Friday, June 13, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #131:
27 Mar 1990

by Rocky Macy

A most unusual letter recently ran in several area newspapers. It was a plea for local residents to assist the writer in locating information on his parents. Rootbound was curious and wrote to the gentleman for more details. The following was taken from his reply:

Noah L. WOODS (P.O. Box 12245, Phoenix, AZ 85002-0445) was a homeless waif when the state of Oklahoma picked him up in Tulsa in 1954, and he has no memory of his life before that time. Now, many years later, he has begun an arduous search for his roots and identity. Please read on...

An on-going and extensive investigation has led Noah L. WOODS to believe that he was born 19 April 1948 in Miami, OK, to Claude L. WOODS (born 23 Nov 1923 or 1925, Frederick, OK) and Wincel Gean DRIVER. Claude was the oldest of five children born to Reverend WOODS, a Church of Christ minister, and his Indian wife. Claude and Gean were married 16 Oct 1946 in Klamath Falls, OR.

Noah believes that his family may have resided in this area before he was either lost or abandoned. He is hopeful that someone here locally may remember something about the little red-headed boy found wandering the streets of Tulsa those many years ago, or may have information to share about the WOODS or the DRIVERs. Which of our readers holds the key that will unlock Noah's past?

Mary Ellen LEDFORD (702 Fouts Drive, Irving, TX 75061) is tracking ancestors and descendants of William C. LEDFORD (born 1832-1835, NC; died 1903-1905, TX), and his wife, Margaret Elizabeth HINDS BASHAM (born 1835, AR). William's parents may have been Frederick LEDFORD and Eliizabeth WHITE. Margaret was the daughter of David HINDS and Margaret Ann MATTIX.

William and Margaret LEDFORD were married in 1859. Their children included Elvira Josephine (born 1861, MO; married Joey RAY 1879; died 1912), William C., Jr. (born 1865, AR; married Lizzie POLK, 1894; died 1895, Hunt County, TX), Mary Archie Bell (born 1867, Barry or Newton County, MO; married O.M. HARPER, 1894), and John David (born 1870, MO; married Etta _____, 1892, and Nora HARPER, 1905; died 1938, Commerce, TX). Are descendants of this family still in the Ozarks?

James E. HATHAWAY (403 Avenue Santa Barbara, Apt. C, San Clemente, CA 92672-5363) wishes to contact others researching the family of Joseph and Elizabeth Jane POWERS of Newton County, MO. Joseph was born 1 Oct 1815. The couple's son, Eli Madison Powers (born 25 April 1851 in Newton County, MO) married Mary Talitha JONES on 6 May 1869 in that same county. Mr. HATHAWAY is especially interested in learning if a POWERS reunion is held in the Neosho area.

James E. HATHAWAY (address above) is also on the trail of Reverend William JONES who died circa 1883. Reverend JONES was married to a woman named HERRELL. Do any of our readers have information to share on the surnames POWERS, JONES, or HERRELL?

Congratulations to Rootbound's good friend, Don VINCENT, for being named associate editor of Heritage Quest magazine. This quality genealogical periodical is published six times a year. Although rather new in the marketplace, Heritage Quest, is fast becoming a research staple of genealogists nationwide. And with Don involved in the editorial duties it will continue to grow and prosper while serving the needs of family researchers. For information on subscribing, please write to Heritage Quest, P.O. Box 40, Orting, WA 98360-0040. And, as always, remember to mention that you heard about it through Rootbound!

Are any of our readers researching a WEIDERKEHR or a DOERPINGHAUS line in northwest Arkansas or Germany. If so, please write to Rootbound in the Hills in care of this newspaper. We have material to share!

Until next week...happy trails!

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