Sunday, August 10, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #223:
31 Dec 1991

by Rocky Macy

Rose STAUBER's annual Christmas letter is fast becoming a holiday highlight for this columnist. This year's message contained an update of Rose's kin - wonderful folks, all - and an interesting extract from some Cherokee research that she has undertaken for a cousin. The following two paragraphs are a verbatim reprint from a portion of Rose's letter that dealt with that research. Enjoy!
"Sam Wheeler, white man from Maine, married Mary Anne FISH, a Shawnee in Kansas. Sam served in the Civil War. At bottom of his enlistment certificate is this statement, in part: I, CERTIFY, ON HONOR, that I have minutely inspected the Volunteer, Samuel WHEELER, previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober...signed recruiting officer.

"Years later Sam is being questioned by the Dawes Commission as to his qualification to be certified a Cherokee. The question is when he married Mary Anne. Sam doesn't recollect, been so long ago. What is Sam's best judgment of how long ago. Before treaty with Cherokees. Several treaties with Cherokees. Has Sam been married as much as 30 years? Sam answers, 'Yes, sir, worse than that.'"

Poor fella! Thanks for sharing, Rose.

Charli GREENLEES (11065 Kimberly Avenue, Pomona, CA 91766-4020) ran a query a few months ago centering on her search for material on the FUTHEY family. She has written to report that there were no responses to her query. If any FUTHEY descendants remain in the Ozarks, please drop a line or two to your cousin in sunny California!

But on a brighter note, Rootbound is often successful. Take for example the following remarks that came from Ann BRANUM (1111 North 2000 West, 22 Glenwood Drive, Farr West, UT):
"Thank you for all your help. Because of you my paternal family is now a part of my life and heritage. Through letters from Texas, California, and Arkansas, I gathered information on the BOWERS family.

"Edward HEATH (my grandfather) is still an elusive and fascinating character. Each new day brings promise of a long searched-for date or place, breathing life into a name.

"Bless you for introducing me to Newton County Roots. It is a wonderful publication."

As we have said time and again, letters like that one from Ann BRANUM are much better than paychecks!

Newton County Roots is the official publication of the Genealogy Friends of the Library, Neosho City-County Library. For information on membership in the group and their publications, please write to the Genealogy Friends at P.O. Box 314, Neosho, MO 64850. And be sure to tell those good people that you heard about the group through Rootbound. This columnist has been a member for several years.

A few readers responded to our question regarding where to find old copies of Missouri newspapers. The State Historical Society of Missouri (1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, MO 65201) has extensive holdings on Missouri newspapers that can be accessed through inter-library loan. Most libraries will have a catalogue, or researchers can write to the Society and request information on particular counties.

Would you like to learn more about genealogy - at your own pace? Brigham Young University offers a variety of courses by correspondence that can provide an in-depth knowledge in the basics of family research. For details, please contact the BYU Department of Independent Study at 206 Harman Building, Provo, UT 84602. Their coursework will eventually lead to a certificate in genealogy, and it could also be instrumental for preparation in becoming a professional genealogist.

Happy hunting!

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