Sorry if I confused you. My GGMa was not at the doctor's house, she was at her own house which must have been close by since they heard the horses coming. After I found out GGGMa's name, I found a Nancy Williams (age 35) in the 1870 census with a Catherine Rodgers (age 68) living with her. I think this is probably the right Nancy Williams. It says that Mary is 4 in 1870 and I had her as being born in 1864 which would have made her 6 but my date may have been wrong. I would really like to hear from anyone who has any more info on this family. Thanks, cindy ----- Original Message ----- From: "D.K. Pritchett" <dkp@southernmuse.com> To: <GAMURRAY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 11:34 AM Subject: Re: [MURRAY] help > There is an old newspaper story. There may be some > truth to your family legend, though it is hard to know > if is has been embellished over time. The KKK is not > mentioned in the article. The MCH mentions two > speculative theories about the fire, both being > accidental in nature. However, KKK activity might not > have been advertised, or might not have been widely > known. > > I have the "Murray Co. Heritage," and it has the > article on the 1899 fire from the "Spring Place > Jimplecute" [May 12 edition] and other related facts > [MCH pp.101-103]. Be prepared for a gory description > if you read the article. It was written in the popular > style of that era. According to the story, Dr. Bagwell > was well respected, noble, friendly, etc. He must have > been a member of Spring Place Lodge--the masonic > fraternity conducted graveside services. [This might > be worth investigating--KKK might be known to cloak > their group identity under masonic legitimacy--if so > that would provide a clue. I don't know any real > detail about KKK history. The masons are well > established and respected. They would be loath to have > their name connected to the klan.] > > According to the article, the young doctor's wife had > recently died, but it doesn't appear as if they were > from "up north." It says that they had moved to Spring > Place "less than six years ago" from Pickens County. > If they had previously moved to Pickens County from > "up north," it doesn't say so. "Mrs. Williams," the > housekeeper, burned to death, with the doctor, his > baby, and his two other children. Survivors of the > fire were Frank Williams, who later moved to Texas, > and a Dr. John Gilbert. 1000 people attended the > funeral. > > There was no mention of a woman having escaped the > fire. Of course, if she hid, she might have escaped > notice. If she had been known to be living there, > there would have been a search party, but maybe she > was visiting instead of living there. Dr. Gilbert and > Frank Williams, the survivors, probably would have > known of her, though, and nothing is mentioned; so, > you have a puzzle on your hands. > > Perhaps the fire was written up in other papers as > well. > > dkp > > Visit Southern Muse: > http://www.southernmuse.com > > > --- br549 <br549@prodigy.net> wrote: > > You guys have been so helpful so far, now I need > > more help. An aunt has > > relayed a story and I need someone who has access to > > Murray Co. history to > > check it out for me. > > > > A young doctor and his wife from "up north" moved to > > Murray County around > > 1897-1901. They either brought a baby with them or > > the young woman gave > > birth there. The young woman died and my GGGMa > > Williams (?) moved in with > > the young doctor to keep his house and take care of > > the baby. GGGMa was a > > Cherokee. A spokesman for the KKK visited the young > > doctor and told him to > > get rid of the Indian. He refused. The Klan > > visited him 3 times and told > > him to get rid of GGGMa but he refused. My GMa was > > about 9 yrs old and said > > she could remember hearing the horses coming up the > > road. The Klan > > surrounded the doctors house and again demanded that > > he throw out the Indian > > and again he refused. The Klan set fire to the > > house and killed the doctor, > > the baby and my GGGMa. She would have been 50ish. > > > > My GGMa was in her mid 30's and hid in a cave so the > > Klan wouldn't kill her. > > She hid in a barrel when they loaded up and left > > Murray Co. GGMa's name was > > Mary Elizabeth Williams and she was married to > > Samuel James Springfield. It > > appears that they were in Atlanta in June 1898 and > > in Texas in 1901 but I > > can't be certain. My aunt says the reason I can't > > find any records on Mary > > Elizabeth is because she was Cherokee and just > > assumed the name to pass for > > white. > > > > Can anyone help me verify this story? It almost > > sounds so bizarre I think > > it might be true. Also, I think I read somewhere > > that there is a Murray > > County history book. Is that so and how could I get > > one? Thanks to you > > all, cindy moore > > > > > > > > > > ==== GAMURRAY Mailing List ==== > > --- Author Retains Copyright --- > > -- Copyright 2002 Author -- All Rights Reserved > > Post to List: GAMURRAY-L@rootsweb.com > > http://www.selfroots.com > > Unsubscribe request To: > > GAMURRAY-L-request@rootsweb.com > > ARCHIVES: > > http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl > > > > > > > ==== GAMURRAY Mailing List ==== > --- Author Retains Copyright --- > -- Copyright 2002 Author -- All Rights Reserved > Post to List: GAMURRAY-L@rootsweb.com http://www.selfroots.com > Unsubscribe request To: GAMURRAY-L-request@rootsweb.com > ARCHIVES: http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl >