Western Adventures

She was a beautiful young school teacher from Iowa.

He was a handsome cowpuncher who grew up in Colorado ranching country.

Sounds like the stuff of movies but it's the true story of my great-grandparents, Ruth Conaway and Henry "Lon" Henderson.

Ruth was born in 1880 and grew up in a large farm family. Her father Adolphus came from Ohio, and while her mother Alice was born in Iowa, she had southern roots. Adolphus was a Civil War vet and a not particularly successful farmer. Alice was deeply religious and made sure her family took the Sabbath seriously - no reading except the Bible, no music except hymns, and theater and cards weren't allowed any day of the week.

Adolphus's sister Phytama and her husband John Heilman migrated with a group of families from Iowa to Colorado in 1874. Adolphus and Phytama's sister Malana (who never married), and their mother Nancy followed and were in Rock Creek by 1880.

The home of Nancy (Horn) (Conaway) Hall in Colorado.

The Heilmans carved out a life for themselves as ranchers, and Malana became a teacher and missionary to the Mexican families in the area. As Adolphus's children reached adulthood, at least two of them followed their aunts to Colorado. Nannie Conaway went first, earning her Colorado teaching certificate in 1892. Two years later, she married Jim Crooks. Ruth, who was 11 years younger than Nannie, had her 19th birthday at the turn of the century. She became a teacher in Iowa, but Colorado soon beckoned.

The Virginian, an early western novel which told the story of a ranch foreman in Wyoming was published in 1902. Captured by the romance of the novel, Ruth moved to Monte Vista, Colorado, where she secured a teaching position.

As it happened, in Monte Vista, Ruth boarded with Sarah Clark, the sister of Lon Henderson. (Sarah and Lon were two of the children of Henry G. Henderson and Abigail McCloud, another Colorado pioneer family.) Their daughter, Virginia, explained "Lon was tall, dark and handsome, and Ruth fell in love."

Lon on his roping horse, Jim Snort

Lon and Ruth were married on December 25, 1904, in Monte Vista, Colorado. Lon's brother, Bill, and Ruth's friend Hetty Watts stood up with them. They remained in Colorado until about 1922, when they moved to California.

Daniel Canfield, Artificer in the Revolutionary War

I learned a few days ago that one in 40 Americans has an ancestor who served in the Revolutionary War. Logic dictates that if you have one ancestor who served, you likely have several, and that is the case with both my mom's line and my dad's line. Between them, I have identified 16 Revolutionary War veterans to date.

For this holiday, I decided to try to learn more about one them  - Daniel Canfield, my 5th great grandfather. 

Daniel was born in Danbury, Connecticut in 1761. I imagine as he grew up, he regularly heard adults discussing the tyranny of Great Britain and the frustration and anger of the colonists. Given Danbury's location halfway between Philadelphia and Boston the town must have been well informed about the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence. Can you imagine what it might have been like for Daniel to come of age during the Revolutionary War?

Daniel was 15 when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The colonies had been at war with Great Britain for about a year. Three years later, when he was nearly 18, Daniel enlisted. In his own words:

"I Daniel Canfield of Litchfield County and state of Connecticut depose and declare that on or about the 11th day of March 1779, I inlisted myself in the revolutionary war against the common enemy as an artificer in the continental line during the war in Capt. Osborn company, Col. Jeduthan Baldwins regiment of artificers."

Statement from Daniel Canfield's Pension File

Never heard of an artificer? Here's a definition:

artificer

1. a skilled craftsman

2. a clever or inventive designer

3. (Military) a serviceman trained in mechanics

We know that later in life, Daniel was a blacksmith. Did he enter the service with knowledge of the craft, and perhaps hone his skills while serving in the war?


The following video tells about the importance of blacksmiths in the war.

I tried to learn a little more about Col. Jeduthan Baldwin's Regiment of Artificers. Here's what I found.


"[A]uthorized by Congress in '77 was a corps of 'Artificers' to be commanded by Jeduthan Baldwin . . . The 'men were largely artisans, carpenters, builders, tent makers, tailors, &c.' The regiment was at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and other fields. A large proportion of the officers and men . . . joined from Connecticut." 

Again from Daniel: 

" . . . I served faithfully until April 1781 when I received a wound in one of my hands and was discharged on that account which lameness has ever been upon me . . . "


Anecdotal history passed down in the Frederick A. Canfield papers (a genealogical collection) states that Daniel was injured by a sword cut in the hand. Perhaps Daniel was a blacksmith during the war, and this injury happened as he worked. 

A Revolutionary War-era sword

After being discharged at Fishkill, NY, Daniel married Rebecca Hotchkiss about 1783. Sadly, Rebecca died in 1784, about a month after giving birth to their son Roderick. She was buried at Huxley Cemetery in New Marlborough, Mass., where Daniel's father and grandfather are buried. 

Daniel married Ruth Stevens on May 26, 1785. From the pension papers, it seems Daniel wasn't prosperous financially, but he and Ruth had eight children -- Ruel, Ruanna, Rama, Rufus, Rastus, Rial, Rebecca, and Ruth. When Daniel applied for a pension on March 28, 1818, he was living in Norwalk, CT. He was granted $8 a month, or $96 a year. In the early 1830s, he moved to Lenox, where he asked that his pension be transferred. Another statement from the file:

"The following are his reasons for removing from Connecticut to Massachusetts, viz. He being a blacksmith by trade and residing with his son, who is also of the same trade, removed with him in hopes of bettering their business."

Daniel died in Lenox on March 8, 1841. Ruth died about a year later on April 2, 1842.  Daniel and Ruth aren't included in online lists of the gravestones in the local Congregationalist church, now known as the Church on the Hill. However, according to the sexton's statement, Daniel was buried in the local churchyard.

Church on the Hill Cemetery

Sources:
1. Record of service of Connecticut men in the I. War of the Revolution, II. War of 1812, III. Mexican War compiled by authority of the General Assembly, under direction of the Adjutants-General ... Published 1889 by Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. in Hartford.

2. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, published by The National Archives, Record for Daniel Canfield, Service: Continental (Conn.), Pension Number: S. 29696

My Time at the National Archives

One of the highlights of our trip to DC was the time I spent researching family history in the National Archives. There are National Archives branches spread throughout the US and I have been to branch in San Bruno, CA. So why bother going to the DC location? That's where the original documents for the Civil War pension records are stored. You can request these be copied and sent to you, and I have done so in the past. For $25 staff members will send you "selected" items from the files. You can obtain the entire file for $75 for the first 100 pages and $.65 per additional page. The entire file is pricey, but if you aren't going to DC anytime soon, that's an option. When you chose the $25 package, a staff member will be deciding what to send you. I wanted to go through the files myself, and I wanted to see the actual documents in their real color (not the xerox black and white).

Orientation
This research journey is not for those who don't have the patience to wend their way through a lengthy process. Here's how it went. I arrived about 9:30 am. First stop - security, where I provided my driver's license and filled out an equipment permit for my camera. Next, into the orientation area on the first floor. I reviewed a Powerpoint presentation about the rules and how to handle the records. I was then issued a temporary researcher card, which normally would have included my picture, but the equipment wasn't working and they were waiting for IT to get back to them. (Sound familiar?) From there to the help desk, where I told the worker what I wanted to do. She directed me to a computer and I looked up the pension index numbers using - wait for it - Ancestry.com. Hah! If I had known about this step, I would have done it at home.

Requesting the Files
I completed forms (in duplicate) for four pension files, providing the index numbers from Ancestry.com. I made the 11:00 am deadline (aka "pull time"). Note that you can only request four files during each "pull time." Then I went back and found four more files I wanted, completed four more forms, and submitted them for the 1:00 pull time. It takes at least an hour to get the files and by now I had learned they would hold the files for three days. So I left the archives and spent the afternoon playing tourist with Ray.

Preparing to Enter the Research Room

Next morning, I am back at the archives and ready to enter the fabled Research room where I will be able to look at the files. I store my purse in a locker, and take my camera, cell phone, coin purse, pencil, and one sheet of paper (a list of the files I wanted) into the research room. Notebooks, binders, legal pads, file folders, briefcases, backpacks, purses are not allowed. PCs, scanners, and cameras are allowed. I kept it simple by taking my camera and cell phone. (Note that my entire genealogy database is on my cell phone so I can always check names and dates there if needed.)

Reviewing the Files
I go to the desk in the Research Room and am shown the files I requested. I see a stack of 9 x 15 brown envelopes that are each two or three inches thick. Some of my ancestor's files have multiple envelopes. I am shocked by the amount of material I see and am worried that I have bitten off more than I can chew. Fortunately, a couple of the files, from the War of 1812, have only a very few documents. I am given one file and I start perusing the material. Since I have seen much of this material before (in the form of xeroxes sent to me years ago) I know what I am looking for. There are certain documents - such as a letter my great-great-grandmother wrote - that I want to locate and photograph. And, I am looking for items I haven't seen before, items the staff may have missed. So I actually scan the files pretty quickly, setting aside items I want to photograph. There is a very nice camera stand, but you have to sign up to use it in one-hour increments. The system doesn't really work very well for me. Sometimes I use the camera stand and other times I just take the photos at my desk.

I realized I might not find any new information, but in fact, I did. The files for my great-great-grandfather John Weaver had an affidavit I had never seen before. In this file, he named his father. This is actually highly unusual - you almost never see parents' names in Civil War pension files as the application forms didn't ask for this information. I was thrilled. This wasn't the only piece of new information I found, but it was the most exciting!

The next afternoon, I came back to the Archives to complete my research. I worked my way through the remaining files and took many more photographs. I also made xerox copies of some pages, particularly those which I wanted to make absolutely certain I had a copy of.

Leaving the Archives
When you leave the research room, you take any xerox copies to the desk. The staff member pages through them to make sure you haven't mixed any original documents in with them. The xerox copies are then placed in a canvas bag which is zipped and locked. My first day, I was scolded about that one sheet of paper I brought in with me as I forgot to have it stamped when I entered the room! Fortunately, it was quite clear that it was not from a pension file. I  passed through security in the Research Room (where the camera permit was reviewed). Then I went down to the lockers and retrieved my purse. Last stop was security at the building exit. My camera and the permit were reviewed again, and the canvas bag with my xerox copies was unlocked. Finally, I turned in my badge and left for the day.

I had wondered before our trip if it would be worth the trouble to go to the National Archives. As you might have guessed, my answer is a resounding "yes!"

What Is the National Archives?

Our Trip to Washington, D.C.

In this post, I want to write about our recent trip to D.C., which was wonderful! We flew in to Washington on Memorial Day, 2011.

Tuesday - I visited my company's DC office, then we came back, changed clothes, and took the Metro to the Air and Space Museum. Perused the exhibits there, then walked across the Mall to the National Archives where we stood in line to see the Charters of Freedom - the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Then we returned to our lodging in Columbia Heights where we had dinner at the Heights.

Wednesday - a stop at Starbucks for capps, then on to the Capitol Building. Toured with a bunch of middle school kids. Watched a powerful video about the significance of the U.S. constitutional process. Saw the rotunda, the hall of statues, and the crypt - standard stops on the tour for those without passes to the galleries. We took the underground walkway to the Library of Congress where we wandered around for a while taking in its beauty. Ray enjoyed an exhibit about Jefferson's Library. We started a tour but slipped away about halfway through. Next stop, the Supreme Court where we caught a 3:30 lecture in the courtroom. The docent was very good and we enjoyed her presentation thoroughly. We stopped at the info desk on the way out and asked about where to get some dinner. The woman suggested Union Station so we walked a few blocks and got there just as raindrops began to fall. After dinner, we took the Metro back to our lodging.

Thursday - I headed for the National Archives - this time as a researcher, and Ray went to the Folger Shakespeare Library. We met up for lunch and then walked down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. We couldn't see the front as it was blocked off so dignitaries could arrive. We walked around the back (saw Michelle Obama's vegetable garden) and by the time we got to the other side, the front was open and not crowded so we took some nice pictures. From there, we walked east to the International Spy Museum. Unfortunately, the best parts of the museum are about halfway through and we spent too much time at the initial exhibits so we were brain-dead long before the end. Best visited when one is mentally fresh!

Friday - Another morning at the National Archives for me. We met again at lunch time and purchased Old Town Trolley tickets. We took the trolley to the Jefferson Memorial. From there we went to the Lincoln Memorial, and then took the bus to Arlington. We didn't get off the bus but came back to the Lincoln Memorial and walked our way east through the memorials - the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. We missed the FDR Memorial, which everyone says is wonderful. Next stop, the Washington Monument.

Saturday - We wanted to use our Trolley tickets again so we took the route that goes to the National Cathedral and Georgetown. We walked around Georgetown a bit and saw the university. We also had lunch at the restaurant where JFK proposed to Jackie. Then back on the trolley for a head-spinning tour along embassy row. I spent the afternoon wrapping up my research at the National Archives.

Sunday - Off to Baltimore for the ball game. It was a great time to drive through town, and we easily made our way to Camden Yards, although we did have difficulty finding the parking. We are accustomed to the big signs and clear directions at Dodger Stadium! Camden Yards is a beautiful park and the stadium was packed with kids - it was Little League day. The game was boring but we enjoyed our trip. We then headed to the harbor for dinner.

Monday - Off to the airport. Our drive out of town took us past the Washington Monument, and as we left we began talking about how eager we both were to come back.

Click here for Photos of Our Trip

John Weaver, Brick Mason and Brick Wall*

John Weaver was my Grandma Evelyn's grandfather. John occupies a very special place in my genealogy charts. Of my 16 great-great-grandparents, John is the only one whose parents I am unable to identify. On some lines, I can go back 15+ generations. But with John, I can't get to the sixth generation. Here's why. John Weaver came from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where the name Weaver is extremely common. He moved to Iowa as a young man, apparently without his parents. I know a lot about his adult life - he was a farmer and a brick mason, and every one of his six sons who lived to adulthood became brick masons. 

John Weaver and five of his sons. My great-grandfather,
James Baird Weaver is standing behind John.

Last year, when I was in Pennsylvania for a conference, I went to Lancaster where I spent some time at the library and at the Mennonite history center trying to find John's family. No luck there but I did follow up on a lead my mom sent me a couple years ago. Two Weaver families in eastern Lancaster Co. caught my attention. Isaac Weaver, head of one of the families was a brick mason, living on Swartzville Road near other tradesmen such as masons and blacksmiths. In 1850, he had a son about the same age as John. The other family, headed by Henry Weaver, lived only a few miles away, but by 1860 had moved to the same area of Iowa that John did. Perhaps Henry was an uncle or cousin of John - I'll do more research to find out. But as I drove down along the Adamstown and Swartzville Roads, where several Weavers were living in 1875, I found this cute little brick house, which reminded me that my Weavers were brick masons. The photo at the bottom shows a house my great-grandfather James Baird Weaver built for his family in Los Angeles.

A house on the Adamstown Road (Lancaster) in 2010

One of the brick homes James Baird Weaver built for
his family in Los Angeles.
They lived here from 1921 to 1924.

Dear Mother

Below are messages Abbie's children sent her via postcards, as well as photos of some of her children and grandchildren. 

Postmarked Eureka Nevada, May 1908

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Englewood RFD No 1 Box 116, Denver, Colo.

Dear Mother,

This is the town in which I live. It has been a great old town and it has all the earmarks of being a good camp next summer.

Your T

C. G. (?) Henderson 

[Charles Henderson]

Charles Henderson

Postmarked Los Angeles, Mar 1910

To: Mrs. A.A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear Mother,

We will be in Los Angeles in a few minutes. Things are fine and dandy. Green peaches and cherry trees in bloom, have cut alfalfa once, flowers are blooming.

Yours with love,

Sarah M. Clark

I am feeling fine. I had colic from drinking ice [following text unreadable]. Oranges are plentiful.

Postmarked Venice, Cal, March 14, 1910

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear Mother and Father,

We are visiting the coast today, wading, eating, and seeing sights. Take train for Madera tonight. We will stop at Lindsay and will probably reach Madera Tuesday.

Sarah M. Clark

Postmarked Crawford, Colo., April 12, 1910

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear Mother,

I will drop you a card to let you know how we are. I am in bed sick again. John is feeling quite well. Johnie has had the pneumonia but is well now. Love to all. Hope Will is well. 

C. L. H. 

[Claudia Henderson, wife of John Henderson]

Postmarked 1910, Madera, Cal.

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves

Dear [text unreadable],

We are in Madera Calif now where we think we'll settle.

Yours truly,

A.C. 

[Arthur Clark, son of Sarah Clark]

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Madera, Cal

5/15/1910

Dear Ma and Pa G.,

Many happy returns. Everything is lovely here but don't come because we like it for it has its drawbacks but one that sets their heads to make it here can surely do it.

Love and best wishes,

C. K. C. 

[Clifford Clark, husband of Sarah Clark]

No postmark, no date

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Englewood RFD No 1 Box 116

Colo.

Dear Mother,

We got your letter but Mary is sick so I have not got time to write now but will write later. John is well. Hope you are all well. Goodbye. Write soon.

Your loving daughter,

Mrs. J. G. Henderson 

[Claudia Henderson, wife of John Henderson]

Crawford, Colo.

Henry "Lon" Henderson

Postmarked Colorado
July 30, 1910

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, 137 W. 25^th Street, Los Angeles, CA

Dear friends,

Your card came all OK. We are well as usual. I found grandma quite poorly. She is failing fast. I think she looks very bad. Mrs. Surkle was over yesterday. Baby not very well. Neither is Mrs. S. Will close. We had a good rain yesterday and last night. Lots of water in the ditch.

Mary E. Anson

Postmarked Monte Vista Aug 9, 1910

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves

Los Angeles

California

137 W. 25^th Street

Madera California

Dear Mother,

I received your letter and am glad to hear that you are feeling better. I am alright. I have been fishing for weeks up to plat and caught a nice lot of fish. It is especially hot here.

Your son

Bill Henderson

William "Bill" Henderson

Postmarked Monte Vista, Sep 28 1910

To: Mrs. A.A. Groves, Madera, Ca

9-24-10

Dear Mother,

Mother I received your letter the other day and was glad to hear from you. So you are undecided whether you will stay there or not. Mother I am alright as far as I know and you don't need to worry about me. I am old enough to take care of myself and I am sure glad to hear that you are feeling better than you were here. So goodbye as ever your son, 

Will Henderson

Postmarked Madera

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear Mother,

How are you today? We have just come home from prayer meeting where we ask special prayer for you. We hope and pray you are better. With love and many kisses,

Your daughter and family

Postmarked Madera

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear grandma,

I am in a boys band and the grapes and the watermelon and the figs have grown. And we have 24 little pigs 6 mamma pigs and how are you all and tell me about V.P. good by 

XX from J.C. 

[Jonathan Clark, son of Sarah Clark]

Sarah Mandana Henderson Clark

Postmarked Los Angeles, Jun 22, 1912
To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

June 21, 1912

Dear Mother,

Received your very welcome letter. We'll hope you are resting. We are about to sell out but as yet don't now where we will live. After 2 months in the trade we get 73 acres near Midview. With love to all I will write  [remaining text is unreadable].

[Letter is in the handwriting and purple pencil Sarah Clark always used.]

Postmark Crawford, Colo

To: Mrs. John Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Crawford, Colo.

Oct 21, 1912

Dear friend,

Your son John is here in town but they say his wife is going to Denver tomorrow and that he will the next day. They say he has a job over there.

Effie

Postmarked Monte Vista, Aug 28, 1915

To: Mrs. A.A. Groves, Corona, Calif. R.F.D. 181

Dear Folks,

Received your letter and will write in a few days. Everything fine here. Both of us are fine. Bill feels pretty good now, especially since the crop is good.

With love,

Blanche [wife of Bill Henderson]

The depot, Monte Vista, Colorado

Abbie McCloud Henderson Moves On

Boy did Abbie move on! Henry died on December 7, 1897, and Abbie remarried eleven days later on December 18, 1897 in Joplin, Missouri. After many years of caring for a sick husband and large family with very little in the way of resources, I don't blame her. And although a family story says her son Lon left home due to the relationship, Lon and his older brother were still living with Abbie and her new husband, John Fisher, in Monte Vista in 1900. On October 26, 1906, Abbie married again, to John Groves. Over the years, Abbie and John Groves, and her children moved to California. Daughter Sarah Mandana and her husband Clifford Clark were in California by 1910, and Abbie and John by 1916. Eventually Lon, his wife Ruth, and daughter Virginia moved, and finally, Bill moved too.  While the family was apart, Abbie's children sent postcards keeping her apprised of their whereabouts and their well being. Abbie saved the postcards in a simple black album that we still have. Abbie, Sarah, Lon, and their families all ended up living near one other in Pomona. Abbie's granddaughter Virginia, who was born in 1910, spoke of her grandmother with a deep sense of awe and love, and she talked of Grandaddy Groves with great affection. Virginia said that although her grandparents had very little money, she and her parents were welcomed into their home with open arms and abundant generosity. On a lighter note, Virginia also remembered her grandmother teaching her how to heat maple syrup and pour it over snow to make maple candy. In the photo below, which was taken after she married John Groves, Abbie is wearing the GAR star her first husband Henry wore. Did she wear it in memory of Henry? Or as a kind of badge of honor she herself had earned? Either way, I am impressed by her resilience and strength.  

Abbie McCloud Henderson Fisher Groves

John Groves, the beloved "grandaddy"