RELEASE DATE: APRIL 7, 2013
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
Author and publisher Mary Kegley shares exciting news about the Wythe County Genealogical and Historical Association (also known as Wythe County GHA). Recently, the ten-year-old organization received a $200,000 anonymous gift toward the purchase of a building for the society’s use. Beginning with only a few books, the association’s library has increased to more than 1,200 volumes, completely filling current shelf space. Besides books, the society’s holdings include more than 700 photographs, files of obituaries and family information, proven applications for more than 200 First Families of Wythe County, and approximately 35,000 copies of the original marriage certificates and ministers’ returns and bonds between the years 1790 and 1968. The organization also operates three computers and printers and a scanner. An average of 500 researchers from all over the country visits the library annually.
A 1970s building has been located that appears to be exactly what the organization needs to hold its collections. However, an additional $175,000 must be raised during the next six months in order to buy the building and move in. Can you help by making a donation? No amount is too small. Since the society is a non-profit organization, the contribution will be tax deductible. All donations will be appreciated and will be acknowledged. Your check or money order may be sent to Wythe County GHA, P. O. Box 1601, Wytheville, Virginia 24382. If you have any questions, you may call 276-228-2445 or e-mail [email protected].
The following information appears on page 118 of the OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE TEXAS PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION HELD IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, JUNE 13, 14, AND 15, 1922 in TEXAS PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION, 1921-1924 (spine title), published by W. D. Adams (no further data). (Surnames are capitalized for emphasis and some punctuation may be added for clarity.)
“Jacob Lowery WILLIAMS, one of the early Presidents of the Texas State Pharmaceutical Association, was born in Roane County, Tennessee, on October 18th, 1843. He came to Dallas when still a young man and began working in a drug store in which the late Dr. J. W. CROWDUS was interested. Later he was taken in as a partner and in 1868, upon his entering the business as a partner, the firm was known as Crowdus & Williams. The great J. W. Crowdus Drug Company of today is the outgrowth of this little retail store back in ’68.
Dr. Williams, as he was familiarly called, was in very poor health for several years before his death and came to Amarillo about two years before he died, which was March 5th, 1920.”
Genealogical data that may be of interest to some researchers can be found in THE ROAD TO RANDADO: THE LIFE STORY OF FORMER TEXAS RANGER PELL HARBISON AND HIS PIONEER ANCESTORS by Ida Harbison Luttrell (Spring, Texas: Panther Creek Press, 2004). Among the lawman’s forebears who are discussed are John PELTON, born in 1616 and died in 1681 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, who arrived in colonial North America in 1630 and settled in Boston; Samuel HARBISON, born in 1778 in Ireland, who married Mary FERGUSON in 1811 in Albany, New York; and Christian MAIER/MYERS, born in 1789 in Baden, Germany, and died in 1853 in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, who married Eva Catherina ZIEGLER.