Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #215:
5 Nov 1991

by Rocky Macy

Remember our column that mentioned the letter from the Swiss researcher who was writing a book on progressive education in America? He had been to McDonald County in search of material on Ellsworth COLLINGS who served as County Superintendent of Schools from 1915 until 1921. Mr. COLLINGS had written a book about a model school that he established in 1918 near Bethpage, MO. His work went on to be translated into several different languages and studied in many countries. Well, that piece has stirred a response from a relative. Please read on...

Dr. Bryce E. COLLINGS (P.O. Box 233, Anderson, MO 64831) is a third or fourth cousin of the late educator. As such, he has not done any direct work in relation to Ellsworth COLLINGS, but he has acquired a printout on the COLLINGS family that traces their common lineage back to Peter COLLINGS who was born in January of 1820. Dr. COLLINGS also believes that some of his family was born and reared near Arcola, MO. He will share what he knows of his family lineage with any of our readers who have a related interest.

The Swiss researcher, but the way, is Michael KNOLL (Museum of Education, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208). Mr. KNOLL is still seeking to learn more about Ellsworth COLLINGS and his model school at Bethpage. Are any alumnae still around?

Judy CARPENTER (P.O. box 794, Bennington, VT 05201) wishes to correspond with others who are researching the surname HARVEY. Of particular interest to Judy are Edward HARVEY, John Vincent HARVEY (1841-1920), Walter Alonzo HARVEY (born May 1896), Merle HARVEY (born 1 Aug 1926), and Dell HARVEY. Do any of these names sound familiar?

Ava Nell CHEEK (39 Tamworth Circle, Bella Vista, AR 72714) has been searching in vain for the ancestry of her great-grandmother, Eliza Jane MATHEWS, for many years, but she now believes that she has stumbled upon Eliza's family. Please read on...

Eliza Jane MATHEWS was born in 1848 in Missouri. Our correspondent has reason to believe that Eliza was living near Joplin, MO, when she was sixteen. Recently Mrs. CHEEK found an Eliza J. MATHIS in the 1850 census of Barry County, MO. In 1860 that same family was listed as John W. MATHEWS (age 39, born TN), wife Susan (24, MO), and the following children, all born in Missouri: James B. (age 12), Eliza J. (10), Mark (10), George W. (5), and John B. (1). If this is her family, there should also be a brother named Dan born after 1860.

Eliza Jane MATHEWS (above) married Francis Z. "Zack" TURNER in Hunt County, TX, in 1870, and she died in 1924 in Taylor County, TX. Does anyone know if the entire family moved to Texas? If so, where? (They are not in the 1870 Hunt County census.) Ava Nell CHEEK in very interested in contacting her Ozark kin.

Ann BRANUM (1111 North 2000 West, 22 Glenwood Drive, Farr West, UT 84404) is requesting help with her Newton County, MO, roots. Her grandfather, Edward Byron HEATH, married Jemima BOWERS in 1873. Jemima was the daughter of Henry BOWERS of Newton County. Edward, born in Seneca (NY or MO?) may have been a school teacher or a minister. He and Jemima had two sons, Leonard and Robert.

Jemima BOWERS HEATH (above) had a brother named Leonard BOWERS who served in the Civil War. (Four men with that name served from Missouri.) Henry BOWERS, the father of Leonard and Jemima, was born in Tennessee and was residing in the vicinity of Shoal Creek in Newton County (post office at Grand Falls) in 1860. Leonard was nineteen at that time and Jemima was four. Do any of our readers know more about the BOWERS and HEATH families?

Can't get enough of Rootbound? Why not check out Rootbound in the Ozarks, a regular feature in American Genealogy Magazine. For more information on this publication, please write to the editor, James PYLANT, at P.O. Box 1587, Stephenville, TX 76401.

Until next week...happy hunting!

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