USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
On April 10, the committee in charge of the ball had called upon Henry Schulte, leader of Schulte's Band, to arrange music for that occasion; after that business had been attended to Mr. Schulte said to the committee: "Boys, I wish there was a little more time: I would write you a march." Not much more was said that evening, but the next night the local papers contained the positive statement that "Henry Schulte was writing a march for Company F," after which nothing remained for him but to "make it good."
On the night of the ball the band got together an hour or so before the performance and then for the first time practiced the new march, after which they went to the rink and tried it on the immense audience gathered there. The result was an instant and tremendous success, and since that time whenever it has been played it has caught the popular fancy to a remark- able degree.
The march was dedicated to Company F, and they took it with them to Jacksonville, Florida, where it became ammost as popular as it was in their home town.
When George W. Riekeman went to the Philippines a little later as captain of Company C, Forty-fifth United States Infan- try, he took the march along, and it met with immediate favor there also, not only with the American bands and troops, but with the native musicians as well.
April 21 was drill night at the armory, and Captain Lewis read to the company a telegram from Charles R. Boardman, adjutant general of the state, as follows:
471
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
"Captain Lewis: If the call comes, will your command volunteer? Wire answer."
Captain Lewis reported that he had wired the following answer:
"Adjutant General C. R. Boardman,
"Madison, Wis.
"Yes, with sixty-eight men or one hundred. if you will permit me to recruit to war footing."
The men cheered this statement with the greatest enthusi- asm and when the captain requested all those who would respond to the call to step three paces to the front, there was just an instant's pause, when the entire company moved forward as one man. The next day the members of the company were examined by Dr. Elliot for physical defects, and all but four or five passed the test.
It was believed at this time by the people of Racine, and by the boys themselves. that Company F would surely be in battle with the soldiers of Spain in a very few weeks, and the interest exhibited in every move they made, and the enthusiasm shown for their patriotism by the entire populace, was tremen- dous. Flags floated everywhere: many draped their residences with flags and left them there until the treaty of peace was signed.
On the twenty-third, President Mckinley called for 125,000 volunteers and on the twenty-fifth Governor Schofield called out the First, Second and Third Regiments of the National Guard, three regiments being all that had been allotted to Wisconsin.
COMPANY F OFF TO THE WAR
On the twenty-seventh, Captain Lewis asked for thirty-five recruits to raise the enrollment to the war standard, and on the twenty-eighth, the company marched to the Northwestern Depot to take a special train for Milwaukee and Camp Harvey, amid the most tremendous excitement the city had witnessed since the Civil War, 15,000 people being on the line of march, and at the station, to see the boys off to battle for their country.
After the train had pulled out, a call was immediately issued for a "war meeting," at Belle City Opera House, in the evening, which was held, and attended by as many people as could be packed into the playhouse. On the stage at this meeting were
472
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
seated Wm. T. Lewis, David JJanes, Chas. R. Carpenter, Wm. Horlick. H. Raymond, N. F. Reichert, Capt. Wmn. Vance, F. L. Mitchell, E. O. Jones, Rev. Thomas Johnson, H. M. Wallis, Rev. Jas. McLaren, T. M. Kearney, Col. Wm. Laing, W. B. Dutton, A. P. Dutton, S. W. Guthrie, Robert Bell, W. H. Decker, R. M. Boyd, and many others. Wm. T. Lewis called the meeting to order. The object was stated to be to provide a fund to care for the families of the married men who went out with Company F, where necessary, and to pay hospital bills of any of the boys who should be siek.
Speeches were made by W. T. Lewis, H. M. Wallis, Peter B. Nelson, Rev. Thos. Johnson, Rev. D. B. Cheney, Rev. JJas. McLaren, A. P. Dutton and T. M. Kearney. A. P. Dutton said that this was the third time that he had seen Racine boys depart for war; first, during the Mexican War, then the Civil War, and now the Spanish-American War. Thirty-five hundred dollars was raised at this meeting by subscription, and at a subsequent meeting of the subscribers the following executive committee was elected to administer the fund: W. T. Lewis, Wm. Horlick, David Janes, W. B. Dutton and T. M. Kearney.
After Company F had gone to the front, and Wisconsin's quota had been filled, it was believed, and hoped, by many young men, that a second call for troops would come from the Presi- dent. The Sons of Veterans proceeded to organize a company, and succeeded in enrolling one hundred and six names, and offered their services to the Governor for two years, if needed. Morti- mer M. Walker was elected captain, Harry L. Laing, first lien- tenant, and J. Firman Mills, second lieutenant. They were ready for service, and it was no fault of theirs that they did not get into action.
HOME AGAIN
In the latter part of August there was talk of sending Com- pany F to Cuba as part of an army of occupation, and, the fight- ing being all over, some opposition developed among the boys themselves to that move. Some of the officers and men were in favor of it, however, and a little hard feeling was engendered. They were not sent to Cuba, but were ordered North with the First Regiment, and on September 6, left Jacksonville in a train of three sections, with a hospital ear at the rear of each section for the sick. They arrived in Racine on the morning of Septem-
473
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
ber 10th, at 10:30, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and were greeted by a tumultuous throng who welcomed them home with extravagant evidences of affection. About an hour was spent in greetings at the depot, when the line of march was taken up Main Street to Monument Square in the following order:
Band. Governor Harvey Post, G. A. R. Company F. Ex- Guardsmen. German Veterans' Society. Drum Corps. St. George's Society. Common Council. City Officials. Citizens.
Arrived at the Square, some time was spent in further greet- ing between five or six thousand citizens and the little company of soldier boys, but before long, the crowd began slowly to thin out, and the soldiers were permitted to seek their homes and the company of their loved ones.
ROSTER OF COMPANY F
Anderson, Benjamin E., Corp.
Collier, William E.
Anderson, Oscar
Cooper, John J.
Armstrong, William H.
Craig, James
Bauman, Albert R.
Cram, James M.
Baumann, Fred A.
Dahlstrom, Andrew J.
Davis, Walter C., Corp.
Bishop, Thomas J. Bowen, John S.
Deahn, Albert F.
Bowman, John L., Artificer
Derthick, Julius N., Bandman
Dickinson, Edwin M.
Burns, Hugh E. Byard, Thomas D.
Dillon, JJohn W.
Carlson, Albert A., Sorgt.
Dixon, Glenn M., Corp.
Castello, Harry G.
Elliott, Joseph J.
Casterton, Daniel H.
Evans, Ezra L.
Christianson, Charles A.
Evans, Louis J.
Clemons, Earl A.
Evenson, Charles
Fletcher, Verne
Fredericks, Robert
Gardiner, John W.
Gates, Samuel H.
George, Chilton B., Musician
Harper, William M.
Heck, Maximillian W.
Clemons, Ward C., 1st Lieut. Christenson, Martin
Cline, Chic Cline, Dan Cline, William Colbert, Edward J. Collier, James
De Groat, George B.
Brooker, Fred M., Q. M. Sergt. Bruns. Theodore F.
Dillon, Frank
474
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Held, James J.
Herrick, Philip P.
Herzog, George II., Corp.
Hetzel. William H.
IFinds, James B., Sergt.
Horlick, Milton W.
Hood, John C., Corp.
Phillips, Edward M., Corp.
Phillips, John HI. Pister, Frederick
Reardon, John II.
Reiman, Hugo R. Rickeman, George W., 2d Lieut.
Rittman, John M.
Rogers, George Vernon
Scott, Warren W., Sergt.
Seibert, Peter HI.
Knocke, Louis
Kundson, Berndt
Kommak, John E.
Larson, Carl N.
Lawrence, Frederick
Leahy, George H., Corp.
Lewis, William Mitchell, Capt. Sugden, James F.
Luccason, Walter R.
Marshall, Wilfrid G. Matson, Paul M., 1st Sergt.
Myers, Edward G., Sergt.
Nelson, Henry M.
Nelson, Richard
Werner, Christian
Nicholson, Henry S.
White, Alfred B.
Nissen, Mathias P.
White, William H.
Norup, Louis
Wills, Anson B.
O'Hare, George .I.
Olson, John T., Corp. Olson, Ola M. Owens, John H., Sergt. Packard, Glen C.
Palica, Anthony J., Corp.
Peterson, Herman F.
Hover, Chris. M., Musician Ingalls, John J. Isachsen, Alfred C. Jacobson, Fred C.
James, Nathan W .. Corp. Johnson, Aleck, Wagoner
Johnson, James P.
Karpen, John P.
Kellar, Joseph B.
Skow, Charles .J.
Smale, William, Corp.
Smieding, Ernest Il.
Smith, William J. Sonners, Emil E. J.
Stiegler, John
Thompson, Gilbert
Thompson, John D.
Thompson, William T.
Tilley, Alfred E.
Wardwell, William H., Corp.
IN THE PHILIPPINES
On May 1, 1898, Admiral Dewey fought the battle of Ma- nila, sinking the Spanish fleet and capturing the city. Two Racine boys fought on American ships in that battle-Glen Diekey on the Concord, and Richard P. Covert on the Balti- more. "Diek" Covert was one of the eight men on the Balti-
475
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
more who were wounded, most of them but slightly, by the debris of a box of fixed ammunition that was exploded by a 4.7-inch shot that came in on the gun deck. Covert suffered a broken leg. He was well known in Racine, being the son of George Covert, who for a generation has been a post office employe here. The injuries received by these eight men were the only casualties in Dewey's squadron in the battle.
After the destruction of the Spanish Fleet in the Philippines and the capture of Manila, there was an immediate flood of argu- ment. pro and con, of the question of the proper handling of our new acquisition, and whether it should be permanently retained or kept at all. As to one thing there was pretty general agree- ment, and that was that the islands should be pacified, and the accomplishment of that duty required a considerable army of occupation, and quite a number of Raeine County boys were in the ranks of that army.
The following are the only names we have been able to get of Racine County men who served in the Philippines during the Spanish-American war: Brodda, Robert; Covert, Richard Perry; Dickey, Glen D .: Hanson, Viggo; Herrick, Philip P .; Johnson, Hilderman; Larson, Edward L .: Myers, Charles A .: Peterson, Rudolph P .; Riekeman, George; Weyrough, Reinhold.
RACINE COUNTY'S FIRST MILITIA
On April 18, 1838, the first legislation outlining and defin- ing the scope and the limits of a territorial militia for Wisconsin, was approved by the governor. It was a practical re-enactment of the Michigan law. The territory was divided into regimental distriets, each district comprising one or more counties: the Fourth Regiment included the Counties of Racine and Walworth, and was officered as follows: Michael Frank, colonel (other regi- mental offices vacant). First Company, Town of Racine-Albert G. Knight, captain; Elias S. Capron, first lieutenant; - , sec- ond lieutenant. Second Company, Rochester and Burlington- Ira A. Rice, captain; Archibald Cooper, first lieutenant: Otis L. Whitman, second lieutenant.
There were also at this time three companies in that part of Racine County, which is now Kenosha County. In 1842 the Fourth Regiment included the County of Racine alone. It was the duty of the commanding officer of each company of infantry
476
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
"to from time to time enroll all persons within the limits of his company, who may be subject to military duty," and to notify them of such enrollment; and such officer was the judge of age and ability to bear arms: subject to appeal, of course. All com- panies were supposed to rendezvous twice each year, for drill, on the first Saturdays in June and September. The regiments and battalions were also to have a three to eight days' meet in each year.
In the address of Charles E. Dyer to the Racine County Old Settlers' Society, published in 1871, he gives some little account of an attempt at military training in the village in the fall of 1840. It is probable that he got his information from some of those who participated in or witnessed the occurrences narrated. This is what Mr. Dyer says:
"The first training was had, or attemptel to be had, in the fall of 1840. Albert G. Knight was captain of the company. Ile had been ordered by his superior officer to call out his com- pany for parade, preliminary to a general muster. For some reason, the new militia law contained no authority at all to call out companies of militia. A few knowing ones were aware of this omission, and thought the captain was not. But he was well advised of the fact and determined to act accordingly. Hav- ing duly warned out the company, and as they were mustered in line in the morning, Captain Knight ordered the name of each man called and as he responded said to him: "Sir, you are ex- ensed for the day." The captain's duty was done, and he retired amidst the consternation of his company. But Tom O'Sprig rallied and reorganized them. The ringing of a steamboat bell at the head of the column filled up the ranks, and the Racine Militia gallantly trained till noon, when they adjourned to the Fulton House for dinner, where they all got so drunk they couldn't muster at all in the afternoon."
FIRST STATE MILITIA
In 1848, when Wisconsin became a state, it was organized in military divisions, each division into two brigades, and each brigade into as many regiments as there were counties in that brigade. Racine County was the Fourth Regiment of the Second Brigado, of the First Division, each ward in the city and each township in the county having a company enrolled.
477
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
The first militia companies in Racine, of which we have been able to get any detailed information, are those composing the "Volunteer Corps," organized just after Wisconsin became a state: the Governor's Guards, the Emmett Guards, and the Racine Guards, formerly the Racine Rifles, whose first commis- sioned officers were named in another paragraph in this chapter.
Infantry arm and equipment on deposit with the company, sixty stand. The company, in 1852, numbered about sixty-seven members.
The "Governor's Gnards" had a hall of their own on the north side of Seventh, between Main and Wisconsin Streets, but it burned in 1851, and they then located at 408 Main Street, at Wustum's Hall. Later they hired Kawelti's Hall in the build- ing now known as 417 Sixth Street. In 1855 they turned out on Washington's Birthday and were inspected by Governor Wm. A. Barstow.
In addition to his captainey of the "Governor's Guards," George Wustum was an officer on the staffs of Governors Dewey, Farwell and Barstow, and was a recruiting officer in 1862, under Governor Salomon.
An interesting fact in connection with the "Governor's Guards," is that out of the organization came the first brass band in the city, of which Jacob Esser was leader, and which numbered among its members well-known citizens of Racine.
The band used to turn out with the company when it was on parade.
As near as we have been able to learn, the three companies composing the Volunteer Corps of the city battalion, viz: the Governor's Guards, the Emmet Guards, and the City Guards, were disbanded or mustered out about 1856 or 1857, and at the beginning of the Civil War there were no organized militia com- panies in the city.
BELLE CITY GUARD*
The people of Racine had had enough of military matters during the Civil War to last them for a term of years, and it was not until the spring of 1871 that any move was made to again organize a militia company. In April of that year, Mr. Robert
* This company had just gotten well organized at the time of the big fire in Chicago and offered their services to the authorities there, but they were not needed.
478
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Bell, a veteran officer in the War of the Rebellion, got together a large number of the young men of the city, and organized the "Belle City Guard," which was mustered into the service on May 8, 1871, and equipped with eighty muskets and accontre- ments.
The company was in existence less than two years, dis- banding in the winter of 1872-73, and surrendering their arms and other equipment to the state authorities. This action is ac- counted for by the lack of financial assistance afforded by the state to volunteer companies at that time.
RACINE LIGHT GUARDS
During the Garfield campaign of 1880, many of the prom- inent young men of the city had been brought into ties of in- timacy by membership in the mmerons marching clubs which signalized that campaign, and at its close decided to continue their comradeship by the formation of a military company, to be known as the "Racine Light Guards." Sixty-five charter mem- bers were soon secured, and on application to the state author- ities for enrollment, Gov. William E. Smith appointed Col. John G. MeMynn a special mustering officer for that service. A. P. Dutton. justice of the peace, administered the oath of allegiance at Elkin's Hall, March 31, 1881, and the company was later designated F, of the First Regiment, Wisconsin National Guard.
The first officers were Frank M. Reed, captain; John T. Vanghan, first lieutenant, and Frank M. Roberts, second lieu- tenant.
The company's first armory was located in Temple of Honor Hall, southwest of Main and Sixth Streets, but in 1883 they moved into the new Baker Block, on the east side of Momment Square, where in addition to a spacious drill hall, they had all the conveniences for dancing parties, many of which were given.
Early in January, 1898, the company was mmstered ont. A reorganization was effected, and on January 10 it was again mustered into service, with William M. Lewis, captain; Ward C. Clemons, first lieutenant, and George Riekeman, second lieu- tenant.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, in April, 1898, Company F was ordered to Camp Harvey, where all who would pass the physical examination, and were willing to enlist,
479
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
were mmstered into the United States service on May 14. Re- cruits to bring the roster from sixty-five to the Government re- quirement (one hundred) on the second call, were secured a few days later.
THE GARFIELD GUARDS
The Garfield Guards was organized August 30, 1881. It was at first proposed to call the company the "Belle City Rifles," but strenuous objection was made by survivors of the Civil War organization of that name, and in proper deference to their feel- ing in the matter, the agitation for its adoption was dropped. George E. Smith was chiefly instrumental in the organization of this company.
During its entire history the company had but four cap- tains. Captain Smith was commander less than three months, when he resigned, and James W. Greeley was elected. William H. Brigham and Henry J. JJerstad were the only other company commanders.
Their first armory was over Piel's Grocery Store, southeast corner of Sixth Street and College Avenue. Later they moved to the Hall Block, northwest corner of Main and Fourth Streets, and finally they located in the Lathrop Block, east side of Mon- ment Square.
The Garfield Guards were known as Company G, of the First Regiment of the Wisconsin National Guard, and it was composed of a sturdy lot of young men, who attended faithfully to the serious business of drill, but paid little attention to the fancy angles of military tactics that would be necessary in a company expecting to engage in competitive drills, or that were bent on making a fine show at dress parade. A specialty was made of target practice, however, and the company achieved high standing in that important branch of the work.
SPANISH WAR MONUMENT
It is fitting that mention be made here of the splendid memorial, in the form of a soldiers' moment, located in Mound Cemetery, which was presented by Mr. A. JJ. Horlick, of Racine, to Wm. A. Baneroft Camp, No. 16, Department of Wisconsin, United Spanish War Veterans, on Memorial Day, May 31, 1903, at which time the momment was unveiled with elaborate cere- mony.
CHAPTER XXIV
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY
SOME FIRST EVENTS-WOLF HUNTS - UNLOADING A VESSEL - MORE HARD TIMES - PASSENGER PIGEONS -TOM O'SPRIG'S OXEN - CAR- ROLL'S MASS MEETING - FRUITION OF A HOPE-AN OLD LAND MARK -A DISASTROUS FIRE-A SLIGHT CORRECTION - FAMOUS RACE HORSES - SOME HISTORIC STORMS-A RACINE MUSE.
SOME FIRST EVENTS
There are not many counties in the Union in which the ques- tion as to who was the first white child born within its limits is involved in controversy. The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, published by the Western Historical Company in 1879 (p. 292) says: "The first white child born in Caledonia was Mrs. Maria Bacon, daughter of the late Joseph Adams. She was born on the 2nd day of September, 1835, and it is an unsettled ques- tion whether she, or Helen Mars, daughter of Samuel Mars, who was also born in 1835, in Mount Pleasant, was the first white person born in the county."
E. W. Leach, in his History of the Methodist Church and Early Racine (p. 33) says: "The first white baby born in Racine County was Emma Cary, who was born at Pike Creek, August 31, 1835, and brought to Racine in November of the same year."
A third claimant to this distinction is J. W. Janes, son of Henry F. Janes, who came from Laporte, Indiana, to Racine County, in February, 1835, to select a location. In his recollec- tions of early days, published in Volume VI of the Wisconsin Historical Collections, Henry F. Janes says he "found but one white family in Racine County, being that of a Mr. Beardsley. There was not a house nor any sign of civilization between Grose Point, twelve miles north of Chicago, and Skunk Grove, now Mount Pleasant, in Racine. Capt. Gilbert Knapp had some men at work in Racine, and I think he had a log cabin built, or partly built, at the time I first saw the place where the city now stands." Mr. Janes selected a claim on a small stream, to which he gave the name of "Hoosier Creek," where his son J. W. Janes was born on August 1, 1835. If that statement is correct, and it doubtless is, Mr. Janes is entitled to the honor of having been
482
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
the first white child born in the county. The fact that his par- ents remained in the county but a short time before removing to Rock County, where Henry F. Janes founded the City of Janes- ville in February, 1836, may be the reason that his birth has been overlooked by Racine County historians.
The first white woman to become a resident of the county was no doubt the wife of Elam Beardsley, who settled in the town of Caledonia early in the year 1835. Mrs. Sarah Milligan, a sister of Capt. Gilbert Knapp, is said to have been the first white woman to settle in the City of Racine, though Judge Dyer, in his address to the Old Settlers' Society at Burlington, Feb- ruary 22, 1871, gives the honor to a Mrs. Carpenter. Mrs. Milli- gan landed in Racine on August 4, 1835, but the date when Mrs. Carpenter became a resident is not known.
The first marriage in the county, of which any record has been preserved, was that of Alfred Cary and Miss Mary Knight, which took place on December 29, 1836. It was solemized by Joel Sage, and it is somewhat of coincidence that the officiating magistrate and the bridegroom were the first two justices of the peace in Racine County, both having been appointed by Gov. Hlemy Dodge a few days before the wedding.
The first death of a white person was probably that of a Mr. Carpenter, which occurred in the spring of 1835. His coffin was made by James Walker, who came to the county in April, 1835, a short time before Carpenter's death. JJudge Dyer says he "was buried on the bank of Duck Creek, in the depths of the forest, and this was the first burial of a white man within the limits of Mount Pleasant or Racine."
Marshall M. Strong, who came to Racine on JJune 1, 1836, was the first lawyer to locate in the county. In August following Lorenzo Janes, the second lawyer, arrived. The first physician was Dr. Bushnell B. Cary, who came in the fall of 1835.
The first post office was the Root River Office, established on February 25, 1836; the first election for county officers was held on April 4, 1837; the first sermon was preached by Rev. Mark Robinson, a Methodist minister, in 1835; the first mercantile firm was that of Glen & Mason, and the first school was taught by a man named Bradley. The first hotel in Racine was built in 1835 by JJohn Pagan.
Judge Dyer gives the following rather humorous account of
483
HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
the first lawsuit: "The first lawsuit tried in Racine, I believe. grew ont of a squirrel hunt. Norman Clark and Marshall M. Strong, the respective leaders, chose sides. On one side were Mr. Clark, Doctor Cary, Eugene Gillespie and others; and on the other side were Mr. Strong. Charles Smith, Joseph Knapp and others. It was arranged that all kinds of game should be hunted, a squirrel to count a certain number, a muskrat another, a deer's counting three hundred and a live wolf one thousand. They were to obtain their trophies by any means, foul or fair. Clark and Gillespie heard of a deer hunter of Pleasant Priarie who had a good collection of heads. Appropriating a fine horse owned by one Schuyler Mattison, who was a stranger in town, Messrs. Clark and Gillespie traversed the snow drifts, found the hunter and obtained their trophies. Meanwhile Mr. Strong's party had heard of a live wolf in Chicago. It was sent for. Its transporta- tion was secured in a stage sleigh. But, while at a stopping place at Willis' Tavern, a party of sailors, with one Captain Smith at their head, came out from Southport, and Captain Smith killed the wolf with a bottle of gin. Meanwhile, also, Mr. Strong went to Milwaukee and got a sleighload of muskrat noses, which ont- counted everything. The squirrel hunt was broken up. Mr. Clark had ruined Schuyler Mattison's horse and had to pay $75.00 damages: and Mr. Strong brought suit against Captain Smith for killing the wolf with the gin bottle. George Vail was plaintiff. Squire Mars was the justice, and Norman Clark was on the jury. Verdiet, 6 cents damages and costs."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.