Sanibel Island, Florida March 7-14th visit.

I have implemented a working vacation on Sanibel Island, Florida by visiting Sanibel Public Library for the week, March 7-14th. (This is the first time that my mom has been to Florida since my dad passed away. I am down here visiting her. We are having a good time together). The staff at the library is extremely helpful! A special thank you to Joanne and Duane who helped me find connections to add to this blog.

Henry M. Cist was a Union soldier who fought at the Battle of Chickamauga and Knoxville, Tennessee. I am searching for connections to why the Cist family owned The Thistle Lodge on Sanibel Island. The government issued homestead acts to encourage settlers to visit and stay in Florida. Henry M. Cist was the secretary of the alumni association of the Battlefield of Chickamauga for many years. He is the author of Army of the Cumberland.

Mr. Duane E. Shaffer helped me locate Florida's Civil War Explorations Into Conflict, Interpretations and Memory, by Dr. Irwin D. S. Winsboro. Dr. Winsboro is Professor of History at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida. In his book he discusses the social, economic, political, and settlement issues that faced the State of Florida during and after the Civil War. I am putting together information about Henry M. Cist military pension income and personal connections that helped the Cist family make a decision to have a home at Thistle Lodge on Sanibel Island. My goal is to help educate other descendants of  Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate soldiers, Black and White soldiers to find their own connections and find happiness, fulfillment, a sense of belonging, and healing.

Mr. Duane E. Shaffer showed me his novel from the library collection, Men of Granite New Hampshire's Soldiers in the Civil War. I am not finding many connections with this book because most of their battles were elsewhere, but that is not to say there are no connections. I just have not found them yet. I am taking names from these books and making cross references from Encyclopedia of the American Civil War A Political, Social, and Military History, David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler, editors. As a scholar, I would like to point out the immense work that went into all these reference books! I have written down the mailing address for this book to ask if the editors would consider adding Henry M. Cist involvement in the Civil War in their next edition. I have done this before. When I take down names from different books and find connections this helps me to find out more about how societies, groups, and decisions are made to form cities, states, and grow America. These men and women who shed their blood, starved, and made other sacrifices had the right to add to the growth of America after the American Civil War.

I asked my family to make reservations at the Thistle Lodge restaurant on Thursday, March 13th. The lovely lady who greeted us shared with me certain photos throughout the restaurant. I remember my father showing me  old photographs of the Cist family in the front yard. I went up stairs and to my left was the photograph that I remember seeing as a child long ago. I thanked the hostess. The menu  insert gave me added history of the Lodge.

Additionally, I looked through American Family Name, Patrick Hanks, Editor, and found no reference to the Cist family name.

Andrew C. Allen / March 13, 2015
513.638.7140
pewabic34@gmail.com