RELEASE DATE: JUNE 25, 2006

KINSEARCHING

by

Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
 

     Descendants of William J. GRANT will have a reunion in Magnolia, Arkansas, on August 12, 2006. The reunion will also include descendants of his PATTERSON stepchildren by his second wife Palestine (HILL) PATTERSON. Some of the step children migrated along with some of William's children by his second wife from Columbia Co., AR, and Chambers Co., AL, to Shelby Co., TX, from the late 1800s until 1900. They included Lafayette Stanley and Laura Stanley Bishop (children of Sarah Grant). The Grants, Stanleys, Bishops, and Pattersons married into the Richards, Steeles, Bridwells, Tylers, and Chaffins and other families around the Shelby County area. For more information, get in touch with James Peterson, 5401 Boykin Lane, Texarkana, AR 71854 (phone 870-774-7896 or 903-824-0843; e-mail [email protected]).

     Plan now to join thousands of avid family researchers at the annual conference of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA, on August 30 - September 2, 2006. It will be hosted by the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), the oldest such organization in the country. The conference promises to be the largest genealogical event ever held, with more than 350 educational opportunities in classes, workshops, and luncheon presentations offered by renowned speakers from Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, and the United States. For detailed data, get in touch with FGS/NEHGS Conference, P. O. Box 200940, Austin, TX 78720-0940 (phone 888-FGS-1500; fax 888-380-0500; website www.fgs.org; or e-mail [email protected]).

     Charles N. Ferguson, 811 South Market, Shawnee, OK 74801 is seeking the names of parents and siblings and date and place of birth and death for Ily BYRD who married Charles A. L. FERGUSON/FURGUSON on August 16, 1903 in Red River Co., TX. On the marriage license, he is listed as C. A. L. FERGUSON. Ily and Charles cannot be found on the 1910 Texas census. Did they divorce or did Ily die? Charles A. L. may have married the second time to Jessie Lee MILLER about 1917, place unknown.

     As the horse and buggy gave way to more modern vehicles, it is interesting to see how many different types of transportation people used in the early years of the twentieth century. No matter what form they chose, all were subject to accidents. The following four excerpts come from a 1908 issue of The Dallas Semi-Weekly Farm News, which was published in Dallas, TX. Although the exact date is unknown, it is probably around August 10 since latest date in the paper's news is August 9.

     "Yorktown, Tex., Aug. 6. - J. P. WANIER, aged 72, while trying to get into his buggy near the postoffice on Main Street, fell out head foremost, his head striking the hard street, breaking his neck, death following instantly."

     "Terrell, Tex., Aug. 7 - The automobile of County Judge Thomas R. BOND came to grief Saturday while he and a party were en route between Terrell and Kaufman. In crossing a bridge the machine ran off the bridge into a ravine. The front of the machine was considerably damaged and it had to be hauled into town on a dray. The occupants escaped serious injury."

     "Terrell, Tex., Aug. 8. - The 6-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George L. GRAY was run over by a bicyclist yesterday morning and severely bruised about the body and a gash cut in his face."

     "Marshall, Tex., Aug. 9. - Yesterday while going to the baseball park an automobile, driven by E. N. SMITH and occupied by E. KEY, president of the First National Bank, his two sons and a friend, met with an accident, but no one was injured. While running at a pretty good speed a bolt came out of the steering rod and the big touring car went over into a deep ditch and was badly damaged."