Thread by @RedJacketette

#CivilWar veteran Theophilus L Covington widowed two women and was a widower once before his own death in 1911.

I still have significant gaps in his story from his birth to 1875.

Where should I start? Maybe chronology will be key. So... #BHM #USHistory #MIHistory🧵

1st sign I have of him is 1860 census where we see his wife Anna Ward Covington and daughter Gertrude, aged 2, born in Michigan. Living in Owosso, Shiawassee County - which became a sundown town. No Theophilus. 2/

During the Civil War, there were income taxes so I find Theophilus L Covington (fabulous uncommon name) in Houghton County Michigan by November of 1862 operating a saloon. 3/

Backed up by Anna M Covington's presence (+2? Gertrude, and the theory her husband is still alive? Speculation) on the Michigan State Census in 1864 Houghton. 4/

Theo is gone to join the military. He enlisted in 1862 Milwaukee, Wisconsin and identifies himself as a white man. Wisconsin did not allow for people of African descent in their regiments, but they got some anyway! Also see Charles Jeffrey, the piper. 5/

Did they divorce formally or did he disappear? Whatever the case, Anna married Larkin Jones in November 1864. Theo's son Joseph C Covington is born on 11 September 1864 in Baltimore, MD. His death certificate (1910) lists his mother as Ellen Riddle. 6/

In 1867, Theophilus is in Harrisburg, PA and married to Caroline Popel of a longstanding local family. It's not going well. 7/

Carrie Covington is listed alone in the 1869 city directory, showing Theo is already gone. By the late 1870s that will change to add "widow Theophilius." Theo's son Joseph seems to be close to her until her death in 1890. 8/

In April 1869, Theo had gone to Philadelphia and joined the Navy. He would be discharged in Brooklyn NY in 1873. In 1880 he was in Sligo, PA. As a vet, he was enumerated in 1890 on the surviving schedule. 9/

He reconciled with his son Joseph, probably after Carrie's death. He was already in the Marion, Indiana Union Veterans home at the time of this 1898 clipping. 10/

He would stay there until his death in 1911. 11/

His former wife Anna (1836-1880) and daughter Gertrude became businesswomen and community builders in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula before their legacy was forgotten.

Please help me track him farther back. #Unerasing #MIHistory #KeweenawHistory #Genealogy /🧵

@bluekayak1 it made the final cut. Yes... but it's definitely them, see Joseph at the same address? I think Theophilus had something of a wanderlust mixed with a less than positive attachment style. there is clearly more to find in any case!

Follow up to Anna Ward Covington: findagrave.com/memorial/18661…
(I didn't make this BU memorial so don't come at me, I just talked her out of it when I finally found it so out of spatial context)

Defensive about this due to great fervor in FindAGrave Facebook groups lol

@threadreaderapp unroll