On Feb. 8, 2000, Family Trees Magazine, the first mass-market, user-friendly magazine about genealogy and family history, will hit the newsstands with its second pilot issue.

It will be the first magazine to cover all the areas of potential interest to family history enthusiasts, reaching beyond genealogy research to include ethnic heritage, family reunions, scrapbooking and historic travel. It will also explore all the tools family historians use in their hobby: Web sites, CD-ROMs, computer hardware and software, photography, books, memory albums and craft supplies.

After the pilot issue, Family Tree magazine will be offered on a bi-monthly basis with a cover price of $3.99. Subscription information and single copies are available now through www.familytreemagazine.com., the magazine’s companion Web site.

The publishers, F & W Publications, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, rank among the nation’s leaders in genealogy publications including such titles as Unpuzzling Your Past, The Genealogist’s Companion and Sourcebook, First Steps in Genealogy and Family History Logbook. Many of the authors of these successful books will be regular contributors to the magazine which should be a great plus for its readers.

Try to catch one of the pilot issues and let us know what you, the readers, think about this new venture!

DOES ANYONE KNOW …

— Armerita Kirk (306 Robert Road, Tempe, Ariz. 85281, 480-967-3666) is searching for the descendants of JACOB PICKETT, her great great great grandfather. Jacob Pickett was born about 1800 in Kemper County, Miss. No grave has ever been located either at Chamberlain or Kellis Store Cemeteries in Preston, Kemper County, Miss., where a number of other family members are buried.

Jacob married a Miss LAND, who was born about 1810 in Kemper County. No further information is known about her other than the fact that GARNER LAND was of this same family. The couples known children are: John William Pickett (born 22 June 1838, died 13 December 1923); Nathaniel McCree Pickett (born 17 March 1840, died 4 July 1910); and Henry W. Pickett (born 4 June 1845, died 3 October 1926). All were reported to have been born in Kemper County. Does anyone know how to contact Garner Land? Does anyone have any other information on these people? This is a search that has been ongoing since 1955 and any information would be greatly appreciated.

— Mary L. Holder Grady (308 Peach Orchard Drive, Ridgeland, Miss. 39157, 601-856-2671, e-mail: marylou@netdoor.com) is seeking information on her grandfather’s siblings. Her grandfather, JOHN RISHER HOLDER, was born in Jasper County, Miss., on 8 May 1866 and died there on 18 July 1944.

His siblings are believed to be Henry B. Holder, Sophronia Holder, Lavinia Mattie Holder, Roxanna (Roxie) Holder, Rebecca Holder, Lilly (Liby) Holder, Elizabeth (Eliza) Holder, and Julia C. Holder (born 11 February 1869, died 11 July 1945 and married to Matthew B. STRINGER). Any information on any of these people would be of help.

— Carl Ponder (2250 Cumberland Drive S.E., Smyrna, Ga. 30080) is searching for the descendants of Dr. LEWIS BANDY HEMPHILL who came to Hinds County, Miss. in 1899, the descendants of WILLIAM HEMPHILL and the descendants of WILLIAM MILLIGAN. Milligan had a son, Marcus, and a daughter, Elizabeth. A Hemphill Family book is slated for publication in the later part of this year and information is sought from the HEMPHILL and MILLIGAN descendants for this publication. Hemphill researchers may also be interested in the Hemphill Historical Society. For more information on the Society, contact Ray Hemphill, 910 Spring Valley, Woodstock, Georgia 30189.

Please send announcements and queries to FAMILY TREES, 900 Main St., Natchez, Miss. 39120 or e-mail to Famtree316@aol.com. All queries printed free of charge. We look forward to hearing from you!

Family Trees is a weekly column written by Nancianne Parkes Suber of Natchez.