I am not sure where the Christian Cemetery is located or if one can find a list of people buried there. Is it in Shelby, San Augustine or Nacogdoches County? I am not sure if this will lead to anything, but heard that there were some Moores buried there. I thought I'd check it out. Thanks for your time and assistance. PriscillaGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

Is there a marriage index that has been found recently of very old marriages? I would like to know the years this index covers if this is true. I have been looking for a marriage between William A. Ritter and Mary Tabitha Sample that occurred about 1854. Any response from someone who knows of this index would be appreciated. C F Young in TN

Shelby County Texas Rootsweb Facts- week ending 05/03/2002 is ready http://www.rootsweb.com/~txshelby/shelbyfacts.htm Shelby County Texas Rootsweb Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~txshelby rayjac@ktsnet.com

Some time ago, I seem to remember there being some discussion on this list about a book that indexed some early Shelby Co. marriages from paper files that were found in the basement of the old courthouse. The paper files were lost, so this index is all that remained. Does anyone have an actual copy of this book that might be willing to do a look-up for me? I would gladly reimburse you for your trouble if I could find some mention of a marriage between Joseph (Joe) McDonald and Matilda Jeanette (Jennie) Webb that was reported to have happened 31 Dec 1877? I know the courthouse burned in 1882, but I'm hoping that maybe this index had preserved some earlier data. Thanks....Sharon McDonald Hensley

I would just like to extend to the people of the past weekend at Smith-James CEMETERY Homecoming for so many families.I know I will miss some,but some of them are,BURNS,JONES,COX,ANDERSON,MILLS, COOPER,PEACE,HENDRIX and so many others that have a different name.Like myself,A SMITH,altho I married into the ANDERSON family.No kin to the cemetery names of SMITHS.So those that was not able to come,you missed a fine time.The Commitee put on a good program. The Good Lord gave us fine weather and there was not enought time fore getting acquainted with every one.Two of the ANDERSON family were there for the first time (I think) and thats been 40 years or so.so you never get too old to come and enjoy yourself.There was between 250 and 300 bodies there.(Live ones) And thanks for the wonderful community web site of Shelby Co.to enable a lot of people to get the word. Till next year.Happy Trails To You. Hugh Coy Smith

Thanks to Vinita for the heads up about the article on the Shelby County courthouse. JJE Gibson was my great-great grandfather and I am always glad to see another article singing the praises of the courthouse in Center. I was especially pleased to see the picture of the room which holds his portrait and the desk he used at the time the courthouse was designed. I had been told that the desk would be given to the county, but I have never seen it. My mother, daughter and I visited the courthouse when renovations were being made, and I came again at the dedication. It is simply beautiful. I am so very glad that Shelby County decided to preserve this unique piece of architecture and hold intact the work of JJE Gibson. Ladonna Viertel

If you missed the link the week of 4-19 on Legends of Texas and the history of the Shelby county courthouse--you missed a very interesting and fun article--not too long but plenty of pictures. I urge you all to take a look if you haven't already--I think you will really enjoy it. Shelby County Texas Rootsweb Facts week ending 04/26/2002 is ready http://www.rootsweb.com/~txshelby/shelbyfacts.htm Thank you Ray Jackson for all your hard work! It is appreciated! Happy Hunting! Vinita Lynch Shaw vinil@aol.com

Orders are now being taken for Shelby County History Book Volume II. See form below to place an order. Print the form and mail to address shown. Shelby County Texas Rootsweb Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~txshelby rayjac@ktsnet.com Shelby County History Book Volume II Shelby County Historical Society is now accepting orders for Volume II of Shelby County History Book-2002. Orders placed at this time and prior the deadline of June 30, 2002 will enable delivery of the book during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays of 2002. The book is estimated to be about 350 pages. Until After 08/30/2002 09/01/2002 Cost of the book pre-publication (until September 1, 2002)... $50.00 $60.00 Shipping and Handling if book is to be mailed....... 10.00 10.00 Total $60.00 $70.00 ############################################################################ # Book Order Form Number of Books __________ for the amount of $_________ Don't forget to add $10.00 if book is to be mailed. Name___________________________________Phone Number___________________ Street/P.O. Box__________________________ City, State, Zip___________________ Mail Payment to: Shelby County Historical Society Major Credit Cards accepted: Attn: Book II Call 936-598-3613 P. O. Box 1542 Center, Tx 75935

Shelby County Texas Rootsweb Facts week ending 04/26/2002 is ready http://www.rootsweb.com/~txshelby/shelbyfacts.htm Shelby County Texas Rootsweb Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~txshelby rayjac@ktsnet.com

Where can I go to look up where the Precincts (areas) in Center, Texas are located? PriscillaGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

When an address says "Center Rural" for a residence, does that mean they lived on a route instead of inside town? PriscillaGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

I have one book of marriages for Alabama. It is for Henry County. I though, "What the heck. I know a lot of people in Shelby Co Texas came from Henry Co. Alabama; so I'll look. Sure enough, G.W. Hunt married Mary Love October 23, 1884. It is recorded on page 23 of the Marriage Book of 1884 - 1889. I don't know the address for the County Clerk of Henry County but you could very likely get a record. Knowing the witnesses might be helpful information, and if either of them was so young a parent had to give permission that would be more info. Good luck. Charlene Brazell

Hi New to the list am looking for any info on G.W. Hunt of Shelby Co. TX I got info of his wife being Mary E. however some places state her maiden name as being LOVE and other places state it was LANE. Now supposedly she was at lease 1/2 American Indian Also rumor has it that George also had some American Indian blood The blood lines were supposedly Cheokee/Choctaw/Caddo Anybody out there have any Ideas on how to start searching for the parents of these two people 1900 census says they were born in AL. G.W. Hunt was b. 1862 AL d. 1930 Shelby Co. TX and wife Mary b. 1862AL d. May 15, 1923 Magnum Funeral Home records show G. W. HUNT but can find no record of wife Mary . _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

I'm looking for information about Alfred J. Lee, son of Mary (Ferguson) Lee, and grandson of Isaac Ferguson, a prominent early citizen of Rusk County. Isaac Ferguson was, at the age of 70, the oldest company commander in the Mexican War. He died in Mexico City in 1848. Alfred J. Lee is also listed as having served in the Mexican War, from Shelby County. Mary Ferguson, Isaac's daughter, was first married to a Simon or Simeon Barnaby; after his death, she married William Lee in Madison County, Illinois. William Lee was apparently dead by 1840; soon after, Mary accompanied her father and other family members to Rusk County, where she married Milton H. Jones in 1848. Alfred J. Lee was probably born in 1825. His name occurs in the 1846 Republic of Texas poll lists, as well as the list of Texas soldiers who served from Shelby County in the Mexican War. Early Rusk County records show Mary Lee deeding land to Alfred J. Lee and his brother, William Lott Lee. There are also transactions between Alfred J. Lee and his half-brother, John T. Barnaby. But the last of these is in 1856, and I have found no mention of him after that time. Alfred J. Lee may have died by 1860. My great-grandmother, born Camely Elizabeth Lee, is supposed to have been the daughter of an Alfred James (or James Alfred) Lee and his wife, Elizabeth Freeman. Cameley Elizabeth Lee was born in Tyler in 1845, but by 1860 was living (in Wood County, Texas) in the home of Wiley and Martha George, indicating that she was probably an orphan by that time. Any help would be much appreciated.

Wesley Keat in Eureka, California had a record on my g-g-grandfather: MATKIN, H. Spouse: HASLEY, FANNIE Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1898 County: Nacogdoches State: TX I knew he had three sons Harvey, George, and Tom and then had remarried a lady named Fannie. Now I know they were married in Nacogdoches County, that his first name started with "H" (probably Harvey) and that the wedding date in 1898. Can anyone tell me what else these records may contain or what process I have to go through to receive a copy of the record from Nacogdoches County? Many thanks to Wesley and all who have sent information, Neil

Are you by any chance researching John Franklin Tyler, born about 1818 and died about 1870, married to Sarah Capps? If so, please let us know as he is my gggrandfather and would love to exchange information. Charles Watts

My great grandfather is Harvey Wyatt Matkin from Center/Stockman/Sardis. He married Tommie Bussie of Timpson. They lived in or around Center up until 1950 or so. Tommie died in the 50's, Harvey in 66 or 67. They are both buried in Sardis Cemetery. I have long tried to find more information on the previous generation but without success. I know that Harvey had two brothers, Tom and George Matkin. I know that his father remarried a lady reportedly named Fanny and that he or they later moved to Kaufman County. They were originally of Potts Camp, Mississippi and some worked in Waterman at the large sawmill between 1890 and 1930. Harvey had two sons, Milliard Luther Matkin and Milton Harvey Matkin. Both were school teachers and principals. Milton Harvey, called "Brother", was my grandfather. He died in an auto accident between Center and Lufkin when my dad was 3 years old (1936-37). Millard Luther married Gladys Richards and all of them, Harvey and Tommie included, sold their land and moved to Houston in 1950. Harvey and Bussie also had two daughters both of whom died in early childhood from either pneumonia or small pox. They are buried in an unmarked grave in Stockman. I met a gentleman in 1992 named Elmer Hancock. He was then in his early 90's and his wife was quite ill. We talked for quite a long time and he remembered Harvey's father but didn't know a name. Thanks all, Neil -----Original Message----- From: Peggy Watts [mailto:PeggyWatts@compuserve.com] Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 10:00 PM To: TXSHELBY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Greertown Are you by any chance researching John Franklin Tyler, born about 1818 and died about 1870, married to Sarah Capps? If so, please let us know as he is my gggrandfather and would love to exchange information. Charles Watts

Charles Rushing "Rush" Manning [NL]1912 - 2002 Rush Manning, 89, died Wednesday, April 10, 2002. [PARA]Graveside service: Saturday in the Texas State Cemetery. [PARA]Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Salvation Army or a charity of choice. [PARA]Mr. Rushing was born in Shelby County on Aug. 13, 1912, to C.A. and Frances Watson Manning. After graduating from high school, he attended Sam Houston State Teachers College where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in vocational agriculture. He was a career educator, teaching vocational agriculture and many other subjects in the Pasadena, Burleson and Rio Vista school districts. For many years he was the Future Farmers of America sponsor in the schools where he taught. In 1940, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Shelby County and served two terms as a state representative. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a 65 year member master Mason of Timpson Lodge 437. As a lifelong Democrat, he loved to participate in political campaigns and Democratic Party politics. [PARA]In 1961, he married Opal Carter and helped raise her son. Their 40-year marriage was filled with happiness, travel, dancing and, their first love, helping others recover from the ravages of alcoholism. [PARA]They lived in Burleson until 1997, when they moved to Austin to be closer to their grandchildren. [PARA]The family wishes to thank the staff of Gracy Woods II Assisted Living for the excellent care extended to Mr. Manning. [PARA]He was preceded in death by his wife, Opal, in December 2000. [PARA]Survivors: His son, Joe K. Longley; grandchildren, Adam, Bill and Grace Ann Longley, all of Austin; and a niece, Joyce Anson, of Dallas. [PARA][NL]Published in the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram from 4/12/2002 - 4/13/2002. Jim Barrett Bedford, TX Parino@flash.net

Does anyone know the name of a cemetery in Greertown, TX (near Center). I have an ancestor (John Tyler) supposedly buried there in 1870, but I don't find this listed in Shelby County Cemeteries. Thanks. Angi Underwood

Shelby County Texas Rootsweb Facts --- week ending 04/19/2002 is ready http://www.rootsweb.com/~txshelby/shelbyfacts.htm Shelby County Texas Rootsweb Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~txshelby rayjac@ktsnet.com