Anton Dybowski and His Prussian Infantry Unit

My great-grandfather Antoni (Anton) Dybowski was born in the territory of Poland which had been taken over by Prussia due to the Partitions of Poland. I neither know the date of his birthday nor where exactly he was born. Possibly it was the nowadays Kuyavian-Pomeranian region of Poland as he lived with his wife Bronisława and daughter Irena in the Toruń area.

When WW1 began, Antoni was appointed to the Prussian army. In the picture below we can see him (last row, the man in the middle) and his fellow soldiers, probably before they were sent to the war front.

Grandpa did not come back from the war, he was killed during the fights. I tried to find out where and when he fell, therefore I searched the German archives of WW1 casualties.

To my surprise, the searched results showed nine entries regarding nine men of the same name Anton Dybowski. To make it more difficult, eight of them were from the Toruń region. Studying the records, I could eliminate four Antons who were wounded but did not die. The information about other four you can see below:

1. Anton Dybowski
Page number: 12020
Edition: 937
Date: 13 April 1916
Place: Koncheitz, Thorn (present Kończewice, Toruń district)
List: Prussia 505
Regiment: Reserve Infantry Regiment 53, Company A
Status: missing
Gov Id: KONITZJO93GE

2. Anton Dybowski
Page number 15477
Edition: 1203
Date: 12 October 1916
Place: Konchewitz, Thorn
List: Prussia 657
Regiment: Infantry Regiment 145, Company 12
Status: fallen
GOV Id: KONITZJO93GE

3. Anton Dybowski
Page number 4265
Edition: 365
Date: 14 Jan. 1915
Place: Leibitsch, Thorn (present Lubicz, Toruń District)
List: Prussia 125
Regiment: Reserve Infantry Regiment 59, III Battalion, Company 9
Status: missing
GOV Id: LEISCHJO93JA

4. Anton Dybowski
Page number 29394
Edition: 2348
Date: 28 Feb. 1919
Place: Drzonowo, Culm (Drzonowo, Chełmno District)
List: Prussia 1377
Regiment: Fusilier Regiment 40, Company 1
Status: missing
GOV Id: DRZOWOJO93IG
24.04.1898

After some further investigation, I decided to discard no. 4 as (according to the photos found on the net), the type of uniform worn by grandpa and the soldiers of his unit was not Fusilier but Infantry uniform. Besides, my grandmother and Anton's daughter was born in 1912. The date given in the record suggests that Anton no. 4 was born in 1898 - he was fourteen in 1912. It would not have been possible for a boy at that age to be a father of course but it all does not match. The uniform for sure.

Anton No. 1 and 2 were listed in the same village, maybe they even knew each other. However, records No. 1 and 3 say those men were missing. They could have been killed of course but their bodies were not found.

As far as I know, my great-grandmother received a message which clearly stated that her husband had fallen. It means Anton No. 2 is the one. I have tried to find out where were the 145 Infantry Regiment men in October 1916. One source says they took part in the Argonne Forrest, Fille Morte area. Another one tells they fought in the Vosges.

Mum told me a story which she heard from her mother, Anton's daughter. According to that grandma Irena (who was four then), had a music box on her bedside table. She had got the music toy from her dad. On the night when Anton died, the box woke little Irena up - it opened and closed itself three times, one by one.

I wish I could find out more about Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 53 and 59. All in all, it seems all of them - Anton No. 1, 2 and 3 fell somewhere in France.

Elbert Wiley Kirkpatrick

Elbert Wiley Kirkpatrick was a brother-in-law of our great-grandmother Rachel Belle Zorie (Stimson) Howard's brother Josiah L. Stimson.

The Kirkpatrick family origins are connected with Scotland. However, Elbert Wiley's grandmother's lines (his mother's side) go to Germany and Ireland.

Elbert Wiley Kirkpatrick was born on 12 October 1844 in Whitesburg, Hamblen County, Tennessee to the family of  Jacob M. Kirkpatrick and Sarah Jane Campbell. When he was ten, Elbert, his parents and siblings relocated to Collin County Texas. Eight years later, Elbert Wiley joined the Confederate Army and Served in Texas Partisan Rangers (Fifth Regiment of Company I) under Col. Leonidas M. Martin. When the war ended, Elbert came back to Texas where he ran the family farm.

In 1870, Elbert was registered in the Census. He lived with his mother, brothers and sisters in Precinct No. 1 of Collin County, Texas. The record states that Elbert was a surveyor then.

Elbert Kirkpatrick
United States Census, 1870
Name: Elbert Kirkpatrick
Event: Type Census
Event: Year 1870
Event: Place Texas, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Race: White
Race: W
Birth Year (Estimated): 1844-1845
Birthplace: Tennessee
Page Number: 61

Household

Sarah Kirkpatrick, Female, age 47, born in Tennessee
Elbert Kirkpatrick, Male, age 25, born in Tennessee
Adaline Kirkpatrick, F, age 21, born in Tennessee
Mary Kirkpatrick, F, age 19, born in Tennessee
Wilkins Kirkpatrick, M, age17, born in Tennessee
Frances Kirkpatrick, F, age 15, born in Tennessee
Dulcina Kirkpatrick, F, age 13, born in Texas

Record Source:
"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGG-RC5 : 12 April 2016), Elbert Kirkpatrick in household of Sarah Kirkpatrick, Texas, United States; citing p. 61, family 414, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,078.

Jacob M. Kirkaptrick died in 1858. It seems Elbert supported the family financially later.

Blooming blueberry bush

Our Elbert Wiley was a self-educated man. In the year 1871, he worked as a teacher at the Wilson Creek school (which was three miles north of Allen) in Collin County .

On 5 November 1874, Elbert married Miss Emily Terrell Clive, daughter of George Clive and Martha "Patsy" Winston Carr, born on 17 June 1848 in Virginia.

Elbert Wiley Kirkpatrick was very much interested in growing plants (nuts and fruits) which resulted in establishing a nursery (1874 as well) in White Grove's where he lived with his family.

Pecan

Three years later, Elbert Wiley, his wife, and children moved to McKinney, Collin, Texas. According to the online Handbook of Texas, the couple had six children but only four of them survived until adulthood. I managed to find the information about four children only:

Ray H. Kirkpatrick - born on 16 Sept. 1876,
Alice Kirkpatrick - born on 13 August 1878 in Texas,
Sarah (Sadie) Kirkpatrick - born on 30 July 1880, (2)
Jack Kirkpatrick - born on 10 July 1882/d. 16 Jan. 1883.

Elbert's mother Sarah Jane left this world on 14 April 1898 in McKinney. Her son E. W. was fifty-four then.

Elbert Wiley Kirkpatrick led a very active life. He wrote articles for various gardening journals and worked as an editor of the McKinney Democrat. His work helped found such associations as Central Texas Pomological and Agricultural Association, Texas State Nurserymen's Association, and Texas Nut Growers Association.

Blackberry flower

 If it was not enough, here is the list of the positions he held:

President of

• Texas Nut Growers Association,
• Texas State Nurserymen's Association,
• The Whitesboro Orchard and Fruit Company,
• The Nueces Land and Immigration Company,
• Texas Nursery Company,
• Texas Industrial Congress (1908)

Walnut

Board of directors member for

• Durant Nursery Company,
• The Collin County Mill and Elevator Company,
• The New Century Milling Company,
• The Burrus Milling Company 

Vice President of

• Texas State Fair Association (1908)

Blooming raspberry bush

Chairman of

• The McKinney Chamber of Commerce (the beginning of the 1920s)

Member of

• The Sate Council of Defence (WW1), 
• the state food conservation organization (WW1)

County Chairman of

• The YMCA War Fund Committee (WW1 as well).

Quite impressive, isn't it? It all seems more than the life of one person only. Elbert Wiley was certainly not an average guy at all.

In 1902, Elbert's house was built in McKinney at 903 Parker Street.

Elbert Wiley Kirkpatrick's House

 Mr. E.W. Kirkpatrick also hosted the annual meetings of the Civil War Veterans in his house.

Clipping Source:
Bagwill, Arthur A. The Plano Star-Courier (Plano, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 2, 1923, newspaper, August 2, 1923; Plano, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth570539/: accessed December 14, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Collin County Genealogical Society.

The anniversary meeting which took place in 1923 was attended by about 90 veterans of the Trans-Mississippi Division of the Confederate Army. Elbert, the host, was at the rank of lieutenant general.

A few months later Mr. Kirkpatrick contracted pneumonia during his business trip to New Mexico. He passed on 24 March 1874. Elbert Wiley Kirkpatrick was buried at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney, Collin, Texas.

 

Our family line

Elbert Wiley Kirkpatrick
⇒ his sister Mary Ethelyn Stimson nee Kirkpatrick (b. 19 July 1850, Greene, Tennessee/d. 2 Oct. 1940, Sanger, Denton County, Texas)
⇒ her husband Josiah Long Stimson (b. 31 Dec. 1839, Kentucky/d. 12 August 1917, Collin County, Texas)
⇒ his sister Rachel Belle Zorie (Belzora) Howard nee Stimson - our great-grandmother


Sources:

• Handbook of Texas by Texas State Historical Association
• A History of Collin County, Texas: Stambaugh, J. Lee, b. 1889; Stambaugh, Lillian J., b. 1888 & Carroll, H. Bailey. A History of Collin County, Texas, book, 1958; Austin, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61096/: accessed December 13, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu;.
• (1)"California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP46-8M6 : 26 November 2014), Ray H Kirkpatrick, 16 Dec 1964; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
• (2)"Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QH-YQC : 13 March 2018), Sarah Kirkpatrick, 26 Dec 1929; citing certificate number 57602, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,135,162.
• findagrave.com 

Photos: 
Blueberry bush: By Kurt Stüber [1] - caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/mavica/index.html part of www.biolib.de, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7997,
Pecan: By Bruce Marlin - Own work: http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_pecan.htm, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5741662,
Blackberry flower: By I, Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org
/w/index.php?curid=1434374,
Raspberry bush flower: By Wo st 01 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10575911

Photo of the house: Beckyquilts [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons.

John Tyler III and John Tyler IV

Soon I will come back to the early settlers of Collin County, TX. Today I present the family tree branch which leads to Mr. John Tyler III and his son of the name John Tyler as well.

John Tyler III was born on 28 February 1747 in Williamsburg, the colony of Virginia. His great-grandfather Henry emigrated from England and settled in the Virginia Colony.

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

John Tyler Sr., besides being a planter and a judge was also the 15th Virginia Governor. In 1776 he served in the 3rd Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army.

Around 1776, he built Greenway plantation (Charles City, Virginia) where his children, including John Tyler Jr. were born.

Charles City, historic courthouse, Virginia

John Tyler III passed in his home on 6 January 1813.

The man who connects us to John Tyler III and his son is Jefferson F Davis, the husband of Sarah Knox, our 5th cousin four times removed.

Then the family branch goes to

⇒ John Tyler II, mentioned above (born on 25 March 1790/d. 18 Jan. 1862, Richmond, Virginia), he bought the Sherwood Plantation in 1945 which became his family home since then. The US President (1841-1845).

Sherwood Forest Plantation, Virginia

⇒ his daughter Elizabeth Waller nee Tyler (b. 11 July 1823, Virginia/d. 1 June 1850, Virginia)

⇒ her son William Griffin Waller (b. 1843, Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, VA/d. 24 July 1894, Alum Springs, Pulaski County, Virginia)

⇒ his wife Jane Kempe Waller nee Howell (b. 9 August 1844, Natchez, Adams County, MS)

⇒ her sister Varina Anne Banks Davis nee Howell (b. 7 May 1826, Natchez, Adams, MS/d. 16 Oct. 1906, Manhattan, New York, New York)

⇒ her husband Jefferson Finnis Davis (b. 3 June 1808, Christian County, Kentucky/d. 6 Dec. 1889, New Orleans, Louisiana)

⇒ his first wife Sarah Knox Davis nee Taylor - our 5th cousin 4 times removed

⇒ her father Zachary Taylor - our 4th cousin 5 times removed

⇒ his father Richard Lee Taylor - our 3rd cousin  6 times removed (b. 3 April 1774, Rapidan, Orange County, Virginia/d. 19 Jan. 1829, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky)

Rapidan, Passenger Depot

⇒ his mother Elizabeth Taylor nee Lee - 2nd cousin 7 times removed (b. 25 May 1709, Hadleigh, Suffolk, England/d. April 1750, Lancaster, Virginia)

River Brett, Hadleigh, England

⇒ her mother Sarah Elizabeth Lee nee Allerton - our 1 cousin 8 times removed (b. circa 1671, Westmoreland, Westmoreland County, Virginia/d. 17 May 1731, Ditchley, Northumberland County, Virginia)

⇒ her father Isaac Allerton (Ollerton), Jr. (b. 22 May 1627, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts/d. 25 Oct. 1702, Cople Parish, Westmoreland, Virginia)

⇒ his sister Rose Tucker nee Allerton - our 6 times great-grandmother (b. circa 1633, Carleton Manor, Yorkshire, England/d. circa 1712, Westmoreland, Virginia)

Genealogy researches do not agree on the matter who Rose Tucker's parents were. I mean Rose whose first husband was John Tucker. Some claim they were not Isaac Allerton Sr. and his wife Fear.

However, according to the book "Seldens of Virginia and allied families"* by Mary Selden Kennedy Rose was a daughter of Isaac and Fear Allerton's. Besides, in another source, I came across the information that Isaac Sr. had 21 children altogether. So it could be more than the two only with Fear (Sarah and Isaac Jr.) mentioned most often.

⇒ her son Robert Tucker (b. circa 1652, Charles City County, Virginia/d. circa 1704, Charles City Co., VA)

⇒ his son Robert Tucker Jr. - our 4 times great grandfather

⇒ his son William Tucker Sr. - our 3 times great-grandfather (b. circa 1718, Prince George County, Virginia/d. 19 March 1791, Powhatan, Virginia)

⇒ his son David Tucker - our great-great-great-grandfather (b. circa 1762, Amelia County, Virginia)

⇒ his daughter Rachel Obellier Stimson nee Tucker - our  great-great-grandmother


* Seldens of Virginia and allied families, Volume II, by Mary Selden Kennedy, Frank Allaben Genealogical Company, Three West Forty-Second Street, New York, 1911.

The post based on my MyHeritage research.

Photos:

• Colonial Williamsburg By Tasma3197 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15513648
• By Mojo Hand - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68348227
• Sherwood Plantation: By Pi3.124 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50490593
• Rapidan By Cecouchman - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25368310 
• River Brett: By Andrew Hill, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14182222

William Washington Gant

I have already written about a cousin of the name William Washington Gant but this time I tell you about a different ancestor of the very same first and middle name.

William Washington Gant, our 3rd cousin 4 times removed, was born on 24 October 1844 in Tennessee. He was one of the ten children of John Isham Gant and Mary Jane Cocke.

On 7 Sept. 1850, the Census recorded William lived with his family in 9 District of Maury County, Tennessee. His father John was a merchant. The value of John's real estate was $4.400. Besides William's parents and siblings, 9 other persons lived in the household - Joseph Crawford and J. O. Griffith (described in the record as teachers), and 7 boys - students. The lodgers' surnames Crawford, Griffith, Saunders, Gates, Bowles, Pope, and Dowell occur in our family tree so very likely those men were related to the Gants. However, I manage to find a G A Pope only. He was Gustavus Adolphus Pope (b. 17 Jan. 1834 in Williamson, Tennessee). William Washington Gant and Gustavus were cousins.

William Gant
United States Census, 1850
Name: William Gant
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1850
Event Place: Maury County, part of Maury, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 6
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1844
Birthplace: Tennessee, United States
House Number: 357

Household
John F Gant, Male, age 37, born Tennessee, United States
Martha Gant, Female, age 30, born Tennessee, United States
Rich Gant, M, age 10, born Tennessee, United States
Sisey Gant, F, age 8, born Tennessee, United States
William Gant, M, age 6, born Tennessee, United States
John Gant, M, age 3, born Tennessee, United States
Ella Gant, F, age 1, born Tennessee, United States
Joseph Crawford, M, age 26, (teacher), born Ireland
J O Griffith, M, age 37, born Tennessee, United States
R P Griffith, M, age 22, (student) born Tennessee, United States
D D Saunders, M, age 17, born Alabama, United States
Joseph M Gates, M, age 13, born Alabama, United States
W C McQuiston, M, 18, born Kentucky, United States
A J Bowles, M, age 11, born Mississippi, United States
G A Pope, M, age 15, born Tennessee, United States
P A Dowell, M, age 15, born Tennessee, United States

Record Source:
"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD5-R2C : 12 April 2016), William Gant in household of John F Gant, Maury county, part of, Maury, Tennessee, United States; citing family 357, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

The transcription contains some errors. In the record there is John I Gant, not John F. Another thing - it is not Sisy but Lucy.

It seems John Isham Gant provided a good educational environment to his children and the sons of relatives. Gustavus Adolphus Pope became a pharmacist (1), R. P. Griffith was later a teacher (2).
D. D. Saunders could very likely Dudley Dunn Saunders - a future physician and surgeon (3).

Young William Washington was with the G Company of the 4th Mississippi Company Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was promoted to Corporal. (4)

After the war, on 28 May 1866 (5), 21-year-old William got married to 3 years younger Miss Alethia Ann Norwood. She was born on 23 October 1847 in Alabama. I do not know who her parents were however, there are other Norwood people in our family tree as well.

William and Alethia had ten children - eight sons and two daughters.

• Norwood Isham b. 25 April 1868, TN /d. 12 April 1919, Memphis, Shelby, TN (6)
• O. R. - b. 1 Sept. 1868 / d. 26 July 1935, Fort Worth, Tarrant, TX (7)
• William Irl b. 1871, Water Valley, MS/d. 16 Dec. 1935, Norwood, East Feliciana, Louisiana (8)
• Mattie Desha b. 6 August 1873, Mississippi/d. 19 Jan. 1951, Dallas, Dallas, TX (9)
• Robert Lee b. 23 Luly 1876/ d. ?      (5)
• Albert S b. 14 May 1879, Panola, MS/d. 23 Oct. 1931, Crystal Spring, Copiah, MS (10)
• Nelli Mae b. 22 May 1883/d. 15 Oct. 1946, Dallas, Dallas, TX (11)
• Walter Stewart b. 1885, MS/d. 5 Jan 1936, Memphis, Shelby, TN (12)
• Charles Dewitt b. 8 Oct. 1888, Eureka Springs, MS/d. 27 Dec 1946 (13)

You can see the years 1935/36 and 1946 were quite tragic to the family. Five of William Washington's children died with quite a short time period.

Anyway, in 1880 the Gant family still lived together in Mississippi. After the death of Martha Jane, Billy's mother, his father John Isham lived in his household. William worked as a farmer.

Name: W W Gant
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1880
Event Place: Eureka and Williamson, Panola, Mississippi, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race: W
Occupation: Farmer
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Birth Year (Estimated): 1845
Birthplace: Tennessee, United States
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee, United States
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee, United States
Sheet Letter: D
Sheet Number: 190
Person Number: 0
Volume: 1

Household

W W Gant, Self, Male, 35, born Tennessee, United States
A G Gant, Wife, Female, 32, born Alabama, United States
N I Gant, Son, Male, 12, born Mississippi, United States
O R Gant, Son, Male, 10, born Mississippi, United States
W I Gant, Son, Male, 9, born Mississippi, United States
M D Gant, Daughter, Female, 7, born Mississippi, United States
R E Gant, Son, Male, 4, born Mississippi, United States
A S Gant, Son, Male, 2, Mississippi, United States
J I Gant, Father, Male, 70, Tennessee, United States

Record Source:
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4G1-3HZ : 22 August 2017), W W Gant, Eureka and Williamson, Panola, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district ED 158, sheet 190D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0661; FHL microfilm 1,254,661.

It is interesting that in the above census record, Billy's wife is listed as A G Gant - the G part is unknown as in other records Mrs. Gant appears as Alethia Ann. Also, O. R., the son, seemed to be born in 1870/69, not in 1868 as it was stated much later in his death certificate (6).

Liberty Hall - Crystal Spring, Mississippi

Cousin Billy ran a private plantation for 25 years. He retired around 1905 (15). What happened to his plantation I do not know. William's wife passed on 11 October 1906. After that, he moved to Crystal Springs and lived at the house of his fourth son Robert L (Lee?).

William W Gant
United States Census, 1920
Name: William W Gant
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1920
Event Place: Crystal Springs, Copiah, Mississippi, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 76
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: White
Race: White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Father
Relationship to Head of Household: Father
Birth Year (Estimated): 1844
Birthplace: Mississippi
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Sheet Letter A
Sheet Number 7

Household

Robert L Gant, Head, Male. age 47, born Mississippi
Lillie Gant, Wife, Femle, age 36, born Mississippi
Jamie D Gant, Son, M, age 17, born Mississippi
Alethia Gant, Daughter, F, age 12, born Mississippi
William W Gant, Father, M, age 76, born Mississippi

Record Source:
"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4SL-JR4 : accessed 19 November 2018), William W Gant in household of Robert L Gant, Crystal Springs, Copiah, Mississippi, United States; citing ED 62, sheet 7A, line 24, family 153, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 874; FHL microfilm 1,820,874.

Robert L was called Bob. For over two decades he worked as a professional tracker of criminals on the run. Bob raised Bloodhounds which he used in the chasing business. Robert was quite successful in what he was doing - meaning training the animals and tracking the evildoers. Both Robert and his dogs were well-known in the Mississippi area where they lived.

Lake Chautauqua, Crystal Springs

Actually, due to the amazing skills and the intelligence of the Bloodhounds (commonly known as Gant Bloodhounds), Bob became a sort of local celebrity. A series of articles which told about his "professional adventures" was published in The Monroe-News Star (a New Orleans newspaper) in the 1920s. According to the newspaper articles, Robert cared for the dogs with love, he fed them with eggs, bread and milk. They were also taught not to take the food from anybody else than their owner. (13)

Bloodhound puppy

In April 1920 Bob Gant and his dogs were part of a posse led by Sheriff Nicholson which was set to track and chase the man who killed Charlie McCoy and wounded quite a few others including the murderer trackers. When approached by the Sherrif, Bob and his Bloodhounds, the culprit did not wish to surrender and started shooting again. Sheriff Nicholson was wounded in the forehead, above the right eye, our Bob got a shot in the back of his neck. They managed to catch the shooter anyway. Luckily, the wounds were not fatal and both the lawman and our cousin recovered later. (14)

Chasing the criminals was a dangerous business and Robert jeopardised his life and health doing his job. One time Bob was seriously wounded due to a dynamite explosion. He wrote a note which he fixed to the dog collar of one of his Bloodhounds and told the dog to go and get help. The animal came across two men - it grabbed the jeans of one of the passer-byes and made him go toward the place where his injured carer was. The very same man found the message written by Bob and followed the dog then.

Bob Gants bloodhounds 23 Jul 1922 Brooklyn Daily Eagle NY Sun, Jul 23, 1922 – Page 80 · The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, Kings, New York) · Newspapers.com 


In the 30s, William Washington Gant moved to Texas where two of his children Oscar and Mattie lived. Maybe the move was related to Oscar's death who passed in 1935.

William stayed in Dallas at the house of Mattie Desha and her husband Sampson Jackson. As I mentioned before, in the year 1935 and 1936 there were three deaths in the family. William's sons William Irl, Oscar, and Walter Stewart died one by one which probably influenced our Cousin Billy's health as well. He passed on 21 July 1939 at Mattie and Sampson's house which was situated at Cabell Drive in Dallas. The reason of his death was hypostatic pneumonia which means he had been staying in bed for a long time not being able to move from one side to another. Maybe he had suffered from a stroke and paralysis?

William Washington Gant was buried in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, a day later. (16)

Sources:

• (1) "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGFG-HNM : accessed 16 November 2018), Gustavus A Pope, Civil District 7, Giles, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 21, sheet 8B, family 157, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1500; FHL microfilm 1,375,513.
• (2) "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8TV-VXW : 12 December 2017), R P Griffith, 1860.
• (3) "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDW8-4XD : 15 July 2017), D D Sanders, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district ED 144, sheet 183C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1279; FHL microfilm 1,255,279.
• (4)"United States Headstone Applications for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1949", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHZC-WHQ : 12 March 2018), William Washington Gant.
• (5) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Ancestral File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:M473-41H : accessed 15 November 2018), entry for Robert Lee GANT (1L3R-FC8); submitted by bgantt3511831
• (6) "Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NSLJ-1TB : 15 October 2018), N.Isom Gant, 12 Apr 1919; Death, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville.
• (7) "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3MM-TH8 : 13 March 2018), O R Gant, 26 Jul 1935; citing certificate number 35366, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,623.
• (8) "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSBR-GTG : 10 March 2018), W W Gant in entry for William Irl Gant, 16 Dec 1935; citing Norwood, East Feliciana, Louisiana, certificate number 14764, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 2,203,526.
• (9) "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CN-6KR : 13 March 2018), W W Gant in entry for Mattie Desha Johnson, 19 Jan 1951; citing certificate number 1339, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,651.
• (10) "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVY-QD6K : 13 December 2015), Albert S Gant, 1901; Burial, Crystal Springs, Copiah, Mississippi, United States of America, Crystal Springs Cemetery; citing record ID 27159820, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
• (11) "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7DZ-DG6 : 13 March 2018), Alethia Anna Norwood in entry for Nellie Mae Puryear, 15 Oct 1946; citing certificate number 44593, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,424.
• (12) "Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NSH4-6S9 : 15 October 2018), Walter Stewart Gant, 5 Jan 1936; Death, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville.
• (13) "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K39F-KRL : 13 March 2018), Charles Dewitt Gant, 27 Dec 1946; citing certificate number 55895, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,504.
• (14) The Monroe-News Star, 16 August 1924, Sat., Page 1
• (15) The Columbian, 22 April 1920, Columbia, Marion Co., MS
• (16) "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3M2-DC4 : 13 March 2018), W W Gant, 21 Jul 1939; citing certificate number 32269, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,118,256.

Photos:

• Photo of the gravestone: Natalie Maynor
• Liberty Hall: GilbertThompson [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons  
• Lake Chautauqua Crystal Springs: Mississippi Department of Archives and History [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons
• Bloodhound: By Gilliamhome's Olympus E3 and Evolt 500 Page - Flickr: Hoss, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21292208

Jackson Harrison Bowman & Madora Ellen Elizabeth Dye

Jackson Harrison Bowman was born on 6 November 1841 in Sweetwater, Monroe County, Tennessee to the family of John P Davis Bowman and Susanna Elisa Jackson.

Sweetwater, Tennessee

Jack came to Texas with his parents and siblings in 1856. The Bowmans settled not north-east of Plano.

Jackson married Miss Madora Ellen Elizabeth Dye, the daughter of Henry Montgomery Dye and Sarah Elizabeth Skiles. Madora was called shortly Dora, she was born on 6 Feb. 1854 in Plano, Collin, TX. On the day of the wedding, Dora was 18 and Jack was 30. The ceremony took place on 13 July 1872.

Dora's father was one of the very early Plano settlers. In 1850, Henry lived with Mr. Joseph C Keppler and Joseph's family. He was a doctor. During the Civil War he was responsible for Confederate hospitals in Arkansas and worked as a surgeon. Mr. Dye was also the one who suggested the name for the town of Plano (derived from the Spanish word "llano" which means "grassy plain"). Doctor Dye was the first founder of the Presbyterian Church in Plano, he donated the land on which the first building of the church was built.

Jackson Harrison Bowman was a successful man, one of the wealthiest persons of Plano. He was the vice-president and one of the directors of the Plano National Bank which was established in 1877.

Clipping Source: The Plano Star-Courier (Plano, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 32, Ed. 1 Friday, January 14, 1916, newspaper, January 14, 1916; Plano, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth601778/: accessed November 13, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Collin County Genealogical Society.

G. W. Bowman was George Washington Bowman, Jakson's younger brother. Both brothers were Civil War veterans.

Jackson Harrison Bowman was president of the Plano Cotton Oil Company as well. Besides that, he was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and served as the church board of stewards president for a few decades. 

Dora Ellen Bowman grew up in Plano where she attended the first public school. She continued her education at the female Methodist College in Dallas. Mrs. Bowman was immensely involved in the works of Women's Foreign Missionary Conference (she was the Conference president for many years), Women's Foreign Missionary Society and Women's Home Missionary Society. She supported Christian education of the young people who later took up missionary work abroad. Dora Bowman's leadership fruited with establishing Missionary schools in Cuba and Brazil as well.

Dora and Jack Bowman had four children, three girls and one boy. The youngest daughter Minnie Florance, born in 1872, lived four years only.

Jackson Harrison Bowman passed on 14 March 1923 at his home in Plano. Dora lived seven years longer. She died on 11 April in Houston after a stroke she had suffered from about a week earlier. Mrs. James R. Adams was Fannie May, born on 28 Feb. 1879. Both Jack and Dora were buried in Plano.

Clipping Source: Andrews, C. C. The Celina Record (Celina, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. [43], Ed. 1 Thursday, April 17, 1930, newspaper, April 17, 1930; Celina, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth773087/: accessed November 13, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Celina Area Historical Association.

What is our family relation to Jackson Harrison Bowman and his wife Dora Ellen?

Jackson Harrison Bowman
⇒ his wife Dora Dye
⇒ her sister Addie Lee Brown nee Dye (b. 23 June 1866, Plano, Collin, TX/d. 5 Jan. 1930, Collin, TX)
⇒ her husband John Wesley Brown (b. 24 Sept. 1858, Sumner, Tennessee/d. 21 Mrch 1934, Plano, Collin, TX)
⇒ his brother Robert Jefferson Davis Brown (b. 11 Sept. 1860, Sumner, Tennessee/d. 23 May 1890, Bethany, Collin, TX)
⇒ his wife Rachel Clementine Brown/Gant nee Howard - our grandmother


Sources:

• Collin County, Texas History
• The Plano Review by H. Grady Chandler, 1914
• Images of America. Historic Downtown Plano by Janice Craze Cline, Arcadai Publishing, 2012

Photo:

• Brian Stansberry [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons 

Abraham Lincoln

After so much time devoted to the research regarding direct ancestors only, it's time to come back to Mrs. Mary (Gant) Boone, and the indirect family connections. Just to remind you - Mary was the wife of our first cousin six times removed, Mr. Absalom Bobo Gant. Another famous person she links us to is Mr. Abraham Lincoln*.

Lincolns' House

 Here is how the family tree branch goes

Abraham Lincoln
⇒ his father Thomas H. Lincoln (6 Jan. 1778, Linville Creek, Augusta County, Virginia - 17 Jan. 1851, Lincoln Homestead, Charleston, Coles County, Illinois)

⇒ his father Abraham Lincoln (13 May 1744, Berks County, Province of Pennsylvania - 4 May 1786, Jefferson County, Virginia)

⇒ his father John Lincoln (3 May 1716, Freehold Township, Monmouth County, Province of New Jersey - Nov. 1788, Linville Creek, Rockingham County, Virginia)

Rockingham County, Virginia

⇒ his sister Sarah (Lincoln) Boone (10 April 1727, Coventry, Berks County, Province of Pennsylvania - 21 April  1810, Oley, Exeter Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania)

Mordecai Lincoln's House - Exeter Township, Berks County, PA

⇒ her husband William Bennett Boone Sr. (18 Nov. 1724, Exeter Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania - Aug 1770, Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland)

Frederick, Maryland

⇒ his brother Hezekiah Boone (22 May 1735, Exeter, Berks, Pennsylvania - 20 Dec. 1823, Woodford, Kentucky)

⇒ his son Hiram Boon Boone (1765, Culpepper Co., Virginia - 13 March 1826, Savannah, Hardin, TN)

⇒ his daughter Mary Gant nee Boone (26 May 1803, Columbia, Adair, Kentucky - 8 August 1896, Martin's Mills, Wayne, Tennessee)

Courthouse - Adair Co., Kentucky

⇒ her husband Absalom Bobo Gant (25 Feb. 1800, Abbeville, Abbeville, SC - 26 May 1876, Clifton, Wayne, Tennessee)

* Based on my own research 

Credits
Photos:

• Lincolns' House: By Meagan Davsi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21031889 
• Rockingham County, VA: By P199 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11519193
• Mordecai Lincoln's House: By Smallbones - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14747878
• Fountain: By Billy Hathorn [CC BY-SA 3.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons

Our Direct Ancestors Pioneers

Finally, I closed the list of our Direct Ancestors who moved from Europe to the faraway land. The list is not closed for good as there are still branches which I need to investigate and would be happy to find out more. So many direct lines in our family tree do not make it that easy to track them. However, making that list, I tried to be very careful not to overlook anybody.

I would want to find out more about them - who and what they were when they arrived, what their fate was. It would be great if I could write a post dedicated to each one of them or at least about every family/ family name of our progenitors. The work is very time-consuming and challenging, though, as I enjoy learning and writing about all our relatives. Including the distant ones. Therefore, I am not sure whether I will manage to describe them all. Anyway, I am going to keep trying and do my best.

Here is the list of our Pioneers.

Cora Belle McIntosh Sigman

Cora Belle McIntosh, our maternal aunt, was born on 18 Dec. 1914 in Harrison, Texas. Her parents were Ethel B. Lollar and Samuel Hollie McIntosh.

Harrison County Courthouse, Marshall, Texas

On 23 March 1934, Cora married Mr. Richard Lee Sigman. Both Cora and her spouse were nineteen then. Richard's parents were Julius Alexander (Bud) Sigman and Lidy Edwards.


Cora Bell Mcintosh
mentioned in the record of Richard L Sigmon and Cora Bell McIntosh
Name: Richard L Sigmon
Titles and Terms: Mr
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 23 Mar 1934
Event Place: Harrison, Texas, United States
Spouse's Name: Cora Bell Mcintosh
Spouse's Titles and Terms: Miss

Record Source:
"Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8Y-Z11R : 10 December 2017), Richard L Sigmon and Cora Bell Mcintosh, 23 Mar 1934; citing Harrison, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,405,524.

In 1940, Cora, Richard, and their children lived in Justice Precinct No. 8, Upshur, Texas. Richard Lee was a farmer.

Cora Belle Sigman
United States Census, 1940
Name: Cora Belle Sigman
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Justice Precinct 8, Upshur, Texas, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Birthplace: Texas
Birth Year (Estimated): 1916
Last Place of Residence: Same Place

Household

Richard Sigman Head Male 24 born Texas
Cora Belle Sigman Wife Female, age 24, born Texas
Richard W Sigman, Son, Male, 4, born Texas
Billie Ray Sigman, Son, Male, 2, born in Texas
Marvin Sigman, Son, Male, 1, Texas,
William Edwards, Cousin, Male, 13, born in Texas

Record Source:
"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4QS-RHY : 15 March 2018), Cora Belle Sigman in household of Richard Sigman, Justice Precinct 8, Upshur, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 230-21, sheet 6A, line 69, family 130, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4153.

Cora and Richard had eight children

- four sons

Richard Wayne, born 21 June 1935 in Ore City, Upshur, Texas (1) - died 7 Dec. 2005 in Dallas, Dallas, TX;
Billie Ray, born 18 Dec. 1937, Harrison, Texas (2) - died 6 Feb. 2017 in Murchison, Henderson County, TX;
Marvin, born in 1939;
Kenneth Neal, born 13 Nov. 1943, Dallas, Dallas, TX (3), died 30 Sept. 1999 in Seagoville, Dallas County, Texas;

- four daughters

Sarah Ladell, born 18 July 1940 in Upshur, TX (4), died 7 Nov. 2007 in Dallas, Dallas, TX;
Wanda Lajean, born 10 Nov. 1942 in Upshur, TX (5), died Nov 7 2007, Dallas, TX;
Carolyn Sue;
Patricia Gay.

In 1959, the family moved to Dallas. I assume it was that year because in Dallas they lived at 8317 Greenmound Ave (7,8).  The house in which they lived was built in 1959.

Cora's husband Richard passed in DOA Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas on 22 May 1976. He was sixty-one years old when died from the cerebrovascular disease caused by hypertension (6).

I do not know where Richard worked when they moved from Upshur to Dallas.

Cora Belle lived about six years longer than her husband. She died on 25 July 1982 in Baylor Medical Center in Dallas due to complications after the bypass surgery she had gone through (7).

Cora and Richard were buried at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas, TX

Unfortunately, we do not have photographs of aunt Cora Belle and her immediate family.

Source:
1. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGP-RXQ : 12 March 2018), Cora Bell Mcintosh in entry for Richard Wayne Sigman, 21 Jul 1935; citing Ore City, Upshur, Texas, United States, certificate 59772, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,283,934.
2. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDMP-MJY : 5 December 2014), Cora Bell Mcintosh in entry for Billie Ray Sigman, 18 Dec 1937; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
3. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V842-Z8P : 5 December 2014), Cora Belle Mcintosh in entry for Kenneth Neal Sigman, 13 Nov 1943; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
4. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDGP-DFV : 1 January 2015), Cora Belle Mcintosh in entry for Sarah Ladell Sigman, 18 Jul 1940; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
5. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VD69-FWT : 1 January 2015), Cara Belle Mcintosh in entry for Wanda Lajean Sigman, 10 Nov 1942; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
6.  "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JVSB-QPF : 5 December 2014), Richard L Sigman, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing Department of State Health Services, Austin.
7.  "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JVX5-GTY : 5 December 2014), Cora Bell Sigman, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing Department of State Health Services, Austin.
8. findagrave.com

Photo:
Harrison County, Courthouse: By Renelibrary - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59746190

William Henry Harrison

Another post dedicated to one of the Presidents who are in our extended family tree.*
Mrs. Hanna Harrison Lee nee Ludwell connects us indirectly to Mr. William Henry Harrison.

Coat of arms of President William Henry Harrison - of the James River Harrisons

This family branch takes us from Virginia Colony to England and back to Virginia again.

William Henry Harrison (b. 9 Feb. 1773, Berkeley Plantation, Charles City, VA/d. 4 April 1841)

Inside the Berkeley Plantation house

⇒ his father Benjamin Harrison V - Governor of Virginia 1781/1784, Signer of the Declaration of Independence - (b. 5 April 1726, Berkeley Plantation, Charles City, VA/d. 24 April 1791, City Point, Charles City, VA)

⇒ his father Benjamin Harrison IV of the Landing (b. about 1695, Berkeley Hundred, Charles City County, Virginia/d. 12 July 1745, Berkeley Hundred, Charles City County, Virginia)

⇒ his father Benjamin Harrison III (b. 10 April 1673, Berkeley, Charles City, Virginia/d. 10 April 1710, Berkeley, Charles, VA)

⇒ his sister Hannah (Harrison) Ludwell (b. 15 Dec. 1678, Indian Fields, Surry, Virginia/d. 14 April 1731, Surry County, Virginia)

⇒ her daughter Hannah Harrison (Ludwell) Lee (5 Dec. 1701, Green Springs, Westmoreland, Virginia/d. 25 Jan. 1750, Stratford, Westmoreland, Virginia)

⇒ her husband Col. Thomas Lee of Stratford Hall (b. around 1690, Stratford, Westmoreland, Virginia/ d. 14 Nov. 1750, Stratford, Westmoreland, Virginia)

Stratford Hall built by Thomas Lee

⇒ his sister Ann Mary (Lee) Fitzhugh (b. 1683, Machodoc, Westmoreland County, Virginia/d. 12 Jan. 1732, Eagles Nest, King George, Virginia)

⇒ her husband William Fitzhugh II (b. about 1679, Eagles Nest, King George, Virginia/d. 1713, Ravensworth, Fairfax Co., VA)

⇒ his mother Sarah (Fitzhugh) Tucker (b. 2 August 1663, Stafford, Westmoreland, VA/ d. 1715, Eagles Nest, Stafford, Virginia)

⇒ her mother Rose (Allerton) Tucker (b. about 1633, Carleton Manor, Yorkshire, England/d. about 1712, Westmoreland, VA)

⇒ her son Robert Tucker (about 1652, Charles City County, VA/d. abt. 1704, Charles City, VA)

⇒ his son Robert Tucker Jr. (b. 10 May 1676, Charles City, VA/d 26 Sept. 1744, Amelia County, VA)

⇒ his son William Tucker Sr. (b. 1718, Prince George, VA/d. 19 March 1791, Powhatan, Virginia)

⇒ his son David Tucker (b. abt. 1762, Amelia County, VA)

⇒ his daughter Rachel Obelier Tucker Stimson - our great-great grandmother

*based on my MyHeritage research

Photos:
Coat of arms: By Glasshouse using elements by Sodacan - [1], CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46979140
Berkeley Plantation house: By Pi3.124 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50490807
Stratford Hall Plantation: By Westwoodking - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18082231

Update

In the above post, I missed President Benjamin Harrison who of course was related to William Henry Harrison. Here is the line:

Benjamin Harrison (b. 20 August 1833, North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio/d. 13 March 1901, Indianapolis, Indiana) lawyer and politician

⇒ his father John Scott Harrison (b. 4 Oct. 1803, Vincennes, Indiana/d. 25 May 1878, North Bend, Ohio) + wife Elizabeth Ramsey Irwin (b. 18 July 1810, Mercersburg, PA/d. 15 August 1850, North Bend, Ohio). They married on 12 August 1831 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

⇒ his father William Henry Harrison

Florra Winters Angel and Andrew Earl Wetsel

Florra Winters Angel, our 3rd cousin once removed, was born on 11 Dec. 1889 in Roanoke, Denton County, Texas. She was the fourth of the nine children of  James Monroe Anglea and Leanna Catharine Brock. Florra's father was a farmer.

When Florra was 21, she married Mr. Andrew Earl Wetsel, the son of Andrew Wetzel and Mary Ellen Dye. The ceremony took place in Plano, Collin County, TX on 27 September 1911.

Record Source:
"Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K615-L36 : accessed 17 October 2018), Earl Wetsel and Florra Angel, 27 Sep 1911, Marriage; citing Collin, Texas, United States, various county clerk offices, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Texas Dept. of State Health Services and Golightly-Payne-Coon Co.; FHL microfilm 1,289,603.

Andrew was born on 15 March 1885 in Plano as well. His great-grandfather Henry Wetzel came to Texas in February 1848. Henry owned a mill in McKinney, TX (1). Earl's grandfather Peter and his father Andrew came to Texas in 1873. They had a furniture business. Andrew Wetsel was the first Plano undertaker as well. Andrew, however, was a tailor and a merchant. He also provided laundry service to the citizens of Plano.

Clipping Source: The Plano Star-Courier (Plano, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 41, Ed. 1 Friday, November 22, 1918, newspaper, November 22, 1918; Plano, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth570543/: accessed October 19, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Collin County Genealogical Society. 

The first child of Earl and Florra's was born two years after their wedding. The girl was named Mary Kathryn. It is interesting that the birth certificate does not include the year - when the baby was born.

Mary K Wetzel
Texas Birth Certificates
Name: Mary K Wetzel
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 23 Sep
Event Place: Texas, United States
Gender: Female
Father's Name: Earl Wetzel
Mother's Name: Flora Angel

Record Source:
"Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X21Z-FZX : 9 March 2018), Earl Wetzel in entry for Mary K Wetzel, 23 Sep; citing, Texas, United States, certificate 46433, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,133,184.

James Earl Wetsel, the second child of Florra and Earl's was born four years later. In the birth certificate he appears as Jas, though.

Texas Birth Certificates
Name: Jas Earl Wetzel
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 08 Jul 1916
Event Place: Collin, Texas, United States
Gender: Male
Father's Name: Earl Wetzel
Mother's Name: Flora Angel
Record Source:
"Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2R7-2YH : 11 March 2018), Flora Angel in entry for Jas Earl Wetzel, 08 Jul 1916; citing , Collin, Texas, United States, certificate 26572, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,478,180.

The WW1 registration card informs that Andrew Earl was medium built. Besides, he was the man of medium height and he had blue eyes and light hair.

Andrew Earl Wetsel
United States World War I Draft Registration Cards
Name: Andrew Earl Wetsel
Event Type: Draft Registration
Event Date: 1917-1918
Event Place: Collin County no 1, Texas, United States
Gender: Male
Nationality: United States
Birth Date: 15 Apr 1885
Birthplace: United States
Record Source:
"United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXS-196 : 13 March 2018), Andrew Earl Wetsel, 1917-1918; citing Collin County no 1, Texas, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,952,339.

Census 1920 - Cousin Florra, her husband and two children lived in Plano, Collin, TX, Justice Precinct 5.

Name: Florrie Wetsel
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1920
Event Place: Justice Precinct 5, Collin, Texas, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race: White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Birth Year (Estimated): 1890
Birthplace: Texas
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Sheet Letter: B
Sheet Number: 2

Household

Earl Wetsel, Head, Male, age 34, born in Texas
Florrie Wetsel, Wife, Female. 30, b. Texas
Mary K Wetsel, Daughter, Female, 7, b. Texas
Jamie E Wetsel, Son, Male, 3, b. Texas

Record Source:
"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCMS-VVL : accessed 19 October 2018), Florrie Wetsel in household of Earl Wetsel, Justice Precinct 5, Collin, Texas, United States; citing ED 25, sheet 2B, line 80, family 48, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1789; FHL microfilm 1,821,789.

Census 1940 states that in that year, 23 year old James still lived with his parents in Plano (2). Two years later Andrew Earl's WW2 registration took place.

Record Source:
"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPR2-G2W : 14 October 2017), Andrew Earl Wetsel, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

In 1945, James - Florra and Earl's son was enlisted - he served in the Air Corps. I assume, he had also fought during WW2 since in 1945 was enlisted as the staff sergeant.

James E Wetsel
United States World War II Army Enlistment Records
Name: James E Wetsel
Name: WETSEL JAMES E
Event Type: Military Service
Event Date: 04 Nov 1945
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for Hawaiian Department
Event Place: Ft Sam Houston, Texas, United States
Race: White
Citizenship: Status citizen
Birth Year: 1916
Birthplace: TEXAS
Education: Level 4 years of high school
Civilian Occupation: Checkers
Marital Status: Married
Military Rank: Staff Sergeant
Army Branch: Air Corps
Army Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Source Reference National Guard in Federal Service, within 3 months of Discharge
Serial Number: 18006175
Affiliate ARC Identifier: 1263923
Box Film Number 02652.122

Record Source:
"United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K85K-TK1 : 5 December 2014), James E Wetsel, enlisted 04 Nov 1945, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

James Earl Wetsel served later in Korea. He was promoted Technical Sergeant.

Andrew Earl died in Terrell State Hospital where he had been for 163 days due to pyelonephritis. At the end of his life, he got bronchial pneumonia which he battled unsuccessfully for twelve days. Andrew Earl passed away on 29 Nov. 1959. Florra and Earl's family home was the at 1307 K Avenue, in Plano (3).

Andrew's wife and our cousin lived much longer till 6 January 1982 in Plano. I did not find any information on the circumstances of her death. Both Florra and her husband were buried at the Plano Mutual Cemetery.

Florra's great-grandfather Benjamin Thomas Gant and our great-great-grandfather Jacob Rippy Gant were brothers.


Source:

• 1. Smith, J. Frank. The Democrat (McKinney, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 18, 1904, newspaper, August 18, 1904; McKinney, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth291851/: accessed October 19, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Collin County Genealogical Society. 
• 2."United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWJ6-HMH : 14 March 2018), James E Wetsel in household of Earl A Wetsel, Plano, Justice Precinct 5, Collin, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 43-28, sheet 16A, line 34, family 336, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4009.
• 3. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K34X-GJT : 13 March 2018), Andrew Earl Wetsel, 27 Nov 1959; citing certificate number 63302, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,991.

Photo of the gravestones: mystic75074