In the Searcy County Marriage Book by Ruby Lacy I show what could be a William Wright marriage. W. T. Wright age 22 Marshall to Mary A. Melton age 18, Marshall 16 July, 1891. Book D pg 87 Also, back in the 1870 Searcy County census these two could qualify: Prarie Township June 21, 1870 36/36 Alley, Steven 44 SC Henrietta? 24 KY Joseph I. 2 AR Mary F. 6 /12 b Dec. AR Chonder, Jefferson F. 5 AR Brown, Bellcena 18 AR WRIGHT, Anderson W. 41 ALA. Mary 32 Tenn WILLIAM ALBERT 10 ARK Leona Florence 7 ARK Lavina Clementine 5 ARK Joseph Greenbury 5/12 b Feb. ARK (note says that in 1880 Anderson was married to a Martha) Faye ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Birge <lemamakitty@rectec.net> To: <ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 1:14 AM Subject: [ARSEARCY] Decendents of William A. Wright > Does anyone know of Wrights who lived in Searcy County in 1890 or early 1900's? Am looking for any decendants of William A. Wright who was married to a lady named Sarah and had children: Noble R., Sherman Mansfield, Earnest B., Thomas, Joseph W. and Ada N. I think Mr. Wright was married before Sarah and had my grandmother Iva Mae and another daughter named Margaret but don't know who their mother was or what happened to her. Anybody out there? >

I am somewhat lost in everybody's "Adams" dialogue. If comprising a book or a family history for a book (since most folks think if it's in a book, it's must be true) Or a newspaper or etc. etc. There's something about something being in print that just makes us swear it's the gospel truth. Why don't you use the Adams bible pages as reference for the births of Matthew Adams children? I noticed you show Matthew and Miranda Adams as both born in 1822, which they weren't. Miranda was born 30 January, 1822, while Matthew was born 17 October, 1820. Also, you show a girl named Eliza M. Adams born 1840, that I don't believe belongs, while you eleminated both Esther and Sarah Adams from the list of children. Faye in Tx. ----- Original Message ----- From: Mysty McPherson <shakerag@mtnhome.com> To: <ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 5:50 PM Subject: [ARSEARCY] Adams - again > Let me put it this way, Judy. In order to track nine 8X10 pages of Adams' genealogy for Big Blue, we used several sources and a ton of paper full of notes. Here's the list. > > "Descendants of James & Agnes (Wilson) Adams with 57 Allied Families" by Leona Adams Loviska. > "White River Chronicles of S C Turnbo" by James F Keefe & Lynn Morrow. > "History of Marion Co" by Earl Berry. > "Marion Co Marriages Records 1887-1917" (3 volumes) by Marian Burnes & Vicki Roberts. > "Portraits and Landscapes" by Z B Smith (a collection of newspaper articles) > "Marion Co. AR 1890" by Helen McMindes (a reconstruction using 1880 + 1900 census & 1890 tax records). > Robert J. Adams, 2741 Live Oak Ave, Fullerton CA 92635. > Helen McMindes (she's recently moved from Harrison AR to CA so don't yet have her new address). > MCAR 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 federal census. > SCAR 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 federal census. > "Pleasant Ridge Cemetery" by Max Parnell. > And, of course, that wonderfully easy computer age capability . . . Cross Referencing. > > Exactly where each snippit of info came from, I can't say offhand. It's all in the archived Big Blue files, though <grin> Three huge boxes stuffed with enough paper to make a couple of huge trees! > > What we gleaned from all this is: > > Robert "Bob" Adams (son of James & Agnes [Wilson] Adams) b VA ca 1770 d Izard Co. AR March 1825 m/1 KY 19 March 1796 Patience Hall; m/2 KY 23 May 1804 Elizabeth "Betsy" Ferguson. In Lawrence Co. AR 1820. > Children: > Robert "Bob" & Patience had 2 kids. > Robert "Bob" & "Betsy" had 5 kids including > Robert Adams Jr. b KY 1808 m Izard Co. AR Martha Jane ___ 1807. He is a widower in North Fork Township, Izard Co. AR 1870. > > Matthew Adams (son of James & Agnes [Wilson] Adams) b VA 1767/8 d Izard Co. AR 1836 m/1 Esther Barnett; m/2 Christian Co KY Catherine Ferguson d Pope Co AR 29 Dec 1841. In Lawrence Co AR 1817. > Children: > Matthew & Esther had 5 kids - all girls. > Matthew & Catherine had 3 sons including > Robert Adams b KY 1794/9 d Independence Co AR 1865 m Cynthia Cates b NC ca 1798. In Tomahawk Township, Searcy Co AR 1840, 1850. In Bear Creek Township, Searcy Co. AR 1860. > Children: > Stacy Adams b AR 1818 m Eli B Sooter. > Miranda Adams b AR 30 Jan 1822. > Matthew Adams b AR 1822. Single in SCAR 1870 living with sister Mary Shaw. > Joseph Adams b AR ca 1827 m Elvira Jane ___ b TN 1828. > Mary Adams b AR ca 1825 m J D Shaw. In SCAR 1870. > Thomas Adams b AR 1834 d bef 1870 m Emille Hodge (daughter of Granville K & Elizabeth [Campbell] Hodge) b McNairy Co TN. She m/2 James Holstead. > Abner Adams b SCAR 1837/8 m Mary ___ b AR 1837. > Eliza M Adams b AR 1840. > > The best I can do for PROOF is that Matthew (son of James & Agnes) settled in Searcy Co and was there from its inception in 1835 while Robert (son of James & Agnes) settled in Izard Co and his son Robert was still there in 1870. Looks to me like they lived in different areas of Izard Co and when Searcy Co was created out of Izard, Matthew was in the Searcy Co part. > > Because Big Blue was essentially a Marion Co book on Marion Co families, we only tracked data that led to Marion Co. (Actually, we tracked in both directions - from Adamses in MCAR back and from James & Agnes forward.) > > Here, again, I'm probably duplicating data you already have, but this is a method of tracking Vicki and I use lots. > > SCAR 1860 Sulphur Springs Township: > Joseph Adams 33 AR. > Elvira 32 TN. > Matthew 10 AR. > Ervin David 12 AR. > JAMES 7 AR. > William 5 AR. > George 2 AR. > Elizabeth Bone 17 __. > William 2 AR > > SCAR 1870 Bear Creek Township: > Joseph Addams 43 AR. > Elvira 42 TN. > Martha [sic] 19 AR. > JAMES 16 AR. > William 14 AR. > George 11 AR. > Abner 4 AR. > John 2 AR. > > SCAR 1880 Sulphur Springs Township: > #28-29 Joseph Addams 57 AR NC KY. > Elvira J 52 TN GA TN. > Abner 14 AR AR TN. > John W 12 AR AR TN. > William G 23 AR AR TN (son). > Georgia 18 AR AR AR (d-in-l). > > #16-17 Amos Treadwell 56 TN NC NC. > Siles R 23 AR TN TN (son). > Mary 22 AR MO TN (d-in-l). > Victory J. 2 AR AR AR (g-dau). > Margaret R 11/12 AR AR AR (g-dau). > JAMES M Addems 26 AR AR TN (s-in-l). > Margaret C [Treadwell] 26 AR AR TN (wife). > Joseph L 5 AR AR AR (son). > Sarah E 3 AR AR AR (dau). > John Q 1 AR AR AR (son). > > Tracking this family - dates, birth places, townships, names - indicates to me that James M Addams (consistent spelling variant not used with other families of the same surname) was the son of Joseph & Elvira and the husband of Margaret C Treadwell. The "M" could well stand for "Marion." Whether you call this proof or deduction, I'm not real sure. Obviously the James Newton Adams is out of the running - wrong middle name/initial. And the fact that James' father's brother's widow married second James Wilson Holstead lends credence since they all ended up in the same place. > > Hope you can figure out all this stuff. And that it helps. > > Mysty shakerag@mtnhome.com > "Genealogy without documentation is mythology" > >

Blanco was about one and one half miles south of Snowball. It was a thriving community at one time with a gristmill, sawmill, cotton gin and shop. This per Toby Lonzo Holsted. There was also a school house and church. I am not clear if their was a separate church building or as my grandpa would say "we used it for school and church purposes". Much of the time the school house doubled as the church. However that may not have been the case at Blanco. Grandpa (born 1886) said the first school he ever attended was at Blanco. It was an old shop and didn't have any windows though there were lots of cracks in between the logs to look through and for air to come through. At that time school was held in the summer for about three months. The weather was too bad for the children to walk miles in the winter, especially in the snow. It did not have any actual desk. They just laid boards across logs for benches and desks. It was aways a man teacher because some of the older boys got pretty wild. One threw a slate (no pencils and paper, still wrote on slates) at a teacher. Luckily it missed but it made a hole in the wall. One funny story about the school. It seems the was one student (apparently not well liked) who had brought a sheepskin to sit on because the benches were so hard. He would not let anyone else sit on it. He apparently went home for dinner at noon one day. The others got pins or tacks and stuck them up through the sheepskin. Per grandpa he jumped up a lot faster than he sat down. Ater that he aways ran his hand along it before he sat down. Judy

Hi Rick & Marinda, Of course I know about these Melton & Sooters!!! They are Great great grandma, Nicie Amber Melton Ragland's,, parents!! James Melton and Permelia Sooter were the parents of not only Nicie and Aunt Sarah, but they had several other kids, i.e., Richard, Andrew Jackson, Nancy, Emaline, & Mary. James remarried after Permelia died after Sarah in 1828-29. Mary Crockett was James Melton's second wife and they had 3 kids, i.e. William, Leonard, & Frances. I believe James Melton even had a third wife after Mary Crocket....Mary Wells is what THE REECE CONNECTION BOOK says!!! Now, do you remember?? I was the one asking everyone if anyone knew WHO James Melton's parents were??? Does anyone have a clue?? This line is a dead-end for me!!! If anyone has a clue, please contact us!!! Dewayne Treat marinda holliman wrote: > Dewayne, > > You may have already seen this , or perhaps you over looked it or > maybe > you just haven't had time to read your messages! Any way are these > MELTONS > related to Ida Melton??? > Marinda > > >From: "ron & jan heiskell" <acc@tracy.com> > >To: ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com > >Subject: Re: [ARSEARCY] SOOTER - MELTON > >Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 17:51:48 -0700 > > > >Hi Wilma, > > > >I'm sorry I don't have any info on your Catherine, but would be glad > to > >share what I have on the MELTON family (maybe there is a clue in here > > >somewhere?): > > > >James MELTON b. 1788 SC d. Aft.1860 Barry Co, MO. Married #1 > Mary/Permeley > >SOOTER b. 1780-1790. I only know of one child, Sarah "Sally" > Caroline > >MELTON b. 1828 TN d. Aft 1901 m. 1848 AR Mark Howard HENSLEY b. 1817 > TN d. > >4 > >Mar 1888 Searcy Co, AR. They had 6 children, first two b. TN, > remaining > >four b. AR. Sarah was Mark Howard's second wife, he was prev. > married to > >Rebecca SIMMONS. > > > >James MELTON m. #2 Mary Crockett in 1829 and they had three known > children: > >William Crockett MELTON b. 1830, Leornard R. MELTON b. 1832 and > Frances K. > >MELTON b. 1834 > > > >Perhaps someone on this list who is researching MELTON can jump in > and > >provide you with more info, hopefully on your Catherine. > > > >Good luck! > >Jan > >---------- > > >From: "Wilma Norton" <wilma@softcom.net> > > >To: ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com > > >Subject: Re: [ARSEARCY] SOOTER - Stacy Adams/Eli Sooter > > >Date: Sat, Jun 24, 2000, 1:48 PM > > > > > > > >Could I step into this conversation, please? I have a Catherine > Melton > >who > > >was born TN and was age 34, married to David B. Younger living in > >Tomahawk > > >Twp., Searcy Co. AR in 1860. This family later moved to Pope Co. > AR. Do > > >you know if she might be kin to your Sarah Caroline Melton? I've > had no > > >luck at all in finding parents or siblings for her. > > > > > >Wilma > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > > >From: ron & jan heiskell <acc@tracy.com> > > >To: <ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com> > > >Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 12:15 PM > > >Subject: Re: [ARSEARCY] SOOTER - Stacy Adams/Eli Sooter > > > > > > > > >> Hi Judy, > > >> > > >> I read your post on SOOTER and thought I would add my little bit > of > >SOOTER > > >> info. I am working on the old Lemuel HENSLEY line - he was b.Abt > 1785 > >NC > > >> d.1840 Wayne Co, TN. > > >> > > >> His son, Mark Howard HENSLEY b.1817 TN d 1888 Searcy Co, AR m. > 1848 AR > >#2 > > >> Sarah Caroline MELTON b.1828 TN d.Aft 1901 Searcy Co, AR. > > >> > > >> Her parents were James MELTON b.1788 SC d. Aft.1860 Barry Co, MO > and > > >> Mary/Permeley SOOTER b. 1780-1790 d. 1840-1850. (I have not > verified > >this > > >> info myself.) > > >> > > >> It isn't much info, but since James MELTON died in Barry Co, MO, > and > >his > > >> daughter Sarah died in Searcy Co, AR, I thought this > Mary/Permeley > >SOOTER > > >> might connect somehow to your SOOTER family. > > >> > > >> Jan Heiskell > > >> ---------- > > >> >From: Judy Oldziewski <harness75@earthlink.net> > > >> >To: ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com > > >> >Subject: [ARSEARCY] Stacy Adams/Eli Sooter > > >> >Date: Sat, Jun 24, 2000, 4:18 AM > > >> > > > >> > > >> >First a big THANK YOU to Ann and Mysty. Ann, clearly the > researcher > >who > > >> >had Elvira Jane as Bonhannon just had enough info to know the > lines > >were > > >> >connected but not just how. It all makes sense now. > > >> > > > >> >Since we are on the Adams family I will post some info I > recently > > >> >received on Stacy Adams who married Eli Sooter. I am posting > with > > >> >permission from Karen. She is not related but is working on this > line > >as > > >> >a gift for a friend. She is working from a family history > written in > > >> >the 1950's by the friends great uncle. Thought it might be of > >interest. > > >> >I have not verified it. But I find no glaring errors based on > what I > > >> >know. > > >> > > > >> >Eli B Sooter b. Barry Co. Mo 1814 to Searcy County, AR 1830 m. > Stacy > > >> >Adams Searcy County, Richalnd near Buffalo River, AR 1834. > Returned to > > >> >Barry County 1845 where he died and was buried in 1849. Stacy > returned > > >> >Searcy County after her husbands death about 1850 where she > married a > > >> >second time. Stacy died Wiley's Cove 1884. > > >> > > > >> >*************** > > >> >(added by Judy)** Stacy appears in the 1850 Searcy County Census > as > > >> >Stacy Suter with seven children. Based on the Goodspeed article > on her > > >> >son Matthew, Stacy married James Waterson and had four more > children, > > >> >two of whom were deceased by 1884 when the article was > published. They > > >> >were Sarah (deceased), James (deceased), Benjamin Franklin, and > >Arrella. > > >> >************** > > >> > > > >> >Greenberry "Berry" Sooter b. Searcy County 1835. He married a ?? > > > >> >Treadwell at Wiley's Cove before the Civil War. He served in the > > > >> >Confederate Army and died at Little Rock during the war from > sickness. > > >> >It is believed his wife also died during the war. > > >> > > > >> >Robert Sooter b. Searcy County 1837. Married a ?? Sanders before > the > > >> >Civil War. He served in the Confederate Army and died at Corinth > MS > >from > > >> >sickness during the Civil War. > > >> > > > >> >Matthew Sooter b Searcy County, Richland near Buffalo River 9 > Dec > >1839. > > >> >He served in the SECOND ARKANSAS CALVARY during the Civil War. > He was > > >> >married 3 Sept 1868 to Mary Ashley b. Searcy County 6 Sept 1847. > > > >> > > > >> >William Edward "Ed" Sooter b Searcy County, Richland near > Buffalo > >River > > >> >22 Sept 1841. He served in the SECOND ARKANSAS CALVARY in the > Civil > >War. > > >> >He married Martha Jane Boyd, dau of John S Boyd and Dicey Jane > Leslie > > >> >Wiley's Cove 30 June 1868. She was born 12 Mar 1852. Ed died > near > >Leslie > > >> >26 Nov 1881. After his death Martha married Joseph T Blair. She > died > > >> >Searcy County 18 Mar 1933. > > >> > > > >> >Syntha Sooter b. Searcy County about 1843. She married Green > Reeves in > > >> >Searcy County about 1870. > > >> > > > >> >Mary Ann Sooter b. Barry County, MO 1845 > > >> > > > >> >Narcissis Jane Sooter (usually shown in census as Nicey Jane) b. > Barry > > >> >County MO 24 Feb 1848. Married Malley Thomas, son of Ben Thomas, > 3 Feb > > >> >1868. She is buried at Wiley's Cove. Thomas was born 3 Sept 1848 > and > >is > > >> >buried Wiley's Cove. > > >> > > > >> >Hope this is of interest to someone. > > >> > > > >> >Judy > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > _ > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at > http://www.hotmail.com

I just did a look-up last night that included some Clemons grandchildren: 1910 Searcy Co Calf creek twp. 022/023 MARTIN, Cornelius S. 62 AR TN TN md 2x 33 yrs Malissie 54 AR TN TN md 2x 33yrs ?child/?living CLEMONS, Twain 12 AR AR AR g-son Nellie 10 AR AR AR g-dau May 9 AR AR AR g-dau These people lived at Blanco, but I don't think there is anything there anymore. You can find it on the topographical maps at http:/www.topozone.com/ and at the 1:25,000 scale the maps will show surrounding cemeteries. Whisenant, McDaniel and Snowball are some that are close, there is also one that doesn't show a name just to the west of Blanco. Which Clemons are you looking for and when? Do you know the parents for the above children? LaMyra

Jim I'm not familiar with the Blanco area but James Johnson who is on the list is our authority on Searcy Co., James also has some books he has published that you might want to ask him about. Contact him at: James Johnston johnston@ipa.net Ann ----- Original Message ----- From: <JMCordone@aol.com> To: <ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 26, 2000 9:11 AM Subject: [ARSEARCY] addresses > I am researching the Clemons Family in Blanco, Searcy County. I am having > trouble with some lookups because Blanco is not listed as a city in Arkansas. > If I am looking for information in Blanco what city do I look under? > > I am trying to find out what cemeteries are in Blanco. I am trying to find > out were the Clemons are buried. I am also interested in any names of > historical books on Blanco or Searcy County. > Thanks, > Jill M. Cordone > >

On page 43 of 1880 Searcy Census there is an entry for Thomas Jones age 63,living in household is Sarah Martin age 43 with child Wm. W. age 8. This is is St Joe Twsp. Is anyone familiar with this household? Mary

I am researching the Clemons Family in Blanco, Searcy County. I am having trouble with some lookups because Blanco is not listed as a city in Arkansas. If I am looking for information in Blanco what city do I look under? I am trying to find out what cemeteries are in Blanco. I am trying to find out were the Clemons are buried. I am also interested in any names of historical books on Blanco or Searcy County. Thanks, Jill M. Cordone

Hello, I would also be interested in the stories you have of life there. My ancestors lived in Searcy and in surrounding counties. Mary Birge

Heads up everyone good news. Judy Oldziewsk has consented to give us a Searcy county story each night starting tomorrow night. I'm sure you are all looking forward to this as much as I am. For those of you who are not interested there will only be one story each night and all you have to do is hit "delete". If you are like me you get so much junk mail "spam" that I'm really good with the delete key. Good night and sweet dreams to all, Searcy County Story Time is almost here. Ann

Just want to say thanks to everyone for all the positive imput on my "Carrying the Mail" story. I didn't realize it would have such a general appeal. I am glad I sent it. At least one person asked if more stories are available in book form. Actually what I have are about 6-8 hours of casette tapes of my grandparents, Toby Lonzo (born 1886) and Mary Ellen Harness Holsted (born 1889). I have transcribed three of the tapes. They tend to relate to my family but also have things that would probably be of general interest regarding the way of life in Searcy County.I am happy to share them with the understanding that they are under copyright because I do plan to include them in a family history I am writing. They are fairly long, 4-5 pages each. If the list wishes I can copy and paste and send them directly to the list. If that seems to be too much because of the length then I will be happy to do the same thing and send them to anyone who requests them. Maybe the list owner can decide let me know. I can use "stories" as the subject and then anyone not interested can just know to delete. One tells about the building of the "Dinky Train" from Leslie up to about highway 27 in the around 1907-1910. One is my grandma telling about raising ducks and geese and chickens. The other is about Lemuel Holsted being killed in the Civil War. It goes on to tell just how bad things were for the families after the war was over. Again a fair amount of general interest material. Let me know Judy

Is Witt Springs in Searcy County? That is where my Dad, James Robert Arms was born. Diana

I for one would be very interested in the stories as they pertain to the area I am reasearching. Even if they do not have any of my ancestors names in the stories it would be interesting to know what kind of work was there and what drove them west to OK. Thank you DdHober <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/d2hober/civilwar.htm">Civil War Resources On The Net </A> <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/d2hober/recipes.htm">Dees Recipes & Recipe Exchange</A>

Sent to me by a friend, Thought someone might like it. Dortha Source and/or original author unknown] Dear Cousin, In response to your letter, I am sorry to inform you that grandpa "Fred" died some time back and the stuff you asked about is not available. The personal property the family did not want was sold at an estate sale. All those boxes of junk did not interest a single buyer. We were able to salvage several binders for the kids homework after we sent all the paper to the incinerator. The kids really complained about having to lug all that paper and pictures of those ugly old folks to the dumpster. An old family Bible from the 1840's did bring $ 5.00. The one from the 1870's did not sell. There also was a bunch of floppy disks that we were able to reformat and download some games for the kids to play on their new playstation. At least SOMEBODY got some good from the three generations work. I saw the fellow at a flea market a couple of weeks ago and he said he threw the Bible in the trash after nobody was interested in it. He said he got an offer for fifty cents for it, but would rather burn it than give it away. He seemed to be having a lot of success with some of the very nice Elvis paintings at his booth. The two aunts you asked about are also dead. They were such a delight and could talk all day long about the things papa had written about. I remember them saying something about some records that were copied from two courthouses that later burned. Neither ever wrote down a single thing. The letter you referred to was one he typed up and sent to lots of folks who wrote him. He laughed about them never getting any of his hardwork as well as his Fathers and Grandfather who was in the Civil War. He guarded all the information carefully to the bitter end. I wish I could remember some of the things to help you, but I was bored to tears listening to them talk about the family members who were in the civil war and those silly pieces of paper he showed so proudly. I vaguely remember they had some beeswax seals and something to do with the land grants that were destroyed in the courthouse fires. I wish I could remember the story about his grandfathers evening with Jefferson Davis when he was on the run. There are also some very juicy stories that were handed down, but I don't remember them very well. Another thing I remember after he got sick was some fellow calling him and he agreed to let him come down and copy all his material. He told him he would call him back when he felt better. Papa mentioned something about letting the society the man was from have all his work since nobody in the family cared anything about a bunch of people who had been dead for 200 years. Papa died the next week. I am so sorry papa and the two generations wasted so much of their life on such worthless hobbies and hope your family will follow something more interesting. We enjoy Bingo and bowling very much here in Pleasantville. I really enjoyed hearing from a long lost cousin and would like to hear back if you find anything important. The kids need the computer for their games and I need to watch the "Millionaire" show. Thank you, Cuz, Tammy Jean

What do the abbreviations MCAR and SCAR mean? I'm a descendant of James and Agnes (Wilson) Adams, and have an online database with many of their descendants at: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=hightowr It is interesting to see this information about Matthew and Catherine Ferguson having children. The book by Leona Adams Loviska doesn't mention any children born to their union. I'm interested in learning more about descendants of the Adams family. My online database has many Searcy Co., AR family connections (mostly to the Bratton and Hamm families). Tony Rockefeller

Judy thanks so much for sharing the wonderful story you have written. My grandfather E. I. Bohannon would have carried the mail before 1919 since it was before he and grandmother Effie Savage married in 1919. These are some of the things that must be preserved as it really brings the ancestors who lived long ago into real people not just names and dates. Ann ----- Original Message ----- From: Judy Oldziewski <harness75@earthlink.net> To: <ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2000 1:54 AM Subject: [ARSEARCY] carrying the mail upon the mountain > Thought this might be of interest to some of you. Judy > > CARRYING THE MAIL > > In about 1928 the government put out for bid a mail route that ran from > the Imo Post office to > the Bear Creek Post Office. My grandfather, Toby Lonzo Holsted, who > lived near Welcome > Home at the time, bid $30 a month and got the route. In order to qualify > he had to get five men > to sign a bond for him so in the event he took something from the mail > these men would be > responsible and have to repay the government. The Imo post office was > located about one mile > from the Welcome Home school house on Hwy 27. The post office was > orginally named Atlas > but there was another Atlas post office in Arkansas so the government > sent word for them to > change the name of the post office because the mail was getting mixed > up. Luther Phillips, who > was the postmaster at the time, had a niece named Imogene and he called > the post office Imo > after her. Old Man Hollaway was the postmaster before Luther. Luther was > his nephew and > took over from him when he was unable to continue as postmaster. The > post office was just a > small one room building and the postmaster lived in his house just a > short distance away. The > mail route ran along Hwy 27 three or four miles and then at what was > known as the low gap the > route cut off . It continued along what was known as the low gap road. > The first six or seven > miles of the road were just hills, not really steep. Then just about one > mile past the Oak Hill > school house near where Arney and Matt Ward lived the road started down > the mountain. It > was really steep in places. The entire route was about 10-12 miles > long. About the last five > miles were straight down the mountain to Bear Creek, and on the return > trip, it was five miles up > the mountain. It took at least 5-6 hours most days to ride the route > both ways. And they did > indeed ride. No cars or pickups back then. Although my grandfather did > the bidding it was > mostly my dad, Arlin Holsted, who carried the mail. He was about 15 when > he started and did it > for about 4 years. They used a horse at first and then later got a mule > named Bert because he > was more sure footed on the steep roads. As Dad started down the > mountain he would have to > get off and walk because it was too steep to ride, he did the same thing > on the way back up as > he got near the top of the mountain. My grandmother, Mary Ellen Harness > Holsted, also carried > the mail a few times, but after they got the mule she refused to do it > because the mule was mean. > My dad started at the Imo Post Office and took the few letters that > people had mailed there on > to the Bear Creek Post Office. Then as he went along the route he picked > up the mail "pokes". > These were simply small cloth bags that had the names on them. They were > called pokes > because that is the old English name for a cloth bag. We have all heard > about buying 'a pig in a > poke' meaning buying something sight unseen. This area was very isolated > and many of the > eighteenth century English words survived unchanged by modern usage > until the 1940's and > 50's. Each family had a specific place for their poke to hang, usually a > post or even a tree limb. > There were no mail boxes. Families might live a half mile or more down > in a canyon or up the > mountain from where the poke was left. It had to be left on the route > so it could be picked up > and brought back. The pokes would not have much in them going to Bear > Creek, just a few > letters usually. There were maybe 15-20 families along the route. > Several families of Wards and > Hortons, Lathams, Thompsons, Suggs, Robert Housley, Lonnie and Walter > Holsted among > others. At the post office in Bear Creek, which was located on Hwy 27, > the pokes were given > to the postmaster who emptied them and refilled them with whatever mail > each family had. The > route was then repeated in the other direction and each poke was > returned to its usual place with > its mail. This route was done three days a week on Monday, Thursday and > Saturday. At least > once or twice a month Dad had to take the hack (a hack is just a little > bigger than a buggy) > because there would be a big load of mail order catalogs to deliver and > they were heavy. > Because there were no stores in the area, everyone ordered from > catalogs, especially women's > clothes. The packages mailed in response to the catalog orders were > delivered in the same > manner as other mail. When he used the hack he took the same route up > and down the > mountain. The road was just wide enough for a wagon or hack to get > through. Even though there > were two mules pulling the hack he would still have to get out and walk > on the steepest parts. > Going up the mountain he would also have to stop and let the mules rest > on the way to the top. > There were a couple of places where the road crossed Bear Creek and > Crooked Branch > Creek. There were not any bridges so the creeks had to be forded at a > low place. This was the > case both riding and driving the hack. The route had to be done no > matter what the weather. > Dad says he carried the mail at least once when it was 20 degrees below > zero. When it was > really cold, he would stop at Arney Ward's house and warm up before > finishing the route. > > If this sounds like an incredible amount of work for a very small > amount of money remember > this was just as the depression started and $30 was a lot of cash money. > There were families > who didn't make over $100 cash money for the entire year. This was > really a very good job to > have at that time from the money standpoint. > > Compiled by Judy Holsted Oldziewski from conversations with Toby Lonzo > Holsted, Mary > Ellen Harness Holsted and mostly Arlin Holsted. Copyright 1997. > > The communities listed in the above story are all located in Searcy > County, Arkansas. The > nearest town is Marshall, which is also the county seat. All the post > offices are long gone and the > Welcome Home school house is now a country store. > >

Hi Ann, I'm sure this is before your dad's time but is there any recollection of any Kelley's in Bear Creek? I have Kelley's on the 1900 and 1910 Bear Creek census, then they migrated to OK about 1918. I know a good deal about them already but it is always fun to pick up new tid bits. Some names in particular are: John T.(Thomas) & Sarah E. (Lizzie), Nancy, Jabus Henderson & Cloud, and James C. Thanks, Celeste Hi Raymond, I called dad (Alton Bohannon) who was born at Bear Creek (on birth certificate) and asked him where Bear Creek was. Dad & my grandfather E. I. Bohannon took me to where the Bear Creek post office was and dad couldn't recall the exact location either. This was maybe 40 years ago and the old post office was still there and a rock wall also. The best that dad could recall is it was near where Mert Bohannon, Riley Harness & William Cooper lived. Dad said the post office might have even been on the Cooper property.

Thought this might be of interest to some of you. Judy CARRYING THE MAIL In about 1928 the government put out for bid a mail route that ran from the Imo Post office to the Bear Creek Post Office. My grandfather, Toby Lonzo Holsted, who lived near Welcome Home at the time, bid $30 a month and got the route. In order to qualify he had to get five men to sign a bond for him so in the event he took something from the mail these men would be responsible and have to repay the government. The Imo post office was located about one mile from the Welcome Home school house on Hwy 27. The post office was orginally named Atlas but there was another Atlas post office in Arkansas so the government sent word for them to change the name of the post office because the mail was getting mixed up. Luther Phillips, who was the postmaster at the time, had a niece named Imogene and he called the post office Imo after her. Old Man Hollaway was the postmaster before Luther. Luther was his nephew and took over from him when he was unable to continue as postmaster. The post office was just a small one room building and the postmaster lived in his house just a short distance away. The mail route ran along Hwy 27 three or four miles and then at what was known as the low gap the route cut off . It continued along what was known as the low gap road. The first six or seven miles of the road were just hills, not really steep. Then just about one mile past the Oak Hill school house near where Arney and Matt Ward lived the road started down the mountain. It was really steep in places. The entire route was about 10-12 miles long. About the last five miles were straight down the mountain to Bear Creek, and on the return trip, it was five miles up the mountain. It took at least 5-6 hours most days to ride the route both ways. And they did indeed ride. No cars or pickups back then. Although my grandfather did the bidding it was mostly my dad, Arlin Holsted, who carried the mail. He was about 15 when he started and did it for about 4 years. They used a horse at first and then later got a mule named Bert because he was more sure footed on the steep roads. As Dad started down the mountain he would have to get off and walk because it was too steep to ride, he did the same thing on the way back up as he got near the top of the mountain. My grandmother, Mary Ellen Harness Holsted, also carried the mail a few times, but after they got the mule she refused to do it because the mule was mean. My dad started at the Imo Post Office and took the few letters that people had mailed there on to the Bear Creek Post Office. Then as he went along the route he picked up the mail "pokes". These were simply small cloth bags that had the names on them. They were called pokes because that is the old English name for a cloth bag. We have all heard about buying 'a pig in a poke' meaning buying something sight unseen. This area was very isolated and many of the eighteenth century English words survived unchanged by modern usage until the 1940's and 50's. Each family had a specific place for their poke to hang, usually a post or even a tree limb. There were no mail boxes. Families might live a half mile or more down in a canyon or up the mountain from where the poke was left. It had to be left on the route so it could be picked up and brought back. The pokes would not have much in them going to Bear Creek, just a few letters usually. There were maybe 15-20 families along the route. Several families of Wards and Hortons, Lathams, Thompsons, Suggs, Robert Housley, Lonnie and Walter Holsted among others. At the post office in Bear Creek, which was located on Hwy 27, the pokes were given to the postmaster who emptied them and refilled them with whatever mail each family had. The route was then repeated in the other direction and each poke was returned to its usual place with its mail. This route was done three days a week on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. At least once or twice a month Dad had to take the hack (a hack is just a little bigger than a buggy) because there would be a big load of mail order catalogs to deliver and they were heavy. Because there were no stores in the area, everyone ordered from catalogs, especially women's clothes. The packages mailed in response to the catalog orders were delivered in the same manner as other mail. When he used the hack he took the same route up and down the mountain. The road was just wide enough for a wagon or hack to get through. Even though there were two mules pulling the hack he would still have to get out and walk on the steepest parts. Going up the mountain he would also have to stop and let the mules rest on the way to the top. There were a couple of places where the road crossed Bear Creek and Crooked Branch Creek. There were not any bridges so the creeks had to be forded at a low place. This was the case both riding and driving the hack. The route had to be done no matter what the weather. Dad says he carried the mail at least once when it was 20 degrees below zero. When it was really cold, he would stop at Arney Ward's house and warm up before finishing the route. If this sounds like an incredible amount of work for a very small amount of money remember this was just as the depression started and $30 was a lot of cash money. There were families who didn't make over $100 cash money for the entire year. This was really a very good job to have at that time from the money standpoint. Compiled by Judy Holsted Oldziewski from conversations with Toby Lonzo Holsted, Mary Ellen Harness Holsted and mostly Arlin Holsted. Copyright 1997. The communities listed in the above story are all located in Searcy County, Arkansas. The nearest town is Marshall, which is also the county seat. All the post offices are long gone and the Welcome Home school house is now a country store.

I'm having a bit of a problem here, Judy. Maybe you can help me out. In 1850 Stacy Suter aged 32 is in Campbell Township with Greenberry 13, Robert 12, Matthew 10, William Edward 8, Syntha 6, Mary Ann 4, and Nice Jane 2. In 1860 she's in Red River Township, still called Stacy Suter, aged 40 with William Edward 18, Syntha 17, Nice Jane 12, Sarah 8, James 6, Arvilla 4, Franklin 2. In 1860 all of them are b AR. The older kids, presumably married by now, aren't in the 1860. She's not in the SCAR 1870 nor 1880 nor are any of her kids. What happened to James Waterson (who's not listed in any census 1850-1880)? To have his kids before 1860, she must have married him in the 1850s. But his 4 kids are called "Suter" not "Waterson" in the 1860. Where did all the kids go? They're not spelling their name Sooter 'cuz there aren't any Sooters in any of the 1850-1880 SCAR census. Gee, all I wanted to do was fill in the data on Stacy and list her marriages and kids in Big Blue II. And all it got me was confusion. 'Preciate anything you can do to clear up this mess. Mysty shakerag@mtnhome.com "Genealogy without documentation is mythology"

Hi Raymond, I called dad (Alton Bohannon) who was born at Bear Creek (on birth certificate) and asked him where Bear Creek was. Dad & my grandfather E. I. Bohannon took me to where the Bear Creek post office was and dad couldn't recall the exact location either. This was maybe 40 years ago and the old post office was still there and a rock wall also. The best that dad could recall is it was near where Mert Bohannon, Riley Harness & William Cooper lived. Dad said the post office might have even been on the Cooper property. The location is as you are going south on hwy. 27 where it starts up the mountain is where the post office was. Now if I haven't totally confused everyone on the list maybe someone else will step forward and get us all straightened out. Raymond, dad says that your Griffin family lived at Snowball which was referred to as lower Bear Creek and the Bohannon's lived at upper Bear Creek because that's where it starts up the mountain. Grandpa used to tell of delivering mail to the post offices wish I knew how to find out what years this was. I know it was on horseback. He picked it up at a main post office (maybe Marshall) and delivered it to little post offices like Bear Creek. Ann ----- Original Message ----- From: Raymond Savage <rcsavage@intplsrv.net> To: <ARSEARCY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 4:25 PM Subject: [ARSEARCY] Bear Creek > Does anyone know where Bear Creek was located? This would have > been a populated place and not the creek itself. My grandfather, Eli > Griffin, was born there. Thanks. Raymond > >