David Cummins

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day.  A day when people would decorate the graves of soldiers who died while fighting in the Civil War.  Mildred Strand's grandfather, David Bellinger, fought in the Civil War and was fortunate enough to return home. He was shot in the leg and taken prisoner, but he survived the war and returned home to marry Loretta Foster. What I've discovered recently is that Loretta Foster was married before marrying David B.. Also, that her first husband died while a prisoner of war at Andersonville prison in Georgia. I thought I'd write what little I know of David Cummins. 

I haven't been able to find out much about David Cummins, the first husband of Loretta Foster. According to the marriage record, David was born in 1842. He married Loretta August 3, 1861. A year later he enlisted to fight for the Union on August 22,1862. As far as I can tell, Loretta and David had no children. At least no surviving children. David signed up with the 5th Michigan Cavalry, Company I. It was organized in Detroit and mustered into service on August 30, 1862. In December of 1862 they left on a train to Washington, D.C. They were part of the Michigan Brigade and for awhile were under the command of Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer. 

After arriving in the East, they fought in many battles. They were involved in the Second Battle of Bull Run, and most notably they were involved in the Battle of Gettysburg. They were instrumental in repelling an attack on the rear of the Union's forces by Confederate General Jeb Stuart. The Michigan Brigade was able to hold him off and kept him from advancing, helping the Union to win the battle. 

On October 12, 1863 David Cummins was taken prisoner in Culpepper, Va. He was exchanged in a prisoner swap. He re-enlisted in the army on Nov. 2,1863. On June 11, 1864 David Cummins was once again taken prisoner in Trevillian Station, Va. This time he was sent to Camp Sumter, aka Andersonville. 

Fort Sumter had been built in early 1864 to more securely hold Union prisoners of war. The stockade was 16 1/2 acres. 400 prisoners of war arrived daily. It was built to house 10,000 men but by June, when David was sent there, it housed 26,000 prisoners. The stockade was enlarged in June to 26 1/2 acres but it still wasn't big enough for all the men being sent there. The Confederates were unable to properly take care of the men being housed there. They were unable to provide adequate food, housing, medical care, clothing or sanitary conditions. One prisoner who was housed there in the summer of 1864 referred to it as "this Hell-upon-earth prison." https://crowd.loc.gov/campaigns/hell-upon-earth/ By August 1864 33,000 prisoners were housed there. The largest number of the war. 

David Cummins died on August 15, 1864 of disease. Some of the diseases common at Andersonville were diphtheria, small pox, hepatitis, dysentery,  typhoid, measles. 

David Cummins is buried at Andersonville National Cemetery in Andersonville, Georgia. After the war, Clara Barton and Dorence Atwater, a former prisoner of war at Andersonville, came to the prison to record and mark soldier's graves. They turned it into Andersonville National Cemetery. Thanks to their efforts, and the records kept by Dorence, only 460 of the graves were marked as "Unknown U.S. Soldier."

Our David Bellinger mustered out of the Union Army on June 10, 1865 and returned to Allegan, Michigan. On August 20, 1865 he married the widow Loretta Cummins. Their first child, a girl, was born October 25, 1866. Charles Bellinger, father to Mildred, was born March 27, 1871.

While not a blood relative, David Cummins deserves to be honored and remembered for the sacrifice he gave to his country. His death also changed the course of our family. If he had survived, Loretta wouldn't have married David Bellinger and none of us would be here.

Parents of Johan Jonasson

 Last week I wrote about Johan Jonasson, the father of George Henrickson. This week I'll be writing about Johan's mother and father. Johan is my 2x great grandfather. His parents are my 3x great grandparents. Once again, all the research comes from "Find a Swede" 

Johan's father was Jonas Johansson. His father was Johan Jonasson and his mother was Annika Samuelsdotter. He was born December 6, 1789 in Strabacken, Moheda Parish, Kronoberg County, Sweden. He was baptized 2 days later. Carl Moberg is listed as a witness to his birth.  Jonas's father, Johan, dies before 1794. After Johan's death, his mother marries Carl Moberg.

Jonas's living situation isn't well documented. The family lived in Strabacken until 1803. They show up later in Household records for Tolg Parish, still in Kronoberg County. Later, the family moves from Tolg Parish to Moheda Parish in 1821. Jonas is listed as a farmhand. It is safe to assume that Jonas and his family were very poor and probably subsisted on very little. According to Household records, though, he could read from the Bible, understood what he read, and was vaccinated against smallpox.

Johan's mother was Maja Stina Danielsdotter. She was born December 8, 1793 in Skog, Moheda Parish, Kronoberg County, Sweden. Her father was Soldier Daniel Skog and her mother was Kerstin Nilsdotter. Her mother is listed as being 30 years old. She was baptized December 15. As a small girl her name is written as Maja Stina. When she gets older her name is written as Stina Maja. Maja translates to "Marie" and Stina translates to "Kristina" or "Kerstin". As a soldier, her father would have been given a cottage for him and his family to live in. In return he would have been expected to serve in the Swedish military. 

In all the Household records Maja Stina is listed as being able to read and understand the Bible and being vaccinated against smallpox. Most of the records say she is vaccinated, but one record says she has natural immunity. 

At the age of 27 Maja Stina is found living as a maid at a farm in Moheda Parish. In 1821 she gives birth to an illegitimate child, Daniel, while working as a maid. There is no father listed. Did she know the name of the father, or was she trying to keep it secret? We'll probably never know. 

On December 18, 1822, in Moheda Parish Jonas Johansson and Maja Stina Danielsdotter were married. Jonas was 33 and Maja was 30. There are notes that Maja's brother and mother gave their written consent for the marriage to take place. Maja moved in with Jonas as a maid before the wedding. This was apparently common in Sweden then. Jonas and Maja both worked on the same farm. He worked as a farm laborer, and she worked as a maid. 

After getting married children are born to them. I haven't figured it all out, but it looks like twin girls are born, with only one surviving. Johan is born in 1827. There are daughters born too. In 1837 the nickname "Styf" is applied to Jonas. This could refer to his physical or personal characteristics. There are also notes that there are fights in the household from the same time. Later, his son Johan is given the same nickname. My guess is it's a personality trait. Stubbornness seems to run in this family. ;)

On July 29, 1846 Jonas dies of a cold. No other mention is made of cause of death.  He is listed as penniless. He's buried a couple of days later on August 2. He was 57 years old. 

The next entry we find for Maja Stina is in June 1, 1851 when she and son Johan are convicted of theft. They are sentenced to 12/17? days of bread and water, and then made to do public church duty.  She was 57 years old at the time.

For now, that is where the record ends on Maja Stina. Comparing the two sides of George Henrickson's family, his mother's side seemed to be a little bit more well to do than his father's side. The uncles on his mother's side were either soldiers or tailors. His aunt was a schoolteacher. His father's side were farm laborers, working small farms on bigger farms. Coming to America gave George chances he never would have had in Sweden. It is interesting, though, how this line of the family has all lived on farms, whether in Sweden or in Michigan. Farming is in the Henrickson/Johansson blood.