In remembrance: William “Will” Thornton (1866-1940)

Today is the anniversary of the passing of Michael’s 3x Great Grandfather, William “Will” Thornton. Will was born around 1866 in Ashley County, Arkansas, just a couple years after the end of the Civil War. He died of pneumonia on 13 Jan 1940 in Parkdale, Arkansas at the age of 71, having lived his whole life in Ashley County.

Will was the 6^th of 16 children born to Hardy and Victoria (Kazre) Thornton. Hardy and Victoria were likely enslaved by James and Hannah (Homes) Hadley and they all are listed as being born in North Carolina. The Hadley’s left North Carolina in the mid-1850’s and settled in the newly available Arkansas Territory. Will was born on the Hadley farm just west of Parkdale, however by 1875 Hardy owned 40 acres of that land and was a farmer on his own farm. Will worked that land throughout his childhood, and there is no record he attended school. He is listed as being unable to read or write as a teen, but later in life he had learned how to do both.

Will was married to Laura Elizabeth Johnson on 12 Jan 1897 in Ashley, Arkansas and they would remain married until his death. By 1910 Will owned the 40 acres outright, and he and Laura were on their way to raising 9 children: Walter, Mark, Brutus, Hardy Jr, Anderson and Andrew (twins), Francis, Beatris, and Percy.

That land was a key factor in their quality of life. It was passed eventually to Will’s son Andrew Thornton, and his daughter Cassie Lee (Thornton) Crayton would talk about how owning their own land at the height of Jim Crow America afforded the Thornton’s a bit of stability, respect, and freedom. She would say that they thought they were rich compared to their neighbors because they always had what they needed, even though looking back on it everyone was poor. They could plant whatever they wanted, whatever made most sense to them, and they reaped the rewards of a better crop. If the white farmers in the area needed help at harvest, their neighbors were forced to work for him and/or work longer hours than normal, but that farmer would come to ask if the Thornton’s would help and offer a fair wage for the efforts. They could turn that work down if they chose to, but in at least some years we see that Will earned as much as $400, so he likely was doing extra work on top of working his own farm.

Many of the Thornton’s would move to Milwaukee as a part of the Great Northern Migration in the 1940’s and 1950’s, including Laura who passed in Wauwatosa in 1962, however the land is still in family hands. It’s now at the edge of the Overflow National Wildlife Refuge, which plays a key role in protecting waterfowl and songbirds in Arkansas.

Map showing the Thornton Farm in relation to the town of Parkdale, Arkansas — Thornton Farm in relation to Parkdale, AR

Map of the Overflow National Wildlife Refuge with a spot marked as Thornton Farm to show the property — Thornton Farm in relation to Parkdale, AR

In remembrance: James Bennet Tradewell (1797-1885)

On this day in 1885 James Bennet Tradewell at his home in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin at the age of either 88 or 93. He was Michael’s 4^th Great Grandfather, and was the first of the Tradewell line to move to Wisconsin, arriving in 1844. He was born in Greene County, New York most probably in 1797, however his obituary claims it was about 5 years earlier.

There are no records of James’ early life, and one of our biggest genealogical brick walls is trying to identify his parents and siblings.

James served in the New York State National Guard, and we have records from 1819-1821 that show he was the equivalent of a modern 1^st Lieutenant, although his obituary refers to him as a Captain so it’s likely he continued on and was promoted further. There’s also some unconfirmed indications he may have served in the War of 1812, but we haven’t been able to validate that yet.

He married Catherine (Edwards) Ellarson 3 Jan 1820 in Gilboa, New York and it appears they lived in/near this village until they moved to Wisconsin Territory. Catherine was born in 1793, and had been married for 12 years to William Ellarson before he passed in 1818. Mr. Ellarson had significant land holdings in and around Gilboa, which were inherited by Catherine upon his death. One of the parcels was sold to James’ brother Ephriam which became known as “Treadwell’s Taven Stand” in Gilboa, which was located on the plank toll road that ran through the town. Land records show that James and Ephraim and their families lived across Schoharie Creek from each other.

James and Ephraim migrated to Wisconsin in the summer of 1844, with them both settling in Kenosha before James quickly moved to Racine. In Racine James and Caty first settled at Mygatt’s Corner (currently the corner of Hwy 20 and Hwy 31) and in 1852 he sold a 1/4 acre of land the first School District in Mount Pleasant which erected the Mygatts School. James eventually settled near what was then know as “Western Union Junction” (now Sturtevant).

James and Caty (as she was known) had 5 children together: Margaret Mariah, Mary Ann, Aurelia Louisa, Harriet Augusta, and William Ephriam Wesley. Margaret (10) and Aurelia (1) both died young. Mary Ann married James Bogardus in 1844 (Sullivan County, New York) just as her parents were to set out of Wisconsin, so only Harriet and Wesley (as he was known) made the trip. Harriet married twice and ended up in Black River Falls until she passed in 1872. Wesley married Jane Place and eventually inherited Jane’s family farm that would be known to us as the Tradewell farm, about 240 acres near Spring Street and Highway H in Mount Pleasant.

In remembrance – Peter Charles Leonard (1944-1976)

In our renewed effort to document, discover, and share this special family tree we’re celebrating the birth anniversary of Michael’s paternal Grandfather Peter Charles Leonard (1944-1976). Pete was born January 1, 1944 and was the first baby born in Antigo, Wisconsin that year…lamentably the year before prizes were awarded. He was the middle of 5 boys born to Gerald and Catherine (Morse) Leonard and was a kind, mischievous, happy child who loved the outdoors. He was not a particularly good student, and his mother was shocked when he announced he wanted to go to college then relieved when he was admitted to the University of Wisconsin – Superior. He pledged TKE at UWS, and during his time there he met JoAnn Jewell. He graduated with his Bachelors in Education from UWS, and moved to Racine, Wisconsin (living at first with his brother Jerry) and accepted his first teaching position. He soon after married JoAnn, and they had two boys Richard and Michael. Pete continued his education at UW-Whitewater and Madison, earning his Masters degree and shifting his career to School Administration. He had a love of racing (both motorcycles and snowmobiles) and the tinkering with engines that goes with it, as well as family road trips. Pete had risen to be the Director of Elementary Education for the Howard-Suamico School District (just outside Green Bay) when he was diagnosed with the cancer that would take his life too young. Pete died at home in Green Bay, surrounded by his family, on 28 Sep 1976 at the age of 32.

100 Days Men: A memorial of Eugene Place

The Leonard line, as it runs through Michael, has ancestors who fought in every conflict since Europeans arrived on this continent. From King Philip’s war through World War 2, his ancestors have served, but thankfully none in his direct line have lost their lives in combat. Today, for Memorial Day, we remember one of his extended family members who gave the ultimate sacrifice: Eugene H Place.

Eugene was Michael’s 4x Great Uncle and he lost his life in the Civil War. He was the grandson of one of the first Americans to settle in the Wisconsin territory, and coming from a family that was staunchly committed to Abolition. In-fact, the farmers of Eastern Racine County were notoriously anti-slavery. Eugene’s parents, Thomas and Susan Place, owned a large farm in Mount Pleasant, WI in the neighborhood of the unknown safe house that Joshua Glover was smuggled to after he was freed from the Milwaukee jail. His older brother Luther enlisted as a regular in the Union army when he was 19 years old. Eugene, at 16, was the oldest son left to help on the farm. Many of the boys Luther’s age enlisted the day the war broke out, and Eugene’s younger sister would marry one of those men when he returned from service.

“100 Days Men”

Thomas and Susan had 4 sons. Luther was born in 1844, Eugene in 1846, Thomas Jr. in 1847, and Theron in 1853. Thomas was lost as an infant. By the Spring of 1864, when Eugene turned 18 years old, the Union campaign in Georgia was gaining momentum. The Governor of Ohio proposed a surge of lightly trained soldiers to replace seasoned troops who were doing rear-guard duty. The concept of a short-term enlistment for these rear guard troops was immediately adopted by President Lincoln. The 80,000 soldiers who joined were known as “100 Days Men” and Eugene enlisted 3 months after this 18th birthday (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Days_Men). The Place family’s two oldest sons were now serving in the Union Army.

The Wisconsin 39th Regimen mustered into service on 3 Jul 1864, and he was assigned to Company D. The 3 Wisconsin 100 Days regimens were sent to Memphis after a week of training. They performed guard and picket duty while the veteran troops they replaced shifted to the battle for Atlanta.

On 21 Aug 1864 the Wisconsin 39th was the only of the 100 Days forces from Wisconsin to see combat. Confederate Calvary under Nathan Bedford Forrest attempted a raid in Memphis to capture Union commanders, but they were ultimately rebuffed. During the time of the raid, Eugene was likely already in hospital in Memphis suffering through his last days of the disease that would take his life. He died on 23 Aug 1864 at the age of 18. His body was returned to Racine where it was buried in a family plot in Mound Cemetery.

Mound Cemetery

Thomas Place arrived in Wisconsin Territory at age 16, before the Native Americans had been pushed off this land. The first winter Thomas worked for the French fur trader in the area. He became acquainted enough with the local Potowatomi band that he was invited in the winter of 1835 to a mound-building performed for the death of a tribal leader. Those ceremonies were held in an area of Racine that was dotted with burial mounds. Now almost 30 years later, that land had become the cemetery Thomas buried his middle son.

Photo of a granite headstone reading "Eugene H Place", Company D 39 Regimen, Wisconsin Volunteers. Feb 28, 1846, Aug 23, 1864. Son of Thomas and Susan Place.

The impact of the 100 Days Men like Eugene was just what the Union had hoped for. By the time they mustered out in September of 1864 Atlanta had fallen. Sherman was resting and preparing for his glorious March to the Sea while the regulars re-positioned to their original posts. 3 men of the 39th died in combat, while nearly 10 times that many would fall to disease. In November President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address memorializing the men like Eugene who died for this country. By April 1865 the war ended.

Eternal Sacrifice, and Gratitude

Michael’s maternal line was just starting to taste their first freedom in this country. That was in no small part due to the sacrifices of men like Eugene H. Place. The Place family’s commitment to the ideals that people like Michael should be treated like human beings gave his later ancestors some of the rights the Place’s themselves held dear. The could now own property, vote, and to serve this country.

Without the sacrifices of men like Eugene, generations of people like Michael with African ancestry would likely still be enslaved in the brutal system the Southern States fought so traitorously to preserve. On this Memorial Day, it’s with profound thanks for the wonderful life we all enjoy today that we thank Private Place, and the countless others like him, for their service, their commitment, and their sacrifice.

Nelson’s Variety Store: The last days of a Racine Institution

Nelson’s Variety Store was a classic “five & dime” store that first opened in West Racine in 1940. They were a fixture that anchored that neighborhood shopping district for decades. A second Nelson’s opened in the late 1970’s on the far North side of Racine. Their doors closed for good on 1 Apr 2017 and left a void in Racine that won’t be filled by Amazon.

Nelson’s was not my place growing up. I was a Northsider, and while I had close family just a few blocks away I don’t recall going in more than once. In high school I had a girlfriend who loved the place and went with her, and I remember going to the far Northside location once about the same time for some school party. But, I knew Racine would be losing another part of our history and so the closing resonated with me.

Facebook Strikes Again

Local Racine historian Todd Wallace put out a call out on a Facebook group that specializes in Racine history, asking for someone with a high-quality film camera to capture Nelson’s before it was gone. I had been a photojournalist in the early 1990’s, and had just picked up a camera again so I took him up on it. The Nikon F4’s that I craved back then (when they would cost me half a year’s salary!) were now going for $300 on eBay. I had bought one recently, and a nice low-light lens, and thought it would be fun to document these unique institutions.

Wandering the aisles over the 3 days I shot my 5 rolls of color film, I came to fully understand what I missed out on in my childhood. The toy aisle was fantastic. Little bins of everything you could ever imagine, and you could still walk out with a few things for a dollar. I would have lost my mind in the marble bin in 4th grade…when kids still played marbles on the playground! And I can’t imagine what I would have done with all of the little dinosaurs. It was just row, and row of little…stuff. Not junk. Stuff. Things I didn’t know I needed, but now I knew I wanted them. How did I ever throw Packer parties and not stock up at Nelson’s?

Camera Troubles

Exterior photograph of a building with a sign reading Nelson's in front. — *The only salvageable exterior photo of the original Nelson’s*

I took a total of 5 rolls, 2 interiors at each store, and 1 exterior between them. The bad news is that I didn’t run enough film through my camera. One of the mirrors in the eyepiece came loose, and completely threw off the light meter readings. I remember when it happened, I was in the Westside store finishing my 1st role of interiors. I wouldn’t know until their were processed months later, that most of Westside interior shots, and all of my exteriors of the original store. were unusable. The less historic Northside location was fully documented. I’m still upset by that. Much of what I lost was the very cool fixtures that made up the edges of the display area. And, the exteriors. It was a perfect, moody, foggy dusk and I took several time exposures which just would have been amazing. They all turned out blank.

Here is a link to the entire collection of photos (27 from the Westside location, 61 from the Northside) http://archive.anamericangenealogy.com/Collection%20Images/Forms/Nelsons.aspx.

I hope they capture the feeling of what it was like to walk into these amazing establishments. Most focus on the little quirky details that I’ve never seen anywhere but Nelson’s. And now, we’ll never see them again.