The surname KELLY migrating from Alabama to Texas got my interest. Subject: surnames SOWELL KELLY and CURETON...........................................and the connection to East Texas, specifically Nacogdoches County, Texas......................................... There is a P. H. SOWELL b. 1857 buried in the Old SMYRNA Cemetery (indexed under Smyrna, not under Old). He is probably connected to the Henry County or Pike County, Alabama families because my ancestor, W.O. CURETON is also buried in that cemetery in Nacogdoches County, Texas................................................................................................................. ................. My ancestor in Henry County, Alabama was William Obadiah CURETON who married Mary Jane KELLY, b. about 1825 in Pike County, Alabama. W.O. CURETON was in the Confederate Army, but he lived in Texas, and his son, Thomas Kelly CURETON b. 1847 in Pike County, Alabama, married Rebekah BLANTON. Several BLANTON, CURETON, GREER, STRIPLING, and other ALABAMA ROOTS families are buried at the SWIFT Cemetery in Nacogdoches County, Texas. Cemetery is transcribed at US Gen Web. Mary Jane KELLY b. 1825 was the daughter of Elias KELLY and Emily HILL, and I think Elias KELLY lived PIKE COUNTY, Alabama. The cemetery info at SWIFT Cemetery in Nacogdoches County, Texas says Mary Jane KELLY was from PIKE COUNTY, Alabama and that her son, Elias L. CURETON was born in PIKE COUNTY, Alabama in 1850. Henry County was a large county, and other counties came from HENRY County, correct? My ancestor, W.O. CURETON is listed as being buried in the SWIFT Cemetery in Nacogdoches County, Texas, where several CURETON, BLANTON, BRANTLEY, STRIPLING and other Alabama roots families are buried. BUT in the old SMYRNA CEMETERY is really where William Obadiah CURETON is buried, and his wife, Mary Jane KELLY CURETON b. 1825 is buried at SWIFT. I think this might be because the newer cemeteries weren't established when W. O. CURETON died. In reviewing info about W.O. CURETON, and remembering that the Old SMYRNA Cemetery had some of my kin, I found a SOWELL tombstone there. .......The SOWELL tombstone reads P.H. SOWELL b. 1857 died July 12, 1889 and says that a kind wife mourns. In this same cemetery are some STRIPLING and a James M. WHITTON, the grandfather of Grady. In the old SMYRNA Cemetery are also some BRANTLEY, JACKSON, LOVE, P.H. SOWELL, STRIPLING, WHITEHEAD, and WHITTON which might be WHIDDON. On the Nacogdoches County website at US Gen Web, there is a link to cemeteries. Some of the cemeteries have a few photos. Some of the cemeteries are transcribed on more than one website. Check both for additional information. I think W.O. CURETON is buried in the Old Smryna Cemetery in Nacogdoches, but the SWIFT Cemetery, which is much larger, also has him listed, perhaps because his wife, Mary Jane KELLY CURETON is buried at Swift. This is all in Nacogdoches County, Texas, but the families came from Henry County and Pike County, Alabama. My CURETON line comes from William Jackson CURETON and Celia BANISTER of Henry County. Celia or Cealy BANNISTER CURETON bought more land after her husband died. The CURETON name is spelled CURENTON and CURINGTON in some of the old Henry County census and land records. William Jackson CURETON bought original land in Henry County in 1831 in township 6N, mostly in section 17. After the Civil War, the CURETON land in Henry County was passed down to the two CURETON sisters who married the WOODs brothers and stayed in Henry County, Alabama. Cyndy Shreffler, descendant of William Jackson CURETON and Celia BANISTER CURETON. Cyndy Shreffler ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.