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.

James Fielding : Early Years

I have been spending some of my personal genealogy research time focusing on my Fielding family, because, well, they fascinate me so.  I don't know if it is because they are the quintessential blue-collar family, or just because I did not know much about them when I was growing up.  Anyway, here is another blog on my Fielding family.

My pap's maternal grandfather was a man named James Fielding, who had lived a very full life, according to multiple documents.  I wanted to find out more about him, as the Fielding family once was one of the biggest brick walls in my tree, and certain records I stumbled upon led me to find a landmine of information.  After spending a great deal of time processing his Civil War Pension file, I knew I wanted to write about him as well.  But I had too much information to write just one blog post on him, so bear with me as I tell the tale of this wonderful man in a series of them.

James was the son of the shoemaker John Fielding, who already has a post written about him, as he is one of my elusive family members.

James Fielding was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania on 14 September 1837 as the third son and one of several children of the aforementioned James Fielding and his wife Martha.  His father at least was English, having been born in Manchester.  

John, I have discovered since I wrote his blog post, likely came over as a "servant" aboard the packet ship Columbia, which arrived on 21 January 1828 in New York City. 

James' mother's parentage remains a mystery, as does her correct surname, but I will keep checking for cracks in that brick wall.

While James is not listed by name on the 1840 census, he is enumerated as one of two free white male children under the age of five in his father’s household in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, where John was listed as "Jno. Fealding".  Brother Joseph was enumerated as the other son. James was listed as living with his parents and family on the 1850 census where the family was enumerated in Allegheny City's Fourth Ward. He was marked as having attended school that year, and both of his parents could read and write since neither was marked as illiterate on the census.

By 1860, James had been trained as a machinist and was living on Ohio Street in the Fourth Ward of Allegheny City with his parents, though the census enumerator for that district simply listed each member of the family by their first initial and misspelled their surname, putting Fielden instead of Fielding.

Machinists in the period before the Civil War saw a great deal of change in the way they worked, as many different machines were being invented to make machining more precise and uniform.  After all, it appears that precision machining got its biggest push from the event known as the Mexican-American War, when the U.S. Government requested bids for rifles with interchangeable parts.  Tools, such as planers, presses, and various machines, were invented that allowed machinists to make higher quality and more uniform parts faster.   Apparently, there was still a great deal of hand shaping needed for parts cast by machines, and James was likely trained in this kind of work, as later pension documents suggest.

While no documents state where he was employed, James first appears as a machinist in city directories in the 1861 Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities, residing at 104 Ohio.  Thie address was his father John's and brother Cooper's address of residence as well.  As his father was listed as living on Ohio Street in city directories as early as 1850, it could be assumed that James lived there for a period of years with the family.  Ohio Street was the borderline for the Third and Fourth Wards of Allegheny City according to the 1855 map, The Cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny With Parts of Adjacent Boroughs, Pennsylvania, and since the family lived on the Fourth Ward side in the 1860 census, they had to have lived on the south side of the street.

On 27 November 1861, James married a young woman by the name of Sarah Virginia McDonald (also spelled MacDonald).  

Sarah was the daughter of Henderson McDonald and Emeline Peterson and the stepdaughter of Elmon McLaughlin.  She was born 1 September 1839 somewhere in Allegheny County as Henderson and Emeline's eldest daughter.  Through her mother, she was descended from Anthony Morris, one of the English Quaker founders of the city of Philadelphia, and of whom I am still doing research.

Unlike James' family, the McDonald family appears to have moved around a bit.  In 1840, Sarah was listed as the one free white female under the age of five in the household of Henderson McDonald in Pittsburgh's South Ward on that census, and in 1850 was living probably on Federal Street in Allegheny City's Third Ward, as that census and the 1850 city directory state.  In 1860, she was living with her widowed mother and sister in Allegheny City's First Ward in the household of one Ann Aiken.

The couple was married on 27 November 1861, just as the Civil War was taking place.

Where the couple was married is a bit of a mystery.  It was somewhere in Allegheny County, that much is known, but conflict exists in just where in Allegheny County.  When sent a form asking personal questions in regards to his pension in 1898, James Fielding answered that he and Sarah had been married in Sharpsburg, which was upriver and up the railroad tracks from Allegheny City.  However, a small blurb in the Pittsburgh Presbyterian Banner in March of 1862 gave the following:

"On the 27th of November, at the residence of the bride's mother, by Rev. John Williams, Mr. JAMES FIELDING to Muss SARAH V. McDONALD, all of Allegheny City." ~ 

"Married," Pittsburgh Presbyterian Banner (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 March 1862, page 3

Since the marriage was listed in a Presbyterian paper, it can be assumed that Rev. John Williams was a Presbyterian minister.  However, further research on the man did not yield any information, leaving it a bit difficult at present to locate a church with which the marriage might be registered. 

The city directory for the 1861-1862 period for Sarah's mother lists Emeline as living on Robinson in Allegheny City.  It is possible she resided briefly in Sharpsburg in November of 1861, but it is more likely that James' recollection of where he was wed by 1898 was a bit fuzzy.  

The marriage had but a brief interlude, for James, like most of the young men of his generation, went off to the war.  But that's a story for the next post.

More posts on James Fielding:

• James Fielding: Man of Many Hats
• James Fielding: Police Officer
• James Fielding: The Grand Army of the Republic and the 1890s
• James Fielding: The House on Norwood Avenue
• James Fielding: The Stay at the Home for Disabled Veterans and Death

Sources Used:

Ancestry.com, "1840 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 July 2016), Year: 1840, Census Place: Pittsburgh South Ward Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 441, Page: 373, Image: 764, and Family History Library Film: 0020536 (Entry for Henderson McDonald).

Ancestry.com, "1840 United States Federal Census," database online Entry for Jno Fealding and household, Year: 1840, Census Place: Allegheny Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 440, Page: 290, Image: 592, and Family History Library Film: 0020536.

Ancestry.com, "1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 July 2016), Year: 1850, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 3 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_744, Page: 152B, and Image: 310 (Entry for Henderson McDonald and family).

"1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 July 2016), Entry for John Feilding and household, Year: 1850, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 4 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_744, Page: 217B, and Image: 440; citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Ancestry.com, "1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 July 2016), Year: 1850, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 4 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_744, Page: 217B, and Image: 440.

Ancestry.com, "1860 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 July 2016), Year: 1860, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 1 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M653_1067, Page: 635, Image: 102, and Family History Library Film: 805067 (as Emaline McDonald and daughters).

Ancestry.com, "1860 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 July 2016), Entry for J. Fielden and family, Year: 1860, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 4 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M653_1068, Page: 676, Image: 63, and Family History Library Film: 805068 (enumerated as J. Fielden and family); citing 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

APIAMS, "The History Of Precision Machining," American Precision Industries, American Precision Industries Metal Specialties, 30 November 2017 (https://apiams.com/blog/appreciating-the-history-of-precision-machining/ : accessed 24 June 2021).

Application for Reimbursement, certificate number 11390, deceased pensioner James Fielding, E, 155th Pa Inf., dated 11 April 1913; 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.

The Cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny With Parts of Adjacent Boroughs, Pennsylvania (New York City, New York: J.H. Colton and Company, 1855); digital images, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 24 June 2021), viewed Ohio Street.

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1861-1862 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1861), 93, "Fielding James, machinist, 104 Ohio, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1861-1862 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1861), 218, "McDonald Emily, widow Henderson, dressmaker, Robinson n Darragh, A(Allegheny)".

Fahnestock's Pittsburgh directory for 1850: containing the names of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, & vicinity : their occupation, places of business and dwelling houses : also, a list of the public offices, banks, &c, 1850 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Geo. Parkin & Co, 1850), 30, "Fielding John, shoemr, Ohio, Al"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 July 2016).

Fahnestock's Pittsburgh directory for 1850: containing the names of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, & vicinity : their occupation, places of business and dwelling houses : also, a list of the public offices, banks, &c, 1850 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Geo. Parkin & Co, 1850), 61, "McDonald Henderson Capt. Federal, Al(llegheny)".

"Married," Pittsburgh Presbyterian Banner (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 March 1862, page 3; online images, NewspaperArchive (www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 12 January 2021).

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 July 2016), Entry for Sarah V. Fielding; died 4 October 1907; Certificate number: 95518; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Smith, Robert F. "Machining and Machinists," article, The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia (https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/machining-and-machinists/ : accessed 24 June 2021).

Soldier's Application for Increase of Pension for James Fielding, filed 14 Sept 1907; Scanned copy provided in the pension file for James Fielding. 

Voucher circular questions for James Fielding, certificate number 11390, dated 5 July 1898; Scanned copy provided in the pension file for James Fielding.

Chasing the Elusive: Marcus Fielding

I recently have been digging into my Fielding family tree.  My grandpap's mother was Birdie Boggs Fielding, the daughter of James Fielding and Sarah Virginia MacDonald.  James Fielding filed for a Civil War pension file, which I recently received, and boy are there a bunch of neat things in it that I will hopefully get into when I finish processing it (there are over 156 images all told in the file.... so I am working on it).

Upon receiving the file and starting the processing of all of the documents, I realized that my Fielding branch isn't as fleshed out as the three other branches of my tree are.... I have a vast collection of information on the rest of my first great-grandparents' families (Woods, Waldspurgers, and Vautiers) but not so much on the Fieldings.... I am setting out to rectify this now.

That being said, I hit my first brick wall in my great-grandmother's slightly elder brother, Marcus MacDonald Fielding....  I know where he was born and even where he died, but so much of his life seems to be missing, so I figured he's be my first Fielding piece to appear on this blog.  And of course, he's a Chasing the Elusive!

Marcus MacDonald "Mark" Fielding was born 2 December 1878 in what was then Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (now Pittsburgh's North Side).  He was the youngest son born to James Fielding and Sarah Virginia MacDonald and the second youngest of their seven children.  His year of birth is one of the first points that is confusing, as the 1880 census and 1900 census, as well as the voucher circular questions found in James Fielding's pension file that were filled out by James himself all list Marcus' year of birth as being 1878, but any document that Marcus had a chance to fill out in later life has his year of birth as 1879.  Perhaps he thought he was a year younger than he actually was?

Marcus lived with his family, mostly in Allegheny City (although James seems to have moved around a bit himself, as I am working those details out at the moment), until about 21 years of age, according to census records, as he's enumerated with the family in both the 1880 and 1900 US Federal Censuses.

After the 1900 census, he disappears until 1918, when he filled out a draft card in Chicago, Illinois for World War One.   On 12 September 1918, he gave his place of residence as 2358 Indiana Avenue, Flat 608 in Chicago.  This same document lists his place of employment as the Ordnance Department of the Standard Steel Car Company in Hammond, Indiana, where he worked as a machinist. On the 1920 census enumeration, he's listed as living as a roomer at 1570 Van Buren Street and employed as a machinist, but out of work.

He then disappears again until 1930.  On 19 April 1930, he's enumerated on the 1930 Federal census as living at 143 West 14th Street in Los Angeles, California, and working as a tile setter.  What's interesting is he's also listed as divorced, but no marriage can be found for him previous to 1930 (nor do I know where to look for one).

There is one marriage for him I was able to find.  On 25 November 1939, at the age of 60 (or 59, depending on what year is correct on his birth record) he married a sixty-three-year-old widow by the name of Lillie Bea Millheisler Alderson in Los Angeles, California.  The couple was married by Harold E. Carlson, a Methodist minister, and the witnesses were Hilda Sherman of 1565 West 14th Street and Signa Carlson of 1575 West 14th Street, both in Los Angeles.   This marriage was short-lived though, as local newspapers reported on 6 January 1940, just over a full month after marrying, that Lillie had filed for divorce.  By 8 February 1940, the divorce was granted.  It is not known why the couple divorced, as the records have not yet been located.

Three months later, Mark, as he was known, was working at the Tanbark Flats Forest Experiment Station Dry Lake Branch Camp in San Jose Township, Los Angeles County, California as a tile cutter and stonemason, as enumerated in the 1940 Census.

The next and final document I have on him is his death record, which indicates he died at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Hondo, Los Angeles County, California on 11 June 1952 and was cremated at the Los Angles County Crematory fifteen days later.  No cause of death is noted on the certificate, which is interesting.

Here is what I can't find for him:

Any record of him on the 1910 Federal Censuses... and I have tried searching different census sites - because I don't know WHERE he lived, I can't eliminate anything at this point.

A record for his first marriage (which had to have happened after 1920).

His World War Two draft card registration... he would have been old enough for the "Old Man's Draft", but no record can be found as of yet on Ancestry or Fold 3.

Any indication as to why he moved across the country, although I have a hunch he went to California to look for work during the Depression, or right before it... perhaps he was running from a bad marriage too?

Right now, he's just there.  I am hoping as I flesh out information on his siblings I will find a breadcrumb that will lead me back to him, but at the moment that's all I have...... So he's an Elusive I need to chase!

Sources Used
"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 July 2016), Year: 1900, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 10 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1357, Page: 3A, Enumeration District: 0081, and FHL microfilm: 1241357; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

"1920 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 February 2020), Entry for Mark Fielding, Year: 1920, Census Place: Chicago Ward 18 Cook (Chicago), Illinois, Roll: T625_329, Page: 24B, and Enumeration District: 1054; citing Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1940 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 February 2020), Entry for Mark Fielding (indexed as Ficlding), Year: 1940, Census Place: San Jose Los Angeles, California, Roll: m-t0627-00255, Page: 3A, and Enumeration District: 19-748; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

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), Year: 1880, Census Place: Allegheny Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1086, Family History Film: 1255086, Page: 132B, Enumeration District: 006, and Image: 0269; citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 February 2020), Entry for Mark Fielding, d. 11 June 1952, cn 12141; referencing Death certificates, Los Angeles County, California, nos. 10950-12576, 1952; citing California State Archives, Sacramento.

"California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 February 2020), Entry for mark Fielding and Lillie Bea Alderson, 25 Nov 1939, cn 17086, book 1633, page 290, Los Angeles County (California); FHL microfilm 2,114,343; citing county courthouses, California.

"California, Death Index, 1940-1997," index online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 February 2020), Entry for Mark Fielding, born 2 Dec 1879, died 11 Jun 1952, Los Angeles County; citing State of California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.

"Divorces Filed," The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California), 6 January 1940, page 15; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 26 February 2020).

"Divorces Granted," The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California), 8 February 1940, page 37; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 26 February 2020).

"Intention to Marry," The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California), 21 November 1939, page 15; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 26 February 2020).

Voucher circular questions for James Fielding, certificate number 11390, dated 5 July 1898; Scanned copy provided in the pension file for James Fielding sent via electronic file 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.

"U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 February 2020), Entry for Mark Fielding, born 2 Dec 1879; SSN 568186575; Parents James Fielding and Sarah V. MacDonald; citing Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.

"U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 February 2020), Entry for Marcus Fielding, born 2 Dec 1879; Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1452382; Draft Board: 02; citing United States, Selective Service System. "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918". Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.