FYI: The 1951 Bull Dog Year Book, Texarkana Junior College is now online. <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~txbowie/BullDog/TheBullDog.html">TheBullDog </A> http://www.rootsweb.com/~txbowie/BullDog/TheBullDog.html Note: We still need a 1950's era photo of the front of the Junior College. If you have one, will you please give us a copy for this web page? Thanks, VR

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/168 Surname: Sparkman, Kanizer ------------------------- It recently came to my attention that my Gr-Grandfather may have moved to Texarkana. I know he was in Hopkins County, TX in 1870 and was married in Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 1892. I have a 22 year gap to try and fill in and a recent contact mentioned that he lived in Texarkana for awhile. Searching for John Pinkney "Pink" Sparkman (1861-1928) and his mother, Carmenage KANIZER Sparkman. Please email me: Rebecca Ramsey - Rramsey113@aol.com

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/166 Surname: Philips, Fly ------------------------- I am looking for date of marriage for Albert Louis Philips and Nancy(Nannie) Fly between 1870 - 1875 in Miller County. Thanks in advance. Dottie in NC

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/165 Surname: Bickley ------------------------- Thank you for the information on Miller Co. I am having a difficult time finding records of any kind for my family. It seems like they have disappeared from the face of the earth. Will keep trying.

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/164 Surname: Bickley ------------------------- >From the 1830's until 1874, Miller county did not exist, and was part of Lafayette Co. In the 1870 Census index (sorry, I do not have the full census) I did find: Bickley, Jacob J. - - - BEECH TWP --- PAGE # 124 Beech township was later anexed to Miller Co. Have you checked the land records site? http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/search.asp?s=3

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/163 Surname: Bickley ------------------------- I am looking for any information regarding the Bickley family. I understand that William Bickley came to Miller Co around 1842 from Tennesse. If you have any information please email me.

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/162 Surname: Corzine, Moore, Smith ------------------------- I would like to contact someone with knowledge of the family of W. J. Corzine listed in the 1870 Census for Lafayette County, Rondo Post Office #34. The census contains the following information - W. J. Corsine 45 farmer b TN; Myra M. 37 b TN; Joseph E. S. 17 b KY; John M. 16 b KY; Sarah E. A. 14 b MO; Sabbina A. 13 b MO; Martha J.M. 8 b AR; Mary S. S. 7 b AR; William A. 2 b AR. I am espectially interested in Sarah E. A. Corzine. Any help on this family will be appreciated. Thank you, Johanne

About two weeks ago someone out there answered my query about the Blantons saying that he knew the Blanton girls and wanting to know my connection to them before giving out any information. I was going on vacation and thought I'd saved the email to respond to upon my return, but it's lost in cyberspace. Can you email me again so I can give you the info I have? Sharon

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/161 Surname: WALKER, SAWYERS, AYERS, KERNELL ------------------------- Looking for any records of Miller Co during this time-frame. Anybody have access to records???? Maybe even a phone directory for this time? THX SD

Those of you not on the Lafayette County mail list may not know about Aunt Ludies Articles. I think many people interested in genealogy research in S W Arkansas will enjoy what she writes. She publishes her column weekly in the "Lafayette County Press" Newspaper, and also posts them on the Lafayette Co. Web page. To go direct to her articles page, the url is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~arlafaye/AuntLudieIndex.html Vicki

From: kburnet@efortress.com (Kathleen) Reply-to: <A HREF="mailto:kburnet@efortress.com">kburnet@efortress.com</A> To: ARMILLER-admin@rootsweb.com I have started a new mailing list called AR-Cemeteries. It is a mailing list for anyone interested in locating, and preserving historical information about, Arkansas cemeteries or sharing information about them. To subscribe to this list - have your members send the word subscribe to AR-Cemeteries-L-request@rootsweb.com or AR-Cemeteries-D-request@rootsweb.com for the digest form. I look forward to helping this list grow and become another tool for those researching in Arkansas. Kathleen Burnett List Mom

What are the archives anyway? http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/#about The USGenWeb Archives are a "virtual library" of historical documents that have been transcribed and donated by folks like you. In The USGenWeb Archives you may find items such as wills, obituaries, letters, biographical sketches, county and township histories, census, cemeteries, etc. The Archives are housed by RootsWeb with unlimited space for data storage. Types of files for the Archives include: Federal Census (free, slave, mortality, agriculture, veterans... schedules) State Census Vital Records (1) marriage (2) birth (3) death (4) divorce Court records (county, federal, civil, circuit, probate....) Church records (history, members lists, baptisms...) Bible Records Newspapers (obits, marriage & birth announcements, local events...) Prison Records (got some proven moonshiners in my tree) Military Records (rosters, muster rolls, service records, pension applications...) 1.Revolutionary 2.Civil War, 3.Indian Wars 4.Mexican 5.Spanish-American 6.War of 1812 7.WWI 8.WWII 9.Korean 10.Viet Nam 11.Persian Gulf Land Records (deeds, land transfers, federal land grants, surveyor's records...) Tax Records (land, property, state, federal, local....) Local Histories Local Directories (phone books, old county and city directories....) Occupational (?) (Inspector's reports, Accident reports, railroad reports, company newsletters....) Educational (?) (school histories, newsletters, KY's school census, yearbooks) Cemeteries Deeds/grants Misc* Newspapers/obits Ship Lists Tax lists Wills http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ar/miller/miller.html

Miller County Fair an old-fashioned good time Old-fashioned fun has not gone out of style in Miller County. This year's fair will be held Sept. 5-9 at the fairgrounds in Fouke. It's the 57th year for the event. Activities will range from music and crafts to a rodeo and beauty pageants. "We've been working hard on it. We hope it will be a lot of fun," said Dolores Mudford, fair board president. Members of the board hope Miller County residents will visit the fair to receive a taste of times past. "We're just too small for carnival rides. It's not worth their time. We're trying to get back to a more old-fashioned fair. There are a lot of things to do," she said. Home arts judging will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 6. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A senior citizens luncheon and activities will be held on Sept. 7. Pretty Baby and Little Miss Miller County pageants will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7. Sept. 8 is school day-there is no gate charge and all school students are welcome to attend. A mobile dairy classroom will be available for the children between 8:30 a.m. and noon on Sept. 8. The gospel group, "The Hendrix Trio," will perform at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 and "Bumpkin and Friends," a Christian clown and puppet show, will be held at 7:30 p.m. An ugly wo"man" contest will be held at 5 p.m. Sept. 9. Men will dress up as women and be judged for their "beauty." "This is the first time we've had this and we've already had several men volunteer to dress up. It may be trial and error but we'll see how it goes. It sounds like a lot of fun," Mudford said. A high school rodeo competition at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 will be the first rodeo held at the fair in several years. Cowboy's Choice Professional Equidrill team will perform at the rodeo. Junior Miss, Little Junior Miss and Miss Miller County pageants will also be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 9. A live auction and dance will follow the rodeo. The fair parade will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 in downtown Fouke. "The fair board voted to honor all past grand marshals and invite them to come on and ride on a float in the parade," Mudford said. Those included on the list of honorees are Utah Vardell, Minnie Adams, Alpha Peavy, Aubrey and Alice Enoch, Bennie Overmyer and Wayne Dowd. Because of lost records, the board does not have a complete list of past grand marshals. "If anyone knows of someone missing on this list they can call us so we can record that person's name in the records whether they are living or not," Mudford said. Anyone with information can call (870) 653-2376. For booth information, call (870) 653-4327. By LORI DUNN/Gazette Staff © VHR

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/160 Surname: Roe, Gerrald ------------------------- Can anyone help me locate the words to two songs from my childhood in Fouke, Miller Co. Song one : "Arkansas, Arkansas I salute thee" Song two: "I'm just a little southern girl with freckles on her nose" These songs were sung to me as child by mother Edna Roe Gerrald, a school teacher in Fouke when she was a young woman ca 1918. I was born in Nov 1940. Belva S. Gerrald Witten

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/159 Surname: Walker, Sawyers, Ayers, Belcher, Pepper, Whatley, Nichols ------------------------- Mary Jane Guthrie Walker was living in Texarkana Miller Co in the late 1800's. Her husband Wiley Jones Walker(b. 1790 TN) died in Clark Co,AR in 1856. Then, I believe, she may have moved to this area with her family and lived with them. Her children were Martha R Walker Belcher wife of John C Belcher, Elizabeth C Walker Pepper, Evergreen Buckingham Sawyers-wife of Thomas Henry Sawyers, Warner Walker, Rhoda Walker Hockins-wife of Wm M., William W Walker, N Vinnell"Venny" Walker who m. Allison Whatley & Julia Ann Walker .Evergreen's children were Mamie(Mary Evergreen), Jemima "Annie" Nichols, Thomas Henry Sawyer Jr, and children from her first marriage to Wm H Hawkins were Julia Ann Kernell & Rhoda. If you connect to this line or have info please contact me.

Historic fire burned town on this date (EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article appeared in the Daily Texarkanian on this date in 1923. The byline identified the author only as "an Old Timer." The story was a retrospective of a blaze that roared through Texarkana 115 years ago today. The following is a direct copy of the original first-person article. It was brought to our attention by a reader and former friend of J.Q. Mahaffey, the long-time editor of the Gazette who died last month.) At about 1:00 on the morning of Aug. 21, 1885, Texarkana was visited by one of the most destructive fires in its entire history. The weather was exceedingly warm the evening before, and I had laid down on a table with a book under my head in the mayor's office, then located on the second story of Bramble's warehouse, which occupied the present site of "The Criterion," on East Broad Street. I had been asleep for perhaps a couple of hours when I was aroused by the cry of "Fire" and the report of numerous pistol shots. Looking out of the rear window toward the south I saw that the Arlington (formerly the Draughon) hotel, a large two story brick occupying part of the present vacant ground just east of the Huckins House, was ablaze. There was no modern fire department then, only a hook and ladder company, operated by volunteer firemen, and the fact that a lively breeze had sprung up and was blowing directly north, made it clear to everybody that the fire would have to "run its natural course." The flames swept everything in that block, including the Smith drug company corner (then a dry goods store), Weinstein and Kosminsky's big store (now the O'Dwyer and Ahern Co.) and all adjoining buildings, and then crossed to the north side of Broad street, where it made a clean sweep of everything from State Line Avenue east to Vine street and north to Third street, including the postoffice, which was then located where Andrew Rose now has his offices. As I recall, all the destroyed buildings were frame structures, except the Arlington hotel and the postoffice. Charles E. Dixon was proprietor of the hotel, and W.W. Shaw was postmaster. Several of the places that were burned were operated as saloons and these put up cloth tents and started their gin mills running again within less than 48 hours. Other lines of business waited until brick houses could be built for their accommodation. Everybody said (under his breath) that the fire was of incendiary origin, but nobody cared to make any particular investigation of the matter, as all felt pretty certain that to do so would have meant a funeral for the investigator. © VHR

Days Gone By: After 100 years, Effie Smith just keeps on going Effie Smith of Kiblah, Ark., turns 100 next week. By JOHN FOOKS/Gazette Staff KIBLAH, Ark.-Effie Smith has never lived anywhere else but Kiblah, but to her way of thinking that's all right with her. Celebrating her 100th birthday on Aug. 25, she's seen more than enough of life that living anywhere else would satisfy. "My dad, William Simington, was born in Kiblah and died in Kiblah," Smith said as she eased into her wood chair on the front porch of her A-frame farm house one hot, mid-week afternoon. She's never had air conditioning and doesn't need it. The window fan works just fine, thank you very much, and the gentle breeze that wafts by her house brings cooling relief throughout the day. "I'm the oldest of six children and remember the day when the Spring Bank Ferry opened up. There's a historical marker there now, but no ferry," Smith recalled. "I've outlived just about everybody, but have one brother still living in California." Her husband, Webb, died in 1965. But like her resistance to moving away from Kiblah she's never had the slightest desire to remarry. He was 19 and she was 17 when they married. She had one child, whom she has outlived, but his offspring gave her three grandchildren and six great grandchildren, at least a few of whom will drop by on her birthday to wish her many more. Most of the others live too far away to attend, except for a granddaughter, Hazel, who has been planning her grandmother's 100th birthday party from her home in Kansas City, Mo. The party will be held next Saturday at the Community Center in Kiblah, and everyone in the community is invited. Smith's niece, Travestine Johnson, lives just down the road. And being as astute as her aunt, regularly stops by for her favorite meal of country greens and cornbread, which she has enjoyed since she was young child growing up in Kiblah. Now she usually has her 3-year-old daughter, Dawn, in tow. "Aunt Smith is one of those old-time cooks who doesn't have to measure anything and knows how to cook just about anything," Johnson said. "She's also always been a hard worker, and I remember she used to come down and help my mother with my three brothers and three sisters." Johnson said her aunt is in good health and doesn't mind letting people know what she thinks. "She's not afraid of anything," Johnson said, laughing. "You get to be her age, I guess you have a right to say and do whatever you want."

FYI: This article is about Miss Clark, a retired school teacher from Fouke, Ark. As you will read in the article, she taught at other schools before Fouke, and remained at the Fouke School District for the next 36 years, retiring in 1992. <<< smile >>> She was my Fifth Grade Teacher. * "For my birthday I'd like a letter from all my kids," said Clark, referring to the hundreds of students she has taught through the years. "What would be especially nice is for them to write me a letter or e-mail about a special memory they have, or what they have done with themselves. I'd like to know if they are married, have children, or even grandchildren, where they live, that kind of thing." * ** Please write to her at: Aneta Clark, Route 1 Box 131, Fouke, AR 71837, or e-mailed to anetaclark@yahoo.com. Vicki R. http://www.rootsweb.com/~armiller/ ****************************************************************************** ****** Days Gone By: Retired teacher is collecting students' memories for book By JOHN FOOKS/Gazette Staff FOUKE, Ark.-Grandma McCaskell's house was across the street from the Clark residence in the College Hill community, and she knew all the children growing up in the area. She loved to watch the children playing, and probably knew as much about them as their parents. Everybody called her Grandma, even after they were grown. "I went by to see Grandma McCaskell after I had grown up and moved to Cale, Ark., to teach seventh- through 12th-grade home economics and seventh- and eighth-grade English," recalled Aneta Janet Clark in her doublewide home deep in country farmland about 12 miles southeast of Fouke. "She told me she always knew I would be a teacher, because she used to watch me 'play school' with my younger sister, Doris, and anybody else I could get lined up on our front porch every afternoon after school. My youngest sister, Waldene Letterman, was too young to play." Whatever it was that motivated her at such a young age to become a teacher, it was motivation that stayed with her the rest of her life. The family moved to Omaha, Neb., when Clark was 10 years old. She graduated from high school in Omaha, then went on to Omaha University to major in home economics. After two years, the family moved back to Texarkana in 1950, and Clark started teaching in Cale. She taught at Cale for one year, then taught fifth grade at Bryant, Ark. Still two years short of a degree, she taught school during the winters and attended college during the summers. She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education (with a minor in home economics) in 1958 from Arkansas State Teachers College (today the University of Central Arkansas) at Conway, Ark. While at Cale, Clark was making $90 a month, $50 of which had to go for room and board. From that she had to save for college during the summers, and she baby-sat during the summers for 25 cents an hour. "One couple I baby-sat for was almost as hard up as I was," Clark said. "They hired me to baby-sit for them one day and they were only gone half an hour. The man paid me 13 cents for baby-sitting that half hour for them." After three years in Bryant, Clark moved to Fouke, where she would teach in the Fouke School District for the next 36 years, retiring in 1992. In 1996, she was nominated and named to Who's Who Among American Teachers. Her younger sister, Doris Cutchall, became a mother and housewife, and the youngest sister, Waldene, became a banker. An educator all her life, Clark has two other passions that filled her life, especially after retirement. She has a unique collection of porcelain and china dolls, a hobby she started when she was a little girl. Her mother had collected dolls and the hobby was passed along to her. Through the years she picked up rare dolls during vacations and other trips, and has 40 of them occupying just about every nook and cranny in her home. Quilting became an important hobby after retirement because it "keeps my hands-and mind-busy," she said. "I like to travel with my cousin who lives in Little Rock, and on one trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn., right after I retired, I bought a 'quilting kit,'" Clark said. "It had all the squares and materials you needed to get started and I immediately fell in love with it. I've since made about 50 quilts." Clark will celebrate her 70th birthday on Aug. 11. She recently heard about a new "fad" that retired teachers are doing and thought it would be a good idea for her. It's called a "Memory Book," and she'd like to start one of her own. "For my birthday I'd like a letter from all my kids," said Clark, referring to the hundreds of students she has taught through the years. "What would be especially nice is for them to write me a letter or e-mail about a special memory they have, or what they have done with themselves. I'd like to know if they are married, have children, or even grandchildren, where they live, that kind of thing." She herself has no children, but she has always called her students "my kids." Letters may be mailed to: Aneta Clark, Route 1 Box 131, Fouke, AR 71837, or e-mailed to anetaclark@yahoo.com.

Posted on: Miller County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ar/Miller/157 Surname: CITTY ------------------------- Looking for information on the following: Kenneth James CITTY, b. 1927 in Texarkana, Miller Co., Arkansas. His father was William Price CITTY, b. 1900, and his father was Ed CITTY. There is some speculation that the CITTY name may be Sioux. Any information will be much appreciated. Thank you! :-) Lyn

Pisgah Baptist is the oldest church in the Southwest Arkansas Baptist Association, which has 40 churches and four missions. The Rev. Leland Blaylock will speak at the worship service. Denny Wright of the Arkansas Baptist Convention will present a plaque to the church. Dinner will follow the morning service, and an afternoon service will start around 1:30 p.m. The afternoon service will include singing and film presentations of the church's history. A plaque will be presented in honor of James Mills, a longtime worker in the church who served as chairman of the deacons. The church started 150 years ago when a small group met in a one-room church with tall ceilings and big posts in the center of the room. A wood heater warmed the people, and simple coal-oil lamps gave them light. The floor was made from unfinished wood that buckled in places because of a roof leak, so the people sat on hard benches. At first, services were held only twice a month. Then the * Rev. McCalman began holding services every Sunday, even though he was only paid for two services a month. Active families in the church included the * Teers, * Griffins, * McDonalds, * Prestons, * Cokers, * Rushings, * Woodses, * Millses and * Littletons. Members made many improvements in their church. In 1956, the auditorium was remodeled, the ceilings were lowered, the posts removed, and new hardwood floors were laid. Members also added restrooms and a front porch. The church history records that when the church first got electricity, "it seemed like it suddenly lighted up the whole community." New benches were bought in 1950, and a new well dug in 1958. In 1960, the church bought a building and added it on for Sunday school rooms. By 1962, members were able to put away their fans because the church installed window air conditioners. The same year, Bert Mills donated an organ. In 1967, a fellowship hall was added to the Sunday school building. The church bought a piano in 1971, and built a baptistery in 1973. Many other additions and improvements were made, and in 1983, the church built a parsonage without going into debt. In 1993, the church raised more than $43,000 and built a new auditorium and Sunday school space. Members donated pews in honor of family members, and area businesses helped provide chandeliers. The Texas Nailbenders Association donated many hours of work on the new building, and members also worked many hours. The project was completed without having to borrow money. In 2000, members started building a multipurpose building that will be used as a fellowship hall, gym and community activity center. Church members donated the money for the structure. The church history says: "Pisgah is more than a building. If only we knew the number of people who gave their lives to the Lord under these roofs. "How many kids were kept from going astray because of the teachings they received here? How many couples have started their marriage or dedicated their babies or said goodbye to loved ones in front of this altar ... Many adults around the community can recall growing up in the church that we honor today."