Genealogy Tips & Inspiration on Pinterest

Just a quick note to let you know I have a Genealogy Board on Pinterest with Tips on Research sources and lots of Inspiration from others. I'll be adding to the board along the way, so check back often. I've been very pleased with all the info on Pinterest!

If you're interested. . . .

CLICK HERE

Hector Township named for the William Hector Family, First Pioneers

Hector Farm, ca 1900

William Hector moved his family to Mississippi County from Missouri in 1837. William actually lived east of Big Lake as early as 1828, when he helped survey the then Territory of Arkansas.  Born in Virginia in 1791, William lived on his farm, in the area that is now called Roseland, until his death in 1865. His son Sam Hector, who arrived with the rest of the Hector family, also owned land in the Roseland area, as well as several pieces of property north of Pemiscott Bayou, directly above present day Dell. Goodspeed speaks of Sam in his BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF NORTHEASTERN ARKANSAS:
 
    "Let it be remembered that this region of country abounds in lakes, and that, on the map attached to Part II, of the Historical Collections of Louisiana, drawn and printed at an early period during the last century, Big Lake, on the borders of Mississippi County, Ark., and Dunklin County, Mo., are marked as the extreme northern limit of De Soto's expedition; thus the reader will have some solid reasons to believe that the movements of De Soto in 1541, in this county, have been properly traced. The country in and around Big Lake, or Mich-i-gam-ias, its Indian name, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, still bears upon its surface traces of a wide but now extinct population; and precisely such a ditch as described by the Portuguese narrator can now be traced near the home of Mr. Sam Hector, of Big Lake.
    Sam Hector, a truthful, upright citizen of Big Lake, who is proud of his Indian blood, lived in 1833 at an Indian village called Chil-i-ta-caw, the site of Kennett, Dunklin County, Mo., not far from Big Lake.
    When he settled on this lake in 1837 the Indians occupied the country, chief among whom was Corn Meal, John East, Moonshine, John Big Knife and Chuck-a-lee. The latter killed an Indian named Keshottee on an island in Little River, still known as Keshottee's Island. He thinks the Indians gave the name to the Bayou now called Tyronza. Corn Meal told Mr. Hector there had been an Indian town on his (Mr. Hector's) place, and several along the banks of Little River. Where these villages were said to have been located he has often seen apple and peach trees growing in the woods."
 
 Descendants of William Hector remained a part of Dell Community history well into the 20th century. 

In 1901, Hector Township was established from part of Chickasawba Township, honoring this pioneer family.

Hector Farm, ca 1900

Vintage Post Cards of Blytheville, AR

 

Finding Your Roots in the Missouri Bootheel

Did you know that Northeast Arkansas was once a part of Missouri Territory? We were also a part of the lands claimed by the Spanish and French before the Louisiana Purchase. . . .Odds are, if your ancestors were around from the 1780's-1821 (when Missouri became a state), you'll find your family records in the Bootheel of Missouri.

My own family is deeply tied to that early history of the state. . . .For years--I mean YEARS--they alluded me because of the lack of records that have been kept in the Bootheel. . . .My Grandmother Magers, who was a Ruddle and was born in Hayward, Mo, knew nothing about her family. She was orphaned when a young child. Her half sister raised Grandmother in the same area but it appears separated from the Ruddles of Ruddles Point. All I had in the beginning was a name.

I found the Ruddles to be a huge part of American history, beginning way before the War of Independence and found in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and finally Missouri as they made their way west. The confusion stemmed from the families naming the males in the family--John, William, Andrew, Archibald, George, and Cornelius---over and over again. . . .The only way I've been able to track my line was through the wives names, primarily on Deeds, Wills, and other documents. Even that information often wasn't available. . . .

I won't go into a lot of detail. . . .that's not my purpose in this post. . . .My point being, it's been a long, hard search of 25 years to finally break down my brick wall, mainly because of the lack of recorded history in the Missouri Bootheel. . . .You can't imagine how thrilled I was when I finally found John Ruddle, my missing link, at the sight of the Linda Division of Bunge on the Mississippi River!

I can tell you after roaming all the back roads and looking for cemeteries, that unless your ancestors are buried in a city or on higher ground, most of the private cemeteries along the River are lost.

So what do you do?  I've research many libraries, funeral homes where some cemetery records are kept, actual cemeteries, books, courthouses and have found the places with the most records. I thought I'd share that information with you, maybe save you a few steps in your search for Missouri Bootheel ancestors.

The Dunklin Country Library in Kennett, Mo 

has one of the best genealogy collection I've found in the Bootheel.

It not only contains Dunklin Country records but also information from

New Madrid Country, Pemiscot County and other counties in the Bootheel.

Dunklin County Library
209 N. Main Street
Kennett, MO 63857
573-888-3561/2261
Open 8:30-5:30 M-Sat

*****************************************************************

The Dunklin County Courthouse is on the square in Kennett.

Early records were lost during the Civil War era from a fire.

No one will say who set the fire. . . I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Ancestors living in Dunklin County after the War will be on record there.
Deeds, Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records are found
at the Recorder's Office

Dunklin County Courthouse
Recorder of Deeds
P O Box 389
Kennett, MO 63857
573-888-3468
Open 8:30-Noon, 1:00-4:30 M-F

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Pemiscot County Courthouse in Caruthersville has
a wealth of information in early

documents--deeds, marriages, wills, plats--
and are organized and easy to find.

Pemiscot Country was formed from New Madrid County,
so some of the early records

of people living in Pemiscot Country will be found in New Madrid. 

The ladies there are well informed and helpful.
Records at the Pemiscot Co Courthouse
are available for Deeds, beginning in 1833
Marriage Liscenses begin in 1882
Death Records and Wills are also on file there.

Pemiscot County Courthouse
Recorder of Deeds
610 Ward Avenue
Caruthersville, MO 63830
573-333-2204
Open 8:30-4:40 M-F

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In order to trace my Ruddles, who settled in both the present day counties of Pemiscot

and New Madrid, I had to trek on up to the New Madrid Country Courthouse.

These people have got it together!
Records are all indexed, in order and easy to access.

They are housed in a vault, safe from fires and vandalism.

The ladies are very knowledgeable of early history and very helpful.

Deeds begin in 1805, after the Louisiana Purchase.

Marriage Licenses begin in the 1840s, with some references before that.
 These can be found in the Recorder's Office.
The Probate Office did not have the older Wills available to view,
but there's a ton of information through the land deeds in the Recorder's Office.

New Madrid Country Courthouse
Recorder of Deeds
450 Main Street
New Madrid, MO 63869
573-748-5146

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For online research, my main source has been through
the Secretary of State's Missouri Digital Heritage Collection.
http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/

It's a wonderful resource for early records. I haven't researched the entire
site, yet. . . .I continue to find more information every time I access it.

Another online source that might of help is
the Missouri Gen Web.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mogenweb/mo.htm

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Hope these sources will be of help to you. . . .It does come from years of experience searching for my own family. . . .

I'll be posting more on the common history of Northeast Arkansas and the Bootheel of Missouri soon--I hope. . . .

Good Luck with your Search!

Mississippi County's Best Kept Secret--The Museum in Osceola

"On June 20, 1901, Mr. Fred G. Patterson purchased the lot where the 1902 Fred G. Patterson Store Building sits on, for the sum of $250.00. This area of town was referred to a 'New Town'. After two years of successful business in 'New Town' Osceola, Mr. Patterson purchased the adjoining lot #4 from W. H. and Lou Pullen, also for the sum of $250.00, paid in cash on April 18, 1904. . . .In 1904, he moved the Fred G. Patterson Store into his new building. . . .used as the Patterson Dry Good Store until 1987. . . ."

Read More

 

"Miss Lonetta Patterson made a gift of the 1902-1904 buildings to the Mississippi County Historical & Genealogical Society on November 21, 1993 in memory of Henry J. Patterson. By her request, these buildings will always be used for a Historical Center, not just a museum. Permanent exhibits are on display for the enjoyment of the citizens of Mississippi County and the American public."

Did you know about this museum in Osceola?

They have a wealth of information on Mississippi County, Arkansas

and the displays are a delight--taking you back to the early 20th Century,

when life was a lot different from today.

It's a wonderful resource for all Mississippi County residents,
as well as those interested in our Delta Heritage.

The admission cost couldn't be better. . . .It's free!

See and learn about the museum itself, as well as life in the Delta. . . .

Use their resources for genealogy research. . . .

Learn about the Mighty Mississippi
and how it affected the development of our county. . .

In addition, each month the museum focuses on a special topic. . . .

This month of March is Women's History Month,

Where. . . .

I was very honored to be included for our work
at the Widner-Magers Farm Historic District, north of Dell.

John and I spent several hours this week at the Mississippi County Museum and highly recommend it to everyone. It's Mississippi County's best kept secret. . . .but, we want to get the word out! So, hop in your car and get over there! You'll find the folks are friendly, knowledgeable and brimming over with that southern Delta charm.

Open: Monday-Friday, 10:00-4:00 p.m.

Visit their website at: 

Mississippi Country Museum

Email:

mshgsosceola@gmail.com

Phone:

870-563-6161