Henry and Elizabeth Spracklin’s Family

Henry and Elizabeth had a big family and it is a bit complicated.  This is not my family line.  Any additional research that I have done on this family was to learn more about Daniel, the father, and to help my cousin Jerry in any way that I could.  He is the authority on the Henry F. Spracklin and Elizabeth (Downey) Spracklin family, so bare with me.

The children of Henry and Elizabeth (Downey) Spracklin, here I have 11 children:

1.  Harry Spracklin was born 1 June 1876, Sigourney, Keokuk Co., Iowa and died 8 August 1927 Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa, buried Fairmount Cemetery in Davenport, no stone.  He married Frieda H. Ackerman born about 1877 in Davenport.  She died about 1937 in probably Davenport.  Her death is a guess on my part and needs to be further researched.  Harry and Frieda had 10 children: Dorothy Elizabeth, Leroy, Herbert, George Wilbert, Richard, Bertha Sophia, Florence Margaret, Hanna, Harold Lester, and Alice Margaret. 

Harry was also killed when a tree fell on him.  As a result of his death, a guardianship was created using his Spanish-American War pension to cover expenses for most of his children.  This guardianship spanned 20 years and 3 guardians.  It is this guardianship that details the lives of his troubled kids.  I will go into more detail in a future post, here is the source information. 

Source:  Harry Spracklin Probate Packet #1543779, 1928 – 2nd Series, #12989-13048, 1928-1938, District Court, Scott Co., Iowa, FHL#1493218, Probate Index 1834-1958 FHL#1479397 Item 1. 

An obituary notice for Harry was located in the Davenport Democrat & Leader, July 1, 1927-8/31/1927, Monday Evening, August 22, 1927, State Historical Society, Iowa City, Iowa.

Spracklin: Harry LeRoy Spracklin, 51, passed away at his home, 731 1/2 West Second street, at 5:30 a.m. today following an illness of three weeks duration. The deceased was born Jan. 4, 1876, at Sigourney, Iowa. He moved to Davenport with his parents when a small boy and has since resided here. Mr. Spracklin was a Spanish-American war veteran, and served in Cuba. He is survived by his wife, Frieda Spracklin; three sons, Le Roy, George and Harold, four daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Sievert, Bertha, Florence and Alice, all of Davenport; two sisters and five brothers. The body was taken to the Stapleton funeral parlors, from where services will be held Wednesday morning at 8:15 o’clock, with services at 3:30 at St. Anthony’s church. Interment will be made in Fairmont cemetery.

2. Edward Oliver Spracklin born 22 April 1877 in Iowa and died before 1940 in Napa, Napa Co., California.   Edward was drafted and appears in the WWI Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918, National Archives M1509, Roll #1544334

Registration Card: #693, A98, Edward Oliver Spracklin, Montaque, Siskiyou, California, age 41, Born April 22, 1877, Employer: Warehouse, Standard Oil Co., Monteque, Siskiyou, California. Contact Mrs. Elizabeth Spracklin, Davenport, Scott, Iowa. Registrar’s Report 4-3-20.C. Height medium, build medium, eyes brown, hair black. Signed Sept 12, 1918 by Chas. E. Wright. Local Board in Yreka, Siskiyou, California.

Edward also obtained a land patent BLM Serical #CAS0007137, #747943 Record Accession/Serial, Mt. Diablo, CA. Siskiyou for 160 acres.

He is listed in the Veterans Home of California in the 1930 Census for Napa Twp.,  Napa Co., California, ED28-22 SD5, Sheet 5A, 241, Ancestry.com.

3.  Margaret Evalena Spracklin born 21 January 1881 in Davenport, died November 1965 in Florida. She married 26 August 1896 in Davenport to a David E. Parke and had 3 children: Ortha Raymond 16 Feb 1900 to 5 April, 1924 (Oakdale Memorial Park in Davenport) , Earl David b. Duluth, MN and Viola R. Parke. 

Source: Located in the “P” section, #15458 Parke, Earl E infant, Parke David father, Maggie Spracklin mother, Book 5, pg. 20.  Birth Registrations Iowa (Index), Scott Co., Iowa – Vols 1-5 1880-1897 FHL#1004408 and FHL#2070905.

Here is an obituary notice for Ortha:

Parke – Ortha Raymond Parke, passed away at his home in the Walsh Apartments at 6:40 o’clock this morning, after 18 weeks of illness. He was born in Davenport Feb. 16, 1900, and was educated in the Davenport schools, and has been employed as an usher at the Fort Armstrong theater. Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. David E. Parke, one brother, Earl David Parke of Duluth, Minn. and one sister, Miss Viola R. at home. The maternal grandmother, Mrs. J.S. Newton of Fairfield, Fla. also survives. Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock from Runge’s chapel, and interment will be made in Oakdale Cemetery. Source: The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Sept. 5, 1924.  Davenport newspaper pg. 23, April 5, 1924.

4. Sophia Spracklin born 23 January 1881 and died probably 1881 in Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa.

Return of Birth: Child named Sophia, female in Davenport on Jan. 23, 1881 to Henry Spracklin born in Knox Co., Ohio. Elizabeth Downey born at Cambria Co., Pennsylvania, Mother’s residence 9 Street, father is a laborer, attendant Jane Gray, Dated Davenport 1881, Residence 951 East 14th St.  Another researcher either found at the Iowa Genealogical Society or State Historical in Des Moines.

Another source:  FHL#2070905 Births Scott Co., pg. 241 Skips 1906 to 1914 no Spracklins listed again #1682, 987 Sophia Spracklin Feb. 18, 1881.

5. Wilbur Spracklin born about 1885 in Muscatine Co., Iowa. 

6. Flora Spracklin born about 1883 in Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa.

7. John Daniel Spracklin, born 7 August 1884. 

8. Elizabeth Ann Spracklin born 24 July 1886 in Davenport, died July 1986 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She married a Charles Richard Madison Burford 10 September 1903 in Sola, Camaguey, Cuba. Charles the father was born 3 January 1878 in Lewis Co., Missouri and died August 1967 in Coral Gables, Miami-Dade, Florida. 

They had three children: 

1.  Lillian E. Burford born about 1916 in Iowa.

2.  Betty A. Burford, born about 1915

3. Richard Demmit Burford II, born 22 June 1920 Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa and died around 1983 at Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas.  Richard married Catherine Blanche Lemberg and had 3 children:  1) Richard Demmitt Burford III, 2) Charles Frederick Burford, and 3) Catherine Blanche Burford.

9. Elmer George Spracklin born 15 September, 1888, in Davenport, died 6 July 1963 in Persia, Harrison Co., Iowa.  He is buried in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Portsmouth, Shelby Co., Iowa.  Elmer married Ellen (Nellie) Bendon on the 28th of March, 1914 in Davenport.  Ellen was born about 1889 in Portsmouth, Shelby Co., Iowa and died around 1966 in Persia, Harrison Co., Iowa.  She is also buried in St. Mary’s.  Her parents were Simon Bendon (1843-1928) and Anastasia Agnes Wagner (1845-1928). 

A Tribute published in the pages of The Council Bluffs newspaper, Council Bluffs, Iowa – July 6, 1963.

Elmer Spracklin – Funeral services were held on Monday at 10am for Elmer Spracklin, 74, at his home in Persia with Father Wilwerding officiating. He died suddenly of a heart attack at his home Saturday morning. He had been a farmer and a trucker in the Harrison and Shelby County areas most of his life. Mr. Spracklin was born in Davenport. He is survived by his widow, Nellie, four daughters, Mrs. Ruth Ditzler of Council Bluffs; Mrs. Irene Pitt of Persia; Mrs. Margaret Peterson of Mondamin and Mrs. Francis Elias of Ute. Three sons, John and Max of Council Bluffs, Don of Valley, Nebr., A brother Elroy Spracklin of Michigan, a sister Mrs. Bessie Burford in Florida; 18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Walter Kuster, John Greiner, Woodrow Wilson, William Wilson, Murie Fitzgerald, Russell Ickes. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Portsmouth.

Elmer and Nellie’s family

Elmer and Ellen had 8 children:

1.  Ruth Spracklin born 13 April 1913 in Portsmouth, Shelby Co., Iowa and died Jul. 1981.  She married a Louis Ditzler born 3 January 1906 in Portsmouth and died Aug 1968 in Council Bluffs, Potawattamie Co., Iowa.  They had 3 children:  Marjorie, Ruth and Rita.

2.  Irene Spracklin born 19 March 1917 in Portsmouth and died February 1881.  She married an Owen Pitt born 20 April 1912 in Persia, Harrison Co., Iowa.

3.  John Edward Spracklin born 11 April 1919 in Portsmouth and died 25 Oct. 1991 in Omaha, Douglas Co. Nebraska.  He was buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  John married Gilda L. George born 11 April 1923 in Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa and died 11 December 1989 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska.  She is buried in Council Bluffs.  John and Gilda had 10 children of which there are living descendants.

4.  Pauline Spracklin was born 25 October 1922 in Portsmouth and died June 1979 in Portsmouth and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Portsmouth, Shelby Co., Iowa.

5.  Margaret Spracklin was born 8 May 1924 in Portsmouth.  She married a Donald Fisher and also a Donald Peterson and had two children by Peterson.

6.  Maxmillio Spracklin was born 26 April 1926 in Iowa and died 22 March 1998 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Max had two children but I do not know his wife’s name.

7.  Donald Spracklin born 28 Jan 1928 in Portsmouth, married Delores Chapman born 7 May 1932.  They had one child. 

8.  Francis Spracklin was born 5 September 1930 in Portsmouth and died 26 April 2002 in Council Bluffs.  She married Ronald Elias. 

10. Raymond Otha Spracklin born 17 Sep. 1890 in Davenport, died 17 Jan 1935 in Harrison Co., Iowa.  He is buried in the Lytle Cemetery in Harrison Co., Iowa.  He married Minne Hansen 5 July 1932 and they had one daughter: Donna Rae.

Ray was a Veteran of World War I.

Obituary of Ray Spracklin – Residents of this vicinity were greatly shocked Thursday afternoon Jan. 17, to learn that Raymond Spracklin had been fatally injured by a tree falling on him. He and his two step-sons Charlie and Donald Newland, had gone to the timber of Jim Foley, two miles sought of Persia, and were cutting a tree. They had planned to fall the tree north and had placed the wedge in the south cut of the tree. Mr. Spracklin hit the wedge, but instead of the tree tipping over it jumped off the stump to the north, causing the tree to fall south. Ray tried to get out-of-the-way but the limb hit him, fractured his skull and broke both legs, bruised his body. The boys went for help at once. Mr. Foley, who was the first come sawed the limb so it could be removed from his body. Mrs. Foley also helped till W. E. Becker came with his ambulance and took him to the Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs where he passed away at 7:30. Raymond Otha Spracklin was born Sept. 17, 1890 and died Jan. 17, 1935, at the Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs at the age of 45 years and 4 months. He was married July 5, 1932 to Minne Hansen. To this union one daughter was born, Donna Rae. He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife and daughter and seven step-children; Blanche of Council Bluffs, Anabelle, Dorothy, Charles, Mable, Donald and Kathryn all at home. He also leaves his mother, two sisters and several brothers. He was a loving father. His children’s comfort was his first thought. Funeral sevices will be held Saturday afternoon at the Latter Day Saints Church in Persia at 1:30 conducted by Elder Wm. Chambers of that church. Ray was well-known in this community, having spent part of his life here and his many friends will be grieved to learn of his passing.

This obituary was found in The Republican Newspaper of Harlan, Iowa on Thurs Jan 31, 1935.

11.  Elroy Franklin Spracklin born 23 January 1891 in Scott Co., Iowa and died 27 Oct. 1971 Thonotosassa, Hillsborough, Florida. He married Mary Dohoney 21 June 1913 in Davenport.  She was born about 1895 in Chicago and died 4 February 1920.  She is buried in St. Margueriite’s Cemetery in Davenport. They had four children. 

I hope I have presented this family as correctly as possible.  There is a lot more information to share.  There was a lot of research done in vital records, census, city directories, newspapers and more. If you would like to know more about these families please contact me.  Most of the information found was through the efforts of my cousin Jerry.  He gave me his permission to present this information to you.

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

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.

********

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/