This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Hudson, Dooley, Shipman, Swindall, Tolbert, Slaton, Dalton, Leach Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3643 Message Board Post: Littie Hudson Oct. 10, 1953 — Feb. 13, 2006 Littie Darlene Hudson, 52, of Selkirk, died February 13, 2006, at her residence. She was born October 10, 1953 in West Memphis, Arkansas, to Arthur D. Dooley and Billie Jean Shipman. Formerly of Austin, she had lived in Selkirk since 1998. She is survived by: her husband, Jerry Swindall of Selkirk; sons, Joel Dooley of Houston, Richard Tolbert of St. Cloud, Florida, and Jason Tolbert of Buda, Texas; sister, Lisa Slaton of Round Rock, Texas; brothers, Larry Dalton, James Leach and Jimmy Leach, all of Houston, Billy Rex Dooley of Omaha, Nebraska, and Jay Slaton of Austin; and three grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 10:30 am Thursday at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ken Thompson officiating. Interment will follow at Matagorda Cemetery. Memorials may be made to ACCT, 1405 39th St., Galveston, Texas 77550. Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City. Bay City Tribune Matagorda County, Texas February 15, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Corporon, Fox Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3642 Message Board Post: DUANE P. CORPORON Funeral services for Duane P. Corporon, 82 of Palacios, were held Feb. 16, 2006 at Palacios Funeral Home with Bro. Tom Craiker officiating. Interment was at Hawley Cemetery near Blessing with military honors under the auspices of VFW Post 2467 of Palacios. Mr. Corporon was born April 13, 1923 in Citrus Grove Community, Tx. to Percy Virgil Corporon and Lu Ellen Fox Corporon. He died Feb. 12, 2006 in Houston. He was a life-long resident of Matagorda County, a member of the Church of Christ of Palacios, a US Army Air Corp veteran of World War II, and a Life Member of VFW Post 2467 of Palacios. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Corporon of Palacios; daughter, Bonnie Carolyn Corporon of Palacios; sons, Kenneth Duane Corporon of Stafford, Tx. and Allen Neal Corporon of Liberty Hill, Tx.; brother, Larry Wayne Corporon of Houston; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Pallbearers were Allen N. Corporon, Kenneth D. Corporon, Larry W. Corporon, Robert Nitsch, Brett Corporon, Carl Corporon and Victor Corporon. Palacios Beacon Matagorda County, Texas February 22, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Spurr, Holub Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3641 Message Board Post: Charles A. Spurr BAY CITY [Matagorda County, Texas] - Charles Albert Spurr, 47, of Bay City, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. He was born June 16, 1958 in Bay City, to Augusta Holub Spurr of Bay City and the late James Spurr. He was retired from Air Lioue Company and a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bay City. Survivors: brothers, Stan Spurr of Sugar Valley, Jim Spurr of Houston, Chris Spur of Bay City, Roland Spurr of Matagorda, and Wayne Spurr of Friendswood. Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Hillje. A rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Services will be 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at St. Andrew's Cemetery. Triska Funeral Home, El Campo, 979-543-3681. Memorials: Holy Cross Catholic School Foundation, 2001 Katy St., Bay City, 77414. Victoria Advocate Victoria County, Texas February 13, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Zigo, Kessler, Morgan, Yarborough, Radford, Tice, Rucker, Wilkinson, Leinmeir, Birdwell, White, Eidlebach, Whatley, Morwin, Hawn, Reed Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3640 Message Board Post: Annie Zigo Sept. 22, 1918 — Feb. 9, 2006 Annie Lou Zigo, 87, of Van Vleck, died February 9, 2006. She was born September 22, 1918, in Hungerford, Texas, to William Kessler, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Morgan Kessler. She was a cook for the Van Vleck ISD for many years. She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Bill Zigo; daughters, Mary Ann Yarborough and Louise Radford; sister, Etter Tice; brothers, William and Walter Kessler; and grandchildren Roy Yarborough, Jr. and Tonya Rucker. Survivors include: two daughters, Barbara Wilkinson and Julia Faye Zigo, both of Van Vleck; sons, Bill and wife Donna Zigo of Van Vleck, and James and wife Eleanor Kessler of San Marcos; sisters, Ruby Leinmeir and Bessie Birdwell, both of Eagle Lake; grandchildren, Shirley and John White, Kathy and Gene Eidlebach, Tonya and William Whatley, David and Mary Radford, James Robert Kessler, Sherry and Brad Morwin, Skeeter Rucker, Shonda and Ricky Hawn and Coy Reed; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 12, 2006, at the First Baptist Church in Van Vleck, with the Rev. Robert Hobbins officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be James Robert Kessler, David Radford, Christopher Paschall, Billy Yarborough, Doug Strother, William and Matthew Whatley, William and Jason Eidlebach and Skeeter Rucker. Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. The Bay City Tribune Matagorda County, Texas February 12, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Pointer, Socha, Chambless, Graham, Wendt Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3639 Message Board Post: Louise Pointer Dec. 6, 1911 — Feb. 9, 2006 Louise Socha Pointer, 94, of Bay City, passed away Thursday, February 9, 2006. She was born December 6, 1911, in El Campo, Texas, to Adolf and Beatrice Chambless Socha. Louise was married to George Pointer on March 20, 1929. To this union was born two sons, Robert and Arlye. Louise and her son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Barbara Pointer, owned and operated Pointers Drapery and Upholstery for 38 years. She was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church, a diligent prayer warrior, and worked in many departments of the church over the years. After becoming legally blind, she continued her work by sending cards, calling and crocheting lap robes for friends and shut-ins. She was a great inspiration to friends and family by her will to keep going. She is survived by: her two grandsons, Larry Pointer and wife Kimberly, of Belton, Texas, and formerly of Port Lavaca, and Ron Pointer and wife Brenda of Allen, Texas; her sisters, Lillian Graham of Bay City, and Jane Wendt of Sargent; by her great-grandchildren, Erik, Christina, Alyssa, Stephanie, Ryan and Melanie; by her great-great-granddaughter, Madison Anne; and by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Pointer, and by her sons and daughter-in-law, Robert and Barbara Pointer and Arlye Pointer. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 11, 2006, at the Calvary Baptist Church of Bay City, with the Rev. Chester Sassman officiating. Interment will be at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City. Pallbearers will be Roger Gay, W.J. Clayton, Marion Coker, David Orr, Wayne Cox and Greyson Smith. Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City (979) 245-4613. Bay City Tribune Matagorda County, Texas February 12, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Hayes, Weber, Bingham, Clark, Crabb, Riggins, Craft, Stepp, Barron Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3638 Message Board Post: Ronald Keith Hayes Dec. 14, 1961 — Feb. 5, 2006 Ronald Keith Hayes, 44, of Bay City, died February 5, 2006, at Matagorda General Hospital. He was born December 14, 1961, in Groves, Texas, to Edwin Ray Hayes and Lula Faye Bingham Weber. Keith was a resident of Bay City since 1975, a mechanic by trade, and was the president of the Guardian Motorcycle Club, Bay City Chapter. Survivors include: wife, Teri Clark of Bay City; mother, Lula Faye Weber of Zavalla, Texas; father, Edwin Ray Hayes of Orange, Texas; sister and brother-in-law, Belinda and Greg Crabb of Zavalla, Texas; step-daughter, Stephanie Riggins of Bay City; step-sons, Jason Craft of Winnie, Texas, and Wayne Stepp of Bay City, Texas; niece, Cali Hayes of Zavalla, Texas; aunt, Wanda Barron of Orange, Texas; and uncle, Duncan Bingham of Iowa. The family will receive friends at Taylor Bros Funeral Home from 6 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 9, 2006, at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, under the auspices of the Guardian Motorcycle Club. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Zavalla Cemetery in Zavalla, Texas. Pallbearers will be Ricky Ellisor, James Sutton, Matt Fiore, Mike Ware, Greg Crabb, Dwayne Pagel, Richard Dunnigan and Mark Clark. Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City. The Bay City Tribune Matagorda County, Texas February 8, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Wilson, Dickerson, Matthews, Walske, Johnson, Carter Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3637 Message Board Post: Ellen Jane Wilson Ellen Jane Dickerson Wilson, 86, of Bay City died February 6, 2006 in New Braunfels, TX. She was born December 26, 1919 in Houston, TX to the late John Carlton and Susie Matthews Dickerson. Ellen Jane graduated from Bay City High School in 1937, and then married Raymond Carl Wilson in New York City on April 13, 1942. Raymond and Ellen Jane lived in numerous locales due to Raymond's military career. In 1980 they moved to Bay City where Ellen Jane was active in the Pink Ladies Organization, was a member of the First Christian Church, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the Eastern Star. Survivors include: daughter & son-in-law: Sue Ellen & Gary Walske of New Braunfels, TX; sons: Raymond Carl Wilson, Jr. of Mountain View, CA; grandson: Jonathan Walske, and granddaughter: Katy Walske both of New Braunfels, TX; 2 brothers & sisters-in-law: John & Joan Dickerson and Scotty & Pat Dickerson all of Bay City; nephew: John C. Dickerson, III of Bay City; nieces: Jane Dickerson of Mineral Wells, TX, Susan Dickerson of Baton Rouge, LA, and Mary Anne Johnson & husband Mike of League City, TX; She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Carl Wilson Sr. and by her niece Shane Dickerson Carter. A Graveside Funeral Service will be held 10:00 AM Thursday, February 9, 2006 at Cedarvale Cemetery with Rev. James Meurer officiating. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, Bay City Public Library, or to the charity of choice. Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City, TX (979) 245-4613. The Victoria Advocate Victoria County, Texas February 8, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Payne, Muschalek, Muncrief, Myska, Beyer Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3636 Message Board Post: Donna Kay Payne Funeral services for Donna Kay Payne, 48, of Bay City, [Matagorda County, Texas] have been set for Friday, Feb. 10, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Edna. The burial will follow at Memory Gardens of Edna. A rosary will be recited at Slavik Funeral Home Chapel Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. Ms. Payne died on Saturday, February 4. Born on September 26, 1957, in Ganado to Caroline and Dennis Muschalek of Edna. She was employed by FEWA in Bay City. Survivors in addition to her parents include a son, Jayce Payne of Sante Fe, TX; brother, Jeff (Janice) Muschalek of Edna; sisters, Tammy Muncrief of Edna and Tracey (Raymond) Myska of Orange Grove; nieces; Candace Muncrief, Ashlee Muschalek, Jordyn and Abbey Myska; nephews; Derrick and Kyle Muschalek, and Dustin Muncrief; great-niece, Karsyn Muncrief. She is preceded in death by a brother, Stanley Muschalek; and grandparents, Leroy and Ella Beyer and John and Victoria Muschalek. Arrangements under the direction of Slavik Funeral Home, Edna, Tx. 361-782-2152. The Victoria Advocate Victoria County, Texas Wednesday, February 8, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Mount, Hightrower, Margerum, Phillips, Shearer, Acker, Jones, Dickerson, Williams, Norris Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3635 Message Board Post: Rodney "Rocky" Mount (May 9, 1925 - January 30, 2006) Rodney Horace “Rocky” Mount, 80, or Bay City died January 30, 2006. He was born May 9, 1925 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Rodney Robert and Dolly Irene Mount. He and a younger brother were raised by their maternal grandmother, Josie Hightrower, due to the death of their mother at a young age. He attended Austin High School in Houston. He served 3 years in the US Coast Guard during World War II and saw action in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans aboard the USS Mitchell. In 1949 he married H. Jean Margerum in Houston and soon after, began a career with Phillips Petroleum Co. in Sweeny, TX where they made their home for 20 years. In 1975, he enjoyed a nine year tenure with Phillips Petroleum Co. in the North Sea of Norway. In 1984, the couple retired to Bay City. Rocky was Past Master of the Masonic Lodge in Sweeny, member of Hella Shrine Temple, Scottish Rite Bodies and Columbia Chapter and Council. He was also a member of the First Baptist church in Bay City and the Frank Phillips Men’s Club, and Life Member of Phillip H. Parker VFW Post 2438. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jeannie Mount; children, Sherry Phillips, Rodney R. Mount & wife Brenda & Nanette Shearer; grandchildren, Norman Norris, Nicole & Danny Acker, Kim & Vance Jones, Dawn & Michael Dickerson, Lisa Mount, Kirsten Shearer; step-granddaughters, Amanda, Christina & Amy Williams; 6 great grandchildren and many other loving family members and friends. Mr. Mount was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ray Mount, son Mark Mount, grandson Nathan Norris, son-in-law Jeremy Shearer and Grandbaby Brandi Nanette Mount. Funeral service will be 10:00 am Thursday, February 2, 2006 at the First Baptist Church in Bay City with Dr. Mike Zimmerman officiating. Interment will be 2:00 Pm Thursday at Southpark Cemetery in Pearland, TX. Pallbearers will be his nephews, Tripp, Robbie & Jay Chenault, George Robert Yeager, Bobby & Kevin Margerum. Honorary pallbearers, Bill Keener, Jimmie Lytle, Marvin Chenault, George Yeager, Joe Lingo, Bill Frascino, Marvin Seber and B. D. Scott. The family will greet friends and family from 6pm - 8pm Wednesday at Taylor Bros. Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City. Bay City Tribune Matagorda County, Texas February 1, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Sherrer, Herman, Spirk Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3634 Message Board Post: Mildred B. Sherrer FORT WORTH - Mildred B. Sherrer, 92, of Fort Worth, formerly of Bay City, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2006. She was born July 5, 1913, in Odell, Neb. to the late John and Lillian Spirk Herman. She was a teacher in Bay City. Survivors: sons, Henry Sherrer Jr., John Sherrer, and Van Sherrer; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by: husband, Henry J. Sherrer; and one sister. Visitation will be 6:30-8 p.m. tonight at Bay City Funeral Home chapel. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church chapel, the Rev. Pauline Harvey officiating. Burial will be at Cedarvale Cemetery. Bay City Funeral Home, Bay City, 979-245-4893. The Victoria Advocate Victoria, Texas February 6, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cooper, Taylor, Hajek, Cannon, Harris, Mills, Ripp, Urbanovsky Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3633 Message Board Post: Dr. Charles Edward Cooper Dr. Charles Edward Cooper age 66 of Bay City, [Matagorda County] Texas passed away February 3, 2006 in a Bay City Hospital. He was born in Flatonia, Texas November 25, 1939. Dr. Cooper was a retired Optometrist. He was preceded in death by his parents - Charles E. Cooper Sr. and Elizabeth Taylor Cooper. Survivors: wife - Delores Hajek Cooper - Two sons and daughters in law - Curtis and Donna Cooper of Frisco, Clay and Heather Cooper of Plano, One Step-son - Cody Cannon of Bay City - one sister - Sue Harris of Gonzales - five grandchildren - Cole, Caitlin, Cara, Cherokee, Cashin Cooper - Three Nieces and husbands - Hope and Jimmie Mills, Kathy and Ryan Ripp, Donna and Steve Urbanovsky. Services will be held Monday, February 6, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Moulton with Rev. J Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the Moulton City Cemetery. The Victoria Advocate Victoria County, Texas Sunday, February 5, 2006

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Espitia Cobby Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/2444.1 Message Board Post: Hello, I was wondering if you could point in the right direction for some further research in Matagorda County? I'm trying to trace my paternal grandfather, Jessie Ramirez Espitia (b. 1920-1930ish), but haven't been having much luck. I have however traced him to an old address that is linked to Natividad R. Espitia and to one of Natividad's children. In this obituary it mentioned a brother Jerry but no further details about him. I'm wondering if Jerry is in fact Jessie. I've been trying to track down Natividad R. Espitia's birth records to see if this is in fact true but without success. Is there a local resource or contact that has access to these records? Many thanks in advance. Matthew Cobby

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smith, Schmitt, Yeaman, Baxter, Sargent, Russler, Savage, Willey Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/1584.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: If anyone can help on this, I'd appreciate it. This is from an old letter I received a copy of. The dates and information are pretty much correct, but I haven't been able to find anything on "Murphy" Smith. I've only found records of the four brothers. "I received your letter addressed to me dated Nov. 26, 1940, which to me was very interesting. Soon after the picture which you saw in the San Angelo paper was made, my wife and I had a long talk with Uncle Will, who was the oldest son of Grandpa Phillip Smith’s so as, he being the first white child born in Lampasas County. In this conversation with Uncle Will, he gave to us the following information in regard to Grandpa Smith’s family. At this time Uncle Will gave us this information he was very feeble and his thoughts were disconnected, however, the following is the statement which he gave us. “Jacob Smith, who was the father of Phillip, Louis, Jacob, John, and Murphy, left Germany to escape militarism sometime along in 1830. They came to New York and the sons born to Jacob were as follows: Jacob, John, Phillip, Louis, and Murphy. They first settled down near Matagorda, Texas, at the Matagorda Bay in 1833. At this time Grandpa Phillip Smith was 11 years of age. Along about 1854 they had extensive holdings in livestock etc. and the flood at that time washed away all their stock. Phillip (my grandfather) and Jacob (Grandpa Phillip Smith’s brother) started to Brown County but stopped to locate in the county of Lampasas in February 1855. Ed Williams (no connection of the family) gave to Grandpa Smith and Jacob Smith each 50 acres to settle on and each bought 50 acres of land. They then returned to Matagorda to arrange and come back and live in Lampasas County along about May or September 1850 and when they arrived in Lampasas County at this time they b! uilt a fire where the Indians had camped the night before. Due to the fact that this country at that time was too wild, Uncle Jacob Smith, (Grandpa Phillip Smith’s brother) did not like the country and returned to Matagorda. (At Matagorda, Uncle Jacob Smith reared a large family and his descendants are scattered all over that country, in and around Bay City, Texas, and Matagorda, Texas. However I am not personally acquainted with any of them). The only statement that Uncle Will gave in regard to Louis who was your father and Murphy was that they went to Abilene, Texas where they were in the saddle business and later went to California. My wife questioned Uncle Will in regard to them but he did not seem to be able to know any more about them or as to where they located in California. Grandpa Phillip Smith died in 1907 and I am enclosing herein a picture of the old rock house which he built sometime along about 1865 as shown in this picture same clearly shows how it looked. According to the old family Bible of Grandpa Phillip Smith, there were 11 children born, 5 of whom you saw in the picture in the newspaper. However, since the picture was taken, Uncle Joe and Uncle Will have died and the only three children left living now are my father, Andrew M. Smith, whose address is Star Rt., Lampasas, Texas, and who is the youngest child; Uncle Wesley Smith, whose address is Adamsville, Texas, (Lampasas County) and Uncle Dutch Smith whose address is the same as Uncle Wesley’s. My father was born Nov. 7, he is now 67 years of age. Uncle Wesley is 71 and Uncle Dutch is 82. Walter Smith is the son of Uncle Will Smith and who is now employed in the Post Office in Lampasas, Texas, talked to Uncle Will a great deal before his death and I am sure that he might give you much information than I have given you herein and I am sure that my father could also give you more information in regard to the family history than I. During the Civil War, Grandpa Phillip Smith was a ranger in Capt. Pace’s company in order to protect the women and children from the Indians in Lampasas Co. In 1879 Grandpa Phillip Smith and his six boys drove all the way from Lampasas Co. in a wagon and drove a mule team. According to the family Bible, Grandpa Phillip Smith married Caroline Louisa Rustler who was PA. Dutch. There seems to be no record of Grandma Smith’s brothers and sisters except her brother, Col. Andrew Neal, who was from Scotland, and during the Mexican War in 1835 he fought in Texas at the time same freed and during this war he was captured by the Mexicans but finally escaped. Some of the above information was obtained from the old family Bible of Grandpa Smith’s, and other are related in the Texas History as used today in Texas. I am enclosing herein a picture of my wife, myself, my father and mother and my little girl, who is now nine years of age and of the old rock house Grandpa Smith built in 1870. This probably now belongs to Uncle Dutch Smith. I would appreciate you writing my father and giving him information in regard to your family, because as I understand correctly, there are no records or any thing in any of the families, in regard to your Louis and his children. I am now 39 years of age, but I remember Grandpa Phillip Smith very distinctly prior to his death due to the fact that when I was a small child and going to his house he kept his sugar cubes in an old tureen which he would give to the grandkids when they would go to see him. He was a great old man and respected and known by practically everybody in Lampasas Co. In fact the people I have met since reaching my majority in a different part of this state and who knew him respected and honored him. I should be glad to hear from you at any time. I am Very Respectfully yours B. W. Smith ‘copy’ (By Ethel Treadwell, and her mother, Myrtle, who is the daughter of Louis (Lewis) Smith.) (Ethel gave the Bible to her son Don’s son.)

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smith, Baxter Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/1584.2.1.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: My family didn't even know about the Smiths being German when I first began researching. One of my dad's cousins even wrote me that ours was a Robert Smith who settled in Gonzales. When I found out they were from Germany and told my dad he was surprised. Later, I received the death certificate for John and Mariah's son, and that got me on the right track. Thanks for the information you have sent. I will send some in an email.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Sargent, Smith, Yeaman, Baxter, Schmitt, Sargent, Russler, Savage, Willey Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/1584.2.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Here's what I have on Jacob & Charlotte Schmitt/Schmidt/Smith (will list all their children in next post): Schmitt or Schmidt, later Smith in U.S.A. Came to New York from Darmstadt, Germany (western side of Germany near border). Didn't like New York, and so moved to Texas for land. Not sure on order of children, but have set them according to 1880 census ages of children found. 1850 U.S. Census lists Charlotte, Jacob's wife, as owning $1200 of real estate. Jacob Schmitt is not on the 1850 or 1880 census. He died before 1850. DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS ANCESTORS; Found on the Matagorda Web-site (cannot be used to prove ancester's service for DAR) Schmidt/Smith, Charlotte (ca 1787 Hesse Darmetadt, Germany - BE- -1860) Smith/Schmidt, Jacob I (ca 1785 Hesse Dormestadt, Germany - bef 02-1838) their son, Smith, Jacob (05-23-1819 Darnstadt Hesse Germany - 10-30-1859) Smith/Smidt, John/Jacob I (05-23-1819 Germany - 10-30-1859) their daughter, Smith, Mary Ann (04-27-1828 Hesse Darmetadt, Germany - 06-06-1852) Smith/Schmidt, Mary Ann (04-27-1828 Hesse Darmstadt, Germany - 06-06-1852) their son, Smith, Philip (12-22-1821 Germany - ) their son, [I don't have the rest of this DAR information list. If you're able to get it, I would be interested in what the rest of it says.]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smith, Baxter Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/1584.2.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you so, so much for this information. It means so much to know when they came, and where they were from. I am happy to fill in blanks that you have if I can help. Just let me know what you need.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smith, Schmitt, Yeaman, Baxter, Sargent, Russler, Savage, Willey Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/1584.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Ellen, thanks for answering my query. I received a copy of the following newspaper article back in the 1960's. Lewis was actually born in Texas instead of Germany. Here is the article and I can send more information about the family. If you can fill in any details I am missing, I would greatly appreciate it. "Who Was Who in Lampasas County PAGE 4—The Lampasas (Tex.) Record, Thursday, April 23, 1959 By E. M. Pharr PHILIP SMITH Jacob Schmitt, with his family of four sons, Jacob Jr., Philip, John and Lewis, and three daughters, Margaret, Emily and Mary Ann, left Hesse'n, Darmstadt, Germany in the early part of 1832 and sailed for America via Liverpool, England, thence to New York. Hearing of the enducements offered colonists who would come to Texas and settle, Schmitt and his family became a part of a colony made up in New York and arrived at Matagorda, Texas in December 1832. This story will deal primarily with Philip Smith, his family and descendants (the name having been changed from Schmitt to Smith by the father doubtless at the time he took out his American citizenship papers). According to records kept by Rev. Andrew N. Smith and W. Walter Smith, the other members of the original family are: John and Lewis, both of whom fought in the Confederate Army in the War Between the States, and John was killed in the battle of Atlanta during the Civil War, Lewis later living at Matagorda for a time and then at Abilene and at Fresno, Calif. where he died. Margaret married a Mr. Yeaman at Matagorda. Emily married John Russler, a brother of Mrs. Philip Smith, and they lived many years at Scalhorn, Mills County. Mary Ann became Mrs. Norman Savage of Bay City. Jacob Smith Jr. came to what later became Lampasas County with Philip and stayed here for a few years, returning then to Matagorda County where he lived the balance of his life and where many of his! descendants are now. Philip Smith, who was born December 21, 1821, was 15 years of age in 1836 and too young during the Texas-Mexican war to be in battle. However, he was in General Sam Houston's command and an elderly man and he were detailed to drive ox wagons moving women and children out of Santa Anna's line of march to Galveston for safety. It was during one of these trips that the Battle of San Jacinto was fought and Philip went back from his last trip to Galveston on the same boat with General Houston. The next stage of Philip's life recorded by the family mentions that he was a driver of a stage coach and carrying mail from Matagorda to Galveston. On one of these trips he stopped at the hotel at Velasco. He was met at the door of the hotel by a young lady, a Miss Caroline Louisa Russler, who had come to Texas from Ohio and was employed at the hotel following a shipwreck off the coast. As Philip was leaving the hotel, he invited the young lady to visit his sisters at Matagorda. She did and sometime later, in 1849, she became Mrs. Philip Smith. They built a home in Matagorda County and he went into the cattle business. Their first three children were born there, Henry Philip dying in infancy. In 1853 there came a storm and tidal wave which destroyed nearly all the family had except their home. The next spring, Philip and Jacob Jr. got together what they had left, and they and their families left Matagorda in May 1854, with what livestock they had been able to save, for a new location in central Texas. According to Rev. Smith, they had planned to go to the Coleman section, but a Mr. Ed Williams of Matagorda gave them 50 acres of land each if they would stop in this section. They came via Austin, and at Round Rock a wagon wheel broke down. As there was no shop there or in Austin, it had to be carried to LaGrange for repairs. On September 1, 1854 the two families and their herds arrived in a beautiful valley on the Lampasas River about a mile below the mouth of School Creek in what was to become Lampasas County. This was to be their future home. They had traveled for four months in ox wagons most of the distance over roadless prairies. These men purchased 50 more acres of land from Mr. Williams who owned a large acreage on both sides of the Lampasas River. Their first work was to build log cabins to live in— Philip's near the rock house recently remodeled by Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Nuckles, and Jacob's south of the present rock fence nearer the river—clear land and build rail fences which later were replaced by rock fences which are still standing. Indians gave the settlers trouble with frequent raids, and Jacob deciding that this was not as fertile a country as the coast lands and that he had rather risk the storms than the continued raids by the Indians, took his family back to Matagorda County after a few years here. Philip Smith was a lover of horses and these were what the Indians wanted. At night he would fasten the horses by chains to the large live oak trees around the house, and old scars are still visible on these trees, according to W. Walter Smith. One morning arrows were found which the Indians had shot at the dog of the family to try to stop him from barking. During the War Between the States, a company of rangers was organized known as Capt. Pace's home guard for the protection of the county against the Indians. Philip Smith, Grundy Morris and Wm. J. Wright were part of that organization. Philip Smith built a two-story rock house, mentioned above, in 1870. The rafters and ceiling joists were hewn from native cedar and hauled more than 35 miles. Land was very cheap in the early days of this county, and Philip Smith finally came into possession of all the land from the mouth of School Creek west to the Thomas E. Stanley property and south to include what is now the W. Walter Smith place. He was a cattle and horse man, and had large herds. He was known to all the cattlemen in central Texas and they used his large corrals to pen their cattle for overnight rests on their drives through this section. In later years Philip Smith built a frame house on the hill west of the rock house and lived there till his death in 1907. He also built the first barbed wire fence in that section, if not in Lampasas County. It is the fence on the west side of the road leading by Smith Cemetery to School Creek. He was a community builder, too. He donated the land where the first | school in that community was built; it was located north of the rock house about a half-mile. He also gave the land for the cemetery north of the rock house known as Smith Cemetery. The first Mrs. Smith died January 20, 1880 and Philip married Mrs. Mary Jane (Mollie) Longley Davis September 8, 1881. He died May 17, 1907 and he and his first wife were buried in Smith Cemetery. The second Mrs. Smith died several years later in Lampasas. Children born to the Philip Smiths (there were no children by the second marriage), besides the one dying on the coast, were Albert, Julia, Will J., Gilbert, Joe T., Norman, Jacob III, J. Wesley, Andrew Neal and Charlotte. Julia married Julius Townsend and they had the following children: Gus, Philip, Jessie, Garland, Ione, Della, Hattie, Eula and Lula. No further descendants of these two were secured by the writer. Will J. Smith married Mary Stanley. They had two children, Philip who is deceased, and W. Walter of Lampasas, who married Alta Carpenter. They had one son, now Lt. Col. Lloyd Smith of Puerto Rico, who married Margaret Wooten. They have four sons, Richard of Austin who married Ernamae Dumas and they have a daughter, and George, Gregory and Ronald, all at home. Gilbert Smith married Caroline Bear. They were parents of seven, Bessie who married Rev. F. Taylor and they live in Estancia, N.M. and have two children, Winifred (Mrs. Ted Trent, Shiprock, N.M., who has three children) and James of California who has three children; Misses May and Ethel Smith of Lampasas who live the family home; Beulah (Mrs. J. M. Thogmartin, Lampasas, who has two children, Caroline and Tommie); Gilbert Jr. of Bishop who married Rotha Fetner and they have one daughter, Mary Ann of Corpus Christi; Earl of Lampasas whose wife was Lydia Fickle and they have four children, Earlene (Mrs. James Dugan of Dal! las who has three children, Nelda_(Mrs. R. E. McGinnis of Pasadena, four children, Robert and Ronald, at home, the former attending the University of Houston; and Virgie who died as a child. Joe T. Smith married Lucy Bunch. They had six children: Allen of Lampasas who married Ruth Dumas and they had one son, Norman Allen of Lampasas who married Beverly Hammand and they have two daughters; Allen's first wife died and his second wife is the former Ma__ Woods; Alvin whose wife Nellie Wright has no children. Jesse died when a young man; Minnie (Mrs. Milton Heale_ of Brownwood, has two children Madeline who is Mrs. Darrell Wilson, Brownwood, and has three sons, and Bryan, student in the University of Texas; Dicy (Mrs. Sam Shurtleff,) Lampasas, one son Sam Shurtleff Jr., Houston, who also has one son; and Elma who died as a young woman. J. Wesley Smith's wife was Emma McNett. They had one son, Wayne, Lampasas, who married Thais Higgins and they have two sons, Wayne Jr., who married Marie Maxey, and is a student at Texas A&M and Jay Donald, also of A&M. Andrew Neal Smith, now Rev. A. N. Smith, Lampasas, married Lula Lancaster. They have three children: Bernard of San Angelo, whose wife is the former Maria Hopkins, and they have one daughter, Mrs. Otha Lloyd of Austin; Norma (Mrs. E. W. Tampke, Austin) has three children, David who is teaching in London, England, Mrs. John Terwilliger, Normal, Illinois, who also has a daughter, and Mrs. Larry Smith, Austin; and Martin of Waco whose wife was Rotha Carroll—they have four daughters, Mrs. Sam Allasandra of Houston, Jean, Marlene and Patsy at home. Charlotte married W. S. Bear and they had no children. The other children of Philip Smith were never married, and all of them have passed to the great beyond except Rev. A. N. Smith of Lampasas."

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smith, Baxter Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/1584.2.1 Message Board Post: I am certainly still interested in any information you may have. I have tried to piece together information about them from census records, and figured that Jacob and Phillip were his brothers, but could not figure out who the parents or any other siblings were. I have received information that proves that Mariah was the neice of William Baxter, and early settler in Matagorda County. Any information you have would be quite welcome. If it is too much to post here, please use my email eeroyce@swbell.net. I look forward to hearing from you.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smith, Baxter, Yeamans, Schmidt, Schmitt Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/1584.2 Message Board Post: Hi Ellen, I have some information on the Smith & Baxter families if you are still interested. I am a descendant of Lewis Smith, John's younger brother.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3632 Message Board Post: Please, can someone look up the divorce records for my parents? I believe they were divorced during the summer of 1933 or 1934 in Matagorda County. The marriagae records are lost and this will be my only proof that they were ever married. Thank you for any help you can give me. B. Samuels. Kansas City, Missouri