I think that this verdict was so interesting.  Have you heard of a woman suing another woman for alienating the affections of her husband?  I wonder if she actually got the money.

This articles is from the Omaha World Herald, 13 February 1916.
DESSIE WARREN GIVEN VERDICT FOR $2,000

Brought Suit Against Clara E. Graham for Alienating Husband’s Affections

Lower Court Grants Verdict for $4,875, Which High Court Cuts.

Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.

Des Moines, Ia., February 12.- The Iowa supreme court today affirmed a verdict of $2,000 in favor of Dessie Warren, against Clara E. Graham, appelant, Sioux county. Mrs. Warren charged that Miss Graham alienated the affections of her husband, Dana Warren.  He disappeared Christmas 1911. The last heard of him he was at Reno, Nev., and was still going west, the court says.

The Warrens lived at Sioux City, Hull, and Fort Dodge. The jury awarded Mrs. Warren $4,875, but this the supreme court cut to $2,000.

Harry C. Robertson was my great-grandmother Marie Robertson Thornton’s older brother.  He fought in World War I received a Purple Heart.

Unfortunately, his dates are not visible in this picture.  What I can read is:

Harry C Robertson
Iowa
PVT BTRY B 129 FIELD ARTY
WORLD WAR I

He was born 3 Nov 1892 in Avoca, Iowa and died 21 Jul 1968 in Sioux City, IA.

He is buried in Cavalry Cemetery in Sioux City, IA.

Commission to Appraisers.
State of Iowa,          } SS.       Estate of John Robertson Deceased.
Washington County

To David Teter, Hugh Draper [Frank ? is crossed out], and Walter Mckinnie:
You are Hereby Notified that you have this day been appointed to appraise all the personal property belonging to the estate of John Robertson, deceased, and after being sworn as required  by law, you will proceed with the least possible delay to perform your duties in the premises, and file your report in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of said County.
A copy of the Inventory filed by the Administrator of said estate is hereto attached, and in performing your duties as appraisers, you will affix to each item or article in said list whatever sum you consider to be its present cash value.
Witness, J. A. Cunningham Clerk of said Court, with the Seal thereof affixed, at Washington, this 19th day of March A.D. 1879.
J. A. Cunningham, Clerk of the District Court
J.B. Tiller, Depy.

Oath of Appraisers
State of Iowa,
Washington County,}SS
We and each of us do solemly swear that we will well and truly, without partiality or prejudice, value and appraise the goods, chattels, and personal estate of John Robertson deceased, so far as the same shall come to our knowledge; and that we will in all respects perform our duties as appraisors, to the best of our skill and judgment, as required by the foregoing commission

Walter McKinnie [signed]
David Teeter [signed]
Hugh Draper [signed]
Subscribed and sworn to this 21 day of March A.D. 1879
By Walter McKinnie David Teeter + Hugh Draper
J.A. Cunningham __CC
J.P. ______ ___

[page break]

1 Gray Horse     50.00
1 Dun Horse     30.00
1 Brown Mare  60.00
6 Milch Cows  112.00
3 Steers   54.00
7 Shoats  21.00
1 Wagon  12.00
1 Buggy  15.00
2 Satts of Harness  10.00
1 Corn Planter. 25.00
1 Stirring Plow  2.00
1 Gopher Plow .25
1 Reaper + Mower  10.00
1 Hay Ra____  1.50
1 Harrow.  1.00
1 Saddle  .50
1 Grind Stone  .20
1 Cross Cut Saw. 1.50
1 Lot Barbd Wire  2.00
1 Trow ______  1.50
1 Satt Sleigh Bells  2.00
1 Pair BobSleds  3.00
1 Wheel Barrow  .75
1 Lot Sacks  1.20
1 Lot Shools  .25
1 Lot Forks  .75
1 hoe .10
3 AugurS  .40
3 Ream_s  1.00
1 Hand Saw  .25
1 Brace  .25
2 Bitts  .10
[page break]
1 chisel  .[0]5
1 file  .10
1 _row Wedge  .20
1 Ring Maul  .15
2 Log Chains  .75
1 axe  .20
1 SauSage Mill  .75
1 Rifle  4.00
1 Lot Corn  20.00
1 Lot Hay  6.00
1 Lot Wheat
1 Lot Oats  9.00
1 Lot Wheat
1 Lot of Barrells.  .20
1 Cupboard  2.00
2 Tables. 5.00
3 Stands.  2.00
2 Lounges  1.50
2 Satts of ChairS  3.00
2 Rockig ChairS 1.00
1 clock  7.00
1 watch.  7.00
1 Cook Stove  4.00
1 Parlor Stove  1.50
1 Lot Books  12.00
1 Ladder  .50
1 Monkey Wrench  .25
1 Grubbing hoe  .10

This contract was in the probate packet for my 4th great-grandfather, John Robertson.

What I find so interesting is the fact that they added an inscription for his son Hugh, who died during the Civil War and was buried somewhere near Jackson, Mississippi. (Still looking for where!)

I also find it interesting that this contract was made on April 30, 1879 – John died on February 26th, which means that it took a couple of months to get a headstone up.

The will was written a few days before he died.  I have scanned it in here and will transcribe it below.

Know all men that I John Robertson of Washington County Iowa being of sound mind and Memory do make and publish this my last will + testament as follows to wit
Item 1st
It is my will that all my Just debts be first paid.
Item 2nd
I give and bequeath to my son Alexander C. Robertson all that part of the North East quarter of section No. thirty four (34) in Township No seventy five (75) North of Range No. (8) Eight west lying East of the railroad also the timber lot commencing at the North West corner of the North East quarter of teh south west quarter of L__ No 18 in Township No 74 north of Range No Eight west thence south 44 rods thence East 40 rods thence North 44 rods thence west 40 rods to the place of beginning
Item 3rd
It is my will that the portion of the North East quarter of section No thirty four (34) in Township No seventy five (75) North of Range No 8 west lying west of the rail road also the timber lot beginning at the south East corner of the North west quarter of the South East quarter of section 29 in Township 74 North of Range No seven (7) West together with my personal property be sold and out of the proceeds there shall first be paid to my daughter Mary Glenn the sum of four hundred dollars + the remainder after paying expenses of executing this will shall be equally divided between my daughter Mary Glenn and the heirs of my deceased daughter Rachel A Lynn
Item 4th
It is my desire that Walter McKinnie act as executor of this my last will + testament
In testamony wherof I have hereto set my hand this 25th day Feb AD 1879
John Robertson [signed]
We the undersigned in the presence of Each other and the above signed testator have at his request signed as wittnesses of the above proper by him declred in our presence to be his last will +testament this 25th day of Febuary 1879

Walter McKinnie [signed]
Joshua Ca__ [signed]

State of Iowa SS
Washington County} J.J. A Cunningham
Clerk of the Circuit
Court in and for said County to hereby certify that on the 16th day of September 1879 before the Circuit Court in and for said county the forgoing instrument of [?] was duly proven and admitted to Probate as the last Will and Testament of John Robertson deceased.
Witness my Signature and Seal of office this 30th day of September 1879.
J A Cunningham Clerk Circuit Court

One of the things I was hoping to find on my recent trip to Iowa, was a nice long obituary, stating where he was born and who his parents were – breaking down my brick wall in one stroke.

That wasn’t my luck.

I found two death notices in two separate local newspapers, but no full-up obituary.  Them’s the breaks.

From the Washington Democrat, Washington, Iowa, dated 5 March 1879, page 1:

John Robinson of Franklin township, died Wednesday morning, February 26th.  We understand lung difficulty was the cause.

They didn’t even spell his name correctly, let alone give any pertinent information about his life.  Darn.

And the second notice was in the Washington County Press, Washington Iowa, dated 5 March 1879, page 3:

John Robertson of this township died on the 27th ult. He was at the Reed sale on the 20th, and told Reeves that he had felt better this winter than in many years – had no cough, good appetite, and could sleep well.  He took a chill there, and was seized with congestion of the liver.  He was a Virginian, was almost 75 years old, and had lived here about 22 years, as near as we can learn.

Again, no info on his life before moving to Iowa.  This states that he was a Virginian, which I had never heard before.  Everything else I have on him points to Kentucky as his birth place.  It doesn’t sound like he was very well known in town, does it?

Well, even though this didn’t break down my brick wall, it did add a bit more to the growing pile of information I have about him.  I am always thankful for every little piece I get.

Sometimes I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to my research.

I have a Rubbermaid tub of papers that I have yet to enter into my computer program.  It seems like such a monumental task that I’ve put it off for years now.

But what I’ve found is that often the answer to my brick wall is lying in there, waiting for me to re-find it.

Another researcher contacted me through this blog after finding we shared a common ancestor – John Robertson.

John has been one of my biggest brick walls for years.  I knew he was from Kentucky, but not where.  Finding a John Robertson in the 1840 census proved to be difficult.  It’s a common name in a large state – and without the names of the family along with him, I haven’t been able to pinpoint which one might be him.

And I had the answer of where he was from (or at least a good clue to the answer) sitting in that tub for years.

I pulled out the Civil War records for John Robertson’s son, Hugh – so that I could scan them and send them to this researcher. And as I started reading through it, I realized that Hugh’s birthplace is listed on this record.

I believe that it says Brick/Breck county. My guess is that it’s an abbreviation of Breckenridge County. The only other option would be Bracken county. Either way, my search for John Robertson has now narrowed considerably.

It looks like I need to take a vacation at home and get to digitizing and entering in this information that I have.

The only question is where do I put the kids?

Do you ever find yourself hampering your own research by your lack of organization? Please tell me I’m not the only one.

“Robertson, A.C., farmer; Sec. 34; P.O. Washington; was born in Kentucky, July 8, 1839, and in the fall of 1848 he moved to Knox county, Ohio; came to Iowa in the spring of 1860 and located in Louisa county, and in the fall of the same year game to this county locating where he now resides; he owns 70 acres of land; was married December 23, 1863, to Miss Elizabeth J. Covit, a native of Pennsylvania; they have seven children living; Elmer E., John E., Charles W., Ella M., Dessie A., George L., and Annie E.;  Mr. Robertson has held the office of constable for two terms.”

I also found another article about an Alexander Robertson who was the steward of the town’s poor house.  I got really excited about this article, because it was really interesting.  The poor house apparently burned down and 5 people died.  Alexander had tried to go up and save the people, but had almost been knocked out by smoke.  His son John had to get him out.  I was even more excited, because my Alex had a son John.   Then I was disappointed when I looked through the 1880 census and found my Alexander on a farm and this other Alexander working as the poor house steward. Darn!  I almost had a really cool family story….

I need to keep this in mind now when I’m doing research in this county.  There was another Alexander living here at the same time.  I need to make sure not to confuse them!!!

I never met Darwin – actually I never even spoke to him or his family.  I was given a copy of a copy of a copy of his genealogy research by my aunt though, and I am very thankful for that.  He did a ton of great research in the years before Ancestry.com and online databases.  Not only did he do a lot of research, but he also put it into a narrative format which makes it so easy and enjoyable to read.  I was very excited to receive the copy of his work early on in my family history quest.  Even though I can find most of the names and dates on my own now online,  what is invaluable in his work is the stories.  It’s not just names and dates, but memories and pictures.

So, if Darwin’s family is out there in Internet-land and finds this, I just want them to know that his work is appreciated!  It has inspired me to do the same sort of writing for other lines of my family.  I hope that some day I am able to write my own family history books for my descendants to read.

He enlisted on August 15, 1862 in Washington, Iowa and served in Co. A of the 25th Iowa Infantry.

He was killed by an explosion of a shell in July of 1863 in Jackson, Mississippi.

His gravestone is in Washington, Iowa, next to that of his father, John Robertson.

I have always thought it was tragic that he died so young. He never got married or had children of his own. He doesn’t have any descendants to carry on his name.  And so I honor him here on this Military Monday.

Here is what I know about him:

10 March 1804  Born in Kentucky (but where in KY, I have NO idea)

20 Jan 1831  Married Abigail Cowen in KY (again, I don’t know where in KY.  The date was given to me by another family member and I have no actual proof of this).

2 Feb 1832  His daughter, Mary Frances Robertson is born in KY.

5 Nov 1833  His daughter Rachel Ann Robertson is born in KY.

Abt. Apr 1836 His son Hugh M. Robertson is born in KY.

8 Jul 1838  His son (my ancestor) Alexander Cower Robertson is born in KY.

22 Jul 1838  His wife, Abigail Cowen Robertson dies after the birth of her child, Alexander.

Fall 1848  Moved from Kentucky to Knox County, Ohio.  (According to the History of Washington county)

30 Jul 1850  Living in Clinton Twp, Knox Co., Ohio with a Mary S. Robertson (presumably his wife) and children and a man whom I think is his brother (Robert Robertson)  They are all listed as being born in Kentucky.

Spring 1860  Moved from Ohio to Louisa Co, IA

13 Jul 1860  Living in Morning Sun Twp, Louisa Co., Iowa.  He and his family (and Robert Robertson again) were living with the family of William Linn , who was married to his daughter Rachel.

Fall 1860  Moved from Louisa County, IA to Washington County.

12 Jul 1863  His son Hugh is killed during the Civil War.  He has a gravestone in Woodlawn Cemetery, Washington Co., IA.

1 Aug 1867  Mary S. Robertson (presumably his 2nd wife) dies and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Washington Co., IA.

March 1870  His daughter, Rachel Ann Linn, dies in childbirth in Louisa County, IA.

2 Sep 1870  Living in Franklin Twp, Washington Co., Iowa.  His daughter with her child, and his son with his wife and children were living with him.

26 Feb 1879  He died  and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Washington County, Iowa.

Please somebody smack me for taking  pictures of this gravestone with a huge shadow on them – presumably a shadow of me.  What on earth was I thinking??

I guess that the first thing I am dying to know is where in Kentucky were they from??  I need to sit down one night (after everyone has gone to bed) and go through the hundreds of John Robertsons in the 1840 census to see which families are possible matches.  I just haven’t done that yet.

It’s a bit daunting, but not as bad as it was 10 years ago when my internet connection was appalling and I had to wait forever for each page to come up.  How on earth did I ever survive??

Once I can place them in a specific county, I think that I will have an easier time trying to figure out who John and Abigail’s parents were.  And who his second wife, Mary was.

Any other ideas on where I might find out what county they lived in??