Ferdinand Judson Shanaberry
Ferdinand Judson Shanaberry was born more than 171 years ago on January 9th, 1849 in Knox county, Tennessee to his Father, George Chanaberry and Mother, Rachel Adair.
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Mr. Chanaberry 's birth year of 1849 included.
• On. January 23rd, 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her M.D. by the Medical Institute of Geneva, New York, thus becoming the United States' first Woman doctor.
• On February 14th, New York City, James Knox Polk becomes the first President of the United States to have his photograph taken.
• On March 4th, 1849 Zachary Taylor becomes the 12th President of the United States, but refuses to be sworn into office on a Sunday. He is sworn in the following day.
• On May 10th, 1849 the "Astor Place Riot" takes place in Manhattan, over a dispute between two Shakespearean actors. More than twenty people are killed and 120 injured @ the Astor Place Opera House.
• On September 17th, 1849 African-American abolitionist and creator of the "Underground Railroad", Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery
• On November 13th, 1849 nearly 50,000 people attend the public hanging of husband and wife, George and Maria Manning ( A Swiss domestic servant ) which took place on the roof of London's Horsemonger Lane Gaol after being convicted of the murder of her lover, Patrick O'Connor.
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Ferdinand was the fourth of five children born to his Mother and Father . Chronologically his elder siblings were Malinda Jane, James Madison, and Mary Artista . This evening's honoree also had a younger sister named Emily Ann "Eliza" Chanaberry.
Chanaberry Patriarch, George supports his family as a school teacher.
** Ferdinand's eldest Brother, James Madison Chanaberry who was 10 years his senior enlisted with the Union Army's Troop C, 1st Tennessee Cavalry on April 1st, 1862. He would rise to the rank of Corporal before being killed @ Franklin, Tennessee during the Battle of Stones River in the early winter of 1863.
At the age of twenty three, Ferdinand Judson married fellow Volunteer State native, 18 year old Mary Jane Johnson in Knox County, Tennessee. Together they would welcome a Daughter, Illa Victoria on August 24th, 1874 and a Son, Henry Clay Chanaberry who arrived in September of 1878 It is unclear as to what happened to Mary Jane after Census records from 1880 where for reasons we know not, the young Chanaberry family are living in Linn County, Oregon where Ferdinand works as a night watchman.
** On December 2nd, 1884 Ferdinand would lose his Father George when he passes away in Knox County, Tennessee at the age of seventy three.
We next find this evenings honoree back in Knox County Tennessee where on March 4th, 1888 he marries for a second time when Ferdinand Judson weds 42-year-old Sarah E. "Sallie" Cuthbertson. There is little recorded history for his second wife prior to their marriage.
** On February 6th, 1896 Ferdinand Judson's Mother Rachel would pass away in Knox County, Tennessee at the age of eighty.
Alhough it doesn't appear as though Ferdinand and Sarah had children,, according to Johnson County, Texas Census records from 1900 we learn that she has given birth to six but by this time only three are still living. How and why they relocated to Texas is unknown. We do however come to know that Ferdinand is supporting his family as a farmer at the age of 51.
Our final mystery for this evening's honoree is that of his final resting place which happens to be in Dade City, Florida. There is nary a single record, not even an obituary for the Chanaberry's other than Ferdinand Judson's tombstone. He has no relatives nor descendants anywhere in the geographic area.
** We do locate a Knox County, Tennessee City Directory from 1919 where we find Sarah as a widow. Listed beneath her in this same directory is a William Chanaberry whose occupation is that of a Constable.
Ferdinand Judson Chanaberry... Beloved Husband, Father, man of mystery...