>From The Piggott Times, dated Thursday, July 18, 1974 Banks Family Reunion The children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Banks of Greenway gathered at the Rector Park for a family reunion on July 7. Those attending were Mr. and Mrs. Ernest GOODWIN, daughter Peggy and son, Tom RODERY all of Crockett; Mr. and Mrs. Howard BEEL of Bourbon, Mo., ; Mr. and Mrs Earl POYNER, Sherri and Carla WYATT of Potaskala, Ohio; STC and Mrs. Charles REAGAN and children, Larry, Chuck, Beth and Alan of Fort Knox, KY: SSG and Mrs. Larry RODERY and children Larry and Laurie of Ft. Riley, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Jerry HUBBLE and son Steve of St. Charles, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. Oliver HAGY and sons Chuck, Ricky and Dewayne of St. Louis, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. Gail ANDERSON and children of St. Clair., Mo., ; Mr. and Mrs. Les BELL and children of Eureka, Mo.,; Mr. and Mrs. A.H. BANKS of McDougal, Ar., and Mr. Dennis BANKS and daughter of Kennett., MO. (Does it help when I capitalize the surnames? Someone let me know. Thanks)

>From the Piggott Times, dated Thursday, July 18, 1974: Burkhead Reunion Mrs. Nora Parker of Piggot was hostess Sunday to the Burkhead reunion. All six of the Burkhead family were present. Attending were Mrs. Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Burkhead of Neeleyville, Mrs. Lydia Simmons of Boydsville, Mrs. Etta Puckett of McDougal, Mr. and Mrs. william Patterson of Marion, IL., Mrs. Myrtle Runyon of Pollard, Mrs. Willard Fike of Clinton, TN, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Holifield of Seary, Patricia Holifield of Little Rock, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Holifield, Michelle, Lisa and Natalie of Poplar Bluff, MO., Loretta Murdough of Searcy, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hayes of Rector, Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Johnny of Qulin, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Harshaw of Cape Girardeau, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Harshaw of Cape Girardeau, Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Dumey of Little Rock, Mr. and Mrs. Mearl Smith and Douglas of Fagus, Matt and Todd Mallard of Lafayette, IN., Mr. and Mrs. Dervis Knight of Boydsville, Johnny Knight of West Memphis, Rev. and Mrs. Edwin Runyon and Bob of Poplar Bluff, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Runyon, Shelley and Kelley of Pollard, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hillyer and June of Piggott, Mr. and Mrs. Junior Scheffler, Philip and John of Piggott, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Runyon and David of Swanwick, IL., and helen Patterson of Neeleyville. There were three visitors after lunch, Lorelle and Ella Whiteside and Frank Noblin. The group enjoyed a wonderful fellowship. In the afternoon they had prayer and a song followed by a short talk by Rev. Edwin Runyon. It was voted to make the reunion an annual affair. The meeting next year will be in the Piggott part on the last Sunday in May.

My gg-grandfather Rueben Benton FREEMAN and his wife Nancy SWINEBROAD were born in TN. They married 30 Mar 1858. They left TN soon after their marriage and settled in Clay Co., AR. They lived here until Rueben's death on 3 Dec 1876. Nancy and her 8 children went back to TN and then moved to Center, Shelby Co., TX where her brother, Andrew Jackson SWINEBROAD had moved his family. I believe that there were other FREEMAN relatives who left TN for AR. If anyone has information about this family, please contact me. Many Thanks, Stacy King king@cajunnet.com

Ooops! Date on this should be Sept. 12, 1908 I realized it was wrong just after I hit the send button. #:-\ -------------------------------------------- Sept. 12, 1898 - Clay Co. Courier Fell From Tree; Broke Neck and Arm. John Adams, a timber man of the Ferguson & Wheeler Land, Lumber and Handle Co., camped among other timber men on a tract of land a few miles northeast of here on Black river, while out squirrel hunting near the camp last Sunday afternoon, shot a squirrel which lodged in a small tree, and in attempting to climb to the game and dislodge it, Adams fell and broke his neck and arm, dying almost instantly. Clarence Mayhan, an 11-year-old boy who accompanied the unlucky man on his last hunt, said when he fell from the tree and struck the ground, the unfortunate man gasped three or four times and never uttered a word, death ensuing quickly. His remains were interred near the timber camp Monday.

Sept. 12, 1898 - Clay Co. Courier Fell From Tree; Broke Neck and Arm. John Adams, a timber man of the Ferguson & Wheeler Land, Lumber and Handle Co., camped among other timber men on a tract of land a few miles northeast of here on Black river, while out squirrel hunting near the camp last Sunday afternoon, shot a squirrel which lodged in a small tree, and in attempting to climb to the game and dislodge it, Adams fell and broke his neck and arm, dying almost instantly. Clarence Mayhan, an 11-year-old boy who accompanied the unlucky man on his last hunt, said when he fell from the tree and struck the ground, the unfortunate man gasped three or four times and never uttered a word, death ensuing quickly. His remains were interred near the timber camp Monday.

Following is the first of many articles and obits that I hope to be able to post to the newsletter. I have several old Clay County (mainly Piggott area) articles that I will try to submit. If anything I post helps anyone, please drop me an email and let me know. For I may have more info that would be of use. Happy Researching!! (By the way, the following obit is my grandmother) Exie Holifield, 81, died Tuesday, March 4, 1997, at Piggott Community Hospital. She was born June 7, 1915, the daughter of the late Thomas and Ollie Brown Nelson. She married William N. "Bill" Holifield on Sept. 27, 1942. They had two daughters. She was preceded in death by her husband on Feb. 22, 1992. She was also preced in death by a grandson, Billy Qualls, in October, 1990. She was a lifelong resident of Clay County and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Piggott. She was a beautician and operated her own shop until her retirement. She is survived by two daughters, Regina Williams of Waverly, TN., and Janice Qualls of Piggott: one brother, T.J. Nelson of Piggott; two granddaughters, Melissa Haley of Nimmons and Jessica Crosser of McKenzie, TN; two great-granddaughters, Michelle Haley of Nimmons and Alexandria Crosser of McKenzie, TN; and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services were at 2pm, Thursday, March 6, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Thomas Sullinger and Rev. J. Anthony Holifield officiating. Burial was in Piggott Cemetery with Piggott Mortuary in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers were Jim Nelson, Jerry Nelson, Max Nelson, Bill Baker and Mark Book.

Re: Post queries please Hi, I will be happy to post my brick wall.Hope I can get any scrap of info on my ancestors from Clay Co.,Arkansas.Moved to California [from Phillips Co. 25 years ago],miss Arkansas alot. Looking fo any info on Richard Morgan Hopper married to Mandy Moore,children Ed,Charlie,Jack,Donie(F)&Robert Carson Hopper.I don't have any info on where Richard Morgan Hopper & family lived. Robert Carson Hopper b.12/26/1881 d.11/17/1938 married to Minttie Elizabeth Huckabay b.10/3/1881 d.9/20/1960 -- 3 of their 6 children born in Rector(Clay co.Ark.)Ira Alvin 1903,Jesse Martin 3/12/1908,Alfred Royal3/12/1913--moved to Connel's Point(Monroe Co.),Arkansas in 1913 --William Robert1917,Ruby Helen1919&Clifford Leon1921. Minttie Elizabeth Huckabay,father Alfred Huckabay b.6/July1857 Greene Co. Ar info would be nice too. . Any Leads At All Will Be Greatly Appreciated , . Ken Hopper e-mail KnHopp @aol.com

Adam BARBRE died in Payne Twp. Clay co Ark. 28 June 1914. Grandson Lemuel DOZIER signed the death certificate. Adam was born 1826 White Co. Illinois. Adam moved to Arkansas after 1910. I cannot find any probate, obit, land etc records on him. Adam had many children & grandchildren in Poinsett co Ark. He is in Nimmons Cemetery I guess but without a stone I guess. Kathleen

Donald G. Hooper wrote: <dhooper@ameritech.net> > > My grandfather Ruben Harrison Grayson married Tena E. Hildebrand, who was born > in 1886 in Douglas County MO. I have tried to trace the Hildebrand lineage, > but the 1890 Census for MO was destroyed in a fire. I hope to find some way > of finding Henry Hildebrand (married Mary Ann Browning) sometime in the early > 1880. I have been told to check Soundex, but I don't know what that is, or > how to obtain it. I have responded to an EMail which said for $25 they might > be able to assist. I don't know if it is worth the cost, but has anyone had > experience with this time of paid research? I have some Soundex info at http://www.cswnet.com/~bbarnes/Soundex.htm Soundex was a big help to me as I had no idea where my Icenogle line lived when I started my search. I knew the names but not the location. Soundex is a way to find names that sound the same but are spelled differently. It helps if your ancestors have had their name spelled wrong in the census, which happens a lot. Icenogle Isnogle and Icenagle, for instance. There's several ways to get the microfilm: You can rent the microfilm from AGLL or the National Archives and read it at your local library. You get to keep it a full month. You can check your local Family History Center. Sometimes your library can get films for you on interlibrary loan. Depends on your library. If you order the film yourself, the Soundex code for Hildebrand is H431, The 1880 Missouri Soundex film you would need is series T758 and roll # 45. If you choose to have someone do the research for you, be very careful. I'm sure there's reputable professional researchers out there, but as with anything else, you have to be cautious. Has anyone had experience with a professional Genealogist? If so, let us know. Cathy

Annie Colman and John Icenogle lived in Reyno, Randolph Co., AR. at the time they married in Corning, AR., in 1895. They lived in Clay Co., AR., Nelson Twp. in 1900 and 1910, per census. Census of 1900 shows Annie's as 1879 in MO but the month is left blank. John's birth date is shown as Aug. 1872 in IL, per 1900 census. John's family was from Indiana & Illinois. I have traced John's line back to MD, 1790. Annie died about 1918 according to family stories either from typhoid or the Spanish influenza. She was reported to be American Indian. John was living in Ripley Co., MO. in 1920, widowed. I have been told that Annie had family in Ripley Co., MO., but have not located any. Children of John Icenogle and Annie (Colman) Icenogle Ella Tempe Icenogle 1897 - 1976 Zay Icenogle Abt. 1900 - Leroy Icenogle Abt. 1903 - Margaret Icenogle Abt. 1906 - Otis Icenogle Abt. 1908 - Eunice Buck Icenogle 1911 - 1972 Horace Greeley Icenogle Abt. 1914 - Abt. 1951 Annie is my brick wall. Am checking Tenn. & Miss. now for her. Did not find her in MO. or AR. 1880 Soundex. Found a few that might be her but nothing has panned out so far. Am told she had a cousin who was called Ab Colman and Ab's mother was named Grace... Cathy bbarnes@cswnet.com

We have 66 members on this list. A new subscriber asked me how many people were here because she hasn't heard much from us. Lets make ourselves known. I'd like to invite all of you to post a query. Tell us about your most difficult Clay County research. Who's your brick wall? I know we all have one. Our messages are archived now, so these messages won't be posted once and gone forever. Check the archives at: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl For name of list, ours is ARCLAY. Cathy Barnes Listowner

Grayson, James T., b 17 Nov 1858 in Westport, IN to Hiram T. Grayson and Elizabeth C. (Myers) Grayson. Died 20 June 1925 and preceded in death by his wife Rachel Z.A. (Cline) Grayson who died 5 Feb 1922. Both are buried in Corning Cemetary. Grayson, Ruben Harrison, b 15 October 1888 in Westport, IN to James T. and Rachel Z.A. Grayson. Died 5 July 1968 and was preceded in death by his wife Tena E. (Hildebrand) Grayson who died 26 Apr 1966. Both are buried in Williams Cemetary, Clay County, AR. Hooper, Jimmie Lamar, b 12 Apr 1932 to Glen C. Hooper and Carrie Anne (Grayson) Hooper. Died 12 May 1932 and is buried in Corning Cemetary. Submitted by: D. G. Hooper, EMail dhooper@ameritech.net

Surnames added to the Clay Co. Obit index today... Hayes Lester Rogers Moore ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ar/clay/obits/obittwo.txt

Zay Icenogle came to the Current River Twp. of Randolph Co. Ark., sometime before 1890. I believe Zay was a nickname for Isaac. Believe Zay was a brother of my grandfather, John R. Icenogle. John R. Icenogle and Annie Colman were living in Reyno, Randolph Co., AR. at the time they married in 1895. Have been able to trace the Icenogle line but am at a complete loss for Annie (Colman) Icenogle. I don't know who her parents or siblings were. Have not been able to find her in any cemetery listings, so far. She died between 1910 and 1920. Am told it was 1918 in the Spanish Flu pandemic when she died. Cathy

Surnames added today: McKinney Perren Mode Leonard Hancock Wooldridge Asher Brashers http://www.cswnet.com/~bbarnes/ClayObit.htm

Surnames added to the Clay Co., AR obit index today Carey Stanley Cole Warbritton Gerrish Clark Pringle http://www.cswnet.com/~bbarnes/ClayObit.htm

Great Aunt Myrtle Henson died Nov 21,1968.According to death certificate she was buried in Nimmons Arkansas. Arrangements were arranged by Howard Funeral Service of Leachville. Myrtle's daughter says that Myrtle wanted to be buried here due to the fact that she had family buried there. Says that cemetery was in a large field. Suspect that Greatgrandparents, SIMON & ALMIRA REA are buried here. Any help greatly appreciated. Randy Ray Ozark,Alabama

Kitchen, Kitchens, Kirkland, Morrison added to the surname page today http://www.cswnet.com/~bbarnes/clay_su.html

Surnames BOGGS, COLBURN, DORTCH, ESTEP, HORTON, PRESLEY, TARPLEY have been added to the Clay Co. Query page http://www.cswnet.com/~bbarnes/clay_queries.html

Check the Clay County Reference page. http://www.cswnet.com/~bbarnes/clay_reference.html Barbara McKeel has been collecting and indexing obits from the Clay County Democrat newspaper in Rector. She's offered to do lookups. Go see what she has available.