The link from James to Nathan is tenuous at best. Nathan had a son named James, about the right age to be MLK’s grandfather. Nathan also had a son Luther who was born in 1879. Both of these points of evidence are extremely circumstantial. To correct this deficiency, I set out to find direct evidence to link James and Nathan. I thought that, if Nathan really was the father of James, there should be no problems finding documentation.

My hope for a concise blog post was quickly dispelled. This was not going to be a simple process. What follows is my effort to document the ancestry of James King. I hope that others will join in and offer suggestions and research assistance. I will return to this subject regularly as more information is acquired.

And so it begins….

When beginning a genealogical inquiry, start with what you know. In this case, we learn from the King Encyclopedia that James died in 1933. That fact led to his death certificate (found using the Georgia Deaths index on Ancestry.com). It was originally filed at the Georgia Office of Vital Records but is now at the Georgia Archives.

Citation: James King, death certificate #1933-25861, Death Certificates, Vital Records, Public Health, RG 26-5-95, Georgia Archives. (Click image for full size.)

James died in College Park, Fulton County, on 17 November 1933 from bronchopneumonia. King’s parents are both listed as “Dont Know.” The informant was Rev. M. L. King of 502 Auburne Ave, NE. He is Martin Luther King, Sr., the son of James and the father of Martin Luther King, Jr. Having James’s parents listed on the death certificate would make this exercise much easier.

The King Encyclopedia entry also states that James married Delia Lindsey on 20 August 1895. That fact was confirmed by obtaining the couple’s marriage certificate.

Citation: Henry Co., Ga., Ordinary Court, Marriages (Colored), 1885-1916:115, King to Lindsey; Georgia Archives microfilm, drawer 8, box 38.

Between his marriage and death, James can be found on U.S. census enumerations in 1900, 1910, and 1920. Please help me find him in 1930.

The most interesting thing about the census records is what James offered as his origin. In 1900, he claims that he and his mother were born in Ohio. His father was supposedly born in Pennsylvania. See the census image on FamilySearch.

In 1910, James claims again that he and his mother were born in Ohio. His father’s birthplace is listed as Ireland. See the census image on Ancestry.com (subscription required).

In 1920, the birth location of James and both his parents is given as Georgia. See the census image on Ancestry.com.

What should we make of this? Was James really born in Ohio? We will hold off trying to answer that question. For now we will concentrate on learning about James in the areas of Henry and Clayton counties where he lived.

Tax Digests

One of the most useful records for researching African Americans living in Georgia is the tax digest. Because taxes were paid yearly, it is possible to track a person’s movements between census enumerations. However, because they are not indexed and most are not microfilmed, it is a time-consuming process to work through them.

I started with Ellenwood District of Clayton County in 1900, because that was where he was enumerated. Sure enough, James was there, paying his poll tax along with taxes on $10 in furniture and $10 in other property. (Citation: Clayton Co., Ga., Tax Digest, 1900, Returns of Colored Tax Payers, Ellenwood District, GMD 1406, entry for James King; County Property Tax Digests, RG 36-4-1, Georgia Archives.).

Because James married in Henry County in 1895, I jumped back to the 1895 and 1896 tax digests for both Henry and Clayton counties, assuming I would find him there. I did not. No man named James or Jim King was listed in the Returns of Colored Tax Payers in either county in either year.

The only “King” men I found were two people, both named Henry. One was taxed in Locust Grove District (GMD 576) of Henry County. The other was taxed in Jonesboro District (GMD 1088) of Clayton County. The Henry in Locust Grove can be found on the 1900 census with his wife Ada. The Henry in Jonesboro District can be found on the same census with his wife Leola.

(A note for future reference: Henry King of Jonesboro District lived in closer proximity to James King than Henry King of Locust Grove.)

To help everyone understand the geographic layout of militia districts in Clayton and Henry counties, I have created this map showing the areas James was enumerated in 1900, 1910, and 1920.

This concludes the first stage of research. The next steps need to be in two directions. I will continue looking for James King in tax digests. He should first appear around 1885, meaning there will be ten years of digest entries prior to his marriage. The other step is to gather a list of boys from the 1870 and 1880 censuses named James or Jim King who could be the same person.

Paulding County, Georgia, was created on 3 December 1832 from original Cherokee County. It is located west of Atlanta, one county over from Alabama. On 1 April 1852, Polk County was cut from Paulding, taking the western half of the parent county.

Deed records begin in 1848, wills in 1850, and probate minutes in 1866. Marriages are the only record that appear to survive from the start of the county.

According to the GeorgiaInfo history about Paulding County, the first courthouse was built in Van Wert and “reportedly this structure later burned.” Whatever happened, the county borrowed money and constructed a new courthouse in the 1850s. The current courthouse was built in 1892.

I have been unable to locate a contemporary record of this possible courthouse fire. Searches in Columbus, Milledgeville, and Macon newspapers have yielded no information. I have yet to find any mention of what happened in Superior or Inferior Court minutes (reading page by page).

If you know anything about the loss of Paulding County records, let me know. If you can prove what happened with contemporary documents (primary sources), I will credit you in the book.

Foreign-born Voters in Savannah and Chatham County, 1867 [A-B]
Foreign-born Voters in Savannah and Chatham County, 1867 [C-E]
Foreign-born Voters in Savannah and Chatham County, 1867 [F-H]
Foreign-born Voters in Savannah and Chatham County, 1867 (Part 2) [H-L]
Foreign-born Voters in Savannah and Chatham County, 1867 (Part 2) [M-N]
Foreign-born Voters in Savannah and Chatham County, 1867 (Part 2) [O-S]
Foreign-born Voters in Savannah and Chatham County, 1867 (Part 3) [S-Z]

The Dog Tags register, available at the Atlanta History Center, provides the owner’s name, the dog’s name, and a description of the dog.

Many of the names are familiar today: Spot, Snookum, Fluffy, Fido. Others are named for famous people: Mary McDay called her Black and Tan terrier “Booker T. Washington,” while W. J. Campbell named his dog “Jeff Davis.” Still others give a sense of the dog’s personality; W. C. Bishop named his two white poodles “Fluffy” and “Trouble.”

The most morbid name of a dog in the registry is Dr. James F. Alexander’s Black and Tan, called “Crematory.”

Hugh made the following statements in his affidavit for a federal pension.

1862, June 27: Battle of Gaines’s Mills, Chickahominy Swamp, Virginia. “I was excused from duty again – it was on Sunday morning – and the following Tuesday the fight commenced at Gaines’s Mill and I went into the fight with the Regt. I got the [?] toe of my right foot shot off at Gaines Mill – I was engaged in the fight at the time and it was shot off by the rebels I guess, I couldn’t get to the rear as the rebels were between us. The 2^d day after the fight at Gaines Mills they put me in a wagon and hauled me along. I stayed in the wagon a day & a night and next day a comrade named Patrick Carroll got an old buggy & a mule somewhere and put me in the buggy – I rode most of the time in the buggy until we got to Malvern Hill. [Who saw you when you had your toe shot off?] I think Patrick Carroll was on one side of me and a fellow named David Fuller on my left – The first I knew of it, it seemed like something had struck my feet and I pitched forward and fell down – I jumped up and went ahead about a hundred yards and Sgt Rotchford told me to go to the rear. I went back couple of hundred yards and it made me sick and I laid down by a log. I stayed there about half and hour and the Regiment fell back and I hobbled along with them until they formed a hollow square to fight the rebel cavalry off – we retreated that night & crossed the Chickahominy River.”

1862, July 1: Battle of Malvern Hill, Henrico County, Virginia, and Libbey Prison. “I was excused from duty on account of it [the wounded foot] until we got to Malvern Hill – At Malvern Hill the wounded were put in an old barn & house and when the fellows retreated to Harrisons Landing they left us in the barn & house and we were captured by the enemy – there were 2700 of us taken right there and taken to Richmond and put on Belle Island for a few days and then took us to Libbey Prison. [Who was taken prison with you?] John Anderson (dead) Jacob Smith (dead) Samuel Sissner, Burlington, Iowa & David Fuller – he went into the Rebel service – I don’t remember the names of any one else – I believe they got us to Richmond July 4, 1862 and I belive I was paroled on the 14^th of November 1862.”

1862, October-November: Libbey Prison and Castle Thunder Prison. “[Did you contract any disease while in prison?] Nothing unless it was the rheumatism. I was put in irons the last 30 days and taken from Libbey to Castle Thunder. I was put in irons for striking a Rebel Lieut in prison. I struck him because he kicked a wounded comrade over, he was an old man from the 93^rd Pa and had both his legs shot off. [Did the Rebel officer strike you or injure you any way?] No, but he drew his revolver and was going to shoot at me and the guard that was with him threw his arm up and the ball struck the ceiling. I didn’t have the rheumatism before I was put in irons – my hips and shoulders & knees got sour while laying in the cell – I laid on the floor and had no [?].”

1862, December to 1863, May: Broad and Cherry Hospital, Philadelphia, and Arlington Heights Parole Camp. “After I was paroled I was taken to Philada and went into hospital – they called it “Broad & Cherry” – I was treated for brain fever & rheumatism – the brain fever came on me coming around on the boat from Richmond, a few days before Christmas 1862, they took us to the West Philade Hospital – I can’t tell you the doctors name of “Broad & Cherry” Hosp. I think the head surgeon at West Phila Hosp. was named Hayes – he was the only one I knew there – I stayed in that hospital until last of Jany or first of February 1863 when they sent us to Arlington Heights near Washington to the Parole Camp – I was treated there by a doctor whose name I do not know until last of Apl or first of May, 1863, when they sent us to our Regiments. A man named Armstrong of my Co. was in hosp. with me at Phila. He was killed at Chancellorsville.”

1863, May-September: Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D.C. “I rejoined my Regiment at some landing near Mt Vernon, Va. I did duty there for a while and I was sent back to Lincoln Hosp. Wash. D.C. about August, 1863, I had rheumatism in my legs and the snag of the right big toe that was left I had to have trimmed off. I believe the Dr that trimmed it was Peck – He treated me for rheumatism too – I was in hospital about six weeks at that time and rejoined my Regiment at [Aequines?] Creek near Falmouth Va.

1863, September to 1864, August: Battle of Fredericksburg and Belle Plains Hospital. “I did duty there up until after the Fredericksburg fights Dec 13, 1863 – I stayed with the Regiment until Jany 1864, when I took a hemorrhage of the lungs and they sent me to hospital to Belle Plains – I think I stayed there a month or two and was treated for lung trouble & rheumatism. I can’t remember the name of the doctor – I can’t remember who was in hosp. with me. I was sent from there back to the Regiment and did duty pretty much all the time until I was discharged except a few days now & then when I was excused on account my rheumatism and every once on a while I would get a coughing spell.”

1864, August: Battle of Weldon Railroad. “The next was my left arm & hand I got shot with buckshot in August, 1864 – at Weldon R.R. we were on a skirmish line and advancing toward the R.R. I came up on the R.R. and the Rebels came up on the other side and one of them fired this charge of buckshot and shot me in the left arm & hand – I believe the man next to me was – Langstaff – he was afterwards promoted and left the Regt. I was excused from duty a few days & treated in the Field Hosp. by Dr. Ramsay probably two days. The buckshot is in my arm yet.”

1864, September: Battle of Peebles’ Farm. “The next was at Poplar Spring Church, Va. I believe it was in Sept. 1864. There was a detail sent out under Lieut Hagan of our Co – we were sent out to reconnoiter and there was a Rebel batty in a piece of woods between the south side R.R. and the church and we made a rush on to it and there was where I got hit on the head – I don’t know how it was done only what the boys told me after I came to – they said when we run up on the Batty we were all mixed up fighting and a rebel struck me on top of the head with the butt end of his gun – I didn’t see him strike me. I was knocked senseless and I think McCullough & Billy Johnson of my Co took me to the Field Hosp. I was struck on the back of the neck before that while charging up on the Batty – It didn’t hurt me much at the time, it staggered me a little but I kept right on. [Who saw you when you were struck on the head?] Billy Johnson & Hen. McCullough Johnson belonged to my Co. McCullough belonged to Co. C 7^th Ind. Inf. I don’t know where Johnson lives – McCullough lived in Louisville some time ago.”

1864, September to 1865, January: “Our Regimental Dr. dressed the wound on my head & neck – Our Regiment was taken back to Ft Hamilton Ky after that and that was the last Field service I did. I was mustered out at Annapolis, Md. and came back here to Mt. Sterling Ind. and have lived here ever since.”

Back around 1906, Frank Jonas Kellogg was selling his weight loss pills, called various names, including Rengo and Sanitone Waffers. (He is not related to the cereal Kellogg family.)

This advertisement ran in the Atlanta Journal multiple times in 1906 and 1907, promoting the wonders of “Rengo Fruit”. It has all the stereotypical claims we expect in modern supplement commercials.

Rengo Fruit was written up in a 1912 book titled Nostrums and Quackery, which concludes that “It is little less than criminal that ignorant quacks of Kellogg’s type should be permitted to distribute indiscriminately drugs that have the potency for harm that is possessed by the thyroid preparations.”

In 1908, the U.S. Congress investigated Kellogg’s concoctions. The report was included as part of the President’s Homes Commission report of January 8, 1909, under the title “Thyroid Extracts in Obesity of Antifat Cures.” (S. Doc. 644; Serial Set Vol. 5394)

Frank Kellogg died in 1916 at age 70 but his promotional methods are still going strong.

Whisky vs. Philosophy.

A Man Who Gets Drunk According to System–Has Not Drawn a Sober Breath Sunday for Twenty Years.

Nashville Banner.

“You see that man,” said a manufacturer to a Banner representative last Sunday, as he pointed to an individual staggering through the street.

“Oh, yes, I know him,” said the Banner man, “a fellow of infinite jest, most excellent fancy, and I am sorry to see him in such a fix.”

“That is nothing new for him on Sunday,” continued the manufacturer. “I will tell you something you don’t probably know about him.”

“Proceed; always have an ear open for information,” said the Banner man.

“That man, said the manufacturer, has not drawn a sober breath on Sunday in twenty years. He is one of the best mechanics in the city, but unfortunately contracted a habit for imbibing strong drink in his youthful years, from which he has never recovered.”

“Does he still get employment?” enquired the quill driver.

“Oh yes; steady, constant employment. He is what might be called a queer drinker, a toper on philosophical principles. On work days he never touches a drop, but as soon as paid off Saturday night, the picnic opens, but he always turns up as bright as a daisy on Monday morning, ready for the labors of the week.”

“Is he single or married?” suggested the reporter.

“A married man, with a large family of children, and very much devoted to them. They are not neglected, either. He provides for them well. Talk about honor among thieves, here is a case more remarkable. Regularly, for twenty years past, a member of the family has called at the shop every Saturday night to draw his wages. There is a distinct understanding between him and the proprietor as to how it shall be dispensed. He draws $2 of the amount to get drunk on, and the balance is drawn by his family. He knows that he is not to be trusted with the full amount of his wages, and for this reason provided for the wants of his family, boasting, too, that whisky shall never been the cause of bringing his family to starvation. A queer man, isn’t he?”

“Certainly a rare case,” said the Banner man, as he bade his informant good morning.

My favorite entry in the list is the first human in a photograph. The image shows a city scene with a man getting his shoes shined on the street.

1. Duration of Review

• Judge 1: received 21 August 2008; mailed 23 September 2008.
• Judge 2: received 25 September 2008; mailed 10 October 2008.
• Judge 3: received 8 November 2008; mailed 31 December 2008.
• E-mail notification of certification: 1 January 2009.

2. Ratings

This is my breakdown of “Excellent” vs. “Satisfactory” ratings in the 30 standards and 23 requirements under review.

• Judge 1: one standard “Excellent”: four requirements “Excellent” (all for the kinship-determination project)
• Judge 2: eleven standards “Excellent”: six requirements “Excellent”
• Judge 3: ten standards “Excellent”: five requirements “Excellent”

3. Problems

Judges 1 and 3 provided the most specific comments about errors. Both of them pointed out that I twice referred to David instead of (the correct name) Daniel in my applicant-supplied document analysis.

Judges 1 and 2 did not like that the client report did not clarify how many hours I was allowed. (I mentioned in the report that I was under a time constraint.) In this particular case, my client had paid me up front for another research problem and asked that I use a remaining amount to answer another question. I have since changed my report format to include the number of hours allotted to a problem. I should have included an explanatory note to the judges about that.

4. Judge 3

Judge 3 had the most critical comments but also gave a glowing review of my application.

“Minor Concerns” include:

• One grammatical error.
• An omission in the applicant-supplied document abstract.
• Lack of an explanation of where to find an unpublished book.
• Two number 13s in a numbered list (lucky me).
• Transcription should have included a sketch of a plat recorded with a deed. A description of the plat in brackets is insufficient.
• Again, a sketch of the plat should have been included with the document abstract.
• Full citation not included on client report source document. I neglected to do this on one census record. (The full source was in my report but not on the document.)
• Long and complex case study should include tables or lists to help visualize some elements of the argument.

After all that, this: “Mr. Graham has submitted an application which demonstrates his vast knowledge and understanding of Georgia records and law. His research plans are comprehensive and his analysis of the records is to be commended. This is one of the finest applications that I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate.”

5. Conclusion

Until now, I thought I would feel relief with the successful application. Instead, I have a strong sense of something just beginning. Now I have to use my certification and work to maintain it.

But, to begin, I’ll start by framing my certificate and figuring out how to use the BCG stack-a-ribbon.