Lumberton, North Carolina to Falls County, Texas

"On February 8, 1871, a group of 76 souls got on the train in Lumberton, NC and began a journey to Texas. After several train changes, they arrived on the Gulf Coast, proceeding by steamboat to Galveston. From there they traveled by wagon train to Chappell Hill, Washington Co, TX where they remained about five years before re-moving to Falls County, settling on the west side of the Brazos River near the community of Durango.

Among the group were: Benjamin and Ann Elizabeth (Todd) Freeman and family; Moses H. and Lenora Meares and family, including Dwight Hayes Meares whose four year old son, Henry Forrest Meares was the only child of deceased wife, Martha Freeman, and Dwight's second wife, Mary Amanda (Barnes) Meares and young daughter, Martha. Also J.Q. Barnes and wife, Elizabeth Israel (Parnell) Barnes and family, Robert Parnell, Martha Israel, John Calvin Meares and family; L.M. Meares; an Ashley family; Benjamin Columbus Todd (who returned to North Carolina when the group left Chappell Hill, and F.O. Porter (well-known in the Lott area)."

___ Excerpt of Letter from Sam West, Lumberton, NC Researcher

___ Sent to Barb Nannery by Waynell Harris (1999)