RELEASE DATE: APRIL 11, 2010
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
Genealogists are always looking for new avenues of research in order to find those elusive ancestors. Due to the use of the internet, people may overlook an important resource—genealogical quarterlies. These publications often contain material that is not found anywhere else. A benefit of membership in the Texas organization, the Leon County Genealogical Society, is a subscription to THE LEON HUNTERS DISPATCH. Unlike many quarterlies, each issue has its own index.
Topics in the Winter 2010 issue of the periodical are the Hester White MCADAMS family, a collection of Confederate records for Daniel Solomon WARD, and a partial roster of the officers and men raised in Leon County to fight for the Confederacy. Examples of subjects in some of the 2008-2009 issues are an index to legal documents recorded in Leon County with actual signatures, Civil War letters from Newton NASH, information on the family of Thomas COX and Elizabeth BLASHFORD, early history of pioneers of the Old Rogers Prairie Settlement, material on the Evans Chapel baseball team, data on the family of George W. SHEPHERD and Martha EASTERLING, and register of teacher certificates in Leon County in the early 20th century.
Members of the society have the privilege of submitting an unlimited number of free queries and the opportunity to send in pedigree charts, family group sheets, photographs, and other material of interest for inclusion in the quarterly. To join the organization, mail a check for annual dues of $25 to the Leon County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 400, Centerville, Texas 75833.
Sometimes genealogical data may be found in an unusual place, like a book of poetry. Such unique sources provide insight into a person’s interests as well as family information. An example is W. W. Lackey’s GOLDEN HORIZONS, published by the author in Fort Worth in 1948. The book of verse encompasses his compositions about numerous influential people, many of whom had Texas ties, who served in a variety of occupations. A picture of the individual about whom he wrote accompanies each poem.
A teacher and principal in several Texas schools and universities, LACKEY also served as superintendent of public schools in Midland, 1906 – 1941. Details about his life and career appear on the title page and in reproductions of newspaper articles, dedications, and letters.
The educator dedicated his volume to his parents, Rev. and Mrs. W. S. LACKEY of Caldwell, TX. Under their picture are the dates 1830 – 1919 for his father and 1838 – 1926 for his mother. At the back of the work are obituaries from the Fort Worth newspaper for his sister, Nora LACKEY, a retired school teacher who died in 1943.
Located in Concordia, KS, the National Orphan Train Complex Museum & Research Center (NOTC) aims to maintain exhibitions, present programs, and offer opportunities for research on all aspects of the orphan train movement. It publishes the quarterly, Crossroads, which collects, preserves, and disseminates material about the orphan train movement, the orphans, and the agents who rode with them. One of the interesting articles in Vol. 24, No. 4, published in 2009, concerns orphan train rider, Mary MARESH, of Deanville, TX, who celebrated her 100th birthday. For more information about the museum and newsletter, write to NOTC, P. O. Box 322, Concordia, KS 66901; phone 785-243-4471; e-mail [email protected]; or go to the website at www.orphantraindepot.com.