Civil War Profile: Elijah A Dorn

     The following is a profile of one of my Civil War ancestors. What was their life like before, during and after the war? Where did their sympathies lie? How did they feel about the war?

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Before
     In 1860, Elijah Andrew Dorn was recorded on page 34 of the Saluda Regiment, Edgefield District, South Carolina census. Along with Elijah were his wife, Elizabeth (Ouzts), and children, James W, Frances, Catharine, Sarah A, Preston B, George and Bettie. This census was taken on 2 Jul 1860. Only the day before, on the July 1st, my GGG-Grandmother, Mary Jane "Mamie" Dorn, had been born (Only those born by June 1st were recorded).

     Elijah was a farmer with real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $1840. According to the 1860 agricultural census, Elijah had 120 acres of land. He had 3 horses, 5 milk cows, 4 cattle, 9 sheep, and 16 swine. The family reported growing 60 bushels of wheat, 200 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of oats, 6 bales of ginned cotton, 30 pounds of wool, 20 bushels of peas and bean, 11 bushels of irish potatoes, 50 bushels of sweet potatoes, 150 pounds of butter, and 12 gallons of molasses. It seems like the family is cultivating a wide variety of crops and produce. Comparing Elijah's farm to those of others on the same page, he looks to be the owner of a small to average sized amount of land. And who helped Elijah with work around the farm? Three slaves. The Dorn family appears to own two female slaves, age 75 and 14, and has hired a 25 year old male slave from another owner.

     Although Elijah probably did not relished the thought of going to war, he likely would have supported the new Confederate Government. Even though he owned only a few slaves, they were part of ensuring the financial stability of his family. He was still somewhat young and would likely have added slaves to his farm as finances allowed.

During
     War broke out on 12 April 1861. Elijah's wife, Elizabeth, had died only two months prior. Left with eight small children, there would be no way Elijah would go to war... yet. Elijah soon married his second wife, Martha E Prater. She was his next door neighbor in the 1860 census, only 17 years old to his 32. Martha was only 7 years older that her oldest step-child.

     With a new wife to watch the children (including a new baby with Martha), Elijah enlisted in the war in March of 1863. He became a private in South Carolina's 2nd Artillery Regiment, Co K. In August of 1864, he was transfered to SC 2nd Cavalry, Co I (also known as Edgefield Hussars according to the Family Search Wiki).  Documents indicate that he was still with his unit in December of 1865, though they do not say how he left the service - did he stick it out until the war ended a few months later?

After
     Elijah survived the war and returned home to his wife and children, still living in the Saluda area of Edgefield County, SC.  Things have changed a bit for the Dorn family. Formerly the owner of 120 acres valued at $2000, Elijah's now has 230 acres, now valued only at $700. He still has much of his livestock,  but the family is producing less in the way of crops - very reduced levels wheat, corn, and oats, cotton, wool and butter, valued at $500. Elijah might still have his land and materials, but it looks like he's having a harder time making a profit from it than he did prior to the war.

     Elijah died in 1903 in Saluda County, South Carolina. He was buried in the Dorn Family Cemetery, his grave marked with a military headstone.

Cherokee in the Family?

     "What's your ethnicity? Where are your ancestors from?" These are questions that come up often, in idle conversations or school projects. I remember multiple times this question came up in writing assignments in elementary and middle school. When I asked my parents, they would say English, Irish, German and Cherokee. But where did this information come from? No one in my family had ever done any genealogy research.

     After about eight years of research, I can say that the English, German and Irish ancestry have been confirmed. But the Cherokee? I've yet to see any evidence. Where do these stories of Cherokee heritage come from?

     On my maternal side, my Aunt June says that she was told that there was Cherokee ancestry in our Dorn family. Well the Dorn family has been tentatively traced back to George Dorn, born in Germany in 1728 and likely died in the Edgefield County, SC area. If there's any Cherokee in this family, it came in via a female line - and likely a few generations back on that line.

     On my paternal side, I've been told that there's Cherokee ancestry on our Britt family line. My aunts recently told me that they believed that their grandfather, Nathan Britt, had spent some time living in Florida near Lake Okeechobee with his grandmother, who had been Cherokee. I know that Nathan's family came from Edgefield County, South Carolina, but I'm fuzzy on any of his grandparents. Also, lot of the "proof" of cherokee ancestry seems to come from photographs of the family. "Look at those cheekbones!" Um, yeah... that's not proof.

     Could there be Cherokee ancestors in my family? Absolutely! The vast majority of my ancestors came over from Europe in the late 1600s and early/mid 1700s and settled in middle and west South Carolina and north east Georgia. There was plenty of opportunity for someone with Cherokee ancestry to marry into one of my European family lines.  But I haven't found any proof of this. But, I can honestly say I haven't been specifically looking either.

     Recently, I've come across a few resources that might help me discover any native american heritage. At the Atlanta Family History Expo, I learned that Footnote.com hosted a number of resources. Also, a few weeks ago I found a blog, Thoughts from Polly's Granddaughter, that showcases Cherokee research.  I think it would be awesome to find some diversity in my family and find that at least part of the family stories are true.

Amanuensis Monday - John Dorn's Will

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History have placed some great genealogically relevant documents online. One collection that's especially helpful is "Will Transcripts 1782 - 1855." I've found a number of wills for my ancestors, including one for John Dorn Sr, my 6x Great-Grandfather. It is probably the most interesting will that I've found so far and greatly helped my research. Here's the transcription:

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Will of

John Dorn

State of South Carolina \

Edgefield District /

In the name of God, amen.

I John Dorn, Sen., of the District & State aforesaid, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but weak in body & calling to mind the uncertainty of life & being desirous to dispose of all such wordly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say:

1. I give and bequeath to my children as follows, viz, William B. Dorn, Robert Dorn, John Dorn, Rebecca Smith, Benjamin Dorn, James Dorn, Mary Turner, Densely Dorn & Soloman Dorn, all my estate both real & personal, Equal Share & Share alike, except that portion that shall hereinafter be otherwise disposed of.

2. It is my desire, that immediately after my Death, my Executors cause all my Slaves to be loted out into Nine parcels as nearly Equal as possible, by some three compotent disinterested men, to be chosen by them, and by said three, to be valued to the best of their abilities; and immediately after allottment & valuation, my said children to draw, each one for themselves, one lot or share aforesaid; except my sons Densely & Benjamin, who shall be drawn for by my Executors.

3. I desire that immedaitely after my Death my Executors after giving a reasonable notice, expose all the remainder of my Estate both real & personal, to public sale to the highest bider, on such terms as they may deem expedient.

4. I loan to my wife Sarah Dorn one thousand dollars, with one year provisions, & such house furniture as my ex'rs may think proper; to be held in trust by them, or either of them, for her use and benefit, so long as she may live; and at her Death, any of said funds that may exist, be equally divided between my children aforesaid , or their heirs.

5. After all my Funeral expenses & just Debts be paid, out of the proceeds of the sale of my Estate aforesaid & other funds that I may be in possession of, I desire that my Executors make an equal distribution of all my estate as aforesaid, amongst my children aforesaid their heirs or assigns, taking in consideration the valuation of the different lots of slaves aforesaid.

6. In consideration of the deranged situation of my Sons Benjamin & Densley aforesaid, it is my desire that my son Soloman Dorn take the charge & care of my said son Benjamin first giving a sufficient bond to my son-in-low, Robert M. Smith, binding himself, his heirs and assigns, for the good & faithful Care-taking of my said son Benjamin so long as he shall live; and that Solomon aforesaid, in consideration of saud incumbrance, Shall have and hold for the use of himself & his heirs forever, all the Estate herein bequeathed to the said Benjamin; provided Said Benjamin Shall live more than Fifteen years after my Death; but should the said Benjamin Die before the expiration of fifteen years aforesaid, then the said Solomon Dorn, shall be fully compensated for all the trouble & expense he may necessarily be at in the Care-taking of said Benjamin aforesaid, and the remainder of said Benjamin's estate be equally devided among my children afresaid, their heirs or assigns and that my son-in-law Robert Smith take the charge & care of my said Son Densley Dorn, first giving sufficient bong to my Son Solomon Dorn, binding himself, his heirs & assigns for the good and faithful Care-taking of my said son, Densley Dorn, so long as he shall live, and that Robert Smith aforesaid in consideration of said incombrance shall have and hold for the use and benefit of himself, his heirs and assigns forever, All the Estate herein bequeathed to the son Densley Dorn, provided ----------- the said Densley Dorn Shall continue insane and live over fifteen years From my Death; but provided the said Densley, should at any time during his life be restored to his proper mind, he is to have the control of his estate, by paying said Robert M. A reasonable charge for his trouble in the care taking of him the said Densely aforesaid; but should said Densley, Die before the expiration of the fifteen years from the time of my Death, then the said Robert M. To be fully compensated for all the trouble and expense he may necessarily have been at in the care-taking of the said Densley, and the remainder of his estate aforesaid to be equally devided amongst my children aforesaid, their heirs or assings.

7. I constitute and appoint my sons, Robert Dorn & Solomon Dorn, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, by me so made; Revoking all other wills by me heretofore made. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and afixed my seal, this third day of Feb. A. D. One thousand eight hundred & forty-six, & of American Independence Seventieth signed, sealed, Published & declared, as & for the last will and Testament of the above named John Dorn, Sen. In the presence of

John Quattabum John Dorn (seal)

John Lendrum

Marchel Cornolly (Note- Four words interlined before assigned)

Recorded in Will Book "D" pages 285-6-7-

June 16, 1846, J. Hill, O.E.D.

Box 54-pkg-2249

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Names, Places & Most Wanted Faces

The surname genealogy meme, started at GeneaBlogie

Surnames & Locals:

Albea - Georgia (Lincoln), South Carolina (Greenwood, Greenville)

Barfield - Georgia (Emanuel, Burke)

Boatright - Georgia (Emanuel, Burke)

Craft - Georgia (Elbert, Hart), South Carolina (Anderson)

Dorn - South Carolina (Edgefield, Greenwood)

Farr - Pennsylvania (Tioga), England

Hyler / Huyler / Hoyler - South Carolina (Lexington)

Leaphart - South Carolina (Lexington)

Powell - Georgia (Elbert, Hart)

Quattlebaum - South Carolina (Edgefield, Greenwood)

Waters - Georgia (Cobb, Milton, Fulton, Rockdale)

Smith - Georgia (Milton, Fulton, Rockdale)

Most Wanted Ancestor:

Parents of Leveret Wat(t)ers (b. 1881, Cobb County, GA)

SC Department of Archives and History

I found the South Carolina Department of Archives and History's website today. I found a few gems already!

It's a relatively easy site to use, especially since there aren't a whole lot of resources, but what

they do have is pretty valuable.

I found the wills of John Dorn Jr. and Peter Ouzts.

A few weeks ago, we went to South Carolina. We hit up a few cemeteries on the Albea, Witt, Dorn, Quattlebaum lines. We visited Edgewood Cemetery, Bold Springs Baptist Church and Bethel United Methodist Church. I uploaded the photos to findagrave.com. Click the links to leave this site and go to findagrave.com. Edgewood Cemetery • Bold Springs Baptist Church • Bethel United Methodist Church

I'm planning a genealogy/vacation to South Carolina. I've got three cemeteries on my list in Greenwood and the surrounding area. I've found the location of two of them, but I still need an exact location on the third one.

1. Edgewood Cemetery - in downtown Greenwood, the burial place of William A. Albea and Nina Sprouse Albea.

2. Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery - burial location of many Dorn, Witt, and Quattlebaum ancestors. Also supposed to be the burial place of Charles Ray Albea - though he's not listed on the cemetery transcription.

3. Quattlebaum Family Cemetery - This is the one where I'm not sure of the exact location. It's supposed to be on HWY 67 on the Greenwood/McCormick County line.

I was having a hard time locating the Bethel Methodist Church until I found a link to a handy website on findagrave.com. It's got DOT maps to multiple states, including Georgia and South Carolina. There are listings for a lot of cemeteries and churches, including Bethel.