Sgt. William K Best (1837-1918) 106th N.Y. Co. D. “One of the guards of the assassin of President Lincoln”

Question

Excerpt fro FindAGrave bio “....After his recovery he was transferred to the Reserve Corps. He was one of the guards of the assassin of President Lincoln and he cut the murderer's shoes into strips and gave them to his friends.....”

Sgt William K. Best was a civil war veteran of the 106th Co. D. He has an amazing FindAGrave bio. Another Very very interesting Vet of the Glorious 106th N.Y.

I need help adding sources and creating a better profile of this civil war vet. 

Thank you

Comments

There are a lot of his pension files etc here: https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.givenName=william%20K&q.surname=best&q.birthLikePlace=NY&q.birthLikeDate.from=1836&q.birthLikeDate.to=1838&f.collectionId=3346936&f.collectionId=1832324&f.collectionId=1471019&f.collectionId=1919699&f.collectionId=1932430&f.collectionId=1877095&count=20&offset=0&m.defaultFacets=on&m.queryRequireDefault=on&m.facetNestCollectionInCategory=on

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Wow. Tons of sources. Will be busy on these latest posts LOL 

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The news clip shows parents as “John Milner and Elizabeth D. Best” maybe a typo just curious where Milner comes from?

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Father is John M(ilner) Best, mother is supposedly Elizabeth D(uck) Best.  I think one brother is also John Milner Best and his brother Isaac Oliver Best also served in the war but a different unit.    Isaac's FAG has mother's maiden name   https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78569262/isaac-oliver-best

Answer 1

Source:  "United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHZL-P6F : 24 March 2016), William K. Best, 1918.
United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917  
Fold 3 IMAGE: https://www.fold3.com/document.php?doc=12991199&xid=215&p=ma
: William K. Best
: Pension Date 26 Aug 1918
: Pvt. Co D 106 NY Infantry Enlisted  July 22, 1862  Discharged : Trans VRC
: Additional A 10 VRC
: Invalid August 13, 1866    : April 12, 1912
: Widow August 26, 1918
: Died August 6, 1918  Jamestown, Kansas

Source:  "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC1F-4SV : 24 December 2020), William R Best in household of John M Best, Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).  IMAGE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QDQ-WQB?i=45&cc=1401638&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMC1F-4SV

United States Census, 1850  Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence, New York
:  John M Best     Male       45   England  Farmer
: Elizabeth Best  Female   45   England
: Thomas Best   Male        17  New York
: John M Best     Male        15  New York
: William R Best Male        13  New York
: Mary E Best     Female    12  New York
: Isaac O Best    Male          9  New York
: George W Best Male        7  New York

Source: "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFPG-7L1 : 19 February 2021), William K Best, Mulberry, Clay, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 26, sheet 49B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,376.

United States Census, 1880  Mulberry, Clay, Kansas
:  William K Best   Self    Male     45   New York, United States  Stone Mason
: Elisabeth E Best Wife  Female  27  Canada
: William F Best     Son   Male       9   Kansas, United States
: John M Best         Son  Male       7    Kansas, United States
: Hattie M Best      Dau  Female   5    Kansas, United States
: Edith L Best        Dau   Female   3    Kansas, United States
: Charles A Best   Son    Male       1    Kansas, United States

Comments

Thanks Chris such a big help! These guys some had very interesting lives! It’s amazing to think a guard for Lincoln and the shoe laces story!

I’m thinking these guards must of been upset the man they were protecting they failed to be able to so maybe why the shoe strips were cut? There must be more to this story 

Answer 2

Source: "Iowa, Old Age Tax Assistance Records, 1934-1958," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGJD-W6W8 : 12 September 2019), William K Best in entry for Charles A Best, from 1934 to 1946; citing Pension, Iowa, United States, multiple county Recorders, Auditors, and County Clerk Offices, Iowa; FHL microfilm 007897298.

Iowa, Old Age Tax Assistance Records, 1934-1958
: Charles A Best
: Birth 22 May 1879  Broadalbend, N Y
: Father Willima Best
: Mother Eva E McNab

Source: "Iowa, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862 - ca.1976", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZM8-KNS4 : 5 March 2021), Charles A Best, 1898.

Iowa, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862 - ca.1976
: Charles A Best
: Age 19 Birth Aug 1879  Clay County, Kansas
: Service  Army:  22nd Regiment Of Kansas Volunteers
: Discharge Aug 1898 Thoroughfare, Prince William, Virginia, United States

Also:
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJ1-M1R : 21 May 2021), Wm K Best, 1870.

"Kansas State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6X-V694 : 7 November 2020), W K Best, Marshall, Pawnee, Kansas, United States; citing Census, Marshall, Pawnee, Kansas, United States, , Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka; FHL microfilm .

"Kansas State Census, 1895", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL8J-KMSN : 12 March 2020), W K Best, 1895.

"Kansas State Census, 1905", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPV7-6XGL : 23 September 2019), W K Best, 1905.

"Kansas State Census, 1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG55-F2V3 : 13 October 2019), W K Best in household of Mabel Best Morley, Clyde, Cloud, Kansas, United States; citing Clyde, Cloud, Kansas, United States, 2, 6, Kansas Historical Society, Topeka.

Comments

Kansas didn’t add much to their census reports plain Jane type LOL no occupation etc not much on the details

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I really want to find the 1860 the missing link

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Living with his mother and brothers in 1860

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC4R-DQH : 18 February 2021), William Best in entry for Elizabeth Best, 1860.

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Ahhh u found it!

Answer 3

Source:  Kansas County Marriages, 1855-1911, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q293-KY9K : 23 February 2021), Benjamin R Carlile and Hattie M Best, 19 Jan 1891; citing Marriage, Clay, Kansas, United States, district clerk, court clerk, county clerk and register offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 2,166,979.  IMAGE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-TZSK-ZZ?cc=1851040&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQ293-KY9K

Kansas County Marriages, 1855-1911  
: Benjamin R Carlile
: Male Age 20 Birth (est) 1871
: Marriage 19 Jan 1891 Clay, Kansas (p. 175)
: Spouse Hattie M Best
: Female Age 16 Birth (est) 1875

"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKD-9TGC : 30 May 2020), Hattie M. Carlile, 1949; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
: Hattie M Carlile  
: Birth   09 Dec 1874   Death 21 Aug 1949   Burial Jamestown Cemetery

Source:  Kansas County Marriages, 1855-1911, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q293-KT96 : 23 February 2021), John M Best and Rosa Anna Pitts, 12 Aug 1894; citing Marriage, Clay, Kansas, United States, district clerk, court clerk, county clerk and register offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 2,166,980.   IMAGE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-TC91-43?i=79&cc=1851040&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQ293-KT96

Kansas County Marriages, 1855-1911
: John M Best
: Male Age 21  Birth (est) 1873
: Marriage 12 Aug 1894  Clay, Kansas (p. 105)
: Spouse Rosa Anna Pitts
: Female Age 21  Birth (est) 1873

john Milner Best Birth 25 Jul 1873 Kansas   (image has photo)  "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-F6HG : 16 March 2018), John Milner Best, 1918; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #25938, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 550, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).  IMAGE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89X3-34B6?i=687&cc=2185145&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQV5B-F6HG

John M Best "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVL5-B95D : 2 July 2020), John M Best, ; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

Source: Kansas County Marriages, 1855-1911, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q293-KRYY : 23 February 2021), William F Best and Sarah A Carlile, 11 Apr 1892; citing Marriage, Clay, Kansas, United States, district clerk, court clerk, county clerk and register offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 2,166,979.   IMAGE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-TZSV-7Q?cc=1851040&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQ293-KRYY

Kansas County Marriages, 1855-1911
: William F Best
: Male Age 20 Birth (est) 1870
: Marriage 11 Apr 1892  Clay, Kansas (p. 339)
: Spouse Sarah A Carlile
: Female Age 19 Birth (1873)

Death Record of John Horace Christopher Best (William Ferguson Best's Son)   "British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLB4-CZK : 8 November 2017), William Ferguson Best in entry for John Horace Christopher Best, 1963.

Death Record of William Kidd Best (William Ferguson Best's Son)   "British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLBD-TRZ : 8 November 2017), William Ferguson Best in entry for William Kidd Best, 1970.

Comments

Passport has a beautiful photo of son John Milner Best Sr

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The Best and Carlile families intermarried

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Yes I saw that 2 children married Carlile's.  Maybe make them easier to find?