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SHACKELFORD CLAN MAGAZINE

Genealogy of Shackelfords and Shacklefords

Editor: T. K. Jones 701 Ave. B Lubbock, Texas

$1.00 A Year Published Monthly 10c A Copy

Lubbock, Texas November 1950 Vol. 6. No. 7.

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Motto: A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, are not likely to achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.

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HOME AND SUNSHINE

Home at last, and never has those two magic words "Home and Sunshine" meant so much to us as they did this time. We left Lubbock at noon on Thursday August 10, and arrived home just before mid-night of December 17th. Having been away from home four months and seven days. We are happy to report however, that we had a most enjoyable, and from a genealogical point of view, a very successful trip. While on our journey we worked in 67 Counties, in five states, as well as three Libraries, including the University Library, Columbia, Mo., where we spent almost three weeks searching census records and old news papers.

The University Library of Columbia, Mo., has one of the finest collections of State records that we have yet found. They have the Missouri Census records from 1830 through 1880; also thousands of old news papers, some of which antedates the Revolutionary war. And no one will ever find more kindness, courtesy, and consideration than that to be found there.

We first went to Kansas City, Mo., where we established headquarters and worked from there. We spent five, but happy weeks there. And during the week ends we took time out to visit with our relatives in Independence, Missouri, only

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a short distance from Kansas City. And while in Independence we also visited with our old friends, Dr and Mrs Ellsworth, former Lubbockites; and the Lester A. Hansens, also former Texans. And some of our favorite kin-folks, the Tottys.

While in Missouri we worked the records in twenty eight (28) Counties, where, while we did not find as much as we had wistfully wished that we would, we did find as much information as we had anticipated, and in some cases even more. And of course we had our usual number of odd experiences, chuckles, and head aches. And since we did, and since we had a very successful mission, with all of its joys and sorrows, we shall devote almost this entire issue of the magazine telling you about it.

We found courtesy in every place we worked, more in some places than in others, which was to be expected. We met several members of the Clan whom we never met before, and as we have told you at other times, we wish all of you could know there fine people as we know them.

While in Missouri we journeyed out to Warrensburg, County Seat, of Johnson County. There we had the pleasure of meeting Judge Aber, the affable Probate Judge, and his charming and efficient deputy, Mrs Julia Downing. We were particularly impressed here, not only because of the courtesy shown us, but because of the fact that Judge Aber is 86 years young and still holding public office, and because we had to make three different visits to his office before we could finish our work there.

We were shown extra ordinary courtesy also at Clinton, Liberty, Richmond, Platte City, Savannah, Plattsburg, Marshall, Fayette, Boonville, Sedalia, Montgomery City, and Warrenton, Mo.; And at Tuscumbia and California, Mo., the clerks were kind enough to drop whatever they were doing and help us. And had it not been for this help at Californai, Mo., we would not have been able to finish our work and make bus connections, thereby forcing us to spend an extra night there.

At Tuscumbia, Mo., we had a very unusual experience. Only one bus schedule each day, and after

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we had finished our work there we learned that we would have to remain over night, and thus lose the next day for work. But fortunately Mr Haynes, the affable Probate Clerk, lived in Eldon, eleven miles away, where there were several bus schedules daily, so we hitched a ride with him, at his invitation, and save a day for work elsewhere.

Also at Tuscumbia we met Mr Lester W. Shackelford, his father John K. Shackelford, and several other members of the Clan; all of whom are as fine as will be found any place, and as co-operative.

At Princeton, Mo., we had another unusual experience. From there we wanted to journey over to Bethany, Mo., only 28 miles away. But although a fine highway connects the two places, there is no bus route, nor is there a rail road. So after we had finished our work there and was ready to leave we learned to our sorrow, that if we were to reach Bethany by bus it would require forty eight hours to get there. So we were forced to do another neat job of hitch-hiking, and made it in less than one hour. But on our return from Bethany to Kansas City we had the prize misfortune of our entire journey. It was our original intention to stop over in the City of Plattsburg and work the records there, and which we did. But when we arrived in Plattsburg at ten o'clock at night, on the last bus for that day, we found every room in the village occupied, not a single vacancy to be had any place. So we spent the night in the hotel lobby.

After this we made a run up to St Joseph, Mo., on the east side of the Missouri River, returning by way of Atchison, Kansas, where we stopped over for a look-see at the records there, and to visit some members of the Clan. But it was here that we met a member of the Clan that we would be just as happy, perhaps more so, had we never done so. It was a blistering hot day, Sept. 8th. We had finished our work at the court house, and knowing of this family, and having heard that there was a very old Bible there, we walked several blocks to reach their home (no transportation). And our knock was answered by a very pleasant little old

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lady, to whom we introduced ourself and explained our business. She was about to invite us in when a huge hulk of a man appeared and gruffly inquired as to our purpose in being there. We answered his query as politely as we knew how, only to be informed that neither he or the little old lady was even slightly interested, and that she would not be permitted to talk to us; and with those words he abruptly latched the door and walked away.

We will mention no names, but we hope when that gentleman reads these lines (and he will have an opportunity to do so), that he will obtain a dictionary and spend at least an hour each day for a week studying the definition of the word "courtesy." He will be surprised at what a whale of a difference it will make in his future every day life.

After finishing our work in Missouri, which was at Warrenton, we journeyed on down into the south eastern corner of the State and spent four happy days visiting our sister and her children and grand children, whom we had not visited for about ten years. Then we crossed the Mississippi River at Cairo, Ill., and dropped down into Kentucky.

We worked in twenty nine (29) Kentucky Counties and enjoyed a great deal of success, but here too, we met with some obstacles. We crossed the entire State of Kentucky north and south, three times, and lacked only a few miles crossing it twice more. We were at Owensboro November 1st, and they were in the midst of a heat wave, the temperature registering an unusal high of 83; then just three days later at Hogenville, it was snowing. And from that day the weather continued to get worse.

It was our plans when we left home, to spend the winter doing research work, but the sudden change in the weather, and the intensity of it, became too rugged for us, and we decided to finish that section of Kentucky, return home for the winter and start all over again next year.

November 6th found us at Springfield, Ky., and from there we planned to go to Liberty, being forced to change buses at Lebannon, but there they have but one bus schedule daily, and there we missed our

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bus and as a result had to lay over there twenty four hours. Lebannon had not been on our original itinerary, but we took advantage of our forced layover and examined the records there, on election-day.

We arrived in Lexington the following Saturday, registered at the hotel, called our good friend Mr J. R. Johnson, with whom we have had a great deal of correspondence but had never met. The following day we attended Church with the Johnsons, and then in the afternoon they really gave us a sample of Kentucky hospitality, driving us all over the area surrounding Lexington, showing us points of interest, historical spots, and introducing us to other members of the Clan -- Miss Sue Darnaby, Misses Emma and Henrietta Coons, being three of them.

We have traveled in thirty seven States, did research in twenty one, but never have we met finer people than Mr Johnson and his lovely and charming wife and daughter. His son Joe, whom we would have been happy to meet, was not at home. The son Joe, although only 19 years of age and still in school, is an ordained minister and pastor of a Church.

Miss Sue Darnaby, although an elderly lady, like many others of her sex, will not reveal her age, and we won't betray her here, but will say that she has been around for several years. She was grace and charm magnified, and literally a walking history. And we can also say as much for the Misses Emma and Henrietta Coons. Our visit to Lexington and our meeting all the fine people that we did shall ever remain one of our cherished memories.

From Lexington, where we left on Friday morning, November 17th, we made our first stop at Nicholasville, and then on to Lancaster. At Lancaster our good luck still continued. We not only found much information of interest, but we found an excellent place to spend the week end; and also met Mr Calico, another walking history, and who was kind enough to spend the larger part of the day helping us. We had had some correspondence with Mr Calico some years ago, but had forgotten that he lived at Lancaster. After our days work was completed and we had had our evening repast we enjoyed about three

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hours visit with Mr Calico and his charming wife in their home, where we obtained additional data. And as if that was not sufficient, when we arrived home we found a ten page type written letter containing additional information, also from Mr Calico, waiting for us. And for such friendship and co-operation we shall be forever grateful.

And while on the subject of Lancaster, may we say that we would be derelict in our duty if we did not throw a few posies in the direction of Mr Layton, the affable and efficient County Clerk of Garrard County, who incidentally, is a nephew of our good friend -- Mr Calico. Mr Layton also showed us every courtesy and co-operation possible.

From Lancaster we went to Stanford, Lincoln Co., one of the original four Counties of the State, and which at one time was Lincoln County, Va. There we met more courteous Gentlemen in the persons of Mr Gilliland, the County Clerk, and his deputy -- Mr Newland, the latter a former Texan. We had been told that little courtesy could be expected at Stanford, but found that to be in error, for here we were not only shown courtesy, but a great deal of help also. No place were we shown more consideration than at Stanford. We had to spend one and one half days at this place, and could have spent more time.

From Stanford we journeyed on down to Somerset, in Pulaski County. We had had our mail sent to this place, and went at once to the post office where we received the sad news of the passing of one of the most beloved and venerable members of the Clan, Mrs Mary Harris-Armor, of College Park, Ga., of whom we shall have more to say later.

From Somerset we went to Monticello, in Wayne Co., where we finished our work on Wednesday, November the 22nd. And as we could not get transportation out of there until afternoon the next day, we had time on our hands and attended court (as a spectator of course) on Thanksgiving day. It was the first time in our life that we ever saw court in session on a legal holiday. It was a lovely day, one of the very few in which we had seen the sun during November. From there we went to Livingston, Tenn., where our

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weather really made a change for the worse, for on Friday morning November 24, we had some six or eight inches of snow on the ground.

After Livingston we had to make another circle back into Kentucky, as our next stop was Jamestown, and we had to back track to Somerset in order to get the necessary bus connections. Saturday morning November 25th, found us back at Somerset, Ky., and the temperature six below zero, with ice all over the streets and highways, making travel extremely uncertain and hazardous. And to add insult to injury, the gas pressure was almost completely nil. Here we became homesick for Texas and our glorious sunshine (more on our journey next month).

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"Intelligence is like a river, the deeper it is the less noise it makes" -- Anon --

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We have so much family news to report to you it would be impossible to get all of it into one issue, most of it related in the first place, so we will just give you the high lights this time, and try to bring you up todate in future issues. So we shall begin by reporting the death of Mrs Mary Harris-Armor, of College Park, Georgia.

Mary Harris-Armor, was born the daughter of William L. M. Harris, and Sarah Frances (Fanny) Johnson, March 9, 1863, and she passed peacefully and serenely from the toils and cares of this world at the home of her daughter -- Mrs Dudley D. Smith, of Eastman, Ga., November 6, 1950, in her 88th year.

Mrs Armor wa a very remarkable woman. She was married to Walter Florence Armor, August 15, 1883, and this union were blessed with five children, two sons and three daughters, three of whom survive her. Her husband preceded her in death several years ago, as did two of her children.

In addition to finding time to give birth to five children, rearing four of them to splendid manhood and womanhood, making a home for her husband, and all the duties attendant to such a task, she also found time to become one of the greatest Temperance leaders in the world, having crossed the nation 28 times, spoke in 45 States and four

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foreign countries, in behalf of temperance, and acclaimed by many as the greatest woman orator in the world.

She was a member of the Methodist Church, the DAR, the UDC, the Daughters of 1812, the Daughters of the King, and also served as The District President of The Methodist Church Missionary Society.

We never had the pleasure of meeting Mrs Armor in person. We went to her home in College Park in 1948, but at that time she was visiting her daughter, Mrs Smith, in Eastman. But we did have a great deal of correspondence with her, and she remained as interested as one could be in genealogy, until the very last, having her daughter send us some data just a few days before she passed away. She compiled almost a complete genealogy of her family for us, and this after she had passed her 80th birthday.

We consider her passing a personal loss, and shall always cherish the memory of our work with her. She was indeed one of the choicest morsels of God's creation. May the Lord bless each of her survivors and all the bereaved in their hour of grief.

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The death of another beloved and venerable member of the Clan was reported to us this year, the news reaching us while we were on tour.

Mrs Sarah Elizabeth Shackelford, age 91 years, said to have been the oldest woman in the Crank's Creek area near Whitesburg, Ky., died at the home of her son J. C. Shackelford, after a long illness, March 23rd, 1950. Survivors include a large family, two sisters, and one brother.

We have no data of this family, this branch of the family, at Whitesburg, Ky. Therefore would be most happy to have information of them.

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Since we arrived home too late to prepare our annual Christmas Greetings, we shall have to be content in saying that we hope each of you had the best and most enjoyable Christmas you ever had, and that you will have many many more.

The December issue of the Magazine will accompany this one. So until then, Adios -- The Editor.

Transcribed by Stephen William Shackelford, July 5, 1998 - Austin, Texas.


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