Rootbound in the Hills #151: 14 Aug 1990

by Rocky Macy

Sulphur Springs, Benton County, AR, has many unique claims on history, one of which is that of being the birthplace of a prolific poet. Sarah HUDSON PIERCE, a former classmate of this columnist while at the Noel School, has two volumes of poetry to her credit, Friendship is a Journey and The Warming of Winter. The latter book contains many old family photos. Some of the surnames gleaned from those photos include: ANDRES, BRAGG, CANTRELL, HILER, HUDSON, MAPLES, MORRIS, PETTIGREW, PETTIS, RITZ, SLAUGHTER, SPORLEDER, and WOMACK.

Old friends may write to Sarah HUDSON PIERCE at P.O. Box 683, Plain Dealing, LA 71064. She would especially like to hear from any of our readers who knew her grandmother, Sarah RITZ HUDSON. Sarah's poetry books may also be ordered from the address listed above. Friendship is a Journey sells for $5, and the Warming of Winter is $7.50.

Sue HANNAH (7048 Timothy Street, Anchorage, AK 99502) wishes to correspond with anyone who has a knowledge of her great-grandparents, Michael Emmett and Ellen C. KEEGAN. The KEEGANs had a horse farm near Seneca, Newton County, MO, from the early 1880s until after the beginning of this century. Ellen C. KEEGAN died in Joplin, Jasper County, MO, in 1915 at the age of eighty-one.

William Patrick KEEGAN, the son of Michael and Ellen, left the Seneca farm around 1902 with his wife, Myrtle, and three-month-old daughter, Mary Elenore. They moved to Tulsa, OK, via horse and buggy. Another son, John T. KEEGAN, was a physician in Louisville, KY. He was declared insane and died at the state hospital in Nevada, MO, in 1929. A third son, Michael Emmet KEEGAN, Jr., was a ward of the state of Missouri in 1929. He signed John's death certificate. Michael Emmett KEEGAN, Jr. may have died at a Poor Farm near Oronogo, MO.

Rose KEEGAN, a sister of Michael Emmet KEEGAN (the father), may have lived on the Seneca farm for a while also.

Rootbound readers who remember the KEEGANs are urged to contact Sue HANNAH at her home in Alaska. She is anxious to learn more about her Ozark ancestry.

Wilma O'CONNELL (4105 Main Street, #31, Vancouver, WA 98663) is trying to obtain a copy of a genealogy on the BEARD family of northwest Arkansas. She believes the book was put out by an area genealogical or historical society. Wilma's father was William Franklin BEARD He was a son of Samuel Franklin and Mattie E. (LANGLEY) BEARD. Samuel was the son of Syrus BEARD. All were residents of Benton County, AR.

Wilma O'CONNELL's mother was Mary Nina WRIGHT, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret Belle (RAMEY) WRIGHT. Jacob was the son of Burle WRIGHT - and Burle is buried in Bentonville, Benton County, AR.

Those tracking a BEARD or WRIGHT line in the Ozarks might do well to write to Wilma. She would like to correspond with anyone who has information on the written genealogy of the BEARD family.

Bernadine HAYWORTH CREWS (2231 E. Cherryvale, Springfield, MO 65804) is searching for ancestors and descendants of William D. COLE (born 1842; died circa 1916) and his wife, Mary D. BISHOP (born 1842, KY; died 1917, East Benton, Newton County, MO). They were married in 1864, and both are buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Newton County, MO. The children of the couple were Nancy (HAYWORTH), Samuel, James, Henry,
and Winford. Do any of our readers have material to share on this family?

Need help shaking the old family tree? Write to Rootbound in the Hills in care of this newspaper. We're as close as the mailbox!

Happy hunting!