Mam-ma's Southern Family

The Texas State Genealogical Society has a series of Heritage Certificates honoring our ancestors who settled in Texas. The Texas First Families Certificate is awarded to individuals who have ancestors who settled in Texas before 19 February 1946, which is the date Texas “relinquished its sovereignty to the United States government.” So, I wondered if I had any ancestors who came to Texas before it was admitted to statehood. I have several who were listed on the 1850 census: Benjamin F. Selman (1795-1873), his wife, Sarah (1798-1868), and children Greenlee B (1820-1888) and Sarah (1818- ) were living in Cherokee County. [1] Their son, Willis F. Selman , married Margaret Rebecca Evans on 29 November 1849 in Cherokee County. [2] Their daughter, Mary Ann Selman , married Calvin C. Scott on 12 September 1848 in Cherokee County. [3] A biography about Benjamin stated he settled in Cherokee County circa 1845. [4] I learned that Cherokee County was formed in 1846 after statehood and ...

Why did a Texan move his family to the desert in the Arizona Territory? That’s a question we may never know the answer to unless we find a diary, journal, or letter that speaks to that. It was a surprise to discover he had moved his family to Arizona. For many years, I thought his wife, Martha, had died, and the children all scattered. The missing 1890 census helped with that hypothesis. George Wilson Lancaster was born on 3 April 1839 in Lewis County, Missouri. [1] He married Martha Jane Polly on 25 October 1871 in Kaufman County, Texas. [2] By the 1880 census, they had three children: Wm Carlton, age 7; Lonnie O, age 4; Maggie R, age one month. [3] There is no 1890 census left, as it was damaged in a fire. In 1900, only George is found living with Sarge & Pearl Lancaster. [4] Ten years later, he was living with his son, William, and William’s six children and wife. George died on 14 January 1919. [5] Where did Martha and the children go? The oldest son, William Carlton La...

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans:  It's  Saturday Night  again -  Time for some more  Genealogy Fun!! Our mission from Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings is to: 1)   FamilySearch Full-Text Search  continues to add databases and searchable images to its collections.  This is a gold mine, especially of land, probate, and court records. 2)  Pick one or two of your ancestors and see what you can find on FamilySearch Full-Text Search about them. Here's mine: Funny, I had done a full-text search this morning looking for more items for my ancestor, N. H. O. Polly. I was hoping to find something in Arkansas. Their first child was born there, but I have no information on their whereabouts there in the 1840s. I had to leave my search to attend the monthly meeting of the Sonoma County Genealogical Society in Santa Rosa, which is a 90-minute drive there, but I left the tabs open on what I had found. Here is a summary of a few of the it...

My grandmother's husband, Tom J. Johnston, and his brother, Hal W. Johnston, went into business together in Walnut Creek, California. Their pool hall was located right on Main Street. Pictured is my grandfather behind the bar. The earliest news article I found about the business was an announcement in the Contra Costa Gazette announcing that Grimes & Nottingham Billiard Parlor will now be known as the Johnston's Billiard Parlor, effective November 1, 1944.[1] The previous business had been on Main Street since 1915. Tom and Hal planned to make several changes, including repainting.[2] Here is a shot of the outside of the new billiard parlor. They advertised the establishment as a recreation headquarter where beer, soft drinks, cigars, cigarettes, and candy were sold besides a place to play billiards and pool.[3]  In March 1945, teenagers protested being barred from the poolroom, and new rules were established that those under 16 were still not allowed, but those between 16 ...