Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #229:
11 Feb 1992

by Rocky Macy

Back during the last century, in those days of old when we were not distracted by radio and television and the thousands of other "conveniences" that technology has since dumped upon us, people read more. And they wrote more, too. In fact, it was a fairly common pursuit of individuals in the closing decades of the nineteenth century to collect genealogy and publish family books. Today's researchers who can locate those old genealogies enjoy a rich harvest of family facts that can be rechecked and incorporated into the history of current generations.

Our first correspondent this week, Donna GUTHRIE (Rt. 7, Box 341, Neosho, MO 64850), would be a first cousin (three times removed) of Minnie WYATT FORSTER, a lady who authored several books about her life and her WYATT ancestors. Donna has one of the books, but she would obviously love to locate the others. Please read on...

William WYATT and his wife, Margaret (possibly HELMS), came to southwest Missouri in the 1840s. Their children were Amasa, Adeline, Emarine, Sarlida, Scott (Donna's g-g-grandfather), Benton, and Finis (the father of Minnie Jane WYATT FORSTER). According to Minnie and other family members, William WYATT and his brothers had come from England. The brothers chose to return to England, but William married and remained in this country. Other sources that Donna has found list William's place of birth as Virginia. Do any of our readers know more about this family?

Donna GUTHRIE (above) is also exploring a PIERCY (PEARCY) line. She is the great-granddaughter of Marcus Lafayette PIERCY and Emma WOOD of the Hickory Creek community of Newton County, MO. Their forebears apparently came to Newton County from Tennessee in the 1840s.

Nathaniel and Caroline PIERCY were the parents of Marcus (above). Nathaniel was listed as an heir to Samuel PIERCY/PEARCY in the 1850s. Were Samuel and Nancy PIERCY the parents of Nathaniel. Nathaniel died when Marcus was two-years-old.

Emma WOOD PIERCY (above) was the daughter of John WOOD (KY) and Margaret _____ (MO). John WOOD and his brother, George, came from Kentucky and were miners. Margaret's mother, Dicy SHELTY/SHETTLEY/SHELTON, was also born in Missouri, as was her mother. Who was Margaret's father?

There was also a John L. PIERCY and family living in Newton County in the 1850s. He was close in age to Nathaniel, but was not listed as an heir to Samuel's estate. Was John a family black sheep?

John L. PIERCY also had a son named Samuel. That Samuel married Sarlida WYATT, sister to Scott and Finis. Samuel and Sarlida followed the family pattern and named their son John.

Donna GUTHRIE would enjoy hearing from any of our readers who could help her find the missing pieces of her family puzzle.

The latest issue of American Genealogy Magazine has two articles on Jesse JAMES. One, by the magazine's editor, James PYLANT, explores the possibility that the famous outlaw faked his own death and actually lived to be one-hundred-and-three-years-old. The other, by this columnist, focuses on the JAMES genealogy - much of which has been covered in Rootbound previously.

With this issue American Genealogy Magazine goes from a four-issues-a-year format to six. And it looks new. The magazine is sturdier with a slick cover, and most importantly, it contains even more genealogy than it did before! For more information on this publication, please send a card or letter to James PYLANT at P.O. Box 1587, Stephenville, TX 76401.

And about those family history books - genealogies - whether they are old or new: a family history is treasure beyond measure! Why not get to work on yours today?

Happy hunting!

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