Presidential Genealogical Relationships

[Donna McCreary]

Thanks, Donna. It's amazing how these things get into books.

I am guilty of writing something in a book that is not true myself. When writing about Mary's half brother Alexander H. Todd, I listed his military rank as "Captain" because that is what was written in his sister Emilie Helm's notes. Today, I read a letter from a fellow soldier saying that Aleck was a Lieutenant. Books seem to bounce betweent the two ranks - and one source listed Aleck as a Colonel.

Apparently, he was a Lieutenant when he died. Someone suggested he was given the rank of Captain after his death -but I have not found evidence to support the theory. Perhaps Emilie's use of the word "Captain" was wishful thinking.