Mom's Catch @ Valdez, Alaska

Cemetery Workshop, Quitman TX Library, 9/5/09

From: Lou Mallory
Subject: Cemetery Workshop

Hi All,

A cemetery preservation workshop will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It will be held at the meeting room of the Quitman Public Library, 202 E. Goode St., Quitman TX 75783, www.quitmanlibrary.org (903) 763-4191.

Gerron Hite, cemetery preservation specialist, and his staff will present the program. You may bring a sack lunch or sack lunches will be available for sale. We will provide drinks and snacks, as well as coffee, etc. before the workshop.

There will be no cost unless you buy a lunch which will cost $5. We didn't want to charge so that hopefully more people could come.

Hope to see you there. Please help us spread the news as we hope to have a really good attendance.

Thanks,
Lou Mallory

Anderson County Historical Commission’s Office Open Again

Published in The Palestine Herald: July 23, 2009"

Historical commission to re-open its office

Our Town column

By CHERIL VERNON
The Palestine Herald

PALESTINE — The Anderson County Historical Commission’s office is open once again for residents of Palestine and Anderson County, according to ACHC Vice Chairman Rudy Ramirez.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the ACHC office, located at 101 E. Oak St. in the Federal Building in downtown Palestine. The office will be staffed by ACHC volunteers.

“We welcome anyone who is doing research on families, homes, businesses or communities that disappeared years ago,” Ramirez said. “Some of our records goes back to the 1800s.”

The ACHC is currently working on three historical markers to be dedicated this year: Coach Bob Knight, Fredrick Douglass School and Banks School.

The ACHC will hold an open house on Sept. 25-26 from 1 to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

“Everyone is welcome — both city and county residents — to drop by and visit with us,” Ramirez said.

An Anderson County history book with photos is one of the projects the commission will be working on this fall. In addition, the Cemetery Committee has been working hard. They have been cleaning and photographing all the stones in some cemeteries. The commission is asking the county and city residents to assist in this endeavor. At this time the following cemeteries have been photographed: Roselawn, Old City, New Addition, New Addition Annex, East Hill, Elm Town, Grimes, Cedar Creek, Old Jesse Parker, etc. The commission also will be working on getting markers on some of the historical cemeteries in Anderson County.

The ACHC picnic took place in late May with more than 40 people in attendance. Local historian and author Jack Selden gave a brief talk on his latest endeavor. He is currently indexing the original City Minutes. He told some very interesting things about the beginnings of Palestine.

Louise Spaight donated a handmade quilt to the ACHC and during the annual picnic the drawing was held. Winner was Delandra Johnson who had purchased two tickets. Being a thoughtful daughter, she gave her mother a ticket. That ticket was the winner. Both are from Malakoff.

Eleanore Cresop of Pittsburg, Calif. donated a 41-page document that pertains to a 1963 gas and oil rights from various land owners. This was done for the Fairway (James Lime Unit).

The 2009 ACHC scholarship was awarded to Denisha Tillis, a Palestine High School graduate.

“She has been accepted into Tyler Junior College and is a very worthy recipient,” a ACHC news releases said.

The mission of the Texas Historical Commission is to protect and preserve the state’s historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, economic benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The protection and preservation of this unique cultural heritage is a partnership between Texans and their government. The main functions of the THC are to identify, preserve, interpret and maintain historic and archeological sites and materials.

The ACHC is an arm of the local county government and the state of Texas. The Commissioners Court appoints ACHC members, who are required to be county residents.

The mission of ACHC is to preserve and protect materials, sites and other historic artifacts associated with Anderson County, and to promote its history. The ACHC works closely with the Texas Historical Commission, a state agency for historic preservation.

Marsh Public School Building, Tyler TX

From a post card in my personal collection:

The post card has "Marsh Public School Building, Tyler TX" printed on it.

From the book "The Proud Century Tyler Public Schools 1882 - 1982" compiled by Zella Lewis, from the appendix I-I:

Marsh Elementary School is Tyler's oldest elementary school. It was constructed in 1889 as a simple eight room building. This building was closed in 1970 and sold to a religious group for a seminary.

The school was named for Bryan Marsh who was born in Alabama in 1832. Mr. Marsh was a soldier, planter, merchant, Texas Ranger and sheriff of Smith County for twenty years. Young Bryan assumed the difficult responsibility of moving his family to Texas in 1854, shortly after the death of his father, thus fulfilling his father's plan.

Although he followed several occupations, his work as sheriff of Smith County for a period of twenty years merited the praise of many people in Smith County and vicinity who were personally acquainted with him. These people seemed to fave a universal affection for the fair-minded, cheerful, optimistic sferiff who never failed to "get his man," although he had lost one arm in the Civil War and never carried a gun. At times his friends expressed concern that he did not carry a gun but he would laughingly remark, "What would a one-armed man do with a gun anyway?" The sheriff would often yell out his name to some desperate law violator and ask him to come out of his place of hiding, and the violater never failed to obey him.

He died in 1901, and a tombstone marks his grave in Oakwood Cemetery in Tyler.

From page 30:

Although on June 7, 1886 the City Council authorized the construction of an eight room frame building for white children in north Tyler, it was not until July, 1889 that the City Council ordered the purchase of a lot for a school in north Tyler and issued a $22,000 bond to build it. On August 15 Architect L. Johnston submitted plans for a building and his plans were accepted. In September sealed bids for building and furnishing the new school were opened. The winning bid was $4,900 for excavation and brick, $5,375 for carpenter work, $325 for painting etc., with a total of $10,590. By April 11, 1890 the building for Northside School was finished and accepted by the board. This school was called Northside for years but later named Marsh School.

When this building was opened on North Bois d'Arc it relieved crowded conditions and housed grades 1-7 in North Tyler. The Hubbard Building then had only the high school students and the elementary ones from South Tyler.

In the words of a former principal in this first school built for white children, "There was no water in the building and none on the school yard.The water was drawn from an open surface well and the children drank from a bucket. Sanitation was most primitive. There were no offices. The principal taught seventh grade and his classroom and the school yard as his office."

On page 165:

When the school doors closed in May, 1970 at Emmett Scott, Marsh and Roberts, they were closed permanently, by order of Judge William Wayne Justice as a means of achieving integration. However, these schools were also chosen because the recent construction of Gentry Parkway caused the enrollment to decline drastically. These students were transferred to Lee, John Tyler and Douglas.

From Texas County Sheriffs by Sammy Tise on page 468 there are several mentions of Bryan Marsh:

• BREANS MARSH was elected on June 25, 1866 and served until November 1, 1867 when he was removed by General J. Reynolds' Special Order # 195. The first name was hard to read and may be spelled wrong. I think it is probably Bryan Marsh.
• BRYAN MARSH was elected a second time on February 15, 1876 and served unil November 5, 1878.
• BRYAN MARSH was elected a third time on November 2, 1886; re-elected November 6, 1888, November 4, 1890 and served until November 8, 1892.

From the Oakwood Cemetery photos at http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/smith/cemph/oakwood/oakwood_plot2-6/tt01-2-6c430.jpg

Col. Bryan Marsh 17th Tex. Reg. C.S.A. born in Clark Co. Ala. Feb. 9, 1833, died in Tyler Tex. Mar 25, 1901

From http://www.etgs.org/txsmith/histmark/homes.html:

Marsh School/Col.Bryan Marsh/Texas Civil War Manufacturing - 800 North Bois D'arc - Granite Marker - 1965

School Named For Texas Confederate Colonel Bryan Marsh - 1833-1901

Alabama Native, Came To Tyler 1854-1861 Was Captain Co. C. 17th Texas Calvary. In 1863 Confederate Campaigns To Prevent Split Of South Along Mississippi River. He Was One Of The 4,500 C. S. A. Men Attacked By 30,000 Federals At Arkansas Post In Jan. 1863. Taken Prisoner There, He Was Exchanged In May. Put Into Bragg's Army In Tennessee. Later, In Atlanta Fighting Lost Right Arm. Returned To Fight Until Lee Surrendered. In 1880's Was Captain Of Co. B, Frontier Bttn., Texas Rangers. Quelled Riot Between Town And Soldiers At Fort Concho. Ended Gunplay In Railroad Construction Towns. Fought Indians. Was Smith County Sheriff For 20 Years.

Smith County Historical Society Meeting 8/4/09

Sheriff J.B. Smith to Address the Historical Society

SMITH COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.

MUSEUM & ARCHIVES • 125 SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE • TYLER, TEXAS 75702
903-592-5993 • http://www.smithcountyhistoricalsociety.org


*** PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE USE ***
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION , PLEASE CONTACT ROBERT REED AT E-MAIL TYLERTEXAS@SPRYNET.COM

Sheriff J.B. Smith will give a presentation at the Smith County Historical Society’s August meeting. His talk will include a historic overview of the past jails of Smith County, as well as details of some early shoot-outs.

J.B. was raised in Arkansas with his five siblings. He served in the U.S. Navy, later becoming a San Diego police officer in 1965. In 1970 he became a Tyler police officer. J.B. has been continuously elected Smith County Sheriff since 1976. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas, is a graduate of the National F.B.I. Academy, and served as President of the Sheriffs Association of Texas from 2002 to 2003.

Very active in community service, J.B. serves on numerous Boards of Directors and was a co-founder of the East Texas Crisis Center. In recent years he co-authored the true crime book The Christmas Day Murders with Dana Adams, and they are currently working on a second book. He has become a popular public speaker, and SCHS looks forward to his presentation.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 4, at 7:00 pm in the Payne Auditorium on the second floor of the Carnegie History Center. Located at 125 South College Avenue in Tyler, the Carnegie History Center is the museum and archives for SCHS. Attendees should park on the street and enter the building through the north door, which faces the Bank of America drive-through bank. There is also a ramp for handicapped access at this door, as well as an elevator inside.

The Smith County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1959 to discover, collect, and preserve the history of Smith County, Texas. SCHS meetings are always open free of charge to all interested members of the public. Various publications and photographs will be available for purchase at the event. For more information about this event or the Society, please e-mail info@smithcountyhistoricalsociety.org or call 903-592-5993.

Battle Of Neches Observance July 11, 2009

From Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph, 7/5/09 page 5D:

Battle Of Neches Observance Slated July 11, 2009

The annual observance of the Battle of the Neches is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 11 at the battle site, at Texas Highway 64 and Farm-to-Market Road 4923, about 15 miles west of Tyler, said Sondra McAdams, vice chairwoman of the American Indian Cultural Society Inc.

Andrew Hair will speak on the preservation of historical sites. Danny Hair will perform the smudging ceremony and Chairman Eagle Douglas will tell the story of the battle.

Betty Miller, and a team of genealogists, will assist those who are interested in finding out more about their Native American heritage. Those individuals are asked to bring their information, including family bibles, birth certificates, marriage licenses or anything of historical importance.

This year's event will feature the auction of a year-old quarter horse filly, and proceeds for this donated gift will go toward the renovation of the building on the land.

"We have been working on this for some time," Ms. McAdams said. "When finished, we will have a learning center for children and adults."

The learning center will be a place where the history of the 13 tribes represented at this battle will be taught, she said.

The picnic begins at 5:30 p.m. Those who attend are asked to bring a covered-dish item and lawn chairs. The information/crafts booth will offer information on the 13 tribes, as well as some crafts for sale.

The AICS is 501(c) 3 organization and owns the site of the Battle of the Neches, also known as the "Last Battle of the Cherokee" in the state of Texas. The AICS provides tours of the site for adults, as well as schoolchildren and scout groups, offers classes on the Cherokee language and holds the annual memorial service in July for those who died there.

For information, e-mail Douglas at Eagle1839@hotmail.com or Ms. McAdams at 2feathers2@msn.com or call 903-425-8581.

A Century of The History of Troup, Texas 1850s-1950s

From Tyler Paper - Tyler Morning Telegraph

Shared via AddThis

New Book Chronicles 100 Years In Troup's History


By KELLY GOOCH Staff Writer

TROUP - Willie Wilkinson remembers a time when Troup was a booming agricultural town here people came to catch trains. Although those days are over, Wilkinson can relive them by reading a newly released book about the history of Troup called "A Century of The History of Troup, Texas 1850s-1950s."

"I think it's one of the nicest things that's happened to Troup in the last 100 years," he said of the book. "Anyone who had anything to do with the history of Troup will enjoy owning one."
The 299-page hardback book is a result of efforts made by the Troup Genealogical/Historical Society, Inc. and Friends of the Library.

Mildred Steele, a committee member who worked on the book, said genealogical/historical society officers came up with the idea for the book 11 years ago. However, the idea was put off until an official committee was formed about two-and-a-half or three years ago, she said.
Committee members who worked on the book are Deborah Burkett, Mary Anne Coney, Bobby Neel, Navoleine Roddy and Ms. Steele. Bonnie Hinkle did the editing and typing.
Each person on the committee was assigned a chapter, but everyone ended up working on all of the chapters, Ms. Steele said.

"None of us had ever been involved in writing a book. It was a much bigger job than we ever imagined," she said.

The book's 11 chapters are filled with photographs and information on various subjects, including early settlers, the arrival of the railroad, business, civic and local government, social and fraternal organizations, education and churches and cemeteries.

In the last chapter, Gerald Sadler is one of the many contributors who share their own stories about Troup. "I distinctly remember riding my horse Dolly right through the middle of town when I went to the movies on Saturdays," Sadler writes. "It cost 10 cents to get in, and I could tie my horse at the O'Neal Blacksmith Shop on Chicken Alley (North Georgia) while I was there."

Ms. Steele said she learned a lot about Troup while working on the book. At the turn of the 20th century, she said, Troup was the second-largest town in Smith County and had 11 saloons.
There also were once five cotton gins in Troup, and the town was known as the Bell Pepper Capital of the World, Ms. Steele said.

She said Troup grew in the 1930s when the oil boom hit, but growth and agriculture eventually died down. During its heyday, Ms. Steele said, people could get everything they needed in Troup without having to go to Tyler or Jacksonville.

Neel said he learned Troup was originally spelled "Troupe" because that was the railroad station's name. According to the book, the name of the post office was spelled "Troup," and the "e" was dropped after the Legislature required railroad stations to have the same name as the towns' post offices.

People still have an opportunity to get a copy of the book to further their knowledge of the city.
Melanie Brumit, library director at the Cameron-J. Jarvis Troup Municipal Library, said about 700 books have been sold so far.

Ms. Steele estimated nearly 400 people pre-ordered the book, which was published by Best of East Texas Publishers in Lufkin.

"They're very impressed with it. They love the pictures and reading the stories," Ms. Brumit said.

Neel echoed her comments, saying "It's a good book, (and) everybody's just thrilled to death with it."

He said he even mailed a copy of the book to his uncle in Atlanta.

The book costs $35 and is available during normal business hours at the library, Steele's Feed and Seed and Aunt Lillie's Antiques & Gifts.

For more information about ordering the book, visit www.trouphistory.org.

ETGS Meeting July 11, 2009

East Texas Genealogical Society

Saturday, July 11, 2009, 2:00 p.m.

Tyler Public Library—Taylor Auditorium

Program: “Tax Records”, or “Why Did Scarlett Make A Dress of Her Mother’s Drapes?”

Speaker: Kelvin L. Meyers

For most genealogists a tax list is merely a substitute for a missing census, but there are many other uses for a tax list. You can determine when an ancestor comes of age, estimate the time of death of an ancestor, or maybe identify a nameless wite. Learn what your ancestor’s social standing was in the community. Maybe you can determine the short stay of a family in a county between decennial censuses, as well as give positive clues to the location of land owned in that county. Also learn where to find these tax lists and how to access them.

Kelvin L. Meyers is a contract forensic genealogist, researcher, author and lecturer. From 1986 to 1996 he was employed in the Genealogy Department, History and Social Science Division, Dallas Public Library; Lloyd Bockstruck, supervisor. From 1996 to present, he has served as a Contract Forensic Genealogist with attorneys, banks, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services, and heir searching companies, locating lost /missing heirs to estates and oil and gas leases.

Mr. Meyers is a past president of the Dallas Genealogical Society and and a member og the Texas State Genealogical Society. Currently, he is president of Lone Star Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

He graduated in 1984 from Texas Tech with a B.A. in History, and in 1989 and 1990, attended Samford IGHR where he completed two courses” Course IV in “Advanced Methodology” and Course V in “Advanced Library Research.” He has presented a variety of programs at over twenty genealogical societies, nationwide. Be sure to join us.

~.~

Computer Interest Group
Rick Featherston, Director

There will be no CIG Meeting in July.

Hopkins County (TX) Heritage Quarterly V26#2

June 2009 - Sandy Lewis Noe, Editor

• The Bankhead Highway
• Dr. and Mrs. H. R. Thomas House in Pine Forest
• United States Patents Issued to Hopkins County Residents
• Beans and Cornbread - Come and Eat (Friday July 31, 2009)
• Bonnet Diagram
• Bonnet Specifications by Frances E. Thornton of Sulphur Springs
• Gleanings from Newspapers in Hopkins County
• Hopkins Church Dates Back to Early Times
• New on the Shelf
• Deputy Sheriff Killed
• History of Fire Bell Recalled
• Early Day Religious Activities Recalled
• Churches to Hold First Event Sunday
• More This and That
• American Legion Post Contibutes to Life
• Still More This and That

Hopkins County (TX) Genealogical Society Web site

E-mail the society hcgs at verizon.net

Our Heritage Quarterly V30#2 Van Zandt Co. TX

May 2009 - Sue T. Wilkinson, Editor

Contents:

• President's Letter from Cheryl Vaughn
• Editor's Page
• F.Y.I.
• Divorce Records of Van Zandt Co. by Quana Barber (Granted after December 1921)
• Major Epidemics
• Mixed Up and Confusing Dates by Dave Tunnell
• First Families of Van Zandt County Certificates by Benja Mize
• Bonnie and Clyde
• Mrs. Hamm Dies
• Historical Commission Report by Sibyl Creasey
• Stanger Letter by Sibyl Creasey
• Oldsmobile Takes a Trip by Linda Faegan Harwell
• Donations and Memorials
• Important Events in America by Irwin Unger, Ph.D.
• The Grand Saline Sun by Shirley Ann Fuller
• Good Ole Days
• ETGS/VZCGS Seminar with Desmond Walls Allen
• Announcing a New Publication - Early Obituaries and Death Notices of Van Zandt County, Volume II
• 100 Hundred Years Ago by Shirley Ann Fuller
• Biographical Sketch (J. P. Westmoreland) by Sibyl Creasey
• Kiddie School Graduate
• In Memorium
• Died, and Other News by Shirley Ann Fuller
• Queries by Sibyl Creasey

Van Zandt County Genealogical Society Web site

Email the Society vanzandtgensoc at etcable.net