Ron’s Ancestors and Distant Cousins
Fun and Not So Fun Facts
Blodgett Family
Blodgett, Francis Samuel—3rd great grandfather—There is a 3rd class land grant in the Texas State Land
Office for Francis Samuel Blodgett in Parker County in 1857. A 3rd class land grant was given to people
who were in the Republic of Texas between 1837-1840. His tombstone reads:
I know thou hast gone
To the home of thy rest
Then why should my
Soul feel so sad
I know thou art gone
Where the weary are blest
And the mourner looks
up and is glad
Christopher, Dr Lois Billingsley—2nd cousin 2x removed—Optometrist; one of the first female doctors of
optometry in Texas; began her practice in Wichita Falls; Bible school teacher for over 60 years.
Stegall, Britt Edward—3rd cousin 2x removed—Listed as an Oklahoma actor on WWI Draft Registration
card; was later an Oklahoma police officer who was part of the Flat Foot Four police department singing
quartet; on the 1930 US Census listed as a theatrical entertainer along with his wife.
Willess, Alice Hannah Blodgett—2nd great aunt—Buried at Sugar Loaf Cemetery in Coryell County, Texas;
when Fort Hood was built in 1942 the graves were moved to the Killeen Cemetery in Killeen; in 1954 the
old Willess homestead was bought by the Government to be made a part of Fort Hood and the Belton
Lake.
Willess, James William—1st cousin3x removed—Gravestone says "Too good for earth. God called him
home."
Ely Family
Baten, Anderson Edith – husband of 1st cousin 2x removed—Former Acting President of Howard Payne
University
Borden, Richard—8th great grandfather—son Matthew was said to be the first white child born in Rhode
Island, son John’s great-great-great-grandson Gail Borden invented condensed milk and founded
Borden’s Milk Company (Borden Co, Texas and the town of Gail was named for him), and, yes, it is said
that the infamous Lizzie Borden who axed her parents to death was Richard’s son John’s great-greatgreat-great granddaughter.
Ely, George Burgoyne—great uncle—lived to be 99 years 8 months old; joined the Texas Rangers at age
19; an ordained Baptist minister
Ely, John—4th great grandfather—served in the Revolutionary War in the 11th, and 15th Virginia
Regiments, Continental Army
Ely, Levi Lee—half 1st cousin 2x removed—Chief of Manufacturing at General Dynamics in San Diego for
40 years; worked on the Atlas Missile Program
Ely, Robert—half 1st cousin 2x removed—firefighter; considered by fellow US firefighters a mastermind
of mechanical innovations; credits include instrumental in standardizing equipment nationwide,
inventor of the Ely Adapter (a rethreading machine), assistant chief of San Diego Fire Department,
standardizing of fire hoses on cruise ships, taught evening fire science courses at San Diego City College,
developed a course on the purchase and maintenance of fire apparatus that was adopted by 28 states.
Ely, Silas J—2nd cousin 1x removed—owned a real estate appraisal company in California, penned a
textbook on real estate, avid Ely family genealogist.
Ely, Thomas—5th great grandfather—came to America about 1740, fell in love with his future wife on the
voyage over, served in the French and Indian War, fought along with three sons in the Revolutionary
War.
Hamilton, Chip—3rd cousin 1x removed—karaoke jockey in the entertainment business.
Keith, John Birden—3rd great grandfather—served in the War of 1812, fought with Andrew Jackson
against the Indians in Florida.
Morgan, Lavinia Isabella Ely—great grand aunt—business school instructor in California, went blind later
in life.
Pouncey Lorene—3rd cousin—librarian whose extensive research and poetry has been published in the
US, Europe and South America; worked at the Hunting Library in San Marino, CA, U of I, Urbana, Il,
Library of Congress, Washington, D. C., and retired from the U of H, Houston in 1978 with a professor
Emeriti status.
Smith Family
Bedgood, Dr Dale Ray—4th cousin—former professor and head of Department of Mathematics at A&MCommerce, involved with Digital Filters for Real-Time Data Processing Report for NASA in 1967 for
George C Marshall Space Flight Center in Louisiana while he was a professor of mathematics at
Northeast Louisiana State College.
Burrows, John—9th great great grandfather—listed under the Order of Descendents of Ancient Planters
(persons who lived in Virginia before 1616).
Bucke, Richard—10th great grandfather—listed under the Order of Descendents of Ancient Planters
(persons who lived in Virginia before 1616).
Cooper, Harden Fenimore—3rd cousin—assistant football coach for Houston and Baylor, was drafted by
the Chicago Cardinals in 1947 but choose to coach rather than become a professional player.
Hatcher, William—9th great grandfather—recognized in the Jamestown Society. His plantation in
Virginia was the Varina Plantation (National Register of Historical Places) believed to be the former
home of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, Varina Plantation was one of the first parcels of land to be settled
in Henrico, the 2,000-acre estate was also the site of Henrico County’s original Courthouse and Parish
Mullican, Virginia Adelaide Daniel—wife of stepson of 2nd great aunt—niece of founder of Jack Daniel’s
Whiskey, was named in his will.
Smith, Godfrey G—2nd great grandfather—came to the Republic of Texas about 1844 ; first elected
District Clerk of Hunt County; Justice of the Peace; served in the Mexican War 1846-1848 and the Civil
War.
Smith, John Wayne—uncle—birth listed on the Texas Birth Index as Ronald Smith.
Winniford, David—2nd great uncle—said to have died of fever on the way to the gold fields of California;
others said left for dead by wagon train by his brothers, saved by another wagon train and later settled
in Oregon.
Winniford, Norvell Robertson—2nd great uncle—after reaching the gold fields of California, Norvell and
his brother William left after 14 months with $4,000 sailed from San Francisco to Panama where they
crossed over the isthmus and took passage on another ship. They stopped briefly in Havana, Cuba after
which they sailed to New Orleans. They arrived in Dallas County Texas in August of 1852.
Worrell Family
Mason, Francis—12th great grandfather— listed under the Order of Descendents of Ancient Planters
under approved planters. The term "Ancient Planter" is applied to those persons who arrived in Virginia
before 1616.
Searcy, Bennett—3rd great grandfather—He may have gone to Kentucky with Daniel Boone when Daniel
was commissioned by the wealthy Richard Henderson to establish the settlement of his "Transylvania,"
as the territory purchased by Henderson from the Indians was then called. At least Bartlett is found in
Boonesborough as early as 1776 when he was one of a party of eight men who rescued Daniel Boone's
and Col. Calloway's daughters from the Indians who had stolen them as they played on the banks of the
river at that place.
Seawall, Henry—11th great grandfather—one of the earliest families in the US; came from England in
1619.
Thelaball, James—10th great grandfather—a French Huguenot (Protestants who were influenced by
Martin Luther's preaching), was in Virginia as early as 1635.
Walton, John—10th great grandfather—landed at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1620.
Willoughby, Thomas—12th great grandfather— listed under the Order of Descendents of Ancient
Planters under approved planters. It is said that he owned the Willoughby Oak (Virginia’s third largest
oak on record, is about 500-600 years old, now on the Norfolk Naval Station) back in 1620.
Long Lives
Ely, George Burgoyne—great uncle—99 years old
Robertson, Jeffery—5th great grandmother—90 years old.
Winniford, Judith Robertson—4th great grandmother—90 years old.
Worrell, James—5th great grandfather—99 years old.
Interesting Twins
Felton Jerry and Elton Perry Barker—3rd Cousins—born 1914 Comanche Texas.
Ronnie and Lonnie Bartley—3rd Cousins—born 1940 Texas.
Bonnie Leo and Lonnie Leo Cox—2nd Cousins 2x removed—born 1922 Oklahoma.
Levi and Eli Ely—Half 1st cousins 2x removed—born 1914 California.
Opal and Otis Smith—1st cousins 1x removed—born 1916 Oklahoma.