Hot off the presses is a new book sure to be a weighty addition to Mississippi genealogy research. Entitled BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH AND COMMUNITY IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, 1835-1999, CHOCTAW COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, the early reviews of this volume are glowing.

Focusing on this small community, the book presents a history of the people, church, school and land in the &uot;panhandle&uot; of Choctaw County which prior to 1874 was part of Winston County. The focal setting is enhanced by the description of social, economic, political and religious situations and activities on the state and national scene. The chronology is by decades.

Genealogies of 12 pioneer families, most from South Carolina, total 1,900 names for which a separate index is provided. Brief biographies of all pastors are given. The church itself became inactive a few years ago when the local population declined and remaining members moved on to services in nearby Weir. The school closed in 1917 and the school district became part of Weir as well, but school personnel, curriculum and student activities prior to that time are discussed in detail.

Among the resources utilized are land, tax, school, church, and cemetery records; supervisors’ minutes; federal census schedules; and personal interviews. These are presented in tables, maps, analysis, narratives and a beautifully documented history.

The author is W.A. Whitten, a Beulah native. He is a retired commissioned Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State with a 24 year career spent in Liberia, Tanzania, Afghanistan, and parts of Asia. He administered foreign aid for education in developing countries. Also a former pastor at Richland, Dr. Whitten is a brother to the Rev. Charles Whitten of Clinton, a retired missionary to Argentina, Spain and the Canary Islands.

Illustrations include sketches by George H. Taylor, Jr., and Donna McGee Brantley and a collection of rare photographs from the area.

This hardcover 547 page book includes indexes and a bibliography and is published by Thomson-Shore, Inc. of Dexter, MI. Orders may be sent to W.A. Whitten, 4453 North Shore Lane, Norcross, Ga., 30093. The cost is $39.95.

Keep those Christmas lists in mind!

DOES ANYONE KNOW…….

Johnnie Bouck (32 Wright Road, West Milton, Ohio 45383-1616, e-mail Jaybeetwo@aol.com, 937-698-6063) would like to contact descendants of DAVID WILEY GORDON and his wife N. J. TISDALE of the Louisville, Winston County, Mississippi area.

David and his wife had five children: Trudie, Emmett, Eulah, Ethel, and Agnes. Dave Gordon married a second wife, LENNIE BELLE HOOD, who was the widow of Edward WELLS. Dave and Belle Gordon had one daughter. Does anyone have information on this family or their descendants?

Edward W. Hickman (5016 Highway 80 West, Jackson, Miss., 39209) is seeking information on JOHN HICKMAN. He was born around 1780 and the 1840

Census shows he was living in Copiah County, Mississippi. He died between 1840 and 1850. His wife was named Charlotte but no maiden name is known for her. The couple had five children: Charlotte (born in South Carolina); Dr. Brinkley Hickman (born in South Carolina in 1811, married NANCY SISTRUNK 18 March 1845); Allie H. Hickman (born in Copiah County, Mississippi in 1822, married GIlBERT ROGERS 30 September 1860); Asbury Hickman (born in Copiah County, Mississippi in 1824, married MALISSA TILLMAN 4 March 1858); Nancy Hickman (born in Copiah County, Mississippi in 1826, married J.E. WILSON); and Francis Marion Hickman (born in Copiah County, Mississippi in 1829, married MARY M. HARPER 21 December 1854, joined the Confederate Army 7 March 1862 and died in Yazoo City, Mississippi 24 March 1863). Can any reader help with information on these lines?

Lynn Greene (1725 Dovewood Drive, Jackson, Miss., 39212-2604) is searching for information on the HEATHMAN PLANTATION in Sunflower County, Mississippi. Her father, JAMES E. EVERS, was born there in 1921 and all records were lost or burned.

Greene has been unable to start her family tree due to this loss. Can any readers help get her started with any information about the plantation and the people there?

Please send your announcements and queries to FAMILY TREES, 900 Main Street, Natchez, Miss. 39120 or e-mail to Famtree316@aol.com. All queries printed free of charge. Be sure to include your snail-mail addresses along with the email queries! We look forward to hearing from you soon. Happy Hunting!

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