Obituary from Methow Valley News, Twisp, Okanogan County, Washington Friday, January 4, 1935 Andrew Jackson Sasser Passes. The death of A. J. Sasser of Gold Creek occurred at his home Wednesday, January 2, at the age of 74 years, one month and thirteen days. He leaves to mourn his passing his widow, Mary Frances Sasser, two daughters Lillie Mae Branch of Arkansas, and Mary E. Williams, Arizona, and seven sons, being Wm. H., Andrew Jackson, and Leslie Orrin, of Oklahoma, Benjamin A. and John B. of Arkansas, Shelby C. of Port Townsend, and E. Cecil of Gold Creek. Graveside services were held at Winthrop cemetery January 3, at 1:30 P.M. with Rev. McNees in charge of the service. +++++++++++++++ Lillie Mae Branch = Lillie Mae (May) Branch Mary E. Williams = Mary Elizabeth (Mary) Williams Wm. H. = William Henry Sasser Andrew Jackson = Andrew Jackson (Jack) Sasser, Jr. Leslie Orrin = Leslie Oren (L.O.) Sasser Benjamin A. = Benjamin Aden (Ben) Sasser John B. = John Birda (John) Sasser Shelby C. = Shelby Columbus (Sam) Sasser -- legally change name to Sam-- E. Cecil = Earenst Cecil (Cecil) Sasser +++++++++++++++ Earl Sasser ewsass@writeme.com

Here is a question and or thought. When I was reading the book on Sassers of Maryland - there were a couple of things. One, The name was spelled "SASSCER" with a "C". Second, according to this source - the family first settled in Louisana and the name was originally "DESASSCERY" French ? Has anybody else seen or heard this ??? Ellen Mayes On Wed, 15 Oct 1997 SEberle498@aol.com wrote: > Just a thought. > > The double S is Sasser--could it be the German double "S"? This is why I > thought that the heritage was German. > > Stephanie > Thanks, /jem ________________________________________________________________________ Clark Internet Services, Inc. ISDN Specialists Internet Business Solutions Website Publishing Virtual Hosting Ellen Mayes Network Integration Communications Manager Internet Filtering Collocation Services Main: 800-784-6512 High Speed Access Direct: 410-995-0551 ext.224 Email: ellen@clark.net

Just a thought. The double S is Sasser--could it be the German double "S"? This is why I thought that the heritage was German. Stephanie

Cheryl, Thanks for the information. I remember D. B. Hale very vividly from my childhood in Lawton, Oklahoma. I have some memory of Edith Hale, the daughter, and even less memory of Everett, one of the sons. If memory is correct, there was an estrangement between Stella and D. B., which may be the reason for Edith's lack of interest in Sasser history. Stella must have been deceased before I was born in 1954 because I do not know very much about her except from stories relayed by my dad and his siblings. I appreciate the confirmation....if you would like additional information on Stella or the family, let me know and I'll see what else Dad remembers. I'm sure there were other children of Wallace Sasser who would probably be mentioned in the records as well, based on Glenn's message. My grandfather Campbell left KY in 1913 and only made a couple of trips back there before his death in 1960. So, our family has had very limited contact with his family....or with the Heltons, who were my Grandmother's family. Sue Lynn

Stella Sasser - She was the one who married D. B. Hale. There were 2 sons and 1 daughter in the family. The daughter is the only one living now. She has been a very good genealogist and has published a book on HALES and one on TAYLORS but refuses to do any research on her Sasser line. Cheryl Meecha

The question concerning the Laurel River Association of Baptists - It is still a very active association. The head at this time is Roy Faulkner, 114 Carter Drive, London KY 40741. Phone 606 864-9441. Mt. Ararat was the "mother" of several churches in the Laurel/Knox/Whitley County area. Cheryl Meecha

>Up until the early 1800's, double S's within words (not those at the >beginning and usually not those at the end) were written in a fashion >that is hard to describe without seeing them and I can't reproduce them >on a keyboard/typewriter. But folks today who are unfamiliar with the >history of writing almost always confuse these with a double F. It DOES >look like a written, lower-case f. But it is NOT. That is just the way >double S's were written then. All too often, I see printed info today by... To Sasser-List, This looks like the case alright. I have documentation with the first "S" of the double "S's" in the name Sasser looking much like a written "F". Cordially, Earl Sasser ewsass@writeme.com

Just a tip.When searching the GRS cd's, I found the name Sasser posted as Lasser.Whoever did the copying of the records was, apparently, not familiar with "old" handwriting. I was real frustrated because I knew the people I was looking for should have been on the cd's. Just happened upon them in the "L"s. Pat

More on the double "S" I forgot to tell you to check out the website on "Deciphering old handwriting". It has a good page on the double "S" and confusing it with an F. It is at: http://www.firstct.com/fv/oldhand.html Robert Earl Woodham

Dear Sue Lynn, About the "Old English language" not having any "S"'s and that they were all "F"'s and that the "F"'s were changed to "S" when the language was "more Americanized". Someone gave you some wrong info. Up until the early 1800's, double S's within words (not those at the beginning and usually not those at the end) were written in a fashion that is hard to describe without seeing them and I can't reproduce them on a keyboard/typewriter. But folks today who are unfamiliar with the history of writing almost always confuse these with a double F. It DOES look like a written, lower-case f. But it is NOT. That is just the way double S's were written then. All too often, I see printed info today by unlearned persons who print out a double S as a double F. Our style of writing has been changing steadily for hundreds of years. It is still changing today, perhaps more rapidly than during any other period--because of the rapid techo advances caused by computers. As for the language changing, yes the English language has also been changing and still is. Few languages remain stagnant and unchanging. Even the meaning of words are changing. But this has nothing to do with the double S's. We have always had double S's in the English language, even Old English and before that, in Saxon (the predecessor of Old English). What has changed is the way we write it. About the Sasser's fleeing England and going to Germany--no. Enough said.

Don, Seems I recall my grandfather Campbell William Sasser (son of Wallace, son of Jesse) having a sister named Stella. And I think she was a younger sister. They would have been in that area of KY around that time. Stella spent quite a bit of time in Oklahoma with Cam's family after they moved in 1913. She may have even married and remained their for a number of years. I'm not sure if this is the same sister who married D. B. Hale and lived in Lawton...or if that was another sister. If you think this might be the same Stella, I'll ask Dad for more information. I do not recognize the name Frank. My grandmother was a Helton....so perhaps this is some of her family as well. Her father was a Baptist minister and missionary to the Cherokees. I am not sure of his first name. Grandmother was Ludie ( or Lucretia Fairlily in Cherokee). And we already know that Jesse married a Gilbert. One of granddad's cousins was Billy Gilbert, who starred in the Laurel and Hardy series. He was the big man who always seemed to be the blunt of their pranks. Anyway, all of these names seem consistent with the family, which made me think it could be "Aunt Stella". Also, I have been printing off the emails messages and sending them to Dad to read. When we were discussing some of the inconsistencies, he told me that he had always been told that many of the Sassers fled England in the 1600s to escape religious persecution. Several of them apparently moved to Germany and even changed their names in order to blend into the local culture and to make it more difficult to trace their whereaabouts. If this is accurate, then it could help explain the reason we keep encountering the variations of the name. I also remember reading about the Old English language and how there were no "s"s. They were all "f"s and then were changed to "s" when the language was more Americanized. Perhaps other letters were altered through the years, which would also lead to the variations of spellings and names. Sue Lynn Sasser-Williams

Don, I delayed my answer to your questions about the Mt. Ararat Church partly in order to have a chance to make a telephone call to my parents to ask about some points. I hail from very close by Mt. Ararat. That is the left fork of the headwaters of Big Richland Creek. Going up the creek from the direction of Barbourville, Road 1803 turns up that fork and crosses over to Blackwater and on to Highway 80 at Bush. (I am from the right fork of the creek, what the road sign now calls Tedders Creek. My birthplace is not much more than two miles from Mt. Ararat Church.) The "fork in the road" is where Wallace Gilbert lived in the mid-1800s and where my grandfather, Claiborn Taylor, eventually moved. Mt. Ararat is the name of the church and was the name of the one-room school next door, while the post office used to be Gibbs, Ky. (which I always understood to be short for Gilbert). Mt. Ararat, in Knox County, is almost as much a part of the Sasser heartland as is Blackwater, in Laurel County, just across the hill. Mike has already answered your question about the word "received." My answer could not have approached his in thoroughness. I too thought the term referred to membership being transferred "by letter," but I wanted to ask my mother, who was the clerk of the Baptist Church on our fork when I was growing up. She confirmed my--and Mike's--interpretation. As for some of the names, one of the people is apparent Daisy Cobb, whose maiden name was Sasser (her husband was Jesse Cobb). I find it a bit confusing that her married name was not used, but my parents agree with me, saying they could not think of anybody else the name could refer to. (My father actually lived on the Mt. Ararat side before he and my mother were married, in 1938.) Surely they would know if there was another Dassie/Daisy Sasser. Daisy Sasser Cobb was a very good person and very religious, the type of person who likely would have held such an office in the church. You might find it interesting that Daisy and her husband were part of the migration to Oklahama. I do not know how long they lived there, but they eventually came back. I know that they were in Oklahama when my uncle, Don Taylor, who also lived there (and was married to Rachel Cobb, sister of Daisy's husband), was very ill. Since the date of my uncle's death is 1928, that allows plenty time for them to have returned to Mt. Ararat by 1933. I do not know how Daisy connects all the way back to Henry Sasser on her father's side. But--according to a document prepared by Dan Humfleet many years ago--her father was William Franklin Sasser, born January 31, 1891 (I still have not checked to see whether he is on your internet chart.) I do know Daisy's Sasser's lineage on her mother's side. Her mother was Mary Ellen Humfleet (born 1/31/1873), the third child of Arthur Humfleet, whose mother was Piety Sasser Humfleet, daughter of Henry Sasser. According to the Dan Humfleet document, William Franklin Sasser and Mary Ellen Humfleet Sasser had four children: Daisy Ethel, Levi, Maude Helen, and Frank. After her first husband's death, Aunt Mary Ellen married Steve Cobb, and they had two sons: Roy and Chester (the latter was well known in Knox County for his regular column in the local newspaper--"The News From Around Gibbs, Kentucky, by Old Chess Cobb"). I also have a list of other children and grandchildren of Aunt Mary Ellen--and some other dates. I believe that the Frank Sasser you ask about is Daisy's brother. According to a chart in my possession that was prepared, I understand, by Robert Helton, his full name was Arthur Franklin Sasser. He first married Maude Cottongim, then Maxine Murrell, and his third wife was Mazzie Davis. I have a list of their children too. I think the N.J. Gilbert you asked about probably was Nathan Gilbert, a son of Wallace Gilbert, who--according to p. 1 of your "SASSER's of laurel Co., KY" chart--was married to Nancy "Nany" Tuttle, a granddaughter of Henry Sasser. I think they lived at Mt. Ararat; I know their son, Jap Gilbert (who also once moved to Oklahama, as I remember one of his grandsons--also named Nathan-- telling when I was in grade school) lived there at what was probably the upper part of the original Wallace Gilbert place, as does Jap's son Jim Gilbert today. As for the founding of Mt. Ararat Church, I once heard Sam Gilbert, a grandson of Wallace Gilbert (and son of the younger Wallace Gilbert) say that his grandmother, Susan Jones Gilbert, had started that church. I am not sure when the Gilbert family came there, but I think it was not until about the middle of the century. It could be that Dr Ward had something to do with it, but in the absense of some evidence I would say this is unlikely. Sorry I cannot give more complete answers. Glenn ***************************************** Glenn E. Perry Department of Political Science Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN 47809 USA E-Mail: psperrg@scifac.indstate.edu (812)237-2505 (office) (812)234-5661 (home) ****************************************

Don Sasser wrote: > > 1. 06-03-1917 Frank Sasser and Stellia Sasser were Baptized in to The Mount > Arrarat Missionary Baptist Church. > > 2. Dassie Sasser was Assistant Church Clerk December 1933 > > 3. James Sasser was the clerk in 1876 > > >>>>>Who were they? > > I have more Sasser, Gilbert, Cobb, Helton and Cottengim names that belonged to > Mount Arrarat Missionary Baptist Church. > > 4. November 6th 1881 " To union Brotheren Joe Sasser and N.J. Gilbert to N.B. > Jones and Caleb Ledford." > >>Who was this Joe Sasser? > > 5. May 4th Saturday, in 1891 > >>>>.> Bro. James Sasser and Martha Sasser his Wife were "received" What does > this mean, and who were they. > > 6. Laurel River Baptist Association.... > >>>>>> Do they still exist? Where? > > Even the smallest bit of information would be appreciated.... > Thanks, > > Don Don: I can offer only the "smallest bit of information," regarding use of the term "received" in the records of the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church. Baptist churches still use this term today, and it means that the church granted the person(s) request for membership in the local congregation. The theological stance of many conservative protestant churches concerning church membership holds that Jesus Christ grants salvation unto repentant sinners and they automatically become a member of "the church" in the universal sense. These newly converted members of the "universal church" are then instructed by the new testament teachings of Christ and the apostles to affiliate with a "local body of believers," which was in this case the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church. Because Jesus Christ has already granted salvation and admitted the person(s) into "His church," it would be improper and presumptous for the local church to do anything more than "receive" those whom Christ has already "admitted." I admit, in the natural sense the difference in "receiving" and "admitting" into membership is largely semantic. But it has to do with the belief that no congregation has the authority to "admit" a person(s) into membership, only Jesus Christ. It may also be helpful in understanding records from Baptist churches that there are 3 ways that a person may be "received" into membership. First, as a newly confessing convert to christianity they may join "by profession of faith" and be baptized by full immersion. Second, they may be received on "statement" that at sometime past they received Christ as Lord and Savior and were baptized by full immersion under the auspices of a church of "like precious faith." I assume the church leaders make the determination on which churches are of "like precious faith." Third, they may come "by letter," also called "moving their letter." This involves transferring existing membership into another church. The "letter" refers to the fact that the church secretary of the "receiving" church requests a "letter" from the original church attesting to the members date of baptism and church membership, along with testimony that the transferring member left the previous church in "good standing." Suffice to say, you may run across church records which reference being received into membership by profession of faith, statement, or letter. I probably told you more than you wanted to know, but it is the first time in my three months on the network that I have actually had the answer to a question! Regards, Michael G. Sasser

Mandy: Don Sasser forwarded your message asking for information on Emily C. Sasser, born in Johnson Co., NC, in 1818. It appears that she may be a daughter of my great-great grandfather, John Sasser (middle name unknown to me). He was born Nov. 21, 1784, in North Carolina (county not known). One of his children was John Daniel Sasser, born in 1846 in Hardeman County. John Sasser was married to Mary Ann Chisum in Hardeman County in 1834. This was presumably his second marriage. I've been trying to trace his place of birth and parents. If you have any information, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Friederike Dorothea ELSAESSER MARRIAGE: 7 MAR 1848 Katharine Eberhardine SEITZ

Can anyone provide some information to Rebecca that I may pass to her? I prefer not to give out email address unless instructed it's OK. Thanks, Don ---------- From: Rebecca Smith Sent: Friday, October 10, 1997 9:46 AM To: DLSASSER@msn.com Subject: Sasser Don, I am looking for info on a Stephen Sasser mrd Mary Frances Hart, son Stephen Sasser mrd Susan Montgomery, dau. of Jesse Montgomery mrd Ann (annie) Lindsay (my Jesse and Ann are my 5th geart grandparents) Any info would be appricated and I will gladly share what I have on the above listed families. Beckie

Dr. John Ward was a Doctor and Baptist minister. Dr. John Ward joined the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church of Clay Co. KY. May 1833. He was reappointed in 1854 to missionary in Jackson CO., KY. He traveled much of eastern KY. He is to have organized 13 ministers and 21 churches. Could he have formed MOUNT ARRARAT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ?

1. 06-03-1917 Frank Sasser and Stellia Sasser were Baptized in to The Mount Arrarat Missionary Baptist Church. 2. Dassie Sasser was Assistant Church Clerk December 1933 3. James Sasser was the clerk in 1876 >>>>>Who were they? I have more Sasser, Gilbert, Cobb, Helton and Cottengim names that belonged to Mount Arrarat Missionary Baptist Church. 4. November 6th 1881 " To union Brotheren Joe Sasser and N.J. Gilbert to N.B. Jones and Caleb Ledford." >>Who was this Joe Sasser? 5. May 4th Saturday, in 1891 >>>>.> Bro. James Sasser and Martha Sasser his Wife were "received" What does this mean, and who were they. 6. Laurel River Baptist Association.... >>>>>> Do they still exist? Where? Even the smallest bit of information would be appreciated.... Thanks, Don

Mary Sasser b. 1853 m. John B. Gilbert. John is the sone of Catherine Taylor and Felix Grundy Gilbert. Does anyone know what happen to Mary? Where she lived ? D.O.D? Thanks Don

In a message dated 97-10-11 12:12:11 EDT, DLSASSER@classic.msn.com writes: > 1. The date written in 'The Sasser Bible' was written wrong. It is written as > 1878 instead of 1778. If this error was made then to could the xx79 be > > wrong? Could he have been born in 1787. Making him only four years older > than Nancy??? > Thanks, > > Don Don, I would think this would be unlikely if all of the following arguments hold. 1. If Henry was born in 1778/1779, he would be 21 in 1779/1800. He started receiving deeds of land in 1800/1801. If the general practice was for a male to be 21 to receive land, the birth date of 1778/1779 would make sense. 2. The 1800 Johnston Co. Census lists William Sasser as having 1 male 26-45 (William) and 1 male 16-26 (Henry). The youngest Henry could have been was 16, which would place his birth in 1784. 3. The 1830 Laurel Co. Census lists Henry as 50-60. If he was 50, the earliest he could have been born was 1780. 4. The 1850 Laurel Co. Census says he was 72, which puts his birth around 1778-1779. This data seems to be pretty consistent as placing his birth in the 1778/1779 time frame. Doug Sherman dougsherma@aol.com