Hello, everyone, I know that many of the Arkansas list members won't be able to read this message, probably for several days. I just wanted to see if folks are doing OK, those of you who can read this. My parents in De Queen, Arkansas have been without electricity since 9 pm Christmas night. My brother had to leave late Christmas afternoon to try to get back to Chicago before the weather got too bad. It took him over 6 hours to drive from De Queen to Little Rock (normally a 2.5 hour drive!), only to find out that flights from LR were cancelled. He ended up driving to Memphis to catch a flight Tuesday afternoon. My nephew Logan is calling this adventure "house camping". The family is warming up food on the woodstove and on a little propane heater, and they are using a kerosene lamp and candles for lighting. Makes you appreciate how our ancestors lived, though for folks not used to it, I'm sure things are a little uncomfortable! Take care and stay warm, everyone! Let's all hope Arkansas gets back on its feet very soon. --Melissa

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! Christmas memories and traditions are to be cherished. Yes, Melissa and Jeff, Christmas eve at Mama Loveless' were real events. Everyone was invited and most showed up. There were always no less than 35 people there--most of the time there were more. I wonder how Mamma was able to endure all those people at once. Guess she just tuned all the noise out. It was always potluck and did we ever have food. It seemed that we all had our specialties or brought something special for another person (I always brought 4-layer delight so Billy Joe could have some). I remember bringing a Yankee salad once and Melissa, your mother, laughingly told me she was a Yankee and had never eaten that salad before. Yes, several years we put all the grandkids, and anyone else who wanted to go, in the back of the truck and caroled all over the community. Melissa, were you there the year when someone's dogs started following us barking and would not turn around and go home. Guess our singing was hurting his ears. Theresa, Kerry, and Amy talk about those times quite often. Yes, Mamma always had a gift for everyone under the tree. She never missed anyone. Most of the time the gifts were something she had made, but it could have been a pair of underwear that did not fit, a pair of gloves, socks, etc. Melissa, is that picture from 1972 or should it be 1971. Amy was not in it, so was wondering if the year is correct.

It has been a pleasure to chat with all of you this year.All of you have been wonderful in guiding me with "this Computer!" Still learning. Melissa, I'm probably the oldest one on the list.I knew your Mamma well. I was one class ahead of her and Geneva in high school at Drew central. Both were very sweet "girls". My first memory of Christmas was hanging my stocking Christmas Eve on mantle board of the fire place, Next morning it would be stuffed with nuts, fruit and a lovely doll at the very top of my stocking. In our community there were four families who lived about one -half mile apart, There were children ages 12-20 .One year during Christmas there was a party for four nights straight.The first party began at our home ( Will & Sallie Rogers). We played dominoes, & cards. Our mother and our older sisters served Cookies ,hot chocolate and taffy candy ( The kind Mother made by cooking ribbon cane syrup. When the syrup was cooked perfectly she added vinegar and butter. When the ingredients were cool enough you pulled and pulled it until it was the right consistency.Then twisted it into long rope like strands and laid the candy on a platter to get cold. It would be so brittle one could break it into small pieces. My mother was an expert at this.) The second night we all were guests at Earl and Maudie Hoover's home, played same games and Ms Maudie served refreshments. Third night we all were with the Grady & Louie Kersh family and fourth night Garland & Naomi Kersh were our host. ! It was one and one half mile from our home to that of Garland Kersh home. We walked to from our homes to the parties carrying lanterns and flash lights to show the way. WONDERFUL PARTIES!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!! Hettie Nell

You folks are making me homesick for the good old days of Christmas in Drew County. I grew up in Bearhouse Township on Bearhouse Creek. There was not anyone who lived within 7 or 8 miles of us. Our Christmas consisted of one toy, one apple, one orange and a few nuts for each of us. We didn't know any better and we thought this was a very good Christmas. As I've gotten older I wish we could go back to those days of a simple Christmas with family and remembering why we celebrate Christmas. Most of the people who have responded to this site, I knew many years ago. Especially Beth's parents, grandparents from both the Thurman and Wolfe families. I have a lot of fond memories of Mr. Dan and Miss Lizzie Wolfe. Wishing everyone a good Christmas, and hoping that we all put Christ back in Christmas. C.L. Jones

Posted on: Drew Co. Ar Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Drew/110 Surname: Henley, Frazier ------------------------- Am looking for decendants of Issac Henley and Eugene Frazier Also looking for name of Issac's wife. Lived in Drew and Lincoln counties. Believe James Monroe Henley was Issac's son.

Spending the first six years of my life with my grandparents in the Prairie Grove Community was wonderful. Once I was school age, my folks thought I was old enough that my mother's seizures would not endanger me any longer, and I was sent to Houston, TX, to live with my parents and attend school. Nevertheless, this did not mean that Christmas was meant to be in Houston. Christmas meant longing to get to Arkansas and a Prairie Christmas. A Prairie Christmas meant asking my granddaddy where he had seen the best cedar tree growing when he had either been cow, hog, or deer hunting. (There was not stock law back then, and animals roamed all through the back woods.) Then, we loaded up the ax and got in the truck and went to get the tree. Usually, we wound up with one that had at least one "wopside," but this problem was alleviated by putting that side next to the wall. Memmaw always waited for me to get there to get the tree and decorate it. Those two weeks during the Christmas break were glorious. I got to ride horses, go hunting with Grandie, pick mistletoe from the tree tops, and gather holly branches for the tables. Also, Uncle J. D.'s family would arrive sooner or later. I had two cousins who were two years older and two years younger, which put me right in the middle, and I loved to act as if I were queen of the country because they were from Ohio, and neither knew anything about being a "country girl." Herding cattle, separating the milk cow's calf before milking, hooking up the slide and harnessing the horse, as well as saddling the horses, all made me look knowledgeable, and this bossy (having lived with the grandparents) grandchild took advantage of it. Besides, they never had any real play clothes that they could afford to mess up. Theirs were too nice, and I always had to loan my younger cousin some of mine. (My older cousin was too busy reading books.*smile*) Then, of course, there were trips to the lower end of the Prairie to see Brenda and Jane Graves. We always exchanged gifts...a box of chocolate-covered cherries for a buck a box. Also, we rode bikes, built forts, and best of all: popped lots of firecrackers. Once we nearly blew Jane's head off because my cousin Karla was not used to doing anything athletic, and she threw her firecracker into the hood of Jane's coat. Fortunately, it was a dud. Of course, the most active day was Christmas Day. Aunt Sook, my great-aunt who never had children, came, as did Memmaw's brother, Latner Lagrone and his wife...they were Unk and Auntie. They came all the way over from Eldorado unless Auntie's kids happened to be coming to her house for Christmas. There were bunches of pies, cakes, and Aunt Maxine always made lots of divinity. Also, Memmaw always had a ham, a roast, bunches of vegetables, and of course, the turkey and dressing. Then, at night, we sat around and played dominoes and other table games. When the weather was really cold, we backed up to the fireplace and fought over the warmest place in the room away from the drafty spots. However, I can truely say that to this little Prairie Chick every place on the Prairie was a warm spot because just being there and away from Texas made my heart warm all over. Merry Christmas to all you Drew County connected. BETH THURMAN....granddaughter of Dan and Lizzie Lagrone Wolfe and Charley and Pearl Wells Thurman

Hi Folks: It is 6:44 AM by my computer clock and it wouldn't lie. It was made in Hong Kong or so I think. Looking back on my life and Christmas morning for my five children I can't help but believe that American instructions are better than most. At least I don't remember having too much trouble with the instructions of old. The Mama Lady says my memory has dimmed. Of course I don't believe any of that nonsense. She is trying to blame the shortcomings of some Chinaman on me. I have a divorced daughter who has one son, Adam Viner and he like every other 2-1/2 year old in the United States has toys for Christmas. I don't have a problem with that. As a matter of fact I think it is wondermous but no grandfather at my age should be called upon to assemble a Chinese table and chairs. I was though, and that is what I was doing up at whatever time my Hong Kong clock said it was. Now comes the problem. This danged Leggo table and chairs that I had to assemble were made in China. It is a wondermous set and there is no denying it. Everything was in the box down to the very last screw. Workmanship was something to bragged upon for the next 365 days and that's the truth of it. Folks I just have to tell you right here and now though that Chinamen don't know how to write instructions. I don't want to talk about anything to the contrary. They don't know how to write instructions and that is the whole story lock, stock and barrell. That danged table, chairs, screws, nuts, bolts and braces and cross braces, paint and instructions were made and boxed somewhere along a great big wall right there in China where not a single soul knows how to write instructions and even if they did, they have formed a great big conspiracy against the Covey household and they can't wiggle thereselves out of it no matter how hard they try. Anyway, I was pretty pleased with myself until The Mama Lady prissed herself in and wanted to know why two of the legs were sticking straight up, one straight down and the other one sideways. I told her that all Chinaman chairs were made that way and then she smart-mouthed me right there in the middle of the mess I had made. It was at this point that I decided not to let her see the table. Sometimes I don't know how that Mama Lady and I managed to raise five children. I guess it is because I am smarter than she is and I'm smart enough not to tell her that. Merry Christmas to you all and if you see any instructions, any instructions for anything, just send them along. The table won't stand up neither. Bill Covey Author of Watson Is Where It Wuz http://home.att.net/~billcovey/index.html

All of my young memories of Drew County are good, but Christmas was such a time of anticipation. At that young age, everything was awe-inspiring...from the Christmas lights around the "square" to listening for Santa's bells (I KNOW I heard them once!) The tradition of leaving one of my own socks for Santa to fill, carried over to my children, and grandchildren. Oh, now I fill the pretty "fake" stockings to hang on the mantle...but it was hard for me to let my sock that Santa filled go into the wash tub! I remember holding the saucer, thinking "gosh, Santa actually ate from this." Drew County is a wonderful memory in itself, and the older I get, the more I love it. Everything was a miracle then, in my young eyes, and today, my everyday life is filled with real miracles . So, Merry Christmas to all of you, and Thank God for sending his Son...the greatest Miracle of them all. Martha (Graves) Kirby

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I have a lot of memories from Drew County as a child, but there are too many to go into details. C.L. Jones Pineville, La

Wishing everyone a very: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Edna Williams Burleson, Texas [email protected]

I hope for everyone in Drew County a very Merry Christmas!! I remember one time probably about Christmas of 1956, we were living in Michigan and was visiting in the Warren area. My parents went to visit my great uncle and aunt, Bob and Buna Youngblood near Selma. It was snowing that year and they were out of electricity. I remember they had Aladdin lamps lit all over the house. After our noon meal Aunt Buna got out her old violin and my father retrieved his guitar from the car. Our afternoon was spent listening to some of the most beautiful music....but in particular I remember them playing the old song "Over the Waves." I don't know if I could even find that place again, but it will forever be in my mind. Jann __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Melissa Jones wrote: > Hello, everyone! To get us all into the holiday spirit, I'd like to > ask the group to share your memories of Drew County Christmases and > traditions. > > When I was a girl, Christmas Eve always meant the whole family > getting together at my great-grandmother Virgie Loveless's house in > Possum Valley. I remember the first time I ate any duck was at Aunt Virgie's during Christmas. My family and probably my grandparents (Archie & Era) went there and she had a big pan of roast duck. I was maybe 6 or 7 at the time. That was one of the few times I was ever in their house. jeff

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope that you all have a happy and healthy new year. My early Christmas memories in Drew County revolve around our house. The home of my parents Elvin and Lucy Gaddy Doss was the gathering place for all of us. Since I was the youngest of a large family I already had brothers and sisters who were married. Several days before Christmas Daddy would take us out to cut the Christmas tree. He would already have one picked out, a big cedar that would almost touch the ceiling. I know that we probably had very few decorations to go on it but when it was finished it was beautiful. The tree would be set up in the room where Mother and Daddy slept and where the wood heater was. Christmas eve night my sister or I one would get to sleep with them to see if we could see Santa when he came. We never saw him but he always made it. Christmas eve Mother and Daddy would go to town because that is when Sterling's and Ben Franklin would start marking down the price on Christmas items. Some how they always managed to get something for everyone. For me it would be a new doll. How they managed to get just the right one every time I will never know but on Christmas morning there it would be under the tree "just where Santa left it." My sister and I would each put a shoe box under the Christmas tree. (No hanging stockings on the mantle for us. The fireplace was in another bed room and while Santa had to come down it to get in we didn't want him having to leaving things in 2 different places.) On Christmas morning each box would have an apple, orange, nuts, candy and some fireworks in them. Christmas dinner as long as my Mother lived was basically the same. A huge roasting pan of the best chicken and dressing you ever tasted, sweet potatoes, different vegetables and a big fruit salad. No Christmas dinner would have been complete without Mother's home made rolls, cinnamon rolls mincemeat pie and a big jam cake made with blackberries that we had picked during the summer. um um good. I remember one year when my brothers were in service they got my sister and me each a Betsy Wetsy doll. (You gave it a bottle and then it wet on you.) They sent them several weeks before Christmas and my Mother hid them in the hat box of the wardrobe. My sister found them. So every day while Mother was working we would get the dolls out and play with them. If we heard Mother coming we very quickly put them back. Sure enough on Christmas morning there they were under the tree. About 30 years later we told Mother about it. Looking forward to hearing from some of the rest of you on your early Christmas memories. Mary .

Posted on: Drew Co. Ar Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Drew/109 Surname: Atkins ------------------------- I'm searching for Anderson T. Atkins. I find a listing for one in the 1870, Drew Co. AR census. Can anyone tell me where I can find information on this census? Thanks, Norma Stevenson: [email protected]

The Mama Lady and I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from beautiful downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas. Ywes Virginia, Santa Claus visits Watson too. Bill Covey Author of Watson Is Where It Wuz http://home.att.net/~billcovey/index.html

Hello, everyone! To get us all into the holiday spirit, I'd like to ask the group to share your memories of Drew County Christmases and traditions. When I was a girl, Christmas Eve always meant the whole family getting together at my great-grandmother Virgie Loveless's house in Possum Valley. There was always lots of good food to eat, and my mom would inevitably bring either pecan pie or coconut cream pie (or both, if we kids could talk her into it). At Mamma's house, the women pretty much stayed in the kitchen and caught up on family news, while the men stayed in the living room and chatted about who knows what. We kids would go out front and shoot off fireworks, with the bigger male cousins lighting the big Roman candles. Under the tree, Mamma made sure that everybody had a present. Many times, the gift was made by her own hands (slipper socks with a crocheted edging, or crocheted booties, or the like). I don't know what the boys got. It was always amazing to me that no matter how big the family grew, Mamma always made sure that no one was left out. At least one year (maybe more), we had a Loveless family hayride. I could not even tell you who drove, or whose trailer we used, or where we went. Most likely we just rode around Possum Valley for a little while. My dad or my Aunt Bobbie will have to jump in here and fill in the gaps in my memory. All I remember is driving around under frosty stars, singing Christmas carols with my cousins. Please feel free to share your Drew County Christmas memories over the next few days, and have a wonderful holiday! --Melissa

[ Melissa's note: I have been passing your notes about Jones/Shelton/etc. on to the original poster at [email protected] The original was a post that came off the Drew County query board. Since I don't believe that person is on ARDREW, please copy all further replies to [email protected] ] Katie Jones married Albert Haley in Chicot County in 1906.

The name Sanderlin was mentioned here. There was a Sanderlin family who lived out between Dumas and Watson some years ago. Dee Sanderlin and Charley Gene Sanderlin come to mind right off hand. Bill Covey Author of Watson Is Where It Wuz http://home.att.net/~billcovey/index.html ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terri Lee Wolfe" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> > Their grandmother married a Shelton the last time. Also, Lanell Sanderlin > McKiever had a Shelton grandmother.

At 10:45 AM 12/23/00 -0600, you wrote: >Donaldons (several brothers) who live in Monticello from Fountain Hill. TYPO: Donalsons

There were a lot of Sheltons around Hamburg, AR. In fact, there are some Donaldons (several brothers) who live in Monticello from Fountain Hill. Their grandmother married a Shelton the last time. Also, Lanell Sanderlin McKiever had a Shelton grandmother. Drew Co. Cem. Book II: Annie S. 226, Eleanor Gertrude 248, elven S. 229, Gaston @. 248, Grace H. 248, Hubert Preston, 229, Infant dau. 226, Jo3 377, Joseph 229, Joseph G. 226, Junnus @. 50, Kaatie M. 50, Lilliam b. 2254, Lindon 248, Linnie Burks 248, Lucy L. 377, Madge 248, Margaret Ella 230, Marie Millen230, Marilyn Maxine 265, Matilda kerr 230, Missouri 377, Nancy 6, Nancy Jane Gillespie 230, R.E. 377, R.P. 230, richard Cordell 248, robert W. Jr. 254, Robert Winston 248, S. Elizabeth 226, Sem A. 229, Sidney @. 377, Theophilus 377, William S. 229, Willis C. 230 Those from 208 to 289 are in the Oakland City Cemetery in Monticello, AR. Those on p 377 are from a black cemetery..Rush or Mt. Zion Cemetery....southwest of monticello towards Green Hill. Hope this helps some..beth At 04:23 AM 12/23/00 -0800, you wrote: >Surname: SHELTON, JONES, ALLEN, JORDAN >My grandmother Katie Lura JONES was born in Drew County in Oct 1890. I >have a paper she wrote that says her mother was Alice SHELTON and her parents