Update to McKee Family Tree book...Download updated copy

I've updated the McKee Family Tree book. Click the link below to download a PDF from my OneDrive account.

Updated McKee Family Tree book

Updates were made to the following people:

• Driver, Vallie Lucille (Booth) Obit
• Hansen, Priscilla (Baillargeon) Anderson Obit 
• Linenfeiser, Cynthia Sue (Lenau) Obit FAG 148448448
• McKinley, Dorothy Pearl (Mulholland) Obit 
• Wilkes, Sarah E. (Massey) McKee Obit FAG 139454771
• Nieto, Ramon John Obit FAG 148677504
• Steele, Clara Ruth (Cross) Obit FAG 144187180

In addition, note the following, which is not in the tree book.

• Raymond Eugene Hager (s/o Lewis Ebbert Hager + Hellen Berdelle McGuire)
  b. 3 Feb 1837 Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado
  d. 15 Jun 2015 Fort Collilns, Larimer, Colorado
  Click here to see his obit. FAG 149454190
• Patricia Ann Anderson (d/o Edward Michael G. Anderson + Elsie M. Beane)
  m. abt 1961
  Joseph Omer Norman Fontaine
  b. 3 Nov 1936 Chicopee, Hampden, Massachusetts
  d. 13 Jul 2002 Palmer, Hampden, Massachusetts
  Click here to see his obit. FAG 149461397
• Laura Lynette (Burns) Ratzlaff (d/o Woodrow Leonard Burns + Doris Nell Terral)
  b. 21 Sep 1962 Wasco, Kern, California
  d. 18 Feb 2014 Bakersfield, Kern, California
  Click here to see her obit. FAG 126528954
• Wilma Darlene Uptergrove (d/o Mount Vernon Uptergrove + Edna Idell Cook)
  m. 28 Mar 1972
  Jerry Ronald Dickerman
  b. 10 Sep 1934 Sherman, Grayson, Texas
  d. 25 Jun 2014 Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona
  Click here to see his obit. FAG 132124210
• Sherry Lynn (Bacak) Duffey
  m. 18 Jan 1957 Dallas, Texas to Max Wayne Duffey
  (s/o William Edward Duffey + Luna Beatrice Covington)
  b. 10 Oct 1941 Dallas, Dallas, Texas
  d. 18 May 2014 Granbury, Hood, Texas
  Click here to see her obit. FAG 130079814

Ina Faye Minyard McGinnis and the State of Texas

I've had some interesting ways of establishing a date of death; however, I've never had one like what I found for Ina.

The State of Texas, House Resolution 1809, addresses Ina's life and notes her passing as part of its records. The details of the resolution read like an obituary. The gesture is a lovely one.

Ina is part of the Booth line via her mother, Joy Faye Booth Minyard.

Booth Family Tree

Booth Family Tree

Click graphic to make it larger.

Press the ESC key to close it.

To post to Printerest, you need a graphic. One of the easiest graphics to create is a family tree, using Word SmartArt. You can use Paint to create the actual graphic. 

I created the Booth graphic because I've been contacted by a distant Booth cousin, a descendant of Lucinda Ann Booth. She found this blog and is currently digging through her files. Blogs are a great way for researchers to get in touch with each other. 

Perhaps this newly found cousin will be able to explain what's up with the birth of the first three children. Something is amiss but I can't get a handle on what it might be.

Russell Family Update

One of the byproducts of requesting a photo of a grave site on Find A Grave (FAG) is that the volunteer who fulfills your request frequently will take and post additional photographs. Thus it was when I requested a grave site photo for Lucy Jane (Booth) Russell.

As it so happens, the Russell memorial has a double stone and the volunteer (Sarah Carter) posted the information for Thad Allma Russell...notice the middle name change from Allan to Allma. The bonus? The grave stone includes a marriage date, which means yet another piece of paper to chase.

Getting corrections like Thad's middle name (or at least a new fact like a marriage date to ponder) is another benefit to supporting and participating in FAG. Anyway, for anyone searching for Thad Allma Russell, you can find him at Tuscola Cemetery, Tuscola, Taylor County, Texas. His FAG memorial is  87398568.

Now the fun part. I've found a newspaper article indicating that Lucy and Thad were divorced. Here it is.


The Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, 22 Jun 1962, Page 36
Thad A. Russell v. Lucy J. Russell, plaintiff granted divorce. 

And yet, they have a double stone and are buried as man and wife with nary a mention of a divorce.

So what's the story? Did they reconcile? Did they remarry? Do you know? Will you tell? 

Margaret Elizabeth (Booth) Reid, 1880-1960, Texas

In my last post, I promised to provide the info I've gather on the Reid family. So, here it is.

Margaret Elizabeth Booth
b. 29 May 1880 Sulphur Bluff, Hopkins County, Texas
d. 17 Aug 1960 Big Spring, Hopkins County, Texas (FAG memorial 46597721)
m. 13 Oct 1896 Palo Pinto, Palo Pinto County, Texas
William Franklin Reid
b. 30 May Gilmer, Upsur County, Texas
d. 6 Oct 1946 Breckenridge, Stephens County, Texas (FAG memorial 46595446)

Child 1: Herbert Wilma Reid
b. 24 Jan 1899 Erath County, Texas
d. 16 Aug 1970 Breckenridge, Stephens County, Texas (FAG memorial 46597221)
m. 30 Mar 1918 Liberty, Liberty County, Texas
Bessie Lee Riggle
b. 8 Dec 1899 Bell County, Texas
d. 19 Apr 1990 Breckenridge, Stephens County, Texas (FAG memorial 76575687)

Child 2: Daisy Reid
b. 23 Sep 1901 Where?, Texas
d. 8 Feb 1989 Lipan, Hood County, Texas (FAG memorial 28388452)
m. When? Where?
George Thomas Smith
b. 31 Mar 1905 Where?
d. 12 Aug 1981 Lipan, Hood County, Texas (FAG memorial 28388461)

Child 3: Lloyd Reid
b. 16 Mar 1906 Erath County, Texas
d. When? Where? As last as 1975, he was living in Weatherford, Parker County, Texas
m. When? Where? Who?

Child 4: Unknown Reid
b. 3 July 1907 Erath County, Texas
d. When? Where? I have no missing child in obituaries.
m. When? Where? Who?

Child 5: James Lelon Reid
b. 8 Dec 1910 Exray, Erath County, Texas
d. 5 Oct 1992 Angleton, Brazoria County, Texas (FAG memorial 42253909)
m. When? Where?
Bertie Alice Evitt
b. 24 Jul 1912 Hamlin, Fisher County, Texas
d. 7 Dec 1982 Clute, Brazoria County, Texas (FAG memorial 42253870)

Child 6: Ardell J. Reid
b. 9 Sep 1913 Erath County, Texas
d. 8 Oct 1975 Yuma, Yuma County, Arizona
m. When? Where?
A. Opal Unknown
b. 8 Jun 1913 Where?, Arizona
d. 15 Oct 1998 Yuma, Yuma County, Arizona

Child 7: Arlene Estalee Reid
b. 6 Nov 1915 Erath County, Texas
d. 16 May 2008 Burleson, Johnson County, Texas
m. 1933 Clovis, Chaves County, New Mexico
Robert Lee Evitt
b. 11 Feb 1914 Texas
d. 18 Sep 1995 Burleson, Johnson County, Texas

Child 8: Arvis Reid
b. 20 Jun 1918 Erath County, Texas
d. 12 mar 1920 Erath County, Texas (FAG memorial 24244112)

Child 9: Gladys AllecReid
b. 20 Apr 1921 Eastland County, Texas
d. When? Where?
m. When? Where?
Virl Tilden Keeny
b. 9 Jun 1914 Where?
d. 15 Nov 2004 Simi Valley, Ventura County, California

As usual:

• You are on your own as far as confirming information. I've given you lots of leads here.
• If you spot a mistake and are in a kindly mood, please post a comment.
• Wanna trade? I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours.

NewspaperArchive and Obituaries and Survivor Lists

Based on some recent successes, it appears that in addition to a new Viewer option (with a spiffy new toolbar), NewspaperArchive has added a boatload of new newspapers. I've hit pay dirt on one family that hasn't left much of a trail that I've been able to follow: The William Franklin Reid Family.

William married Margaret Elizabeth Booth and they had nine children that I know of. I haven't had much luck in stumbling across information and almost no luck with targeted searches. However, with the addition of the newspapers, I found two obituaries of interest. Specifically, the survivor lists gave me leads that I've been able to mine.

Margaret's obituary appears in The Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, 19 Aug 1960 on page 3. The list of survivors includes children:

• Mrs. G. T. Smith of Lovington, NM
• Mrs. Robert Evitt of Lubbock, TX
• Mrs. Virl Kenney of Inglewood, CA
• Jack Reid of Breckenridge, TX
• Loyd Reid of Knox City, TX
• Lelon Reid of Lake Jackson, TX
• Ardell Reid of Yuma, AZ

With place names, I was able to start tracking the men. The survivors on Ardell's obituary (The Yuma Daily Sun, Yuma, Arizona, 9 Oct 1975 on page 1) proved to be most helpful.

• Daisy Smith of Cresson, TX (Mrs. George Thomas Smith)
• Arlene Evitt of Weatherford, TX (Mrs. Robert Evitt)
• Gladys Keeny of Torrance, CA (Mrs. Virl Keeny (correct spelling))
• Lloyd Reid of Weatherford, TX
• Leland Reid of Lake Jackson, TX (Lelon is correct)

Between knowing where to look and being able to match the daughters to their husbands, I've been able to gather quite a bit of information on this family. I'll post family info later. I'm just too busy pounding out queries for everybody's name...looking for obituaries first and then anything else I can get my hands on. If you haven't checked NewspapersArchive lately, you might want to revisit it.

Burns/Booth...the beginning

The Burns name is introduced into the McKee family when William B. Burns marries Sarah C. Booth. William and Sarah went by the nicknames of Bill and Sally.

Sarah C, "Sally" Booth d/o Ananias Jackson Booth, Sr. and Mary Jane McKee
b. 8 Feb 1860 Randolph County, Illinois
d. 1898 Texas...Does anyone have any more concrete info?

The Booth family moves to Texas between 1872 and 1874 when Sally is between 12 and 14. Sally marries Bill Burns between 1874 and 1879 in Texas.

William B. "Bill" Burns s/o Isaac Burns and Mary Ann Ripley
b. 11 May 1856 Randolph County, Illinois (1880 census says North Carolina)
d. Rumor at this point: 15 Jan 1916 Simms, Bowie County, Texas (FAG memorial 7029432)

Henderson Family Lore
Ananias Jackson Booth was wealthy, and after his wife Mary Jane died, he remarried and his second wife was caught putting poison in the well water to kill him. Leaving her he told a daughter Sally and her husband, Bill Burns, that if they would give him a home the rest of his life, he would deed all his property to them. But the deed was not recorded at once, then while he was helping Sally and Bill Burns move into the home, he accidentally dropped a gun and it killed him. Bill Burns knowing that the deed had not been recorded, mounted a horse and rode to the county seat and had it recorded before Booth was buried. No other Booth realized anything out of his fortune.

Family Lore Not Withstanding...
If the Burns family had any substantial money, it isn't evident in the lives of the Burns children. Many of them are prosperous farmers and ranchers; however, none of them seem to evidence any great wealth.

Based on census entries, the oldest child, Henry Eugene Burns, seems to take much of the responsibility for his younger siblings after the 1898 death of his mother. In the 1900 census, siblings Charles Nathaniel, Cora Maude, Andrew Jackson, and Sara Carrie are living with him and his new wife Mae Henry (Anderson) Burns. Henry is 20 years old and responsible to the care of lots of people. Younger siblings Pearl Elizabeth, John Dow, and Lillie May can be found on the 1900 census with Fred and Amanda Tally in Franklin County. All three of the younger children are listed as boarders. Bill Burns is alive but seems not to have a hand in raising his children.

Cora Sue Henderson, 1888-1962, Texas

Cora Sue was the daughter of Hezekiah Othnell Henderson and Lucinda Ann Booth. By the time Cora Sue is born, both the Henderson and Booth families are well established in Texas. Cora Sue grows up in Texas. In the summer of her 18th year, Cora Sue marries. Here are the family details.

Cora Sue Henderson (FAG memorial 46525421)
b. 20 Sep 1888 Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas
d. 29 Dec 1962 Hi-Plains Hospital, Hale Center, Hale County, Texas
m. 27 Jul 1906 Wizard Wells, Jack County, Texas
William Bailey Uptergrove (FAG memorial 47855328)
b. 17 Jul 1887 Enon, Moniteau County, Missouri
d. 7 Sep 1973 Hale Center, Hale County, Texas

Child 1: Clyde Hershelle Uptergrove (FAG memorial 47855670)
b. 31 May 1908 Seymour, Baylor County, Texas
d. 25 May 1999 Plainview, Hale Center, Texas
m. 8 Apr 1930 Clovis, Curry County, New Mexico
Jewell Alice Walls (FAG memorial 47858616)
b. 4 Apr 1914 Montague County, Texas
d. 6 Apr 1993 Hale Center, Hale County, Texas

Child 2: Annie Irene Uptergrove (FAG memorial 20972403)
b. 2 Aug 1912 Seymour, Baylor County, Texas
d. 11 Aug 2007 Silverton, Briscoe County, Texas
m. 5 Mar 1938 Hale Center, Hale County, Texas
Truman Henry Loyd (FAG memorial 62928618)
b. 17 Nov 1903 Texas
d. 7 Mar 1985 Swisher County, Texas

Child 3: Minnie Lorene Uptergrove (FAG memorial 63782825)
b. 31 Jul 1914 Seymour, Baylor County, Texas
d. 6 Jul 1990 Marble Falls, Burnet County, Texas
m. Where? When?
Rudolph Luther Faith (FAG memorial 62473255)
b. 15 Mar 1912 Runge, Karnes County, Texas
d. 30 Nov 2010 Autumn House, Idalou, Lubbock County, Texas

Child 4: Mount Vernon Uptergrove
b. 1 May 1917 Somervell County, Texas
d. 20 Oct 1977 Mabank, Henderson County, Texas
m. When? Where? (Divorced)
Edna Idell Cook (FAG memorial 22979973)
b. 21 Aug 1917 McClain, Trinity County, Texas
d. 12 Oct 2000 Palo Pinto General Hospital, Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas
m. When? Where? (Divorced)
Billie Jean Barbee
b. When? Where?
d. When? Where?
m. 31 May 1952 Texas (Divorced)
Cora Mae Worlow (FAG memorial 32220967)
b. 4 Jul 1934 Johnson County, Texas
d. 26 Dec 2007 Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas
m. 29 Sep 1973 Navarro County, Texas
Myrtle F. Hicks
b. When? Where?
d. When? Where?
=====
The Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, 21 Oct 1977, Page 39
Elderly Men Have Shootout
PAYNE SPRINGS (AP) -
Two elderly men were killed in a Shootout Thursday afternoon in this tiny East Texas community, Henderson County Deputy Sheriff Choice Lovelady said.
Conus Corbit Cooper, 62, of Maybank and Mount Vernon Uptergrove, 60, of Eustace were pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace A.T. Hill of Gun Barrel City.
Lovelady said the two men apparently shot each other with rifles in front of a Payne Springs grocery store. Two eyewitnesses to the shootings were questioned-Thursday afternoon, officers said.
=====
Dallas Morning News, 21 Oct 1977 (Staff Special to The News)
Feud ends in double killing
PAYNE SPRINGS, Texas--Two men in their 60s shot and killed each other following an argument outside a rural grocery story here Thursday.
Texas Ranger Harold Alfred said Mount Vernon Uptergrove, 60, and Conus C. Cooper, 62, had been arguing several months over a money transaction and shot each other to death about 11:20 a.m. Thursday.
Alfred said witnesses told him one of the men was at the store when the other arrived, they argued and each fired one shot at the other, using a rifle and a shotgun.
He said he did not believe the men intentionally met at the store.
Henderson County Deputy Sheriff Choice Lovelady said both of the men were farmers.
=====

Child 5: Winnie Earline Uptergrove (FAG memorial 13424342)
b. 11 Feb 1921 Memphis, Hall County, Texas
d. 27 Jun 2002 Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas
m. 27 Jun 1941 Where? (Divorced)
Will Carl Johnson
b. 5 Jan 1919 Talco, Titus County, Texas
d. 27 Feb 1999 Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas

Child 6: Floyd Lee Uptergrove (FAG memorial 16799156)
b. 7 Dec 1922 Memphis, Hall County, Texas
d. 23 Mar 1998 Hico, Hamilton County, Texas
m. 26 Jun 1942 Where?
Living Person
b. 16 Jan 1926 Texas

As families go, the Uptergrove family seems passionate. How they direct that passion can be so positive (there's more than one doctor in the family) or negative (like the gun fight above). All in all, they are a most interesting wing of the family.

Lillie May (Burns) Lawrence, 1896-1975, Texas, Arkansas

Lillie May Burns (b. 27 April 1896 in Hopkins County, Texas) was the daughter of William "Bill" B. Burns and Sarah "Sally" C. Booth. Lillie was the youngest child in her family and only two when her mother died. After Sally's death, Bill seems to disappear. He's difficult to locate in records. Lillie appears to have been raised by her older brother Henry.

Lillie marries young--she's a month short of 17--when she marries Charles Elon Lawrence on 9 March 1913 in New Boston, Bowie County, Texas. Charles was born 28 March 1895 in Detroit, Red River County, Texas, the son of Samuel Patton Lawrence and Mary Idella Campbell. Lillie and Charles have the following children.

Child 1:
Ennis Alvin Lawrence
b. 12 Sep 1914 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas
d. 6 Mar 1996 Horatio, Seiver County, Arkansas (FAG 46197105)
m. Where? When?...before 1938
Myrtle Leona Lincoln
b. 26 Jun 1916 Bowie County, Texas
d. 7 Apr 2003 Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas (FAG 7364244)

Child 2:
Leona Virginia Lawrence
b. 27 Aug 1919 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas
d. 1 Oct 1992 Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana
m. Where? When?...before 1952
Howard Franklin Collins
b. 23 Nov 1912 Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas
d. 7 oct 1984 Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Child 3:
Loyd Elon Lawrence
b. 9 Jul 1923 Bowie County, Texas
d. 21 Dec 1971 New York City, New York

Child 4:
Mandy Lawrence
b. 1925 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas
d. Before Apr 1930 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas

Child 5:
Della May Lawrence
b. 28 Dec 1936 Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas
d. 28 Aug 1950 Taylor, Columbia County, Arkansas (FAG 67532136)

Child 6:
Living Lawrence
b. 29 Dec 1936 Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas
m. When? Where?
Joseph Oscar Hood
b. 26 Mar 1926 Plain Dealing, Bossier Parish, Louisiana
d. ?? Nov 1985 Plain Dealing, Bossier Parish, Louisiana

At some point, Charles becomes a reverend, and sometime in the 1930's the family moved to Arkansas. Losing three children must have tested the faith of both Charles and Lillie. The loss must also have caused them to cling tighter to their living children.

Both Charles and Lillie die in Horatio, Sevier County, Arkansas. Charles dies 27 June 1974 with Lillie following on 23 Feb 1975. Both are buried in Horatio Cemetery, Horatio, Sevier County, Arkansas.

I'm missing obituaries for Lillie and Charles. The obituaries would of course provide more detail about lives of Lillie and Charles. The demise of Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness closes the door on one possible route to these obits. My next best bet is to see if a local library offers a look up service. If I strike pay dirt, I'll post a follow up. In the meantime, if you're researching this family I'd like the opportunity to trade info with you. Please post a comment.

While I've been hacking and coughing...

I've had the worse cold this week, including a burning chest and eyes. As a result, I haven't gotten squat done. The one interesting thing that has happened is an email exchange with a Booth descendant. She emailed me at an old AOL account that I've kept because I still have people find that address and contact me.

Here's Alicia's line: granddaughter of William Bailey Uptergrove and Cora Sue Henderson; great grandaughter of Hezekiah Othnell Henderson and Lucinda Ann Booth; great great granddaughter of Ananias Jackson Booth and Mary Jane McKee, great great great granddaughter of Joseph G. McKee and his unknown first wife.

I've sent Alicia a gedcom so she can cross check and explain the error of my ways to me. When working with the Booth's, I'm using documents only. While that usuallly works, wierd stuff can happen. For example, a Booth contacted me about a Find A Grave location. Turns out that I was right about the original burial location...I had all the documents...except that afterward, the family had the body moved. You can't beat firsthand knowledge. Needless to say, I fixed the Find A Grave memorial.

Lucy Jane (Booth) Laramore Russell, 1901-1973, Texas

Lucy is the daughter of Ananias Jackson Booth, Jr. (FAG 45484379) and Salena Ann Elizabeth Atkins (FAG 45484502). Here are her stats:
b. 29 Aug 1901 Springs, Edwards, Texas
d. 30 May 1973 Erath County, Texas (no burial location or obit)
m#1. 21 May 1915 unknown place (divorced between 1920 and 1930 censuses)
Charles Elonzo Laramore
b. 19 Dec 1887 Livingston, Polk County, Texas
d. 28 Apr 1948 Abilene, Taylor County, Texas (no burial location or obit)

One child:
Nathaniel L. Laramore
b. 25 may 1916 (unknown place)
d. 15 May 1976 Kilgore, Gregg County, Texas
(FAG 58406494; his Laramore grandparents (Enoch and Ella) are also in the same cemetery)

m#2. Unknown date and place
Thad Allan Russell
b. 9 Jun 1896 Bluffdale, Erath County, Texas
d. 9 Oct 1991 Andrews, Andrews County, Texas (no burial location or obit)

Two children: Thad Allan, Jr. (FAG 48885335) and William Jackson.

The Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, 22 Feb 1953, Page 11
Mrs. Lucy Russell...oil helps income
Oil Royalty Checks Are Help South Taylor Woman Asserts
By LILLIAN HURD
Reporter-News Correspondent

TUSCOLA, Feb. 21 -One 13th of one eighth percent doesn't sound like very much of anything, but in oil royalties it can mean a great deal. To Mrs. Lucy Russell of Tuscola it was like "finding dollar in a pig's track" when she got her first oil check, as she never expected to profit from the small amount of mineral rights reserved when the estate of her !ate pioneer parents was sold.

From one producing oil well on the property, Mrs. Russell and other heirs are getting a fair monthly income, much better than an old age pension, and more wells are in prospect. The land, now owned by Ed Grnham of Abilene, is about 15 miles south of View and west of Buttertield highway. Judge J. R. Black of Abilene owns the land joining the Graham property and the two men are brothers-in-law.

Did Not Know Oil

When the late Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Booth came west by covered wagon back in 1904 and bought 480 acres of ranch land west of Lake Abilene community, the only thing they knew about oil was that axle grease used in the hub of their wagon wheels was made from crude oil. They never dreamed that Taylor County would someday be dotted with oil wells from one side to the other from north to south.

A nephew of the pioneer settlers, John Atkins of Guion community south of Ovalo, said that his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Atkins came to Taylor county in 1900 and bought ranch land west of Lake Abilene area. When the Booth family decided to come west, Atkins went back to Erath county to help move the family. With a covered wagon train carrying the family and their household goods, Atkins and other menfolk of the family rode horseback and drove 50 head of cattle to the new location in the west. Going first to Big Spring, the Booth family soon came back to Taylor county, "where they had stopped and looked around a bit", enroute to Big Spring.

With twelve brood mares besides the cattle, the Booths were looking for good grazing land and they found it on the ranch they bought. For many years they lived on the land and raised saddle horses and cattle. "Not many oldtimers in Taylor county that had not ridden a stock horse raised on the Booth ranch", Atkins said. Sheep and goats were unheard of in this area then and cattlemen hated them, he stated. Atkins, who is constable of the Guion precinct, where the family lives, has watched the changing times in the county with interest during his 53 years as a citizen. No mineral rights were reserved when his parents estate was sold.

Good Old Days

Mrs. Russell recalled the good times the neighbors had back in the early days of Taylor county when people had time to visit each other and to have weekly comnunity gatherings at the old Elm Grove schoothouse, Mrs. Russell, her cousins, and a large number of other children in the neighborhood learned their three R-s in the old one-room schoolhouse, and also went to church and Sunday school in the building. She staled the cominunity was thickly populated at that time and every community meet was well attended. The 'literary society programs", presenting local talent, and spelling bees made up special entertainment. "Some of the best singers in the county and many of the best fiddlers, lived in the community," Mrs. Russell said.

Inkum Post Office

The nearest postoffice was Inkum, still remembered as a gathering place for the settlers when the mail came through by stagecoach. Names of some of the pioneers recalled by Mrs. Russell and Atkins are the Youngs, still residents of the area, the Andersons, Pruitts, Kings, Knights, Perrys, Hallmarks and Sirathers, who have long since died or moved to other areas.

Mrs. Russell had four brothers and sisters. Living are Mrs. Emma Smith, Snyder; Armour Booth of Welch. Children of the deceased will share in the benefits of the oil royalties. The Booth children are among the few-heirs of pioneer settlers reserving oil royalies, in Taylor County.

Mrs. Russell's husband is T. A. Russell, an oil driller, now employed at Lubbock. They own 160 acres of land two miles northwest of Tuscola where the family home is located. The couple has two sons, Thad Jr., student at Texas Technological "College" at Lubbock and soon to enroll at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Jack is a student at South Taylor high school at Tuscola, High were star football players at South Taylor last year.

Other than Nat Laramore, I have no burial locations for members of this group. If someone can send me the locations, I can set up a Find A Grave memorial and link family members.

In addition to burial locations, I'd like to find obits, which can provide so much information about a person and their family.

Also, for the Russell marriage, I'm missing the date and place the event occurred.

So if there's a Booth researcher out there with the info, I have bunches of Booth info to trade.



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Winfred Eugene Henderson d. 28 Feb 1976 Eugene, Lane County, Oregon

After several repeated attempts at getting a Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness volunteer to send me a copy of Ira Henderson's obit, I finally received a copy that I could see and read. I used it to update Ira's Find A Grave Memorial (46526701). I already had his wife's obit (Eula); however, one child Winfred had died before Eula, which was the reason I was pursuing Ira's obit.  I was hoping it would provide some leads on Winfred, their oldest child. It worked.

Winfred Eugene Henderson (went by Fred)
b. 9 Sep 1916 Texas (probably Clarendon, Donley County)
d. 28 Feb 1976 Eugene, Lane County, Oregon
m. 27 Dec 1934 Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
Bertha Agnes Briggs
b. 19 Sep 1915 Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
d. 7 Jan 2008 Eugene, Lane County, Oregon

Winfred was born in Texas, a grandson of Lucinda Ann (Booth) Henderson, a great grandson of Mary Jane (McKee) Booth. A year after Winfred's birth, in 1917, his father, Ira, registers for the World War I draft, listing his home as Clarendon, Donley County, Texas.

About 1920, Winfred's grandfather  (Hezekiah Othnell Henderson) moves his family to Kansas City, Missouri. Most of the Henderson family follows Hezekiah. Hezekiah dies in Kansas City in 1933.

Because I had contact with a member of the Henderson family, I knew to look for later records in California, and I found lots of records in California. In Winfred's case, this knowledge did me no good. However, with his father Ira's obituary, I found that I should be looking in Eugene, Oregon. With that piece of information, tracking Winfred became an easy task.

Through my research, I've found that I can't overstate the value of obits. For the subject of the obituary, you frequently get confirmation on parents' names, date and place of birth, who they married and when and where the marriage occurred. The survivor lists provide married names for daughters and place names for everybody. Lots of obits provide interesting details like occupations and hobbies, which you can use to locate more information. These invaluable leads are the reason that I pursue every obit I can.

Billie Jo (Green) Neal

Billie who was born in 1937 had a custom ID of L (lurk), which means that I should be checking the Web for an obituary. I've been through my Ls at least three times in 2010 and never found an obituary for Billie. However, in this pass, I was looking for her husband and found her instead.

Billie was married to J. C. Neal. I've found all sorts of records for J. C.; however, none of the records say what J. C. stands for. At this point, I'm about convinced that his name is just the initials J. C. and that the initials don't stand for anything. I'm hoping that somebody reading this post will correct the error of my ways and tell me what J. C. stands for.

Anyway, Billie's obit opened the door to so much information. Her obit included her marriage date and place, the date of J. C. Neal's death, and of course, a list of survivors.

Billie's burial location also lead me to the Sulphur Bluff (New) Cemetery Registry, which included information that I was missing on J. C.'s parents: John Plenket Neal and Effie Mae Jackson (who is a Burns/Booth decendant). Both of J. C.'s parents are in the same cemetery. With dates, I was able to backtrack into records and correctly identify records for John and Effie.

You can find the following on Find A Grave:
Billie Jo (Green) Neal - 41324538
J. C. Neal - 66226816
John Plenket Neal - 66226983
Effie Mae (Jackson) Neal - 66227070
James Henry Jackson - 59886089
Pearl Elizabeth (Burns) Jackson - 59886062

Pearl is the daughter of William B. Burns (F.A.G.7029432)and Sarah C. Booth (Bill and Sally).

In this period of searching for my Ls, I've found lots of women. The obituaries help so much in identifying exactly who they are.

Next, I'm going to be concentrating on my Ds. These are people who I know are dead (I have a death date and record), or based on their date of birth, are most likely no longer living. I need to find dates of death and then pursue obituaries.

Margaret Louise (Allen) Smith

The Houston Library comes through again with an obituary. This time the obit is for Margaret (Mrs. Hoyt Oliver Smith). I've added Margaret to Find A Grave (66137877). Hoyt is from the Smith/Booth line. Here's the line:

Hoyt Oliver Smith-->Emma Salena (Booth) Smith-->
Ananias Jackson Booth (Jr.)-->Ananias Jackson Booth (Sr.)

On Find A Grave, you can follow the family links as far back a A.J. (Jr.).

Contact with Uptergrove Cousin

I've had another contact from the Booth line. Jackie is from the Lucinda Ann (Booth) Henderson line.

Ananias Jackson Booth (Sr)-->Lucinda Ann (Booth) Henderson-->Cora Sue (Henderson) Uptergrove, and then through one of the Uptergrove children.

Jackie hasn't said which of the Uptergrove children. But then this is a first contact and most people are shy at the beginning. Also, it's prudent in the world today to be careful.

Jackie found me through my Rootsweb website, which is in great need of an overhaul. Websites are way more difficult to maintain that this blog is proving to be.

I've responded Jackie. So, we'll see what happens. It could be a start that results in lots of great trades. Regardless, it's nice to know about another cousin.

Texas Birth Index Cross Check

A basic technique of using the index in Ancestry is to put in the father's last name as the name you're looking for and then enter the mother's last name in the Family Member field. I leave all other fields blank. The index will display every entry that matches the combination.

In my case, I had neglected to cross check the father's name Lobdell with the mother's last name Booth. When I did that, lo and behold, I had two matches that gave me the father's full name plus the mother's middle name.

Herbert Edward Lobdell and Margaret Pauline Booth were the parents of:
Yvonne Lobdell b. and d. 20 Jan 1936 in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, TX (FAG 52932259)
Marcia Jean Lobdell b. 8 Jun 1937 Wichita County, TX

Now it's a matter of trying to chase down more information on each of these people.

Hezekial should be Hezekiah

I have notes from family members stating that Hezekial Othnell Henderson is the correct spelling of the name of the man who married Lucinda Ann Booth in Texas on 24 Feb 1885. In a routine check of Henderson on Find A Grave, I found an entry for a Hezekiah Henderson with the same birth and death dates. The picture of his grave clearly shows the spelling Hezekiah. The notes on this second memorial also say that this man was married to Lucinda Booth.

I went back and checked the censuses. Here's the run down (year and first name):
1860 Kezakiah
1870 Hezekiah
1880 Hesekiah
1920 Hezekiah
1930 Hezekiah

I guess I should have taken the spelling in the censuses more seriously, and given less weight to what I was being told by members of one line in this family. A quick check on Ancestry.com turned up a bunch of people looking of Hezekiah...all married to Lucinda. I also located a Missouri death certificate (26433) and it too has the spelling Hezekiah. It's hard to read and could be an h or an l but I'm going with h. My next stop is going to be Random Acts to see if somebody can locate an obituary.

McKee Name Carried Forward

When Alexander McKee (b. 1778) had his children, he had four boys and two girls that I know of. I'm sure that there were other children that either stayed in Ireland or England (no lead on any) or did not live to adulthood (more likely). With four boys, one would imagine that Alexander could be sure that the McKee name would be carried forward by all four of his sons. The reality has been quite different.

Joseph McKee (b. 1804) had three sons. His son Joseph (b.1843) died before he had issue. George (b. 1839) had one son who never married or had no children that I know of. Only Joseph's youngest son, Robert (b. 1853) had sons. This line of McKees have carried the name into the present.

William McKee (b. 1812) had one son, William (b. 1853). He died unmarried and without issue that I know of.

Robert McKee (b.1816) had no sons.

Alexander McKee (b. 1827) had three sons, all of whom had families that included boys, who in turn married and had sons of their own. This line of McKees have carried the name into the present.

Therefore, anyone who is looking for the contemporary bears of the McKee name from this family need to look at descendants in two lines:
--Joseph's youngest son, Robert
--Alexander's sons

The interesting part is that the producer of the most descendants in this family is the daughter of Joseph McKee, Mary Jane (McKee) Booth (b. l838). Mary Jane had ten children, who each in turn married and had many children of their own. When chasing information on this family, I spend fully half of my time chasing information on a Booth descendant.

Ananias Jackson Booth

A date and place of birth for A.J. has been a brickwall for many a researcher. The few census entries that can be found for A.J. say he was born in 1833 in New York. However, Ancestry.com seems to have posted new millitary info and there's an entry of interest.

U. S. Army, register of Enlistments, 1798-1914
Booth, Ananias J., Hazel eyes, dark hair, fair complexion, b. 1829 Fishkill, (Duchess County) New York, Laborer, Registered 25 Nov 1850 (age 21) at Pokupsic (Poughkeepsie, NY) by Gibson, Infantry K, Deserted 12 Jul 1851, at camp in Fort ___________ (might be Fort Kaskaskia or Fort Washington).

Deserting the army would certainly be a good reason for A.J. to leave New York state.

I have A.J.'s military record from the Civil War. He deserted there too but returned in time for the Battle of Vicksburg. With the Civil War, getting away with deserting may not have been as easy as it would have beein in 1851.

The upshot is there's circumstantial evidence that would lead one to believe that the 1850 Army record is a good lead on A.J.'s birth.

I've written to Delta County, Texas (where A.J. died) to see if it's possible to find a death record. According to Delta County, death records weren't kept until the early 1900's. If I'm lucky, I'll find a probate or cemetery records. My next stop is the Delta County library to see what they can find. They ask for a small research fee. Not a problem. Any genealogist will tell you that genealogy ain't a cheap hobby.