Posts Tagged ‘genealogy’

Confederate Railroad

Confederate Railroad

Confederate State Notes

Perhaps the most interesting portrait to appear on Confederate money is that of John E. Ward. His portrait was on a $10 bill in 1861. The irony is, although a native of Georgia and a holder of high offices, he was not in favor of secession. In fact, Mr. Ward left the South partly because he did not support the Confederate cause.

From the beginning of the Civil War, both the Union and Confederate governments resorted to paper money to finance their efforts. They did not want to restrict themselves to the hard money, i.e., gold and silver coin that was the predominate issue before the war. Paper money up to this point consisted of notes issued by private banks, state and local governments, railroads, and merchants. Nearly all these notes were printed by specialty bank note printers located in the North, mainly in New York.

Having all the printers located in the Union gave newly appointed Confederate Treasury Secretary Christopher Memminger a unique problem. He couldn't do business with the enemy yet he didnt have the equipment or the expertise in South.

At first, he hired some lithographers (duplicators) in Richmond to print Confederate notes. Southern bankers who were accustomed to handling beautiful, steel-engraved bank notes, immediately protested when they saw the poorly produced lithographic bills. These notes were easy-to-counterfeit and printed on cheap paper. Embarrassed by the criticism, Memminger, a banker by profession, pursued another idea.

Memminger secretly persuaded two New York expert engravers (William Leggett and Edward Keating) to move to Richmond and set up shop. He then ordered a supply of critically needed $5 and $10 bills. In wanting to expedite the process, the engravers didnt have time to engrave new steel plates from scratch. With Memmingers permission they decided to modify an existing plate provided by the Mechanics Savings Bank of Savannah, Georgia. Leggett and Keating replaced the old lettering with Confederate language and left intact the original pictures and vignettes. Leggett and Edwards quickly printed 20,333 $5 and $10 bills.

Collectors soon showed up after the war assembling complete sets of the Confederate notes and begin to ask, who was that man on the 1861 $10 bill? "That man" was mistakenly identified as Williamson S. Oldham, a Confederate senator from Texas. This was the accepted truth until 1915 when a researcher found a portrait of Oldham and it had no likeness to the picture on the $10 note.

Ads were placed in newspapers and other publications and circulated to millions of readers all through the South in an attempt to name the individual on the note. Flyers were printed showing a picture of the $10 bill and sent to patriotic organizations, libraries, historical societies, postmasters, and to the 1916 reunion of the United Confederate Veterans. A reward was even offered to anyone who could correctly identify the man. As a result, many names were submitted. Laughably, at least three people in the South said it was Abraham Lincoln.

At long last a $10 bill issued in 1855 by the "Mechanics Savings Bank" of Savannah, Georgia appeared. It revealed a curious fact that the design of the Bank note had been set aside and duplicated by the Confederacy. This narrowed the search and placed the burden to solve the mystery squarely on the shoulders of the city of Savannah.

Further research found a story in "The Savannah Morning News" of Saturday, December 2, 1854, on the opening of the Mechanics Savings Bank of Savannah. It described the banks "beautifully designed and executed" bank notes that sported a portrait of a well-known Savannah political figure, John E. Ward. Ward had been a founding partner of the bank, mayor of Savannah, President of the Georgia State Senate, Minister to Russia and soon-to-be president of the 1856 Democratic National Convention (which nominated James Buchanan for president).

Mr. Ward left the South partly because he was not in sympathy with the cause of the Confederacy. He moved to New York City and established a successful law practice. He became practically a stranger to the South and never went back to Savannah to live. It is with great irony his likeness was, in ignorance placed on a Treasury note of the government he did not recognize.

Confederate Railroad - Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind (Music Video)

American Roots

American Roots

Native American Jewelry Rituals

The ritual of the Native American jewelry has played a major role in the past and present beliefs and the United States is the symbol of nature in tribal ceremonies, and represents status in Indian culture.

Natural materials were used in the manufacture of jewelry, including feathers with minerals and precious stones such as turquoise and silver.

For thousands of years, the turquoise has been preserved, both for its natural beauty and its supposed power to heal. Turquoise is a holy stone that was used for centuries to decorate ritual objects and is still considered a valuable control by Indians of the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Pueblo and other Indian nations. The story goes back even earlier to ancient Egypt, as exquisite turquoise jewelry was discovered in graves. Natural materials were a reminder of the earth around them.

Religious jewelry has played an important role in American culture. During healing ceremonies and tribal rituals, the Indian people to take responsibility and pride to wear only certain types of religious jewelry that were the right colors, materials, and represent good symbol for this ritual event . Native American history tells us that the jewelry worn by the native representative of the various stages in the life of an individual has reached. In many American Indian tribes are encouraged youth to adulthood when they acquire the spiritual totem consisting of shells, beads, or other symbols of nature.

Native American religious jewelry is often given to women after their first menstrual cycle of women and the achievement of new couples together for health, happiness and forth fruitful forth on the path of family life.

Because our culture today uses jewelry mostly for decorative purposes, we often forget the roots of the jewelry and how, for some crops, it can have a deeper spiritual significance. Recognizing the importance of this religious jewelry in other cultures allows us to see greater symbolic uses that jewelry can be used.

Today. Our society and culture adorns the Native American jewelry for her elegance and fashion and most people are not aware of the religious, ritual and ceremonial values of this jewelry. In recognizing the values and understanding of all American Indians on jewelry, we can learn to admire the beauty of this token, the American culture.

The American Roots

Albany Records

Albany Records

New Drug Law Will Remove Drug History from Public Records

There is much uproar in Albany these days: the capital of New York State is in turmoil due to the rift within the state Senate. The issue that prompted such drastic division of opinion addresses the Rockefeller drug law reforms passed as part of the 2009-2010 budget package, which allows some drug offenders to conceal their criminal records after completing drug court. Is it just a matter of cutting costs?

Senate Republicans want to repeal this provision because they feel it may threaten the lives of many peaceful citizens. Effective June 8, 2009, drug offenders who have satisfied court requirements can seal the portion of their public records that contain their criminal history. The primary sponsors of bill S. 5684 feel the provision is "mind-boggling", "defies all common sense" and grossly neglects to protect public interest. They feel if the reform does not pass, innocent people may die as a result, so to many it is "a matter of life and death".

The biggest problem the opposition sees with the law is that it wipes the slate clean for former drug criminals, and they have carte-blanche as far as passing criminal background checks. Thus, they are free to apply for any position that requires public trust. The new bill proposes to at least inform some potential employers, including schools, daycare centers, nursing homes, etc. that the new hire has prior drug convictions. This means only a partial "fresh start" for drug criminals, preserving the compromising section of their public records for some eyes only, but not others.

Now, what do you think? Don't you feel torn? I feel it really depends on the kind of drug offense in question. Take some dumb kid who never hurt anyone else, but succumbed to peer pressure. He made a mistake dabbling with drugs, got caught, educated and reformed by a rehab program, and is ready to turn a new leaf. He has his whole life ahead of him and deserves an equal chance. Take it away and you may ruin this young promising life. Then again, a ruthless drug dealer turning young kids on to drugs during school recess, needs to be kept away from the vulnerable members of society for good. They better keep him away from my kids, that's for sure! I say, his criminal history better remain an accessible portion of his public records.

Violin Suite from FAME the Musical (Albany Records)