In a message dated 12/25/00 11:18:57 AM Central Standard Time, Papadoc12@home.com writes: Hello everyone, I have been watching this information about Willis Austin. Don't believe I am related to Willis Austin but, Tim Hudson is my cousin. Since Willis was in the Regiment /Louisiana Volunteer Infantry do you think I could get a copy of his Pension at the La Archives? I live in Baton Rouge and can look. Robbie << LAUNION-L@rootsweb.com >> > In a message dated 12/23/00 3:49:13 AM Pacific Standard Time, > HUDSONT@MAIL.ECU.EDU writes: > > << Willis Austin served as a soldier in the Phoenix Rifles, Company C, 17th > Regiment Louisiana Volunteer Infantry. He later applied for a Confederate > pension from the state of Oklahoma. >

Hi Sorry, I inadvertently hit the reply button rather than the forward. here is the info from Roy Austin. ----- Original Message ----- From: <RoyL0126@aol.com> To: <LAUNION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2000 8:18 PM Subject: Re: Austin help > In a message dated 12/23/00 3:49:13 AM Pacific Standard Time, > HUDSONT@MAIL.ECU.EDU writes: > > << Willis Austin served as a soldier in the Phoenix Rifles, Company C, 17th > Regiment Louisiana Volunteer Infantry. He later applied for a Confederate > pension from the state of Oklahoma. > > Can any of the Austin researchers provide me with the details of his pension > application and also when he left Union Parish and settled in OK? >> > > Tim, > > The following is the information that I have on a Willis Austin who lived in > Union Parish. Probably one in the same as your inquiry. > > Willis Austin was born about 1819 in Mississippi, presumably Amite County, as > his parents were living there at that time. He was the son of Richard Austin > and Joannah Ferguson and the grandson of John and Mary Ferguson and John and > Fanny Austin. > > Willis married Louisa Henderson in Union Parish, Louisiana on February 15, > 1843. They had the following children: Melvina, Tabitha, Missouri Lou, > Almeda, William Allen, Francis Marion, and Richard Lewis and possibly a > daughter Nancy. > > Between the 1860 and 1870 census, Louisa died and Willis married second > Millie B. Redden Norman, the daughter of David Redden and widow of Levi White > Norman, in May, 1867. They had a son, Joseph Austin, b. abt. 1869. About > 1876, they moved to Bowie County, Texas, where Millie died before 1880. I > can't place my finger on the information right now, but Willis is buried in > the DeKalb Cemetery in Bowie County, TX. > > > An article in the Farmerville Home Advocate, 8/28/1887, shows that Willis > Austin served in Capt. J. G. Taylor's company of the 17th Louisiana Regiment > that was formed at Camp Moore in 1861. > > There was another Willis Austin who married Alice Lowe in 1867 in Union > Parish, LA. Arelia Breed thought that he was perhaps the son of John Austin > and Elizabeth Regan. John Austin was the son of William Austin and Mary > Ferguson. In the first draft of my Ferguson book, I indicated that John's > son, William Austin married Alice Lowe. This is not correct as William was > only 15 in 1870, living in his father's household. I don't have an age, etc. > on this Willis Austin. > > Not much else on the Willis's and certainly doesn't answer your question. > However, no one of the Austin researchers believe that Willis, son of Richard > and Joannah Austin, went to Oklahoma. But anything is possible. Guess we > need to track down that pension application. > > Good Luck. > > Roy Austin >

Hi Roy Thanks for your information about Willis Austin(s). There has been some traffic on this subject lately. One interested person is Nanna855@aol.com. She reports that she is a descendant and has seen the graves of Willis and Millie in Bowie County TX, where she lives. I am attaching that message to this. In regard to a Willis Austin applying for a pension in OK, that may be right or wrong , I dont know, but I once did some research in Ok and seem to recall that state was formed in 1908, at which time this Willis would have been over ninety years old. I did look at OK online stuff and did not find a record. Nor could I find one in Texas, although the spouse in either state could have made the application, as was true of Marion Henderson in Texas. I believe that Tim Hudson, who is a contributor to the Union website, is looking for info on this matter, and I will copy him on this. Merry Christmas to All, Doc Henderson

In a message dated 12/23/00 3:49:13 AM Pacific Standard Time, HUDSONT@MAIL.ECU.EDU writes: << Willis Austin served as a soldier in the Phoenix Rifles, Company C, 17th Regiment Louisiana Volunteer Infantry. He later applied for a Confederate pension from the state of Oklahoma. Can any of the Austin researchers provide me with the details of his pension application and also when he left Union Parish and settled in OK? >> Tim, The following is the information that I have on a Willis Austin who lived in Union Parish. Probably one in the same as your inquiry. Willis Austin was born about 1819 in Mississippi, presumably Amite County, as his parents were living there at that time. He was the son of Richard Austin and Joannah Ferguson and the grandson of John and Mary Ferguson and John and Fanny Austin. Willis married Louisa Henderson in Union Parish, Louisiana on February 15, 1843. They had the following children: Melvina, Tabitha, Missouri Lou, Almeda, William Allen, Francis Marion, and Richard Lewis and possibly a daughter Nancy. Between the 1860 and 1870 census, Louisa died and Willis married second Millie B. Redden Norman, the daughter of David Redden and widow of Levi White Norman, in May, 1867. They had a son, Joseph Austin, b. abt. 1869. About 1876, they moved to Bowie County, Texas, where Millie died before 1880. I can't place my finger on the information right now, but Willis is buried in the DeKalb Cemetery in Bowie County, TX. An article in the Farmerville Home Advocate, 8/28/1887, shows that Willis Austin served in Capt. J. G. Taylor's company of the 17th Louisiana Regiment that was formed at Camp Moore in 1861. There was another Willis Austin who married Alice Lowe in 1867 in Union Parish, LA. Arelia Breed thought that he was perhaps the son of John Austin and Elizabeth Regan. John Austin was the son of William Austin and Mary Ferguson. In the first draft of my Ferguson book, I indicated that John's son, William Austin married Alice Lowe. This is not correct as William was only 15 in 1870, living in his father's household. I don't have an age, etc. on this Willis Austin. Not much else on the Willis's and certainly doesn't answer your question. However, no one of the Austin researchers believe that Willis, son of Richard and Joannah Austin, went to Oklahoma. But anything is possible. Guess we need to track down that pension application. Good Luck. Roy Austin

I am a great granddaughter of Jackson Austin, brother to Willis Austin, but I did not know about Willis going to Ok. I know Willis is buried here in De Kalb, Tx. also his wife Millie and one of his daughters. I live in Bowie Co. Tx. and have seen their graves. Carol

If you visit http://<A HREF="www.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/la/union.htm">www.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/la/union.htm</A> and click onto the church history. At the bottom you will find a short history of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church which mentions John Ferguson. Mary Ann "Polly" Austin was a daughter. This information was submitted by Sherry Gritzbaugh. I hope this helps you some. Thanks and Merry Christmas to all, Sherry Gresham Gritzbaugh

Some addressees are sending in queries about Willis Austin. I do not know who the parents of Willis Austin were. My early material is from a work by Roy Austin and Sherry Gritzbaugh, entitled a 'Reunion of Family", dated October, 1997, I do not know whether it was a published work. They picked up Willis Austin as being born about 1816 in probably Amite Co MS. According to Roy, the 1820 Census for Amite co showed Richard Austin as a head of family with his wife Joanna Ferguson, plus a son and dau under five. On the same census was William Austin, who married Mary Ferguson, and a Mrs Austin, who he presumed may have been the mother of Richard and William. He found (on the 1830 Ouachita Parish LA) a Richard Austin living near the homes of Jesse Wise, husb of Susannah Ferguson, a sister of Joanna Ferguson: of his father in law, John Ferguson; of his brother, William Austin, who married Joanna's sister Mary; and of John Feazel and wife Christiana Ferguson, a sister of Joanna. He continues that therefore Joanna had her parents and three sisters living within a short distance of her home. Then he cautions that it should be noted that these families actually lived in what is now Union Parish, LA, which was formed from Ouachita on March 13, 1839. Roy and Sherry are old time researchers of Union Parish history, and descendants of the Austins, etc, in some form or other. Both are contributors of posted articles on the Union parish website. H G Doc Henderson ----- Original Message ----- From: "H GHenderson" <Papadoc12@home.com> To: "Hudson, Timothy D." <HUDSONT@MAIL.ECU.EDU> Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2000 8:09 AM Subject: Re: Austin help > Dear Tim > > Thanks for your recent posting. > > My info on Willis Austin, from various sources, is sketchy. He is reported > as born in MS, presumably Amite Co, in abt 1816. > > 1850 census, hse 676, Union parish, age 30, wife Louiza, three girls born > in LA. > > 1860 census, Union, hse 77, age 44, MS, wife Louiza, 35, Ala, six ch b in > LA. > > 1870 - hse 293, Union, age 50, wife Milly (Redden Norman?), age 39, ten kids > in hse age 1 - 21. > > 1875 Union court doc. re probate of estate of Lewis Henderson lists Louiza > as deceased with heirs in Texas. My info has it the town is De Kalb, county > of Bowie, on Red River. Last info in hand. > > Good Luck................Doc Henderson >

Can you give me more info on Willis Austin. Who his parents are and so on. I have a Willis Austin, who lived in Union Parish, La. Carolyn Austin

Willis Austin served as a soldier in the Phoenix Rifles, Company C, 17th Regiment Louisiana Volunteer Infantry. He later applied for a Confederate pension from the state of Oklahoma. Can any of the Austin researchers provide me with the details of his pension application and also when he left Union Parish and settled in OK? Thanks, Tim Hudson

Dear Karen: Please let me know more about where to look for the file "Parish History." I went to Rootsweb under Union Parish, La and did not see anything called Parish History. I'm probably in the wrong place. Thank you. >From: "Karen Rice" <aberizn1@gte.net> >To: LAUNION-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: New history (old history?) on the Archives >Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2000 21:59:21 -0600 > >Hi everyone, >Just got a fabulous contribution from Tim Hudson on Confederate Military >Units in Union Parish, Louisiana. It's filed under "Parish History." >Karen > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

Hi everyone, Just got a fabulous contribution from Tim Hudson on Confederate Military Units in Union Parish, Louisiana. It's filed under "Parish History." Karen

HI David, I am nearly certain that the Stock Marks and Brands book dates from the 1850s. I have many copies from it, and as you stated, it is difficult to read the dates. On the years, it is hard to tell if it reads "1839" or "1859". But from an examination of the entire book, you see years that could be 1834/1854, 1836/1856, 1838/1858, and 1839/1859. Union Parish did not exist until 1839, and so it becomes clear I think that the dates are in the 1850s. Moreover, on the years in question, many of the men mentioned in the book were boys in the 1830s and not grown until the 1850s. Tim Hudson

Hello Group, Just got back from Farmerville and as usual in reading the documents I have questions. I hope we have some Union Parish Historians in the group. I have a Stock Mark for Stephen Manning dated either 1839 or 1859. I think the latter. Does anyone know which years William C. Smith was parish recorder? I am hoping this answer will solve my problem. David P. Manning

Looking for any information regarding the Bennett family of Bernice, Union, LA. My gggrandmother, Hattie Lee Bennett, b. 1880, married John Thomas Heard and raised their family in Bernice. Thank you.

Looking for any information regarding ancestrial family of Little Curt Hughes Jr. (aka L.C. Hughes) b. 1903, raised a family in Bernice, Union, LA with Daisy Blanche Heard. Thank you

CAn anyone tell me the name of Pleasant Ward's father. Was it John Pleasant or was it Solomon? This isn't my line, I am asking for a friend. Thank you so much. Gina __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Hi everyone, Gina Sherrard contributed a biography of a couple of folks who were young in the big WWII - thanks to the Christians, Peggy Rockett, and Gina! Lots of interesting history there - it's on the "Newspaper" page, because it appeared in the Bernice Banner. Tim Hudson has contributed three Family Bible records: Fowler, Taylor & Breedlove, and Brezeal. Lots of interesting historical notes with that, too. Tim also contributed a transcription of the 1867 Union Parish Voter Registration. This is very important for at least two reasons. Besides the 1870 Census, this is the first time after emancipation black males are listed by their full names. And, many, many white settlers were left off the 1870 Census for political reasons (I'll let you enjoy reading the fascinating history Tim included regarding why), but you may find them on this list. Thanks, Tim! Karen

Thank you for the information you posted on the Stock Marks. EB Bilberry and the Feazels are my husband's line. The name Michael Bilberry also gives me a new avenue to exlpore. Can i get copies of these records from the courthouse? RuthAnn -- On Tue, 21 Nov 2000 14:27:44 Wochiefs wrote: > >Hello everyone! > >I went to the Union Parish Courthouse this morning. They have some of the >original records in boxes in the courthouse. While looking for information >on my lines, I came across these records there. Again, these are the >original records with signatures. I wrote down as many as I could during the >short time I was there. I will include Stock Marks in this e-mail. The next >e-mail will show original Oaths of Office that were there. > >Stock Marks > >E. J. Barron 1860 >John Colson 1855 >William Cubberhouse 1853 >E. J. Calk 1853 >John Smith 1834 >William Smith 1835 >John G. Farrar 1858 >Dixon Oliver 1869 >L. Pardue 1871 >James Barlow 1869 >E. B. Bilberry 1868 >Patrick McVicker 1867 >John Manning 1868 >Devis Scott 1873 >W. P. Bearden 1871 >Malcolm Calhoun 1856 >Alfred Rapond 1857 >James Cox 1853 >Moses Packer 1839 >J. Jarmon 1851 >Jarvis Caskel 1851 >Wm. Johnson 1835 >J. D. Jarman 1853 >Austin Martin 1838 >Martin B. Lee 1836 >A. Autery 1850 >C. F. Barton 1834 >Jesse Odom 1852 >Jackson Auston & his mother, Joanah 1854 >G. Ransom 1839 >George Albritton 1838 >Wm. Austin 1835 >Wm. Brazier 1839 >John Tedderton 1859 >Henry Caven 1858 >Wm. Dean 1852 >George Brothers 1834 >John B. Robinson 1862 >William Daniel 1852 >Hugh McNaughton 1853 >Eliza Stinson 1851 >John Scott 1860 >Thomas Taylor 1854 >Francis L. Davis 1835 >Thomas Bagwell 1851 >James Bearden 1864 >William Plummer 1857 >Edward Brunson 1864 >Reddick Burton 1862 >John Culbertson 1850 >John Caskill 1851 >David P. Colson 1835 >Thomas Brantly 1852 >John Boatright 1850 >Lafayette Thomas 1835 >William E. Davis 1858 >Stephen Maning 1837 >Samuel Montgomery 1834 >Solomon Feazel 1857 >James Nygaard 1835 >James Barron 1859 >Lewis Feazel 1850 >James Kolb 1853 >Michael Bilberry 1857 >Austin Arsubm & Alexander Langford 1875 >L. F. Findley 1862 >G. W. Sims 1835 (I had to read the contents on this one to get >the name, it > also mentioned a minor son, John B. sims) >Samuel Funderburk 1861 >D. Cooke 1858 >George W. Sims 1836 >George Fenton 1871 >John Jackson 1877 >John Jones 1874 >James M. Coleson 1869 >John L. McGough 1868 >Simon Lee 1875 >Garret W. Jones 1868 >P. Boatright 1835 >Larkin Lowery 1859 >James L. Liggin 1852 >John M. Lee 1835 >W. L. Moore 1834 >John D. Roye 1834 >G. P. Reynolds 1835 >Solomon Murray 1858 >Thomas Mills 1851 >James F. Malone 1835 >M. Bagwell 1834 > > > Get FREE Email/Voicemail with 15MB at Lycos Communications at http://comm.lycos.com

Hello again! To answer the questions about stock marks, yes, they were brands. The papers that I mentioned included a written explanation of the person's stock mark or brand for there livestock. They also included the person's signature or mark. I had been to Union Parish several times before I knew that they had these original records there. They have quite a few of the original probate papers there also. I found the probate papers on my James Taylor and Willis Sawyer there. There was also one there for Willis Sawyer's son, Daniel Sawyer. They were so much more interesting than what is recorded in the books. In my James Taylor's estate, there were tax receipts, bills from Newspapers, stores, etc. that were paid from the estate. It was fascinating looking at all of the different things they bought during that time period (he died in 1858). There was even a bill in there for the doctor who treated him when he became ill and died. I was thrilled to be able to get copies of these original papers. Happy Hunting! Debbie

Hello, This sounds great. I see my John Manning and a Stephen Manning that may change the area I a now searching. Since I am close enough to travel to Farmerville in a few hours can you tell me how I can go about getting to look at these. David P. Manning Wochiefs@aol.com wrote: > Hello everyone! > > I went to the Union Parish Courthouse this morning. They have some of the > original records in boxes in the courthouse. While looking for information > on my lines, I came across these records there. Again, these are the > original records with signatures. I wrote down as many as I could during the > short time I was there. I will include Stock Marks in this e-mail. The next > e-mail will show original Oaths of Office that were there. > > Stock Marks > > E. J. Barron 1860 > John Colson 1855 > William Cubberhouse 1853 > E. J. Calk 1853 > John Smith 1834 > William Smith 1835 > John G. Farrar 1858 > Dixon Oliver 1869 > L. Pardue 1871 > James Barlow 1869 > E. B. Bilberry 1868 > Patrick McVicker 1867 > John Manning 1868 > Devis Scott 1873 > W. P. Bearden 1871 > Malcolm Calhoun 1856 > Alfred Rapond 1857 > James Cox 1853 > Moses Packer 1839 > J. Jarmon 1851 > Jarvis Caskel 1851 > Wm. Johnson 1835 > J. D. Jarman 1853 > Austin Martin 1838 > Martin B. Lee 1836 > A. Autery 1850 > C. F. Barton 1834 > Jesse Odom 1852 > Jackson Auston & his mother, Joanah 1854 > G. Ransom 1839 > George Albritton 1838 > Wm. Austin 1835 > Wm. Brazier 1839 > John Tedderton 1859 > Henry Caven 1858 > Wm. Dean 1852 > George Brothers 1834 > John B. Robinson 1862 > William Daniel 1852 > Hugh McNaughton 1853 > Eliza Stinson 1851 > John Scott 1860 > Thomas Taylor 1854 > Francis L. Davis 1835 > Thomas Bagwell 1851 > James Bearden 1864 > William Plummer 1857 > Edward Brunson 1864 > Reddick Burton 1862 > John Culbertson 1850 > John Caskill 1851 > David P. Colson 1835 > Thomas Brantly 1852 > John Boatright 1850 > Lafayette Thomas 1835 > William E. Davis 1858 > Stephen Maning 1837 > Samuel Montgomery 1834 > Solomon Feazel 1857 > James Nygaard 1835 > James Barron 1859 > Lewis Feazel 1850 > James Kolb 1853 > Michael Bilberry 1857 > Austin Arsubm & Alexander Langford 1875 > L. F. Findley 1862 > G. W. Sims 1835 (I had to read the contents on this one to get > the name, it > also mentioned a minor son, John B. sims) > Samuel Funderburk 1861 > D. Cooke 1858 > George W. Sims 1836 > George Fenton 1871 > John Jackson 1877 > John Jones 1874 > James M. Coleson 1869 > John L. McGough 1868 > Simon Lee 1875 > Garret W. Jones 1868 > P. Boatright 1835 > Larkin Lowery 1859 > James L. Liggin 1852 > John M. Lee 1835 > W. L. Moore 1834 > John D. Roye 1834 > G. P. Reynolds 1835 > Solomon Murray 1858 > Thomas Mills 1851 > James F. Malone 1835 > M. Bagwell 1834