#52 Ancestor's Challenge 2015 - Claibourne Kidd - Tennessee to Missouri - Week 2

Week #2 is here.  This week's theme for the 52 Ancestor's Challenge, started by Amy Johnson Crow, is "King."  I thought about this one all week.  A bit of a struggle, I must say.  So I've decided to go another route.
This week I've decided to write about my 4th great grandfather, Claibourne N. Kidd.  His name is one of the many interesting names I can find in my tree.  I just love it!  I don't know any personal stories passed down on him.  I just have what I can find in my basic research.
Claibourne N. Kidd was born November 21, 1826 in Tennessee.  The date is from his gravestone and birth state from census records.  I believe he may have been the son of James and Francis Kidd, per other's research I've seen online.  We can find Claibourne in the 1850 Federal Census living in District 8 of Warren County, Tennessee.  He is found just two households from James and Francis.  This, however, doesn't mean they are Claibourne's parents, but it's a possibility I'm not willing to rule out yet.
On the 1850 census, we can see Claibourne was married to a woman named Sarah, and they had 3 daughters in the house: Mary J. age 5, Martha age 3, and Nancy age 2.  Mary J. Kidd was my 3rd great grandmother.  The census also states that Claibourne was 22 years old, and working as a wagon maker.
I have found online that others believe Sarah, his wife, was Sarah Allison.  As of today, I haven't been able to find a marriage record, or any other record, to prove this.  There was, however, several Allison families living in this same district at this time.  So it's a possibility.
By 1860, we see the family has moved to Kelley, Ripley County, Missouri.  We also see that Sarah was no longer in the household, and Claibourne has remarried.  It's very possible Sarah died, leaving Claibourne with 3 young daughters to raise.
His new wife is simply listed as "C. Kidd."  But if we look at the Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 on Ancestry.com, we can see Claibourne married Cinthy Freeman in Oregon County on December 30, 1852.  The household, in 1860, consisted of the following people:

• CN Kidd age 30 (male) born in TN
• C Kidd age 23 (female) born in IL
• Martha Kidd age 13 (female) born in TN
• Nancy Kidd age 11 (female) born in TN
• C Kidd age 5 (male) born in MO
• Jas Lee age 14 (male) born in MO
• SA Lee age 11 (female) born in MO
• C Lee age 4 (female) born in MO
• Wm Ross age 19 (male) born in IL
• MJ Ross age 15 (female) born in TN

Martha, Nancy, and "MJ Ross" were Claibourne's children from his first wife Sarah.  "C Kidd" who was 5, was the son of Claibourne and Cinthy.  His name was Claibourne Nathan Kidd.  The three Lee children may have been relatives, or friends, of Cinthy.  In the 1850 census, Cinthy was living with the George Lee family.  I haven't looked into the link there though.  "Wm Ross" was the husband of Claibourne's daughter Mary Jane Ross.  You can read more about William Ross and Mary Jane in a previous post I wrote last year.
On the website Fold3.com, I was able to find a Civil War record for a CN Kidd.  It stated he was in Company A of the 15th Missouri Calvary.  He enlisted as a private for a period of 12 months in 1862 for the Confederacy.  This particular document also states he had deserted as of "1 June 1862."  According to a website which refers to the Civil War in Ripley County, Missouri, the 15th Missouri Cavalry was also known as the "Independent Missouri Scouts," and didn't muster into Confederate service until 1864.
On Ancestry.com, we can find another document regarding the Civil War, but this time it's a Draft Registration Record for the Union side.  On a "Consolidated List of all persons subject to do Military Duty in the Third Congressional District in the State of Missouri" we find "Kid, Clabourn" age 31 of Ripley County.  It states he was single, which isn't correct, and that he was born in Tennessee.  It also states that he has had no previous military service.  It's unknown if Claibourne actually fought for either side of the War. 
By 1870, we can see Claibourne has moved his family to Breton, Washington County, MO.  He is living there with his wife, Cinthy (or Cynthia as it's written on the 1870 census) and his son Claibourne, and working as a carpenter.
Findagrave.com shows a picture of the grave site for C.N. Kidd in the Miles Cemetery, in Piedmont, Wayne County, Missouri.  The stone says he died November 13, 1874.

52 Ancestor's Challenge - William H. Ross 1841-1916 Missouri - Week 28

Week 28 is about William H. Ross.  According to Findagrave.com, William was born February 23, 1841.  Where he was born, I'm not sure.  I have conflicting information.  A few people have posted online that he was born in Cane Creek, Missouri.  His daughter, Martha Jane Ross Hopson Tracy, has that he was born in Missouri on her death certificate.  The 1850 Federal Census shows he was born in Missouri as well.  However, looking into later censuses, we find in 1900 it says he was born in Indiana and so were his parents.  But by 1910 it states he was born in Illinois, but it was unknown where his parents were born.

Speaking of William's parents, who were they?  I've seen online that some have his father listed as Thomas Ross, but I haven't seen any proof.  The 1850 Federal Census has William, who is age 9, living with another William who is age 60.  Could this older William be his father?  There are no relationships shown in the 1850 census, so we just don't know.

Tracking William's moves with the censuses, we can see where he lived and who he lived with (documents found on Ancestry.com):

1850 Federal Census
Living in District 77, Ripley County, Missouri
People living in household:

• William Ross, male, age 60 born in Connecticut, occupation is farming
• Lorenso Ross, male, age 19 born in Missouri, occupation is farming
• Jinnetta Ross, female, age 17 born in Missouri, no occupation
• Calvin Ross, male, age 14 born in Georgia possibly (hard to read initials), no occupation
• William Ross, male, age 9 born in Missouri, no occupation

1860 Federal Census

Living in Kelly Township, Ripley County, Missouri

Local Post Office is listed as Doniphan (this will come up again)

People living in household:

• C.N. (Claiborne) Kidd, male, age 30 born in Tennessee, occupation is farmer
• C. Kidd, female, age 23 born in Illinois, occupation is domestic
• Martha Kidd, female, age 13 born in Tennessee, no occupation
• Nancy Kidd, female, age 11 born in Tennessee, no occupation
• C. Kidd, male, age 5 born in Missouri, no occupation
• Jas Lee, male, age 14 born in Missouri, no occupation
• S.A. Lee, female, age 11 born in Missouri, no occupation
• C. Lee, female, age 4 born in Missouri, no occupation
• William Ross, male, age 19 born in Illinois, occupation is farmer
• Mary Jane Ross, female, age 15 born in Tennessee, no occupation

I haven't been able to find the marriage record for William and Mary Jane, but the 1910 Federal Census shows they were married about 1860.

We know from family tradition that William Ross fought in the Civil War for the Confederacy.  Family stories state he and his son-in-law, Harmon Augusta Tracy, who fought for the North, used to try tripping each other with their canes (Harmon was about 7 years older then William).  I have had trouble finding him in Civil War records.  There are too many with the same name.  However, browsing through Fold3.com, I found a Civil War record for Private William Ross of the 9th Missouri Infantry, Company H.  They show this William Ross was captured by the North in Little Rock, Arkansas on May 12, 1863.  With these records is a letter written on January 11th, 1865 stating his Oath of Allegiance to the United States.  This entire letter can be seen on Fold3.com, if you have a subscription.  It says the following:

"I Wm. Ross a private of Company H 9th Missouri Infy would respectfully represent that I was Conscripted in the Rebel Service in August, 1862, at Doniphan Missouri, I was forced into the Rebel Army against my free will and consent,...I voluntarily surrendered to the 6th Missouri Calvary at Little Rock Arkansas the 12th May 1863, in order to avail myself of the Amnesty Proclamation..."

I feel certain this may be the same William.  The link is that he enlisted at Doniphan, which was the post office location for his household on the 1860 Federal Census.  However, I have one hang up.  His daughter Martha Jane was born March 30, 1864.  His wife would have had to become pregnant right before he was captured, and have given birth late (pregnancy would have lasted about 45 weeks).  Could he have been able to go home at some point?  I can not say with 100% certainty that we have the same person.

The 1870 Federal Census, I can not find.  Not sure where they could have been living.  So we'll pick up with the 1880 Federal Census.

1880 Federal Census
Living on Third Street in De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri
People living in household:

• William Ross, head of household, male, age 38 born in Illinois, parents born in Indiana, occupation is a Locomotive Fireman
• Mary J. Ross, wife,  female, age 34 born in Tennessee, parents born in Tennessee, occupation is keeping house
• Mattie Ross, daughter, female, age 16 born in Missouri, occupation is at home

By the 1900 Federal Census, they were living at 410 Stone Street, in Valle Township, City of De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  Their daughter, Martha, was not listed on the census with William and Mary Jane, but 3 of her children from her first marriage were:  William H. (Willie), Ivie, and Myrtle Hopson.  They are also showing on the 1900 census living with their mother and her 2nd husband Harmon Augusta Tracy.  They may have lived at both places.

In 1910, William and Mary Jane were still living in Valle Township, City of De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  He was still showing as an engineer for the locomotive.  This census shows how many children they had.  Next to Mary's name it says they had 2 children, and 1 was living.  I'm guessing one of their children must have died before 1880.

February 14, 1915, William's wife, Mary Jane Kidd Ross, died of "Valvular Heart Disease."  She was 70 years old.  The certificate states they were living on Stone Street near 3rd Street in De Soto.  She was buried at the City Cemetery in De Soto.

A little over a year later, William passed away too.  He was in the Missouri Pacific Railroad Hospital at 1600 California Ave., in St. Louis, Missouri prior to his death.  His age was 78 years old.  The certificate, found on Missouri Digital Heritage: Missouri Death Certificates 1910-1963, shows his occupation was a "Hustler Tending to the Engineer for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Co."  He was buried next to his wife in the De Soto City Cemetery.  You can see their tombstone here on Findagrave.com.

If you have any questions, or concerns, about any of the information listed above, please leave a comment.  I'd be happy to provide any additional information.  Thanks for reading!!

52 Ancestor's Challenge - Martha Jane Ross 1863-1933 Missouri - Week 27

Picture of Martha Jane Ross

Well, I've been MIA these past few weeks.  Summer has taken me outside and away from the computer.  I'm about a month behind with this challenge, I think...I've lost track!!  Back to it!!

I'm dedicating this post to my great, great grandmother Martha Jane Ross.  From information I was given, Martha was born in Ripley County, Missouri.  Not sure where this information came from, so I'm not 100% sure it's accurate.  According to her death certificate, she was born March 30, 1864.  She was the daughter of William H. Ross and Mary Jane Kidd.  I am not able to find the family in the 1870 Federal Census, so I am not able to see if Martha had any siblings (according to the 1910 census showing William and Mary Jane, it states she had 2 children, but only 1 was living).

The family can be seen in the 1880 Federal Census living in De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  In the household is William, Mary Jane, and Martha, or Mattie as her name is written.

Martha was first married to John Hopson.  Martha and John had 4 children together:

• Willie born 1881
• Ivy born 1882
• Myrtle born 1884
• Lester born 1890

I believe the two were married November 2, 1880 in St. Louis, Missouri.  This was information given to me by another family member, but I can not find proof of the marriage, so I'm not 100% sure it is correct.  I was also told Martha and John divorced in 1889 in Jefferson County, Missouri.  Again, I have not seen the paperwork, so I'm not certain of this date.

I do know that Martha married for a second time to Harmon Augusta Tracy on November 14, 1896 in Jefferson County, Missouri.  This can be found in the Missouri Marriage Records 1805-2002 on Ancestry.com.  Martha was Harmon's 3rd wife (possibly 4th).  Together the two had 7 children:

• Paul who died in infancy
• Luke who died in infancy
• William Mark born 1897
• Minnie born 1899
• Arbelle, or Orville, born 1902
• Grace born 1904
• Byron Earl born 1906

Here is a funny story given to me about Martha's father William and her husband Harmon:

Martha's father, William Ross, was about 7 years younger then his son-in-law, Harmon (William Ross was born about 1841 and Harmon was born in 1834).  They both fought in the Civil War, William fought for the South and Harmon for the North.  At one point, the two were living in the same household, and it is said "they would use their canes and try to trip each other as they walked by."

The pictures in this post are of Martha and various family members.  These copies were given to me by my mother, who received them from her aunt.  I'm not sure who is in the photo with her, or when and where they were taken.

The family can be found in the 1900 Federal Census living in De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  In the house is Martha and Harmon, along with 2 of Harmon's children from his second marriage, Olive and Matthew, Harmon and Martha's children, Mark and Minnie, and Martha's 4 children from her first marriage, Willie, Ivy, Myrtle, and Lester.  Looks like they had a full house!!

In 1910, the family is still living in De Soto.  Mark, Minnie, Orville, and Grace are the children living with them...not sure where Byron is (1910 Federal Census found on Ancestry.com).

Then, after 1910, Harmon left the family to go visit his daughter, Olive, in Arkansas.  He never made it back.  Harmon died on May 17, 1919 in Memphis, Tennessee, supposedly on his daughter's houseboat (Olive's husband was a ferry boat owner).  Harmon was buried at the Memphis National Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1920, we can find Martha along with Orville, Grace, and Byron living on Hickory Street, in St. Louis Ward 15, St. Louis County, Missouri.  The 1920 Federal Census shows Martha as a widow.

On the 1930 Federal Census, we see her still living in St. Louis, but this time on Monroe Street.  She was listed as a "lodger," renting a room from Julian and Sophia Lesvicki.

Martha Jane Ross Hopson Tracy died September 25, 1933.  Her death certificate can be found online through Missouri Digital Heritage, Missouri Death Certificates 1910-1963.  She was living at 3403 North Broadway, in the City of St. Louis.  She is listed as 69 years, 5 months, and 26 days.  Her son Byron was the informant.

I'm not sure which cemetery she would have been buried in.  Under "Burial, Cremation, or Removal," it says "De Soto Sept. 27, 1933."  The Undertaker is listed as E.J. Schnur, at 3125 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri.  One day, maybe I will find out where she was buried.



If you have any questions, or concerns, about any of the information listed above, please leave a comment.  I'd be happy to provide any additional information.  Thanks for reading!!