The James Eiland Family

My great great grandfather, James Eiland, always sticks in my mind as one of my more interesting ancestors. He was the son of Frances Marion Eiland and Elmina Jones. Born in Alabama on 23 August 1840, James was the third of possibly eight children. James and his older brother, Absalom, both served in the 29th Alabama Infantry during the Civil War. James was captured by Union forces as Sherman marched toward Atlanta. I can only assume as a measure of self-preservation, James enlisted in the Union Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Susquehanna until the end of the war, becoming my “galvanized Yankee” ancestor.

When he returned to Alabama, he married Rebecca Hayes on 11 June 1865.  Their children were: William, John, Enoch, James, Basil, Arthur, Ed and Anna Rebecca.  All but the older two are pictured below with James,  Rebecca and their own families.  The photo was taken in October 1898.

James is of course in the center, seated next to Rebecca.  I love the way his hair is combed upward, just like the “younger dudes” today.

He died of a spider bite in 1908 in San Angelo, Texas.

Marue

Name That Ancestor – McCoy Duke or Tom Adams?

I believe that my interest in my family tree has been sufficiently resurrected. After about 15 years of research I was forced to lay it aside about 5 years ago. I just did not have the time to concentrate on those brick walls that were plaguing me.

Anyway, on a recent visit to my dad’s house, he handed me a photograph that I had seen before but now he wanted me to keep it.  It’s an old photo of a young couple presumably on their wedding day, pre-1900.  We always thought it may be my father’s grandparents, Mack Duke and Mary Cannon who married in Waco, Texas about December 1900. 

Well now that I have my hands on the photo I have been able to study it much more closely.  There is a stamp at the bottom of the cardboard mounting that reads “Jackson’s – Waco, Tex.”  On the back there is some handwriting at the top.  The writing is large but has faded to a point that it is hard to make out.  Well, I’ll be.  It says “T. D. Adams, Bruceville, Texas”. 

Dad disagrees but I think it’s probably not Mack and Mary after all.  I’m sure it’s Mary’s stepfather, Tom Adams, but who is the woman?  It’s not likely Mary’s mother, Hettie.  Tom and Hettie were 40ish when they married in 1896 in Waco.  This couple is younger but it has to be Tom.  I can only assume it is Tom and his first wife who I have not identified.  Tom had 2 children that I know of from his first marriage, Bessie and Johnie.  Bessie was born about 1887, so I am putting the date on this photo at about 1885.  Now I just have to locate a marriage record to back up my theory.

Happy hunting!

Marue