USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 27
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 27
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 27
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 27
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 27
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 27
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
John S. Smith was reared on a farm in western Tennessee, and remained under the
607
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
parental roof until 1851. In that year he came to Texas, spent the first year in school at Brenham, and since that time had resided in Bastrop county. He has bought and sold large tracts of land, but still owns five farms, consisting of 1,500 acres, 600 acres of which is under cultivation. Mr. Smith also owns a store building in Elgin. In 1861 he entered the Confederate army, but soon afterward hired a substitute for eighteen months. The rules of the ariny made all substitutes serve for themselves, and he was again obliged to enter the army, after which lie was engaged principally in driving beef cattle.
In 1852 Mr. Smith married Miss Sarah B., a daughter of Thomas Christian, a native of Virginia. He subsequently moved to Illi- nois, and in 1832 came to Texas. . He was the first man killed by the Indians on Colo- rado river, while out with a surveying party. A Mr. Wilbarger was shot and scalped at the same time, and left for dead, but he after- wards recovered. Mr. Christian was an enterprising pioneer, and received a claim to a league of land where Elgin is now located. He was living on the Colorado river, near where Bastrop now stands, at the time of his death, having never moved to his claimn. After his death his widow, with five children, located on the claim, but the Indians and Mexicans soon afterward invaded the country, and she crossed the Sabine river with the other settlers. She was twice obliged to leave her home for safety, and her deatlı oc- curred in this county in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Christian had five children: Ann E., deceased, was the wife of P. Borden; John, who engaged in fighting the Indians when about ten years old, was in many battles and finally died in Columbus, Texas; Nancy, wife of Thomas II. Gatlin; Jane, now Mrs. J. E.
Tisdal; and Sarah B., married Mr. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had seven children: Alice, wife of P. P. Woods; Ann W., who married A. J. Brooks; James B., a farmer and stock raiser of New Mexico; Hiram B., a merchant of Elgin; W. A., a partner in business with his brother; Mary R., wife of R. L. Sloop; and Nancy F., at home. The wife and mother died March 30, 1872. In 1877, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Garret, widow of Judge Garret and a daughter of Dr. Bar- bee. The latter was a native of Kentucky, but came to Williamson connty, Texas, in an early day, where he practiced his profession many years. Mrs. Smith was well educated, and was an assistant teacher in the high school at Salado, Texas. By her first mar- riage she liad one son, Clide B. Garret, wlio was raised by Mr. Smith, and is now attend- ing Vanderbilt University, of Tennessee. He is a licensed Methodist minister. Mr. Smith is identified with the Democratic party, is a Royal Arch Mason and Master of Elgin Lodge, and has been a member of the Methodist Church for thirty-eight years, of which his wife is also a member.
M F. MAGEE, one of the representa- tive farmers of Williamson county, was born in Yalobusha county, Mis- sissippi, December 2, 1837, a son of James and Edna (Dawson) Magee. The father was a son of Patrick Magee, who came from Ireland to the then Territory of Mis- souri, where he followed agricultural pursuits. James Magee was born in that State, and married there, moving with his widowed mother to Tennessee, and thenec to Missis- sippi, where he died in 1864. James Ma- gee's widow, now ninety-two years of age, resides with a daughter in Caldwell county,
608
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Magee were the par- ents of twelve children, viz .: Patriek, who came to Texas in 1870, and is now a farmer of Caldwell county; Samuel, who came to this State in the same year and resides in the same county as his brother; Elbert came to Texas in 1869 and now resides in Hardeman county; C. W., deceased in Mississippi in 1859; Jolin D., who eame to this State in 1859 and died in 1863; M. F., onr subject; Riley eame to Williamson county, Texas, in 1858, and died in 1873; Marion, who eame to this State two different times, and now lives in Mississippi; Joe came in 1870 and resides in Lockhart, Caldwell county; Mattie, wife of Joe Smithi, also of Lockhart; Laverna, widow of Joe Shin, and a resident of Cald- well.county; and Robert, who came to Texas with his brother in 1869, locating in this .county, died in 1890. Eight of the sons served through the late war, and only one re- ceived a slight wound.
M. F. Magee, the subject of this sketelı, purchased a farm in 1857, where he remained until 1861. In that year he enlisted in Com- pany C, First Mississippi Regiment, was con- signed to the Army of the Tennessee, Van- dorn's brigade, after whose deatlı Mr. Magee served under Jackson, and afterward under Hood. Mr. Magee took part in all tlie promi- nent battles, serving until the elose of the struggle, and was never wounded or captured. He was in Mississippi at the time of the snr- render. After returning home he found his farm in a neglected state, but he at once be- gan its improvement, and in 1868 sold his land and came to Texas. Mr. Magee imme- diately pureliased his present farm in Will- iamson county, which was then all raw land. He now owns 200 acres, 150 of which are in a fine state of cultivation, and most of which he rents.
Angust 2, 1857, when eighteen years of age, Mr. Magee was married to Sarah A. Porter, dangliter of Jesse A. Porter, a native of Tennessee, but who died in Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. Magee had five children: Anna, wife of M. Bolden, a farmer of Williamson connty; J. W., a farmer and Treasurer of Ford connty, Texas; Alice, wife of George Payne, of Taylor, this State; William F., a merehant of Georgetown; and Luey, wife of Charley Cook, a farmer of Williamson county. Mrs. Magee died March 24, 1871, having been a consistent member of the Methodist Church. October 14, 1880, Mr. Magee mar- ried Miss S. D. McDaniel, who was born in Alabama, November 12, 1860, a daughter of David and Eliza (Bryan) McDaniel, also na- tives of that State. Her father, a physician by profession, died Marel 15, 1882. Her mother afterward married J. H. Gray, and slie now resides in this eounty. Mrs. Magec came to Texas in 1872. Our subject and wife have had four children: Birdy, born August 14, 1881; Sally, July 26, 1883; Etliel, November 27, 1886; and Minnie, June 27, 1888.
Mr. Magee was formerly a Democrat, but is now a third-party man. Socially. he is a member of the Alliance, and, religiously, both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
AMES A. WOOD, an enterprising and snecessful eitizen of Bastrop eounty, was born in Travis county. Texas, April 9, 1850, a son of William and Louisa (Glover) Wood, natives of Alabama. The parents came to Texas in 1849, rented land at Weberville, Travis conty, a few years, and then purchased a farm, and afterward
609
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
sold that place, and bought the land where our subject now resides. IIe died in 1876, at the age of fifty-six years, and his wife still lives at the old homestead, aged sixty- eight years. Both were consistent members of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity: William, a farmer of Bastrop connty; Jack, also engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county; James A., our subject; Molley, at home; Thomas, deceased at the age of thirty years; Elledge, a farmer of Bastrop county; Fanny, wife of J. C. Chapman, of this county: Charles, deceased; and Janie, deceased.
James A. Wood, the subject of this sketch, remained under the parental roof until twenty-seven years of age, and he then began farming his interest in the home place. In 1888 he purchased a farm on the Colorado river, and he now owns 262 acres, 150 acres under a fine state of cultivation. His land is located in the Colorado valley, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He now has about 150 steers. In 1887 Mr. Wood established a postoffice at McDuff, of which he was appointed Postmaster. In 1882 he opened a general mercantile store on his farm, which he conducted successfully twelve years, but in November, 1892, both the store and post office werc burned. He carried but a small insurance. In 1888 Mr. Wood erected a steam gin; in 1892 built another in a different neighborhood, and dur- ing the present year will make about 1,500 bales of cotton. In 1892 he embarked in the drug business, and the postoffice is now located in his store building.
November 14, 1878, Mr. Wood was nnited in marriage to Miss Martha Rivers, who was born in this State, June 1, 1857, a daughter
of William Rivers. The latter came to Bas- trop county, Texas, in 1853, where he served as a Methodist minister many years. He died in 1878, and his wife also departed this life the same year. They were the parents of seven children: Sally, wife of J. I. McGinis; W. II., engaged in the banking business at Elgin; Mattie, wife of our subject; Molley, now Mrs. W. O. Strans; Emma, wife of Samuel Manor; Joc, of Elgin; and Ida, wife of H. Y. Allen: Mr. and Mrs. Wood have had five children: Elledge, Charles, Lester, Raleigh, and Bremond. Mr. Wood affiliates with the Democratic party, and socially is a member of the Knights of Honor. Both he and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In 1887 Mr. Wood was a delegate to a convention at Mexico, to assist in building a church. He helped dedicate the first Missionary Baptist Church in Mexico.
S ILAS VICKERS, a farmer of Will- iamson county, is a son of James and Elizabeth (Sanders) Vickers, of Ger- man descent. The family located in Virginia in a very early day, and later settled in North Carolina, where the grandfather of our sub- ject, Benjamin Vickers, was born and raised. He joined the army during the Indian tronbles, in the Northwest Territory, under Mad Anthony Wayne,' and was wounded during his service. While on an expedition into Canada he met and married Henrietta Robinson. When their sou, James, was nine years of age they moved to Logan county, Ohio. James Vickers was born iu 1804, was reared to manhood in Logan county, Ohio, and was there married about 1827. In 1838 they removed to Perry county, Illinois, and nine years afterward came to
610
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Caldwell county, Texas. In 1856 they went to California, where the father was killed by a rolling log in 1869, and the maternal grand- father of our subject was killed by a falling house. Mr. Vickers was a man of good business judgment, a member of the Method- ist Church, and a devoted Christian. The Sanders family removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. James Vickers had three children: Silas, our subject; Caleb B., who was a resident of Mexico when last heard from; and Caroline, wife of W. J. Slaughter, of Frio county, Texas. The mother died in 1850.
Silas Vickers was born in Logan county, Ohio, March 21, 1828, and in 1845 came with his parents to Texas. In 1857 he moved from Caldwell county to Williamson county, and in 1868 located on his present farm of 385 acres, fifty acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation. The land lies on the North Gabriel, ten miles west of Georgetown. At the opening of the late war Mr. Vickers enlisted in Company A, Thir- tieth Texas Cavalry, and served three years in the Trans-Mississippi Department. He was engaged principally in scouting service. After returning from the war he found his stock gone, and was obliging to begin life anew. He takes no active part in politics, but principally votes with the Democratic party.
August 14, 1851, in Lockhart, Caldwell county, Texas, Mr. Vickers was united in marriage to Mary J. Netherlin, who was born and raised in Mississippi. She came with her parents to Texas in 1848. To this union have been born fourteen children, as follows: Elizabeth, wife of G. G. Anderson, of Williamson county; Louisa, wife of Jehu Lockhart, of the same neighborhood; Liddie, deceased; Charles and James, of Williamson
connty; John F., deceased; Burnetta J., wife of G. H. Fore, of Williamson county; R. E. L. and Lewis C., also of this county; Sarah C., wife of G. W. Phipps, of Fisher county; and W. S., S. J., G. G., and C. E., at home. Mrs. Viekers is a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church.
A H. CARTER, business manager of the mercantile firm of W. H. Carter & Company, Elgin, was born in Mar- shall county, Alabama, April 5, 1848, a son of N. J. Carter. The latter was a plain, unpretentious farmer, took no leading part in politics or religion, but stood high in his community as an upright and honorable gen- tleman. He served as Justice of the Peace a number of years, and also held other minor offices. His death occurred November 10, 1881. Mr. Carter was twice married, and by the first union there were two sons, both of whom lost their lives in the late war. By his second marriage he had eleven children, all of whom reside in Texas: L. B., A. H., C. M., C. H., G. N., J. C., T. N., J. W., J. L., Sally and Kate. The mother still survives, and is a consistent member of the Methodist Church.
A. H. Carter, the subject of this sketch, at- tended the common schools for a time, and then spent two terms in the high school. Af- ter completing his education he taught school until 1871, when he came to Texas. He as- sisted in building the railroad bridges to Anstin, and then rented 100 aeres of land, where he farmed on the shares. His first year's profits were eight bales of cotton, for which he received 14g cents a pound, and 1,400 bushels of corn, selling the latter for $100. Mr. Carter tanglit school the follow-
611
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
ing winter, and he then sent for his father and family, and when the latter arrived in this State he had only $50 in money. The father and sons rented land two years, and then pureliased a small place. After the fam- ily became settled, our subject again began operations for himself, and took charge of the farm he had first rented, where he re- mained twelve years. At that time he had acenmnlated $2,000, and then he bought a small tract of land for $350. His wife's health then failed, and they went to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where she afterward died. His money was then exhausted, and he sub- sequently took his old position as superin- tendent of the farm, where he remained two years, taught a country school one year, had charge of the Elgin school one term, and in June, 1886, entered the employment of W. HI. Rivers, as a clerk in his mercantile store. His ability as a clerk was appreciated, and liis wages were increased from time to time. In January, 1892, Mr. Rivers changed his occu- pation from a merchant to banker, and, with others, Mr. Carter purchased the business. Ile is now one-third owner and business manager of the establishment, and is the lead- ing man in all branches of the business. During this season he purchased over 4,700 bales of cotton, and the firm carry a $20,000 stock of goods, and their annual sales amount to $100,000. Five clerks, one book- keeper and two proprietors are kept busy in looking after the business. Mr. Carter is al- so a one-third owner in a large briek block in this city, and has a handsome and commno- dious residence.
In 1875 our subject was united in mar- riage withi Miss Clink, a daughter of Persly A. and Sarah J. George, natives of Tennes- see. The parents eame to Texas first in 1836, and again in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Carter had
one child, Robert L., now twelve years of age. The wife and mother died at Enreka Springs, Arkansas, July 22, 1881, and Angust 27, 1884, Mr. Carter married Miss Ida Brooks, a daughter of Rev. C. HI. Brooks, Presiding Elder of the Methodist Church in Austin district, Texas Conference. To this union have been born five children: Calvin B., Sid- ney E., Alford II., Leonodus R. and James Lewis. Mr. Carter gives his entire attention to his business interests, takes no leading part in politics, supports the Democratie ticket, and is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and the Knights of Honor. Both he and his wife are member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the former is Super- intendent of the Sunday-school.
US H. JONES, the leading lumber dealer of Elgin, was born in Decatur, Morgan county, Alabama, May 28, 1841, a son of Rev. William and Cynthia (Reece) Jones, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. The father was a son of Abediah Jones, a native of Scotland, who subsequently located in Kentucky. Rev. William Jones served as a Methodist minister for forty-two years, and was also a noted surveyor of Kentucky and Tennessee. Jonesborough, in the latter State, was named in his honor. His death occurred in Fayette county, Texas, in 1851, and his wife survived him until 1863. They were the parents of twelve children, namely: Mary A., wife of Levi Claybrook, who is engaged in railroad work in Memphis, Tennessee; J. W. was a soldier in the late war, was an agent for the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, and was killed by a train in 1888; Harriet, wife of W. G. Stevenson, who is engaged in news-
612
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
paper work on the Memphis Appeal; Thomas S., who served through the Civil war, and was engaged as a railroad agent, died about 1869; Margaret is the wife of a Mr. Thomas Fluellen, who is also engaged in railroad work; R. P., who served through the late war, is a resident of Elgin; Cynthia B., wife of R. W. Davis, of this city; William E., who was several times wounded in the war. now draws a pension, and resides at Houston; Turner, deccased when young; Gus H., our subject; Frank R., a druggist of Austin; and Martha, who died of yellow fever at Wash- ington.
Gus H. Jones came to Texas with his par- ents in 1849, locating in La Grange, Fayette connty, and in 1852 came to Bastrop county. In 1861 he was one of the first to enlist in the Confederate service from this part of the country, entering Ford's command, was sent to the Rio Grande, but eight inonths later joined De Bray's regiment, consigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department, and took part in many battles in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. He was never wounded or cap- tured, but at one time his horse was shot while under him. Mr. Jones was at Galves- ton island at the time of the surrender, after which, in July, 1865, he located in Navasota, Texas. For the following four years he was engaged in the newspaper business on the Navasota Courier, but in 1869 sold his paper and returned to Bastrop county. After ar- riving' in this county he purchased a farm, and also followed saw and grist milling and cotton ginning. The town of Elgin was laid out in 1873, and in the following year lie embarked in the lumber business in this city, where he now carries a full stock of building material, paints, oils, nails, etc.
In 1864 Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Emma Mitchell, who was born dlan-
mary 13, 1847, a daughter of Jolin II. Mitchell, of Grimes conuty, Texas. He was a leader in politics, a strong Union man, and during the late war he went to Mexico, where he remained twenty-three years. His deatlı occurred in this State in 1892. Our subject and wife have had five children, three now living: Mabel F., wife of A. Roberts, of Elgin; and Mitchell aud Maud at home. Mr. Jones affiliates with the Democratie party, is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Knights of Honor, and both he and his wife are mein - bers of the Methodist Church.
B ENJAMIN P. TEMPLETON, one of the enterprising business men of Bas- trop county, was born in Lawrens dis- trict, South Carolina, February 2, 1845, a son of B. C. and Mary (Goodwin) Templeton, natives also of that State, the former of En- glish and the latter of Welch and English descent. They were the parents of seven children: Margery, Frances, Benjamin P., Isabella, Giles, Lumas and Mary.
Benjamin P. Templeton, the only one of the family to come to Texas, remained at home until the opening of the late war. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Fourteenth South Carolina Infantry, was con- signed to the Army of Virginia, A. P. Hill's Division, Jackson's Corps, and took part in all the battles and skirmishes of the division from Seven Pines to Appomattox, with the exception of Gettysburg. He was slightly wounded at Frazier's Farm and Chantilla, and at Chancellorsville was shot through the thigh, which rendered him unable for service four months, and during that time the battle of Gettysburg was fonght. Mr. Templeton was at Appomattox at the close of the strug-
613
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
gle, and surrendered with Lee's army. He then remained at home until 1867, when he came to Texas, spending the first four years in Webberville, Travis county. During the following four years he lived on Wilbarger creek, in Bastrop county, and then purchased his present farin of 817 aeres, 400 acres of which are now nuder a good state of cultiva- tion. In 1877 Mr. Templeton built a steam- power gin, with all modern improvements, and in 1889 opened a general stock of mer- eliandise in this eity, and later built a resi- dence near the store. He rents most of his land, and gives his attention to ginning and farming.
In 1871 Mr. Templeton was united in marriage to Miss Addie Harris, who was born in Mississippi, in 1847, a daughter of Clai- bourne and Rhody Harris, natives of Ten- nessee. The parents came to Texas in 1854, and located on a farm in Bastrop county. Botlı are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Temple- tom have had six children, five now living, namely: Emma, Lee, Edinond, Claib and Preston, all attending school. Mrs. Temple- ton is a member of the Methodist Church. Our subject takes an interest in politieal inat- ters, and votes with the Democratic party.
W W. WATSON, the subject of this. sketeh, is a worthy representative of one of the early-settled families of Texas, being a son of William B. and Mar- garet Watson, the former of whom came to Texas in December, 1836, and the latter in Jannary, 1840. William B. Watson was a native of North Carolina where he was born May 5, 1816. lle grew up in his native State and cast his fortunes with the infant
Republie of Texas before he had reached his majority. llis first place of residence in Texas was San Augustine county. Later he lived in Travis and Bastrop counties. He married in San Augustine in 1839, and in 1847 settled in Burleson county, which he made his home from that date until his death, January 23, 1874. When a young man he was variously engaged, principally however in freighting and earpentering. IIe made cotton-wood shingles in Travis for some time during his residence there, furnishing these for a number of the buildings that were erected in Austin at an earlier day. He was in many frontier expeditions and bore arms under General Thomas J. Rusk in the noted Cherokee war of 1838. After settling in Burleson county he devoted himself to agri- cultural pursuits and stock-raising on a small seale. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Buie, was born in Moore county, North Carolina, about 1810. Her father was William Buie, who was in his day a very prominent and useful man in his State and county. He was for very many years a ment- ber of the Legislature from his county, was the strongest man, politically, in his county, and was never defeated for office. Her mother's maiden name was Margaret Mc Iver. Mrs. Watson left North Carolina in 1836, and after remaining in Tennessee abont one year removed with her brother to Texas, where she married William B. Watson. She was a consin of the celebrated Colonel James Buie.
She died in Burleson county in 1849. Four children were the issne of this marriage: Mary Jane, who was married to E. M. Ellis and is now deceased; Sarah Ann, who was married to L. A. MeAuley; Catherine; Lonisa, who was married to S. C. House and William W. the subject of this sketch.
614
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
William W. Watson was born near Yegua post office, Burleson county, April 1, 1849. He was reared in this county, having been bronght up on the farm. Februrry 7, 1877, he married Miss Dora A. Cottrell, daughter of J. F. and Martha Cottrell of Burleson county and settled on his present farm where he has since resided engaged in agricultural pur- snits. He is an industrions, thrifty and snc- eessful farmer and a useful and highly re- spected citizen. To his home and farming interests he is devoted withont reservation. He has a family of six children: Louisa Pearl, Clinton De Witt, Mattie Leona, Jas- per Hilton, Lula Lee and William Wright.
OSIAH TAYLOR, deceased, and the first merchant of Williamson county, was born in Virginia, March 12, 1812, a son of Littlebury Taylor. At the age of fifteen years Josiah was left an orphan, and from that time was obliged to make his own way in the world. He worked on the river for a time, and then, having been a fine meclianie, followed carpentering. Fromn 1841 until 1845 he lived in Arkansas and Neosho, Newton county, Missouri, having erected the first house in that city, and in the latter year came to Bastrop county, Texas. Mr. Taylor remained in that county one year, and then removed to near where Elgin is now located, where he improved his farm and en- gaged in merchandising, hanling his goods with ox teams from Houston. From that place he moved to near where Hutto, Texas, is now located, where he opened the first stock of goods in the county, in a small room in his dwelling, but this stock of abont $700 worth of goods when sold, was scattered over a greater radins than that of any of the stores
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.