The following  marriage details (not shown on the online version of his marriage bond) were provided by Danielle Atkinson, volunteer at Elizabeth Furr Duncan Genealogy Library in Monticello, Kentucky:

• Groom: age 19, born in Alabama, 1st marriage

• Bride: age 16, born & resides in Wayne Co., 1st marriage - A maiden.

The above information is from the original marriage records once available at the Wayne County courthouse, and it is said to be provided in both of these books:

• "Marriages of Wayne County, Kentucky 1801-1860" by Mildred Moody Nutter

• “Marriages and Vital Records of Wayne County, KY 1801-1860  (1972) Vol. 2” by June Baldwin Bork

My 3rd great-grandmother, Mary Abner Lewis, was born in Wayne County, Kentucky and is shown with her family in this 1850 U.S. Census for Wayne County (District 1):

I have not figured out where my 3rd great-grandfather, Joseph, was residing prior to his marriage to Mary. Additionally, I have not yet determined who his biological parents are. There is a family story by an Alma Coffee Whitis that Joseph was the illegitimate son of Rutha Lewis Roberts prior to her marriage to James W. Roberts, and I am finding that story easy to believe for several reasons:

1. In the book, Descendants of James Washington Roberts by Joyce A. (Norfleet) Wright (2009), Alma recalls her Uncle Frank Roberts telling her what his mother once told him—that he had a half brother named Joe, born to Rutha out of wedlock, and known to have “fits” (seizures). Ironically, my ancestor, Joseph Lewis did suffer from epileptic seizures and was believed to have died from a bad spell.

2. In Jan 1869, Joseph was declared a pauper by the court. In Oct 1869, Rutha Lewis Roberts was proclaimed in court documents to be “keeping” him. I find it peculiar that there’s a story about him being Rutha’s child and she just so happened to be the one who helped him when he became a pauper.

3. I believe Rutha is the daughter of a Benjamin Lewis (1764ish-1860ish); however, Alma had Rutha’s parents as William Lewis (1804-1860ish) and Urcilla Bell (1810-1876) in her own family research. Since William Lewis is the son of Benjamin Lewis, it makes Rutha a descendant of Benjamin Lewis regardless of which one of them is her father. Likewise, there are family trees out there that have William and Urcilla as Joseph’s parents as well. I do not believe they are, but if either William or Rutha is his parent, he still remains a descendant of Ben. Thorough research and shared DNA evidence strongly supports Benjamin being my 5th great-grandfather.

Tax records (1856-1875), census records (1860, 1880), and Joseph’s Civil War pension records prove that he and his wife raised their family in the Monticello area of Wayne County, Kentucky and both died there. Some of their children spent their lives in Wayne County as well, but one (Thomas) ended up in Texas and four (John, Emberson, Telitha, and Earl) eventually relocated to Jacksonville, Illinois.

Below is the only U.S. census record I’ve found showing Joseph:

A year after the above 1860 Census was taken, on 3 October 1861, Joseph voluntarily enlisted to serve for the Union in the Civil War. He first enrolled as a Private in Company H, 12th Regiment Kentucky Infantry of Volunteers. However, he was transferred to Company K, enrolling on 20 Oct 1861 at Camp Hoskins, KY.  He was mustered in at Camp Clio in Pulaski County, Kentucky on 30 January 1862, at the age of 28.

His original enrollment was for a period of three years, but his time served proved very short. Joseph came down sick and was admitted 3 March 1862 into the Number 2 General Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee with Chronic Rheumatism. He was discharged from the Army on 30 May 1862. His pension records contain several testimonies by fellow soldiers offering descriptions of the marches and battles they participated in, the weather and circumstances they had to endure, and the deterioration of Joseph’s physical health up until his discharge.

I have not been able to locate Joseph and his family in the 1870 U.S. census, locally or out of state. From the way Joe’s physical health was described in physician and other witness testimonials, I wouldn’t expect him to handle moving too far away. Plus, the annual tax records don’t give any indication that he ever left the area. Hence, I suspect the family just got missed during census time.

According to Joseph’s pension records, he died in Wayne County, KY on 23 Jan 1875. Sadly, a family friend found him face down in the road, deceased. I found a court document showing a sum of money that was spent on burial clothing for him. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any information as to where he was laid to rest. Since he had been declared a pauper in years prior, I assume he could have been buried in his own yard. I’ve also been told they did something in years past involving the Cumberland river, causing a lot of land and cemeteries that once existed to now be underwater. Sadly, I may never know where Joseph was laid to rest.

1880 U.S. Federal Census, Population Schedule, District 106, Monticello, Wayne County, Kentucky

Shown above is the 1880 U.S. Census listing widow, Mary Lewis, with all but two of her children. Strangely enough the last 3 children listed in her household were not mentioned in Joseph’s pension records. Joseph, Mary, and many different witnesses attested that the four minor children named in the records (John R., William N., Telitha F., and Emberson) were my grandparents’ only minor children. Yet, there are various records implying my grandparents as the parents of at least two of the three mystery children (Earl & Mary “Eliza”).

Grandma, Mary Lewis, died on 23 June 1881. Grandpa’s pension records have testimony from someone who claims to have witnessed her interment. I also have a court document showing that a coffin was made for her for $3.00. She was referred to in the document as a “poor person.” Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to determine where she was laid to rest either.

Following her death, two of her children (Telitha & Emberson) were appointed a guardian (Samuel C. McBeath).

So that’s a quick summary of what I know about my 3rd great-grandparents. I’ve written a much more detailed book on several of my Lewis ancestors from Wayne County that includes an index, register of names, images, and citations. “My Kentucky Roots: Tracing Lewis Lineage” is available for free in PDF format and can be viewed and downloaded from my trees on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.

1st image shows my grandparents, Ernie and Ayleen Koch and four of their children (L to R): Ernie, Sharon, Marcia, Charlie

2nd image (front) Linda (back L to R), Ernie, Sharon, Marcia, Charlie

3rd image (back) Charlie and Ernie (front) Marcia and Linda

Sharon was the oldest of five siblings and had to take on the most responsibilities. She often complained that she had to go to school smelling of horses and such because she was expected to do all of her farm chores before heading off to school. She was equally committed to school activities, which are shown below with her senior photo from the Meredosia-Chambersburg High School yearbook in 1965:

Sharon and Eddie Dunnaway had one child together, Rowan, born in 1968. Growing up I recall him being called by his nickname, “Stacy.”

Rowan and my brother were always close and did typical mischievous boy things like shoot BB guns, blow things up with firecrackers, and explore all of the junk my grandfather hoarded in a shed on his deteriorating farm.

Rowan was just four years old when he witnessed his mother’s death. Her husband never really got over her, despite remarrying some years later. He had started to build a house for her, but after her death he never finished the house. He lived in the basement of that house with his second wife until their divorce. I heard that following his divorce he finally completed the finishing touches to the house and moved upstairs into it. But he has since passed away himself and is buried next to Sharon at Oakland Cemetery in Meredosia, Illinois.

Their son, Rowan is alive and well and has his own wife and children now. He has held a lifelong military career. I’ve been in touch with him through email but haven’t seen him since I was a teenager.

According to the 1910 and 1920 U.S. Federal Censuses, Mathias immigrated to the United States in about 1862 (I am not yet certain if any of his siblings ever immigrated out of Denmark as well). He immediately enlisted in the military and served with the Union Army. He looks to have been temporarily attached at some point to the 5th Independent Battalion of Massachusetts Light Artillery but shows on records as being enrolled as a private on June 13, 1862, with the 10th Independent Battalion of New York Light Artillery. He was then transferred on June 21, 1864, to the 6th Independent Battery of NY Light Artillery. He was promoted to corporal on July 20, 1864, and was discharged on June 15, 1865.

He married Laura Ann Brown (1841-1914) in Washington, District of Columbia, on December 11, 1866. In 1868 they relocated to Jacksonville, Illinois, where they lived out the rest of their lives and had at least six children:
Charles Edward (1867-1930), Franklin Mathias (1871-1941), Albert Henry (1872-1937), William T. (1876-1876), Martha Rosella (1878-1918), and Clarabelle Julia (1881-1905)

Around 1889, Mathias Jensen opened his own grocery store at 636 North Main Street, next to their home residence at 634 Main Street.

March 27, 1891, Mathias filed for his Civil War pension.

Mathias was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.)—Matt Starr’s Post #378 in Jacksonville, IL. The following newspaper clipping shows Mathias as a junior vice commander.

Mathias became ill and passed away September 6, 1915, from progressive weakness from Pellagra (a disease caused by a lack of the vitamin B3). The Matt Starr Post gathered together to attend his funeral.

My 3rd great-grandfather was buried at Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville, in Section L, Lot No. 127, 2nd space north, west 1/2. Also sharing the lot with him are his wife, Laura; his son and daughter-in-law, Albert and Anna; sons, Frank Mathias and William; daughters, Clarabelle and Martha; granddaughters Clara Marie and Rosella; and his grandsons, Harry E. and an unnamed infant. Unfortunately, Mathias and his wife have no headstones, nor do Frank Mathias or Harry E.

The following is an excerpt, transcribed by me, from a large article that was published in the Jacksonville Daily Journal on Sunday, June 22, 1913, p. 4 (newspaperarchive.com):

TWO JACKSONVILLE VETERANS FOUGHT IN FAMOUS BATTLE.

M. Hellenthal Was Taken Prisoner the First Day—Exchanged After Fifty Days of Hardship—Mathias Jensen an Artilleryman in Meades’ Division—Both Men Will go to Anniversary of Battle.

An Artilleryman’s Experience.
Mathias Jensen of North Main street saw his service at Gettsburg as an artilleryman on a battery of twelve pounders in General Meade’s division. He was enlisted in the Fifth Massachusett Artillery and had already seen hard fighting at Culpepper Court House and at Chancellorsville. Mr. Jensen’s battery was not in active operation the first day at Gettsburg but saw its share of that terrible battle on July 2 and 3.

A Narrow Escape.
Although Mr. Jensen was exposed to the fire of canister and saw his comrades fall from the bulets of hidden sharpshooters many times in the course of the battle, he had one particularly narrow escape from death in the fighting of the second day. His regular task was the ramming home of the charge in the cannon. During a lull in the fighting, while the Fifth Massacusetts was taking a new position on the field, Mr. Jensen asked his corporal for the driver’s position on account of the bad condition of his feet, made sore by long marching. The man who changed places with him was picked off a moment or so later when the battery was in position. Mr. Jensen considered that his sore feet saved his life. The temporary change in positions brought another in the path of the sharpshooter’s bullet and saved him.

Three Years of Fighting.
Mr. Jensen was mustered into active service June 16, 1862, and given his discharge papers June 16, ‘65. Besides numerous skirmishes and the battles already mentioned, he was under fire at Sulphur Springs, at Fredericksburg under Hooker and at the battle of the Wilderness under Grant. Next to Gettysburg the Wilderness was his most grilling battle. His company was engaged at the second battle of Bull Run but Mr. Jensen had been sent to the hospital the day before sick with typhoid fever.

Mr. Jensen was born in Denmark in 1841 and was thus 21 years old at the time of his enlistment Statistics have shown that average age soldiers enlisting was 22 years. Mr. Jensen had been in American but a short time when he enlisted. He was not able to speak a word of English. He remained in the east five years after the close of the war, coming to Jacksonville in ‘68 where he has remained ever since. He would have thought that man badly mistaken, he says, who would have suggested at Gettsburg that he would be attending a fifty year anniversary of the battle, when it looked as if he might fall at any moment.

The names of Curtis and Myrtle's fathers in the above article were incorrect. Curtis’ father was Hardin Lafayette Sullivan. At the time of this article, he was married to his second wife (Curtis’ stepmother), Minnie Ann Stuart. Myrtle’s father was William L. Hester, and his wife (Myrtle’s biological mother) was Sarah Elizabeth Carlton.

As the above articles explain, Curtis had hopped up onto the platform between the “tender” and baggage car as train number 68 was pulling out of the station. His feet got entangled, but he managed to hold on for about 50 yards before losing his balance and falling beneath the train.

Curtis is supposed to be buried out in Roberts Cemetery, about two miles outside of Woodson, heading towards Murrayville. Sadly, I’ve been unable to find any headstone for him. So, either he never had one, or it is illegible or has been damaged.

In 2014, my sister decided to start a family tree online using the website Ancestry.com. She would contact me regularly to share everything she'd found. Sadly, at that time, I just didn’t share in her enthusiasm. I had things going on in my life that were causing me a lot of stress and depression. I would listen as she rattled off the names of relatives and her latest discoveries. Although I was intrigued by some of the things she’d uncovered, it wasn’t enough to inspire me to start my own family tree. Since Sis had been doing such a great job with her family research, I didn't feel the need to get involved.

Then…the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 took place. At the same time, my youngest child was discovered to be on the autism spectrum and needed therapy for some speech and developmental delays. I decided to resign from my full-time job and became a stay-at-home mom with my husband's support. Due to the widespread lockdowns taking place and no job obligations to deal with, I had plenty of spare time to explore new interests. I decided it was the perfect opportunity to try out family research and see if I liked it. It also provided a great distraction from the stressful chaos taking place around the world.

Now, generally I have a pattern I follow whenever I start any new activity of interest. I dive in with full passion and go at it hardcore for a few months. Then, my self-confidence begins to waver, I begin to lose interest, and I convince myself the activity is a waste of time. Many times, I attempt to pursue too many interests at once, end up scattering my energy in too many directions, get burned out, and halt all projects without any of them reaching completion. However, when starting my family history journey, something out of the ordinary happened. My initial spark of interest morphed into a full-on flame of passion. This time, my self-confidence didn’t weaken—it strengthened and grew! My motivation didn’t fizzle out—it steadily soared!

I NEVER expected to enjoy genealogy so much! Yes, there is a huge, continuous learning curve. It takes a lot of time, energy, patience, and perseverance. But I find it to be therapeutic. Much like my husband finds video games to be therapeutic. Particularly the ones with storylines, maps to navigate, and puzzles to solve. I used to tease him about his love of games, but I totally get it now! I also understand my mom’s love of jigsaw puzzles now. Family history research is like trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle that includes maps and stories, but it has several missing pieces; some temporarily misplaced, some faded and hard to make out, some stashed away with someone's keepsakes until they're rediscovered, and others destroyed long ago. You aren’t sure if you’ll ever find every piece, but you keep searching—hoping and praying to bring the puzzle as close to completion as possible.

I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that I’ve taken such a liking to genealogy, considering that my family has always been a bit dysfunctional with many estranged relatives. I never experienced much of a connection with most of my relatives, which is why I envy my husband’s strong sense of identity (Asian Indian) and connection to his roots. I once told him that I’ve never felt connected to any roots. But after five years of researching my family tree, I can feel some sense of connection slowly forming.

The very first sense of a spiritual and emotional connection to my ancestors became apparent during a trip to my local courthouse. I went to inquire about the death certificates of my 2nd great-grandparents. The clerk found my grandfather right away but wasn't able to find my grandmother. My heart sank, and my eyes welled with tears. My emotional reaction caught me off guard. I had never met these people; they died 27 years before I was born. I wondered if other family researchers experience similar reactions. I can best describe the feeling as driving a few hours to finally meet a parent or sibling you were separated from in childhood, only to find out that they died minutes before you arrived. Fortunately, the clerk tried looking a few more times and did finally find my grandmother's death certificate. The level of joy I experienced exiting that courthouse with those two death certificates was indescribable.

On other occasions, I felt a spiritual connection with the ancestors whose headstones I was struggling to locate. In each instance, I was about to give up the search and leave. Instead, I asked them for their help. I got a feeling to glance in a certain direction and immediately spotted their headstone. I thanked them, photographed their stone, and saved the GPS coordinates for my records.

Researching my lineage soothes my soul. I’m so glad I was bitten by the genealogy bug.