I am resending my email since it was not easily legible in its form...for what my thoughts are worth! Subj: RE: Alabama to Texas  My thought is that the Western movement of the early settlers was partially due to the possibility that the farmers wore out the soil because they did not understand the benefits of crop rotation. They might have moved to find more fertile soil in which to grow their crops. I feel certain, too, that land grants in Tennessee and possibly Texas played a part in their moving West. Also, Blount County was ravaged by the Civil War leaving lots of destruction. There were also Carpet Baggers who moved into the Blount County area. I am also thinking that there were ill feelings among some of the residents of Blount County because some were in sympathy with the Union and some were in sympathy with the Confederates. I noticed in the Blount County records that the older Wilemon families left their land holdings to their children or younger relatives when they moved to Texas in the 1870's. My immediate Wilemon ancestors moved to Ellis County and settled here. There are many families in Ellis County whose relatives came from Blount County during the same time frame. Thank you for all of your comments. I've found each and every one to be very interesting. Susan Wilemon Solomon Ellis County, Texas