Hi everybody, I've been sitting back watching the recent activity and I like the ideas coming across the list to save our ancestor's valuable data. This data is valuable to everyone and should be preserved. Yes, let's be nice to each other and stay united. I, for one, am a veteran, honorably discharged from the USN (an old codger <g>). Are there other veterans out there on this list? Let me know the local VFW web address and I would be glad to send them polite email asking for their help. I hate to mention the word "sell", but maybe that would be one way to raise money to rent something to store the records. I know I would be willing to spend a few bucks to purchase old records of my Grainger ancestors, or any others for that matter. Why let the Byron Sistler Book Company get all of the money? I'd just as soon give it to the Grainger folks instead. I think I've spent enough at Sistler already to buy them a new forklift by now. The proceeds could go into some sort of fund. Keep the good ideas coming! PS. Does anyone out there recognize the name Pleasant Thornburg Fry (a male), nickname "Thorn", brother of John Morgan Fry, from Grainger, sons of Joe Fry of VA? Garron. -----Original Message----- From: JBrand1056@aol.com <JBrand1056@aol.com> To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com <TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, November 08, 1999 12:50 PM Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Re: Records In Old School >Wait a min, on top of the ridge they have a large monument for Veterans. >Maybe the VFW may have room there. They usually own a large building and use >twice a month and rent out. I'll ask our President at our next meeting this >Friday night and maybe he could call someone. > >Jean > >

Yesterday (Monday) I had the opportunity to talk to Grainger Co. Executive Mickey Hammer. He wasn't in the office when I was at the courthouse but his secretary took my cell phone number and had him call me. He was very interested in my concerns for the old records. He hasn't been in the old school in a while but I did inform him that part of the ceiling had fell. He understood that the records needed to be preserved but the county didn't have the funding to hire someone to sort the records nor did the county have a place to store them once they were sorted. I ask him about the house that the city of Rutledge had been given and he said he hopes that they could at least have a room for the records but will have to wait until it is restored to see. The county is planning a new justice center so there will be room in the present courthouse to store the records. At this point it's just wait and see. I ask him about myself and my (friend) helper getting started on sorting the records. He said there was no funds available. I told him we would do this at no cost to the county. He was very appreciative and ask what the county could do to help. I told him all I needed was permission to get to the records and the permission to take the records to a place where I could work. He said anything I needed such as file folders and boxes the county would furnish. The thrift store you have to go through is closed on Mondays so I couldn't get in yesterday but I made another trip to Rutledge this morning. We collected 4 large boxes of wills and we will start working on them immediately. I took pictures of the building on the outside and pictures of the auditorium where the records are stored. You can tell people have went through boxes because there were records just laying on top of other boxes. I ask Mr. Hammer (if at all possible) not to let just anyone into the boxes that we get in order. I know alot of genealogist wants to look at wills and marriage records but alot of them don't take the time to put them back where they belong. I feel that once we get these 4 boxes sorted and filed in order they will not go back to the auditorium. I will take them to Mr. Hammer and request that they be put in a safe place. He was very nice and understanding so I have faith at these will be put in a safe place. When we get these in order I will type up an index if anyone is interested they will be able to purchase a copy. This will help fund our work in Grainger Co. If anyone has any questions please contact me privately so it will not upset anyone on the list who doesn't want to hear any more about the records.

Carol, There is one article in the book by the name of Yaden, and 3 articles that mentions the name of Yadon. We have a few books left and you can buy one by sending a check in the amount of $59.95 ($56.00 book, 3.95 S & H) made out to and mailed to The Grainger County Heritage Book Committee, P. O. Box 332, Rutledge, TN 37861. Thanks, Louise Murphy

Still trying to prove that Catherine CARWILE who married Aaron BEAN in Grainger County, TN 22 Feb 1829 was the daughter of William CARWILE and Mary DANIEL. Any help on this will certainly be appreciated. Would like to see original marriage record to see who signed bond or was witness, etc. Bobby G. Carwile Grainger County is not the only place where old records are not preserved. Our local archives had a collection of local Newspapers for the last 80-90 years in leather bound batches of about 3 months each that was kept in a wall file for everyone to browse through. The last time I went to the Archives they were GONE; when I asked about them the Archivist said they had been put on microfilm and the originals had been DESTROYED. I asked why they had not been given to the local library for its historical section and was told that he was told to copy them then destroy them. Now we have a row of Microfilm readers along that wall to read the old papers from microfilm. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS READING FROM THE ORIGINALS!!!!!

Richard, I agree with your statements and have tried to offer monetary and physical help to the county. In my opinion, money is only a small part of the problem, the main obstacle seems to be a cliquish attitude on the part of the County Officials. I was told during the Expose from TV channel 8 that the State had given the county either $10, 000 or $20,000 to help with the preservation. What happened to that money? A Lady from the library in Morristown, Hamblen County told me that they had offered help and were quickly turned down. An employee of the county, Johnny ?, told me that they had thrown out many records after the flooding and they had no intention of maintaining the rest, "they were too old and nobody wants them" was his statement. Billie McNamara will be better able to tell you what has been tried. To the people discussing writing to George Bush; I see no reason for that since as a Governor of Texas he has no influence in Tennessee. I wrote to Al Gore since he sponsored the "Preservation Act" and he says he is from Tn. when neccessary. The Director of the Archives in Nashville, Chuck Sherril, told me that they had tried and could not get the county to cooperate. I would suggest that any letters should be written to Al Gore, Gov. Sundquist, the current US and State Representatives of the county (I'm sure they've changed since my last involvement) and maybe a copy to Chuck Sherril just as a courtesy for his information. As always, keep your letters polite, respectful, and plead for their help from a historical perspective. A word of caution about trying to get volunteer groups to help. These older records are very fragile and probably full of silverfish, they need TLC and fumigants. It would really help if someone local would call Robert Bailey (Historian for Roane County) and discuss this with him. They just recently completed a 3 year preservation project in Kingston and have current experience. The "Hard Books" were placed in the main Courthouse and all the "loose papers" were filed in a vault at the old courthouse. I've also gotten some information about a legal action against the county thinking that under the "records access law, Privacy Act" the county was responsible to maintain these documents. After much review it seems that prior to the "Preservation Act" there was no such responsibility and most County Clerks just did it as part of their job. I read someplace that during the CW when the US Army was burning courthouses, the County Clerk at the log courthouse in Rutledge moved the records and hid them at his home. After the courthouse was rebuilt he put them back in place. Too bad we don't have people like that around today. Ken At 10:41 PM 11/08/1999 -0500, you wrote: >I am sad to say that this is the third series of "shock and disbelief" >exchanges about the condition of the Grainger records I have participated >in over the last few years. It is difficult to imagine that so many people >could have made such a dedicated effort to find a resolution and yet the >problem still exists. > >If money is the reason the local government in Rutledge can not help, then >I and many others appear ready to contribute to the effort. But it >appears that first some political pressure must be applied before there >will be some willingness on the part of the Grainger county government to >allow private funds and labor to be used to save the records. Surely there >must be someone that knows someone who is connected the TN state or federal >legislature that could be asked a favor. > >I thank all those who have tried and continue to try to save our heritage >records. > >Richard Soard >SWORD/HOLLINGSWORTH descendant of Grainger County, TN > > >rsoard@mindspring.com > >

I am sad to say that this is the third series of "shock and disbelief" exchanges about the condition of the Grainger records I have participated in over the last few years. It is difficult to imagine that so many people could have made such a dedicated effort to find a resolution and yet the problem still exists. If money is the reason the local government in Rutledge can not help, then I and many others appear ready to contribute to the effort. But it appears that first some political pressure must be applied before there will be some willingness on the part of the Grainger county government to allow private funds and labor to be used to save the records. Surely there must be someone that knows someone who is connected the TN state or federal legislature that could be asked a favor. I thank all those who have tried and continue to try to save our heritage records. Richard Soard SWORD/HOLLINGSWORTH descendant of Grainger County, TN rsoard@mindspring.com

Hi Louise Murphy: Is there anyway I could find out if the YADON family is part of the book, Grainger County, Tennessee and its People 1796 - 1998? And, if they are part of the Grainger County story, can the book still be purchased? Carol Hurst WAUTHALEAN@prodigy.net ----- Original Message ----- From: <Lemlsm@aol.com> To: <TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 08, 1999 2:35 PM Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Re: Records in the old school > Dear Group, > There is a Historical Society in Grainger County. The name is Grainger > County Historical Society, the address P. O. Box 215, Rutledge, TN 37861. > > The Grainger County Heritage Book Committee who wrote the book, "Grainger > County, Tenn. and Its People 1796-1998", received very little help from the > society. Kenneth Hodges e-mail explains it appropriately. > > We made a little money on our book, and bought a microfilm reader and printer > for the Rutledge Library which has alot of the records on microfilm. The > Library is open Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. We still have some money that > is to go for preservation of the records in the high school building whenever > space is available. > > Louise Murphy >

www.georgewbush.com

Mickey, I don't this does pertain to the records, but I have been trying to get Mr. Hammer to answer my query. I would love to know if he is a descendant of Enos Hammer that received a land grant in Grainger County. I descend from (I believe) his brother, Joel Hammer. Virginia Jimenez -----Original Message----- From: IMsMickey@aol.com <IMsMickey@aol.com> To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com <TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, November 07, 1999 8:52 PM what I can

what good can he do for TN, do you know? On Mon, 08 Nov 1999 16:47:30 PST "Betty B" <bjrb@hotmail.com> writes: > Here's some addresses for you: > > Governor George W. Bush > P. O. Box 12428 > Austin, Texas 78711 > 512-463-2000 > www.governor.state.tx.us > > Vice President Al Gore > The White House > Washigton DC 10501 > 202-456-2326 > > President Bill Clinton > The White House > Washington DC 20500 > 202-456-1414 > > We still need someone in Grainger County to give us some local names > and > addresses. > > Thank you, Louise Murphy, for your Grainger County Historical > Society > address. > > Also, someone in Grainger County might contact a Boy Scout Leader to > see if > he has a Scout trying to earn an Eagle badge. Those kids take on > some > mighty big projects. (I know they do in Texas.) > > Betty Roach Braune > Kyle, Texas > > P.S. When writing to an official or service organization in a state > where > you do not reside, it is good to mention that there are thousands of > > genealogist who spend many thousands of dollars each year in their > state - > motel, food, gasoline, incidental expenses, etc. > > > >From: froach598@juno.com > >Reply-To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com > >To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com > >Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Letter to Gov. Officials (records) > >Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 14:26:43 -0800 > > > >give me address's I'll write, If that will help........Thanks, > Sharon > > > > > >On Mon, 8 Nov 1999 11:35:07 -0800 "Mary Tuley" <marya@texoma.net> > writes: > > > Well, it is election time again, MAYBE, this is the right time > to > > > contact > > > Vice President, AL Gore. Or maybe Gov. George W. Bush!!! > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com >

Hi all, PLEASE!!! No one leave the list over this matter :-) We all have different attitudes & people say things sometimes that may "hurt feelings". And its so easy to say things on a computer,,,,forgetting that there is a REAL person on the other end. But, we all have a common bond,,,, and that's a "LOVE" for genealogy. Please :-)))) Lets all work thru these "angry" & "hurt feelings" and point them at getting over this WALL, in regard to preserving those records. Come on all,,, lets work together & put or Energy toward the REAL problem :-))))))))))))))))))) Warm regards to all, John Linkes

If you are new to the list you do not understand that this discussion has been going on for several years. Everybody is well informed to the gravity of the situation. I have personally been there and I am as distressed as anybody but if you will read the messages everybody has been notified and nobody has done anything. If you go to the town you will noticed they are all laid back. I have not gotten one piece of information in all the time I have been here and have been told off in a very ugly manner which I will never forget over this same issue several months ago so I want my name removed from the list please. Betty Webb

give me address's I'll write, If that will help........Thanks, Sharon On Mon, 8 Nov 1999 11:35:07 -0800 "Mary Tuley" <marya@texoma.net> writes: > Well, it is election time again, MAYBE, this is the right time to > contact > Vice President, AL Gore. Or maybe Gov. George W. Bush!!! >

Thanks Kenneth for the information. I really appreciate your effort in these (ENOUGH) records of Grainger Co.,TN. I feel I have a connection there . I don't know really what I can do but appreciate all the concerned people messages. How else will we know what is going on. I for one, did not know any of this, so my thanks again!! Mary

Hi all, In 1995 I joined the Grainger Co. Historical Society but, moved and lost contact with the group. Here is there address as of 1995: Grainger County Historical Society, PO Box 215, Rutledge, TN 37861. The officers for 1995 where: President Kevin D. Collins, V.President Mary Lakins-Davis, Sec.LaVerne DeVault, Treasurer Betty Collins. I only attended a few of there meetings, mostly joined to receive the Society publications. They have done a number of projects in Grainger Co.,, anyone know these "cousins" today?? Maybe they can still help if the group is still active. Just thought I would pass it along as a source of helping out with the records in the old school. Regards, John Linkes (Kentucky)

Lets stay calm and nice to each other, I am sure people are getting tired of the same subject coming up so often, BUT I think it should ,until something gets done, beside it was getting pretty slow, this is the most interaction I've seen in awhile on this list... we need our blood pressure raised once in awhile, or else nothing gets done, But we need to work together...those that are close enough to physically help and want to ...go for it,!!! the rest of us to far away, will do what ever we are told will do any good, write letters or send money etc. buy the marriage books we need when they come available ,what ever will help....the ones that Live there I think probably know more the climate of thinking that persists there with those people in Rutledge But stay courteous... Sharon , WA State . On Mon, 8 Nov 1999 18:54:33 +0100 duane mills <duane@online.no> writes: > I canŽt believe that people could say "enough already" without being > embarrased. That is like saying that they want ot decide what is > discussed. > > That is not the way a list is supposed to work? Not everyone is > interested > in every topic, but the reason any topic keeps getting repeated is > because > people are "very" interested. Where will we get the info we need if > records can be just dumped and forgotten. > > Your "in" box offers up a list of subjects for each e-mail you > recieve. > You can sort e-mails received just by choosing "sort by subject" and > delete > all mail that doesnŽt interest you. > > Of course, that may be too much effort or maybe you donŽt know how? > > My suggestion is that if you insist on telling people what to > discuss, then > you should start your own list so you have full control. > > Duane Mills > Stavanger, Norway > >

Well, it is election time again, MAYBE, this is the right time to contact Vice President, AL Gore. Or maybe Gov. George W. Bush!!!

I can´t believe that people could say "enough already" without being embarrased. That is like saying that they want ot decide what is discussed. That is not the way a list is supposed to work? Not everyone is interested in every topic, but the reason any topic keeps getting repeated is because people are "very" interested. Where will we get the info we need if records can be just dumped and forgotten. Your "in" box offers up a list of subjects for each e-mail you recieve. You can sort e-mails received just by choosing "sort by subject" and delete all mail that doesn´t interest you. Of course, that may be too much effort or maybe you don´t know how? My suggestion is that if you insist on telling people what to discuss, then you should start your own list so you have full control. Duane Mills Stavanger, Norway

Not unless one of them is a shoo-in for President (Which George W. Bush might well be) and could get someone to sponsor a bill relating to the preservation of records. I think there already was one, but I don't know the number. I'll have to look that up. The TN State Archives should have been on this like a duck on a June Bug 3 nearly years ago. Betty B. From: froach598@juno.com >Reply-To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com >To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Letter to Gov. Officials (records) >Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 16:52:11 -0800 > >what good can he do for TN, do you know? > >On Mon, 08 Nov 1999 16:47:30 PST "Betty B" <bjrb@hotmail.com> writes: > > Here's some addresses for you: > > > > Governor George W. Bush > > P. O. Box 12428 > > Austin, Texas 78711 > > 512-463-2000 > > www.governor.state.tx.us > > > > Vice President Al Gore > > The White House > > Washigton DC 10501 > > 202-456-2326 > > > > President Bill Clinton > > The White House > > Washington DC 20500 > > 202-456-1414 > > > > We still need someone in Grainger County to give us some local names > > and > > addresses. > > > > Thank you, Louise Murphy, for your Grainger County Historical > > Society > > address. > > > > Also, someone in Grainger County might contact a Boy Scout Leader to > > see if > > he has a Scout trying to earn an Eagle badge. Those kids take on > > some > > mighty big projects. (I know they do in Texas.) > > > > Betty Roach Braune > > Kyle, Texas > > > > P.S. When writing to an official or service organization in a state > > where > > you do not reside, it is good to mention that there are thousands of > > > > genealogist who spend many thousands of dollars each year in their > > state - > > motel, food, gasoline, incidental expenses, etc. > > > > > > >From: froach598@juno.com > > >Reply-To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com > > >To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com > > >Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Letter to Gov. Officials (records) > > >Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 14:26:43 -0800 > > > > > >give me address's I'll write, If that will help........Thanks, > > Sharon > > > > > > > > >On Mon, 8 Nov 1999 11:35:07 -0800 "Mary Tuley" <marya@texoma.net> > > writes: > > > > Well, it is election time again, MAYBE, this is the right time > > to > > > > contact > > > > Vice President, AL Gore. Or maybe Gov. George W. Bush!!! > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________ > > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Ooops, the correct town and zip for Al Gore is Washington DC (typo) and zip is 20501 (not 10501) It's been a long day. Betty >From: "Betty B" <bjrb@hotmail.com> >Reply-To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com >To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Letter to Gov. Officials (records) >Date: Mon, 08 Nov 1999 16:47:30 PST > >Here's some addresses for you: > >Governor George W. Bush >P. O. Box 12428 >Austin, Texas 78711 >512-463-2000 >www.governor.state.tx.us > >Vice President Al Gore >The White House >Washigton DC 10501 >202-456-2326 > >President Bill Clinton >The White House >Washington DC 20500 >202-456-1414 > >We still need someone in Grainger County to give us some local names and >addresses. > >Thank you, Louise Murphy, for your Grainger County Historical Society >address. > >Also, someone in Grainger County might contact a Boy Scout Leader to see if >he has a Scout trying to earn an Eagle badge. Those kids take on some >mighty big projects. (I know they do in Texas.) > >Betty Roach Braune >Kyle, Texas > >P.S. When writing to an official or service organization in a state where >you do not reside, it is good to mention that there are thousands of >genealogist who spend many thousands of dollars each year in their state - >motel, food, gasoline, incidental expenses, etc. > > >>From: froach598@juno.com >>Reply-To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com >>To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com >>Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Letter to Gov. Officials (records) >>Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 14:26:43 -0800 >> >>give me address's I'll write, If that will help........Thanks, Sharon >> >> >>On Mon, 8 Nov 1999 11:35:07 -0800 "Mary Tuley" <marya@texoma.net> writes: >> > Well, it is election time again, MAYBE, this is the right time to >> > contact >> > Vice President, AL Gore. Or maybe Gov. George W. Bush!!! >> > >> > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com