Rev. William Coats and Joseph P. Callaway - Callaway County, Missouri

Rev. William Coats was born in South Carolina. When grown he removed to Smith County, Tennessee, where he married Nancy Baker, by whom he had - James, William, John, Wilson, Hiram, Lemuel B., Rachel, Frankie, Tabitha, Mahala, Nancy and Laodocea.

In 1817 Mr. Coats removed with his family to Callaway county, MO, and settled on the prairie which has since borne his name.

There was no minister in that part of the country at that time, and his neighbors appointed him to preach, which duty he performed at stated intervals until his death. He organized most of the Old Baptist Churches in that region.

His son James married Polly Callaway (Joseph P., Thomas, Joseph Callaway), of Tennessee, by whom he had two children - Matthias S. and Laura A.

William Coats, Jr., was married first to Patsey Tracy, and second to the widow McLaughlan, whose maiden name was Celia Callaway. (also a child of Joseph P. Callaway)

John married Nancy Smith. He was Sheriff of Callaway county for several years, and was a good auctioneer.
Wilson married a Miss Phillips, and moved to California.
Hiram married Permelia Walker, and was afterward killed by lightning.
Lemuel B. married Elizabeth Maddox.
Rachel married Robert Reade, and is now a widow.
Frankie married a Mr. McLaughlan.
Tabitha married William Callaway (also a child of Joseph P. Callaway).
Nancy married Joseph P. Callaway, Jr. (also a child of Joseph P. Callaway).
Laodocea married Daniel Phillips.

From Missouri Pioneer Families History 1876, by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, pp. 318-9, 1876.

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Joseph P. Callaway of Callaway County, Missouri

Joseph P. Callaway (Thomas, Joseph Callaway), of South Carolina, married Polly Barrett, by whom he had - John, Nancy, Joseph Jr., Polly, Elizabeth, William, Vinson, Cenia and Thomas.

Mr. Callaway removed to Tennessee in 1804, and in 1818 he settled on Coats' Prairie, in Callaway county. His sons John and Thomas served in the war of 1812. Thomas married Elizabeth Griffith, and settled on Crow Fork, a branch of Auxvasse creek.

>During the night of July 4, 1831, there came a very heavy rain, which raised the creek so that it washed away Joseph's stable and smoke house. He had a horse in the stable, which by some means, climbed into the loft, got out at the window and swam ashore. The smoke house contained some meat and a barrel of whisky, which Mr. Callaway succeeded in bringing ashore with a sugar trough, which he used as a canoe. Mr. Callaway died some time ago, but his widow is still living. (Polly Barrett Callaway died in 1855.)

From Missouri Pioneer Families History 1876, by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, pg. 319, 1876.

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Bank Robbery in Virginia City

On the sleepy noon of July 30, 1879, three men rode up to Henry Elling's bank in Virginia City, Montana. One held the horses and the other two went in. Shortly, the two men came out and walked down Van Buren Street to Cover Street, mounted, and loped up the road toward the slaughter house. I saw them, all three, as they went by the Hamp. Johnson stone house. About the same time down Wallace Street I heard cries of "Help!" It was A. J. Bennett in front of the bank. His hands were tied. He was yelling, "Help! Three men have robbed Elling's bank!" People began to run out of their business houses, guns in hand.

Mr. Bennett had been in the bank alone. When the two came in, they commanded him to hold up his hands, which he did. Then one of the robbers tied Bennett's hands behind him with buckskin string and remained with Mr. Bennet while the other went in the vault. The robbers took all the money they could see and asked Bennett for more. He told them they had it all except the silver. There were two bags of silver containing $1000 each, which they did not trifle with, but at the time there was about $75,000 in a drawer in the safe in the vault, which the robbers overlooked, also $200,000 in bonds and $20,000 in gold dust. The robbers took about $6,000 in all.

After warning Mr. Bennett to keep quiet, and not give any alarm for fifteen minutes or they would kill him, they left. But he managed to get the door open almost immediately, though the buckskin cut into his flesh, and he began yelling. The men of the town, after some futile shooting, took to horse, going into the hills to catch the robbers. They were well armed and had plenty of rope. But the robbers had already passed out of sight.

My father (Col. James Edmund, Samuel Taylor, Edmund, James, Joseph Callaway) and his friend Jacob H. Baker a boot and shoe merchant, interested in horses and ranches also, went together. My father rode "Old Sam," a white or grey pacing horse, and Jake rode a big bay. Both had rifles. They thought it was likely that the robbers would go by the lakes. They rode all speed to Butcher Gulch and there followed the stream to the lakes. They scouted the country thoroughly, as they thought, but seeing no one, came back to Virginia City. The robbery was, of course, the subject of conversation in the entire Madison Valley. People in the valley suspected a young man named George Wells. He was gone from the valley that day and was evasive when asked as to his whereabouts. People went to the ranch where George had been staying. There some bright fellow dug in the chaff in the manger of a stable and found an oyster can in which there were bills aggregating $500. George was arrested. He denied his guilt, but in default of bail had to lie in jail. X. Beidler happened to town and the rumor was that he arranged for a stool pigeon. Whether Beidler's doing or not, a man was put in jail with Wells on some trumped-up charge and pretended he would plead guilty when the court convened. Wells told him that he was the man who held the horses for the robbers who gave him the $500.

In the meantime, after his arrest, he had retained my father to defend him. All he had was a fine Sharps rifle, a double-action revolver of the latest make, and a saddle and bridle. These he gave my father. The Sharps is in our home in Helena.

After Wells told his story to the stool pigeon, the jig was up and he pleaded guilty, drawing a sentence of ten years. Now, that should end the story, but it does not. The next year my father was at Miles City as special United States attorney. His chief duty there was to prosecute horse thieves and men of that ilk. People were always stealing from the government. Fort Keogh was nearby. Miles City was a frontier town and a wild one. The town was full of saloons. A photograph at that time would have shown ox-teams, mule-teams, frontier wagons, horses tied to hitching posts in front of the business places, (especially the saloons), and men in frontier garb, Indians in blankets, and the general run of people one saw in that period along the streets.

After a hard day in court, my father and a friend strolled into a large saloon in which there were billiard tables, gambling paraphernalia, and the usual card and drinking tables. He and a friend seated themselves at a table and ordered a drink. In a little while his friend excused himself. Just as the gentleman left, a lull occurred in the usual noise, and my father heard three rough-looking men talking at the adjoining table.

One said, "You got off pretty lucky at that; you didn't have to kill anybody." The other said, "It wasn't so good. We only got $6,000. We had to give a thousand of it to the feller who held the horses. We heard afterwards that the cashier had lied to us. There was $75,000 in another drawer. We didn't have to kill anybody, that was lucky, but we had a close call. Above the town a ways is some lakes. It was upgrade and the horses were blowed. We rode across a little creek in a quakin' asp grove and loosened the cinches. Then we laid down in the grass with our guns. Jest about that time we seen two men comin'. They had rifles and ropes. I guess they were lookin' for us. One was a big red-whiskered man on a bay horse and the other was a little man, ridin' a white pacer. The little man was tellin' the big man a story. They didn't see us. If they had, we'd had to shoot 'em. They rode past. They was the only two we seen."

My father said to himself that he needed some fresh air and he went outside.

~ from Montana's Righteous Hangmen, The Vigilantes in Action, by Llewellyn Link Callaway (1868-1951), edited by Llewellyn Link Callaway, Jr., pp. 163-167, 1982.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Bonaparte-Callaway Connection

In 1765, two Patterson brothers, John and Robert, came to America from Ireland. John, born in 1715, settled in Guilford County, NC. Robert, born in 1720, settled in Baltimore, MD. Both married, but the names of their wives are unknown.

John had four children, all boys - William, John George, David and James.

James married Susan Matthews and they had five children - David, Wiley, Julius, Margaret and Elizabeth.

Julius was born in Orange County, NC and fought in the War of 1812. He was a Baptist missionary and died in Surry County, NC in 1872. His wife was Rachel Ward of Guilford County. Among their 12 children was Rachel Emiza, who married Samuel Ferree Callaway, Jr. Five children were born to them, all near Mt. Airy, NC, except one who was born in Tennessee. Rachel Emiza Patterson and Samuel Ferree Callaway, Jr. are both buried in Salem Methodist Church Cemetery in Mt. Airy.

John Patterson's brother, Robert, who had settled in Baltimore, had a son also named William, who was a millionaire merchant. He was the father of a daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1785. She married Jerome Bonaparte on Dec. 24, 1803.

Jerome Bonaparte, the younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, came to America in command of a French frigate and landed in New York. The fame of his brother, Napoleon, assured Jerome of an elaborate reception in America, and he was royally entertained. While visiting Baltimore, he met Elizabeth Patterson and became very attracted to her. They were married in a ceremony performed by the Bishop of Baltimore, according to the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. The marriage contract was drawn by Alexander Dallas (who afterward became Secretary of the Treasury) and witnessed by official persons, including the Mayor of Baltimore. Jerome and Elizabeth lived in America for a year and visited many parts of the country.

In the spring of 1805, Jerome and Elizabeth set sail on the ship "Erin" for Europe and landed safely at Lisbon, Portugal. Before they could reach Europe, Napoleon had issued an order forbidding their landing at any port under French control, thus refusing to recognize the marriage. Because of Napoleons's order they were not allowed to enter the country.

Jerome left Elizabeth and went to Paris, hoping to change the views of the Emperor. Before leaving, he directed that the vessel sail on to Amsterdam. However, when she arrived there, Madame Bonaparte found an order prohibiting her from landing, so she sailed on to England.

In England, she stayed at Chamberwell, where she gave birth to their son, Jerome Bonaparte II, on 7 July 1805. Elizabeth never saw her husband again, except in a casual meeting many years later at a palace in Florence, Italy.

Jerome, who was much attached to his wife, was finally married to the Princess of Wurtenberg. Napoleon never succeeded in having the Pope (Pius VII) declare Jerome's first marriage null and void.

Elizabeth returned to Baltimore, where Jerome II was reared amid great wealth possessed by his mother. He attended Harvard and was graduated in 1826. He was married to Susan Mary Williams, and their descendants have been prominent in politics and business. He died on June 17, 1870.

Jerome Bonaparte II was the father of Charles Jerome Bonaparte who was the Secretary of the Navy from 1905 to 1907 and the Attorney General of the United States from 1907 to 1909.

An interesting sidelight on the lives of Jerome and Elizabeth is that one of the first talking pictures made had for the plot their romance, although the story of the movie differed in quite a few details from the true story. It was called "Glorious Betsy." and the stars were Delores Costello and Conrad Nagel.

Also, a book titled "Bewitching Betsy Bonaparte" by Alice Curtis Desmond was written about this ill-fated couple.

This article was submitted to CFA by Rev. and Mrs. James Axley Callaway of Wharton, Texas and originally published in the 1988 CFA Journal.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Obituary of Nancy Jane Callaway 1810-1883

From the East Oregonian, Pendleton, Oregon, September, 1883

Obituary of Nancy Jane Callaway Nye

NYE - At the residence of her son Ad Nye on Water Street, at one o'clock in the morning of Saturday, September 29, 1883, Mrs. Nancy Nye (Thomas F., Thomas Jr., Thomas, Joseph Callaway), aged 73 years, 6 months, and 21 days. This aged and good lady, whose maiden name was Calloway, has at last left us and with a feeling akin to sadness, a very young person is called upon to write a few words in respect to her memory. She was born Feb. 8, 1810, in Ashe County, North Carolina, and removed to Wayne County, Virginia in 1826, where she married Dr. J. M. Nye.

In 1840 they removed with their children to Boone County, Missouri, where they lived for many years. Dr. J. M. Nye died on the Little Blue River in Nebraska in 1850, (He died of Cholera, while tending the sick on the wagon train where an outbreak of the disease had occurred.) leaving her to mourn her loss in Missouri, where she lived until 1865, when she came west. She had many friends all over Eastern Oregon, who will brush away a tear in memory of a good and faithful woman when this sad news reaches them. Those friends who followed her to the grave on Sunday everning last will ever keep her memory green. She was friend to all, even the little children were well acquainted with and loved "Grandma Nye." Good bye, good and faithful friend, we will try and follow the path you pointed out to us ere you breathed your last.
One by one around us falling,Like the withered autumn leaves;Twas the Master bade the ReaperGather in the golden sheaves.Sad and slow the death bell tolling -Hushed is every voice of mirth,When the King of Terrors walketh,In his strength upon the earth.___________________________________________
Nancy Jane Callaway was born February 8, 1810, in Ashe County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Thomas Callaway (1777-1836) and Elizabeth Ray Callaway (1782-1868). Elizabeth was the daughter of Jesse and Ellender (Nellie) Baker Ray.

Among the possessions Nancy brought from Missouri to Oregon in 1865 was a basket-pattern quilt which she had made. She gave it to her daughter Martha Jane, who gave it to her daughter, Jennie Barrett. This well-worn quilt was found among her effects after her death with a note saying, "Grandma Nancy's quilt, brought from Missouri." It was included in a display of historic quilts of Oregon at Horner Museum, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon in 1982.

This article was submitted to CFA by Helen Barrett Woodroofe, and originally published in the 1983 CFA Journal.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Obituary of Abner Josephus Callaway (1848-1914)

Rev. A. J. Callaway (Abner Benjamin, William Abner, Francis, Jr., Francis, Joseph Callaway) was born in Kemper Co., MS, Nov. 4, 1848. Died Jan. 1, 1914 in Union Parish, LA. Came to Louisiana in his boyhood days, began preaching at the age of 25 years, was a strict Missionary Baptist, a zealous and faithful worker for the cause. He was moderator at the last session of the Everett Association and was the last one of the band of ministers who would not accept a salary.

He leaves a devoted wife and nine children to mourn his loss. He was a member of Mount Olive Church.

But we the members of Concord church who have sat under his ministry are desirous of testing (testifying) through respect for his memory and expressing our earnest and affectionate sympathy with and for his loved ones, therefore, be it:
Resolved, That we tenderly condole with the family of our deceased minister in their hour of trial and affliction and devoutly commend them to the keeping of Him who looks with pitying eye upon the widowed and fatherless.
Resolved, That in our natural sorrow for the loss of a faithful and beloved Shepherd, we find consolation in the belief that it is well with him for whom we mourn.
Resolved, That while we deeply sympathize with those who were bound to our departed brother and pastor by the nearest and dearest ties, we share with them the hope of a reunion in that better world where there are no partings.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the family of the deceased and as a token of our love and respect for the Christian character of a good Shepherd of his church.

This obituary was submitted to CFA by Ruby Callaway Jacobs and appeared in the 1983 CFA Journal.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Hon. Abner Early Callaway - Biography

Hon. Abner Early Callaway 1823-1901

In many respects A. E. Callaway (James Richard, Charles, William, Joseph Callaway) left the impression of his individuality and ability upon the history of Idaho. The later years of his life were spent in Caldwell and for a long period he was closely associated with the agricultural development of the Boise Valley and at the same time was keenly alive to the interests and upbuilding of Canyon county and for a number of terms served as a member of the legislature before Idaho was admitted into the Union. He was born in Missouri, March 5, 1823, and there acquired a common school education while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, James and Katherine (Markham) Callaway, who were natives of Virginia. They were married in that state and removed to Missouri at an early period in its development, taking up their abode in what is now known as Callaway county and which was named in their honor. They were among the people prominent in the early development of that state, sharing in the hardships and privations incident to frontier settlement. The father was there killed by a falling tree.

A. E. Callaway, reared in Missouri, was a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six years at the time of the discovery of gold in California. Hoping to win fortune in the mines, he crossed the plains with an ox team in 1849 and he followed both farming and mining in the Yreka country, living much of the time in Siskiyou county until 1862, when he sold his property there and came to Idaho, attracted by the gold excitement in this state. He went first to Florence and thence came to the Boise basin, where he remained until 1870. In that year he removed to the Boise Valley and settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land, a portion of which is now within the western limits of Caldwell. One hundred and thirty-five acres of this land is still in possession of his widow and returns to her a good rental. Mr. Callaway continued to cultivate his land up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 26th of July, 1901.

On the 16th of February, 1870, Mr. Callaway had wedded Miss Mary Jane Fulton, who was born in Ohio, although the marriage took place in Idaho. Her mother, Mrs. Ellen (Howard) Fulton, had died in Ohio and she afterward came with her father, Frank Fulton, by ox team across the plains in 1863. They first made their way to Oregon and afterward came to Idaho, where Mr. Fulton married again, his second wife bearing the maiden name of Belle Clemmons, whom he wedded in 1864, soon after her arrival here from the east. Mr. and Mrs. Callaway became the parents of six children. Abner Kenton, forty-eight years of age, married Adah Asbill, a native of Lake county, California, and they have three children; Inez Early, who is attending the University of Idaho at Moscow and is an exceedingly precocious student; Kathryne; and Stephen. Nellie is the wife of Charles Sinsel, of Boise, and the mother of one child, Frank, sixteen years of age. Kittie Lee is the wife of Edward Hedden, surveyor general of Idaho, and while they have no children of their own, they are rearing an adopted daughter, Gertrude. Frank Early, forty-three years of age, married Minnie Johnson, of Oregon, and they are living at Ely, Nevada, with their three children; Douglas, aged ten, Virginia Lee; and Dugan, aged five. Mr. and Mrs. Callaway also lost two children, Marianne Johnson, and Effie Eulalia.

Mr. Callaway lived through all of the Indian troubles and experienced all of the trials incident to those harassing times. On many occasions it was thought that their lives would not be spared, yet Mr. Callaway lived to witness much of the transformation and development of this section of the state and to bear an active part in the work of progress and improvement. He was a leader in his community and for seven terms he served as a member of the territorial legislature, thus doing much to shape the early policy of the commonwealth. He aided in laying a broad and safe foundation upon which to build its later progress and prosperity, his service ever being of a most valuable character.

From History of Idaho, The Gem of the Mountains, Vol. 3, pp. 205-6, 1920.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

The Battle of the Big Hole

True Reminiscences of Early Montana

In 1877 we heard the Nez Perce Indians were on the warpath. I remember my father telling my mohter about the disastrous battle of the Big Hole. (The battle of the Big Hole was fought Aug 9th and 10th, 1877 100 miles from Virginia City, Montana) In this battle a force of 155 officers and men of the 7th U.S. Infantry with 8 other soldiers and 36 citizen volunteers, under command of General John Gibbon, surprised and fought all day a superior force of 400 Nez Perce warriors (who had with them 150 squaws and children). More than 0ne-third of the military command was either killed or wounded.

The Nez Perce were retreating through Montana on their way to Canada when this bloody engagement was fought. The Nez Perce had long been a peaceful tribe living in eastern Idaho. They left their reservation to seek sanctuary in Canada after some young "hot-heads" of their tribe murdered white men and women in Wallowa Valley, Oregon.

General O.O. Howard, commanding the Department of the Columbia, began a pursuit of the fleeing Indians; but from the beginning he was either bypassed or his forces defeated, as they were at the battle of the Big Hole.

Governor B.F. Potts of Montana ordered several civilian companies to be formed to assist General Howard in an effort to force the Indians to return to their reservation. My father, Colonel James E. Callaway (Samuel Taylor, Edmund, James, Joseph Callaway), because of his fighting experience in the Civil War and the proximity of Virginia City to the line of march, was asked to raise a company to go to the assistance of General Howard. (Camas Creek, where Callaway's company caught up with General Howard was some fifteen miles southwest of Henry's Lake and about thirty miles west of Yellowstone Park.) The company was to be for the protection of the settlers. The settlers would have been safer without the army.

Callaway's company comprised some real Indian fighters and some good citizens who were willing to fight. Colonel Deimling, late colonel of the 10th Missouri; Sam Word, noted lawyer and orator; Sim Buford, leading merchant; Doctors Smith and Yager; Tom Baker, editor of the Madisonian; Tom Farrell, former Confederate soldier and sheriff; R.O. Hickman; William Morris, druggist and leading citizen; and Father Kellegher, Catholic priest, a good fellow and a fine marksman, went along. There were 40 men in the Company. Tom Farrell, part owner of a large horse ranch, furnished many horses. My father rode Chief, worth $150. He furnished another worth $175. Well I remember seeing the company going forth to war. Each man road a horse. Everyone had a pistol and a gun. The mountain howitzer brought up the rear. They left town one fine August evening, the women in tears. They knew their husbands would be killed. My mother was sure my father would be. I felt injured because, being a small boy, I could not go; so I would not get a scalp. The company went out sixteen miles along the Salt Lake Road to the crossing of the Ruby, and then sent back for ammunition for the cannon; they had forgotten it. The invidious, who remained at home, said that wasn't the kind of ammunition they wanted. They must have run out of the necessary article pretty quick.

The company went on bravely, up Sweetwater and over the Big Hill, going down on the Blacktail side, their eyes alert for savage warriors; and they beheld them in large numbers. The Virginians halted, held an impromptu council of war. My father, the captain, decided to charge. When in danger, attack! All who had been in the army favored that course over intrenching. Spurs were put to the horses and the charge was on. But it was only a large band of horses going to water!

General Howard was reported marching to Camas Creek. My father sent a courier to the general, tendering the services of his company. I have the bacon-grease stained message. It was written from Camp Sladen, Headquarters Department of the Columbia. The general addressed my father by his army title, colonel, and said he would be glad to have the assistance of his command. He said he would not promise a battle tomorrow, but would do all in his power "to bring about that highly desirable result." The general's army lay along Camas Creek in Idaho. My father was directed to camp just across the creek, to turn his horses in with the army horses, and was advised that the army sentries would surround the entire camp. My father objected. He said his horses were acquainted and would stay together; also, that some of his men knew Indians and would be excellent on sentry duty. Now, horses are gregarious and they do not make up with strange horses at once. But "orders is orders," and the general had his way.

The volunteers from Virginia City made up their beds and went to sleep. Now comes an odd occurrence. It had been reported to General Howard that there was a canyon through which the Indians must pass, beyond Henry's Lake, in which a troop of cavalry could intrench, blocking the way. The main army coming up would entrap the Indians; it would be repetition of Thermopylae if they didn't surrender. So Lieutenant Bacon was sent ahead with his troops to block the canyon. When Bacon got to Henry's Lake he found the country full of passes, none of which he could block. He sent word by his Indian scouts to Howard, telling of the conditions he found and saying he was returning to join the main command. At least, that was the story as everyone understood it. The Indian scouts, Bannacks, must have leaked the information. The Bannacks and Nez Perces were pretty friendly. The soldiers knew Bacon was returning.

In the morning about daybreak, the sleepy sentinels saw Bacon and his troops returning, or thought they did. They came in columns of fours. As the column came close, the sentries challenged, and bedlam seemed to break loose. There were war whoops, guns firing, blankets waving, as the Indians rode through the volunteers' camp and across the creek, cutting off Howard's horses and the volunteers.

The volunteers got out of their blankets in a hurry and began to fire their guns. They ran toward the main command; some found shallow fords, others deep holes - notably Sam Word who was six feet tall. Only his whiskers appeared above the water. Doctor Yager, running, stepped on the end of a stick which struck his other leg, throwing him to the ground. He yelled, "My God, I'm shot!" Doctor Smith, the other surgeon, ran to him but didn't find any bullet wound. No one was hurt. It was called the Camas Creek Massacre. Daylight came. The army was afoot - all but Captain Norwood's troop. He had but recently arrived, and his horses wouldn't associate with the army horses. Upon the attack the bugler blew "Boots and Saddles," upon which Norwood's troopers mounted and rode to "Frying Pan" Basin, where there was a real fight. The volunteers from Virginia City claimed that some of them went to the basin, offering substantial aid to Norwood's company.

Doctor Smith, a highly intelligent man, understood the Nez Perce tongue. He told the army officers he heard the great voice of Looking Glass above the din, giving commands. Hearing what the great chief said, the officers said his commands would not have been any more perfect if he had been graduated from West Point.

The volunteers eventually arrived home afoot, all but Tom Baker who had tied up his horse, the Morris boys' pet, "Old Baldy." Anybody could stir up a fight by mentioning the massacre at Camas Creek. During the winter the wags forgot it and peace reigned.

It was reported in Virginia City just after the "battle" that a man had been killed. The bugler was killed, and, I think, there were some killed in Frying Pan Basin. All the women in Virginia claimed "the man." My mother was sure it was my father. "He was so brave," she said.

He looked like a mountain man when he did return. His clothes were rough and travel-stained. he didn't have much to say about the Camas Creek affair.

~ from Montana's Righteous Hangmen, The Vigilantes in Action, by Llewellyn Link Callaway (1868-1951), edited by Llewellyn Link Callaway, Jr., pp. 153-157, 1982.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

In Search of a Great Grandfather

This is a brief family story about my great grandfather, William H. (or N.) Callaway who was born about 1840. We don't know when or where he died. Our information about him is vague and incomplete. We hope that someone in The Callaway Family Association will recognize him and help us fill in the blanks of his life.

William H. (or N.) Callaway was born in the state of Virginia about 1840. He was a confederate soldier who somehow came to live in New Jersey, in the area around Basking Ridge, Millington and North Plainfield. In New Jersey he married Elizabeth (Ginny) Totten around 1868/9. However, he had another family down south, possibly in Virginia. He and Ginny had six children:
1. Ella Calaway (1870-?); md (1) Reed; (2) Kitchel; (3) Staats
2. Leonard Callaway (1873-1920); md Mary E. Hart
3. William H. Calaway (1876-1916)
4. Albert Callaway (dates unknown)
5. James Callaway (1881-1945); md Melissa A. Seamans
6. Stephen Callaway (1883-1932)

After Ginny Totten Callaway died, great grandfather William H. (or N.) Callaway returned to the South, around the turn of the century. We presume he died there. Exactly when and where he died is unknown to us, but he probably returned to the area where he was born or where his first family was living.

Sometime during the 1920's or 1930's, a son of the first marriage came to New Jersey in search of his half-sisters and brothers. He met with my grandfather, Stephen Callaway (1883-1832). All other facts about our half relatives are lost in history. We hope that by publishing this story, someone will recognize our great grandfather, William H. (or N.) Callaway.



This article was written by Joseph A. Sellner, of New Jersey and orginally published in the 1997 CFA Journal.

William H. Callaway is listed on the 1880 and 1900 Somerset Co., NJ census. Then he disappears.

Could William H. Callaway be the son of Walter C. Callaway, of Franklin Co., VA? I believe Walter C. Callaway is descended from Joseph Callaway through James Callaway and Elizabeth Greer.

Who was William H. Callaway? - Where was his second family?

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Who Can Match Maxey Callaway for Mileage?

Maxey Callaway (William J., Amasa Cicero, Jesse M. Sr., Job Jr., Job Sr., Edward, John, Peter Callaway) pursued his career for a long run. The Temple Texas Daily Telegram of March 2, 1955, described Maxey as a "spry old railroader who's been with the Santa Fe as long as Temple has been a town."

Maxey said, "I've been working steadily with the Santa Fe since January, 1890." That, at the time of the interview, made 65 years. Maxey, like other old railroaders then, pronounced it "Santa Fee", not "Santa Fay." He said he had no plans to retire, was feeling good, and friends that had retired were "out in the cemetery."

"I go through the clinic twice a year, and until those doctors find something wrong with me, I am going to keep right on going."

He said he was convinced that smoking and drinking were not deterrents to a long, busy life. "They have nothing to do with it." He did give up smoking when doctors warned him it could cause throat trouble, but he still wasn't adverse to taking an occasional drink.

The key to longevity, both on the job and on the road of life, he felt, was "you've got to be satisfied with what you're doing".

Born in Grimes County, Texas, Maxey first worked for the Santa Fe in 1883 as "messenger boy and number grabber." That is the boy who goes through the yards every day and lists all the cars there. He said he wanted to work on the trains then, but his father wouldn't sign a release for him to get a job. So he took off to Houston for a couple of years.

"My folks didn't know where I was most of the time, and when I came back my father told me, 'By gee, I'll sign that release now if it'll keep you from running all round the country.'"

Wrote Telegram staff writer Neil Maxwell, "Signing that minor's release may have kept Mr. Callaway home for a while - but it came a long way from keeping him from 'running all around.'

"When you get right down to it, using real conservative figures, the Temple man's 65 years of being a brakeman and conductor have carried him for a total of well over three million miles. And in case you don't feel like converting that figure into number of trips to the store and back, it figures to be 120 trips around the world.

"Maxey Callaway worked routes all over the state - but none outside of Texas. He started with the Santa Fe as a brakeman in Navasota in 1889, when he was 17 years old. In 1893, he came to Temple when the whole town was dirt streets and frame buildings and wasn't even as old as the young brakeman from Navasota. In 1896, he switched over to being a conductor."

He recalled that "in the old days" the cars were about half the size they later became, and instead of each car having air brakes, the brakeman had to spin a wheel on top to put on the brakes of every car.

Maxey was the son of William Callaway of Courtney, Texas.

This article was submitted to CFA by Wayne C. Schultz, nephew of Maxey Callaway, and was originally published in the 2001 CFA Journal.

The 1880 Grimes Co., TX Census, Dist 66, pg 168D, shows Maxey listed as C. M. Callaway, age 8. He is named for his Mother, as Maxey is her maiden name, but what does the C. stand for? Maxey's line of descent is as follows:
Peter Callaway (US Immigrant)
John Callaway
Edward Callaway
Job Callaway, Sr.
Job Callaway, Jr.
Jesse M. Callaway, Sr.
Amasa Cicero Callaway
William J. Callaway
C. Maxey Callaway

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

William Benjamin Calloway, Sr. (1803-1884) Memorial

The following article was found in the Alabama State Archives in a copy of an old newspaper, The Banner, a Chilton County weekly newspaper published in Clanton, AL; Thursday, 14 February 1901, in Letters to the Editor, column 2, page 1 and continued on column 2, page 4. There was no name for the author, but it appears to be written as a memorial.

Weogufka, Ala. 9 Feb 1901: Editor, Banner - Benjamin Calloway, Sr. (Job, John, Edward, John, Peter Callaway) departed this life February 7, 1884. He was born November 10, 1803 in Wilkes County, Georgia, moved to the Territory of Mississippi in 1816 and settled on Line Creek, west of Montgomery, in 1817, then moved to Prattville where he remained until 1819, at which place he was living when Alabama was admitted into the Union. He then moved 26 miles above Wetumpka on the Coosa River, and settled in Autauga County, where he married Mary Ann Milton (Melton) on the 5th day of April, 1825, who still survives him. He moved to Coosa County in 1855, where he remained until his death. He joined the Baptist Church at Chestnut Creek in Autauga County, in 1835, lived a devoted member until his death; he joined the Masonic fraternity in Rockford in 1858. He had born to him twenty children and at the time of his death he had 155 grand and great grandchildren. He was buried with Masonic honors at Weogufka Church, on the 8th of February.

"He was always a quiet, peaceable citizen, was never prosecuted for any violations of the law. He was perhaps the oldest resident living in the state having resided here sixty-eight years.

"Having made a good record in this life he now sleeps quietly in the grave to the welcome applause, 'well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful in a few things, enter thou into the joys of thy lord.'"

Note: William Benjamin Callaway was the son of Jobe Callaway, who also died in Coosa County at age 97. Jobe was living in the household of his son, Benjamin, at the time of his death and both are buried at Weogufka Church.

Since this article mentions that his wife still survives him, (she actually died in 1890), it is assumed that this article is a reprint of the original obituary.

This article was contributed to CFA by Joseph E. Bills, Selma, Alabama and originally published in the 1986 CFA Journal

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Early Kellaways in America

The following is an excerpt from the letter of Mr. Noel Currer-Briggs (Genealogist in England) addressed to CFA, dated Oct. 24, 1978. The letter accompanied various wills, parish records of baptisms, marriages and burials, and court records which relate to families connected with the William Kellaway who died in York Co., VA , leaving a widow, Agatha (nee Eltonhead), who soon married Capt. Ralph Wormeley.

". . .I would like to say a word about William Kellaway of York County (Va) and his wife, Agatha Eltonhead. The three Eltonhead sisters, Eleanor, Martha and Agatha, were the daughters of Richard Eltonhead of Eltonhead, Furness, Lancashire and his wife Ann Sutton, and nieces of Edward Eltonhead of London and Henham, Essex. Their brother, William Eltonhead emigrated to Maryland. Agatha was born in 1627 and her third husband was Sir Henry Chicheley, the son of Sir Thomas Chicheley of Wimpole, Cambridgeshire and of his wife Dorothy Kempe, whose sisters, Amy Kempe and Mary Kempe, were the wives respectively of Sir Henry Skipwith and Sir Dudley Digges. The sons of all three of these Kempe sisters are well known in Virginia history, namely, Sir Grey Skipwith, Sir Henry Chicheley (Governor), and Edward Digges (Governor). William Kellaway, Agatha's first husband, had a brother Henry Kellaway, who married Anne Wormeley, a sister of Ralph Wormeley, Agatha's second husband, so there is a double link here. I realise that this is frightfully complicated, but I hope I have made it a little clearer!

"The will of Mary Keyllewaye of Tonbridge (1638) is especially interesting if my identification of her son, Thomas Cakebread, is correct, for he was involved with William Claiborne (Clayborne) in the Kent Island (Md.) adventure, and, of course, Claiborne drew many of his recruits from Kent, Hertfordshire and Essex."

Marie Keyllewaye of Tonbridge, Kent, widow - 24 Sep. 1638
PR: 13 Nov. 1638 by Robert Scoles in London
Exor: Robert Scoles.
Witnesses: George Children, John Hooper.
Legatees: Thomas Cakebread, my son by a former husband, if it can be made to appear to my executor within one year after my decease that the sd Thomas my son is living either beyond the seas, whither he went long since, or in any other place, the sum of L25 which formerly I put into the hands of Robert Scoles of Cannon Court in Wateringbury, Kent, gent. for his use; if it cannot be shown that my son is living, then I will the sd L25 as follows: -

To Hannah Callys, widow, my kinswoman L10, to Jasper and Anne Scoles, the children of the sd Robert Scoles L5 each, and to Mary Monnax, daughter of Elizabeth now the wife of Herbert Crofts, gent. L5.

Note: Thomas Cakebread appears as a headright of Bartholomex Hoskins, Jan. 1, 1645/6 but this must refer to a second return to Virginia for his name also appears (HCA 24/98) in lists of servants submitted by William Claiborne in his lawsuit against William Cloberry & Co. as follows:
1633 - Men employed upon the service of the joint stock at the Isle of Kent. Inter alia Thomas Cakebread - employed at the kitchen.
1634 - ditto
1635 - ditto and also employed to dress victuals and beat corn
1636 - ditto

Chesapeake Conflict: The Troublesome Early Days of Maryland, by Gene Williamson.

In 1621, William Clayborne of England arrived in Virginia as a surveyor and later became a prominent official in the local government. He built up a successful fur trade, operating from Kent Island, which he discovered, purchased, named, and settled in 1628. In 1632, the English King gave a patent, which included Kent Island, to his friend Lord Baltimore. Clayborne/Claiborne disputed the action. The Claiborne/Baltimore conflict dominated events and issues that helped to shape the Maryland colony, and was the opening salvo in a series of disputes over Chesapeake rights which have never been completely resolved.

Author, Gene Williamson has included illustrations and a searchable index.

"The will of Robert of Stepney (1580) is likewise of great interest. His son-in-law and executor is, I think, the same Sir John Harrington, Alderman of London, who later became first Baron Harington (created a peer at the coronation of James I) and the guardian of the Princess Elizabeth, sister of Charles I, and better known as the Winter Queen of Bohemia, mother of Prince Rupert. He looked after her at Combe Abbey, which, of course, he owned in right of his wife, Anne Kelwaye. Lord Harington was a trader to Virginia and I believe also a shareholder in the Virginia Company - if not himself, then a namesake and member of the same family.

"It seems clear, therefore, that the Virginia Kellaways were members of a wealthy merchant family with many connections among the leading pioneers of the colony. The fact that some of them appear as headrights is no indication of a pauper background."

The excerpts from the letter and all of the documents were originally published in the 1979 CFA Journal.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Callaway Name Finds Its Places - Calloway Station, Indiana

Calloway Station, Indiana - This town was located in Monroe Township, Jefferson Co., Indiana. It was first established as a post office on May 22, 1893 and was discontinued on April 15, 1901. The town was located on the old Madison Railroad, and the first and, apparently only, postmaster was Isaac C. Williams. The town was probably named for Thomas Calloway who owned three tracts of land in Section 25 Township 15 Range 9 of Jefferson Co., IN, which he puchased between 1835 and 1850. The obituary of Thomas Calloway was found in an old Madison, Indiana newspaper and was dated 2 May 1889: "Died, Thomas Calloway, brother of B.F., at North Madison residence of son-in-law Right Patton; born near Dover, Delaware, January 4, 1804; came here in 1835, a year later to Calloway Station."

The first Calloways arrived in Jefferson Co., IN by 1840 when Thomas, Benjamin, Jessee and Eliza Calloway are found on census records. Jessee was aged 60-70 and was probably the head of the clan. He is probably the Jesse on the 1810 census of Kent Co., DE in Murderhill Hundred who was not on succeeding Delaware census records. This may be the Jesse Callaway who appeared in Fayette Co., KY briefly and was enumerated on the 1810 census. A Jesse Callaway was in Dearborn Co., IN in 1820, but he was not there for the 1830 census.

The 1850 census shows that children of Thomas Calloway were born in Ohio, so he may be the Thomas Calloway who was enumerated in Hamilton Co., Ohio in 1830.

This article was originally published in the 1988 CFA Journal.

Searching for more information on this family.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

A Ghost Town Remembered - Raymond, Arkansas

Joe May, a student at Arkadelphia (Arkansas) High School, uncovered the following information while writing about local history (in Clark County, Ark.) as part of a 4-H project:

Raymond is a sort of mystery town . . . (On the old Military Road,) Raymond was probably the settlement of Jacob Barkman, who lived very near the town site. Barkman was a very early pioneer in Clark County. His two story, slave built, brick home on the Caddo was torn down in the latter part of the 1800s, but his cistern and an ornate brick patio, along with some of the house foundations remain. Most of the foundation has fallen into the Caddo river, since in recent years the bank has eroded.

Nothing is known about the town of Raymond, except the location and the post office records. It appears that the first post office in the town was established by John S. T. Calloway on Jan. 11, 1835. On Oct. 2, 1838, the office was discontinued, only to be re-established on Dec. 3, 1838 by James M. Trigg, who served until Aug. 28, 1850 when Jacob L. Stroop took over. Two months later on Nov. 28, 1850, the office was discontinued, never to be re-established.

This article was originally published in the 1993 CFA Journal.

The family line of descent for John S. T. Callaway is as follows:
Peter Callaway
Peter Callaway II
Thomas Callaway
Thomas Callaway
Thomas Callaway
John Callaway
John S. T. Callaway

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Obituary of Noah Callaway, Jr. 1904 Tioga, Grayson Co., Texas

CFA member, Robert Aycock of Raleigh, NC submitted the following obituary to CFA and it was published in the 1996 CFA Journal. This family was also featured in an article in the 1994 CFA Journal Vol. XIX, pg 48.

Mr. Aycock's ancestor is William E. Callaway (Noah William, Joshua, Edward, John, Peter Callaway). William E. Callaway married Amanda E. Floyd in Chambers Co., AL and soon moved to Texas and settled in Tioga, Grayson Co.

The two following items from the Marshall Messenger, a Marshall, Harrison Co., Texas newspaper, provide further insight into this family connection, and record a happy event that ended sadly.

Marshall Messenger, Monday, Nov. 21, 1904 - "Messers Joe, James and Noah Calloway left for Tioga this morning, to visit their Brother William. These are the oldest brothers probably in Harrison County, and their ages are as follows: Joe 78, James 73, and Noah 68 and William who lives at Tioga is 80 years of age."

On the following Sunday, Nov. 27, 1904, the Marshall Messenger published this notice: headed, "Mr. N. H. Calloway." "Mr. N. H. Calloway died at Tioga, Texas on Nov. 24, 1904 at the home of his brother Wm. E. Calloway where he had gone to spend Thanksgiving day, accompanied by his brothers, J. H. and J. M. Calloway. About ten hours after the arrival of the brothers Noah became ill and soon passed away. The remains were brought to Marshall and conveyed to the family burying grounds near Woodlawn, where they were laid to rest Friday.

N. H. Calloway was born in Chambers County, Ala., March 18, 1836 and moved to Texas in 1852, and lived here until his death. He had eight children by his first wife, six of whom with his second wife survive him.

Mr. Calloway has been a faithful member of the Baptist Church for over forty years. He was a Confederate soldier for four years, and one of Gen. Walker's favorite couriers, never failing to carry any message along the lines while the battle was raging.

He was one of Harrison county's best, oldest and most highly respected citizens, and well liked by all who knew him, and his death is universally regretted by everyone.

To the bereaved wife, children and relatives, the Messenger would offer its deepest sympathy in this sad Hour."

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

In Search of Grave in Kentucky of Elizabeth Jones Hoy Callaway, Wife of Col. Richard Callaway

The following article was written by Sidney S. King, Jr. (great great great grandson of Elizabeth Callaway) and published in the 1979 CFA Journal.

When Richard Callaway came to Boonesborough, Ky., from Bedford County, Va., about 1775, he brought his second wife, Elizabeth Jones Hoy Callaway and their three children, Keziah, Richard, Jr., and John. Little has been known or published about Elizabeth. In September of 1977 I was in Louisville to meet my cousins from California, Sidney Scott King (named for my father), and his son Richard Scott King. We, along with our wives, were to spend a week or two exploring the ancestral grounds of our ancestors in Kentucky.

While waiting in Louisville, I delved into the excellent files of the Filson Club to search the genealogical records of the King and Callaway families. In the French family folder, I found a report of the grave of Elizabeth and some rather vague directions as to its location in Montgomery County between Winchester and Mr. Sterling off of US-60. We went to the area and located a farm owned by elderly Mr. James French of Winchester but no graveyard was to be found. We had to give up on the search.


In subsequent months I had some correspondence that led through several persons until I reached Mrs. Kenneth D. Singleton of Frankfort. She had an account of the location of the grave that had been given her by a lady in Maysville, which proved to be correct.

On May 22, 1978 I visited the French family graveyard located on US-60 on the farm now owned by Mr. J. B. McNabb, located in Montgomery County about 50 yards east of the Pruitt - Grassy Lick Road, on the south side of US-60, about 3/4 mile east of the Clark County line, between Winchester and Mt. Sterling. To reach the graveyard you must go through the farmyard, take a rough farm lane to the right at the tenant house, cross a brach of Somers creek. The cemetery is in a grove of cherry trees on top of the hill beyond the stream - about a half mile from US-60. The cemetery is marked with a cross symbol on the Montgomery County map of the Kentucky Department of Transportation.


The cemetery was in a deplorable state of destruction from vandalism, but it was a real thrill to find it. There are many graves but I was able to locate those of Elizabeth and her daughter Keziah French. Some of the stones were literally half buried in the dirt but, fortunately I had the foresight to take along a wire brush, tombstone rubbing paper and my camera. There are many graves there, but I concentrated on reconstructing thouse of Elizabeth and Keziah sufficiently to make a permanent record. After finding 10 of the 11 pieces of the Elizabeth Callaway stone, I started to play the jigsaw puzzle game to fit them together and clean them enough to get a rubbing and pictures.

Col. Richard Callaway had been killed by Indians on March 8, 1780. For the 33 years before Elizabeth died in 1813 she had been a widow and had gone to live with her daughter Keziah. Keziah had married Judge James French, a member of one of the leading families of that area. It is interesting to note that the unusual legend on Elizabeth's tombstone clearly ties her to the French family by identifying her as the mother of James French's wife. The markings on the two graves are:
ELIZABETH CALLAWAY Mother of James French's wife
KEZIA (sic) died Dec. 13th 1813 Aged 80 years
KEZIAH FRENCH Born In the Year 1769 In Va Died Sept. the 26, 1845

The epitaph on the balance of the stone has eroded and most of it cannot be read.
The grave of James French is adjacent to that of Keziah and the stone is broken into several pieces.
The above record has been placed in both the Callaway and French family folders at the Filson Club and the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Letter Written by John Callaway, Booneville, MO August 2, 1840

John Callaway (James Jr., James, Joseph Callaway), was born Oct. 28, 1791 in Bourbon Co., KY. He was the son of Revolutionary soldier, James Callaway, Jr. and his wife Susannah, daughter of Stephen White.

On Aug 2, 1840 John Callaway wrote a letter answering one received from "cousin John" (Edmund, James, Joseph Callaway) in KY. This letter, along with detailed information about the life of John Callaway was published in the 1987 CFA Journal.

Boonesville, Mo. August the 2d 1840
Dear Sir:

I received your letter date the 14th of July which I was glad to see you wish to noe what family I am. We are of the same family, James was my fathers name who was a brother to Edmon your father.

I don't recollect you, but all your brothers and sisters older than your self I knew. Your sister, Elizabeth Clark (Edmund, James, Joseph Callaway) can tell you hoo I am.

My father has been dead about 5 years, my mother is yet alive but very frail at this time. All my brothers and sisters are in this State but one. She lives in Bourbon Co., KY. I have bin in this State 20 years and am well pleased with the State. We have a very fine country. Old Flanders Callaway has bin dead 10 years and all his sons are dead but one that is his youngest born.

All my relation in this state have stout families for it is fine for children. I have but six, three of each my two oldest daughters are married. I have two boys grone wild fellows one of them has been to Santafee twist, the other, one time and bothe talk of going this fall back again or shore next spring.

We are all for old Tip but my youngest brother. We all live in and about here putrimuch together. I am afraid that our State will knot goe for Harrison for all there is a great change hear.

I volinteared in Ky. in the Fall of 1812 and went out under old Tip which caused you to see my name in the paper. Your father was out at the same time and if he was alive he would knot say that Harrison was a coward, but old man he never . . . shouldered a gun in defense of their Country and boys who have bin raised since that, dont noe the good of Liberty but think they noe all, are the ones that says he is noe General they lyke.

Cousin John I am a heap older than you are and you have a grate many kin in this State. Uncle William's (James, Joseph Callaway) children live here, and if you have noe family you should come over and see us this fall, and stay all winter with us, and see our country. If Harrison is made President their will be a grate improvement hear next summer and you may doe well in your business but should maybe remain there. It will be all Kinsarvey hear for their is no money know and it will not do to try to build houses without.

I was glad to see Mr. Robbins from your State allso Mr. Webster. I was pleased to hear them speak their minds so freely. Robbins I have seen often in Winchester but owen to the crowd I did not make myself known to him. I would like to hear from him, he ort to rite to brother Stephen living in Monroe County, Mo. for he has a son he calls W.D. and he would be glad to hear from him.

Give my best respects to all my relations in your State, my family sends their love to all.

Yours with Respect
John Callaway

P.S. Direct your letters to Boonevile, Cooper Co., Mo. and I will find them Sartin.

Additional information on this family line is welcome. Leave your comments here.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association

Another View of the Astors

The following article was written by Richard S. King and published in the 1984 CFA Journal. It is an extremely intriguing article, and well worth publishing again here.

In Volume VIII (1983) of The Callaway Journal there appeared an article about John Jacob Astor entitled, "He Left a Lasting Imprint." There are, or were, some people named Emerick with a less favorable view of the Astors.

My paternal great-grandmother was Juliet Ann Callaway. (Richard, John, Richard, Joseph Callaway) Her paternal great-grandfather was Col. Richard Callaway of Virginia and Kentucky.

My maternal great-grandfather was George R. Emerick. His great-grandfather was Christopher Emerick.

Four Emerick brothers - Christopher, Valentine, Andrew and John Nicholas - left Germany for the New World in 1777. They settled initially in New York. Andrew died of wounds received in the Revolutionary War. He left no heirs. Christopher and Valentine married and had children.

John Nicholas Emerick entered the fur trade and later the shipping business. He took in as a one-third partner "a poor young boy, John Jacob Astor." The business thrived. John Emerick never married. In his later years, he was estrangled from his brothers, Christopher and Valentine. A document prepared by Emerick in 1815 purported to leave his estate in trust with his partner, John Jacob Astor, to be distributed among the descendants of Emerick's two brothers 75 years (or 90 years) after his death. Emerick died in 1816. His estate at that time was valued in excess of one million dollars.

From the 1890s until 1930, there was considerable activity directed toward recovering from the Astors a fortune variously described as $30 million, $35 million, $39 million, $176 million, $200 million, $2 billion, and $2.5 billion.

I have a copy of a circular letter dated Nov. 13, 1902, from Attorney A.F. Thompson of Centerville, Iowa, soliciting Emerick heirs with genealogical data tracing their relationship. Attorney Thompson died in 1910, but the work went forward.

From The San Francisco Examiner, Sept. 12, 1927, is an article entitled "57 Heirs Plan to Get $176 Million." The article says, - "The bent old figure of John T. Emerick, descendant of the partner of John Jacob Astor, in New York, today moved hopefully about in the simple dwelling where he was brought up in a family of working people, like himself. He awaits the outcome of the discovery that he and 56 other Emericks scattered about the country are heirs to $176 million estate.

"The estate represents real estate holdings purchased before 1815 in New York, Boston, and in Pennsylvania by John Nicholas Emerick when he was a partner of Astor. Emerick died a bachelor and his estate remained in the hands of Astor in a 90-year trust fund which matured 15 years ago."

From The Los Angeles Examiner Herald, October 19, 1927, there was a photograph of three children and the caption, "Rich? These three children may be heirs to a two billion dollar fortune if their grandfather, George Emerick establishes his claim that he is a direct descendant of a former partner of John Jacob Astor."

Articles appearing on Dec. 7, 1928, in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post and The New York Times state "Lose Suit To Share Astor $135,000,000." It reads, "The suit of the heirs of John Nicholas Emerick for two-thirds of the proceeds of the estate of John Jacob Astor, Sr., founder of the Astor family and fortune in this country, was dismissed yesterday by Federal Judge Thacker. The property sued for amounted to upward of $135 million. Mr. Astor died March 29, 1848.

"The action was based on allegations that Mr. Emerick, furrier, merchant and business associate of Stephen Girard, had befriended Mr. Astor when he was poor, taught him the business and, in 1787, made him a one-third partner and later a trustee of his estate for 90 years. Then it was to be divided among the descendants of Mr. Emerick's brothers, Christopher and Valentine. John Nicholas Emerick was a bachelor."

From The Christian Science Monitor, Jan. 9, 1930, comes "The United States Circuit Court of Appeals upheld without opinion, Jan. 2, the decision of Thomas B. Thacker, Federal Judge, dismissing the $39 million suit brought by certain heirs of John Nicholas Emerick against Vincent Astor and the trustees of John Jacob Astor, Sr."

From The Marysville (Ca.) Appeal-Democrat, March 10, 1933, a photograph carried the caption, "A document giving a $200 million share of the John Jacob Astor fortune to descendants of John Nicholas Emerick was taken from this suitcase lining."

It is interesting to note the inconsistencies in the press accounts. The amounts involved vary considerably. There is a confusion between "heirs" and "descendants."

It must have been heady "stuff" for the Emerick descendants of Christopher and Valentine. The need to trace and establish their ancestry spurred a great interest in genealogy. Among formal groups I have identified were the Mississippi Valley Association of Emerick Heirs, the Western Pennsylvania Group of Mississippi Valley Association of Emerick Heirs, and the California Emerick Association. All thrived in the late 20s. The California Descendants of the Emerick Family held their first reunion in Los Angeles on April 15, 1928. So far as can be determined none of the associations survived the death of the first suit against the heirs.

Among parcels of real estate purportedly a part of the Emerick estate is the land on which Trinity Church is situated in downtown Manhattan, as well as the site of The Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Fact or fiction? It may never be known. There are those who believed strongly enough to devote their energies and their very lives to the pursuit. Shouldn't they have realized that, the Astors, who had the money, could never be bested by the Emericks, who had none?

Colonel Richard Callaway was scalped by the Indians at Boonesborough. Was John Nicholas Emerick no less a victim at the hands of his junior partner?
________________________________________________
A book has recently been published (2004) about this story. The Story of the Little Brown Suitcase, written by Carol Lynn Caswell tells an historical fiction account of her family's involvement.

ABOUT THE BOOK -

Rich fur traders, an unscrupulous adventurer, a fateful fight on a New York pier, an old sea chest, a will lost for over one hundred years, a beautiful heiress, the sinking of the Titanic, stolen documents, arson, and possibly even murder are a part of the story found in Elsie Emerick Bryan's Little Brown Suitcase.

Elsie kept The Little Brown Suitcase under her bed most of her adult life. Papers and letters in the suitcase reveal how her relative, John Nicholas Emerick, partner to John Jacob Astor I, lost control of his vast fortune and how it ultimately all ended up in Astor's pockets.

The story recounts the struggle by Elsie and her family to reclaim their rightful inheritance. It tells of hopes placed on a passenger traveling home from Europe on the Titanic; a passenger who could right this great wrong.

Authentic letters from the seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen hundreds, located in The Little Brown Suitcase, were used in the development of this story. This story has not been told before. While being presented here as historical fiction, many of the events in this turbulent tale are true.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2004 Callaway Family Association