There is some ambiguity regarding John Logan's (known as Logan) actual date of birth. Baptism records from the Church of the Assumption in Perryville state that he was born on December 21, 1844. Although the date is correct, the month is incongruous with the information on his obituary and tombstone. He has two death certificates, one with no birth date listed, saying that he lived 81 years, 8 months and 23 days, which would place his birth date on October 25, 1844. The second states that his birth date was September 25, 1844.

Logan Belsha's obituary states that he was born on October 21, 1844, as does his ​gravestone and a comtemporary account by his daughter-in-law, Virginia Belle Belsha (wife of his son, James Lawrence Belsha).

Logan lost both his parents at an early age. There are conflicting documents (see John Belsha Biography) regarding when his mother remarried after his father's death. One document claims the marriage took place on July 8, 1844 and the later document states that it was July 8, 1845.  After examining the documents, there is reason to support the later date of 1845, including the fact that Harriet would have been six months pregnant with Logan had she remarried in 1844. Therefore, the latest that Logan's father, John, could have died was June 1845.

Although his parents had been married in the Baptist Church, records indicate that Logan and his sister, Sarah Caroline, were baptized in the Catholic faith at the Church of the Assumption in Perryville, Missouri on April 6, 1846. At this time Sarah was 4 and Logan was 2 years of age. At the time of their baptism, their father, John, was listed as deceased and their mother was listed as Henriet Finch (Mrs. R. Winset) indicating that their mother was still alive and had remarried by this time. Why their mother waited until their father died to have both children baptized is unknown. One possibility is that is was not her wish, but that of her new husband, Robert Winsett, that they be baptized in the Catholic faith.

We don't know precisely when Logan's mother, Harriet, died. However, it had to be between April, 1846 (the children's baptism and the last known documented date that she was alive) and August 1, 1847  when her third husband, Robert, remarried to a woman named Drucilla Phillips.

In 1851, Logan's uncle, Henry Belsha, was appointed the legal Guardian and Curator of the estate of  "John L. Belsha and his sister, Sarah Belsha, both minors."

The children's estate included, but was not limited to, the following: 1/18 interest in their grandmother's estate (the late Hester McCasland Belsha), 60 acres of land purchased from John P. Finch (​​possibly their mother's brother), an interest in 100 acres of land from William McCasland (James William McCasland - their maternal grandfather, 1/18 interest in a lot of property on Main Street in Louisville, Kentucky (birthplace of their grandmother) and four head of cattle.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Logan was found still living in the Bois Brule Township, but at the time, at age 15, was residing with his uncle and guardian, Henry Belsha. Although they were farmers, the census indicates that Logan had attended school that year. The census also shows that Logan's sister, Sarah, had moved to Perryville, Missouri, and was living in a house with 5 females. Two of the women (ages 44 and 24) are listed as teachers, two girls (16 years of age - Sarah included) are listed as having no occupations. It is presumed they were students at this time. The other two younger girls are listed as servants. The census enumerator did not specify the race of the women in the household. None appear to be related, all having different last names. Although Sarah was listed as 16, she would actually have been 17 at the time of the census was taken. The age of majority at the time was 21 or, for females, marriage, so Caroline would have still been under the guardianship of her Uncle Henry Belsha.

A document, found in the Probate Packet of John Belsha (Sr), shows that Henry Belsha paid Mary E. McLaughlin and Louise Mattingly (the teachers) the sum of $9 per month for board and tuition for Sarah. Included in the accounts were Geography, Science and Instruction books, as well as the use of a bed for 50 cents per month. In addition, Henry Belsha settled numerous accounts for his niece at "Shelby Brown" (store?) for ribbons, combs, calico, copy books, shoes and stockings, cambric gloves, hair brushes and silk. Sarah, apparently, had a fondness for shoes, having purchased no less than seven pair within a span of only five months.

The same 1860 census showed that a young man, 24 years old, by the name of Edward Faina lived within three properties of Sarah Belsha. His father was a tavern-keeper and he was a clerk. Living in the same residence were many unrelated indiviuals with varying occupations, suggesting that the property was also in use as a boarding house.

On May 15, 1861, when she was 18 (almost 19) years old, Sarah Caroline Belsha married Edward Faina in Perryville, Missouri. Together they had a son, Henry Faina. on February 22, 1862. Unfortunately, on April 28, 1864, Edward Faina died. Although his name was found listed in the U.S. Civil War Draft Registration, he was listed as deceased in 1864. It is unknown whether or not he died in the war. Three years later, on February 4, 1867, Sarah Caroline remarried to James Tucker, son of Nicholas Peter Tucker and Christina Hagan. Together they had one son, John Napoleon Tucker, born on January 21, 1868.

When the Civil War began in 1861, Logan Belsha was 17 years old. As yet, there is not any evidence that he participated in the war. There was a pension request filed in 1891 in Missouri by a "John Belshe," invalid, who served in Company 42 E of the Missouri Militia. This militia unit consisted mainly of men from Cole County, Missouri, which is not in proximity to Bois Brule Township, where Logan lived.

In addition, Logan's daughter-in-law, Belle Belsha, in her personal memoirsm makes no mention of Logan serving in the military during the Civil War. She goes so far as to state that he had never been farther than St. Louis in his life.

A rather detailed obituary exists for John Logan Belsha and it does not mention any service in the Civil War. Other obituaries from the time often refer to the departed's military service. This seems to indicate that John Logan did not serve in the military. However, Henry Belshe, a 42 year old farmer from Perry County, Missouri,  did register for service in the Civil War. This man was, possibly, Logan Belsha's uncle and legal guardian.​

John Logan Belsha was married four times, outliving all but his last wife, Mary Elizabeth Hager. As best as can be currently determined, he fathered at least 14 children from these marriages. Several of the children, however, did not live past infancy or very young childhood.

John Logan's first marriage occurred on January 1, 1865 to a young woman named Nancy Elizabeth Baley. He was 21 years of age. Nancy Elizabeth was probably the daughter of Hays Baley from Kentucky and his wife, Micah Baley. The Baley family lived in Bois Brule Township, Perry County, Missouri.​

According to census information, Nancy Elizabeth's death must have occurred between 1866 (the presumed birth year of her child) and 1867 (Logan's remarriage). Although no record has been found of them having children, the 1870 U.S. Federal census showed Logan living in Bois Brule Township with a new wife, Maria Susannah, with a child named Sarah who, at four years old, would have been born in 1866. This child was from his marriage to Nancy Elizabeth Baley.

One could also speculate that the child, Sarah, was named after Logan's older sister, Sarah Caroline Belsha. Sarah (the child) is not listed on the 1880 census. A contemporary account by Logan's daughter-in-law, Virginia Belle Belsha, spoke specifically of this child and that she died young.

John Logan's second marriage was to ​​Maria Susannah Tucker (called Mary) on February 4, 1867. Mary Susannah was born on January 21, 1847, the daughter of Leo Francis Tucker and Susanna Maria Knott. At the time of her marriage, she was 20 years old and recently widowed John Logan was 23.​

As evidenced by their marriage registration document below, John Logan and Mary Susannah married on February 10, 1867. Other sources cite the wedding date as February 4, 1867, the same date as John Logan's sister, Sarah Caroline, remarried to James Tucker, Maria Susannah's second cousin.​​​​​​​​

In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, the Belsha family lived in the Bois Brule Township of Perry County, Missouri on the property adjacent to Mary's parents, Leo and Susanna Tucker, who parents were listed as coming from Missouri. Logan's occupation was listed as "Farmer" and Mary was listed as "Keeping House." Logan's age was listed as 25 and Mary's was 23.

The census shows that three children lived in the home, including Sarah, 4 years old (the child from his previous marriage), Eliza, 3 years old,  and John Napoleon, 1 year old. Some sources claim John's middle name was Washington. However, there is reason to believe that this is inaccurate and that his middle name was, indeed, Napoleon. The personal account of Belle Belsha (John Napoleon's sister-in-law), his obituary, and his headstone all list him as John N. Belsha. In addition, Logan grew up in the house with his aunts and uncles, one of whom was named Napoleon, so it stands to reason that he might name a child after his uncle. Sarah Caroline Belsha Tucker, Logan's sister, also had a child with the name of John Napoleon. It is unlikely that Belle confused the name with Logan's sister's child because she stated in her memoir that she didn't know if Logan had any siblings because he never spoke of them to her.

Mary Susanna died sometime between 1872 (possibly June), the birth of her youngest son, James Lawrence, and 1876, when John Logan married his third wife, Felicitas Melton. The personal memoird of her sister-in-law, Belle Belsha, stated that she believed that Mary died around 1873. At the time of Mary's death, Belle Belsha stated that James Lawrence was less than a year old.

In addition to Mary Susannah's death, both of the young girls, Sarah and Eliza Ann, are absent from the 1880 census. Again, according to Belle, the young girl (presumably Eliza) died before James was born. What became of Sarah is unknown but it is assumed that she died as well.

After his wife died, John Logan sent his infant son, James Lawrence, to live with his Grandmother Tucker until he was two or three years old. It is unknown if the older son, John Napoleon, who was approximately 4 at the time, was also sent away but, since James Lawrence returned to his father at approximately 3 years old, one could assume that John Logan only needed help from his mother-in-law in caring for his  infant son.

John Logan's third marriage was to ​​Felicitas Ann Melton. ​​​​​Felicitas (or Felicita) was the daughter of Stephen Melton and Mary Rebecca Hager. We do not know Felicita's birth or death dates, although the 1880 census records suggest that she was approximately 33 years old, indicating a birth year of 1847.  The couple was married for 16 years until Felicita's death in 1891. She may be buried in the cemetery at Belgique, Missouri, although no specific documentation has been found.

In the 1880 Federal Census, John Logan was listed as still living in Bois Brule Township, but with his new wife, Felicitas Melton. His two sons from his previous marriage to Maria Susannah Tucker, John Napoleon and James Lawrence, and his first child with Felicita, (Thomas) Edward, are also present.

In January, 1884, John Logan and Felicita had a daughter, Mary Susan (later called Mame). She was listed in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census as "Mary E," at 5 years of age. This information is consistent with the Belle Belsha account that states that "James lived with his father and step-mother, his brother, half-brother and sister until he 18 or so."

Belle Belsha also mentioned in her account that the Belshas had a son named William who died at approximately three years of age. A document search did not reveal any evidence of this child. However, Belle's other recollections were relatively accurate and death documents for the Belgique area for that time period are scarce. In addition, the census for 1890 was destroyed so it is possible that there was a fourth child named William born to Felicita Melton that is not represented by documentation.​

After Felicita died, John and Rose came back to Belgique to help care for John Logan and the two remaining children, Edward, who was 13 and Mame, who was 8 years old. After a year or so, they took Mame with them back to St. Louis and put her in an industrial school which offered little to no pay. After a short time she left and found work as a "nurse girl" and supported herself until her marriage to Harry Joseph Thee at the age of 25.

Logan's fourth - and last - marriage was to ​​Mary Elizabeth Hager. It is through this marriage that we can trace our ancestry to John Logan Belsha.  Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of James Ruben Hager and Theresa Ann Tucker. Mary was born on September 16, 1872 and was baptized in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Perryville, Perry County, Missouri. Her sponsors were John Hager and Mary Jane Hager, uncle and aunt (brother and sister of her father, James Rubin Hager).

There is not much documented information on Mary's early life. In 1879 her parents, James Ruben (called Ruben) and Theresa Ann (called Anna) lived in the Cinque Hommes Township of Perry County, Missouri, where Ruben was a farmer. By the time Mary was six years old, the family had moved to the Central Township (which includes the town of Perryville). Ruben, however, was still farming for a living. In addition to her parents, Mary's family consisted of two sisters and six brothers. One of her brothers, Odis, died in infancy.

On Tuesday,  January 2, 1894, when she was 21 years of age, Mary Elizabeth Hager married John Logan Belsha. At the time of their marriage, Logan was 50 years of age, one year older than Mary Elizabeth's father, Ruben Hager. She was Logan's fourth (and final) wife. Their wedding was held in the Catholic church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belgique, Perry County, Missouri.​

On June 5, 1894, just months after their marriage, both John Logan Belsha and his new wife, Mary Elizabeth, were among 64 people who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church. The celebrant was the Most Reverend J.J. Kein. Also in attendance were the Reverend H. Muelhlspiepan, Vicar General, and Reverend D. L. DeCeunyck, rector of the church (and the priest who was the celebrant at their wedding). They were two of only eight adults who were confirmed that day along with 56 children.​

In the 1900 federal census, the Logan Belsha family were recorded as living in the Bois Brule Township, Perry County, Missouri. Logan's occupation was listed as 'farmer.' There were three daughters in the home, Mary E., Mary Anna and Mary Pearl. The property was adjacent to that of Thomas Edward Belsha, John Logan's son, and his wife, Gertrude.

Together​ the couple welcomed five more children, three daughters and two sons. Interestingly, all of the girl children were christened "Mary" and were known by their middle names. The boys followed the same pattern, being christened "Joseph" and going by their middle names. This was not an uncommon practice in Catholic families at the time. However, since none of the other children of Logan Belsha followed this pattern, one can speculate that the children's names strongly reflected Mary's influence.

The question remains, however, as to whether or not there was a child from John Logan's third marriage that was also named William, as was stated in Belle Belsha's recollections. It is very common for people of the time to name a new child in memory of a deceased child, which might have accounted for John Logan's enthusiasm for naming this child William Bryon. There is also a gap of 6 years between the two youngest Belsha children. A gap of this seize at the time commonly indicated the loss of a child. This gap, however, would not account for the loss of the "William" indicated by Belle Belsha, leaving one to speculate that there was possibly another child born between 1902 and 1908 that did not survive.

By 1910, the family had moved to the St. Marys Township, Perry County, Missouri. Logan's occupation was still listed as 'farmer.' Five children were recorded as living in the home: Mary E., Mary A., Mary P., Joseph E. and Joseph C.

The photo below was taken on Cranes Island, Illinois, on July 4, 1916. It includes all of the John Logan and Mary Elizabeth Belsha family except their oldest daughter, Ella, who was married to James Henry Gibbar and living in St. Louis at the time.

To see the unedited version of this photo, including names of additional relatives and friends in the photo, click on Photographs and Memories - Gibbar Photos.

The 1920 Federal Census showed the Belsha family living in the Chester (Illinois) precinct. The Chester precinct extends across the Mississippi River to encompass the bottom farmland known as Cranes Island, near Belqigue, Missouri.​ At this time, only the two young sons, Elmer (16) and Clyde (10) were still living with their parents. The girls had married but were living on nearby farms. The eldest daughter, Mary Eleanora (Ella) had married James Gibbar. Their farm could be found adjacent to the Belsha property. Ella and James are listed as having four small children in the home (all under the age of 5 years): Jerome, Harold, Jane, and Paul. 

The two remaining Belsha sisters, Anna and Pearl Mattingly, lived on the farm adjacent to their sister, Ella, and James Gibbar. Pearl's husband, Lawrence Mattingly, Jr. was listed as the head of the household. Pius, his brother and Anna's husband, was listed as a general worker on the farm. One would assume that, being in such close proximity, the families would have been a great source of support for one another.

Mary Eleanora "Ella", the eldest daughter of John Logan Belsha and Mary Elizabeth Hager, married James Henry Gibbar, Jr. on September 30, 1913. Together they lived on Cranes Island and farmed the Mississippi bottomland near her parents. From their marriage came eight children: Jerome James, Harold Pius Logan, Jane Elizabeth, Paul Lawrence, Jeanette Ambrosia, Rose Anna, James Henry, Jr., and Harry Joseph Gibbar. In 1943, long after Ella's parents had passed, the family moved closer to Perryville due to frequent flooding of the river.

Mary Anna "Annie" Belsha married Pius Grover Mattingly and also lived and farmed in the bottomland near her parents. The couple had one child, Mary Doris Mattingly. Mary Pearl "Pearl" Belsha married Pius Mattingly's brother, Lawrence Mattingly. The couple had no children. The brothers, Joseph Elmer and Joseph Clyde also married siblings Elsie and Mildred Ida Schaefering. Clyde may have been divorced and remarried, possibly to another woman also named Mildred

John Logan Belsha died on May 17, 1926 after a lingering illness that left him bedridden for 14 months. According to his sister-in-law, Belle Belsha, she believed he had never traveled farther in his life than St. Louis, Missouri. At the time of his death, he was 81 years of age and had fathered at least 14 children, several having died in infancy or young childhood. His last wife, Mary Elizabeth was, at the time of John Logan's death, approximately 54 years of age.

Mary Elizabeth Hager Belsha died two years after her husband. At the time of her death, she was 54 years old and living in the home of her daughter, (Mary) Pearl Mattingly.