Saturday, October 15, 2022

It's Family Time~The Mysterious Joel S. Toler Family (Revisited)

Joel S. Toler, age unknown, served with Company A, 29th Regiment Alabama.
We know he survived the Civil War because on 30 September 1869 he married Alice Catherine Johns in Bullock County, Alabama. After his marriage on this date both he and his wife, Alice Catherine Johns are a complete mystery. No record of the couple has been found after their marriage on 30 September 1869 in Bullock County, Alabama.   

I do know that between 5 April 1874 (Birth of their Son and last known child) and 3 June 1880 (1880 Census Enumeration) that Joel and Alice had two children, a daughter and a son and that something catastrophic happen to them and other family members.

In researching this family I found them in the 1860 census living in Seals Station, Russell County, Alabama.

1860 CENSUS: Southern Division, Seals Station, Russell County, Alabama Roll: M653_22; Page: 893; Image: 499; Family History Library Film: 803022; Line 7, Dwelling 238, Family 227; Shadrick JOHNS, 60, Male, Day Laborer, born in SC; Mary JOHNS, 44, Female, House Keeper, born in SC; Alice C. JOHNS, 16, Female, House Keeper, born in SC; Thomas H. JOHNS, 14, Male, born in SC; Henry J. JOHNS, 11, male, born in SC and Anna W. JOHNS, 6, female, born in SC.

The following family member executed 2 lands deed in Chesterfield County SC on 3 Dec 1866. The members were, Shadrick/Shadrach Johns, Mary (Boan) Johns, Alice Catherine Johns, Joseph Henry Johns and Anna W. Johns.  Missing from the two land deeds is their son, Thomas H. Johns. DB 5, pages 598 & 599 and DB 6, page 177.

Shadrach Johns, age 80, was found in Marlboro County, 1880 Census with his son and two surviving Toler grandchildren.

1880 CENSUS: Hebron Twsp., Marlboro County, South Carolina; T9_Roll: 1235; Family History Film: 1255235; Page: 460A; Enumeration District: 108; . Film #0448724, Soundex for 1880 SC Census, Film #1255235, Line 22, Dwelling # 43, Family #43. Shade JOHN, age 80, Shingle Getter, born in SC; Joseph JOHN, son, age 31, May TOLAR, grand daughter, age 10, born in SC and William TOLAR, grand son, age 7, born in SC. Film located LDS FHL, SLC, UT.

My 2nd Great Grandfather Shadrach Johns returned home to Marlboro County, SC without his wife, two daughters, a son and a son-in-law. What happened to the following family members?

  • His wife – Mary (Boan) Johns, b. 1815
  • His daughter Alice Catherine Johns Toler, b. 1844
  • His son-in-law Joel S. Toler, age unknown
  • His son Thomas H. Johns, b. 1847
  • His daughter Anna W. Johns, b. 1854

After many years of research, I haven’t found any evidence related to the missing members of this family.

I know they were in Seals Station, Russell County , Alabama in 1860 till at least 5 April 1874 when William Shadrac Toler was born.

I know in December 1866 they were all in Chesterfield county except son Thomas H. Johns (he may have died in the Civil War).

I know that in Dec 1866, Shadrach & Mary Johns were living in Washington County, Florida.  


The What, When and Where of this devastated family is still unknown. I’m open to all suggestions.


Shadrach Johns and Mary Boan are my 2nd Great-grandparents.


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1. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 109A, Line 11, Dwelling 161, Family/161, Household of Shadrach JOHN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
2. 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.
3. Land Deed - S. Johns & Others to Alice Goodwin Deed; 3 December 1866; Deed Book #6; Page(s) 177; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC; 1999.

4. Land Deed - Jas. Eddings & Others to W. T. Goodwin Deed; 3 December 1866; Deed Book #5; Page(s) 598 & 599; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC; 1999.
5. 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).
6. 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.

7. 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.

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