USA > Arkansas > A pictorial history of Arkansas, from earliest times to the year 1890. A full and complete account, embracing the Indian tribes occupying the country; the early French and Spanish explorers and governors; the colonial period; the Louisiana purchase; the periods of the territory, the state, the civil war, and the subsequent period. Also, an extended history of each county in the order of formation, and of the principal cities and towns; together with biographical notices of distinguished and prominent citizens > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
763
764
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
the family mansion at the corner of Markham and Scott streets, which still stands, though much crowded upon by business houses. He was elected United States Senator, and served with ability and distinction from 1844 to 1848. He died at Washington City, April 29th, 1848, in the 57th year of his age, and is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery, in Little Rock. On the 4th of July, 1821, at Cape Girardeau, Mis- souri, he married Mary W. W. Elliott of that place, and came at once to Little Rock to reside. The members of his family attaining majority were two sons, William E. Ashley and Henry C. Ashley, and a daughter, Frances A., who became the wife of Rev. Andrew Freeman. The only male representative of the name now living is William Ashley, son of Henry C. Ashley.
One of the early settlers of the place was Major Isaac Watkins, who came from Shelbyville, Kentucky, with his family, in March, 1821. The town was then the merest col- lection of huts, and the only house he could find in which to stay was a log house, far out on the outskirts of the place, but near what is now the corner of Scott and Fourth streets.
When Major Watkins came, he brought with his family from Shelby county, Kentucky, a colored boy, ten or twelve years old, named John Logan, who, at the date of this writing (1890), is still living, aged 81 years, and who retains a vivid and distinct recollection of the incidents of that day. Logan's wife, who came to the place in 1833, is likewise living, aged 73 years.
Dr. Robert A. Watkins, son of Major Isaac Watkins, came in 1822, practiced medicine, and became a leading physician. He was the first Secretary of State, 1836.
Judge George C. Watkins was born at Shelbyville, Ken- tucky, November 25th, 1815, and came to Little Rock with his father, Major Isaac Watkins, in 1821. In youth he re- ceived a collegiate education, and graduated at the law school in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1837 he commenced the prac-
765
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC.
tice of law as a partner of Chester Ashley, and in the same year served as Secretary of State pro tem. In 1848 he was Attorney-General of the State, and in 1852 was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, which he resigned in 1854. He was at one time law partner of James M. Curran, and afterwards of George A. Gallagher, and then, about 1865, of U. M. Rose. He died at St. Louis, Missouri, December 7th, 1872, while on a journey to Colorado to recruit his declining health. He was twice married. In 1841 he married Mary Crease, daughter of John H. Crease, who died in 1855. Of this marriage were three sons, Anderson Watkins, Dr. Claiborne Watkins, and Walton Watkins, and a daughter, Mary. Of these only Dr. Claiborne Watkins is living. His second wife was Mrs. Sophia Curran, widow of James M. Curran, and daughter of Governor William S. Fulton. She died in 1865. Of this marriage were three daughters, Mrs. W. J. Turner, and Misses Georgie and Ida Watkins.
Anderson Watkins, his eldest son, entered the Confederate Army at the breaking out of the war as a private, in the Eighth Arkansas Regiment of Infantry. He was promoted until he became Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding the Regi- ment. He passed safely through eighteen battles, and was killed at the Battle of Atlanta, July 22d, 1864, while at the head of his command. He was in the 22d year of his age. After the close of the war, Judge Watkins caused his remains to be brought from the battle field, and interred in the family burying ground in Mount Holly Cemetery.
Claiborne Watkins, the second son, was born in Little Rock, March 2d, 1844. He was educated under private tutors until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the Confederate Army, and was a Captain in the Eleventh Arkansas Infantry, serving therein throughout the entire war. After the war he studied medicine, and graduated at the Jef- ferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, in March, 1868, and is now one of the most prominent and successful physicians in
766
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Little Rock. On the 26th day of June, 1873, he married, in St. Louis, Mo., Miss Millie Farley, of Mississippi. By this marriage there were five daughters.
Walton Watkins, the youngest of the sons, was also a gal- lant officer in the Confederate Army, with the rank of Cap- tain, in Hawthorn's Regiment, of Fagan's Brigade. He married Miss Sue Trezevant, daughter of Colonel John T. Trezevant, of Memphis, and died in 1885. Of this marriage there is one son, Anderson Watkins, named after the elder brother.
Charles P. Bertrand was a citizen in 1821. He was born in New York City, November 23d, 1808. From 1830 to 1835 he edited "The Advocate" newspaper. On the 28th of April, 1836, he married Mary H. Morris, at Frankfort, Ken- tucky, who is now living. He died August 27th, 1865. His name is represented by a son, Robert C. Bertrand, re- siding in Jefferson county.
Upon the removal of the seat of Governmet to the place in 1821, Robert Crittenden became a citizen of the place, and lived there until his death, in 1834.
In the same year, also, Bernard Smith, Register of the Land Office, settled at Little Rock. About 1824 he built the house at the southeast corner of Scott and Fourth streets, now occupied, as a family residence, by Dr. R. L. Dodge, though the house has been much modernized and improved since Mr. Smith built it. When built it was considered to be far out on the outskirts of the town.
Henry W. Conway became a resident of the place in 1821. He was Receiver of the Little Rock Land District; was ap- pointed Postmaster, October 17th, 1821, and from 1823 to 1827, the date of his death, was Delegate in Congress.
Judge Andrew Scott also came in the year 1821, remaining until 1829, when he moved up the river, and settled in what afterwards became Pope county. His son, Captain John R. Homer Scott, now an honored citizen of Pope county, studied law with his father in Little Rock, in 1828.
767
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC.
William E. Woodruff, Sr., became a resident of Little Rock in 1821, and lived there the remainder of his life. An extended sketch of him will be found in Chapter VI. The large family residence, which he built in the suburbs in 1854, is now occupied by his eldest son, Alden M. Woodruff.
Major William E. Woodruff, the second son, was born in Little Rock, June 8th, 1831. At the breaking out of the war he commanded a battery of artillery in the Confederate Army, known as "Woodruff's Battery," and was engaged in the battle of Oak Hill, and a number of other engagements. In connection with W. D. Blocher, he conducted the "Gazette" newspaper for several years, about the date 1872. In 1881 he was elected State Treasurer, and has been re-elected each term since. He married Miss Ruth Blocher, a sister of his former business partner. By this marriage there are two daughters and a son.
Thomas W. Newton came to the place in 1822, and re- mained until 1829, when he went to Shelby county, Ken- tucky, but returned about 1834, and lived there until his death, in 1853. His residence for a part of the time was on the opposite side of the river, where Argenta is. He was born at Alexandria, Virginia, January 18th, 1804, and came to the Post of Arkansas in 1818. He rode the mail from the Post to Little Rock from that time till 1822. He early secured the friendship of Robert Crittenden, and read law in his office and lived at his house. He was Deputy Clerk and Recorder, March 6th, 1822; was Deputy Postmaster under Henry W. Conway in 1823, and was appointed Postmaster August 23d, 1823, succeeding Mr. Conway the same year. Although being only 19 years of age, he was elected Secre- tary of the Legislative Council of the Territorial Legislature, and was again elected in 1825 and 1827. In 1828 he was Postmaster, but in 1829, on his removal to Kentucky, vacated the office, and was succeeded by Dr. John T. Fulton. After his return from Kentucky, he was Cashier of the Real Estate
ยท
768
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Bank; was United States Marshal in 1841, and Member of Congress in 1847, to fill the unexpired term of Archibald Yell, who resigned, to go to the Mexican War. Mr. Newton was a Whig, and was one of the leaders of his party. He was the only Whig who ever sat in Congress from the State. He died in New York City, September 22d, 1853, and is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock.
He was twice married. On the 14th of May, 1829, he married Miss Mary K. Allen, of Shelbyville, Kentucky, daughter of Colonel John Allen of that place. Of this marriage the children attaining majority were, General Robert C. Newton, Major Thomas W. Newton, and Mrs. Richard H. Johnson. His second marriage was to Amelia Cordell, of Missouri, who survives him.
General Robert Crittenden Newton was born in Little Rock, June 2d, 1840. At the age of thirteen he went to the Western Military Institute at Tennessee, and after remain- ing there a year returned home, and was placed under private tutors. He was Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, and also studied law at the same time. In 1860 he was admitted to the Bar by Chief Justice E. H. English, and began practice as a member of the firm of Pope & Newton. The war arising shortly after, he entered the Confederate Army, was Adjutant-General on the staff of General T. C. Hindman, and commanded a Regiment of Cavalry in the Trans-Missis- sippi Department. After the close of the war he formed a law partnership with Major George A. Gallagher, which con- tinued until the death of Major Gallagher, in 1878. In 1874 General Newton was appointed by Governor Elisha Baxter, Major-General of Militia, and as such he commanded the State forces in the Brooks and Baxter war. He died at Little Rock, June 5th, 1887, in the 48th year of his age. On the 24th of August, 1865, he married Miss Cassandra Reider, daughter of Jacob Reider. By this marriage there are two children : a daughter, Mrs. Frank Gibb, and a son, Robert Crittenden Newton.
:
769
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC.
Major Thomas Willoughby Newton, son of Hon. Thomas W. and Mary K. Newton, was born near Little Rock, on Friday, March 31st, 1843. He was educated under private tutors to 1859, at that date became a student of St. John's College to 1861, when the advent of the war closed that Institution. He was one of the expedition that captured Fort Smith, in 1861. He entered the Confederate service as Lieutenant in the "Toombs' Rifles" in 1861, was promoted to Captain of the same, known as Company "A," of the Third Confederate Regiment, Colonel John S. Marmaduke, commanding, in Hindman's Brigade and Hardee's Division. He served east of the Mississippi river, through the campaigns with Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and Braxton Bragg, until after the Kentucky campaign of 1862, when he was promoted to Major in the Adjutant-General's Department, and assigned to duty as Assistant-Adjutant and Inspector- General on the staff of General Marmaduke in the Trans- Mississippi Department, and served till the end of the war, with this cavalry command, surrendering at Shreveport, Louisiana, in May, 1865. He was Deputy Clerk and Re- corder of Pulaski county during part of 1866, 1867 and 1868 ; Secretary of the Constitutional Convention of 1874 ; Secretary of the State Senate in 1874 and 1875 ; Clerk of the House of Representatives in 1877, 1883 and 1885; Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Pulaski county for July, 1877 to October, 1882, and Postmaster at Little Rock from February Ist, 1886; the two last being offices which were filled by his father, Hon. Thomas W. Newton in his time. On the 25th of November, 1869, at Little Rock, he was married to Miss Amanda Reider, daughter of Jacob and Ann Reider.
William Cummins was a resident of 1824, practicing law. At one time he was a partner of Absolom Fowler, and at another, of Albert Pike. He was a Member of the Legislat- ure of 1835, and of the Constitutional Convention of 1836. 49
-
770
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
He was born near Louisville, Kentucky, June 11th, 1800, the eldest of a family of twelve. He was a brother of Mrs. Dr. Adams, of Little Rock; of Mrs. W. P. Ratcliffe, and of Ebenezer Cummins, a lawyer of high standing, eighteen years the junior of William. On the 18th of January, 1831, William Cummins married Miss Francine Notrebe, daughter of Frederick Notrebe, an early resident of the Post of Arkansas from 1816. One child was born of this marriage, a daughter, who became Mrs. E. C. Morton. William Cum- mins died in 1843, and is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery. His brother, Ebenezer Cummins, died in 1857.
Nicholas Peay emigrated from Shelbyville, Kentucky, and setttled in Little Rock in the summer of 1825. He purchased two keel-boats at Louisville, on which he shipped his family, household goods, provisions, two wagons and horses, and floated down the Ohio to the Mississippi, then down the latter to Montgomery's Point, on the mouth of the Arkansas river, and then poled and cordelled the boats to Arkansas Post, where he was forced by the low stage of water in the Arkansas river, there not being enough to admit of the boats being taken farther, to take the route overland through the prairie to Little Rock, which place he reached September 18th, 1825, having been nearly sixty days making the trip. There were only two settlements on the road: one in the prairie, and one about eighteen miles from Little Rock, being the residence of Samson Gray. Mr. Peay and family were entertained by Major Isaac Watkins, until the boats containing his household goods reached Little Rock, which was in the latter part of October. There were only nine families living in Little Rock at that time, and the population, all told, was not exceeding 150 persons. Major Peay rented a two-story frame building on Main street, at the north end of the Metropolitan Block, with some one-story frame buildings, and kept a hotel. In 1827 he bought six lots on Scott and Markham streets, where he kept a hotel, being associated
771
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC.
with Mr. John English, as Peay & English. This hotel was burned down, and in 1840 and 1841 a three-story brick hotel, called the Anthony House, which became known far and wide as the chief hotel in its day, was erected on the spot. It stood until 1876, when it was destroyed by fire.
Major Peay died in 1842, and his wife in 1846, leaving five children : Gordon Neill, John C., William Nicholas, Juliette and Sophonie Peay.
Gordon N. Peay married Miss Susan Crease, daughter of John H. and Jane P. Crease. There were born of this marriage two sons, Gordon and Nicholas Peay ; and four daughters, Mrs. Pat Morrison, Mrs. W. B. Worthen, Mrs. A. Bohl- inger, and Miss Cara Peay. He was a most careful, accurate and competent man of business. He was Clerk of the Pulaski Circuit Court for twelve years, and of the Pulaski Chancery Court a great number of years ; and was Receiver of assets of the Real Estate Bank from 1854 to 1868, and was for many years Master in Chancery.
John C. Peay married Miss Maggie Reyburn. Of this marriage were two sons and two daughters. In 1846 he went to the Mexican War as a Lieutenant, in Captain Albert Pike's company of cavalry. In 1852 to 1856 he was Sheriff of Pulaski county, and in 1859 had a wharf-boat at Napoleon with Will Warren Johnson.
William Nicholas Peay is at present a Justice of the Peace of Pulaski county. He is a widower, with one unmarried daughter.
Absolom Fowler became a resident of the place in 1825; coming at the time Major Nicholas Peay came. He engaged in the practice of law. He was an able lawyer, and was among those who were at the head of the Bar of that day. He, with William Cummins, represented Pulaski county in the Legislature of 1835, and in the Constitutional Convention of 1836. He was a candidate for Governor in 1836, but was defeated by James S. Conway. In 1840 he built, according
772
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
to plans of his own, the large brick house on east Sixth street, now occupied as a family residence by Major John D. Adams. He was a married man, but had no children.
Noah H. Badgett came to Little Rock from Columbia, Tennessee, in 1825 or 1826, and became a clerk in the store of John McLain. He married a step-daughter of McLain's, and became a partner in the store, under the name of Mc- Lain & Badgett, under which name the business was conducted for a number of years. He was born in 1808, and died August 9th, 1879. His wife died in the same year, only a short while before him, to wit : April 30th, 1879. He left three sons and two daughters. The sons were Otho O., O. K., and L. G. Badgett ; and the daughters are Mrs. Dr. R. B. King, of Ft. Smith, and Miss Fannie Badgett. Otho O. Badgett died at Bald Knob, Arkansas, September 13th, 1889.
Jesse B. Badgett, a brother to Noah H., resided at Little Rock for a time, but moved to Mound City, in what is now Marion county, where he has an only daughter now living.
William B. Badgett resided in Little Rock, and was Circuit Clerk from 1832 to 1835. At that date he enlisted in the Texas army, in the revolution against Mexico, and was never heard of afterwards.
Robert A. Calloway, Charles Fischer and Richard Fletcher came in 1825. Fletcher moved higher up, and established a toll-bridge at Point Remove, in Conway county.
Major Elias Rector was a resident of Little Rock from 1825 to 1837, when he moved to Fort Smith, where he died about 1879.
Mrs. Salina Brownfield King came to Little Rock with her father, Theron Brownfield, in 1826. She was born in Illi- nois in 1816, and was married to - - King in 1842. By this marriage there were three children, of whom only one, Mrs. Cullen G. Cribbs, now survives. On coming to Little Rock, her father built a home for his family at Cumberland and Fourth streets, and here Mrs. King resided until the time of her death, June 18th, 1889, a period of 63 years.
773
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC.
Peter T. Crutchfield moved to Arkansas in 1827, and settled at Little Rock. He was born in Bath county, Vir- ginia, August 18th, 1803. In 1834 he married, in Little Rock, Miss Elizabeth Field, daughter of William Field. From 1833 to 1840 he was Receiver of Public Moneys at Little Rock, was a Member of the Legislature in 1831, 1842 and 1846. He was Paymaster in the army in Mexico from 1847 to the establishment of peace; was again Receiver of Public Moneys at Little Rock from 1854, until his death, which occurred January 12th, 1861. He had one daughter, who was Mrs. N. B. Burrow.
Jacob Reider came to Little Rock May 18th, 1828, and conducted merchandising. About 1830 he built a one-story house, in which he kept a store, at the corner of Main and Markham streets, where the German Bank now is. In 1833 he married Ann McHenry, daughter of Archibald McHenry, of Pulaski county. Upon their marriage Mr. McHenry gave Mrs. Reider a two-story frame house on Louisiana street, near the corner of Second, built by Joseph Thornhill at some prior date, which still stands. Mrs. Reider lived in this house from that time until April, 1887, a period of fifty-five years, when she moved to a residence on Lincoln avenue, purchased from William B. Wait, where she now lives.
About the year 1828 or 1829, the five George brothers came from Germany, and settled at Little Rock. Their names were, Alexander, Loui, William, Martin and Henry George. Martin died not very long after his arrival, but the other four lived to advanced ages, and became prosperous and well-to-do citizens. William and Loui George were merchants, doing a good business. Alexander George was for a number of years before the war the lessee of the Arkansas State Penitentiary. His residence was a large brick house in the eastern part of the city, opposite the Little Rock Oil Mill, and now used as the Charity Hospital called the Little Rock Infirmary. Descendants of these brothers
774
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
are : Mrs. John Dudley Adams and Mrs. John R. Wherry, daughters of Alexander George; Henry George, merchant, of the firm of George & Fletcher, and Loui George, sons of Loui; and Martin George, son of Henry.
In 1832 William F. Pope, a nephew of Governor John Pope, settled in Little Rock, and is still a resident. He was Postmaster in 1859. His family consists of two sons, Dunbar H. Pope and Bertrand Pope, both residents of the place. He was born April 30th, 1814, in Bullock county, Kentucky.
Captain Reese Pritchard first came to Little Rock in 1832, engaged on the steamboat Little Rock. He ran the river until 1884 or 1885, when being disabled from breaking his leg by a fall on the ice, he was obliged to give up the busi- ness. He made his home there permanently about 1875, and has resided there ever since.
Judge Benjamin Johnson moved to Little Rock in 1833. He was born in Scott county, Kentucky, January 22d, 1784, son of Robert Johnson. He grew to manhood in Kentucky, and was Judge of the Lexington Circuit. On the 23d of Jan- uary, 1820, he was appointed by President Monroe, Judge of the Superior Court of Arkansas Territory, then recently formed, and in that year he emigrated to Arkansas, taking up his residence on a farm on the Arkansas river, a few miles below Little Rock. He lived there until 1833, when he moved to town, and in 1834 purchased Robert Crittenden's residence, on Seventh street, between Scott and Cumberland, which he occupied as a family residence. He remained on the Bench, by four successive appointments, until 1836, when the Territory became a State, and was then appointed United States District Judge, which position he held until his death. The appointments under which he held were : first, by Presi- dent Monroe, January 23d, 1820; second, by President Monroe, December 17th, 1824; third, by President John Quincy Adams, January 2d, 1829; fourth, by President
775
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC.
Jackson, and fifth, by Jackson, District Judge, June, 1836. He died at his home October 2d, 1849, in the 65th year of his age. In September, 1811, he married Miss Matilda Williams, in Kentucky. By this marriage there were two daughters and six sons. Three of the sons were residents of Little Rock, to wit: Colonel Robert W. Johnson, Richard H. and James B. Johnson.
Hon. Robert W. Johnson, the eldest son of Judge Benja- min Johnson, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, July 22d, 1814, and came to Arkansas when his father emigrated to the Territory in 1820. He was educated at the Indian Acad- emy, near Frankfort, Kentucky, in charge of his uncle, Richard M. Johnson, and at St. Joseph's College, in Bards- town, Kentucky, where he graduated in July, 1833. He then went to the Law School of Yale College, where he graduated in 1835, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Returning to Little Rock he formed a law partnership with Samuel H. Hempstead, the firm being Hempstead & John- son, and continued until 1847. In 1840 he was appointed by Governor Yell Prosecuting Attorney, and while in this office the office of Attorney-General was created by the Legislature, and its duties were devolved upon him ex-officio. He re- signed in 1842. In 1846 to 1848 and 1850 he was elected to
Congress. In 1853 he was appointed by Governor Conway to fill the unexpired term of Hon. Solon Borland as United States Senator, and was elected by the Legislature of 1854 for the full term of six years. At the expiration of his term, in 1861, the county was in the throes of a revolution. Upon the secession of the State he was elected to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, and upon the organiza- tion of the regular government was elected Senator, and served as such to the close of the war. In 1868 he moved to Washington City, and formed a law partnership with Albert Pike, which lasted until 1876. In April, 1878, he returned to Little Rock, and resumed the practice of law. He died at
776
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
his residence in Little Rock, July 26th, 1879, aged 65 years. He was twice married. On the 10th of March, 1839, at Louisville, Kentucky, he married Miss Sarah F. Smith, daughter of Dr. George W. Smith, of that city. By this marriage there were six children, of whom three now survive, two sons, Colonel Ben. S. Johnson and Francis John- son, and a daughter, Sallie Frances, who is Mrs. J. Cabell Breckinridge. Mrs. Robert W. Johnson died August 13th, 1862. On September 23d, 1863, he married Miss Laura Smith, a sister of his deceased wife, who survives him.
Benjamin S. Johnson, son of Robert W. Johnson, is a prominent lawyer of Little Rock, a member of the firm of Dodge & Johnson. On the 19th of December, 1878, he married Miss Lina Vandegrift, of Delaware. By this mar- riage there is one son, James Johnson.
Francis Johnson, the second living son of Robert W. Johnson, is a lawyer of Little Rock. He was born in Little Rock in 1847, and was raised in that place. He was edu- cated at Chapel Hill College, North Carolina, and at Yale College. In 1873 he married, at Little Rock, Miss May Cur- ran, daughter of James S. and Sophie (Fulton) Curran. By this marriage there are three children, two daughters and a son, Robert Johnson.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.