Cynthia Ann "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell 1820-1906 AL #52Ancestors #13

Cynthia Cornelius was the daughter of Beverly Cornelius and his wife Nancy Euphemia Smith. She was the third of nine children and born in Blount County, Alabama March of 1820. Census data all have her name spelled differently. Cancy Ann, Cinceana, and even as Susana. The death certificate for her son  Phelan has Synsandis. The estate of her father Beverly Cornelius refers to her as Cynthia Ann, Cinthian and Cinciana. She is often confused in online trees as her sister, Cincinatti.

Cynthia Cornelius Tidwell from Sandy Grods collection. She looks so much like my grandmother!

Cynthia married Rowan "Ryan" Tidwell October 16, 1842 in Blount County, Alabama. In this record she is recorded as Caney Anny Cornelius. Rowan and Cynthia had at least nine children:
Louisiana "Sis" born 1844. She married Benjamin Jerome Munkus
Phelan born 1847. He married Sarah Elizabeth McCullough
Harriett born 1851, married E Holdridge Monkus
Beverly Cornelius born 1853, married Eva Locke
Hampton Clinton born 1855 and married Palestine Gibson
Rowan B "Ryan" Jr. born 1859. He married Zimmie Tubb.
Brecusie?? born about 1861. He died young and is only found in the 1870 Perry, AL census.

Phelan Tidwell family about 1891. From left: Zada, Phelan, Ella, Kess, Beverly, Sarah, Mattie, Cynthia "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell, and Zola

The family lived in Blount County, Alabama until at least after the 1866 Alabama census. Rowan Tidwell died November 11, 1873 in Jericho, Perry County, Alabama. Cynthia A Tidwell applied and was granted a Civil War Widows Pension in 1899.

In 1880 Suzanna? Tidwell was living with her son Beverly's family in Perry County.
In 1890 Perry, Alabama had some of the few surviving 1890 census records, but unfortunately not Cynthia.
The 1900 census enumerated her as Sinsanny Tidwell living in Perry County with her son Rowan Jr's family.

Cynthia A. Tidwell died on April 13, 1906 in Jefferson County, Alabama per the Jefferson County, Alabama Pension Application (#14196). I do not know where she is buried.

Bridget Conlon McGowan from Ireland to PA to AL #52Ancestors #12

Bridget was born somewhere in Ireland. She was the daughter of Michael Conlon and his wife Ellen. The last name has been found as Conlan, Conlen, Conlin and Conlon.

I have not been able to determine Bridget's entry into the US. Per two census records, she arrived in 1855. There are quite a few Bridget Conlons immigrating in the time period before 1860. I've not found any that are on the same ship with a Michael and Ellen, nor any alone in 1855. I have also not been able to be certain where Bridget was in the 1860 census.

Bridget married James McGowan about 1860 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Pittsburgh says that marriage records before 1877 are no longer in existence. They were probably married at St. John the Evangelist (South Side)


I was able to obtain the following births and baptisms from the Diocese:
St. John the Evangelist (South Side) Baptismal Records

Patrick, born 22 Mar 1861; baptized 31 Mar 1861; father: James McGown; mother: Bridget Conboy; sponsors: Albert Griffin, Anna Conlon

Mary, born 12 Feb 1864; baptized 28 Feb 1864; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridg. Conlon; sponsors: John McDowal, Mary Conlon

Sarah Helen, born 2 Mar 1866; baptized 18 Mar 1866; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridget Conlin; sponsors: Thos. Nolan, Edelia McCann

Joseph, born 18 Mar 1867; baptized 31 Mar 1867; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridget Conolan; sponsors: Edward McTiernan, Anna McCann

Ellen, born 19 Mar 1873; baptized 6 Apr 1873; father: Jacobo [James] McGowan; mother: Brigitta Connolly; sponsors: Hugo McFadden, Anna Murray

Jacobum, born 15 Feb 1875; baptized 18 Mar 1875; father: Jacobo McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsor: Winifred Gowey

Thomas, born 16 Oct 1877; baptized 21 Oct 1877; father: James McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsors: Arthur Holland, Mary McGlinn

The family was in the East Birmingham Borough of Pittsburgh in 1870:
James, age 36, Iron Pudler, value of real estate 1000, personal estate 100, born Ireland, father & mother of foreign birth, US Citizen.
Bridget, age 33, keeps house, born Ireland
Patrick, age 9, Born PA
Mary, age 6, born PA
Joseph, age 4, born PA
Michael, age 8/12, born PA, Sept
Townloe, Mike, age 23, laborer, born Ireland

The 1880 census:
James McGowan Self M Male W 42 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Bridget McGowan Wife M Female W 40 IRE Keeping Bdg House IRE IRE
Patrick McGowan Son S Male W 19 PA Boilers Helper IRE IRE
Mary A. McGowan Dau S Female W 16 PA At Home IRE IRE
Joseph McGowan Son S Male W 13 PA Wks In Rg Mill IRE IRE
James McGowan Son S Male W 5 PA IRE IRE
Thomas McGowan Son S Male W 2 PA IRE IRE
James Conaway boarder S Male W 40 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Edwd O'Malley boarder S Male W 30 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
William Riley boarder S Male W 36 IRE Boiler IRE IRE

James died in 1889. Bridget is listed as the widow of James in the 1889/90 city directory

Title: J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities. 1889/1890
Author: Diffenbacher, J. F.
Collection: Historic Pittsburgh City Directories
pg 760

McGowan, Bridget, wid Jas, 140 S Twenty-fifth
McGowan, Jos, helper, 140 S Twenty-fifth

In 1900, Bridget was living in McKeesport, Pennsylvania:
630 Jerome St. (Jerome St was demolished as part of the Jerome St Bridge construction in McKeesport)

Picture by Leepaxton at en.wikipedia

MCGOWAN BRIDGET 57 F W IREL Jan 1843, Widowed. 5 children, 5 living, Immigration 1855, Years in US 45
McGowan, James, son, Feb 1875, 25, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill
McGowan, Thomas, Oct 1878, 21, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill

In 1910, Bridget was living with her daughter and son-in-law in McKeesport.
1408 Jenny Lind St (now an empty lot)

Ridge, Michael, 44, 1st marriage, married 13 years, Born England, parents England, Immigration 1891, Gas Producer, Tube Works
Mary A, wife, 44, 3 children, 3 living, Born PA, parents Ireland
Katherine, daughter, 11, PA
Maria, daughter, 8, PA
Ellen, daughter, 4, PA
MCGOWAIN BRIDGET 69 F W IREL Mother-in-law, widowed, 10 children, 4 living, parents Ireland, Immigration 1855

By 1920, Bridget had moved to Birmingham, Alabama, and was living with her son Patrick:
Nineteenth Street
McGowen P H 55 M W PA
Tom 27? Salesman Barber Supply
Dan 24 Carpenter Steel Plant
Alice 21 Operator Phone Co
Joe 20 Labor ? Co
Frank 13, ? boy, ? Co
pg 249
John 11
Bridget, Mother, 85 born Ireland

Bridget died January 30, 1920 of Bright's disease (kidney disease). She was buried in Southside Catholic Cemetery. UAB purchased the property where the cemetery was located, and all graves were moved. I have not been able to locate Bridget's final resting place.

Census Keyring Thing

I can't take credit for this idea, it was given to me years ago by +Jackie G . Easy to do and very helpful for those hard to read or non-existent census headings.

Copies of blank census forms can be found at http://www.ancestry.com/download/forms
Print them out, cut off the headings at the top. They are not all the same size, and some are landscape and some are portrait, but make as close to the same size as possible.

Laminate for sturdiness, and attach to a keyring or index card ring.

That's all there is to it.

Lizzie McNamara McGowan 1868-1919 #52Ancestors #11

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Cecelia McNamara was born in Pennsylvania June 3, 1868. Her parents were Daniel and Jane McKinzie McNamara. Both parents were born in Ireland. I have not been able to find a definite match for birth or census records. There was a Daniel McNamara that was a saloon keeper at 6365 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh in 1887. There was a Dan who was a laborer residing at 6359 Penn Ave in 1888 and 1889. Maggie and Mary were dressmakers at the same address. There was a Lizzie McNamara who was a dressmaker on N Canal in 1882. More research is needed.

Update! The family was found with the last name as McNamor living in Clarksville, Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1880.

Dan Mc Namor 39 Coal Miner Ireland
Jane Mc Namor 39 Ireland
John Mc Namor 15 Ireland
Mary Mc Namor 13 Pennsylvania
Lizzie Mc Namor 12 Pennsylvania
Kate Mc Namor 10 Pennsylvania
Ella Mc Namor 8 Pennsylvania
Allice Mc Namor 5 Pennsylvania
Annie Mc Namor 3 Pennsylvania
Sarah Mc Namor 5m Pennsylvania

Lizzie married Patrick McGowan September 28, 1888 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

Marriage of Patrick McHowan and Lizzie McNamara. Lizzie's father Daniel gave consent.

They had nine children:
Mary Ann born June 26, 1889 and died September 20, 1890
Thomas James born 1891, married Ora Barfield
Ella Mary born March 28, 1893, married George Clark Davis
Daniel John born December 23, 1895, married Ruby Wells
Alice C born March 12 1898, married Lyman Faith Stribling
Joseph Sylvester James born January 23, 1900
Francis Andrew "Frank" born May 5, 1906, married Ethelyne Blanche Oliver
John Raymond born November 9, 1908, married Georgia Mildred Fratoddi
There was also another child born after 1900 that died before 1910.

The family moved to West End Birmingham, Alabama about 1896. They are found on the 1900 census:

1900 Jefferson County AL, 9th ward

Patrick H, Head, age 39, b Mar 1861, in PA, says father born PA, mother Ireland, occupation Puddler Rolling Mill, can read & write, rents home
Lizzie, wife, age 35, B June 1864 in PA, 6 children, 5 liviing. Father & mother born Ireland, can read & write
Thomas J, b March? 1891 in PA, age 9
Ella, b May 1893 in PA, age 7
Dannie, son, b Dec 1895 in PA, age 4
Alice, b March 1898 in AL, age 2
Joseph, b Feb 1900 in AL, age 4/12 (4 months)
Gus Myrlen (boarder)
Joseph Schoclere? (boarder) (I wonder if this is Schilleci?)

The 1910 census:
McGowan, Patrick H 50 M W PA Parents born Ireland,Tax Asser for County, Rents home
Lizie, wife 42, married 21 years, 9 children, 7 living, born PA, parents Ireland
Thomas, son 19 born PA, Clerk Barber Supply
Ela, daughter 17 born PA
Daniel, 14 born PA, Machinist Railroad
Alice 12 born AL
Joseph, 10 born AL
Francis, son 4 born AL
John 1 6/12 born AL
Severly?, Edward, roomer, 60, born Ireland, Parents Ireland, Labor Railroad

Lizzie died at home November 1, 1919 from cancer of the stomach. Her youngest child John would have been only nine years old.

Lizzie was buried in Southside Catholic Cemetery in Birmingham. The University of Alabama at Birmingham purchased the cemetery property to build the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Everyone in the cemetery was moved. I have not yet been able to locate Lizzie's final resting place. Elmwood Cemetery says she is not there. Forrest Hills is supposed to be searching, but has not to date called back with results.

By Chris Pruitt (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Patrick Henry McGowan of PA and AL 1861-1924 #52Ancestors #10

Patrick Henry McGowan was the oldest child of eight born to James and Bridget Conlon McGowan. He was born March 21, 1861 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I wrote to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and obtained the following baptismal record:
St. John the Evangelist (South Side) Baptismal Records

Patrick, born 22 Mar 1861; baptized 31 Mar 1861; father: James McGown; mother: Bridget Conboy; sponsors: Albert Griffin, Anna Conlon

The 1870 census shows
1870 PA Census ALLEGHENY > E BIRMINGHAM BORO:
Series M593, Roll 1293 Page 574
James, age 36, Iron Pudler, value of real estate 1000, personal estate 100, born Ireland, father & mother of foreign birth, US Citizen.
Bridget, age 33, keeps house, born Ireland
Patrick, age 9, born PA
Mary, age 6, born PA
Joseph, age 4, born PA
Michael, age 8/12, born PA, Sept
Townloe, Mike, age 23, laborer, born Ireland

As you can see, Patrick followed his father into the ironworking profession.
The 1880 census:
James McGowan Self M Male W 42 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Bridget McGowan Wife M Female W 40 IRE Keeping Bdg House IRE IRE
Patrick McGowan Son S Male W 19 PA Boilers Helper IRE IRE
Mary A. McGowan Dau S Female W 16 PA At Home IRE IRE
Joseph McGowan Son S Male W 13 PA Wks In Rg Mill IRE IRE
James McGowan Son S Male W 5 PA IRE IRE
Thomas McGowan Son S Male W 2 PA IRE IRE
James Conaway boarder S Male W 40 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Edwd O'Malley boarder S Male W 30 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
William Riley boarder S Male W 36 IRE Boiler IRE IRE

Patrick married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Cecilia McNamara September 28, 1888 in Pittsburgh. They had nine children:
Mary Ann born June 26, 1889 and died September 20, 1890
Thomas James born 1891, married Ora Barfield
Ella Mary born March 28, 1893, married George Clark Davis
Daniel John born December 23, 1895, married Ruby Wells
Alice C born March 12 1898, married Lyman Faith Stribling
Joseph Sylvester James born January 23, 1900
Francis Andrew "Frank" born May 5, 1906, married Ethelyne Blanche Oliver
John Raymond born November 9, 1908, married Georgia Mildred Fratoddi
There was also another child born after 1900 that died before 1910.

Patrick is found in J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities. 1889/1890
pg 760
McGowan, Patk, pud, 2518 Larkins ay (alley)
(pud is an iron puddler)

1890/1891
McGowan, Patk H, pud, 2928 Harcums ay

1888/1889
McGowen, Patk, helper, 144 s 25th

1891/1892
McGowan, Patk H, pud, 2514 Larkins ay

By 1900, Patrick had moved to Birmingham Alabama, presumably because of the ironworking opportunities in the booming city. He moved about 1896 based on birthplaces of children.
1900 Jefferson County AL, 9th ward (West End)
Patrick H, Head, age 39, b Mar 1861, in PA, says father born PA, mother Ireland, occupation Puddler Rolling Mill, can read & write, rents home
Lizzie, wife, age 35, B June 1864 in PA, 6 children, 5 liviing. Father & mother born Ireland, can read & write
Thomas J, b March? 1891 in PA, age 9
Ella, b May 1893 in PA, age 7
Dannie, son, b Dec 1895 in PA, age 4
Alice, b March 1898 in AL, age 2
Joseph, b Feb 1900 in AL, age 4/12 (4 months)
Gus Myrlen (boarder)
Joseph Schoclere? (boarder) (I wonder if this is Schilleci?)

The family was still in the 9th Ward of Birmingham in 1910. Patrick had become the tax assessor for Jefferson County (Surely that's what a Tax Asser is!)

McGowan, Patrick H 50 M W PA  Parents born Ireland,Tax Asser for County, Rents home
Lizie, wife 42, married 21 years, 9 children, 7 living, born PA, parents Ireland
Thomas, son 19 born PA, Clerk Barber Supply
Ela, daughter 17 born PA
Daniel, 14 born PA, Machinist Railroad
Alice 12 born AL
Joseph, 10 born AL
Francis, son 4 born AL
John 1 6/12 born AL
Severly?, Edward, roomer, 60, born Ireland, Parents Ireland, Labor Railroad

Patrick's wife Lizzie died November 1, 1919. By the 1920 census, Patrick's mother had come to live with the family:

Nineteenth Street
McGowen P H 55 M W PA
Tom 27? Salesman Barber Supply
Dan 24 Carpenter Steel Plant
Alice 21 Operator Phone Co
Joe 20 Labor ? Co
Frank 13, ? boy, ? Co
pg 249
John 11
Bridget, Mother, 85 born Ireland
(Patrick's married daughter Ella is in the next household.)

Patrick died May 31, 1924. He was buried in Southside Catholic Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama. That would normally be the end of his story...but the University of Alabama at Birmingham purchased the cemetery property to build the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Everyone in the cemetery was moved. I'm currently trying to locate Patrick (and Lizzie"s) final resting place. I hope to have an update soon.

If you are realated to this McGowan family, I would love to hear from you.

Artemesia Wheat Carter of GA and AL 1853-1923 #52Ancestors #9

Artemesia Elizabeth Wheat was the third of eight children born to Augustus Walter Wheat and Mary Gray Danforth Wheat. She was born November 22, 1853 in Campbell County, Georgia. She was known as Artie.

Cover Illustration taken from the cover of Harper's Weekly, September 7, 1861 

Artie grew up in a wealthy household in the old south. Her father was a merchant in Atlanta before she was born, and later an attorney and judge in Campbell County. The 1860 census shows

Wheat, Augustus W 39 M W GA
Occupation Atty at Law Property 12000, Personal 7000
Mary G 35 F
Frances M 14 F
Henry C J 13 M
John C 11 M
Artemissa 6 F
Harry W 2 M (Harvey, married Julia Morris)
3 slaves...a 45 year old female and two children, both 7 years old, male and female.

Artie's father died in 1868. I believe she is Olta in the 1870 census. 

Her mother's household:

1870 GA Campbell Co., Campbellton, PO Powder Springs, Roll M593_139, Pg 33, dwell 1101, lines 20-26, July 24th
Wheate, Mary, 56, keeping house, $1000, $200, GA, cannot read or write
Wheate, John, 21, farm labor, can read & write
Wheate, Olta?, 18, female, domestic servant, GA, cannot read or write (possibly Artie)
Wheate, Harvey?, 12, farm labor, GA
Wheate, Gilbert, 11, GA (Augustus Gilbert, actually 8, married Carzolia Lee 'Lela' Richardson)
Wheate, Anna, 8, GA (actually 11, married a Hammond, and then Joe Privett)
Wheate, Alza, 4, female, GA (married William Henry Bice)

Artie married Thomas Kendrell Carter December 19, 1873. The marriage is recorded in Douglas County.

I have not been able to find the family in the 1880 census. Per Familysearch's Pedigree Resource File Thomas died December 21, 1881. I have no idea how Artie and her children survived after Thomas' death. Her youngest child would have been less that three weeks old, and the oldest was six.

Their children were:

Mary Agnes Frances born February 18, 1875. She married Walter Millwood;

Lela Ann born April 19, 1876. She married James Benjamin Blackwell;

Samuel Thomas born July 13, 1877. He married Mary Alice Warnick;

Augustus Felton born November 7, 1878. He married Mary Ella Franklin;

William Jackson "Jack" born December 3, 1881. He married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Salter.

Artie moved her family to Jefferson County Alabama. They are found in the 7th Precinct in 1900, which would later become Hueytown.

CARTER ARTIE E 45 F W GA born November 1855
Widowed, 5 children with 5 living, she, father & mother all born in GA.
In Household:
Samuel T 27 born July, 1878
Lela A, 23 born April 1877
Augustus, 20 born November 1880
William J, 19 born Dec 18__ (shows age 17, which should be 1881)
All children shown born in GA
All males list occupation as coal miner
Birth year seems to be a year off

Based on birthplaces of children they moved to Alabama after Thomas died. I'm not sure what led the family to Alabama other than the coal mines.

Artie was living with her sister's family in Cullman County, Alabama in 1910.
Privitt, Joe, Head, 46, Marriage 1, Married 19 years, born Illinois, parents born unknown, Farmer
Privitt, Annie, wife, 49, Marriage 2, 4 children, 3 living, born GA, Parents GA
Hammond, James A, step-son, 23, single, self and parents GA, Laborer-home farm
Carter, Atie E, Sister-in law, 56, widowed, 5 children, 4 living, self and parents born GA

In 1920 Artie had moved back to Georgia and was living with her daughter's family:
1920 > GEORGIA > FULTON > COOKS DIST (North West Atlanta, about 3 miles west from downtown)

Series: T625 Roll: 253 Page: 169
Hall Street, 143/146

MILLWOOD WALTER S 49 M W GA Occupation: Carpenter, house, Parents born GA
Millwood, Mary F, wife, 44, self and parents GA
Heath, Roberta F, niece, 11, self and parents GA
Heath, Beatrice, niece, 8, self and parents GA
Carter, Artie E, mother in law, 66, widowed, self and parents GA

Artie then moved to Blount County, Alabama, presumably living with her daughter Lela Carter Blackwell until her death January 25, 1923. She is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Blountsville, Blount, Alabama.

Photo by Kimberly Crawford