by Rocky Macy
The first letter out of the mailbag this week is from the Big Sky State. Laurel WILKERSON SHOOK (P.O. Box 801, Miles City, MT 59301) is researching her Ozark ancestry. Laurel's father, Thomas Edgar WILKERSON, was born in Pineville, MO, on 7 Feb 1892, the son of Alexander A. and Amanda DeSPAIN WILKERSON. After Amanda's death in Grandin, MO, in 1895, the rest of the family moved to the state of Washington. Do any of our readers have information about this WILKERSON family of Pineville, McDonald County, MO?
Researching in Texas? Rootbound's friend, Hildred HUGHES ABLES (700 Garfield, Miami, OK 74354), has recently forwarded several copies of a genealogy column written by Margaret Ann THETFORD for The Dallas Morning News. The excellent feature is a blend of book reviews, queries, information on groups and meetings, and other items of interest to genealogists. The address is: Family Tree, The Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, Dallas, TX 75265. And remember to mention Rootbound when you write to Margaret.
Hildred HUGHES ABLES (address above) also sent a query. She is tracking her great-grandfather, William Thomas JONES, who was born in Kentucky and later resided in Greenfield, MO. He died of smallpox while being held as a prisoner of the Union Army during the Civil war. His widow, Mary DICKEY JONES, sold her farm and moved with her brother, Ephriam DICKEY, to Lamar County, TX, ca. 1877. Hildred adds that he great-grandfather was probably a twin, and all of her JONES relatives remained in Missouri. Are any of them reading this?
Billie SCHERTZER (509 E. SE, Miami, OK 74354) would like to learn more about her g-g-grandfather, William Robert WILLIAMS, who was thought to have been born in Missouri. He lived in Douglas and Taney Counties ca. 1860, and his son, also named William Robert WILLIAMS, was born in Douglas County, MO, on 12 Feb 1863. The elder Mr. WILLIAMS was married to Sarah or Sabrina GREEN. They were possibly residents of Washington County, AR, at one time. Who can help? Billie is reasearhcing these other surnames as well: HUFFMAN, LANGFORD, and BURNETT.
Irene COOK WHITEHEAD (Seneca, MO) amd Jay H. ANDERSON (Sheldon, MO) have recently sent for their free copy of Rootbound's article on the ROARK/POE families of Newton and McDonald Counties. We're still honoring requests - just drop a note (and a self-addressed, stamped envelope) to Rootbound in the Hills in care of this newspaper.
Former Rootbound contributor Fred Wellington SMITH passed away a couple of weeks ago. Fred, who moved with his parents to Goodman, MO, in 1911, was a wealth of information and stories about the Ozarks. Last spring Rootbound ran excerpts from Fred's biography, Ozark Trails and Tales: A Collection of Memories, which ahd been compiled by his son and granddaughter. Fred was a wonderful fellow - we'll all miss him.
And more sad news...Mary SREAVES CLOTFELTER and her husband, Jack, were seriously injured on September 19th while on vacation out west. As the couple was walking across an intersection in Reno, NV, they were run down by a man on a motorcycle who was being pursued by the highway patrol. Mary and Jack flew back to Missouri on a charter jet a few weeks ago, and they are reportedly doing better. Rootbound ran an award-winning (Crowder Quill - Golden Quill Award) biographical sketch, Made from Scratch, by Mary last summer. The CLOTFELTERs live in Monett. Our best wishes go out to them both.
Ozark Root Box: Would you like to know who else is researching your Ozark surnames? Rootbound has developed a card file database of all surnames used in the column (as well as some others) along with a listing of names and addresses of the people who are tracking those names. And we'll share! Just send a list of the surnames you are interested in to Rootbound in the Hills in care of this newspaper, and we'll let you know who else is barking up the same tree. Please enclose an SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) with requests.
Until next week - happy trails!
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