Some may have been part Indian or had Indians in their family. Until 1924, it was not illegal to kill an Indian and if 3 Indians were seen together, they could be fired upon as a warparty. After the Indian Removal Act of 1830, no Indians were suppose to be east of the Missippi River. The censes also reflected that no Indians lived east of the Missippi. The only catgories: White, Black, and Mulattos. Many familys would move to states where their children would be listed as white. Many Indian tribes (nations) were light complected and could past as white. Some were darker because they had intermarried with their black slaves, and were darker. Most covered their bodies when out in the sun so as to not get darker. Many court houses were burnt to cover Indian heritage, an attemp to link Indians to land ownership. The government did not want a future problem with Indians filing suit to reclain their land wrongful taken land. The population of Indians went from 75,000,000 to 4,000,000 from 1492 to 1850. The 1800s , the USA was at war with: France England Hawaii Philipines Japan North and South Civil War Mexico Canada This was a bloody time and millions were killed for their land or raw material. I research to see if my family may have been part Indian but it is almost inpossible to prove. The government did a great job of removing all traces of Indian heritage. All there is are family stories and the older people denied being part Indian out of fear. Tom ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 6:43 AM Subject: [VAFRANKL] Re: Why to Missouri from Franklin? > In a message dated 4/28/2005 8:55:38 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > <<Dan, > Do you know why so many Franklin County folks went to Missouri? > I know they heard of more fertile land, more opportunities for success > than > in a depressed area such as Franklin County was in at that time. > > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > Thanks, Donna>> > > Donna, > Good to hear from you again. Hope all is well with you. Of the top of my > head the reasons you mention are all correct, but I think the biggest > motivation was that since the settling of the Franklin Co., area the > parcels of > land were divided amongst the heirs of the various families. After a few > generations the lots became so small that they couldn't support the > family anymore > from their own land. Many people joined the mass exodus to all points > West > while others stayed and bought land real cheap from people leaving the > area or > abanded by the people that left. I don't think Missouri sticks out as a > more > desirable place than any of the many other places in the migration West. > Word > of mouth or letters got back from earlier relatives and many people went > to > the same areas as their neighbors and friends. To name a few of my > families > from Franklin. > Lavinders went to Washington state, California, West Virginia, Missouri > Goodes went to West Virginia, Ohio, California > Parcells went to West Virginia, Missouri, Washington state > Steagalls went to West Virginia, Kentucky > Hodges went everywhere it seems > Warrens went to Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois > > > > > > > > ==== VAFRANKL Mailing List ==== > Please Visit the Franklin Co. Web Site > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafrankl/franklin.htm > >