My Thoughts

The previous three 2nd great grandmothers were all women who lived long and full lives. Mary Jane Williams - Slayton 60 yrs Rebeca Lavinia Evans - Mitchell 81 yrs Josephine Carter - Hayes 61 yrs As this project has continued to document my 2nd great grandmothers, I realized I wanted to make a comparison chart to see them all side by side.  So much commonality.  I guess I think that by studying them, I will understand more about myself, or at least about where I came from.  It's not an easy task - delving into the past.  Romanticizing the information makes it interesting, and the reality is that I will never truly know these woman, their hopes and dreams.  All I can do is find facts.  This is the reality of being a historian. Arthasusan Ruth (1867 - 1896).  She was born November 14, 1867 in Cass County, Missouri.  This is 100 years and 1 day before me, my birthday is November 15.  She is the daughter of Mary Frances Teasley....

Family Genealogy often focuses on male lines.  Even in 2012, the male is considered the head of the household.  In an attempt to more fully develop the often obscure and forgotten female lines, I will share information about my great-great grandmothers. Mary Jane Williams was born November 20, 1851 in Tennessee as verified by her marriage license to Abel Wilson Slayton and her 1880, 1890 and 1900 census records for Lawrence County, Arkansas.  The verification of her parents still eludes me. my mother,  ne'ne'yum ... Potawatami  On December 15, 1869 when she was barely 18 years old, Mary Jane married Abel Wilson Slayton who was 22.  Their marriage certificate is in Lawrence County, Arkansas.  Abel and Mary Slayton lived the entirety of their lives in Lawrence County.  Together, they had 11 children. The history of Lawrence County in this time frame follows: People were living in the area that is now Powhatan as early as 1816, though it w...