BAKERS, BEEMANS, & KIRKLANDS

Across the Fence 



By Arvord Abernethy 

If you remember, some time back I was telling you that I planned to climb the family tree and see what I could find. Well, the limbs are far apart, and some of them break off, so I’m not getting along very fast. To get some help, I went by the Hamilton Public Library the other day to see what they might have. 

Mrs. Robertson took me back to where they had a few family histories and some books on instructions for writing such a book. One book I found was “From Norway to Gentry’s Mill” by Leonard Kirkland. Leonard’s mother, Mrs. Zeb Kirkland, was the former Julia Pierson, and the book is centered on the Louis Edward Pierson family. Some of the other Pierson children were: John, Olaf, Melvin, Edwin, Julia and Henry. Leonard has done a wonderful job in putting together an interesting book on the Pierson family. Edwin and possibly others helped some on it. You need to go by the library and check out the book. You will like it. 

There is another interesting family history book in the library that you will like. It is on the Baker family and was written by Mrs. Katheryne Baker Witty and Mrs. Alma Baker Rea. This book traces the family back to the Mayflower and the American Revolution. 

You will enjoy reading about the Beeman part of the family as they settled in Dallas, Fort Worth area before there were any towns there. The book tells of some of the hardships they had especially concerning food and supplies. 

Often the only buffalo they could get close enough to kill would be too old and tough to eat. Indians were still giving trouble there. Mr. Beeman helped layout part of Dallas in 1842. 

You will enjoy reading of William Thatcher Baker has he came to Hamilton County and settled on Cowhouse Creek southeast of town. He later opened a store there and had a post office in it which he named Ohio after his native state. 

There is a very interesting section in the book that tells of James Artemas Baker who went on out to the Plains in the early days and settled at Lockney. Their motto was, “Baker’s Store Since ‘94”. When you have time drop by the library and read the Baker history

Shared by Roy Ables