Abstract of Thomas Henry Warwick Pension Application, 1915

Thomas Henry "T H" Warwick (1845 GA-1929 TX) applied for a pension for his Civil War service in 1915.  The Pension was allowed March 1, 1916.

Abstract of T H Warwick Pension Application,  Page 1

Soldiers who are in Indigent Circumstances, State of Texas, County of Parker: T.H. Warwick, application for Pension of 1913.

Served the Confederate States, did not desert, and never abandoned post. “Surrendered at Cleveland or Clarkesville, Ga. (Have forgotten which) in the later part of April , at least in April, 1865, the war having closed.”

Resident of Texas since 1900, no income greater than $300 a year, no property over $1000, no aid or pension.

Age: “I will be 69 in Jan. next, i.e. Jan. 1916”

Born: “White County, Cleveland, Ga.”

How long have you resided in Texas? “Since 1874”

County reside: “Parker County, been here 30 od years of the time.”

How long and PO address: “30 odd years, Weatherford, Texas”

“ Never applied for a pension before”

Occupation: “Farmer, but out of commission now. Reasonably good now, is better than it was 4 months ago, but am played out.”

State served: “Cleveland, Ga.”

How long served: “From 1863 to 1865,  but I cannot give the dates.”

Letter of Co., number of regiment or battery: “Don’t remember letter but was in Captain Harrilson’s Co., Col. Finley’s or Fenley’s Regt. of Ga.Vol. Calvary, In the Confederate Army Service.”

Transfer: “Not transferred, was in the same Co. and Regt. From 1863 to 1865; close of war: some of the boys call it Ga. State Troops, but we were in Confederate Service all the time. Calvary.” 



Abstract of T H Warwick Pension Application, Page 2

Commission: “Not commissioned, was a private.”

Detail: “I was a volunteer, but was on detail service, scouting much of the time in my army service.”

Assessed value of home: “$600”

Value of other property: “Nothing else subject to taxation.”

Have you transferred property? “No Sir.”

Signature: T H Warwick

Sworn: 19th Oct. A.D. 1915

Signed: T F Temple, County Judge, Parker County, Texas 

Affidavit of Witnesses:

State of Texas, County of Parker,  Before T. F. Temple, county Judge of Parker County, appeared R.L. Braselton and Jno. R. Brown, “credible citizens,” swore know T.H> Warwick and bonafide citizen of Texas since January 1 A.D. 1900. 

Abstract of T H Warwick Pension Application, Page 3

Certificate of State and County Assessor

Jno. R. Pickens, State and County Assessor in County of Parker, certify T. H. Warwick is in tax rolls of said county with a homestead valued at $500, and other property “nothing.”

19th Oct 1915 Jno. R. Pickens

“ I know Mr. Warwick to be a good man; he says he served in the Confederate Army all the time from 1863 to close, and was paroled after he surrendered. His witnesses of service, Mr. Westmoreland and Mr. Densmore, call it ‘Ga. State Troops.’ I think this is a mistake; but you can verify or disprove his statement by consulting the ‘War Records’ at Washington. I therefore recommend that he be pensioned unless you find he did not serve and this I do not believe you will find.”

T.F. Temple, Or Judge Parker County 

Abstract of T H Warwick Pension Application, Page 4

Office of Commissioner of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin

To Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, D.C.

Request military record of T.H. Warwick, Captain Harrilson’s Co., Col. Finley’s, Georgia Vol. Calvary

J C Jones 

Abstract of T H Warwick Pension Application, Page 5

War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, Oct. 27, 1915

To Commissioner of Pensions, State of Texas, Austin

No record found of Col. Finley’s Regt., Georgia Calvary, C.S.A. nor any record of service, capture or parole of T. H. Warwick as a member of Fifth Battalion Georgia Volunteers (Major Finley), which latterly became 5th Regiment Georgia Reserves, C.S.A.

H.P. McCain, The Adjutant General

The Looney School

LOONEY SCHOOL. Looney School was established in 1861 by Morgan H. Looney, who first rented and then bought the old Upshur Masonic College from the Bethesda lodge in Gilmer, Upshur County. Looney's school averaged 200 students annually for the ten years (1861–71) he ran it. Courses in English, mathematics, ancient languages, composition, spelling, and other subjects were offered during the ten months the school was open each year. During the years 1868–70 grades ranged from the elementary level up to the study of law. With such a variety of subjects, the length of the school year, and the number of students attending, Looney had to build a large staff of teachers. Among his teachers were J. L. Coven, Miss Achsa Culberson, W. A. Hart, M. L. Looney (a brother of Morgan H. Looney), Lafayette Camp, Oran M. Roberts (who later became governor of Texas), J. C. Reagan, and J. B. Norman. In 1863 the Looney School building was destroyed by fire. Until a new one could be completed, temporary arrangements had to be made for housing the school. The new building, a two-story frame structure, was opened in 1866. On the lower floor were six big classrooms. Upstairs was an auditorium evenly partitioned by one center wall, but not all the way across. There was a door at the back of each partition. Girls came in one door and sat in their section, while the boys came in the other door and sat in the other section. The teacher could see both sections from an elevated platform. Over the years about 2,000 students attended Looney School. Notable graduates included Charles A. Culberson, Judge Sawney Roberts, who became a state Supreme Court justice; Sam Templeton, who became attorney general of Texas; and Sallie Stinson, who married James Stephen Hogg. Many graduates became contributing members of society in such fields as law, medicine, education, and business. While the school was flourishing, Looney left Gilmer because of his wife's poor health; the school closed shortly after his departure, probably in 1871.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
James David Carter, Masonry in Texas: Background, History and Influence to 1846 (Waco: Grand Lodge of Texas, 1955). Doyal T. Loyd, A History of Upshur County (Gilmer, Texas: Gilmer Mirror, 1966). Dudley Goodall Wooten, ed., A Comprehensive History of Texas (2 vols., Dallas: Scarff, 1898; rpt., Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1986).

Texas State Historical Association website: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbl22

Morgan Harbin Looney (Part 2)

Morgan Harbin Looney (Part 2)

On 8 Aug 1852 he married Amy Melissa Black in Coweta County, Georgia. She was the daughter of Cyrus and Elizabeth (Harkey) Black. Amy was born about 1835 in Coweta County.

In 1853 Morgan taught at the Old Starrsville School, Starrsville, Newton, Georgia.

About 1855 they had a son, George L Looney, who died in infancy. In May 1856, son Edgar Hayden Looney was born in Hart County, Georgia.

In 1857 Morgan taught in Palmetto, Fulton County, Georgia. Later that year he moved to Fayetteville, Fayette County, Georgia to head the Fayetteville Seminary, where he taught until 1860. In 1858 he wrote Southern Arithmetic,  ublished by G. C. Welch Company in Newnan, Georgia. In 1859 he and his brother George Cleveland Looney published a newspaper, The Literary Casket. In May 1860 Charles Edward Looney was born. On the 1860 Census in July  they were living in W. E. Redwine’s Hotel, Fayetteville, GA.

In 1861 the family moved to Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas where Morgan opened the Looney School. Daughter Maud was born there 23 Feb 1866 and daughter Myrtice was born there 3 Sep 1868. The Looney School was a prominent private school for ten years until 1871.

In 1870, due to Amy Melissa’s declining health, they moved to the mountains of Arkansas. Son Earl Mortimer Looney was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas 4 Feb. 1870. In Fayetteville, Morgan taught school, lectured, did some legal work, and pleaded eloquently for the University of Arkansas to be located in Fayetteville.

Amy Melissa died in 28 July 1871 in Fayetteville, AR. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

Sacred to the Memory of

Amy M.

Wife of

M.H. Looney

who died in

Fayetteville

July 28, 1871

Aged 31 years

Has a hand pointing to a crown with "Heaven" written upon it.

Fayetteville Democrat, Fayetteville, AR July 8, 1871, page 3, col 3&4:

In Memoriam.

    Died in this city on Thursday the 29th, ult., at sun-set, Mrs. Amy M. Looney, wife of Prof. Morgan H. Looney, in the 32nd year of her age. She embraced religion in early life and joined the M.E. church South--living a consistent member until death. Her understanding was vigorous, and her intuitive perceptions were quick and discriminating. Her imagination was lively, but it was tempered and regulated by sound judgment. Her sensibilities were strong, but they were directed and controlled by Christian principles. Early a professor of Christianity, she was well established in its distinguishing principles, not merely as a system of doctrines, but as a rule of life; and while she was able to give a reason of her faith and hope, she proved the soundness of the one, and the justness of the other, by a practical conformity to the requirements of the gospel. High was her standard of piety, but not visionary; strict her observance of Christian duties, but not austere. Cheerful without levity, she gave new proof, that THE WAYS OF WISDOM ARE PLEASANTNESS, AND HER PATHS PEACE. In Social life she was engaging in her conversation and manners, adapting herself happily to the characters of those with whom she was conversant, and always uniting the useful with the agreeable. The poor were the objects of her charity; the afflicted of her sympathy. Her alms accompanied her prayers. In the relations of a wife and a mother, she exhibited those virtues which rendered her a signal blessing and ornament to her family, to which she was most highly and justly endeared. Independent in judging, and adhering to what was fit and obligatory, she took no counsel from the fashionable world., in what related to religion and morals, but pursued such a course as was adapted, to mould her children into the Christian temper and character, and to form them to VIRTUE AND GLORY. This was the object of her supreme desire, and of her most fervent prayer. Her system of education was happily adapted to attain it. Highly propious was its influence; and the result may justly furnish perpetual encouragement to all parents, to go and do likewise. In this present time she lost not her reward. Seldom have children manifested an equal degree of filial respect and affection.

    During a long confinement, she gave astonishing proofs of the power of religion. Under its divine influence, she sustained all the pains and distresses of a lingering disease, not with serenity merely, but with cheerfulness. Retaining the faculties of reason and speech until her last moments, she was enabled to impart salutary and pious advice to all around her. These impressions will never be obliterated.

    In the spiritual world, as in the natural, clouds often obscure the face of Heaven. Few of the children of God uninterruptedly enjoy the light of his countenance. There are seasons when they are liable to be in heaviness, through manifold temptations. Here was a favorable instance of exception. From the time of her entrance into her chamber under a fixed persuasion that this would be her last sickness, she appeared never to have one serious doubt respecting the safety of her spiritual state. Her cheerfulness could not escape the observations of any person who saw her. The Christian hope being now an anchor to her soul, sure and steadfast, the winds and tempests could neither agitate nor disquiet her. This hope raised her....and the tender assiduities of home, was done to try to save her to her family and friends. But all was unavailing. The debt of nature must be paid. In her youth and beauty, blessing and blessed, the light of her home, the guardian angel of her household, she was called away. And to the stricken hearts of her husband and children came the awful shadow. All sympathize with the widowed husband, and the orphaned children to this their untoward affliction. May God, who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, temper the awful trial to them.

    The long line of carriages that followed the corpse in procession, and the large crowd that gathered at Evergreen Cemetery on Friday evening to see her interred attest the estimation in which, though a comparative stranger, she was held by our citizens.

    Now, dearest sister, farewell. Sweet be the sleep of thy holy dust in its peaceful home, until the glorious morn of the resurrection when we shall greet thee again,--greet thee on those bright and blessed shores where pain and suffering, sickness and death, sorrow and anguish shall be feared and felt no more.

    "While I gazed--with speed surprising, down the stream she plunged from sight; Gazing still, I saw her rising, Like an angel, cloth'd with light."

E.J. Dawne

All Rights Reserved

Teresa McVeigh

7 Feb 2015 

Cyrus BLACK family

For many years Cyrus BLACK was one of my brick walls. I knew little except that Amy Melissa BLACK (1835-1871), wife of Morgan Harbin LOONEY (1821-1901), was said to be the daughter of Cyrus BLACK and Elizabeth HARKEY and that the BLACKs were said to be Scottish.

I have not posted to this blog since last Thursday (today is Monday), but I have been very, very busy researching all weekend. Last week a LOONEY related cousin named Katy contacted me and I started researching Amy and Morgan LOONEY's son Edgar Hayden LOONEY's line. In the process I also discovered more about the BLACKS, which was very exciting to me, since they have long been a blank page in my research.

About six months ago I was very excited to finally find Cyrus BLACK on a census record. The family was living in Coweta County, Georgia and there was little Amy Melissa BLACK, age 11. This was the first documented proof I had found of Amy's parentage and I now also had dates, ages, birth places and siblings for the family.

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Cyrus Black
Age: 42
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1808
Birth Place: North Carolina
Gender: Male
Home in 1850(City,County,State): Division 19, Coweta, Georgia
Family Number: 613
Household Members: Name Age
Cyrus Black 42 NC
Elizabeth Black 38 NC
Eliza E Black 16 NC
Amy M Black 11 GA
Nancy C Black 4 GA

I also found Cyrus and family on the 1840 Census:

1840 United States Federal Census
Name: Cyrus Black
Township: Cedar Creek
County: Coweta
State: Georgia
Males:
age 30-40: 1 [Cyrus]
Females:
<5:1 [Amy]
5-10: 1 [Eliza]
20-30:1 Elizabeth]

Previously I had found a Cyrus BLACK in Texas, but he was 20 years too young, so I thought he might be a son. Then this weekend, searching for children of Edgar Hayden LOONEY, I found Elizabeth BLACK with a previously unknown daughter.

What was even more exciting for me is I found Earl Mortimer "Mort" LOONEY also in the household. I have spent many hours searching for Mortimer, son of Morgan and Amy, and his siblings. After Amy's death Mort and his siblings were split up. Two of his children told me he went to live with his "old maiden aunts" and I also searched for them. It turns out he was living with his grandmother, Elizabeth (HARKEY) BLACK and his Aunt Lavantia BLACK HICKMAN, Amy's sister.

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Lewis J. Hickman
Home in 1880: Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas
Age: 41
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Birthplace: Indiana
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: Lavantia C.
Father's birthplace: Virginia
Mother's birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Druggist
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
House Number: 11713665
Household Members: Name Age
Lewis J. Hickman 41 IN (parents b. VA)
Lavantia C. Hickman 30 GA (parents b. NC) wife
Gussie Hickman 5 AR dau
Homer H. Hickman 3 AR son
Elizabeth Black 68 NC mother-in-law, widow
Mortimer Looney 9 boarder AR (father b. SC, mother b. GA)
Emma Sohns 19 W Servant OH
Laura Sohns 13 W Servant OH
John Forest 23 B Porter AR
Adaline Mellette 63 Aunt VA (parents VA)

I feel certain that this is the correct Elizabeth BLACK since Mort is living with her. Lavantia must be her daughter since she is listed as Lewis Hickman's mother-in-law. They are living in Fayetteville, AR, which is where Amy died in 1871.

So from this information I am concluding that the previously found Texas Census is in fact Cyrus and Elizabeth BLACK, parents of Amy. Maybe when they moved to Texas, they decided to pass for twenty years younger than they really were. Or perhaps someone just unknowingly gave the wrong information. They were living in the Gilmer, Upshur, Texas area where Morgan, Amy, and other family members were teaching at the LOONEY School.

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Cyrus Black
Age in 1860: 32
Birth Year: abt 1828
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1860: Western District, Upshur, Texas
Gender: Male
Post Office: Cypress
Household Members: Name Age
Cyrus Black 32 NC
Elizabeth Black 28 NC
Levantia Black 14 GA

Cyrus also shows up on the Texas State Census Slave Schedules in 1860 with 16 slaves ages 28-2.

I still have not found them in 1870, but it looks as if Cyrus took out land grants in Arkansas in that year, so he was still alive then. There are a number of General Land Office (GLO) land grants for a Cyrus BLACK and I am not sure if they are all for this Cyrus.

10 Mar 1852 Huntsville, Lauderdale, AL 40.04 acres
1 Sep 1856 Jackson, AR 40 acres [Cancelled]
1 Dec 1859 Huntsville, Lauderdale, AL 80.1 acres
20 July 1870 Jackson, AR 40 acres

He shows up on 1860 Arkansas State Censuses in Randolph and Jackson Counties, I assume for land taxes. They probably thought about moving to Arkansas (and maybe did), but then definitely moved to Texas. Then they later moved to Arkansas when Morgan and Amy went there.
By 1885 the HICKMANS, Elizabeth BLACK, and Mort LOONEY had moved to Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas.

Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925
Name: Lewis J Hickman
Census Date: 1 Mar 1885
Residence County: Crawford
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Pittsburg
Birth Location: Indiana
Family Number: 240
Marital Status: Married
Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1840
Race: White
Line: 14
Roll: KS1885_31
Household Member(s): Name Age
Lewis J Hickman 45 IN
Lovanta J Hickman 37 GA
Gussie Hickman 10 AR
Hemer H Hickman 8 AR
Clifton G Hickman 3 AR
Elizabeth Black 73 NC
Morton Looney 14 NC [This should be Mortimer and AR, but I still think this is Mort.]

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Copyright © Teresa McVeigh 2009