Overstreet Researchers

Traut / Trout(t) Family

Overstreet Researchers

On March 8, 2001 Bob Oversteet met with a group of Overstreet family and researchers at the Bedford County, Virginia Museum. The following is a note from Bob and some pictures (more to come) of some of those that attended.

March 16, 2001

Hi Gang:

It's time that I share some of the happenings during my thirty hour visit to Bedford County VA last week. Cousin Carol Jeffords, Annandale VA, picked me up at Dulles Airport very early, allowing for an 11:00 AM arrival to the Bedford Museum library. The library is very ably staffed by two wonderful and helpful persons: Louise Bonds and Ruth Farrar. When I originally thought about issuing an invitation to an informal gathering, I thought there might be 5 or 6 folks interested enough to show up, that number including Carol and me. A distant cousin, Wilma Noell, picked up the challenge and started contacting local folks. The notice to appropriate Rootsweb groups let a couple more people in on the idea, and by the weekend before the scheduled gathering, it appeared with good weather there might even be ten or twelve stop by during the three hours. By the 4 PM start time there were ten people ready to get at this business of the Overstreet family hunt.

Within an hour there were kin from Richmond VA, Roanoke VA, Lynchburg VA plus several from the immediate Bedford area. Many did not know each other, and there were lots of addresses and telephone numbers exchanged. Some folks expressed a real desire to be present, but because of work or health related issues, were unable to attend. I have heard that Gloria Thornhill who was taken from Bedford to the Lynchburg hospital in an ambulance just before arriving has recovered and returned to her home. We all are thankful for that outcome.

During the short visit in Bedford, I was able to make contact with over thirty kin, or persons very interested in learning about the Overstreet family line from Bedford County VA. I was, and remain amazed! Many of the folks indicate no email contact available, and for those that do have internet access, only a few are currently hooked in with the Overstreet Rootsweb. I have had two new persons contact me before I was able to return home. Obviously there is some real interest and now it becomes a challenge to attempt to share with and learn from folks that may, or may not, have an access with this internet tool. Any ideas out there?

For those of you that were unable to attend, or would like to keep in touch with this group, please do contact me with your surface mail address and home telephone number. It would be helpful to know your line of Overstreets in a format similar to the way I show my Overstreet lineage in my signature line below.

Bob O

Thomas O, Sr. bfr 1720> Thomas O, Jr. 1744 Orange Co VA> Benoney O 1796 Bedford Co VA> Ira Preston O 1848 Bedford Co VA> Elisha David O 1873 Bedford Co VA> Ira Meador O 1905 Bedford Co VA>me