Jacob Erion had Red Hair! Who Knew? Part VI

Jacob B. Erion

Alice L. Erion

                       

                                                                                                                           

Mary Leonard Erion

My grandfather once told me he would like to know more about his grandfather.  However, it was during a time when I was having my own children and the days were filled with raising the next generation.  There was no time to look back.  But now there is.  My Granddad passed away in 1983 but I have always remembered his words to me and this blog is a result of that remembering.   I have sourced my information.  These are my own words except where indicated. 

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 The 1900 US census shows that Jacob, Mary and Alice Erion are living in Police Ward Jury 9, Rapides Parish, Pineville, Louisiana.  His occupation is shown as Superintendent of the North-South Cemetery (now known as Alexandria National Cemetery.)  Pineville and Alexandria are situated close to each other, so close that the visitor’s bureau refers to itself as Alexandria/Pineville, Louisiana. (There is a street in Alexandria named “Erion.”)  

Jacob, Mary and Alice were probably comfortable in that area because Alexandria had been settled by Northerners and incorporated as a town in 1818.   Being located on the banks of the Red River gave Alexandria a strategic appeal for the both the Union Army and the Confederate Army and it was occupied several times during the Civil War. (Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria,_Louisiana)  

However, it was 1900 by the time Jacob, Mary and Alice moved there and the Civil War had been over for 35 years.  It appears that Jacob, Mary and Alice did not live in the lodge located at the National Cemetery.  We know that Jacob did visit South Omaha while living in Louisiana according to an article dated 6 May 1902, appearing in the [Omaha] Morning World-Herald:

  “Captain J. B. Erion, superintendent of the National cemetery at Alexandria, La., who has been in the city visiting for several days, left for home Monday morning.  Captain Erion was the pioneer publisher of a daily and weekly newspaper at South Omaha.  First he ran the old Globe and then later the Stockman, having associated with him Charles H. Rich in the latter venture.  After leaving the newspaper business, he was labor commissioner of Nebraska, and then became superintendent of the cemetery, which is a life position.  His many friends in Nebraska will be pleased to know that he is not only doing well, but is enjoying excellent health.”

In May, 1902, Jacob’s and Mary’s daughter, Alice, had been dead for over a year.  She was buried at the National Cemetery now located in Alexandria, Louisiana.

From the Omaha Morning World-Herald dated 22 Mar 1901’

“FORMER OMAHA TEACHER DEAD

Miss Alice Erion died at Pineville, La. -- Was Well Known Hero

Special Dispatch to the World-Herald, Pineville, La., March 21-Miss Alice Erion, daughter of J. B Erion, superintendent of the National Cemetery at this place, died this morning.

Miss Erion was well known and very popular in Omaha, where she was formerly a teacher in the public schools.”

(A more detailed account of the short life of Alice L. Erion will appear in a later posting on this blog.)

Documentation from Jacob’s pension file shows that by 1907, Jacob and Mary were living in Beaufort, South Carolina.  They lived there at least through 1910 because the 1910 US census shows Jacob and Mary living in Beaufort, South Carolina, where Jacob was the Superintendent of the National Cemetery there.  In her letter previously presented in another posting on this blog, Jacob’s granddaughter Fern implies that Jacob was Superintendent of all the Union cemeteries in the South.  (Fern and her mother Jennie Erion Terry visited Jacob and Mary while they were living in Beaufort, South Carolina.)  I have not been able to determine exactly how this appointment was handled, but Fern also mentioned that Jacob and Mary lived in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

By 12 Jun 1912, Jacob and Mary were living in Chunchula, Mobile County, Alabama.  In a 4 Oct 1912 letter to the Commissioner of Pensions, the couple had moved to 48 Houston Street,  Mobile, Alabama.  While living on Houston Street, Jacob received a letter from J. L. Davenport, Commissioner of Pensions:

“Sir:  Your above cited claim for pension under the Act of May 11, 1912, requires a properly verified copy of the public, baptismal or family record of your birth.

If a copy of the family record be furnished, the officer certifying to the same should state the date of birth, the date of publication of the book in which it appears; whether the record bears any marks of erasure or alteration, and whether the appearance of the writing indicates that it is an old entry.

If you are unable to furnish the evidence indicated, you should so state under oath, giving your reasons.”

Jacob responded on 23 Apr 1913:

“Sir:  I am enclosing herewith copy of family record of my birth properly verified.  The family Bible containing the record was in possession of my younger brother, Hon. John M. Erion residing in Mitchell So. D. and was sent to me by ex., hence the delay.  Hoping this will complete my application, I am very respectfully Jacob B. Erion, 1056 Eslava Street, Mobile, Ala.

Please change my address from #48 Houston St. to #1056 Eslava St.”

Included with the above letter was the following communication, dated 23 Apr 1913, from Price Williams, Jr., Probate Judge for Mobile County, State of Alabama:

“I, Price Williams, Jr., Probate Judge for Mobile County, State of Alabama, hereby certify that the family Bible of Philip Erion and Matilda Erion, has been shown to me; said Philip and Matilda Erion, were married on the 30th of November, 1837, and that Jacob Erion was one of the children of said Philip and Matilda, and was born on the 29th of August, 1842.  That said Bible was published by W. & H. Meriam in 1846.

The record of said birth appears in said Bible without any marks of erasure, and alteration, and the writing therein clearly indicates that it is an old entry.

Witness my hand and seal of office at Mobile, Alabama, April 23, 1913.

/s/ P. Williams, Jr.”

(Copies of both documents are in the Pension File of Jacob B. Erion, National Archives.)