|
a.
|
Note: From the book "Genealogy of the Swink Family of Missouri" by Robert A. Swink; The Star-News Publishing Co., Pasadena, California, 1940: From an account given by Eliza' daughter, Mary Malinda Swink: "...Our mother, Eliza Sturdivant, was born in the state of Tennessee in 1808. Her father (John) was of French descent and her mother (Melinda) of Scotch descent. Grandfather (Swink) moved to the state of Tennessee some time about 1820, or 1821, into the neighborhood of where grandfather Sturdivant lived. The negroes used to tell me that grandfather Sturdivant had a dog that treed father on a fence every time he came to see mother, and he would stay there until someone came to rescue him.... ...Father (William Swink) and mother were married in Franklin County, Tennessee, in the year 1829, and lived there until grandfather (John) Sturdivant moved to the State of Arkansas and father and mother went along. I do not remember hearing them say how long they remained there before coming to Missouri... ..About this time William Swink's brother, Edwin Swink, who had moved to Camden County, Missouri, sent his wife to Arkansas to persuade him to come and live near him. He consented and left with his family by ox wagons. When they reached St. Francois County, Missouri, the youngest daughter, Mary Malinda was born (March 16, 1836). This stopped the journey, and he located on the Saline Creek, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, where he resided until 1877 when he sold his farm.... ..Mother and father remained on the farm on the Saline until 1877, when father disposed of his farm and moved to Jefferson County, Missouri, and lived with me, their daughter, Mary Malinda, and my husband W. B. Kenner, the remainder of their lives. Mother died of small pox on January 9, 1882, and father followed her on the 31st day of January, 1883, having died of no particular ailment. The graves and tombstones are in the McNutt private graveyard on the old McNutt farm about a mile north of Festus, Missouri, on the old St. Louis road." ----------------------------- It appears that most of the information in this account is accurate. The most glaring error is the claim about the origins of Eliza's parents, which seems to be pure speculation. I have more records and information about Eliza, in the notes of her husband William.- Rick Waggener ================ There are a series of documents from about 1894, sent to my by Ruth Walsh, concerning an application for citizenship into the Cherokee Tribe by Julia Ann Easton (Sturdivant) Keller, daughter of Eliza's brother, James Riley Sturdivant. They document various facts about Julia, her parents, and her grandparents. The basic assertion of the application seems to be that Julia is claiming to be 1/8 Cherokee Indian, based on the fact that her father James Riley Sturdivant was 1/4 Cherokee. What she doesn't seem to mention is which of James' (and Eliza's) four grandparents was a Cherokee Indian. Through the process of elimination, I have concluded that it seems likely that it was Melinda's mother, Martha Cambell. I don't have any further evidence to support this, but based on the information from Julia, Eliza was also 1/4 Cherokee Indian. -RW ================= On the 1830 Federal Census in Franklin County, Tennessee, Eliza seems to be counted in the household of her husband William Swink. ================== On the 1840 Federal Census of Saline Township, Ste. Genevieve County, Eliza seems to be counted in the household of her husband William Swink. ================== This record was transcribed and generously shared by Ruth Walsh. This and another estate record confirm that Eliza was the daughter of John Sturdivant. This was about a year before John's death in Independence, Arkansas. There were a series of similiar deeds of gift giving by John about this time, to some of his other children. I have Ruth's transcriptions of these records in the notes of John.: ****** "Deed Records 1820-1921, Vol. E 1837-1844," pgs. 409-410; Independence Co., Arkansas; (LDS File #1288936): Deed of Gift from John Sturdivant To: Eliza Swink Know all men by these presents that I John Sturdivant, of the County the said of Independence, State of Arkansas, in consideration of natural love and affection which I bear for my daughter Eliza Swink and also for divers and good causes and considerations to me the said John Sturdivant hereunto morning have given granted and confirmed and by these presents do give grant and confirm unto said Eliza all and singular the right to one negro woman named Ussey also one other woman named Comfort and her child.. To have and to hold and to enjoy the same not to be liable to no contract William Swink her husband may have made but be and remain for the only proper use benefit and behalf of the said Eliza Swink and her heirs forever. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and seal this 25th day of June 1842 /s/ John Sturdivant (seal) State of Arkansas County of Independence This day personally before me Chars H. Pelman, Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for the County aforesaid John Sturdivant personally known to me to be the grantor in the above deed gift and stated and acknowledged that he has ________________ the same For the consideration uses and purposes. Wherein ______________ and set forth. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereto set my name and affixed the seal of said court in my office in Batesville this 28th day of July 1842 /s/ C. H. Pelham Clerk and Exofficio Recorder By Jm Curran Dep. Clk County of Independence State of Arkansas Clerk of the Circuit Clerk and Ex-officio Recorder for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that the ____________ and foregoing instrument of writing was filed for Record in my Office on the 28th day of July 1842 and the same is duly recorded in Record Book E page 409. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at my office in Batesville this 28th day of July 1842. /s/ C H Pelham, Clerk and Exofficio Recorder By Jm Curran ================== From the records of the 1850 Federal Census in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, Saline Township, taken October 5, 1850, page 245, household #583; from ancestry.com, image #82 of 116. Eliza is listed in the household of her husband: Eliza Swink; age- 42, born-Tennessee ================== From the 1860 Federal Census, Saline Township, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, Avon Post Office, taken August 22, 1860, page 319, household #1047; from ancestry.com, image 19 of 24. Eliza is listed in the household of her husband: Eliza Swink; age- 53, female, born- Tennesee ================== From the 1880 Federal Census of Joachim Township, Jefferson County, Missouri, district 192, page 27/ 73C, taken June 18, 1880, household #244; from ancestry.com, image 27 of 60. Eliza and her husband William are listed in the household of their daughter Mary Malinda and her husband William Bryant Swink: Swink, Eliza; female, age- 72, mother-in-law, married, at home, born- Tennessee, father born- Virginia, mother born- North Carolina (Eliza and William's son, John E. Swink, is living two doors down in household #242. Eliza died two years later in 1882 and William the following year.-RW) ================== From "The Jefferson Democrat" newspaper of Hillsboro, Jefferson, Missouri; sent to me courtesy of Charlotte Maness: ****** FRIDAY, 13 JANUARY 1882 - Mrs. Wm. SWINK, of Limitville, aged 74, died this week of small-pox. There are said to be four cases of varioloid in the town. (Limitville was the original name for the town of Festus, and it was changed in the next couple of years. Eliza and William relocated from Ste. Genevieve County to Jefferson County in about 1877, and spent the rest of their lives there. RW) =============== As noted in the bio above, William and Eliza are buried in the McNutt Cemetery, a mile or so north of Festus. This is a small and somewhat abandoned cemetery located in a residential neighborhood. This was apparently originally on the property of their daughter Sarah Ann McNutt and her husband George. The cemetery is behind the house located at 818 Sheraton Lane, Herculaneum, Missouri. You can access the cemetery by walking the property line of this house.- RW
|