Life History

Notes

• 1850 Federal Census, Gilmer County, Georgia, 4 October, Subdivision 33, page 771-772, Hse/Fam #528
  Benjamin West 44 M Farmer $500 Real Estate b SC
  Elizabeth West 41 F SC Cannot read and write
  -- page 772 --
  Ferdinand 6 M SC
  
  The child matching Ferdinand in the 1860 census is named Columbus.
  
  1860 Federal Census, Pickens County, Georgia, 10 June, Dug Road District, PO Jasper, Page 20 (898), House #169, Family #135
  Benjamin West 54 M Farmer SC
  Elithebeth [sic] West 52 F SC
  Columbus West 16 M SC (b abt 1844)
  
  U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
  Ferdinand C. West
  Residence Pickens County, Georgia
  Enlistment Date 19 May 1862
  Served Confederacy, Georgia
  Private, 43rd Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company C
  Another version of the record indicates he enlisted in Company L
  
  A Voter Registration record in California matches Ferdinand West.  Note that they have entered him with the Spanish form of his first name.  With this unusual combination of names, this is likely our Ferdinand Columbus, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth West of South Carolina.
  
  California, Voter Registers, 1866-1898
  Ferdinando Columbus West
  Residence 31 Aug 1869 Colusa County, California
  Age 25, Birth Year abt 1844
  
  He was registered in 1846 also.  Note that his age is reported the same in both records 2 yeras apart.  The age in 1844 matches other records of age and birth.
  
  California, Voter Registers, 1866-1898
  Ferdinando Columbus West
  Residence 1871 Colusa County, California
  Age 25, Birth Year abt 1846
  
  After these records, at some point, Ferdinand moved to Texas.  He was enumerated there in the 1880 census.  I have not found his in the 1870 census.  In 1880 Ferdinand is in a multifamily household of people named West.  Genealogies tell us that his wife was named Sarah Catherine Cobb.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Bosque County, Arkansas, 4 June, District 14, page 28-29, Hse #252, Fam #258
  West, J M  W M 33 Head Farmer GA SC SC [b abt 1847]
  West, Mollie  W F 33 Wife Keeping House NC NC NC [abt 1847]
  - page 29 -
  West, Aurora W F 10 Dau At Home AR(?) GA NC [b abt 1870]
  West, John  W M 8 Son At Home TX GA NC [b abt 1872]
  - Hse #252, Fam #259 -
  West, Ferdinand  W M 35 Head Farmer GA SC SC [b abt 1845]
  West, Katie W F 25 Wife Keeping House MO MO MO [abt 1855]
  West, Frank W M 7 Son At School MO MO MO [b abt 1873]
  West, Earl W  W M 5 Son MO MO MO [b abt 1875]
  West, Allie W F 2 Dau MO MO MO [b abt 1878]
  
  Note the discrepancy in the report of birth states.  Ferdinand is reported as born in Georgia, and his wife in Missouri, but the four children are all reported as born in Missouri and both their parents born in Missouri.  The head of the first family in this household, J M West, has the same birth state pattern as Ferdinand, so could be a sibling.  However, I have not seen a child of this family with a name to match these initials.
  
  Earlier there are entries for three other families named West.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Bosque County, Arkansas, 4 June, District 14, page 28, Hse #246, Fam #252
  West, Harvey  W M 24 Head Farmer GA SC SC [b abt 1847]
  West, Georgie A  W F 24 Wife Keeping House NC NC NC [abt 1847]
  West, Arthur W M 2 Son At Home AR(?) GA NC [b abt 1870]
  West, John  W M 8 Son At Home TX GA NC [b abt 1872]
  
  1880 Federal Census, Bosque County, Arkansas, 4 June, District 14, page 28, Hse #249, Fam #255
  West, J V  W M 29 Head Farmer GA SC SC [b abt 1851]
  West, Lou  W F 29 Wife Keeping House GA GA GA [abt 1851]
  West, Charley W M 9 Son At Home TX SC SC [b abt 1871]
  
  1880 Federal Census, Bosque County, Arkansas, 4 June, District 14, page 28, Hse #250, Fam #256
  West, Willis W M 63 Head Farmer GA SC SC [b abt 1817]
  West, Jane W F 57 Wife Keeping House GA GA GA [abt 1823]
  Berry, Willie W M 7 [no relationship stated] At Home TX GA TX [b abt 1873]
  
  His wife's name there is Katie, which matches the death record we find for F C and Katherine West in Shamrock, Callaway County, Missouri, after the turn of the century.
  
  F. C. West
  Birth 1844
  Death 1905
  Spouse Katherine West (1854 - 1908)
  Burial Liberty Cemetery, Shamrock, Callaway County, Missouri
  Created by 123 Sep 11, 2013
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #116904928, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116904928

Sources

• 1. 1860 Federal Census, Pickens County, Georgia
  • 10 June, Dug Road District, PO Jasper, Page 20 (898), House #169, Family #135
• 2. 1850 Federal Census, Gilmer County, Georgia
  • 4 October, Subdivision 33, page 771-772, Hse/Fam #528
• 3. California, Voter Registers, 1866-1898
• 4. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 5. 1880 Federal Census, Bosque County, Arkansas, 4 June, District 14, page 28-29, Hse #252, Fam #259
• 6. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
  • Name: Date: 2007;;