Civil War Stories

I have discovered several Civil War stories as I have researched my family history and I'm certain I have others that are yet to be discovered. As the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War fast approaches Bill West at West in New England has issued a challenge:

Did you have ancestors in America on 12Apr 1861? If so, where were they and what were their circumstances? How did the Civil War affect them and their family? Did the men enlist and did they perish in battle or die of illness? On which side did they fight, or did you have relatives fighting on BOTH sides? How did the women left at home cope, or did any of them find ways to help the war effort? Were your ancestors living as slaves on Southern plantations and if so when were they freed? Or were they freemen of color who enlisted to fight?

Most of my paternal family was living in Canada or England and I have no idea if or how the Civil War may have affected them. My 2nd great-grandfather, Michael Kelly lived in Adams, Jefferson, New York. I believe he is the Michael Kelly that served in two units of the New York Heavy Artillery. Thanks to Patti Browning of Consanguinity I have a pension file number now I need to convince myself to part with $75 to order the file. I also need to look into the local history of the period and the history of the units he served with.

On my maternal side, serving from the Carlisle family of Buchanan, Michigan were brothers Ashley and Orville Carlisle and their step-mother Hannah. I will be sharing letters written by family members during the war and learning more about the locations that the war took each of them. I was shocked to learn that a fourth member of the family, Arabella Carlisle who was born in 1857, accompanied Hannah to the hospital where she was stationed. The family lost their home during the war and one daughter was forced to work away from home which set her on an interesting course for life. After the war Hannah Carlisle and her step-daughter, Tamerson Carlisle worked for the Freedmen's Bureau as teachers.

My cousin, Abraham Jay Buckles, had been abandoned by his father and was being raised by his grandparents when he enlisted in June 1861 at the age of 14. On 5 May 1864 at Wilderness, Virginia he was wounded several times and lost a leg. After loosing his leg he was forced to find a way to support himself other than by farming. He studied law and ended his career as a Superior Court Judge in California. On  4 Dec 1893 he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

My 2nd great-grandfather, James Madison Graham, had abandoned his family and was living in California in 1860. I very much doubt that he served in the war but at least one of the sons that he left behind did. I'd like to learn more about the service of Luther W Graham and his life after the war. At the end of his life he was living in the National Soldiers Home in Sawtell, California.

My great-grandfather, Joseph Camfield was 14 at the start of the war and his father, Michael Camfield was in his 40's. I have no idea if either served and I have not located the family on the 1860 census. I'd like to know if they moved from New York to Illinois before, during or after the war and if the war affected their decision. Michael's brother-in-law, Anthony B. Wisner, did serve and died of disease at the very end of the war, leaving a widow and at least three daughters. His widow and two of his daughters left Michigan and returned to New York after his death. How different would their lives have been if Anthony had lived?

Then there was a more distant cousin, Edward Carlisle Boynton. He had retired from the military after a distinguished career and was teaching at the University of Mississippi when the war started. He returned to New York and duty as Quarter Master at West Point.

I have only recently started exploring my Virginia Roots. I think it is quite likely that I had cousins who remained in Virginia and perhaps fought for the Confederacy.

I'm looking forward to learning more about the war and my family and also how what I discover compares to the stories shared by others.

Abraham Jay Buckles - Medal of Honor - 1864

Abraham Jay Buckles was born 2 August 1846 near Muncie, Delaware, IN. He was the second child of Thomas Newton Buckles and Rachel Graham. It appears that about 1852 Thomas, in the company of his brother-in-law, James Madison Graham, succumbed to the lure of California gold. Thomas must have returned at some point, as the youngest child, J. Newton Buckles, was born about 1857, however in 1860 Thomas is found on the census for Vacaville, Solano, CA. Abraham was living with his grandparents, Abraham and Elizabeth Buckles in Centre Township, Delaware, IN. His mother and siblings were living next door.

History of the bench and bar of California:

Abraham Jay Buckles was born in Muncie, Indana, August 2, 1846. He was sent from home to live on a farm at the age of six years. In the winter season he attended school.

When the war broke out in 1861, he enlisted in a company raised at Muncie, under the call of the President for volunteers for three months' service. He was not yet 15 years old, and his grandfather would not permit him to go. When the call for troops to serve three years was made, he enlisted again. June 21, 1861, and, informing his people that he was determined in the matter, they made no further opposition. He went to Washington in Company E, 19th Indiana Infantry, which afterwards became a part of the famous fighting "Iron Brigade" of the Army of the Potomac.

Why he was sent to live with his grandfather, rather than stay with his mother I have no idea but as she was close by I can only imagine at the worry she must have felt at this time. Not only did Abraham enlist, but his older brother, Francis did as well. Francis would not return home.

Abraham's Medal of Honor Citation says very little:

BUCKLES, ABRAM J.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 19th Indiana Infantry.

Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., 5 May 1864.

Entered service at: Muncie, Ind.

Birth: Delaware County, Ind.

Date of issue: 4 December 1893.

Citation: Though suffering from an open wound, carried the regimental colors until again wounded.

The Medal of Honor was awarded to Abraham for one instance of bravery in a single battle but this barely tells the tale of his Civil War service. Abraham was wounded several times and in the end he lost a leg. The History of Solano and Napa Counties, California gives a detailed and thrilling account of his service:

He was a lad of fifteen years when the tocsin of war called able-bodied men to the defense of the country and in June, 1861, he was among the number who responded to Lincoln's first call for three-year men, being attached to Company E, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mustered in at Indianapolis, his regiment became a part in the second Battle of Bull Run. In that engagement he was shot through the thigh and was confined in the hospital for three months, after which he again offered his services and took part in the first and second battles of Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, being attached to the color guard. It was his ambition to be the color bearer of his regiment and for that reason stationed himself on the left so that he would be next to the bearer and ready to take the colors in case the color bearer was injured. The bearer was wounded in the morning, and young Buckles promptly picked up the colors, which he proudly carried until the afternoon the same day, when he, too, was wounded, having received a shot through the right shoulder. Handing the flag to his comrade next in line, he was taken from field and was confined to the hospital for several months. His anxiety to be in the field of action once more secured his release before his wound was entirely healed, but he was able to resume his old post as color bearer and was serving in this capacity in the Battle of the Wilderness, when he was once more disabled, this time being shot through the body. As before, in spite of his intense suffering, he did not allow the colors to disappear, handing the flag to young Devilbuss, who lost his life soon afterward. At the Battle of the Wilderness the regiment became scattered in the rush through the woods, and inasmuch as he could see no field officer, Color Bearer Buckles led the charge himself, the men promptly following, and in the conflict Mr Buckles received what was thought to be a mortal wound, being shot through the body. In spite of the fact that he was so badly wounded as to be given up for dead, he managed to make his way to the rear, when the ambulance came up he was taken to the temporary hospital. The examining surgeon pronounced his case hopeless and would not even probe the wound, the same being true of his treatment in the field hospital, to which he was removed. Finally, when orders were issued to remove the inmates to Fredericksburg, Buckles sent for the physician and begged not to be left behind. The doctor replied that his orders were strict and as he had been given up to die, could not be removed. He remonstrated that the physicians had said two days before that he would die and that he found himself no worse, and finally obtained the promise that if he could stand when the ambulance came he would be removed to Fredericksburg and receive proper care. To make the promise good, Buckles stood with the aid of sticks for crutches, and was taken to the hospital, and as soon as his wounds were given attention he began to recover. He was able to rejoin his regiment before the Battle of Petersburg, having been promoted and commissioned second lieutentant. During all this time, however, his wound remained open and remained so until early 1870. While on skirmish duty, March 25, 1865, he was again wounded, this time in the right leg, which necessitated amputation seven inches from the body. His honorable discharge followed two months later, May 15, 1865, after the close of the war. He was awarded the medal of honor by congress for meritorious conduct upon the battlefield of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. He returned home to Indiana, battle scarred and disabled, and as yet a mere boy in years, not nineteen years old.

Abraham returned home and went to school. He work variously as a teacher, a clerk and at other jobs as he could find them. On 5 December 1865, in Delaware County, IN, he married Louisa B. Conn and to them two daughters were born, Lola Bell in 1867 and Addie Jessie in 1868. In his spare time he undertook the study of law and in 1875 was admitted to the bar.

Abraham must have retained a relationship with his father as he moved his family to Solano County, CA in the spring of 1875 were he became quite successful. Again, from The History of Solano and Napa Counties, California:

In the spring of 1875 he was admitted to the bar and immediately thereafter came to California and located in Dixon, Solano county. Opening an office for the practice of his profession, the recognition of his exceptional ability and justice in the handling of legal complications was apparent from the first, and was the forerunner of a large and influential clientele. Substantial recognition of his ability came to him in 1879, when he was elected district attorney of Solano county under the new constitution, and at the close of his first term he was re-elected, serving altogether over five years. In 1884 he received the nomination for the office of superior judge and as the successful candidate he took office in January, 1885, and for over twenty years thereafter he held the office continuously. In April, 1905, he was appointed by Governor Pardee from the superior bench as one of the judges of the appellate court for the third district, and after the close of his term he again took up the practice of law, at this time locationg in Fairfield. As on former occasions he was successful in building on a commendable practice but he was not long allowed to confine his attention to private practice. Judge Devlin, who had been elected superior judge in 1908, held the office just one month and twenty days, when pressure of private business made it necessary for him to resign, whereupon Governor Gillett appointed Judge Buckles to fill the unexpired term.

Abraham remained on the bench until his death 9 January 1915 at a hospital in San Bernardino County, CA. He was buried in Suisun-Fairfield Cemetery, Fairfield, CA. You can visit his memorial at Find-a-Grave.

Abraham was my 1st cousin, three times removed. I was with my 2nd great-grandfather, James Madison Graham, that his father left for California.

This an updated article that originally appeared at Apple's Tree, 25 March 2009

Sources:

History of the bench and bar of California: being biographies of many remarkable men, a store of humorous and pathetic recollections, accounts of important legislation and extraordinary cases, comprehending the judicial history of the state
By Oscar Tully Shuck
Contributor Oscar Tully Shuck
Edition: reprint
Published by The Commercial printing house, 1901
Original from the University of Michigan
Digitized Feb 20, 2008
1152 pages
pages 672 – 675, viewed at Google Books, 24 March 2009


History of Solano and Napa Counties, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties, who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present time: History by Tom Gregory and other well know writers; Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California [1912]; viewed at ancestry.com 8 Feb 2009.

Graham - Horner Divorce 1856

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

I have been trying to transcribe some records in addition to the letters. This is yet another divorce petition found online in the Munice/Delaware County Digital Resource Library.

Margaret Doughty Horner was the daughter of Littleton Doughty. Her sister, Elizabeth Doughty Graham had obtained a divorce in 1855 and was represented by the same attorneys. There are no papers telling the outcome of the suit in the file, however Joseph Horner remarried in 1858 so I assume the divorce was granted.



State of Indiana, Delaware County
In the Delaware Circuit Court
September Term 1856.

Margaret S. Horner, plaintiff
complains of Joseph Horner, defendant, and
says that the parties were in the month of
March, 1847, at the county and State afore-
said, duly and legally married, and for
some time thereafter lived and cohabited
together as husband and wife.
Plaintiff says that ever since their said marriage
defendant has utterly failed and refused to
make any, and sufficient provision for hi
wife and family. She says he has frequently
during said marriage abandoned plaintiff
leaving her and her children entirely u-
provided for: that at one time your the
plaintiff had been confined to her bed in
child birth, and that when the child then
born was two weeks old, said de-
fendant abandoned plaintiff, leaving no
one in or about the house to take care of her,
when she at the time was unable to leave her
bed, and without food or clean clothing
in the house, and no wood about the
house, and that defendant on that occasion
absented himself from his home and

page 2

family for three successive months,
and during that time failed entirely to supply
by himself or others, the wants of his family.
She further says that on the 13th day of July
1856. said defendant abandoned plaint-
iff without any intention of ever returning
and has since lived separate and
apart from plaintiff, and that he has
given out in speeches that he will never
return, and never provide for his said
family. Plaintiff says she is a bonifide
resident of the County and State aforesaid.
Plaintiff further says that there are children
the issue of said marriage, towit:

[several blank lines]

and that she is of right entitled to and best qualified
for the care and custody of said children.
She therefore demands judgment of
divorce and for the care and custody
of said children

Buckles & Shipley, Attys
for plaintiff
August 9, 1856

Graham - Buckles Divorce 1860

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

I have been trying to transcribe some records in addition to the letters. This divorce case was found online in the Munice/Delaware County Digital Resource Library. Thomas Newton Buckles abandoned his family and left for California in the company of his brother-in-law, James Madison Graham.



Rachel Buckles In the Delaware
vs Circuit Court
Thomas Buckles May Term 1860

David Nation
being duly sworn says that the
defendant in the above entr
tted cause is not a resident of
the State of Indiana, as he
is informed and believes.
David Nation
Subscribed + sworn to this
day of February 1860
M W Spilkes clk



Rachel Buckles In the Delaware
vs Circut Court
Thomas Buckles May Term 1860

David Nation
being duly sworn says that the
defendant in the above entr
tted cause is not a resident of
the State of Indiana, as he
is informed and believes.
David Nation
Subscribed + sworn to this
day of February 1860
M W Spilkes clk


State of Indiana In the Delaware
Delaware County Circuit Court
May Term 1860

Rachel Buckles Complaint
vs. for Divorce.
Thomas N. Buckles

Rachel Buckles complains
of Thomas N. Buckles and says
that she is a Bonified resident of
the state of Indiana, and has been
such for the last 36 - years, and
is and has been a bonafied resident of the
County of Delaware for the last
Eight years; that on the 4th day of
July 1844 She was legally
married to the said Thomas N. Buckles
defendant herein, that she contin
ued to live with her said husband
as his wife performing all and
singular duties imposed upon
her as such wife by the marriage re-
lation, until her said husband Left
herein, voluntarily abandoned her
on pretense of going to California,
for a short time and has been

and continued to remain absent
ever since: that during the time
since he left her she has been
compelled to support herself
by her own industry; that
the said defendant left her
wholy and entirely without
means wherewith to support
herself and family. that she
has been compelled, from
needcessity to sit up the greater
part of the nights, for weeks at a
time to Sewing, knitting and
weaving in order to keep herself
and family from comeing
to want.
The plaintiff further says
that she has five children the
product of her said marriage
with her said husband, the deft here
in, Named Francis Marion,
aged 15 years, Abram, aged 13 years,
Margaret _, aged 12 years, Elenor S,
aged 11 years, Thomas E aged
9 years. All of whom she
prays the care and custody. She
also says that she is possessed
of personal property of the value
of Three hundred dollars, her separate
property, earned and purchased

by her since the abandonment
of her said husband of her, which
she also askes the court to decree
to her in her own right.
She further states that her maiden
name was Rachel Graham.
She also prays the court to change
her name from Rachel Buckles
to that of Rachel Graham, and
to render judgment for Five
thousand dollars allimony
to forever dissolve the bonds
of matrimony here existing
between them; to Give her the
care, control and education
of her said children aforesaid,
and Grant such other and
further relief as the Court may
deem just and proper under
all the circumstances +C
[strike] Nation + Anthony [end strike]
plffs attys
and that her name
be changed to Rachel
Graham her maiden
name
Nation +
Anthony


Rachel Buckles Divorce
vs
Thomas N Buckles

Noa at this tome comes Pltff - by her
Attys Nation + Athony + the Deft -
by Whipley + Kilgore his Attys +
this cause being submit on complaint
__ure + proofs and the court being fully
advised in the promoses order and
adjudge that the bonds of matrimony
heretofore existing between said parties
be dissolved and that the title to the
following described personal property
be vested absolutely in the Pltff:
towit three cows + two co__es
six head of sheep seven head of
hogs and all the household + kitchen
furniture now in the possession [strike] and
that the custody of the children
herein be left to the further order
+ judgement of this court [end strike]
costs is the deff and that the
name of said plff be
changed to Rachel Graham
her maiden name

William Mullis vs. Elizabeth Doughty 1842

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.


I have been trying to transcribe some records in addition to the letters. This slander suit was found online in the Munice/Delaware County Digital Resource Library. There is nothing in the file that tells what the out come of the lawsuit was. The key point for me is the mention of Ohio. Had Elizabeth lived in Ohio or was she repeating something she was told by her future husband, James Graham? She was represented by a Mr. Buckles and Rachel Graham was married to Thomas N. Buckles.



State of Indiana In the Delaware Circuit Court
Delaware County September Term 1842

Wiliam Mullis Plaintiff complains of Elizabeth Doughty defendant in custody +C of a plea of Trespass on the case for that whereas the said William Mullis is and always has been a good honest + faithful citizen of the State of Indiana and has sustained a fair charactor among all his neighbours for integrity and has never been guilty or suspected of the atrocious crime of Larceny yet the said Elizabeth Doughty well knowing the premises but contriving and intending maliciously and wickedly to Injure + destroy his charactor and to bring him into disgrace amongst all his neighbours and to Expose him to the penalties of the law for larceny did on the first day of April in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred + forty two at the county of Delaware letter and publish in the presence and hearing of devers persons the following false malicious + ______ words to + of and concerning the said plaintiff that is to say you (meaning the said plaintiff) stole a horse in the state of Ohio and had to run away for it you (the plaintiff meaning) had To run away from Ohio for stealing a horse and I (the defendant meaning) can prove it. thereby meaning that the said plaintiff had been and was guilty of Larceny by means of the committing of which said several grievences by the said defendant the said plaintiff says he is Injured + hath sustained Damages to the amount of one thousand Dollars + therefore he brings his suit od

Marshall atty for Pllff


Elizabeth Doughty
ats
William Mullis

Case in the Delaware Circuit Court

And the said Defendant Elizabeth Doughty who is an infant under the age of twenty one years, to wit, of the age of sevenateen years, by Smith + Buckles her attornies comes and defends the wrong and injury when +c. and says that she is not guilty of the said supposed grievances above laid to her charge, or any or either of them in manner and form as the said William Mullis hath above thereof complained against her and of the said Elizabeth Doughty puts herself upon the country.

Smith + Buckles Attys for Dft

and the plaintiff by c____ comes ______ the like
John Marshall Atty for patf

Sunday Morning Frustration

This week, Randy's Saturday Night Fun wasn't so much fun for me. Of course I could have saved myself some frustration if I read read his instructional post a little more closely. I have used the FHL catalog before but I guess I just wasn't awake yet.

Here is the "assignment" for tonight's SNGF:

1. Identify one "elusive ancestor" family (perhaps one you just found, or one you've not found any information about), and the county/state that they resided in. Tell us the family name and the county/state.

I decided to look for James Madison Graham.

He was born between 1825 and 1826 in Ohio, possibly in Licking, Pickaway or Ross Counties.

Between 1830 and 1840 he moved to Delaware County, Indiana.

By 1850 he was in German, St. Joseph, Indiana. He left there in 1852 and headed west to California.

In 1860 I found him in Vacaville, Solano, California.

By 1870 he had wandered off. He may have been in Chillicothe, Livingston Co, MO or Northern Reese River Valley, Lander Co, NV. Then again, maybe not.

In 1880 he may have been in Nebraska City, Otoe Co, NE.

I can place him in Hoyle (now Ames), Wood County (now Major), Oklahoma (still Oklahoma!) by 1895. He died there in October 1897 and is buried in Ames Cemetery.

I have a lot of places to look for James in!

2. Go to the FHL Catalog, find the resources for that county/state.

I'd really like a peek at his will or probate record. So I put "Major, Oklahoma" into the search box and it returned No matching places found!

Next I put in just Oklahoma and was given three choices, Oklahoma; Oklahoma, Oklahoma; and Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City. I clicked on the first.

Oklahoma - Court Records - Indexes looked interesting so I clicked and learned that it was an index of Oklahoma Ministers licenses. I'm pretty certain I won't find James there.

Oklahoma Emigration and Immigration looked interesting and it is, covering various Indiana and Russian/German topics but again I wouldn't expect to find James there.

Oklahoma - Land and property - Indexes might include him, however I found his record on the BLM site.

I finally worked my way down to the Probate listings. There are some DAR collections of old will transcriptions. Probably not what I'm looking for but I could order them. Probate records 1892-1904, Northern district Cherokee Nation looks like it covers Indians only but I could take a look to be sure.

So I finally started to wake up a little I guess, because I went back to the search and put in just "Hoyle" for which I got "No Matching Places Found" GRRRR I put in Syracuse just to see what would happen and since that worked fine I went back and put in just "Ames" and clicked on Oklahoma, Major, Ames. Here it told you that it used to be called Hoyle!

There are only two topics, Newspapers and Vital Records. The VR link has BMD for 1901-1905, too late for me. Both topics list the Gloria Zerr Collection of Oklahoma Records. They cover 1893-1896 and 1901-1905. Of course James had to die in a year not covered!

I won't bore you with the other searches I did but I went back and looked at Solano, California.

3. Identify at least three items from the FHL Catalog that you need to look into in an effort to further your knowledge about that family's history. Tell us about them.

There are some films I would like to look at for Solano, CA. James' brother-in-law, Thomas Newton Buckles and some of his family were also there along with a Martha Graham I have yet to identify but who was living with both Thomas and James.

1. Solano County, California State census index (979.452 x22c). Since this is the year that James and Thomas supposedly went to California I would really like to look at this one
2. Solano County marriages/divorce, ca. 1823-1923. I know Thomas Buckles remarried and I would like to know if James divorced Elizabeth and remarried. There was not number on the page so I clicked on film notes and there was a break down by alphabet so I guess would need to order both Bay - Cri (2073285) and Gay - Jom (2073318)
3. California, Solano - Land and Property; Deed Books, 1848-1920; Deed Books. There are several and they span just a few years each so I don't see a grabtor/grantee index film I guess I would start with the first couple and then order more and keep working through them
4. Solano County Genealogical Society Pioneer file, 1860 -1910; Bro - Det (2051991) and Gor - Kil (2073166)
5. There are several others that I could order, but the above look the most promising.

4. Do you know where your nearest Family History Center is? If not, go here and look for it. Tell us where it is.

I live between two FHC's. One is in Liverpool, NY and the other, slightly closer to home is in Pulaski, NY. Neither is convenient (I live in Snowville which is located in the middle of Nowhere) and they have very different hours. If I were to go during my break it would be closer to go to the one in Liverpool but I could make it to Pulaski and back. To go in the evening the distance to the Pulaski location would be more convenient but they are only open one evening per week and I generally have a conflict.


5. Are you willing to make a commitment to go to the FHC and rent microfilms in order to pursue that elusive ancestral family? If so, tell us about your commitment.

Commit? Getting to a FHC has been on my to-do list for a very long time. Family and work commitments have thus far kept me from getting there but as my schedule changes I hope to make my first visit later this spring.

I would like your opinion as to whether I might have a better experience going to a FHC in a busy metro area or one in a large village, but with fewer open hours?

Medal of Honor - Abraham Jay Buckles

Abraham Jay Buckles was born 2 August 1846 near Muncie, Delaware, IN. He was the second child of Thomas Newton Buckles and Rachel Graham. It appears that about 1852 Thomas, in the company of his brother-in-law, James Madison Graham, succumbed to the lure of California gold. Thomas must have returned at some point, as the youngest child, J. Newton Buckles, was born about 1857, however in 1860 Thomas is found on the census for Vacaville, Solano, CA. Abraham was living with his grandparents, Abraham and Elizabeth Buckles in Centre Township, Delaware, IN. His mother and siblings were living next door.

History of the bench and bar of California:

Abraham Jay Buckles was born in Muncie, Indana, August 2, 1846. He was sent from home to live on a farm at the age of six years. In the winter season he attended school.

When the war broke out in 1861, he enlisted in a company raised at Muncie, under the call of the President for volunteers for three months' service. He was not yet 15 years old, and his grandfather would not permit him to go. When the call for troops to serve three years was made, he enlisted again. June 21, 1861, and, informing his people that he was determined in the matter, they made no further opposition. He went to Washington in Company E, 19th Indiana Infantry, which afterwards became a part of the famous fighting "Iron Brigade" of the Army of the Potomac.

Why he was sent to live with his grandfather, rather than stay with his mother I have no idea but as she was close by I can only imagine at the worry she must have felt at this time. Not only did Abraham enlist, but his older brother, Francis did as well. Francis would not return home.

Abraham's Medal of Honor Citation says very little:

BUCKLES, ABRAM J.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 19th Indiana Infantry.
Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., 5 May 1864.
Entered service at: Muncie, Ind.
Birth: Delaware County, Ind.
Date of issue: 4 December 1893.

Citation: Though suffering from an open wound, carried the regimental colors until again wounded.

The Medal of Honor was awarded to Abraham for one instance of bravery in a single battle but this barely tells the tale of his Civil War service. Abraham was wounded several times and in the end he lost a leg. The History of Solano and Napa Counties, California gives a detailed and thrilling account of his service:

He was a lad of fifteen years when the tocsin of war called able-bodied men to the defense of the country and in June, 1861, he was among the number who responded to Lincoln's first call for three-year men, being attached to Company E, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mustered in at Indianapolis, his regiment became a part in the second Battle of Bull Run. In that engagement he was shot through the thigh and was confined in the hospital for three months, after which he again offered his services and took part in the first and second battles of Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, being attached to the color guard. It was his ambition to be the color bearer of his regiment and for that reason stationed himself on the left so that he would be next to the bearer and ready to take the colors in case the color bearer was injured. The bearer was wounded in the morning, and young Buckles promptly picked up the colors, which he proudly carried until the afternoon the same day, when he, too, was wounded, having received a shot through the right shoulder. Handing the flag to his comrade next in line, he was taken from field and was confined to the hospital for several months. His anxiety to be in the field of action once more secured his release before his wound was entirely healed, but he was able to resume his old post as color bearer and was serving in this capacity in the Battle of the Wilderness, when he was once more disabled, this time being shot through the body. As before, in spite of his intense suffering, he did not allow the colors to disappear, handing the flag to young Devilbuss, who lost his life soon afterward. At the Battle of the Wilderness the regiment became scattered in the rush through the woods, and inasmuch as he could see no field officer, Color Bearer Buckles led the charge himself, the men promptly following, and in the conflict Mr Buckles received what was thought to be a mortal wound, being shot through the body. In spite of the fact that he was so badly wounded as to be given up for dead, he managed to make his way to the rear, when the ambulance came up he was taken to the temporary hospital. The examining surgeon pronounced his case hopeless and would not even probe the wound, the same being true of his treatment in the field hospital, to which he was removed. Finally, when orders were issued to remove the inmates to Fredericksburg, Buckles sent for the physician and begged not to be left behind. The doctor replied that his orders were strict and as he had been given up to die, could not be removed. He remonstrated that the physicians had said two days before that he would die and that he found himself no worse, and finally obtained the promise that if he could stand when the ambulance came he would be removed to Fredericksburg and receive proper care. To make the promise good, Buckles stood with the aid of sticks for crutches, and was taken to the hospital, and as soon as his wounds were given attention he began to recover. He was able to rejoin his regiment before the Battle of Petersburg, having been promoted and commissioned second lieutentant. During all this time, however, his wound remained open and remained so until early 1870. While on skirmish duty, March 25, 1865, he was again wounded, this time in the right leg, which necessitated amputation seven inches from the body. His honorable discharge followed two months later, May 15, 1865, after the close of the war. He was awarded the medal of honor by congress for meritorious conduct upon the battlefield of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. He returned home to Indiana, battle scarred and disabled, and as yet a mere boy in years, not nineteen years old.

Abraham returned home and went to school. He work variously as a teacher, a clerk and at other jobs as he could find them. On 5 December 1865, in Delaware County, IN, he married Louisa B. Conn and to them two daughters were born, Lola Bell in 1867 and Addie Jessie in 1868. In his spare time he undertook the study of law and in 1875 was admitted to the bar.

Abraham must have retained a relationship with his father as he moved his family to Solano County, CA in the spring of 1875 were he became quite successful. Again, from The History of Solano and Napa Counties, California:

In the spring of 1875 he was admitted to the bar and immediately thereafter came to California and located in Dixon, Solano county. Opening an office for the practice of his profession, the recognition of his exceptional ability and justice in the handling of legal complications was apparent from the first, and was the forerunner of a large and influential clientele. Substantial recognition of his ability came to him in 1879, when he was elected district attorney of Solano county under the new constitution, and at the close of his first term he was re-elected, serving altogether over five years. In 1884 he received the nomination for the office of superior judge and as the successful candidate he took office in January, 1885, and for over twenty years thereafter he held the office continuously. In April, 1905, he was appointed by Governor Pardee from the superior bench as one of the judges of the appellate court for the third district, and after the close of his term he again took up the practice of law, at this time locationg in Fairfield. As on former occasions he was successful in building on a commendable practice but he was not long allowed to confine his attention to private practice. Judge Devlin, who had been elected superior judge in 1908, held the office just one month and twenty days, when pressure of private business made it necessary for him to resign, whereupon Governor Gillett appointed Judge Buckles to fill the unexpired term.

Abraham remained on the bench until his death 9 January 1915 at a hospital in San Bernardino County, CA.

Sources:

History of the bench and bar of California: being biographies of many remarkable men, a store of humorous and pathetic recollections, accounts of important legislation and extraordinary cases, comprehending the judicial history of the state
By Oscar Tully Shuck
Contributor Oscar Tully Shuck
Edition: reprint
Published by The Commercial printing house, 1901
Original from the University of Michigan
Digitized Feb 20, 2008
1152 pages
pages 672 – 675, viewed at Google Books, 24 March 2009


History of Solano and Napa Counties, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties, who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present time: History by Tom Gregory and other well know writers; Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California [1912]; viewed at ancestry.com 8 Feb 2009.

Graham Family - Part 4

James Madison Graham

Per family records, James Madison Graham was the son of Porter Graham and Susannah Bashford, born in 1826 near Muncie, IN. I believe his birth place is in error and that he was born in Ohio, based on census records and leads I have on Porter Graham.

The first record I have found for him is in the marriage index for Delaware County, Indiana located at Delaware County, Indiana GenWeb. I still need to order the record but this information tracks with the family record.

Graham James M Elizabeth Doughty Aug 22 1844 C2 124

I next find him with his family on the 1850 Census in German, St Joseph, IN. His age of 26 would indicate a birth date in 1824 or 1825.

1850 - Indiana, St Joseph, German
page 51A, dwelling 683, family 683
James M Graham, 26, m, OH, Farmer, ____
Elizabeth A Graham, 25, f, VA, __, 800
Luther Wm Graham, 3, m, IN
Henara Graham, 2, f, IN
Zachary T Graham, 1, m IN

In Part 2 I shared a letter written by James' youngest daughter, Rose, in which she stated that her father had left for California before she was born. In Part 3, James' granddaughter, Mabel Camfield Marsh, said, "(Aunt Rachel was married twice) she had 5 kids, she said she raised the youngest by the loom. her first man went to California in 52 and never came back." I found James living with his brother-in-law, Thomas Buckles, in Vacaville, Solano, CA on the 1860 census.

Thomas L. Buckles, age 33, born OH
James M. Graham, age 35, born OH
Martha Graham, age 40, born IN

Who was Martha Graham? James had a sister Martha who was born about 1834 in Ohio and had married Charlie Opfel in 1858 so it is very unlikely that this is her. Was this James' second wife? If so, had he obtained a divorce from Elizabeth? Was she some other relative? I have a lot of unanswered questions here.

The Solano County Genealogical Society has several deed transaction listed in their index that appear to be for James between 1860 and 1866. I did a double take when I saw that he had sold to a James Madison. The 1860 census for Solano County does show a James Madison, age 35 born Norway. There is also one transaction between Martha and James. The index only covers 1840-1870 so I will requesting these deeds and looking for when the properties were finally sold or transferred.

Graham, James M. et al to Johnson, Andrew; Deed 1860/06/04; Book O, page 674
Graham, James M. et al to Madison, James; Deed 1860/06/04; Book O, page 674
Graham, James M. to Madison, James; Deed 1860/06/09; Book O, page 676
Graham, James M. to Johnson, Andrew; Deed 1860/06/09; Book O, page 676
Egbert, Oliver B. to Graham, James M. et al; Deed 1860/07/14; Book O, page 678
Egbert, Oliver B. to Graham, James M.; Deed 1860/10/31; Book P, page 208
Egbert, R. G. to Madison, James; Deed 1864/06/24; Book T, page 155
Graham, Martha M. to Graham, James M.; Deed 1866/01/17; Book U, page 498

In 1870 Martha Graham is still in the same household as Thomas Buckles, however James is not! They are with a family named Mack and as of right now I don't know if they were somehow related or just boarders. Silveyville Township, Solano, CA; page 7.

Davis Mack, 40, IN, Farmer
Jane Mack, 20, IL, at home
James Mack, 10, CA, at home
Josephine Mack, 4, CA, at home
Sophronia Mack, 2, CA, at home
Martha Graham, 53, IN, Domestic
Hosea Mack, 36, IN, Farm Laborer
Thomas Buckles, 45, IN, Farm Laborer

So where was James? I did not find any likely candidates in Solano County, CA. In 1870 there was a James Graham, age 40 b OH living in a hotel in Chillicothe, Livingston Co, MO, bridge builder. This would be the wrong age, our James would have been about 44, however this is the only record that seems likely in the index for James Graham.

There was a J M Graham age 44 b OH living in Northern Reese River Valley, Lander Co, NV. He is the first person listed in dwelling #14 where seven men of various ages and nativities were living together. Occupation: Stock Raiser. This seems like the mostly record for our James as it is not too far from Solano, CA however I'm not confident this is the correct record. (Interestingly, the 1st person on the page is Dougherty, S., an 11 year old female b Iowa. The last entries on page 1 for dwelling 11 are for Higgins, W F age 30 b ME, E. J (female) age 20 b IA, E (f) age 3 b UT, and R (m) age 1 b NV.)

In 1880 Thomas Buckles is still in Silveyville, listed as Neut Buckler, age 53, born OH with wife, Mary Buckler, age 48, born PA. No sign of Martha and again, nothing for James. In 1880 the only James Graham listed without a wife, b 1826 OH, in the ancestry.com index is found in Nebraska City, Otoe Co, NE, age 53 b OH, parents b OH, married, laborer, boarding in the home of Elijah Rutherford.

James' whereabouts at the time of the 1870 and 1880 censuses are clearly in doubt.

In Part 2 Rose's letter also contained this:

I recd a letter from a lawyer in Californie last Saturday informing of the Death of my Father, he died oct 28 at Hoyle, Wood Co, Oklahoma, he was buried one mile from Hoyle P O he left a Claim of one hundred and sixty acres 40 acres in wheat that is looking fine he left no wife nor children there so of course his children here are the Heirs to his property as he left no Will, we will have to get the property the best we can.

Why did Rose receive a letter from a lawyer in California if James died in Oklahoma? At the time of his death Hoyle was in Wood County however the county was divided and Hoyle became part of Major County. Hoyle no longer exists. I have found James' final resting place in Ames Cemetery, Ames, Major County, OK. In the transcription he is listed as James M. Graham, age 71, died October 28, 1897.

I found an index to the 1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census on the Oklahoma Historical Society site. and believe I have found James : Graham, James; IN; Cleveland; 612. Part of the census has been transcribed here. I have requested the information from page 612.

The Oklahoma GenWeb page has an index to the Indian Pioneer Papers, "Interviews that deal with people of all nationalities with first-hand experience of Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory, not just the Indian population." There is a listing for James M. Graham so that is another item to order.

The Bureau of Land Management allows you to search the Land Patents and download copies of the Patent. On the results page for James M. Graham in the Comments section is the word "HEIRS". The Patent is dated 6 July 1908, well after James' death. I now need to order a copy of the Land Entry Case File from the National Archives and Records Administration. The Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society has a listing of what treasure might be in the file here.



This is what I have found for James to date. I have listed many records that I need to order however I cannot afford to order them all at once. I think that the Land Entry Case Files may hold the most information and that they will also be the most costly.

I have no idea where I'll go in Part 5 as I am dealing with a little bit of information overload!

Graham Family - Part 3

It seems that the three Camfield girls (Mable, Pearl and Ruby) were trying to untangle their Graham genealogy back in the early 1930's.

In Part 1 I shared the genealogy notes that they had worked on and discovered that Rose Graham was originally named Susan. The notes also included the names of Rose's parents and paternal grandparents.

In Part 2 I found the family on the 1850 census and discovered that the family had been split up and scattered after James Madison Graham abandoned his family about 1852. Rose shared news of his death in 1897.

At some point after 1920, Xenia Belle (Henera) Graham Gallup moved in with her sister Rose and niece, Ruby Camfield. I find them together on the 1930 census living in South Bend, St Joseph Co, IN. Rose died in 1931. I don't know exactly when but Belle lived with Mabel in Windsor, Essex, Ontario for awhile and is mentioned in some of Mabel's letters. Belle died in 1933.

The following is an excerpt from an undated letter, written by Mabel to her sister Pearl, with emphasis added by me. A. B. was Aunt Belle, daughter of James Madison Graham.

middle of page 3

Now about A. B.s aunts and Uncles. I know aunt Mary Edgin. And aunt Rachel lived in Muncie. she visited us once so I remember her. she had some smart kids Rose Russel was a Doctor she may be alive now. and a son who was judge of the supreme court in California he lost a leg in the war his name was Abe Buckles (Aunt Rachel was married twice) she had 5 kids, she said she raised the youngest by the loom. her first man went to California in 52 and never came back.
Aunt Martha was May Baldwins mother she married Charlie Opfel his sister was Beitners first wife. so May was cousin to

Page 4

George & Kate Beitner.
Aunt Susie I met once. and A. B. says as far as she knows she is still in California (Stockton) she has no children. I tried to get out of A. B. where their farm >the grandfathers James Graham<. I also met John Graham he was next to the youngest he lived in the west someplace. He was a big fine looking man. he was the only one of those men I knew. can you imagine how hard their mother worked. eleven kids, and she had to make the cloth and make their clothes, bake their bread, it must have been like hell let loose, such a big family and all that work. So when you think you have a lot to do think of your great grandmother Graham she worked half the night

Page 5

I wish we knew where that farm was I would like to go past it sometime. I’ll bet you wish you hadn’t got me started on this subject. Past Lacyes Gilmacker Grist mills, 4 miles north of Niles near the bend in the River I got this much out of her. she snapped my head off and she is as dumb as an ox about lots of things, just plain dumb. I’ll bet I could tell you any place I ever was, no matter how long it has been. she keeps saying I don’t know what difference it makes. Mother used to get mad when I asked her questions about the relatives so I guess it runs in the breed. I told this old rip I didn’t see anything to get mad about.

All eleven children of Porter Graham and Susannah Bashford were listed in Part 1. Here Mabel has given me some more details about five of them plus information about some of their children.

In Part 2, Rose wrote about her father, James M. Graham, "...you know he went to Californa before I was born and never came back." And in Mabel's letter says of Aunt Rachel, "her first man went to California in 52 and never came back." I believe they traveled together.

When Mabel is talking about the farm she added "the grandfathers James Graham" and I think just just got confused as this would have been the farm of her greatgrandfather, Porter Graham. I have located the farm on an atlas and will include that when I get back to Porter and Susannah in a future post.

In Part 4 I'll share what I have and have not found on James Madison Graham.

Tombstone Tuesday - Binns

J. PHINEHAS BINNS
1831-1899
REBECCA A. BINNS
1838-1915

Oakridge Cemetery
Buchanan, Berrien, MI

Joseph Phinehas Binns, born 1831 England, died 1899. Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Binns.

Rebecca A. Buckles Binns, born 14 September 1839 St. Joseph Co, IN, died 1915. Daughter of John Buckles and Lavina Erwin Hughes.

Rebecca was probably related somehow to Thomas Newton Buckles. Thomas married Rachel Graham and with his brother-in-law, James Madison Graham, went to seek their fortunes in California, abandoning both their families. James was my 2nd great-grandfather. When he left his wife, Elizabeth Doughty was pregnant with my great-grandmother, Rose Graham Camfield. Her letters will appear here shortly.

Joseph and Rebecca Binns' son, Harry, married my great-aunt, Tamerson Carlisle.