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Bramble Bush

BRAMBLE BUSH
THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
OF THE HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
OF MARION COUNTY ARKANSAS

Vol. 5, No. 4         October 2000         Yellville, Arkansas 72687

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OUR NEWSPAPERS

Vicki A. Roberts
2363 MC 5032, Yellville AR 72687

       For centuries the need to communicate has been an ever-present trait of mankind. Drum beats, Carrier pigeons, smoke signals, waving flags, speedy messengers, horns and bugles, letters, newspapers, Pony Express riders, telegraph and telephone, radio, television, computers have appeared throughout history in response to this need. Some are still with us. Some have dropped by the wayside.
       Beginning shortly after the War Between the States, Marion Co. news and local gossip could be found in a variety of local newspapers. These publications were fragile creatures that had to depend on many different things in order to remain living entities in their communities. The population was small and scattered, money was scarce, illiteracy was high, and delivery service was poor. Many papers gave up the ghost or moved to other locations.
       The first newspaper in Marion Co. was The Gazette, founded in Yellville in March 1873 by James H. Graham and Frank Mason. It was short lived, lasting a mere 17 months. Graham and Mason moved their operation to La Crosse in Izard Co. Twelve years later Isaac F. Clark began publishing The Yellville Watchman which lasted two years. About the same time publication of The Vidette began in Yellville, but only lasted a few months.
       The first issue of The Mountain Echo appeared in Yellville 5 March 1886. The first editor-publisher was H. B. Dallam who brought his sheet-fed letterpress and his limited supply of type with him for this purpose. Dallam did not have much success during his two-year ownership and was ready to sell and move on to other things. William R. "W. R." Jones bought the Echo in 1888 and became its editor and publisher. It has lasted by far the longest of all the newspapers - one hundred fourteen years and is still being published today.
       In 1891 a monthly publication called The School Journal was begun by Professor W. B. Scroggins and lasted about a year. In 1897 Colonel W. A. Webber founded a town near the Maryhattianna Mine in southern Marion Co. He served as storekeeper, postmaster, and Justice of the Peace for this small community. Webber also established the newspaper called The Maryhattianna Herald and published it for several years. During this time Maryhattianna could boast of a second paper, The Maryhattianna Signal. In 1900 this was moved to Yellville and became The Weekly Miner
       Historically, most newspapers in Marion Co. were of the Democrat persuasion until the early 1900s when the town of Dodd City produced not one, but two Republican papers. No record of the name nor how long the first paper lasted has been found. However, the second paper, The Dodd City Enterprise, owned by W. T. Williams, was first printed 27 September 1901 and ran for seven years.
        The Yellville Republican, published by A. G. Sperry, was first seen in 1905. These were the peak years of the mining boom in the area, and this paper was primarily concerned with mining news, reports, and data. The year 1928 saw the start of The Flippin Leader which was very short lived. In the early 1940s The Bull Shoals Gazette made its appearance. This paper was published in Flippin by Frank O. and Nell Strickland and later moved to Missouri.
       Roy Sizemore began publishing The Marion County News in May 1972. In March of 1973 Kerm Powers bought the name and the mailing list of this paper. As a result the then 87-year-old Mountain Echo became the only weekly newspaper in the county. This distinction was, however, not to last. In September 1979 The Lake River Times, with Sharon Herner as editor, began publication out of Bull Shoals. This paper ran until its 30 April 1992 issue.
       Art Lillo was the owner/editor of The Investigator which ran for a couple of years after its inception in 1991. In the late 1990s a newspaper called The Mountaineer was started in Flippin and is today operated by the Estes family.
       The earliest published news of Marion County begins with the first issue of The Mountain Echo in March 1886. Nearly every issue of this newspaper from then on can be found on microfilm. An interesting variety of news is found in the first issue of The Echo "Luke Matlock and family have moved back to their home at DeSoto Springs. Luke's old customers regret very much that he made this change, but wish him success all the same."
       "An elopement is the latest sensational news from Franklin Township. We learn from Deputy Sheriff Lawson, who just returned from that section, that John Yocomb last week eloped with the wife of his brother, Mike Yocomb. The elopement was something out of the usual order. John did not steal his brother's wife, but they mounted horses in the presence of Mike, John remarking, 'I have now got the woman I have wanted for the last 20 years' and Mike's wife made the same kind of declaration, only substituting 'man' for 'woman.' They then rode off in the direction of Missouri, leaving five children each to be cared for by a grass-widow and grass-widower, while they "rub out" and begin life anew, as it were. '"Such is life" over close to Missouri."
       Community news: "COWAN BARRENS. No apologies to make. Health good. Gardens short. Corn and cotton look fine. Wheat light. Oats tolerably good and about ready to be harvested. No peaches. Full crop of apples, pears, cherries, plums, and wild berries. Plenty ofrain."
       Legal notices: "WARNING ORDER. State of Arkansas, County of Marion, James Creek Township, Justice's Court. J. T. McCracken, Plaintiff, against Thomas Radcliff, Defendant. The defendant, Thomas Radcliff, is hereby warned to appear before me at my office in James Creek Township in said county, on the 17th day of July 1886, to answer the complaint of the plaintiff, J. T. McCracken."
       Editorials were reprinted from many newspapers The Bentonville Democrat, The St. Louis Globe, The Arkansas Gazette; The Chicago Tribune, and the Melbourne [AR] Clipper among others. In it's first issue, The Echo was proclaimed to be "a politically Democratic paper, not a Democrat one week and Republican or Independent the next, but always Democrat without any side shows."
       Election news and results, obituaries, births, marriages, visitings of local residents, and the weather were common and sought-after communications in the papers. After zinc was found in the mines of the county, ore sample test results, stories of new mines and mine owners, and the latest word on what was dug where and by whom were familiar articles in the local papers.
       Local Interest: "Mr. John Cheek, of Blythe Township, has in his possession a gourd 16 years old. His father used it as a powder gourd and Mr. C. uses it now for that purpose. He prizes it highly."
       Visitings: "Miss Virgie Berry returned on Sunday from a two-weeks visit in De Soto Springs."
       Truth to tell, our newspapers have come a long way in over a century. Papers no longer give the news the way it was given in 1886. But, such is progress.

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FROM THE EDITOR

       Once again, as we look back over the past year, we're somewhat amazed at the number and variety of accomplishments that have been made by our members. The 45 feet of new shelves in our Research Room at the Marion County Library are filling up quite quickly. We've added many resource books and had boxes and boxes of wonderful books donated. We'd planned to list them all so you'd know what's new, but they number around 200 volumes.
       We participated in the 11th Annual North Arkansas Ancestor Fair held in Searcy County and in the 5th Annual Ozark Cultural Celebration held in Boone County and in the 55th Annual Turkey Trot held right here in Yellville. We acquired the remainder of Marion Co. AR 1890 from compiler Helen McMindes. This important book, together with "Big Blue I," Early Days and War Times by Thomas Jerome Estes, Marion Co. 1880 Census transcribed by Gladys Horn Brown, Marion Co. 1870 Census transcribed by Nancie Todd Weber, to say nothing for all of Marian Burnes' wonderful books, are all selling well and keeping USPS rather busy.
       "Big Blue 2" is still under construction and, unfortunately, won't be ready for Christmas 2000 as we'd planned. The recent discovery that a couple of families are actually two families, not one, and that a couple of others are actually one family, not two, have sent us scurrying back to "research mode" to sort out all the kinfolk.
       The newest project, Pictorial History of Marion County, is well under way with about 1/3 of the pictures we'll need already in the works. Member J. L. Pearce is doing a fantastic job of scanning and perfecting all the pictures he even makes those from old newspapers just as sharp and clean as photographs. If you have oldies and goodies to share, please contact us.
           Vicki Roberts, Editor

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1891 REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENTS
Transcribed by Janice Mears, PO Box 628, Bull Shoals AR 72619

Included here is more of the 1891 Real Estate Tax List. This list is now on-line at the Marion Co Site

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PICTURES   PICTURES   PICTURES   PICTURES   PICTURES
PICTURES WANTED
FOR THE
PICTORIAL HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY

P E 0 P L E Anyone in your family, their neighbors, singly or in groups.
P L A C E S Town scenes, churches, stores, creeks, aerials, schools, mines.
T HI N G S Ferries, wagonsl barnsl furniture, steamboatsl tunnels.
E V E N T S Picnics, socials, baptisms, making soap or molasses, graduations.

No originals, please.

Laser copies or copies of photographs are perfect. Send these to: Vicki Roberts, HGSMCA, PO Box 7611 Yellville AR 72687.

Scanned copies are also perfect. E-mail these to: J. L. Pearce jlpearce@southshore.com.

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BITS AND PIECES
MARRIAGE RECORDS

       According to Mary Jo Layton, Marion County Clerk:
       1. For a Certified Record the charge is $5.00.
       2. For a copy of the original page in the marriage record books, the charge is 1.00
       3. Send your request to Office of the County Clerk, Marion County Courthouse, Yellville AR 72687. Be sure to include with your request:
          A. Name of groom.
          B. Name of bride.
          C. Date of marriage within a year or two
          D. Your name and address.
          E. The Marriage Book Number and Page Number, if you know them.
          F. Your check or money order. Do NOT send cash, please.

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SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

       Your Social Security Number is a nine-digit number that is divided into three parts. The first part consists of three digits. The second part consists of two digits. The third part consists of four digits. Each part is divided by a hyphen. The first part (three numbers) is called the Area Number. This is assigned by geographic location (where application was made for a Social Security number). The second part (two digits) is called the Group Number. This tells when your Social Security Number was issued you have to know the code of numerical sets for each particular state before you can figure this out. The last part (four digits) is called the Serial Number. This is issued from 0001 to 9999 for each set of Area and Group Numbers. (Thanks to Bill Allen <misterbill@pdq.net> for this concise explanation.)

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QUERIES

       Queries is published in Bramble Bush as a service to researchers who may wish to exchange information of mutual historic and/or genealogical interests. Queries from both members and non-members are accepted, and are published in order of receipt, as space permits. If you respond to a query, kindly send a copy of your answer to Bramble Bush. Responsibility for accuracy of data in queries rests with the submitter.
       FORD --GILLAM TAYLOR Seek info and correspondence on Roy Samuel b 17 Nov 1923, son of William Walter FORD b June 1893 & Iia May GILUAM, son of Samuel FORD b March 1860 d 1947 bu Fallen Ash Cemetery & Nancy Ann TAYLOR. Theda Ford, 2600 Vale Street, Des Moines fA 50317 <willford2600@aolcom>
       FREEMAN - JODE - KING - PANNELL. Wish to exchange info on the surnames FREEMAN, JODE, KING, PANNELL. Linda Moilanen, Rt 2 Box 183A, Fouke AR 71837.
       HODGE - DAVIS - SMITH. Seek info on Mary HODGE aged 19 of Flippin and Clarence DAVIS aged 26 of Baxter Co. AR who marriedMCAR 7 Nov 1901. Clarence m/2 Baxter Co. AR 1907 Mrs. Lulu SMITH. Bertha Davis, 1066 Hollywood Ave., Salt Lake City UT 84105-3445 <jleon1946@aol.com>

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MARION COUNTY VOTERS' LIST 1893

Included here is more of the 1893 County Voters' Lists. This list is now on-line at the Marion Co Site

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MEMBERSHIPS FOR 2001 NOW DUE

        Annual dues of $12 must be received by HGSMCA no later than 31 DECEMBER 2000 to continue to have Bramble Bush at your fingertips quarterly through 2001. Don't miss a single issue. Get those dues in the mail today.

       THIS WILL BE YOUR ONLY REMINDER!        Send your check for $12 to HGSMCA, PO Box 761, Yellville AR 72687

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JOHN HENRY and MARTHA ANN (MEARS) DOSHIER BIBLE
Thanks to Jaimie Wright 3372478@goodnet.com

Page 1 & 2     Page 3     Page 4

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WATERS
Family of Sarah Black Waters,
wife of C. H. "Champion" McEntire
Thanks to Barbara McEntire, 565 Siesta Drive, Ivin UT 84738
<mcentire@redrock.net>

ABSALOM O. WATERS b1755-1759 d Rutherford Co. NC 1816 m Rutherford Co. NC ca 1779 JANE OWENS (daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth [ ___ ] Owns) b Rutherford Co. NC 1759 d Rutherford Co. NC 4 June 1849.

1. Children of Absalom O. & Jane ( Owens ) Waters
2. NANCY WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 22 Aug 1780 m Rutherford Co. NC 1 Jan 1818 GEORGE GOODE
3. JOHN YORK WATERS b NC 23 Dec 1781 d bef March 1864 m Rutherford Co. NC 16 Feb 1804 RACHEL DEVINEY b Rutherford Co. NC 17 March 1782 d Rutherford Co. NC bef 27 Dec 1861. His will is dated 27 Dec 1861 proved March 1864. He divides 500 acres among his specified daughters and his son Aaron, stating that his other children have already been given the deeds to their land.
4. ELIZABETH WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 12 Sep 1783 d Rutherford Co. NC 1850.
5. SARAH WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 27 Feb 1785.
6. JANE WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 1 Nov 1786.
7. WILLAM WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 24 Feb 1788.
8. JONATHAN WATERS b Whitesides Settlement, Rutherford Co. NC 1790 m Rutherford Co. NC 2 Dec 1819 ELIZABETH HUTCHINS
9. ABNER WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 7 Dec 1791 d Rutherford Co. NC 1796.
10. MARY DEEP WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 7 June 1793.
11. POLLY WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 28 Feb 1795.
12. ABSALOM O. WATERS Jr. b Rutherford Co. NC March 1797 m Rutherford Co. NC ca 1822 MARY_,

3 Children of John York & Rachel ( Deviney ) Waters
13. JAMES "Jim" WATERS b Rutherford NC ca 1805 d NC m 27 April 1836 SARAH "Sallie" MOONEY.
14. SARAH BLACK WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 1806/7 d Bruno 2 May 1888 bu Bruno Cemetery m Rutherford Co. NC 10 Sep 1831 C. H. "Champion" McENTIRE (son of Archibald McEntire Sr.) b Rutherford Co. NC ca 1806 d Bruno 2 March 1879 bu Bruno Cemetery. Sarah received one share in her father's 500 acres under his will dated 27 Dec 1861. Sarah and Champion donated the land for the Bruno Cemetery. He was a wagonmaker.
15. AARON DEVINEY "Vin" WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC ca 1810 d 1870 m 8 July 1831 ELIZABETH "Bets" HUNT b 24 Dec 1816 d 16 June 1883. Received one share in his father's 500 acres under his will dated 27 Dec 1861.
16. ABSALOM OUVER WATERS b 1812 m P. BROOKS McQUIRTER . His father appointed Absalom executor of his estate.
17. JANE WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC ca 1813 d Cleveland Co. NC aft 1880 m GEORGE DERBERRY b Rutherford Co. NC ca 1820 d NC 1913. Received one share in her father's 500 acres under his will dated 27 Dec 1861.
18. JOHN "Jack" WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC ca 1815 m ISABELLE GLASS.
19. ELIZABETH WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC ca 1816 m/l WILLIAM DAYBERRY b NC ca 1818; m/2 JOSEPH BEDFORD ; m/3 WILLIAM HUNT . Elizabeth apparently died before 27 Dec 1861 when her father made his will because he left her one share in his 500 acres to her heirs.
20. MARY WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC ca 1817 d Douglas Co. MO m/1 WILLAM DAVIS ; m/2 26 Feb 1860 RANSOM PROCTOR b ca 1813 d Douglas Co. MO ca 1884. Received one share in her father's 500 acres under his will dated 27 Dec 1861.
21. JOHN EUSHA CHRISTY WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC ca 1820 bu Old Deveny Cemetery on Briar Creek, Casar NC m 3 Nov 1853 NANCY MALINDA HALE.
22. ELIJAH "Lige" WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 14 July 1821 d Cleveland Co. NC 24 Nov 1910 m ELIZABETH GLASS b 19 April 1820 d Cleveland Co. NC 28 Jan 1893.
23. RACHEL WATERS b Rutherford Co. NC 14 Oct 1822 d 16 April 1907 m 4 Jan 1843 MICHAEL OSBORN MOONEY b 1 Jan 1822 d 30 Dec 1897. Received one share of her father's 500 acres under his will dated 27 Dec 1861.

SOURCES: Evelyn G. Waters, 340 s. Guernsey Road West Grove PA 19390; IGI Record 1985524 at familysearch.com

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

       SERVICE DIRECTORY is published in Bramble Bush as a service to those who may wish to advertise some of the many books, products, and services available that relate to historic and/or genealogical research. Ads from both members and non-members are accepted. The name and address of a contact person must accompany each ad.

BOOKS FOR SALE

       "CEMETERIES OF MARION COUNTY." Marian S. Burnes. Hardbound. Indexed. $25. Marian S. Burnes, 2102 W Jefferson, Siloam Springs AR 72761.
       "EARLY DAYS AND WAR TIMES IN NORTHERN ARKANSAS." Thomas Jerome Estes. Reprint 1999 (1928). $5 HGSMCA, PO Box 761, Yellville AR 72687.
       "EARLY DAYS OF MARION COUNTY." Lester & Marian Burnes. Indexed. $25. Vicki Roberts, 2363MC 5032, Yellville, AR 72687.
       "GENEALOGIES OF MARION COUNTY FAMILIES 1811-1900." HGSMCA 1977. Genealogies of 400 families settling in MCAR by 1900. Hardbound. Indexed. $60 including postage. HGSMCA, PO Box 761, Yellville AR 72687.
       "INDEX TO THE MOUNTAIN ECHO 12 March 1886 thru 26 June 1903." Birth, marriage, death abstracts. $24.50 + $3.50 s/h. Margie Garr, 1505 Mistletoe, Mountain Home AR 72653,
       IZARD CO. AR 1830 FEDERAL CENSUS. Indexed. $4. Nancy A. Wood, 4643528 Avenue, Tulsa OK 74107.
       MARION CO. AR 1840 FEDERAL CENSUS. Indexed. $4. Nancy A. Wood, 4643528 A venue, Tulsa OK 74107.
       MARION CO. AR 1850 FEDERAL CENSUS. Indexed. $10. Nancy A. Wood, 4643528 Avenue, Tulsa OK 74107.
       MARION CO. AR 1870 FEDERAL CENSUS. Indexed. Annotated. $20. Nancie Todd Weber. HGSMCA, PO Box 761, Yellville AR 72687.
       MARION CO. 1880 FEDERAL CENSUS. Indexed. $21. Gladys Horn Brown. HGSMCA, PO Box 761, Yellville AR 72687.
       "MARION COUNTY MARRIAGE RECORDS 1887-1896." Marian S. Burnes & Vicki A. Roberts. Indexed. $12. Vicki Roberts, 2363 MC 5032, Yellville AR 72687.
       "MARION COUNTY MARRIAGE RECORDS 1896-1905." Marian S. Burnes & Vicki A. Roberts. $15. Vicki Roberts, 2363 MC 5032, Yellville AR 72687.
       "MARION COUNTY MARRIAGE RECORDS 1905-1917" Marian S. Burnes & Vicki A. Roberts $15. Vicki Roberts, 2363 MC 5032, Yellville AR 72687-
       "MARION COUNTY 1890 CENSUS." Reconstructed from 1880 & 1900 census; land, tax records, etc. Indexed. Hardbound. $45 including postage. Helen McMindes. HGSMCA, PO Box 761, Yellville AR 72687.

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RESEARCHERS

       GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH. Marion Co. AR and surrounding areas. Experienced researcher. $10 per hour plus copy costs and postage. Vicki Roberts, 2362 MC 5032, Yellville AR 72687; (870)-449-6195 aft 6:00 pm CST.
       GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH. Marion Co. AR area. $10 per hour plus copy costs and postage. Experienced researcher. Mysty McPherson, 35 MC 6023, Yellville AR 72687; (870)-449-5223. E-mail: shakerag@mtnhome.com

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HGSMCA MEMBERSHIP

       Membership in the Historical Genealogical Society of Marion County Arkansas is $12 per year.
       Membership for one year runs from 1 January to 31 December of that year.
       Membership includes the quarterly newsletter Bramble Bush.
       Membership begun later in the year includes all issues of Bramble Bush for that year.
       Make your check for $12 payable to HGSMCA and send to HGSMCA, PO Box 761, Yellville AR 72687-9612.

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BRAMBLE BUSH

       The Bramble Bush is published quarterly by the Historic Genealogical Society of Marion County Arkansas, PO Box 761, Yellville AR 72687. EDITORIAL STAFF: Editor, Vicki Roberts; Design/Production, Mysty McPherson; Art Work, Bonnie Sanders; Queries, Mary Birrer; Subscriptions, Barbara Holland; Printing, Rapid Rabbit, 25 Nabco Avenue, Conway AR 72O30; Contributing writers, Bonnie Sanders. HGSMCA OFFICERS: Chair, Vicki A. Roberts; Vice-Chair, Don Duggins; Secretary, Mary Birrer; Treasurer, Barbara Holland; Grants/Purchasing, Mysty McPherson.

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