Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #85:
9 May 1989

by Rocky Macy

Special thanks to the good folks of the Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society for inviting me to speak at their most recent meeting. It was a pleasure to visit with such dedicated and enthusiastic family researchers What a great group!

John D. BATES (1 London Drive, Bella Vista, AR 72714) a member of the Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society, would like to contact anyone tracking the surname BATES, especially lines that are rooted in McDonald County. John is also trying to find out which cemetery or other location is the final resting place of Eliza SIMPSON COSGRAVE. She died in Benton County, AR, in 1872. Eliza's husband, Dr. John Mahon COSGRAVE, perished in a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico in 1845. Are there any Rootbound readers that can help John D. BATES with his research?

Howard McKINNEY (P.O. Box 513, Noel, MO 64854) recently found a large photo in his barn that may be of interest to some of our readers. The photo(thirty-six inches long) is of B Company, 52nd Engineer Regiment, Camp Upton, Long Island, NY. It was taken in 1918 by Blackmore and Company of New York City. Those who have an interest in this photograph should contact Howard at his home in Noel.

Kay ROBERTS MARTIN (Rt. 4, Box 440-1, Oak Grove, MO 64075) is on the trail of Joe DOUGLAS who was born on 4 Feb 1861, possibly in Arkansas, and died on 20 Dec 1918 at Krebs, Pittsburg County, OK. He is buried at Crowder, OK. Joe's wife, Melissa Jane LOFTIN was born 25 Mar 1856, possibly in southern Missouri, and died 16 Feb 1929 in Carson County, TX. Joe and Melissa were married in Arkansas. Their children included Laura DOUGLAS KELLY, Sarah DOUGLAS BICKLE, and William "Bert" DOUGLAS. Kay would appreciate any assistance which our readers could provide.

Grampa abandoned his family and disappeared in 1892, and now his granddaughter, Margaret CHRISTENSEN (Rt. 1, Box 59, Kimballton, IA 51543) would like to know where he went and why. Her grandfather, James Oliver HEWITT, was born 29 Jan 1856, probably in Pennsylvania. After being orphaned as a child, he migrated to Missouri, and eventually settled in Brown County, KS, where he married Mary GUINN in February of 1885. James Oliver HEWITT disappeared from his farm in Brown County in October of 1892. He was traced to Fairbury, NE, but from ther no further clues have been found. It's a longshot, but Margaret is hoping that someone reading Rootbound may come forward with answers regarding her grandfather. Will that happen?

And here's something to mark on the old summer calendar. The Federation of Oklahoma Genealogical Societies (P.O. Box 26151, Oklahoma City, OK 73126) will be holding its fourth annual book fair at St. Luke's United Methodist Church (222 NW 15th Street, Oklahoma City, OK) on Saturday, 29 July 1989, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Many companies will have genealogy books and forms available for purchase, and one-hour workshops on a variety of topics will run throughout the day. The admission price is only one dollar per person. It sounds as though it will be a great event!

Bobbie W. ROSS (P.O. Box 683, Gatesville, TX 76528) is researching the FARRIS and ANDERSON families who moved to Barry County, MO, from Tennessee in 1856. They were listed on the Sugar Creek Township Census of Barry County in 1860. Of particular interest to Bobbie is James Neslon FARRIS who married Arvazenia ANDERSON, daughter of John (Jack) and Lucretia ANDERSON in Coffee County, TN, in 1849. James Nelson FARRIS died on 5 June 1864. Family legend has it that he was murdered by bushwhackers on his way to the mill. Our correspondent would like to corroborate or disprove that story.

Murders by bushwhackers seem to be almost commonplace in Ozark folklore. Rootbound will make space available to anyone who has a bushwhacker tale to tell. Share your history and Ozark heritage by writing to Rootbound in the Hills in care of this newspaper. We love the mail!

Happy trails!

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