Hi everyone - thanks for your swift and comprehensive replies! Here's a summary of all the responses I got. I'll try the Christian Harmony folks to see if they know about MF Bryan.
best,
Rachel
William Golightly fl. 1830s related to William Walker
from Robert: This William Golightly you list below may be William Golightly of Spartanburg County, S.C., 1801--1877..."William Golightly also taught music and was at times associated with William Walker (A. S. H.), Henry White and Isaac Neighbors;" (from the History of Spartanburg County by J. B. O. Landrum, p. 61)
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=brendajoy13&id=I40848http://books.google.com/books?id=D_MxAQAAMAAJ
James W. Steffy fl. 1830s author of Valley Harmonist, 1836; copyright New Market VA
This should be John W.
from Harry: In his tunebook, "The Valley Harmonist," Steffy lists his name only as J. W. Steffy. In a letter to the editor in "Musical Million" in 1875 William E. Chute mentioned having received a biographical sketch from the compiler, "John W. Steffy of Ind., past 73" vol. VI (1875), p. 71. Unfortunately, Chute's biographical sketch of Steffy has not been located.
(Rachel) I've found a John W. Steffy in Young's "History of Wayne county, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present" (Google Books). This John was alive in 1872 and had been a postmaster in the 1860s. Maybe this is the same guy?
M.F. Bryan fl. 1840s author of RAPTUROUS SCENE in Christian Harmony
- no further info
B.F. Davis fl. 1840s co-author of 60 DAY OF WORSHIP
from Warren: B.F. Davis was a relative of E.K. Davis of Cherokee Co. Alabama, who
contributed several tunes to the Hesperian Harp. He died about 1847, after
composing a poem about a sinner attending a ball--it's in the Hesperian Harp.
C. Dingley fl. 1840s authored ALL IS WELL in American Vocalist
from Warren: This is Charles Dingley of New York, compiler of the Devotional
Harmonist and other Methodist books. I don't believe he claimed credit for
ALL IS WELL, and I believe there are other printings, but Mansfield was
merely stating that he got the tune from Dingley's Devotional Harmonist.
Rachel: I'll just credit the song as Arr. Mansfield and leave Dingley out of it.
George Miller fl. 1840s compiler of Methodist Camp-Meeting Song Book; copyright Dayton OH
from Warren: My guess is Rev. George Miller (1806-1877), but Nikos may have more on
this.
Rachel: I know Nikos hasn't ID'd him. I've found George Miller (1806-1877) but he's listed as "farmer" in the census. Where is he listed as "rev?"
David Walker fl. 1840s brother of William Walker
Robert: The David Walker who wrote THE FINEST FLOWER (Christian Harmony, Cooper Sacred Harp), I have listed as an uncle of William Walker (A. S. H.); the son of John and Margaret Walker. He was born 22 OCT 1787 in SC and died 19 SEP 1878 in Spartanburg County. He is buried at Hebron United Methodist Church Cemetery, Spartanburg County, SC.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8719765
J.W. Davis fl. 1850s contributor to Social Harp
from Warren: J.W. Davis contributed Ball Hill to the 1844 Sacred Harp, p. 118. He
served in the Muscogee Rifles, and Ball Hill is a campground in Muscogee
Co. This is a tune that McCurry borrowed from the Sacred Harp.
William C. Davis fl. 1850s contributor to Social Harp
from Wade: A "William C. Davis," age 36, is listed in the 1860 census as living in "McCurry's District" of Hart County, GA:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZM6-YD2He seems like a pretty good candidate for William C. Davis of the Social Harp. He would have been about 32 in 1855, only 3 or 4 years younger than McCurry. I haven't been able to locate a death date.
J.M. Day fl. 1850s author of 56 VILLULIA
from Wade: Also, I found a "James M. Day," age 34, listed in the 1850 census as living in Heard County, GA, not all that far north of Hamilton in Harris County.
Power fl. 1850s contributor to Social Harp
Warren: This is probably the same William Thomas Power (1817-ca. 1864), teacher of
vocal music, who contributed Royal Band to the Sacred Harp
Daniel H. Smith fl. 1850s contributed OLIVE SHADE to Christian Harmony
from Robert: Colonel Daniel H. Smith lived in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and is mentioned on p. 282ff. of Landrum's book. According to genealogist Edward L. Gwinn, Daniel H. Smith was the son of Elijah Smith and Diana Ham, and he was born 13 Jun 1816 in Spartanburg Co, SC, and died 24 Oct 1898 in Spartanburg Co.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=78080231
J.M.C. Shaw fl. 1900-1920s contributor to Cooper book
From Karen: J.M.C. Shaw = John Malcom Cruse, and according to the 1900 census he was born in May of 1860 in Alabama.
Robert: John Malcom Cruse Shaw was born circa 1860 and died in 1934. He was the son of John Shaw and Dora Parish. He married Mary Jane Daniels in 1891 in Pike County.
Note: I (Rachel)found him in the census and also here:
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SHAW/2011-03/1299014187 His middle name is given as "Crews" in the genealogy forums.
Thomas J. Allen fl. 1900s contributor to Cooper book
From Karen: Thomas Jefferson Allen, born 9 Feb 1853 in Georgia and died 26 Jan 1948. He is buried at Shady Grove Baptist Church near Brundidge, Pike county, AL.
R.B. Helms fl. 1900s contributor to Cooper book
- no further info
P.T. Medley fl. 1900s contributor to Cooper book
Robert: Porter Tillery Medley was born in 1881 and died in 1943. He married Minnie Lee Scarborough, composer of the alto on his song on p. 471 in the Cooper Book. They are buried at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Barbour County, Alabama.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=76222751
Robert Wilson fl. 1920s contributor to Cooper book
Rachel: my mistake - should have been Reuben.
From Karen: Reuben Wilson was born 30 Aug 1858 in Alabama and died 24 June 1943 in Houston county, AL. He is buried at Goodwater Freewill Baptist Church, Wicksburg, Houston county, AL. He was the father of Vera Wilson (see 549; m. Richard Weekes) and Leila L. Wilson (see 528b; m. Cleveland Orlando Wilkinson), both of whom also contributed to the Cooper book.
Robert: Reuben Guy Wilson contributed 528b and 549. Reuben Guy Wilson was born in 1858 and died in 1943. He and his wife Salley Shiver Wilson are buried at Goodwater Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Houston County, AL. His daughters Vera and Leila contributed to his songs, and Vera wrote WILSON (502 Cooper) and dedicated it to her father.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31621137
