Rejected Claim: John Barclay’s Civil War Pension!

The 1890 Veterans schedule was helpful in locating my 2nd great-grandfather John Barclay’s Civil War Pension file. 

I obtained a “National Archives Order for Copies of Federal Pension or Bounty Land Warrant Applications” back in January 21, 2002.  I filled out the form as best I could, using the 1890 Veterans Schedule page for John Barclay, and mailed it to the National Archives in Washington D.C.  NARA completed the processing on February 22, 2002.  So I didn’t have to wait too long for the package arrived in a month.  NARA now has an online ordering service.  I caution you that Civil War pensions are expensive. 

The file was not very big and contained only a few pieces of paper.  There were about 8 items.  The file included the following:

1. Soldier’s Original Card – #1000697, John Barclay, Carpenter, Q.M. Dept., U.S. Vol., #1144, 25

2. Declaration for Invalid Pension, State of Minnesota, Scott Co., 22 September 1890.  This is a summary of the contents: 

John Barclay aged 75 years resident of town of Eagle Creek, County of Scott, State of Minnesota, testifies and sworn…is the identical John Barclay who was enrolled first day of December 1864 as a Civilian Carpenter in the service of the United States, in the War of the Rebellion, and served at least ninety days, and was Honorably Discharged at Nashville, Tenn. on the 6th day of June, 1865. That he is wholly unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of Rupture, Deafness and general debility. That he has not applied for pension ….paid fee of $10.00 Witnesses: Dennis Flaherty and Jno C. Lies. Signed: John Barclay

Dennis Flaherty and John C. Lies residing at Shakopee, Minn …they were present and saw John Barclay the claimant, sign his name….acquaintence with him for 20 years – Signed by Jno. C. Lies and Dennis Flaherty on 22 September 1890. Notary public: [J. W. Tencerbox]

3.  April 7, 1891 – Medical Affidavit – personally appeared before me Doctor H.O. Smith, resident of Shakopee, Scott Co., Minnesota.

I am a practicing physician in the City of Shakopee and have been for the past nine and one half years. That I have known said John Barclay for the past five years. That I have examined said John Barclay and find him to be suffering from the following disabilities which are permanent in and are not the result of his own vicious habits viz. nearly total diag.. in both ears – match with results. In to him you would be obliged to speak slowly and loud. Also hernia of right side size of tumor 3 1/2 by 4 inches. No is but it is easily have no interest in claim of applicant. H. O. Smith

4. Invalid Pension – Claimant John Barclay, Shakopee, Scott Co., Minn. Approvals: Rejected May 13, 1891 by Hayward, Examiner, Approved for rejection on the ground that clmt was a Civilian employee. No title under existing laws. H.W. Hall. May 23, 1891 – not pensioned under laws. Declaration filed Sept. 25, 1890, Rupture, Deafness, General Debility. Claimant was a Civilian employee and therefore not entitled under existing laws.

5. Card – Stamped REJECTED, Stamped ABANDONED, Hayward, Ex’r #1000697, John Barclay P.O. Shakopee, Scott Co., Minn. Service Carpenter, QM, Dept. U.S. Vols. Enlisted Dec. 11, 1864, Disch. June 6, 1865. Application filed Sept. 25, 1890. Any other Claim field No. #456202, Attorney Smith. Stamped May 15, 1891.

6. Back of card? April 2, 91, 1891 July 25 clmt. notified of rejection C.E.H.

7. Files Slip – No. 1000697, John Barclay, Carpenter, Q.M. Dept. U.S. Vols. Examiner Hayward

8. Letter: Shakopee, Minn Augt. 11, 1891

Letter of Appeal - John Barclay

Dear Sir: Your letter of 25th Ultimo advises that my claim #1000697 is rejected on the ground that I was a civilian employe and not entitled to a pension under existing laws. When I was sworn into the Service at St. Louis Mo. on or about Dec. 1, 1864. I was required to Swear to do and perform all the duties (if necessary) required of an enlisted man in the Military Service and while in the Service as a civilian under Capt. C. H. Irvin AQM was at all times in readiness to shoulder my gun if called upon in the defense of my Country. After taking such an Oath and being at all times in readiness to fulful my obligations why am I not entitled to the same benefit of an Enlisted man. While in the service I lost almost entirely the sense of hearing by reason of exposure in dragging wet lumber from the water and also became ruptured by reason of heavy lifting at Fort Morton, Tenn. rendering me in my old age wholly incapacitated for manual labor.

To The Commission of Pensions, Washington D.C. Respectfully: John Barclay.

Note:  Look closely at the different styles of handwriting.  I believe the signature is in John’s own handwriting. (Click on the photo and it will open to a larger window, remember to click the back button to return to this blog.)

Source:  John Barclay, Civil War Pension File, #1000697, Filed September 22, 1890, Rejected May 22, 1891, National Archives. 

In reviewing this pension file there are several items of interest to me:

1. The dates of his service:  December 11, 1864 to June 6, 1865.  This is about 6 months of service.
2. The process took from September 22, 1890 to August 11, 1891 which is almost a year.  They even tried after the official rejection of May 22, 1891 by writing a letter in August of 1891 but apparently nothing came of it.
3. The pension claim was rejected because he was a “Civilian employee.”
4. He had lost his hearing, had a hernia that was of considerable size and was not able to do manual labor. 
5. That he is listed as 75 years old.  This is very interesting because I have his birth year as 1801 and here we have a year of birth of 1815. 
6. It looks like he did sign several of these papers himself.  Most documents like the letter were written for him in a finer handwriting.

One of the witnesses:

Jno. C. Lies was b. 10 Jun 1854 in Buffalo, NY and died in Shakopee, Minnesota on 14 February 1907.  He was married to a Mary Flaherty b. 22 Mar 1864 in Marystown, MN d. 22 Jan 1914 in Shakopee, Minn.  This per the website at this link which might be him:  http://jstarks.qwestoffice.net/FamilyTree/n_4b.html  You will have to do a find using Shakopee to locate him. 

An an article at NARA in the Prologue Magazine for Spring 2010, Vol. 42, No. 1, “A Reasonable Degree of Promptitude,” Civil War Pension Application Processing, 1861 to 1885,” by Clair Prechtel-Kluskens.  This article discusses the laws up to 1885 regarding Civil War pensions.  It was not easy to obtain a pension.

http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2010/spring/civilwarpension.html

Additional Information of interest: 

Capt. C.H. Irvin AQM was apparently quite the builder.  I could find no biography of him online but more like bits and pieces of his service just by Googling him.  In an article in the archives of the New York Times he is listed as being in charge of corrals, stables, public animals, etc.  There is a PDF that had many references to this man one involved building a hospital in July of 1864 before John arrived.  Use Find to search for his name:

  http://www.artcirclelibrary.info/Reference/civilwar/1864-07.pdf

Fort Morton, Tennessee is long gone and is now a play field in Nashville.  Here is a link to a map of this historical location: http://www.rare-maps.com/details.cfm?type=maps&rid=850026

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The 1890 Census and Veterans Schedules – John Barclay

The decade of the 1890′s was going to be a very eventful decade for The Barclays of Pine River!  We begin this decade with George’s father and a Civil War pension.

Sadly the 1890 U.S. Federal Census was burned in a fire in 1921.  At Ancestry.com they have what they call the 1890 U.S. Census Fragment.  All that remains of Minnesota is Wright County:  Rockford.  There are other counties in other states but all total what survives is about 1233 pages?  Ouch!

There is a 1890 Veterans Schedule at Ancestry.com that can help the situation.  This is what Ancestry says about this schedule. 

“This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1890 special census of Civil War Union veterans and widows of veterans available on microfilm M123 (118 rolls) from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Although this schedule was to be used to enumerate Union veterans, in some areas, Confederate veterans were listed as well

Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.”

George A. Barclay is not listed in this Veteran’s schedule which only covers Leech Lake and Gull River for Cass County. Gull River is listed as “Grill” at Ancestry.  His brother Alexander is not listed in this Veteran’s schedule.  He is living in The Town of Eureka, Dakota County, Minnesota and that city is not listed either. 

Fortunately Eagle Creek in Scott County is listed and we find George and Alexander’s father featured. It was because of this list I learned that John Barclay did participate as a carpenter in the Civil War for a few short months towards the end of the war.

The top part of the Veterans Schedule for John Barclay:

Top Part of the Veterans Schedule

Zeroing in on John Barclay’s Civil War Service:

John Barclay Entry

Sometime there are remarks written at the bottom about a soldier, here is some information about John Barclay.  It is very difficult to read:

Remarks Veterans Schedule

Hse 57, Family 57 John Barclay, Carpenter Dec 1865 to June 1866, 6 mos. A note down below reads: Was sworn as a carpenter at St. Louis, Mo to serve ___M (quartermaster) at ____, Mo. was discharged at extinction of term.

Source:  1890 Special Schedules of the U.S. Surviving Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, and Widows, etc.  NARA: M123, Roll 23 Minnesota Veterans of 1890, pg. 1, SD 2, ED 177, line 7. FHL#3381823 Eagle Creek, Scott Co., Minnesota, pg. 1, #5757.

This Veterans Schedule for John Barclay lead me to his Civil War pension file which I will feature in the next post.

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The Civil War Blog post on Veterans Schedules was very interesting.  The focus is about the Civil War in Pennsylvania.  It is very interesting for the author explains how to read the schedule giving examples. There are other topics of interest as well.   

http://civilwar.gratzpa.org/2011/03/u-s-census-returns-1890-veterans-schedules/

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Catching up with the Barclay’s of Eagle Creek Twp.!

John Barclay, the father of George and my 2nd great-grandfather, was farming and raising his second family in Eagle Creek Township, Scott County, Minnesota. 

I last featured my 2nd great-grandfather John Barclay in my post on this blog dated September 11, 2010 “John Barclay’s Land!”  http://barclayspineriver.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/john-barclays-land/  In this post I discussed the land patent he received on 10 September 1861. 

I return now, to the census and fortunately there are U.S. Federal and state census for Minnesota to study and I find John appearing consistently from 1857 through his death in 1895. 

John Barclay had two families as I featured in the posted dated April 3, 2010 “John Barclay’s Two Families.”  Some time around 1858-59 he remarried to a Helen.  There is some confusion as to what her first name was but the tombstone and other court documents use the name of “Helen.”   

We find the family of John and Helen Barclay living in Eagle Creek, Scott County, Minnesota in 1865:

Line 1, John Barkley, male. Helena Barkley, female. Charles, male. William, male. Mary, female.

Source:  1865 Minnesota State Census 1 June 1865, Family of John Barkley, Eagle Creek, Scott Co., page 1, Minnesota Film #MNSC_3 or FHL #565716,  or at Ancestry.com. This census was merely a list of names with little information other than what I have indicated here

On January 19, 1867 and interesting event takes place.  John Barclay sells 160 acres to his wife Helen.  The land parcel is NE1/4 S23, T115, R22 and that is the same as the patent he received in 1861.  What follows is a transcription to the best of my ability for the handwriting was difficult to read.

                 ”Filed for Record January 21, 1867 at 12 [pm]

                              U.S.Int. Res. Stamp to the amount of 50 cents

                 This Indenture made this nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven between John Barclay Senr of the first part and Helen Barclay, Wife of John Barclay Senr of the second part, all of Scott County State of Minnesota.

                Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of Three Hundred Dollars, in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party of the second part forever releases and discharges there from, has Granted, Bargained, Sold, Remised, Released, Aliened and Confirmed, and by these presents to grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien and confirm, unto the said party of the second part, and to her heirs  and assigns, forever, all the following described lot, piece of parcel of Land situated in the County of Scott and State of Minnesota, and known and described as follows, to wit:

                The North East Quarter of Section Twenty-three Township one hundred and fifteen North of Range twenty-two West containing one hundred and Sixty acres by Government Survey.  Together with all and Singular, the hereditaments and appurtenances as thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining and the revision and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof: and all the estate right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, of, in and of the above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances.  To have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever.  And the said John Barclay Senr party of the first part, for himself his heirs, executors and administrators, does convent, grant, bargain, and agree, to [     ]  the said party of the second part her heirs and assigns, that all the time of ensealing and filing of these presents, he is well _____ of the premises, above conveyed as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in law in fee simple and has good right, full power and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell and convey the same in manner and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear from all forms of other grants, bargains, sales, liens, ___ assessments and encumbrances of what kind or nature so ever: and that the above bargained premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, her heirs and assigns against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part, thereof, of the said party of the first part shall and will warrant and forever ______ .  In Testimony Whereof, the said party of the first part hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written. 

 Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of  Robert Ringhorn and Andrew Kearney.  Signed by John Barclay (Seal),

 State of Minnesota, County of Scott

 I, Dave Ringhorn Justice of Peace, in and for said County, in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that John Barclay Sr personally known to be as the real person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Deed, appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he executed and Delivered the said Deed as his free and voluntary act for the use and purposes therein set forth.  Given under my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.

 (signed by) David Ringhorn, J. Peace. 

 Filed for Record January 21, 1867 at 2 p.m.”

Source:  Deed Record, Scott County Registry of Deeds, Scott County Courthouse, Vol. M, 1864-1867, pg. 560-561, FHL#1403553.  General Index for grantees A-L 1855-1899 FHL#140356.

The question is why would he sell his land to his wife?  It has been suggested that it might have been to avoid tax issues.  Maybe he was ill; however, he lives another 30 years?  Maybe someone was trying to take the land from him?  So we add this to the To Do list! 

A couple of years later in 1870, we find John and Helen still living in Eagle Creek township and their family has expanded. 

Dwelling 81, Family 81 – Barclay, John age 50, male, white, farmer, $800 real estate, $200 personal, born in Scotland, father and mother of foreign birth, eligible to vote. Barclay, [       ], age 45, female, white, keeping house, born in Sweden, father and mother of foreign birth. Barclay, Charles, age 10, male, white. Barclay, William, age 8, male, white. Barclay, Mary age 6, female, white. Barclay, Anna  age [1], female and white. All the children were born in Minnesota.

Source:  1870 U.S. Federal Census, Minnesota, Eagle Creek, Scott County, Minnesota. Heritage Quest Online.  They read T132, Roll 10, page 370.**

**The 1870 U.S. Federal Agricultural census pages included John Barclay and it provided a very nice description of his farm:

Line 17, Barkley John 20 acres, 20 acres unimproved, 800 cash value of farm, 150 in value of farming implements and equipment, 15 in total wages paid in year including value of board, 2 milch cows, 2 working oxen, 2 other cattle, 2 sheep, 2 swine, 200 value of all live stock, 200 value in Spring Wheat, 100 bu. in Indian corn, 5 lbs wool, 30 bu. Irish potatoes, 100 lbs butter, 6 tons hay, 50 dollars value of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, 150 estimated value of all farm production including betterments and additions to stock.

Source:  1870 Schedule 3 – Products of Agriculture in Town of Eagle Creek, County of Scott in the State of Minnesota, pg. 4-5, 7th day of June, 1870, [P.T. Moot]. 

We continue following the family in the Minnesota State census for 1875 and it reads:

Line 8, Family 58, John Barkley, age 62, Male, white, born in Scotland, parents both born in Scotland.  Helen Barkley, age 38, female, white, born in Norway, both parents born in Norway. Charles Barkley, age 15, male, white, born in Minnesota. William Barkley age 13, male, white, born in Minnesota. Maria Barkley, age 11, female, white, born in Minnesota. Anna Barkley, age 3, female, white, born in Minnesota.

Source:  1875 Minnesota State Census, Eagle Creek, Scott County, Minnesota, pg. 153, FHL#565728

The next time we find John Barclay is in the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, still in Eagle Creek Township.

Line 9, Family #242 Barclay, John, White, Male, age 65 married, farmer, born in Scotland, mother and father born in Scotland. Barclay, Ellen, white, female, age 48, wife, married, keeping house, born in Norway, parents born in Norway. Barclay, Charles, white, male, age 24, son, single, at home, born in Minnesota, father born in Scotland, mother in Norway. Barclay, William, white, male, age 17 , son, single staying at home, born in Minnesota. Barclay, Anna, white, female, age 10, daughter, at home, born in Minnesota.

Source:  1880 U.S. Federal Census, Eagle Creek Twp., Scott County, Minnesota, pg. 30, SD[2],, ED [?], T-9, Roll 633 MN.  What happened to the daughter Mary E.?  She is not listed in this census and the next and I was unable to find her living elsewhere?  It could suggest she died but as we will see that may not have been the case?

Remember the deed explain above where John gave his wife Helen the land.   H. Barclay appears on the 1880 platte map of Scott County, Minnesota as the owner of the land, John is not listed.

Platte map of Eagle Creek, Scott Co., Minnesota dated 1880, showing H. Barclay has 160 acres,  Twp 115, North Range 22, West of the 5th Principal Meridian.  Find the * over on the right of the platte map under the second E in creek.  (Click on the map and it will open in another window.  Don’t forget to hit your back button to return to this post.)  I obtained a copy of this map at the Scott County Historical Society in Shakopee.

Atlas Scott County 1880

John and Helen Barclay continue to remain in Eagle Creek Township as shown in the 1885 Minnesota State Census.

Family 98, John Barkley, age 70, male, white, born in Scotland, mother and father of foreign birth. Helen Barkley, age 53, female, white, born in Norway, both parents of foreign birth. William Barkley, age 23, male, white, born in Minnesota, both parents of foreign birth. Charley Barkley age 25, male, white, born in Minnesota, both parents of foreign birth, Annie age 15, female, white, born in Minnesota, both parents of foreign birth.

Source:  1885 Minnesota State Census, Eagle Creek Township, Scott County, Minnesota, pg. 14, FHL#565754 also at Ancestry.com.

As you can see from these census the Barclay name is spelled differently than I spell it: ”Barkley.”  The ages of the family members change and the age for John himself varies widely over the years.  Helen’s first name changes from Ellen to Helen an in one case you can’t read it at all.  Her origins also change from Swedish to Norwegian and seem to stay with the later as time passes.  The one consistent is they stay on the land for a very long time.

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**Warning:  I was doublechecking the 1870 U.S. Federal Census at Ancestry.com and have found some problems.  Apparently the 1870 U.S. Federal is all jumbled up and missing pages for Eagle Creek. I did a browe through the Eagle Creek portion and it was a mess. 

John Barclay appears in an Agricultural Census that is tacked on to the end of Eagle Creek run.  It is  filmed with page 3 next to page 4 and the second part of page 4 is filmed with page 5 and so on.  This means you have to move to the next page to get the total picture.  

This is not the first time I have had problems with Ancestry.com census being wrong. 

I suggest you go to the Heritage Quest database usually online at your public library with the use of your library card.  The other option is to consult the U.S. Federal Census films at your local National Archives Branch or check for a run of films for the census at your local public library, genealogical society or historical.

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The 1880′s: Starting a Family, Land more or less, A Mortgage Deed, and a Robbery!

The 1880′s were drawing to a close and events were unfolding in Minnesota that would make for lots of change in the state.  The next decade the 1890′s was going to be very busy and very eventful in Pine River and more.

Let’s take a quick review of the 1880′s. 
 
Starting a Family:
George and Amarilla started the decade with the birth of their son, George Alexander, who died  suddenly of an accident at 18 months in June 1881 .  The following year they found happeniness in the birth of their daughter Grace born in April  1882. 

Land More or Less:
They sold some land in a quit claim deed to a [Fred] Hitter/Hilter of Wright County on 25 October 1881.  This deed was recorded 8 May 1882 in the Crow Wing County Courthouse for Cass County, Deed Book E, pg. 247. 

Description:  $175.00 – The southeast quarter (SE1/4) of the northeast quarter (NE1/4) of section ten (10) and the north half of the northeast quarter of section twelve (12) all in township one hundred thirty-seven (137) north range twenty nine (29) west.  The total amount of acreage was not indicated in this deed? 

They added to their land holdings by  buying land from the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883 (82 3/4). In 1884 they received another patent #11834 (40 plus acres), and expanded by adding a storage building sometime around the early part of the decade.*  The little settlement was growing with a total population of 29 people in 1885 per the Minnesota State Census.  Another land patent came through in April of 1888 #16446 (160 acres). 

A Mortgage Deed: 
Things must have been going well for the Barclays in 1888 when George and Amarilla executed a mortgage deed with Michael Hagberg on September 25, 1888 for $2077.38.*  It was filed for record January 11, 1889.   George would pay two promissory notes due one year after the date, each for $1038.69 and interest.  This mortgage was satisfied and on record in Book J, pg. 566 in the Crow Wing County Records. 

On October 2, 1914, 25 years later this same mortgage satisfaction appears in Book W, pg. 372 in a typed form, not handwritten.  It referred to M. Hagberg and Matilda Hagberg, his wife.  It is also attested to for accuracy by the Register of Deeds. We think the court was updating its books. 

Now it was suggested that “this deed was for equipment.”* Well, I do not think so.  Instead it was for the purchase of about 5 pieces of land in T137 R 29 (Wilson); two pieces in T138 R29 (Barclay); and one piece in T130 R30 (Walden).  Several lots were mentioned. 

There is a Michael Hagberg buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd a link to his him is at FindAGrave.  There is an article with the tombstone information stating he was a blacksmith in early Brainerd?  If this is the same man he lived in the Brainerd area for a long time.

Boy do I love a mystery?  What was George A. Barclay up to?

Well at some point I will do a summary of his land holdings and we will see what we come up with. 

A Robbery:
Unfortunately they ended the decade of the 1880′s with a robbery at the Ranch.  George Barclay reported a long list of items stolen in Pine River on April 20, 1889.  Among the items taken were 2 Winchester rifles and 6 boxes of cartridges, lots of clothing, lots of yardage, 400 ratskins and 5 linx skins for a total of $512.30 ? * 

I have often wondered what my great grandfather’s store might have looked like?  I visited the Harkin Store in 2001 (eight miles northwest of New Ulm, MN).  This museum is a period store set about 1870:   http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/hs/  It is part of the Minnesota Historical Society historical sites. 

Do you think George and Amarilla’s was this neat and tidy?  The Harkin Store had a mail center, candy area, women’s items, flour bins, a place to sit by the pot belly stove and more.  Depending on the clientele at George’s store there might be a difference in the inventory?

Harkins Store

*Some of these events mentioned above were inspired by the book:  “Logsleds to Snowmobiles, A Centennial History of Pine River, Minnesota 1873-1973,” written by the Citizens of Pine River, edited by Norman F. Clarke, Pine River Centennial Committee 1979.   Chapter:  The Barclays, 102-129.   Page 106 for the Robbery or the Brainerd Dispatch April 21, 1889 pg. 1.  There is a copy of this book in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. A quick seach of WordCat and you will get 18 hits in various libraries across the country.

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Half-Way House or Stopping Place!

George Angus Barclay operated a “half-way house” or stopping place in the area of Pine River.  He was not the only one who had such a place along the Leech Lake Road.   He was situated 30 miles north of Brainerd and so his location was a good place to stop, rest, refresh and then continue your journey on to Leech Lake or some other destination.  

“When the Cloughs’ outfit finished logging that area, they sold the ranch to Jenkins; and by that time there was so much commotion and traveling along the Leech Lake Road — and the abilities of Ma Jenkins in the kitchen had become so widely noised about — that they had no insurmountable problems continuing the place as a “Halfway House” or traveler’s rest station.  Next north was George Barclay’s at Pine River; to the south was John Bishop’s at the Gull-Round thoroughfare; and now the Web Hill Ranch helped split the distance between the latter two.” 

Source:  Old Timers, by Carl Zapffe, of Historic Heartland. Association, Echo Publishing & Printing, Volume I, pages 6-7, 1988 1st Edition, 1998 2nd Edition.  Mr. Zapffe passed in 1994 and his Association is no more.  The photographs in his collection and maybe more were given to the Nisswa Historic Society, Nisswa, MN, unfortuantely they do not have a website. 

See my post dated January 17, 2011 “Wedding Photos of George and Amarilla,” for more information about Mr. Zapffe.  

I tried to use the maps of the Leech Lake Road in Mr. Zapffe’s Vol. II that apparently came from the National Archives, but it was very hard and since I do not live in Minnesota I decided to abandon the effort but what I did create on my map was almost a direct line between Bishop, Jenkins and Barclay pretty much following Hwy 371. 

The Pine River Centennial newspaper of 1973 had some very interesting articles and mentions George and Amarilla:

“…The history of Pine River really starts with Mr. and Mrs. Barclay (Mrs. Urton).  Mr. Barclay came here in 1876, and with a partner by the name of McNannie, starting a trading post about a mile south of what is now the village site, a few rods this side of the river where the remains of the old cellar may still be seen.  This location was abandoned after a little over a year, in favor of the present location of the village where Mr. Barclay built a log building and conducted a little store and Indian trading post, about where the Anderson Lumber Company yard is now located. 

 Mrs.  Barclay, or you will remember her as Mrs. Urton, came her in July 1878.  At that time there were only three log buildings where the village of Pine River now stands, one being the store formerly mentioned, one used as sort of half-way house for Tote-Teamsters on the trip to and from Brainerd to Leech Lake (now Walker), and a very  large log barn where several of those large loads of supplies could be driven in for over night. 

 Logging had not been started at this point at that time and there were very few white settlers in the territory.  Mrs. Urton once related that while the inhabitants were practically all Indians, she never had any fear of them and they never gave them the least bit of trouble of any kind until after the white man came with his firewater. 

 About this time the Episcopal and Catholic societies started to try educating some of the Indian children and used to come up here to gather up a group of them, taking them away for a four-year course.  They were taught some kind of trade and it was some of those boys who, on their return from the school, built an addition on the old log store and that was where the first school was started.  It would indeed be interesting to trace the evolution of this school through to our present modern high school but time will not permit.”

Source:  Pine River Journal, Pine River, Cass County, Minnesota, 1873 to 1973 Centennial, Vol. 37, Number 22, pg. 2, “Early History of Pine River,” by Frances M. Allen.  

Ever since I heard the term “tote road” I became interested in what it looked like.  I have seen pictures of them as dirt roads or roads with logs laid across them.  You can use Google Images and search for photographs.  People are taking wonderful photos and writing blogs about tote roads.   This is as close as I could get to the area in question.  Can you image driving a wagon with ox or horses along a muddy road.  Hmmm…?

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/61191318

Notes of Interest:  My copy of this issue was given to me by the Pine River Journal Newspaper.   They have a wonderful collection of newspapers at their office in Pine River.  The Minnesota Historical Society also has a great newspaper collection but they are missing some issues of the Pine River newspaper in the 1930′s.

There are actually two volumes of Mr. Zapffe’s ”Old Timers” booklets.  They are oversized measuring 16 inches long by 11 inches wide and they contain approximate 188 pages with an index.  I obtained my copies at the Crow Wing Historical Society in Brainerd.   They are amazing, with lots of photographs, great stories of the families in the area, maps and more covering the Cass and Crow Wing Lake Region.  He does indicate where he obtained the information in some cases.

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Pine River in 1885!

1885 Minnesota State Census

Pine River in 1885 was not very big!  According to the Minnesota State Census for 1885 there were 29 total whites with 19 males and 10 females. 

6th line down No. 22, Postoffice Brainerd, MN; G. [_] Barclay 45 years, white, born in Maine, parents were not of foreign birth “no”. Under G. Barclay was the name Annetta Barclay, age 38, born in Maine, parents not of foreign birth. Written between the above two persons -[Annetta Barclay] age 3, born in Minnesota.

Source:  1885 Minnesota State Census, FHL#565733, #377, pg. 22, Township 136, Cass County. 

I find this entry in this state census very frustrating.  I have so little on my grandmother Grace’s origins.  Perhaps Amarilla sounds like “Annetta.”  The only one that seems to be recognizable is George.  The next point is the reference to Maine as their origin? My focus has been on Connecticut for George and his siblings.  For Amarilla it has been Iowa.  This is the reason that it has been very difficult to figure out where George came from.  His age of 45 places the year of birth at 1840 which is four years earlier than I have from other sources.  

Some of the other surnames on the page with George are:  Woodward, [Kuro or Thuro], Ramport, Fairbanks, Asley, Hunsinger, Dusett, Browne, Morrison, Bannon, Sullivan, and Tallaque/Tallaquais/Gallaquois. (Very hard to read.)

The inhabitants of Pine River in 1885 came from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Maine?, Vermont, Canada, Wisconsin, and Germany.

Many sources state that Amarilla was the only white woman in the Pine River area for years.  According to this 1885 census there were other adult women living near her family:  Sarah Woodman was 34 and white, Ethel Kuro [50] and white, Matilda Ashley 23 and white,  Amanda Tallaqua [37] and white, the rest of the women were young girls.

Note:  Ancestry.com, The Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul and the Family History Library all have the Minnesota Territorial and State Census.   

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Spracklin and Keller Connection – Amarilla’s Parents

The partition deed of John and Mary Keller’s land featured in the post dated October 8, 2011 “Partition Deed:  Morrow County, Ohio 1884,” connects Amarilla to the Keller family. 

To understand Amarilla you have to understand that she was part of a very large family, actually two, as well as extended families of Keller and Spracklin.  Her father Daniel D. Spracklin married twice as I have indicated in past posts.  So Amarilla had full and half siblings.  

Daniel marries Elizabeth 1852

Daniel’s married first to Elizabeth Keller and they married in Morrow County, Ohio on the 28 December 1852 (another source as their marriage 1 Jan 1853).

By 1856 they had migrated to Benton County, Iowa and settled there.  Sadly Elizabeth Keller died the 10th of March 1859 just months after she gave birth to Amarilla.  Amarilla never knew her mother having been born the 18th of November 1858.  She was just a baby!  This marks the first tragedy that my great-grandmother Amarilla experiences in her life. 

Elizabeth, Oliver and Mary's Tombstone, Titler Cemetery, Iowa

Let me describe Daniel and Elizabeth’s family of which they had four (4) children.  Only 2 survived to adulthood, Henry and Amarilla:

1.  Henry Franklin Spracklin b. 13 September 1853 probably in Toledo, Ohio as his parents began their journey to Iowa.   He married Elizabeth Downey 16 November 1875 in Keokuk County, Iowa.  He died 22 June 1893 in Davenport, Iowa in a lumber mill accident leaving 9/11 children.  He was listed as a grantor in the partition deed along with his sister Amarilla Barkley.  It placed Henry in Muscatine County, Iowa in 1884. 

2.  Oliver Solomon Spracklin b. 18 October 1854 based on the U.S. census.  He was probably born in Iowa.  He died 10 September 1855. He is buried in Titler Cemetery northwest of Marengo, Iowa with his sister Mary and mother.

Oliver's separate stone!

3.  Mary Ellen Spracklin born 17 August 1856 in Iowa and died 27 September 1861 in Iowa.  Mary is also buried in Titler Cemetery with her brother Oliver and mother Elizabeth. 

Mary's inscription on the main tombstone

4.  Amarilla Grace Spracklin was born 17 November 1858 in Benton Co., Iowa and died in Pine River, Cass County, Minnesota 10 August 1942 under the married name of Urton.  She is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd, Minnesota near her first husband George Angus Barclay. 

My Aunt Miriam had in her possession a letter written by Elizabeth on one side and on the other a letter written by Daniel dated January of 1858.  I will share that with you in the next post for it further connects Amarilla to the Keller family. 

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Sources

Ancestor Outline by Armindo Spracklin featured in the posted dated August 5, 2011 “Ancestor Outline by Armindo Spracklin,” on my other blog:  Solomon Goss of Fearing Township in Ohio.  This outline was given to me by my Aunt Miriam. Armindo was the wife of Charles Edward Spracklin, one of Amarilla’s 1/2 brothers.

Family History Notes of Miriam McDonald, grand-daughter of Amarilla Spracklin Barclay, approximately 8 pages.  There is personal information contained in these notes so I am carefully sharing them through this blog and other blogs.

Death Certificate of Amarilla Urton, #02159, Aug. 10, 1942, Pine River, Cass County, Minnesota.  , Minnesota State Department of Health, Records, Minnesota Historical Society, index online at the MHS. 

Cemetery Records of the Titler Cemetery originally by Mrs. Kaye Sanches of Des Moines, Iowa, retyped by Marion A. Gunderson, 2001, at the Iowa Genealogy Society Library. As you can see by the tombstone pictures above, the stones are up against a tree and not over the grave.  There where depressions near the stones in the soil that I almost stumbled into. 

Visit to the Titler Cemetery by the compiler in April of 2003 when photographs of the cemetery were taken. Marengo, Iowa.  See BJM’s Cemetery Discoveries blog posts starting with the date of July 17, 2010 were I feature the Titler photographs. 

http://bjmcemeterydiscoveries.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html

Census for the State of Iowa 1856, Vol. 48, Film#1021301, pg. 78-80 State Historical Society, Des Moines, Iowa.  Be careful the index of this 1856 census does not show Daniel for some reason?  Ancestry.com has the Iowa State Census.  Also featured in the July 1, 2011 post (see below).  Before Daniel and after him are Blacketers and Merrifields that are enumerated. 

1860 U.S. Federal Census was discussed in the post dated July 1, 2011 “Stepping Back In Time: Amarilla’s Life In Iowa Before George!” on this blog. 

Marriage Records, 1848-1951, Index 1848-1948 FHL#388779 Morrow Co., Ohio.  Vol. 1A, pg. 119 for Daniel and Elizabeth’s marriage FHL#388779.

Sources for Henry Spracklin and Amarilla will be detailed in future posts.

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George’s Last Patent – #16446 April 5, 1888!

On April 5, 1888, George Angus Barclay purchases land in Barclay Township, Cass County and this time he buys 160 acres!

Patent from BML: Cass County 4/5/1888 St. Cloud #16446. 

This patent is in Cass County in the eastern part of Barclay Township it is east of Norway Lake.  The section on the east of Norway Lake is Section 29 and then over farther to the east is Section 28.  t138r29w5fi01  This old map is part of the website Minnesota Geo Historic Plat Maps http://www.mngeo.state.mn.us/glo/index.html  Why did he buy it?  Maybe he was speculating or maybe he was logging?  It is interesting to ponder his motives?

 #16446 George Angus Barclay of Cass Co., Minnesota, St. Cloud, Minn 

The southeast quarter of section twenty-eight in township one hundred and thirty-eight north of range twenty-nine west of the fifth principal meridian in Minnesota containing one hundred and sixty acres. Signed by Grover Cleveland, 4 day of April 1888.

I refer you to my post dated October 29, 2010, “George’s Patents for Land!”  For the summary table I posted there:  http://barclayspineriver.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/georges-patents-for-land/

This may be the last patent that George Angus Barclay obtained but it is by no means his last or final land deal.  I spent several afternoons in the Cass County Recorder’s office and the Crow Wing Recorder’s office at the respective courthouses and I found a great deal of information on the many deeds and other land transactions of George and Amarilla.  I will share those as I continue through the years of George’s and Amarilla’s lives in future posts.

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Partition Deed: Morrow County, Ohio 1884

With the death of Amarilla’s grandmother Mary Anne Delano Keller (3 August 1882)  the land and estate of John and Mary was divided up and partitioned among the children and heirs.  Amarilla and George Barclay were the Grantor’s along with others in the following partition deed.   This is one of several deeds dividing up the land among the heirs of John and Mary Keller.  It is the most significant to me because George and Amarilla Barclay (Barkley) are signees. 

The partition deed was dated December 14, 1883.  It was recorded in the Index for Morrow County, Ohio deeds under the name of Charles P. Groves et. al. as Grantor and W.F. Keller et. al. the Grantee.  The clerk’s copy was recorded in Vol. 37, pg. 594, FHL#388692.  Below is a transcription of that deed and my best effort at reading the handwriting of the clerk.

Charles T. Groves et. al.          

Quit Claim Deed   to

Wm. F. & Ida C. Keller

Received: June 18, 1884                     

Know all men by the presents that Mr. Charles T. Groves & Mary E. Groves, his wife of Johnson County and State of Kansas, George Barkley & Amarilia Barkley, his wife of [Twin Grove], State of Minnesota & Henry F. Spracklin and Elizabeth Spracklin, his wife of the County of Muscatine and State of Iowa in consideration of the sum of thirty one hundred and fifty dollars to them paid by William F. Keller and Ida C. Keller of Morrow Co., Ohio in receipt  ____is hereby acknowledged do hereby revise, release and forever quit claim to the said William F. Keller and Ida C. Keller their heirs and assigns forever, the following real estate situated in the County of Morrow in the State of Ohio and in the Township of South Bloomfield and bounded and described as follows viz:  

The East half of the North half of the North East Quarter of Section No. Eleven (11) Township No. Six (6) Range No. Fifteen (15). Also Twenty Three (23) acres of land of the East end of the South Half of the North East Quarter of Section No. Eleven (11) Township No. Six (6) Range No. Fifteen (15) Containing in all about sixty three (63) acres of land, more or less. 

To have and to hold said premises with all the _____ and appurtenances hereto belonging to the said William F. Keller and Ida C. Keller their heirs and assigns forever.  In Witness Whereof, the said Charles T. Groves, Mary E. Groves, George Barkley, Amarilia Barkley, Henry F. Spracklin and Elizabeth Spracklin wife of said Henry F. Spracklin, who hereby relinquishes all their right of dower in the premises have hereunto set their hands and seals this 26^th day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and eighty four.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered   

Henry F. Spracklin (seal),  Elizabeth Spracklin (seal), George A. Barkley (seal) Amarilia Barkley, (seal),   Charles F. Groves (seal), Elizabeth Groves

In the presents of us  ___Brown,  J.R. Hanley  Witness to signature of George Barkley and Amarilia Barkley – W.H. [Oelmahan], Rachel [Haileny], H.O. Danley.                                                                                              

State of Iowa Muscatine County  ss.

Be it remembered that on this 26^th day of March A.D. 1884 before me the subscriber Notary Public in and for said County personally came the hereinafter named Henry F. Spracklin and Elizabeth Spracklin his wife the Grantors in the above conveyance and acknowledge the Execution signing and sealing of the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes herein mentioned and the said Elizabeth Spracklin wife of the said Henry F. Spracklin being at the same time examined by me separate and apart from her said husband and the contents of said instrument being by me made known and explained to her then declared that she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same and that she is still satisfied herewith as her voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.  In Testimony thereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Notarized Seal on the day and year last aforesaid.

                                                                                    (Seal ) Thomas Larson, Notary Public

State of Minnesota County of Crow Wing ss.

Be it Remembered that on the 11^th day of April A.D. 1884 before me the subscriber a Notary Public in and for said County, personally appeared George Barkley,  Amarilia Barkley his wife the Grantors in the above Conveyance and acknowledged the Execution Signing and Sealing of the same, to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and the Said Amarilia Barkley wife of the Said George Barkley being at the same time examined by me Separate and apart from her said husband and the contents of said instrument being by me made known and explained to her then declared that she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same that she is still satisfied therewith is her voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.

In Testimony thereof I have herewith subscribed my name and affirmed my seal on this day and year last aforesaid.

                                                            (Seal)  W. M. [Clinaban], Notary Public

State of Kansas,C ounty of Johnson   ss.

Be it Remembered that on this 28^th day of April 1884 before me the subscriber a Notary Public in and for said County came the herein before named Charles T. Groves and Elizabeth Groves his wife the Grantors in the above conveyance and acknowledges the Execution Signing and Sealing of the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and that the said Elizabeth Groves wife of the said Charles T. Groves being at the same time examined by me separate and apart from her said husband and the contents of said instrument being by me made known and explained to her then declared that she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same and that she is still satisfied therewith as her voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.

In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Notarial seal on the day and year aforesaid.

                                                            Seal  S.H. Barnard, Notary Public

 (Commission Expires June 26, 1887)  Recorded this 8 day of July 1884, By C. ? Han Bri….. Recorder

Deeds can be very helpful in pinpointing the residence of a person and their relationships.   Henry Spracklin  is the full brother of Amarilla.  This deed is significant because it places Henry in Muscatine County, Iowa in 1884 with his wife Elizabeth.  My cousin and I, were finding it difficult to track Henry once he left home after 1870.  So this was great news to find this deed and discover where Henry was living. My cousin descends from this man so it was a great find.

Amarilla and George Barclay are my great grandparents.  This deed connects Amarilla to the Keller and Delano family.  The Delano family is very old and goes back to Philip Delano of the 2nd boat to Plymouth 1620, the Fortune. 

Charles T. Groves and Elizabeth (Mary Elizabeth Helt) are descendants of Lovina Lavinia (Keller) Helt, daughter of Mary and John, and sister to Elizabeth Keller Spracklin.  It places them in Johnson County, Kansas at this date. 

William F. Keller is the Grantee and Executor of his father John’s will.  He is the younger brother to Lovina and Elizabeth and it places him in Morrow County, Ohio at this date.

Recently I traveled to both Massachusetts and Ohio to dig into the research on Amarilla’s forebears and created another blog that will in more depth the Delano, Keller, Spracklin and Goss connections in Amarilla’s ancestral past.  It is too complicated and large for this Barclay blog.  This blog’s focus was on Amarilla’s and George’s life with references to her connections to these families.   That blog is titled “Solomon Goss of Fearing Township in Ohio.”   http://sgossfamily.wordpress.com/  I have placed a link under “Blogs I Like” to my other blogs.

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George Barclay Acquires Another Patent!

George continues to manage his land acquisitions and in 1884 he adds still more to his holdings and in that process he is acquiring a little more of the soon to be Pine River.  It is interesting that his location is Hennepin County in this patent?

4. Patent from BML – Cass May 10, 1884, St. Cloud #11834

#11834 Patent: G. A. Barclay of Hennepin Co., Minnesota, …St. Cloud, Minnesota whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said G.A. Barclay…and the acts supplemental thereto, for the north east quarter of the north west quarter of section six in township one hundred and thirty-seven north, of range twenty-nine west of the Fifth Principal Meridian in Minnesota containing forty acres, and eighteen hundredths of an acre…In Testimony Whereof, I, Chester A. Arthur… 10 of May 1884, etc…

#11834 Patent Added 1884

Click on the map and you will be able to study it in more detail.  Now that I am back from all my trips I can revisit all these land acquisitions and see if they are correct.  The Deed Mapper software is not as helpful in the land states as it is in the colonial states.

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