General Notes

[basham.ged]
1880 Census Wise County Texas  E D 132 Sheet 10
1910 Census Pike County Arkansas
1920 Census Pike County Arkansas; E D 94, Sheet 2
Info From Sandra Gray Letter
Email Doris Foshee 1/25/2002 <drfoshee@@yahoo.com>
The reason Pa was called Samp:  when he and his twin were born, pa was q
ui te a bit smaller than Uncle Bunch.  One of the relatives put their fi
ng er in Pa's hand, and he clasped his fist on it, causing the relati
ve to re mark, " he might be a runt, but he is as strong as Sampson
."  So it was sh ortened to Samp.  Here in Murfreesboro people always call
ed him Uncle S am and Granny was Aunt Mecie.
Pa was working at the diamond mine here in Murfreesboro, Ar. as a washer
.. .he would use a high powered water hose to wash diamond bearing di
rt do wn to the grease table.  he saw a big flash as he washed and call
ed down t he line, "watch out for a big one!"  So the other men would ca
ll on down t he line, "watch out for Uncle Sam's  diamond!'  Therefore, wh
en it was fo und, the man hollered, "I've found Uncle Sam's diamond!"  Mo
st everybody t hinks it was named after the United State's Uncle Sa
m.  Of course, he nev er profited from it, because he was an employee.  No
wadays, you can p ay a small fee to get in the Crater of Diamonds and ke
ep whatever you fin d.
I think I told you that there was another child of Wesley Houston's...An
ni e, who was married to Peter Moore, lived and died at Smackover, Arkansa
I don't mind being corrected in any of this if anyone sees something n
ot c orrect, in fact, I always welcome it.  Pa and Granny moved to Tex
as in 193 5, mostly living around Ft. Worth and Weatherford.  They moved b
ack to Ark ansas in the early 40's, buying a farm at McCaskill, close to A
very's Chap el.  They sold this place and bought a farm between Blevins a
nd Hope, Ar ., where they raised the best tasting watermelons and cantalop
es you cou ld eat.
Well, I've got company come in, so I'll get back to you later.  Again, t
ha nks for getting in touch.  Doris Foshee