Thursday, April 3, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #29:
12 April 1988

by Rocky Macy

Two weeks ago we printed a letter form a lady in the state of Washington who was researching the surnames WANN and DENTON in the Southwest City area. In response to that query, Carrie EDWARDS, a Southwest City reader, brought the following letter to our newspaper office:
"Mr. Macy,

"My folks came to Southwest City in 1904. I remember many people who were old when I was a child. Mrs. WANN was one of them. She lived on the hill at the end of Main Street. My mother knew her, but I remember nothing about her except she was small in stature and, I believe, lived alone. I do remember that she had young visitors come from out-of-town to see her.

"There was a 'WANN' School east of town, and also a 'WANN' Cemetery not far from Southwest City.

"Many people should remember Jim DENTON and his daughter 'Oma' who lived on our Main Street close to our only lumber yard. Oma taught in our school system many years and died in Grove at Lake Manor not many years back.

"I'm sure others can tell you more about these 'Old Timers' in Southwest City. I've been here all these years and have lived on Cherokee Street for sixty-three years."

Thank you, Carrie EDWARDS, for taking the time to write that wonderful letter! I am forwarding a copy on to the person who wanted the information, and I'm certain that she will be delighted with your assistance.

ROARK descendant Dan RICKETT of Anderson, MO, provided me with a magazine article entitled "Grandfather's Rifle' by Bill BROCKWAY. Writing for the April 1988 issue of Muzzle Blasts magazine, the author relates the story of an antique firearm which originally belonged to his g-g-g-grandfather, John ROARK, who homesteaded on Goose Creek in Macon County, TN, sometime around 1800 on a land grant awarded to his uncle, James ROARK, as a reward for military service in the Revolutionary War. John ROARK and his brother-in-law, Bill LINVILLE, later served with Andrew JACKSON at the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.

The only obvious connection between these ROARKs and the ones who settled in our area is the fact that Macon County, TN, adjoins Allen County, KY, the place where William Carroll ROARK and Comfort POE were married. Thanks, Dan, for placing another small piece in the puzzle. It's always good to hear from a cousin!

Jean BOHANNAN of the Delaware County Genealogical Society has provided Rootbound with information about the genealogy section of the Grove Public Library. The extensive genealogy holdings of the library include the International Genealogical Index (IGI) of the Mormon Church, War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (128 volumes), several hundred rolls of census film, and a good selection of Indian research material. The library's hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursday; and, 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

The letter form Mrs. BOHANNAN came as quite a coincidence because just a few weeks ago I purchased a copy of Claude Hanna Retraces Memory's Road, a book which she compiled and edited. The book is a collection of newspaper columns by Claude HANNA which appeared in the Delaware County Journal between 1964 and 1971. Mr. HANNA, a retired Grove school administrator and postmaster, penned his memories of growing up in the Grove area in the early days of the 20th century as a regular feature for the newspaper.

The excellent volume of Mr. HANNA's work may be purchased at the Grove Public Library or at The Bookmark bookstore at 21 East 3rd in Grove, OK, for only $5.95. Also available at The Bookmark is A History of Monkey Island which sells for $8 and contains quite a lot of genealogical material. Profits from the sale of the HANNA book have been earmarked for improvements at the Grove Springs Park, and the proceeds from the book on Monkey Island go to the Delaware County Historical Society.

Until next week...happy trails!

No comments: