Carol Taylor, author, lecturer, genealogist, local historian, following the dedication of a Texas Historical Marker at the Merit Cemetery in rural Hunt County.
Carol C. Taylor is a genealogical and historical researcher with more than thirty years experience in the South, primarily in Texas. She started with an interest in researching her own family history (an ongoing project that she still actively pursues) and found that she was as fascinated with the times in which they lived as she was with official records of births and deaths. That led to an extensive knowledge of Texas pioneer history that she used to help countless researchers flesh out the details of their family tree as the Research Assistant and Manager of the Northeast Texas History and Genealogy Center and through many private clients.
A sixth generation Texan, Carol Taylor was born and raised in Jack County but has lived in Greenville with her husband Michael for over 35 years. A teacher for 26 years, Carol first retired in 1996 and became the Director for the Hunt County History Museum (now the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum) within a month. From there she moved to the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library in Greenville, where she managed the Northeast Texas History and Genealogy Center for 12 years. After retiring from the library in 2009, Carol started her genealogical and local history research firm.
She has two degrees in education from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, and a Masters in history from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Her thesis focused on the Mercer Colony of Northeast Texas and its impact on the Texas Annexation question. She is currently expanding her work into a manuscript for possible publication.
Images of America: Greenville, Texas by Carol C. Taylor
Carol co-authored The Devil’s Triangle: Northeast Texas, Ben Bickerstaff and the War of Reconstruction with Dr. James Smallwood and Dr. Ken Howell. She contributed an essay regarding cattle drives from Texas in The Seventh Star of the Confederacy: Texas During the Civil War, available from the University of North Texas Press. Her most recent book is a photo history of Greenville, Images of America, Greenville.
Carol is the current Chairman of the Hunt County Historical Commission. She is interested in locating small family burial sites throughout the county as well as working with Hunt County officials to make as many records available to the public as possible. Over the past thirty years she has personally researched and written at least six applications for historical markers, all of which were approved.
Mrs. Taylor, I am very new to researching my ancestors. My grandmother on my dad’s side of the family was adopted and I am trying to find her parents. When I saw that you were from Hunt County, I thought you might know something about the old Orphange that burned down in Greenville Tx. My grandmother was born in 1907 and was adopted from that orphanage in 1914. The 1910 Census lists her mother, her brother and herself in Fort Worth, Ward 1. We have no clue of a father. Any suggestions on how to proceed and does Hunt County have decent records to drive 6 hours and research? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you for any suggestions that you have have.
When and where is the 2015 Angelina Genelogy Conference held?
J.B. Currie
Hi there,
I am a descendant of John S Coley – he is my G, G grandfather through Charles Columbus, John A Coley and my dad David Coley. I live in Australia ( my parents immigrated here in 1971). I am the only Aussie in my whole family, except my two kids Josh and Georgia ( had to keep the Southern ties strong with that name!) The reason why I am contacting you is my son Josh is writing a final year paper for his History class on the American Civil War, to connect with his US roots and I remembered I had photos of a family members grave who was in the Confederate army. My uncle John ( are you surprised by the name lol?!) who was into genealogy in his later life took me to the cemetery to “meet” my kin back in 1990. Sadly he has now passed on so I can’t talk to him about Jobn Samuel and I was hoping you could help me ? Google is a wonderful thing and has led me to you ! Any information you could lead me to would me so helpful. Are there any other family members who fought in the civil war ? I suspect this will be a lovely journey of discovery for my son ( and myself !) Look forward to hearing from you – feel free to email me and we can chat further. Very exciting to cyber-meet another Coley descendant 🙂
Kind regards
Christa
Christa, I have a great-great grandfather named John Samuel Coley. His son moved to Texas (Jack County) about 1890 with his wife and two boys, Irvin G. Coley and Hugh Coley. Another son, Robert Coley, was born after the family moved to Bryson to live where other relatives lived. The family lived in the Bryson area for years; one may still be living there.
John Samuel Coley was born Feb. 7, 1845 and died Aug. 4, 1931. I am recovering surgery for my spine and doing some of my genealogy. I am trying to catch up. My son and a friend just returned from a trip to Australia. He loved it.
Mrs. Taylor, where can one access a list of the Mercer Colony settlers.? Is there an online source. Also, did I read you have or will have a book coming out on the Colony? My interest is due to a family connection to the Colony.
Thank you,
Kathleen Walker
I’m trying find my great grandfather’s ansetor he was biracial. He grew up around wolf city texas my name is Toni Locke his name was Albert Locke
I’m trying to find a series of articles “A History of Northern Hunt County” written by Fletcher Warren in the Wolfe City Sun. In a brief online article, Ambassor Warren (my cousin) wrote among the first settlers of Wolfe City were the Warrens and the Runnions (both my ancestors). I’m trying to verify they were there in 1844, as he implies in the online article.
Do you know if his articles are digitized?
Incidentally, your online bio of Fletcher said his father, Moses, was born in 1957 — maybe 1857?
Please help me find the location of “Old Roberts, Texas that was located in Hunt County in the 1800’s. It was supposed to be near Quinlan, Texas.
Don Benningfield
Dallas, Texs
Roberts is today in Quinlin. When Edward Green bought the Texas Central Railroad, he wanted to name after himself. There was a little town in the south part of the county he liked. He swung the track around the little town of Roberts, created a new town called “Quinlin.”
Hi. Would you be related to Virgel L Seay of Archer City, Tx?
I have been playing with my Genealogy for a while. I wanted to know if you could share more about the Indians that lived in Black Cat Thicket. I try to find information about Chief Black Cat, but I don’t have all I want! Would love to know if you come to my area to speak, I would love to listen.
1900 census
My grandparents, came to Texas from North Carolina around the turn of the century, 1900.
The 1900 census shows:
Robert G Taylor ( Head) – (dob= June 1869) – (age 30)
Jane (wife) (dob= Dec 1871)(age 28) –
Hilliard (son) (dob= April 1897) – (age 3)
Wesley McKinely (son) – (dob. Oct 1899) = (age 1/2), I am his nephew and during the 1930’s and 1940’s he went by the name Wesley Freeman Taylor. He served as a cook in the army during WWII.
If you have additional Information, please let me know.
Do you have any stories about folks coming from Tennessee to Texas in the late 184o’s. What typical route etc. My family came to Texas from Tennessee in 1849 and settled in Cherokee county.
My name is Steven D. Smallwood. I am James Milton Smallwood oldest son. I live in Greenville. You and he were friends.I didn’t know him.he had nothing to do with me. My email sdsmllwd@Gmail.com. I would like to hear from you.g
Ms Taylor,
You did an article about my Grandfather (A.J. Hurdle). You had a picture of my Father (Chester Hurdle) holding his picture. My Father passed away last year. I am trying to find a way to locate the land deed that shows what land my Grandfather owned (500 acres) It would be greatly appreciated. My Aunt Hannah is the last of the 25 Children of my Grandfather. I know that she has two parcels but I am not sure about the rest.
Thank you
Donald Hurdle
This is my Texas Roots : Cullin Earp, James Earp of Earpville Texas, Oreana Earp wife
of B A Vansickle, their daughter Martha Ann { my great grandmother}.Martha
married William Green Durham, their son Perry Columbus Durham,then my father,
Troy Columbus Durham,Me,my son,Two Granddaughters.Thats 9 generations still in
Texas. Thanks for info.on B A Vansickle. Thks Dorothy Diane Durham Winkles
hello diane,my name is pat woodall i just read your post my great grandmother willie ann earp was the daughter of phillip earp son of james earp ,i am having problems finding out where and when he died.was wondering if you might have any clues.it’s nice to see someone so close to my ancestors,i still have family in merit texas. thank you for your time and any information would be appreciated
Your article Read The Fine Print hits very close to home with myself also. Nany H. Doan was also my great great grandmother. Actually a step but she raised my great grandfather H.H. Doan.
I am researching George Washington Sampley or Samples who lived in Marion County, Tennessee. In your article about Andrew you mentioned that George Washington died in a civil war battle. There appears to be two George Washington Sampley men in and around Grundy and Marion County. My George W married at least twice, to Sarah who died in 1879 and Elizabeth (Lizzie) in 1882. Someone on Ancestry has his father listed as Martin Sampley, but there is another possible father in the census records. Any ideas? I don’t want to connect my George to Martin if Martin’s son died.
Good Morning/Afternoon,
Some of my family and I have been playing around with our family tree. Our Great Great Grandfather was Harper Leach and he is buried in the Aspermont Cemetery. He passed in 1899, we have been trying to get a picture of his grave. Since he passed in 1899 there may not be a marker, but knowing would help tremendously. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Aspermont Cemetery is not in my neck of the woods. However, you might check this link: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2176/aspermont-cemetery
I recently became chairman of the Wood County Historical Commission after the death of long time chairman Lou Mallory we have committed members but sometime I’d like to visit with you and see how other counties do their Historical Commission.I came across you while researching Ben Bickerstaff on line.
Hi. I saw your article about William Coley b. abt 1822, SC. You stated your relative’s DNA went back to McLendon ancestors rather than Coley. William was my g-g-g-grandfather, and he is my brick wall. We have reason to believe the McLendon connection occurs farther back than with William’s parents. A cousin has done the DNA test, his matches with the McClendon’s are more distant than William. Our closest direct ancestor is John Samuel. We believe we have identified some sisters and a brother of William’s (also Coleys). They were also in North Georgia at the same time as William.
My question is: Have you determined the McLendon connection? Thanks
You wrote, “Tejano stock
raisers from the region south of the Nueces River drove herds of longhorn cattle to
Gálvez’s army at the mouth of the Mississippi River in support of the Spanish effort. Those Tejano stockmen are today considered American patriots.”
I state from authority that Gálvez never received any cattle from Texas for any of his battles against the British. There is not one scintilla of evidence in existence that can substantiate those claims. There is substantial and verifiable proof that the bulk of the cattle came from Louisiana with the exception being a small quantity purchased in Mobile.
Mr. Hicks,
Thank you for your comments. Could you send me sources of your research and I will add it to my blog.
Carol
Hi! My Gr Gr Grandfather William M Turpin moved to Beat 4, Hunt, Texas around 1858-1859 with his new bride. He was an “oculist” and in 1862 joined the Confederacy in 1862. He was “present” for about 6 months but then was “absent due to illness” for another year or so. Do you know where I would find records on Confederate Soldiers in Greenville? I’d love to know what illness he had.
If you have a site that has information on Greenville in the early 1860s, I’d love to see that! Or a book, perhaps? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!