KISSIN’ KUZZINS
Carolyn Ericson
1614 Redbud Street
Nacogdoches, Texas
75965-2936
Kissin Kuzzins is an East Texas query column entering its 41th year. It appears weekly in two East Texas newspapers: The Lufkin Daily News and The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel. Queries are free, but they must pertain to a Texas ancestor. They may be submitted by e-mail, snail mail or by FAX to 936-552-8999. Please remember to include your snail mailing address.
February 5, 2012
A new Quicksheet which will aid the researcher is the Biographer’s Guide to Cluster Research. When many of us began our research, we looked for our surname only. If you are working on a common name, it may be necessary to use a cluster approach. Often church congregations migrated together — or just neighbors. A couple seldom traveled across country alone for safety reasons. If a group of people migrated together, perhaps there will be an unusual name to check for. My children are blessed with three SMITH lines. Just imagine looking for John Smith and seeing how many you find.
Did your ancestor go to a nick name? You may find your ancestor as Henry J. SMITH, H. J. SMITH, or Hank SMITH. He may not use the same name in each record so it becomes a challenge to locate the family.
You might be well advised to do a character analysis of your ancestor. What was his economic status, his education, habits, occupation and personality. This will help give you information about your ancestor, and help make him more than a name on a page in a census.
Some of the sources discussed include church registers, immigration rolls, cemeteries, tax rolls, war-time and frontier damage claims, court cases, muster rolls, petitions and pension files. These discussions may give you a clue for further research.
Order your copy of THE HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO CLUSTER RESEARCH #3868 for $8.95 plus $4.50 shipping and handling. Order from Genealogical Publishing Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite #260; Baltimore, Md. 21211-1953. If you wish to use a credit card, you may visit their web site at <www.genealogical.com>
Would like to contact anyone working on the KEELING family. My grandfather, Richard Hubbard KEELING was born 20 November 1890 and died 27 October 1958 in Nacogdoches County. His death certificate states that he was the son of James Monroe & Kitty Clare (Gaddy) Keeling. They lived in Dotson, Texas, just west of Carthage, Texas. They are both buried in the Shiloh Cemetery in Panola County, Texas
Richard married Myrtle Erie CASSITY, born 20 January 1899, and died 24 November 1963. I have information on Myrtle’s family, but nothing on Richard’s family. I do know he owned the only store at that time in Dotson and was the song director of the Baptist Church.
The 1900 Census of Panola County reveals that James Monroe was born in Georgia. Would like to hear from anyone having information on this family. (979) 583-3383 <gjks@sbcglobal.net>
Gloria Jean Keeling Smith, 248 Trail Ride Rd., Angleton, TX 77515
Another early obituary:
Monday, October 14, 1907
KILLING IN ANGELINA
“Will Jarrell Killed by Dr. J. K. Castleberry
“Jim Jarrell, a colored man was killed by Dr. J. K. Castleberry, at Kelty’s logging camp, eight miles west of Lufkin. From parties who returned from Lufkin Sunday, it is learned that the killing was done solely in self defense. Jarrell had met Dr. Castleberry at the commissary Saturday morning when he abused the doctor, telling him, he Jarrell, was armed and if the doctor was armed they would have it out right then. Dr. Castleberry started toward his home, when Jarrell followed him, and there abused him with all the epithets he could think of.
“Jarrell’s wife finally persuaded him to leave the doctor’s house. Late Saturday evening Dr. Castleberry had to go to the commissary to fix up some medicine for a patient. Jarrell was there and he again began abusing the doctor and finally drew his knife and advanced on the doctor with the knife open. Dr. Castleberry backed off from Jarrell and begged him not come on him, but Jarrell continued to advance, and when within about six feet of the doctor, Castleberry fired with a 38 caliber pistol. He fired four shots, all of which took effect, and Jarrell fell with his open knife in his hand.
“Dr. Castleberry came to Lufkin Sunday morning and surrendered to Sheriff Watts, and soon after waived examination and was released on $1,000 bond.
“Dr. Castleberry formerly lived near Nacogdoches and is well known here.”
[Dr. John Kendrick Castleberry was born 8 August 1880 Van Zandt County, Texas and died 15 July 1924, buried Oak Grove Cemetery, Nacogdoches. He was the son of Rev. James Simeon & Lucinda Elender (Brantley) Castleberry]