Re: John Summerford- Stewart Co. Ga. 1857
-
In reply to:
Re: John Summerford- Stewart Co. Ga. 1857
FLO YOUNG 6/27/00
Hi, Flo:
According to oral family history, Henry Clay Summerford was born December 25, 1860, in Georgia.Nobody knows the county. Of course, there is no birth certificate or any other documentation.No death certificate, either, but I'm looking for a will or probate record.The December 1860 birth date is consistent with the age he gave, under oath, while testifying on his own behalf for a New Mexico land grant.(In May 1895, he said he was 34 years old.)
His obituary states he was "left an orphan when but a child, and was thrown upon the world and his own resources at eleven years of age."The belief in the family is he was orphaned at 11 and left Georgia for good at 14.This is quite vague. . .I'm learning that the word "orphan," as used in those times, meant that one or both parents were dead.My hypothesis has been the father died in the war and the mother died about 1872 or 1873.
My guess is he lived with relatives in Alabama (totally unverified) before leaving for Texas.I find him in the 1880 Burnet County, TX, census as a boarder.He settled his New Mexico land in October 1887, and his life is well documented after that.It's truly a Horatio Alger story because he grew into a prominent and prosperous cattleman in the Las Cruces area, ending with his 1908 death there in an accident.
What a great idea to look at the pension records!I hadn't thought of that, mainly because I'm unfamiliar with CSA pensions and the Georgia Archives.When I was at the National Archives - Pacific Region, I got the names of all Summerfords who mustered into Georgia CSA units.Of the total 15 Summerford CSA soldiers, I figure that nine came from the western part of the state.Maybe I should just go through my list and start ordering Georgia pension files.Can you give me some tips on how to do that?Can I write or email a request or does someone have to go down there in person?
According to my information, four Summerford men mustered into the 55th Regiment on April 30, 1862 -- James, Jasper, John (who I believe is your ancestor) and Thomas.These four could have been brothers, the sons of Abraham Sr.After all, this is before we learned the wisdom of separating brothers for obvious reasons.James was reported dead in December 1862.Jasper died at Cumberland Gap, also in 1862.John and Thomas were captured at Cumberland Gap and sent to prison at Camp Douglas, IL.Thomas was released on June 13, 1865, and John was released the following day.I don't have an Abraham Jr. on my list, but I do have an A Summerford, who joined the 8th Georgia Calvalry Regiment.
Also, I heard today from a descendant of Henry W. from the 1870 census.She's not on the Internet, but we'll communicate by mail or phone.Will keep you posted.
I'll be at the Family History Center-Los Angeles next week and will look for Nancy and John on the 1870 census.Thanks for your great idea about pension files.
Janet