Chasing Our Tales - Letters…we’re getting more letters

Today I want to present to you a whole raft of queries I’ve received from all over the place. If you can answer any of these questions, please let us know!

“Would really like to any find descendants of this family:
Henry L Karber was the son of oldest daughter "Rebecca"
of Wm H. McBee of Van Zandt County, Texas. He inherited land
from there and from Kaufman County, Texas and was found
on the 1880 Parker County, Texas, Census living with a family
by the name of Irby. We have not been able to find any
connection to the Irby family. Appreciate any help any of you might be able to provide. Elnora Frances Cook-Wyrick.

“Marriage certificate for Mary Ann Routh states father as
Armistead Routh, occupation carpenter. Marriage date: 20th July 1841. She married John Becraft both were of 'full age' - Residence for both parties as Poplar, in the presence of: Benjamin Routh, Elizabeth Smith. Marriage took place in the Parish of Poplar.
Armistead was married to Ann (Millington) m. 4th April 1816 at St. Dunstan Stepney.”

“My fathers name was William Caldwell Garland, age approximately 44 years, born in Franklin County (Mt Vernon, Texas). Mother was possibly listed as Jessie Mary Maurine Robertson, housewife, age 35 approximately. Children present at that time would have been Howard, Gayle, Linwood, Hugh, Maurine, Lavonia. Bennett only came along in 1930, William Clarence died in 1927, the same year Hugh was born. I was still only a gleam in my fathers minds eye, not due to descend on the planet till 1935. As I said I have checked precint 11 webpages, trouble is it seems one has to check 36 pages per precint. The location would have been west of downtown, as I think precint 11 is, but am not sure. I would only look at precints that appear to be on the west side of downtown, about a mile west on Hwy 180. People who lived in our area were a Mrs Barker, who lived by herself next to us to the west, Mr and Mrs Lipe, son Higgins to our east, Bill and Dana Botts, Donald - son; further west were the Moore's with at least one daughter and a few sons, dont know the first names of the parents. Noel Garland."

“I just saw your website for the first time, and I really enjoyed looking at it. Thanks.. And thanks for your help in getting me Jim Weldon and Paulina Sparks' wedding date. Now I would like another favor. If you can help,me at all....In the 1860 census of Erath County, there was a Paulina C. Self, age 16, born in Arkansas living with her Dad and mother David and Luticia Self. She had a brother named Spencer M Self. I would like to know what happened to Paulina C. Self and who she married and if she had any children and such. I have no trace of her after the 1860 census. Now here is the reason and MY THEORY only.... I am looking for the father of my grandfather William Marion Sparks, who married my grandmother Clemmie Ophelia Holder in 1891 in Erath County. There is a Plina Caroline Sparks 04/28/1839----1873 buried in Martin Cemetery close to Granbury with a lot of the Selfs of that family, and it including David, Luticia and Spencer M. I am thinking that this the the same woman and is my grandfather’s mother. William Marion was living with Spencer M. Self as a nephew in 1877 and going to school at Fort Spunky. Another thing that makes me think so was my grandmother named her first born girl Sarah Paulina Sparks. Paulina after his mother Paulina C. Self and the Sarah was after her mother Sarah Jane Gregory. Betty Whittington."

“My name is Katy Katrycz. I am working with my sister Emma Fitzgareld on a project for the Veal's Creek Cemetery Association. We are gathering information for a historical marker for both the cemetery and the Cedar Creek community. This cemetery is in northeast Stephens County. It is a few miles from the county line between Palo Pinto and Stephens County.

“We are having difficultly in finding sufficient primary sources to document the history of the area. The cemetery sits on the banks of Veale Creek just above it's confluence with Cedar Creek. We do not have anyone by the name of Veale buried in the cemetery. We cannot find any information about any of the Veale family owning property along the creek or at it's headwater. We are at a loss at to how this creek got it's name.

“We have been in contact with Freda Mitchell at the Swenson Museum in Breckenridge. She cannot find anything to document the name of either the creek or the cemetery. We are aware of Judge William Veale who settled in Palo Pinto county and eventually moved to Breckenridge to practice law and represent the Franco Texian Land Co. (I found this information in his daughter's book. Fannie Davis Veale Beck.) We also know that he originally moved his family to Palo Pinto because he had family living in the area. Based on census records, I believe that Tampa Veale's sons were nephews to Judge Veale. The Veale brothers that I am aware of were: Henry, William P. and Jessie. They were known as woodsmen and hunters. It is thought that they supplied meat to the families when they "forted up". I can find several articles on Jessie Veale being killed by indians, but nothing to document the brothers. I do know that most of the brothers are buried in the La Casa community, south of Caddo. There aren't many Veales left in the area to contact. I spoke to Hack Veale's wife, Margie. She stated that the Veales are just about all gone and that she did not know anything about the family history.

“I am planning a trip to Texas Tech library to document the Veale brother's meat supply business using the Samuel Newcomb Diary. I am wondering if this creek could be named after the Veale brothers who might have hunted in the vicinity of this creek for their meat supply. The head of Veale Creek is just east of the South Prairie community. (There is still evidence of old buffalo wallows in this area.) Just west of South Prairie is Peveler Creek. This creek is named for the Greenup Peveler family. They lived at the headwater of this creek and were hunters and meat suppliers for Fort Belknap.

“I realize that this is a pretty big leap for explaining the name of Veal's Creek. Do you have any information in your history research that pertains to the Veale family? Can you help me find information about the Veale brothers and their meat supplying business? I am open to any suggestions that you might have. We have plumbed the depths of the Swenson Museum, Graham Library, the Old Jail House Museum at Palo Pinto, the Fort Belknap Archives, the inter net and local history books. I am running out of ideas. Any direction that you can give will be greatly appreciated.

“Sincerely,
Katy Katrycz
1213 East Mitchell Street
Arlington, TX 76010
Home: (817) 461-1519
Cell: (817) 269-7545

“P.S I am also looking for information on a spot marked as "Yanceyville" on the historical society map of Stephens County. This spot is just north of the Veale's Creek Cemetery. No on knows what it was. Civilian fort?”

“McAnally is my last name. My mother's name is McAvoy. They are both deceased. Both were from Graford, Palo Pinto County, Texas.
Mom and Dad moved to Vacaville, California in 1945 (next toTtravis Air Force Base). I now live in Lakewood, Washington. Lots of Mcavoys still in Graford, but the McAnally's are scattered from coast to coast. I went back to Graford in 2004 to bury mom with her family. I always liked the area and the people. The old Possum Kingdom Lake, fishing with trot lines, family reunions. I had a good time there in '04 and long ago researched the McAnally name a little. There are a bunch also living in west New York state. Thanks...have a good day sue. Guy McAnally."

“I'm looking for the place of burial of Seth Thomas Coats (1919-1979). He died in November of 1979. He and his wife, the former Annie Gaye Roulston, lived in Stephenville, Erath County, Texas, at the time of his death. Annie was born in 1916. She may now also be deceased. Thanks, Gordon Rolston, Kissimmee, Florida."

Thanks to all of you who wrote to us about your family. I hope this will help you make a connection.

Hey, hope your July hasn’t been too unbearably hot! Have a great August!!

©2007 Sue Seibert