Hi everyone. My name is Reta DeShields Parton. Born a DeShields. I am stuck in Beech Grove, Tennessee. Coffee County and Grundy County. I hope someone can help me find information. Does anyone know if there is a Ranch journal for French Rayburn or Hans Crosslin in existance? Many large land owners kept daily journals to document income, expense and daily happenings on the farm. Hopefully there is one in existance for these two. I have traced my family back to Beech Grove, Tennessee in 1838 and probably South Carolina in 1800s. I am enclosing what I know in hopes someone can help me. This is what I know: William, Handy, and John DeShields came to Arkansas in the 1830s. They were brothers. They are said to have came together and stopped in Marion County, Arkansas (Dubuque or now Lead Hill area) because one of the older brother's wives was with child and not having an easy time. It was decided to winter in Lead Hill. The family maintained control of a very large 4 room cave in the hills on their farm for several years so it is believed they wintered the first year in this cave. William was the oldest and it was his family who said the wife was of an older brother. No record of the wife or brother has been found. It is possible this was a McBride, not DeShields brother. William's 3rd child was born in Beech Grove, Tennessee in 1838. He also had two other children: Andrew Maxwell DeShields and Amanda Jane DeShields (who married a Hughey in Arkansas). William had married Martha Elizabeth McBride who was the daugter of John and Elizabeth McBride of Beech Grove, Tennessee. I believe John practiced law in Shelbyville, Tn. They lived at the head of McBride Branch and Stone River. Since they had another child born in 1839 in Arkansas, I feel they left in late 1838 from Tennessee. However, in Handy's Obituary, it states he came to Arkansas in 1835 and the family always told he came to Arkansas when he was 16 years old which would have been correct. Handy married Nancy Womack in Arkansas and lived his life in Arkansas. But the 1835-1838 leans me to believe they may have came to Arkansas and went back to Tennessee for the family. John was the youngest brother. His military papers said he was born in Coffee County, Tennessee in 1825. I believe their father is Joel DeShields who was listed in the Middle Tennessee Census in 1830. Of course, 1830 did not list names but this is the count they gave and how I believe it was: Census - 1830 Middle Tennessee Joel Deshays (DeShields) Males 1-aged 50-60 - Joel was born 1782 per later census - he would have been 48 1-aged 20-30 - William Jasper was born 1808 - he would have been 22 1-aged 15-20 - Josiah was born about 1810 - he would have been 20 1-aged 15-20 - Unknown 1-aged 10-15 - Handy was born 1819 - he would have been 11 1-aged 5-10 - John was born 1825-1826 - he would have been 4-5 Females 1-aged 50-60 - Charity was mentioned in a later census living with Josiah she was born in 1777 she would have been 53 1-aged 20-30 - Mary was mentioned in a later census living with Joel she was born in 1808 she would have been 22 1-aged 15-20 - unknown In 1840 - when William, Handy and John were already gone to Arkansas, Joel's census read: 1- aged 60-70 - Joel would have been 58 1- aged 15-20 - This would have had to be the unknown with his age wrong Females - 1 - aged 60-70 - This would have been Charity who would have been 63 1 - aged 30-40 - This would have been Mary who would have been 32 in 1850 - Joel was living with Mary in Grundy County. 1- aged 68 - Joel who would have been 68 1- aged 42 - Mary who was 42 Josiah had his own family: In 1840 he was married and it read 1 male-aged 20-29 - Josiah was about 30 2 males-aged 0-4 1 female-aged 20-29 In 1850 - he was married and living in Grundy County and was listed as follows: Josiah DeShields - aged 40 - Farmer Jane DeShields - aged 32 - born in Tennessee Margaret - 7 born in Tennessee Robert - 6 born in Tennessee Elizabeth - 4 Jacob - 2 Charity - 1 Charity 73 (I believe this is Joel's wife. It may be they were both in bad shape at that time and Mary took care of Joel and Josiah took care of Charity or it may be Charity was helping due to Charity being young. who knows. Anyway, It says that Joel, Josiah and Mary were born in South Carolina. William said he was born in Tennessee until he went to Oregon in 1853. Then he said he was born in South Carolina. So I am thinking he was in the area that changed. Handy always said he was born in Tennessee and so did John. But they were younger. So they were both probably born in Coffee County. Would love to correspond and share with anyone who might have information on these families. I can bring them forward from 1840 but would like to have some sort of proof before that date. I would greatly appreciate it. I will be glad to share my information. Reta DeShields Parton 1808 W Huntsville Springdale, Ar 72762 1-479-751-6947 rpsodapop@aol.com daughter of D W DeShields & Cora Irene (last name withheld) DeShields granddaughter of Dennie DeShields and Ruby Lee Austin DeShields gggranddaughter of John Wesley DeShields and Frankey Green DeShields ggggrandaughter of Handy DeShields and Nancy Womack DeShields