My father , who is 77 years old today, was impressed with my recent genealogy trip. He never knew the family came from Alabama, he always thought Texas. I explained the route they took so many years ago. From South Carolina, to Alabama and then to Texas.
My tree of Pickens goes from
Pickens
Patricia Ann
Hershel Harvey
Harvey Hershel
James Harvey
Harvey H
William H
Samuel
William
Israel
Robert Andrew
Andrew Picon
My dad….
Hershel Pickens Air Force Collage
Daddy and me Christmas 2011
Samuel Pickens, my 4th great-grandfather
I left on Thursday, August 9, 2012. I had planned my trip to go south, and to make stops at specific places along the way. My first stop after Montgomery , was Hayneville, Alabama. This is a very small town, but, everyone was so nice, and answered all my questions. I was looking for a marriage record for my 3rd great-grandparents that married there in February 1841. I knew it was a long shot, but, it was worth a try. No records were kept there. The young lady suggested the archives in Montgomery. She also recommended I visit the library across the street. I did, and there was a book on the History of Lowndes county. I searched through to find the main names of Pickens and Kirkpatrick. Many mentions of those names, but, not particular to those in which I was searching. However, it did mention that both names were prominent members of Little Sandy Ridge Presbyterian church, just south of there, near Fort Deposit. I did know already that Samuel Pickens was buried there, so off I went.
When I got back on Interstate 65, I saw that the town of Fort Deposit was west of the interstate and the church was east. I had time. I headed to the town of Fort Deposit. It too, was a small town, worn from the years, like Hayneville. But, it had character. Above the buildings that were abandoned, I saw spires. I followed them along a side street and saw a beautiful church. Fort Deposit United Methodist stood strong against the older structures that did not survive as well as she. I took some photos, and off I went again.
Letohatchee old grocery
The cemetery was easy to find. I just followed hwy 185 to hwy 79, headed south for a few minutes, and there it was. My goal was to take my own photo of Samuel’s headstone, and, hopefully find a few more relatives. Dead relatives that is. There were also several photo requests here as well, and wanted to help those looking for photos too. It was not too large, only about 500 burials. I started walking…..I saw large headstones with Pickens, these were not the ones. They were too new. I looked further back, and I saw some Kirkpatrick headstones. BAM!! There he was next to them. He married a Kirkpatrick, Eleanor Kirkpatrick, daughter of Valentine Kirkpatrick. There it was, I was excited! After I had seen all I could of my family, I proceeded to search for the requests. Then, I saw a car pull along the fence and turn around. It stopped at the main gate. An older gentleman got out, came into the cemetery, and introduced himself as Joseph Cates. And he knew all about this cemetery. In fact, later in the day, I would find he documented all he could about it in 1963. He spoke to descendants of those buried there, got stories and information on them. He put it all in a binder. Yep, he knew all about this cemetery. He asked me which names I was looking to find, and I told him. He helped me find some others, and told me of his family Cates.
He said he had something I would be interested in seeing if I had time. Not too far was an old homestead of Kirkpatrick. I told him I did have time. He went to get in the car with is wife Nancy. He could not get his car started, so I gave them a ride about 500 yards to their home.
” I live just down the road, I’m sorry to trouble you”. It was most assuredly no trouble to take them, he had helped me a great deal already. ” I live on the old Lloyd Pickens property”. WHAT????? Lloyd was the son of Samuel, and bother to my 3rd great-grandfather, William H. Pickens. I could not believe this. He was definitely the right person to come along. He then told me the homestead was only a mile or so down the road, if I would follow them. I did, and he stopped on the side of the road. I didn’t see anything at first. The, I got out, he pointed to a sign. And said, ” You take as long as you like, then I will tell you what I know”.
Valentine Kirkpatrick property
He remembered the old home, that had been gone several years. He described it as if it was still there. The area was know as Kirklville. I told him he made my day! We went back to the cemetery, because, I had one last photo request I could not locate. He got his book and told me where to look. He told me young people are never seen in cemeteries. They don’t appreciate it. This is one person, although, not exactly young, who can truly appreciate the history and reverence that should be given to our ancestors. I thanked him, he gave me his contact info, and I hope to be in touch with him.
A FEW YEARS AGO, MY MOTHER PUT DOWN ON PAPER, STORIES OF HER AND BROTHER ALBERT’S CHILDHOOD.
I am going to write these in her words. She has told me some of these stories, and some I am reading for the first time. My mother and family did not have much growing up in a small town, but, they did have loving parents, good times and stories that will endure.
It has been awhile since I posted anything else from  my mom’s stories she wrote. The last was finding her and grandmother in the 1940 census, along with the man who wold later become my mom’s father.
When we got older, Granddad ( Albert Ross Ewing ) would come pick us up. He had a 1931 Ford with a rumble seat. Al and I would sit back there. He would stop at Joe Guyton’s store, which was at the corner of 13th and Buffalo in Franklin,and he would buy us a candy bar. We never told Grandmother, and she never knew, or smelled it on us. On Saturday afternoon, he would take us back home. We didn’t go there a lot. Granddad always seemed to have a garden, and shared what he grew with us. Next to my grandparents home was a one room school that my mom  ( Blanch Ewing ) attended. My grandfather was very strict with the girls, but, no so much with the boys, Uncle Chuck, Wesley and Tom. They al lived in a small house with the three boys and five girls. It was on Congress Hill in the Sandycreek township. It happens to be that the very land they lived on while my grandmother was being raised, was the land all the male children divided to farm themselves. My Aunt Ruth and Uncle Tom lived in the old barn until they built a home of their own. And, he also farmed with a smaller garden, because, he had a regular job. The main road going there is Pone Lane to Congress Hill now there is a Ewing Lane….the name lives on in the land.
Albert Ross Ewing
Sandycreek township
Ethel Jones Ewing
Daddy’s father, lived in Canonsburg Pennsylvania. He was blind, and married to a lady that cooked food we didn’t like. This would be Charles W. Dean, on which I can’t find much information. He married Mary Vinton, that is about al the information that I have.  We did care a lot for our grandfather. One day our grandmother fried up Buckwheat pancakes and we did not like them. She told us if we didn’t eat them, we couldn’t go outside. When she left the room, uncle Frank came in and got the pancakes and fed them to the pigs. I bet they didn’t like them either. That was the longest week of our life Uncle Frank played the fiddle really good, which helped pass the time. Daddy had other relatives in Canonsburg too. Willard and his wife, McElheney and some others. I guess we went to visit on the bus. Daddy never drove, and we had no car. So, if we ever went on vacation, we would take the bus.
Dean family
I am currently trying to find the census records from this time frame now that the 1940 census is available. I have located a census from 1920 that have the McElheney family next door as well as the last name Cherry, I have heard this name mentioned before, Willard was a McElheney. I just found a Mary Vinton, in Warren county Pennsylvania. I have some family research that states bothe Mary and Charles W were born in Warren county. Now, to find him in a census. Mary Vinton’s father was Riley, it’s starting to add up ,right? I can’t tell you exactly who is who in the group photographs, only that they are Deans.
1920 , Cecil township, Washington county, Pa.
Still on the search for the rest so I can find siblings of Ruben, somewhere in Pennsylvania.
©FANNIESYOURAUNT
My parents, July 23, 1960. 52 years today. And Happy Anniversary to my in-laws, Mike and Mary Nelle Black, July 23, 1961. 51 years today.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST UNUSUAL FAMILY NAMES?
COUSINS.…ALTHOUGH THIS IS ONLY BY MARRIAGE
SNOW, ONCE AGAIN, MARRIAGE
GRAVES….MARRIAGE AGAIN, DOGGONEIT!!!!
BOONE…NOW THERE IS SOMETHING
MAYBERRY… MY FIFTH GREAT GRANDFATHER, G WÂ MAYBERRY
GROSS…MY FOURTH GREAT GRANDMOTHER, I THINK THEY WERE VERY CLEAN PEOPLE
MERRY….AN INCREDIBLY HAPPY FAMILY THAT MARRIED MCCALL
EVEN A SMITH IS IN THERE, ALL FAMILIES HAVE ONE I BET
AS YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE NOT FUNNY. ALL NAMES HAVE MEANING. LOOK UP THE MEANING OF YOUR SURNAME. IT IS QUITE INTERESTING.
PICKENS.……
The meaning of Pickens come may come from a profession, such as the name “Carpenter” which was given to woodworkers. Many of these profession-based family names might be a profession in another language. Because of this, it is essential to know the nationality of a name, and the languages used by its ancestors.
©FANNIESYOURAUNT
I have death certificates for several ancestors in Texas. I have several from Florida and Pennsylvania. Where do some of the tree makers on Ancestry get their family information? It seems some grab at twigs and branches just to try to make a tree!!!
It gets very frustrating when a leaf appears, and I look at the clue and there is no way this is the same person. Keep in mind, many names were similar. Family names were inherited through male and female. But, you need to look at ages, locations, siblings etc.
I try to compare at least three census records before I attach it. Then, I may also review the entire census in a community to verify other members of the same last name living there. Census records were not used in the same way they are today. Getting a name spelled correctly, well, it was phonetic. And you were lucky if the person had good handwriting at all.
1. Compare census records, from previous years
2. Look at family members in all the census records, siblings, initials, dates of birth ages, on the record itself
3. Look at the marriage status of individuals, M/WD/ S…and many times the persons who married lived near each other, check an earlier census
4. Follow locations…people did move, but, usually was from one state to another or around a county, they kept it local, no cars in the 1800’s. They travelled slowly.
5. Look at family members in the community
6. Use death records and family info to verify
7. Use cemetery details for facts on dates and family members buried locally
8. Use surname message boards and state/county sites as well.
1. Attach a record because the name is the same
2. Record without verification/ cross referencing facts
3. Assume there was only one marriage
4. Get lost in the trees that are posted
5. Copy a tree
For those of us who create a family tree, it is vital information is not taken without communication. It takes years to gather all we have. While we do not mind sharing, it is more fun to connect with the person. Who know, you may find long-lost cousins as I have. If you are an Ancestry.com member, you can easily email for facts, photos or hints.
I have had several mysteries in my family with misspellings of names. Manny, Mamie and Mollie….my hunch of Mamie was correct. I found the obit.
Lumy, Lumley, Lummie and Lumnia….follow the records, Lumley was right. Â I have the death record.
Good luck in your search, and I wish you all the answers.
©FANNIESYOURAUNT
During the years in Texas, my great-grandfather and his family lived in Valley View, Cooke county where my Papa Harvey H Pickens was born, Sanger Texas in Denton county and then to Purcell, McClain county Oklahoma.
Arkansas to Texas to Oklahoma
It seems they took a straight path to Oklahoma. Previous to this, Harvey H the g-g grandfather lived in Lamar Texas as well. I found them in the 1880 census there with wife and several children. Although, before they came to Texas, they were in Arkansas, a strange route to take. All I can figure is there was family in southern Texas. I have yet to find who that would be. They lived in both Bradley and Columbia counties Arkansas, which are closer to the northeast corner of Texas. Another mystery to solve. Ancestor William Pickens died in Bradley county Arkansas in 1860. No record in a cemetery though, at last I tried. Only the mortality index. Harvey H and Sarah F Smith must have married between the two counties in Arkansas during the years 1862-1865 . Their first child was born in 1865. I can find no marriage record online. Time to ask for some volunteers in Arkansas!!
I just received a death certificate in the mail. I had requested one of my great-grandmother, Alice Lindell Davidson Pickens. She is buried in Myrtle Hill cemetery , Tampa Florida. I had taken a trip to Tampa, several years ago, in hopes of finding her headstone. I knew she was in Myrtle Hill, I had found the record in the Plant City Archives. It is actually names for an aunt by marriage, Quintilla Geer Bruton. Located in the old Plant City high school, where my grandmother graduated in 1928…….sorry.
Alice Lindell Davidson Pickens
Anyway, when I was in Tampa, back in 2008, I visited the old house in which I grew up. Well, I drove by it, of course, it was not the same. Also, my grandparents old house, which was not a pale pink. I turned on the GPS to find Myrtle Hill cemetery. And I set out to find the headstone of my ancestor. It is a beautiful cemetery, large oaks with draping moss. Old on the left, new on the right. I chose old. I was not a cemetery expert at this time. I did not have a plot to go by, so I was driving, walking and looking around. At the north side of the cemetery is the mausoleum. Fifties design, and it looked very familiar. I got a rather weird deja vu feeling. The mausoleum did not seem unknown to me. I would later ask both my parents about this. I knew I had been there. The entrance was eerily familiar. A large headstone with the name ” Savage” was what stopped me in my tracks.Both my parents said they never took me there. I was not in attendance at my uncle Jimmy Pickens funeral, who is buried with his mother Alice. And they also told me that Nana would never have taken me there. Sometime later, a nice man volunteered to take a photo of Alice’s headstone, I was very close to it when I had visited. I found a plot of the cemetery later to confirm this.
Myrtle Hill cemetery entrance
So, now, I have another mystery to solve. On Alice’s death certificate, it lists her parents. Thank Goodness, my information was correct. But, it also has a last name of Cearley. I had seen this before. Texas is wonderful about posting death certificates on FamilySearch. I had found one on Alice’s mother, and it listed her name as Mary Lumley ( Davidson ) Cearley. This is a question, because, she is buried with her husband, Hiram Isaac Davidson. Now, I am off to see if there was indeed a marriage to a Cearley. Mary Lumley Sullivan Davidson is buried in Sanger cemetery, Denton county Texas.
Alice Lindell Davidson Pickens
Mary Lumley Sullivan Davidson Cearley
I think this is a mystery that can only be solved in Texas. Most of that side of the Pickens/ Davidson family lived in the northern part of Texas….in Denton, Cooke and Wichita counties.
©FANNIESYOURAUNT
These pics are from the collection of my grandmother, Blanche Ewing Dean.
Mystery Photos from Canonsburg Pa
Her husband, Ruben Dean had nine children from his first marriage to Violet Harkless.She died in 1930 and he had several children to raise, and one, a girl, he could not raise. She was only a few months old, this would be Rose. The other children, who were not with him in 1930 would be Charles and Mary Vera. Item of interest, right below Ruben and family is the millionaire Charles Miller  from Franklin Pa history. That is another story on its own.
I think a few of these pics may be of his children, at least the boys.
Dean Boys, Canonsburg Pa
Only one had writing on it, Charles W Dean. The young man in the lower left corner. He lived from 1910-1992.
MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPHS FROM BRUIN, BUTLER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
SISTERS?
THESE ARE FROM A COLLECTION WE BELIEVE ARE FROM THE AARON EWING FAMILY. PERHAPS LIZZIE EWING AND A SISTER. NO IDEA WHO THE PEOPLE ARE AT THE HOUSE . IN MAPPY MONDAY POST, I MENTIONED LIZZIE EWING. SHE LIVED IN BRUIN WITH A BROTHER. I HAVE SENT THESE PICS TO THE BUTLER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR HELP IN IDENTIFICATION.
MYSTERY HOUSE AND PEOPLE
It is always difficult for those of us who are so interested in Genealogy, those photos of people to whom we are related, but, have no writing on the back of the photos. These are all on postcards. There was an era from 1900-1920’s that these types of print were used.
FANNIES YOUR AUNT 