As Terry published his blog about the highest hills of
However,
At one time, during the 1800s this area was known as Oak Farm and later in the 1800’s there was a Pleasant Ridge post office in this area. The photographs show the
As Terry published his blog about the highest hills of
However,
At one time, during the 1800s this area was known as Oak Farm and later in the 1800’s there was a Pleasant Ridge post office in this area. The photographs show the
As a case in point, take the publication, Itawamba County Mineral Resources : Geology and Tests, a 1947 publication of the Mississippi State Geological Survey written by F.E. Vestal and H.J. Knollman. This technical 64-page publication offers the standard scientific information relating to the subject at hand. However, an entire section of the publication entitled The Potteries gives a detailed account of nine of the old
This scientific publication details the following
In this publication there are three plates including an interior view of the D.E. Summerford Pottery showing potters at work and an exterior view of the J.B. Young Pottery works.
This is just once such example of where valuable genealogical and historical information can be found in old non-genealogical publications. In researching your
Political speakings are still held in
One such school was
Each packet is numbered and has the plaintiff name and defendant name or estate name labeled on the outside of the packet. However, such labels can be misleading as to the priceless contents that may be uncovered inside. It is always wise to explore the contents of a packet as important genealogical information can be found on families not even mentioned on the packet label. A case in point is Packet Number 337. Simply labeled as “Houston and Reynolds and E.G. Betts vs. G.W. Howard, etal” this packet contains considerable information on the Bullard family.
Houston and Reynolds and E.G. Betts had purchased accounts the estate of A.B. Bullard held. G.W. Howard had purchased land from A.B. Bullard before his death and was to pay for the property in installments. After making three payments, A.B. Bullard died, leaving one installment due the estate from Howard. Howard’s account was one such account sold to Houston & Reynolds and E.G. Betts.
Inside the packet there are probably 25 to 30 loose documents and from those documents the following was abstracted from a single four-page document:
Houston and Reynolds and E.G. Betts, Guard. Complainants
vs.
G.W. Howard, residing in Itawamba County, Clarence M. Bullard, resident of Lafayette County, Mississippi, Laura R. Gilstrap and husband C.J. Gilstrap and Mary E. Bullard, residents of Pontotoc County, Mississippi, Emma D. Bullard, resident of Lee County, Mississippi, Martha Susan Boone and husband Squire Boone and James Paul Bullard and William Arthur Bullard, minors residing with their mother and step father Martha Susan and Squire Boone in
Complainants state unto the court as follows: That on or about the 8th day of November 1865 A.B. Bullard sold to the defendant G.W. Howard, the following real estate in Itawamba County: E ½ of the SE ¼ of Section 3 Town 10, Range 9 East for the sum of One Hundred and Forty Two Dollars…
That during 1867 the said A.B. Bullard departed this life…leaving a widow Martha Susan who has since intermarried with the Defendant Squire Boone and the two minor defendants James Paul Bullard and William Arthur Bullard who reside with the said mother and step father Boone in Ozark, Arkansas and Clarence Bullard living in Lafayette County, Mississippi, Laura R. Gilstrap and her husband is C.J. Gilstrap living in Pontotoc County and Mary E. Bullard, minor, whose guardian is C.J. Gilstrap and resides with said guardian in Pontotoc County and Emma D. Bullard, minor living with her guardian L.J. Copeland in Lee County…
The above in-depth information on the Arthur B. Bullard family is found in this packet although the Bullard name is not even mentioned on the label. Arthur Bullard was a prominent Cumberland Presbyterian minister and attorney in the town of
This one document found in the packet details land Arthur B. Bullard owned and later sold in 1865 and the amount received. The document also gives the death year for Bullard and names each of his heirs and where they lived during January of 1874. Additionally, the document shows that his widow had remarried to Squire Boone (also an attorney) and lived in
This is just one illustrative case where a researcher can find unsuspecting genealogical data stored away in a probate packet where the packet label does not even mention a particular family. Always remember that a probate court packet can provide a wealth of information on many
Some of the more artistic tombstones can be found in such old burial grounds as Keyes, Fulton, New Salem and Center Star. It is interesting to note the symbolism on old tombstones. In Itawamba County the visitors sees many old monuments with clasping hands, a hand with the index finger pointed upward, the weeping willow tree and a ship’s anchor. All such artistic elements have a special meaning.
The following is a list of symbolic items found on tombstones in Itawamba County and what their significance is:
Anchor: Steadfast Hope
Arch: Rejoined with partner in Heaven
Birds: The Soul
Cherub: Divine wisdom or justice
Column: Noble life
Crown: Reward and Glory
Garland: Victory over Death
Heart: Devotion
Lamb: Innocence
Laurel: Victory
Lily: Purity
Olive Branch: Forgiveness and peace
Swallow: Motherhood
Crossed Swords: Life cut short
Torch: Eternal Life
Weeping Willow: Mourning, grief
A most interesting website listing websites dealing with tombstone art and symbolism is located at Family Tree Magazine’s website. Located on the site are nine links to various websites dealing with the subject as well as a listing of books on the subject. Another fascinating article on the subject is the Wikipedia entry for Headstone.