Capture of the Alice Dean

Western Kentucky genealogists and historians are familiar with John Hunt Morgan and his activities on land during the Civil War. Fewer of us are familiar, though, with his capture and destruction of the steamboat Alice Dean. The following account is found in the Henderson Reporter of Thursday, 16 July 1863.

From Captain James H. Pepper, who was in command of the Alice Dean at the time she was captured and burnt by the rebels under John Hunt Morgan, and who arrived in this city yesterday, we learn particulars of the occurrence.

The Alice Dean was on her way form Mound City to Cincinnati and when, on Tuesday last, she near Brandenburg, Kentucky, Capt. Pepper discovered the steamer McCombs lying near the shore, apparently in distress, making signals for him to bring his boat alongside. As the Alice Dean came up, in obedience to the summons, Capt. Pepper discovered that the McCombs was in possession of rebel troops, who evidently intended to board and capture his boat as soon as she came within reach, but all his efforts to get his boat again underway, and escape, were unavailing. She was immediately boarded by a large force of rebels, and himself, officers and crew placed under arrest, the soldiers in the meantime helping themselves to such valuables as came within their reach. When Capt. Pepper found that it would be impossible to escape with his boat, he ran to the office with the intention of secreting the money there belonging to the boat, the silverware &c, but he found himself confronted by a number of soldiers, who leveled their guns and ordered him to desist.

The rebel commander, General Morgan, informed Capt. Pepper that a large number of his troops had arrived at Brandenburg; that he wanted to take them across the river; that having no boats of any kind of his own, he was compelled to take possession of the Alice Dean to be used for that purpose and that as soon as his men and their horses and equipment, artillery &c were safely on the Indiana side of the river, she would be released and allowed to proceed on her way.

There were but few stores on the Alice Dean at the time she was captured, which were taken possession of by the rebels.

Tuesday evening Capt. Pepper received an order to prepare supper for 50 men, which, he informed the officer bearing the order, it was impossible as he had no provisions. The next morning a similar order was received and a like answer returned.
Capt. Pepper and his crew were engaged about 2 days in ferrying the rebels and their equipment across the river, during the whole of which time they had not a mouthful to eat, nor were they allowed to take any rest.

After all the rebel troops had been ferried across the river, Capt. Pepper received the following order:
"Indiana, U.S., July 2.
Capt. Pepper: Sir, in keeping with order from my superior officer, Major General John H. Morgan, I hereby order you to move your crew from your boat, Alice Dean, together with all your individual property as I am ordered to burn your boat. I am, sir, respectfully, Your obedient servant, Jas. W. Mitchel, Captain and Provost Marshal. Second Brigade, Morgan's Div. C.S.A."

Capt. Mitchel very politely informed Capt. Pepper that he could take from the boat such articles as he desired. Capt. Pepper placed the silverware belonging to the boat and a few other articles in a satchel and then went ashore, when his men were drawn up in line in front of the rebel soldiers. Capt. Mitchel told his men they could go on the boat and take such articles as they desired as he intended to burn her. Capt. Pepper asked the same privilege for the crew as a compensation for the labor they had performed for the rebel General, which was readily granted. They all helped themselves to bed clothing and such things as could be removed when the noble vessel, the finest on the Ohio River, was fired by the rebel Captain, and in a short time all that remained of the beautiful, finely furnished and fast running Alice Dean was a charred and smoking hull.

The Alice Dean was valued at $60,000 and was not insured against the vicissitudes of war.

Added note: Way's Packet Directory, 1848 - 1994, p. 12 states that a steamer of the same name was built in 1864 and ran the Cincinnati - Memphis route With Capt. Pepper commanding. After only three trips, the second Alice Dean hit the bank in March 1864 and sank.

Tombstone Tuesday - A. Barret Dade

A. Barret Dade
1865 – 1923
Erected By Friends,
Horsemen and Breeders
Of the United States
And Canada

A. Barret Dade is buried at Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky. His tombstone was photographed 10 November 2009.

Barret Dade, a native of Virginia, died of pneumonia in New Orleans 11 January 1923. Dade was survived by a wife, mother, brother and sister, all of Henderson. A resident of Henderson, he was a director of the Green River Jockey Club, which built and operated Dade race park between Henderson and Evansville, Indiana. Dade Park was named in honor of A. Barret Dade when it was built in 1922. Today it is known as Ellis Park.

The Brick Wall Starts to Crumble

Tombstone of C. Wilson, Crooked Creek Cemetery

One of my brick walls for a long time has been the family of Rev. Claibourne Wilson of Crittenden County, Kentucky. I have no trouble researching Claibourne, but his family has been a different matter.

Claibourne, the son of John E. Wilson and a Miss McVay, was born 16 September 1809 probably in Tennessee and died 12 February 1849. According to his obituary in the Baptist Banner, Claibourne was taken ill shortly after giving a sermon at Piney Creek Church. His illness was so sudden that he could not go home, being taken instead to "Brother Crane's, who lived near the meetinghouse." After twelve days, he passed away of "New Monia," leaving a widow, the former Martha Brown, and four children, Frances, John E., Thomas B. and Felix Ann Wilson. Claibourne was buried at Crooked Creek Cemetery.

A little over a month after Claibourne's death, his daughter Frances, usually called Franky, married Henry H. Cannon. The marriage didn't last long, though. Franky left her husband and, in 1850, Henry Cannon filed for divorce. It was stated in one of the divorce depositions that Franky "in company with her mother & others" left Kentucky and went to Missouri. The divorce was granted to Henry and all the rights of a single person were restored to him.

Claibourne's sons, John E. and Thomas B., are found on the 1860 Carroll County, Missouri census. John E. had married Sarah Woodard in 1853 in Carroll County and by 1860 had the following children: George C., age 4; Mary M., age 2 and Charles M, age eight months. Thomas B. Wilson was unmarried and living with his brother's family, also. By 1870, this whole family had disappeared.

Also, what happened to Martha Brown Wilson and her daughters Franky and Felix Ann? No marriages for them have been found and they do not appear using the surname Wilson on the 1860 Carroll County census.

I had decided there is a very large place somewhere known as "parts unknown" and that is where all of my elusive ancestors settled. I put this family aside again and planned to check on them later.

Maybe one last look might turn up something. Sometimes later is better and, in this case, it was! Using ancestry.com, I did a search for the John E. Wilson family on any 1870 census and there he was - listed as J.E. Wilson in Otoe County, Nebraska. Who would've thought he went to Nebraska! His wife is not listed so maybe she died, but children G.C., M.H. (ok, so it's not M.M.) and C.M. are with him and they are of the right ages and their birthplaces are correct. By 1880, J.E. Wilson has remarried, left Otoe County and was living with his wife, Mary E., in Butler County, Nebraska.

This is like a fresh beginning and there is much work to be done, but at least I know in which direction to go. The lesson here is don't give up, put your material aside for a while, and then come back to take another look. Sometimes it pays off.

BACK IN PRINT

After being out of print for almost 10 years, the following book is being reprinted:

Livingston County, Kentucky
Deed Books D - E 1818 - 1822
and
Miscellaneous Loose Papers 1799 - 1804

148 pages with full name and location indices, soft cover
$27.00 postage paid.

Not only will you find land conveyances, but also mortgages, a few apprenticeships and estate divisions (naming heirs). The miscellaneous loose papers include bonds, road petitions, road orders, estate appraisements and sales, depositions and undated land entries. During this time period, Livingston County also included the area now in Crittenden County.

The book should be available by early January 2010. Order now to reserve a copy.

This is a limited publication and will be the last printing of this book. Order from:
Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG
PO Box 325
Newburgh, IN 47629-0325

Remember Our Veterans

We pause on Veteran’s Day to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices made by veterans of all wars. Let us not forget those who fought a losing battle. One such veteran was Richard Digman, a veteran of the Civil War who is buried in Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky. The obituary appeared in the Henderson Gleaner, Sunday, 7 January 1917.

Richard Digman, aged 82, formerly of this city, died at the Confederate Home in Peewee Valley.

He was well known here by many of the older citizens, he having been a resident of Henderson since 1866, and for many years up to the time he went to the Confederate Home, successfully engaged in the business of a brick contractor. Quite a number of the residences and business houses here are specimens of his handiwork.

He served in the Confederate army under Gen. Joe Lewis. He was in Gen. Buckner’s bodyguard at Fort Donelson and escaped with Gen. Forrest at the surrender. He also served with gallantry and bravery under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson; was in the battle of Shiloh, and other engagements of historical note. He was in the raid of Gen. John H. Morgan through Ohio and Indiana, and was with others captured at Portsmouth, Ohio, and taken to Fort Douglas. After 18 months imprisonment, he was exchanged at Amherst Court House.

In 1870, he married Miss Mollie B. Jeffers, a half sister of Mr. R.C. Blackwell, of this city. Two daughters were born to this union – one of whom survives. He was a loyal friend and a good citizen.

The remains will probably be brought here Sunday and the interment will be on the family lot in Fernwood Cemetery

Tombstone Tuesday - Ann M. Flournoy

Ann M. Flournoy
Born in
Powhatan Co, Va
in 1787
Died
in Princeton, Ky
Jan. 2, 1873
Aged 86 years

Buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 10 October 2009. Click on tombstone for an enlarged view.

Ann M. Flournoy is named as a child in the will of David Flournoy (Caldwell County Will Book A, p. 435, dated 5 June 1825). Ann M. Flournoy left a will (Caldwell County Will Book B, p. 274), in which she names her sister Mariah L. McNary and brother-in- law, Thomas L. McNary, and their children Ann E. McNary, Mary L. McNary, Hugh F. McNary, Walter Scott McNary.

Willard Library

I've mentioned Willard Library of Evansville, Indiana a number of times on this blog. Special Collections, where the genealogy collection can be found, is located on the 2nd floor. The library is open Monday - Tuesday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm; Wednesday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:30 pm; Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 pm. This is not just a local library; they have a great deal of material on other states, including Kentucky.