Connecting with a new-found cousin

The only information I had about my Griffin ancestors was that Sim's father was John Henry Griffin, born in 1851 in Crab Orchard, Lincoln County, Kentucky. I posted a note on a genealogy forum (genealogy.com) under the Griffin surnames and asked if anyone had any information on him. A year later I had an e-mail from Jean Miller Jorgensen who turned out to be a descendant of John Henry's father (John Griffin, born in 1817). My father was the grandson of John Griffin and Malinda Goff. Jean lives in Houston and was a descendant of John Griffin's second wife, Sallie Ann Middleton. This e-mail began a connection and correspondence with this second cousin once removed (see post on "Determining Family Relationships"). Jean has very graciously shared much information with me on the Griffins, as well as other common ancestors. Her information provided me much of the information I will be posting on the Griffins. We have found much in common and have become internet friends. I do hope to meet her someday.

Some years ago, Jean compiled a record of all the old stories she had heard from and about family members and also observations, etc. She did this because she was getting older and was afraid there would be no one to remember these stories. I am glad I did this as I, as did Jean, want our grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know their ancestors.

Following are some things that she remembered or was told about the Griffins.


"John Griffin, born July 6, 1817 in Lincoln Co. KY and died Sept 21, 1878 in Newton Co. AR; he was the son of Claiborn Griffin and Hannah Mulkey. He married first to Malinda Goff. Malinda was the daughter of John Goff and Sabina Halley and after Melinda's death, John Griffin married his first wife's niece, Sallie Ann Middleton. Sallie was the daughter of Jordan Middleton and Mary Ann Goff and was born Jan 20, 1835 in Lincoln Co. KY and died Mar 30, 1921 in Alpena, Boone Co. AR. When her aunt died, Sallie went to take care of Malinda's and John's children and Sallie's father insisted that if she was going to stay there, she had to marry John Griffin. Sallie had not wanted to get married, but did. She did not care much for John Griffin and never talked about him after he died.



Some members of the family said that John Griffin was a member of the James gang but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time to have ridden with Jesse James. John Griffin owned a hotel in Kentucky.



John Griffin and family packed up and left Kentucky, on their way to California. They got only as far as Newton County AR and John became ill and died there. Grandpa (Robert E.) Griffin always remembered the trip from KY to AR - the boys had to walk barefooted, the girls got to ride in the wagon. Bob's brother Sim remembered this trip, too, and how they would trade apples for rides on the ferry to cross the rivers. I do not know if it was on this trip or while still in KY that Bob Griffin's brother Joe got a high fever that left him "deaf and dumb" which meant he was unable to hear or talk. He would communicate by sign language.



After John Griffin's death, Sallie married Laborn Hawkins Rowatt and liked him real well. Sallie smoked a corn cob pipe, wore glasses (these are the old glasses I have in the trunk). Thelma Jo Griffin Parker remembers going to her funeral: going over a railroad track to the cemetery, the pallbearers lowering the casket into the ground, dirt being put on the casket going "plunk, plunk, plunk". She had been living with her son Jim and his family in Alpena, AR. When she became ill, Jim sent a telegram to his brother Bob, saying that if he wanted to see his mother alive, he had better come quick. That night Bob dreamed that his mother had died and the next day, he got word that she had. The big picture in the closet (too heavy to hang on the wall) is of Sallie Ann.



John and his first wife Malinda (Goff) had children Williah H., John, male child born dead, Malissa, and Tolbert (or Albert) K. The children by his marriage to Sallie Middleton were Jane "Jenny" Williams, Mary Emma, Joseph Roland, Jordan Simeon, Sherrod Williams, Margaret Lucy, Robert Edward (my great-grandfather) and James Peebles.

Samuel Horn Cawthon,28 Jun 1849 - 11 Jun 1907

I found this picture of Samuel Horn Cawthon, my great-grandfather, father of Mary Edna Cawthon McBride which was posted in a Cawthon family tree on ancestry.com. I have since contacted the woman who posted it and found she is a descendant of Edna's brother Lawrence. She had found it on another ancestry family tree and is going to try and find the name of the person who initially posted it. I love the picture with the butterfly collection and wonder whatever happened to it.

Letter from Lawrence Cawthon to Mary Edna Cawthon McBride on death of mother

Picture of Elizabeth Shryer Cawthon 18 Feb 1850-19 Dec 1938

My maternal grandmother was Mary Edna Cawthon McBride, 8 Sep 1890 - 24 Jun 1980. She was the daughter of Samuel Horn Cawthon and Elizabeth Shryer Cawthon. This is a letter received by Mary Edna from her brother Lawrence Marcus Cawthon, 14 Apr 1886 - 18 Aug 1952 after the death of their mother, Elizabeth Shryer Cawthon.

Stockton Jan 1st 1939

Dear Edna & family
I guess you have received the news about mother. It came right in the Christmas rush and I could not even go to the funeral and you will never know how it hurt me. I had a letter from Robert, he said they put her away awfully nice and that she looked awfuly sweet. Bless her heart she is at rest, even though it is hard to give her up, she had a long hard fight of it. I have been intending to write and almost insist on you coming to see her one more time. I am completely worked down and almost sick from the holiday rush of mail, I am having two days rest this Sunday & Monday. Robert and I have had a long time almost 10 years of wearry and expence and spent around a thousand dollars towards mother's care and went through a lot. We never felt it any thing but our duty and never hesitated at any thing we thought would make her happy or help her in any way. We never did call on you for we didn't know your financial conditions even (if) we had to barrow at times to make our way by. But I feel now since Robert is only getting 80 dollars and he is in pretty bad health & Carra sick and I am way behind on bills accumulated while I was sick so long. We feel now that you should chip in with us and pay one third of the funeral expense. Robert will send you in a few days a copy of the contract. He barrowed the down payment and it has to be paid back by Jan 23rd which is $31.76. After that the payments are only $8 per month for 18 months. So you see one third of the 8 dollars per month wont be so much for the three of us. What do you think about it Edna don't you think this is fair? I know I owe you a long letter, I haven't forgot it and just as soon as I get to feeling better I will sure come through with it. We still want to come to Okla in April but don't know if I will be able to make the trip. In the meantime will you please let me know if you can help us. We will appreciate it. We wish all of you a very happy and a prosperous New Year. Lots of love from your Brother, L.M. Cawthon 1641 S. Sutter St.

Letter from Robert Cawthon to Mary Edna Cawthon on funeral of Mother Elizabeth Shryer Cawthon

Montrose, Calif.
Jan. 5, 1939.
Dear Sister-
I have been thinking to write every day - I know you
are anxious to know about the funeral. Lawrence couldn't come, and
of course we didn't expect you to make the long trip just at Christmas.
Everything went off very nice. Dolly made the burial robe,
it was white silk with a corsage at the neck. Her hair was curled,
and she looked awfully nice and peaceful. I left it to Dolly's
folks to arrange the chapel, the music and the minister. I arranged
everything else. There was a nice crowd - all of the Santa Ana
bunch, including Aunt Mary and Pleas and family and Roy and wife.
She was buried at Westminster Memorial Park, alongside of Jim. She
died on the 19th, of a heart attack. For weeks, or even months she
had not recognized anyone, and if you had seen her she would not
have known her. It is nice that she ts at rest, for she had a
long, thankless siege of illness.
Carra is very weak and sick, and might not last the winter out.
Ernestine and Virgil are here, and Ernie keeps house. Virgil's job
is near here. It makes it nice for us, and gives me a chance to
get away when I want to.
There were lots of nice flowers - there was nothing lacking to
make a nice funeral. I picked out the casket, it was a light
silver gray, and matched well with her robe.
I have a letter from Lawrence which I am sending on to you. We,
or rather I, had to sign up for everything, and I wrote Lawrence
about standing his part. He will do so, and if you feel like you
can stand a third, it will not hurt any of us so much. I only have
$80.00 coming now, and it is very hard to stretch it to go round.
I am sending you the copy of the contract I signed. I am responsible
for all of it, so if you can help out any, just send it to me,
as I will have to send it in each month. The 31.56 had to be cash
which I borrowed and is due the 23d. After that the payments are
$8.00 for 18 months. If you can stand one third it will be only
2. 67 a month for each of us. The 7.50 on the flowers donated by
the Grandchildren can be deducted. I don't know what your financial
circumstances are now, and if you feel like you are depriving your
family, well, your family comes first. But Lawrence and I have spent
so much - I figure nearly a thousand dollars each, in the past nine
years, that perhaps now you feel like you could help us out that much.
Lawrence gets a good salary, but he was off sick a long time, and recently
had to spend $150.00 on his teeth. So let me know how you
feel about it, and return the copy of the contract to me for my record.
Hope you are all well, and I still think I may get to visit you
next summer.
Happy new Year to you and all the family.
As ever, your brother, Robert

Letter from Robert Cawthon to Mary Edna Cawthon McBride notifying of death of mother

This letter was sent from Robert Cawthon to my grandmother (his sister) Mary Edna Cawthon McBride concerning the death of their mother, Elizabeth Shryer Cawthon, Dec 19, 1938.

Montrose, Calif.
Dec. 21, 1938
Dear Sister,-
Just after I sent you the letter the other day Mother
passed away. I didn't know it until yesterday. They moved her
to the undertaking parlor and notified me the next day.
I don't believe you would want to come just at Christmas, with
your own family with all Christmas plans made, and after all, it
would be a long and bad trip at this time of year. There would
really be no point to you coming all the way out to go go to her funeral.
We have made all the plans to have the funeral on Friday, Dec. 23d.
She will be buried alongside of Jim, in Westminster Memorial Park,
All the plans are made and most of the relatives will be here.
It is one of those things we have to expect, and nave been expecting
for a long time, so we will go ahead and bury her, and not expect
you out at this time.
Write me,
As ever,
Robert, 2261 Mira Ave, Montrose

The Moves of Thomas Alexander O'Neal, 1824-1910

Picture 1 Thomas A. O'Neal Picture 2 Thomas A. & Lucinda White O'Neal

Thomas Alexander O'Neal, along with his family, was quite the wanderer. From census, birth, marriage and death records, I have listed what I know of his residences.

1829 Born in 1829, Greene, Georgia
1853 Married Lucinda White, Chatooga County Georgia
1854 Son, William H. O'Neal, born in Sublingua, Georgia
1860 Census, Cass County, Texas (listed in census, T.A., L {Lucinda}, W. H.)
1860 Daughter, Lucinda Crawford O'Neal, born in Wichita Falls, Texas
1865 Daughter, Martha Elizabeth O'Neal, born in Sublingua, Georgia
1870 Census, Yell County, Arkansas (listed in census: Thomas, Lucinda, William, Lula, Martha)
1872 Son, John M. O'Neal, born in Dardenelle, Arkansas
1875 Death of Lucinda White and stillborn son in Bellsville, Arkansas
1877 Married Julia Mason in Yell County, Arkansas
1878-1880 Letters from Thomas A. and Lucinda, in Clay County/Wichita Falls, Texas
1880 Census, Clay County Texas (listed in census: Thomas, Lou, Martha, John)
1883 Lucinda married R. H. McBride, Yell County, Arkansas
1887 Thomas married Mary Smith, Pope County, Arkansas
1891 Lived in what was to become Brown, Oklahoma (west of Tecumseh OK) in a dugout with daughter Lucinda and her husband Robert H. McBride, until a log cabin could be built.
1910 Died in Cromwell, Oklahoma.

Determining family relationships

Sometimes, especially when working on your family history, it's handy to know how to describe your family relationships more exactly. The definitions below should help you out.

Cousin (a.k.a "first cousin")

Your first cousins are the people in your family who have two of the same grandparents as you. In other words, they are the children of your aunts and uncles.

Second Cousin

Your second cousins are the people in your family who have the same great-grandparents as you., but not the same grandparents.

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Cousins

Your third cousins have the same great-great-grandparents, fourth cousins have the same great-great-great-grandparents, and so on.

Removed

When the word "removed" is used to describe a relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. You and your first cousins are in the same generation (two generations younger than your grandparents), so the word "removed" is not used to describe your relationship.

The words "once removed" mean that there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed. This is because your mother's first cousin is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents. This one-generation difference equals "once removed."

Twice removed means that there is a two-generation difference. You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother's first cousin are first cousins, twice removed.

Instructions for Using a Relationship Chart

1. Pick two people in your family and figure out which ancestor they have in common. For example, if you chose yourself and a cousin, you would have a grandparent in common.
2. Look at the top row of the chart and find the first person's relationship to the common ancestor.
3. Look at the far left column of the chart and find the second person's relationship to the common ancestor.
4. Determine where the row and column containing those two relationships meet.

Common Ancestor	Child	Grandchild	G-grandchild	G-g-grandchild
Child	Sister or Brother	Nephew or Niece	Grand-nephew or niece	G-grand-nephew or niece
Grandchild	Nephew or Niece	First cousin	First cousin, once removed	First cousin, twice removed
G-grandchild	Grand-nephew or niece	First cousin, once removed	Second cousin	Second cousin, once removed
G-g-grandchild	G-grand-nephew or niece	First cousin, twice removed	Second cousin, once removed	Third cousin

Finding the Originals of the O'Neal letters

Through a connection I made on ancestry.com, I was able to locate two O'Neals in the Tecumseh OK area. One was the the granddaughter (Rosemary) of William H. O'Neal to whom these letters were written, the other was the great-grandson (Jack) of William H. O'Neal. Through the helpfulness and graciousness of these family members, I was able to find and look at the originals of the letters and was able to fill in some of the areas where the copies were illegible. I also met with a granddaughter of Lucinda O'Neal McBride. It was truly a pleasure visiting with these rediscovered cousins.

I also went to Brown Cemetery outside Tecumseh where Thomas A. O'Neal was buried, as well as Lucinda O'Neal McBride and her husband Robert Hugh McBride. Jack's wife Gena was so helpful in locating these graves and providing information on other various family members who were also buried there.

One of the most exciting things was to actually get a picture of the mastodon bone. See it on the post "I am a going to be rich!"

McBrides

McBride posts are related to this ancestry:

I am descended from:

Edythe McBride, daughter of James Thomas McBride and Mary Edna Cawthon
James was son of Robert Hugh McBride and Lucinda Crawford O'Neal McBride
Robert Hugh McBride was son of James McBride and Lucinda Wilson
Lucinda Crawford O'Neal McBride was daughter of Thomas A. and Lucinda White

Lucinda was quite the popular name, leading to much confusion for me initially in figuring out all these people!

O'Neal Letters, Part I, Feb 24, 1878 "we have come thru mud that lookt lacked would sink the mule up"

My great grand-mother Lucinda Crawford O'Neal grew up in the area of Wichita Falls Texas. It was a very hard life. I have several letters written either by her, her father Thomas, or her brother Billy during 1878-1890. I am posting them separately, typed as they wrote them phonetically. However, I am adding periods to separate sentences for clarity in reading them. Lucinda was 18 years old in 1878. She was writing to her brother Billy; he was about 24 years old and was back in Arkansas; brother Johnny mentioned in the letter was about 6 years old. Their mother, also named Lucinda, died in Arkansas during childbirth in 1875.

February the 24 - 1878 Chickey Saw nation
Billy, I will try this evening to write you a few lines to let you no how we are getting along. We are all well and hope that this will find you well. Pa wrote you a letter at the first of the week but we have come a long ways sense that time considern the way the roads have bin but they are getting better fast but I never have seen such places as we have come over and hope so I live I never will again. I tell you the truth we have come thru mud that looked lacked (like it?) would sink the mule up. Well we have got to the railroad and we have see the cars several times pass and Johney said to tell you he had seen them without agoing to ruselville to see them but he still says he is coming back. Well we have got with the (indecipherable) at last. We have been with them to or three days and pa says he is going to stay with them and go with them to the place they are going. They are going somers about waco. Well I must quit for this time (indecipherable) such writing for I am very tired. I have to drive most all the time. We are now at new bogy. Lou O'Neal

O'Neal Letters, Part II, Jun 19, 1878 "the lonesemest place in the world"

Letter from Lucinda (Lou) O’Neal (McBride) to her brother Bill O’Neal. I believe the reference to Mat in the letter is her sister Martha, about 13 years old at this time of this letter.

Clay Co. Texas, Jun the 19 1878 Billy, i will try to write you a few lines this evening to let you here from ous again. we are all well and hope that this will find you well. well i got your letter and was surprised to here that Uncle John had gone back there. well we have plenty of rain these times. i tell you the folks that live in the ground has a sweet time. the water runs in at there doors until they cannot hardly stay in them at all. there is some sickness here since the rain has begun. Pa is still trying to brake land yet. one of the mules give out and he can not do much good. it was the one we got from Jim Crownover. she was the no countest mule I most ever saw. I would not give that pony we give for her hardly for two such mule. well i will tell you we had some Indians in our Country last week. They did not do anything that we have heard of yet. they was seven of them. they was at the first house. i have here they sayid that they was a mooveing (moving?). they first told that they would be thre thousand along the next day and then they told they would be only five hundred and from that to only fifty so no more has come along yet as we have heard of. no body nows what they was up to. they had thirteen ponys and wore bows and arrows pistols and one gun. they have guns here that shoots sixteen times. it was one of that kind. they swoom read river (Red River?) and went on in the nations. well me and Mat and Johney has done one thing since we have bin here we never done before. we stayed all night by our selves. we was looking for pa to come back from town and he did not get back and we had to stay by our selves. there is no guardens raised here to say any. there is no fruit for the country has not bin settled long enough to have any trees big enough for to have fruit. i have seen one orchard planted out sence we have bin here. the trees are about three or four feet high. the wind looks like it will blow them plum away but the little fellows stands it well. i am all the one of ours that has made any things sence we have been here. i saved enough for a woman to get one old hen and nineteen little chickings and a very good table. Bill, Johney says to tell you that he had him a bow and arrow and kills grasshoppers for the chickens. he says to tell you to send him your picture for he does want to see you. I no that this is the lonesomest place in the world. write soon and often from Lou O'Neal.

O'Neal Letters Part III, Apr 14, 1879 "Will not brake even atal this year"

Letter from Thomas A. O'Neal to his son Billy, Apr 14, 1879

Clay County Texas, April the 14-1879

Billy i will write you a few lines. But have no news to write. we are all well and I am dun planting and it is very dry. have had no rain since you left. corn can not cum up until we have rain. the first corn that was planted a gud deal of it was up and the frost kilt it down and Lu has planted over. wheat looks very sorry worse than it was last year it is so dry. I have give out booking any (indecipherable) - will not brake even atal (at all) this year. I have got as much land as I can cultivate any how and also what I will want to plow. I have got two much this year. it runs me too tire to get it broke and planted. I never got dun planting until the 11 of this month. I have went to cash (Cache?)once since you left. I kild one turkey and never hurd the like of gobling in my life. Johney was proud of his letter and money you sent him and he says he wants you to be in a big hurry and cum back. We have got 25 or 30 acres planted in watermelon. if they do any good we will have a few for to eat. my pigs is a doing fine. the two that was here when you left will way 40 or 50 lbs and the sow pig is just like the one you let. Ty (?) gave the other sow. Only brought 9 and all of them are a living and looks well. There was several her yesterday that was speaking of having a fish fry the first day of may either on cash (Cache River?) or wichataw one. I believe I have wrot all that I know for this time. write soon and often. you will have a better chance to print (?) letters than we do. we all four send respect to your Frances. A.Oneal to W.H. O'Neal, Spring Creek Arks. Have our respect to Mr Crownover and family and tell him to write to me and he ought to cum out to see us and the country.

O'Neal Letters Part IV, May 9, 1880 "i am a going to be rich" - Updated

This letter was from Thomas A. O'Neal to his son BIlly. It has been updated after reviewing the originals. Lucinda also added her comments to Billy. The letter talks about a land transaction, and an amazing find by Lucinda. This letter by far was the the hardest to read. I used a pen to trace over the words and they became readable. However, there are still a few unreadable areas that I will continue to work on. Also, it was very exciting to get a copy of a picture of the petrified mastodon bone that was in the O'Neal family. That picture is posted above. Per the new information I was able to read in the letter, it weighed 40 lbs and is sitting on top of a bucket

Clay County Texas May the 9-1880

Billy we have just received your letter and was glad to saw you and jo and also her(e) from you and to her(e) you was well. this leaves us well and crops looks tolerable well. but is small owing to being planted late. I am at plowing my corn the second time my was cut. I do not know whether it will even be worth cutting or not. We have had the windyest spring I ever saw. my wheat once lookt like it wud die but we had a rain and it has got to looking green but it looks like a slim show for wheat. I have no news to write you. the last I heard about the land I am on that the parties had agreed on the price but the title was not exactly all right tha (they) thought it would all be fixit up a(nd) the trade would be complete. I started to town Saturday a got to the creak and it was up so I had to turn back home. I will go in a few days and then I will her(e) from it and I will write you what I here(e). i think I feel determined to leave her(e). There is a great many dissatisfyde since we have had such a windy spring, the dust and sand got in my eye until one of them was as red as if it have had a good gouging but has got near over it. If I leave her(e) i do not know when I will gow. It would be owing to the way my pulse be at the strongest after I got shet (shed?)of what I have her(e) . I will write you something about a part of a petrifyed hed bone of Lew's unknown animal or some other huge head bone. There has bin but few to have seen it but no one had any idea of what it can be only that all pronounce it a hed bone of some unknown Beast. To them it is not (illegible) of the jaw. that it is from the shap(e) I do not know whether it is a upper or lower jaw bone. But resembles a upper most. I am a going to take it to town with me and see if I can find out what it is. Lou who found it in the mud near the spring we used when you was her(e). it was (weighed) 40 lbs. I will write you what i her(e) about it when I gow to town.

(Lucinda then adds her comments to this letter):

Well billy i will try to write you a few lines again but i wrote to you to weeks a go and i have nothing to write now more than we have had a rain and every thing looks fine. we have had several messes of salit and lettice lately. that is something new here. well billy, i have succeeded in finding me a petrified bone and now i am lady blunt (see my *note at end) i am going to be rich by selling it after while. i wish you could see it. i want you to take time and write oftener than you do. i will have to quit for this time. Besure and write soon so fare well for this time. Lular C. Oneal

(Thomas continues on another page)

I am at town and saw one of the parties that is trading for the land I am on. he is going to start to close the trade and sais he will cum up when he go to Bank to see me. The Bone is pronounst to be a tooth of a mastodon. I told Bacton Jones about it and see if he had any knowledge of such a thing. if I should have the luck to sell out I may be in that contry this summer or fall and will bring that tooth with me unless I get a big price for it - write often and give me the news. I will close now.

T.A. Oneal

*Note: After much pondering over this wording I firmly believe it says "now i am lady blunt". The "blunt" looked very clear, but i could not get a context for it. Finally, i "googled" "lady blunt" and to my surprise found much information on a "Lady Anne Blunt". She was born in 1837 and married Wilfrid Blunt in 1869. In the summer of 1873 they began their first adventure to the Middle East. They visited Egypt in 1875-76; after leaving Egypt they hired Bedouins and camels and traveled through the Sinai to Jerusalem. While crossing the desert, they ran out of water and almost died of third. However, they survived the experience and gained a rudimentary knowledge of Arabic and a determination to mount a major expedition into central Arabia. Lady Blunt was known as an adventurer and a writer, described as courageous, tough, resourceful, cool-headed, self-reliant, and adaptable. She was the first European woman to explore Central Arabia. This letter was written in 1880 and I think it is possible that Lucinda had read of Lady Blunt, known her to be an explorer, and thought of herself as an adventurer like Lady Blunt!
For more information about Lady Blunt see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Anne_Blunt

O'Neal letters Part V, Jul 3, 1880 "Do not spend more money in trying for the office than it would be worth if you was to get it"

This letter was written from Thomas A. O'Neal to his son Billy:

Big Wichataw Valley, Clay Co. Texas

Billy we have just rec yours this eavning dated Jun the 18 and glad to her(e) from you and to hear you was well. yours found us as well as common. Lou is a grunting with her head and teeth. I have no nus of interest to write. only we have pretty good prospect for a crop. our corn looks ver well. have not suffered for rain any this season for corn though i do not think corn will be as good as it was the year you was out her(e). though ther is a goodeal mor planted than was cut that time. I donot know what I will do yet. have not seen the parties that bought the land so as to know what they (they) will do concerning my improvement. Billy if the paper you send is not out or will come any time, have it directed to our office they (they) only put wichitaw on it and we have not got it but few times since you had it changed and then it was forward from some other office. I suppose it gows to witchataw County (indecipherable)...I will send you in this a post office order for the amount you wanted wich was twenty five dollars. I was glad to have it for you as it was the first time you ever written to me for assistance. Hoping you may have sucksess in your undertaking. But be carful and donot spend more money in trying for the office than it would be worth if you was to get it. I thought I would finish this. but will have to close. write soon and often. Yours respectfully T.A. Oneal

Scanned letters

I am scanning all these letters into PDF files. If anyone is interested in seeing these files and also trying to decipher words I was unable to identify (or correct anything), please send me an e-mail to shircri@msn.com and I will send them to you. I am going to continue to try to decipher missing words and will update blogs as I succeed.

Robert Hugh & Lucenda McBride

The following was written in the "History of Pottowatamie County by Ruby Dixson, Granddaughter of Robert and Lucenda (also spelled Lucinda) McBride. Dates are from a Family Bible -by Virgie McGee, Skellytown, Texas. Robert and Lucinda are my great-grandparents.

"My Grandfather and Grandmother, Robert Hugh and Lucenda McBride came to Oklahoma by an Oxen Covered Wagon, trying to make the run east from Norman on September 22, 1891. An Oxen died enroute, causing a delay and they arrived September 12, 1891, buying a claim near town, one mile south of #9 Highway on #102.

The family along with Grandpa O'Neal (Mrs McBrides father) lived in a dugout until a log cabin could be built. Four of the children came from Arkansas, and four other children were born on the farm.

The log cabin was made by cutting the trees, and making logs. The family lived from the land, hunting, trapping, raising cattle, butchering, and preserving meat by salt curing, drying fruit and vegetables from the orchards and garden.

The children attended school at Arkansas Flat. Sunday School was also held in the School until it burned, then it was continued in the McBride home.

The family was active in community functions, such as singings, pie suppers, ice cream suppers, etc.

Robert Hugh McBride: Born May 5, 1855 at Dardenell, Arkansas, died December 21, 1927 at Tecumseh. Married October 18, 1883 to Lucinda Crawford O'Neal born September 2, 1860 near Wichita Falls, Texas. Lucinda died March 22, 1905 at Tecumseh (OK). They are both buried in Brown Cemetery."

Solving Mysteries

One of the things I love about genealogy is solving the little mysteries that are inherent whenever you are trying to piece information together. For example, in the letter written by Robert Hugh McBride about his wife Lucinda's death, it was very difficult to read some of the words. I was working from copies of copies of copies of very old letters. There was a word that appeared to be "ruins" "ruins folks did not cum"). I could not make sense of this until I looked back at some genealogy records and found that Lucinda had a sister Margaret who was married to a man named Runyon. So I gathered that "ruins" was a phonetic spelling of Runyon. In the subsequent letter I posted, it also referred to "Rune's folks" so mystery solved. I also could not figure out the introduction, "Grandpa and ... H ONeal" until I again looked at genealogy charts and saw that Lucinda's brother was William Harrison, so deducted that it was addressed to Grandpa and W H O'Neal.
One of the problems I have discovered with posting on this blog is that the newest post shows up first on the page and some of the earlier posts may have had information that would clarify if the earlier were read first. I am going to try and figure out how to post or group things together that will link posts or make things more clear.

UPDATE: To resolve the problem in the previous paragraph, I wrote all the posts I wanted posted in sequence and saved them as drafts, rather than publishing. In the "Post Options" (at the bottom of the compose screen), there is an option for the post date and time. I put the date and time in the sequence in which I wanted them posted; e.g. the post I wanted to be first would have the most recent date and time. Then when I actually published the post, it put them in the correct sequence.

Another letter about Lu's death (see post "I am ruined"

This letter was written by Lucinda's brother Johnny to her brother Billy after Lucinda's death:

3-26-1905
Tecumseh O.T. (Oklahoma Territory)

Pa, Bill & family I will write you all a few lines to let you no how we all are. we are all up i am awful weak yet i have bin up all the time since last wednesday. I reckon you have heared of Lue's death before now Colonel sent you a telegram right at once but we got a letter from (Note: a line seems to be missing) did not no anything of it until 8 ocock that night they come driveing in it rained on them a good deal during the day and was raining when they got here. They fixed the coffin good and dry. We waited until about 4 oclock yesterday for you to get here. Rune's folks all come but started back this morning. They are so bad behind with their work they said they were bound to get. Last night I took 2 bales of my cotton to town Friday am going to take 2 more tomorrow and have not got my last one gined yet. I ain't stout enough to do much else and thought I would haul it off while I could not be at much else. We got our potatoes planted yesterday and plowed up the old cow lot for a garden. I got wire friday to fence it with. I won't do much this week in the field. Have got to haul my cotton to the gin go to town and put up the garden fence. Hope Bill is better by now so I will close. Coulter has got some plowed.
J. M. O'Neal
I for got to tell you our Rural Mail Rout starts the 15 of April. after that you can direct your letters to Tecumseh R.F.D. No 4
Fanny Nellie wants you to send her 2 setting of them Brown Leghorn Eggs. send them by Express and we will pay it here. Let us no when you start them.

"I am ruined"

My great-grandmother Lucinda Crawford O'Neal McBride, was born in 1860 near Wichita Falls TX. She married Robert Hugh McBride in 1883. They had 8 children, of which my grandfather James Thomas McBride was the second. Lucinda died Mar 22, 1905. Upon her death, her husband Robert wrote a letter to his father-in-law Thomas O'Neal. Following is the letter with the spelling as it was written:

March the 24, 1905 Gradpa and W H O'Neal I have bad news for you al Lu is gon dide wensda morning about 8 the doctor sed her bowels was loct and that ther no remedy only a operation and she was to far gon i sent you a telegram as sone as she died and went to mete you but did not her from you Ruin's folks did not cum i have not heard from them well I am ruined Good by R H McBride

Above is a picture of the family, Grandpa O'Neal is on the left; Robert McBride in the middle, Lucinda O'Neal McBride on the right. James Thomas, my grandfather, is standing behind Lucinda. The picture was taken in the winter of 1902. Though location is not identified, the baby Gilbert was born in Tecumseh, OK in Sep 1902, so I am presuming this is their home in Tecumseh.

UPDATE: My newfound 3rd cousin-in-law, Gena O'Neal, took me to the location of this log cabin, which is where the McBrides settled. It is located about 6 miles West of Tecumseh, about one mile south of the intersection of Hwy 9 and Hwy 102, and then east about 1/2 mile. No home exists there at present.

The Hanging of a McBride

My grandfather was James Thomas McBride, born on Nov 30, 1888 in Belleville, Yell County Arkansas. He was the son of Hugh Robert McBride, born May 5, 1855 in Dardenelle, Arkansas. A family story has been passed down about the death of Hugh Robert's father, James P. McBride, who was born in 1802 in Kentucky. The following is the story as written by a granddaughter of James McBride whose name I do not know.
"James was hung in Civil War. As I heard it, he was living on farm outside of Havana (Arkansas). When renegades (neither North or South) came he was sitting on porch with baby. They left the baby and took him back in the field and hung him (I saw the tree when I was there once). Granpa McBride said his mother told him and Scott to stay with the Baby. She would be back. But they followed her and watched her cut his dad down, then beat her back to the house. Lucindy (James' wife) then married James brother Andrew Jackson, born about 1812 in Tennessee. Married about 1862. Lucindy and James had 2 children (Andrew McBride, born 1863 in Ark, Mary McBride, born 1865 in Ark.)"

I decided to pursue this story and see if we could find James' grave. I had information that James was buried in the McBride Cemetery near Havana Arkansas. Havana is a small town of about 230 people located about 10 miles from the County Seat of Danville. We stopped in a gas/grocery store to ask if anyone could tell us where McBride Cemetery was located. An older gentleman thought it was out near Cedar Creek; another man drew us a map showing the cemetery on a road turning west off the road we would be on. When we were unable to find that road, we stopped at a house about where the road should be. There were few homes in the area. I introduced myself to the woman who answered the door (Gina). Gina lived with her parents, Doris and Garland. Gina was very interested in genealogy and was quite eager to help us. She invited us in and found some books by a local author, Kathryn Rogers from Dardenelle. Ms Rogers had been a high school English teacher and had written several books concerning local history. I told Gina that I had heard the story about James being hung right after the Civil War by renegades. Gina felt sure that she had read that story in one of the six books. Gina called the author who thought it was either in the book "Rabbit in the Run" or When the Bob White Calls". Gina had these books but we were unable to find the story. I have since tried to find the books but have not been able to.
The location of the "hanging tree" was well known by Gina and her parents. In fact, Garland had been worried that the owner of the land had been clear-cutting the land and was concerned that the tree might have been cut down. He was adamant that this was a historical location and that it was important the tree be preserved. Garland drew us a map of how to find the tree and said that it had been marked by ax with an "X". Gina called the owner of the land to tell them we would be there shortly.
Gina next called a friend named Frankie who was another McBride descendant of the father of James P. McBride (who was also James McBride, born in 1777 in Ireland. Frankie came to the house and visited for a while, telling us of the McBrides that remained in the area. She and Gina then took us to the McBride Cemetery which was through a gate and a ways off in a pasture. We would have never found it on our own. We found the headstone of Lucinda (also known as Lucindy) (James P.'s wife), but not of James P. There were two unmarked small stones, one on each side of Lucinda.
After we left the cemetery, we went to the home of a Mr and Mrs Gray. Mr Gray's mother was a McBride and they had worked many years on the McBride genealogy. They were in their 80-90s. Mr Gray was recovering from hip surgery and bore an uncanny resemblance to a photo I had with me of James and Lucinda's son Scott that I had with me. We visited for a while and compared notes. It was from this discussion that I learned that the McBride who was hung was actually Andrew Jackson McBride, who was the brother of James P. and who had married Lucinda after James' death in 1859. Thus, it was the stepfather (and uncle) of Robert who was hung, rather than his biological father. The hanging occurred in 1864, and James had died in 1859. Lucinda married Andrew in 1859. Robert was born in 1855 and was about 4 years old when his father James died, and was about 9 when his stepfather was hung. While the story written above showed Lucindy and Andrew married in 1862, they were living in the same household in the 1860 census record so I feel the 1859 date of marriage is reliable.
We then went to the land where the hanging tree was. We searched through approximately 5 acres, going over barbed wire, through weeds, and over hills. While we had Garland's hand drawn map, the terrain had changed due to clear-cutting since Garland had been there. We never did with certainty find the tree, but there was a tree standing alone in a field that had a branch off to the side as Garland had described as the "hanging tree". We did not see an "X" mark, but it was the only tree in the area that generally fit the description so we liked to think that we did witness history in that tree.
I have found that people who are interested in genealogy are extremely willing to help others in their searches. As I have often said, only another genealogist can relate to the excitement of finding an old tombstone and saying "Eureka"!

Corley Home in Castleblaney Ireland

We traveled to Castleblaney, County Monaghan Ireland in 1984 searching for the Corley ancestors. We just happened to meet a gentleman in Castleblaney who was caring for the Corley house after the last of the Corleys (Mary) had died the year before. He was so kind as to take us to the home where the Corleys had lived for years. The home and outer building were in an "L" shape around a courtyard. He also took us to the cemetery where the recent Corleys were buried. Unfortunately I no longer remember nor have a record of the church where they were buried, although it was in the town of Castleblaney (though not in Clontibret Parish). We did take a picture of St Michael's Church, shown above which is in the parrish of Clontibret, though we were unable to look at any parish records.