Surname Saturday~Toler

I challenge you, my readers, to grab a cup of coffee or a glass of something cold, sit down at the computer and take on this challenge – Find Joel S. Toler and his new bride Catherine  in the 1870’s census. 

Joel S. Toler is the most mysterious individual that I have in my database. He married my Great Grand Aunt, Alice Catherine “Katie” Johns on 30 September 1869 in Bullock County, Alabama. ¹



I think that Joel severed in the Civil War. I have so little information that I cannot tell if this is the Joel S. Toler or someone else. Regardless, his entire record on Fold3 consists of two pages, an Index page and this page.²  



This document indicates that the above J. S. Toler served as a Private in Company A of the 29th Regiment, Alabama. ³

The document also indicates that J. S. Toler name appeared on a “ROLL OF PRISONERS OF WAR” of men employed in the Commissary Dept., meridian, Miss., Confederate States Army, commanded by Maj. A. E. Love, C. S., surrender at Citronelle, Ala., by Lieut. Gen. R. Taylor, C. S. A., to Maj. Gen. E. R. Canby, U. S. A., May 4, 1865, and paroled at Meridian, Miss., May 12, 1865.
Roll dated Meridian, Miss., May 12, 1865

Joel wife Catherine was named within a Chesterfield County, SC Land Deed on 3 December 1866 (Deed Book 6, page 177 and Deed Book 5, page 598).  Ironically, Alice Catherine in December 1866 signed these deeds as A. C.  Toler.

 

There are some TOLERS in Randolph County, Alabama; it’s a few miles north of Russell and Bullock County where Joel and Catherine and her parents were known to be.  All three counties are in eastern Alabama or on the border with Georgia.

Joel and Alice Catherine Johns Toler had two Children:

• Mary Toler, b. 2 June 1871; d. 12 May 1955, Marlboro County, SC.
• William Shadrac Toler, b.  5 Apr 1974; d.  19 June 1955, Chesterfield Co., SC

In the 1860 census Alice Catherine parents are in Russell County, Alabama.⁴ In Dec 1866 Land Deed, they (Johns family) are shown living in Washington County, Florida. In 1880, Shadrach Johns can be found in the 1880 census with his youngest son, Joseph Henry, and these two Grandchildren. Shadrach is 80 years old.⁵ 




 


Joel and Alice have not been found in any census. I have no birth date for Joel. There is an Alabama death date for a J. S. Toler of 29 January 1916 in Covington. I’m trying to obtain a copy of this death certificate.








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[1] Bullock County, Alabama, Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950, , Marriage of Joel S. Toler & Alice Catherine Johns, 30 September 1869; image, Latter Day Saints, Family Search (http://www.FamilySearch.com : viewed, download 23 May 2014).
[2] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 29 May 2014), entry for J. S. Toler, Private; Company A, Alabama 29th Infantry Regiment.; Confederate.
[3] Ibid.
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Russell County, Alabama, population schedule, Seals Station, Russell County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 893, Line 7, dwelling 238, family 227, Household of Shadrick Johns; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_22.
[5] 1880 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #108, page 460A, Line 22, Dwelling # 43, Family #43, Household of Shade JOHN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T9_1235.