Author Archives: lisaclds

Memorial Day: Leonard L. Fite (1822-1864)

Posted on May 25, 2015 by lisaclds

The Civil War seems so much nearer to me now than when I was in high school and the war was thirty or more years nearer to me in real time. Some of it is the natural tendency of chronological … Continue reading →

Posted in Fite, Martha Tennessee Fite | 1 Comment

Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919 Hits Close to Home*

Posted on November 9, 2014 by lisaclds

* I started writing this last fall, when I was reading about the Spanish influenza pandemic — its genetics were similar to last year’s strain. And, like the Spanish flu (deadliest in people ages 20-40), last year’s flu mostly killed … Continue reading →

Posted in Childs, Duckett | Leave a comment

Sorghum Cane Syrup in Arkansas

Posted on January 12, 2014 by lisaclds

In September, we went to the Cane Hill Harvest Festival – partly because I was interested in Cane Hill, the site of Arkansas’ first college to admit women, and partly because I had heard they were making cane syrup from … Continue reading →

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Duckett Township Meeting: Saturday, November 2, 2013

Posted on October 7, 2013 by lisaclds

I think the flyer speaks for itself: Ronnie has lined up interesting guest speakers who have a lot of familiarity with the area, and we also hope to collect more information about the Duckett community, roughly defined as Duckett Township, … Continue reading →

Posted in Childs, Duckett, Duckett Township, Geography | 1 Comment

Gardens as a measure of age

Posted on September 28, 2013 by lisaclds

I’ve been blessed with an abundance of tomatoes this year. My five yellow pear tomatoes are producing a quart or two a day although my Amish paste are not so prolific. Still, it’s enough that I can share with my … Continue reading →

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John Henry Brock (1802-1880): Burial at Witherspoon Cemetery

Posted on August 31, 2013 by lisaclds

John Henry Brock was born in 1802, more than 200 years ago, and died May 26, 1880, 123 years ago. He is buried on Brock Row in Witherspoon Cemetery, Vandervoort, Polk County, Arkansas. Three of his children, Lucinda, Lawrence and … Continue reading →

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Lewellen Moore Childs’ Land Grant: A Starter Cabin

Posted on July 1, 2013 by lisaclds

Lewellen Moore Childs (1851-1915) settled his homestead in 1877-1878, about the same time as the Brock siblings did. While the Brocks settled their homestead as a family of five adults, the Childs homestead was settled by newlyweds. In 1877, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Childs, Lewellen Moore Childs, Martha Tennessee Fite | Leave a comment

Sarah (Brock) Duckett’s Land Grant

Posted on June 19, 2013 by lisaclds

Three weeks before Sarah Drusilla (Sallie”) Brock married Allen Turner Duckett (second marriage for each), she and Turner traveled 120 miles to Camden, Arkansas so she could submit paperwork to file for a homestead in Howard County, just south of … Continue reading →

Posted in Allen Turner Duckett, Brock, Duckett, Sarah Drusilla "Sally" Brock | 1 Comment

Land Grants: A Little House (or Two or Three) in the Ouachitas+

Posted on June 13, 2013 by lisaclds

When I was in grade school, I devoured the Little House books. Laura (Ingalls) Wilder lived in Indian Territory, not too far from where I grew up. When she had the fever and ague, Dr. Tanner, who saved her, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Allen Turner Duckett, Brock, Duckett | 3 Comments

Allen Turner Duckett: Was he named for a Methodist circuit rider?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by lisaclds

I am nearly positive that my grandfather’s paternal grandfather Lewellen Moore Childs (1851-1915) was named for a Primitive Baptist preacher. In a surprising twist, I now believe that Orval’s maternal grandfather Allen Turner Duckett (1846-1907) was also named for a preacher, a Methodist … Continue reading →

Posted in Allen Turner Duckett, Duckett | 3 Comments