James Fielding: Man of Many Hats

**Blogger's note here - apologies for the small break in my blogging.  I have been working on my fiction writing as well lately and that has taken a great deal of my "free time" lately, as I do this in addition to a full time job and normal day-to-day activities**

This is the third blog post in a series on James Fielding, one of my more fascinating ancestors.  After his early life and his stint in the Civil War, he found himself injured and having to change the course of his life.  This is that story.

Because he had injured his shoulder and his foot during his brief stint in the War of Rebellion, James Fielding found himself having a hard time doing manual labor.  While he resided with his mother-in-law Emeline McDonald in the Second Ward of Allegheny City directly after being discharged per his entry in the Civil War Draft of 1862, by the end of 1863 he was living in Richland Township, at the northern end of Allegheny County.  According to medical affidavits filed later in his life, he lived here for three years.  Daughter Emma's death certificate stated she was born in Richland Township in 1866, which helps lend credence to this as their location at the time.

From 1867 until early 1869, James also owned land in McClure Township, a lot he bought for $250.  The lot was a plot in a development divided by Frederick Eschelman and John S. Ashworth.  It was described as "having a front of twenty feet on a street, thirty feet wide and extending back on the south side ninety eight feet more or less and on the north side sixty seven feet more or less to edge of stone quarry rock, also the right to a spring for family use situate on the north east corner of said street."

I should note here that there is a bit of confusion as to where he lived and worked, as several different documents give different accounts.  What I do know is he did a number of manual labor jobs that required sitting, for his foot did still pain him.

Per an affidavit filed by James Godfrey on 29 Jan 1891, James Fielding rented bench room in Godfrey's blacksmith shop to work as a locksmith and a bell hanger from 1866 to 1867.  H. J. Westerman claimed in an affidavit filed on 2 Jan 1891 that he had known James Fielding for 25 years and that around the years of 1866 and 1867, James worked in the same shop as Westerman (probably James Godfrey's shop) and that Westerman helped to fix James' arm when it became dislocated.  

James was listed as living at 7 Ohio Street in Allegheny City in the 1868 city directory, working as the locksmith and bell hanger, but that stint appeared to be short lived.  By late 1868, he was working in a sewing factory, probably in Allegheny City.  Per the Medical Evidence Affidavit of Dr. M. J. Koenig filed 2 August 1892 found in James' pension file, the following was recorded:

"His right eye is blind in consequence of a cataract, during the year of 1868 found Jas. Fielding light employment in a sewing factory where he had to chisel with a light hammer at a piece of steel, when his shoulder caused him to make a mis-shift, starting a fine steel chip to cut through the cornea of the right eye.  He has consulted opticians of high standing, who adviced him not to have it operated on, as it might endanger the left eye."

The 1870 census has always confused me for the Fielding family.  James was listed as living as a boarder in the Sherman House Hotel in Ward 10 of St. Louis, Missouri and working as a printer, but it appears he was just passing through the city.  There is evidence he was working as a traveling printer and salesman.

His wife Sarah and their children were enumerated in the fifth district of New Orleans, Louisiana.  While Sarah was not listed in the 1870 New Orleans City Directory, her neighbor on the census, Nathan Johnson, engineer, was living on Seguin, between Delaronde and Villere according to the directories.  what is interesting is that their living children, James, Fanny and Emma, were all listed with the surname of Andrew instead of Fielding.  Sarah's mother, Emeline, was living in New Orleans with her second husband Elmon McLaughlin, so it is likely that Sarah and the children traveled down the rivers to live near Emeline while James was traveling.

From 1872 to 1873, he lived at 186 Rebecca Street in Allegheny City, working as a machinist and then as an agent.  While further research did not reveal what kind of an agent, it is surmised he was a book agent of sorts.  It is likely this was the house that daughter Nellie was born in, as she was born 2 August 1872.

At the biennial review for his pension payment in 1873, the pension was reduced to $4 per month.  Apparently, the Medical Board thought his disability didn't warrant the pension he was receiving and the degree of his disability was likely reduced.

By 1874, James Fielding had moved to Cleveland, Ohio.  At first, it appears he moved there himself without taking his family, as he was listed in the 1874 Cleveland area directory as a boarder living at Saint Charles hotel, where he was listed as a book agent.  He likely sold subscriptions for Appleton Publications, who created such works as Picturesque America.   Appleton's was located at 90, 92, and 94 Grand Street in New York City, according to an advertisement in the Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette in 1870. They sold subscriptions to their essays for $4.50 a year.  By 1874, they were located at 549 and 550 Broadway Avenue in New York City and had completed the essays that were become Picturesque America, which was listed as James' employer in the 1875 Cleveland Directory.  

By December 1875, he was working for the newspaper The Christian at Work, and an advertisement they ran in the Daily Cleveland Herald made mention of him: 

"Mr. James Fielding, who is widely and favorably known, has been engaged to travel in this section and appoint local agents throughout the country." (18 Dec 1875, page 8).

It is not known where his family lived from 1874 to 1875, but by 1876, the family was living with him in Cleveland, as son Edward was born at 566 Hamilton on 20 April 1876.  However, just a year later, they were living once again in Allegheny City, as James was listed again as in the Pittsburgh area city directories, living at 77 Bidwell.  He worked as a printer and then a watchman.  Son Marcus was likely born in this house, as he was born 2 December 1878.

The 1880 census listed him living in Allegheny City, probably still at the Bidwell address.  He was listed as a locksmith by occupation, with wife Sarah, sons James, Edward and Marcus, and daughters Jennie, Emma and Nellie.  It was at the Bidwell address that James filed another declaration for increase on 13 March 1880, claiming his wound had become much worse, rendering him incapable of following his usual occupation (though which "usual occupation" is not listed). James J. Brown and Daniel J. Boden were the witnesses on this affidavit.  He stated he was only making $4 a month as a pension.  This was rejected on 13 May 1880.

While his life continued on and he had a stint as a police officer, that will be listed in a future blog post.

Sources Used:

"1870 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 July 2016), Entry for James Fielding; Year: 1870, Census Place: St Louis Ward 10 St Louis, Missouri, Roll: M593_820, Page: 26B, Image: 93043, and Family History Library Film: 552319.

"1870 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 July 2016), Entry for Sarah V Fielding and household; Year: 1870, Census Place: New Orleans Ward 14 Orleans, Louisiana, Roll: M593_525, Page: 789A, Image: 271699, and Family History Library Film: 552024.

Act of July 14, 1862 Pension Card for James Fielding, volume 3, page 144, Co. E, 155 Pennsylvania Infantry; Scanned copy provided in the pension file for James Fielding from NARA sent to Kelley Wood-Davis 29 Jan 2020 by Deidre Erin Denton, genealogist; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed book 223: 621-623, Frederick D. and Eliza Ann Eshelman, and John S. and Ellen Ashworth, to James Fielding, recorded 17 Oct 1867; FHL microfilm 1509528 and 1509529.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed book 249: 607-608, James and Sarah V. Fielding to David Wright, recorded 18 February 1870; FHL microfilm 1509761.

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 July 2016), Entry for james Fielding and family; Year: 1880, Census Place: Allegheny Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1086, Family History Film: 1255086, Page: 132B, Enumeration District: 006, and Image: 0269.

"Appleton's Journal," advertisement, Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 November 1870, page 1; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 July 2020).

Atlas of the cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and the Adjoining Boroughs (Philadlephia, Pennsylvania: G.M. Hopkins, 1876); digital images, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 5 February 2021), Plate 10-11> viewed Rebecca Street in the 5th Ward of Allegheny City.

Beers, F. W., and S. N. Beers, Map of Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania : from actual surveys (Philadelphia: Smith, Gallupp and Hewitt, 1862); digital image, Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division (https://www.loc.gov/item/2012592151/ : accessed 7 July 2021), viewed part of Richland township.

Brief in the Case of James Fielding, Private, Company E, 155th Regiment of Pa. Vol.: Claim for Invalid Pension Proof Exhibited, dated 29 April 1863; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Certificate of Disability for Discharge for James Fielding, Private, Co. E, 155th PA, filed 11 Jan 1863; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

The Cleveland Directory 1874/1875 (Cleveland, Ohio: W. S. Robison, 1874), 209, "Fielding James, bk agt, bds St. Charles Hotel"; digital images, HathiTrust (https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100677838 : accessed 20 July 2020).

The Cleveland Directory 1875/1876 (Cleveland, Ohio: Robison, Savage and Co., 1875), 212, "Fielding James, agt. Appleton's Picturesque America, 20 ws. Pub Sqr. r. 1 Buckeye"; digital images, HathiTrust (https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100677838 : accessed 20 July 2020).

The Cleveland Directory 1876/1877 (Cleveland, Ohio: Robison, Savage and Co., 1876), 204, "Fielding James, agt. r. 570 Hamilton"; digital images, HathiTrust (https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100677838 : accessed 20 July 2020).

"The Christian at Work," advertisement, Daily Cleveland Herald (Cleveland, Ohio), 18 December 1875, page 8; online images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 20 July 2020).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1863-1864 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1863), 100, "Fielding James, machinist, 56 Fourth"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1868/1869 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1868), 168, "Fielding James, locksmithing and bell hanging, 7 Ohio, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 28 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1872-1873 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1872), 169, "Fielding James, machinist, 186 Rebecca, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 29 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1873/1874 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1873), 192, "Fielding James, agt, 186 Rebecca, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 29 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1874/1875 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1874), 209, "Fielding James, agt, n Perry av, 2d ward, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 29 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1877-1878 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1877), 203, "Fielding Jas, printer, 77 Bidwell, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 29 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1878/1879 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1878), 221, "Fielding Jas, printer, 77 Bidwell, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 29 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1879-1880 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1879), 229, "Fielding Jas, watchman, 77 Bidwell, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 29 July 2016).

General Affidavit of Henry Barr, filed 3 Feb 1891, Pension file of James Fielding; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

General Affidavit of H. J. Westerman in the claim of James Fielding, co E, 155 Regiment, Pa Volunteers, no 11930, filed 2 Jan 1891; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Invalid Claim for Increase for James Fielding, filed 13 March 1880; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Invalid Pension Claim Declaration for James Fielding, filed 8 Jan 1863; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Medical Evidence Affidavit of Dr. M. J. Koenig, in the Claim of James Fielding, pvt, Co E, 155th Pa Vols, number 11390 for Increase, filed 2 August 1892; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

National Archives and Records Administration, "U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 July 2016), Entry for James Fielding, born about 1837 from 2nd Ward Allegheny City, Pennsylvania; citing "General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934". Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls.

"Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 February 2020), Entry for male Child Fielding, born 20 April 1876 at 556 Hamilton, Cleveland; Cuyahoga > Birth registers with index 1872-1876 > image 204 of 288; FHL Microfilm number 1986157; citing County courthouses, Ohio.

"Publishers' Notice to Picturesque America Suscribers," advertisement, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 28 October 1874, page 5; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 July 2020).

Reimbursement Card, Certificate number 11390, for invalid pensioner James Fielding; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Surgeon's Certificate of Biennial, Annual, or Semi-Annual Examination, on which the Pensioner Draws his Pension for James Fielding, filed in Pittsburgh, 13 Sept 1873; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

"U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 July 2021), Entry for James Fielding, birth year about 1837, residence Second Ward (Allegheny City),; citing "Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865". NM-65, entry 172, 620 volumes. NAI: 4213514. Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110. National Archives at Washington D.C.