John Lightfoot ^{1 2 3}

   Another name for John was John Smith Lightfoot.

  General Notes:

Researcher Dale Gorham proposes that his full name was John Smith Lightfoot and adds the following commentary from an e-mail dated 5/22/2012:

"I first thought that both of them [Gorham includes the brother William Lightfoot in the discussion] tried to fake their ages in order to get in the Army because of the inconsistencies in their ages in subsequent censuses. John listed his birthdate as 1820 in the 1850 Census, but he put down 21 in 1835 on the U.S. Army Enlistment Register and Application which would have given him a birthdate of 1814.

Having changed their ages so much as children, they may not actually know when they were born. :) But I'm leaning more toward the 1814-1815 range now based on the ages of his other siblings. His date of 1814 would have fit perfectly between 1811, 1813 and 1817. I asked Keith [Dull] if he had any baptism or dedication information for John, but he replied that he did not. He had some on the sisters who were born before the boys.

NOTE - See image of document "Lightfoot, John S. - 1 Sep 1835, U. S. Army Register of Enlistments 1798-1914". This document shows the records for a John S. Lightfoot at age 21 with an occupation and birth location as Chairmaker from Dillsburgh in York County, Pennsylvania. His three year enlistment occurred in New York City so explaining how or why he went several hundred miles away from his home town in Pennsylvania at the age of 20 just to enlist in the Army is problematic. His discharge apparently was on 1 Oct 1838 at Fort Gibson, Arkansas. I personally do not see that same link that researcher Gorham sees in this document as there were multiple different Lightfoot families in this area of Pennsylvania at the same time and cabinetry and chairmaking was a common trade in Pennsylvania.

One additional image "Lightfoot, John S. - 1836-01-13 Arrival at Fort Gibson page 139 M744 Roll 01-13" apparently shows the arrival of Private John S. Lightfoot at Fort Gibson, Arkansas on or about 13 Jan 1836. An additional image "Lightfoot, John S. - 1838-10-01 Military Discharge page 214 M744 Roll 01-13" shows John S. Lightfoot's discharge from Company E as a Bugler.

Also, a final image of newspaper clipping "Lightfoot, John S - Arkansas Gazette Chair Ad 15 Jan 1839" which shows that the John S. Lightfoot upon his discharge from the Army, opened up his own Chairmaking business in Little Rock, Arkansas. This comes as no surprise because the previous enlistment document showed his occupation to be that of a chairmaker. This advertisement comes after a previous news article detailing how the building then owned by a different person caught fire. Apparently John S. Lightfoot purchased the burned out building to start his new business there:

Arkansas Gazette, 18 Sep 1839. Fire - On Wednesday morning last, at 3 o'clock, after our paper was ready for press, a fire broke out in the carpenter shop of Mr. H. F. Shaw, in this city. By the prompt exertions of our citizens, in tearing away small buildings, and applying water, the fire, which at one time was extremely threatening, was prevented from destroying much beside the building in which originated, which was entirely consumed, together with a large quantity of window sash, tools, &c. The fire was undoubtedly the work of an incendiary. We shall hereafter be better prepared for successfully combating the destructive element. The engine which has been purchased for the city, arrived here on the Far West, on Monday last, together with a large quantity of hose and a hose carriage. We yet need hooks and ladders.

Researcher Gorham continues:
I also think the 'Smith' is derived from 'Schmidt' after his Mom, Chaterina. I'm not sure what William's middle initial 'S' stands for as of yet. We are pretty sure that John used Smith as his middle name because he named his son John Smith Lightfoot, Jr when he was born in Chattanooga, TN later on.

John also named his children "William, Catherine, John Smith Jr., James Thomas, Samuel and Fannie. Four of these names matched the names of his nearest siblings and grandparents and other family names in the PA area. This could not be just a coincidence in my mind. And it was another reason I felt he did not descend from the KY Goodrich Lightfoots because none of the names were similar."

Reseacher Gorham also provided a copy of the 1840 US Census record for Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas which presumably would be where this John S. Lightfoot might still be following his discharge from the army in 1838 and his attempt to start up a chairmaking business in 1839. The census record shows a John Lightfoot but the middle initial is not distinguishable. His family includes a total of 7 males and 7 females for a total of 14. Examining the record, the head of household must be the elderly male between 40 and 50 years old with an elderly female (wife) aged between 30 and 40. This can NOT be the same John S. Lightfoot that was discharged from the army or purported by researcher Gorham to be the son of Daniel Lightfoot and Chaterina Schmidt because he would have been about 25 years old at the time, much younger than the apparent head of household in the 1840 census record. Even if one were to assume that the purported John S. Lightfoot was one of the younger males between 20 and 30 years old, then there is no other female other than the elderly one between 30 and 40 and younger ones between 15 and 20 years old or even younger. Researcher Gorham states that this census could be misleading because John was not married at the time and the rest of the house members were "artists and mechanics who were all known to room together at the time". I put very little faith in that theory because there were only 5 males of working age (between 20 and 50) and only 1 female older than 20. The rest of the 8 household members were very young children including some under 5. My analysis of the residents still stands, namely 1 apparent husband between 40 and 50, 1 wife between 30 and 40, and the remaining were their 12 children with the possibility of one or more being an orphan from another relative.

The birth location of Dillsburgh in York County, Pennsylvania may be a key point in Dale Gorham's view but I have yet to see any definitive document that places the parents in Dillsburgh. So far my evidence puts the birth location of all his siblings in "Maryland", "Pennsylvania", and in a few cases "York County, Pennsylvania". I don't know of any ties that show the father, Daniel's occupation to be that of a chairmaker or something similar to that of the John S. Lightfoot shown on the military document.

One problem that strikes me as unusual is that if this were the John Lightfoot, son of Daniel and he was part of a large family in York County, Pennsylvania, why is he enlisting in the military in New York City? This family moved from rural Baltimore County, Maryland northward into Pennsylvania, and then within a few years of the death of the mother, Chaterina in York County, Pennsylvania, the entire family moved westward into Ohio, yet Dale Gorham wants to believe that John Lightfoot inexplicably went the opposite direction, eastward into New York City and enlisted in the army.

The next problem concerns the John Smith Lightfoot at Chattanooga, Tennessee as referenced by researcher Gorham. There is nothing else to tie him to being a son of Daniel and Chaternia other than the names of his children being similar to other names used in this Lightfoot family branch which in my opinion is not nearly enough evidence. In addition, there is other genealogical proof of a John Smith Lightfoot from the Georgia branch of a Lightfoot family living in Chattanooga.

And finally, the lack of a specific tie between this John S. Lightfoot and the John Lightfoot who was the son of Daniel and Chaternina. What I mean by a specific tie is any sort of document in which both the son and the parents are mentioned or inferred by name. Just because this John S. Lightfoot was born in Pennsylvania does not qualify. Just because this John S. Lightfoot in Georgia was a cabinet maker, or carpenter, or chairmaker, or wood worker does not make him the same John Lightfoot, son of Daniel. (Brian L. Lightfoot)
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In a followup email dated 7/14/2012, Dale Gorham adds:
1.The 1850 Census for the John Smith Lightfoot, Sr. family in West Chickamauga, GA.
2.John Smith Lightfoot, Jr.'s death certificate in Texas in 1945.
Notes about the 1850 Census: (The Lightfoots and Jones Families are at the bottom)
John, Sr. lists his birthplace as PA.
John, Sr. lists his occupation as Carpenter (He was a well-known mill-builder and furniture maker in the Chattanooga area)
·John, Sr. lists his age as 30 years old. (This is the only thing I ever have an issue with verification).
·Elizabeth (Russell) Lightfoot is his wife. (Some in the family think she is of Indian descent, but not verified)
·Elizabeth's Grandmother, Nancy (Middleton) Jones and Nancy's youngest son, James Brown Jones are listed next door.
·Nancy Middleton Jones' oldest son is a neighbor on the other side.
·Elizabeth's Mom, Cynthia (Jones) Russell and her oldest and youngest sons, William and Henry had just recently moved out to the Little Rock area. Based on my theory, I do not think this was coincidence if John Smith Lightfoot, Sr was in the Little Rock, AR area after his discharge at Fort Gibson.
·I think the S. B. Bryant and the Samuel B. Cathey listed above as cabinet worker and carpenter were partners with John Sr., in his chair manufacturing company in Little Rock. I'm still trying to confirm this.
Notes about John Smith Lightfoot, Jr.'s death certificate in Texas in 1945
Listed his father's name as John Smith Lightfoot
Listed his father's birthplace as Pennsylvania
Listed his own occupation as flour and saw mill work which is what John Smith Sr., and William also did.
Listed his Mom's name as Elizabeth Russell
Listed his Mom's birthplace as Georgia.
There is not another John Smith Lightfoot in the TN, AL or GA area during this same time.

In the 1880 Census, his son William lists his father's birthplace as Ohio. But in the 1910 Census, William lists his father's birthplace as Pennsylvania. Yet, he lists his father's birthplace as Ohio once again in the 1920 Census. This would make sense to me if John Smith Lightfoot's father Daniel, eventually moved on to Ohio along with some of the other Lightfoots. There must have been some type of communication with the PA/OH Lightfoots by this time.
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An additional email from Dale Gorham pertains to the military career of John S. Lightfoot as follows:
Here's the information I've gathered on John Smith Lightfoot, Sr.'s military career.

1. U.S. Army Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 - Line 9 John S. Lightfoot
2. Enlistment Certificate U.S. Army October 1, 1835 from NARA
3. First Dragoons Company E Fort Gibson Muster Roll M744 Roll 01-13 John Lightfoot's arrival
4. First Dragoons Company E Fort Gibson Muster Roll M744 Roll 01-13 John Lightfoot's discharge

Notes on U.S. Army Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 and Enlistment Certificate
John S. Lightfoot appears on Line 9
Age 21 (this is debatable to me still and would have put his birthdate at 1814)
·Birthplace - Dillsburgh, York County
·Occupation - Chairmaker (Key point that ties a lot of my theory together)
·John S. Lightfoot's signature (Matches July 1864 letter)
·Enlisted 1 OCT 1835 and Discharged 1 OCT 1838
Notes on First Dragoons Company E Fort Gibson Muster Roll M744 Roll 01-13
John Lightfoot is listed on Line 17 as arriving at Fort Gibson 13 JAN 1836
Notes on First Dragoons Company E Fort Gibson Muster Roll M744 Roll 01-13
John Lightfoot is listed on Line 6 under Discharged at Fort Gibson on 01 OCT 1838
John is listed as a Bugler.
·I have several other Muster Roll records that show his movements and eventual training as the Bugler.
·According to several experts on the First Dragoons, he was sent back to New York City for musical training.
Upon his discharge, I think that John Smith Lightfoot, Sr. floated down the Arkansas River and stopped at Little Rock, AR where he setup a chair manufacturing company. This seemed to be the common route for soldiers when they left Fort Gibson. Also, there are family stories about John Sr., working on a steamboat and being in the Arkansas area during a major earthquake. One of these earthquakes occurred on January 4, 1843.
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Dale Gorham continues with another email dated 7/14/2012:
Here are the documents that I feel prove that John Smith Lightfoot Sr. moved down to Little Rock, AR after his discharge from Fort Gibson, OK and setup a chair manufacturing company beginning in December of 1838.

Please see the a copy of the attached ad that ran in the Arkansas Gazette on January 15, 1839, February 6, 1839 and April 24, 1839.

The copy of the ad reads:

CHAIR MANUFACTORY
THE SUBSCRIBERS would respectfully inform the citizens of Little Rock and the State generally, that they have commenced the Chair Making business in all the various branches, at this place, wholesale, and retail, and would be happy to supply all persons , who may wish, with Chairs of any description. Their shop is one formerly occupied by H. F. Shaw, as a carpenter's shop, where all orders will be thankfully received and promptly attended to by
John S. Lightfoot & Co.

N.B. Orders from a distance will be attended to punctually. Merchants who deal in chairs would do well to give us a call.

J.S.L. & Co.

The "& Co." part of John S. Lightfoot & Co. leads me to believe he definitely had partners and other craftsmen working with him. Based on the 1850 Census in West Chickamauga, GA, this is where I think Bryant and Cathey were with him in this business and followed him to Chattanooga.

I have also attached the 1840 Census which shows a John S. Lightfoot in Little Rock and living near Henry F. Shaw from whom he purchased the carpentry shop originally. The middle initial is hard to read, but someone who worked on the Census Index many years ago also put it down as an 'S'. There are 14 people listed in the residence in 1840 and from reading about the artists and mechanics during this time, they were known to all room together. So this could explain the large number of people including some younger children.

There was a story about Henry F. Shaw's carpentry shop burning down and this could have been J.S.L's shop too. I'm still trying to confirm this.

I have found a lot of information about the Mechanics Association of Little Rock and their efforts to protest against the nearby cheap labor of the Arkansas State penitentiary who had started making their own furniture and dumping it on the citizens Little Rock at bargain basement prices. This was forcing many of the artisans and mechanics to leave Little Rock and this could have forced JSL out of the area.

The word "Mechanics" is a key word because in the 1870 Census, John Smith Lightfoot Sr.'s oldest son William lists his occupation as "Mechanic". It is very likely he heard this from his father. William also filed for a patent in 1870 for an improved waterwheel as an heir to the John S. Lightfoot estate which I thought was very interesting and could also tie him in with the Lightfoots in the York County, Chester Springs area of Pennsylvania.

The stories also read that there was a member of the original mechanics association group that had migrated to Little Rock from Pennsylvania. I am trying to find a document that determines if this person was JSL.

There just has to be more documents in the Pulaski County / Little Rock area that shed more light on JSL's time there. I am working to enlist the help from Mrs. Jan Davenport who lives in Little Rock and was once the President of the Arkansas Genealogy Society to do some more research for me there on the ground.

I have come across an old Mill that was built by the Lightfoot families in the late 1790s and operated until 1812 by a Samuel Lightfoot who sold the mill and later moved to Concord, OH. It is some very interesting reading and I've received a rough family tree from the group who is operating the mill now. <http://anselmamill.org/mill.htm>

Now, I have not tied JSL's travels from Little Rock to the Chattanooga area yet. But with relatives such as the Jones and Russells (who were already in the Little Rock area in 1838) it is quite possible that he met Elizabeth Russell around 1840. Some of the family history has William Lightfoot, their oldest son even being born in Tuscumbia, AL which is along the major highway from Little Rock to Chattanooga. I am working hard to find some documentation to support this.

Taking all of this into consideration, especially the chair making / mill building occupations which obviously permeated his entire life and skills he passed along to his sons, coupled with the signatures I have on the enlistment certificate and the letter in July of 1864, I am very confident that my John Smith Lightfoot, Sr who eventually lived in Chattanooga was born in Pennsylvania.

Granted, I am not sure exactly who his parents are at this point but I think we can eventually narrow that down. Keith Dull feels that John Smith Lightfoot was probably Daniel and Chaterina's son, but even he leaves open the possibility that he could be one of Daniel's brother's sons too. The fact that John Smith and his brother William both joined the Army to 'see the world' lead me to believe they were Daniel's sons because they didn't go on to Ohio with him.

Hope this sheds a little more light onto my theory.

Any information you can provide that might feel in the blanks will be much appreciated.

Dale
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Added 7 May 2013, Brian L. Lightfoot:
The reasoning that John's middle name may have been "Smith" an Americanized version of his mother's surname of "Schmidt" is not too far fetched after all. John's older brother, Samuel, had a son born in 1856 that he named "Smith Lightfoot". Unfortunately, the infant son was either stillborn or died within one year.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1830 US Census in Monaghan Township, York County, PA on June 1830. ⁵

1830 US Census
Page 276, Roll 160
Monaghan Township, York, Pennsylvania
Daniel Lightfoot

Age 10-15, 2 Males (probably John Lightfoot, actual age 15; probably Daniel Lightfoot, actual age 18)

(Living with parents.)
.

• He appeared on the 1840 US Census in Green Township, Wayne, OH on June 1840. ⁶

1840 US Census
Page 152B, Roll 432
Green Township, Wayne, Ohio
Males
20 to 29: 2 = (John, a son, age 25; and Daniel Jr, age 28)
(Living with widowed father.)
.