Forget Me Not; Patricia Ann Brock Smith, 2010 MS

Pat was a wonderful lady. We corresponded and I was lucky to have the opportunity t meet her. She was kind and helpful. She was never too busy to share family information with me. She prepared a delicious lunch for my family & myself when we were visiting. We have special memories of this lovely lady. 

 

 

Patricia Ann Brock Smith

15 Jul 1932 MS - 31 Aug 2010 MS

Daughter of Leslie William Brock & Dollie Lura Smith

Wife of Fay Seward Smith

 

 

Patricia Ann “Pat” Brock Smith, 78, of the Progress community, died Aug. 31, 2010, at the Cardiovascular Institute of Mississippi in McComb.

 

Visitation was 5 to 9 p. m. Friday at Hartman – Hughes Funeral Home in Tylertown and 10 a. m. Saturday at Silver Springs Baptist Church until services at 11. The Rev. Byran Wilkinson and the Rev. Wayne Hall officiated. Burial was in Silver Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

 

Mrs. Smith was born July 15, 1932 in Walthall County, to Leslie William and Dollie Lura Smith Brock. She owned and operated Smith’s Grocery in Progress. She was a member of Silver Springs Baptist Church, where she served as treasurer and taught a Sunday school class. She was a member of Silver Springs Seniors and was a hospice volunteer. She was a member and former president of the Pike – Amite – Walthall Library Board.

 

Mrs. Smith was a 1949 graduate of Lexie High School, where she played basketball. She loved working with genealogy and was a member of the Alford American Family Association, from which she received a Hall of Fame Award in 2009. She was a beloved member of the Progress community and will be greatly missed by many.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 49 years, Fay Seward Smith; a sister, Peggy Brock Stringer; a granddaughter, Tara Brock Leonard and two sisters-in-law, Nathalee Smith Comeaux and Wilma Smith Butler.

 

Survivors include two sons, Michael D. Smith and Kim Lee Smith, both of Progress; a daughter, Patricia Gail Smith Hall of Tylertown; a sister, Joanna Brock Breeland of Tylertown; a brother-in-law. Cletus Strin ger of Southaven; four grandchildren, Tricia Ann Hall and husband Ray McElveen and their children, Will and Mary Grace; James Don Hall Jr., and wife Teena and their daughter, Jaden; Judy Larisa Hall and husband, Randall Sheets Sr. and their children, Regan, Larisa, Randall Jr., Zachary and Genell; Dustin Michael Smith and wife Shellie and their children Sadie Claire, Everhett and Austin; and Jeremiah Williams and Samarah Leonard, whose mother was the late Tara Lee Smith Leonard; two step-grandchildren, Jody “Jojo” Jr. and Aimee, and Randall Sheets Sr., as mentioned above.

 

Pallbearers were James Hall J., Dusstin Smith, Ray McElveen, Randall Sheets Sr., Wade Brown and Mac Breeland. Honorary pallbearers were the deacons of Silver Springs Baptist Church.

 

Source: Patricia Smith. (McComb, MS: Enterprise – Journal, 5 Sept 2010) A003; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed May 2021.

Forget Me Not: Fay S. Smith, 1998 MS

I was fortunate to meet Fay & Pat Smith. They both welcomed my family when we visited Mississippi & helped me with my genealogy research. They were kind, generous people and I'm glad to have met them.

 

Fay Seward Smith

6 Dec 1921 MS - 3 Sep 1998 MS

Son of Denny Herbert Smith & Mavis Marie Brown

Husband of Patricia Ann Brock

World War II Veteran

 

My 1^stcousin, 1x removed

Fay S. Smith, 76, of Progress, died Sept. 3, 1998, at Beacham Memorial Hospital in Magnolia. Services were at 11 a. m. Saturday at Silver Springs Baptist Church with the Rev. Byron Wilkinson officiating. Burial was in Silver Creek Cemetery with Hartman-Hughes Funeral Home in Tylertown officiating. Mr. Smith was born Dec. 6, 1921, in Pike County. He was the son of the late Denny Herbert and Mavis Brown Smith. He a member of Silver Springs Baptist Church and was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U. S. Army. He and his wife owned and operated Smith’s Grocery in Progress. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Patricia Brock Smith of Progress; two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael D. and Deborah Smith and Kim L. and Lisa Smith, all of Osyka; one daughter and her husband, Gail and Don Hall of McComb; two sisters, Nathalee Comeaux and Wilma Buhler, both of McComb; and 10 grandchildren. Pallbearers were Dustin M. Smith, James Hall, Jr., Randall A. Sheets, Paul S. Schneider Jr., Joseph A. Schneider and Wade C. Brown.

 

Source: Fay S. Smith. (McComb, MS: Enterprise – Journal, 6 Sep 1998) 10; digital image, Newspapers.com: May 2021.

1905 Petition to Improve Louisiana Roads

As genealogists we usually track down our ancestors in records that show them as a single individual or family; they are in isolation. When I find more than one surname together I get excited. This newspaper article shows several of my family members signing a petition to improve roads in Washington Parish, Louisiana in 1905.

1905 Petition to Improve LA Roads

Petition. Franklinton, La. May 29, 1905. We, the undersigned citizens and taxpayers of the Parish of Washington, respectfully petition the President and Members of the Police Jury of said parish that you order an election after due publication for the purpose of levying a special tax of one dollar per head on all males 18 years of age and upwards, also a property tax of three and one-half mills on all property subject to taxation; that said tax be used for ditching, throwing up, cutting out and making up-to-date dirt roads in said parish; that said tax shall be spent under the supervision of the police jury, and that no money shall be expended by them without due regard to value received therefore; the said tax be carried upon a majority at said election voting therefore, and that said tax be levied for a period of five years beginning with the year 1906. Respectfully signed and submitted.

There is a long list of signatures. I have been able to identify these family members:

J. M. Alford                 Jeptha Martin Alford, 1862 – 1948

H. G. Alford                Hugh Ginn Alford, 1857 – 1923

J. L. Alford                   Jesse L. Alford, 1847 – 1911

J. B. Alford                   Jesse B. Alford, 1855 – 1909

E. J. Alford                   Edwin James Alford, 1846 - ?

M. J. Alford                 Milton John Alford, 1842 – 1921

O. E. Brock                 Ollie E. Brock, 1886 – 1969

E. W. Brock                Eli W. Brock, 1860 – 1925
Bill Brumfield               Could be one of several William Brumfields

L. M. Brumfield           L. McCauley Brumfield, 1886 – 1948

Josiah M. Brumfield     Josiah Brumfield, 1866 – 1928
M. J. Brumfield           Milton John Brumfield, 1842 - 1921

U. V. Brumfield           Uriah V. Brumfield, 1853 - 1934

Magee W. Ott             Magee Walter Ott, 1877 – 1951
W. R. Smith                Wyatt Rankin Smith, 1851 - 1923



There are more that I am guessing are family members but I cannot be sure.

Source: Petition. (Franklinton, LA: The Era-Leader, 5 August 1905) 6; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed July 2019.

Genealogy Travel: Meeting a Blog Pal!

Charles Purvis & Colleen Pasquale, Fellow Bloggers in North Carolina

Some time ago I searched Geneabloggers for blogs about the Carolinas & discovered

Carolina Family Roots by Charles Purvis. On the blog Charles wrote, “My goal is to document the genealogy of my families living in Chesterfield County, SC and Anson County, NC. His surnames include:  Brock, Brown, Graves & Moore, Smith & Purvis. We share some of these surnames.

I especially love that everything Charlie posts is well documented. You can count on his facts.

I became a follower and began stopping by quite often. Charlie & I have been in touch through our blogs and by email, exchanging information. We have learned that we are distant cousins.

On my recent trip to South Carolina Charlie & I, with his lovely wife and my brother, met. My brother and I were in North Carolina, Charlie’s home state. We met up at a small chain restaurant where we introduced ourselves and had a delightful conversation. We discussed places for research, DNA genealogy, our families, and many other things.

If you have an opportunity to meet a fellow blogger do it! You may be making a new friend.

Alphabetical Ancestors - B

Take a moment to look over these surnames. I post them in hopes of discovering new contacts to expand my knowledge of these names. Some of these surnames are more twigs than branches on my tree. It is time to let them out to get some sunshine & some attention.

I probably have more ‘B’ surnames than any other letter, so relax, sit back & scroll down.

B is for these Surnames…

Bagnato

This surname comes from my husband’s family. His grand aunt was Mariana (Pascale) Bagnato, b 1887. Her parents were from Italy. She married Joseph Bagnato.

Ball

I have an assortment of Ball cousins, mostly located in Louisiana and Texas. James Alton Ball, b 1902 in LA, married my great grand aunt, Mildred Olga Brown, b 1904 in MS.They had 10 children. Jesse Ball [b 1808], married my 2^nd great grand aunt, Cynthia Ann Alford. Anice Ball [1843 – 1912] married my 2^nd great grand uncle, Seaborn S Alford, MD.

Ballard

          Robert E Ballard, b 1891 in Indiana, married my grand aunt Vera Victoria Mark, b  1905 in Ohio.

Balliet

Pennsylvania is the location for this surname. Jacob Balliet married Barbara Ritter, b 1761 in PA. They had three children.

Bennett

George Bennett married Mary Alice Alford [b 1920 in LA] my 1^st cousin once removed. They had four children.

Beriswell

Robert M Beriswell [1932 OH - 1986 in OH] married Francis Edith Brophy [b 1941 in Ohio]. Their four children were born in Ohio.

Berryhill

Two different Berryhill families: Mark Anthony Berryhill married Nancy Jane Alford, b 1845 in LA. Addie L Berryhill married William J Ellzey.

Blackwell

          Samuel A. Balckwell [1828 – 1910] married Violette Jane Fortenberry [1835 – 1857].

Blades

The Blades in my family come from Louisiana & Mississippi. The long list of cousins reach back to Benjamin Blades who married Hollander Elizabeth Morris, b 1829 in MS & d 1868 in LA.

Boerngeon

Amelius Boergeon, b 1846 in Germany, married Caroline Gruissy, b 1844 in Ohio. Their three children were born in Ohio.

Boney

Smith Sebastion Boney [b 1841 in Ohio] married Matilda Jane Ritter [b 1866 in Ohio - d 1914]. Three children b in Ohio.

Boreman

This is an Ohio family. Myron A Boreman, b 1893 in Ohio, married Elva Gale Mark [b 1894 OH - d 1959 in OH]. Four children.

BRADY

Brady is one of my major surnames. They came from County Cavan, Ireland. Thomas Brady, d 1914, married Catherine Gibney [b c 1818 - d 1873 in Ireland]. They had 9 children. Some stayed in Ireland. Others came to New Jersey & Connecticut.

Brigandi

This name comes from my husband’s family and reaches to Italy. Carmen Brigandi, b c 1881 in Sicily, married Angela Valenti, b c 1876 in Sicily & d c 1934 in New York.Six children, born in Sicily & New York.

Brock

This surname comes from the south. Samuel Ruffus Brock [1914 – 1989] married Iris Elizabeth Pierce. They were born & married in Mississippi. William F Brock married Cynthia E Alford, b c 1851 in Louisiana.

Brophy

I can trace this surname to Ohio and William Clarence Brophy, b 1888. He married Frances Gertrude Moore, b 1888. They and their 3 children were b in Ohio.

BROWN

Brown is my maiden name. I have many, many Browns in my records. At this time I can trace back to Edward Brown [b c 1730 - d c 1797] in North Carolina. The family moved, over the years, to Mississippi & Louisiana. My paternal grandfather moved from MS to Ohio and later to New York State.

BRUMFIELD

This is another large limb on my family tree. For me, this family moved from Virginia to Louisiana to Mississippi.John Brumfield [b c 1768 - d 1834 in LA] married Margaret Kelly b 1772 in NC. Their son, Nathaniel Brumfield b 1813 in LA, married Charlotte Temple Ott, 1815 – 1895. Their son, Jessie Alexander Brumfield, b 1838, married Martha Elizabeth Alford, b 1846. The names expand from these men.

Burkholder

My third great grandmother is Elizabeth (Burkholder) Wolf, [b 1814 PA - d 1856  Ohio]. I believe her father was Abraham Burkholder. I would love to learn more about this surname.

         

         

         

Book Report: A Patriot’s Legacy

When I started to research my father’s family Patricia A. Brock Smith helped me out in many ways. At one time she mailed me photocopies of a couple pages from this book:

Creel, Bevin J. A Patriot's Legacy:

The Family of Richard Dillon and Ann Lawrence

from Bertie County, North Carolina to Southern Mississippi and Louisiana.

Franklinton, Louisiana: Printed, 2002.

A Few of the Surnames included:

Alford, Ball, Bankston, Berryhill, Blades. Brock, Brown, Brumfield, Conerly, Cutrer, Dillon, Ellzey, Fortenberry, Ginn, Graves, Magee, McDaniel, Miller, Schilling, Simmons, Smith, Strickland, Tate, Tynes, Varnado, Warner, Yarborough

Recently I was looking into my Dillon ancestors and reread my notes from my earlier research. I was wishing I had more than just a couple photocopied pages of this book. I started an internet search to purchase the complete book. Amazon & AbeBooks.com did not have it. Google Books did not have a book or ebook. Further searching led me to the Family History Family Catalog where I hoped to locate it on microfilm. Even better, I found a link to a digital copy!

Bevin J Creel wrote that this book is an expansion of an earlier work, ‘A History of the James Brock Family’. Because of the many ties between the families he “consider[ed] the present work to be based on the Brock volume.” Mildred Penton Richboroug is given credit as co-author.

Bevin wrote:

I would like to say a few words about proof of descent to those of you who are using this book for research purposes. One's listing in a genealogy such as this is not considered as proof of descent according to common-held genealogical standards. The primary records which stand behind this book ARE considered as proof. Ideally then, one should use this book as a guide to doing one's own research. We have made every effort to check every will, deed, tax record, etc. in an effort to make this as accurate as possible, and we believe that the information within is an honest representation of the extant evidence. Additionally, we have every assurance that those who submitted family information did so responsibly and were careful to achieve the utmost accuracy in their reporting of data.

Chapters:

1.    Background

2.    Dillons in Bertie County and the surrounding area

3.    Richard Dillon and the Lawrence family of Bertie County

4.    Various other records from Bertie County

5.    South Carolina and Mississippi

There is an all name listing of individuals at the end of the book.

Mr. Creel explains his numbering system for the many individuals included. Once I understood that it became easier to navigate and understand the relationships. Although I would like to see more sources included, he has given dates and locations that have enabled me to find many of the individuals in census and other records myself. His work has certainly expanded my knowledge of this part of my family. If you have connections to any of the families mentioned in this book it would be worth your time to look this over.