Could someone tell me when the town of Murray was formed and if the town was named after someone? I would also like to know some history about the town. Thank you. Pat ________________________________________________________________ Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today Only $9.95 per month! Visit www.juno.com

Hello list, Can anyone tell me if Bill Utterback is still the list sponsor and if so, what is his email address? Thanks -- John B. Summers Houston, Texas l

Hello list, I am a new subscriber to the list. I am trying to collect information on two of my distant cousins, John Francis Marion Summers, died 1929 and A.H. (Bert) Summers, died sometime in the late 1960's. I understand that John was buried in Sinking Springs Cemetery. Thanks very much, John -- John B. Summers Houston, Texas http://www.hal-pc.org/~jbsum/family/history.html

My friends - Over the past couple of weeks, on various lists which I host, there have been postings appear which are off-topic and are, therefore, in violation of the list guidelines which are in place, and which all subscribers receive when they subscribe to one of the lists. Given the fact that we are currently living in very uncertain times, on a worldwide scale, and all of us are perhaps a little "on-edge" as to what may be facing us in the weeks to come, I think now is a good time to restate these guidelines, and remind all of us that they are in place, and are there for a reason. There are major national issues - some of them very controversial - before all of us right now, and they are all important, but they are not for our discussion or debate here. First, we do try to stay focused and "on-topic". For the JacksonPurchase-L List, "on-topic" means discussion about the history and genealogy of the families of the 8 counties in the region which carried the JP name. We do not discuss other counties in KY, TN or IL, except perhaps in a passing reference noting that a family may have lived in some other county before moving into, or after leaving, the JP region. For the county lists, "on-topic" means discussion of families and historical aspects of the individual counties themselves. Stories and other family "lore" need to go to the KYJacksonPurchase-Lore-L List, which was created for that purpose. Discussions about current national issues, or current religious or political subject matter, are off-topic. Second, virus warnings should not be posted to the lists. About 98% of them have turned out to be hoaxes over the years. If someone has a concern about a virus situation that he/she deems so critical that it is felt it should be posted to a list, send the information to me. I will investigate it, and if it proves to be an immanent danger, I will post the warning myself. Third, we try to stay away from "chatting" on the lists. This is perhaps a little more critical on a larger list, such as the JP List, but it can sometimes occur on smaller lists, as well. Once a posting has been made inquiring about a surname or individual, further back-and-forth conversation between contacts that are made should be done via private e-mail. We have built up an enormous "contact network" among the various county lists, and within the JP List especially, as is evidenced by the "thank-you" posts we see from time to time, reflecting that folks are always willing to help, and we have a lot of family expertise among the subscribers on these lists. I encourage the postings of surnames on which our subscribers are working, about every three months, so that new subscribers can contact, by private e-mail, those folks who are working on the same families. Additionally, we have the JP Surnames website, which contains the e-mail addresses of individuals cross-referenced to the family surnames on which they are working, which should also be a primary source to consult from time to time. The URL for that is: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kyjpsurnames/ I do over to that site fairly frequently myself. I think it is a great resource. If you do not have your address posted there, and would like to have it included, there is a link to the webmaster on the main page. The information can be sent to her and she will get it posted. Finally, there is a hard, set-in-stone guideline which prohibits "flaming" - the posting of inflammatory, critical, insulting, obscene/pornographic or personal attacks on a list. The same is true for such messages sent privately to list subscribers as a result of posts which a subscriber has made to a list. If a subscriber receives such a message from another subscriber in private e-mail, that message should be sent to me - please do not respond to it yourself - and I will deal with it. Those who engage in deliberate flaming will be removed from the list(s) and will not be allowed to return. We have far too many good things that need doing, and flaming does absolutely nothing good at all. We have very little of this sort of thing that occurs, and, often, when it does occur, it was due to circumstances in which the actual subscriber may not have even sent the message, in cases where others have access to the computer in question. If cases of flaming do appear, please let me deal with it - and I *will* do so as quickly as it comes to my attention. Please do not send messages of outrage to the poster - or to the list - the person being "lambasted" may not be the individual who sent the offending message. These guidelines are generally those used by most RootsWeb based list hosts. They are not, in my view, "hard-nosed" or restrictive, but rather just some common sense things we need to do to maintain, and continue to have, productive and on-topic and focused postings. I am always open to suggestions or thoughts about these, as long as they are constructive and presented in a thoughtful, diplomatic manner. That's the "reminder notice" for this quarter - let's get back to what we do best - hunting down elusive forebears. -B ====================================================================

My friends - Today, we are returning to Calloway County to continue our review of the 1878 Vital Statistics birth records. Subscribers to the JP and Calloway lists can obtain the full dataset for a birth shown in the listing below by sending a request to me. These datasets usually include the date of birth, gender of the child if not obvious, name of the father and maiden name of the mother and where each was born. As always, your continuing assistance in not resending this entire message back to me with the request is appreciated. Tomorrow, we will move over to Fulton Co. -B +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Calloway County - Vital Statistics Records - Births - 1878 - Supplemental - Part 10-S (M)=Male (F)=Female (NGG)=No Gender Given (AA)=African-American Skinner, Luvencia | Skinner Temperance | twins Stone, Alex P. Pogue, ------ (F) Craig, Victor E. Farmer, Ada N. Doores, William J. Starks, ------ (M) Duncan, Walter Carnel, James H. Davis, N.A.E. (F) Farmer, Florence Christenberry, E.R. (M) Wells,Jesse M. Scarbrough, Ada Myers, ------ (M) Williams, ------ (F) Broach, Joseph Lanier, Mancil M. Broach, L.M. (F) Robertson, Samuel Eaves, Thomas L. Robertson, Ula Armstrong, Cooper Farless, Louisa Story, Noah L. Wallace, Bettie Jenkins, William Hale, Minnie A. Robertson, Samuel Hughes, Martha E. Jenkins, Joseph E. Brandon, Robert P. ~to be continued~ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If, you have not already heard the news, the Kentucky Historical Society is again looking for a new director. As a member of the historical society, and a patron who spends several hours at the facility each week, I'm concerned with the direction the society seems to be taking. A couple of years ago the historical society moved into a new facility which ranks at the top or very near the top of the finest research facilities in the country. Unfortunately, since the move to the new building it appears as though our membership has dropped! In the time that I have been using the library, never once have I seen any mention of the Kentucky Historical Society, its library, or the many services that are provided in ANY of the genealogical magazines that I have and do continue to subscribe too. I have attended conferences, and seminars outside the state in which we should at the very least be represented by a speaker! It seems for whatever reason we are a very well kept secret! Interest in our society needs to be revived! It seems as though the time has come for a director who wants the society to grow and expand. I for one would like to see not only the first floor of the library stack area filled with books, but also the addition of a second floor! The last director was brought in from out of state, which to me doesn't make a lot of sense. It is time that the director of the historical society is a Kentuckian, with knowledge of the history of the state, a vast knowledge of the genealogical holdings within the state, the ability to understand the needs of genealogical, and historical researchers, and the ability to work with our state legislature for the benefit of the society. I wish to nominate Mr. Ron D. Bryant as the new director of the Kentucky Historical Society. Ron D. Bryant not only has seventeen years of experience with the library, is a ninth generation Kentuckian, but is also extremely knowledgeable of the history and genealogical holdings in Kentucky. He is a noted librarian and lecturer on Kentucky, having written over eighty articles, and is the author of Kentucky History - An Annotated Bibliography published in 2000. If Ron D. Bryant becomes director of the historical society, he has stated that he will continue to help patrons with their research in the library. He believes that the director needs to be aware of the patrons needs, and that we must increase our membership. As I mentioned above, I wish to nominate Ron D. Bryant for this position, but I can't do so with your help. If, you agree with me, please send letters to the following gentlemen advising them to name Ron D. Bryant Director of the Kentucky Historical Society: Selection Committee c/o Mr. Walter Baker 917 S. Green Street Glasgow, KY 42141-2086 Selection Committee c/o Mr. Richard L. Taylor 335 Holt Lane Frankfort, KY 40601 Selection Committee c/o Mr. Thomas D. Clark 175 Kentucky Ave. Lexington, KY 40502 Many thanks for your help. Shelby A. Williams

Has anyone put the 1930 Calloway Co. KY Census into book form? Thanks, Kevin Miller

Hello, I am researching the Bourland surname in Calloway Co KY. I am looking for Samuel Bourland in the 1840 Calloway Co Census with wife Lucinda and children. At least two children would have been on there, Franklin Carroll Bourland b. 1834 Calloway Co KY and Francis Marion Bourland born 1840 Calloway Co KY but I think there were two other females under age of 10. Can someone check this for me??? A big thank you in advace!!! Julie Hamilton gingerbredgirl@hotmail.com PS..Samuel was the son of William Bourland and Anna Mathis.

My friends - Today is our usual point in the week for non-data posts. I am bringing the second biography from the 1922 five volume work, "History of Kentucky" to the List today. Our subject is Dr. Ben Butler Keys, a member of one of the pioneer families of Calloway County, and a distant kinsman of mine. His brother, Dr. Richard Keys, was the first doctor I had as a child. As is now customary, there will be no data posts tomorrow or on the weekend. If time permits, however, I will return at some point with another miscellaneous file. Since tomorrow is Friday, our booksellers may have some offerings to present. Just as a follow up, you may recall last Thursday's posting was concerned with a KY Court of Appeals case related to the Thompson family and the validity, as a Will, of the contents of a letter A.P.Thompson had written to his parents before his death. Our friend Lucy Manson, who descends from this family, supplied us with additional material about this case, which has led me to further investigate whether the case files are extant on this interesting appeal. The case files do exist, with 810 pages of documents associated with them. I have requested copies of all of these documents, and I will bring some additional facts to the List about this unusual case in the days to come, as an example of what court case files can tell us. -B ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BEN BUTLER KEYS, MD Calloway County, Kentucky Nowhere is the value of thorough preparation in professional life more evident than in the medical calling; in the medical field the university is vital necessity, and still further training is advisable if the young man reasonably hopes to reach the plane of a broad practice. "Be sure you're right; then go ahead," is a maxim which needs not be posted in business houses only. Hurry, feverish haste without forethought, is fatal to the physician as well as to the merchant. Still a young man, Dr. Ben Butler Keys prepared himself with patience and thoroughness before he entered into the activities of his profession, with the result that in the few years of his actual practice he has made notable strides toward the acquirement of fortune, recognition and reputation. In the meantime, he has also found much to interest him in business and financial affairs at Murray, where his practice is centered, and is president of the First National Bank. Doctor Keys was born on a farm in Calloway County, Kentucky, June 3, 1880, a of John H[ulon] Keys, The family, as the name might indicate, originated in Ireland, hut has been in this country since Colonial times, when the progenitor of this branch settled in North Carolina. John Keys, the great-grandfather of Dr. B. B. Keys, was born in North Carolina, and became a pioneer in Calloway County, Kentucky, where he passed the rest of his life as a farmer. His son, Isaac Keys, was born in 1824 in Calloway County, and followed farming for the most part, although during the Civil war period he conducted a general store near Shiloh. He was the first sheriff of Calloway County after the close of the struggle between the states, and was serving his second term as the incumbent of that office when, in 1869 he was killed by the accidental discharge of his own pistol, the wound passing through his abdomen. He married Mildred Curd, who was born, spent her life, and died in Calloway County. John H. Keys was born in 1852 in Calloway County, and there passed his life, dying in 1915 near the Town of Almo. Reared to agricultural pursuits, he early showed ability as a farmer, and his operations became increasingly successful until he was accorded to have about the best farm in Calloway County. He was a democrat in politics and was active in public affairs serving as clerk of the County Court for two terms, from 1898 to 1906, and being prominent in the ranks of his party. Mr. Keys was the western division manager of the Peoples Protective Association, an organization of tobacco growers. His only fraternal connection was with the Masons. Mr. Keys married Miss Ella Peters, who resides at Murray, where she was born in 1861 To this union there were born children as follows: Hattie, the wife of Treman Beale, a member of the firm of A. B, Beale & Son, a leading hardware concern of Murray; Ben Butler; Richard, a physician and surgeon of Amarillo, Texas, who formerly served as an interne at the City and Vanderbilt hospitals, Nashville, Tennessee, and is a Mason and Shriner; Eileen, who is unmarried and lives with her mother; Erie, stenographer, with the First National Bank, at Murray, who also is unmarried and resides at home; Isaac, who graduated from Vanderbilt University, class of 1915, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws and received the founders' medal, the highest honor awarded a graduate, was elected county attorney 0f Calloway County, in 1917, subsequently resigning to go to Wichita Falls, Texas, where he has a splendid position with the law firm of Cox & Keys; and Alice, stenographer at the First National Bank, at Murray, who resides at home with her mother. Ben Butler Keys attended the rural schools of Calloway County, Kentucky, and in 1900 graduated from the high school at Murray. He then taught school in the country districts for three years, after which he worked in the Citizens Bank of Murray as assistant cashier for two years, and in 1904 entered the University of Louisville, where he spent two years of study n the medical department. He next entered Vanderbilt University, Nashville, and after a course of two years was graduated with the class of 1908, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. With the completion of his college studies, Doctor Keys did not give up being a student of his calling, for he has taken post-graduate work in the Chicago Polyclinic, in 1910, and with Mayo Brothers, Rochester, Minnesota, in the same year. In 1908 Doctor Keys associated himself with Dr. W. H. Mason, at which time he entered active practice in Murray. In 1910 they established the Mason and Keys Hospital, which later was known as the Murray Surgical Hospital. Doctor Keys has built up a large general practice in medicine and surgery, having offices in the First National Bank Building and is local surgeon for the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad He is a member of the Calloway County Medical Society, the Southwest Kentucky Medical Society, of which he was president in 1919, the Kentucky State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has made rapid strides in his profession and justly considered one of the headers of his calling in Calloway County. Aside from his professional responsibilities he has other important interests, being president of the First National Bank of Murray and stockholder in the Murray Sewerage Company. He owns a modern suburban residence, situated just west of the corporate limits of Murray, equipped with hot water, a lighting system, heat, and all other up-to-date conveniences, and surrounded by six acres of well-kept grounds, the whole forming a charming estate. He likewise is the owner of two farms in Calloway County. Doctor Keys took an active part in all local war activities and made speeches throughout Calloway County in behalf of the Liberty Loan, Red Cross and other drives. A staunch democrat in his political one, he was an alternate to the National Democratic Convention held at San Francisco in 1920 and is now serving as chairman of county committee. As a fraternalist he is associated with Murray Lodge No.105, A. F. & A. M.; Murray Chapter No. 92, R. A. M.; Paducah, Commandery No. 11, K. T.; Paducah Lodge No. 217, BPOE; and Murray Lodge, KP. In 1911,a Doctor Keys was married at Murray to Miss Polly Graves, daughter of Dr. T. M. and Nannie (Harding) Graves, the former was a physician and surgeon, a pioneer of Murray, where he practiced for sixty years, and was one of the best-known and most greatly respected men in his profession. Mrs. Keys is graduate of Bethel Female College of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. She and the doctor are the parents of one child: Winifred, born January 7, 1916. -History of Kentucky in Five Volumes W.E.Connelley & E.M.Coulter Charles Kerr, Editor Chicago: American Historical Society, 1922 ==========================================================================

My friends - Today, we are moving to Calloway County and a continuation of the early newspaper snippets for that county. These snippets cover the 1900-11910 time frame and may contain anything from a visitation notice to an obituary, death notice, birth notice, marriage note, criminal proceedings, and on and on. They give us a glimpse into the life and times of those earlier days. Subscribers to the JP and Calloway lists can obtain the text of a snippet in the listing below by sending a request to me. As is the case with snippet postings, please request no more than three (3) snippets, due to the lengthy nature of some of them. And, as always, your continuing assistance in not resending this entire message back to me with the request is appreciated. I have indicated below, in many cases, the general subject matter of the snippets associated with the individuals named. The response to the weekend posting of the two Marshall County cemeteries has been extremely large(in excess of 200 requests and they are still coming in), and I am still responding to those requests. If you have not yet received a response, it should be on the way to you shortly. Tomorrow, we will move to McCracken County. -B ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Calloway County - Early Newspaper Snippets - Continued Watkins, Hardin (death) Ratteree, Columbus (death) Wilson, Julia (death) Matheney, Bailey (visitation) Boggess, Allen (death) Perry, Gertie (rabies) Hanley, Daisy (illness) Gatlin, Z.T. (death) Osborn, Horace B. (Paducah - murdered by Louis Futrell) Hutson, J.W. (lawsuit against Duke Russell - slander) Byersley, Everett | Ethel Beach | wedding Martin, Rusty (AA) (arrest for assault) Craig, Rupert (visitation) Hicks, William | Brooks, Minnie Beatrice |marriage Beale, Lucy (death) ~to be continued~ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In a message dated 2/11/2003 5:02:02 AM Eastern Standard Time, KYCALLOW-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: > Can't seem to be able to get any Digests (.email) to download. I can open > e-mails sent to the Digest by others. Anyone have any ideas what is going > on? And recently sent e-mail to KYCAllOW-L@rootsweb.com and was sent back > 'not right e-mail address, or something, you get the idea. OOOPs, maybe I > wrote it as Calloway. I am trying again. I was wondering about the Price > marriages in the 1878 listing but have no way of knowing if you sent me any > info. Fustrating! Why can't I open .email? Open to suggestions. > gimmiekay.com > > Try all caps KYCALLOW-L@rootsweb.com or KYCALLOW-D@rootsweb.com

Can't seem to be able to get any Digests (.email) to download. I can open e-mails sent to the Digest by others. Anyone have any ideas what is going on? And recently sent e-mail to KYCAllOW-L@rootsweb.com and was sent back 'not right e-mail address, or something, you get the idea. OOOPs, maybe I wrote it as Calloway. I am trying again. I was wondering about the Price marriages in the 1878 listing but have no way of knowing if you sent me any info. Fustrating! Why can't I open .email? Open to suggestions. gimmiekay.com ----- Original Message ----- From: <KYCALLOW-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <KYCALLOW-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2003 3:01 AM Subject: KYCALLOW-D Digest V03 #12

marriage lists sometimes designate marriers as J P (Justice of the peace) and sometimes M. G. ... I had thought this was some kind of magistrate but am now inclined to believe it's initials for "Minister of God"... any help out here, pls!? frankie moody

Frankie, Minister of the Gospel Dan Hatcher ----- Original Message ----- From: "frank lee" <ceclcbfl@mindspring.com> To: <KYCALLOW-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, February 08, 2003 3:19 PM Subject: [KYCALLOWAY] M. G. ??? > marriage lists sometimes designate marriers as J P (Justice of the > peace) and sometimes M. G. ... I had thought this was some kind of > magistrate but am now inclined to believe it's initials for "Minister > of God"... any help out here, pls!? > frankie moody > > > ==== KYCALLOW Mailing List ==== > Are You Also Subscribed to the KYJacksonPurchase-L Mail List? It Has Over 700 > Subscribers and Covers All of the Jackson Purchase Region, Including > Calloway County > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

My friends - I had intended to post another synopsis of a KY Court of Appeals case today, but, instead, I want to offer a few items which may be of general interest. First, another interesting website. For those who are interested in colonial and English handwriting analysis, there is an excellent website that goes into great detail in this area. It is a British site, and can be found here: http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/ceres/ehoc/ The material actually covers the English handwriting styles in the 1500-1700 period, but the colonists were primarily from the British Isles early on, and those styles accompanied them to America. Secondly, some of you may be aware that the Florida State Archives has been targeted as an opportunity to slash spending in Gov. Jeb Bush's new budget proposals. The cutbacks in the budget as proposed will all but destroy the effectiveness of that organization and will move their records into other state governmental custodies, thereby creating more havoc. I mention Florida merely as an example of the danger that may be facing many state archives in many states. As we all know, many - perhaps most - state governments are facing financial problems as a result of the state of the economy, the manner in which the federal government has slashed joint funding, and so forth. The Commonwealth of Kentucky, unfortunately, is currently facing a very serious revenue shortfall. While the Kentucky General Assembly is about to go to work on a budget package, the Governor has indicated that state services will almost certainly have to be reduced - some drastically, while, at the same time, taxes will not be raised. Anytime that there is a need to cut spending, the state archives is always a handy target, among other service based government units. Should a proposal surface in the budget process which will dramatically and negatively impact the Kentucky Department of Libraries & Archives, it may be necessary for us to again join together to express our concerns and feelings about such a proposal to the legislators, whether we live in Kentucky or not. The Kentucky Archives is a vital part of the structure on which we genealogists conduct our work. Even though we may never have any direct contact with the Archives, their activities impact every one of us insofar as our ability to get access to records is concerned, whether directly with them, or through libraries and other institutions that purchase document copies from the Archives.I will continue to keep you posted on developments as the budget process unfolds in Kentucky. The KY Archives is among the better administered such units in the US, and I am sure no one wants to see their level of service fall. I am happy to be able to say, too, that I have just about concluded work on the Graves County Order Book G page digitization project. The Index is done and I am currently checking compatibility of CD's on a number of different machines. I hope to be back tomorrow with some additional news on that project. Finally, I have recently acquired a set of the 1922 "History of Kentucky" volumes, compiled by William Connelley and Dr. E.M.Coulter. There are hundreds of biographies in these volumes, some of which are very lengthy and very detailed with regard to the family history of the biographee, and I will be starting a series of these in the near future. Tomorrow is our "book and media" day, on which our booksellers and other subscribers can offer their items as per the guidelines posted some time ago. There will be no data posts, as is now the custom, tomorrow or on the weekend. If I can get another miscellaneous file converted and prepared, I will drop by with that offering at some point. -B ==========================================================================

My friends - Today, we are moving back over to Calloway County to continue our review of the 1878 Vital Statistics birth records for the year 1878. Subscribers to the JP and Calloway lists can obtain the full dataset for a birth shown in the listing below by sending a request to me. These datasets usually contain the date of birth, gender of the child if not obvious, name of the father and maiden name of the mother, and the birth location of each parent. Your continuing assistance in not resending this entire message back to me with the request is greatly appreciated. Tomorrow, we will look at another KY Appeals Court case. -B +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Calloway County - Vital Statistics Records - Births - 1878 - Supplemental - Part 9-S (M)= Male (F)=Female (NGG)=No Gender Given (ILL)= Illegitimate Morris, Genora J. Morton, AdaB. Erwin, William D. Culver, Charles Beech, Birdie L. McCollum, Fannie Orr, Charlie R. Story, James W. Sparks, George E. Story, ------, male |twin Story, Emily Jane, |twin Shrader, ------, | Shrader, ------, | male triplets Shrader, ------, | Cox, Nora Hood, Rosie Gingles, Nina M. Cooper, Pat C. (M) Black, Nannie Orr, P.B. (M) Phillips, ------ (M) Robertson, Mattie (ILL) Haneline, Joseph Ryan, Susie Stark, Carrie Lannon, Joseph Sale, Kitty "Puss" ~to be continued~ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

looking for anyone that would know anything about Livia C Oliver Married to Rufus R Eldridge at a big dead end here Thanks For Your Time Bill Ratterree diver466@earthlink.net

Looking for Eldridge Descendants Thanks For Your Time Bill Ratterree diver466@earthlink.net

I recently transcribed some records from Bible Records of Calloway County and Adjoining Counties, collected by the Calloway County Genealogical Society, 1971. The records I transcribed were for Reuben M. Wells & family, Peter A. Wells & family, and James K. P. Wells. Reuben is my ancestor through his daughter Nancy Emeline/Emaline (she married William A. Ivie, son of Robert C. Ivie, son of John & Elizabeth Ivie). Peter was Reuben's son and Nancy's brother. I don't know who James was. Here's my question. Does anyone know who the contributors for this book were? There was nothing in this book to indicate from whom the Bible records were collected or how to contact the contributors. I've written the Calloway Co Genealogical Society, but I haven't heard from them yet. I would really like to make contact with the owners of these family Bibles, and I would like to see the Bibles if they are still in existence. I would also like to take digital copies of the entry pages. I visit family in West Tennessee near Murray frequently. I would appreciate any help anyone can provide. Thanks. Sylvia A. Nash

My friends - I had planned on moving over to Marshall County for today's data post, but, in lieu of that, I would like to go to Calloway County instead. I had indicated that I would, from time to time, bring to the lists some selection from Gordon Wilson's small book, printed in 1946, entitled, "Fidelity Folks", which contains some excellent local color on the area around New Concord, in Calloway County(which was "Fidelity" in his work). There is always interest in the history of Brandon's Mill in Calloway County, and there is a small section in the Wilson work about that old establishment. The text of that section is shown below. Tomorrow, we will, in fact, move into Marshall County. -B ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Fidelity Folks" By Gordon Wilson BRANDON'S MILL "Down toward the Tennessee River, a little to the left of the road, stood and had stood since the very earliest days of the Jackson Purchase as the home of white men, a water mill that became for us an institution. It had formerly been a pretentious thing, with a sawmill, a grist mill, a cotton gin, and a flour mill, all in one. Long before I grew up, cotton had ceased to be a farm crop in our area, and the old flour mill had got in bad repair, but the sawmill and the grist mill continued until the old structure was cleared away before the advancing waters of the great Kentucky Lake. On Saturdays the grist mill received all the attention of the miller, for people for miles around wanted the good meal that only water mills could grind. Formerly there had been several mills on Blood River, but all had disappeared by the time I was old enough to be interested in them. The old mill ponds remained as good fishing places, especially the one at Mill Jimmy's, just above the mouth of Panther Creek. Even after Bud Smith installed his steam-power grist mill in his shedroom at the blacksmith shop, many people preferred to take their corn the several miles tied Brandon's Mill, particularly the corn that was to be baked into hoecakes, or corn pones, or muffins. Going to mill was nearly as great as going to town. One was likely to see fewer people, but with these few he was thrown intimately for several hours, while his turn and those of others were going slowly through the mill. The typical turn was a two-bushel sack of shelled corn thrown across a horse's back and used as a saddle. After the grinding, the sack was still full even though the miller had taken out his eighth as toll. Riding home was easier, for a bag of meal makes a good saddle. A more pretentious trip was made in a farm wagon, when two or three neighbors sent their corn by some half-grown boy. With a half dozen sacks tied down to be ground, we could count on staying all day. There were many things that one could do at the mill. It was always great sport to watch the miller with his "thumb of gold," as Chaucer says, feel the meal as it poured out and adjust whatever machinery was necessary to keep the meal the same texture that his practiced fingers knew was just right for his customers. Tiring of watching the miller, we could wander over the rambling old millhouse and wonder at the uses of the abandoned machinery of the cotton gin and the flour mill. We could go out on the catwalk that connected the grist mill side with the sawmill side and watch the water racing over the dam, carrying, in the fall, whole fleets of colored leaves. Sometimes the miller would let us take the canthook and push drift over the dam. Sometimes, also, we imagined ourselves raftsmen or flatboatmen and used the logs and brush to illustrate the best methods of reaching New Orleans with our rafts or arks. Inside the mill we played Odd and Even with grains of corn or ate raw meal with a zest that only growing boys have. Since I have been thoroughly grown, I have tried to eat raw corn meal and have decided that I had as well starve as try it again. In summer we waded in the shallow water below the dam or went in a-washing around the bend where we could not be seen, for in those days bathing suits had not yet arrived. The mill always drew us back, as machinery in any form always fascinated us. The old mill had one thing that I wish I owned, a toll cup made into a bucket-like shape by cutting off a section of a cypress knee and fitting a bottom into one end. This cup was used so long that it was worn as smooth as some oriental wood. Another thing that I would like to have is the two original millstones, which had been cut out of the stone right near the mill itself. Two men, so said tradition, had spent the better part of three months in quarrying the stones, rounding them off, and chiseling in the burrs. Later on, millstones from the East took the place of these primitive ones. All of my childhood they were piled up to form a stileblock for those who brought their turns of corn on horseback. A cousin of mine has them now at the county seat, in a slap-dash museum of things that pertain to the earlier days in our county. The fishes that swim over the site of the old mill will be too dumb to know what a great part that area had in keeping us supplied with food and lumber and cotton in the older times. I am a little afraid that only a very few creatures like me will even stop to shed a tear of remembrance for a passing institution like Brandon's Mill." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~