Published: August 01, 2008 05:28 pm            

Kissin' Kin

Evlyn Broumley,Genealogy

Query 2008-15

I’m having trouble finding Joseph H. LITTLETON and his family in early Parker County. Records do show that the family was in Parker County before 1860 and Joseph is on the 1867 Voter’s List. The family is in a story about an Indian attack in 1872. I find Joseph on the 1880 census as a widower and the 1900 census with a new wife, Amelia. I cannot find them on the 1850, 1860 or 1870 censuses of Parker County, why? I need to verify the children’s names and the name of his first wife. Can anyone help with any record on the Joseph H. LITTLETON family?

Terry Littleton, sponsor of LITTLETON@rootsweb.com



Study state and county records

In trying to find families in the census records, you need to find out when county records begin. The above query shows that the person is not aware that Parker County did not become a county until 1855. There is no Federal census for the county in 1850, 1860 is the first census taken here. Due to the Indian raids, isolated cabins and no roads, many families were missed, particularly on the edges of a county. The LITTLETON family about lived at Springtown, which was first known as Littleton Springs. Courthouse fires also took a toll on county records, although deeds would have been re-recorded, some many years later, marriage licenses, probate and court records. Parker County’s fire of May 1874 destroyed the above records. Death and Birth records were not kept before 1900 in many states, mostly in the south. Check sources for records available in the area of your research.

From the past

Items from the Weatherford Democrat on Friday, August 1, 1930:

“On next Thursday, August 7, the old Settlers Association of Parker County will convene at Holland’s Lake. There has been one important addition to the program already announced. Chief Baldwin Parker and members of his family will be here. Parker is the son of Quanah and a grandson of Cynthia Ann Parker. There will be dinner on the ground from 12 to 2. T.H. Gatlin states that the Texas Old Fiddlers meeting will be held at Holland’s Lake on the 7th and 8th with programs given each night.

“There will be preaching at Brock Saturday night and Sunday beginning a revival meeting. Preaching will be at Peaster Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. and at Zion Hill Sunday night. Rev. W.R. Witherspoon will fill the Zion Hill appointment. Albert Smith will preach Sunday morning at the Chapel in Weatherford.

“R.B. Hood and Judge F.O. McKinsey have formed a partnership for the practice of law, civil and criminal in all courts. They will have offices in the Kuteman building in the same offices formerly occupied by Hood and Shadle.

“The Weatherford Church of Christ is to open a ten or twelve days gospel meeting at the Adell Store, under a large brush arbor. O.M. Reynolds of Weatherford will do the preaching and Albert Smith of Slaton will be in charge of the song services. The men just close a good ten days meeting at Dicey on Saturday.”

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Evlyn Broumley’s column, “Kissin’ Kin,” appears Sundays in the Lifestyles section. Send inquires to Evlyn Broumley, 3802 Lake Shore Drive, Weatherford, TX 76087 or email www.evlynbroum@prodigy.net.

        

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