Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Requests for Info
Received via Website
Received via Website
2015-03-11
Joyce Johnston
jojohnston1(AT)att(DOT)net
8114 Split Pine
Houston, TX 77040
7one3-9three7-1zerozero3
My family is looking for the death certificate of Mrs. J.P Brisbin, also known as Arvenia, Arvinah, Armenia, Ari, or Fannie. She died June 29, 1955. She was buried in the Davilla Cemetery with the name Arvinah Davis Elliott Brisday and after several months of trying to find her dc, nobody seems to have it. We wondered if you would have a record of who placed her tombstone in the Davilla Cemetery. Perhaps there was a copy left with them.
*****
2015-03-11 - standard email sent to Ms Johnston - request sent to MCHC members
*****
Joyce Johnston
2015-03-13
Thank you for all your efforts. I appreciate it. I have even contacted the funeral home to see if they had a copy of the death certificate, but I have not heard from them. Just for you information, I have a lot of information on her family. Arvenia was my grandmother's sister, but I never met her.
*****
2015-03-11
Joyce Johnston
I just re-read my e-mail. Arvinah's last name was Brisbin. Thank you for responding so promptly.
*****
2015-03-11
Info forwarded to Ms Johnston:
Subject: Find a Grave memorial 16320302 - created by Karen Neal Morey 25 October 2006.
The memorial lists all her family.
Peggy Wright peggy.pj(AT)gmail(DOT)com
*****
2015-03-13
Joyce Johnston
Thank you for all your efforts. I appreciate it. I have even contacted the funeral home to see if they had a copy of the death certificate, but I have not heard from them. Just for you information, I have a lot of information on her family. Arvenia was my grandmother's sister, but I never met her.
*****
2015-03-15
Ms. Johnston, I wanted to let you know that I have been working on your inquiry and have not been successful. Arvinah is not shown in our death record books. Further verification Thursday determined the same at the Milam County County Clerk's Office in Cameron. My other Archives, Ancestry, Roots web and Newspapers searches also were unsuccessful. Have you tried the Texas Public Health Dept. Records in Austin?.
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/birth_death_general.shtm
Another thought is the Bell County, County Clerk's office.
http://www.bellcountytx.com/county_government/county_clerk/
How about the Temple Daily Telegram's archives? http://www.tdtnews.com/site/about.html
I'm not familiar with Bell County, but Milam County has micro-tape archive of the local Newspapers in certain libraries or M/C Historical Museum (pending). Bell County may have a similar arrangement. If you're able to find an obituary, it might just lead you to the death certificate (via funeral home records etc.). Rockdale's Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home handles many of the interments in the Davilla Cemetery. Their owner, Wallace Jones, stated that they did not perform the service. I'll keep your inquiry in mind, and should I think of any other ways that you, or I, might research this, I'll advise. I will check for an obituary for you in the Rockdale Reporter and the Cameron Herald microtape archives next week.
Respectfully, Jack Brooks
*****
2015-03-18
Wonderful . I will try again to thank you for all you for all your work. I thought that since the Bartlett Tribune said that she was being taken care of By Goodnight that they might have a copy of her death certificate. Again, thank you so much. Any more suggestions will be appreciated.
Joyce
*****
2015-03-18
Ms. Johnston, Just as a follow-up, I did search the Lucy Hill Patterson micro-tape archives for an obit for Ms. Arvinah yesterday morning. Again, I came up empty handed. 1955 is really recent in comparison to most of our inquiry requests.
Should you locate an obit or a death certificate, would you be kind enough to share it with us so that we may show a conclusion to your inquiry?.
I'm truly sorry that weren't able to be of more assistance to you.
Sincerely, Jack Brooks
*****
2015-03-20
Mr. Brooks: Just a little update, but the Bartlett Tribune said that Arvenia (Mrs. J.P. Brisbin) was at the Goodnight funeral home and I believe they must have sent my request to you. I will locate my copy and send it to you. Next I will see if there is an office at the Davilla Cemetery. I sent the note below to Goodnight. Again, thank you.
Joyce
*****
2015-03-20
Pastor Cox: May I pick your brain and that of your congregations one more time?
The Milam County Historical Commission has received another inquiry in your "neck" of the County.
I am trying to get in touch with a Mr. Cargill. I understand that he oversees the maintenance of the Davilla Cemetery. There are numerous Cargill's in the community, but I find none listed in the "Red" telephone book.
Our inquiry is regarding the earlier interment of a Mrs. J. P. Brisbin who expired in Bartlett. We are trying to find out if anyone with Davilla Cemetery association, if there is one, would have any information on the interred.
Thank you again for your kindness. Jack Brooks
*****
2015-03-26
Dear Mr Brooks, Brother David Cox contacted me regarding your inquiry below. I have been secretary-treasurer of the Davilla Cemetery Association since 1972. My dad was chairman of the association until his death, at which time my sister took his place. She later resigned and the chairman is now my son Jason Cargill. I purchased a book published by Perry C Holder entitled 150 Years of Cemetery Records in Milam County Texas. He located, visited and listed all markers in 162 Milam County cemeteries. He began this task at his retirement in 1975 and published this book in the 1990’s. I have gone through the book and there are Brisbin’s buried in two cemeteries, Davilla and Val Verde. These cemeteries are about five miles apart. However, there is no Mrs. J.P. Brisbin listed. These are the listed Brisbin members:
Davilla Cemetery
Arvinah Brisbin 1869 – 1955
J R Brisbin 1869 – 1937
Marian W Brisbin 1898 – 1969
Val Verde Cemetery
Beatrice G Brisbin, wife of C L 1899 – 1982
Chancey L Brisbin 1895 – 1945
It is very possible that other graves were in the Davilla Cemetery. When my dad took over as chairman the oldest part of the cemetery had been plowed by previous caretakers. We found pieces of markers in thick briars. My dad pieced back together what he could but many were not salvageable and unreadable. We had no idea where they were moved from either. I know there were Brisbin’s in Bartlett Texas when I was young and it is only 11 miles east of Davilla. Perhaps the person you are searching for is interred in Bell County.
I am also the Davilla Baptist Church Clerk and have a copy of the first church records that date back to the 1800’s. I went thru the list of members in it but found no Brisbin’s.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
Patty Cargill
*****
2015-03-28
Ms. Cargill, Thank you for your research and wonderful reply. Would you also be kind enough to thank Pastor Cox for putting us in touch with one another. This is the second time that he has been helpful to the MCHC in recent months.
This basically all stems from a request to the MCHC to assist in locating a death certificate for a Ms. Arvinah Brisbin (Mrs. J. P. Brisbin). The last post will help you understand my interest in contacting you. We were unaware of the extent of the records that your association might possess regarding the interred. We had hoped that you might have a copy of a death certificate for Ms. Johnston. While I have the firsthand opportunity, I would like to thank your family and the Davilla Cemetery association for their outstanding effort in preserving and maintaining the cemetery, on behalf of the Milam County Historical Commission.
This not only speaks highly of yourselves, but also of the community and of its residents. The above letter was sent last fall with the intentions that Jason received it for all his efforts.
Jack Brooks
*****
2015-03-28
Ms Cargill, FYI: this is an obituary for Arvinah Brisbin that was forwarded to me. Column two, top of page.
(PDF attachment not posted)
Jack Brooks
.
Joyce Johnston
jojohnston1(AT)att(DOT)net
8114 Split Pine
Houston, TX 77040
7one3-9three7-1zerozero3
My family is looking for the death certificate of Mrs. J.P Brisbin, also known as Arvenia, Arvinah, Armenia, Ari, or Fannie. She died June 29, 1955. She was buried in the Davilla Cemetery with the name Arvinah Davis Elliott Brisday and after several months of trying to find her dc, nobody seems to have it. We wondered if you would have a record of who placed her tombstone in the Davilla Cemetery. Perhaps there was a copy left with them.
*****
2015-03-11 - standard email sent to Ms Johnston - request sent to MCHC members
*****
Joyce Johnston
2015-03-13
Thank you for all your efforts. I appreciate it. I have even contacted the funeral home to see if they had a copy of the death certificate, but I have not heard from them. Just for you information, I have a lot of information on her family. Arvenia was my grandmother's sister, but I never met her.
*****
2015-03-11
Joyce Johnston
I just re-read my e-mail. Arvinah's last name was Brisbin. Thank you for responding so promptly.
*****
2015-03-11
Info forwarded to Ms Johnston:
Subject: Find a Grave memorial 16320302 - created by Karen Neal Morey 25 October 2006.
The memorial lists all her family.
Peggy Wright peggy.pj(AT)gmail(DOT)com
*****
2015-03-13
Joyce Johnston
Thank you for all your efforts. I appreciate it. I have even contacted the funeral home to see if they had a copy of the death certificate, but I have not heard from them. Just for you information, I have a lot of information on her family. Arvenia was my grandmother's sister, but I never met her.
*****
2015-03-15
Ms. Johnston, I wanted to let you know that I have been working on your inquiry and have not been successful. Arvinah is not shown in our death record books. Further verification Thursday determined the same at the Milam County County Clerk's Office in Cameron. My other Archives, Ancestry, Roots web and Newspapers searches also were unsuccessful. Have you tried the Texas Public Health Dept. Records in Austin?.
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/birth_death_general.shtm
Another thought is the Bell County, County Clerk's office.
http://www.bellcountytx.com/county_government/county_clerk/
How about the Temple Daily Telegram's archives? http://www.tdtnews.com/site/about.html
I'm not familiar with Bell County, but Milam County has micro-tape archive of the local Newspapers in certain libraries or M/C Historical Museum (pending). Bell County may have a similar arrangement. If you're able to find an obituary, it might just lead you to the death certificate (via funeral home records etc.). Rockdale's Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home handles many of the interments in the Davilla Cemetery. Their owner, Wallace Jones, stated that they did not perform the service. I'll keep your inquiry in mind, and should I think of any other ways that you, or I, might research this, I'll advise. I will check for an obituary for you in the Rockdale Reporter and the Cameron Herald microtape archives next week.
Respectfully, Jack Brooks
*****
2015-03-18
Wonderful . I will try again to thank you for all you for all your work. I thought that since the Bartlett Tribune said that she was being taken care of By Goodnight that they might have a copy of her death certificate. Again, thank you so much. Any more suggestions will be appreciated.
Joyce
*****
2015-03-18
Ms. Johnston, Just as a follow-up, I did search the Lucy Hill Patterson micro-tape archives for an obit for Ms. Arvinah yesterday morning. Again, I came up empty handed. 1955 is really recent in comparison to most of our inquiry requests.
Should you locate an obit or a death certificate, would you be kind enough to share it with us so that we may show a conclusion to your inquiry?.
I'm truly sorry that weren't able to be of more assistance to you.
Sincerely, Jack Brooks
*****
2015-03-20
Mr. Brooks: Just a little update, but the Bartlett Tribune said that Arvenia (Mrs. J.P. Brisbin) was at the Goodnight funeral home and I believe they must have sent my request to you. I will locate my copy and send it to you. Next I will see if there is an office at the Davilla Cemetery. I sent the note below to Goodnight. Again, thank you.
Joyce
*****
2015-03-20
Pastor Cox: May I pick your brain and that of your congregations one more time?
The Milam County Historical Commission has received another inquiry in your "neck" of the County.
I am trying to get in touch with a Mr. Cargill. I understand that he oversees the maintenance of the Davilla Cemetery. There are numerous Cargill's in the community, but I find none listed in the "Red" telephone book.
Our inquiry is regarding the earlier interment of a Mrs. J. P. Brisbin who expired in Bartlett. We are trying to find out if anyone with Davilla Cemetery association, if there is one, would have any information on the interred.
Thank you again for your kindness. Jack Brooks
*****
2015-03-26
Dear Mr Brooks, Brother David Cox contacted me regarding your inquiry below. I have been secretary-treasurer of the Davilla Cemetery Association since 1972. My dad was chairman of the association until his death, at which time my sister took his place. She later resigned and the chairman is now my son Jason Cargill. I purchased a book published by Perry C Holder entitled 150 Years of Cemetery Records in Milam County Texas. He located, visited and listed all markers in 162 Milam County cemeteries. He began this task at his retirement in 1975 and published this book in the 1990’s. I have gone through the book and there are Brisbin’s buried in two cemeteries, Davilla and Val Verde. These cemeteries are about five miles apart. However, there is no Mrs. J.P. Brisbin listed. These are the listed Brisbin members:
Davilla Cemetery
Arvinah Brisbin 1869 – 1955
J R Brisbin 1869 – 1937
Marian W Brisbin 1898 – 1969
Val Verde Cemetery
Beatrice G Brisbin, wife of C L 1899 – 1982
Chancey L Brisbin 1895 – 1945
It is very possible that other graves were in the Davilla Cemetery. When my dad took over as chairman the oldest part of the cemetery had been plowed by previous caretakers. We found pieces of markers in thick briars. My dad pieced back together what he could but many were not salvageable and unreadable. We had no idea where they were moved from either. I know there were Brisbin’s in Bartlett Texas when I was young and it is only 11 miles east of Davilla. Perhaps the person you are searching for is interred in Bell County.
I am also the Davilla Baptist Church Clerk and have a copy of the first church records that date back to the 1800’s. I went thru the list of members in it but found no Brisbin’s.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
Patty Cargill
*****
2015-03-28
Ms. Cargill, Thank you for your research and wonderful reply. Would you also be kind enough to thank Pastor Cox for putting us in touch with one another. This is the second time that he has been helpful to the MCHC in recent months.
This basically all stems from a request to the MCHC to assist in locating a death certificate for a Ms. Arvinah Brisbin (Mrs. J. P. Brisbin). The last post will help you understand my interest in contacting you. We were unaware of the extent of the records that your association might possess regarding the interred. We had hoped that you might have a copy of a death certificate for Ms. Johnston. While I have the firsthand opportunity, I would like to thank your family and the Davilla Cemetery association for their outstanding effort in preserving and maintaining the cemetery, on behalf of the Milam County Historical Commission.
This not only speaks highly of yourselves, but also of the community and of its residents. The above letter was sent last fall with the intentions that Jason received it for all his efforts.
Jack Brooks
*****
2015-03-28
Ms Cargill, FYI: this is an obituary for Arvinah Brisbin that was forwarded to me. Column two, top of page.
(PDF attachment not posted)
Jack Brooks
.