Alexander Ware: Case #3

Well, this is the last of the Ware family that is often combined with each other.  We separated the  two Williams and this is the last of the three Alexanders.  


I have enjoyed doing the research for these individuals because it brings them to life.  It has also been a great exercise in learning computer/blogging skills to get these to the blog with a semblance of form and order.  I have acquired new skills in doing so.


Alexander Ware. #3  AKA "Sandy"or "Alex"

Born 29 Aug 1821 in Madison County Georgia to James Ware II and Lettice Ware.  He married Cynthia Dupree (b.20 Jun 1830; d. 26 Feb 1909; daughter of Joseph Dupree and Caroline Spratling)  on 16 Dec 1845 in Floyd County, Georgia.  He died 9 May 1906 in Henderson County, Texas.  He was known in the family as “Sandy”.

He is the nephew of William Alexander Ware b. 11 September 1789, Amherst county Virginia; d.8 Jun 1836, “Alexander #2 and the grand nephew of William Alexander #1 b. @1747 Amherst County, Virginia; death unknown but probably Georgia.  He is also the bother of William Ware b 1828-d.1865, who married Martha Gee Ford.  

On 12 May 1899 Alexander Ware #3 sat for questioning for a Confederate Pension Application for the state of Texas[1].  The following answers help to fill out his life after  his marriage to Cynthia Dupree.

What is your name?  Alex Ware   
What is your residence & how long?  Catfish, Henderson Co. Texas.  41 years.  
How old are you?  80 years. 
State company and regiment of CW service:  Company D 13 Texas Infantry.  Served 3 years.
He is able to sign; Alex Ware,  Date of signature; 1 Aug 1899 
 

The 1850 Census of Paulding Co. Georgia[3] shows Alexander and Cynthia with 2 children, Cloy Ann a female age 3 yr. and “Babe” a male age 1yr.  Family tradition[4] says that the Wares left Paulding county in the mid 1850’s and “traveled with others from Macon, Georgia to Texas by covered wagon to Mobile Alabama where they boarded a boat to Galveston, Texas.  They settled first around the Livingston/Conroe area but were attacked by Indians and felt it better to move on to Henderson County.  A concrete trough found in Athens indicates the Wares were in Henderson County by 1858.”

According to Alexander in his application for Confederate pension (1899) he said he had lived in Henderson Co. Texas for 41 years.  Cynthia in her statements for pension in 1908 stated that she had lived in Henderson Co. Texas for 51 years.  So we know from personal statements that they came to Henderson Co. about 1857/58. 

By 1860[5] their home was in Baxter a community east of Athens.  Alex’s occupation was listed as “mechanic”, he has $6700.00 of real estate and $8000 of personal property, The children are all listed as being born in Georgia but the last child, “one nameless” a male, is listed as “age 1” so he must have been born in Texas.  Even Alexander Stephen listed as age 3, was probably born in Texas if they left Georgia in the “mid 50’s”.

The 1870 Census[6] shows only the last two children being born in Texas @1864 and 1866.   The property value is down to $500.00 and the real property $250.
Both Alex and Cynthia appear on the 1880[7] Census as a family unit with two youngest children still in the Athens.  However, by the 1900[8] Census Alex is living with his daughter Ophilia and her husband, Nathan Frizzell.  While Cynthia[9] is living with Buster and his wife Fanny.

Summation for Alexander #3 or "Sandy" 
Born; 29 Aug 1821 Madison County Georgia
Parents: James Ware II and Lettice Ware
Married; Cynthia Dupree 16 Dec 1845 in Floyd County Georgia
Resided: Paulding County Georgia 1845-@1855.  Henderson County Texas @1858-1906
Died; 9 May 1906, Henderson County Texas

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[1] Confederate Pension Application Comtroller’s File # 6691: filed 16 March 1900.       

Texas State Library & Archives Commission Web Site.   Archives & Manuscripts; Texas State Library and Archives Commission:  Confederate Pensions Search.

[2] In 1861, Col. Joseph Bates raised the 13th Texas Infantry Regiment in Galveston and Brazoria County with headquarters in Valasco, Texas. The regiment was assigned coastal duty between Galveston and Matagorda most of the war. From May to September 1863, the regiment was moved to Louisiana and served under Gen. Richard Taylor with headquarters in Bashgear City.

[3] 1850, U.S. Census Georgia, Paulding Co. page 117, stamp 59; family #89; Lines 19-22.

[4] Information given by Celeste Harris, Lela Ed Harris West Fannin, Moral Harris on two page monograph.

[5] 1860, U. S. Census Texas, Henderson Co. Post office; Athens, pg. 19 stamp 26; Family # 118, Lines 28-35.

[6] 1870, U.S. Census Texas, Henderson Co. Post office; Athens, pg 5-6,  stamp246-247; Family # 36 Lines 36-40 on pg 5 and lines 1-6 on page 6.

[7] 1880, U.S. Census Texas, Henderson Co. ED #31, pg 14B, Family #84 lines 49-50 and pg. 15C, stamp #110, Family #84, lines 1-5.

[8] 1900, U.S. Census Texas, Henderson Co., ED 54, Sheet B, page 1180 Family # 42, lines 57-64

[9] 1900, U.S. Census Texas, Henderson Co., ED 54, Sheet B, pg. 1297, Family #163, Lines 76-79.

Maureen Taylor the Picture Detective

I went to RootsTech 2011 conference in February and Maureen Taylor was there taking 15 minute appointments for photo identification.  I have had some old leather bound cases with photo's in them that came from my Ware/Ford family and I despaired of ever knowing who they were.  Maureen took one look and gave me enough information that I could pin point exactly who 4 of the six were and she gave me a good clue as to the possibility of the remaining two individuals.

 She identified these 1st two pictures as "ambrotype" pictures probably taken @ 1854-1856 because of the dress and Hair style and the fact that this type of photography had a very limited time in production.  

The 2nd set is the same couple some 5-7 years later @1860-1865.  These are daguerreotypes. 
The clothing for both male and female have some distinctions that she pointed out but it is the hair that I noticed.  In the 1st picture the woman's hair is pulled severely down and back where as the 2nd picture the hair is pulled down on the top but is left full over the ears and sides of the head.  It is possibly in a snood or net of some kind in the back this loose type hair was popular after 1860.  Also the lace gloves were popular in that period also.

There were several more things she mentioned but in 15 minutes it was hard to write down everything she mentioned and the foregoing is what I was able to take note of.

 Ms. Taylor was very firm that these are pictures of the same couple and in our family there is only one couple that fits that time period  and that is William Ware and Martha Gee Ford.

These pictures; according to my father, David Cates, came from Grandma Cates home.  His mother, Ruth Carter Cates was adamant about preserving these and kept them in a box along with Grandma's bible and other family records some of which I described here.

There was another couple in another small leather case and when I showed all of them she said, "well these two women are related.  Most likely mother & daughter".  I will post these two pictures in another post but again there was only one family that would fit those parameters.  Joseph Ford and Sarah Smith.  Ms. Taylor said that the picture is an Ambrotype and therefor probably taken at the same time as the 1st set.

Sarah Smith died in 1862 and William Ware died in 1865.  If you recognize these names or pictures please leave a comment and let me know.  I have some wonderful information on these families.  I have been to both homes and taken pictures of both cemeteries.  I am happy to share.

This information was worth the price of the conference!