I have contacted mic via email and if there is anyone else that I could contact by mail to protest, please let me know ASAP. thanks, beverly Jim Turner wrote: > The following message from Mic Barnette is quoted for your information: > > PLEASE PASS THE WORD: > > A Hearing on House Bill 836 is scheduled for 7 AM Wednesday May 5, 1999 > > HB 836 Will close Birth and Death INDEXES in Texas for 50 and 25 years, > respectively. > > For more information, go to http://barnettesbooks.com or > http://www.geocities.com/Bourbon/Delta/7552 > > Read the Bill and find out how to contact the Health Services Committee > members. > > As genealogists, we can make a difference! > > -Please contact one, or, all committee members, plus your own state > senator. > -If you can attend the committee hearing, please let us know of your > plans. > -Please send a copy of your correspondence to Mic Barnette at > mic@barnettesbooks.com > > Thank You, > MIC > > Mic Barnette Writes a Weekly Genealogy Column In > The Houston Chronicle. Read it on the Web At Barnette's > Family Tree Book Company > http://barnettesbooks.com

The following message from Mic Barnette is quoted for your information: PLEASE PASS THE WORD: A Hearing on House Bill 836 is scheduled for 7 AM Wednesday May 5, 1999 HB 836 Will close Birth and Death INDEXES in Texas for 50 and 25 years, respectively. For more information, go to http://barnettesbooks.com or http://www.geocities.com/Bourbon/Delta/7552 Read the Bill and find out how to contact the Health Services Committee members. As genealogists, we can make a difference! -Please contact one, or, all committee members, plus your own state senator. -If you can attend the committee hearing, please let us know of your plans. -Please send a copy of your correspondence to Mic Barnette at mic@barnettesbooks.com Thank You, MIC Mic Barnette Writes a Weekly Genealogy Column In The Houston Chronicle. Read it on the Web At Barnette's Family Tree Book Company http://barnettesbooks.com

A new message, "grandfather," was posted by bcooper on Fri, 30 Apr 1999 in the Galveston County, TX, Genealogy Web Page Queries section: --- NAME: bcooper EMAIL: rcooper@vol.com SURNAMES: davis DATE: Apr 30 1999 QRYTEXT: I am looking for any information on my grandfather Thurman Lee Davis. He was born 1903, uncertain of the day or month. He had 2 sons David and Clyde. I only have a faint memory of him and I believe he died somewhere in Miss. If there is any info on him or his parents, I would appreciate it.. My grandfather was born in Galveston, Tx, according to my fahter's birth certificate. I think he was born around 1902 or 1903, because he was 27 years old when my father was born in 1929. I beleived they moved around a good bit, and my grandfather was a chef. Thanks, Beverly

A new message, "SPELLMAN & PAULDING, b. 1891, d. 1978, Dickenson, TX," was posted by Debi Reed on Sat, 01 May 1999 in the Galveston County, TX, Genealogy Web Page Queries section: --- NAME: Debi Reed EMAIL: debibill@unlimited.net SURNAMES: SPELLMAN, PAULDING, CONKLIN DATE: May 01 1999 I am trying to locate a living descendant of any of the following individuals: JAMES VINCENT SPELLMAN (Sr.) originally of NY (possibly Haverstraw in Rockland Co.) who married JESSIE PAULDING (b. 1891) originally of Peekskill, NY, in 1915. I have no information on parents or siblings of James. Jessie Paulding was the daughter of JOSEPH PAULDING and Alice (?) (Alice was listed as a widow in the 1913 Peekskill Directory). Jessie had at least 2 siblings: CLARENCE PAULDING (aka "Uncle Buster"), and NELLIE PAULDING. JAMES V. SPELLMAN (Sr.) and JESSIE (PAULDING) SPELLMAN lived in various places due to James employment as a steam-pipe fitter. They lived in New York, W. Virginia, Maryland and Texas. They both died in Texas. Jessie's last address was in Dickenson, Texas, died 1978. James and Jessie Spellman had the following children: JAMES (Jr.), b. 1915, d. 1946 of TB JESSIE SPELLMAN LUCILLE SPELLMAN CLAIRE SPELLMAN JAMES SPELLMAN, (Jr.) married ENID CONKLIN of Peekskill, NY, in 1938. JESSIE SPELLMAN married PAUL (?) who was a school teacher. They were married in Arizona, and last known of them, they were in Tempe, AZ. My husband is a son of James Spellman (Jr.), and though we had corresponded with his grandmother, JESSIE (PAULDING) SPELLMAN prior to her death, we had little-to-no knowledge of daughters Jessie, Lucille and Claire. If you have any knowledge of, or connection to the above individuals, we would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thanks so much. Debi

A new message, "NAGLE, Dr. James 1800's," was posted by Richard Blenderman on Fri, 30 Apr 1999 in the Galveston County, TX, Genealogy Web Page Queries section. --- NAME: Richard Blenderman EMAIL: richard@blendermann.com SURNAMES: NAGLE DATE: Apr 30 1999 I'm looking for any information relation to Dr. James Nagle who came to Galveston from Cork Ireland and brought his family with him back in the 1800's (Mid?) He was very active as a Doctor in and around Galveston from the Mid 1800's until his death sometime in the late 1800. He left a large family and many descendants in Texas. Mary Margaret Love who use to live in Galveston for a long time is one of his direct descendants. I'm looking for historical and factual information. http://www.nagle.org is my web site for this research... Rich

Jim Turner wrote: > A new message, "Mathilda Olofsdotter," was posted by David Larson on Thu, > 29 Apr 1999 on the Galveston County, Texas, Genealogy Web Page Queries section. > > --- > NAME: David Larson > EMAIL: dlars@juno.com > SURNAMES: Olofsdotter, Olsen > DATE: Apr 29 1999 > Mathilda Olofsdotter emigrated in 1883 from Gotland Sweden to Galveston. I find > a Miss Matilda Olsen in the City Directories, in 1885 working and residing at > JW Charleston's clothing store, and in 1888-89 residing with and working for > Mrs Emily Girardin (widow of Victor). Mathilda is not listed in the 1890 > Directory. How can I find out if she got married and remained in Galveston?. Marriage records are filed at Galveston County Courthouse, 722 Moody, Galveston TX 77550. They are indexed by bride and groom and go back to the 1840s. If she married in Galveston, you should be able to find the record there. Shelly Kelly Galveston TX

A new message, "Mathilda Olofsdotter," was posted by David Larson on Thu, 29 Apr 1999 on the Galveston County, Texas, Genealogy Web Page Queries section. --- NAME: David Larson EMAIL: dlars@juno.com SURNAMES: Olofsdotter, Olsen DATE: Apr 29 1999 Mathilda Olofsdotter emigrated in 1883 from Gotland Sweden to Galveston. I find a Miss Matilda Olsen in the City Directories, in 1885 working and residing at JW Charleston's clothing store, and in 1888-89 residing with and working for Mrs Emily Girardin (widow of Victor). Mathilda is not listed in the 1890 Directory. How can I find out if she got married and remained in Galveston?.

Jim Turner wrote: > > A new message, "Garden of Gethsemane," was posted by Pam Sutton on Wed, > 28 Apr 1999 on the Galveston County, Texas, Genealogy Web Page Queries > section: > > --- > NAME: Pam Sutton > EMAIL: psutton@hotmail.com > SURNAMES: MILLER > DATE: Apr 28 1999 > > I am looking for the GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE cemetery. Frank Miller d. > 1948-1948 is supposed to be buried there. He was from Kemah. I am not > sure where this cemetery is located. I have also been told that that it > may not be a cemetery, it may be a part of a larger cemetery. The only > info. that I have is that he was buried there. It is either in Galveston > County or in Harris County.. Pam, There is a Frank Joseph Miller buried in the Gardens of Gesthemane section of the Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in southeast Houston, Harris County. The date of burial was 9 Nov 1948 and the grave is in Section 54, Lot 648. The Cemetery is located at 6900 Lawndale, Houston TX 77023; their phone is (713) 928-5141. I hope this helps. Jim Turner

A message from Rootsweb: PRIVATE FAMILY SITES AT FAMILYPOINT. RootsWeb is actively looking for partners who can provide additional benefits for the genealogical community. FamilyPoint is one such site. It is completely free to its users, and families who use FamilyPoint can have private areas with features like: o The "Fridge" where users can share notes, stories, recipes, and more. o A photo gallery that lets you privately exchange photos. o Discussion areas by topic. o A calendar that provides an easy way to stay on top of family events with instant notification to others when you schedule an activity. o An e-mail greeting card even using your own photos. o Live chat with family members. o A "family favorites" database where you can store favorite places, recipes, and more along with their descriptions. o An address book where contact information can be shared. One additional nice thing about FamilyPoint is that they can coordinate their site to work with any other site, and RootsWeb is considering working jointly with FamilyPoint to build such a site. If you have time, RootsWeb would appreciate it if you would visit the FamilyPoint site at: <http://familypoint.com/rootsweb>, sign in as a member, build your site, e-mail your family, look around, and then e-mail us at: <familypt@rootsweb.com> and tell us whether you think we should coordinate with FamilyPoint to create a RootsWeb-FamilyPoint site and what other features you'd like that joint site to have. Joining FamilyPoint is completely free to you, and FamilyPoint will donate $2 to RootsWeb for each of our users who join their site. It's a win for everyone, and RootsWeb would really like to know if you would like us to offer this sort of site in the future. Please visit FamilyPoint. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Previously published by RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative, RootsWeb Review, Vol. 2, No. 17, 28 April 1999. Please visit RootsWeb's main Web page at <http://www.rootsweb.com/>.

The Galveston County Tax Rolls for the years 1838 to 1901 are available on microfilm from the Texas State Library & Archives Commission. They can be loaned to libraries but not to individuals. Contact your local library to process an interlibrary loan. You must specify the county and the specific year. Up to six rolls may be requested at one time. Your library should send the loan request to: TSLAC: Interlibrary Loans P.O. Box 12927 Austin, TX 78711-2927 Their fax # is (512) 463-5436 Jim Turner

A new message, "Garden of Gethsemane," was posted by Pam Sutton on Wed, 28 Apr 1999 on the Galveston County, Texas, Genealogy Web Page Queries section: --- NAME: Pam Sutton EMAIL: psutton@hotmail.com SURNAMES: MILLER DATE: Apr 28 1999 I am looking for the GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE cemetery. Frank Miller d. 1948-1948 is supposed to be buried there. He was from Kemah. I am not sure where this cemetery is located. I have also been told that that it may not be a cemetery, it may be a part of a larger cemetery. The only info. that I have is that he was buried there. It is either in Galveston County or in Harris County..

Shelly, I greatly appreciate your kind help with this search. The Rosenberg Library has been a helpful place to research and is a fine resource for everyone suffering from the genealogy bug. Thanks for the contact name with the diocese. Marilyn and I visited there some years ago, but the archivist was out of town and we didn't get back. I'll call ahead and ask for Lisa next week. Again, thank you for the ideas and the time you spent in responding. Your efforts make my search much easier. Best wishes, Corey Grua Shelly Henley Kelly wrote: > Corey, > > If you check the Rosenberg Library web page (www.rosenberg-library.org) > it says that they have the Interment records for Galveston from > 1866-1881. You could check those next time you're there for any SELLS > family. Those records are indexed. > > Also, you may want to check with Lisa May, Archivist, Galveston-Houston > Catholic Diocese, PO Box 907, Houston TX 77001-0907 for information > about the Texas Catholic newspaper. The Diocese Archives also has the > records for St. Mary's Cathedral in Galveston. > > Shelly Kelly > Galveston TX

Corey, If you check the Rosenberg Library web page (www.rosenberg-library.org) it says that they have the Interment records for Galveston from 1866-1881. You could check those next time you're there for any SELLS family. Those records are indexed. Also, you may want to check with Lisa May, Archivist, Galveston-Houston Catholic Diocese, PO Box 907, Houston TX 77001-0907 for information about the Texas Catholic newspaper. The Diocese Archives also has the records for St. Mary's Cathedral in Galveston. Shelly Kelly Galveston TX

Bev, George B. Price first appears in Galveston city directories in 1908-09. He continues to appear through 1926-27. His occupation each year is given as Machinest for McDonough Iron Works. The 1926-27 directory says, "Price, Geo B. aged 55, died April 18, 1925" According to the Rosenberg Library web page, they have the mortuary records for 1918-26. If you write them and send $5.00 fee they will copy all the information from the mortuary record AND check for an obituary in the newspaper. Their mailing address is: 2310 Sealy Avenue Galveston TX 77550 ATTN: GTHC Shelly Kelly Galveston TX

In a message dated 4/27/99 3:55:40 PM Central Daylight Time, shelly@rosenberg-library.org writes: << The 1926-27 directory says, "Price, Geo B. aged 55, died April 18, 1925" >> Hello I checked the books that I have here at my home. I found buried in the Lakeview Cemetery PRICE, GEO. B./ Native of ILL. Residence:Galveston, TX/AGE:55 Date of Death:19 Apr 1925 Place of Death: Sealy Hospital/Disease:Anrpiva Hemorrhage/Name of Physician:A. S. Shields Under Taker:F. P. Malloy & Son/Date of Internment:20 Apr 1925 Section: P/ Grave Number:898 These records were copied from the ledger that is the property of Lakeview Cemetery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lakeview Cemetery 3015 57th St. Galveston, TX 77551 <409>744-1724 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MALLOY & SON FUNERAL HOME 3028 Broadway Galveston, TX 77550 <409>763-2475 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you drop a note to the funeral home they will be more than glad to send you a copy of the FUNERAL RECORD. Hope that this helps in some small way. Bertha Ellen Beall Texas City,TX.

Shelly, Hi, again! Thanks for helping. Here is what I need. Wilson Strickland. Parents were Abeil Strickland and Jane Goforth. Wilson had 2 sisters Abigail and Elizabeth Strickland. The family was orginally from Virginia. I would like to know if there is any record of Wilson Strickland arriving in Galveston. Try 1821. Is there any record of Wilson Strickland being one of the original Texas Rangers. Can you tell me when he died and place of burial? How old was he when he died? Is there any record of marriage or children? Wilson was the only one out of the family to leave New Madrid, Missouri to go to Galveston. That was on New Year's Day 1821. Thanks for your help. Kimberly Thompson Shelly Henley Kelly wrote: > Passenger records at the Rosenberg Library cover between 1844-1871. There > are no records for 1872-1900. Most of the early records are scattered > lists. They do not include everyone. Could the individual have been > naturalized in any other county? > Shelly Kelly > GalvestonTX > > Winegar wrote: > > > Since many German immigrants entered Texas through the Port of Galveston, > > You might try checking passenger ship logs. The Seaport Museum in > > Galveston has many of them on Computer. Also check Rosenberg Library in > > Galveston. Sometimes the ships log lists the place the person is from , > > sometimes only the place the ship sailed from. > > > > Angie

A new message, "William Henry Sells, 1870's," was posted by Corey W. Grua on Sun, 25 Apr 1999, on the Galveston County Genealogy Web Page, Queries Section: --- NAME: Corey W. Grua EMAIL: cgrua@myfamily.org SURNAMES: Sells DATE: Apr 25 1999 Looking for a missing child of William Henry Sells and Martha Rhodes Field, perhaps buried in Galveston in the 1870s. I have information on the other Sells children: Annie B. (b.1863); Clinton W. (b.1865); William H. (b. 1867); Martha C. (b.1869); Eliza A. (b.1872); Louis M. (b.1874); Henry F. (b. 1875); Eugene A. (b.1880). Henry and William are both buried in Galveson.. My great great grandfather Sells moved to Galveston to edit a newspaper called the Texas Catholic. He and much of his family were baptized at St. Mary's Basilica. City directories I've read at Rosenburg Library indicate that he had other occupations there before moving to Austin County sometime before 1880 (where he shows up on the US census). Corey

- HB 836 in Texas Mic Barnette passed along the following information of interest to genealogists in Texas: Hi Fellow Genealogists: In case you have not heard there is a bill in the Texas Legislature that might close the indexes to death and birth records in Texas for 25 and 50 years, respectively. My column on Saturday April 24 will state most of what we know about the bill at this time. The column is already on my website at http://barnettesbooks.com Just click on read the columns. Scroll down and click on April 24. The column was submitted this morning for a Saturday publication date. Since being notified of this bill by Tommy Burns of Houston, I have found out only a little bit more. Supposedly, the bill was submitted to clarify the current law. The intent of the bill was to clarify the existing law and help open birth and death indexes in counties where the county clerk felt they were closed (At the same time, other county clerks felt the indexes were open). While in committee an amendment was placed on the bill stating the indexes would become open and public when the actual records (birth and death records) became open and public. According to the amendment the indexes would be closed for 25-50 years until the records themselves are public. The HB 836 passed the Public Health Committee in the State House of Representatives on March 30. It was referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee. As of today, the bill does not have a Senate sponsor. If we cause enough rancor, it is possible no one will take on the sponsorship of the bill and it will die in committee. On the other hand, if a sponsor is found, we want to be on record requesting a hearing. At that hearing, we would need to flood the room with genealogists and other concerned citizens. While a law clarifying the present confusing law might be welcome, amendment on HB 836 closes the birth and death indexes until the actual records become public which is 25-50 years. .Monday night I contacted Jack Brissee, Chair of the FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee. Jack and his committee work with genealogists and other organizations all over the country when records are threatened with closure or misuse. He jumped on it and has faxed a letter to the Chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee. He has urged everyone to contact all genealogists, genealogical, historical and other concerned organizations to write a calm, collected, but, concerned letter to the Chair of the Senate Affairs Committee and to our own Senator concerning this bill. The Honorable Florence Shapiro Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs P.O.Box 12068 Capital Station Austin, TX 78711 Another bill in the legislature each of you should be aware of is HB13. This bill seeks to allow adoptees to obtain their original birth certificate upon reaching the age of 21. HB13 has met with the hostility of child placement services and birth mothers. Currently it is held up in committee where it may die. Part of the HB 13 awareness may have had some effect on HB 836 because both have to do with vital statistics registration. If you wish to pass this letter around, please feel free to do so. I have included this mailing to a number of my columnist colleagues around the country who might wish to be alert to what is happening down here in Texas. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who hears any news on this matter. Thank You, Mic Barnette barnette@neosoft.com