Hello Rapides Reseachers... I have come across a family of CROOKS and have not yet been able to connect the father to other earlier generations. Can You Help ? Thanks, Houston Valsin CROOKS appears only on the 1870 U.S. Census of Rapides Parish, LA as being "Vulsam" Crooks, age 18, born in LA. He and Polly Crooks, age 19 appear in the household of Jason Wilson, age 40, a carpenter, born in TN and Lucinda Wilson, age 40, born in LA and their apparent child, Jason Wilson Jr., age 3, born in LA. By the names of the neighbors, they are residents of the Village of Pineville. My first thought... is that Lucinda is Polly & Valsin's mother and she has remarried in the last 4-5 years. But not finding this family in 1860 under the CROOKS name, has me baffled. Conveyance Book M, page 30, dated 4 May 1889 Valsin Crooks bought 80 acres of land from Lewis Smith in Ward 10, being the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 17, Township 5 North, Range 1 West. 1880, Rapides Parish, LA, Village of Pineville, head of household, mother, Mary Price, age 45; a servant, Mary Peterman, age 24; son, Jefferson, age 20; son, Rice Price, age 11; orphan, Thomas Crooks, age 2. All born in LA. Where is Valsin Crooks ? I know he won't be on the Soundex, since there are no minor children, unless he is in a household of a different surname. But I certainly expected to find him in Verda Ruff's Central Louisiana Families in 1880, but he is not shown. 1900, Rapides Parish, LA, Ward 10, head of household, Louise Crooks, a widow, age 39, born Dec 1860 in LA, has bore 3 children and all are living (See Probate # 4666 below), sons: Steve Crooks, age 12, born Aug 1887 and "Volsance", age 10, born May 1890 (so their father, Valsin, must have died in 1890, not 1889. See Probates below). Also in this household, mother, Ocelena Venus, age 70, widowed, born in 1830 in LA, month unknown, has bore 5 children and 2 are living. Here is what I have found in the Rapides Parish Clerk of Court's Office in Alexandria... Probate # 582, petition dated 19 Jun 1890. Petitioner, Mrs. Louisa Crooks shows that her husband, "Valson" Crooks died 17 May 1890 (see other dates below), leaving five children: Lela, Louisa, Stephen, Volsan, Louisa (name appears twice), the oldest being 7 years of age and one child, Thomas, age 13, issue of his first wife. Louisa is appointed by the Court, as Natural Tutrix of her children had by Volsan. Probate # 585, petition dated 9 Jul 1890. Petitioner, Jason J. Wilson shows that the minor, Thomas J. Crooks, age 13 years, is without a tutor or undertutor, his mother and father both being dead. Petitioner shows that he is the paternal Uncle of said minor (how? by the 1870 census above, Jason appears to be a step-grandfather) and Hypolite Crooks, also a paternal Uncle apply to be appointed to those positions. Represented by Jas. Andrews, Atty. The order placing them in those positions was signed by Judge W.F. Blackman. Probate # 4666, petition dated 29 Nov 1937. Petitioner, Mrs. Frances Smith Crooks, shows that "Valsin" Crooks was a resident of your parish for many years prior to his death on 17 May 1889 (or was 1890? no tombstone found), he was twice married, first to Lizzie Ussery about the year 1876 (Marriage Book C-5, page 243, license issued 12 Feb 1876, Bondsmen, Valsin Crooks and Victor Reeves. Valsin Crooks and Elizabeth "Ursery" were married 17 Feb 1876 at the residence of Stephen Venus by H.M. Labat, JP. Witnesses: John Reeves, Joseph Spotten, A.F. Rassard ?) and 2nd about the year 1882 to Louise Venus (Marriage Book C-6, page 73, license issued 26 Nov 1881, Bondsmen were Valsin and Stephen Crooks, Married 28 Nov 1881 by J.M. Jenkins, JP at the Bride's residence. Witnesses: J.W. Jackson, B.W. Langford, R.W. L???s, both bride and groom made their mark to sign their name) Of the 1st marriage, one child was born, Thomas Crooks, who is still living. Of the 2nd marriage, four children were born: Lela Crooks, now wife of William C. LaCroix; Steve Crooks; Valsin Crooks died 19 Nov 1912 and he never married and left no descendents; Clarence Crooks predeceased his father at the age of 12 and left no descendents (although he is shown to be of the 2nd marriage, he must actually be the child of the 1st marriage, since Valsin and Louisa were only married 8-9 years before Valsin died). Petitioner, Frances Smith Crooks has purchased from the widow and heirs 13.5 acres of the above land on 17 May 1932 filed in Conveyance Book 185, page 282 and that it is necessary and the petitioner desires that the heirs of Valsin Crooks be recognized as such and be sent into possession of the properties left by the decedent. Affiants: Mrs. Ellen Reeves, age 84 and Hillary L. Walker, age 69, attest that they knew Valsin Crooks and his wife, Lizzie "Ussery" Crooks and that they know his 2nd wife, Mrs. Louise "Venies" Crooks and the facts as set forth in the foregoing petition, as to death and heirship are true and correct. Mrs. Reeves made her mark to sign her name.