| In July 2001, Jenelle Blanton-Wilcox of California,
Margaret Gray of Florida, Pat Sommerfield of Texas, and Debbie Blanton McCoy
of Texas met in Dallas to research at the Dallas Public Library. A highlight
of their trip to the library was meeting Lloyd Bockstruck, a nationally-known
genealogical researcher and Director of the Genealogy Department. Jenelle,
Pat and Debbie all descend from John Blanton, born 1760-1761, who moved to Texas
in 1836 and served in the Texas Revolution at the age of 75. Mr.
Bockstruck aided them in finding papers to prove his service in the Texas Revolution.
After leaving Dallas, they headed to Red River
County where John had settled in 1836. There they met up with two more
of John's descendants, Linda Moore and Sharon Black. Sharon took them
on a tour of the Blanton Creek Cemetery where many of their ancestors are buried.
Linda helped them research at the courthouse. While there, they were
fortunate to examine the loose files of John's probate papers. It was a very emotional
time when they actually held an IOU which had been signed by
John Blanton shortly before his death. John helped forge the Republic of Texas and departed this
earth under that flag in November 1840.
After leaving the courthouse, they stopped at
the local Dairy Queen (which they called city hall) and started talking to some of the "oldtimers"
(better known as chairmen of the board)
of Clarksville to see if they could help them locate the land where John Blanton had resided.
These men listened intently and directed them to the house of another one of Clarksville's
"oldtimers", and off they went to his house. While at his house,
a younger man walked in and introduced himself as David Blanton! David is
also a descendant of John Blanton. He took them through a cow pasture
to an abandoned cemetery where Jacob Blanton was buried. What an exciting way
to end our trip!
Below are photographs of our trip, courtesy of Margaret Gray
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