Periodically in tracking down families and connections interesting facts and issues emerge. As mentioned previously JHR Cundiff was a newspaper publisher in St Joseph MO before the war. His partner was his brother-in-law Paris Swayze Pfouts who was married to Harriette Cundiff, JHR's younger sister. There is no doubt that the Cundiff's were pro-south, pro-slavery.

So when the war started it did not take long for JHR to enlist in the MSG, but what did PS Pfouts do? He ran about as far west as he could, ending up in Virginia City, Montana and was instrumental in forming the Montana Vigilantes and the Masonic Lodge there. But here is the kicker, PS Pfouts older sister, Helen, was married to none other than another officer of St. Joseph Missouri, Brig. General James Craig, Union Commander of the Nebraska Territory and later the MSM.

Talk about Marital Family Squeeze!

I put up the JHR Cundiff family tree with sources on Ancestry.com if anyone wants to look.

John R