have photo's of oak grove high-one made in 1923-have photo of hunter school class-my grandmother(georgia rowe austin) was a teacher. my father(alton(tony)smith went to school at hunter. i am a graduate of oak grove high-1951 austin smith-email-jsmith@qzip.net

I am asking for any clues or ideas that anyone might have to help me solve my mystery. I live in San Diego, CA and was out in the Mansfield and Pelican areas on July 20th doing some genealogy research. Specifically I was looking for the grave of my great-great grandmother Annie B. (Kerlin) Mathews. She was the mother of Samuel Mat(t)hews that lived out on hwy 177. I found Annie's grave and by accident I found the resting place of Samuel and his wife Cordelia Mathews. The big question is...any information on Annie's death, cause, dates, etc. She is buried right next to a "Gay Mathews", I cannot place Gay Mathews in the family, she my have been an infant or child. Annie came to live with her son, Samuel some time between 1900 and 1910 and then I cannot find any records of her after 1910, so I am assuming she died before the 1920 census was taken. It's possible that she was missed, however, I have located her in every other census year. Annie is buried at Zions Rest Cemetery in the Wallace area. Her grave is marked only by an old brick with the following message painted on it "Mrs. Matthews - son of S.C. Mathews" I would like to have a proper head stone placed on her resting place if I can find her death dates. I have been to the Rosalie funeral home, county clerk's office in Mansfield, sheriffs office in Mansfield, spoke to the churches in the area to see if records were passed on from Zion Rest Methodist church when it closed. I Spoke to Martha Mary who is in charge of Zions Rest Cemetery. I have run out of things to try. Any suggestions would be great. I will be back in Pelican on Friday, August 11, 2001. Thank you, Jerry Linney San Diego, CA

How do I find our when the book will be ready? Does anyone Know? Also I would like to get in touch with the people taht care for Gravel Point or the Rambin Prudome Cemetary it is awful!!! markers broken and lots of damage done. I couldn't beleive it was in such bad repair Peggy Hunt Nader

Dear Gerald, Thanks so much for contacting me! I apologize for not responding sooner. I will be starting a full-time job as a professor on Monday and have just survived the interviewing process. It's been a very exciting but busy time. The materials that I used to write the unit history of the 28th Texas (PECULIAR HONOR) are found mostly at the Texas State Archives, the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, Duke University (the Perry correspondence--my second book), and the Harold B. Simpson Research Center in Hillsboro. I also used several newspapers that can be found on microfilm at the University of Texas and the University of North Texas. I could photocopy some items for you, but frankly you might receive them in a more timely fashion from the places mentioned above (due to my new job starting soon). Still, I would be willing to try and work with you. I notice that two men with the surname of MORGAN served in Company I and one MORGAN served in Company E. I would like to know what items you have about the service of your ancestors. I have never located a wartime image of any member of the 28th--would you by chance have such a picture? Well, I'll close for now. Look forward to hearing from you again.

searching for my great grandmother's family her name was samella lawrence or larence or father's name was samuel, her mother's name was doran cloud, they lived in mansfield, la, my great grandmother had a baby by james benajmin simon in 1904 which produced a girl clara v. simon who married edward hunter coleman in 1924, if your have any info please e-mail

We want to plan a family reunion in the Mansfield area. Does anyone have any ideas on where we could rent a building? Thanks! Paige Sanders

When will the new book be ready? I came to mansfield and they were not ready and I was told another month or so. When?

My father's birth name was Charles Wesley Burr...he was born in 1910 in Dayton OH. Adopted then named Alton Frederick Tann. He then lived in Lansing MI.

I would like to get in touch with descendants or relatives of R.L. and Virgie (Moore) Pyle, m. 1, January 1912 in Dallas, TX. May have lived in Caddo Parish, at some point, and also near Mansfield, De Soto Parish in the 1940s-50s. Thanks, Elnora Frances Cook-Wyrick

Jane, I have several items fro the 28th Texas Calvary and I'm looking for more. Can we exchange?My Great Grandfather and some cousins served in the unit. Gerald Morgan

Jane, I have several items fro the 28th Texas Calvary and I'm looking for more. Can we exchange?My Great Grandfather and some cousins served in the unit. Gerald Morgan

Jane, I have several items fro the 28th Texas Calvary and I'm looking for more. Can we exchange?My Great Grandfather and some cousins served in the unit. Gerald Morgan

Would Robert L. have an family in Georgia. I have information on a Robert L. Burr born to Albert and Nancy Burr. He left Georgia at an early age and move to Oklahoma. would this information help?

Volume V of the Plume Digests (compiled articles from the quarterly pulication of the DeSoto Historical Society) is now available. See the link below for Vol. V Table of Contents. http://www.rootsweb.com/~ladesoto/society.htm#contents Copies of Vol. V, the previous digests, and the DeSoto Parish Cemetery Record compilation may be purchased at the Log Courthouse in Mansfield, or by ordering from DHS Treasurer Louise Odum, 2685 Firetower Rd., Grand Cane LA, 71032. Postage is between $3.50-$4.00. Rgds., Judy

Thank you for your posting. I didn't know anything about that. I think you so much for the information. I have found out that there was a Joseph Pea living here in La. I believe in Tangh. Parish. But I can't found out anything on him. The family I am researching is African American. Pea is a very unusual name one would think it would be easy to locate information on. But I am not having any luck. I only know what I have been told by my husband. Thank you so much for the help. I will continue to look and maybe someday come across something. I just hope that is sooner than later.

YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE THIS INFORMATION, I AM PASSING IT ON IN CASE YOU DON'T. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF SEARCHING FOR MY ANCESTERS IN THE AREA OF WESTERN SC AND THE AREA ACROSS THE RIVER IN GA. I RAN ACROSS SEVERAL PEA'S IN THE VARIOUS COUNTIES INCLUDING ABBEVILE, NEWBERRY, PICKENS ETC. CIRCA 1790 1800 AND MAYBE LATER. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATES AND COUNTIES BUT I DO REMEMBER COMING ACROSS THE NAME.

Does anyone know when the DeSoto History Vol 2 book will be released? I was told it was due out in Spring of 2001 but havn't heard anything since.

Looking for information on Levi Pressly (Presley,Presly) from SC.,lived in Desoto Parish, La.1843 to about 1862. Purchased land near Keatchie and Mansfield.Married Eliza Green Dunn in 1844, 2nd married Louisa Shelton in 1849. He had son Charles b.1858, m.Georgia Ann McDonald of Many, Sabine Parish. Any Info. welcomed

Need any info on John Norris who came to DeSoto Pr, in 1860 or 1870.Searching for James Norris John Norris are William Burrell Norris. My Kinfolks.

Reseaching decendents of Matthew Taylor Peters of Sabine Parish. Many of his decendects moved too DeSoto Parish from Sabine parish. Matthew born in Va. & moved too Sabine parish in abt 1858. Some of his children served in the war between the states. Red Peters