A cousin found these letters in the Anderson County, KY library. They are from an Anna Belle Munday of Topeka, Kansas who is related to our Craig line. The letters make interesting readin but also contain family clues. If any of this looks familiar to anyone .... please let me know for this whole discussion in these 3 letters is about our Craig line from John W. Craig & Elizabeth Huffman in Rockbridge County, VA on to Garrard, Mercer, Anderson & Woodford Counties of KY... some on to Putnam County, IN and points west. ... thanks GDC Gary--I know you have been in correspondence with some of the Mundys in Kansas, so I thought I would send you the text of three letters I found in the Anderson County Public Library. Charlie--These letters are the reason for my re-examining the Powell Family connection. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Topeka, Kansas April 10, 1968 Dear Mr. Shely, Thank you so very much for answering my letter so promptly, and for the items you mentioned. Yes I believe you will be able to help me. My money is limited. I love doing genealogy work so much that I do extra ironing for the expense part. I am sending a family group sheet so that you will have a clearer understanding of what I need. I am just tracing our direct lines as far as possible and gathering as much data on the children as I can. When you get this far it gets harder and one has to do a lot of guess work. I think I would like a photo copy of the will of John Craig. I feel quite certain that he is our 3rd great grandfather. His sons being Frederick, John and Lindsey and perhaps the William mentioned. It looks as though Frederick was married twice since Lucinda was his wife in 1850 and he had married her in 1846. You may work on this for about 4 hours this time. Thank you. Sincerely, Anna Belle Mundy P.S. Is there anything I can look for you in the Kansas Census? We have 1855 - 1925. Newspapers from all over Kansas If we decide that Frederick Craig is my right line, will need the marriage recrods and etc. on his children. Also the same for Jesse Schrimsher. John and James married girls who were born in Ky. Fred married a girl born in Indiana, his marriage record may be in Indiana. A John Craig, son of or brother of Fred Jr. had a cousin visit him in Kansas from Kentucky in 1909. His name was Powell. Hugh was not in the 1860 Johnson County Census. So he may have moved directly to Missouri from Kentucky. I have ordered the Lafayette Co. Missouri census for 1870. I hope I have given you enough clues so you won't have to spend much time. I can only afford a few hours right now. Thank You. Are there any Scrimshires living there now? (Note from Amalie--you will remember that Nancy Schrimsher was girl next door to Bonnie Hahn's Owen County Craigs.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Topeka, Kansas April 25, 1968 Dear Mr. Shely: Thank you for letting me know of the delay in your research for me. I have a little clue I thought I might pass on to you. While reading a newspaper dated 24 March 1890 I saw this item as follows: "John Craig is enjoying a visit from his cousin Mr. Powell from Kentucky." This John Craig was a son of James Harvey Craig and Nancy Schrimshire. He, John, was living near Burlingame where they settled in 1877 (Burlingame, Kansas). A William D. Powel age 14 was living with Frederick Craig Sr. and his wife Lucinda Hunter (in 1850 Anderson County Census) and family, Frederick Jr. age 24. I believe Frederick Sr. to be the father of James Harvey Craig. So this lets me know that the Powells were related. There may be a Craig-Powell marriage. I found the marriage date of Lindsey Craig and Mary Robertson March 26, 1834. I'm guessing that Llindsey is a younger brother of Frederick. I believe I will send for the will you mentioned of John Craig. This may help in my search. Sincerely, Mrs. Thomas William Mundy 922 Pinecrest Drive Topeka, Kansas 66605 P.S. I have other lines in Kentucky. Ballards Don't know where yet. McPhersons Was there somewhere 1824-1827 Rollins Bourbon Co., Ky. 1830 Dockins 1820-1840? George -Wife may have been Sarah Rutledge Do you have a Historical Library there? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Topeka, Kansas May 19, 1968 Dear Mr. Shely, Thought I should write again to let you know I have a copy now of the will of John Craig and the marriage date of James Harvey Craig and Nancy Scrimshire in Owen Co., Ky. The date 4 March 1851. Am sending a family group sheet of Frederick Craig Sr. You can see that I am just guessing at some things by what I can gather from the will and the census. Frederick Craig Sr. had 6 children in 1830 by 1840 he had lost the girl (oldest) and gained a little son. This is probably Hugh. We found out that there was an uncle Hugh living in Missouri in the early 1900's. John's will mentions a Henry Huffman. I found him in the Anderson Co. Census, but he didn't seem to have wife. Just children Wilkerson 25, Mary 23, Wyatt 19, Pleasant 17, Maria J. 1 all born Kentucky. He is probably a son-in-law of John. There was Frederick and William Sr. Frederick Jr. and Elizabeth Tindal I am guessing this to be Frederick Jr.'s daughter as I find John and Elizabeth in the census of the right age. A Frederick Huffman leaves a will in kGarrard Co. Book A page 200. It mentions Frederick and Elizabeth Craig and Henry Huffman. Also a son-in-law John Craig. I think there is a connection also with Richard Wheat of that area. When the Craigs came to Lyon County they settled on the Dick Wheat Farm. Perhaps the Wheat family came here first. John, Fred, and James were all in Johnson County, Indiana in 1860 then to Missouri about 1870 and in Kansas by 1880. What I would like to have is marriage dates for the family and it possible, death dates for those who stayed there. Do you have newspapers for 1909? I was wondering if there might be a notice there when James died 10 March 1909. I wasn't able to find one here, although I found one on Nancy, 20 July 1901 and 7 of 8 children. Sincerely, Mrs. Thomas Mundy HAPPY READING (Scott Co. 1840 Scrimshire, John T." 1 male under 5; 1 male 15--20; ?Is this John's son 1 male 20--30; 2 females under 5, 1 female 15--20. Owen County, 1850: #571--Scrimsher, Jesse A--farmer 44--Ky. Malinda--35--Ky. Robert--7--Ky. Elizabeth--5--Ky. Nancy--3--Ky. Thomas--2--Ky. Sarah--3/12--Ky. #613--Oliver, Nancy--66--N.C. Schrimsher, Nancy--19--Ky. This is our Nancy Craig I believe she is the daughter of Jesse, living with her maternal grandmother? Notice James and Nancy's first child was born in Franklin County, Ky. I had Mrs. James W. Wolcott work on this a few hours and she sent what I have so far. But was unable to find my James Harvey Craig as a single person. I feel he should be somewhere in either Anderson, Owen, or Franklin. Perhaps working away from home. Had hoped to find him at home with family. Nancy's daughter (Tom's grandmother Meranda Belle) named her children Fred, Daniel, Henry, Evard, nancy Elizabeth, Jesse Lee, George Clark, Besse Mae, Harry Henly, Hugh Marion, James Zippy, and Thomas Ellis. And you will notice the familiar names in the James H. Craig children. Thought this might help you to determine who belongs to whom? This James Harvey Craig was in Indiana by 1857.) Gary D. Craig garygdc@worldnet.att.net