Posted on: Covington Co. Ms Queries Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ms/Covington/956 Surname: Lofton, Davis, Welch, Reeves, Matthews ------------------------- My grandfather, Marion Lee Lofton (I believe some family members use the "Loftin" spelling) was married three times. His first wife, my grandmother, was Viola "Ola" Welch. I believe that the parents of grandpa were James Loftin and Narcissus Davis. Grandma Lofton's parents were Timothy Lawrence Welch and Mary Etta Matthews. I met all of the children of Marion Lee and Ola Lofton (my aunts and uncles) when I was a young boy. These included: Melvin, Myrtle, Clara, Espie, Artis, Willie, and Doris. I never met Grandma Ola because she died as a result of the birth of my birth mother, Doris. I was raised by Myrtle and her two daughters Lillie Mae and Thelma "Kitty" Sterritt. I was also told that we were related to the Reeves family, but I have not been able to track down that connection. I know that some of these "Reeves, Welch, Davis and Matthews cousins," as I heard them called, lived in Franklin Parish. I believe some may have also lived in Concordia Parish. I have also been told that some may have lived in La Salle, Winn and Catahoula Parishes. Grandpa Marion Lee Lofton's second wife was Minnie Burkhalter. Their son is my Uncle Nathan Lofton. Marion Lee Lofton's third and last wife was Inez. I don't remember her maiden name. I only remember that I was told to call her "Aunt Inez" when I was a boy, even though she was my step-grandmother. She was much younger than Grandpa. I believe he was in his sixties and she in her fourties when she gave him three daughters: Gracie May, Ruby, and Barbara. Uncle Nathan gave me a copy of a 1900 Census card which lists the following in Franklin Parish, Louisiana: Lofton, Marion L. color: W Birth: Oct. 1880 age:19 Birthplace: Miss. Lofton, Ola Relationship:W Birth Aug 1884 Age: 15 Birthplace: Miss. Melvin J. Relationship: S Birth Aug 1899 Age:9/12 Birthplace: La. Apparently Grandpa Lofton had already moved from MS to LA in 1900. His and Grandma Lofton's families were, I am told, the Lofton (sometimes spelled Loftin), Davis, Welch, Reeves, and Matthews families originally from Lawrence Co., and perhaps Jones Co. and Covington Co. MS. Uncle Nathan also gave me a copy of the Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery grave stones as compiled by Lucille Dickinson Ainsworth titled "Cemeteries of Franklin Parish, Louisiana" which lists: Marion Lee Lofton Oct. 1, 1881 - July 23, 1961. Therefore, I am not sure if the 1800 or the 1801 birth year is correct. If anyone has any information on any of my family from Franklin Parish, Concordia Parish, La Salle Parish, Winn Parish, or Catahoula Parish, or other areas, please contact me at cfar@intellex.com or at the following address: Dr. Carl Farinelli, Professor of English and Languages College of Arts and Letters Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK 74464