Sunday, May 18, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #91:
20 June 1989

by Rocky Macy

Obituaries are excellent sources of genealogical data. The information contained in these death notices often include the full name of the deceased, dates of birth and death, a listing of relatives (spouse, parents, siblings, and children), home address, organizational memberships, and the name of the funeral home that handled the service as well as the place of burial. That type of material can lead to more definitive sources such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, census records, military files, and funeral home records. Check out the obituaries in this issue of the newspaper and notice the generous portions of genealogy that they serve up!

Louise C. ENGLAND (118 South Eldridge Way, Golden, CO 80401) is searching for obituaries on Janes Henry and Elizabeth (COLE) BREECE who are thought to be buried in the Diamond, MO, area. James Henry was born circa 1820-1824 in Ohio, and Elizabeth arrived in the world circa 1830-1836 in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. It is thought that they were living near Diamond with (or nearby) a daughter, Phoebe Ann, whose married name is not known.

Other children born to the BREECE family were Margaret (born 1855, MO, married Mr. WEAVER), Belle (married Mr. EVANS), James Henry, Jr. (born 1862, IA, married Rhoda E. COLE - a niece of Elizabeth's), Geroge Greenbury (born 8 Oct 1865, IA, married Addie May HALL, had no children), H. Tillman (born 1868, IA, married Eliza SANDERS), and Iowa (born 1869-1870, IA, married Ed ROBERTS, had at least one daughter). Three of the children of James Henry, Jr., and Rhoda married and lived in Wright and Ozark Counties in Missouri. Part of the family was in Decatur County, IA, in 1870 and 1880, and some were in Ozark County, MO, in 1900.

Descendants of James Henry and Elizabeth BREECE would do well to contact Louise. She's waiting by the mailbox in Golden, CO!

Pat BOEN (Rt. 2, Box 3450, Garfield, AR 72732) wishes to correspond with anyone who is researching Lucy BLEVINS, the wife of James B. HOBBS of Benton County, AR. Pat is also on the trail fo Harvey BRAY and his wife, Mary Elizabeth JONES. Harvey and Mary resided in Madison County, MO, and later migrated to northwest Arkansas. Other surnames of interest to this correspondent are BOEN, CAMPBELL, MAHURIN, MELSON, ROUNDS, and WILKS. Which of our readers have information that ties in with Pat's genealogy?

Janet K. PEASE (10310 West 62nd Place, Apt. 202, Arvada, CO 80004) is seeking all data on Benjamin PINTS/POINTS who was listed on the 1880 census of McDonald Township of Barry County, MO, as being an eleven-eyar-old servant. Benjamin married Lydia KEITHLEY in 1893 in Stone County, MO. He died in 1937 in Picher, OK, and is buried at Racine, MO. Janet would appreciate any assistance that our readers could provide.

Mrs. E.D. KING (303 E. Union, Rogers, AR 72756) is tracking the following individuals: George Elmer KING (MO), Nimrod ASHCRAFT (KY), Sarah ROUTH (KY), and Fredrick WITTENBURG (Germany, Canada, AR). Do those names ring any bells with our readers?

Grampa was a forty-niner that got lost in the gold fields? Perhaps Ann McDANELL (2328 Oleander, Delano, CA 93215) can help pick up his trail. She wites the column Ancestor Ambling for The Delano Record. She will accept free queries of up to fifty words, but the information must relate to California. Check it out! And when you write to Ann, be certain to mention Rootbound!

Libraries are wonderful places to look for obituaries. Most will have at least one or two local newspapers on microfilm. Some have even begun filing obituaries. Mrs. COLLIE at the McDonald County Library in Pineville maintains a very useful obituary file on large notecards. The Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society has also begun to collect and file obituaries of local interest. Don't overlook this valuable source of genealogy. It could save hours of barking up the wrong tree!

Happy trails!

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