Sunday, June 23, 2019

Sarah E. (Berry) Babb, wife of John M. Babb

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

Lafayette A. and Johnnie A. Babb, minors under the age of twenty-one, were represented by "their next friend," Sarah E. Babb in the 1871 lawsuit of Bryant v. Fitzpatrick. That suit involved the children of Green and Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb against their step-mother Mary Jane (Broom) Babb, their half-siblings, and Mary Jane' second husband John Fitzpatrick.

Green and Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb seem to have three sons who died during the Civil War: Kibble T. Babb, William Babb, and John Babb. Sarah E. apparently married one of them and had two surviving children by him. The question was to figure out which one. The following documents indicate that the son was John Babb.


In 1860, eighteen-year-old Sarah E. Babb, born in Alabama, was in the same household as twenty-three-year-old John W Babb, who was born in Mississippi. This John is the same age as the son of Green and Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb's son John. It is interesting to note that they live next door to another John Babb.









Next, S. E. Babb and children Ambrose and Johnie A Babb appear on the 1880 Ellis County, Texas census. Next door is a boarder named James Berry, who later documents revealed to be Sarah's brother.










The next reference is to the tragic death of Ambrose Babb. He was struck by a train near Greenville County, Texas on 1 September 1890. The initial report confused him with J. G. Babb, a long-time resident of Hunt County. J. G. Babb was John Green Babb, who was a first cousin to Ambrose Babb and near to him in age. John Green Babb was the son of Ambrose's uncle Joel Milton Babb, another participant in the Bryant v. Fitzpatrick suit.









































In addition to reinterring Ambrose Babb in East Mount Cemetery in Greenville, Texas, his mother purchased a tombstone for him which revealed his name to be Ambrose L. Babb. Therefore his name would have been Ambrose Lafayette Babb.

The following November, Sarah E. Babb decided to file a lawsuit against the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railway for wrongful death.

















In July of 1899, The Dallas Morning News indicated that Sarah E. Babb was among the widows and veterans applying for a pension based on the service of her husband John M. Babb. So far, I have not found that application.















Almost exactly three years later, Sarah E. Babb joined with her mother Emaline (Brookshire) Berry Conn, her sisters, and her many nieces and nephews to seek citizenship in the Mississippi Choctaw based on the notion that her grandfather James Brookshire was part Choctaw. Their applications were denied, but their family connections were revealed.

Sarah E. Babb stated that she was born in Marshall County, Alabama then moved to Tishomingo County, Mississippi, then moved to McNairy County, Tennessee, then back to Mississippi and back to Tennessee again before removing to Texas. She would have crossed paths with Green and Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb's son in either McNairy County, TN or Tishomingo County, MS. Her statements in this application clarified that her husband was John M. Babb and that her one surviving child was daughter Johnie Ann (Babb) Cox of Ferris, Texas. Her parents were Martin H. Berry and Emaline Brookshire.




























































































































Sarah E. (Berry) Babb died on 4 July 1923 at the home of her daughter Johnie Ann (Babb) Cox in Ferris, Ellis County, Texas. In her later years, Sarah lived sometimes in Dallas and sometimes in the home of her daughter. She was buried in the Grove Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.


Thursday, June 20, 2019

G. D. Nevill, Maryland News Item

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

Genealogy happens in tidbits, and it often flows in dribbles.

This newspaper item about G. D. Nevill being arrested for the murder of L. C. West in Arkansas in 1879 is not necessarily new information. It is interesting that the news item made it as far as the Cumberland Times of Cumberland, Maryland paper.

What is most interesting is the information that someone tried to burn the jail down a few days before Grandison D. "Granville" Nevill was in it!




Sunday, June 16, 2019

Holcombs in Newton County, Missouri

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

There's nothing quite like opening an online book and finding the usual suspects. In this case, it is the assemblage of the Holcomb brothers Enoch, Nathaniel, and Azariah with their brother-in-law James Skaggs and probably their half-brother James Brown. There is an outside chance that brother-in-law Robert Jamison, who died in Jasper County, Missouri in 1848 is also included. All of this information comes from NewtonCounty, Missouri Records, Vol. 1 by Mrs. John Vineyard, which can be found among the books on FamilySearch.

On the surface, this information is about as interesting as watching paint dry, but it indicates that at least Azariah Holcomb and brother Enoch Holcomb were reasonably settled in Newton County, Missouri from 1840 until at least 1848. By 1850, Azariah Holcomb was in McDonald County, Missouri, Enoch Holcomb was in Navarro County, Texas; and brother Nathaniel Holcomb had probably lit out for California. What happened between  1848 and 1850 that prompted them all to leave?

Newton County, Missouri:

1840, February Term, 2nd day, p. 49:

Committee to view road to Sennaca Mills by Whitaker Crabtree’s: Azariah Holcomb; James Skaggs and Isaac H. Hatlman.

February 10, 1840, p. 41:

Petition by citizens that road from Grand Falls on Shoal Creek to South West Corner of State be marked out. Court appointed Alfred Oliver, Nathaniel Holcomb, and Andrew Sparlin to view route and report.

May Term, 1840, p. 53:

Report of group appointed to lay out road to Senneca Mills names Whitaker Crabtree’s land, farms of James G. Crabtree, Simon Price, Campbell Price, James Beamond, A. Holcome, James Brown, D. Adams, Moses Crow.

p. 55 Simon Price made road overseer near Sennaca Mills; Azariah Holcome, a Justice of the Peace of Elk River Township, “to allot to said overseer the hands subject to work on said road.”

May Term, 1840, p. 56:

Azariah Holcomb, Esq., a Justice of the Peace, allowed $14.00 for holding inquest on body of an (un-named) Indian.

Court Session, February 8, 1841, p. 79:

Nathaniel Holcomb and Andrew Sparlin, appointed viewers for road from Grand Falls on Shoal Creek to southwest corner of the State, made report which mentions Vanslyke, A. Holcomb, N. Holcomb, John F. Wheeler, Matthew Blevins near Cowskin River. Report made by James Keel, John Mayfield, Ishom H. Harris on road from Neosho to Wallace’s Mill.

August Term 1841:

Pursuant to order of Court made by the Court in August 1841…road from H.G. Joplin’s farm, Wm. Sherer’s house, Andrew Sparlin’s, Noakes’ Tanyard, Plummer’s cabin on Swan’s Prairie, Squire Holcomb’s on Buffalo Creek, to A. Oliver’s Mill on Patterson Creek, to the Cowskin River at Matthew Blevin’s field, Thomas Neil’s, McGee’s, across Honey Creek…to southwest corner of the county.

August Term 1841:

Road viewers “down Buffalo Creek by Jas. Scaggs’ farm” to be Geo. W. Nutting, James Beamans, Andrew J. Grant.

John M. Richardson and James Nichols (appointed to survey Newton – Jasper County line) – made report: “Line crosses Jenkins Creek near Samuel Spence’s dwelling, leaving said house in Jasper Co…on by Jones Creek, Daniel Spences’s house (in Newton Co.), Mr. Johnson’s (Turkey Creek), Mr. Hickman’s (a citizen of Blytheville), Clisby Roberson’s by the southeast corner of his kitchen leaving his dwelling in Newton Co. by 10 – 12 feel, by Mr. Scott’s, Mr. Jamison, Bachealon’s prairie, Mr. Fullbright’s, Harris G. Joplin’s, Mr. Cornelius and Mr. Smith.”

November Term of Court – 1841, p. 124:

Andrew J. Grant, George W. Nutting, and James Bean appointed to view the road, beginning near Bean’s on Buffalo…a small black jack tree near James Beaman’s, down by house of Daniel Stockton…house of Isaac Hatman…near James Scaggs’, to be opened and repaired to a width of 20 feet…

May 10, 1842, p. 141:

Nathaniel Holcomb made overseer to Seneca line.

November Term – 1842 p. 156:

Overseers appointed [for roadwork]: - Wm. Severs, Alfred Oliver, Azariah Holcomb

May 1846 – Court Session:

Oliver M. Hickcox made magistrate of Shoal Creek District; Azariah Holcomb appointed J. P. in place of Wm. Bradford

April Term of Court – 1847:

Enumerators of school-aged children –
8. Azariah Holcomb – Elk River Twp.

Court Session – February 1848, p. 318:

Road viewers: John Stafford, Rob’t Pucket
Accounts allowed: Enoch Holcomb, Thos. Skaggs, Wm. Pickerd

June Session – 1848

Account of Enoch Holcomb accepted, for burying Amelia Lea, insane poor person.





Hugh Sprague, Son of Esther Minerva (Pool) Sprague

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

Hugh Sprague's story begins with his mother, Minerva Esther Pool, who was a daughter of Phebe (Holcomb) and James Pool, the blacksmith.

Esther Minerva "Minnie" (Pool) Sprague

























In 1850 Minnie Pool was living in the McDonald County, Missouri household of her first cousin (and my great-great-great-grandmother) Hannah Holcomb, wife of John C Walker. Minnie was sixteen years old, and her sister Sarah was also living with the Walkers. At that time their mother Phebe was deceased and their father James Pool was in Santa Fe, New Mexico along with their brother Andrew Jackson Pool.










Esther Minerva Pool married Oliver Robert Sprague in Jackson County, Missouri on 1 April 1853.







By 1857 they were in living in Mississippi. Specifically, by 1860, they were in Warren County, Mississippi with three little boys: Hugh, age 5; Bartlett, age 3; and Morris, age 1. Oliver R. Sprague served in the Civil War and died in 1870.








On the 1870 census, Esther Minerva Sprague, widowed, was in Washington County, Mississippi with five children. Bartlett is missing from the household and may be deceased, but three children were added after 1860: Esther I., age 8; Joseph, age 4; and Della/Delilah, age 2.








Perhaps feeling overwhelmed with five children to raise, Esther Minerva Sprague decided to go to California where she had a brother - "Jack" Pool. A descendant of hers told me that Esther and the children were taking the train to California in 1873 when Esther became sick and died in Parsons, Kansas. The children were stranded, so their grandmother Leah Sprague came and got them and took them to live with her in Bourbon County, Kansas for a few years. Eventually, the three Sprague daughters and their brother, James Maurice Sprague, made it to California. The whereabouts of Hugh and Joseph are still in question.

It is evident from the census records that by 1870, Leah (Smith) Sprague was no longer maintaining her own household. Therefore, the orphaned Sprague children would have been dependent on the extended Sprague family. Additionally, I have not found a record of Leah being in Bourbon County, Kansas although she may have been there at some point.

In 1865, Leah (Smith) Sprague was living in her son Columbus Sprague's household in Douglas County, Kansas.

In 1870, she is head of household, living in Douglas County, Kansas with sons Perry and John.

In 1875, Leah Sprague was still in Douglas County, Kansas, but living in her son Perry Sprague's household along with her granddaughter Delilah Sprague, daughter of Esther M. Pool. The other children of Oliver R. and Esther Minerva (Pool) Sprague are not in the household.












Clearly, not all of the Sprague children were living with their grandmother Leah, and their whereabouts have not been determined.

Leah Sprague supposedly died in 1881, she but has not yet been found on the 1880 census. In 1880 Leah and her orphaned grandchildren are not in the household of her son Columbus, who was in Bourbon County, Kansas; or her son Perry, who was in Allen County, Kansas; or her son John C. Sprague, who was in Multnomah County, Oregon. It is possible that Leah was in the household of her son Guilford, or on her own, which seems doubtful since she has been living with her various children since 1865.

By 1880, some of the orphans or Oliver Sprague and Ester Minerva Pool were fending for themselves. Esther Ione Sprague was in Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas in the Silas Piersoll household.






Joseph Sprague was in the household of Thomas F Blair in Marion, Bourbon County, Kansas.







James Maurice Sprague and Della/Delilah Sprague turn up later in California, so they were still living in 1880.

What happened to Hugh Sprague? He does not appear on any census after 1870. This newspaper clipping indicates that Hugh Sprague died in Oswego, Labette County, Kansas in 1873 and is likely buried there in an unmarked grave.






Thursday, June 13, 2019

Denver & Rio Grande Western Train Engine, Iley Selph Sr.

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

This a photograph that a good friend of mine took during her trip to Chama and posted on her facebook page.

It is an engine from the Denver & Rio Grande railroad for which my husband's grandfather Iley Nunn Selph Sr. worked in the early 1900s. He was a station agent for them between roughly 1912 and 1920, left them for a few months in 1920 and returned to work for them, possibly in La Madera village in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. This railroad ran between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Denver, Colorado. Later the railroad was reorganized and named the Denver & Rio Grande Western, which would have required the engines to be repainted.

Steam Engine, Denver & Rio Grande Western

























(Thank you, Dana.)

This morning's Google search also pulled up this article, published TODAY in the Taos News, about the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad as it passed through La Madera!!! This new tidbit of information: the Denver & Rio Grande built a spur to La Madera in 1914 to service a temporary logging boom. That narrows down the time period when Iley Selph and family lived there.

You can read the Taos News article here.

Today, La Madera, New Mexico is barely a crossroads.

La Madera, New Mexico 





Iley Nunn Selph Jr. of New Mexico

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

Honestly, it does not take much to send me working on a different family line. I must admit that I get distracted by shiny objects. This morning a friend of mine posted photographs of her trip to Chama, New Mexico, on Facebook. Among those pictures was a photograph of a train engine from the Denver & Rio Grande line for which my husband's grandfather Iley Nunn Selph Sr. worked. That sent me searching newspaper databases for any new tidbits on the Selphs, and I found a choice nugget.

Since Iley Selph is a distinctive name, I searched without narrowing down a time period or location. The pay off for that is that information appears in unexpected places. For this search, my best and newest result came from a Colorado newspaper instead of a New Mexico newspaper:


























Iley N. Selph Jr. was my husband's uncle. This article gives me a description of him. It tells me that he had gone to work at a ranch near Wheatland, Wyoming in the fall of 1929. If I did not already know that they lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, it would point me to their location on the 1930 U.S. census.





This census indicates that Iley N. Selph Jr. was located and made his way back home. It reveals nothing of the family drama that the newspaper's article provides. There is no way of knowing that Iley Nunn Selph Sr. had been in a car accident serious enough that Carolina (Sandoval) Selph needed additional help from her son Iley Jr. A newspaper item about the car accident probably appeared in the Santa Fe newspaper between November 1929 and January 1930, but I have not found it yet.

The newspaper article, like the census, provides a street address for the Selphs. However, since it is featured more prominently in the article, it occurred to me that Santa Fe is an old city with plenty of old houses still standing. A google search of the street address produced a contemporary picture of the house in the street views of google maps:

377 East Garcia Street; Santa Fe, NM
1930 Home of the Selph Family

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb's Children

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb was a daughter of John Lewis who died in McNairy County, Tennessee in 1842/43. It is possible to construct a list of Elizabeth Lewis and Green B. Babb's children based on the 1850 and 1860 U.S. census and on the 1871 lawsuit of  F.A. Bryant v. John Fitzpatrick.

The 1850 McNairy County, Tennessee census implies that Green and Elizabeth Babb's children are



1. Susan Babb age 17 born in Alabama
2. Terry Babb age 16 born in Alabama
3. William Babb age 15 born in Mississippi
4. John Babb age 13 born in Mississippi
5. Milton Babb age 11 born in Mississippi
6. Jane Babb age 9 born in Mississippi
7. Ann Babb age 2 born in Tennessee

The Bryant T. Babb, age 21, is the son of Celia (Lewis) and William Babb. Matilda Babb, age 17, is either Bryant's sister or wife.

By 1860, Green Babb had married Mary Jane Broom. Two of Green and Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb's daughters are living in this household along with three of Green and Mary J (Broom) Babb's children.


Children of Green and Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb:

6. Jane C. Babb age 18 born in Mississippi
7. Matyann Babb age 12 born in Tennessee

Children of Green and Mary Jane (Broom) Babb:

8. Martha O Babb age 4 born in Tennessee
9. Thomas J. Babb age 3 born in Tennessee
10. James Babb age 1 born in Tennessee

The Bryant v. Fitzpatrick lawsuit helps to further identify these children. F.A. Bryant was representing the heirs of Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb. They are named as "F A Bryant and wife Jane C Bryant Franklin P. Christopher C Elizabeth J. Sarah V. and May Josephine Mitchell the last five of whom are minors under that age of twenty one years who file their Bill by Jos M Mitchell their next friend Lafayette A. and Johnnie A Babb who are minors under the age of twenty one years and sue by their next friend Sarah E Babb residents of said State of Tennessee, Joel M Babb, and Witty A Anderson (formerly Witty A Babb) residents of the State of Texas Complainants."

They sort out to be the following (with the same numbers as above):
 1. Susan (Babb) Mitchell, dec'd. She married James Mitchell. Their children represented in the suit are Franklin P. Mitchell, Christopher C. Mitchell, Elizabeth J. Mitchell, Sarah V. Mitchell, and May Josephine Mitchell.
5. Joel Milton Babb
6. Jane Catherine Babb married Francis A. Bryant
7. MatyAnn Babb married Edwin Taylor Anderson and lived in Hunt County, Texas

Three of Green and Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb's sons are missing from the lawsuit: Kibble Terry Babb, William Babb, and John Babb. Given the wording of the lawsuit, it seems likely that all three of them are deceased, but only one of them left children. Those children would be Lafayette A. Babb and Johnnie A. Babb, who are represented by "their next friend" Sarah E. Babb - likely the widow. 

The minor children represented by John Fitzpatrick, the second husband of Mary Jane (Broom) Lewis Fitzpatrick are Martha, Thomas, James, Samuel, & Joel Babb.

Those children correspond to the 1860 census:

8. Martha Babb
9. Thomas Babb
10. James Babb
11. Samuel Babb born after the 1860 census
12. Joel Babb born after the 1860 census











Friday, June 7, 2019

Bryant v Fitzpatrick, John Lewis Heirs' Lawsuit, 1871

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

The lawsuit of F.A. Bryant et al v John Fitzpatrick et al was a dispute over the inheritance of land from John D. Lewis's estate. F. A. Bryant, the complainant, was the husband of Jane Catherine Babb, a daughter of Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb and first wife of Green B. Babb. Bryant represented the interests of the children and grandchildren of Elizabeth (Lewis) Babb against John Fitzpatrick who married Green B. Babb's second wife Mary Jane Broom. Among the defendants of the case were the children of Green B. Babb and his second wife. 

This suit is in folder #241 in McNairy County, Tennessee.


























F A Bryant and wife Jane C Bryant
Franklin P. Christopher C Elizabeth J. Sarah
V. and May Josephine Mitchell the last
five of whom are minors under that age of twenty one years who
file their Bill by Jos M Mitchell their next friend
Lafayette A. and Johnnie A Babb who are minors
under the age of twenty one years and sue by their
next friend Sarah E Babb residents of said
State of Tennessee, Joel M Babb, and Witty A
Anderson (formerly Witty A Babb) residents of
the State of Texas Complainants
Vs.
John Fitzpatrick Mary J Fitzpatrick Ephraim Shuffield
Worthington Shuffield and W C Cornelius and
Elizabeth Green also residents of said County
also citizens McNairy County & minors under the age of 21 years
of McNairy Martha, Thomas, James, Samuel, & Joel Babb
Humbly complaining Orators and oratixes
would respectfully show unto you that John
D Lewis departed this life in said County of
McNairy about the year 1842, having first
made and published his last will and tes
tament, which was duly proven and recorded
in the office of the clerk of the
County Court of said County and that said
will has been destroyed by fire or otherwise so

























that the same cannot be produced and that
upon diligent search neither the original will
or a copy thereof can be found, but if found the
same will be produced and shown to the Court
upon the hearing of this cause, that by the pro
visions of said will the property devised and
bequeathed to the daughters of said testators was
given to them to their sole and separate use and
at their death to their children, and not to be sub
ject to be sold by their husbands.
Orators & oratrixes would further show that
they are the children and grandchildren of
Elizabeth Babb formerly Elizabeth Lewis who in
termarried with G B Babb who has since died
that said Elizabeth was one of the children
and legatees of said Testator
Complainants would further represent
that by a device [?] of the Circuit Court of said Coun
ty the lands of said testator were sold for par-
tition and division amongst said legatees and
that amongst other lands sold for said purpose
were the following tracts to wit one tract of four
hundred acres lying in said County of McNairy
Beginning at a stake, hickory, elm & Spanish
Oak for 271 poles south & 193 poles East of the S. E.
corner of Entry No 1664 in the name of C C Coghill
suns South 50 poles to a post oak, 2 post oak &
spanish oak ??. then east 40 poles to a stake

























& 2 post oak ???, then south 222 poles to a stake
black oak & 2 post oak ???, then west 203 poles
to a stake, 2 post oak & 2 black oak ??? then
north 102 poles to a post oak, 3 black oak & post
oak ???, then west 51 poles to a stake & 5 post
oak ???, then north 180 poles to a stake, then
east 218 poles to the beginning
Also two tracts of 160 acres each to wit the
N W quarter of each thirteen (13) township one (1)
      Range eight (8) east, and south west
quarter section ??? (12) Township one (1)
Range eight (8) east also a fractional part
of the NW quarter of Secion twelve (12) Township
one (1) Range Eight (8) east containing
83 98/100 acres. And that G B Babb who was
the husband of said Elizabeth as the agent
of his said wife became the purchaser of
the above described tracts of land, and
that the same was paid for out of the means
of said Elizabeth, by her acknowledging
the receipt of the amount of the purchase
money in the settlement with the executers of
Said will and testament
Complainants would further show that said
G B Babb on the 7th day of August 1851
sold and by deed of that date pretended to
convey to one L W Smith said tract of 400
acres and that said Smith on the 11th day


























of July 1855 sold by deed of that date ????
did to convey said tract of land to E
phraim Shuffield and said Ephraim Shuf-
field pretended on the 6th of February 1868
to convey to Washington Shuffield 200 acres of
said tract and that sd  Shuffields are now in possession of the same
all of which will appear by refer-
ence to the deeds which are registered and will
be produced and shown to the Court if re-
quired, Complainants would further show
that said G B Babb
to one W S Atcock 40 acres of said
83 98/100 acres, and said G B Babb by deed dated
1st day of October 1860 pretended to convey
the same to Edward Green, who ????
in possession of the same an that said G B
Babb also sold and by deed dated the 15th
day of December 1852 pretended to convey 45 acres
of said 320 acre tract to one William Castleby
who conveyed the same to W C Cornelius
who has the same in possession and that said
parties are now claiming said lands under
said pretended conveyances
Orators and Oratrixes insist that they are
entitled as children and heirs of their deceased
Ancestor Elizabeth Babb deceased to said
lands, that said G. B. Babb having purchased
as the agent and with the means of their said
mother acquired no title to the same and in



























any event could only have become
tenant by the Curtesy, which estate (if such he
acquired by virtue of his mortal right ceased
and terminated at his death and that he
could not convey any greater estate than he
thus acquired, they insist that said deeds of
conveyance are cloudy upon their title which
they have acquired by said will or by descent from
their deceased mother
Orators and oratrixes would further show
that said Defendants John Fitzpatrick and
Mary J Fitzpatrick his wife are in possession
of the balance of said tracts of 160 acres each
and balance of 80 98/100 acres are the larger portion
of the same as dower of said Mary J who was the
second wife and widow of said G B Babb
in the hands of said G B Babb Dec when in
fact said lands did not belong to said
G B Babb
The premises considered Conplainants
pray that the parties named in the ????
of this bill be made parties defendants to this
Bill that Copy and ??? issue be, that guar
dians ad litem be appointed for said minors de-
fendents. And upon the hearing of this case that
said defendants be required to answer the
allegations of this bill but not on oath, their
oath being expressly waved and upon the
hearing of this cause, that your Honor

























would decree that said conveyances be
cancelled and declared void and
inoperation, that said defendants be required
to account for rents and profits and that all
necessary orders for taking and stating an
account of the same be made and for such
other further different relief as to your
Honor shall seem right and equitable
and
that as the record of said will has been destroyed
that complainants have the right set up and
substitute a copy of the same and as in duty
bound will ever pray be
McKinney & Pace Sol

State of Tennessee}
McNairy County} Personally appeared before me
                              T R Beck & Master, & F A
Bryant who made oath in due form of law that
the matters set forth in the foregoing bill are true to
the bests of his knowledge & belief.
Sworn to & subscribed before me
23 day of February 1871
F. A. Bryant
Tom R. Beck

A M