baptist church, and her every day walk well illustrated her Christian character.
Her remains were interred last Sunday morning in the Stewards Mill cemetery, Rev. E. J. Brown officiating. Many citizens of the neighborhood, and friends from other towns, by their presence, paid their last tribute of respect to her memory.
*Note, this was found amongst my father's papers. Copied from a newspaper, but it doesn't say which one.
Francis (Frank) Marion STEWARD SR
The City of Stewards Mill no longer exists. Francis is buried the the Steward's Family Cemetery in what was once the town of Steward's Mill. It is near Fairfield, TX. I haven't ever verified this, but old family story is that Fairfield and Steward's Mill were both small towns, but when the railroad came, it came throughFairfield instead of Steward's Mill. Supposedly, the city of Fairfield, which still exists today, grew and Steward's Mill slowly went out of existence. See more on notes for George Washington Steward (Francis' father). Also see the notes on Jeremiah Terry Steward (Francis' brother). I have copies of several letters Jerry wrote home during the civil war which contain several references to Francis ("Frank").
NOTES - With the generous assitance of Jo Watson Turner, I had the opportunity to copy the following entries from the Steward's Mill Store for the accounts of FM Steward, SR. For some time, it was thought that these ledgers were lost, but recently the new Fairfield Museum curator found them. Due to age and the fading ink, they cannot be photo copied, but the curator and her assistant Jo Turner, are working on indexing the many volumes. Time did not permit me to copy records from other volumes, but a brief glance at these entries can tell many things about Frank's life. I unfortunately had only a few hours to spend at the museum, and hope to return there - Jo Turner is an amazing fount of information about this Steward family and was able to point out many things about the entries. Of particular note in these entries are the purchases made in the beginning of 1873 - Frank bought an expensive new suit of clothes, began taking cash from his account monthly and in May of that year, purchased perfume. This was during the time he was "courting" our Annie Eliza Cain - they married later the same year. Early in 1874, we began to see "ribbon" purchased for his wife, calico and other cloth, needles, buttons and thread, and other sundries for his wife. We also see large amounts of nails and other buildiing materials being purchased as Frank was building a new home for his new wife. Although I did not get to see the later volumes (unfortunately the museum had closed and the curator had graciously allowed me to remain an extra 2 hours after closing as it was!), Jo Turner told me that in later years the sad story of Annie's death is reflected in the accounts when Frank begans to purchase large amounts of various medicines, and later we see Frank once again purchasing new clothes and obtaining cash when he began to court his second wife. We know that Frank smoked from his frequent purchases of tobacco, didn't seem to drink alcohol much since we see only 2 purchases of alcohol in the 3 1/2 years these accounts cover. He once purchased violin strings - did he play the violin? We also see many purchases and credits made by others to Frank's account - as noted in my comments for his father - the store was used as a bank - people who did work often were paid by allowing to "charge" things to Frank's account and people who owned money to Frank often paid by applying a credit to his account. Many of the residents of Fairfield used the store accounts in this manner. Then there is the story of Silvy, told to me my Jo Turner - the slave who stayed on after the war and lived as a free person. For services rendered during her years as a slave to the family and her advanced age, she was allowed to make any purchases she needed and they were charged to family accounts and the various family members paid for her support. With luck, someday I will have the opportunity to return and copy the remaining entries from Frank's accounts. (Note the spelling is exactly as it is in the ledgers).
1871
Page 72
22-Apr 4.00 1 hat
0.50 1 bot snuff
0.75 1 yd of Irish Linen
1.50 1 lb tobacco
0.80 3 1/2 yds insertion @ .25
6-May 5.40 1 pair boots & socks
19-May 0.75 3 yds fine bleached domestic @ .25 yard
10-Jun 1.35 Tobacco & violin strings
12-Jun 0.75 1 mill saw file
26-Jun 0.50 Balance on the brandy
11-Jul 0.75 1 file
1.25 1 shirt
27-Jul 1.65 1 lb tobacco
1.75 flour, sugar & collards
18-Sep 0.50 order for Gibson
12-Oct 5.25 1 pair boots & salt block
12-Oct 3.00 order for Sam
30-Nov 2.00 order for Lewis
1872
20-Jan 25.00 cash
31-Jan 92.85 1,966 lbs iron & coal & freight in coin
16-Mar 150.90 by cash
8.50 credit
1.50 1 empty barrel
21-Mar 1.00 tobacco
25-Mar 1.00 1 bottle OC bitters
1.75 1 pair gloves
0.25 collar
26-Mar 0.50 36 grams quinnine
0.10 1 dozen wood screws
27-Mar 34.19 settled balance on iron, coal and freight
30-Mar 12.00 paid by cash on acct
1-Apr 1.25 1 lb tobacco
6-Apr 1.25 1 lb tobacco
15-Apr 1.25 1 lb tobacco
0.25 1 plug tobacco for John
0.85 cash due Sol
2.50 sundries for Bill Price
20-Apr 4.20 30 lbs bacon
2-May 1.80 4.5 yards of hickory (this is a heavy weight material that was used to make men's vests and pants)
29-May 4.70 34 lbs bacon & kerosene
20.50 by cash
188.72 BALANCE
p. 156 188.72 Amt brought forward
28-Jun 0.80 edging cambric
8-Jul 1.75 (unreadable) for John
22-Jul 7.49 2 bars of iron (99 lbs)
22-Jul 2.25 1 set of bands (would have been used on a horse or buggy livery)
26-Jul 0.55 2 plugs of tobacco
26-Jul 1.00 7 yards of calico
8-Aug 2.25 1 pare pants
28-Aug 1.25 1 lb tobacco
12.05 ordered by George Bradley
31-Aug 0.50 order for Pete
7-Sep 0.25 box of collars
9-Sep 0.75 1 can & a quart of oil
11-Sep 1.25 1 pocket knife
14-Sep 0.90 shirting
25-Sep 1.50 monkey rench
25-Sep 8.00 1 pair calf boots
30-Sep 3.10 cash to Rafe
1-Oct 2.00 2 lbs tobacco
14-Oct 1.25 1 hat
14-Oct 4.50 1 pair boots
1.50 shoes for Eli
12-Oct 20.00 1 suit of cloths
19-Oct 7.25 balance from Bill
24-Oct 0.10 riding switch (crop)
1.50 tobacco & scwapps
2.05 credit by cash
9-Nov 0.75 1 shorel
14-Nov 0.65 powder & shot for Peter
0.25 plug tobacco
18-Nov 1.00 1 par drawers
0.10 pencil
28-Nov 10.00 order for Jim
14.00 credit
272.41 BALANCE
258.31 BALANCE (after 14.00 credit)
7-Dec 1.00 order for Peter
1.75 to cash
261.06 BALANCE carried over to Page 194
p. 194 261.06 Amt brought forward
9-Dec 2.00 4 pair halter braces
0.45 4 curry combs & hinges
16-Dec 6.50 pair of boots
19-Dec 1.00 lb of tobacco
3.90 credit by Folk
1.25 order from Bill
1873
14-Jan 21.00 1 coat & pants
1.25 lb of tobacco
20-Jan 1.70 cash for Trammell (credit)
8-Feb 0.50 1 bottle R&R Relief
4-Mar 10.00 Amt charged David Folk (credit)
8-Mar 5.00 bacon for Todd
79.25 Bill Rendered
30.00 cash
26-Apr 25.00 cash
17-May 21.00 cash
31-May 5.00 perfume
10-Jun 1.00 lb of tobacco
25-Jun 20.00 cash
20-Aug 20.00 whiskey
1.25 pair of chairs
1.10 bleaching & hose
2.00 order for Silvy
23-Aug 1.00 tobacco
26-Aug 0.25 1 oz borax
30-Aug 3.85 order for Todd
9-Sep 5.05 order for Todd
13-Sep 0.80 1 gallon K oil
0.30 padlock
3-Nov 1.70 6 yards of drilling (according to the curator of Fairfield Museum, this was used for canvas for wagon tents)
4 spools of thread
3.60 3 yards of curduroy
9-Dec 10.00 coat & vest
0.45 needles, thread, ax handle
0.55 bar of soap, segars
21-Dec 0.50 tobacco
22-Dec 0.20 nails
516.56 BALANCE
Page 195 502.63 Balance brought forward
25-Dec 3.00 2 undershirts
26-Dec 0.50 5 us nails for Sam Manahan
29-Dec 1.00 1 knive for rashe
1.20 buttons & thread
5-Dec 9.00 cash
517.33 Balance
20-Dec 4.75 cash
1.50 pair of suspenders & shaving cream
1.90 11 1/4 yards prints, thread & thimble
26-Dec 2.50 25 lbs nails
0.10 ribbons for his wife
1874
1-Jan 1.50 15 lbs nails
6.00 paid by cash
1.40 14 lbs nails
7-Jan 1.00 10 lbs nails
20-Jan 0.40 4 lbs nails
2.10 butts & s____(unreadable)
3.20 loeks, bolts & screws
8.75 merchandise for his wife
3.75 by cash
546.43 BALANCE
2.60 26 lbs nails
9.75 credit
541.03 BALANCE
181.38 To iron bill
30-Jul 516.33 By ___(unreadable) tools & iron
721.41 Balance
729.41 Balance
13.98 cash
213.08 50 @26 (credit)
198.15 Balance
8.00 by material (credit)
190.15 BALANCE DUE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marriage license
Mr. Francis M. Steward to Miss Annie E. Cain, 29 Oct 1873, Freestone County, Texas
(copy in files)
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1880 Justees? Precinct, Freestone County, Texas (copy in files)
F. M. Steward, age 33, occupation: farmer, born in Mississippi, father born in Ala, mother born in S. C.
A. E. Steward, age 26, wife, born in Mississippi, fathr born in Wisc, mother in Miss.
F. M. age 1, son, born in Texas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1900 Census Limestone County, Texas
Vol. 73, Ed 52, line 10, Pct 1
Stewart, Frank M. b. Dec 1846, age 53, b. Mississippi
Amelia M., b. Mar 1875, age 25, b. Georgia
Erma A., b. Dec 1890, age 10, b. Texas
Carrie L., b. Nov 1895, age 4, b. Texas
Minnie C., b. Feb 1899, age 1, b. Texas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1920 Census Limestone County, Texas
Data sent by Ann Daberko
F. M. Steward, age 74
Amelia, age 44
Minnie, dau, age 20
Washington, son, age 19
Edith,dau, age 14
John, son, age 11
Ruby, dau, age 8
Hazel, dau, age 5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The below info is taken from Soldier's Application for a Pension, State of Texas filed Sept 1, 1914. (Soldier's Pension # 29149) (Copy in files)
States he is 67 years old, was born in Monroe County, MS and has been a resident of Texas for 64 years. That he lives in Freestone County and that for the past 32 years his address has been Kirvin, Texas, R. F. D. No. 1. That he is a farmer and his physical condition is "feeble". That he enlisted in the Infantry, Walker's Divison, served about 13 or 14 months in Co. H. 28 Texas Regiment and was discharged at Hempstead, TX at the close of the war. Two affadavits are attached (dated 17 Sep 1914).
I. J. C. Anderson, knew the applicant, F. M Steward. I knew him in the War between the States. We served in the Confederate Army together. We served in Co. H. 28 Texas Regiment. He served about a year of something over. He did not desert the Confedearcy or abandon his pos. of duty.
I. W. R. Davis, knew the applicant F. M. Steward in the War between the States. We served in the same company together. We served in Co. H. 28 Texas Regiment. Applicant served in said war more than a year. He made a good soldier; he did not desert the Confederacy nor abandon his post of duty. I know these facts, because as aforesaid, we served together in said war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The following companys were in active service (Freestone Freeman)......Mean's Company (Captain J. C. Means)....privates: Steward, Frank
*Source: History of Freestone County, by the Freestone County Historical Commission, Vol I, 1979, Repository: Personal Copy, pp. 42, 45
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The below is taken from an "Application for Mortuary Warrant" filed by Mrs. Amelia Steward.
States that she is the widow of Francis M. Steward who died on 24 Mar 1921 in the town of Mexia, Limestone County, TX. Includes a "Certificate of Undertaker", wherein the undertaker certifies that he prepared the body of F. M. Steward, who died 24 Mar 1921 for burial and that he was buried in Stewards Mill Cemetery. Also includes a "Certificate of Physician" who states that he attened Mr. Steward in his last illness and that his ailments were: Senility followed with Lateral Paralysis.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CSA Pension Claims from Limestone County:
Steward, Amelia 37502 Claimant: Steward, Amelia
Pension Number: 37502
County: Limestone
Husband: Francis Marion
Pension Number: 29149
Note, this is an application for death pension benefits from Frank's Civil War pension.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the Mexia Daily News (Texas) dated 4 June 1863 Woodland College opened in Kirvin area (Freestone Co., Texas). 1963 marks the marks the centinneal of the college on land donated by Col L. R. Wortham as use as a campus, church and cemetery. The class registration as presented by JR Seely on Aug 17, 1867 lists, SM Stewart, FT Seely, Frank Stewart (Francis Marion), the Egger children and others. - Sharon Kay (Young) Sager
In the land records dated 19 Aug 1874 in Freestone County (Texas) in the division of the land which was owned by Sally Steward, deceased and Washington Steward im which it appears the children were receiving their part of their mothers estate, has the following listed children: Franklin M. Steward, Susan M. Steward of Freestone Co., Texas and Mary M Egger a resident of Tarrant Co., Texas (and it lists other children) - Sharon Kay (Young) Sager.
*Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~stewartclanscms/pafn06.htm#249
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Follows is a deed wherein Frank purchased 125 acres of land in 1875:
The State of Texas
County of Freestone
9 Feb 1875
Know all men by these presents that we, J. W. Lake and Martha Lake, wife of said J. W. Lake, residents of said State and County, for and in consideration of the sum of Three Hundred and Seventy Eight Dollars gold to us in hand paid by F. M. Steward, also a resident of said State and County, the receipt whereof we hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained sold and conveyed and do by these presents grant, bargain, sell and convey, unto the said F. M. Steward, his heirs and assigns, all our rights, title and interest in and to the following described tract or parcel of land to wit: Situated in Freestone County Texas, and Beginning at the S. W. corner of the John Watson survey in the W. boundary of the W. B. Read H. Right, Thence S. 833 ½ vrs, to the N. W corner of the Catherine Reed survey. Thence E. with the south boundary of the same 833 1/3 vrs. To a stake. Thence North along the West boundary line of a 200 acre survey now owned and occupied by M. E. Falk by deed from J. W. Lake 833 1/3 vrs to the N. W corner of said 200 acre survey, Thence W. 433 1/3 vrs to the Beginning containing 125 acres, more or less, and being the same land conveyed from J. W. and M. E. Falk to J. W. Lake on the 19th of December 1870, as appears upon the Records of Freestone County Texas, in Book "L", pages 84 & 85. To have and to hold the above described premises together with all the rights ____, and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, unto the said F. M. Steward, his heirs and assigns, in fee simple, forever, And we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to forever warrant and defend the title to the above granted premises unto the said F. M. Steward, his heirs and assignees, against the lawful claims of all persons, whomsoever claiming the same or any part thereof.
Witness our hands this 9th day of February A. D. 1875
Carrie L STEWARD
She is listed with her family on the 1900 Census of Limestone County, Texas, but not on the 1920 census. She would have been about 24 in 1920, so may have already married or left home.
Alice M STEWARD
She is listed on my father's family group sheet, but she is not found in the 1900 census. May have died young. Or may not be a child of F. M. Steward and Amelia Kaufman.
Washington Mark (Bud) STEWARD
Notes from Sam Houston Graves:
I met Uncle Bud a lot and he served in the Army during WW2. He died at his fishing camp on Lake Dallas, date unknown. I spent the night with Uncle Bud in Denton about age 10. He gave me a rifle the next morning and told me to go shoot a rabbit for our breakfast. But, I didn't see one. Don't remember what we ate. Then he told me to go to Uncle Bill Carson's for something. He gave me the keys to his old truck. Didn't tell me it had no brakes and a bad battery. This is how I learned to hand crank a truck. Can't do that no....no crank. When I got to Uncle Bill's, I made about three circles in their yard before I could stall that truck without brakes. I got it back to Uncle Bud's too. That was the first time I ever drove any car or truck.
Edith STEWARD
She married a Mr. Whitaker.
*Source: Email from Ann Daberko
John STEWARD
Not positive that is his name.
Edward Randolph SEELY
1850 Monore County, MS Census:
Edward Seely age 73, occupation farmer, value of real estate: $960, born in South Carolina.
Nancy Seely, age 50, born in South Carolina
Jasper Seely age 13, born in Mississippi
Sarah _____, age 5, born in Mississippi
(copy in files)
Notes: If the Nancy listed in this census is his wife, she should have been abt age 70 as she was born in 1780. The Jasper listed as age 13 is likely a grandchild, not one of their children, and after Sarah's name is another name that I can't read...maybe Sunonzey? This Sarah is also likely a grandchild. Or, both of the children could be grandchildren?
Nancy DARBY
*Source: Genealogy of the Darby Family, George Darby, 1726 - 1788 ofMontgomery Co., Maryland, by R. C. Darby, 1914
Spencer SEELY
According to the Nichols website, he was listed as being born in Kentucky on the 1850 Monroe County, Miss census. I do not have a copy yet of that census.
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