Thurman, McAfee, Derryberry, Crowder and Ponder families with a Hopkins County, Texas connection.
 

My ancestors are the Thurman, McAfee, Crowder and Ponder families who lived in Hopkins County, Texas. The Crowders were in Hopkins County for the 1850 census, the McAfees in 1870, the Thurmans in 1900 and the Ponders by 1890s.

The family history search is a fairly new venture. My goal is to document, document, document, but that is not always easy. Quoting a recent contact: "Genealogy is like examining unknown facts through imperfect prisms. Sometimes even source documents are wrong." (Jon Egge) I will, however, do my best at documenting the data posted to these Web pages. With this goal in mind, I have recently visited more courthouses, libraries, cemeteries, and called cousins in my age group, than 10 previous years. (Sad to say, they are disappearing fast.) Now, what do I do with this information? Keep it close to me in family files, possibly lose it in a house fire, let it end when I depart this earth? Our ancestors did not have Cyberspace to preserve their family's history for future generations but we do. I am adding this history for our children's children with respect for rights of privacy for living individuals.

Information on these families will be added as it is documented. Photos will be added as identified. I will appreciate any additional information, family photos, documents. Corrections to the pages on this site will be appreciated and sources sited. You may contact me by clicking on the E-mail link below.

You will find tombstone pictures on many of the pages. I would like to add a photograph of the individuals to celebrate their life. Please contact me if you have pictures to share with future generations.


We recently started entering names to the database at findagrave.com. You can check the submitted names by clicking
here

Elisha A. Thurman

Fannie Helena "Lena" Derryberry

Henry Alexander Derryberry and Sarah Chenoweth

Lawson A. McAfee and Margaret J. Starnes

John Miller McAfee and Sarah Jane Crowder

Green Ham Crowder and Virginia Bromley

Hiram Whatley and Georgia Ann F. Stone

Thomas Wesley Stone and Ellen Bryant

Francis Marion Ponder and Georgia Zenobia Whatley

Click on the links below to view photo journals of past Ponder reunions
Ponder Reunion 2008
Ponder Reunion 2009
Ponder Reunion 2010
Ponder Reunion 2011
Ponder Reunion 2012

NEW - Ponder Reunion 2013 - NEW

Can you identify these pictures
Although I feel that I know who some of them are, nothing was written on the back of the pictures. Ponder connectons? Whatley connection?
There are some baby pictures taken by a Longview photographer

Reilly Springs students 1920s
Will you help identify the students?

Reilly Springs students circa 1929

More Reilly Springs students circa 1929

Star Ridge Girls Basketball

My Research Notes
(This page is set up with marriage, death and other records dealing with the surnames I research. Not all are connected to my family. What about yours?)

Suggested genealogical links


Counter installed ~ 3 July 2006