Kinfolks
by Evelyn Flood
It is rare in one's lifetime to have many really good friends who
stand beside you no matter what. I had one such friend.
So many times no mention is made of a person's passing and I
wanted to pay a tribute to a great friend who I miss so much.
Fran was such a wonderful person. I cannot
say in words all the things she has done for me.
Since her death, I have been in a state of shock.
She couldn't be gone----that friend of mine!!
That friend who enjoyed life. That friend who
was such a friend to me.
As I write this, I am in tears. Tears of grief.
Tears of gladness and joy for having known her.
Happy in knowing that she is in a far better place
right now than you or I might be.
She has "walked that lonesome valley all by herself".
She lives in a place where Christ reigns.
In His house "there are many mansions".
Fran is in one of those mansions,a place where she is enjoying
her family that has gone on before her.
Fran has found those family friends she had been seeking in her
genealogy research
Fran came from a long line of Newton County, Arkansas families.
And her ancestors were related to my childrens'ancestors.
That made us doubly close.
Mary Frances Flood Shatswell Emmerich 1940-2000
German Gay Flood 1909-1985
Mary Virginia Flud Brown Ricketts 1890-1968
John Snooker Flud 1863-1940
James Flud and Caroline Peoples
John and Rebecca Flood\Flud
Smith Peoples and Sarah (mnu)
Mary Jane Smith 1868-1936
George W Smith; Margaret Emeline Pierce
Nina Campbell 1912-1976
Jerry M Campbell 1867-1942
Peter Calmus Campbell and Nancy Catherine Smith
George W Campbell ; Julia Ann C (mnu)Grangeene
Jeremiah Smith and Margaret Armstrong
Martha Isabell Smith 1875-1942
Henry W Smith and Barbara Allen Pierce
Thomas and Febary Tackett Smith
Some time back someone sent me an article called
"The Dash"; The dash from birth to death.
And here again we add a dash between the beginning
and the end.
That dash----how much have we lived between those
dashes? What good have we shown to our fellow man?
Have we helped someone with their heartaches along
the way? Do we have regrets?
Have we lived our lives fully between those dashes?
We do not know the date after the dash, but we know
the date before that dash. How much "living" can
we pack into that "dash"?
I know that in Fran's dash, she lived a life
as full as possible. She had a "laid-back" attitude which
I admired greatly. She faced life's problems with
this attitude.To know her was to love her. She had
such a good sense of humor.
One time I was grumbling about my four kids and she said
"well,one out of four isn't bad", and I had to laugh.
Made me stop and think that I wasn't that bad off after all.
I am trying to remember when I first met Fran.
Believe it was 1988. We had written letters to each other and became
acquainted by doing genealogy the old fashioned way...writing letters
and making telephone calls. I was trying to help her find information
on her beloved ancestors.... the Campbells, Holts, Floods, Smiths,
Gilmores, Grangeenes,etc.etc. Meanwhile, I accumulated many, many
family group sheets on many Newton County,Arkansas families.
That year, 1988,I had taken a year's sick leave from my job,
(my husband died in 1980)and I made the "once in a lifetime" vacation
trip a genealogist like me could ever ask for.
Rode the Greyhound to Oklahoma City,Oklahoma where I met another good
friend,Charlotte Trucks Blanchard(she lives in Michigan), a Flood
relative and an avid genealogist. Charlotte borrowed her
father-in-law's car and we drove up to Claremore, Oklahoma to see a
picture of John "Kink" Flud and his wife Emeline Cooper(Charlotte's
side of the FLood tree). We then drove down to Eufaula, Oklahoma
and stayed there a couple of days---visiting where else but the
Mellette Cemetery and the library. Met some nice folks and well
remember Mr. Everett Montgomery, an old timer who told us much.
His wife was Manerva Foster.
As most of you know, instead of going to movies or concerts, we
"genies" visit cemeteries.
We then drove through Ft.Smith, stopping to visit Judge Parker's
Court. While there we saw the plaque showing Simon Flood's name on
the list of deputy marshalls who had served under Judge Parker.
Will be writing a story, listing all the Deputy Marshalls.
Did you know that many of the men who rode for Judge Parker were from Newton County??
Charlotte and I drove up to Newton County.
My husband, Kenneth Flood, was born there and some of his kinfolks
still live there. We stayed with J.W. and Betty Smith.
Got to meet Thomas Niswonger and Arthur Pierce, the genealogists
of Newton County.
Arthur Pierce is now deceased.
Thomas is the president of the Newton County, Arkansas Historical society.
Almost drove the clerks at the Newton County Courthouse
crazy asking quetions and copying records.
Believe I met Ruth Wilson, Editor of the Newton County
Times on that trip. She is another one of those "good friends" you
only get in a lifetime.
Fran and Artie Emmerich came down from Kansas City, Missouri
to see me. They took Charlotte and I to view the "Grand Canyon
of the Ozarks",and the beautiful Big Creek Valley. I could not get
over how beautiful it was...the breathtaking view from the
top of the hills. Took your breath away. No wonder my husband had
loved it so and even talked about going back to live someday.
This was when I was able to take the photos which I use in my
Kinfolks Stories on my website.
Ken's grandparents Simon David and Hester Ricketts Flud still owned
land there at that time but it was sold to a Middleton.
We inherited money from the sale of that land.
I have traveled all my life in many different Western States of
these United States, but I shall never forget that wonderful,
"once in a lifetime 1988 vacation". Met so many kind, loving and
generous people in Oklahoma and Newton County.
When I got back home, I went to Kinkoes and copied some 400
family group sheets and mailed them to Fran and Charlotte. Our
collections had started. Little did any of us know how many books
and records we would eventually collect---- and are still adding to.
Believe it was 1992 and then 1994 when I got a chance to
ride the bus back to visit again in Kansas City, Missouri and I stayed
in Fran and Artie's house. Fran took me to the Mid-Continent
Library each morning so that I could research in a library that
was like walking into a candy store as a little kid.....which place
should I look next.....where do I start in that glorious library?
I thought I was in a genealogist's heaven. Could not believe the
genealogy books and records they had in that library.
While visiting in Kansas City, Fran and I searched and
studied many ancestors. We especially wanted to solve the
mystery of Peter Calmus Campbell's parents, George W
Campbell and Julia Ann C Grangeene. Fran had obtained
land records of George W Campbell and we found that he
had married a couple of times before marrying Julia.
I still have all that information.
Those elusive Grangeenes; Oliver and Edward became an obsession
for both of us.
We tackled Elizabeth Campbell Holt Lawson Carlton's history.
We were centered on Peter Calmus Campbell and his sisters Elizabeth
and Mary Barnett Campbell Holt. We collected Holt information.
Always patient Fran, who got up each morning about 4 AM, stretched out
on the couch, leaning on her elbow, writing letters in longhand to
genealogists across the land. That was her time for herself. A time
to renew her strength for the day. A time that was hers alone.... to
reflect and study her elusive ancestors.
And then came the computer. Fran had hers first.
Then one of my brothers gave me a computer and we were
then in touch. The America-On-Line IM became our mode
of conversation, usually in the wee hours of the morning.
We talked about our trials and tribulations, our joys and
sorrows.....woman talk, mostly.
Not long ago I met the acquaintance of someone who was researching
the Grangeene line. Through many E-mails back and forth, found that
Edward Grangeene had survived that 1857 trip to California with his
family and that he had died in California. This must have been the
trip Peter Calmus Campbell also went on when he went to California.
We knew all about Oliver Grangeene's life and thought we could find
more information about Julia (their mother)this way.
One of our Grangeene researchers sent me a copy of Edward's
death certificate and I couldn't wait to send a copy to Fran.
We had tried so hard to find Julia's maiden name.
Fran was so happy to get that copy.
Someone sent me a picture of Elizabeth Peoples who had married
Thomas Shatswell. Forwarded it to Fran and she was so grateful.
She said it meant so much to her Shatswell children to see this
picture.
Then Fran told me about her illness. She was diagnosed
with cancer of the lungs about August 2000.
It was the fast-growing type. It spread quickly to her
liver and kidneys. I talked to her on the telephone about
Thanksgiving and she seemed her good-natured self,
poking fun at losing her hair and losing weight. She sounded
so good. She told me that with treatment, she had one to
two years and without treatment, six months. I had hoped
and prayed she would beat it. I even made plans to go visit
her, but fate had other plans. I had to go to the hospital
and was unable to visit Fran like I wanted to.
Then on the 14th of December 2000, I found that she had expired.
Her husband, Artie, called me and we had a long talk.
He said that Fran really was not in pain, even at the last.
The cancer had spread to her brain and she could not talk well.
So the Lord had been with her all the way---giving her comfort in her
last moments---easing her pain.
My heart goes out to that family. Fran was the center of their
universe.
I had so much wanted to find Julia Grangeene's maiden name to send to
In her memory, I dedicate this story.
Fran then married Artie Emmerich in 1969 and they
Fran's brothers and sisters were:
Fran was very generous in gifts to people. One time
We bought lots of sweatshirts and decorated them;
Fran loved yard sales and we went to several of them too.
Fran gave Lloyd Sutton an apple tree which he planted
I hope that all of you who came in contact with Fran
I know Fran's two favorite colors were green and red.
Was able to crochet Fran two afghans while visiting in Kansas City;
NOTE:
Evelyn Flood
Fran. Had wanted so much to find out more about Peter Calmus Campbell's
father and grandfather for Fran.
who talked me into writing the Kinfolks stories that I send
to the Newton County Times and I have placed some of
them on my web site.It is with her encouragement that I
have kept at it.....writing stories about so many of the
people we have researched together.
Mary Frances Flood was born 19 Jan 1940 in Newton County, Arkansas
to German and Nina Campbell Flood.
They moved to Kansas City when Fran was a young girl and she always
missed Newton County and went back to visit as often as she could.
She married James Jr. Shatt in 1956 and they had
James Richard, Ronald Junior, Laurie Ann and
Jeffrey Shatswell(deceased). James,Ronald and Laurie Ann
Shatt survive her.
had two daughters; Angela Lea Emmerich McFerren and
Amy LeeAnn Emmerich Barnes who both survive her.
She also left nine grandchildren who loved her dearly.
(i)Lela V Flood Reddell Goldsmith Moore(deceased)
(ii)Charles W Flood (deceased)
(iii)Paul G Flood
(iv)Herman S Flood (deceased)
(v) Dennis R Flood
(vi)Joseph Flood,Sr (died in February 2004)
(vii)Audrey S Flood Wendleton (now deceased)
(viii)Jimmy L Flood (deceased)
(ix) Jesse H Flood (deceased).
Fran was buried at Mount Washington Cemetery in Kansas City,
Missouri where her parents are buried.
while visiting in Kansas City I had my birthday there.
She bought me a purple jacket which I hold dear
and don't want to wear it out....a keepsake from Fran.
what fun we had doing this.
I always vowed that the next trip I made to Kansas City, I would not
lug heavy suitcases, but would take a couple of changes of clothes
and Fran and I could go to a yard sale and buy a blouse or jeans if
need be. Of course, my suitcase of genealogy would be with me, as
heavy as it always was. Collected so many papers, had to ship some
in a separate box on the Greyhound Bus.
on his property in Newton County. It was a small tree
when he planted it, and now has grown to nearly seven
feet tall. What a wonderful remembrance of Fran.
Am going to put pictures of that tree in this story later.
Emmerich, have memories such as those I mentioned.
I miss you so much, Fran. And I know you have joined
those beloved ancestors you hunted for for so long and finally
know the answers to so many of your questions.
Could you somehow send those clues to me?
So hopefully the background of this story will be a good color.
one in white and the other a maroon with blue stips, a ripple afghan.
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