About Our Motto

Do you ever happen to feel small and/or unimportant? 

Think of this: There are no ordinary people in this world. 

Even if your name is not a famous one and it is only known to your neighbors (or not even known to them), and you are far from being wealthy - you are special and your being here is important. Everybody has their given purpose in life, even when we do not exactly picture what it is. Where you are at this point of your life is not accidental. We all are where we are needed, even though we may not realize why exactly. 

Some years ago, at a social occasion, a man asked me, "What do you do?". 

I did not mention my professional experience, hobbies, or various projects I was engaged in at that time. I just said, "I am a housewife". That I was, beside other things. It turned into a social observation - the man said nothing else to me. He quickly moved to another, more interesting/more meaningful object to talk to.

 

From my experience: I have noticed many people tend to associate/surround themselves with the "great and famous" only. Even if that fame is very much local, or a "great poet" has never published anything and is great in their mind at most (another example from real life). Such people are not attracted to so-called "nobodies". It is alright, though. Whatever resonates with others, does not have to resonate with you.

Once, while sitting in a waiting room, I noticed an elderly lady (possibly in her 80s or 90s). She was sitting opposite me, a bit to the left. The lady's daughter was accompanying her. I did not know who those women were. 

The elderly mother did not speak. Suddenly, to my amazement, I could feel her soul glowing around her. It was like an aura (11 or 12 inches wide) all around her body. The aura was outside of her, but at the same time, it was coming from her insight. No, I did not see it, I just sensed it. The lady's soul felt extremely beautiful as it radiated with pure love. It did quite move me. I tried not to stare, but I could only precept her soul while I was looking at the very person. When the time came I was to leave the waiting room, I could not help telling the women they were beautiful. 

Every person is a story and every life is full of stories.

We all may feel meaningless and helpless at times, but we are not. No one is a separate being. Our influence on the outside world, the way we affect others, the range of the ripple caused by our actions and words is bigger and more complex than we can comprehend.

All in all, every one is special - whether we realize it or not.

PS
Our thoughts and words are important. They carry energy most of us do not pay attention to. Our thoughts and words usually just come and go as we are more focused on the everyday life matters, situations we encounter. 

Have you ever thought that it might be the opposite - that our thoughts and words create those circumstances?

Since all we do, say, and share, both good and bad, comes back to us in one way or another, I am selfish enough not to wish anybody anything bad.

Let us live our lives the best we can, be kind to others, and spread good. For our own sake.

Synchronicities at The Museum

It has happened to us quite a few times - while watching a movie or when in a museum - the time on the clock in a certain place was the same as on our watches/ or our clock.

 

These pictures were taken at Fort McKavett in May, this year. In one of the barracks - an officer's family house - the clocks in the rooms showed the same time as our watches - when we were visiting each of the rooms.

The same was at the Pioneers' Museum not long ago, when we entered the rooms of a pioneer immigrant's house.

 My watch usually shows "more or less" time as I do not care much about setting it very precisely.

 

Some call it energy alignment, some may say it is an example of synchronicity. Others would say "weird or what?".

 

About Dreams

Do you happen to have vivid and/or weird dreams?

It is said that if you remember such a dream even after decades, it means it really happened.

Two examples of such vivid dreams here.

1. I had that dream in the 1990s. In the dream, it was 2021. There was a library at the top of a very tall building. I flew there and got to the music section. I thought I would check what they had on Led Zeppelin. I looked through the files - there was plenty of music data and information related to some strange ethnic bands whom I had never heard of, but nothing about Led Zeppelin. I couldn't believe it. I was astonished - no band names or singers I recognized.

Why did I think about Led Zeppelin in that dream? I do not know.

2. That dream came about 10 years later. I could see bright, white light all around me, and I was part of that light at the same time. I could feel total calmness, peace, joy, and happiness. It felt so very good, and I wanted it to last forever. 

I thought to myself, "I don't want to wake up".

At the very moment, I heard a voice said, "You have to".

And I did wake up at once. It was very disappointing. At least I felt like that - I was disappointed the dream ended.

In my dreams I happen to go through walls, fly to the outer space, create things and make them appear with the power of my mind. Once, I went back to the year 1917 and people there asked me who would win WW1. Then, still in the same dream, I moved to 1956 and was asked again what would the future bring. In both cases I answered "it is not for me to tell".

Another time, while watching a movie on TV,  I was able to put my hands through the television screen and take from the film set whatever I liked there. It was so cool. I wish I could do it all in real.

On the other hand, the dreams I like best are the ones when I am able to heal people and animals, or bring a dry and dead plant back to life, make it green again. It all - just with the touch of my hands.

W for Wojtek

 

In "My Polish Alphabet", the letter "W" is for Wojtek [voyteck].

• Who was Wojtek?

He was a soldier who served in the Polish Army during WW2.

 

• Why was Wojtek special/ different from other Polish soldiers?

He was a black bear who was part of the band of soldiers - he enjoyed companionship, smoking, drinking beer, but he also carried ammunition at Monte Cassino. For his achievements, Wojtek was commissioned to the rank of corporal. The bear was honorably discharged at the end of the war and lived in a zoo in Scotland afterwards.

More about Wojtek here:

BBC documentary

shorter version

Song tribute to Wojtek

---

---

"My Polish Alphabet" is about things, places, and people that come to my mind when I think about Poland.

Phillip R Goodbread & Family

Phillip R Goodbread was the son of John Goodbread and Mary Ledbetter. The latter is our direct ancestor, 5 X great-grandmother. Mary's first husband was John Bradley (our direct line) who died on 24 June 1778 in North Carolina. 36-year-old Mary was left with 4 sons below 10 years of age (Johnson, James, Isaac, and Edward), 1 girl, Polly, age 13, 3 sons age about 15/16 (George Walton, John, and Thomas) and another son, John Jr..

⚭ On 23 April 1779, Mary Ledbetter Bradley married Mr. John Goodbread (1) in Rutherford Township, Rutherford, North Carolina. The second spouse was about 11 years junior to Mary. He was born in about 1753 in Orange, NC, to Mr. Philippus Gutbrodt and his wife Mary Catherine Braun.

John and Mary's children were born:
Sarah - in abt 1780
Catherine Wharton - 1780
John Jr. - 1781
Thomas - 1782
🏠 The family lived in Rutheford, NC (2,3).

Phillip R Goodbread, born in about 1786,  was the youngest child of John and Mary's.

On ⚭ 19 December 1812 (4, 4.1), Phillip married Nancy Webb, his second wife, in Burke, NC.  

 

marriage license

 

Phillip R. had a son by the name of Joseph, who was born in about 1809 by Phillip's first wife (whose name is unknown). Later, Phillip and Nancy's children came to this world:

• Thomas - 1813
• Minerva Eliza - born in abt. 1815
• John - born in abt. 1718,
• Nancy Mathilda - 1820
• Sarah - 1821.

Nancy Webb Goodbread, Phillip's wife, died in 1823.

 

Phillip and children had moved to Alabama by 30 March 1830. On that day, Phillip's daughter Mary Louisa was born in Marengo, Alabama. Her mother was Mary (Polly) Hanson.

⚭ 4 July 1830, Phillip married Polly (5). I do not know why the lady's surname mentioned in the marriage record is given as Goodbread. An error, or perhaps, she had been married to another Goodbread man before? 

⚭ 26 January 1831 - Minerva Elisabeth, age about 16,  married Mr. Daniel Bird in Marengo, Alabama (6). Daniel was the son of Mr. Abraham Bird and Ms.  Sarah Gaines. He was about 6 years older than Miverva, and was born on 23 January 1809 in Telfair, Laurens County, Georgia.

marriage bond - Daniel Bird

marriage record - Minerva and Daniel

⚭ 27-year-old Thomas married Malinda Brewer on 27 May 1833 (7). Malinda was born in Marengo, Alabama, in abt 1810, to Matthew H Brerwer and Mary Hammond.

👉 Phillip, Polly and their child came to Texas in 1834. According to the records, at first, they most likely settled in Gonzales County.

His elder children came to Texas in later years.

⚭ Nancy Mathilda was married in abt 1840 to Creed Taylor (born 10 April 1820 in Giles Town, Shelby, Tennessee), the son of Josiah Taylor and  Hephzibeth Luker.

⚭ Sarah was married in abt 1838, in NC to Martin C West, born in 1814, in Walton, Georgia.

Joseph, the eldest son of Phillip's, married Susan Johanna E Todd (born in abt 1822 in Georgia). She was the daughter of William Henry Todd, Sr. and Martha "Patsey" Holder. Joseph met his tragic end in abt. 1840 in Shelby County, TX when he was shot to death in broad daylight. At the moment of his death, Joseph was unarmed. I will come back to it in another post as his death ignited a lethal conflict due to which other family members suffered as well.

👉 1840 - Phillip R Goodbread was listed among the land owners who did not pay taxes  to the Republic of Texas for the land in Gonzales County (8).

👉 Minerva Elizabeth had came with her family to Wilson County, TX by 25 Dec 1842. On that day, she gave birth to her son George Washington Bird.

👉 1845 - a piece of land granted to Phillip in Montgomery County.
👉 18 Nov 1845 the land patent of the land piece in Montgomery, originally granted to Phillip, was in the General Land Office "ready for delivery". It was announced in the Texas national Register from November until December (**) Did Phillip Goodbread collect the grant? I am not sure about what had occured as there are no records regarding his stay/taxes collected in Montgomery county. On the other hand, (among others) Phillip Goodbread was mentioned in the tax records in Grimes county.

👉 1846 - Phillip rendered 4428 acres in Grimes County. The land was worth $2, 214 (9).

👉 1847 - He still had 4428 acres of land in Grimes County, Texas (10).

👉 - Phillip Goodbread paid taxes in Addison, Dallas, TX, for 2 horses and 140 head of cattle. (11)

👉 1848 - Grimes County, TX  - Phillip had 4428 acres worth $2214 (12).

In the same year, John Goodbread, Phillip's son died. I do not know any details regarding John's departure.

More tax records in which Phillip Goodbread was listed:

👉 1849 - taxes calculated in Bexar, Bexar, TX - no land or property was mentioned (13).
👉 1849 - Gonzales, Gonzales - taxes for 1476 acres of land worth $370 (14),

👉 1849 - Bexar, Bexar County - Phillip paid $1 for poll tax (15).

👉 1849 - Phillip Goodbread paid taxes for 4428 acres in Grimes County, TX (16). At that time the land he had was only worth $1107.

🏡 4 September 1850 - Phillip (age 65), Polly (age 57),  Eliza (age 18), and Phillip West (age 9) lived in Walker County, Texas (17).

⚭ 27 July 1851 Louisa married Mr. John Douglas Gillespie in Bexar, Bexar County, TX (18). John was born in 1822, in Alabama, to George Gillespie and Mary Elizabeth McAdams.

👉 1852 - Phillip paid taxes for 5 horses and 100 head of cattle, 1 wagon and 50 hogs, in Bexar County, TX. John Gillespie, his son-in-law - in the same county - had 7 horses and 40 head of cattle (19).

👉 1853 - Phillip Goobread owned 4428 acres (value = $2200) Grimes County
Phillip Goodbread Jr (?) had 1476 acres (value = $740) in Gonzales County (20).
 

Later tax records regarding Phillip Goodbread:

👉 1855 - He had 1478 acres in Bexar (the land value was $2000) (21),

In 1856, Phillip Goodbread paid taxes for 1476 acres (worth $1500) in Guadalupe County, TX. He also had 18 horses, 610 head of cattle, 1 wagon, 125 hogs (22, 23).
1857 - the tax record mentioned 1428 acres in Grimes County owned by Phillip. The land estaimated value was $300 (24).
👉 1858 - 4498 acres of land, worth $3000, in Grimes County  (25),
👉 1858 - 400 acres of land (on Cibolo Stream) worth $600, originally granted to Morris May (26). In that year, Phillip' tax expenses also covered 400 acres in Bexar County. The land was originally granted to Morris May. He also ownedd 10 horses, 100 head of cattle (27).

 

 

⚭ 5 July 1859, Louisa remarried - her second spouse was Oliver Lightfoot (28).

🏡 12 July 1860 - Phillip (age 73) lived with the family of Oliver (age 32) and Mary S Lightfoot (age 27), and Cebillie (age 9) Gillespie in Wilson, Bexar, TX (29).


Thomas Goodbread had come to Texas by 1860. he settled in Guadalupe County (30)

👉 1861 - Phillip still had 4428 acres (worth $4428) in Grimes (31)

♦ 15 June 1867 - Nancy Matilda Goodbread Taylor, Phillip's daughter, passed at the age of 47 in Wilson, TX. She had came to Texas with her family in  about 1839.

♦ 22 Sept 1867 - another child of Phillip's - Minerva Elizabeth Goodbread Bird died in Montgomery/Wilson County, TX (32).


♦ Phillip R Goodbread passed in 1870, in Wilson, Bexar, TX.

**

Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 47, Ed. 1, Saturday, November 29, 1845, newspaper, November 29, 1845; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80141/: accessed April 23, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 49, Ed. 1, Wednesday, December 17, 1845, newspaper, December 17, 1845; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80143/: accessed April 23, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

Other Sources:

1."North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-2011 ", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21B-XX6Q : Sat Mar 09 10:30:02 UTC 2024), Entry for John Goodbread and Mary Bradly, 23 Apr 1779.
2. "United States, Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGS-HQX : Sat Jul 20 03:23:44 UTC 2024), Entry for Mary Goodbread, 1820.
3. "United States, Census, 1810", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL9-N3M : Fri Oct 04 20:09:31 UTC 2024), Entry for Mary Goodbread, 1810.
4. "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-2011 ", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q215-VYR8 : Thu Mar 07 03:33:24 UTC 2024), Entry for Phillip Goodbread and Nanny Weib, 19 Dec 1812.
4.1 "North Carolina, Marriages, 1759-1979", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29D-1H14 : 14 February 2020), Phillip Goodbread, 1812.
5. "Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ69-2XL : 13 February 2020), Polly Goodbread in entry for Philip Goodbread, 1830
6. "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZS-LMPQ : Tue Mar 05 04:46:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Daniel Bird and Minerva Goodbread, 26 Jan 1831.
7. "Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ69-LZB : 13 February 2020), Thomas Goodbread, 1833.
8.  Texas Centinel. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 28, Ed. 1, Thursday, June 17, 1841, newspaper, June 17, 1841; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80053/: accessed April 4, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
9. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QG-ZP7H : Wed Mar 06 09:36:34 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip Goodbread, 1846.
10. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QG-ZL1B : Sun Mar 10 16:56:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip Goodbread, 1847.
11. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8P-VHY5 : Sun Mar 10 17:16:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Phillip R Goodbread, 1847.
12. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QG-ZPN1 : Sun Mar 10 09:09:53 UTC 2024), Entry for Phillip Goodbread, 1848.
13. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMK-5JD : Sun Mar 10 22:31:23 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip R Goodbread, 1849.
14. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-BXQ9 : Sun Mar 10 12:58:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Phillip Goodbread, 1849.
15. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMK-5JD : Sun Mar 10 22:31:23 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip R Goodbread, 1849.
16. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QG-ZT7Z : Sun Mar 10 02:45:50 UTC 2024), Entry for Phillip Goodbread, 1849.
17. "United States, Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLP-4H3 : Sun Jan 12 19:44:56 UTC 2025), Entry for Phillip Goodbread and Polly Goodbread, 1850.
18. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL83-LY6 : Sat Mar 09 21:04:59 UTC 2024), Entry for John Gillespie and Louisa Goodbread, 22 Jul 1851.
19. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMK-B7H : Sun Mar 10 12:15:11 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip Goodbread, 1852.
20. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBM2-92Q : Wed Jan 15 21:53:27 UTC 2025), Entry for Phillip Goodbread, 1853.
21. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBM2-CGQ : Sun Mar 10 04:04:05 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip ? Goodbread, 1855.
22. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QG-D1N3 : Sun Mar 10 16:01:16 UTC 2024), Entry for P R Goodbread, 185
23. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QG-DB32 : Sat Mar 09 19:59:21 UTC 2024), Entry for P R Goodbread, 1856.
24. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBM2-VJ1 : Mon Jan 20 06:05:17 UTC 2025), Entry for Phillip Goodbread, 1857.
25. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBM2-ZG6 : Mon Jul 08 16:01:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Phillip Goodbread, 1858.
26. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBM2-CXY : Thu Mar 07 12:21:02 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip Goodbread, 1858.
27. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBM2-CXY : Thu Mar 07 12:21:02 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip Goodbread, 1858.
28. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6BH-1M6 : 22 January 2020), Mary Louise Gillespie in entry for Oliver Lightfoot, 1859.
29. "United States, Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXF1-WTC : Mon Jul 08 22:29:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Olivar Lightfoot and Mary S Lightfoot, 1860."United States, Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLP-4H3 : Sun Jan 12 19:44:56 UTC 2025), Entry for Phillip Goodbread and Polly Goodbread, 1850.
30. "United States, Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFL-7W2 : Mon Jul 08 22:51:30 UTC 2024), Entry for Tho Goodbread and Melinda Goodbread, 1860.
31. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QG-8H2M : Fri Mar 08 13:39:31 UTC 2024), Entry for Philip Goodbread, 1861.
32. "Find a Grave Index", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKN-SJG7 : Thu Apr 03 08:16:42 UTC 2025), Entry for Minerva Elizabeth Goodbread Bird, 1867.

Photos: August 2020

About What Other People Say

When I was about 20, I lived at my parents' home. One day, while walking home, my mom met a lady neighbor who lived downstairs from us. They talked for a while and mom mentioned me. The neighbor replied agitated, "It's not true, your daughter lives in ... (she gave the name of another city) and is studying there!"
Mom came back home and said, "You live in....".
I did not understand what she meant, so mom told me what had just happened. We both laughed. It was astonishing - the neighbors knew better what I was doing and where I lived. Better than my mom and myself.

A few years later, I laughed again when I learned that, according to gossipers, a boy who attended the school I was working at, was a son of mine. The reasoning on which the rumor was based tmade me laugh. Somehow, the blabbermouths believed that the boy's surname and my surname where the same. It was pure nonsense as the two names did not even look similar. The student's name was Lauterbach. My surname started and ended with different letters + a lot of other letters in the middle. What was the same only - both surnames were not of Polish origin. That was enough for some people to create such a silly conclusion that I was his mother. How senseless can people go? 

At the same school, there was also a co-teacher, a nice guy. He was a rather usual person - a respectable educator and member of the local community, a husband, and a father. Nothing special to talk about. However, the man had a hobby. On warm days, he enjoyed doing it in the broad daylight, sitting on his balcony, where everybody could see him. What did he do? It was nothing illegal or offensive, but different enough to make people talk about him. Well, the man liked crocheting. He lived in the school area so many could notice him on the balcony - crocheting.

"Weird" was the least what you could hear in people's comments. Did he mind them? No, he did not, just continued practicing his hobby.

It is a totally different matter, when a rumor, a story made up by gossip-mongers, is disturbing and unnerving, and not funny at all. How do you deal with that? How do you deal with talebearers who spread lies and whisper behind your back?

Talking to them seems pointless so I never did that. Sending them negative thoughts binds you to their negative energy and drags you down, which lowers your frequency at the same time. To avoid that, when such gossipers come to my mind, I bless them in my thoughts. It helps dissolve the gloomy feelings and frees the mind.

In conclusion to that, what other people say or do does not define me, just the opposite. It defines them.

 PS

Why some people spread untrue stories about others is another matter. Perhaps it makes the gossipers feel better about themselves? Seems quite pitiful to me.

Walter Little Jones, Archie Davis & Family

Walter Little Jones was born on 12 January 1850 in Fort Bend, Texas (1), to James Jones and Mary Jane Little. 

Walter's mother died soon and his father remarried. On ⚭ 31 January 1855 (2), James Jones married 16-year-old Miss Fannie (Frances) E. Hill. She was the daughter of Mr. John P. Hill. The young lady was born on 10 June 1839, in Louisiana. 

Walter's father James passed away about two years later.

On  ⚭ 20 September 1859, in Fort Bend, TX (3), Ms. Fannie Jones, the stepmother, married Mr. William O. Bohannon (born on 29 February 1832). The latter was a stock raiser. In 1860, the man paid taxes for 36 horses and 2500 head of cattle. He also owned 701 acres of land worth $2000  (4).

Walter started his own family at the age of 19. His wife was Ms. Virginia Smith, age about 15. The marriage ceremony took place on ⚭ 11 November 1869 in Richmond, Fort Bend, TX (5). Virginia was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Jefferson Smith and Julia Maria Lee Beale. Mr. T. J. Smith used to be  a sheriff of the Fort Bend County, he owned a hotel in Richmond, operated a local blacksmith shop, and livery as well.

🏠 July 1870 (6) -  Walter and his young wife lived with her parents and siblings (at Mr. and Mrs. Smith's home in Justice Precinct #4, Fort  Bend, TX). Walter was a stock raiser.

🏡15 October 1870 (7) - the young couple were registered at their household. The value of both their personal and real estate were given as $300 each. Walter's uncle William s James lived with his wife and children in the nearby house.

Soon, Walter and Virginia's son Alex was born (see below).

♦ Sadly, Virginia Smith Jones passed away.

⚭ 4 March 1874 (8) - Walter married Miss Archietta (Archie) Davis, who was the daughter of William Kinchen Davis and Eloniza Jane Pickens. Archie was about 7 years younger than Walter, she was born  on 15 June 1857 in Bend, San Saba County,  TX.

🔹 22 September 1875 their youngest daughter Jenetta was born in Richmond.

At that time, Walter operated the livery stable.

Clipping source: The Four Counties. (Richmond, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 25, 1875, newspaper, March 25, 1875; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181362/: accessed March 18, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

👉 1875 - The Brazos River flooded Richmond (*) - many  merchants lost their business places. How it affected Walter Little Jones I am not sure,

🔹 28 April 1877 - Hattie E. was born
August of the same year - Walter still owned the Livery Stable

Clipping source: The Fort Bend Flag. (Richmond, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 3, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 11, 1877, newspaper, August 11, 1877; Richmond, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181150/: accessed March 18, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

🔹 19 September1878 - another daughter, Abbie H, arrived.

 

By 1880, Walter had started a new business venture.

🏡 June 1880  - Census registered W. L. Jones (bar keeper, age 30), and his family in Richmond, ED 45, Fort Bend, TX (9). The names of Archie (age 21) and the children were  misspelled in the records - Aleck (Ellick - age 9), Jenny (age 4), Hattie (Hatty  - age 3), and Abbie (Abby - age 1).

 

🔹 12 December 1880 - Walter and Archie's son Thomas Harris Little Jones came to this world. Mourning came about a year later, when little baby Thomas died on ♦ 14 October 1881.

🔹 8 February 1882 -  William Eugene was born.

♦ 21 November 1883 - sad time again - little Abbie left this world.

🔹 22 October 1883 - new arrival in the family - another son, Joe A, was born.

August 1884

 

Clipping source: Walford, J. H. The Nation. (Richmond, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, August 8, 1884, newspaper, August 8, 1884; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181501/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 

👉 June 1885 - great fire in Richmond (possibly arson according to the news) destroyed many business holdings. Unfortunately, Walter Little Jones' bar place was affected as well.

 

Clippings source: Walford, J. H. Richmond Opinion. (Richmond, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 50, Ed. 1 Friday, June 26, 1885, newspaper, June 26, 1885; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth179343/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 

Not long after the fire, on 🔹 30 September 1885, Walter Little Junior was born.

♦ 20 November 1885 - Walter Little Jones (age 37)  passed away in Bend, San Saba, TX. Was his death related to the fire that happened a few months ago, I do not know.

 

Another death in the family came some time later.

♦ 11 November 1891 - Mr. William Kinchen Davis, Archie's father, passed away. 

 

Photograph Source: [William Kinchen Davis holding a cane], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8276/: accessed January 29, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

⚭ 18 July 1893 - 17-year-old Jenny married 3-year-older Mr. Toney Bernard  Wessendorff (10), born on 19 November 1872  in Richmond, to Anton Bernard Wessendorff and Anna Margaretha Johannah Janentzki.

Jennie Jones

Photograph source: [Jennie Jones (Wessendorff) wearing a white dress and a floral corsage], photograph, [1885..1910]; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8296/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park. 

 

Young T B Wessensdorff

 

Photograph source: Lorenz, C.O. [T.B. Wessendorff as a teenager.], photograph, 1888; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth369/: accessed March 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

 

⚭ 1 June 1898 - Hattie married her brother-in-law Thomas Alex Wessendorff (11), born on 19 October 1877.

 

Hattie Jones

Photograph source: [Photograph of Hattie Jones Wessendorff], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth8902/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting George Ranch Historical Park.

 

👉 After Walter's passing, Archie (age 49)  lived with her sons William (age 29), Joe (age 26)  and Walter Jr. (age 25) in Richmond, Justice Precinct # 1. William and Walter did odd jobs, Joe worked at a grocery store (12).

Mrs. Archie Davis and sons - Walter Little (kneeling), left - Joe, Bill holding a hat

Photograph source: Lorenz, C.O. [Archie Davis Jones and her sons.], photograph, 1892; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth483/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum. 

TB Wessendorff, Jennie Wessendorf, baby Lizzie, Walter Jones Jr.

Baby Lizzie - Elizabeth Weseendorf was born on 9 March 1894

 Photograph Source: [T.B. Wessendorff, Jennie Jones Wessendorff, Lizzie Wessendorff, etc.], photograph, 1895; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth392/: accessed March 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

Back row - from the left - TB Wessendorf, Jennie Wessendorff, Lizzie Wessendorff (standing), Archir Davis Jones, Welliam Eugene Jones, Lizzie Wessendorff, Walter Jone Jr., Joe A Jones.

Photograph source: [Group of people on the porch of a home.], photograph, 1895; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth342/: accessed March 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.+9

⚭ 10 July 1918 - William Eugene married miss Eugenia E Burges (13).

 

William Eugene Jones

Photograph source: [W.E. Jones on horseback. Man dressed in dark suit.], postcard, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth447/: accessed March 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum. 

 

 

 

Back row left: Mrs. Swinford, Lizzie Wessendorf, Jennetta Wessendorf, Mrs. Archietta Davis Jones, Jennie Jones Wessendorff,

Front row - Marguerite, Doris, and marie Wessendorf - photo taken in about 1910.

 

Lizzie Wessendorf was TB's sister. She was born on 6 November 1860.

 

Jennetta Wessendorf was born on 1 October 1896. Marguerite was born on 21 November 1901, Doris, was born on 21 November 1904, Marie was born on 15 April 1907.
 

Photograph source: [Mrs. Swinford, Lizzie Wessendorff, etc.], photograph, 1910; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth417/: accessed March 21, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

 

 👉 November 1918 - WW1 time - the Jones brothers were drafted.

 

 

Source: "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXH-5CW : Sat Nov 23 05:40:21 UTC 2024), Entry for William Eugene Jones, from 1917 to 1918.
 

Source: "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXH-5HH : Sat Nov 23 04:21:05 UTC 2024), Entry for Joe A Jones, from 1917 to 1918.
 

 

Source: "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXH-5CM : Fri Nov 22 18:03:57 UTC 2024), Entry for Walter Little Jones, from 1917 to 1918.
 

♦ Walter Little Jr.  passed about two years later, on 7 June 1920 (14). He lived 34 years, 8 months and 8 days.
Walter Jr., and his brother Joe had worked at a general store (15).

Hattie's husband Thomas was a bank cashier. He met his tragic end on ♦ 21 March 1923.

 

 

Clipping source: Bishop, C. M. The Giddings News. (Giddings, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, March 23, 1923, newspaper, March 23, 1923; Giddings, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1597458/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center.  

That must have been a devastating time for Mrs. Archie Jones. More was coming. Soon after that tragic death, on ♦ 6 April 1923 another child of hers, Joe A, died at the age of 39 (16).
Three years later, on ♦ 20 September 1926 - Jenny, the eldest daughter of Archie and Walter's  died in the Houston Hospital due to TB (17).

T. B. Wessendorff's residence

 

Photograph source: [T.B. Wessendorff Residence, Richmond, Texas, 1901.], photograph, 1901; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth362/: accessed March 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend Museum.

Another death came on ♦ 13 January 1930. Toney, Jenny's husband died suddenly at the age of 57. He had been a merchant.

 

 

Clipping source: Bishop, C. M. The Giddings News. (Giddings, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, March 23, 1923, newspaper, March 23, 1923; Giddings, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1597458/: accessed March 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center.

👉 After Thomas Alex Wessendorff's passing, Mrs. Archie Jones (age 76) lived with her 52-year-old daughter Hattie (18).

♦ 7 May 1930 - Walter Little Jones Sr.'s wife Archie Davis Jones finished her life journey (19) which was full of suffering. Among others, Archie's husband and six of her seven children proceeded her in death. Archie Davis Jones lived 72 years 10 months 23 days.

 

Mrs. Archie Davis Jones' house

Photograph source: [Home of Archie D. Jones 3], photograph, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth610828/: accessed March 22, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fort Bend County Libraries.

 

The last one of Mrs. Archie's children was William Eugene Jones.

He was registered by the Army in 1942 (20).

 W. E. Jones passed on 7 November 1954 in Seguin, Guadalupe, TX (21).

 

To be continued...

Sources:
findagrave.com
familysearch.org

1. "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2Z-DJG1 : 15 December 2021), Walter Little Jones, ; Burial, Richmond, Fort Bend, Texas, United States of America, Morton Cemetery; citing record ID 62521336, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

 2. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MJ-T9N : 22 January 2020), James Jones, 1855.

3. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MJ-TSV : 22 January 2020), William O. Bohannon, 1859.
4. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-6GFD : Sun Mar 10 00:02:39 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Bohannon, 1860.
5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLD5-CJR : Sun Mar 10 16:54:40 UTC 2024), Entry for Walter Jones and Virginia Smith, 11 Nov 1869.
6. "United States, Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGY-BG7 : Sat Jan 18 07:57:07 UTC 2025), Entry for Thomas J Smith and Julia L Smith, 1870.
7. ""United States, Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGY-5ZH : Tue Jan 21 05:21:39 UTC 2025), Entry for Walter Jones and Virginia Jones, 1870.
8. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZB-S7SW : Wed Jul 31 23:38:27 UTC 2024), Entry for Walter L Jones and Archie Davis, 04 Mar 1874.
9. "United States, Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNC-H1Y : Sat Jan 11 18:45:09 UTC 2025), Entry for W.L. Jones and Archey Jones, 1880.
(* )https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1695/History-of-Fort-Bend-County
10. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXSR-6XK : 22 January 2020), Jennie Jones in entry for T. B. Wessendoff, 1893.
11. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXSR-J57 : 22 January 2020), Hattie E. Jones in entry for Thomas A. Wessendorff, 1898.
12. "United States, Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2MB-HVG : Sun Mar 10 16:41:38 UTC 2024), Entry for Archie Jones and William Jones, 1910.
13. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZB-SZW1 : Wed Jul 31 23:39:17 UTC 2024), Entry for W E Jones and Eugenia E Burges, 10 Jul 1918.
14. "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2Z-DJPM : 7 November 2023), Walter L Jones, ; Burial, Richmond, Fort Bend, Texas, United States of America, Morton Cemetery; citing record ID 62521337, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
15. "United States, Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC9C-CYM : Wed Jan 15 13:29:10 UTC 2025), Entry for Archie Jones and Joe A Jones, 1920.
16. "BillionGraves Index", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYWW-T65 : Wed Feb 26 01:23:06 UTC 2025), Entry for Joe A Jones.
17. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K37G-3JS : Thu Jul 18 19:19:11 UTC 2024), Entry for Jenny Ryan Wessendorf and Walter Jones, 24 Sep 1926.
18. "United States, Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HTFW-4PZ : Sun Mar 10 19:04:35 UTC 2024), Entry for Archie Jones and Hattie E Wessendorff, 1930.

 9. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K335-CY7 : Thu Jul 18 15:16:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Archie Jones and W K Davis, 7 May 1930.  

 20. "United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPV6-VP2 : Fri Feb 14 12:02:43 UTC 2025), Entry for William Eugene Jones, 1942.

 21. "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZJQ-6K2 : Tue Feb 25 03:55:18 UTC 2025), Entry for William Eugene Jones, 07 Nov 1954.