>From pages 81-83 of my "People and Places, Gazetteer of Hamilton County, TX. " Cutting and pasting into an e-mail does create havac with formatting. The town of Hamilton has always had a square, but the first court house was not erected until 1878. Hamilton courthouses have included: 1. Livery station--1858 to 1863--destroyed by fire, September, 1863. (Purchased from Levy Terry) 2. James Monroe Rices store--23 September, 1863--31 March, 1867 3. Jones Store House--1 April, 1867--4 April, 1869 (Owned by G. W. Loyd) 4. Hamilton School House--5 April, 1869--1871 5. Second floor of Frances Marion Graves & Company stone building, 1871--17 March, 1877--destroyed by fire (The county paid $300 per year to rent this space.) 6. South room of Crescent Saloon, owned by G. H. Goodson--5 April, 1877-1878 7. First Courthouse opened 11 March, 1878--destroyed by fire 2 February, 1886 Cost: $11,559. This courthouse was built with native stone in eight months. This two- story courthouse had a foundation two and one half feet deep, a fireproof vault, and four fireplaces on the first floor with flues for stoves on the second floor. In the Spring of 1883 a 190 feet square white fence was erected around the court house at a cost of $989.50. Before the end of the summer a chain was added around the fence to which horses could be hitched. Following the loss of this courthouse on 5 February, 1886, the residents of southwestern Hamilton County petitioned for an election to consider moving the courthouse nearer them. The proposed town site of the new countyseat was eight miles south of Hamilton near Shive on the John Dillard Hunt ranch. This movement drew much support and an election to consider relocating the county seat was called for 4 May, 1886. In an effort to retain Hamilton as the countyseat, Hamilton County Commissioners, Simpson Loyd, A. J. Forester, R. Stinnett, J. P. Grundy, and County Judge C. W. Cotton negotiated an agreement with the voters of the southern part of the county to allow the future Mills County to have a strip of land along the southern border of Hamilton County moving the county line from Sims Creek, seven miles south of Center City to McGirk. In the election Hamilton received 878 votes, Pegtown (near Shive) received 689 votes, and Piggtown ( Aleman) received 3 votes. 8. Space rented from F. M. Groves to hold court until courthouse could be rebuilt. February, 1886--February 1887. This was probably an upstairs room on the NW corner of the square in a building occupied by J. M. Williams and Sons Hardware which collapsed in December, 1976. The county judge, sheriff, and a few other county officials moved their offices to the stone jail. 9. Second Courthouse, 22 February, 1887-- Original cost: $30,700. Courthouse was constructed with native limestone. Cost of extensive remodeling 1932: $55,754. The limestone came from the area which became the city dump grounds for many years. Voters decided on 28 February, 1931, to approve bonds of add wings on the north and the south sides of the 1887 courthouse and to add a basement. Confident that the bond would pass, the Commissioners Court had already started digging the basement before the bonds were approved. Remodeling began in 1931 and was completed and occupied by 13 June, 1932. During the remodeling Courthouse activities were conducted at: a. A movie house b. An office building c. A former barber shop d. Upstairs over a drugstore Elreeta in Hamilton ecw@htcomp.net
Charles, I have read that after the second courthouse fire in 1877, the county had almost re-created the deed records before the third fire in 1886. There have been 3 "courthouse" fires in Hamilton county--although the first in 1863 was in the building rented/leased by the county and used as a courthouse. The second fire in 1877 was the first building constructed to serve as a courthouse. It is my assumption that it was possible to secure copies of deed records from the state-of course, at that time copies were handwritten. There are deeds in Hamilton County preceeding the 1886 fire. I posed the question to Mrs. Virginia Lovell, who has just retired as county clerk (Without a doubt, Mrs. Lovell was the most courteous county clerk in the entire state of Texas for over two decades!) Mrs. Lovell did now know the processes or procedures used to re-create deed records after the 1886 fire. In some accounts of the second fire, I have read that some records were stored in a safe, and also read that possibly although badly scorched some records were salvaged. I have not found anything definitive about the surviving records. I know that the marriage record books were burned; however, there have been numerous early marriage licenses designated as "unclaimed." Some of these preceeded the last fire. Many more early marriages were recorded on a list. Sometimes the information was complete, but frequently it was not. Some have only a year for the date. One even has only the name of the bride. Either these marriage licenses survived the fire, or couples brought in their marriage licenses to be recorded on lists. They were not recorded in the new marriage book. For clarification, I am using the term "Marriage License" to refer to the document purchased by the couple before marriage and on which the minister/official documented the date on which he performed the marriage. Marriage licenses are normally taken to the county clerk by the minister/official to be recorded by the county clerk and then returned to the couple following being recorded in a Marriage Record Book. "Marriage Record" is the information recorded in a Marriage Record Book. After the Feb., 1886, fire it obviously took time to secure new books and to begin recording again. Marriages were not recorded in chronological order. Of course, when the minister/official submitted the marrige license to the county clerk also effects the date the marriage is recorded offiicially. The very first marriage recorded in Hamilton County, TX, Marriage Record Book #1 on page #1 was the marriage of John Potts to Mrs. Audora Smith on 6-1-1886. The next marriage (also on page one) was the marriage of C. T. Hubbard to Miss Idela Crow on 2-21-1886. Elreeta ---------- > From: Charles Blakley <cblakley@flash.net> > To: TXHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Courthouse fire of February, 1886 > Date: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 9:21 AM > > > *The marriage record book in which this marriage was recorded > > burned in the courthouse fire of February, 1886. The marriage was > > written on a list of early marriages following the 1886 fire. > > Do you know, generally, what records were burned in the above fire, and > what records survived? I'm most interested in the marriage and the deed > records. >
> *The marriage record book in which this marriage was recorded > burned in the courthouse fire of February, 1886. The marriage was > written on a list of early marriages following the 1886 fire. Do you know, generally, what records were burned in the above fire, and what records survived? I'm most interested in the marriage and the deed records.
I recently came across a web site called the Confederate Pension Application Files of the Texas State Archives. I input the surname "Lawrence" into the search form and the information came back with my gr.gr. grandmother and grandfathers name - Lawrence, Susan E, Claimant Pension # 01760 County - Hamilton Husband - M N Lawrence I am not familiar with State Archival procedures - Can anyone tell me what the next step should be? Whom do I write for further info - How much do the fees usually run? Do I need further information? Where would I find it? Has anyone on the list received info from the Texas State Archives? What kind of information can I expect? Any and all information most greatfully appreciated. Juanita Thinnes Riverside, CA
There were several early Smith marriages in Hamilton County. Among them are A. J. Smith m. Miss Annie Doyle on 5-15-1884* A. J. Smith m. Mrs. Willie Griffin on 10-30-1894, Hamilton County Marriage Record Book 2, p. 114. *The marriage record book in which this marriage was recorded burned in the courthouse fire of February, 1886. The marriage was written on a list of early marriages following the 1886 fire. Elreeta in Hamilton ---------- > From: Janna Mayfield <jsm1@ix.netcom.com> > To: TXHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Andrew J. Smith and Jamima Crowder > Date: Monday, January 11, 1999 2:22 PM > > > > Hi, I am looking for some information on Andrew J. Smith, b. 1849, Ms > married Jamima or Jennie Crowder. They moved to Hamilton co. Tx around > 1872, I am looking for any information would help. > Janna mayfield, 7617 Lisa Ct Fort Worth, Tx. 76112
Do you think the following could be related to your SMITH? Descendants of William George Smith 1 William George Smith .. +Miranda Countiss ...... 2 Andrew Jackson Smith b: April 25, 1872 in Kentucky d: April 12, 1971 in Amarillo, Texas .......... +Willie Lee Gordon b: September 27, 1874 in Brown Co., Texas m: Bef. 1896 d: October 26, 1945 in Amarillo, Texas ............... 3 Lawerence A. Smith b: November 06, 1896 in Amarillo, Texas d: February 03, 1936 in Amarillo, Texas ................... +Nell M. ............... 3 Cecil Raymond Smith b: January 07, 1902 in Amarillo, Texas d: July 17, 1971 in Amarillo, Texas ................... +Myrtle Janna Mayfield wrote: > > Hi, I am looking for some information on Andrew J. Smith, b. 1849, Ms > married Jamima or Jennie Crowder. They moved to Hamilton co. Tx around > 1872, I am looking for any information would help. > Janna mayfield, 7617 Lisa Ct Fort Worth, Tx. 76112
Hi, I am looking for some information on Andrew J. Smith, b. 1849, Ms married Jamima or Jennie Crowder. They moved to Hamilton co. Tx around 1872, I am looking for any information would help. Janna mayfield, 7617 Lisa Ct Fort Worth, Tx. 76112
Robin, Perhaps these early Latham marriages in Hamilton County, TX were some of your relatives. George H. Latham married Mattie Snellings on 27 July, 1884* William W. M. Latham married Noella Pierce on 30 Mar., 1878* W. J. Crist married Matild Latham on 11-20-1890, Hamilton County, TX Marriage Record Book 1, p. 197. *Marriage book in which this marriage was recorded burned in the courthouse fire in February, 1886. The marriage was written on a list following this courthouse fire. Elreeta Weathers in Hamilton ---------------- ---------- > From: Robin Latham <latham5@telapex.com> > To: TXHAMILT-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [Fwd: Latham, Pierce and others in Tx] > Date: Sunday, January 10, 1999 10:00 PM >
Happy HollyDays!! I am posting a link to a site where I received a lot of help with my ancestors in Texas. They helped me get my gggrandpa's death certificate. Hope they can help someone else. Peace to all..........Jean http://www.imagin.net/~tracers Get your FREE Email at http://mailcity.lycos.com Get your PERSONALIZED START PAGE at http://personal.lycos.com
Sandy, The only Ross I can find associated with the Blue Ridge Community (which never had a post office) is D. M. Ross. Blue Ridge Baptist Church Messengers to the associational meetings were: 1886-- G. W. Herrington, W. F. Stevenson, Christopher Columbus Powell, and D. M. Ross >From funeral records (I indexed the funeral records from the local funeral home from 1956 through 1993) it appears that D. M. Ross could have been David Marion Ross who died in 1912. Two children of David Marion Ross and his wife Charlotte Ellen Clark were Minerva Elizabeth Ross Havens, b. 6-21-1867 and d. 8-19-1956 and Arthur Wayne Ross, b. 1-20-1877, and 11-28-1958. Ray and I have indexed marriage records from the earliest surviving court house fires through 1951 and while there were some Ross marriages, none of the given names started with the letter M--which appears to be the naming pattern for your Ross family. My Grisham family arrived at Blue Ridge in 1880, my Fergussons in 1890, and my Striblings and Crains in 1907, so we do have some information about the community. Personally I do not remember a Ross family's living at Blue Ridge. Sandy, I will send a copy of my response and your query to the Hamilton County List. Perhaps someone else is familiar with your Ross family. You may also post your query to the Hamilton County County GenWeb GenConnect Query Board at http://www.rootsweb.com/~txhamilt/main.htm There is a Blue Ridge, TX, in Collin County. Since the Blue Ridge community in Hamilton County never had a post office, could your ancestors have lived in Collin County? When I checked the USGS listings for Blue Ridge in TX there were several listings-- http://mapping.usgs.gov:8888/gnis/owa/gnisquery?f_name=Blue+Ridge&v ariant=N&f_state=TX&f_cnty=&f_type=&pop1=&pop2=&elev1=&elev2=&cell= &tab=y Have a Merry Christmas, and remember the true reason for the season. http://members.aol.com/hipychic14/Birthday.html Elreeta Crain Weathers ecw@htcomp.net http://www.htcomp.net/ecw/main.htm Elreeta's home page about Hamilton County http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/1789/ Miss Ann's Home Page http://www.rootsweb.com/~txhamilt/main.htm Hamilton County, TX GenWeb http://www.htcomp.net/rrw/main.htm Ray's homepage http://www.ionet.net/~dgordons/crystal.htm Crystal Tears ---------- > From: SANDIBUTC@aol.com > To: ecw@htcomp.net > Subject: Ross in Blue Ridge, TX > Date: Friday, December 18, 1998 10:14 AM > > Hello, my name is Sandy. > > Your husband Ray gave me your e-mail. He only referred to you as his wife so don't have your first name. He siad you knew Blue Ridge, TX very well. I am doing my family genealogy, the Ross clan. I was wondering if you might have any info about any Rosses. I have been told that in 1900 my ggrandparents were in Blue Ridge, Tx. His name was John William Ross and Wife Matilda Jane. They had 9 children. Marvin, Minnie, Martha, Merrill, Medegorda, Infant, Marion, Mead and Mary. I have alot more full names and dates if you need them. John and Matilda were married in Cooke County TX 9 June 1879. Matildas parents were Jonas A Puntch and Susan Rhodes and I think that maybe they could have been in that area at that time also. Thank you so much for you time to respond to this. Sandy Butcher
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Folks, here's wishing for you and yours a very Merry Christmas and an extremely happy, productive 1999! For those of your who don't know, this is a BIG week for the Weathers' household. On Tuesday of this week (15th) my bride of 39 1/2 years and I had the 41st anniversary of our first date. That date is easy to remember for more than one reason. It was my wife's parents wedding anniversary. You know that blue lame dress she wore that day is still hanging in our front hall closet, right beside her wedding dress. Speaking of weddings. My in-laws were married 69 years ago on the 15th at Blue Ridge Baptist Church (5 miles from town), in 1929. That was the first wedding held in the build for the congregation that was then 49 years old. The second such wedding was another 48 years away -- when Elreeta's cousin got married there. Now, 21 years and two days later, the third "full fledged" wedding ceremony will be held at Blue Ridge Baptist Church when our daughter gets married this Saturday afternoon. Once the pictures have been processed, I will be placing some of them on the the Internet. If you would like to see them, send my your e-mail along with your request and I will put you on the list to be notified when they have been posted. MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!! ray weathers
I apologize if you receive this more then one , But if anyone has tried to email me in the last couple of days I am having email problems so if this one bounces back please try familytree1515@yahoo.com or icq at 15017803 Thanks you Evelyn Brooks Long
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------558D23F58AF59C52160EB0AF Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I thought someone else might could uses this info I wrote to the Woodmen email address and this is what I got back Evelyn --------------558D23F58AF59C52160EB0AF Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Received: from ibmmail.COM (ibmmail.com [204.146.168.193]) by robin.bitstreet.net (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id KAA03297 for <belle@mwec.com>; Mon, 14 Dec 1998 10:21:40 -0600 (CST) Received: by ibmmail.COM (IBM VM SMTP V2R4a) via spool with SMTP id 2944 ; Mon, 14 Dec 1998 11:21:08 EST Message-Id: <4.19981214.11.20.29.430703@woodmen.com> Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 11:20:29 EST From: "Ernie.May@WOODMEN" <emay@woodmen.com> To: belle@mwec.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: record search Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Thank you for your e-mail. We can do a record search if you provide the following information for each individual: name of person date of birth date of death city (not county) and state of residence lodge number, if available relationship to the deceased --------------558D23F58AF59C52160EB0AF--
I would like to thank eveyone for all the wonderful information on the Woodmen Of the World Yall are great Evelyn
Evelyn: Reading your posting to Hamilton and thought I would add my 2 cents worth. If you will go to AltaVista www.altavista.com, and ask the question, where can I read about Woodmen of the World, you will get more links than you will care to read tonight, especially if you are going to get up in time for Sunday School tomorrow. I just tried it and the links are numerous. Hello Hamilton! Tom Leeth
Hey All, Here are several site I finally finished for Texas. I have finished my Johnson CO. Marriages 1868-1893. If you have some rare names this is the place to look. http://www.angelfire.com/ny/LesleysWorld/jcmone.html There are six pages in all, the links on the pages Should work but if not please let me know. I also finished my Cemetery Listings for Johnson CO. : http://www.angelfire.com/ny/LesleysWorld/jccem.html This is Pleasant Point and Marystown cemetery. This is the Antioch Rest Cemetery: http://www.angelfire.com/ny/LesleysWorld/antcem.html Lesley lesley@eznet.net " My intentions are always good, it's my actions that need lessons" Lesley's Family Tree http://www.angelfire.com/ny/LesleysWorld/index.html
okay can somone tell me about the Woodman of the World I know they were a lodge but what did they do . how did it start and so on > Thanks Evelyn
Hi, I am a member of this list, and I was wondering if it would be OK with every one if post some information that I have found about my family that were in Bell, McLennan & Baylor counties. There are no mailing list for any of these counties. Thanks, Robin mailto:latham5@telapex.com