Monday, May 26, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #104:
19 Sep 1989

by Rocky Macy

The bitterness and destruction of the Civil War would have still been starkly evident upon the land as Joseph and Altha (COX) PARKS, along with their baby daughter, Mary Jane, struggled northward from Georgia to Benton County, AR, in 1871. Where did the family come from in Georgia? Did they migrate to Arkansas in the company of relatives or friends? Rose PARKS (Rt. 1, Box 119-B, Avery, TX 75554) would like to know.

Mary Jane PARKS was born in Georgia in 1870. Other children of Joseph and Altha were Willis (born 1872, AR), Nancy (born 1874, AR; married Delos MARTIN), and twins Allison and Harrison Joe (born 1877, AR). Joseph PARKS died in 1877 and left an estate that included one hundred acres of land. His probate records are on file in Bentonville. Altha died in 1890. Do some of our Rootbound readers have further information about the PARKS family that would help Rose in her research? Get in touch!

We'll be printing some more Texas letters over the next few weeks. Good friend Margaret Ann THETFORD again commented on Rootbound in her genealogy column, Family Tree that runs each week in The Dallas Morning News. Margaret's address is Family Tree c/o The Dallas Morning News, P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265). Her column is first-rate, and, quite obviously, has a large readership.

Joyce ATTUSO (1316 N. Parsell, Mesa, AZ 85205) is on the trail of several of her McDonald County, MO, ancestors. John SUTHERLAND (born ca. 1803, VA or TN) and his wife, Agenss _____ (born ca. 1821, TN) were listed on the McDonald County censuses for 1850, 1860, and 1870. Their son, Oliver (born Feb 1850, MO) married Myriah (or Maria) Elizabeth LEWIS (LOUIS) in McDonald County in 1868. Oliver supposedly died at the age of thirty-five. Joyce would like to know where Myriah was born, as well as the names of her parents and siblings, and she would like to find out when Oliver and Myriah died ahd where they are buried.

Joyce ATTUSO (address above) wishes to learn if Sarah EPPERSON (born 15 Dec 1827, TN; married Martin MEADOR, 1844, IL) was the daughter of Ashrey and Elizabeth EPPERSON. Where in Tennessee were Ashrey and Elizabeth born, and who were their parents and siblings? Martin and Sarah MEADOR are buried in the Anderson (MO) Cemetery, but there are no dates on Martin's stone.

And finally, Joyce is trying to establish the parentage of Sarah Elizabeth LEWIS (born 19 April 1869, Franklin County, TN) as well as identify her brothers and sisters. When did Elizabeth marry Francis Marion MITCHELL of McDonald County? He was the son of Nathan MITCHELL (born 1820, TN) and Martha BARNETT (born 1823, TN). Where in Tennessee were Nathan and Martha born? Who were their parents? Joyce is waiting to hear from her Ozark cousins!

And while we're in McDonald County, which of our readers can assist with material on Milton COOPER, his wife, Elizabeth, and their sons, Kinderdine and William? The COOPERs were in McDonald County around 1880. Those with information to share on this family should contact Mrs. Polly SMITH (1840 Madison Street, Quincy, IL 62301).

Note This: The next meeting of the Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, in the Hospitality Room of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, Fourth and Chestnut Streets, Rogers, AR. The program will be presented by Jean and Harry HECKMANN who will tell about their recent genealogical trip to southern Germany. There will be a time before the program for asking individual questions about genealogical problems. And, as always, visitors are welcome.

The MACYs have recently moved to within walking distance of the City-County Library of Nesoho. Perhaps now this procrastinating columnist can get back to climbing his own family tree. The genealogy room at the City-County Library is great - and those wonderful long hours that the library stays open (until 9:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays) give even the busiest of people an opportunity to use the facility.

And if we don't meet at the library, let's all stay in touch through Rootbound!

Happy trails!

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