Is anyone aware of a website, book, or whatever, where one could gain an understanding of how the coal mining companies gained their land in Perry County after the Civil War? Were they the so-called "Carpet Baggers"? Did they steal land and run people out of the County? My gg-grandfather, John "Squirrel Man" Walker and his family, collectively, owned about 7,000 acres of land along, and off, Troublesome Creek. I have land deeds showing where this land was sold between 1870 and 1873 for reasonable money. Yet, when they arrived in Texas in 1873 their first purchase of land was 40 acres for $12.50 down and two annual note payments of $50.00. That leads me to believe they left Perry County broke. It is also rather suspect that the old boy learned to write his name at age 81, with only one deed, out of many, showing his signature. Any ideas or thoughts? Regards, Bob Walker Personal Genealogy Page: http://members.aol.com/rwa5352802