Hart Family Christmas Newsletters
HART FAMILY NEWSLETTER
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Hi & Christmas Greetings to EVERYONE from the Bootheel of Missouri. It is time to get this letter in the mail again, as another year has almost gone by. Some of you have called or written & told me about the happenings in your family this year, I hope that I don’t leave anyone out.

Cousin Christine called on 11 Dec 1994 after she had received her Christmas letter last year & told me that I didn’t have Stan Hart’s last granddaughter listed.

Hallie K. Levernier was born 4 Jun 1989 in Colorado to Jeffery Allen (Hart) & Kayleen Sue (Forbes) Levernier. This is long over due & I want to congraulate the parents & grandparents.

Several years ago Ruby A. (Kisner) Hester, the granddaughter of John Henry & Malinda (Hart) Kisner & I started corresponding with each other & have exchanged a lot of family information.

Malinda Hart was the daughter of Jesse Hart & Lucinda (Pryor) Hart of White CO,IL. Earler this year, Ruby’s grandson, Randy sent me a picture of Malinda Hart in her teens, which is to the right. (Not Shown) Malinda was born 19 Apr 1851 in White CO, IL & married John Henry Kisner, 4 Mar 1875 also in White CO. This was Malinda’s first marriage & John Henry’s third marriage. He had children by all three wives. John & Malinda had nine.

A letter from Cousin Sue (Hart) Fulks & her husband Gene arrived in Dec 1994 telling about their trip to England to visit their Daughter Starr Meekums & family & then on to Kenya, Africa. There they visited their other daughter Teresa Zwager & her family. Cousin Marie (Hart) Roussel went with them & they really enjoyed both Kenya & England. Sue also told me about her Step daughter Paula who is in the Air Force, being promoted to Lt. Colonel. Congraulations to Paula.

Received a card from Helen & Bill McClintick & they told me that their daughter Leslie finished her training with the IRS Criminal Investagation Services. Looks like Leslie is moving up the ladder in her profession & we want to congraulate her on the training & her job with the IRS.

Eloise’s cousin, Bob Lewis of Parma, MO called on 14 Jan 1995 & told us that his & Eloise’s cousin Loretta’s husband Tony had died earlier in the week in Michigan. Eloise called her that night & talked for a while. We are sorry to hear about Tony.

On 15 Jan 1995, Eloise called her cousin Helen in San Francisco, CA to see how the floods was effecting them. They were in no danger. Helen told her that Connie’s daughter Kim (age 34) had died on the 16th of Dec 1994. She had been ill for several years. We are sorry to hear about Kim.

The week of January 15th, our son, Alan was in Kansas City attending a Sales Meeting with the U.S. Tobacco Company & while he was there, a snow storm moved out of Oklahoma & Arkansas & moved north east through Missouri, leaving up to 20 inches of snow around Columbia, MO. He & two other Salesmen left Kansas City at 8: A.M. Friday morning the 20th, on *their way home. The roads were covered with ice & snow & between the wrecks & the slow traveling, it took them until 2: A.M. Saturday morning, before they arrived in Dexter. Thankful that they made their trip safely.

Well folks, I had a little suprise on Saturday night the 21st of Jan 1995 & here is part of what our local Newpaper had to say about it.

Top honors for Hart, Watson Named man, woman of the year at Annual Chamber banquet.
The awards were many Saturday night at the Sacred Heart Parish Center, as Dexter honored its proud past and its bright future at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Tapped for the evening’s two top honors were Ruby Watson and M. A. Hart, who received the Woman and Man of the Year awards for 1995 for their extensive volunteerism and community involvement.

I will have to say, “IT WAS QUITE AN HONOR”.

Mom had Gall Bladder Surgery at the Dexter Hospital on Tuesday the 24th of January & she came home two days later. She recovered real well, but then on the 2nd of Sept, she fell getting out of bed & broke her right wrist. She went to a rest care center for two months & then returned home on the 9th of November.

Cousin Vera (Hart) Ross had both feet operated on in February & was off from work for a while. As she told me a few days ago, the operation was not successful & she has just had to live with it & wears shoes 2 sizes too big for her.

Eloise’s Uncle (Brother) Nathaniel Lewis died at 12:45 AM, 29 Jan 1995 at the Malden Nursing Home at the age of 90. He was buried at the old Malden Cemetery, Dunklin CO, MO. His sister Lillian (Eloise’s mother) is the only survivor of 11 children. From the time Nathaniel was a young man, he was called Brother by his sister’s & when the sisters started having children, all they ever heard him called was Brother, therefore all of the Nieces & Nephews called him “UNCLE BROTHER”. He sure is missed by all.

Billy Ed Bowden wrote that one of his relatives, Jewell B. Melton, Sr, was born 29 Jan 1909 in TN & died 10 Sep 1994 in Jackson, TN & buried at the Maplewood Cemetery. Jewell was the son of the late Lewis Frank & Ollie Mae (Nelson) Melton formely of White County, IL & the grandson of Absalem Jefferson & Sarah Jane (Harvey) Melton of White County, IL. The family has our sympathy.

Received word from Carla (Hankins) Tenbarge of Evansville, IN, that her Dad, Auburn E. “Hank” Hankins had passed away on 31 January 1995 & the Funeral Service was held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday 4 February 1995 at the Pierre Funeral Home & Interment was in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Evansville, IN. Sorry to hear about Auburn’s death & our sympathy goes to all the family.

Alan came by on the afternoon, the 21st of February & told us that he was going to ride his horse “LADY” for a little while. About 6: PM that evening, his stepdaughter “Teea” called & said the horse had fell on him & broke his leg & that Alma was leaving at that time to take him to the St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau for surgery. Eloise, Kim, Connie, Corey & myself went to the Hospital & Shelly & Tom showed up about the same time we arrived there. They ran some test & didn’t do surgery until Wednesday. Alan was in the Hospital for 7 days & has recovered very well. He still has some trouble with that leg & will probable limp for a long time.

Albert F. Livingston, a resident of Bell City, Missouri passed away the 18th of February 1995 at the Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was the father of Gene Livingston of Bowling Green, Ky. Services were conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, 20th Feb 1995 in the Assembly of God Church in Bell City. Burial followed in the Forest Hills Cemetery near Morley, MO. Sorry to hear about Mr. Livingston’s death & our sympathy goes to all the family.

Beulah L. Mayes, age 77 of Evansville, IN., the mother of Eldon & Norman Hankins passed away on 13 Feb 1995. Services were conducted at the Alexander Funeral Home West Chapel & burial was in the Alexander Memorial Park. Eldon & Norman lost both their father & mother within two weeks. Our sympathy goes to the family.

We had a very mild winter (94-95), as we only had two little snows from November through March & they only amounted to about 1/4 inch each time. We had our first snow here this fall on the 15th of November & it was about 1/2 inch & was all melted by noon.

Received word from John Tanner that Robert Lee Patterson of Shelbyville, Tennessee had passed away on 8 Mar 1995. Services were conducted at the Hillcrest Funeral Home on Friday at 2: p.m. & burial was in the Mt. Hermon Cemetery. We met the Patterson’s several years ago when we went to one of the Hart-Morris Reunions in Shelbyville. On Saturday afternoon before the reunion on Sunday, Mr. & Mrs. Patterson & daughter Betty took us down to the old Mt. Hermon Cemetery & other places around there & he called it Hart Country. Told us some very interesting stories about some of our Harts that had lived there many, many years ago. Our sympathy goes to the family.

Cousin Sandie (Uncle Ralph Bruces daughter) (Ralph is Mom’s brother) called & told us that her mother, Jean Bruce had passed away at about 10:00 p.m. 10 June 1995 in Flint, MI. She was buried in Flint Memorial Park Cemetery, Flint, MI. Our sympathy goes to the family.

Bill McClintick who lives in Williamsburg, VA had back surgery the 18th of May at the River Side Hospital, Yorktown, VA. Cousin Lucy went out there to be with her sister Helen during that time. Bill has recovered & getting along fine.

Our son Kim & his wife Connie became foster parent’s of three children on the 1st of June. They are Kevin age 5, Brittney age 4 & Amanda age 2. They sure are sweet children & Kim & Connie are making a good home for them.

The descendants and friends of the late Martin A. & Hannah I. (Melton) Hart met for the 18th annual family reunion on Sunday June 18 at the American Legion Hall in Dexter.

Those attending the reunion were: Jim & Patsy (Aslin) Lucas of Monroe, La, Herdis & Phyllis Wells & Charles & Eva McNiel, all of Norris City, IL, Jerry & Doris (Beal) Hart of Yellville, AR, Perry & Mary (Holladay) Hart & children, Sarah, Josh & Jordan of Russellville, AR, Paul & Sandy (Jennings) Imbeaux & children, J. J. & Jacie, of O’Fallon, Jay & Mandie (Jennings) Tepe & children, Logan & Ian of Joplin. Clyde & Sandra Melton of Norris City, IL. John & Tammy Melton & children, Basha & Jerica, of Leopold, MO, Ora (Perrigan) Hart of Bell City, Butch & Sharon of Advance, Mitchell & Mary (Rendleman) Hart & son Gabe & Dawn Brown, all of Cape Girardeau, Harold & Dorothy Hart, Angie (Hart) Maddox & son Clay, of Bell City. Neal & Christine (Hart) Mansfield of Dudley, Lucille (Hart) Bennett, Connie Bennett, Vera (Hart) Ross, Jack & Ruth (Hart) Jennings, Dick Hart, Anna (Bruce) (Hart) Mann, Alan & Alma (Sims) Hart, Angie Hays & Dustin Johnson, Kim & Connie (Sims) Hart & family, M. A. & Eloise (Myrick) Hart all of Dexter.

During a brief business meeting M. A. Hart was presented with a plaque in appreciation of his dedication and work as family genealogist & historian. The plaque was designed by Dick Hart & contained a poem written by him. Following a short financial report, there was a motion made by Dick Hart that beginning at the next reunion (June 1996) an auction will be held following the noon meal. The auction will include handmade craft items, white elephant items, etc. The motion was seconded by Vera Ross & carried unanimously. The proceeds from the auction will go to paying expenses for the annual reunion. Jerry Hart gave the blessing on the food and everyone enjoyed the meal.

Gifts were presented to the following: Anna M. (Bruce) (Hart) Mann, the oldest person attending. Amanda, the youngest person attending. The family who traveled the farthest, Jim & Patsy (Aslin) Lucas of Monroe, LA. The couple married the longest, Neal & Christine (Hart) Mansfield of Dudley. The couple most recently married, Alan & Alma Hart of Dexter. The family with the most representatives present, The late Joe Hart family.

The next HART FAMILY REUNION will be held on June 16th, 1996 at the American Legion Hall in Dexter. Mark your calendar as we are expecting relatives from several different states.

Delilah Italia Gabriella Jones was born 26 Apr 1995 in Boumont, TX. Congraulations to the Gr. Grandmother Patsy (Alsin) Lucas, the Grandmother Janet (Wilkinson) Sells, & the parents. Dexter woman receives national attention.

June 16, 1995 - Houston, Texas - If Dexter’s Connie Bennett displays a broad smile these days, it’s probably because she recently learned that her novel has earned a finalist’s berth in the prestigious national RITA competion for published romance authors. Sponsored annually by the Romance Writers of America, (RWA), the RITA is the organization’s highest award for puiblished authors. More than 800 novels from across the U.S. were entered in 12 categories this year. Connie’s novel, “Single...With Children,” a Harlequin Superromance, March 1994 release, has placed among these finalist in the Long Contemporary category. Cousin Connie began her career in 1984, and has since written 16 contemporary and historical romances. Congraulations to Connie.

Theron E. “Lunger” Melton, 91, of New Haven, died at 9:30 p.m. Thursday 29 Jun 1995 in Deaconess Hospital at Evansville, IN. He was born on 2 Feb 1904, in New Haven, IL to the late Charles and Lula (Catlin) Melton. He is survived by his daughter, Marsha E. “Eunice” Ford and husband Earl of Evansville, IN, two granddaughters, a great grandchild; three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jerusha Aud of Springfield and Della Melton of Evansville. Funeral Services was held Sunday, 2 Jul 1995 at 11 a.m. at Cox & Son Funeral Home in New Haven, IL. Burial was in the Herald Cemetery, White County, IL. The family has our sympathy.

Leland E. Love was born on April 19, 1910 near Sikeston to the late Earnest and Myrtle (Hart) Love and died Tuesday, August 22, 1995 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife Naomi, of the home in Morehouse, MO & one brother Herschel Love of Glyn Ellen, IL. Funeral Services was conducted at 1: P.M. Thursday, August 24, 1995 in the First General Baptist Church in Morehouse. Burial was in the Essex Cemetery, Essex, Stoddard County, MO.

I had Surgery on 25 Jul 1995 at the Dexter Hospital & couldn’t do much for about 6 or 8 weeks. “Hernia”.

Our cousin Mary Hart, (wife of Mitchell) of Cape Girardeau has decided make a change in her profession. She wrote me a note saying that, “After teaching school for 21 plus years, I’m reaching for a new career: Real Estate! I’m excited so I just wanted to share the good news with you. Congraulations Mary & we hope you the best in your new endever.

Called Uncle Ezra Hart, who lives Kelso, WA, in late August & he told me that his son Mike was having some test run. Talked to him again the middle part of September & Mike had some type of Encephalitis, & they thought the Doctor’s had found it in time. If you all will remember my Dad “Joe” came down in September 1968 with the St. Louis Encephalitis & it left him, paralized & brain damage! He lived for 27 months & was bedfast during that time. Very serious illiness.

Ginger Kaye Hart the Daughter of Miles (Ezra) & Wanda Hart & Paul Reid the Son of Mrs. M. Ruth Manning were married at four o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 9th of September at the Zion Baptist Church in Henderson, Kentucky. Congraulations to Ginger & Paul & we wish the best for you both, in the coming years.

Brian & Denise Hart & family have moved to Wappapello, MO. Brian has served over 20 years in the U.S. Navy & is retiring in February 1996. They called when they moved & promised that they all would be at the HART FAMILY REUNION on the 16th of June 1996. This will be their first time to attend the reunion, & we are looking forward to you all being there. Also welcome back to Missouri.

Several years ago, I started doing research on our Great Grandma Martha (Emerson) Hart’s brother “Allen Emerson”. He & his family moved from Hamilton & White Counties, Illinois in 1884 & went to the State of Washington to make their home. I looked at a lot of the 1900, 1910 & 1920 Federal Census records, wrote letters, but never could find where they lived in Washington. Most of us thought they lived near Wilbur, Washington. Just this last year, information has been found on Allan Emerson & some of his family & I would like to share it with you.

HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY, embracing LINCOLN, DOUGLAS, ADAMS and FRANKLIN Counties, State of Washington, published in 1904.

ALLEN EMERSON. One of the first settlers of Lincoln county is Allen Emerson, a thrifty fruit grower and retired minister, who resides at Peach. Born December 12, 1847, in White county, Illinois, son of William E. & Mary (Pyle) Emerson, his early years were years of struggle and responsibility. When only fourteen years of age the death of his mother left him with the care of five younger brothers and sisters. At this time the family were practically orphans, as the father’s duty in the eighty-seventh regiment of Illinois (Civil War) prevented his return to the motherless children. The father died in 1868. He was born in White County, Illinois, of which his parents were early settlers. His mother was a native of Ohio.

The duties of caring for his brothers and sisters left little time for education during his boyhood, but the schooling he lacked then was made up in his young manhood. At twenty-six he was ordained a Baptist minister, and at twenty-seven he was attending college at Ewing, Illinois. For some time after his ordination, Mr. Emerson followed the occupations of farmer and minister. Three years prior to his leaving Illinois, however, he devoted his entire time to the last named calling. In the spring of 1884 he, together with his family, came to the Big Bend country, and located in the vacinity of Brents, near the present site of Creston. His experiences here are somewhat unique and historical. He was the first Baptist minister west of Reardon, he helped to organize the first Sunday school, being its first superintendent; he aided in the organization of the first Baptist church, immersed the first convert, and married the first white couple. After locating land here he removed to Welsh creek. In the spring of 1898 he sold this land and bought his present home of twenty-one acres, six acres of which is in orchard, bearing all varieties of fruit and berries adapted to this latitude, the culture of which is his specialty. Mr. Emerson has been prosperous in his western home, owning besides his homestead, one hundred and sixty acres of land on Hawk creek.

March 8, 1876, occurred the marriage of Allen Emerson and Clara Gollihur. Mrs. Emerson was born near Knoxville, Tennessee. Her father, Andrew C. Gollihur, a native of Tennessee, migrated first to Illinois, then about three years ago (1901) to Creston, Washington. He is now seventy-three years of age. Her mother Mary J. Gollihur, died in Illinois. Mrs Emerson was the second of a family of eleven children. Mr. and Mrs Emerson are the parents of seven children: Clarence and William A., both attending school at a boy’s college in Spokane; Otis A., Bertha, Mary E., and Martin R., all attending school.

NOTE: One son Donald was left out of the above History, as he was listed on the 1910 Federal Census in Spokane County.

Some of the Allen Emerson family are buried at the Pines Cemetery, located one mile south of Opportunity, Washington on the West side of Pines Road. This is in the Spokane Valley.

Clara Emerson, died 24 May 1913, age 59 Pneumonia

Ethel M.. Emerson, died 5 Feb 1915, age 22, buried on north side of her mother.

Martin Roy Emerson, died Spokane 30 Jan 1918, age 23.

Allen Emerson, died 25 Jun 1926, age 79.

Susan Emerson, died 21 May 1962, age 4.

I have located one of Allen Emerson’s grandson Verne Emerson’s widow “Shirley” living in Seattle & another grandson “Roy” living in Olympia. I first talked to Shirley the 25th of October. Then her daughter Penny called me on the 30th of October & also talked to Penny’s brother Mike. They gave me Roys phone number & I called him on Saturday the 4th of November. We agreed that we would exchange family information & I am looking forward to receiving more about Allen Emerson & his descendants.

Some of you may remember back before 1950 (Jim Aslin says before 1948) Grandpa Martin Allen Hart & Grandma Hannah Iona (Melton) Hart went to the State of Washington & lived for a short time. If my memory is correct Grandpa & Grandma Hart visited with some of his Emerson cousins during that time.

A few years ago Great Uncle Henry Ezra Hart’s great grandson Matthew Underwood, of Decatur, IL sent me some pictures of their family & others. In those pictures was the picture to the right, (Not Shown), of a family made around 1900, & on it was “Either the William C. Hedges Family or the Allen Emerson Family” Wilbur, Wash. The picture has now been properly identified as the Allen Emerson Family.

If I have it figured correct they are from left to right, back row: Clarence, William, & Otis, middle row; Allen Emerson, Donald, Bertha & Clara & the two children in the lower middle are Martin Roy & Mary E.

Matt also sent a picture of Clarence Emerson about 1905, which I will send later.

Rachel James Wilz arrived 28 Sep 1995 & weighed 6 lbs 12 oz to Martin & Julie (Aslin) Wilz in Cincinnati, OH. Congratulations to the parents & Grandparents, Jim & Donna Aslin.

Cousin Vera fell Friday evening the 1st of Dec while placing a Wreath in the front of her home & broke her left wrist. Her son Kerry took her to the Doctor in Cape Girardeau that night & had it set. I saw her the next day & she was in a lot of pain. Thats three broken bones in our family here in Dexter this year. Lets hope that is it for a while.

We had a little winter weather yesterday, (8 Dec), sleet & a little snow moved in about 7: a.m. in the morning & covered the ground. The temp. stayed up above 32 degrees all day & the roads never did get bad. But the temp. went down to 6 degrees above zero last night & the wind chill was about 21 degrees below at times. The sun is shining this morning & such a pretty morning, even though it is cold.

Our Pastor Wayne Dismuke wrote the following to his congeration this week (1st Dec 1995) & Eloise & I would like to share it with you. Not often do I “Wax Poetic”, but in my Southeast Missouri way - here’s my Christmas greeting to you:

Christmas is here. Heralded by good cheer!

LAST MINUTE NOTE:
Royalty is born, 9 Dec 1995 In a stable forlorn! Mom had a mini stroke the Shepherds and Kings, morning of 6 December. I To all His bells ring! took her to the Doctor & Is this the Babe in the manger? he put her in the Hospital Surely to you He is no stranger! for 2 days for observation. Believe in Christ Jesus today, She really had a bad time Over sin, death, and grave He can save! all day Wednesday & that Rejoice in the Life He can give, night. We put her in the Noel, the reason to Live! rest home again yesterday.

From the Hart home and heart, to your home and heart -

Have a Very Merry Christmas! M. A. & ELOISE HART 716 N. Catalpa Street Dexter, MO 63841-1104


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