Joint Meeting with Historical Society

Lavyn Sisco entertained members of the genealogical and historical societies and their guests with the presentation about Blanche Weigers McMullan Thursday, Aug. 16 in the chapel at Heritage Park. McMullan who was born in 1871 held a degree in music and was a founder of the Roman Catholic Church in Sulphur Springs where she was the church organist most of her life. She was the wife of mercantile store and landowner Thomas McMullan.  Blanche was born in Jefferson, Texas to Theodore and Rebecca Weigers who moved to Sulphur Springs in 1874. She attended a finishing school and college in Jefferson where she graduated with a degree in music. Thomas McMullan was born in Belfast, Ireland and sailed to America at the age of 15. He was a successful businessman who first owned a soup kitchen in Sulphur Springs that expanded into a bakery and then a grocery store. He also owned a hardware store and then went into the cattle business with partner James Cotter. Blanche and Tom were married Jan. 19, 1890 and had twelve children with nine living to be adults. Tom never forgot his Irish traditions, Irish songs and folklore of ancient Ireland. In the music room of their home the family gathered to listen to Blanche play Beethoven, Bach and Mozart on her grand piano. She died at age 93 and is remembered for her generosity to her church and to the town she loved.

Successful Lock-In

The annual Lock-In on July 14 attracted 36 researchers and numerous visitors who participated in the school census workshop and brought pictures to scan. The rural school collection netted 148 new pictures to be added to our archives. John Sellers and Pam White described the school records currently housed in the archives and explained how to use the records. John explained the terminology for "common" school districts and "independent" school districts and displayed the census and account books from the county school superintendent's office dating from 1895 to the 1930's. Individual family school registration cards from the 1940's through 1970's were shown to researchers. Pam explained her collection of photographs and school histories organized by the 96 school districts identified by Harvey Harrington many years ago. The society has now identified about 20 additional rural schools. Of the 36 attendees at the Lock-In there were several from out-of-town and out-of-state. One couple came from Salinas, California and others came from Duncanville, Mesquite, Keller, Rowlett, and Dallas.

HCGS May 17, 2012, Meeting

Sarah Clark Stevens, a descendant of the Hargrave family, spoke at the Hopkins County Genealogical Society meeting Thursday, May 17.  The Hargrave family played a significant role in the early Hopkins County history.  The family can be traced to Hezekiah Hargrave who served with General George Washington in the Revolutionary War.  Hezekiah married Susannah McMurtry in 1785.  The family migrated from North Carolina to Kentucky and to Indiana.

Click to Read More of ...HCGS May 17, 2012, Meeting

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