Hi Don, That question has interested me for some years now. Some part of the reasons may have come from the fact that all 4 sons served in the CSA, Wm P and Francis, in Co C of the 28th Alabama Inf and Wesley in the 56th GA Inf. James (2nd son) also served in a yet unidentified GA unit. Even the old man, Wiley, may have been the one in the 62nd Ga, said to be made up of boys and old men, formed towards the end. They had had a number of years in Forsyth Co, GA before getting to AL in time for the two sons to join the 28th at Murphree's Crossroads in 1862. I still don't know why they left GA, but since Wm P and Francis married sisters from the Christopher family, maybe the girls were the initial attraction for those two and the rest came along later. In any event, all survived the war and are in Blount Co for the 1866 census. That one used to be on Bob Wonda's site, but it has been taken down now. I would really think that circumstances in Blount for them anyway, must have been pretty meager. On the other hand, Wm P and his young starting family move up to Searcy Co, AR (beautiful Buffalo River country) before 1870, and he starts the homestead process. He completes it in 1894 according to BLM records. Available land is a strong lure and may have been the major reason for him. In Boone Co, AR I find, before 1870, father Wiley and wife, and 2nd son James and wife Harriett and young family and finally, 3rd son, Francis A and his wife Margaret Christopher Stone. All have farms and all seem to be doing reasonably well. Their kids grow and marry neighbors and so again, I think land availability is a big part. I didn't find any of these on the homestead deed listing, but that may only be that they started the process and just didn't complete it. The oldest son, Wesley may have stayed in Blount Co. I never find him in AR. I think I find his widow and son later, but not him, so he may well have not lasted long after the war. In Blount was also a John Stone that I think was a cousin of Wiley and I see one in AR that may be the same. Although I didn't see him in Blount, there had been a deaf-mute cousin, William Stone (25 in 1850 in GA) who also made it to AR, was by that time married, and farmed in the area. Again, did he benefit from land availability? I'm betting both he and John did. There is another side that I don't have much information on that I suspect could have played a part. It could be that there were more Union sympathizers in Blount Co after the war than were tolerable to live by for these ex CSA men. As I say, I have run into inferences of the sort, but nothing I can pin down for sure. So .. devastated area to come home to, not a lot of pre war time in the area anyway, possible hostility in the neighbors in Blount and available land in a relatively unspoiled area "up the road"...maybe added up, a firm basis for loading up and heading out. Please give me your comments (and anyone else that has an opinion, feel free...) I really enjoy these kind of discussions. ron in CA -----Original Message----- >From: DON M RHODES <rhodemont@verizon.net> >Sent: Aug 21, 2006 8:51 AM >To: blueoak@ix.netcom.com, alblount@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [ALBLOUNT] This list is moved! > >Ron, I am sorry that I don't have any of these folks in my family but there >is a matter I would like to discuss with you. My McDows left Blount County, >AL about the same time as yours and guess where they went? You guessed it., >AR. Why do you think they left AL and why AR? That is quite a distance for >oxen or horses and wagon. > > > >-------Original Message------- > > > >From: ron stone > >Date: 08/18/06 18:10:13 > >To: alblount@rootsweb.com > >Subject: Re: [ALBLOUNT] This list is moved! > > > >Researching STONE: James > > Wiley > > Wesley > > James > > Francis > > William Pittsford (Pitchford) > > > >And > > > >CHRISTOPHER: Sarah Elizabeth > > Martha J > > Nimrod > > > >1860's in Blount Co. Moved there from GA. Moved to AR by 1870. > > > >ron in CA > > > > > >------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >ALBLOUNT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > >-- > >No virus found in this incoming message. > >Checked by AVG Free Edition. > >Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.4/424 - Release Date: 8/21/2006 > > > >.