Category Archives: Library Book Reviews

The Library Book Reviews was formerly the Book of the Month category. This category displays reviews of the books that are in the Nichols Library.

Little Known Burial Sites & Cemeteries Etowah Co. AL

Little Known Burial Sites and Cemeteries Etowah County Alabama – Whites, Blacks and Indians Incdlues A Few From Nearby Counties (Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Marshall and St. Clair) – compiled by W.A. Lewis, edited by Lucinda Evans

 

Review published October 25, 2012Lady at manual printing press - Genealogy
About the book & Its Contents
~ from the Dedication & Acknowledgements and Introduction

“This 277 page book plus index & appendix was several years in the making. Over 180 cemeteries and 4,800 names are listed.

One of the fascinating segments of this book are scattered ‘epitaphs’. Make sure you read the complete 7-page Introduction before the rest of the book. Informative but some portions are humorous.”

Date of publication Unknown
After 1992

 

Cemetery Listing: Known cemeteries have location information and a list of the people buried if known. List includes Date of Birth & Death.When other information has been found aboutn an individual, that has been included as well.
Unknown Cemeteries:
» 12 Black cemeteries are listed. Locations are given as well as any information known. Names of those buried are given when available.
» 3 Indian cemeteries are listed. Note that one of the Black cemeteries may be Indian.
» 40 other cemeteries are listed with any information known.Four cemeteries were added just before the index.

Appendix:  An appendix was added later with further information & a few corrections.

 


The compilation at the Nichols Memorial Library and available for purchase. Contact any librarian while visiting the library or see Books & Publications.

 

Book shelf
This book and many others like it are available for you to research onsite at the Nichols Memorial Library.

The Forty-eighth Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A., 1862-65

The Forty-eighth Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A., 1862-65 — by Joshua Glen Price

 

Review published July 2012Lady at manual printing press - Genealogy
About the book & Its Table of Contents
~ From the Introduction

A college Civil War history paper was the catylst for this book; Price, wanting a uniquesubject, selected his Civil War ancestors.

Up to that point in time I was never interested in genealogy. The thought of having to trace down ancestors through censuses, marriage records, deeds, bibles, letters, and God knows what else was completely appalling. Besides, the paper was due in less than three months!

I had not gotten past the second paragraph of the Introduction & I was already intrigued.  Price finds that his ancestors served in the Forty-eighth Alabama Infantry Regiment and thus began the first steps this book.

Do NOT skip reading the Introduction of this book. It’s not only interesting but contains information about two key pieces re the Forty-eighth that are still to be located.

~ About the author

“Joshua Price … is a member of many historical organizations and societies including Phi Alpha Theta and is an annual contributor to many Civil War battlefield preservations societies. He has lectured to various historical, genealogical, and preservation societies.

Copyright © 2010
ISBN: 978-0-87121-085-2
Introduction
1 A Call to Arms
2 Cedar Run to Sharpsburg
3 Fredericksburg to Suffolk
4 Fredericksburg to Suffolk
5 Campaigning in Tennessee
6 Grant Versus Lee
7 The Final Roll
Conclusion
Appendix A – Select Letters
Appendix B – Select Biographies
Appendix C – Company Rosters
Appendix D – Burial Sites
Appendix E – Ruben Ewing Obituaries
Appendix F – Sheffield Murder Trial
Appendix G – Appomattox Roster
Appendix H – Company Captians
Bibliography

 

Excerpt from page 14:

“The newly formed Forty-eighth Alabama Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel James L. Sheffield, mustered into service 22 May 1862 and placed under General Thomas J. Jackson’s command. It was immediately sent to Virginia to join the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia as it fought McClellan’s invading army around Richmond. On 14 June the regiment boarded a train at Auburn, transferred trains in Atlanta, and headed up the east coast through the Carolinas toward Virginia.

The Forty-eighth Alabama Infantry Regiment arrived in Richmond during the afternoon of 21 June 1862. As the men exited the train and formed in the nearby fields they could hear the roar of cannon a very short distance to the northeast.”

Think what that felt like. Part exciting and certainly terrifying.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Price takes us literally with the 48th as it goes into battle after battle. We learn about the soldiers as well as their commanders. Their triumphs … the loss of personnel. At times, this is not an easy book to read.

Freezing winter conditions, soldiers with no shoes, bloody footprints in the snow – long marches, trips via crowded, cramped trains.

The men of the 48th fought in major battle after battle. Battle of Manassa, Battle of Chickamauga. Price guides us through the Battle of Chickamauga using dates and times as well as descriptions of “marching through the green thick forests.” … “The thick wilderness filled with smoke, and sometimes caught fire, causing great navigational difficulties.

Excerpt from page 89:

“Wholesale slaughter was nothing new to the Alabamians. In December 1862 they witnessed it at Fredericksburg. In July 1863, they assaulted the impregnable Little Round Top at Gettysburg. Since the fighting resumed in The Wilderness in May 1864, the Alabamians participated in the slaughter of thousands of Federal soldiers.”

Price does not end the book with the surrender by General Lee of the Confederate Army. The Conclusion chapter talks about the surviving members of the 48th but also the widows. “In the 1890’s many widows filed for and received a very small state government pension. Although small in amount, oftentimes the pension served as the only source of income for the elderly women.”

Touching is the story of George William Chumley who in 1938 returned to Gettysburg to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the battle. At 93 years and the last surviving member of the 48th, Chumley sees & hears the battle of long ago as he walks the battlefield. Then … he and a Union veteran with his granddaughter sit on a bench talking.

Excerpt from page 104:

The little girl, no more than five or six years old, looked at Chumley and said, “my grandfather is not mad at you, are you mad at him?” Both veterans laughed, and Chumley patted the little girl on the head and assured her that he was not mad at her grandfather. The two veterans sat for a long time talking

I wish I was an artist and could draw the picture this paints in the mind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Excerpt from page 105:

“The Forty-eighth Alabama fought in all of the infamous battles of the eastern theatre, save Chancellorsville.”

Excerpt from page 106:

“… the Forty-eighth mustered approximately 450 soldiers but could muster only 136 soldiers when it furled its colors at Appomattox Court House.”

Yes – the 48th was there too.


This book can be purchased by contacting the author via email at fortyeighthalabama_author@yahoo.com

Book shelf
This book and many others like it are available for you to research onsite at the Nichols Memorial Library.

The Kentucky Gazette, Vol. 1787-1800 & Vol. 1801-1820, Genealogical and Historical Abstracts

The Kentucky Gazette, Vol. 1787-1800 & Vol. 1801-1820, Genealogical and Historical Abstracts compiled by Karen Mauer Green

Review published August 2012Lady at manual printing press - Genealogy
About the books
~ From the Preface

Isolation was a fact of life in pioneer Kentucky. The early settlers were cut off from the Eastern Seaboard by many miles of mountainous territory and by the frequent Indian attacks which forced them to take refuge in their small forts. Restricted from moving back and forth between conversation and the occasional newspaper brought in from the East to keep them informed. The news of the day often reached the frontier months after the event, particularly in the winder when travel was even more restricted.

This was the situation in Kentucky in August of 1787 when John and Fielding Bradford printed the first issue of ‘The Kentucke Gazette’.

Copyright © 1985
Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD

Structure of the two abstracted books is the same.

One volume covers from 18-August-1787 to 29 December 1800; the other volume from 5-January-1801 to 21-December 1820.

Both volumes are in chronological order and do not have a table of contents. Both also have an in-depth index.

The books contain abstracts from the mundane to shocking to humerous.

Definition of abstract – a summary of a text, scientific article, document, speech, etc.; epitome.

Vol. 1787-1800 

Excerpt from page 98:

Volume VII, Number XXXIX, 14 June 1794
     “Jesse Guthrie, 5 June 1794, letter to the editor regarding Beverley Allen, murderer of Robert Forsyth. He was excummunicated from the Methodist Church several years ago.”

Excerpt from page 119:

Volume VIII, Number XXVIII, 28 March 1795
     “Samuel Holliday, 24 March 1795, living in Georgetown, regarding a runaway apprentice to the blacksmith business: William Stuart.”

Excerpt from page 131:

“William Townsley, 29 August 1795, living with Thomas Townsley in Scott County about 7 miles from Georgetown, has a still for sale. Apply to Mr. Baxter, coppersmith, near Maj. South’s in Fayette County.

     Joshua Brotherhood, Lexington, 18 September 1795, butcher, ‘late from Philadelphia’, has opened his shop in Lexington in the house lately occupied by Capt. Smith on Water Street.”

 Excerpt from 209 Volume XI, Number 603, 11 April 1798:

“Samuel Pearman, 9 April 1798, about establishing a new town.
     Samuel Holady, Georgetown, 4 April 1798, regarding a runaway apprentice named James Pogue.” ~ Note: Possibility this is the same Holliday as above.

Excerpt from 217 Volume XI, Number 618, 25 July 1798:

“A list of lands in Hardin County to be sold to satisfy back taxes. Mentions:  Elizabeth Moody, Anthony W. White., Robert Cobb, … Thomas Parker, Samuel Pearman, … David Barbour, John C. Owings, Robert Morris, Samuel Sherwin’s heirs, Francis Epp’s heirs, Alexander Spottswood. Entered by George Helm, sheriff of Hardin County.” ~ NOTE: This was an EXTENSIVE LIST!!!

Excerpt from 226 Volume 225 Volume XII, Number 631, 24 October 1798

page 225 – “William Triplett, 22 October 1798, regarding a land claim.”

page 226 – “John M’Castlen, 16 October 1798, says his wife, Dorothy, has left him, and he won’t pay her bills anymore.”

Volume XII, Number 632, 31 October 1798

page 226 – “Charles Barbier, 29 October 1798, regarding the establishment of a new town. Mentions: Samuel Pearman.
    James Hurley, 25 July 1798, living in Montgomery County, found a horse.”

    *** NOTE: no Pearman’s are mentioned in the 1801-1820 volume.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note the format of the volume & date of paper changed in this volume.
Excerpt from page 174 Number 33, Volume III, Tuesday, 11 August 1812 Volume 26

Obituary: David Sutton, Jr., of Lebanon, son of Capt. Sutton, and his companion, Mr. Reynolds, were murdered by the Indians recently.

Excerpt from page 257 Number 51, Volume III, Saturday, 20 December 1817, Volume XXXI:

“Marriage: George Talbort of Millersburg married Miss Nancy Holladay, daughter of William Hollady of Nicholas County, on Thursday, 4 December 1817.

Mr. Clay is again elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

Excerpt from page 261 “Number 10, Volume IV, Friday, 6 March 1818, Volume XXXII

“Cain Ross, of Nicholas County, has rented the house of entertainment, owned by William Holladay, on Limestone Road.”


This book can be purchased by contacting the author via email at fortyeighthalabama_author@yahoo.com

Book shelf
This book and many others like it are available for you to research onsite at the Nichols Memorial Library.

The “Smith” Folder ~ from our Family History Section

The “Smith” Folder ~ from our Family History Section

Review published June 2012Lady at manual printing press - Genealogy
About the folder

Many “Family History” books are bound and compiled by a single individual. The “Smith” Folder is a bit different.

The Nichols Library has a whole section of Family History books comprised of research & writings of people who have researched their families and wish to share that information with others. Often such volumes contain information you won’t find anywhere else. Along with that comes a major caveat – often such volumes do not document their findings which lowers any data from primary to a secondary or even tertiarysource.

Such published papers were how people shared before the Internet or when it was “young”. And that’s the nature of The “Smith” Folder which is comprised of one Smith Sagas (March 1978) and nine Smith Papers (1985-1988).Each Smith Papers has a Table of Contents, includes an index of all Smith’s via their first or first/middle names as well as an index of all other surnames. The Smith Sagas volume has no index but does have a Table of Contents. The Sagas and the Papers are NOT associated with each other which was made very clear by the Smith Papers in their No. 19, Summer 1986 publication (see p. 27).

Do you have a Smith in your ancestry? Challenging to research, aren’t they? One of the great pluses of such published newsletters is the sharing reached far & wide.

Smith Sagas, Volume IV, Number 1, March 1978
Published by Mrs. Betty L. Pennington, P.O. Box 466, Moreno, CA 92360

The Smith Papers
© M. Sims, 1985, Sacramento, California – Library of Congress ISSN 0278-3134
M. Sims, SIMS PUBLISHING, P.O. Box 9576, Sacramento, CA 95823

  • No. 17, Fall 1985
  • No. 18, Spring 1986
  • No. 19, Summer 1986
  • No. 20, Fall 1986
  • No. 21, Spring 1987
  • No. 22, Summer 1987
  • No. 23, Fall 1987
  • No. 24, Spring 1988
  • No. 25, Summer 1988