Is this the group who passed through Yellville in 1838-1839? Don, Can you tell me if the book lists the guards? Do you know where the trail they went on? Was it beginning in or around Beech Grove, Tennessee? I am looking for my DeShields clan and William DeShields appeared in 1839-1840. He and his brother (my Great Great Grandfather) were said to have worked on the Trail of Tears as guards but I have no proof of this. It was said that the economy of the US was very bad and the banks were closing and many men hired on to make enough money to make it through the next winter. We were told he came on the trail from Beech Grove, Tn to Bentonville, Arkansas (approximate locations). At that time, fresh guards were hired and he returned to Tennessee. It was about 1839 he brought his family to Marion County. His brothers Handy and John came with him. Also, do you find a listing for Nancy Womack? I was told she was Indian but no proof of it. I always thought that Handy may have met her on the trail but she is said to have been born in Arkansas. Reta DeShields Parton

It is the group that came through Yellville. Do not have a list of guards, don't think this group had guards, they were led by their own Indians. I do not find DeShields listed. The map of the route "Benge Route" is at: <http://rosecity.net/tears/trail/map.html> <http://rosecity.net/tears/> is a general Trail of Tears site. Don At 11:37 AM 28-06-01 -0400, you wrote: >Is this the group who passed through Yellville in 1838-1839? Don, Can you >tell me if the book lists the guards? Do you know where the trail they went >on? Was it beginning in or around Beech Grove, Tennessee? I am looking for >my DeShields clan and William DeShields appeared in 1839-1840. He and his >brother (my Great Great Grandfather) were said to have worked on the Trail of >Tears as guards but I have no proof of this. It was said that the economy of >the US was very bad and the banks were closing and many men hired on to make >enough money to make it through the next winter. We were told he came on the >trail from Beech Grove, Tn to Bentonville, Arkansas (approximate locations). >At that time, fresh guards were hired and he returned to Tennessee. It was >about 1839 he brought his family to Marion County. His brothers Handy and >John came with him. > >Also, do you find a listing for Nancy Womack? I was told she was Indian but >no proof of it. I always thought that Handy may have met her on the trail >but she is said to have been born in Arkansas. > >Reta DeShields Parton > > > >============================== >Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp