If there is anyone living in the Somerville-Decatur, Morgan Co., area willing to lend a hand, I could sure use some help if you'd be willing to write me direct and give me a few minutes. I'm attempting to find the parents from that area of someone that probably is living. Thanks!

Hi Listers, I am new to your list but hope we can share info. My surnames are: WADE, HAMES, CRAIG, BLAKE, WATERS, MATHIS I am trying to find info on the E. WADE family that appears on the 1840 Morgan Co census, page 003, in the 6th Regiment area. This family could be my Elijah WADE family. My Elijah was b. abt. 1804 SC. Elijah and his family were on the 1850 and 1860 Marshall Co AL census. Elijah WADE m. Rebecca HAMES on 12-30-1823 in Hall Co GA. Rebecca was b. abt. 1802 SC and was the dau. of John HAMES and Charity JASPER. I think Elijah and Rebecca lived in GA from 1823 to 1825 (prob. Hall Co.) and moved to SC abt. 1833 (prob. in Union, Cherokee or Spartanburg Co) as they had children b. in both GA and SC. I suspect they moved to Morgan Co AL abt. 1834 - this is the part I need your help with to verify. The family moved to Marshall Co abt. 1841. Known children of my Elijah WADE were: Elizabeth WADE b. abt. 1825 GA, married Nicholas BLAKE in Marshall Co in 1842 Margaret WADE b. abt. 1827 AL, married John BLAKE in Marshall Co in 1842 Nancy Caroline WADE b. abt. 1830, married Jesse MATHIS in Marshall Co in 1847 Martha Ann WADE b. abt. 1833 SC, married Claiborn C. WATERS in Marshall Co in 1854 William WADE (my gg-grandfather) b. abt. 1834 AL, married Catharine CRAIG in Marshall Co in 1855 Elijah WADE Jr and Elisha WADE (twins) b. abt. 1842 AL, Elijah Jr. m. Eliza BLAKE in Marshall Co in 1862 Thank you for any help you may provide. Eldon

Hello I'm trying to find info on the Reeves/Rives, Hopkins, Davis families mentioned below. They were in the Morgan/Marshall/Blount counties area. David (Davey) Earl Reeves m. Sarah Emma Davis Sanford Reeves Belton Reeves John Francis Hopkins m. Fannie (Nan) Faulkner James Alvin Hopkins m. Sarah Emma Davis Reeves Any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank You! Janis

My greatgrandmother was MARTHA Ann CALDWELL, born December 25, 1850 perhaps in Georgia, married Jesse Landrum GRAVAT(GRAVITT) December 27, 1877 in Jefferson County Alabama. She died September 1918 in Morgan County and is buried there at Johnson's Chapel Cemetary. I have searched for years for some information on her parents and siblings, but so far have found very little. She supposedly had a sister named Francis E. (1855-1911) who married Thomas P. MCDONALD. One of their daughters, Georgia married John Allen DANIEL. From the book, "A History of Neel Community", Larry Brown writes "sometime in the 1890's a group of Scott-Irish Methodists migrated from Jefferson County to North Alabama....." Supposedly the McDonalds, Glasgows, Bridges, Blacks and Gravits came together from Jefferson County. This group is also supposedly responsible for McDonald's Chapel in Jefferson County. Any information anyone may have on the Caldwell family in Jefferson County/Morgan County would be appreciated. This is just about my last elusive relative and I would dearly love to find out something about them. I reside in Washington State so it's very difficult for me to search files for Morgan County, very few are online. Thanks, Barbara Hestness barnieh@earthlink.net

Morgan Co website has been updated..we only had a few new surnames and a couple new listings for lookups this time. Remember the new URL: http://www.genealogyshoppe.com/almorgan/index.htm Good luck in your search! Kathy

In the Decatur City Cemetery book published by MORCO Genealogical society, there is no listing for either husband or wife. Earnie BHop071752@aol.com wrote: Hello Is there an index to the Decatur City Cemetery? I'm looking for the grave of Fannie Rachel Barnes Russell, wife of Henry Russell, who died July 11, 1943. Thank you for your help. Janis Hopkins ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== USGenWeb Events: Conferences, Seminars, Fairs etc. http://www.genealogy.com Be sure to have your state's events posted to the site. In the Decatur City cemetery book published by MORCO Genealogical - ------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites.

Hello Is there an index to the Decatur City Cemetery? I'm looking for the grave of Fannie Rachel Barnes Russell, wife of Henry Russell, who died July 11, 1943. Thank you for your help. Janis Hopkins

Hi I'm searching for info on Henry Russell who married Fannie Barnes. Their daughter Mattie Bert Russell (b. 4-3-1895, d. 2-25-1976 Morgan Co., AL) married Benjamin F. Hill (b. 8-15-1889 AR, d. 5-23-1964 Lawrence Co., AL). I have no information on this family and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You! Janis Hopkins

I was asked to forward this to the list in hopes that all will know just what the Morgan Co. Genealogical Society, Inc. and the Morgan Co. Archives has available and what they do for the researchers. I am probably the worst at being guilty and I KNOW what it takes so...THANK YOU! Morgan Co for all your efforts!! I do appreicate all you have donated to make a successful website and your support of it! Kathy ****** Hello All, I would like to try to straighten a few things out. I don't think you are reading the information correctly before you fly off the handle, get mad, then add your two cents to the fire, and many do not even know what you are talking about! First of all, the original postings were concerning the 1850 Census. The person who published the 1850 and 1860 census does have a copyright on the books. And I would stongly suggest that you not COPY her information in any fashion. Kathy has personally copied the 1850 census and has it on her website, you can rent the microfilm or you can buy the CD from the Genealogy Shoppe (Kathy Hudson). Next, as to the Morgan County Heritage book. The Morgan County Genealogical Society has put no copying restrictions on the book as far as I know. However, I think the Morgan County Archives does not allow it to be copied. The society has placed copies of all the stories in the book in the family files at the archives, which as far as I know can be copied. The writers of the articles hold the copyright...not the society. All we did was spend well over a year putting the book together and trying to make it the best book that we could. As with any publication like that, there will always be errors, etc. because we just took the information as it was sent to us and because so many people were involved in publication. There was no way we could RE-DO everyone's research...we had no choice but to hope that you were all "meticulous" researchers and had the information correct. As to the sale of the books...the society is not making ANY money on the Heritage books. After the publisher found out how large our book was he went way up on the original price. We have to purchase the books from him . Someone mentioned thousands of dollars...that is an understatement. The society put out MANY, MANY, MANY thousands of dollars to buy the books which we have sold. And when the few we have are sold, we will NOT be buying any more books. So, if any of you want one, now is the time to get it. In the very near future there will be no more copies available. Next item: I would like to make a distinction between the Morgan County Genealogical Society and the Morgan County Archives. They are TWO SEPARATE things. The society does have an office at the archives and our volunteers work to help add things to the archives which will help you researchers. The archives is a branch of the Morgan County Courthouse and the job of the county archivist (Mrs. Susan Bzdell) is to maintain and protect the county records. She has NOTHING at all to do with genealogy, but has been nice enough to provide a good selection of research materials for you. She does not HAVE to provide genealogical materials. All she is REQUIRED to do is house the county records. The society has tried to help the archives by providing the materials we can for researchers. We maintain the family files, obituary collection, photograph collection and try to add books as we can. We have volunteers who EVERY WEEK cut newspaper clippings for the files. We have someone who EVERY DAY cuts obituaries from the Decatur and Hartselle papers for our very large obituary collection. We have people who are working every week to abstract the records which are published in our books. We have volunteers who work very hard EVERY SINGLE WEEK to provide items they think you researchers need. But rarely do I hear people actually THANK them for their hard work. We have put no restrictions on our books as far as copying. Some of the items at the archives cannot be copied, but they are county records. The newspaper books cannot be copied and many of the large county record books cannot be copied. Those are the property of the county and the county government has put those restrictions on the records for their safe keeping. Some researchers are not very careful when copying, resulting in complete pages being ripped from the books. Some have taken a razor blade and actually REMOVED pages. Some pages have been FOLDED, which results in the page breaking off, some books have been defaced and damaged, and even stolen. In order to have the records for future generations the county government decided that they could no longer be copied. BUT...most everything that cannot be copied on the copier is available on microfilm from which you can make copies. You may not be able to slap that big newspaper book on the copier to copy it, but you can go to the Wheeler Basin Library (Decatur) and copy any of the newspapers from the microfilm. The LDS people will be microfilming our records soon so they will all be available from the Family History Library. Instead of being mad, you should thank the archives for protecting the records so you will be able to see them in the future. And you should be thanking your lucky stars that you can go there and SEE and HOLD the books. In Illinois where my ancestors lived, you are only allowed to see the indexes. If a copy of a record is desired, I think the price was something like $12 apiece. You are not allowed to see or hold any original records. As co-author (with Dene Walls) of the Morgan County Cemetery books I can tell you that we have not told anyone they cannot copy from the books. We do lookups for people many times a week...you can find that on Kathy's page too. We have sent many of the cemeteries to Kathy to put on her webpage, we have published many in our quarterly. We have shared in every way we can and you are more than welcome to make copies from the books. It would be very good if you all would read the posts and take a minute to stop and think about what you are reading before you get all fired up and start adding to the fire. Many of the people who write these letters have NEVER been to the archives or know anything about the society. They do not even know they are two separate things. Nor do they care how hard our people are working to provide you with these research tools. It is unfortunate that we MUST charge for the books. Believe me, it would be wonderful if we could just send you all a copy of each and every book to help with your research. But, we must pay for the books the same as everyone else, and we are on a fairly small budget. We're doing the best we can do! PLEASE do your homework and know what you are talking about before you get everyone upset over nothing. If you do not want to pay the price of the book, that is your choice, but please do not cast stones at others you don't even know. You should be thanking these hard working volunteers who crawled through the cemeteries, spent days reading microfilm, worked for years collecting obituaries and photographs, etc. Also, you should definitely be thanking Kathy for providing you with the wonderful website and mailing list. Why don't each of us start doing something to help the rest of us!! Remember...TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE!! Thank you. Sue Marine, President Morgan County Genealogical Society suem@hiwaay.net

I'm re-sending this note, for I don't think it made it to the list earlier. Doris >I agree wholeheartedly with all that Sherry says. And in case you're not >aware of the fact, Sherry is one of the really hard workers who has >contributed much material to publications and web sites, as well as being >willing to help with individual inquiries. > >Do you remember your high school and college research projects - and the >ever-present fear of "plagiarism"? Using someone else's work and not >giving them credit for it is the same as claiming that that work is your >own, and hold just as true for genealogical work as it did (and does) for >academic work. > >Doris A. Smith -- dormarbil@earthlink.net >-- in Texas

First CONGRATULATIONS to all the new officers taking office! Your time and efforts are very much appreciated. Be sure to check your mailing label to see if your membership dues are now due..you don't want to miss your Morgan Memories. If you are not a member...you may be missing out on your genealogy research..just a few of the articles you missed in the last issue: The Hendons of Balitimore Co MD who moved on to Morgan Co., Al - goodness all the names dates and places listed... Cloud's Creek Baptist Church and all the listings of the charter members and history of the church... The photos of the Morgan Co Scrapbook.. The History of Massy School..with not only a listing of students in 1915 but photos of the 1930's... The Copeland family info.. The Bits and Pieces listing Onslow Co NC information concerning AL families...Garrard Co KY & its churches... The AL death index 1908-1919 (the surname of B's are beginning in this issue and is to be continued) Goodness this is only the beginning...not to even mention the queries and their surnames..or the new members and their surnames. You may also go to the website to the I Am Missing What In Morgan Co to see what all has been added for your research. You can also get the information to become a member of the Morgan Co. AL Genealogical Society Inc. on this page. Remember the new URL www.genealogyshoppe.com/almorgan/index.htm Good luck in your search! Kathy

If you are needing a lookup in the Laurens Co SC Will Book 1784-1840 send the query directly to me. Good luck in your search! Kathy

>As far as The Heritage of Morgan Co. AL book... Hi all! PLEASE consider how much work, money, and time goes into collecting genealogical information (every one of us should be able to identify with this) - then add writing, proof-reading, indexing, meeting with editors, printers, etc. - before we berate the compilers or authors of these very helpful research aids. Our criticism will influence the production of future books. Would we be willing to front the thousands of dollars it takes to produce a quality book, just to have our labor given away on the net, without our permission or proper acknowledgement? Are we willing to do without these books because the authors have lost the incentive to produce them? The people who submitted stories to The Heritage of Morgan Co book knew they were sending material to be included in a publication that would be for sale. They did this to either help support the society or to insure their family history was documented for future generations. That is very different from the researchers who find their work sold on CD's and in books without their prior knowledge. The Morgan County Genealogical Society is one of the best I have seen. Their members have VOLUNTEERED (just as Webmaster Kathy has) ENDLESS hours to help us have access to information that would otherwise be difficult, if not impossible, to find. Have we done anything to help or do we just complain? If we are not volunteering our time to read microfilm, travel to libraries and archives, decipher old handwriting, copy entire cemeteries-census-land records, submit personal files and photographs, etc.- we have no room to pass judgment. I would bet my bottom dollar that none of the folks who begrudge the small amount EARNED by these dedicated researchers/organizations has ever published a book...or are even active in a genealogical society. We are just lucky there are people more dedicated than we are. Sherry Marine, CA

ARG... I did it too! :o) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tricia Hall" <tntricia@bellsouth.net> To: "Dorothy Ballenger" <dorothy@linkfast.net> Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 12:03 AM Subject: Re: [ALMORGAN] CENSUS > Okie dokie... I hafta get my 2 cents worth in. :: grin :: > > That's the name of the game... donate. Then they copyright the material and > sell it back to you. I can't say for books such as county heritage books; > however, 'donated' information can easily become owned by the organization > to whom you donate the info. I get really upset sometimes at folks that > keep donating their trees to ancestry groups that merely collect them, toss > them on CDs and then sell them for $50 and up, each. At the same time, > there are those situations where generated funds help to continue the > research and spreading of ancestory. So...................... > > Yes, there is a time and a place for the good old copyright. I have worked > myself silly for weeks at the time, doing things such as going blind, > breaking my back and dying of heat while listing entire cemetaries for the > USGenWeb. I learned very quickly to copyright the information and list it > in BEEG lettering in the file that goes up on the web. The idea isn't to > keep the average Joe/Jean Researcher from using it -- the idea is to keep > the ancestry companies from grabbing it and selling it to Joe/Jean and/or to > keep the everyday weasle from scanning it and giving it to them to sell > anyway! Sorry folks, but I sweated blood to get it, and I want credit for > my work! :: grin :: > > I don't know what set this whole thing off to begin with -- I think I missed > something along the line. However, I guess what Kathy had to say originally > is a good thing to remember. I wasn't aware that there were so many > limitations in what one can copy to use for your own family ancestry, > assuming, of course that you give credit where credit is due to the > originator, the collector, assembler, etc. in writing in your notes, or > history or whatever. I guess I thought that if it was printed that if I > wasn't using it for "profit", I could quote it and give credit. > Sheesh............ does that mean that the joke I read this morning on an > email can't be shared 'cause it was written? :: smile:: Or the tombstone > inscriptions that I worked so hard to list can't be copied and used by the > very descendants that I did all the work for? :: she shakes her head :: > > :: she hops down off her soap box, quickly dusts it off and with a swish, > swish, swish of her hands, pushes it back into the corner :: > > Tricia Roberts Hall > Greenville/Spartanburg, SC > __________________________________ > He best understands who has felt the pain. -- The Compassionate Friends > Nicole Noella 12/30/1980 - 4/17/1999 > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dorothy Ballenger" <dorothy@linkfast.net> > To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 9:42 PM > Subject: Re: [ALMORGAN] CENSUS > > > > Now I don't understand this. How can they put a copy right on > > information that was donated to them. If you did the whole book than I > > would say that they had a case. Most of the time there are people > > names in the Heritage book. Just write that person and get the > > information first hand. Who knows they may tell you opinions to go > > with it, that they didn't put in the book. That would fix their > > cookies. As far as the cemetery book is concerned, how do they know if > > we went to the cemetery and wrote this down ourselves. > > > > Now I can see a copy right on living people that is in a book. It > > would be to protect the living. I gave my family history to a lady > > that was OK for the book, but I don't want it to be on the Internet on > > a web page. > > > > dorothy@linkfast.net > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: paulahurst <paulahurst@gateway.net> > > To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 8:22 PM > > Subject: [ALMORGAN] CENSUS > > > > > > > I just want to add my two cents worth to this junk about the > > Heritage > > > Books and the Cemetery Books and the Census Records. I can't imagine > > > being so selfish as to begrudge people the use of these sources of > > > information. I think it is really tacky to refuse to allow this > > > information to be shared. I still say you cannot copywright a > > cemetery! > > > The first time they told me I couldn't copy something from the > > Heritage > > > Book, I thought they were joking! I agree that we shouldn't buy any > > of > > > these books from these selfish, greedy people. Paula Hurst > > > > > > > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > > > Remeber we were all new to genealogy and the internet at one > > time...so give encouragement and knowledge to the new ones...and in > > return we will get new ideas and knowledge from them. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > > USGenWeb Events: Conferences, Seminars, Fairs etc. > http://www.genealogy.com Be sure to have your state's events posted to the > site. > > > > >

Dorothy I meant to send the earlier letter to the list can you forward it. Thanks,Martha ----- Original Message ----- From: <MBrown1960@aol.com> To: <dorothy@linkfast.net> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 10:09 PM Subject: Re: [ALMORGAN] CENSUS > I should have told you all the info in the Morgan County Heritage Book is in > the family files and one of the volunteers told me I could copy the family > files anytime. I have not looked because I had already gone to Wallace State > and copied what I needed. So if you are in Decatur and find something in the > MCHB you need just look in the family files for it. Martha >

Now I don't understand this. How can they put a copy right on information that was donated to them. If you did the whole book than I would say that they had a case. Most of the time there are people names in the Heritage book. Just write that person and get the information first hand. Who knows they may tell you opinions to go with it, that they didn't put in the book. That would fix their cookies. As far as the cemetery book is concerned, how do they know if we went to the cemetery and wrote this down ourselves. Now I can see a copy right on living people that is in a book. It would be to protect the living. I gave my family history to a lady that was OK for the book, but I don't want it to be on the Internet on a web page. dorothy@linkfast.net ----- Original Message ----- From: paulahurst <paulahurst@gateway.net> To: <ALMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 8:22 PM Subject: [ALMORGAN] CENSUS > I just want to add my two cents worth to this junk about the Heritage > Books and the Cemetery Books and the Census Records. I can't imagine > being so selfish as to begrudge people the use of these sources of > information. I think it is really tacky to refuse to allow this > information to be shared. I still say you cannot copywright a cemetery! > The first time they told me I couldn't copy something from the Heritage > Book, I thought they were joking! I agree that we shouldn't buy any of > these books from these selfish, greedy people. Paula Hurst > > > ==== ALMORGAN Mailing List ==== > Remeber we were all new to genealogy and the internet at one time...so give encouragement and knowledge to the new ones...and in return we will get new ideas and knowledge from them. > > >

I just want to add my two cents worth to this junk about the Heritage Books and the Cemetery Books and the Census Records. I can't imagine being so selfish as to begrudge people the use of these sources of information. I think it is really tacky to refuse to allow this information to be shared. I still say you cannot copywright a cemetery! The first time they told me I couldn't copy something from the Heritage Book, I thought they were joking! I agree that we shouldn't buy any of these books from these selfish, greedy people. Paula Hurst

Hi, Alabama Researchers: I've updated my AL genealogy pages containing all counties in AL, Alabama African Americans, Alabama Native Americans, Alabama Civil War, Southern Genealogy, and some General Genealogy. http://huntsville.about.com/msubgenealogymenu.htm Jean Brandau huntsville2@home.com

The earliest newspapers that we have any record of are the Alabame Enquirer 1887-1901. These have been published in Tid-Bits Vol I. The New Decatur Advertiser 1890, 1901-1906 has been published in Tid-Bits Vol II. The New Decatur Advertiser 1907-1912 has been published in Tid-Bits Vol III. These can be purchased from the Morgan County Gen Soc. Madison Co had earlier newspapers but as far as I know no one has transcribed any of them, except for what was published in Alabama Records by Mrs Gandrud. You might be able to find some info on your ancestors from them. Dene Walls

I sure didn't mean to open a can of worms...only wanted each of you to be aware of what could possibly happen. Please do not get me wrong..I see both sides of the coin but.. The person who has the copyright on the census books will share the information with you if you pay for the book. But it is like going into Walmarts and using a tube of lipstick every day before going to work...isn't that stealing? Any way you look at it in the long run you have to pay to view this info..whether it is "renting" the microfilm from LDS...getting copies at your archives..or buying a cd or book. As far as The Heritage of Morgan Co. AL book...yes people donated the info to the society BUT who put up the money to have it published? We are not talking 100's of dollars but 1000's. And the publishers always want their money up front with a minimum order and do not care if you sell all of them or not. Now it is not the people who worked many hours putting the information together so it would be a marvelous tool that gets any money from sales. But it is the society. And I guarantee you from each book..if like most publishers..the society may have gotten $15 -$20 on each book..IF they were lucky. Now what comes from the little they would make from each sale..would be new published books..can't publish on looks<GR>..microfilm readers..purchasing microfilm...new books for the society..some societies have to pay rent for their building..utilities so we can read and keep cool or warm when we visit..computers..and keeping them maintained...genealogical cds..ink...paper..even if they do not own the building..leases still require you to maintain the building (abt all you get out from fixing is the roof)...I could go on and on but I think you get the idea it takes money just for us to have a place to gather our information from the society and have it housed. As far as lookups on the list or the website..NOT ONE society member asked or suggested that I not allow lookups from The Heritage of Morgan County AL book until they were all sold. I made that rule as I know they have a lot of money tied up in it and I do not feel it is fair to them to "take money" from their pockets since they are not a publishing company they are limited on their monies from the few books they sell. In the past couple of years I have seen societies go under and I don't think anyone would want to see Morgan Co gen soc not be available because they could not make the bills. Even though we may not agree with all the copyright laws..they are there to protect those that spend hours and money to gather the information to publish their books. Kathy