52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 17): War - Jordan Ham: A Life Etched in History (Civil War)

 By now, you can probably see that I'm jumping around in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks posts. This week I'm writing about my second great-grandfather, Jordan Ham. 

This picture is of Jordan, his wife, Fannie Parker Ham, and their grand-daughter, Bertha Teel. Bertha was the youngest child of their daughter, Jennie Ham, and her husband, William Perry Teel. After the birth of Bertha, Jennie died and Bertha eventually lived with her grandparents and her uncle, John D. Ham. 

I mention young Bertha because in this blog post we learn that Jordan Ham was not a financially well-off man in his older life. Family stories passed down tell us that he and his wife cared for Bertha when she was a baby, and as she grew older she went to live with her uncle, John D. Ham. 

This is just a part Jordan's story, a man I heard referred to as "Grandpa and Grandma Ham/Hamm" from Indian Territory, Tishomingo, Johnston County, Oklahoma, as I grew up. 

William Ham, Bertha Teel and Francis "Fannie" Parker Ham

In Alabama's Bibb County, during the spring of May 1844 (some records have him born ca 1839-1840), Jordan Ham took his first breath as a son of William and Charlotte Wheeler Ham. A few years later, in January 1849, Francis A. “Fannie” Parker was born. She was destined to become an integral part of Jordan's life.

As a young man of 18, who was probably filled with the ideals of his time, Jordan enlisted in the Confederate army. It was the 7th of May 1862, in Centreville, Alabama, when he joined Company “H” of the 44th Alabama Infantry. The 44th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, was organized in May 1862 in Selma, Alabama, and by July 1, 1862, had reached Richmond, Virginia. 

The war, unforgiving and brutal, surely tested his resolve and he was probably homesick. By August and September of 1862, Jordan found himself battling not just enemy soldiers but his own health, enduring sickness in Manassas, Virginia, and Sharpsburg, Maryland. His journey through the war also saw him hospitalized in Richmond and Danville, Virginia. Later records, and family stories, indicate he suffered injuries, and not just sickness.

 

Despite the adversities, Jordan was present at key locations during significant battles, stretching from Suffolk, Virginia, to the Battle of Darbytown Road in Virginia on October 13, 1864. His service culminated at Appomattox Court House on April 10, 1865, where he was paroled as a prisoner of war, a testament to his resilience and the tough fibers of his being.

 

Post-war life brought new beginnings. On October 16, 1866, Jordan married Fannie in Bibb County, Alabama. Together, they embarked on a journey of family life, marked by the births of their children: Mary, William, Jennie (my great-great-grandmother), John D., Marvin Clarence, Luther Martin, Minnie Bell, and Lea.

 

Seeking prosperity (which included land and bigger spaces, my opinion here), the Ham family moved westward, first to San Saba County, Texas, and later to the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory, now known as Johnston County, Oklahoma. There, Jordan continued his life as a tenant farmer, his days marked by the quiet dignity of hard work.

 

In his later years, Jordan's service to the Confederacy would give him a chance to ask for some financial help. Between 1915 and 1917, he applied multiple times for financial relief due to his deteriorating health and economic hardship, a poignant reminder of the long shadow cast by war. He’d been wounded in the left hip and knee and time had taken its toll on his old body. His three living sons, two in Oklahoma and one in Texas, were not in financial situations to help him and Fannie out. Despite being denied relief, he applied again, and in July 1917 he was approved to receive financial help in the amount of $5.00 (per month).  

Jordan's life journey ended on December 19, 1919, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, with Fannie passing away eight years later. Their story reflects the resilience and enduring spirit of a family shaped by love, war, and the pursuit of a better future.

- Revis

Sources: 

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, Ancestry 
Alabama, Select Marriages, 1816-1957, Ancestry
Oklahoma, U.S., Confederate Pension Index, 1915-1955, Ancestry
Board of Pension Commissioners, App #A2282, Pension #P2001, OK State Arch
U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, Ancestry [Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records; Southern Historical Society Papers: Appomattox Paroles ANV
NARA
Pastorayres, "William Ham Family Tree," Tree Number 196977914, Public Member Trees, Ancestry, accessed July 22, 2024
RCaubleLeonard, "My DNA Family Tree," Tree Number 53508674, Private Member Trees, Ancestry, accessed July 23, 2024
Census records, Ancestry 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "War" this week. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 21): Nickname

 "Their real name is what?" 

The writing prompt for Week 21 in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is titled "Nickname". 

That word brought back a flood of memories for me and the people in my mother's family. It wasn't until I was in college that I knew the real names of some of mother's first cousins. 

It seems that mother's grandmother, Mamie TEEL Stuart, loved to give nicknames to her "kids". Well, at least to a son or two, and most of her grandsons. 

Mamie (TEEL) Stuart, Fisher Co., Texas

I knew these family members as "Chine", "Puggin", "Shorty", "Jug", "Scooter", "Frog", "Jimbo", "Chick", "Pookey", "Tadpole", etc. when I was growing up.

As I got older (college aged), my mother would call them by their birth names, and I often asked, "Wait?? Who are you talking about?" 

I asked more than one time, "Why did she give them nicknames like that?" No one could answer that question.

Years later, I still don't know the answer to "why", but I have learned from my mother, obituaries and genealogy research, what their birth names are/were. 

Was giving nicknames common in your family? My dad's family didn't seem to give nicknames. Was this a tradition in some families and not in other families? 

Let me know if your family gave nicknames, too. 

 - Revis 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "Nickname" this week. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 16): Step - A Step-Parent and DNA

 Step by Step: mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) and auDNA (autosomal DNA) 

Participating in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge has been an enlightening journey, and this week's prompt, "Step," brings a multitude of meanings to mind. Whether it's taking a physical step, progressing through tasks, or the steps in musical scales, the concept of "step" resonates in diverse ways. However, for this blog post, I'm exploring a more personal dimension of "step" — my experience as a stepmother.

In late 1986, I married a young widower, and embraced the role of stepmother to his daughter, who was just shy of her fourth birthday, having lost her mother in 1985. Our family included my biological daughter, making our household a blend of laughter, challenges, and sisterly bonds.

As the girls grew up, the advent of DNA testing added a new layer to our family's story. Initially, my interest in DNA testing was sparked by a desire to learn more about my own roots. Through mtDNA testing at Family Tree DNA, I discovered that I belong to the rare Haplogroup I, a group intriguingly nicknamed "Iris".

The real surprise came when we learned that my stepdaughter also belonged to Haplogroup I, though she is Haplogroup I2. Considering we're both this rare mtDNA haplogroup, I couldn't help but wonder about the odds of such a coincidence. 

Though she and I are both I's, there is a difference because my Haplogroup I includes some mutations that aren't found in other "I's". My mtFull Sequence test was completed in July of 2014 at Family Tree DNA, and we had no matches until December of 2014. As of the date of this blog post, that match in December 2014 is the only Genetic Distance - 0 match on our match list.  

Over the years, DNA testing has not only fascinated us with such revelations but also united us in unexpected ways. Our family now boasts several "Irises," including six granddaughters and a grandson, who also carries his mother's mtDNA haplogroup.

Another surprise was in the early days of auDNA (autosomal DNA), she shared small segments of DNA with my father. I believe that I know where the connection is, and one day I will write about it. 

This journey through genetics has redefined what family means to us, blurring the lines between step and biological relations. Our journey is also a testament to the fact that family isn't just about DNA; it's about the steps we take to embrace, love, and understand each other, making every discovery a step toward greater unity.

- Revis 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "Step" this week. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 15) School Days: Ringing the Bell at Sylvester School (TX)

This week in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge of Amy John Crow's is "School Days". What do you think of when you hear the words "School Days"?

When I saw the word "school" I immediately thought of one of my favorite old pictures in my scrapbook album. The sons and daughters of Jefferson Davis Stuart and Mamie (Teel) Stuart, including my grandmomie, Eva Nell, attended school at Sylvester, Fisher County, Texas. 

The page from my album below includes a picture of one of the Stuart sisters ringing the bell at the school. She has the biggest smile and is probably pulling the rope as hard as she can. It also looks like she's getting help from the man standing close by. 

Eva Nell and sister, Lucille

Old Sylvester, Texas, schoolhouse in 2019

- Revis 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "School Days" this week. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 14) "Favorite Recipe": Black Cherry Salad

My family had – and still has – a lot of good cooks. What I remember most as a child was my paternal grandmother Cauble’s “Chocolate Pie”! Yum!! And then my “Mama Stuart” (my maternal great-grandmother) made a “Big Ben Cake”. 

How can I choose a favorite as asked to do in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 14) "Favorite Recipe"? Don’t make me, please. I'll try, but honestly, there is not one favorite recipe for me. 

My maternal grandmomie Dennis made the following BLACK CHERRY SALAD. It was one of my favorites as a kid growing up so I'll put it in the spotlight in this blog post.

Black Cherry Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 package black cherry Jell-O
• 1 can black cherries
• 1 can pineapple
• 1 small package cream cheese
• ½ pint whipping cream
• 1 cup pecans
• Miniature marshmallows

Instructions:

1. Drain the juice from the canned cherries and pineapple.
2. Prepare the Jell-O according to the directions on the package, substituting the cherry and pineapple juice for the liquid.
3. Dissolve the cream cheese in the warm Jell-O mixture.
4. Add the drained cherries, pineapple, miniature marshmallows, and pecans to the Jell-O mixture.
5. Whip the cream and fold it into the mixture.
6. Refrigerate until set.
7. Serve chilled and enjoy!

It's easy to make and a cool, refreshing dessert. With the hot southwest Texas heat we're having right now, this Black Cherry Salad may be on our table this weekend. 

I asked ChatGPT 4o to put the ingredients and instructions into recipe form. Above is it's format. And I got something extra. Here's a little limerick ChatGPT 4o wrote for me: 

"In a dish of black cherry delight, 

With fruit, nuts, and cream pure white, 

Mix Jell-O with care, 

Marshmallows in there, 

A salad that's truly a bite!"    

- Revis 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "Favorite Recipe" this week. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 13) Worship: A Mix of Traditions

Week 13 of Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks has us looking at "Worship". 

My ancestors come from a variety of religious traditions. Here's a quick glimpse into the different denominations some of my ancestors were affiliated with in records. 

Ancestor/Family	Church Affiliation
Kolb (Palatinate, PA, SC, GA, TX)	Quaker, Mennonite, Welsh Neck Baptist, Unitarian Universalist, Methodist
Ziegenfuss (Prussia, TX)	Evangelische (Protestant), Lutheran, Methodist
Wright (CT, GA, TX)	Congregationalists, Baptist (early missionaries into TX)
Clower (PA, VA, NC, GA, AL)	Presbyterian, Methodist
Musgrove (MD, VA, SC, MS, TX)	Church of England, Baptist
Ham (SC, AL, TX, OK)	Baptist

 Where did your ancestors worship? Did they attend church, temple or synagogue? 

Keep looking and learning! 

- Revis 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "Worship" this week. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 12) Technology: What I've Seen

 When I think about technology, I usually go straight to my parents' childhood and the changes they've seen in their lifetime. Then it dawned on me. ME! What about me? I should be included in the "changes seen" regarding technology. 

As a child, we had a television that was in a piece of furniture like a dresser. My parents bought Magnavox TV's over the years. We had one TV, and it was in the living area in the 1960's, that opened into the kitchen. There was no remote control. The channels I remember were ABC, NBC and CBS. My favorite show was "Wild Kingdom", but I rarely got to see it because it came on during evening church service on Sundays. 

Phone service back then was a "party line". Several households used the same line. I remember our phone having a certain ring, and when you answered your ring, you often could hear when someone else in another household picked up the phone to listen in on your conversation. You could hear the click when they hung their phone up. As soon as private lines became available, my parents had one. 

 I learned to type on a small blue-green typewriter when I was about 8 years old (ca 1966). I remember being happy when Wite-Out, a liquid corrector came out.  

In high school typing class, etc., we learned to use carbon paper. I did my best to not make any mistakes because that meant typing the entire paper over. 

My first fulltime job was at a retail store in San Angelo, Texas, in the office (about 1978). The office manager was excited about the new typewriter they were getting. It was an IBM Memory Typewriter. I worked on that typewriter. I remember learning to program the settings to fit into the blank spaces in the store's statements. When it was time to send out statements, I just typed in a name, account number, and the amount due, hit a button, and the typewriter filled the statement in. I was around 20 years old at the time. 

The first cell phone I ever owned was around 1980 or so. It was in a huge bag and it was heavy. To think that that heavy phone has evolved into a small phone that can fit in the pocket of jeans or a purse and you can now access the internet like on a computer is pretty awesome. 

With regard to cell phones and how things have changed, I spent many hours on the weekends riding my horse out in a rural area of "The Big Country" area of Texas. My friends and I would meet up and ride miles in a day. No cell phones. No way to contact our families if we needed them other than riding (or running) through miles of cotton fields to the nearest house we could find. 

I didn't work on computers until the 1980s in a bank, and though they took up a good part of a desktop, they were nothing compared to the size they were in the early days. 

 Lastly, I think of vehicles. Whether I was driving a standard or automatic transmission vehicle after I got my driver's license at age 15, I was just happy that we had an air conditioner and a radio. We always had a map, too, and it would be years later when most of all of us would be using a GPS system to help us find our way. 

Technology has changed just in my lifetime and as I look back on the "old days", I do miss them at times, but I sure like the advances that have been made in technology. 

- Revis 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "Technology" this week.