The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Context of Anderson Girls Re-arrest and Banish

Anderson sisters:

from 1850 census

William T Anderson age 11 ("Bloody Bill")
Mary C age 5
Josephine age 2
Martha J age 0

1860 census

Mary Ellen age 14
Josephine age 11
Martha Jane age 8
(Note age discrepancy of Martha Jane should be 9)

So Mollie would have been 16 and Mattie/Janie would have been 11 or 12 at time of collapse.

Mary Ellen was known as "Mollie" and married Col Alexander V Doak in Grayson Texas in 28 Jun 1865.
Martha Jane was known as "Janie" and "Mattie" at different times of life and married Elbridge Geary “Eb” Douglass in Grayson Texas in Feb 20, 1867.

McCorkles:

Nancy Elizabeth Harris known as "Nannie" or "Nan" married Jabez MCorkle early in 1863. After Jabez shot himself in the leg after dropping his rifle from his horse she nursed him in a cave near Little Blue. He died some 3 weeks later and was buried in the Smith Family Davis cemetery. She then married James E Lilley in 1867.

Charity E McCorkle is listed as 14 in the 1850 census making her 27 at the time of her death in the jail collapse. She married Nathan Barnett Kerr on January 26, 1860 in Jackson Co MO. She is reported buried in the Smith Family cemetery next to her brother Jabez. After her death NB, Kerr and his brother William "Bill" joined Quantrill.

Grandstaff:

Mary Ann Grandstaff born 22 Oct 1841, died 2 Mar 1915 known as "Mollie", daughter of William Grandstaff & Mary Polly Blevins. Survived with broken bones and initially was sent to St. Louis after the collapse carrying the charge of being a spy. She would have been 22 at the time of the collapse. She was the source informant for Flora E. Stevens. Remained personal friend of Quantrill and Andersons during and after the war. Married William J Clay on 5 Sep 1866 in Macon Missouri.

Vandiver:

Susan Jane Whitsett married Thomas Vandever/Vandiver 9 Mar 1856 in Jackson County MO. on the 1860 census she is listed 24 years old making her 27 at time of the collapse. Susan Jane and Thomas are listed in the household of Rhoda Harris widowed wife of Reuben Harris Sr. Armenia Vandiver is listed as 5 year old child of Susan and Thomas. Further investigation leads to Susan Jane Whitset being actually Susan Jane Crawford, married William H Whitsett on 25 Mar 1853 in Jackson County MO. Armenia appears to be their child born 1855, she would have been 8 at the time of the collapse. Susan's parents were Jeptha Crawford and Betsy Harris. Betsy Harris being the sister of Reuben Harris Jr. So Susan Jane Whisett Vandiver was a cousin to Nancy Harris McCorkle.

Selvey:

Arminia Crawford married Charles Selvey 28 Feb 1854 in Jackson Co MO. She is listed in the Jeptha Crawford household in 1850 census with sister Susan Jane Crawford age 12 making her 25 years old at time of collapse. Killed in the collapse she is listed as being buried in the Smith Davis cemetery. So again a cousin to Nancy Harris McCorkle.

Ann Elizabeth "Annie" Crawford married John B Selvey, 24 Jan 1854, in Jackson Co MO. She is listed in the 1850 Census in the Jeptha Crawford household with sister Susan Jane and Armenia. Born 6 Mar 1836 she survived the collapse and died 22 Oct 1874 and is buried in Blue Springs Cemetery.

Mundy:

Susan Ann Mundy married Michael Napoleon Womacks 4 Nov 1873 in Jackson County MO. 1850 census has her in the household of Catherine (Stanley) Mundy. Inferred father is Robert Mundy. Born 7 Jun 1847 she would have been 16 at the time of the collapse. She lived to be 97, passing on 1 Aug 1934, buried in Blue Springs Cemetery. Her obituary states she was arrested for giving food to her brother James Mundy a confederate soldier. James is listed as being 4 in 1850 census listing. He pops up with a pension app stating he was in Co I 8th MO PEMM. filed in 1892.

In the 1850 census listing is also Lucinda Mundy age 12 who married Joseph Grey 26 Sep 1854 in Jackson County MO. This fits the 1899 newspaper story of two Mundy sisters being involved but is no mention by her sister in any of the stories Flora Stevens reports. The Greys are listed in 1860 in Johnson Co Kansas and again in 1865 Kansas census along with sister Susan.

Thus 3 sets of sisters:
Josephine, Mollie and Mattie Anderson
Susan, Armenia, Annie Crawford
Susan and Lucinda Mundy (maybe)
Sister in laws
Nan and Charity McCorkle

Mary Ann Grandstaff and Susan Mundy

Messages In This Thread

Women of guardhouse collapse KC MO
Re: Women of guardhouse collapse KC MO
Re: Women of guardhouse collapse KC MO
Re: Names of Women of guardhouse collapse KC MO
Add 1899 Story
Mollie Anderson on bond after jail collapse
Anderson girls sent beyond Reb lines Jan 1865
Context of Anderson Girls Re-arrest and Banishment
Re: Context of Anderson Girls Re-arrest and Banish