Samuel G. Dickey: Civil War Soldier

Samuel G. Dickey was born 9 November 1840 in Neshannock, Mercer, Pennsylvania.  He was born to David Lawson Dickey and Nancy Agnes Love.  The Dickey family moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa between 1850 and 1852.  In the 1850 census they are living in Neshannock, Pennsylvania but by 1852 they are in the Iowa State Census living in Bellevue, Jackson, Iowa.  (I am always so happy to have Iowa family as the Iowa State Census is a wonderful thing!)  The family continues to live in Bellevue and is found in subsequent census records including 1860.

On 18 August 1862 Samuel enlists in Company K of the 31st regiment of Iowa Infantry.  I was so excited to find another Civil War ancestor that I immediately sent for his pension records.  Hoping that they would assist in filling in the holes that I had on this man and his family.  That they did.  The marriage date was listed so that I could find that information and when his pension stopped due to his death.  This assisted me in finding his death date later in my story.  He went to many different states as can be seen by visiting Iowa Gen Web site that provides a historical sketch of his regiment.  This information at http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/books/logan/mil515.htm was taken from The Roster and Record of Iowa Troops in the Rebellion, Vol. 3 By Guy Logan.   On 27 June 1865 he was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky.

In his pension papers he states that he has chronic bronchitis which he incurred at Arkansas in the month of January 1863.  He further states that it was aggravated by hardships and exposure while at Young's Point near Vicksburg along with being at Butler Canal and Lookout Mountain.  In further reading the pension file it seems that he endured many nights of rain and snow while on guard duty.


On 16 October 1866 Samuel marries Margaret Boone in Jackson County, Iowa.

                                          Received 13 December 1994 from Clerk of District Court, Jackson County, Iowa.  License #878.


Margaret Boone was born in October of 1845 in Jackson County, Iowa.  She is the daughter of Urbain Paul Boone and Mary D. Lawless.  Urbain is the grandson of George Boone who is the brother to Daniel Boone.  (That is a story for another day!)  Margaret and Samuel move to Scotch Grove, Jones, Iowa by 1870.  By 1870 they have Cora Alfreda born in 1867 and Mary Anna born in 1869 (Mary Anna is my ancestor.)  They did not stay long in Jones County but instead moved on to Greene County and are living in Kendrick, Greene, Iowa in the 1880 census.  By this time they have added Don A born in 1872, Lawson David born in 1873, Trinvella born in 1876 and Venna Estella born in 1880.  Sad news hit also as Trinvella dies in 1878.  In 1885 they are living in Glidden, Carroll, Iowa and by this time their last child has been born Charles Henderson in 1882.  However once again sad news hits the family as Margaret dies 7 July 1884.  She and Trinvella are buried in the Dillavou Cemetery, Ralston, Greene, Iowa.  Sadly it seems her tombstone is now gone but luckily I had taken a picture of it when I was there many years ago.

Samuel remains in Glidden until at least 1900.  After that he seemed to be lost.  Lost until I received his pension papers that said he was last paid on 4 January 1907 and was dropped because of death 27 March 1907.  The clue I needed.  I then began searching everywhere to find him.  Some genealogy angel was watching over me as I finally found him in Oregon City, Clackamas, Oregon.  An obituary stating that he had died at his daughter's home.  He had moved out there six years before.

Some day I will locate his burial place and find the tombstone.  It is just a matter of time before my genealogy angel comes back to help me!

Three Marriages and Two Wives: Figuring It All Out

Samuel F. Brackett was born 1 August 1827 in Limington, Oxford County, Maine.  He is the son of Samuel Brackett and Susan Foss.  He grows up in Maine and marries Elizabeth Libby on 20 October 1848 in Scarborough, Cumberland County, Maine.  Elizabeth is born 26 June 1823 in Scarborough, Cumberland County, Maine.  She is the daughter of Cyrus Libby and Lois Libby (yes they have the same last name!!!).  Elizabeth and Samuel have a son George A born 6 June 1854 in Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Their next child is Benjamin Franklin and he is born 31 January 1856 in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin.  By 1860 the family is in Richmond, Shawano County Wisconsin.  The last child is Alice Abbie born May 1862 in Wisconsin.  By 9 August 1862 Samuel enlisted at Shawano County in the Civil War.  He was in Company I 32nd Infantry Regiment.  7 February 1863 finds him mustered out.

On 21 August 1866 Samuel married in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan to Lucy Maria Ficke.  Lucy Maria Ficke was born 8 June 1847 in Canada.  Here's where things get a bit dicey!!!  In 1870 Lucy and Samuel are living in St. Anthony, Hennepin County, Minnesota by themselves.  There are no children and I have not seen where Elizabeth passed away.  So maybe a divorce?  On 1 March 1873 Samuel and Lucy once again marry in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.  If they married in Michigan why on earth would they marry again in Nebraska????  On 4 August 1875 they have a daughter Esa Pearl who is born in Iowa.

Not being able to find any information about Elizabeth I sent away for the pension record of Samuel.  In his interview he gives the name of his wife Lucy M Fick and that they were married in 1866 in Port Huron. How interesting though that the license he submits for proof of the marriage is from Nebraska!! When asked if he was previously married he said yes to Elizabeth Libby in Scarboro (sic) Maine.  He states the names of his children but the years are all wrong for all of them.

In 1905 Samuel dies and Lucy applies for a Widow's Pension.  Her declaration also confirms the 1873 marriage date in Nebraska.  However she gives a bit more information on Elizabeth that she died July 1870. So now I have a date but it doesn't help me find her.  Elizabeth is still among the missing.  If Elizabeth and Samuel divorced I have not found that either.  Did she die in Wisconsin or in Maine??

In 1870 Elizabeth and Samuel's daughter Alice is living with Elizabeth's sister Lydia and Lydia's husband Phineas Foss.  She continues to live with them in 1880 and she is called their granddaughter.  Benjamin cannot be found in the 1870 census (YET!) but is living with his father and step-mother in 1880.  He eventually marries Martha A. Truesdell and they in turn have a daughter named Frances Hazel Brackett who is my great grandmother.  George is married in 1878 in Greene County, Iowa to Sarah Roberts.  Still no sign of Elizabeth.

So hopefully someone else will see this blog and maybe help find out where Elizabeth went after her and Samuel split up.  Until then keep digging and trying to bring her story to life!

Isaac Waite:Husband, Father, Civil War Soldier & Farmer

The other day I introduced you to my Euphemia's.  Euphemia Brooks was married to Isaac C Waite. Isaac and Euphemia had four daughters.   Anna Marie, Mary Etta, Abby Jane and Euphemia.  Isaac was born April 1830  in Napoli, Chenango County, New York.  He is the son of Oliver and Irene Chesebrough (Chesebro) Waite.

Before Isaac was married he had already lost his father.  He married Euphemia on the 23rd of November in 1852 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, New York. In 1855 the family is in New Albion, Cattaruagus County, New York but by 1857 they are on the move.  They are found in Spring Valley, Fillmore County, Minnesota   With them is Isaac's younger brother Oliver.

The Civil War begins and on the 8th of November in 1862 Isaac enrolled in Company I of the 1st regiment of Minnesota Mountain Rangers.  This term of service ended on the 1st of December 1863.   He was also enrolled with Company A Hatch's Battalion Minnesota Cavalry on 26th of February 1864.  He was commanded by Capt. D.W. Allen and was honorably discharged at Fort Snelling on the  5th day of June 1866.

While in service Isaac had a variety of ailments but the worst would have been found in his medical file from the Civil War papers.  In 1863 he was riding a mule attached to a provision wagon when the mule fell on his left leg. The knee was bruised badly and he was taken to a hospital 40 miles away where he waited for care for six to seven weeks.  Eventually later in life the Jackson Republic noted that he had an operation on his knee and his leg was amputated.  He was troubled with Ostetis or rotting of the bone and the only way to prevent spreading of the disease was to amputate.

The family stays in Spring Valley for a few more years but by 1870 they are located in Minneota, Jackson County, Minnesota.  In 1875 Isaac and Euphemia not only have their children but also two grandsons (William McQuillan and Arthur McQuillan) living with them as their mother had passed away in 1872.

1876 brings more sad news for the family as their daughter Abby Jane passes away.

In 1880 they also have their daughter Mary Etta and her husband and daughter (the Uptedgrafft family) living with them.

 In 1893 Isaac loses his wife of 40 years.  The local newspaper publishes a resolution about the passing of Euphemia from the Women's Relief Corps (Auxiliary to the Grand Army Republic).  Then in 1897 he loses is youngest daughter.

Isaac continues to live on a farm with his grandson Will McQuillan and eventually passes away on the 14th of September 1905.  At the time of his death his pension was $12.00.  He was buried in the Loon Lake Cemetery in Jackson County, Minnesota.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall and seen the many things that Isaac saw in his life.  He took a chance and moved his family to places unknown, was a charter member and Deacon of the Loon Lake Baptist Church and had seen so many that he loved pass on before him.  Once again I remember them as I know them!