USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 43
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 43
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 43
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 43
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 43
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 43
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
Mrs. Wilbarger was married in 1846, to Thomas M. Chambers, a native of Kentucky. He came to Texas in 1836, in command of a company for the purpose of joining the fight against the Indians. Colonel Cham-
796
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
ber had seventy men, all on white horses, but they arrived too late to take part in the battle of San Jacinto. The Colonel followed farm- ing and merchandising in southern Texas until 1846, when he began agricultural pur- suits in Bastrop county. He did not par- ticipate in the war of 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers had three daughters: Malinda, wife of James Oliver; Florence, wife of Captain J. II. Hooper, of Austin; and Fan- nona. The father died in 1855, having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a prominent Mason of this State. Mrs. Chambers has been a member of the Methodist Church for twenty-eight years.
W ILLIAM A. J. JENKINS, a farmer of Bastrop county, was born in Ma- rengo county, Alabama, May 16, 1828, a son of Edward and Sarah (Parrent) Jenkins. The father came to Texas in the fall of 1828, first locating on Barton's creek, but in the following year settled on what is now Hill's prairie, near Cedar creek, where he located a league of land. He remained on that farin until death, and is supposed to have been killed by an Indian. After her husband's death, Mrs. Jenkins took charge of the estate, and at that time her children were small and the settlements were very scattered. In 1836 she went with the others to the ren- dezvous on Sabine river, where she remained until the return of the settlers. Mrs. Jen- kins spent the following twelve months in Washington county, Texas, and on returning to her former home she found everything gone. She remained on the old homestead until her death, which occurred in 1840, leav- four children: Elizabeth, who married John Daugherty, and after his death she became
the wife of Elisha Hopper, but both are now deceased; John II., deceased, was a prosper- ous farmer of this county; William A. J., our subject; Edward W., a resident of Bas- trop.
W. A. J. Jenkins received only a limited education, and early in life learned to depend on his own resources. In 1847 he joined Captain Haymtith's Company, Colonel Ilays' regiment of Texas State troops, and was con- fined to the frontier section of the State. Ile was in many battles with the Indians, and at one time they killed thirty Indians, only one es- caping. Mr. Jenkins served twelve montlis, and at the close of the war was mustered out of service in Gillespie county, twelve miles north of Fredrieksburg. After returning home he followed farming until the opening of the late war, and was then detailed as teamster in the Quartermaster's Department. Both of his brothers were in the army, and it was necessary for him to serve in a place where he could occasionally return home. After the close of the struggle he resumed farming for the third time on the same league of land located by his father, where he re- mained nineteen years. Mr. Jenkins then sold the land to his brother, Edward; pur- chased and remained on the farm in the southeastern portion of the county four years; sold that place and bought land in Caldwell connty, ten years later went to Frio county; two years afterward located near his former home in Caldwell county; and October 1, 1889, came to Smithville, Bastrop county. Hle remained in the city until 1893, and in that year purchased his present place of twenty-five acres in this county.
Mr. Jenkins was married September 6, 1849, to Eveline Faith, a native of Missis- sippi, who came with her father, E. B. Faith, to Fayette county, Texas, when only ten years
727
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
of age. Onr subject and wife have had eight children, namely: W. A .; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of J. W. Wellborn; Elizabeth J., wife of Frank Winters; C. M .; Dan; Mary C., wife of W. G. Anderson, of Cald- well connty; Endocia, wife of W. J. Mon- ger; and Lee. Mrs. Jenkins is a member of the Christian Church. For many years our subject has been a member of the A. F. & A. M., Hopkinsville Lodge, No. 183.
-
S AMUEL H. McDONALD, one of the successful and leading farmers of Bas- trop county, was born in the city of Bastrop, in 1854, a son of Hugh K. and Elizabeth (Gill) McDonald. Samuel H., the fiftli of six children, was educated in his na- tive city, and began work for himself at the age of twenty years. In 1874 he embarked in the general mercantile business at Hill Prairie, where he continued fourteen years. He then abandoned mercantile pursuits, and in 1890 returned to his farm in this county, where he is still engaged in agricultural work.
Mr. McDonald was married in 1883, to Miss Ida Holmes, a native of Louisiana, and a daughter of John and Mary Holmes, of Shreveport, that State. Our subject and wife have had five children: Lizzie Bell, Ida Lee, Flora, Jessie, and one deceased. Mrs. Mc- Donald is a member of the Methodist Church South.
HARLES P. VANCE, a pioneer of Taylor, Bastrop connty, was born in Grant county, Kentucky, February 21, 1828, a son of Drury Vance, and a grandson of Patrick Vance. The family came to
America at abont the time of Cromwell's war in England, and the name was originally spelled De Vanx, a well-known name in early French and Mormon history. The mother of onr subject was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1798, a son of John Vance. Iler mother was formerly a Miss Ront, and that family were prominent in both Virginia and Kentucky, where they were among the early settlers. - John Vance came to this sec- tion of country when the Indians were en- gaged in war. The great-grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Drury Vance, the father of our subject, removed from Kentucky to Tennessee, one year later went to Alabama, afterward spent three years in Arkansas, and in the fall of 1845 came to Houston county, Texas. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, as was also. the maternal grandfather of our subject.
Charles P. Vance left home at the age of sixteen years, and was employed as a cominon laborer for a time. In 1846 he came on horse-back from Arkansas to Texas, spent the first year with his father in Houston county, and in the fall of 1847 came to Bastrop county. He soon joined a company of State rangers, and went to Austin, where he was to be mustered into service, but was disabled three months on account of sickness. After recovering his health, Mr. Vance was engaged in freighting one year for a Mr. Tannahill, hauling from Austin to various places. Ou one occasion, with a companion, he was sur- rounded by Indians on a stream called the Blanco, but, as they had the advantage of the red men, and only had two horses, the latter did not run the risk of making an attack. The two men were obliged to go without anything to eat for three days and nights. Mr. Vance was afterward engaged in the same ocenpation for a Mr. Glasscock. Ile
46
.
728
IHISTORY OF TEXAS.
next worked on the ranch of Mr. Beard in Burleson county, Texas, four months; was engaged as elerk for A. M. Dodd, where Lex- ington now stands, and Messrs. Vance & Dodd then opened a store on the present site of Long Point, Washington county. Two years later Mr. Vance sold his interest to his part- ner, purchased a wagon and sold goods over the sparsely settled districts of this section. At that time a distance of twenty miles fre- quently intervened between honses. In 1854 he opened a store in Hamblin's Settlement, Milam county, and also purchased the stock of goods of a Mr. McHInally, six miles from that place, this giving Mr. Vance a monop- oly of the trade in this section, which, by fair and honorable dealings with his neighbors, he retained during his residence there.
In 1855 Mr. Vance moved a part of his goods to Lexington, Burleson county, where he purchased a ranch, and stocked the same with cattle and horses. He resided and car- ried on the mercantile business in Lexington until 1857, and in that year moved to his ranch and gave his attention entirely to the stock business. IIe drove beef cattle to Gal- veston and New Orleans, and also drove the first herd of cattle to market in this county. During 1857-8-9 a severe drouth occurred in this county, and Mr. Vance was forced to take his cattle and horses to Bee county, where he purchased a ranch ten miles north of Beeville. At one time he was offered $18,000 for his herd, but did not sell until 1866, when he received $1,000 for a part of his stock. In 1863 Mr. Vance joined Donglas' company of moving battalion, Texas State troops, was stationed at Burnet and Houston, but was never personally en- gaged in battle. In 1865 he began merchan- dising at Lexington, where he opened one of the first stores after the close of hostilities,
and continued that occupation until 1873. During the latter part of his residence in that city, he purchased a stock of goods at Cirenitville, of which he placed his step-son, J. A. Simons, in charge. In 1873 our sub- ject began business in Lamapsas, in company with a Mr. Thomas. They lost their entire stock of goods by the flood of that year. Having a stock of groceries, which had not reached Lampasas at the time of the flood, Mr. Vance took the same to Rockdale, opened the first store in the place, and while there, was also engaged in buying'cotton. In the spring of 1874 he returned to Lampasas, where his family had resided, and in the fol- lowing spring moved his goods from Circuit- ville to Taylor, this county. Messrs. Vance & Co. and Wiley & Potter opened the first dry goods stores in the city, although there were two or three saloons and one boarding- house here at that time. In 1886 Mr. Vance retired from the firm, since which time he has been engaged in real-estate business, and in buying and feeding stock. Ile has two farins in Burleson county, a handsome resi- dence in this city, and other property. In 1865 he was elected County Commissioner of Burleson county, and has also held other minor offices.
In 1854 Mr. Vance was united in marriage with Mrs. A. D. L. Simons, nee Hewlett. Her family came originally from Scotland, and her father, Lemnel Hewlett, was a soldier in the war of 1812 from South Carolina. He was wounded in the battle of New Or- leans, and his death occurred in Kentucky, at the age of eighty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Vanec had four children: Charles R., deceased, at the age of twelve years; John T., engaged in. the hardware business in Lex- ington, Kentucky; Sallie R., wife of J. L. McCartey, of Colorado; and Robert S., de.
729
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
ceased, was formerly cashier of the Wise County National Bank, at Decatnr. Mrs. Vance died in 1891, at the age of fifty-nine years. She was a member of the Christian Church. December 1, 1892, Mr. Vance married Mrs. Fannie G. Conch, nee Gibbons, a native of Kentucky. She is also a member of the Christian Church.
C ALVIN WEIR, a farmer of William- county, was born in Blount eonnty, Tennessee, December 19, 1826, a son of Hugh and Margaret (Rankin) Weir, na- tives also east Tennessee. The father was a son of Jonathan Wier, a native of Virginia, of Scotch-Irish descent, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He located in east Tennessee in a very early day, and was often obliged to leave his home for safety from the Indians. The mother of the subject was a daughter of William Rankin, a native of Virginia, and a Revolutionary soldier. He also settled in east Tennessee in an early day, where he followed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Weir had ten children, namely: David M., deceased in Illinois, in 1861; Saralı M., married Robert MeReynolds, and both died in Illinois; Jonathan N, who died in the same State; William R .. came to Texas in 1837, and died about 1882; Samuel B., who came to Texas first in 1837,afterward returned to Illinois, and in 1855 eame again to this State, where he died in 1879; John A., who came to this State in 1858, now resides in Mills county; James M., deceased in Illinois; Mary A., deceased in Tennessee; Calvin, onr subject; and Margaret J., who died at Chat- tanooga, Tennessee. The father departed this life in 1830, and the mother in Septein- ber, 1845.
Calvin Weir lost his father at the age of four years, after which he went with his widowed mother to Illinois, settling in Fay- ette eonnty, where the latter died twelve months afterward. The children thien re- turned to their old home in Tennessee, but three years later Calvin went to Chattanooga, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1856. In that year he came to Williamson connty, Texas, purchased 100 acres of his present farm, then raw land, and he has since added to this place until he now owns 737 acres, 225 acres under a fine state of enlti- vation. Mr. Weir has given some attention to stock, has a beantiful residence and two tenement houses. In Mareh, 1862, onr sub- ject entered the Confederate service, in Com- pany A, Morgan's Batallion, in the Trans- Mississippi Department, and remained in Ar- kansas. The command was principally en- gaged in gnard duty, took part in Marma- duke's raid, but on account of sickness Mr. Weir partieipated in only a few skirmishes. He returned home in the latter part of 1863, received an honorable discharge on account of spinal affection, and as soon as able re- sumed farming and stock raising.
Mr. Weir was married at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1851, to Miss Martilla N. Me- Calnp, a daughter of Samnel McCalup, who died in Tennessee. Mrs. Weir died at the birth of her third child, and the two oldest children died soon after coming to Texas. The youngest child died in 1857, thus leaving Mr. Weir without wife or child. In April, 1859, he married Miss Valinda E. Camp, who was born in Alabama in 1838, a daughter of Abisha Camp, who died in that State. After the father's death, the mother married a Dr. Adams, and they came to Texas in 1849, locating in Travis county. Mr. and Mr. Weir have had ten children,
730
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
viz .: Sallie D., wife of Robert II. Darsette, a native of Texas, and a farmer of Williamson county; Martha R., wife of John H. Collier, also a farmer of Williamson county; Charley M., engaged in cattle business in Cottle county, Texas; Lucy A., at home; Thomas C., engaged in teaching school; Fanny L., wife of John Nowlan, of Williamson county; Horace M., at home; James N., attending school at Telinacana; and Mary L.and William N., at home. Mr. Weir has never used tobacco or stimulants of any kind, and never used an oath or danced, as is true of his chil- dren. He takes an active interest in the Dem- ocratic party, and socially, in a member of the Masonic order. Religiously, he is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
They were members of the Missionary Bap- tist Church. At their death Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard left a family of six children,-Anna, deceased, was the wife of A. M. Moore; Emma, wife of B. F. Womble, of Waco; R. O., a resident of Bastrop county; C. J., our subject; Lizzie, widow of E. T. Robinson, and a resident of Georgetown, Texas; and Martha deceased.
Clifford J: Hubbard, the subject of this sketch, received his edneation in the sub- scription schools of his native county. At the age of twenty-one years he began work on the farm, and at the age of twenty-seven years took charge of his father's old home- stead, which consists of 453 acres, 320 acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation. The place contains a good residence, large barns, and other farm conveniences. Mr. Hubbard makes a specialty of farming, de- voting his time principally to the raising of corn and cotton, receiving from sixty to sev- enty-five bales of the latter product each year.
LIFFORD J. HUBBARD, a farmer and stock raiser of Bastrop county, was born on the farm where he still resides, In 1883 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Aggie J. Tuttle, a native of Fay- ette county, Texas, and a daughter of George W. and Mary E. (Karnes) Tuttle, the latter a native of Texas. The father came to this State from New York in 1838, settling on the Colorado river in Fayette county, where he was engaged in farming for many years. He was then employed in mercantile pursuits until the opening of the late war, when he joined the Confederate army, and served in the Army of the Tennessee. After the close of hostilities Mr. Hubbard resumed mer- chandising, which he continned until within a few years ago. He still resides in Fayette county. His wife died in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle had nine children that lived to September 17, 1855, a son of Augustus M. and Martha E. (Jones) Hubbard, natives of Georgia. The parents came to Texas in 1849, locating on the farm Clifford now owns, then a portion of the E. W. Barton league, and which was but slightly improved. Mr. Hub- bard brought negroes with him, and engaged in farming and stock raising. At the open- ing of the late war he esponsed the cause of the South, joining the Confederate army, was in the commissary department, and was stationed principally at Sabine Pass. After the close of hostilities he returned home, and was engaged in farming and stock raising until his death. in 1881. at the age of fifty-six years. His wife survived until July 23, 1884, dying at the age of fifty-one years. | years of maturity, viz .: Helen, deceased, was
781
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
the wife of Dr. D. Clanton; Noah, deceased; Charles; George, deceased; Frank; Snsan, deceased, was the wife of S. A. Shumway, of Waco; Aggie, wife of our subject; Rufus; and Alivia, wife of Captain George Willrich, of La Grange, Texas. Mrs. Tuttle was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have four children,-Lizzie R., Mildred M., Enstis C. and Clarence A. Mrs. Hubbard is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
SAAC II. SPARKS, a well-known citizen of Burleson county, Texas, is ranked with the early settlers of this State. He came to Texas in 1849, landing in Galveston, where he had a brother, William N. Sparks, who at that time was Sheriff of his county, and un- der him the subject of our sketch served as deputy for over a year. After that he rented land in Milam county and cultivated one crop. Next we find him at Fort Sullivan, where for ten years he was variously em- ployed, his enterprise and energy at once shoving him to the front. He made money rapidly. For some time he worked at the cabinet making and carpenter trade, and for four years he served as Deputy Sheriff under Jefferson Rogers. Then he engaged in the grocery business, continuing the same until the opening of the late war. Coming to Burleson county about the time the war broke out, he was appointed by the County Com- missioners to attend to the wants of soldiers' families, and was thius occupied up to 1863. Theu lie engaged in the army service, freight- ing cotton, and was making a trip at the time of the surrender, being then at San Antonio, and from there returning home. He had sold his store and property at the opening of the
war, taking Confederate money in payment for the same, at one time having abont $30,000 in such money; this, of course, was a total loss. About all he had left when the war closed was a few cattle and horses; no, not all, for he still retained his pluck and en- ergy, and with this as capital he went to work to rebuild his wasted fortunes. Mr. Sparks has been a cripple ever since he was five years old, at that time having his right foot injured while playing teeter with another boy. Ilis physical disability, however, has not pre- vented him from making a success in life.
For four or five years Mr. Sparks bought and sold cattle and also traded in land, buy- ing and selling many tracts. About 1870 he finally settled down to farming and stock raising. Now he owns a large farm on the Brazos bottoms and has abont 500 acres where he lives. His homestead joins the old town of Frameville, having selected this place for the purpose of having his family near good schools. He has 100 acres nuder cultivation. In 1892 he bought from his son, Dr. Sparks, the grocery store at Frameville, and has been running the business ever since for himself, having conducted it for his son some time previous to that date.
Mr. Sparks was born in Carroll county, Tennessee, September 27, 1827. He was reared on a farin and his education has been that gained chiefly in the school of exper- ience. - Before he reached his majority he began doing for himself, first being employed by a slave trader and afterward by a dealer in horses and mules. This was before he came to Texas, as above stated. His parents were Isaac and Willie (Knowling) Sparks. His father was born in the fort at Athens, Georgia, where Absalom Sparks, the grand- father of our subject, was living with his family. Absalom Sparks was killed in one
732
IIISTORY OF TEXAS.
of the Indian wars. The Sparks family or- iginated in Ireland. Isaac Sparks was the eleventh born in his father's family. Ilis death oteurred at the old homestead in Tenn- essee. He was one of the first settlers of the neighborhood in which he lived and died.
The subject of our sketch was married in 1860 to Miss Porter. Their children, five in number, are as follows: Beatrice, wife of Sidney Dnnn, died in 1889; Jesse P., a prae- ticing physician of Burleson county: and James V., Benjamin I. and Willie, at home.
Mr. Sparks is an ardent Democrat and has always taken an active part in politieal mat- ters, but has never songht official position. He has been Election Judge ever since the reconstruction. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason. Mrs. Sparks is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
C APTAIN S. K. BROWN, Superin- tendent of the County Poor Farin of Williamson county, was born in Lin- coln county, Maine, October 2, 1835, a son of Emerson and Rebecca (Morton) Brown, natives also of that State. The father fol- lowed piloting during the most of his life, on both the coast and sea. His death oe- curred in 1869, and his wife now resides in Philadelphia, aged eighty-two years. They reared the following children: Rebecca, S. K., Lucretia, Reuben, Sarah, Emerson, Eliz- abeth and Warren.
Captain S. K. Brown, the only one of the family to come to Texas, reecived a limited education, having engaged as a sailor when young. His voyages were to the West Indies, British Honduras and all intermediate ports. In 1854 he eame to Indianola, Texas, where he served as a pilot on the Indianola bar a
number of years, and afterward followed steamboating on Trinity and Buffalo rivers. In 1862 Mr. Brown enlisted for service in the Confederate army, but was soon trans- ferred to the Navy department, and was in command of a gunboat until the elose of the struggle. He was then at Matagorda, and, on hearing the news of the surrender, the entire crew left the boat, the John F. Carr, to the Yankees. IIc remained in Matagora bay five years, and then had charge of the Morgan Company's steamers as pilot on Pass Carallo bar until 1876, when he came to Williamson county. Mr. Brown then por- chased a farm, following agricultural pursnits eight years, when, in 1884, he came to Georgetown. January 1, 1892, he was cm- ployed by the County Commissioners to take charge of the Poor Farm, which consists of 200 acres, 100 aeres nnder cultivation, and the remainder in pasture. The farm has never paid expenses until this year.
Mr. Brown was married at Port Lavaca, Texas, in 1866, to Miss Mary Threlkeld, who was born in Lavaca county, Texas, October 7, 1843, a daughter of T. R. and Janet (Thompson) Threlkeld, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Ten- nessee. The parents, who were reared and married in Indiana, came to Texas in 1839, locating in Jackson county, but afterward moved to Calhoun county. The father fol- lowed merchandising in Indiana, but after locating in this State engaged in farming and stock-raising for a time, and then resumed mereantile pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Threl- keld had seven children, viz .: Angeline, wife of D. B. Keiper, of Dallas, Texas; Irwin, who was killed at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee; Mary, now Mrs. Brown; Otto L. who died at Eagle Pass, in 1887, while serv- ing as Collector of Customs under Cleveland;
733
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Annie, wife of T. F. Crane, a contractor of San Antonio; William T., cashier and man- ager of the Thompson estate and mnill at Edinburg, Indiana, and Travis R., also of Edinburg, Indiana. Mr. Threlkeld died in 1859, and his wife died in Dallas, in 1876, while on her way home from a visit in In- diana. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had four children, viz .: Irwin, born February 2, 1867, is a travelling salesman; Helen O., boru October 7, 1870, is at home; Morton E., born November 1., 1880; and one de- ceased in infancy. Socially, Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic order and the Wood- men of the World, and religionsly, both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In his political views he is a staunch Democrat.
EORGE W. WOOD, a farmer, stock- raiser and ginner of Bastrop county, was born in Travis county, Texas, Feb- ruary 12, 1855, a son of Jaines' and Martha (Glover) Wood, natives of Alabanza. The parents were married in this State in 1849, and located in Travis county, where the father still resides. During the late war lie was detailed by the Government as freighter and beef-driver. Since locating in Travis county he has occupied two different farins, and still owns a fine place near Webberville. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were the parents of eight children, viz .: George W., our subject; James, a farmer of Travis county; William, also of that county; Molly E., wife or J. S. Roe; Henry, a farmer of Travis county ; Lee, a farmer of Bastrop county; Mattie, wife of Edd Burleson, of Travis county; and Walter, at home.
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.