Matthews / Conner / Covey / Salts [Solt] Family History - Person Sheet
Matthews / Conner / Covey / Salts [Solt] Family History - Person Sheet
Birth Date1 Mar 184485
Birth PlaceJonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee
Death Date5 Jan 192985 Age: 84
Death PlaceCorydon, Harrison County, Indiana
Burial Date7 Jan 1929
Burial PlaceCedar Hill Cemetery, Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana
FatherLeland Arthur SALTS , M (1818-1896)
MotherMary Jane McGINNIS , F (1824-1855)
Spouses
Marr Date25 May 1864
Marr PlaceDavidson County, Tennessee
ChildrenMary Jane , F (~1867-)
Death Datebef 188085
Birth Date5 Mar 1850
Birth PlaceIndiana
Death Date7 Aug 1927 Age: 77
Death PlaceCorydon, Harrison County, Indiana
Burial PlaceCedar Hill Cemetery, Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana
Marr Date6 Jul 1880270
Marr PlaceCorydon, Harrison County, Indiana
ChildrenZella May , F (1881-1917)
William Keller , M (1884-1956)
Notes for Davis B. SALTS
1855 - After his mother's death in Illinois, Davis and his siblings were taken back to Tennessee by their father. It is thought that Davis was first given to his Grandmother McGinnis, but this has never been documented. Also, he is not listed with her on the 1860 census. It is known from family history that, on their return to Tennessee, each of the children were given away to friends and family members.
1860 - Davis B. Salts is listed in the household of Ephraim S. Rising in Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee. This is also documented in David's statements from his Civil War pension. Davis stayed with the Rising family until he entered the Civil War in 1861. There was no mention of him staying with his Grandmother McGinnis at any time in his pension application. So it looks like he was with this family from the death of his mother to when he entered the war as a Confederate soldier.
1861, 30 December - Davis’ first enlisted with the Confederates on December 30th, 1861 at German Gap, Greenville, Tennessee for 12 months under the name of Davis B. Salts. He was reported on roll from July & Aug 1862 as a Private in Capt Kain's Co, Light Artillery (Mabry Light Artillery), but his service with the South didn’t last very long. On the October 31, 1862 roll (4 months mustered), he was present, but sick in camp. And on the Nov. & Dec. 1862 & Jan and Feb 1863 roll was present as well. But on the roll to April 30, 1864 (10 months mustered), he was absent and listed as “deserted while on parole at home.”85
1863 - Davis B. Salts, Military Unite Note: Captain Kain’s Co., Light Artillery (Mabry Light Artillery), L-Y and Capt Lynch’s Co., Light Artillery. Affiliate Publication Title: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organisations from the state of Tennessee.271
1863, May 17 - Lynch's Company of Field Artillery was at the tragic battle at Big Black Bridge near Vicksburg MS when Confederate forces of the 60th TN Regiment of Mounted Infantry were overrun and 239 enlisted men captured. Davis was not captured there but the regiment withdrew to Vicksburg where it surrendered on July 4. His service records show that as a captive on July 8, Davis signed the parole documents agreeing not to take up arms against the Union and was paroled home. He deserted later (date not known) and joined the Union forces. [www.footnote.com] (Dixie Dellinger Nov. 2008)
1863, July 4 - Salts, D. B. - Was captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi as a Confederate soldier.272
1863, November 22 [Davis B. becomes David B.] - From Davis’s Union papers, they state that he deserted. This fits in with the family story that has been passed down over the years, but I never heard of him being captured in Vicksburg. This has now all been documented through his Civil War Pension papers85. The story was, that once Davis realised the South was going to loose he changed his first name from Davis to David and joined the Union Army. It wasn’t that long until he joined the Union as a Cpl. in E Company - 1st Artillery Battalion. In all of his pension papers it states that he signed on in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee on the 22nd of November in 1863. However, he also moved up in rank from a Private to a Corporal and finally a Sergeant. His occupation during his time with the Union Army was listed as a “tinner.”
1864, 25 May - David B. Salts married Emmeline Russell in Davidson County, Tennessee. I know nothing of this woman other than their marriage date. He did not mention her in his military biography and there has been no trace of her after this marriage. In looking through Davis’ papers, it looks like he completely deleted his early years in the biographical statement for his pension. And if so, this would match the family story of him changing his name when he deserted and joined up to fight on the other side. This could be why his marriage to Emaline Russell was never mentioned when he applied for his pension.
After the war was over, the family story of Davis continues: When he was applying for his Union pension, he wrote his father in Illinois and asked for a letter of reference. Davis wanted him to swear that he (Davis) had always been with the Union throughout the entire war, but his father refused to write the letter, knowing that he had fought most of the war with the Confederate Army.83 Davis’ father had always fought for the Union and had enlisted a second time after being shot during his first duty. Hence, his father refused to write the reference letter. And as the story was told, that was the last time there was communication between them.
It has been said by one of Davis’ nephews, that after the war Davis/d was a cook on a Mississippi steam ship.83 It was said that he lived his later years in Florida, but died in Corydon, Indiana. To date, no documents can be found showing that he lived in Florida at any point in his life. The family stories and knowledge of him seems to stop after his father broke off communications. This researcher, however, believes that the source for Davis' connection working on a steamship may have been his half brother, James. He, in fact, was a cook on a steamship. Harlow Saults, Davis’ nephew, was an old man when he gave this information to his daughter Marian, passed on to this author long after her father’s death.
1866 - In Davis’ Civil War papers, he said that he returned to Harrison County, Indiana, after the war in 1866. This date was repeated in his obituary.273 This is where he married his third wife, Ann Wynn, and where he lived out the rest of his life near Corydon.
1898 - From Davis B.’s pension papers, in 1898 he filed for an invalid’s pension. Letters of reference claimed that he had chronic diarrhae, rheumatism and disease of urinary organs and of the heart85. His final years of life were recorded in his letters of reference for his pension application and invalid’s pay. Statements from his friends and local doctor showed evidence that he and his wife had both had strokes and were not able to care for themselves.
Also in Davis B.’s pensions papers, it gives the names of his brothers and sisters. He also claims that he was born on the 24th of August in 1842, and that the Salts family bible confirming his date of birth was destroyed when his father’s house was burnt during the Civil War. No other stories of this family bible have ever been found. There are other details given, such as the mention of his mother and father, Leland and Mary Jane McGinnis Salts. He stated that the family was from Washington Co., TN, and. that they once lived in Scott Township, Harrison County, Indiana in 1850.85 This has been confirmed by the knowledge of his younger brother, Daniel Napoleon Salts birth records. He, in fact, Daniel Napoleon Salts, was born in Corydon, Indiana while the family was migrating north, cutting across the westward trails while their father looked for work as a blacksmith.
In his obituary, it states that he was a Union soldier from 1862 to the close of the conflict. It did not mention his involvement while serving on the Confederate side. It also said that he was a good cook, and he spent much of his time in his younger days cooking on steamboats, in restaurants and at pleasure camps. He worked for the Keller Manufacturing Company and for the Keller Brothers in other business.273
On his grave stone the following is written: Sergt. David B. Salts 1842-1929 Co. E, 1st Tenn. La Civil War.
[No documents for him after 1866 have been found in his original given name of Davis. So it looks like he changed his name when he deserted the Confederate Army for the Union and stuck with it to his death.]
He can be found on the 1860 Greene Co., TN census under Davis.
1871 - Marriage to Isabelle Foster
Title: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Volume II Letters L to Z Inclusive W. P. A.
Record Location: Harrison County, Indiana
Original Record Located: Corydon Compiled by Indiana Works Projects Administration 1941
Spouse 1: Davis B Salts
Spouse 2: Isabel Foster
Marriage Date: 27 Apr 1871
County: Harrison
Book: F
Original Source Page: 533
1880 - listed in the Henderson County, Indiana census as a boarder
Name: David SALTS
Age: 37
Estimated birth year: <1843>
Birthplace: Illinois
Occupation: Engineer
Relation: Other
Home in 1880: Coryden, Harrison, Indiana
Marital status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Head of household: John A. FELLER
On the 1880 census, it gives the indication that both of his parents were born in Illinois (where his father was currently living). However, this information was probably given by the person who was home at the time the census was taken. Not by David Salts. It is known as a fact from previous census information, his military papers and his death certificate, that he was born in Tennessee.
1880, July 6 - Marriage to Amelia Ann "Anna" Wynn Lamin265
Title: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Volume II Letters L to Z Inclusive W. P. A.
Record Location: Harrison County, Indiana
Original Record Located: Corydon Compiled by Indiana Works Projects Administration 1941
Spouse 1: David B Salts
Spouse 2: Ann Lamon
Marriage Date: 06 Jul 1880
County: Harrison
Book: I
Original Source Page: 228
1900 - US Federal Census, Harrison County, Indiana267
SULTZ, David B. head 62 IN Ire Ire day laborer
SULTZ, Anna wife 48 4 births / 3 children living IN IN KY
SULTZ, Mazella dau 18 IN IN IN house servant
SULTZ, William L. son 15 IN IN IN at school
LAMON, Joseph H. stepson 29 IN IN IN salesman-groceries
1910 - US Federal Census Harrison County, Indiana268
SALTS, David B. head 69 TN TN TN wood works - wagon manufacturer
SALTS, Anna wife 57 IN KY KY
To find David B. Salts and his wife Anna listed in the 1910 entry follow this path - 1910 census, Indiana, Harrison County, Harrison Township, section 93 Corydon Town - his entry is the first one listed. It is very light, but it can easily be read. In the index he has been identified as ??? ???
1920 - US Federal Census Harrison County, Indiana266
Salts, David B. head 77 TN Ire Ire laborer -wagon factory
Anna wife 65 IN KY KY
Hottell, Imogene granddaughter 16 IN IN IN
1929, January 5 - Salts, David B. - Edward G. Keller made an application on David B. Salts behalf to obtain a headstone for his grave. On the document it states, he was a Sergt in Co. E., 1 Tnn., L.A (Battalion E 1st Regiment o f Light Artillery Tennessee). It said he was a Christian and the name of the cemetery was Cedar Hill Cemetery, Corydon, Indiana. His date of death was recorded as July 5, 1929. His application number was 38580 and was dated March 18, 1929. (Of interest: Davis/David’s son was named William Keller Saults)274
1860 - Davis B. Salts is listed in the household of Ephraim S. Rising in Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee. This is also documented in David's statements from his Civil War pension. Davis stayed with the Rising family until he entered the Civil War in 1861. There was no mention of him staying with his Grandmother McGinnis at any time in his pension application. So it looks like he was with this family from the death of his mother to when he entered the war as a Confederate soldier.
1861, 30 December - Davis’ first enlisted with the Confederates on December 30th, 1861 at German Gap, Greenville, Tennessee for 12 months under the name of Davis B. Salts. He was reported on roll from July & Aug 1862 as a Private in Capt Kain's Co, Light Artillery (Mabry Light Artillery), but his service with the South didn’t last very long. On the October 31, 1862 roll (4 months mustered), he was present, but sick in camp. And on the Nov. & Dec. 1862 & Jan and Feb 1863 roll was present as well. But on the roll to April 30, 1864 (10 months mustered), he was absent and listed as “deserted while on parole at home.”85
1863 - Davis B. Salts, Military Unite Note: Captain Kain’s Co., Light Artillery (Mabry Light Artillery), L-Y and Capt Lynch’s Co., Light Artillery. Affiliate Publication Title: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organisations from the state of Tennessee.271
1863, May 17 - Lynch's Company of Field Artillery was at the tragic battle at Big Black Bridge near Vicksburg MS when Confederate forces of the 60th TN Regiment of Mounted Infantry were overrun and 239 enlisted men captured. Davis was not captured there but the regiment withdrew to Vicksburg where it surrendered on July 4. His service records show that as a captive on July 8, Davis signed the parole documents agreeing not to take up arms against the Union and was paroled home. He deserted later (date not known) and joined the Union forces. [www.footnote.com] (Dixie Dellinger Nov. 2008)
1863, July 4 - Salts, D. B. - Was captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi as a Confederate soldier.272
1863, November 22 [Davis B. becomes David B.] - From Davis’s Union papers, they state that he deserted. This fits in with the family story that has been passed down over the years, but I never heard of him being captured in Vicksburg. This has now all been documented through his Civil War Pension papers85. The story was, that once Davis realised the South was going to loose he changed his first name from Davis to David and joined the Union Army. It wasn’t that long until he joined the Union as a Cpl. in E Company - 1st Artillery Battalion. In all of his pension papers it states that he signed on in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee on the 22nd of November in 1863. However, he also moved up in rank from a Private to a Corporal and finally a Sergeant. His occupation during his time with the Union Army was listed as a “tinner.”
1864, 25 May - David B. Salts married Emmeline Russell in Davidson County, Tennessee. I know nothing of this woman other than their marriage date. He did not mention her in his military biography and there has been no trace of her after this marriage. In looking through Davis’ papers, it looks like he completely deleted his early years in the biographical statement for his pension. And if so, this would match the family story of him changing his name when he deserted and joined up to fight on the other side. This could be why his marriage to Emaline Russell was never mentioned when he applied for his pension.
After the war was over, the family story of Davis continues: When he was applying for his Union pension, he wrote his father in Illinois and asked for a letter of reference. Davis wanted him to swear that he (Davis) had always been with the Union throughout the entire war, but his father refused to write the letter, knowing that he had fought most of the war with the Confederate Army.83 Davis’ father had always fought for the Union and had enlisted a second time after being shot during his first duty. Hence, his father refused to write the reference letter. And as the story was told, that was the last time there was communication between them.
It has been said by one of Davis’ nephews, that after the war Davis/d was a cook on a Mississippi steam ship.83 It was said that he lived his later years in Florida, but died in Corydon, Indiana. To date, no documents can be found showing that he lived in Florida at any point in his life. The family stories and knowledge of him seems to stop after his father broke off communications. This researcher, however, believes that the source for Davis' connection working on a steamship may have been his half brother, James. He, in fact, was a cook on a steamship. Harlow Saults, Davis’ nephew, was an old man when he gave this information to his daughter Marian, passed on to this author long after her father’s death.
1866 - In Davis’ Civil War papers, he said that he returned to Harrison County, Indiana, after the war in 1866. This date was repeated in his obituary.273 This is where he married his third wife, Ann Wynn, and where he lived out the rest of his life near Corydon.
1898 - From Davis B.’s pension papers, in 1898 he filed for an invalid’s pension. Letters of reference claimed that he had chronic diarrhae, rheumatism and disease of urinary organs and of the heart85. His final years of life were recorded in his letters of reference for his pension application and invalid’s pay. Statements from his friends and local doctor showed evidence that he and his wife had both had strokes and were not able to care for themselves.
Also in Davis B.’s pensions papers, it gives the names of his brothers and sisters. He also claims that he was born on the 24th of August in 1842, and that the Salts family bible confirming his date of birth was destroyed when his father’s house was burnt during the Civil War. No other stories of this family bible have ever been found. There are other details given, such as the mention of his mother and father, Leland and Mary Jane McGinnis Salts. He stated that the family was from Washington Co., TN, and. that they once lived in Scott Township, Harrison County, Indiana in 1850.85 This has been confirmed by the knowledge of his younger brother, Daniel Napoleon Salts birth records. He, in fact, Daniel Napoleon Salts, was born in Corydon, Indiana while the family was migrating north, cutting across the westward trails while their father looked for work as a blacksmith.
In his obituary, it states that he was a Union soldier from 1862 to the close of the conflict. It did not mention his involvement while serving on the Confederate side. It also said that he was a good cook, and he spent much of his time in his younger days cooking on steamboats, in restaurants and at pleasure camps. He worked for the Keller Manufacturing Company and for the Keller Brothers in other business.273
On his grave stone the following is written: Sergt. David B. Salts 1842-1929 Co. E, 1st Tenn. La Civil War.
[No documents for him after 1866 have been found in his original given name of Davis. So it looks like he changed his name when he deserted the Confederate Army for the Union and stuck with it to his death.]
He can be found on the 1860 Greene Co., TN census under Davis.
1871 - Marriage to Isabelle Foster
Title: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Volume II Letters L to Z Inclusive W. P. A.
Record Location: Harrison County, Indiana
Original Record Located: Corydon Compiled by Indiana Works Projects Administration 1941
Spouse 1: Davis B Salts
Spouse 2: Isabel Foster
Marriage Date: 27 Apr 1871
County: Harrison
Book: F
Original Source Page: 533
1880 - listed in the Henderson County, Indiana census as a boarder
Name: David SALTS
Age: 37
Estimated birth year: <1843>
Birthplace: Illinois
Occupation: Engineer
Relation: Other
Home in 1880: Coryden, Harrison, Indiana
Marital status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Head of household: John A. FELLER
On the 1880 census, it gives the indication that both of his parents were born in Illinois (where his father was currently living). However, this information was probably given by the person who was home at the time the census was taken. Not by David Salts. It is known as a fact from previous census information, his military papers and his death certificate, that he was born in Tennessee.
1880, July 6 - Marriage to Amelia Ann "Anna" Wynn Lamin265
Title: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Volume II Letters L to Z Inclusive W. P. A.
Record Location: Harrison County, Indiana
Original Record Located: Corydon Compiled by Indiana Works Projects Administration 1941
Spouse 1: David B Salts
Spouse 2: Ann Lamon
Marriage Date: 06 Jul 1880
County: Harrison
Book: I
Original Source Page: 228
1900 - US Federal Census, Harrison County, Indiana267
SULTZ, David B. head 62 IN Ire Ire day laborer
SULTZ, Anna wife 48 4 births / 3 children living IN IN KY
SULTZ, Mazella dau 18 IN IN IN house servant
SULTZ, William L. son 15 IN IN IN at school
LAMON, Joseph H. stepson 29 IN IN IN salesman-groceries
1910 - US Federal Census Harrison County, Indiana268
SALTS, David B. head 69 TN TN TN wood works - wagon manufacturer
SALTS, Anna wife 57 IN KY KY
To find David B. Salts and his wife Anna listed in the 1910 entry follow this path - 1910 census, Indiana, Harrison County, Harrison Township, section 93 Corydon Town - his entry is the first one listed. It is very light, but it can easily be read. In the index he has been identified as ??? ???
1920 - US Federal Census Harrison County, Indiana266
Salts, David B. head 77 TN Ire Ire laborer -wagon factory
Anna wife 65 IN KY KY
Hottell, Imogene granddaughter 16 IN IN IN
1929, January 5 - Salts, David B. - Edward G. Keller made an application on David B. Salts behalf to obtain a headstone for his grave. On the document it states, he was a Sergt in Co. E., 1 Tnn., L.A (Battalion E 1st Regiment o f Light Artillery Tennessee). It said he was a Christian and the name of the cemetery was Cedar Hill Cemetery, Corydon, Indiana. His date of death was recorded as July 5, 1929. His application number was 38580 and was dated March 18, 1929. (Of interest: Davis/David’s son was named William Keller Saults)274
Notes for Nancy Emaline (Spouse 1)
There was no mention of Emaline in Davis’ pension. I know I found this marriage listed on the LDS site and at Ancestry.com. But non of Davis’ papers mention her at all. However, that’s isn’t really surprising. It looks like they filed for marriage on the 23rd of May in 1864, then married on the 25th in the same county of Davidson County, Tennessee.
Notes for Isabella (Spouse 2)
On Davis/d’s Civil War pension papers, he first says that she was killed in Nebraska (he didn’t know the date). However, on a second paper, he said that she was killed in Kansas by lightning (again, he didn’t know the exact date). There was no mention of any children on either document.85
Notes for Davis B. & Isabella (Family)
There are no records for any children being born to this marriage.
Notes for Amelia Ann “Anna” (Spouse 3)
In her obituary it states that she was very ill in later life and that her son came from Idaho to take care of her. It also said that she died from cancer of the liver. She had lived all of her life in Harrison and Crawford counties. It also mentions her first husband, Louis P. Laman. It said that he died nearly fifty years ago.
Also, it was mentioned in her obituary that funeral services were going to be held in their family residence on North Market Street. Services were performed by Rev. Edward Rudicel, pastor of the Corydon Christian Church.275
Also, it was mentioned in her obituary that funeral services were going to be held in their family residence on North Market Street. Services were performed by Rev. Edward Rudicel, pastor of the Corydon Christian Church.275