Information provided by Carol Lee Mattocks

Source: [Carol Lee Mattocks], information provided by Carol Lee Mattocks, 27 April 2002.

Chauncey Leon Mattocks had his application in with the Kansas City, Missouri, police department and the U.S. Postal Service. He returned to Kansas City when he was hired by the Postal Service. The police department didn’t get its funding, so it did no hiring.

Luster Earl Colley to Carol Lee Mattocks, e-mail, 4 October 1998

Source: Luster Earl Colley to Carol Lee Mattocks, e-mail, 4 October 1998.

Dear daughter:

We enjoyed your ‘phone call, and all the news you shared with us.  I answered your first e-mail promptly, but it seems it never arrived on your screen. I hope we have better luck this time.  I told you on the telephone that I had an e-mail address for Jo Ann SPORE, who shares our interest in the WEARS surname. Her e-mail address is:

[…]

Some time ago she shared with us this data extracted from – 1850 census of Mason Co. VA.; page 376, dwelling 212:

George WEARS 52 VA
Martha ” 49 VA
James ” 25 VA
Lucretia ” 18 VA
George ” 15 VA
William ” 13 VA
Jane A. ” 10 VA

And then I compare this with the household listed on page 778 in dwelling 18, of the 1860 census of Springfield Township, Henry County, MO:

James WEARS 35 M VA
Elizabeth ” 27 F NC
George W. ” 1 M MO
Richard B. ” 4/12 M MO
Martha ” 57 F VA
William ” 21 M VA
Jane A. ” 19 F VA
John T. ” 20 M VA

In a perfect world everyone would age exactly 10 years between the 1850 census and the 1860 census. But we are all too sophisticated to believe such perfection.

George who was 52 in 1850 has disappeared; maybe dead, maybe gone to the California gold fields as so many men had done in 1850.

Martha aged from 49 to 57.

James aged from 25 to 35, got himself a wife and children. A James WIER married Elizabeth JONES 20 Sep 1857 in Henry Co. MO. The Bureau of Land Management issued a patent for 200 acres in sections 35 and 36 of Township 42 N Range 25 W, Henry Co. MO, 1 Nov 1859, to James WEAR.

Lucretia WEIR married Richard JONES 20 Dec 1851 in Henry Co. MO. She appears on the 1870 census of Springfield Township, Henry Co. MO at age 35, with her husband and a child, and living in their household is Martha A. WEARS, born VA, now age 70, having aged from 49 in 1850.

George W. WEARS married Martha A. EMERY 25 Feb 18?? in Henry Co. MO (the year of this marriage in the printed record is reproduced as 1838, but this is an obvious error. I am guessing that the correct year is 1858). The Bureau of Land Management issued a patent for 200 acres in sections 11 and 12 of Township 41 N Range 25 West, Henry Co. MO, 1 Nov 1859, to George W. WEARS.

William has aged from 13 to 21 in the 1850-1860 interval. Jane A. has aged from age 10 to age 20. And John T. WEARS has mysteriously appeared in the 1860 household at age 20.

If we assume that the subject household removed from Mason Co. VA after the 1850 census to Springfield Township, Henry Co. MO and before the 1860 census as a family group, we know that the arrival in Henry Co. MO was previous to 20 Dec 1851. That was the date when Lucretia was married in Henry Co.

Now it comes to my attention that there was a William D. WEAR in Henry Co. MO before 1850. He appears to have been a Minister, performing marriages there. For example, I see a marriage performed by him in 1836. A Rev. David WEIR also performed many early marriages in Henry Co.

There is a tradition that our John Thomas WEARS had said that he was born in Craig County, Virginia. At the time he was born, Craig County did not yet exist. So we assume that he meant to say that he was born in what was at that time the neighborhood of Botetourt County, Virginia, which was later set aside to Craig County. The unexpected appearance of a 20 year old John T. RULE [sic] on the 1860 census of Henry Co. MO, in a household where he did not appear to belong, has exercised our interest in this household listed on page 52, dwelling 189, of the 1850 census of Botetourt Co. VA:

James HUFFMAN 30 M Virginia
Harriet ” 31 F ”
Jane ” 10 F ”
Fleming B. CALDWELL 7 M ”
Mary ” 4 F ”
Eliza WIERS 30 F ”
John ” 13 M ”
Harriet CAY 25 F ”
John ” 9 M ”

There is an obvious shortage of young fathers in this household, and again I consider the possible attraction of the California gold rush.

In the records of Botetourt County, Virginia I find that a James HUFFMAN married Harriet CALDWELL 4 December 1839. This appears to identify James and Harriet HUFFMAN and their supposed daughter, Jane, in the listed household.

Let me know if you receive this so I will know we are in communication.

Auf Wiedersehen

Chauncey Leon Mattocks to Gregg Leon Mattocks, letter, 20 November 1996

Source: Chauncey Leon Mattocks to Gregg Leon Mattocks, letter, 20 November 1996.

11-20-96
OCEAN PARK

Dear Gregg.

Since you̓re so hard to reach and I have such a hard time talking much on the phone, you̓re going to have to try “de-cyphering” my scribbling. Anyway. I kind of miss you, son and feel the need to “lay on you” a bit. I think that we came down her last Thursday and will return next Mon. 11-25. I have two doctor̓s appointments on Tues. and receive my second Chemo treatment Weds. I̓ll undoubtedly be pretty “puny” on Thanksgiving day.  (Probably most of the week.) Of course, my first doctor̓s appointment is with Dr. GESCHKE (sp?). My second is with a new doctor (to me.) He̓s a pulmonary specialist. hopefully he can make it a bit easier for me to breathe.  Actually, we were hoping that he would prescribe some “emergency” oxygen for me. Also I may check into applying for total dissability. This would increase our monthly income by nearly $200–. Also we̓re involved in a big Class action suit against Prudential Ins. Co., but I̓m not going to hold my breath on that one.

Mark just started trapping when the flooding hit, but he did manage to catch one raccoon and one beaver already. I think that was pretty good for a novice. Probably worth close to $5000. Maybe he̓ll be able to supplement his income pretty well there, after all.

Haven̓t talked to Ken for quite some time. Hope you have. Anyway, Frank and Dottie are having their regular Thanksgiving dinner and you and all of us are invited. Of course, Mum & I will be unable to attend and I wouldn̓t be too sure but what Mark just might have to work the day. I don̓t think that he knows yet. Anyway, I just wrote Frank & Dottie a fairly lengthy letter of apology and appreciation on our part. Also finished a 5 page “monologue” to brother, Carl, so, as a result I̓m pretty well “written-out.” It̓s 10:00 P.M. and Mum̓s been in bed for 2 hrs. already. Nana & I have just about worn her out. I̓ve been having “mucho” trouble sleeping, so I may be finishing this later on tonight.  I have a prescribed sleeping pill, but it just doesn̓t seem to work. (About 1½ -2 hrs. is all.) I will see if he can prescribe me something stronger when I see him Tuesday. Well, Later.

1:40 A.M. – So much for el sleeping pill tonight. I̓m afraid to take another with all these other chemicals in me. I̓ll probably end up in the old recliner, where I̓ll doze on & off. It helps though. Actually, I̓m also drinking warm milk, so this letter may become postponed again. Sorry, but I do hope so. Actually those damned slpg. pills worked O.K. the very first night. I slept nearly 7 hrs. straight thru & I called the doctor & told them they were fine. Looking back, I figured I was just so worn out, that it didn̓t take very much. Also, perhaps I have built up an immunity to them?

Well. I think I may just try that old recliner & give this warm milk a chance to kick[?] it.

3:40 A.M. – Well, it did. Had me another nice little cat nap. That will have to do for awhile though, because I̓ve got the coffee brewing now. I̓ll probably sneak in another about mid-morning. That̓s about the time that Nana goes to exercise class. Yep, you heard that right! I mean like: Hup! Hup! Hup! Poke em out now girls. I sed Poke em out!! Oh well, gives her something to do and it might even do her a little good!

Now, for the “second joke” — I̓m going to try my hand at a little writing. I mean like books, man! Good one, huh? In explanation Gregg, I must tell you that just a few nights ago (just before I got the blessed slpg. pills) I was really down to finding a shell for the gun. I was interested in absolutely nothing. Then after a first night̓s rest in nearly 2 weeks (and probably, still somewhat doped up) I awoke with this revelation. I hadn̓t been so emotionally elated & excited in years! So, you see, I̓ve got to do it, even if nothing ever comes of it, just to maintain my sanity! Not that it carries much weight, but it was suggested back in my high school days that I should pursue a livelyhood in this field. Of course, I was also offered financial assistance in attending medical school to become a surgeon. Boy, there̓s just no way I could ever have done that!

At present, you are one of four people (including myself) that is aware of this and I desire to keep it this way for some time. at least, until I get somewhat of a handle on what I̓m doing, I don̓t want to be providing stupid answers to stupid questions. Ha! First of all I must tell you it will be something strongly unconventional. I have no desire to beat heads with the millions of literary geniuses that now exist. I just want to out-sell them. Ha! I definitely have some different ideas. One of them has got to work! I just hope that I have enough time left to pursue just the ideas I have already. Gregg, may I have your moral support and maybe even some of your respected advise?  You may become impatient with me, because none of my plans are even close to perfected yet. But, since I have very little to do otherwise; I shall be able to devote unending hours to it. I̓m sure there̓ll be unending “re-dos”!  I̓ve already started compiling some “just raw materials.” Out of this I will decide just what I want to use, in what order, etc. Like I say, this may not be a conventional reccommended way to start, but it̓s my way. When I was quite young, I saw an old “talkie” movie showing a flock of sheep following their leader over a suicide cliff. This reminds me of americans and is just not to my liking! Take care and please be in contact.

Love,
Dad.

P.S. Will try to call you when we get to town.

Chauncey Leon Mattocks, resume, undated

Source: Chauncey Leon Mattocks, resume, undated.

INTRODUCING
CHAUNCEY “LEON” MATTOCKS
[…]
Gresham, Oregon 97030
Phone# […]

25+ YEARS EXPERIENCE
As    Carpenter
Foreman
Superintendent

Primary Field:

Commercial Concrete Formwork

(I.E.)

Mid & High Rise Buildings

Parking Structures

Water Treatment Facilities

Bridges

Plants, Mills, etc.

Secondary Field:

Small Industrial & Residential

(Rough & Finish)

Responsibilities:

All related field and yard operations in both “hands-on” and supervisory positions.

I am currently seeking employment in any of the above mentioned capacities.

I will be more than pleased to furnish further information and/or references upon your request.

Thank you,
Chauncey L. MATTOCKS

*

Introducing
CHAUNCEY L. MATTOCKS
desiring employment as: Carpenter, Foreman, Superintendent.

VITAL STATISTICS:

Date of birth: April 19, 1934 Race: Caucasian

Marital Status: Married Sex: Male

Mr. Employer:

My work history seems to consist primarily, but not entirely, with the Ceco Corporation, 5601 West 26th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60650, (Home Office), Concrete Forming Division.  I first joined Ceco in 1954 at the Kansas City, Missouri district as a laborer.  I joined the carpenter’s union there (Local #6l) in 1963 and transferred to Ceco’s Denver, Colorado district in 1965.  I soon started supervising work there.  Of course, my first projects were rather small and insignificant, but two of my most notable were the Stapleton International Airport parking structure and the 28-story Prudential Plaza Office Building and parking garage.  Prudential was that district’s first “fast track” high-rise project and our first experience with “flying” forms.  In late November of 1975, I transferred to the Seattle district, P.O. Box 977, Renton, Washington 98055.  My first project here in the Northwest was a medical building in Roseburg, Oregon for Simpson Construction.  This was a simple one-way joist and soffit level beam structure, where we were responsible for the horizontal forming only.  My next project was a one-level, two-way joist building for Hewlett Packard in Corvallis, Oregon, Vic Construction, general contractor. The project had a very tight time schedule and we successfully completed it on time.

My next venture proved to be quite interesting, challenging, and memorable.  In July of 1976, I took one assistant and we set up a Ceco operation in Victoria, British Columbia.  Our principle project there was Provincial Office Building No. 2 for Farmer Construction of Victoria.  After training our replacements there and completing the Provincial Office Building, my assistant and I were sent back to Portland, Oregon in August of 1977.  There I became area foreman for the state of Oregon and Southwest Washington, and took charge of Ceco’s field operations.  I served in this position until August of 1981.  Some of our projects were the Tri-Met Administration Building and Bus Garages, the Columbia Square Building, the New Marriot Hotel, the Lloyd Center Parking Structure, Weyerhauser Paper Mill No. 2 (Longview, Washington), the First Federal Savings and Loan Building (Vancouver, Washington), and hospital additions at Good Samaritan, Dwyer, Tuality, St. Joseph’s (Tacoma), and St. Elizabeth’s (Yakima, Washington).  These were all poured in place concrete structures with both conventional reinforcing and post tensioning.  Ceco subcontracted from most of the major general contractors in this area, plus such out-of-area contractors as C.L. Peck, Guy F. Atkinson, H.B.E., Hensel Phelps. et cetera.

In August of 1981, I decided to move back to the Denver area.  I was only in charge of one project at a time there, but found it somewhat more challenging since many of their contracts were for “full-frame”.  This made us responsible not only for forming, but installing reinforcing, placing and finishing concrete, hoisting, et cetera.

However, in May of 1983, I was presented a much better offer by a newly arrived competitor, Steelform Contracting Company of San Leandro, California.  They had recently been awarded a contract for form work on a very large (over $350 million) project in downtown Denver and wanted me to oversee it.  Unfortunately, things did not go too smoothly and when the district manager, Marcus BRYANT, quit, I soon found it rather difficult to stay and opted to try running a job for a newly-formed non-union arm of Ceco called Formwork Services, Inc.  I ran their only job for five months.

Then, due to family matters and a love of the Northwest, when my wife was offered her old job back here in Gresham, we decided to move back out to be near our three sons.  I found work with Sun Roofing, (a division of the Coverite Company), 3004 East Burnside, (phone number […]).  Mike SATRAN is part owner and my
most immediate supervisor.  However, this work was only intended as a fill-in job until my sixty day restriction was fulfilled with Carpenter’s Local #247.  Now that it has been, I am seeking employment in the concrete forming field.  I believe I have worked with most horizontal (suspended) slab systems and several wall and column systems.  I have been involved in nearly every aspect of constructing buildings including systems analysis, material and equipment expiditing, scheduling, procurement of manpower, lay out, form design and inspection, safety, and cost analysis.

However, I also feel I am an efficient, conscientious, and dependable carpenter and would be perfectly happy in that position or any other that would be most complementary to your operation.  If there is the possibility that you might consider me for hire (either now or in the future), or if you wish any further information, please contact me at:

[…]
Gresham, Oregon 97030

or call (evenings and weekends only):

[…]

Thank you,
Chauncey L. MATTOCKS

P.S.

Since originally writing this resume, I have tried a partnership remodeling venture, spent a short time with Gervais Const. Co. building formwork for highway barriers, retaining walls, and transitions.  I also spent six months with Waco Scaffolding, Inc. where I supervised their concrete formwork operation.  However, due to many factors, this failed to last, so I find myself, once again, seeking employment in this area.  Your consideration will be most deeply appreciated!

Thanks again,

Hartford Courant – Guest Book [Carl K. Mattocks]

Source: “Hartford Courant – Guest Book [Carl K. Mattocks],” at http://www.legacy.com/HartfordCourant/DeathNotices.asp, accessed 29 April 2003.

Guest Book for
Carl K. Mattocks

This Guest Book is maintained online until April 4, 2004 by anonymous.

Every now and then I feel the softest breath against my skin and I know that you̓re there. I know that there are more than angels watching over me – because I believe that you̓ll always be there when I need you.  Be well and happy with Mimi.  Please know that I love you and that you will always be my Daddy Boy… .Luv-Luv

Cheryl Higley (Farmington, CT)
April 3, 2003

When I first met Carl Mattox back in 1991, I was searching for my father̓s outfit the 38th Armored Inf HQ Co and the first to call me was Carl. Since then I have met a number from that outfit to tell me things my father never could. My thanks to Carl and Mutt McCord and others of the 7th for helping me to understand in a personal way the awfulness of war…

Bill Kemp (Middlesex, NC)
March 14, 2003

david butler (rensselaer, IN)
March 10, 2003

On behalf of the family of Carl̓s brother, Leon Mattocks, I extend my sympathy to all of those who have lost so much in the death of a truly remarkable man. I only encountered Uncle Carl a few times in my life, but through his letters, the stories I have been told, and the things I have read about him in books and articles, the fact that Carl was a true hero and a compelling individual is obvious. Personally I am indebted to him for the research into our family history which he so generously shared with me. My mother, Carol Mattocks, and my brothers Mark and Ken, will, like me, regret the passing of the last of his generation. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sincerely,
Gregg Mattocks

Gregg Mattocks (Gresham, OR)
March 9, 2003

Hi, Im sorry to hear of Capt. Mattock passing. I served under him in the 38th Bn 81mm motars 7th Arm Div. during the Battle of the Bulge. The last time I saw him was on the morning of Dec.23, 1944 at Krombauch Belgium. Later that morning I was captured by the Germans. Capt Mattocks was a great leader and Company Commander. He will be missed.

Ex-Sgt. Howard W McCord, Decatur, Alabama

Howard W McCord (Decatur, AL)
March 6, 2003

My father was Walter DeVerne Gregory. My aunt, Dorothy Mccullough, told me about Carl and I wanted to learn about my family.

Pam Jeter (Raymore, MO)
March 5, 2003

We were sorry to hear about Carl. He was a special person in my life and the last visit we enjoyed with him and Betty was great. We know his passing will leave a great gap in your lives but he was definitely a wonderful person and we know his family was his biggest asset in his life. Sorry we can t be with you at this time but know our prayers are.

His cousins,
Nancy and Wayne

Nancy & Wayne Presley (Wellington,, CO)
March 5, 2003

Our deepest sympathy to the girls and families. Carl was not only a hero to our country, to you, your family but also to me from childhood. Our prayers are with you Love Dorothy and children Sharon, Greg and Randy and spouses

Dorothy McCullough (Rich Hill, MO)
March 5, 2003

A hero has fallen.
His last battle fought.
Were you afraid?
No I think not.

The world you had traveled till you found your true love.
Now you are guiding us from heaven above.

We̓ll miss all the info from “Carl̓s Almanac of Fiction and Fact”.
And of course all your jokes will still be intact.

You taught your girls so much about life,
We̓ll know how to get thru any problems or strife.

You made us laugh and you made us cry,
And you always made us wonder “Why?”.

May you find peace, love and hapiness in your next endeavor,
And please don̓t forget……

We̓ll love you forever.

Ellen

Ellen Mattocks (Unionville, CT)
March 5, 2003

Luster Earl Colley to JoAnn (Wear) Spore, e-mail, 11 December 1998

Source: Luster Earl Colley to JoAnn (Wear) Spore, e-mail, 11 December 1998.

On Wed, 09 Dec 1998 20:04:52 -0700 JoAnn WEAR SPORE writes:

Earl,

I just bought a new Family TreeMaker CD today and rented another one. The #227 Marriage Index: AR, CA, IA, LA, MN, MO, OR, TX 1728-1850 showed the following marriage in Henry Co., MO: George W. WEARS married Martha A. EMERY 25 Feb 1838. Is this your George and would this explain why Martha went to Henry Co. I checked to see if there was a marriage for Armisted EMBREY to Mildred _______ but found nothing. If this is the correct George and Martha he had to have a first wife? Did I get something mixed up??????

I had not thought of the interpretation that you suggest, but I think I can see your viewpoint. But I think I can offer some counter-arguments. I will describe how I came to the conclusion I have had for a long time.

Years ago, I bought a copy of the paper ound, typescript book titled, “HENRY COUNTY, MISSOURI MARRIAGE RECORDS; 1835-1861” by Betty Harvey Williams; 1966. My attention was immediately attracted to the item recording the marriage of George W. WEARS to Martha A. EMERY 25 Feb. 1838; by Daniel BRIGGS M. G. I immediately wrote in red ink my own note, “maybe 1858”. I have been a victim of errors in printed copies of records before, and I had long planned to get the film of the original marriage book to check what I suspected to be a misreading of the original source.  But I plan faster than I execute, and I still have not checked the film of the original record.

Since George WEARS has a wife (I assume) named Martha in 1850 in Mason county, VA, there seems to be a strange possibility that George WEARS married Martha A. EMERY (EMBRY) in Missouri in 1838, went to Virginia where they had children, then the mother and children came back to Missouri soon after 1850. If this happened, then the first child of the theoretical marriage would have been no more than about age 21 in 1850.  But the George and Martha WEARS in VA in 1850 had a son, James, age 25.  To explain that, we would have to assume, as you say, that George had a previous wife.

I think that the FTM people copied the record published by Mrs. Williams, errors and all, rather than going to the original record. Or maybe they just made the same mistake that Mrs. Williams made.

Here is my version, which could just be wishful thinking:

The familes headed by George WEARS, born about 1798 in VA, and by Armistead EMBREY, born about 1795 in VA, were neighbors and close friends in Mason county, Virginia. Soon after 1850, both families removed to Henry county, Missouri where they were again neighbors. On the 1860 census of Henry Co. MO the George W. WEARS family is listed in dwelling 7, while the EMBRY family is listed in dwelling 8. In the 1850 census, the WEARS family included a George WEARS, age 15, while the EMBRY family included a Martha A. EMBREY, age 10.  After moving to MO, in 1858, George WEARS was about age 23 and Martha A. EMBREY was about age 18.  Then and there they married. On the 1860 census of Henry county, MO, George W. WEARS, age 24, Carpenter, is head of a household with Marth A. WEARS, age 21, and an infant boy age 1 month. George W. WEARS was killed at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, 20 June 1964, a southern soldier. Martha married again to a man by surname DODSON, and they continue to appear on the Henry Co. MO census.

We have a clue to the approximate date when the WEARS family moved from VA to Henry Co. MO in the Henry Co. MO marriage of Lucretia WEIR to Richard JONES 20 Dec. 1851. I think there may be a strong possibility that George WEARS (the elder) was caught up in the gold excitement (the 49ers) and left his family in Missouri to go to the California gold fields. Many heads of families were missing at that time for that reason.  Many of these adventurers died before they could return to their families.

I copied some land patent documents from the Bureau of Land Management web site. Among them is a record for a George W. WEARS, dated 1 November 1859. The subject land was in St. Clair county. St. Clair is my birthplace, the next county south of Henry county. John Thomas WEARS later moved from Henry county to my home village of Lowry City.  I have a vague recollection of him as a very old soldier. I was married to Doris WEARS, a granddaughter of John Thomas WEARS.  Carol MATTOCKS is our daughter.

I have more “stuff” if you want to hear it.

Luster Earl Colley to Gregg Leon Mattocks, letter, 14 October 1997

Source: Luster Earl Colley to Gregg Leon Mattocks, letter, 14 October 1997.

October 14, 1997

Dear Gregg:

Oma sequestered all my birthday greeting mail that arrived before my birthday party.  some way, your card got by her.  So I got it directly.

My birthday was predated a little bit to Sunday, since everyone has more time on sunday.  Aldine and I went over to Barbie’s house for my birthday party.  Barbie made ham loaf and all the fixins that I like and my birthday cake was a black raspberry pie.  Barbie knows what I like.  When everyone was full of good food, they brought out a heap of mail from my descendants, that they had been saving.  They demanded that I read it all out loud and pass around the pictures.  I never had so much mail all at one time and had so many say such nice things about me.  Fathers usually have to be dead to get so much favorable fan mail.  It was so much fun I would like to be 80 again next year.

I have a new status symbol as a Family History Expert.  I have been working as a substitute at the Mormon Library for several years.  Just recently they gave me a promotion, and I am now a member of the regular staff.  There was no pay raise.  Everyone on the staff gets the same pay, nothing.  But I feel well paid in fun and being able to associate with the nicest, smartest people in the whole world.

I have been working on several projects.  One project is to gather data for an eventual history of Butler Township, St. Clair Township, MO.  A lot of your ancestors came from that place.  I doubt I will ever live so long as to write the book, but maybe you and your mother can take over where I leave off.

I have a working version of a program I wrote in “C” language that I hope will combine census records in a new useful way.  I have entered a lot of data from the 1900, 1910, and 1920 census of Butler township in a raw data base.  I hope to do the 1880 census for Butler Twp this winter.  The new idea of my program is that it will combine a sorted version of the combined censuses so the people will be grouped together.  That way, you will be able to see on a single screen how a person ages and how their situation changed as the decades pass.  I also have entered a lot of WW1 draft data and a lot of marriage records for Butler Twp and other parts of St. Clair County.

I made photocopies of the original draft records for your great grandfather WEARS and your great grandfather COLLEY.  I will enclose a photo-copy of the one for GGfather WEARS.  Both Doris and I existed at that time as mere embryos, so I imagine the registration of prospective fathers for military service was something of a shock to the prospective mothers.  Now as I take a closer look at the copy, I see that Doris had already been born.  She was born in August and I wasn’t born until October.

Just a short time ago a correspondent sent me some new material about our SAYLOR family.  The best way to explain this is to make an abbreviated Ahnentafel which I will extend a bit for later purpose:

1. Gregg MATTOCKS
2. Leon MATTOCKS
3. Carol Lee COLLEY
6. Earl COLLEY
12. James Alvin COLLEY
13. Vida MILLER
26. Walter MILLER

[Earl makes a mistake here.  Catherine Gilley was the mother, not the wife of Walter Miller.]

27. Catharine GILLEY b 2 May 1840 Washington Co. TN, d MO
52. William MILLER
54. Abraham (Absalom) GILLIS (GILLEY) married 12 Oct 1837 Washington Co. TN
55. Mary SAILOR (SAYLOR)
104. Henry MILLER
105. Hannah BISHOP b Chester District, SC ca1884; d Benton Co. MO after 1850
110. John SAYLOR b 1775 Lebanon Twp. Lancaster Co. PA; d TN; m 26 Dec 1797 Rockingham Co. TN
111. Betsy KYSOR
210. James BISHOP b PA; d Hopkins Co. KY
222. Henry KISOR (KYSOR)
420. Nicholas BISHOP b DE, d Chester District SC.

Items 111. and 222. I have long suspected were true, but the new data I received gives me much more confidence.  The marriage of John SAYLOR and Betsy KYSOR is recorded in the book “Rockingham Co., VA Marriages 1778-1816” by Strickler.  The book can be found in many Genealogical libraries.  The new data I got goes back several generations and says the SAYLORs were Mennonites from Switzerland.  I haven’t yet examined this story well enough to want to give it my blessing.  I sent in a request to the Main Mormon Library in Salt Lake City for a film that I hope will add some detailed proof to the story.

While I was in the process of writing this letter the mail man delivered our mail.  I received my copy of the quarterly Bulletin of the Chester District Genealogical Society.  I have subscribed to it for many years and sometimes contribute material for them to print.  In this issue is one thing of particular interest to us.  I will enclose photo-copies of three pages.  The interesting part is the inset on page 112, but I copied the preceding and following page to include some background.

Henry BISHOP was an older brother of our James BISHOP (James BISHOP is number 210 on the previous Ahnentafel).  Henry BISHOP was a Captain in the Patriot army.  The whole BISHOP family with all their Patriot neighbors formed a refugee train of ox carts and such to retreat from the British and Tory threat.  They headed for Charlotte, NC where there was a stronger Patriot army for protection.  The men with the refugee train went to attack the British at Hanging Rock to turn them away from attacking the refugee women and children.  Henry BISHOP was wounded at the Hanging Rock battle.  He was carried in the refugee train to Charlotte, where he died of his wounds.  I have long searched for additional records about the battle and the refugee experience.  The British burned houses and killed all the live-stock that the refugees could not carry along with them.  I suppose most historians did not think the battle at Hanging Rock was very important, because not enough soldiers were killed there.

I often scan the data you sent me a long time ago, and think how much time you have invested.  Since I live in the Northeast, I have been aware that our County Library may have some sources that have not been readily available to you.  I hope to take advantage of that, but I never seem to stay on one subject very long.  I keep getting diverted by peripheral quests.

I hope your mother can soon get her life back on track and have time to pursue our mutual interest in family history.  She tells me that property values in the peninsula are so poor that she expects a difficult time in selling her house.  We have the same surplus real estate situation here, and I would have a difficult time selling my house.  I would really like to avoid the tribulations of being a home owner and move back to Columbia, MO.  The Missouri Historical Society is there and the MO University Library.  As an alumnus of the University and an ex-teacher, I would be eligible for using a lot of the School facilities.

Tell me about the computer you are now using.  I still have my old 386 DX machine.  For a long time I also had another machine on my desk based on a 286 mother board that I bought second hand for $29.  But I could not run WINDOWS on that.  I resisted WINDOWS long after most of my friends were using it, but almost all software now requires windows.  When JUNO (no cost internet access) was offered it was the last straw.  JUNO requires WINDOWS.  Being too much of a tightwad to pay for “Intel inside”, I upgraded to a K5 processor made by AMD.  It works great, and I don’t see how paying the price for a Pentium would have given me any better service.  Other components are also gettig cheap, so I have 32 Meg of ROM, a slow PC disk reader, and a 2.5 Gig hard drive.

I really make good use of having two computers side by side.  I do a lot of writing.  I use the old 386 as if it were a dedicated word processor, and use the K5 machine to look up data as the subject of my writing demands.  It is possible to switch windows on a single screen to get that result, but my system allows me to have two full screens visible at the same time.

I would be glad to hear of your adventures, but I know that like all of us, your time is fully engaged.  If the next I hear from you is my 90th birthday card, I will understand.  But I will be pleased to hear sooner.

With the affection I have for all my extensive clan,

Old grandfather

Earl

Lola (Leverenz) Jordan to Chauncey Leon and Carol Lee “Suzi” Mattocks

Source: Lola (Leverenz) Jordan to Chauncey Leon and Carol Lee “Suzi” Mattocks, letter, 1 Jan 1997.

[Return address: L. JORDAN, 13 Riser Ave, Bloomington, IL 61701-1905.]

Dear Leon, Suzi:

I’ve been trying to sit & write a letter.  Seems I haven’t found that time when I have time & feel better also.  So, now will settle for this card.  Want you to know I have been thinking of you so much.  How you’re progressing healthwise and news too of your safety because of the weather.  Any damage to homes (yours & “kids”, traveling, etc.)

We’ve seen pictures on TV that look terrible.  No recent news of my grandson either.  I think Mike is on base (Ft. Lewis) most of the time, but they have an apt. in Tacoma.

I did receive a letter from your bro. Carl, newsy & some info of “whereabouts” of your dad & mother & “you all” some yrs. ago.  He (Carl) claims he can’t recall those years so well anymore.  That seems sad (unless he’s kidding me) as Earl said he has (had?) a memory like an elephant.  Gave me your birth date & place as 1933, Palestine, Ill.  Does that strike you as correct?  So I was 20 when you were born kid!!  I was 6 when Carl was born.  I lived in Detroit, Mich. then, but we returned to Parr, Ind. when I was 7.  Your folks lived there then too — as did Grandpa & Grandma Mattocks.  After my sisters & I went to live with them we’d go camping every summer when school was out.  So I’m an “old time country river rat”.  More on that at a later date.  Just hope I hear from you B/4 long.  Loved your letter.

Cuz, Lola

P.S.  Sending you this outdoor magazine, a “part” of the TV show, radio & mag.  An article by my son John Fisk you might enjoy.  [Magazine entitled: Illinois Sports Outdoors (Mason City, Illinois).]