Grandma Harp

 Merle Haggard's Grandma Harp was Martha Frances Arizona Belle Villines Harp born in Boxley Valley, Newton County, Arkansas in 1876.  She married John Bohannon Harp in 1901. John Bohannon Harp was a grandson of our own Martha Jane Tate Harp and Elijah Bohannon Harp.  This makes Merle Haggard the Three Sister's 4th cousin.

A detailed story of Grandma Harp, aka Zone Vilines Harp, can be found here

Grandma Harp

This is our own Martha Jane Tate Harp, 3rd great grandmother of Merle Haggard, and sister to our 2nd grandmother, Ann Catherine Tate Maples.

Merle Haggard's song about Grandma Harp lyrics

[Chorus]
Grandma's maiden name was Zone Villines
There's ninety years to tell about in a few short lines
Born in Newton County down in Arkansas
Then in nineteen-and-one, she married Grandpa
We laid her soul to rest one Sunday morning
And everybody knew she'd done her part
Don't get set to hear no hidden family legend
Just a song about the life of Grandma Harp

[Verse]
Just think about the times that she lived through
And think about the changing world she saw
Now somehow she reared a decent family out of poverty
And for seventy years, she loved the same old Grandpa
To me, her passing brought a closing chapter
To a way of life that I loved within my heart
I just mean to say, I think we owe her something special
If just a song about the life of Grandma Harp

[Chorus]
Grandma's maiden name was Zone Villines
There's ninety years to tell about in a few short lines
Born in Newton County down in Arkansas
Then in nineteen-and-one, she married Grandpa
We laid her soul to rest one Sunday morning
And everybody knew she'd done her part
Don't get set to hear no hidden family legend
Just a song about the life of Grandma Harp

Zone Vilines Harp [Grandma Harp] and husband, John Bohannon Harp

Removed Cousins

Cousins 1x, 2x, 3x removed means

1x removed  is a generation above or below you.  Either way it is 1x or 1 generation difference.

2x removed is 2 generations above or below you.

3x removed means 3 generations above or below you.

OR

Cousin 1 genertion from you.

Cousin 2 generations removed from you.

and on, and on...

First cousin means you have a grandparent in common.  First cousin 1 removed would be your first cousin’s child.  First cousin twice removed would be a first cousins grandchild.  Second cousins share a great grandparent.

Refreshed Picture

 L to R: Back Row: John, Worthy, Melton, Jess, Myrtle

L to R: Front Row: Richard, Clara, Betty

Someone tried to make the photo clearer. You be the judge. Makes Betty look slimmer and younger!

Irene Chisum

My precious cousin is in the arms of our Holy Jesus.  I’m not sad for her as her earthly body was worn out. Do not weep for me for I have not gone. I am the memory that dwells in the heart of those that knew me. I am the shadow that dances on the edge of your vision. I am the wild goose that flies south at Autumns call and I shall return at Summer rising.

Irene (Chisum) Collins-Riddell, 86, of Pelsor, Arkansas, joined her Savior, Jesus Christ, in the beauty of Paradise on Friday, July 5, 2024, at her home.  Visitation with her family & friends will be Tuesday, July 9, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at Humphrey Funeral Chapel in Russellville.  A Celebration of Life service will be Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Falling Water Church, 1079 Upper Falling Water Road, Pelsor, Arkansas, with Rev. Scott Garrison and Rev. Robert Heflin officiating.  Burial will follow at Moore Cemetery, Forest Service Road 1203, at Ben Hur, Arkansas, under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service.

Irene was born March 5, 1938, in North Fork, Arkansas, to George Washington & Dorothy Lavada (Freeman) Chisum. At just 15 years of age, she married Howard Collins on July 8, 1953.  They spent 48 years together raising five children on the farm until his passing in 2001.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands Howard Collins and Paul Riddell; her siblings:  Arlie Chisum, Christine Humphrey, Paul Chisum, Carl Chisum, Harold Chisum, Wayne Chisum, and Bob Chisum; her grandson, Adam Cross; as well as many other cousins, in-laws, friends & family she deeply loved and cherished.

Irene is survived by her five children: Stanley (Sheila), Jan, Winnie (John), Anna Belle (JW), and Glen (Mel); 15 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; 11 great-great grandchildren; and a host of step-children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her living siblings include Jack Chisum, Butch (Rose) Chisum, Eileen (George) Collins, Darlene (Wayne) McNutt and sisters-in-law: Elene Chisum, Gracie Chisum, Ruby Chisum, Donna Chisum, Pauline Harmon, Gwen Collins, LaVeda Collins, and Lucine Collins.

Irene spent her days as a homemaker raising her children. She loved everyone as her own and her home was always an open door for anyone who stopped by.

Irene loved gardening and canning. Among her canned goods, canning jellies were her favorite. She loved to give advice to her friends and family on how to can and garden. But most of all Irene loved spending time with the Lord. Irene was a founding member of Falling Water Church and Moore Church for a combined total of over 80 years.

 

Cindy Rudd

Cynthia Gayle Carpenter Obituary

Cynthia Gayle (Rudd) Carpenter of Alpena was born January 15, 1963, to Billie Joe and Cynthia Novella (Carmical) Rudd. Cindy passed away June 18, 2024, in Berryville at the age of 61.

Cindy enjoyed spending time with her daughter and grandchildren, her sisters and drinking coffee. She often expressed how ready she was to meet Jesus; she has made it to the finish line and has now made heaven her home.

She is survived by one daughter Shelby Vayle (Tallent) McDaniel.; grandchildren Michael Stetson McDaniel, Jr., Ryleight Faye McDaniel; sisters Jonell Gatlin, Francis Sue King, Mary Ellen Forney, Esther Faye Newberry, Barbara Jean Wade, Lorissa Dawn Rudd; along with a host of other family members and friends. Lifelong friend to whom she shared her daughter and grandchildren with Warren Tallent.

Cindy is preceded in death by her parents Billie Joe and Cynthia Rudd; brother Roger Daune Rudd; husband Terry Carpenter; previous husband and friend Mark Willey.

Marie

This is Alec, Beverley, Joann and Marie.
 Marie, Angie and Amber…long time past…

Peter Powell (Graham) 1779-1849

 

Peter Powell

Born 9 Jan 1779 Caswell County, North Carolina

Died 11 July 1849 College Mound, Macon County, Missouri

 

This Peter Powell is identified in many data bases at Ancestry.com as being a son of John Powell and Margaret McDaniel of Caswell County, North Carolina. Although The Sister’s DNA confirms a connection between our Charles Powell ancestral line and Peter Powell, it is just not possible he is a son of John Powell. John Powell’s Caswell County will dated, 17 Dec 1786, names 3 sons, John, James, and Charles.  All three sons are adults in 1786.  If there had been a minor son less than 10 years of age, John Powell would have made previsions for his upkeep in this will.

 

In 2012, we contacted a descendant of Peter Powell and paid for his YDNA test at Family Tree DNA.  Dennis Powell was his name. His line back to Peter Powell is:

Dennis Powell b. 1936 > Carlos Monroe Powell 1908-1983 > Edgar Richard Powell 1869-1959 > Thomas Monroe Powell 1845-1928 > Brazellia Powell 1805-1874, Peter Powell 1779-1849.

 

Dennis Powell’s DNA placed him in haplogroup J-M267.  Our brother’s haplogroup was at that time R1b1.  Over the years haplogroup names have been refined so that now brother’s DNA is haplogroup R-U198.  We are R, Dennis is J.  That means these two do not share a direct line YDNA ancestor within thousands of years ruling out a common YDNA ancestor in the 1700’s. Dennis and Clayton could not possibly both descend from Charles Powell that died in 1744 in Stafford County, Virginia thru a father to son, to son, to son YDNA.

 

Our brother’s YDNA has one 37 marker exact match to a male Powell descendant of Charles Powell and Leah Goldman. He has no other tested exact matches at FTDNA.

 

Dennis Powell has nine 37 marker exact matches to the Graham surname.  All these Grahams, as far as can be determined, are closely related.  Dennis Powell’s YDNA points to his Y male ancestor in the 1700’s being a man of the surname Graham.

 

Living close by John Powell on Hogan’s Creek, Caswell County, North Carolina was one William Graham.  It is likely that one of William Graham’s sons was the father of Peter Powell, and that one of John Powell’s daughters was the mother of Peter Powell.  Peter Powell descendants share DNA connections to many Powell cousins, and yet his YDNA is not shared with any tested Powell YDNA that we can find.

 

Elvin Myers, a 3^rd great grandson of Peter Powell, had early genealogy data for Peter, to include letters from one of Peter’s son William B. Powell in Missouri to another son, Henry A. Powell in Caswell County, North Carolina written in 1839, shortly after Peter and sons moved to Macon County, Missouri. Elvin had stories about Peter Powell saying his father died when Peter was very young.  Peter’s mother then married a man by the surname of Lyon.  Peter’s mother was know as Old Granny Lyon.  She was noted for saying she raised a pack of Lyons.

Peter Powell of Caswell County, NC bought land on Moons Creek and 1 negro for $787, Caswell County, NC in 1814 from the estate of Robert Lyon of Caswell County.  This only actually proves that Peter Powell and this Robert Lyon both lived in Caswell County and were likely neighbors.  John Powell [son of John Powell]  and Joseph McClain were also on this same list as purchasing property from the Robert Lyon estate. This Robert Lyon’s son, William Whitlock Lyon’s wife was Martha Lyon.  William Whitlock Lyon died in 1820 in Caswell County.  His widow, Martha Lyon, is listed on many records as inheriting his estate.  One John Powell is among the signers of the bond Martha Lyon posted for her husband’s estate. This John Powell is a son of John Powell and Margaret McDaniel of Caswell County.

 

The YDNA of J-M267, Caswell County records, and family stories points to Peter Powell being a grandson of William Graham of Hogan’s Creek. We believe his mother was Martha Powell, a daughter of John and Margaret Powell of Hogan’s Creek, Caswell County, North Carolina. Many others disagree, and believe Peter is a son of John Powell and Margaret McDaniel. We do not believe John Powell, who made a will shortly before he died, could have possibly failed to provide for the future security of a minor son upon his death.