by Rocky Macy
Rootbound has a small genealogical treasure for our first reader who can prove a relationship to Cornelius TUCKER, a resident of the Hart Community in McDonald County in 1895. Please read on...
Virginia SHAVER, one of the best people in the Ozarks, recently provided Rootbound with Mr. TUCKER's original army discharge dated 15 Oct 1870. It was filed away among the personal effects of her late husband, Dean SHAVER, a former Missouri State Representative. Mr. TUCKER was not an ancestor to the SHAVERs, and Virginia believes that he had stored the important document in the safe at the old Tiff City Store for safekeeping. She would like to see the item returned to a descendant of Mr. TUCKER.
The following information was gleaned from the discharge paper of Cornelius TUCKER: He was born circa 1856 in Provincetown, IN, and enlisted in the army for a five-year hitch beginning on 15 Oct 1870. Private TUCKER was a member of Company A of the 22nd Regiment of the U.S. Infantry under the command of Captain J.B. IRVING. When he mustered out at Madison Barracks, NY, in 1875, Private TUCKER was listed as having light complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, and being five fee and six inches tall. A handwritten remark further described him as being an "excellent, faithful, and trustworthy soldier." One notation on the document indicates that Private TUCKER may have reenlisted on the same day that he was discharged. Three days after that (18 October) he was "paid in full" the sum of $208.09 by the army.
The first descendant of Cornelius TUCKER that contacts Rootbound in the Hills through this newspaper may have his original military discharge and the old wallet that it has been in for these many years. How's that for a treat! Thanks, Virginia.
Charles N. FERGUSON (202 A.N. Tucker, Shawnee, OK 74801) is seeking information on the parentage and ancestry of Coleman SMITH who was born in Missouri to a father from Illinois and a mother from Missouri. His wife, Julia A., was a native of Arkansas. The couple lived in Red River County, TX, 1870-1880, along with the following children: William C., Virginia L., Matthew, Haywood, and Viola. Do any of our readers have a knowledge of this SMITH line?
Mary Ellen LEDFORD (702 Fouts Drive, Irving, TX 75061) wishes to contact others researching the lineage of William C. LEDFORD who was born in 1852 in Arkansas or Tennessee and died after 1880. William was the son of Noah and Sarah (LOVEL) LEDFORD. He married Mary Ann McCASLIN (born 1855, Logan County, AR), and they were residents of Perry County, AR, in 1880.
Children of William and Mary Ann LEDFORD included William Lacy (born 1873, AR; married Anna SEERMAN in 1904), Marion Frank (born 1875, AR; married Minnie McCURDY in 1910), Andrew Jackson (born 1877, AR), and Melvina (born 1879, AR). Mary Ellen would appreciate any assistance that our readers might be able to provide.
Have any of our readers has success in gaining access to old social security records for genealogical research? Our best efforts to date have only resulted in a free ride on Uncle Sam's bureaucratic merry-go-round. If anyone has gained entry to this valuable source of genealogy, please send the secret of your success to Rootbound in the Hills in care of this newspaper.
Mary Ellen DENNISON of Neosho is the wonderful lady who works so hard to keep the collection of Rootbound columns updated and available in the City-County Library of Neosho. Thanks, Mary Ellen, for helping to preserve the work of this tired old typist!
Send those queries and genealogical problems to Rootbound. We're as close as the mailbox!
Happy trails!
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