Tennessee Genealogy Research by Debbie W. Spero

The depositions continue concerning the widow application of Emma Langford, wife of Union and Confederate Soldier, Silas James Lankford… 8 Feb 1906   Tabitha Lankford:  I am 63 years of age.   My post office is Defeated, Tenn.  I have no occupation.   James Lankford was my brother.  His name was Silas James Lankford.   He lived at home [...]

In my last post Emma Langford admitted in a deposition on 19 Jan 1906 that, “yes I had heard that Silas James Langford had had a wife before the one, Zilpha Dunn, who died here”.    Emma continued:   “When Zilpha died there was a young man, Marion Langford, here.  I have heard that he was Silas [...]

In the continuation of the Widow’s Pension by Emma Langford for Civil War soldier Silas James Langford, the affadavits tell the story of first and second marriages and more…. 11 Aug 1905, J.M. Mitchel age 52 of Daniel, Dickson Co., TN and 56 year old P.A. Michel of same appear before a notary public of Dickson and [...]

Silas James Langford of Smith and Dickson Co., TN died in May 1905.    His widow, Emma Langford, then applied for a widow’s pension for Silas James’ service to the U.S. during the Civil War.     Following are the affidavits that were filed concerning her application. W.R. Jones, of Daniel, Dickson Co. TN, age 45, declared 23 June 1905 [...]

The next information on the Civil War Pension of Silas James Langford/Lankford of Smith and Dickson Co Tennessee was his medical records.     There were general and medical affidavits detailing his physical disabilities by neighbors and doctors. First was a general affidavit by T.W. Harper, M.D., age 33 of Bellburg, Dickson Co, TN and W.L. Weakley, age [...]

Continuing with the pension file of Silas James Langford/Lankford, the next form was a questionnaire dated 26 April 1902. No.1  Are you a married man and if so please state your wife’s full name and her maiden name. Answer:   Yes, Emily Langford, maiden Hunter. No.2  When, where and by whom were you married? Answer:  15 [...]

It could have taken up to six months for me to get it, but it didn’t!    Last week while I was away,  I received the full pension file–Civil War–of Silas James Lankford!    And, it is CHOCK FULL of information. Over the next few days, I will detail the info given in this pension file.    It [...]

My latest family sleuthing has been centered on Silas James Lankford/Langford and his wife Nancy Susan McKinnis Lankford/Langford and Silas James’ father, Henry Lankford. In my last entry I was pondering whether Silas James was still married to my great-great-great grandmother when he married for the second and third time in Dickson County, Tennessee, in [...]