I am deeply indebted to the following cousins who sent me invaluable information for Part I – ROOTS: Novella Wilson, great-grandaughter of Aunt Ebaline Ramfield.  Ruby Muhlbauer, grandaughter of Aunt Sarah Franklin. Charlie Andy Franklin, son of Aunt Sarah Franklin. Ada Beaver Brothers, grandaughter of Joseph R. Beaver, Sr., and Aunt Catherine Wilson Beaver. Marilyn Giesecke Mills, great-grandaughter of Aunt Ebaline Ramfield. Mallie Hukel Ellis, Dollie Hukel Canady, Daphene Hukel Guelker, and Roxie Hukel Powell, all daughters of Aunt Mary Beaver Hukel. Mary Maudel Hukel Barnett, daughter of cousin Edwin Hukel. George W. McCollum, son of Aunt Lee Beaver McCollum. Beatrice Padgett Cox, grandaughter of Uncle Doc Pearson. Reba Edwards Carter,…

This family book was started in the spring of 1984, after I read, “The Ramfields and Kinfolks” by Novella A’ilson. From it I learned of numerous descendants of my great-grandparents, John and Kitty Wilson and Joseph R. Beaver, Sr., and family. My sister, Jane, who had sent me the book, suggested that I take up where Novella left off with the Beavers, and do a book on our family. The idea did appeal to me, “But”, I said, “I am seventy-six years old, you know”. Was it the challenge that drew me to attempt it, or was it the chance to upgrade the image and dispel some of the myths surrounding the aging pro cess?…

A tree is made up of a multitude of individual components. Its leaves, branches, trunks, bark, and roots are all distinctively different. And yet, there is an underlying force at work which causes all of these individual elements to function harmoniously as a single entity – an organism. Science has yet to unlock the secret of this phenomenon. This force is called LIFE.  A Family tree has many similarities to a living tree. It, too, is made up of numerous individuals, which comprise its leaves, branches, and roots. Each individual is different in his or her character and purpose. There also exists an underlying force, or bond, extending to all…