D. A. Troutman at Home, 1900.

On 1 June 1900, Daniel A. Troutman was 64 years old.[1] He had 18 more years to live. In photos, he sports a full white beard, a deeply receding hairline, and possibly a comb-over. His handsome face looks a little sad, yet serene. America at 55 (census says 53) was petite with thin hair drawn starkly back from her oval face, not particularly comely. She gazes steadily at the camera, her lips slightly parted as if about to say something. She would live another 28 years. 

Daniel Absolum Troutman, c. 1900.

America Ann Pratt Troutman, c. 1900.

At this time, they had seven living children and five grandchildren: Carl, age 7; Harvey Lee, age 4; and Dale Edward, age 1, children of Estelle and Tell Worley[2]; Hallie Mae, age 3, and Eula Lee, age one month, children of Bud and Jennie Troutman.[3] Daniel and America’s other children—James, age 19; Daniel, age 17; Daisy, age 16; Clint, age 13, and Lee Roy, age 11—still lived at home.[4]

America surrounded by three sons (l to r): James Henry, John William "Bud," and Clint, c. 1900-1903. Note two little girls in the background on right. Were they Bud's daughters, Hallie Mae and Eula Lee? If the picture was take in 1902 or '03, maybe so.

The census taker, Charles H. Pratt, nineteen-year-old son of America’s brother John Marion Pratt,[5] did a lousy job of recording names for his cousins’ family. America is “A. Alis,” Clint (Walter Clinton) is “Will C.” and Lee Roy is “L. Robert.” No wonder I had difficulty finding them in this census! He also recorded a few of their ages incorrectly. I wonder if Charles actually went to their house or if he just wrote what he thought.

Daniel owned his farm free of mortgage.  Was this the land that America’s parents deeded to her?

According to the Session minutes of The Rich Valley Presbyterian Church, recorded 12 May 1894, Daniel had been “examined as to [his] experimental acquaintance with religion—which examination proved satisfactory [he] on profession of faith in Christ, [was] admitted to the sealing ordinances of the Lords Supper.”[6] There is no such record for America’s church membership.[7] Interestingly, on a list of communicants accepted that day, an additional un-dated note beside Daniel’s name reads, “Joined the M. E. Church without letter of dismissal.”[8]

Riverside Methodist Church, Rich Valley, Virginia. Photo by Z. T. Noble, 16 June 2008. This church is on Long Hollow Road, not far from where the D. A. Troutman family lived before they moved to the mountain property deeded to America.

I have yet to examine the M. E. Church records; I’ve sent an inquiry but haven’t received a reply.

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[1] 1900 U. S. census, Rich Valley, Smyth County, Virginia, population schedule, Broadford Precinct, enumeration district [ED] 84, sheet 1-B, dwelling 13, family 13, Dan Troutman family; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 March 2015); NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1728.

[2] 1900 U. S. census, Rich Valley, Smyth County, Virginia, population schedule, Broadford Precinct, enumeration district [ED] 84, sheet 10-A, dwelling 166, family 167, Tell Worley family; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 March 2015); NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1728.

[3] 1900 U. S. census, Rich Valley, Smyth County, Virginia, population schedule, Broadford Precinct, enumeration district [ED] 84, page 2-B, dwelling 34, family 34, William Troutman family; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 March 2015); NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1728.

[4] 1900 U. S. census, Rich Valley, Smyth Co., VA, pop. sch., ED 84, p. 1-B, Dan Troutman family.

[5] 1900 U. S. census, Rich Valley, Smyth County, Virginia, population schedule, Broadford Precinct, enumeration district [ED] 84, page 4-A, dwelling 59, family 59, J. Marion Pratt family; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 March 2015); NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1728. For relationship to America Pratt, see 1860 U. S. census, Smyth County, Virginia, 7 Mile Ford post office, population schedule, p. 68 (penned), dwelling 436, family 436, Nicholas Pratt family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 March 2015); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M653, roll 1377.

[6] Rich Valley Presbyterian Church (Saltville, Virginia), “Minutes of Session, Vol. 3, 13 June 1836 – 31 March 1917,” page 61, entry 12 May 1894; photocopy in possession of author, from original at the church.

[7] Session Minutes were searched for all Troutman names, but America's was not found.

[8] Rich Valley Presbyterian Church (Saltville, Va.), “Minutes of Session, Vol. 3, 13 June 1836 – 31 March 1917,” page 207, entry 12 May 1894, Danl. A. Troutman.