Mary Galvin Springsteen Mythen- The Early Years

Mary A. Galvin, her parents and siblings in the 1870 US Federal Census, 1st Enumeration on 9 Feb 1870. (Cited as 2nd Enumeration on Ancestry and NARA films, however the 2nd Enumeration occurred in July of 1870.)

HELBLING, SPRINGSTEEN Family (Click for Family Tree)

Mary Agnes Galvin was born about 1862 in Kentucky, per her later census records. Mary and her family were thus living in the midst of the Civil War, with Kentucky a state divided- part Union, part Confederate, with fighting occurring in the state. Kentucky and Indiana share a border, however, so the family may have decided to move north to the Union state of Indiana, for protection from armies on both sides. We do know they were in Indiana by 1870.

Mary’s father, the records suggest, was Michael Galvin, an Irish immigrant born about 1826. He married Ann (maiden name unknown), another Irish immigrant who was about nine years younger, born circa 1835. We have not determined where they were living at the time of the 1860 Federal Census, probably before Mary’s birth, and have not found a marriage record. “Michael Galvin” was a fairly common Irish name, so it is hard to differentiate Mary’s father Michael from others with the same name. 

The first record we found for Michael and Ann Galvin was the 1870 US Federal Census taken 9 Feb 1870 in the Ninth Ward of Indianapolis, Indiana (above). This census states Michael was a 44 year old white male and a laborer. Michael and his (presumed) wife Ann were both born in Ireland, as were each of their parents. Michael could not read nor write. Anna was 35 and ‘keeping house’ but apparently she could both read and write. They were living with their five (presumed) children: Ellen Galvin, age 17, who had been born in Ohio; Jeremiah Galvin, 13, was born in Kentucky, as were the remaining children. Thomas Galvin was 10, Mary A. Galvin, our main interest, was 8, and young Michael Galvin (Jr.?) was 6 years old. Only Mary was listed as being “at school” with the three older children “at home.” The other families on the page were similar in some ways- one a railroad laborer, another a brickmason, a carpenter, another laborer who was an Irish immigrant like Michael, plus a druggist (whose home and personal value were the highest on the page- only one other resident had a personal estate value listed). Three of the households were headed by women, each with young children. One of those women had her occupation listed as ‘keeps house” but the other two were more interesting- one was a plasterer, and the other was listed as a prostitute. So this was the neighborhood that Mary Agnes Galvin and her siblings experienced as they grew up in America.

As has happened occasionally, the census that year was not very accurate and required a second enumeration in three large cities that felt their population, especially their immigrant population, had been severely undercounted. Indianapolis was one of those cities, so we found another listing (the 2nd Enumeration) of the Indianapolis Ninth Ward with the “Gallivan” family, taken 14th-18th July 1870.

Mary Galvin and the other children of Mike and Anna Galvin, 1870 US Federal Census, 2nd Enumeration 18 July 1870, 9th Ward, Indianapolis, Indiana, page 69.

The family has the same first names but slightly different ages. “Mike Gallivan”  was 45 and a laborer, wife Ann 36. They are listed on page 68 of the census, which has a date of 14 July 1870. Their children were continued on page 69, with the date written as 18 July 1870: Ellen was listed as 16, Jerry (Jeremiah) as 12, Tommy as age 9, Morgan (who is most likely Mary Agnes) 8, and Michael age 5. There were still problems with the wide variety of languages and accents, both by enumerators and those being counted, and many of the enumerators were semi-illiterate. “Mary Agnes” said quickly with a strong Irish brogue could have been heard as ‘Morgan,’ or a neighbor who was giving the information could have heard or given Mary’s name wrong, or had yet another accent to challenge the enumerator to spell correctly.

The families around the Galvins on these pages had a few more of the skilled occupations than those for the Galvins in the first enumeration, including painters (likely for buildings) – and even a Rabbi! More importantly to our research, within the additional families counted in the 2nd Enumeration, was the family of Jefferson Springsteen- just one dwelling number away. 

Jefferson Springsteen family and Mike and Anna Galvin, 1870 US Federal Census, 2nd Enumeration 14 July 1870, 9th Ward, Indianapolis, Indiana, page 68.

Unfortunately, no streets were given in either census enumeration, but there was actually no place on the form for them. “Hutchinson’s Indianapolis City Directory” of 1870 tells us that Jefferson Springsteen and family lived at 117 Spring St., that year, while a “Michael Galivan” lived at 148 S. Noble; these streets are about a mile apart today. So were the Springsteens and Galvins neighbors? Or did they know each other through other sources?

We have been unable to find Michael and Annie ten years later in the 1880 census for Indianapolis. There are two men named Michael Galvin listed in the 1880 Indianapolis City Directory, both listed as laborers- this could be Mary’s father Michael and her brother Michael, who would have been about 16 that year and therefore working.

In 1880, Jefferson Springsteen was 60 years old, working as a painter after a career as a police detective among other occupations; his 26 year old son Charles Springsteen, who lived with Jeff and Anna, was also a painter. Anna (Connor) Springsteen was 55 and their son Abraham/Abram Springsteen, who was 28 and had been recently widowed, lived with them too. (We have some stories about Abram, the “youngest drummer boy of the Civil War” on the blog.) In addition,  this census lists “Mary Galavan,” age 17, as a part of the Springsteen household, working as a servant. The census lists Mary’s birthplace as Kentucky, and Ireland as the place her parents were born. This therefore does appear to be the same Mary Galvin that we have been researching.

Mary may have actually worked in the Springsteen household as a servant, a position not uncommon in families who were middle class in those days. However, sometimes there were persons listed in the census as a ‘servant’ despite actually being family members, often elderly or sometimes with disabilities. Perhaps it was the idea that having an occupation was a good thing, something to be proud of, for each person or even in one’s older years. It could have been a family status elevation to list a servant, too, although the census was likely not available to the public at that time. Or perhaps it was the idea of no free lunch for anyone- especially since often there was so little for the family. So Mary may have just been living with the Springsteens, which is possible since we cannot find her parents in the census in 1880. She was 17 though, which in those days was past time for a working-class child to be earning their own living. So Mary G. may may have actually worked as a servant to help as Jeff and Anna got older. We will likely not know for sure unless more personal family information turns up.

 

Next: The rest of what we know about Mary Galvin Springsteen Mythen and her family.

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

  1. 1870 US Federal Census for Michael Galvin family, 9th Ward, Subdistrict 20, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, page 38, lines 25-31.
  2. Ancestry and possibly NARA has labeled its 9 Feb 1870 census results as “2nd enumeration” although it was taken before the 18 July 1870 Enumeration, so Feb. would actually be the 1st Enumeration.
  3. “The 1870 Federal Census’ Second Enumeration,” by Aaron Goodwin,  https://ngsmonthly.ngsgenealogy.org/the-1870-federal-censuss-second-enumeration/
  4. 1870 US Federal Census, 2nd Enumeration, for Jefferson Springsteen- Anna Connor Springsteen family, and Michael and Ann Galvin family, 9th Ward, Subdistrict 20, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, pages 68-69.
  5. Indianapolis, Indiana city directories, found on Ancestry.com and InternetArchive.

 

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Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted. 
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Amanuensis Monday: Births from the Springsteen Family Bible

Page 2 of Springsteen Family Bible- Births. (Click to enlarge.)
Page 2 of Springsteen Family Bible- Births. (Click to enlarge.)

Helbling Family, Springsteen Family (Click for Family Tree)

Transcription and Notes:

Jefferson Springsteen. Born February 14th 1820

at Harrison Ohio

[Ed. Note: Jefferson Springsteen was the son of John Springsteen and Mary Logan.]

Anna Springsteen. Born February 20th 1824

County Mai Ireland

[Ed. Note: Anna (Conner) Springsteen was the wife of Jefferson. We have been unable to find her immigration information, the names of her parents or siblings, etc.- yet.]

John William Springsteen. Born Sat. Nov 26th 1844 Brooklin. N.Y.

[Ed. Note: John William Springsteen was the oldest child of Jefferson Springsteen and Anna Conner.]

Mary Elizabeth Springsteen.    ”  Friday Oct 9th, 1846

Brooklin New York State.

[Ed. Note: Mary Elizabeth Springsteen was the second child of Jefferson Springsteen and Anna Conner.]

Jefferson Springsteen. Wednesday Sept 13th  1848.

[Ed. Note: Jefferson Springsteen was the third child of Jefferson Springsteen and Anna Conner. His full name was Thomas Jefferson Springsteen.]

Abram Springsteen. July 5th 1850

Brooklin New York State.

[Ed. Note: Abram Springsteen was the fourth child of Jefferson Springsteen and Anna Conner. He was considered to be the youngest drummer boy in the Civil War.]

Charles Springsteen. Sunday May 16th 1852

Brooklin New York State.

[Ed. Note: Charles Springsteen was the fifth child of Jefferson Springsteen and Anna Conner.]

Anna Missouri Springsteen. Tues May 16th 1854Indianapolis Ind.

[Ed. Note: Anna Missouri Springsteen was the sixth child of Jefferson Springsteen and Anna Conner. She was likely named after her paternal aunt, Missouri E. (Springsteen) Scotten (1834-1895).]

Robert Springsteen     May 25th 1857                    ”      ”      ”      ”

[Ed. Note: Robert E. Springsteen was the seventh child of Jefferson Springsteen and Anna Conner.]

Joseph Springsteen. July 1st 1860                            ”      ”      ”      ”

[Ed. Note: Joseph Springsteen was the eighth child of Jefferson Springsteen and Anna Conner.]

Laura Grace Alien Springsteen. Mch 20th 73-359 E. Market St.

Indianapolis Ind.

[Ed. Note: Laura Grace Alien Springsteen was the only child of Abram Furman Springsteen and Laura May Longfellow, thus granddaughter to Jefferson and Anna Springsteen.]

More Springsteen Family Bible in upcoming posts!

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

  1. “Amanuensis” means to transcribe.
  2. Bible page from the family treasure chest.
  3. Transcription by the author.

 

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We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post (see form below), and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.
 

Original content copyright 2013-2016 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted. 
Descendants and researchers MAY download images and posts to share with their families, and use the information on their family trees or in family history books with a small number of reprints. Please make sure to credit and cite the information properly.
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Wordless Wednesday: Which Brother is Charles Springsteen, and Which is Thomas Jefferson Springsteen?

Thomas Jefferson Springsteen (or Charles Springsteen) of Indianapolis, Indiana, c1863? Cropped from family portrait.
Thomas Jefferson Springsteen (or Charles Springsteen) of Indianapolis, Indiana, c1863? Cropped from family portrait.

Helbling Family, Springsteen Family (Click for Family Tree)

Charles Springsteen (or Thomas Jefferson Springsteen) of Indianapolis, Indiana, c1863? Cropped from family portrait.
Charles Springsteen (or Thomas Jefferson Springsteen) of Indianapolis, Indiana, c1863? Cropped from family portrait.

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

  1. We have been unable to find any family with other pictures of these two to help differentiate them. Four years separate them in age, with Thomas Jefferson Springsteen being the older. We think the young man above that is labeled as Thomas Jefferson is the older, but hard to tell. He used “Thomas” sometimes and “Jeff” others, it seems, so again, hard to pin these folks down.
  2. Charles Springsteen is not found in The History of Buchanan County, Missouri, St. Joseph, Missouri, Union Historical Company, 1881 at https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028846421#page/n7/mode/2up
  3. Charles Springsteen is not found in the History of Rush County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, Chicago, Brant & Fuller, 1888. https://archive.org/stream/historyofrushcou00chic#page/n7/mode/2up
  4. Thomas Jefferson Springsteen, sometimes called “Jeff” is not found in the History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, by B.R. Sulgrove, Philadelphia, 1884. https://archive.org/details/historyofindiana00sulgrich

 

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We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post (see form below), and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.
 

Original content copyright 2013-2015 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted.
 
Descendants and researchers MAY download images and posts to share with their families, and use the information on their family trees or in family history books with a small number of reprints. Please make sure to credit and cite the information properly.
 
Please contact us if you have any questions about copyright of our blog material.



Beerbower Family Bible- Misc-2

Beerbower Bible- Misc. 2
Beerbower Bible- Misc. 2

Gridded notepaper in with New Testament Front sheet:

Charlie Springsteen
Died June 11
1930
St. Joe Mo-

[Brother of Anna Missouri Springsteen Beerbower.]

 

Kate died Nov 2nd
1931
St. Joe Mo

[Katherine O’Neil, b. 1857, wife of Charlie Springsteen, Anna May Springsteen Beerbower’s brother.]

 

Robert E. Springsteen
Died Mch 4th
Monday-     1931
Indianapolis
Ind.

[Brother of Anna Missouri Springsteen Beerbower; died 4 March 1931.]

 

Title Page with Notes
Title Page with Notes

Inside the front cover, it appears that there are notes and calculations for a sewing project.

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1) Beerbower family bible.

2) Springsteen and Beerbower Family Group Records compiled over many years using bibles, census, and other data.

 

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Funeral Card Friday: Jefferson Springsteen

Jefferson Springsteen Death Notice in Washington DC Newspaper. Jeff's son, Abram Springsteen, was celebrated as the youngest drummer boy in the Civil War in Indiana, and he worked for the government in the Pension Office.
Jefferson Springsteen’s Death Notice in an unknown Washington DC Newspaper. 

Sadly, we do not have funeral cards for Jefferson Springsteen in our family, but there were a few death and funeral notices published in the newspaper for him, including one in the Washington DC newspaper. (Jeff’s son, Abram F. Springsteen, was celebrated as the youngest drummer boy in the Civil War in Indiana, and he worked for the Federal government in the Pension Office.)

See the originals of Jeff’s obituary and death/funeral notices that we have at “Wishful Wednesday: Jefferson Springsteen was “Lured by the Sawdust Ring…

Here are the transcriptions:

WILL BE BURIED TUESDAY

Funeral Services of Jefferson Springsteen at Home of Daughter

The funeral of Jefferson Springsteen, who for seven months had been confined

to his bed at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. J. F. Beckwith, 1118

Bellefontaine street, with whom he made his home, will take place from there at

2 p.m. tomorrow. The burial will be at Crown Hill cemetary. His wife died

twenty-two years ago. He is survived by the following children: Abram F.

Springsteen of the pension department, Washington, D.C.; Robert Springsteen,

this city; Charles Springsteen, Champaign, Ill.; Mrs. E.P. Beerbower and Mrs.

J. F. Beckwith, this city; also by eight grandchildren and eleven

great-grandchildren.

His death occcurred Saturday afternoon. He was born at Harrison, O.

February 14, 1820 and when a boy ran away with a circus, but soon gave up the

sawdust ring. He came to Indianapolis in 1835 and when sixteen years old was in the employ of the government carrying the

mail on horseback between this city and Winchester, a trip of sixty-five miles.

In 1837 he went to New York, where for some time he had a restaurant at the

old Fulton market. He married Anne Connor of Brooklyn and in 1852 they came to

this city for permanent residence. He was a Democrat and soon became a leader

in his party in local politics. In 1854 he was made “captain of the watch” and

between 1855 and 1861 served as city marshal. He was well known as a

contracting painter for many years, but retired from active business life

twenty years ago.

————————————

CARRIED MAIL ON HORSEBACK

Public Service Began When 16

Over 65-Mile Route- Later

Democratic Politician.

Jefferson Springsteen, one of the oldest pioneers of Indiana, died at 8

o’clock yesterday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Beckwith,

1118 Bellefontaine street, closing an eventful and interesting career of

ninety years. The funeral will be held at the home Tuesday afternoon with

interment at Crown Hill Cemetary.

—————————————-

SPRINGSTEEN, JEFFERSON – Died in his ninetieth year at the home of his

daughter, Mrs. Joseph Beckwith, 1118 Bellefontaine street. Funeral notice

later.

—————————————–

SPRINGSTEEN – Jefferson Springsteen, age [?] years. Funeral Tuesday, September

28, at [?] p.m. at the home of his daughter Mrs. [?] Beckwith, 1118 Bellefontaine

st. Friends invited. Burial private.

 

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Copyright 2013-2014 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

1) Family Treasure Chest

2) Abram F. Springsteen HeritageRamblings blog posts:

Sibling Saturday: Happy Birthday, Abram F. Springsteen! Part 1
 
 Sentimental Sunday: Abram F. Springsteen, Part 2
 
 
We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post, and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.