african-american

Ed and Amanda were married on 9/24/1884. They had 8 of their 13 children
in Ste. Genevieve. As opportunities to make a living were limited for African-
Americans post Civil War, Ed left for Montana to work in the mines. It is not
known if he went alone or with some other men but he left Amanda and the
children in Ste. Genevieve.

Ed's allergies became worse working in the mines so he went back to Ste.
Genevieve. He had heard that there were opportunities for work in Idaho.
In 1898, Ed and Amanda and the children along with two other families,
William "Babe" and Mary (née Ribeau) Amoureux and George and Mary
Clara V. (née Amoureux) Mayse and their children set out for Nampa, Idaho
to homestead. Why they chose Nampa instead of Boise is unknown. Nampa
is approximately 20 miles west of Boise.

According to Erma, her mother Amanda and Babe Amoureux were first
cousins and apparently looked so much alike that they could pass for twins.
I have not yet been able to make this connection but obviously these families
were very close. Between these three couples they were traveling with at least
15 children. They left behind a large support system to seek out new opportun-
ities. Fortunately they had each other especially with there being so few African-
Americans in Idaho at that time.

Ed and Amanda were the first family to own a Model T Ford in Nampa. Five
more children were born to Ed and Amanda. All of the André children played
various instruments and performed with their father in the family band.

La Guillanee

Dennis and Jennifer Stroughmatt History of Ste. Genevieve's

Ste. Genevieve, MO La Guignolee

Click on the YouTube icon to view larger or the square next to it to view in full screen

African-American Roots
Part 1

Mary Dick/Dix Rozier Woods (early *1800's - 11/13/1891), age 70's-90's
Our earliest known progenitor of this branch. Born in Ste. Genevieve. Mother of
Jane Arthur. Thus far we have not been able to determine if Dr. C.S. Hertich, who
owned Jane, also owned her mother Mary. One possibility is that Dr. Hertich's
wife Mary Louise née Rozier brought her slaves Mary and Jane to the marriage.

Mary was married to Richard "Dick" Woods. Her death record states her father's
name as Theodore, no last name given. Theodore Dick? Rozier? Mary is interred
in the Valle Spring Cemetery.

*Several different birth years found.

Charles S. Hertich is listed as owning 6 slaves. He owned 2 older males and
1 older female and 2 teenage females and one slave house. Could these be
Dick, Mary and Jane?
See the 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Ste. Genevieve County

Richard "Dick" Woods (early *1800's - 11/4/1892), age 70-90's
Born in Baltimore, Maryland. Step-father of Jane Arthur. We assume that Dick
Woods was born into slavery. He was never listed as a 'free man of color' or in
any Federal Census Free Schedule. Dick is interred in the Valle Spring
Cemetery.

*Several different birth years found.

Dick spoke fluent French. Did he learn to speak French from his French slave
owners in Ste. Genevieve? Did his mother and/or father come directly from
Africa? Were they born on one of the French speaking islands in the West
Indies such as San Domingo then brought to Baltimore?

The first slaves brought to Ste. Genevieve in the early 1700's were from San
Domingo. Did Ste. Genevieve continue to receive slaves from the West Indies
during the early 1800's? Questions to ponder.

Dick served during the Civil War in the 56th United States Colored Infantry,
Co. H. He was injured during a skirmish in 1865. (See thumbnail on left column).

Dick not only survived this but survived the cholera outbreak that occurred on
the transport steamer he was on while returning to Missouri to be mustered out.
Many of his fellow soldiers did not survive that journey.
More on the 56th United States Colored Infantry.

Excerpt of Letter from Leona André Horton to niece J. Young.
June 19, 1980, 83 years old

"I am going to try to describe the house my father's people lived in. It was a
little log cabin on top of a hill. We children ran up that hill in a long path of
very green grass. The cabin itself was made of logs and put together with
mud. I can't remember seeing but one large room. There must have been
a window but the room seemed kinda dark to me. They would be sitting in
that room drinking something maybe coffee.
Grandma Mary and Grandpa Dick we called them were small dark people
with beautiful features. They looked much like you and always talked French.
But we kids seemed to understand them. They were very loving people."

Ste. Genevieve Newspaper - Fair Play
November 14, 1891

"The wife of "Dick" Woods (colored) died yesterday morning at age of 80
years."

Ste. Genevieve Newspaper - Fair Play
November 12, 1892

"Died, in this city, on Friday, November 4, 1892, Richard Woods (colored)
known to everybody as "Uncle Dick". He had been ill for only a few days prior
to his death and died from old age being over 92 years old at the time of his
death."

Jane Arthur (7/31/1846 - 4/16/1914), age 65
Daughter of Mary Dick Rozier. Born in Ste. Genevieve. Interred in the Valle Spring Cemetery. Jane's death certificate shows her father's name as Ardure Scott. Jane
was 'hired out' by Dr. Hertich to work as a domestic for Louis André and his family. Louis's son Maurice who had not become a doctor yet and was living in the home
when Jane age 16 became pregnant by Maurice. On 12/27/1863 Jane gave birth
to their son Charles Edward.

It is not known just how long Jane worked for the Andres' but Jane continued to
work for the Hertiches for many years.

Jane had 3 more children:
1. George Louis? Walter?Janis (2/12/1876 - ?)
2. Mary Ann Genevieve Janis (9/18/1880 <1913), age ≈33
Spouse: Charles (aka Jim, JB, BD) Randall (? <1913), married 12/16/1897
Mary Ann and Charles had three children:
     1. *Charles Gervis/Gervey Randall (3/25/1898 - 3/5/1948), age 49
     Spouse: Bertha Ward (1899 - >1948)
     Child: Charles (≈1928 - ?)
     2. Mary Burith Randall (10/3/1901 - 10/20/1901)
     3. Constance Randall (7/7/1904 - 7/17/1904)

Note: Mary Ann and Charles died of consumption (tuberculosis).

*Charles Gervey Randall - Story written about Gervey by Myrtle Vorst

3. Henrietta Blanche Janis (5/5/1886 - 7/4/1967), age 81
Spouse: Frank Randall (5/15/1883 - 9/13/1955), age 72
Henrietta and Frank had 4 children:
     1. Clifton Francis Randall (*4/19/1903 - 3/1984), age 80
     2. Charles Edward Randall (1912? - ?)
     3. Elizabeth Mary Randall (7/2/1915 - 8/8/2006), age 91
     4. **Infant Randall ( 6/30/1920 - 7/2/1920)
*Rootsweb: California Death Records
**Death Certificate: Accidental asphyxiation by mother (very deaf) overlaying
on infant. (Missouri Digital Heritage - Death Records)

Note: The parents first names are not listed on the death certificate, however,
Henrietta was deaf and used sign language to communicate so there's a
strong possibility that this was Henrietta and Frank's infant, so very sad.

SteGenevieve.net:
Ste. Genevieve Newspaper - Fair Play
November 24, 1888

"At four o'clock p.m. on Thursday, November 22, 1888, occurred the death
of one of Ste. Genevieve's most respected citizens, Dr. Chas. S. Hertich, at
his residence on Main St., this city, his mourning wife and children, with a
few other relatives, were present at his bedside during his last moments.

"Jane", the faithful old colored servant of Dr. Hertich, made a remarkable
prediction about his death. At noon, while the members of the family were
expecting his demise at any moment, "Jane" said he would not die before
four o'clock. She was asked the reason why, and answered because his
mother died of the same disease at four o'clock in the afternoon on a Thurs-
day. Her prediction was fulfilled."

Note: There are many variations of Jane's first and last name: Jane Woods,
Jane Arthur, Johanna Arthur, Mary Jane, Jane Dick, Jane Ardure Scott
(possibly Ardure is a misspelling of Arthur?). One record shows Jane as
being married to a John Arthur.

Charles Edward "Ed" André (*12/27/1863 - 7/15/1948), age 84
Son of Jane Arthur. Born in Ste. Genevieve, died in Nampa, Idaho. Interred in
Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

*Obituary shows Ed's birthdate as 12/8/1863, Ste. Genevieve Church records
show his birthdate as 12/27/1863.

Post Civil War Ed served as a houseboy for the Hertich family. Ed used to
tell stories to his children of how he used to enjoy playing pranks on the Hertich
children such as when he would fill the bath basin with water for them and later
would run back in with a bucket of water and douse it on the them.They would
then chase him up and down the stairs.

According to Ed's daughter Erma, her father was very fond of the Hertich
children and spoke highly of Dr. Hertich and said he was very kind to him.
While living in the Hertich home Ed learned to read, write and play the violin.
At some point Ed became unhappy with his circumstances at the Hertich home
and left to work on the riverboat as a fiddler. He also played in two bands in
Ste. Genevieve.

My uncle Joe once told me that while visiting his grandparents in Idaho when he
was a teen, he went with his grandfather to the bank (Idaho First National Bank)
where he used to work as a janitor. "My grandpa would flirt with all the ladies that
worked in the bank and they would all giggle and laugh, he was a big flirt." Joe
also commented that his grandpa spoke French, German and even some
Chinese.

Note: Speaking some chinese would make sense being that there were many
chinese immigrants in that part of Idaho who went to work on the railroad.

Amanda Chouteau (shoo-toe) Dodge André (*2/14/1863 - 6/3/1951), age 88
Wife of Charles Edward. Born in Ste. Genevieve, died in Nampa, Idaho. Interred in
Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

*Obituary shows Amanda's birthdate as 2/15/1863, Ste. Genevieve Church
records show her birthdate as 2/14/1863.

Not much is known about Amanda's family. Her baptism record shows her
mother as being Agathe who was owned by Vermont Allen. Amanda was
adopted at a very young age by Harriet Thompson (2/17/1851 - 10/16/1911).
Harriet also adopted two other children, Jane Dodge and Wesley Remlinger.
It is unknown if Jane and Amanda were biological sisters or if their name
Dodge was a coincidence. They did however, live as sisters.

SteGenevieve.net:
Ste. Genevieve Newspaper - Fair Play
November 22, 1895

"Last Thursday morning about seven o'clock fire totally destroyed the house
of Harriett Thompson and almost wholly that of Lizzy Williams, two colored
ladies, who live near the North Gabouri creek - The fire engine was brought
into service and did an excellent work by saving the adjoining building as a
strong wind was blowing from the east."

How Amanda got the names Chouteau and Dodge is a mystery. The only
Dodge connection I've been able to make thus far is that Dr. Hertich's
sister Clara Ann married Augustus C. Dodge. There were many Dodges
and Chouteaus' in that area of Missouri, this is proving to truly be a needle in
a haystack!

My uncle Joe told me once that Amanda's father was a German or Dutch
riverboat captain named Schmitt or something similar to this. I've communi-
cated with a gentleman who has done extensive research on riverboats and
their captains and he has never heard of any riverboat captain by that name
or close to it. He does have a riverboat captain by the name of Pierre Menard Chouteau (1822 - 1885) listed on his website. Capt. Chouteau lived in
or near Ste. Genevieve during the time in question. Just a thought.

Ed's daughter Leona spoke of life in Ste. Genevieve where every year there
would be a celebration called La Guillanee/La Guignolee and people would
get dressed up in costumes and go house to house singing the Guillanee song
and playing instruments.

She remembered her mother Amanda preparing cake and wine and she
would have it out on the table. When the singers went through their home, all
the children would sit on a bench in the kitchen and watch them sing and eat.
They would then go on to the next house. She couldn't remember the words
to the song but she seemed to genuinely enjoy reliving those memories of life
in Ste. Genevieve!

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