KISSIN’ KUZZINS
Carolyn Ericson
1614 Redbud Street
Nacogdoches, Texas
75965-2936
Kissin Kuzzins is an East Texas query column entering its 40th 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.
June 29, 2009
If you are trying to obtain a military service record or a pension from the National Archives, you may locate it on their web site. Go to <archives.gov/genealogy/military> and learn which of their records may apply to your ancestor. Immigration records may be searched at <archives.gov/genealogy/immigration>. If you find a military pension application, you may send for a copy for $75.00 for up to 100 pages, plus $.65 per additional page.
It is a great service for the researcher that Footnote.com has partnered with the National Archives and has many of these records available on the internet. Their yearly fee is less that one copy from the National Archives and you may use it all year for the same price.
It is a real thrill to locate your ancestor’s service record and be able to print them out — one page — or all of them from your own computer. Not all records have been digitized at this time, but they are adding millions of records each week. Footnote.com is in the process of digitizing Confederate Pension Applications. When they are completed, it will be a great benefit to researchers.
Need parentage, death date and place on John SMITH, born 1835 Missouri, who married Mary Grace 17 April 1859 Hopkins County, Texas. Mary was born about 1837 in Tennessee. I cannot locate John & Mary on the 1870 Census of Texas. John SMITH may have gone to the Civil War August 1861 from Hopkins County, possibly in Company D, 32nd Texas Cavalry. Would appreciate any help on this couple.
Charles N. Ferguson, 811 So. Market, Shawnee, OK 74801
The Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Association is hosting a genealogical workshop Saturday, August 8, 2009 at the Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana.
Featured speakers are Buford Joseph Suffridge, president of the Perry County Arkansas Historical & Genealogical Society, who writes a weekly newspaper column titled “Glimpses of the Past,” and co-editor of the Perry County, Arkansas: Its Land & People. The other speaker is Linda Childers Suffridge, vice president of the National Genealogical Society; past-president of the Arkansas Genealogical Society, who has been employed for twelve years at the Arkansas History Commission.
Lecture topics include Nuts and Bolts of DNA and Genealogy; Civil War Medical Records and More; Researching the Territorial South and Migration Trails. At 3:30 there will be time for questions and answers.
Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Cost of the seminar is only $35.00 and includes lunch if registration is received by August 3, 2009. For more information call Jim Johnson (318) 746-1851 or Email <jjohnson747@suddenlink.net> Make your checks payable to Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Association and mail to P. O. Box 4463, Shreveport, La. 71134-0463. Make plans to attend.
Another early obituary: Wednesday, August 31, 1904
“DEATH FROM HYDROPHOBIA
“One of the most heartrending scenes imaginable occurred at the jail between the hours of 12 o’clock and daylight, Monday morning last, resulting in the death from hydrophobia of J. H. Pool, who was bitten by a rabid dog in Houston county some six weeks since. He went up to Alto, soon after being bitten and applied a madstone to the wound, which refused to take. Thinking from that he was all right Mr. Poole returned to his home in Houston county, but several days ago symptoms of that dread disease became manifest and his son brought him to Lufkin for further treatment. Arriving here he became to much worse that his friends decided to take him to the county jail, where he suffered untold misery, until relieved by death. We learn that his remains were taken to Houston county Monday morning. Lufkin Herald.
Friday, September 16, 1904
“KILLED AT POLLOK
“Sam Montgomery was killed by a Cotton Belt freight train at Pollok Tuesday morning, and his remains were brought through here today, and carried to Elkhart for burial. J. H. Montgomery and wife, of Keltys accompanying them. It seems the man attempted to board a moving train, and was thrown under the wheels. By an error it was reported yesterday that the accident occurred on the T. & N. O. Jacksonville Banner.
Tuesday, September 20, 1904
“Miss Minnie Skillern, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Skillern, of Decoy, died last Saturday of Typhoid fever and was buried Sunday in the cemetery at Decoy. Miss Skillern was a lovely girl, just budding into womanhood and her death is sadly lamented by all who knew her and is a severe blow to the family and relatives. [Minnie Neoma Skillern, born 29 September 1883, died 17 September 1904, buried Christian Cemetery.]