Today, Nicole and Diana discuss Nicole’s genealogical “treasure hunt” at the Love County Courthouse in Marietta, Oklahoma, where she uncovered land records for her Harris family ancestors. Nicole shares her preparation process, including calling the courthouse and using RandyMajors.org to map out locations. She recounts her journey to the courthouse and how she became oriented with the deed books and indexes. Listeners will learn about Nicole’s first discovery of records for her second-great-grandfather, Dock Harris,...
After my first day uncovering over twenty Harris family records, I returned to the Love County Clerk’s office with curiosity about what other records might exist, particularly from the county’s earliest years. I didn’t have a specific research plan beyond exploring the oldest volumes to see what I might find. Day two would prove interesting in unexpected ways—sometimes courthouse research yields valuable discoveries not because you know exactly what you’re looking for, but because you...
In this episode of Research Like a Pro, Nicole and Diana discuss Nicole’s second great-grandmother, Alice “Allie” Frazier Harris, focusing on her nurturing nature. Listeners will learn about Alice’s birth in Montague County, Texas, and her parents, Richard Frazier and Nancy E. Briscoe. Richard was a Civil War veteran. They also discuss Alice’s school years, her marriage to Dock Harris in 1904, and her experiences with motherhood. Alice had four children, two of whom passed...
Reading historical fiction transports us to the times and places our ancestors lived, helping us understand their world beyond the basic facts found in records. Author Paulette Jiles has mastered this genre, as shown in her novels News of the World (2016) and Enemy Women (2002). Her books are set in areas where my ancestors lived in the 1800s – Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Texas. This fascinating region saw turmoil and unrest throughout the Civil...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the story of Eliza Ann Isenhour (1850-1898) and the family lore that claims she was a full-blooded Cherokee. The conversation starts with the 1884 incident that left Eliza a widow with four young children and another on the way after her husband, William Henderson Shults, died following an accident. Faced with the challenges of widowhood, Eliza remarries Jacob Meek, and they eventually move to Indian Territory,...
Do you have a family story that has been passed down? Family lore can be accurate, completely wrong, or have a kernel of truth. In the case of my second great-grandmother, Eliza Ann Isenhour, her purported Cherokee heritage turned out to have a kernel of truth. Family Lore Family stories told of the tragic accident in 1884 that made Eliza Ann a widow with four young children and another on the way. Her husband, William...
Do you find yourself wanting to write more about your ancestors but needing some motivation? It can seem challenging to write a full history or biography, but what about small bites? If you could write a little each week, at the end of a year, you’d have 52 small bites. This year I’m committing to the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks yearly challenge.23 Each week brings a new prompt and an opportunity to explore...
Can we tell the story of our great-grandmothers when few records naming them exist? What sources can we use to weave a narrative that will draw us closer to them as well as honor their contributions? My great, great-grandmother, Eliza Ann Isenhour died in Indian Territory at the age of 48. According to family stories, she was full-blooded Cherokee. I wanted to know more about this woman whose DNA I carry. Researching her story revealed...
When is the last time your immersed yourself in the history of a research locality? You might know the records well and have a basic understanding of the history and geography, but reading a full length book is an excellent way to bolster your genealogy knowledge. As a southern United States researcher I often come across land records that state something like “land obtained by the Creek Session of 1832.” I had a vague understanding...
Feeling a little bogged down with your genealogy research? Need a fun project for the summer that just might have the added bonus of helping break down a brick wall? Try creating a timeline for your family. I had finished writing the report for my first generation of my accreditation project, but I lacked any mention of church records. Those are important for researching in the south, but my family moved around so much in...
