United States Federal Census

1840 Hawkins County Tennessee Federal Census - Page 199
Numbers below represent members in the household of the following age and gender catagories: 5, 5-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61+
Head of Household: George Mauk
Free White Males 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Free White Females 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

1850 Barren County, Kentucky Federal Census Second Division page 444-445
(This is the first glimpse we have of the names of children of George and Elizabeth Shipley Mauk, and the approximate ages, confirming the relationships of parents to children. The family has removed, for yet unknown reasons, to Barren County Kentucky)
Dw#155/Fm#159
George Mawk W/M 42 Blacksmith
Elizabeth, W/F 40
Catherine W/F 18
John S. W/M 16 Farmer
Malinda W/F 14
Lewis W/M 12
Martha W/F 10
George W. W/M 8
Benjamin E.H. W/M 7
Jesse B. W/M 4
Z.H.C. W/M 2
Image p444
Image p445

1860 Barren County, Kentucky Federal Census Glasgow First Division page 83
(Eldest son John has married and is no longer in the family home, as has Malinda, while Catherine resides with her parents, apparently widowed, with her own daughters. It is currently unknown the whereabouts of son Lewis during this year-some say he has passed away. Youngest William has been born since the last census taken. We found it amusing that George only aged 8 years from the prior census while wife Elizabeth aged the full 10 years)
Dw#563/Fm#563
George Mauk W/M 49 800/615 Farmer
Elizabeth W/F 50
Catherine E. W/F 28
Martha W/F 20
George W/M 19
Benjamin E. W/M 17
Jesse B. W/M 15
Zachariah W/M 14
William T. W/M 7
Martha Richards W/F 10
Mary W/F 7
Image

The decade of the Civil War has come and gone. Family discord and dispersal reigns. Elizabeth has petitioned the Barren County Kentucky Courts for divorce from George for drunkiness and spousal abuse. She has been awarded the divorce and property, both real and household. Many of the Mauk children testified on Elizabeth's behalf and now reside with her.

1870 Barren County Kentucky Federal Census - Glasgow Precinct
(Elizabeth Shipley Mauk, below, abandoned wife of George Mauk, residing with her unmarried and widowed children and grandchildren. Apparently Elizabeth was not forthcoming with her true age since Elizabeth would be about 60 during this year)
Dw#398/Fam#392
George W. Mank W/M 28 Farmer
Benjamin W/M 26 Farmer
Elizabeth W/F 52 House Keeping
Catherine Richards W/F 39 Seamstress
Martha W/F 20
Mary M. W/F 18
William T. Mank W/M 17
Image

1900 Barren County Kentucky Federal Census
(Catherine Richards, nee Mauk, below, seen here in the home of her daughter and grandchildren. Daughter Martha is, by 1900 widow herself, wife of John Tyler Deweese. Martha and John Tyler's older daughters have all married and only the sons remain in the home)
Dw#374/Fm#378
Martha Deweese head W/F Jan 1850 50 Wd28 8/6 TN TN TN Farmer
Charles S. son W/M Oct 1880 20 s KY KY TN Farm Laborer
John S. son W/M Dec 1883 16 s KY KY TN Farm Laborer
Luther E. son W/M Nov 1885 14 s KY KY TN Farm Laborer
Catherine Richards mother W/F Feb 1831 69 Wd57 2/1 TN TN TN
Image

This document is included as it lends substance to our knowledge of the "daily life" of the household in which Catherine "Kate" and her daughters resided Mauk vs Mauk
Petition to Barren County Court 1865
By Elizabeth Mauk for divorce from George Mauk

From the collection of Jon Huffman
Transcribed by Lois Card

Mauk vs Mauk
Dep for Pltf
Filed by Examiner
Septr 3rd 1866

Barren Co
Bundle #3178
1866/1867
image cover

(p1)
Barren Circuit Court
Elizabeth Mauk Pltf
against
George Mauk
Wm Yeary
John Bailey
Charles Stery
Defts

Petition in Equity

The plaintiff Elizabeth Mauk states
that she is the wife of the Defendant George Mauk,
that her said husband has been a confirmed drunkard
for more than one year past that he has & is now
wasting his prosperity without making any suit-
able provision for the maintenance of plaintiff
& his infant children & that there are three infant
children of plaintiff & her said husband; that the
said Defendant George Mauk has habitually behaved
towards plaintiff for not less than six months in
such cruel & inhuman manner as to indicate
a settled aversion to her & to destroy permanent-
ly her peace & happiness; that the said deft George
Mauk has attempted to injure plaintiff with
force & violence in such a manner as indicates an
outrageous, ungovernable temper in him & prob-
able danger to her life or great bodily injury
from remaining with him; that she has been
compelled to abandon her home and children & is
now living separate & apart from her said
husband; that she now resides in Barren County
& has resided in this state for one year past;
page 1

(p2)
that the said drunkeness & wasting of property
on the part of the said deft George Mauks cruel &
inhuman conduct to plaintiff & attempts to
injure her by force & violence occured in this
State & within five years next before the com-
mencement of this action.

Plaintiff states that she has reason to suspect
& charges that the said defendant George Mauk
if not prevented will fraudulantly sell, convey,
or conceal his property so as to (sic) plaintiff from
obtaining alimony for herself & maintenance
for her said infant children. Plaintiff states and charges
that the defendant Wm Yeary is indebted to the said
defendant Geo Mauk in the sun of $200; that the
said defendant Jno Bailey is indebted to the said deft Geo
Mauk in the sum of $140 - & the said deft Charled
Storry in indebted to the said deft Geo Mauk in
the sum of &100 - Plaintiff states that unless the
said deft Geo Mauk is restrained from dispose-
ing (sic) of his property & collecting said debt great &
irreparable injury will result to plaintiff & her
said infant children. She states that the said
deft George Mauk is the owner of two tracts of land
in Barren County conveyed to him be Jno Nichols
& Thomas Hearlan containing ____ acres evidences of
the title to which will in due time be files
herewith.
Wherefore plaintiff prays for a divorce from her
page 2

(p3)
said husband & fer (sic) an order of injunction against
the said George Mauk forbidding his selling his
said land & other property directing to Sheriff
of said county to deliver to plaintiff all of his
personal property & for an order injoining (sic) &
restraining the siad defts Yeary, Bailey & Storry
from paying said debts or any part thereof to
said Mauk until the matters & things in this
action can be heard & determined & for all proper
relief.

Elizabeth Mauk
by J. W. Gorin

Elizabeth Mauk says she believes the statements
made in the foregoing petition are true.
Elizabeth Mauk X (her mark)
Sworn to before me by Elizabeth Mauk April 21st
1865 W.F. Evans J Blele

The clerk of the Barren Circuit Court will issue
an order of injunction enjoining Wm Yearly (sic)
John Bailey & Charles Storry from paying to the
Defendant Mauk what they or either of them
may be owing to him, and to also to enjoin said
Mauk from selling or disposing of any land
he has title to to a possession of until an order
of said Circuit Court may be made in the
premisis. You will direct the Sheriff of this
county to take into custody and deliver
to the plaintiff so much of and such articles
page 3

(p4)
of the personal property of said Mauk as she
may select not to exceed in value of $300. And you
will also issue an order directing and enjoing
said deft Mauk not to interfere with said
property thus delivered to the plaintiff until
permitted to do so by an order of said Circuit Court
this order to be issued without requiring the
plfs to give bond. Given under my hand as
Judge of the County Court of Barren County
April 20th 1865
W. F. Evans J. Blele
a copy attest W. S. Porter clk
Elizabeth Mauk
vs
Deft in Equity
Geo Mauk & Others
page 4

(The Depositions)
(p1)
The deposition of Virgina Nichols
(possibly Virgiania Ann Shipley Nichols, kin to Elizabeth Shipley Mauk)
taken at the Law office of J W Gorin
in the town of Glasgow Ky on the 1st
day of Sept 1866 to be read as evidence
in an action pending in the Barren
Circuit Court in which Elizabeth Mauk
is Pett & George Mauk is Deft

Question by Pltf

State whether or not you are acquainted with the parties
to this suit and ?__? not a fact that the defendant is &
has been prior to the 21st April 1865 a confirmed
drunkard.

Ans Yes Sirs he was

Ques by Pltf

Is it or not true from what the neighbors & those
who know the facts universally acknowledged as
true that the defendant has treated his wife
in a cruel & inhuman manner & has been
fraudulantly disposing of his property
without leaving or providing a suf-
ficiency for his infant children.

Ans I don’t know any thing about that
except what I heard Mrs Mauk (sic) their children
say about it.

Cross Examined by Deft
ist You have stated that Mr Mauk was
a confirmed drunkard. Please state how
often you ever seen him drunk. When it
was and where.
Image disposition page 1

(p2)
Ans I saw him drunk on the day she went
from there & at other times but I have
no recollection of any particular day of
the week or month
(signed)
V A Nichols

Also the Deposition of
Michael Shanks taken at
the same time and place
and for the purposes mentioned
in the afore?

Question by Plantiffs ?__?
Were you or not acquainted
with defendant George Mauk &
How far did you live from
him?
Was he or not a confirmed drunkard
more than one year previous to
21 April 1865 Was there not wasting
his estate Pne year previou to
taht time without making suitable
provisions for his family
How many children has he
How old are they and where are they
Has or not said Mauk for
not less than six months
before 21 April 1865
behaved toward his wife d?__?
Image disposition page 2

(p3)
In such a cruel and inhuman
manner as to indicate on his
part a settled aversion to her
So as to destroy her peace and
happiness
Ans
as to 1st I am acquanted with Mr Mauk
As to 2nd yes six I think he was
as to the 3rd Everything seemed to be
wasting away like there was no
care taken of.
as to hid providing for his family
I don’t know. I don’t know how
many children he has & how old
they were or where they are.
of his treatment to his wife I
was not there nor do I know any
thing about it
Deft Mauk lives in the county of
Barren consecutively about 12
years before the 21st of April 1865 & owned the farm where
he lives.
Cross examined
You have stated this during the year
spoken of Everything on Mr Mauks
farm seemed to be wasting away. How
often were you on the farm That year
was not as good care been taken of it
that year as any year before
Image disposition page 3

(p4)
Ans
I was there several times during
that year to get him & his boys
to work for me. he was drunk
he could not work. he did not
seem to take as good care of his
farm about that time as he had
done before. (signed) Michael Shank

Also the Disposition of G W Mauk
taken the same time &
place for the purposes
mentioned in the action.

Witness states that he is acquainted
to the parties in this action
that he resided in their family
in the month of March previous
to April 1865 & he was then &
has been for a year or more
previous to the time a confirmed
drunkard his farm was going to
waste but he had while I was
there tolerable plenty to live on
I don’t know that I ever saw him ?__?
wife treat his wife. but he swore &
cursed about the place a good deal
but I never saw him attempt to
strike her. He owned the farm on which he lived
& some horses & cattle & the last time
I saw him he was still drinking
Image disposition page 4

(p5)
Cross Exmamined
I am 20 years old in next Feby
The farm was going to waste by
his neglect to cultivate it.
George W. Mauk
Also the deposition of a
nother Geo W Mauk:
witness is acquainted with
plaintiff in this suit. That he had
been a confirmed drunkard
ever since I knew him & I have
known him 20 years or all my
life, I am about 25 years old
his property seems to be wasting
away and his wife wants to have
plowing done by the boys & the
farm cultivated & he swore they
should not do so that there should
not be plow stuck in the ground
that was in the year 1865 & before
the 21st of Apl of that year. He
hide out a piece of cash & other
things from the use of the family
& he treated my mother very bad
& threatened her life ?__? & tiring
this was in 1862 or 1863 from the
month of Feby 1865 to the 21st Apl
1865 I was at home from the army
Image disposition page 5

(p6)
his treatment to my mother
during that time was very much
?___? & I had to frequently inter-
fear to keep him from being
cruel to her.
Did deft George Mauk
during the time you speak of
being at the house behave toward
plaintiff in such a cruel and
inhuman manner as to indicate
to her to destroy per-
manently her peace and happi-
ness
Ans
Yes Sir
Did he during that time attempt
to injure her with force and
violence in such a manner as
to indicate a danerous ?__?
?__? temper in him and
probable danger to her life
or great bodily harm by
residing with her
Ans
Yes SIr
Question
Where did defendant
reside on 20 Apl 1865 and
for a year before then
Ans
On the farm on which he now lives
in Barren County
Image disposition page 6

(p7)
Question
How much Estate had
your father then and now
Ans
He had about 200 acres of land
& has it yet ?__? he has ?__? 2 horses
& some cattle & hogs
Quest
Has he not offered to dis-
pose of his farm at a very
low rate with an expressed
view of giving to Texas if So when
Ans
He has not to my knowledge
but before the separation he
threatened frequently to sell out
& go to some new country
when my mother left he had
about $300 or more in cash notes
Quest
State why your mother left
your father if you are not a son
of plaintiff & defense and when
she left if she was compelled
to leave on account of cruel
treatment
State all you about the treatment
& ?__? and conduct of your
father toward your mother for
the last five years
Image disposition page 7

(p8)
Ans
I am a son of the parties in
this action. My mother left
my father about the last of
Mch or 1st of Apr 1865 She left
him because she was ?__?
the threats of Deft in danger
of her life and I trust my
self she was in danger of her
life at the time she went away
he had been cursing and abusing
her all night & he threatened her life & she left next
morning early. I had to step
in the room with him to prevent
him from injuring her. In 1862
he was loading or fixing to load
his pistol & threatened to kill her
often when he loaded his gun he
stated that he done so to kill my
mother
& we had to hide them
from him to prevent him from
doing her bodily harm ?__?
?__? diseparated & selling off some
of his property

Cross Examination I was at my fathers on yesterday I made a ?__? of these in 1865 my father had a tolerable plenty of provisions for the family at that time
Image disposition page 8

(p9)
He has more quiet & less a
business & when he was sober
than when he has drunk
The farm is tolerable poor
He had a Black Smiths shop
but was doing but very little
work in it at the time my mother left I don’t know what
my father done with the money
he got for the stock he sold
I don’t know whether he has
it now or not
Has not your father been selling & caarrying
on his farm since your mother left
him Also coming at his blacksmith
shop
Ans
He has not this year last year I carried
on the farming myself or raised
a crop then My father is carry-
ing on the Blacksmith Shop this
year in past year in partnership with Spencer
When your father spoke of selling the farm
& going to some new country with your
little brother did he say anything to
indicate that he intended to have the
rest of the family behind
Are you not very anxious that your mother
should gain this suit
Ans
Yes sir I answer the question also
in the affirmative George W Mauk
Image deposition page 9

(p10)
Also the Deposition of Catherine Richards
taken at the same time and place
to be read as evidence in the
same action

Question
Are you a daughter of
Plaintiff and defendant
Ans
Yes Sir
Quest How many children have
them and how old are they and
where are they
They have 9 - 3 married & 6 Single
The youngest is about 13 years
Old The next oldest about 19-
& the next oldest about 21. My mother
now lives on Mr Becks farm near
Glasgow & the 2 youngest living
with her.
Quest
State where have you lived for
fourteen years last past
State all you (sic) about the treatment
of your mother by your
father
Ans I lived with my father & mother
I have heard my father within
the last 3 years after threaten the
life of my mother I have also
heard the same threats within
Image deposition page 10

(p11)
the last 6 months before they parted
Quest
Did or did not Defendant
behave toward your mother
during the last six months that they lived together
continually in a manner to
to indicate that he had no
regard for her feelings and
hated her
Ans Yes Sir
Quest
State all you know about
it
Ans I never saw him strike her
but I heard him abuse & threaten
her very much and neglect her he
left the house & when he came
in brought a club in his hand
& sit it in the corner near him
& he would curse her & look
at her in a threatening way & look
at the club but he did not attempt
to strike her
Quest
Has he or not been wasting
his property within the last few
years and is he he not still very
dissatisfied(?) Ans Yes Sir
Image deposition page 11

p(12)
Cross Examined (?___?)
You say your father is wasting his
property In what way is he doing
this
Ans He is selling it off at low proces
& drink it up & wasting it in
one way or another
Catherine Richards

Also Deposition of John Mauk
wittness states that the Deft has about 200
acres of Land 2 horses 2
or 3 head cattle & some hogs
I lived between a ?__? and a half
mile of the parties for the last
10 years just preceeding the time
of their parting. My father
treated my mother so badly
that the very often sent for
me to come over to get her
& frequently found him drunk & with
a gun or a pen knife in his
hands & threatening the life of
my mother. This occuredwithin 6 mos just pre-
ceding the 21st day
of Apr 1865. He has been for
the last several years wasting
his property for drink &
in the fall of 1863 he spent frpm
$1.-&1.50 per day at a still house
when I was working
Image deposition page 12

(p13)
Cross Examined
He killed 2 horses in a spree
& sold other property I don't
know what he did with
the money. I am a son
of the Pet & Deft in this action
The farm is a poor one
worth perhaps $1000 or $1500
John S. Mauk

State of Kentucky Barren County
I George W Trabue Examiner for Barren Co
certify that the foregoing Depositions of Virginia A
Nichols, Micheal Shanks, Geo W Mauk, another
G W Mauk, Catherine Richards, & John S. Mauk
were taken before me at the time & place
in the action mentioned in the caption. The said
witnesses having been first sworn by me that
the evidence they should give in the action
should be the truth & their statement re-
duced to writing by me in their presence
the Pet & also Defts atty being present
Given under my hand Sep 3 1866
G. W. Trabue BC
Examiner fee for Dep $3.
2 ?___? 40 ?__? ?__?
Image deposition page 13

Property Settlement for Elizabeth Mauk

We John Lock Michael Shank & Jones ?A ?__?
having been summoned & duly sworn by J W Renick
?__? for S R Tolle S B C to set aside three hundred
Dollars worth of the property of George Mauk Senior
for Elizabeth Mauk Set aside the following articles
at the following prices towit

One Low Bedstead & Bedding 6.00
One Beadsted Cover led dheet & straw tick 2.00
One flax wheel & five chairs 3.50
One lot of casting & candle molds 2.50
One Hackle Bushel of meal & sifter 2.00
One Bedsted & Bedding 6.00
One cupboard & cupboard ware 8.00
One yoke & oxen & wagon 100.00
One white cow & calf 25.00
One spotted heifer 24.00
One Barrel Whisky at $240 cents per gallon 106.00
Twenty five pounds of bacon at 25 cts per pound 6.25
one lot of cupboardware knives and forks 3.00
one chest & coffey mill 1.50
One falow collar & geer 3.50
One Dish pan wash pan & coffey pot .70
(total) $299.95
Amounting in the whole to Two Hundred and
Ninety nine Dollars & 95 cts This Apr 22nd 1866
(signed)
John Lock
Miacheal Shank
Jones A ?__?
Image of propert award

Elizabeth Mauk
vs
George W Mauk
(map) See image links below
Under an order from the Barren
Circuit Court at term
Term 1867 we have surveyed
the land belonging to George
W. Mauk and have land
one third on value as
follows The whole
tract beginning at two
white oaks East corner
on Down the fence 44w40 poles to a stake & two small post
oaks Yeary's Corner Thence same corse 46 poles to a post oak
& dogwood Thence N77W21 poles to two gums & a poplar thence
S62w 198 poles to an ash and white oak Yeary's corner (at 6)
thence s30e116 poles to a white oak thence N86E148 poles to
a hickory on a branch John Bailey's Corner thence s80E33 poles
to a stone white oak pointer thence N5E25 poles to a stone and
Chestnut thence East 34 poles to a poplar & dogwood Bailey's Corner
on Depps line thence with said line N5E180 poles to a poplar
two white oaks & dogwood on Drane Corner thence west 40 poles
to a post oak whit oak & hickory on ?__? old line thence
N5E41 poles to the Beginning-Containing 272 Acres
image page 1

(p2)
Elizabeth Mauks one third is bounded as follows
"Beginning at a stake on John Bailey's line (at 8) Thence
N20W153 poles to a black oak gum & dogwood on Yeary's
line (at5) Thence S62W129 poles to an ash & white oak Yeary's
corner thence S30E116 poles to white oak thence N86E109
poles to the Beginning-Containing 98 Acres
Nov 28th 1867

?_? 3 days Survey Commisioner $12
Wm Bailey 3 day com & chairman 7.50
George Spencer(?) Same 7.50
(total) $27.00

James W Scrivener(?)
W T Bailey
George M. Spencer

image page 2

Final Judgement

Barren Circuit Court
Judgement
Elizabeth Mauk Pltf
Against
George Mauk & others Defts

This day this cause came on to be
heard upon the pleadings exhibits & proofs & the
court being advised it is now adjudged that the
Plaintiff Elizabeth Mauk & defendant
George Mauk her husband be & they are hereby
divorced from bed and board for the period of
six months next after the rendition of this
Judgement. It is further adjudged so much of that the
injunction herein granted by the Judge of the
Barren County Court as enjoins & restrains
the said George Mauk from selling any land
to which he may have title be contained & not
the allotment of personal property to plaintiff
made by the Sheriff of said County on the
22nd day of April 1865 amounting in value
to the sum of two hundred & ninety nine dollars
& ninety five cents be & the same is hereby
confirmed. It appearing that the defendant
Wm Yeary may regularly ?__? with process
& the plaintiff having alleged that said
Yeary was indebted to the defendant
George Mauk on the 21st day of April
1865 two hundred dollars & the said Yeary having failed to

image page 1

(judgement p2)
answer plaintiffs petition it is taken for confessed
as to him & it is therefor adjudged & ordered that
the said Yeary pay said two hundred dollars
& the interest thereon to the said plaintiff
Elizabeth Mauk or her atty.
The defendant Jno G Bailey having attested
in his answer that he was indebted to the deft
George Mauk forty dollars and 25 cts on the 21st day of April 1865 It is ?__?
now adjudged & ordered that said Baily (sic) pay said forty
dollars &25cts & the interst thereon to the plaintiff
Elizabeth Mauk or her atty.
The defendant Charled Story having ?__?
in his answer that he was indebted to the defen
dant George Mauk on the 21st day of April
1865 one hundred dollars it is adjudged
& ordered that said Story pay said one
hundred dollars & the interest thereon to the plaintiff
Elizabeth Mauk or her atty

It is further adjudged & ordered that James W Gorin
attorney for plaintiff in this action
be & he is hereby allowed the sum of fity
Dollars as a fee for bringing & attending
to this suit to be paid out of the proceeds
of the debts aforesaid on said Yeary, Story and
Baily after paying the costs of this suit to be taxed by the clerk & the residue (?) of said debts is
allowed to plaintiff for maintenance
the court reserves the right to make
such modifications of this judgement

image page 2

(Judgement p3)
& further orders in this cause as justice
& the circumstance & action of the parties in the
future may seem to require

This case is now continued

image of page 3

Marriage record for Catherine Mauk and Thomas Richards

December 04, 1848
Source: Hawkins County Tennessee Marriage Record Book Volume A Page 47

Barren County, Kentucky Cemetery Records Beard and Leech, 1992
DeWeese Cemetery (Located off Edmonton Road in Slick Rock Community)
Richards, Mary Mikinna Dec 18, 1952-Oct 11, 1880 field stone-difficult to read
Family oral history tells us Catherine Mauk Richards is also laid to rest in the cemetery in an unmarked grave
Not noted in the book are the graves of
John Tyler Deweese husband of Martha Elizabeth Richards
and
Martha Elizabeth Richards Deweese

Story told by Goldia Deweese Thomerson as told to her by Martha Richards Deweese, daughter of Catherine Mauk Richards, granddaughter of George and Elizabeth Shipley Mauk.

In 1862 the war later called the Civil War was just beginning. It hadn’t yet fully engulfed the region of South Central Kentucky, the County of Barren, near the Tennessee border.

The home of George Mauk was a busy one. He had moved his family, a little over twelve years before, to Barren County Kentucky, just northeast of the town of Slick Rock, from Hawkins County Tennessee, near the Virginia Border. George was a Blacksmith and was training sons, Benjamin at least, in the lucrative trade so necessary in any commnity. The household was a busy one, and full. George and his wife Elizabeth lived with their unmarried children: their eldest daughter Catherine, "Kate", widowed now and with her two daughters Martha, age twelve and Makinnia, age ten; George and Elizabeth's 22 year old daughter Martha, and sons George, 21, Benjamin, 20, Jessie, 16, Zachariah ,14, and William, 11. Two children had married and were no longer in the extended family home. Eldest son John had married Mildred Nichols and lived next door, and daughter Malinda also resided adjacent to the family of her parents with her husband William Yeary and her new family. George and Elizabeth’s son Lewis was gone by 1860, but no one knows now, to exactly where.

It is said, in later years, that George felt strongly about the rights enumerated by the Southern States, sentiments falling firmly with the Confederacy. Two sons at least, Benjamin and William, believed in the tenants espoused by the Northern States, and would leave to work for the Union cause. Benjamin used the trade learned from his father and was employed as a blacksmith for the Union Army. Benjamin and William would eventually change the spelling of their family name as a result of this split in family beliefs, calling themselves Mock. Whether this was yet a topic of hot contention within the family home in 1862 is not now known.

One evening in that year a company of Union solders came, and chose the Mauk home, by chance I suppose, from which to ask for an evening meal and a camping place. Elizabeth had long since fed her family, her daughters and granddaughters were busy scrubbing the large table, washing the pots and plates. Biscuits, it was decided, were all she had available to feed such a crew, and even then, the only water left in the home was the washing water, the water already soapy and full of scrubbing rags and dirty pots and plates. No one, so the story goes, could bring themselves to take the long walk to the somewhat distant spring to fetch fresh water, or perhaps George forbade the errand.

Elizabeth used what she had on hand, and prepared a meager feast for the soldiers, of biscuits made with flour and soda and soapy wash water. The soldiers were fed the meal, and slept the night then, their bellies full of flour and soapy water, grateful for the kindness. They were never told the ingredients of their meal.

George and Elizabeth’s grand daughter Martha, was only a girl of 12 on that night. More than half a century later, when she was a grown woman with grand daughters of her own, Martha would recount that evening, and the meal, with a chuckle. She told her grand daughter, Goldia, as she fed Goldia the fat, hot biscuits for which Martha was then locally known. It was biscuits like these, large and golden brown, served to the soldiers then, on that night in 1862, only Martha never again used that "secret ingredient" with which they prepared the biscuits for those soldiers. She decided she liked better to prepare her biscuits without the soapy water.

Family Group Sheet for Catherine Elizabeth Mauk and Thomas "Jim" Richards
Family Group Sheet for George Mauk and Mary Elizabeth Shipley and Eliza Sartain
parents of Catherine Elizabeth Richards
Source notes for George Mauk and Mary Elizabeth Shipley and Eliza Sartain
parents of Catherine Elizabeth Richards

End of notes for Catherine Elizabeth Mauk and Thomas "Jim" Richards