Men of Available Age - Military Records

Our country has experienced many wars in its history, wars which affected us here at home and abroad.  When determining ones ancestors who may have served in any military capacity, it is good to know the span of years which any particular war encompassed.  Men and women served in the war effort over its entire time span, eligible ages were as young as 16 and as old as the individual could muster.

The next two generations in Mack's family tree were Men of Available Age for service in the War Between the States a/k/a the Civil War.  Each state, whether on the Union or Confederate side of the war (a few states, such as Missouri, were on both sides of the war), had its own militias and military units.  Because Mack's family were from the South (Texas), their service was in the Army of Texas, in the Confederacy.

 

Many military records are housed in the National Archives.  For Texas, many records are housed in the Texas State Archives.  The military and pension records contain much genealogical information, such as when and where soldiers were born, names of spouses and children, physical description of soldier and occupation outside of the military.  An online service which provides military records from all wars in which the United States has participated, as well as census and pension records, is fold3.com.  Ancestry.com and familysearch.org also offer military records of service in our nation's military.

The Men of Available Age were Lena's father, Robert Dysart Bills, and grandfather, John Randolph Ogilvie.  Also of available age were Jesse's father, Newton Craft Wilson and grandfather, Walker Beckett Wilson.  All four of these men served in the Texas military.

 

Robert Dysart Bills, the father of Lena Bills Wilson, served in the 19th Texas Calvary as a Sr. 2nd Lieutenant.  His record shows that he was 6'4 3/4" (very tall for a man in 1862), a stock raiser with light complexion, grey eyes and brown hair, born in Marshall Co., Tennessee.

 

 

 

John Randolph Ogilvie, the grandfather of Lena Bills Wilson, was a Second Lieutenant in the 4th Texas Infantry.

 

 





Walker Beckett Wilson, the grandfather of Jesse Craft Wilson, was a Sergeant in the 8th Texas Calvary.  Walker served in the War of 1812, the Battle of San Jacinto, with Texas Rangers and in the Texas Calvary in the Civil War.  For his service in the Battle of San Jacinto, he received a grant of several hundred acres of land in Texas.

 

Newton Craft Wilson, the father of Jesse Craft Wilson, was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 35th Texas Calvary.

 

In addition to the military records in the Archives, there are pension and land records which have valuable genealogical information.  Through the years, soldiers were paid for their service with grants of land.  These land grants are found in the county courthouse deed records and the various state archives.

 

Many counties have published histories of their soldiers in every war as well as genealogical societies recording soldiers buried in their county.  Lineage societies have online databases and published lineage books, which provide the soldiers who have a record of service documented as ancestors of the lineage society members.  These databases are searchable online.  Two databases of recognized soldiers and patriots which are available to the public are maintained by DAR and Daughters of the War of 1812. 

 

Happy researching!!

 

Carrie Anne Wilson Woolverton

 

FB:    Carrie Anne Woolverton

          Veteran's Daughter

          Family Tree Productions

          Ask GranMa Carrie Anne

 

 

 

 



A Plan and A Purpose

As a breeder of performance horses for many years, I can tell you, most assuredly, that many of the breeds as we see them today, in the show ring and in magazines, are very different from what they were decades ago.  Selective breeding, plus the import of foreign bloodlines, has largely changed the the horses from their foundation stock.  Some folks say improved, but other folks say “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”  Like the Foundation Quarterhorses, the Foundation Morgans and the Foundation Appaloosas, the American Foundation Arabian horses are different in substance, disposition and ability from their modern counterparts.

In the early 1990’s, I realized that the older bloodlines were vanishing.  I began to research the finest performance horses of 50-60 years ago.  One individual stood out from all of the rest.  He was the Donoghue Texas-Bred Pulque++, a champion in a variety of disciplines many times over.  I was fortunate to meet one of Pulque’s last remaining sons, Windfire, in 1994.  We then obtained Windfire’s son and grandson, BT Sun Dancer and Mesqual, and founded the Pulque++ Preservation Program.  Pulque++, Sunny and Mesqual are Early American Foundation Arabian horses, meaning that all of their ancestors were registered in the United States prior to 1944, some lines having been here prior to 1900.  We also acquired mares descended from Pulque++ to cross with Sunny and Mesqual for optimal line breeding of the EAF bloodlines. 

 

 

In the spring of 2004, Lov Que Soraquett foaled a big chestnut colt by BT Sun Dancer.  He had four white stockings, a nice star, strip and snip and a flaxen mane and tail – just what we had “ordered.”  We named him Irish Gillan HC and couldn’t wait for him to mature!  The years have gone by, Gillan is now grown with personality plus and good looks.  He embodies the American Foundation Arabian horse, making his ancestors of yesteryear very proud indeed, bringing what were fine qualities back then to current times.  When Gillan’s training under saddle was complete, words cannot describe the feeling of riding him for the first time – a dream of 15 years coming to fruition.  Gillan is everything for which we have hoped and planned.

 

In the spring of 2006, KA Golden Bubbles foaled a beautiful chestnut colt with flaxen mane and tail and four white stockings by BT Sun Dancer.  We named the handsome fellow Honey Creek Austin who has competed well in the sport horse arena and taken to working cattle quite nicely.

 



We are bringing what was a great foundation back to today’s performance arena.

 

Hamburger Stroganoff

1-1/2 pounds ground beef

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons salad oil

1 cup chopped onion

6-ounce can mushrooms

1 can beef bouillon soup

1-1/2 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon caraway seed

Dash of nutmeg

Dash of Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups sour cream

Brown meat.  Remove from skillet and pour off fat.  Melt butter and oil in skillet and saute onions and mushrooms until onions are clear.  Remove from skillet. 

Add flour to skillet and brown.  Add bouillon and blend.  Stir in salt, pepper, caraway, nutmeg, and Worcestershire.  Return meat, onions, and mushrooms to skillet.

Simmer all together for 15 minutes.  Before serving stir in sour cream.  Serve over noodles. 

SERVES: 6

There will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.  Luke 15:7

From our ranch to yours, we wish you many happy trails,   

 

Carrie Anne Wilson Woolverton

                

After Me, What Next? Moving Up The Family Tree

Now the information is complete for the first generation (oneself).  From BC and/or DC and/or census records, we have the names of the parents.  We begin reaching out further to document the next generation.

 

William Delmar "Mack" Wilson's parents are Jesse Craft Wilson and Lena Marie Bills.  From my grandmother's photo album, we obtain the only surviving picture of Lena Marie Bills Wilson, taken with her husband Jesse and grandson Bill (my father) in 1927 in Hollis, Oklahoma.

 

 

 

We know from the federal census record in 1910 that Jesse and Lena were both born in Texas.  We know that their son Mack died in Hollis, Oklahoma, so we begin the search there for the gravesites of Lena and Jesse. 

 

Before visiting any cemetery, contact the cemetery manager or office to determine if there is a record of your ancestor being buried there.  Many cemeteries have a map of gravesites and are able to point you to the specific location of your ancestor's final resting place, whether it is marked with a gravestone or not.  If there is no office, find the caretaker of the cemetery who may have a plat of all of the graves in the cemetery, marked and unmarked ones.  Many local genealogical societies have published books on the cemeteries in their county which list gravesites found for marked graves and the information written on the gravemarkers.  These are invaluable references when searching for final resting places of ancestors.  Checking them can save hours of strolling through large cemeteries searching for an ancestor's final resting place.

 

There are two websites which provide information uploaded by researchers and family members which are helpful if (1) the information has been uploaded and (2) if the gravemarker is legible.  These are find-a-grave.com and abilliongraves.com.  Unless there is a photograph of the gravestone on the website, the information written there is second-hand.  A personal inspection of the grave marker is necessary to know exactly what information it provides.

 

There, in a cemetery in Hollis, next to his wife, Lena, near his brothers and their families, is the grave of Jesse Craft Wilson (over the years, Jesse spelled his name Jess and/or Jesse).  The gravestone only provides the years he was born and died.  Lena has a matching gravestone.  With the information on the year that each of them died, we are able to obtain death certificates for both Jesse and Lena from the State of Oklahoma.

 

 





Both death certificates provide their full birth dates and death dates, where they were born, their parents' names and where their parents were born.  It is wise to note who provided the information for the death certificate which was recorded by the county clerk.  In Lena's case, because she died first, her husband Jesse provided her vital information.  Jesse and Lena had married before her parents' deaths and Jesse knew Lena's parents personally.  Their names and places of birth are, therefore, reliably recorded on her death certificate.  In Jesse's instance, the information was provided by his daughter, Jessie, who lived near her grandparents and in the same town as her uncles her entire life.  Thus, the names of Jesse's parents and where Jesse was born is reliably recorded on his death certificate.  The death certificate also provides where Jesse and Lena are buried.  Lena's death certificate provides her father's name, which gives us Lena's maiden name.

 

Thankfully, my brother, Rob, has made it his purpose to restore our ancestors' gravemarkers, replace the ones which are not repairable or are not in existence and update the ones which do not have enough information.  Rob provided a new gravemarker for Jesse and Lena which gives their births and deaths and the names of their two children.

 

 

 

Lena Marie Bills was born in Navarro County, Texas.  This gives us a clue about where to search for her marriage certificate to Jesse Craft Wilson.  We are able to obtain the marriage record from the County Clerk in Navarro County.

 

 

 

Now we have the record of the lives of Jesse and Lena Bills Wilson.  The census records provide information about places of residence, occupations and give another link to the parents of Jesse and Lena Wilson.

 

In the 1880 Federal Census, Jesse Wilson is about 10 years old.  He lives in Limestone County, Texas with his parents, N. C. and Elizabeth C. Wilson, his brothers and sisters.  The census tells us that N.C. and Elizabeth were both born in Tennessee, as were both of their parents.  N.C. is about 50 years old.  Elizabeth is about 40 years old.  All of N.C. and Elizabeth's children were born in Texas.  N.C. is a farmer who works with his oldest son, Joseph W. on their farm.

 

 

In the 1880 Federal Census, Lena Bills is about 5 years old.  She lives in Navarro County, Texas with her parents, Robert D. and Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" Bills, and her brothers and sisters.  Robert was born in Tennessee and is about 40 years old.  Mollie was born in Texas and is about 28 years old.  Both of Mollie's parents were born in Tennessee.  Robert is a farmer.

 

 



 

In the 1930 Federal Census, Jesse and Lena have married and live in Hollis, Harmon Co., Oklahoma.  Jesse is about 59 years old and manages a filling station.  Lena is about 56 years old.  A boarder lives with them and works at the filling station.

 

 

 

From the stories told by my family, Jesse was an interesting man.  He spent many years as a working cowboy and loved to read Western novels.  He was very close to my father and was thrilled when my brother was born.  Having lost his only son, Mack, at an early age, and his wife Lena, Jesse felt a very strong tie to our family.  He loved to come visit and would stay for a few weeks at a time.

 

Bill, Jesse and Rob Wilson in Hobart, Oklahoma, in 1954

My father, great grandfather and brother.

 

As I delve farther out into the family tree for the Wilson's and Bill's, I find that my Great Grandfather Jesse and Great Grandmother Lena both have families rich in legacy, honor, pioneer spirit and military tradition, from the Civil War to the Battle of San Jacinto, to the Republic of Texas, to First Families of Texas, to the War of 1812, to First Families of Tennessee, to the American Revolutionary War, to the first arrival of the Pilgrims in America.  As I gather the pieces of the family tree, there grows a much larger historical picture.

 

Happy researching!

 

 

Carrie Anne Wilson Woolverton

 

 

Facebook:     Carrie Anne Woolverton

                      Family Tree Productions

                      Veteran's Daughter

                      Ask GranMa Carrie Anne

 



 



 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

The Ties That Bind

The Ties That Bind

On a business trip to Colorado, I sat next to a lady a few years older than me on the plane ride.  She had just spent the weekend with one of her 8 grown children and several of her 32 grandchildren.  Yes, 32 grandchildren.  I was chuckling over her stories of the family dinners, holidays and get-togethers.  Kids, in-laws, grandkids, great-grandkids, friends … what, to some, would seem like total chaos - but to me, it all sounded like Heaven on Earth.  She was brimming with family stories, laughter and loving times.  What abundant joy!

 

 

I had no idea so many years ago, while I was raising my daughters, that Grandmahood was going to be such a time of miracles, dreams come true, astonishment, delight and whole-hearted love that a grandparent knows so well.  I had no idea that my daughters’ little children would bring me such precious and priceless endearment, would fill my heart with such unrequited love.  For those who are grandparents, you know exactly how I feel.  For those parents who are not yet grandparents, let me tell you that you are headed for the greatest time of your life. 

 

 

 

 

Honey Creek Farms and Triple Cross Ranches are home to horses and cattle, a lovable dog named Duke, and two grandparents who truly cherish the times spent when the kids, grandkids and family come to visit.  As you can imagine, the horses are a big favorite with the  pint-sized cowboys and cowgirls.  They gladly step up to cart the grandkids around the farm and down the trails.  A gentle horse is worth its weight in gold!

 

 

We have many activities to share, like exploring the woods, playing catch and basketball, playing t-ball, fishing in the tanks, helping with farm chores … the greatest moments are when a hug for Poppa Ben and GranMa happens and the little ones say I love you!  Our hearts and our lives are truly and richly blessed.  Our cups are overflowing.  The generations live on, the traditions are well, the family times are cherished and the ties that bind are strong.  Thank God for kids.

 

Breakfast Casserole

 

In a large skillet, brown 7 strips of bacon softly, drain on paper towel, crumble and set aside

Drain bacon grease out of the skillet and add 4 T. butter

Add 3 diced potatoes, cook until brown in skillet

Add 1/2 chopped onion, cook slightly

Add 1 C. ham, chopped

Add crumbled bacon

In mixing bowl, mix 10 eggs with 1/2 milk, blend well

Pour egg mixture over potato mixture in skillet

Stir while cooking eggs until they are done

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Serve warm with biscuits and honey, orange juice and coffee.  Hearty good eating!

 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.  1 Corinthians 4-8

From our farm to yours, we wish you many

Happy trails,



Carrie Anne Wilson Woolverton

Facebook:  Carrie Anne Woolverton
                    Veteran's Daughter
                    Honey Creek Farms Arabian Performance Horses
                    Family Tree Productions
                    Ask GranMa Carrie Anne

WD-40 - who knew?

A Woman's Rule:

Only two tools are needed in this life:  WD-40 and Duck Tape.

If it won't move and it is supposed to move, use WD-40.

If it moves and it is not supposed to move, use Duck Tape.

I had a neighbor who had bought a new pickup.  I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason). 

I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.  He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.

Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.  It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck.  I'm impressed! WD-40 who knew? 

'Water Displacement #40' The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.  WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.  Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound.  They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.  The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. 

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you. 

When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.  It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.  If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! 

Then try it on your stove top .... Viola!  It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed. 

Here are some other uses: 
  
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5. Keeps flies off cows.
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
18. It removes black scuff marks from t he kitchen floor!  Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring.  It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.  Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
22. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27 Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes splattered grease on stove.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38. The favorite use in the state of New York, WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time.  Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41 WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls.  Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!
43. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.
44.  Spray on tangles in horse manes and tails.  Knead into the hair.  Tangles will comb out easily.
 
P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.  Who knew?!!

A favorite recipe of ours:

7-layer Taco Dip

In a bowl, mash 2-3 large ripe avocados, which have been peeled, pitted and diced.  Mix in 1 T. lime juice, 1/4 C. chopped cilantro, 1/4 C. salsa.  Add garlic salt and ground black pepper to taste.  Stir well.

In a small bowl, blend 1-2 C. sour cream and 1 package of taco seasoning.

In a 9x13 dish, spread 1 16 oz. can of refried beans (stir in  2 T. warm water to make beans easier to spread).

Top the bean layer with the sour cream mixture.  Top the sour cream with the avocado mixture.

Top with a layer each of 4 diced Roma tomatoes, 1 bunch green onions finely chopped, 1 small can sliced black olives which have been drained.

Top with 2 C. shredded cheddar cheese.

Serve with large scoop Fritos.  Enjoy!

Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will wear.  ... For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.  ... Which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life?  ... Fear not, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  Luke 12:22-32 

From our ranch to yours, we wish you many

Happy trails,

Carrie Anne Wilson Woolverton

What's In a Lineage Society?

Lineage societies provide invaluable resources for obtaining family history documentation.  Many of the societies are based on military service or a specific family name or a specific place of residence.

 

Harvesting the information of those who have walked the research pathways before us can be very rewarding when looking for that one or those elusive document(s).  Possibly, someone years ago knew just the right place to look and saved the document(s) in a lineage society archives for us to utilize years down the line.

 

One of the oldest lineage societies in the US is the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  The DAR headquarters is in Washington DC with sub-organizations in every state and chapters in many communities.  The DAR offers Volunteer Genealogists who are schooled in genealogical research and are willing to assist with building a family line back to the time of the American Revolution.  DAR was established by Congress and has stringent guidelines for lineage documentation.  Linking back to the records of the DAR gives one a sense of the time-honored tradition of loyalty and honor to our nation's beginning.  The Sons of the American Revolution is a brother organization to the DAR, with their own requirements and documentation.  Both of these societies welcome researchers and encourage the study of our country's historical and family information.

 

There are several lineage societies which reach farther back into the beginning of our nation.  These include the National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Daughters of American Colonists, National Society of Colonial Dames, Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century, and many more.  Each society has its own documentation requirements and registrars who are helpful with guidance to gather the information which proves your own lineage.

 

 

 

 

The United States has been involved in many conflicts throughout its history, both on American soil and abroad.  There are lineage societies for every military conflict, such as:  National Society US Daughters of the War of 1812, Daughters of French and Indian Wars, Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of the Confederacy, Descendants of Confederate Veterans, San Jacinto Descendants, Descendants of World War I Veterans, Descendants of World War II Veterans and more.

 

There are lineage societies for those living in particular locations such as Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Descendants of Jamestown, First Families of Virginia, First Families of Tennessee, Texas First Families, Gone to Texas Pioneers, First Families of the Twin Territories (Oklahoma), First Families of Van Zandt County, Texas, and more.

 

 

 

There are lineage societies which focus on a particular surname, such as The Burleson Family Association and the Doan Family Association, the Ogilvie Family Association.

 

Many lineage societies focus on an occupation such as Descendants of Texas Rangers, the societies for descendants of lawyers, judges, pub owners, and more.

 

 

 

All of these societies have a web presence and may be located by a web search.  Information on groups which are pertinent to an area may be found at the local genealogical library or society.  Most counties have local genealogical and historical societies which have information on lineage society chapters in their area.

 

For more information and particular links to lineage societies, please contact Carrie at honeycrek2 @ aol.com.

 

Or you may contact Carrie on her Facebook page:  Family Tree Productions.

 

Happy researching!!