Initially, I was planning to write about Sidney H. (Dunham) Dunnam only. However, my research expanded to other men in his family, brothers, father, uncles, and cousins.
The first part of the note dedicated to the Dunnam men, who at some point lived in Polk County, TX, is about Sidney, his brothers, and their father Samuel.
🔷 Sidney (Dunham) Dunnan was born in 1832 in Mississippi.
The 1850 census found him in Rapides, Rapides, Louisiana. 18-year-old Sidney H lived there with his father Samuel B B (age 45, born in SC), mother Sarah A (age 43, born in SC), and siblings, John McRae (age 22, born in MS), James Alexader Chovin (age 21, born in MS), Montilvan (age 17, born in LA), Czartorensky (age 12, born in LA), Frances Eugenia P (age 10, born in LA), Alexis (age 6, born in LA), Sarah A (age 4, born in LA). Samuel Blackwell Bell Dunham, the father of the family, was a farmer (1, 2).
In 1854, Mr. Samuel B B Dunham was ordained Methodist minister, and the family relocated to Texas (3). They lived in Colita, Polk County.
The Civil War started, Sidney, his brothers, and other relations joined the CA.
Sidney H, a farmer, was enlisted in the month of April 1861. The man served as a private with Company B, 1st Texas Infantry, Hood's Brigade.
- Private Sidney H Dunnam's arrival in Richmond, VA was recorded on 16 May 1861. In the same month, he was admitted to the hospital in Lynchburg, VA, where he stayed also in June.
- August 1862 - the man was left in the hospital on the march Richmond - Manassas.
- From September to October and in December 1862 - Sidney was on furlough.
- 20 September 1863 - Private S H Dunnam was promoted to 1st Sergeant. Later, he was with Company F, 4th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Reiley's Regiment), Trans-Mississippi Department.
- During the battle of Mansfield (Louisiana), Sidney was wounded.
The soldier died on the following day, ⌛ 9 April 1864. He was buried in Trinity County, Texas.
More about
Hood's Brigade: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../entries/hoods-texas-brigade
4th Texas Cavalry: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../entries/fourth-texas-cavalry
Battle of Mansfield, LA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mansfield
Sidney's brothers
🔷 Alexis J, born in 1844 in Louisiana,
was enlisted on 10 March 1862 in Livingston, TX, and served as 4th Sergeant with Company F, 22nd Texas Infantry (Hubbard's Regiment). Soon after the enlistment, in April, Alexis got sick and spent some time in the General Hospital in Houston.
- February 1864, he was degraded in rank to private (circumstances unknown).
- Two months later, on ⌛ 9 April 1864, Alexis J. Dunnam was killed during the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana.
More about
22nd Texas Infantry: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../twenty-second-texas-infantry
Battle of Pleasant Hill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pleasant_Hill
🔷 Alexis J C (Alexander James Chovin) was born on 3 May 1829, in Mississippi.
He was enlisted on 15 November 1862 in Livingston, TX. Alexis was a private in Company F, 4th Texas Cavalry (Reiley's Regiment). Sometime later, the man was promoted to Sergeant. On 2 February 1864, at Virginia Point, TX, he was discharged because of physical disability.
A J C Dunnam was a bookkeeper. His first wife was ⚭ Miss Martha Ellen Meekins (born in about 1850 in Marlboro, SC).
Their children:
🔹 Emmett Blackwell - born on 26 March 1857, Polk County, TX,
🔹 P.L. - born in about 1858/died in about 1860,
🔹 Gertrude - born in about 1859,
🔹 Lytton (born in 1865)
🔹 Lucy Ellen was born on 14 April 1869/died on 3 December 1870.
After the death of Mary Ellen (on 26 April 1869), Alex J C remarried. His second wife was Belle Bingham. The two were married on ⚭ 10 March 1870 (4).
Their children:
🔹 Marcus (born in about 1872),
🔹 Nellie (born in 1874). Possibly, Belle died after giving birth to Nellie.
In ⚭ 1875, Virginia Evans Lykes (20 years junior to her spouse) became Alex J C's wife.
Their children
🔹 Laura B - born on 13 December 1878,
🔹 William Lykes - was born on 8 October 1879 in Polk, TX,
🔹 Alexander James - born on 29 October 1883, Texarkana, Bowie, TX,
🔹 Norman B was born in abt 1886, in Polk, TX.
In 1880, the census found him and his family in Justice Precinct #4, Houston, TX. Alex J C Dunnam's profession was then listed by a census clerk as "farmer/miller". His wife Virginia (Jennie) was 31 then.
Children mentioned in the record: Emmett, Lytton, Marcus, Nellie, Laura, Lykes, Minnie Caverhill (born 1871, TN). The latter was Virginia's daughter from her prior marriage to Mr. Thomas J Caverhill (5).
20 years later, both Alexander J C and his wife Virginia, lived with the family of his son Norman B, in Texarkana, Miller, Arkansas. In the census record, 80-year-old Alex was listed as a "Lumber Dealer" (6).
Mr. Alexander James Chovin passed on ⌛ 17 January 1912 in Texarkana, Bowie, TX. The man died of apoplexy (7).
🔷 Montalvan Adolphus born on 10 March 1834 in LA.
He was enlisted in the CA, in Polk County, TX in April 1861 (8). The man was a private in Company B, 1st Texas Infantry (Hood's Brigade).
From February to April 1862, the man was detached to recruit soldiers in Texas.
- 27 June 1862 - Montalvan was wounded at Gaines Mill, Virginia.
- 14 July 1862 - he was given 40 days of furlough,
- 30 August 1862, wounded again during the second battle of Manassas,
- September 1862, Private M A Dunnam was transferred to Company M,
- 17 September 1862, Sharpsburg (Antietam), Maryland, was wounded during the battle. Later, he was detailed to stay at Sharpsburg with the wounded (as a nurse). Montalvan was there captured and afterward, exchanged. The soldier was promoted to 2nd Sergeant.
- 15 September 1863 - he was appointed Regimental Ordnance Sergeant.
More about
Battle of Gaines Mill: https://www.battlefields.org/.../civi.../battles/gaines-mill
Second Battle of Manassas: https://www.battlefields.org/.../battles/second-manassas
Battle of Antietam: https://www.battlefields.org/.../civil-war/battles/antietam
After the war, Montalvan served as Sheriff in Polk County, TX. He married ⚭ Miss Letitia Ann Whittington (born on 6 November 1848, in Liberty, Liberty, TX), the daughter of George Washington Whittington and Letitia Ann Menning.
Montalvan and Letitia had at least two children:
(9) 🔸 Samuel Whittington (born on 26 June 1872 in TX),
(10) 🔸 Lee Keats, born on 18 November 1875 in Livingston, TX.
In 1880, the family lived in Livingston, Polk, TX. Samuel B B, Montalvan's father, lived with Montalvan, his wife, and their two children (11).
Montalvan Adolphus Dunnam passed on ⌛ 26 September 1905 (12).
Montalvan (de Montalvan) is a noble family surname that originates in Europe (France, Italy, Spain). Possibly there was a family connection in M A Dunnam's mother's/father's line. Some of their ancestors were French (13).
🔷
C R Dunnam, born in 1839 in LA, appears in the records also as Czartarensky and Czartavensky Radzowill. It makes me think of the surnames Czartoryski and Radziwiłł, two Polish noble families of a position and means, related to each other. Again, the connection through the French/Spanish line in Dunnam's family tree could be possible. If it was not the case, why was the boy given such difficult names?
Czar Rensky (Ikey) was enlisted in Polk County, TX in April 1861 (144). The man served as a private with Company B 1st Texas Cavalry (Hood's Brigade). Before the war, he was a bookkeeper.
Private C R Dunnam came to Richmond, Virginia on 16 May 1861. Sometime after that, he was promoted to 3rd Corporal.
- September 1862 - was Color Bearer for his company.
- 17 September 1862, C R was captured (Sharpsburg, MD), and paroled later.
- Next, he was promoted to 2nd Corporal.
- November/December 1862 - recorded as sick.
- February 1863 - on furlough.
- November 1863/July 1864 - CR Dunnam served as Division Guard.
- January 1865 - he was discharged.
A year later, on ⚭ 5 January 1866, C R married Miss Margaret R Whittington, who was his sister-in-law (15).
🔷 Samuel Bell Blackwell, the father of the men mentioned above,
was born on 20 September 1803 in SC. The man married ⚭ Miss Sarah Amanda McRae in 1825. The lady died in ⌛ September 1861.
Samuel B B Dunnam was not enlisted in the CA because of his age. However, he joined it voluntarily as a chaplain to spiritually assist his sons and other relations of Colita, Polk, TX who were enlisted.
Samuel B B Dunnam served with Company B, 1st Texas Infantry (Hood's Brigade). He was in all the battles, including the Red River Campaign in LA. At some point, the chaplain (and his two sons) was assigned to Company F, 4th Texas Cavalry (Railey's Brigade). He finished his army service at the rank of lieutenant.
After the war, in 1870, 65-year-old Samuel lived in the household of Houston Churchill in Livingston, TX (16). Later, as mentioned above, the man lived with the family of his son, Montalvan.
At the end of his life, in 1900, he was staying in the home (Polk County, TX) of his daughter Frances (born in 1841) and her husband James Ewing Hill (17).
Samuel Bell Blackwell died at the age of 100 on ⌛ 9 December 1903 in Livingston, TX. The details regarding his age given on the death certificate are incorrect (18).
Sources:
"There never were such men before: the Civil War soldiers and veterans of Polk County, Texas, 1861-1865". Ruth Peebles, Livingston, TX, Polk County Historical Commission, 1987.
1."United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:MCJD-RS3 : Mon Mar 13 19:33:17 UTC 2023), Entry for Sarah A Dunham and Montilvan Dunham, 1850.
2. family tree familysearch.org
3. Newspaper clipping: The Austin Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 33, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 13, 1903, newspaper, December 13, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1454785/: accessed April 12, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .
4."Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6B4-WZK : 10 March 2021), A. J. C. Dunnam and Belle Bigham, 10 Mar 1870; citing Polk, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,006,875. 5. National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/civilwar
5."United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNL-C78 : 15 January 2022), A.j.c. Dunnam, Justice Precinct 4, Houston, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
6. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKVX-9QV : accessed 7 April 2023), Artha J C Dunnam in household of Norman B Dunnam, Texarkana Ward 3, Miller, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 70, sheet 17B, family 367, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 57; FHL microfilm 1,374,070.
7. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3WG-JWD: 6 April 2023), A J C Dunnam, 1912.
8. "Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZWL-BQG : 5 December 2014), M A Dunnam, 1861; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit First Infantry (Second Infantry), NARA microfilm publication M323 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961), roll 248.
9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38P-9L6 : 5 April 2023), Montalvan Adolphus Dunnam in entry for Samuel Whittington Dunnam, 1975.
10. "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K4S-HTCM: 11 February 2023), Montalvin A Dunnam in entry for Lee Keats Dunnam.
11. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJW-VRQ: 15 January 2022), Montalvan Dunnam, Livingston, Polk, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
12. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKN-3WNJ : 16 December 2021), M.A., ; Burial, Corpus Christi, Nueces, Texas, United States of America, New Bayview Cemetery; citing record ID 40458027, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
13. familysearch.org
14. "Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZWL-B3B : 5 December 2014), C R Dunnam, 1861; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit First Infantry (Second Infantry), NARA microfilm publication M323 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961), roll 248.
15. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8B-ZRRS : 22 December 2016), C. R. Dunnam and M. R. Whittington, 05 Jan 1866; citing , Polk, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,006,875.
16. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGH-4SW : 18 October 2021), Samuel B Dunnam in entry for Houston Churchill, 1870.
17. "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3P1-2Y4 : 30 November 2021), S B Dunnam in entry for J E Hill, 1900.
18. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3WJ-L4G: 5 April 2023), S B B Dunnam, 1903.
- findagrave.com
"There never were such men before: the Civil War soldiers and veterans of Polk County, Texas, 1861-1865". Ruth Peebles, Livingston, TX, Polk County Historical Commission, 1987.
1."United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:MCJD-RS3 : Mon Mar 13 19:33:17 UTC 2023), Entry for Sarah A Dunham and Montilvan Dunham, 1850.
2. family tree familysearch.org
3. Newspaper clipping: The Austin Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 33, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 13, 1903, newspaper, December 13, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1454785/: accessed April 12, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .
4."Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6B4-WZK : 10 March 2021), A. J. C. Dunnam and Belle Bigham, 10 Mar 1870; citing Polk, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,006,875. 5. National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/civilwar
5."United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNL-C78 : 15 January 2022), A.j.c. Dunnam, Justice Precinct 4, Houston, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
6. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKVX-9QV : accessed 7 April 2023), Artha J C Dunnam in household of Norman B Dunnam, Texarkana Ward 3, Miller, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 70, sheet 17B, family 367, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 57; FHL microfilm 1,374,070.
7. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3WG-JWD: 6 April 2023), A J C Dunnam, 1912.
8. "Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZWL-BQG : 5 December 2014), M A Dunnam, 1861; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit First Infantry (Second Infantry), NARA microfilm publication M323 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961), roll 248.
9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38P-9L6 : 5 April 2023), Montalvan Adolphus Dunnam in entry for Samuel Whittington Dunnam, 1975.
10. "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K4S-HTCM: 11 February 2023), Montalvin A Dunnam in entry for Lee Keats Dunnam.
11. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJW-VRQ: 15 January 2022), Montalvan Dunnam, Livingston, Polk, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
12. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKN-3WNJ : 16 December 2021), M.A., ; Burial, Corpus Christi, Nueces, Texas, United States of America, New Bayview Cemetery; citing record ID 40458027, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
13. familysearch.org
14. "Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZWL-B3B : 5 December 2014), C R Dunnam, 1861; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit First Infantry (Second Infantry), NARA microfilm publication M323 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961), roll 248.
15. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8B-ZRRS : 22 December 2016), C. R. Dunnam and M. R. Whittington, 05 Jan 1866; citing , Polk, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,006,875.
16. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGH-4SW : 18 October 2021), Samuel B Dunnam in entry for Houston Churchill, 1870.
17. "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3P1-2Y4 : 30 November 2021), S B Dunnam in entry for J E Hill, 1900.
18. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3WJ-L4G: 5 April 2023), S B B Dunnam, 1903.
- findagrave.com
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