Thomas Benjamin Cain

Donated - unknown source
Thistewood (Now Beechwood) Cemetery
Pulaski Co., Il

Hudson-Cain Line

The 'dead end'  of the Hudson line is the family of a William Hudson who married an Emily Jane Cain in 1868 Evansville, Vanderburg, Indiana.   On the 1880 Census they are in Mound City, Pulaski, Il census and the family consists of William, Emily, Lewis Hudson, Millie Hudson and stepson, Benjamin Kane.  Working backward from that information I began to search for where this child was in 1870, the first census after the marriage.  I found who I believe to be William Hudson, his wife using the name "Emma" and a child named Lewis living in Evansville.  No "Benjamin".  Then I found two children, Benjamin and William Cain enumerated with a Thomas B. Carter and an older woman named Millie Parker.  Further backtracking found that Thomas B. Carter was the half-brother of Emily and the woman most certainly their mother who had been Millie Greer, married a Cullen W. Carter and then a Lewis Cain. Parker is thought to be a third husband.  The family is found in 1850 showing children of both Carter and Cain last names. Lewis Hudson is listed as next of kin when Thomas Benjamin Carter dies at the Veterans hospital in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1919.

Other records indicate that Benjamin Cain was Thomas Benjamin Cain and he remained in southern Illinois.  It is believed he married Rosy Anna Brown.  His grave is thought to be in the Thistlewood Cemetery (now Beechwood) in Pulaski Co., Illinois.  The graves are not listed in Find-a-Grave and other listings but the area is well known for not having complete records assessible for online research.  No record of his step-father or his mother's grave have been found either.

It is assumed that Emily was his mother but no marriage records have been located connecting her to a marriage before William Hudson.  Further, there is the fact the child has her maiden name.  What this might mean is an illegitimate birth or the child belonged to someone else.  The name may provide some clues to the father.

Emily had at least two full brothers, Henry and Alexander, who are hard to locate after the Civil War.  It is possible these might be parent of the child and with a death the child might have been taken in by family members.  That he was named after an uncle may indicate a figure who was respected by the younger brothers.

It is obvious that Emily named her Hudson children after her father Lewis and her mother Millie.  On the death certificate of Lewis Hudson he noted his mother's name as Emma Carter which might indicate a confused awareness of his mother's family tree, since he had known his uncle Thomas B. Carter and records indicate she used on one census the name "Emma."

Thomas B. Carter, to further confuse things purchased a cemetery plot in Mechanicsville, Vanderburgh Co., Ind in 1876.  He also purchased a plot in the Cairo City Cemetery in southern Ill in the  mid 1880's.  They were apparently never used  - at least no evidence has been found to date. Plots for wives? Plots for sister and her husband? Plot for his own eventual demise? Plot for his mother or a wife?

Where Are They? Dead, buried, and invisible

One of the most frustrating aspects of tracking family history is when people who should be buried in a cemetery do not appear on any index, list, etc.   Numerous death certificates will say where the burial was to take place but they frequently cannot be found with any ease.  Reasons might be a last minute choice for the burial site, poor maintenance of local cemeteries leading to destruction or loss of markers (not all people had formal and expensive stone markers), local flood or development that might destroy portions of a burial ground.   The value of local volunteers doing indexes of headstones, grave records, and obituaries is incalculable. 

To researchers who must depend on the work of others because they cannot make those cemetery visits or conduct their own index work, the online records, lists and resources are a boon.   Too often they merely repeat the mistakes or limitations of previous works.

One area that has greatly frustrated research for one line is the area of Pulaski Co., Il and nearby Alexander Co., Il.   Several lines had probable and known deaths in the area.  Death certificates indicate burial location.  Most of the time, however, there is no index, no list, or what is found is obviously far short of the total burials recorded for the site.  

Local history researchers and community volunteers can combine to address these issues.  Local scouts, church, youth, business, school and paranormal groups are often willing to give back to their communities and preserve cemeteries and other historic records or sites.  

Long live random acts of genealogy kindness!

Postcards

Pine Dresser Box - Annie Brown Cochren Willard

Passed in the family, it is not clear which husband gave her this box.  Family legend was that George D. Cochren gave it to her shortly after they married in 1912 in Kansas.  Dating the style of the box by McGraw Box Company, McGraw, NY will help to determine which is the most likely. Most styles found online appear to be square shaped boxes rather than this style. It appears to have metal (art nouveau?) trim, a tiny brass lock, satin lining, a mirror, and dovetail construction. The manufacturers name and address are incised on the bottom. It has some interesting slots inside that I know must have served some purpose (hair combs, hat pins?).  

Annie Brown Willaard with 3rd husband, Daniel Verne Willard

Annie Brown with 2nd husband, George Daniel Cochren

On bottom: McGraw Box Company, MNFG, McGraw, NY

Boeing Pins - Roy Dennis Terry

Roy Dennis Terry worked for Boeing Aircraft, Wichita, Kansas for about 30 years.  While there he was a member of a union as well. He wore the pin on the pencils/pens he used at work from the 1960's until he retired in about 1974.

Shadow Box

Part country decor and part historical artifacts, this shadow box was created in the 1980's.  It contains items of family  history interest:

Shelf 1 (top): a ceramic thimble, a milk bottle lid, a shell pin and a knife owned by Roy Terry, a watch owned by Roy Terry

Shelf 2: FFA award keychain, Marvin J. Hudson  empty,  religious track (ca 1910) w skeleton key, bride and groom from wedding cake of Marvin J. Hudson and Marilyn Terry Hudson.

Shelf 3:  reproduction miniature can with rock eff, pins from Boeing belonging to Roy D. Terry

Shelf 4: Old photo of unknown elderly couple, vintage sticker with minature rabbit, old pocket watch belonging to Marvin Hudson, a minature bottle of Chanel No. 5 (empty).

Shelf 5:  Minature gum packages, craft nest with bird and eggs, original wooden thread spools, minature reproduction can

Shelf  6  (bottom): a craft rose, a minature tin of Anacin, a brial garter (Marilyn A. Hudson), a knife belonging to Roy Terry

CURTIS RAY HUDSON

Marker added for scale

Here are some images of minature leather work by Curtis Ray Hudson when he was about 13-15  years old.  He was living in Seibert, Colorado and Borger, Texas in this time.  He would later have a saddle and boot shop on two occasions and created many beautiful saddles while living in Arizona.