Sunday, April 13, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #43:
19 July 1988

by Rocky Macy

From our ancestors come our names;
from our virtues come our honors.
-- Old Pioneer Proverb


Mrs. Patsy BURNS (123 N.W. 22nd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73103) would like to correspond with her Ozark kin. Her mother, Beulah Josephine FIELDS, was born in Southwest City, MO, and her uncle, William E. FIELDS, lived his entire life in Delaware County, OK. Mrs. BURNS is conducting genealogical research on her family.

Also from the Sooner State comes a request from Mrs. Doris COOTS (736 N.W. 87th, Oklahoma City, OK 73114) for information about the BLAIR family of Benton County, AR. Her grandfather's obituary listed a sister, J.W. BLAIR, as living near Decatur, AR. Mrs. COOTS would like to make contact with any Benton County BLAIRs.

And our third letter this week out of Oklahoma's capital comes from Debra SPINDLE (5940 N.W. 41st, Oklahoma City, OK 73122). She is researching William G. BALL, M.D. (born ca. 1807, NY) and his wife, Elizabeth CHARLTON BALL (born ca. 1807, TN). Dr. and Mrs. BALL and their granddaughter, Martha Jane BALL, moved from Des Moines, IA, to Benton County, AR, around 1877. Ms. SPINDLE would like to locate death and burial information on this couple.

Debra SPINDLE is also seeking to learn about the ancestry of Daniel Webster CROMWELL who was born in Benton County, AR, on 27 July 1857. He was a penmanship teacher in several communities before his marriage to Martha Jane BALL in Southwest City, MO, in December of 1878. Daniel's father was possibly a Confederate soldier. Ms. SPINDLE believes that his parents might have been John W. CROMWELL and Elizabeth MAY. She would like to hear from any of our readers who might have information on Daniel Webster CROMWELL's ancestry.

Julia HAYS (Rt. 3, Box 149, Neosho, MO 64850) is working on a history of the Oakwood Christian Church which was formerly known as Oakwood Community Church. It is located two miles west of McElhany. She is collecting stories, information, and old pictures related to the church. If any of our readers can help Ms. HAYS with this project, please write to her at the above address or phone 417-364-8136 evenings.

Flora E. JOLLEY (260 East 1000 North, Logan, UT 84321) is trying to locate an original photograph of students at Crossroads School, Benton County, AR, which ran in the Winter 1971 issue of the Benton County Pioneer on page 13. Mrs. JOLLEY and her sister (Flora and Ruth HOGAN) were included in that picture which was taken in the 1930's. Mrs. JOLLEY would like to purchase a print of the original photograph. I'm certain that she would enjoy corresponding with anyone who remembers her or her sister.

Alberta ANDERS (Rt. 1, Box 398, Anderson, MO 64831) and Orpha SPEARS ANDERS SMYTHE (P.O. Box 463, Pineville, MO 64856) are tracing the lineage of William Tierney SPEARS, a former resident of Anderson, MO, and Western Grove, AR. He died in California in 1963. Mr. SPEARS was married to Martha GIBBINS from Mountain Home, AR. Her mother was a TRAMMILL. William Tierney SPEARS' grandmother was of the Blackfoot tribe, and his grandfather came from England and worked as a surveyor. Please contact either lady if you have information to share.

Need a boost up the old family tree? Write to Rootbound -- we're here to help! Happy trails!

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