I’ve been busy.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been logging some graves, doing some research, falling into happy accidents.
I’ve learned my mother’s ancestors didn’t make it to Texas from North Carolina in what I’d consider the “normal” fashion. Instead of a wagon, (according to the journals of one of the people on the trip) they took a flat bottom boat around the tip of Florida, up through the Gulf of Mexico, up the river, all the way to Texas.
As of last night, I think I have found the man we’ve been searching for this whole time. He went by the nickname of “Shader” and no one seemed to call him by his real first name. That makes trying to find a person pretty tricky. But I believe I’ve got him and more importantly — his wife. She is our link. Her name was Susan and now I have to find her.
On the other side, my Nannie’s folks, I know practically nothing. Stories my Granny has told me and things that Nannie shared with me when she was still living. I lived next door to her my whole life until she was moved to the nursing home and I feel so lucky that I was afforded the chance to spend that kind of time with her. Not many people get that with their great-grandmother.
This weekend I was back home and Granny drove me out to what had been the Garvin family farm (in Garvin County, but as far as we know we are not related to any of the Garvins that the county is named after). I had been there before, but it’s been years. Back when Uncle Erbie was alive and living on the farm. A distant relative still lives on the land so we didn’t drive all the way back to the house.
It was a perfect October day. The sky so blue and bright, Granny sharing stories from her mother’s childhood, just barely a breeze (a wonder for out here)…perfect.
There is a long way to go, but I feel like I’m finally on the right track.
Oklahoma girl through-and-through. Writer, aspiring domestic goddess and totalitarian dictator. Taking on the world one carb-induced coma at a time. Co-host of Picture Shows & Petticoats. 
Stopping by from SITS today. I enjoyed reading your thoughts and seeing your beautiful photos. You might be right about the Footloose sequel…love your background story.
Keep up the good work.
these are lovely photos! I hope you are enjoying your search, It is such a neat thing to do. One of my many future plans to really get to know my past and family history. I hope to do so sooner than later, to share with my son as he grows.
May I ask, how are you recording your data? i am at a loss as to how I will do this, I am thinking of some sort of wall feature, but am searching for ideas.
Thanks!
Have a lovely day!
*sigh* I want to do this same thing so badly. Was the relatives on your mom’s side related to my side or was it through her mom?
I really want to come up and meet you soon, to chat and just get to know you and talk family stuff and non-family stuff. Stupid temporary job…if I get a real job some day soon I can drive up for a weekend!
Misti, I actually read that about our Whitley relatives! Here: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/v/e/r/Patsy-D-Vernon/GENE16-0005.html#CHILD16
I have no idea if it’s accurate or not. Who can say nowadays. My dad doesn’t believe it. Oh well. I’ve heard wilder stories!
Just let me know! Maybe we could meet in Duncan (it’s a little further south and not as far for you to drive). Mom and I are going to check out the cemetery there soon and try to find her great-grandparents’ (our great-Grandma Minnie’s parents) graves. She can only remember visiting their graves once.
I’ve got so much I could share. I grew up with both Omega and Jewel (Minnie’s sisters) around a lot. Jewel treated us like grandchildren because hers weren’t around. She was a hoot. It was Omega’s son and daughter-in-law who brought my mother to live with them after her dad died.
These photos are beautiful! Good luck in your search. I know so little about my family on both sides, I wouldn’t even know where to begin! It’s hard when my kids have to do these family projects. On my dad’s side there’s nothing and my mom’s is quite limited.