This pattern of moving in groups (from NC to TN, from TN to TX) makes a lot of sense when you think about it: you get mutual support, mutual trust, and the comfort of familiar faces - all pretty important when you don't have banks, phones, ambulances or Wal-mart. What I'd like to know is how the destination got chosen: why did Lily's Martin families go to Navarro specifically? Why did they move at all? My general impression of why people left North Carolina was that they were seeking free or cheap fertile land. That was probably the reason another generation took off for Texas, and although it's possible that the aftermath of the Civil War in Tennessee also drove people out. Any "why they came to Texas" stories around? My guess about my gg-grandfather, by the way, is that he had been the minister for some of the families who went to Blooming Grove and they invited him - by then a widower, age 79, but vigorous - to lead worship and perhaps organize some camp meetings in the new territory. Somebody here suggested that one of his children invited him to Blooming Grove. Makes sense, but I can't find any trace of same there ... yet.