Sidney Walter Atus (abt. 1880 - aft. 1950)

Born about Apr 1880 in Cherryfield, Washington, Maine, United States

Ancestors

Died after 1950 after about age 69 in Maine, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Walter Atus is a part of US Black heritage.

Private Walter Atus served with the United States Army during the Spanish-American War.
Service Started: 31 Mar 1899
Unit(s): Troop E, 10th Cavalry Regiment
Service Ended: 3 Mar 1900

Sidney Walter Atus was born at Cherryfield, Maine, Apr 1876, ^[1] or 15 Apr 1877, ^[2] or Apr 1880, ^[3] or 15 Apr 1883, ^[4] the son of Gilbert Leighton Atus and Mary E. "Mamie" Wallace. ^{[3] [5] [6]}

He was 5 ft 5¼ in tall, with brown eyes, straight black hair, dark complexion, and employed as a teamster when he enlisted at Portland, Maine, 31 Mar 1899, in Troop E, 10th Cavalry Regiment, in the Spanish-American War; discharged as a Private "without honor" at Fort Brown, Texas, 3 Mar 1900. ^[7] The "without honor" discharge was often issued in the Spanish-American War and World War I to underage enlistees and African-Americans.

On 4 Jun 1900, he was enumerated as a prisoner, occupation "teamster" in the 1900 US census of Portland, Maine. ^[1]

He married (1) at Portland, 8 Jun 1901, Catherine L. Quinn. ^{[5] [6]}

He appears to have married (2) probably at Portland, before 12 Sep 1918, Catherine Agnes (______), ^[4] age 24 in the 1920 census of Portland. ^[8] She died, 30 Nov 1927, and is buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Portland. ^[9]

Teamster at Portland. ^{[4] [8] [10] [11] [12]}

Research Notes

The 1880 Census age for Sidney Walter Atus (age 2/12) has been preferred for this profile. The 15 Apr 1877 date found on FamilySearch may represent the birthdate he claimed when enlisting in the Spanish-American War, which would explain his "without honor" discharge (perhaps for being underage, though the same type of discharge was used disproportionately for homosexuals and African-Americans). The 15 Apr 1883 date on his WWI draft card may simply be vanity. James-134 20:08, 27 October 2022 (UTC)

In the 1880 census his race is reported as Mulatto, with his father Mulatto and mother white. In 1900 census his race is Black; later censuses report White.

His father is reported as being born in Oklahoma in the 1930 census. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MML6-JSF : 9 March 2022), Walter S Citus, 1900.
2. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4MZ-T8F : 14 January 2020), Mary E. Wallace in entry for Walter S. Atus, 1877.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFQ4-KMG : 14 January 2022), Sydney W. Atus in household of Gilbert Atus, Cherryfield, Washington, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZFY-NMB : 23 December 2021), Walter Sidney Atus, 1917-1918.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4DP-N8Y : 22 July 2021), Walter S. Atus, 1901.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q219-RCSX : 22 July 2021), Walter S Atus and Catherine L Quinn, 08 Jun 1901; citing Portland, Cumberland, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
7. ↑ "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-ZVV8 : 3 March 2021), Walter S Atus, 31 Mar 1899; citing p. 10, volume 098, Portland, , Maine, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 51; FHL microfilm 1,465,937.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFZ6-9ZJ : 1 February 2021), Walter S Atus, 1920.
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 27 October 2022), memorial page for Catherine A. Atus (1893–30 Nov 1927), Find A Grave: Memorial #172610740, citing Calvary Cemetery, South Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, USA; Maintained by Looking For Loved Ones (contributor 50883347).
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XM8G-Q7G : accessed 27 October 2022), Walter Atus in household of William Beking, Portland, Cumberland, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 43, sheet 1B, line 60, family 12, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 830; FHL microfilm 2,340,565.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89M1-PFGB?cc=2000219&wc=QZFM-3XT%3A790102801%2C791175601%2C791430201%2C791436801 : accessed 27 October 2022), Maine > Cumberland > Portland City, Portland, Ward 2 > 3-55 Portland City Ward 2 (Area A - part) > image 22 of 32; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHJ-5QHW-K99J-S?personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6FMP-94SQ : accessed 27 October 2022), Walter Atus, Portland, Cumberland, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 17-46, sheet 23, line 14, family 230, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration).