Genealogy Research by Richard Beaver

Table of Contents

Introduction

I have been performing genealogy research for 20+ years. Like most people, it is a time consuming hobby as I try to learn more and more about my family roots. Like most researchers, I was able to learn a lot until you get back to the early 1800's and then it becomes much harder as records become scarce. For example, I have family ties in Missouri and the records are almost non-existent in the very early 1800's. I also have ancestors in Virginia where the records are much more abundant and already indexed and often computerized.

Over the last few years, I have been asked to help several people learn more about their family. If you are interested in some research assistance for a nominal fee, please contact me. I specialize in the area around Frisco, Texas and also online research since I am a computer science person by degree.

One final thought, genealogy research is not an exact science. Imagine that you find your family in the 1850 census with a couple of children listed. While it is very likely that they are natural born children, you cannot be 100% sure. Good adults would often take in orphans and there would be no records.

As as real life example, I have performed a YDNA analysis which will tell you if you share a common male ancestor with other individuals having the test performed. This can often help with your research by telling you information about your deep ancestors (i.e. Native American, etc.). But imagine our surprise when a "Miller" surname family matched our records. This could be a case of a bit of infidelity, or more likely, they took in an orphan child of a "Beaver" family. This most likely occurred in the mid 1700's, so we may never know exactly what happened.

Family Studies

Bradley G. Beavers (1803) & Amanda Melvina Keeton

Bradley G. Beavers was born around 1803 in Tennessee and died between 1871 and 1880 in most likely Crawford or Texas County, Missouri. He married Amanda Melvina Keeton on November 11, 1831 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. They moved to Missouri in the 1835 to 1838 time frame, based on the children's birth locations as listed on the census records.

• Click here for the full study on Bradley G. Beavers & Amanda Melvina Keeton

Willis Beavers (1833) & Marie Andaire Boyer

Willis Beavers was the first born of Bradley G. Beavers. He moved to Missouri with his family when he was only 2 to 5 years old. Willis and his brother Reeves were mustered into civil war services on Northern side on October 20th, 1862 but they deserted December 7th, 1862. His father was concerned for the safety of his family if the soldiers came looking for them and so they left home. Willis went south where he met and married a French descendant named Marie Andaire Boyer on June 21, 1864 in Old Mines, Washington Co., Missouri. Willis was a farmer for a short time, but spent most of his life as a miner. Marie died young, a little more than 40 years old. Willis died on March 4, 1888 of pneumonia, leaving his family of seven children, entirely destitute. It is unknown exactly how the children survived, but they did.

• Click here for the full study on Willis Beavers & Marie Andaire Boyer

Elijah White Roach (1797) & Nancy Richardson Harvey

Although Elijah White Roach spent his life in Virginia, he had a major impact on both Collin and Dallas Counties as several of his children moved here in the 1870’s and 1880’s, possibly before 1860. The impact of this early migration is still being felt today as the Roach family continues to influence the lives of the county citizens by actively serving the cities, schools, and churches.

• Click here for the full study on Elijah White Roach & Nancy Richardson Harvey

Historic Articles

Migration of Elijah White Roach Descendants to Texas, by Richard Beaver

Although Elijah White Roach spent his life in Virginia, he had a major impact on both Collin and Dallas Counties as several of his children moved here in the 1870’s and 1880’s, possibly before 1860. The impact of this early migration is still being felt today as the Roach family continues to influence the lives of the county citizens by actively serving the cities, schools, and churches.

• Click here for the full article

Flourishing Emmerson, McKinney Democrat, March 6, 1902

This is a newspaper article describing very early Frisco, then named Emmerson. The first train on the Frisco line was due to arrive on March 15. The article mentions many of the new businesses and residences, along with some of the pioneering Frisco families.

• Click here for the full article

Baccus Cemetery including interments

The first burial in this early cemetery was January 13, 1847. There are about 285 marked graves. A cemetery board is responsible for the cemetery and an endowment fund provides income for maintenance. The cemetery is located 5 miles south of Frisco, 1 mile south of State Highway 121; and 1.3 miles west of State Highway 289. A Texas State Historical Marker stands at the gate.

• Click here for the full article

The Curtsinger Drug Store

The impact of this drug store on the entire community of Frisco was almost unbelievable. It became a focal point in the community. Only 30 days after the establishment of this store, the great fire happened and the town was almost laid to waste except for the block in which Mr. Curtsinger’s store was located. His store then became even more of a focal point.

• Click here for the full article

Research Advice

Useful Publications for Frisco, by Richard Beaver

A review of some of the books published by the Heritage Association of Frisco which may be a good choice for some of your research.

• Click here for the full article

An Introduction to Genealogy Research in Texas, by Richard Beaver

I never was very good in history, but making it personal by studying your genealogy sure puts it in a different light. Who were your ancestors, when were they born and where did they live, who were their children, and where do you belong in your family tree. Can you imagine what it was like to live the way they did?

In the attached article, I will attempt to help those particularly in Texas start exploring their ancestors. With any luck at all, you should be able to trace your ancestors back several generations using online records.

• Click here for the full article