McCudden, Pemberton, and Schuler from Will County, Illinois served in the Civil War

Franklin McCudden (1840-66), James Pemberton (1837-1914) and Charles Shuler (1845-1904) from Will County, Illinois enlisted in Company I, 9^th Illinois Cavalry on the 23^rd of February 1865. They enlisted in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. All three were mustered out on 31^st day of October 1865 in Selma, Alabama. A National Genealogical Society (NGS)research trip to Washington DC provided me with documentation of their service.

After reading their Compiled Military Service Records, Carded Medical Records and Pension Applications, many more questions than answers surface. McCudden and Pemberton are farmers while Shuler is a boatman. Pemberton applied for a pension stating a mule rolled on him. At this time, there is no record in his medical file regarding the accident. Further research into unit records may reveal more clues.

The only military marker for Civil War service is on the grave on Charles Shuler in the Lockport City Cemetery. Franklin McCudden is buried in the Lockport City Cemetery. James Pemberton is buried in the Brooks Cemetery in Homer Glen. The gravestone photographs are from www.findagrave.com. 

What is the connection between these three men? Charles Schuler is the brother-in-law to Franklin McCudden. After Frank died, his wife Elizabeth married George Pemberton. What is George’s relationship to James? Future research, I mentioned that records offer more questions than answers.

For articles on Washington DC research or Civil War research, please read:

Civil War research of Union textual records

Genealogy: Researching textual records at the NationalArchives Washington DC

Genealogy: Union Civil War Pension Records offer familyhistory gems

How to use Union Civil War documents with your familyhistory

Contact me with your family history challenges, SelmaBlackmon

Who were the postmasters of Frankfort, Will County, Illinois?

My dad, Henry Kampe (1916-1983) has a first cousin LeRoy Mager (1909-1986) who was a postmaster for Frankfort, Will County, Illinois. With this information, I am interested in the office locations and names of other postmasters from Frankfort. This research leads me to the following information.

National Archives microfilm publication M 1131. Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-Sept. 30, 1971. Printed at the National Archives at Atlanta. Scanned for publication by Selma Blackmon.

Postmasters appointed before 1832 are found in the NationalArchives microfilm publication M1131, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, Oct. 1789-1832. Postmasters appointed after 1832 are found in the National Archives microfilm publication M841, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-Sept. 30, 1971. The Frankfort, Will County, Illinois microfilm records are not available after 1954. Also in Record Group 28 is the Post Office Department Reports of Site Location 1837-1950 on microfilm M1126.

I did view and print copies of the postmaster microfilm at the National Archives at Atlanta. The postmaster microfilm has been digitized and is available on Ancestry.com. The location microfilm has not been digitized.

YEAR	P.O.	NAME	APPOINTMENT
1832-68	Chelsea	Levi M. Clayes	1 February 1832
		Matthew VanHorne	8 September 1842
		Alonzo Higley	18 September 1855
		Matthew VanHorne	23 January 1856
		Edwin A. Stolp	22 May 1860
		Wm. H. [B] Cleveland	1 June 1861
1868-1905	Frankfort Station	Wm. B Cleveland	29 April1868
		David W. Hunter	12 May 1869
		Lewis Claus	21 February 1872
		Howard S. Barker	21 December 1882
		Jacob Miller [Mueler]	15 September 1885
		Howard S. Barker	31 May 1889
		John Kohlhagen	1 September 1893
		W. B. Norse	1894
		John Feil	23 June 1897
		Mrs John Feil	9 December 1901
		Esther E. Feil	21 January 1905
1905	Frankfort	Esther E. Feil	12 June 1905
		Max T. Haass	24 July 1907
		Robert E. Stephen	25 August 1914
		Mrs. Amelia K. Fink	15 February 1934
		Leroy J. Mager	30 September 1953

Happy tree climbing and roots digging,

Selma

How to use Ancestry.com and their ‘suggested records’

Have you noticed the “suggested records” on the right side of the screen on Ancestry.com? Do you know how to use them? These suggestions can lead to new and fascinating discoveries or lead down the blind rabbit hole.  My example is the Schuler family of Lockport, Will County, Illinois. While researching for Genealogy: How to research family relationships from census records,part 4, the 1860 U.S. population schedule census index lists an Eliza  Shuler and Elizabeth Shuler. As a family historian, I want to place Eliza and Elizabeth in their correct family.

Next to the 1860 census index page for Eliza Shuler, the “suggested records” refer to the John Shuler family of Lockport, Illinois in 1850. Another suggestion refers to Elizabeth in the John Shuler family of Ottawa, Illinois in 1850. Can the family historian assume the suggestions are correct? Always search for more verification and documentation. These suggestions may be correct; these suggestions may be mixed up, these suggestions may be completely wrong.

Matching the 1860 and 1850 census indexes, reveals that the 1860 Eliza is the 1850 Elizabeth. Others in the same home in both censuses include John, Charles, and Mary. Family records identify Eufen in 1850 as Ann in 1860. The Schuler family has resided in Lockport, Illinois since 1840.

Who is Eliza Shuler, 17, servant to Stephen Douse? Could Elizabeth enumerated in the John Shuler home and Eliza the servant enumerated with Stephen Douse be the same person?  Is she working? What became of her after 1860? More research is needed to answer these questions.

Sunday's Obituary - Herman Sieling (1828-1900)

Peotone Vedette   Volume VII

Peotone, Illinois, Friday Evening, March 30, 1900     Number 9

Around Home [front page]

A Pioneer Goes Home

  Herman Sieling, one of the pioneers of eastern Will county, died at his home in this city Tuesday evening, March 27, of heart disease.

  He was born in Hoie, Hanover province, Germany, Dec. 17, 1828. In 1860 he came to Will county and settled on a farm in Green Garden. The following year he married Dorethea Niese, who with four daughters, survive him.

  In 1870, he moved into Peotone township where he lived on a farm until 1895 when he retired from the activities of life and removed to this city.

  Mr. Sieling was a well known citizen and he had a wide circle of friends. He was a member of the North Peotone church. The funeral was held at church today at noon, Rev. C.H. Wittbracht conducting the service.

  The surviving children of the deceased are Mrs. Louise Schmidt, Peotone; Mrs. Bernard Bruns, Worthington, Minn; Mrs. Theo. Bruns, Grandville, Iowa, and Mrs. Henry Ritzman, Frankfort Station, Il.