Hi List,
Here's this week's geneology column, Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who contributed, and good luck on you research. Just a quick note to encourage readers to send in their stories on their Bosque County Families, or memories of our beautiful county to be included in the column both online and in our local newspaper The Bosque County News.
Have a great week 

There will be a Dedication of a Texas Historic Marker for the Oswald Cemetery on Sunday, March 18, 2001, at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. The cemetery is located 1.8 miles North of Clifton on FM 1991; 0.5 miles East on FM 3221. The cemetery was deeded for use as a graveyard on November 22, 1877, by Flora Anderson Kemp. Among the pioneers buried here are early settlers of old town Clifton and several Civil War Veterans.

While you are researching be sure to stop by the Bosque County Collections website at http://www.htcomp.net/bcc. This column also appears weekly on their website along with an online index, thanks to Bruce Wiland, that makes it so easy to search for your family names. You can find information there on how to order the Early History of Bosque County, revised edition, by the Bosque County Historical Commission. Be sure to get your copy now, supplies are limited. I have heard news this past week that they are going to begin moving the collection to their new location in the Lumpkin Building quite soon.

Francis enilsted during the Civil War, in the Confederacy, in Co. B, 31st (Dismounted) Texas Calvary, and served in Col. Tresevant C. Hawpe's Regiment. The 31st, was assembled at Waco during the spring of 1862, with men mostly from Dallas, Longview and Greenville. The regiment proceeded to the Indian Territory in eastern Oklahoma, and became part of a mixed brigade of Indian and Texas units, under the command of Douglas Hancock Cooper. The 31st participated in the battle of Newtonia, Missouri, and the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas.

The 31st then transferred to the streaming swamps of Louisiana, where they held back the Union forces occupying New Orleans. They saw action at Bayou Bourbeau, Stirlings Plantation, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, and many others. In Louisiana, they served as part of Polignac's Texas Brigade (later Stone's Brigade) and fought the last half of the war dismounted. The brigade was led by the only foreign general of the Confederacy, Prince Camille de Polignac. Alwyn Barr, Professor of History at Texas Tech University noted "Although the men of Polignac's brigade served in secondary campaigns with a limited effect on the outcome of the conflict, they were very much a part of the American Civil War, and a factor in those events which took place west of the Mississippi River."

"F. M." applied for his Confederate Pension (#09532) in Meridian and was approved Feb. 20, 1903. Less than a month later on March 17th, Francis died. Louisa Jane, applied for her Widow's Application (#09774) shortly thereafter, and is listed as Lizer Jane Gandy. Both are buried in the Meridian Cemetery.

Many Gandy descendant's were musically gifted. Herbert Leonard Gandy, son of Frank and Lina, and a member of the Woodsman of the World, fraternal organization, was said to be a master at playing any stringed instrument. Without any musical training, he was able to play be ear, and was particularly accomplished in the fiddle, mandolin and banjo. His talent was evident in his daughter Edna Corrine, who played with the same accomplishment in piano and organ. Sadly, Herbet contracted Tuberculosis and died at the State Hospital in San Antonio, at the age of 31. He is buried in the Gandy family plot in Meridian Cemetery.

Later Gandy generations were equally gifted. Charlie and Jesse Gandy sang for the local gospel quartets and funeral home services, as did Robert Lumpkin "Lum" Gandy, a retired county tax assessor for Bosque County.

The Gandy family remains a fascinating family to research. Some of their descendants originally from Bosque County, include the surnames of Landtroop, Hanna, Brown, McNeil, and Jordan (Jurden). As with many of the Gandy family, these descendants are also buried in the Meridian cemetery.

My Gandy connection has fascinated me since I was a young child, thank to the stories passed down in my family. May the memories of James D., F. M., Frank and their children be cherished.
Gayle Hennington-Van Horn
gayle@grove.net 

More About ROBERT E. LEE NEW: Burial: Degraffenried Cemetery, Hill Co. TX More About CORA ELLEN WOMACK: Burial: Degraffenried Cemetery, Hill Co. TX Nickname: "Ella" Children of ROBERT NEW and CORA WOMACK are: i. ADA NEW, m. UNKNOWN GILMORE. ii. MARSHAL LEE NEW, b. 8 October 1897; d. 31 July 1984, Hill Co. TX; m. ALENZA LAWSON, 3 April 1920, TX; b. 8 October 1904; d. 12 August 1986. More About MARSHAL LEE NEW: Burial: Degraffenried Cemetery, Hill Co. TX More About ALENZA LAWSON: Burial: Degraffenried Cemetery, Hill Co. TX Please contact
Linda Cowan Baker at:
ndnblu@texoma.net