OK Desha County let's wake our goodselves up. Danged if we don't need to get something going here. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

There are several items in the older newspapers of the region which may be of interest to family history researchers, mostly because of the names included. Here's one: >From the ARKANSAS CITY JOURNAL, Wed., March 4, 1885 WATSON WAVELETS. Warrant Against Jamison for Getting Money Under False Pretenses. Appropriating and Repairing Public Buildings--Other Interests. Correspondence of THE JOURNAL. WATSON, ARK., February 27, 1885. Editor JOURNAL: After a storm and bustle in legal matters, a serene calm has settled on the surface of our surroundings. While all is "quiet on the Potomac," the agents and pillars of the Penal Code are not idle in the discharge of their duties, but zealously protect the goddess of the law against all intrusion and insult. A warrant was sworn out before J. B. Hester, Esq., Justice of the Peace for Red Fork township, against Dr. Jamison, of Ecclesiastical farm in this section for "getting money under false pretenses," a charge rather hard to sustain. Having taken a change of venue to L. W. Watson, Esq., his case will be ventilated in the morning at 10 o'clock. Not knowing the true status of the cause now pending, we refrain from any unkind comment. If he be guilty, our statute prescribes the redress; if he be innocent, let him be restored to his social and personal liberty, and let him go hence where all stand alike under the "vine and fig tree" of equal rights. Hon. X. J. Pindall and G. W. Joslyn, Esq., are billed for the defendant and Col. Moore for the State and possibly these gentlemen can and will furnish an interesting entertainment. Some commotion is also being waged, and carried on among our farming public, some are finding homes for l885, others are surrounding their stock to the behests of recorded liens and others still have in a measure recovered from the shock of foreclosure. "By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou ask bread" is a divine mandate of the old world and possibly the mortgage system was not a part of the record. Yet modern consumers are willing to bargain and convey their very souls to conform to a custom which if long adhered to in any country will at last demand the "pound of flesh." Will not experience teach us the errors of such a cause? Will not judgment and sense advise a different policy? And will not the bitter memories of the past force us to discard a system which will bring in its train inevitable ruin? Labor and capital are mutual agencies in the order of supply and demand and neither factor can accomplish much alone, but combine the two and you have the elements of material progress. This country must make bread and meat for local consumption. Keep out of debt, live cheaply for a few years till plenty shall fill our coffers and the wail of the pauper of the past. Our friends of Chester township are trying hard to leave us and return to Arkansas county. While we have our regrets in losing so many good and useful citizens from the realm of Desha county, yet we do not blame them and only hope they will contribute to the advancement of the county of their adoption. Hon. X. J. Pindall, Col. Moore and J. B. Brown, Esq., were appointed as commissioners of the Honorable Circuit Court of this district to confer with Hon. W. B. Peterson, County Judge and secure an order and appropriation from said County Court looking towards the permanent repairs of the public buildings in said Watson District. The gentlemen appointed by the court are the right men in the right place, and in due season we shall hear from them. Our court-house is a mockery and reflects but little credit upon the management or liberality of those in power. We shall expect this paper to aid one cause, by a few well charged "fabers," and urge the speedy fulfilment of an end so unanimously desired. But THE JOURNAL is ever progressive, always in the lead, and any reminder from us would be useless and absurd. Then let us all endorse THE JOURNAL as a herald of truth and progress, encourage its gallant chief by kindly words and deeds and grand results will crown our efforts in the near future. Very Respectfully, GROVER

Hi Folks: I am now busily getting ready for the trip down the Arkansas River from Fort Smith to the Mississippi. It is 300 mile down and it will probably be close to that on the way back. Me'n Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer ain't all that good at 'rithmetic so the mileage back is just a guess. I was raised and went to school in Watson so this, in a way, will be a return home. Wish me luck. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Does anyone have any information on the following people who were in the Watson/Dumas area of Desha County as late as 1954? Noah Grady Thelma Grady Betty Sue Grady Genieva Grady Bobby Jean Grady Cyrus Grady R. B. Grady J. D. Grady Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Is there anyone on the list that has access to Desha County records for look-up? Thank you. Laura

We would like to invite you to attend the Eureka Springs, AR. Historical Museum Genealogy Seminar Nov. 5 - 6. Vendors will be open to the public on Sat. Nov 6. Please make reservations early as seating is limited. For more information please visit: http://member.aol.com/genseminar/index.htm Kathy

C. L. Jones wrote: > I saw the article from the Ark. City Journal. Does anyone have any > information on the J. H. Jones who was listed as Justice of the Peace, > Red Fork Township. Also can anyone tell me where Red Fork Township is > or was. > C.L. Jones Pineville, La. (Continuation of previous reply) In the DESHA COUNTY ARKANSAS CEMETERY RECORDS, by Mrs. Joseph Hilliard Stroud, there is listed in the "Jones Cemetery - Watson" the following: Joseph R. Jones (Feb 27, 1837 - Mar 13, 1907) Veteran of Civil War in Army of Confederate States. Mary Margaret Brown (Apr 16, 1847 - Nov. 25, 1905), married in 1869 to Joseph R. Jones There are 13 other graves listed in this private cemetery. Ten of them are named Jones or are Jones spouses. Two of the other three graves are for persons names STROUD, and the other one is for an Ira V. KENDRICK. If it will help, I can send you the information on these other 13 graves. Just let me know. Louis Reitzammer at Jackson, Tennessee < reitzamm@usit.net >

----- Original Message ----- From: Jerry E Dill <jed@rootsquest.com> To: List and Website Owners <listowners@rootsquest.com> Sent: Friday, October 08, 1999 12:37 PM Subject: LISTOWNERS: Important - Glitch may have lost mail! > Good morning, > > We are very sorry to have to report we had a major glitch in our mail > systems yesterday evening. The problem apparently existed for at least two > hours, before we discovered it and it took another two hours to fully > recover. The glitch was really not in the system, but was a major memory > failure in the system operator. We tried to fire him, on the spot, but he > just won't leave. We are working on upgrading his memory. > > The worst part of this report is, apparently any mail sent to our mail > system during that period is still floating in cyberspace, never to be > recovered. The system was accepting no mail, but apparently was also not > even sending it back as bounced mail. We are truly sorry for the > inconvenience this error has caused. > > The only suggestion we can make is for anyone who sent mail to any mailing > list on our server or to any personal mail box on our server, please send it > again. By our best calculations, the problem existed between the hours of > 6:30 PM and 11:00 PM MDT on October 7, 1999. > > We further suggest you forward this message, or something similar, to the > members of your individual mailing lists. We have obtained a signed > affidavit from the system operator that he will not put us through this > problem ever again.<GO> > > Please accept our apologies. We appreciate your patience and understanding. > *Jerry > > Jerry E. Dill - Network Administrator > RootsQuest.Com http://www.rootsquest.com/ > USRoots.Com http://www.usroots.com/ > USGenNet.Org http://www.usgennet.org/ > USGenWeb.cc http://www.usgenweb.cc > > jed@rootsquest.com > ICQ UIN 3711901 > > 811 Terry Drive > Emmett, ID 83617-3170 > Phn: 208-365-5328 > FAX: 208-365-1270 > > Dill Family Reunion - World's Biggest Pickle > http://www.Dill-Family-Reunion.Org/ > > IDGenWeb Archives > http://www.rootsquest.com/~idaho/archives/idfiles.html > > >

Does anyone remember Buddy Landreth? He went to school right there in Watson. I think he was a classmate of Ol' Paull Hunthrop. 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 suppose you are talking about the Buddy Landreth who attended college in Monticello and later became a Arkansas State Trooper. I knew him quite well in 1955, when I attended college there. C. L. Jones Pineville, La.

Hi List: Does anyone remember this nice lady. He married Dub Gill and then became a widow very early in life. She married again and is now living in Georgia or Alabama I think. I sat in many classes with her. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Does anyone remember the Tollison twins, Glenn and Lynn? They went to school right there in Watson and they did it in the same class with me. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

C. L. Jones wrote: > > I saw the article from the Ark. City Journal. Does anyone have any > information on the J. H. Jones who was listed as Justice of the Peace, Red > Fork Township. Also can anyone tell me where Red Fork Township is or was. > C.L. Jones Pineville, La. > Red Fork Township is located in the north-central part of the county, just south of the Arkansas River. Watson is at its geographical center, and is where a J.P. probably lived. You might scan the 1880 U.S.Census microfilm for Desha County, Watson area, for information about J. H. Jones and his family. You can view the microfilm at any Latter Day Saints' Family History Center, but they may have to order it for you. Louis Reitzammer at Jackson, Tennessee, Coordinator for Desha County ARGenWeb site

I went to school with this couple, I finished in 1952. When I left Watson, Desha County they were not married. I understand that they were later married and that Bud, that would be William, died some years ago. Does anyone know anything about these folks. 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 saw the article from the Ark. City Journal. Does anyone have any information on the J. H. Jones who was listed as Justice of the Peace, Red Fork Township. Also can anyone tell me where Red Fork Township is or was. C.L. Jones Pineville, La.

There are several items in the older newspapers of the region which may be of interest to family history researchers, mostly because of the names included. Here's one: >From the ARKANSAS CITY JOURNAL, Sat., Dec. 23, 1882 "To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Arkansas, Greeting: "Your petitioners, citizens and residents of Desha County, most respectfully ask the passage, by the General Assembly of the State, of a bill granting and donating to the Levee Boards, of Desha County, all the swamp and overflowed lands, lying and being in Desha County, that belong to the State, to be used by said Levee Board, in building, repairing and keeping in repair, the levees to protect the said county from the overflows from the rivers that run through and lie adjacent to said county. Said lands to be used, in and for, the respective levee districts, now formed or that may herefter be formed in the respective districts where said lands lie, and not otherwise. "The reasonableness of this request, because said lands were donated to the State of Arkansas by Act of Congress, September 28th, 1850, for levee purposes only; that said lands are now valueless, overflow to great depths; unfit for settlement; not on the tax books; affording no revenue to the State. Whereas, by this grant or donation asked by your petitioners, they may be able to use them in assisting to protect the said county from overflow and ruin; place the same on the tax books; furnish an additional revenue to the State; and add additional settlements of a thrifty and valuable population in this hitherto desert and waste. And they will ever pray, &c. "Signed, X. J. Pindall, Judge 11th Judicial District, J. P. Jones, Clerk Desha County, B. F. Merritt, Judge County and Probate Court, W. B. Nelms, Justice of the Peace, Jefferson Township, John R. Leach, Justice of the Peace, Silver Lake Township, W. B. Cook, Justice of the Peace, Jefferson Township, B. F. Singleton, Justice of the Peace, Bowie Township, Chas. Vickers, Justice of the Peace, Silver Lake Township, J. M. Whitehill, Director, Levee Board, Isaac Bankston, Sheriff of Desha County, J. S. Ross, Deputy Sheriff of Desha County, D. O. Bowles, Deputy Sheriff of Desha County, J. B. Stovall, Justice of the Peace, Randolph Township, J. H. Jones, Justice of the Peace, Red Fork Township, Jno. S. Surratt, Justice of the Peace, Richmond Township, Glascoe Williams, Justice of the Peace, Silver Lake Township, ?. G. Sappington, President Levee Board, G. S. Dickinson, Director Levee Board, J. W. Robb, Mayor Arkansas City, J. W. Dickinson, James Murphy, Geo. W. Miller, Leland Leatherman, J. C. Crenshaw, C. B. Blackman, S. H. Dunaway, J. M. Williamson, John Pryor, J. W. Dickinson, Jr., L. A. Pindall, Ned Hill, C. P. Smith, A. Holmes, M. B. Simms, Ed C. Williams, L. ?. Watson, J. E. Robey, Isaac Adair, Mark Wilson, Oliver Bond, R. E. Doran, C. P. Bailey, J. W. Bailey, S. M. Dorch, and many others." Louis Reitzammer, Desha County ARGenWeb Coordinator http://www.public.usit.net/reitzamm/

CHANCE Searching for parents of Daniel CHANCE who first paid personal property tax in Desha Co in 1843. Lived in area that became Drew Co in 1846. 1850 Drew Co census said he was born in LA, age 28, with female Nancy R, age 20, James A, age 1, and Vincent Chance, age 18. We don't know what relation Vincent was to Daniel, if any. Vincent married Mary Jane "Pop" Gammill on 18 Sep 1853. First real property purchase we found for Daniel CHANCE was in 1857, then Drew Co. Where did he come from? Grave marker says he was born 17 Mar 1821, died 11 Jul 1900. Buried at Holly Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, now Lincoln Co. He helped found that church in 1873. Wife in 1850 was Nancy, searching for her last name. Their children were James A, Emily Ozelar who married Taply Thomas BURR on 27 Aug 1867, and William A Chance, born 4 June 1853, who married Julia Ann BURTON on 27 Aug 1875 in Lincoln Co. Nancy ??? Chance died after 1853 and before 1862 when Daniel and his second wife, Mary Ann Chance (thought to be her maiden name) had their first child.. No marriage record found in Desha or Drew Co for his marriage to Nancy about 1848, or his marriage to Mary Ann about 1861. Nancy is said to be buried in an abondoned cemetery on land where the Chance family lived at Little Garnett, now Lincoln Co. We have not been able to find them in the 1860 census. Children of Daniel CHANCE and Mary Ann, whose descendants may have information related to Daniel, were Frances A, b. 1862, who never married; Martha E, b. 1863, who married Leonard A RATTERREE; Willie, b. 1865, who m. Joseph Henry RATTERREE; Daniel Webster "Web," b. 1867, who m. Beatrice Jane "Bertie" SHOOK; Louella, Margaret, and Odella - none of the 3 married;Catherine "Cattie," b. c. 1878, who m. William TINER; and Armittie "Mittie," b. 1880, who m. Samuel J BECK. Levi CHANCE appeared on Desha County tax records in 1845, and may have been related. Can anyone help us find the family(s) of Daniel, Vincent or Levi CHANCE?

OK folks, wake your goodselves up and do some Deshaing. Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html

Does anyone remember when Rock Meadors raised the price of coffee from a nickel to a dime there in his drug store in Dumas. Boy it made everyone mad and he went back to a nickel. Support Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer, he wuz from Watson. Come to think of it, he still is from 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

Laura: I simply don't recognize any of your names. Perhaps one day things will get better. I moved to Watson, Desha County, Arkansas during WW II but some of my people married Desha County people. I am seeking the following names in Desha County: GRADY SEWELL KNIGHT HAYES HOLLIMAN HOWARD Bill Covey Creator of Ol' Tubby Joe Stottlemeyer Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/3265/Welcome.html