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Crossing the Atlantic: What Happened to the Ships John Ganon and Olympus?
Emigration by Sea When James and Isabella Wood emigrated to Texas in 1851, they set sail from Liverpool, England bound for New Orleans, Louisiana. They traveled on the John Ganon, ship’s captain was Hamilton. This information is found on the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website. I found a great account of emigration from Scotland to the United States that was written by members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Their first hand descriptions make me thankful that I didn’t cross the Atlantic by ship back in the 1800s. The Mormon saints traveling to Texas were on board the ship Olympus. There is a rendering of that ship in the…
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Lillias Park Ferguson Letter to Jeanette Wood Ward July 28, 1869
Background Lillias Park was orphaned when her parents, William and Frances Park died in Leon County on the journey to Ft. Graham. Lillias and her brother, Archibald, raised by the Woods and their other siblings, William and David were raised by the Ridgeway family. Lillias married R. A. Ferguson‘s nephew, John Ferguson. When Lillie speaks of Aunt Isabella, she is referring to her adoptive sister Isabella who married John Ferguson’s uncle R.A. Sorry if this is confusing, I didn’t do the matchmaking. The Letter July 28, 1869 Dear Jeannette or Jennette, I will commence an answer to your letter which I received on the 18th of this month. We…
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Archibald Park (adopted son of James and Isabella Wood) to Isabella Wood 22 Jan 1864
Background Archibald Park emigrated to Texas with his parents, William and Frances Park and his two brothers: David and William, and sister, Lillias. Unfortunately, his parents became ill in Leon County at the same time that the Wood family became ill. William and Frances Park died along with three of the Wood’s children. Mrs. Isabella Wood wrote a letter back to Mrs. Frances Park’s parents in Scotland letting them know what had happened and asking for direction on what should be done with the children. Ultimately, David and William Park were adopted by the Ridgeway family. The Woods raised Archie and Lillias. Archie died in the Civil War. Lillias married…
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Archibald Park Letter to Isabella Wood (His Adoptive Mother) 22 January 1864
Background Archibald Park was the oldest son of William and Frances Smith Park. The Park family emigrated to Texas with the Wood family. While in Leon County, Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Park died. Their four children were orphaned. In a letter back to Mrs. Park’s parents in Scotland, Isabella Wood states that she expected to keep the children, but that another couple wanted to raise two of the children, William and David. The Woods informally adopted Archie and his sister Lillias and raised them. Archie joined the Confederate army. He was taken prisoner and held at the infamous POW camp in Elmira, New York. He was transferred to the General…