The History of Upshur County, West Virginia


Book Description

As a body, these records are extracted from roughly 750 known Bibles and extend from the late 18th through the early 20th centuries, with the greatest concentration from the mid-19th century. Most of the entries refer to births, marriages, and deaths and in most cases indicate the name(s) of the principals, the date of the event, and, sometimes, such supplementary information as his/her age or address, the maiden name of a parent, etc. Each Bible record is identified by family name and followed by a reference to the Huguenot Society records where the original can be found. In all, the records refer to more than 2,500 main families named in the surname index at the back of the volume and embrace a staggering 25,000 individuals of Huguenot or possible Huguenot ancestry--connections and allied families that would otherwise be lost to us in the unpublished files of this august organization.




Texas Place Names


Book Description

“[A] linguist . . . takes readers on a tour across the state, using names and language to tell its history.” ―Alcalde Was Gasoline, Texas, named in honor of a gas station? Nope, but the name does honor the town’s original claim to fame: a gasoline-powered cotton gin. Is Paris, Texas, a reference to Paris, France? Yes: Thomas Poteet, who donated land for the town site, thought it would be an improvement over “Pin Hook,” the original name of the Lamar County seat. Ding Dong’s story has a nice ring to it; the name was derived from two store owners named Bell, who lived in Bell County, of course. Tracing the turning points, fascinating characters, and cultural crossroads that shaped Texas history, Texas Place Names provides the colorful stories behind these and more than three thousand other county, city, and community names. Drawing on in-depth research to present the facts behind the folklore, linguist Edward Callary also clarifies pronunciations (it’s NAY-chis for Neches, referring to a Caddoan people whose name was attached to the Neches River during a Spanish expedition). A great resource for road trippers and historians alike, Texas Place Names alphabetically charts centuries of humanity through the enduring words (and, occasionally, the fateful spelling gaffes) left behind by men and women from all walks of life. “[A] quite useful book.” ―Austin American-Statesman




Historical Dictionary of the Gilded Age


Book Description

Covers all the people, events, movements, subjects, court cases, inventions, and more that defined the Gilded Age.




Upshur Family in Virginia


Book Description

Arthur Upshur I (1624-1709) was born in Essex County, England. He immigrated to the Eastern Shore of Virginia about 1637. He married three times and was the father of four children. Except for a few who departed to make their homes in Maryland, all of Arthur's descendandts for the next five generations remained in Virginia's Eastern Shore. Today, descendants are throughout the United States.







Civil War Suits in the U.S. Court of Claims


Book Description

Not long after the eruption of civil war, the United States found itself mired in claims against the government. Loyal citizens living in insurrectionary districts complained about property seizure. Military pay disputes abounded, and some of the army's attempts at procurement were called into question. Charged with resolving these cases was the United States Court of Claims. Originally set up to advise Congress on pension matters, by 1863 the newly expanded court was the chief body dealing with claims resulting from the war. The entries in this book present the particulars of the Civil War cases heard by the United States Court of Claims. Cases include disputed contracts; pay disputes; compensation for use of property or property lost, destroyed or damaged; and quartermaster or paymaster money stolen, captured, or lost. Suits filed by loyal states to recover war expenses are also listed. Appendices include 1860 census data, military regulations regarding pay and expenditures, relevant acts of Congress and other documents, and information about the 1864 Kentucky Draft Case claimants.







West Virginia History


Book Description




Phylon


Book Description

Includes sections "Books and race" and "Race in periodicals."