William Henry Glass and Johanna Murphy – Ruth White’s Great-grandparents
William Henry Glass was born on December 7, 1847, in
Walton, Georgia, located northeast of Atlanta. 3 In 1863, he
was inducted in the Union Army in Larkinville, Alabama. He
served in Company H, Regiment I, Illinois Artillery
Volunteers--Being a Southerner and 16 years old, he may have
not been a true “volunteer”. He was enlisted on January 19,
1864, towards the end of the war, and held the rank of
Private in the battery. He was discharged on June 14, 1865.
William married Johanna Murphy on November 18, 1870, by S.
C. Lawrence, a Justice of the Peace in St Louis, Missouri. 5
William was a member of Hall of Mound City Lodge, No 276, I.
O. O. F. “Odd Fellows started in 17th century England; it
was “odd” to find people organized for the purpose of giving
aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the
benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an
organization were called Odd Fellows. Odd Fellows are also
known as "The Three Link Fraternity" which stands for
Friendship, Love and Truth. The Independent Order of Odd
Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in
Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819. Odd Fellows and
Rebekahs were also the first fraternal organization to
establish homes for our senior members and for orphaned
children.” 7 William’s membership may indicate he enjoyed
being with friends and of being of service to his community.
William’s physician, W S Bastus, signed an affidavit stating
William was under his care from Nov 1st thru November 3rd,
1876, and referred to his death on November 3, 1876. William
died at the age of twenty-nine from pneumonia. His funeral
service was held at 11:00 a.m. at the Odd Fellows Lodge
located on the corner of Fourteenth and Jefferson Street in
St. Louis and was buried at the Friedens Cemetery in St.
Louis. Johanna signed a Widow’s Declaration for Pension when
she lived at 3228 North Broadway on October 22, 1895; the
affidavit stating that “William died from exposures and
hardship endured while in the service contracted disease of
which he died.” 5
Johanna Murphy was born on February 20, 1855, in Louisville,
Kentucky to Catholic Irish immigrants. 6 Baptism
certificates indicate that Johanna was Catholic. 5
Richard Murphy, Johanna’s father, was born in the County
Limerick, Ireland and was buried at the Catholic Cemetery in
Louisville.1 Ruth White, prior to her death, stated to her
daughter that Richard Murphy was a river boat gambler, a
drinker, and buried on the banks of the Ohio River; an
interesting story that conflict with Richard being buried in
the Catholic Cemetery in Louisville.1 Ruth around 1960 told
her grandson that Richard Murphy was a gambler, drinker and
womanizer. 8
Johanna’s mother was Margaret Cummings; Margaret was born in
Ireland in 1828. Their great-granddaughter, Ruth Glass, was
born on St Patrick’s Day and was proud of her Irish
ancestry.
Johanna Murphy’s brother introduced Johanna to his army
buddy, William Glass. 2 Johanna married William Glass on
November 18, 1870; she was 14 years old. 5 In St Louis, she
gave birth to her first child when she was 16 years old;
three children were born: Joseph in 1871, Samuel in 1873,
and Laura in 1875. 3,5 In 1876, Johanna became a widow at
the age of 21.
In 1880, Johanna ran a boarding house in St Louis. On August
30, 1880, Anthony Nacke, Justice of the Peace, married
Johanna and Enos Rosner in the home of Mary Heald Glass
(Johanna’s mother-in-law) in St Louis. Enos Rosner had
served as a sailor on the steamer Blackhawk and Tempest for
the Union Army and married Elizabeth Clement who died in
October 1879, leaving six children to his care. Johanna gave
birth on October 22, 1881, to Elizabeth Josephine Rosner in
St Louis who was baptized in the Catholic Church. Enos
Rosner at the age of forty-three died from typhoid malarial
fever on August 5, 1887, and was buried at Friedens
Cemetery. Johanna was now 32 years old and responsible for
ten children, nine of which were under the age of seventeen.
In 1887, there were no social security benefits or welfare
benefits; Johanna must have had her hands full. In
affidavits, her neighbors reported her poverty. Samuel, her
son, went to Moberly, Missouri to be raised by his aunt and
uncle. Johanna made application for a Widow’s Pension for
the Civil War. On September 8, 1890, Johanna began to
receive a pension of $10.00 per month that continued thru
her death. 5
Prior to 1918, Fred White was sent by Auerbach’s Department
Store in Salt Lake to attend a convention in Chicago; Fred
had married Ruth Glass, Johanna’s granddaughter. On the way
home, he visited Johanna in St Louis. Fred said that Johanna
was cute, perky, and full of pep. 2 Johanna died on October
28, 1918, in St. Louis at the age of 63—a well deserved
rest. 5 She may have been buried at Friedens Cemetery in St.
Louis. 1
Laura Glass, third child of Johanna and William, married
Edward Heisler who owned a bar and later a cafe near the
markets. They resided on Forest Street, St. Louis, Missouri.
Laura never had children. 9 There is a picture of Laura
Heisler with her niece, Ruth Glass, see Ruth Glass, section
18. Also, Laura had an Aunt Laura who lived in Delores,
Colorado and owned a large ranch. 2
Sources:
1. Research by Richard W Thomsen calling cemeteries and
churches in Kentucky and Missouri.
2. Oral tradition from Marjorie White Thomsen
3. Ancestral File submitted by Bob Vernon, #AF97-105810,
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from original
source of Heald Family Book, Page 41.
4. Research of Richard W Thomsen from censuses
5. The National Archives, Certificate Number 5819, Johanna
Rosner, Widow of veteran Enos Rosner and Widow’s Declaration
for Pension for William H. Glass
6. Record of Birth Certificate in Kentucky, Book in Family
History Library, 976.944, V2d, V
7. St Louis Public Library on-line.
8. Verbal history from Richard W. Thomsen
9. United States Census 1910 and 1920
Written by Richard W. Thomsen
Johanna Murphy Glass
Widow’s Declaration for Pension listing the children of William and Johanna and the children’s birth dates. It was signed by Johanna on October 22, 1895, in St Louis.
Physician’s Certificate of Death for William Glass