There was an article in the Readers Digest sometimes in the 50s stating that Robert Moore was the highest paid sheriff in the world. Because he gat a percentage of all personal taxes collected in Desha County. C>L. Jones

Bill, To show how dumb I can be!!.......I thought all this time that Halley was in Chicot Co., and Dermott was in Desha Co.!!! The Halley family was in Bradley County by the 1850 census, and migrated to Halley between 1870-1880. Do you have any idea how many people are on this list, or is it just me, you, and JoAnn????? Jann ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Hi Folks: I was just wondering how many of you can remember back when Mrs. C.C. Stuart was the first grade teacher there in Watson. She was the mother of three students, two girls and a boy, who attended school in Watson. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Hi folks: Did you know that MARGARET IRBY of the Class of '48 married Leslie Gill and is now the wife of the Watson mayor? Hang around Ol' Bill Covey long enough and you will find out something about Watson because Watson Is Where It Wuz. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Hi Folks: Does anyone remember Mr. W. M. Timmerman? He was a school teacher in Watson in the late forties. I think he was probably the principal. I think he was anyway. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Jo-Ann: My memory has gone. I have, however, heard of the 43rd Canal and it is in my mind as if it were yesterday. Please don't take this information and try to borrow money on it down at the local bank but I think it is the canal that extends only God knows how far and passes through on the Dumas side of Red Fork Bayou and borders on what used to be Cox land. I think Son (Earl) Cox still farms the land. That would be on Highway 1 if I am not mistaken. It is about a mile or so toward Watson from Bryant's Store which is still there and is being run by Earnestine Spears Bryant. I hugged that lady's neck a few months ago as she used to be a classmate. I realize this isn't much help but it is all I can offer. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Hi Folks: Did any of you know that Clara Bell Sewell was a good enough country singer to make it big time? She never did make it big but she was good enough. I thought so anyway. Shoot, I don't think my judgment was bent in any way just because she was a pretty as a rose petal with dew on it. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Ruth: I don't have the faintest idea. I should have studied more when I was a youth growing up in Desha County but I didn't. At any rate, the country records were transferred to somewhere in Texas during the Civil War in order to preserve them. At least that is the information I have. It seems that they were either lost, destroyed or something while in Texas and never found themselves restored to a Desha County location regardless of where the county seat was. I wish I could be of help. I suspect, however, that once this type of discussion starts on the Desha List, other people will join in and we will be given much food for thought. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html ----- Original Message ----- From: Ruth Donham <rdonham@livingston.net> To: Billy Covey <BILLCOVEY@worldnet.att.net> Sent: Monday, January 01, 1990 12:23 AM Subject: Re: Watson Should Be The County Seat > Bill, do you have any information on Napolean and what happened to the > records of the court house. I do not think it just fell in so fast that > they could not retrieve some of the records. My family was in the area > at that time and was suppose to have lost their home. Are any of the > tombstones showing in the old cemetery since the river has changed its > course?????? Ruth > > Billy Covey wrote: > > > Hi List: > > > > Did you know that Napoleon, the first county seat of Desha County, > > messed around and fell itself in the river? After that Watson was > > made the county seat and was doing a pretty good job of it before > > those rascals over in Arkansas City messed around and stole it from > > us. Shoot, everybody knows it ought to be over in Watson it being a > > thriving metropolis and all. > > > > Bill Covey > > Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer > > Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz > > http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html > > > > ============================== > > Free Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. > > RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. > > http://cgi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/acctform.cgi >

Hi List: Did you know that Napoleon, the first county seat of Desha County, messed around and fell itself in the river? After that Watson was made the county seat and was doing a pretty good job of it before those rascals over in Arkansas City messed around and stole it from us. Shoot, everybody knows it ought to be over in Watson it being a thriving metropolis and all. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Hi List: Just a little story that you may find interesting. I was living and working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where I came upon an article in USA Today or some such and it told the story of "The Oldest Serving Marshall In The United States". The article talked about none other than one Clio Moore, the Marshall of Watson. This was a few years ago, probably six or seven or maybe more, but I thought it was rather interesting when I read it. Mr. Moore was very ill and hospitalized in Dumas when I last saw his wife in Rock Meador's Drug Store where I was having a cup of coffee a very few months ago. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Hi Folks: I am listing the towns and communities in Desha County that I know of. Before casting stones, or throwing rocks as we would say in Watson, at me, remember that I am not the smartest one on the list. I would barely qualify for that if I were alone on it. Please send the name and location of towns and communities that I have omitted and I will add them to the list. Arkansas City: Eastern part of the county near the Mississippi River Back Gate: Between Dumas and Watson. The settlement near Pendleton Bridge Dumas: Northwest part of Desha County Halley: Extreme south-central part of the county Kelso: South of Watson McGhee: South of Dumas Mitchellville: Just north of Dumas Pendleton: Now Pendleton Bridge but was Pendleton Ferry for many years Pickens: Just south of Dumas Reed: Just east of Tillar which is in Drew County Rohwer: South of Kelso Watson: Due east of Dumas Yancopin: Near Watson on the Arkansas River Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Arkansas Gazette May 7, 1916: McGehee - Tom Huddleston, city marshal of Watson was shot and probably fatally wounded this afternoon during a scuffle with Morris Wolchansky. The bullet entered his throat and came out the back of his neck. He was brought here for treatment. There are two versions of the shooting. One is that the gun was discharged while it was held by Huddleston. The other is that Wolchansky wrested the revolver from Huddleston and shot him. Mayor Ed Vaughn of Watson, who accompanied Huddleston here, says the city marshal was trying to collect a special tax from Wolchansky, who protested, and the officer pulled his gun. Wolechansky, the mayor says, wrested it from him and shot him. The mayor says Wolchansky left Watson after the shooting and has not been arrested. The other version of the story, which comes from Watson, is that Wolechansky, who is a deputy sheriff, was trying to arrest Huddleston for assault and batter on a warrant sworn out by Harry Garfinkle, who is said to have been roughly handled when Huddleston arrested him recently for failing to pay a special city tax. According to this version, Huddleston refused to submit to arrest and drew his gun. Wolechansky attempted to wrest it from him and in the scuffle it was discharged while held by Huddleston. Huddleston has been marshal of Watson only a month. He is a brother of Ed Huddleston, city marshal here. The attending physician says he cannot recover. McGehee - Alfred Stroud of Watson, aged about 55 years, died at his home Saturday May 6. He is survived by one son, Joe, of Watson; two daughters, Mrs. R.A. Preston of Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. George Brown of Leslie, Ark; one brother, Hadley Stroud of Watson, and one sister, Mrs. Miller of Oakland, Cal. McGehee - The funeral of Tom Huddleston, who was killed at Watson Saturday by Morris Wolchansky, was held here today. Burial was in the local cemetery. The cortege was the longest ever seen in this section. There were many costly floral tributes. The largest was from the local Masonic chapter, of which he was a member. The Masons conducted the services and practically every member attended. (my note: Tom and Ed Huddleston were brothers to my gg-grandmother, Elizabeth Huddleston Williams. They were originally from Florence in Drew Co., Ark) Jann ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

>Hey you two........do I need to start posting info for Desha County?? Who >sponsors this list? I would think this would be a busy county, but guess >not!! Dear Jann and Others, PLEASE?! I would love to have *any* Desha Co. information. Right now, I'm relying on a few tidbits from my uncle in California, sporadic queries (thank you all!), and making lots of MCI 5 cent Sunday telephone calls. :-) Speaking of Uncle Pete Cleaver, he mentioned a few things during our conversation today that might ring a bell for others with Desha connections: Billie Jean McKnight and Martha (Conrad) Cleaver were good friends back in the late 40s; Billie Jean's aunt may have been the wife of Josh Dougherty (sp?); Martha Conrad dated a Winfred Hawkins before marrying Pete Cleaver in 1950; there was a store owned by Mr. Cosby, he thought, across from the Assembly of God near the Forty-third Canal near Kelso; Mr. Cosby's son married a Virginia; Hazel Conrad was good friends with Cloa Jean Treat and June Clayton in the late 1930's / early 40's during their elementary days in Desha Co.; he remembered a store near Teeter's place but the name escaped him; Uncle Pete says that is where my family usually went for a little shopping; other families he remembered were Newton, Standridge, and Wason (sp?) Well...anything familiar to someone out there? I was neither born nor raised in the area; the closest I've ever been was to visit an Aunt (Ferndell Price) who lived east of Hwy. 65, just off of 138, going to Kelso. I believe the Scott Cemetery is out that way; my grandfather is supposedly buried there. Thanks, Jo-Ann Stephens Bahai@netusa1.net

Bill, Since you are a native of Desha Co.........would you mind posting to the list all the towns in the county?? I'll look around at the archives in Little Rock tomorrow and try to find some things of interest. I know some of the towns, but not all of them. Jann ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Hey you two........do I need to start posting info for Desha County?? Who sponsors this list? I would think this would be a busy county, but guess not!! Jann Woodard >From: "Billy Covey" <BILLCOVEY@worldnet.att.net> >To: ARDESHA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: I move that we accept your nomination... >Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 11:31:34 -0600 > >Jo-Ann: > >As far as I know I am not the one who is adopting the list. I would >like to see it become active and will do anything it takes to get it >that way. > >Bill Covey >Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer >Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz >http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html > > > >============================== >Free Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. >RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. >http://cgi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/acctform.cgi > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Jo-Ann: As far as I know I am not the one who is adopting the list. I would like to see it become active and will do anything it takes to get it that way. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

"I have a singer sewing machine that went through the 1927 flood while they lived there." JONESCLJSR@aol.com - ------------------------------------------------ The family bible (Lee Family) was lost in the flood of 1927. My aunts all said there was much history written in those pages but they never elaborated on how far back it went. Another Lee bible survived but it is being so very well taken care of that I have yet to see it. :-) Hmmm....moderation in all things, huh? Does anyone have access to any Desha Co. cemetery lists? I have lots of family buried at Scott Cemetery, including my grandfather, William Harvey Conrad. Jo-Ann Stephens Bahai@netusa1.net

another rootchaser's surnames from: Date: 12/4/99 1:55:30 PM Central Standard Time From: jloldham@vvm.com (Jenny) Also looking for Stewart, Reed, and Forrester in Ark. Jenny

am passing along the following three messages received from various list members, naming their 'lost' ancestors....hope anyone with ANY info will jump right in and help supply data to our fellow researchers ~ Amy b Flowers, aka, kessarose@aol.com ---- SURNAMES included: clinton,richards,willis,collins, Chandler , Hall, Melton, Browning(s), West, Parker. ------ -------- Date: 12/4/99 1:28:45 PM Central Standard Time From: JClin1047 johnie clinton br dumas ar 12 23 36 surnames clinton,richards,willis,collins ------ Date: 12/4/99 1:54:40 PM Central Standard Time From: jloldham@vvm.com (Jenny) I need info on Elizabeth Chandler b. abt 1821 Ky. Married 1842 Ark. Father may gghave been a Joel or Joshia? Bro. Samuel G. Chandler. Also looking for John P. (orter?) (atton?) Hall b. abt. 1813 SC m.1842 Elizabeth Sevier Co. Ark. Mary Ann "Molly" Melton b.1848 Ark. Who were her parents. Related to Brownings. Found 2 marriages in Desha or Drew Co. Any info would be appreciated. Jenny Oldham jloldham@vvm.com -------- Date: 12/4/99 7:31:02 PM Central Standard Time From: parker6@globalriver.com (Betty Eubanks) I've wrote to mr covy,i lived in dumas and gould:would like to hear about any Wests and any Parkers,I need help with these names Thanks BETTY PARKER EUBANKS parker6@globalriver.com

I'm still here and still looking for information on Hiram Abif Jones, Herring family and Crick families. All of these died in Drew Co,, but some of them probably lived in Desha Co. at some time. C.L. Jones John Austin Jones (my father) once lived at Halley. I have a singer sewing machine that went through the 1927 flood while they lived there.