Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-09
CLEARS up a MYSTERY.
Important Discovery Relative to Ser
aeant EloYd'a Ancestors

Sioux City, Aug. 9.-The Shroud OF
mystery that has hitherto enveloped the
whole life Of Sergt. Charles Floyd has
been drawn aside. At this late hour 1t is
found, that he owed his being to the
most historic characters of America
and that he was descendant Of one of
the most famous revolutionary houses
The hundred feet of sandstone was
erected ON the bluff south of the city
practically to an unknown hero John
II. Charles of this city cherished for
almost half century the hope of see
ing monument erected to the memory
OF a man whose heritage was entirely
unknown to him. The Floyd Memorial
Association was organized and fulfilled
its mission without ever knowing who
was the father of the man 1t honored.
Professor James Davie Butler Of
Madison, Wis, who discovered the orig
inal journal Of Sergeant Floyd, and
went SO far as to prepare a lecture
about Floyd and his journal, said at
last: What do we know about Ser
geant Floyd? We know little, but we
know enough to make us lament that
we know no mere"
Dr. Elliott Coues, the noted Washing
ton scientist. compiled a book about the
Lewis and Clark expedition, but dis
covered nothing Of the antecedents of
the dead sergeant.
After all these years Of research a
voluntary letter from a direct descend
ant Of the Floyd family, whose atten-
tion was attracted by the published ac-
counts Of the monument dedication, has
Just brought to the Floyd Memorial AS
sociation the information that Sergeant
.Floyd's family We're co-pioneers with
Daniel Boone; that Sergeant Floyd was
a first cousin Of John Floyd, governor of
Virginia in 1929, whose son was secre-
tary OF war under President Buchanan;
that the Floyd family records were in
possession OF Theodore Roosevelt when
he prepared his book. 1.-THE Winning of
the Vest" that an uncle Of Sergeant
Floyd was offered a princely bride and
a royal title to betray America into the
hands of the British in 1852.
The author of this letter is Mary
Floyd McMrllen Of Ellicott City, Nd.
The letter is given herewith.
The pride OF the Floyd Memorial AS
ISOLATION over the erection of the mon
ument to the pioneer of the west is re-
doubled now that 1t is found that Ser
geant Floyd's whole lie is entwined
with the most renowned occurrences of
Americas infancy.
Now that the whereabouts of specific
information Of the Floyd family have
become known. the committee appoint
ed to prepare second memorial, COM
posed of George d. Perkins, E. w.
Caldwell and John c. Kelly, will pro-
coed to compile full and accurate life
description Of the man whose LIES
work was Of so much significance to the
development OF the west.
Following Is the letter written by Mrs.
McMullen to the Memorial Association
here:
"Ellicott City. Nd. July Is, 9o1.-The
Floyd Memorial Association---Dear Sirs:
Having seen in Harper's Weekly of July
c an account OF the Interesting and
beautiful monument erected to Sergt.
Floyd at Sioux iCty, 4 write to draw
your attention to one statement in the
article which, tho made in good faith, Is
really very incorrect. namely, that moth
ing is known OF Floyd's family.
my grandmother. now living at the
advanced age of 50, Is = daughter of
John Floyd. who was governor of Vir-
ginia In 1929. Governor Floyd was a. first
cousin of sergt. Floyd and father OF
John B. Floyd. secretary Of war under
Buchanan.
I'VE have-in our family records and
letters which trace the history OF the
Floyds from the date o9 their coming to
this country to the present day. These
documents yAre lan& ~ NJ 1amily. 70