09 September 2003
Jerald Newberry has updated our cemetery list for his Taylor relatives buried in  Oak Hill Cemetery (row 10). Thanks Jerald!

Frank Jordan has contributed a newspaper article from the Arcadian dated May 5, 1927 concerning the murder of his cousin, Howard Jordan, in Limestone. Thank you so much Frank!

22 June 2003
Kimberly Altman has contributed many photos for our Pioneer Photos and Tombstone Photos sections of her Farabee, Whidden, Lowe and Altman families. She has also sent us photos of the memorial and tombstone of Capt. George Payne and David Whidden. Thank you so much Kimberly!

Edith Rogers contributed photos of the Nocatee Baptist Church built about 1890. Thank You Edith!

12 May 2003
Alvie Davidson submitted a scanned copy of the obituary found in the Tampa Tribune for Brgd. Gen. Chesterfield Smith. Alvie also points out that there have been 3 generals come from Desoto County! Thanks so much Alvie!

I received an email from Dawn Johnson Best-Touchstone today that was so great. We recently added photos and bios of 37 WWII veterans contributed by Terry Wollin, and Dawn was pleasantly surprised to find that one of them was her father! Her email was so touching that I attached it to the web page we created for her father. Thank you Dawn!

06 April 2003
Terry Hamilton Wollin, a member of the SW FL Historical Society, has contributed photos and bios of 37 World War II veterans connected to Desoto County. They are a wonderful addition to our Military project..... Thank you Terry!

28 March 2003
Todd Beckham has contributed a wonderful photo and news paper article of his G Grandmother, Sarash Collins Ingraham. Thank you so much Todd!

27 March 2003
Hi folks! Well I've been without any email for about a month now.... lost the whole account. I got tech support and for a day it worked. I'm able to recieve email now but can't send it. I figured I'd save what few clumps of my hair left and set up an account at yahoo. My new addy is desotocoflgenweb@yahoo.com
If anyone has tried to contact me in the past month please email again! Sorry for the inconvience!

09 February 2003
Just added the obituary for John Daughtry Sr.
Also, check out the "Special Announcement" page for purchase information on Howard Melton's new book Footprints and Landmarks - Arcadia and Desoto County, Florida 

11 January 2003
Happy New Year everyone! It's been a very busy holiday season for me, but now I'm back at my computer catching up on my email.

We have several contributions to add.....
Joe Carlson has contributed 3 more photos from the special historical section of The Herald Advocate dated July 1, 1976. Most persons are identified. The 3 are titled: "Fort Green Youngsters in 1915", "Orange picking was a family affair in 1900" and "Pioneers making cane syrup in early 1900s". Thanks Jo!

Felecia Dempsey has been added to our "Rooters" page. Check out her surnames and link to her website. She has also contributed a scanned copy of the obituary for Mrs. Minerva Whidden Crews. Thank so much Felecia!

Also.... check out our calender for information concerning the family reunion for All Coker and related families!

17 November 2002
Jo Carlson has provided us with photos and information about an early sawmill located in Lemon Grove (present day Hardee Co) and also the 1913 class from the Lemon Grove School (students & teachers identified). This information appeared in a special historical section of The Herald Advocate on July 1, 1976. Thanks so much Jo!

10 November 2002
Added the obituary for Mrs. Lorena M. Burke.

06 November 2002
Colleen Faircloth has contributed the obituary of Newton Isaiah Smith (1945). Newton was the son of Henry and Mary Stewart Smith and was a native of Desoto Co. Thank you Colleen for your contribution and kindness!

03 November 2002
Added the following scanned obituaries: Ruben Joseph Matthis, Rev. William Lacy DeVane, Mrs. Laura Belle Mathis DeVane, Mrs. Narcissus Clementine Williams and 4 obituaries that appeared the Apr 16-19th, 1933 for Simeon Banks Williams. All of these obituaries appeared in the Tampa Tribune.

01 November 2002
I've added 2 more newspaper articles from Pioneer Florida, a sunday column written by Donald McKay. Like the previous article uploaded the 28th Oct, these stories come from the memories of Mrs. Henrietta Matthews (Mathis) Sloan, a native of early Desoto County. The story titles are: "Three Sons Murdered in Fort Ogden" and "Mrs. Sloan Recalls a Wolf Pack Raid"

28 October 2002
I've added a newspaper article entitled "He served in Florida's Indian War" that appeared in the Tampa Tribune and was written by Donald McKay. Mr. McKay had a Sunday column called Pioneer Florida that ran from 1946 - 1960. I have a few more to type up so look for them in the next couple of days!

27 October 2002
I've added a search engine to our site! It's located on our front home page beneath our table of contents. I know it is long over due but I've finally found one that does the work for me. In the past, I would have had to type every single page url into it's memory and we have over 400 pages! I hope you find it helpful and..... enjoy!

15 October 2002
Jo Carlson has contributed a second and earlier photo of the Hotel DeSoto as it appeared in a issue of the Herald Advocate; Also, from the same paper, a photo taken in 1911 of the Lily Church with it's members outside. All are identified.
Check it out at our Pioneer photo page. Thanks again Jo!

13 October 2002
Jo Carlson contributed a photo of the Hotel DeSoto last year and has sent us an update. With a newspaper article written in 1976, this article can possibly identify the persons in the photo we have on our site. Also includes information concerning the building itself. Thanks Jo!

08 October 2002
Glenda Walton has contributed a scanned copy of the marriage license of her parents, Russell Poole and Glendora Johnson Poole for our vital records page. Thanks Glenda!

06 October 2002
We've added 3 new obituaries taken from the Tampa Tribune of 3 generations.
Sally J. (Williams) Morgan, Henrietta Mathis Sloan and Varnie V. Sloan all from Brownsville.

12 September 2002
Edith Rogers has added a photo of her uncle John Eldridge Reynolds to our Pioneer photossection. She was also able to identify one of our "unknown" photos as another uncle, Sterling "Buck" Robinson. Thanks so much Edith!

Also, Jerald added to our WWII casualties list: John Simmons Taylor. It's always an honor to remember our veterens! Thanks Jerald

28 August 2002
I've added from the South Florida Pioneer books 5 south Florida Companies that fought in the Seminole Indian War of 1856. Online are Capt. W. B. Hooker's Co., Capt. F. M. Durrance's Co., Capt. W. H. Kendrick's Co., Capt. L. C. Lesley's Co and Capt. John Parker's Co. Other Companies not online are Captains A. Johnson, A. Wright, A. Stewart, R. Youngblood, E. Daniels, W. Hardee, A. Bell, T. Hewett, E. Kendrick, J. Addison, J. McNeill, S. Sparkman, R. Sullivan, H. Dyches, A. Jernigan and J. Devall. Check out these lists on our Military History pages.

26 August 2002
Jimmy Payne has shared some photos for our Tombstone Photos project of his grandmother May Conger and her infant son Thomas buried at the Wauchula Cemetery. Thank you Jimmy for your submission!

30 June 2002
Mary O'Neil has shared a photo of her uncle Gerald Addison to our Pioneer Photos section. Thanks Mary!

26 June 2002
Hello fellow researchers.... I'm back! Problems with my computer have kept me away, So much so I had to buy a new one! Wanted to let everyone know I have a new email addy: jmrickner@comcast.net

I just found out last night about the passing of a very dear woman I met on a couple of occasions, Mrs. Janette Tippins Livingston French. I have posted her obituary which was beautifully written by her family and published in the Desoto Sun Herald.

26 April 2002
Bev Alstrom has contributed a newspaper article she came across in her research dated July 21, 1897 in the Morning Tribune. The article highlights people and events in Arcadia at the time. Thank you so much Bev!

17 October 2001
Jo Carlson & Betty Jo White have shared a terrific photo with us of the 1901 reunion for the United Confederate Veterans Desoto Camp 1403. All men are identified.
Edith Rogers has also sent us a photo of the Desoto Co High School D D Club taken in 1937. Members are identified.
Thank you all for these additions to our project!

19 September 2001
Dawna & Dave Carlton have shared 3 more family photos with us....
Edith Rogers has also added a photo of her aunt Odessa Reynolds and the Nocatee Railroad Depot taken in the '40s....
Jo Carlson has shared a photo of the Hotel Desoto taken around the turn of the century...
and Carol Nyborg has sent us 5 new obituaries of her Welles family members!
Thank you all so much for your contributions and patience!

07 August 2001
Dawna & Dave Carlton have shared some Carlton family photos with us. Thank you so much for your contribution!

05 August 2001
Edith Rogers has sent us some photos of the old Union Bus Station when it was damaged by the '27 hurricane and also of the Kentucky Cafe that was once housed in the bus station. She has also shared a photo of her grandmother Mary Catherine Reynolds.

28 July 2001
Edith Rogers sent us a photo of her aunt and uncle Sam & Ruby Gault Reynolds

21 July 2001
The next 200 pages have been transcribed from the Marriage Book 2 spanning the years 1907 thru 1910.

Edith Rogers has sent us the obituary and a photo of her aunt Claudia Reynolds Blazier.
Thank you Edith!

16 July 2001
Carol Nyborg has sent us the obituary for Ella Carlton Welles which appeared in the Tampa Tribune on 02 Nov 1899. Even if you have no relation to the Welles family, it is a very interesting article you may want to read anyway!! Thank you so much Carol for sharing with us!

Coming soon..... we are working on the next 200 pages of the Desoto Co Marriage Book 2!

I'd also like to take this opportunity to apologize to those who have emailed or made contribution in the past several months and received no reply from me. I've been dealing with some family matters that have needed my complete attention. I'll try to keep on top of our web site from this point the best that I can. I appreciate your patience and understanding. Janine

29 June 2001
Alvie Davidson contributed a photo of the Bunker Community School that appeared in The Arcadian newspaper on March 23, 1972. Thanks Alvie!

28 June 2001
Capt. Jeff Griffis has contributed 2 photos of the Desoto Co Hospital taken circa 1950s. Thank you Jeff!

11 March 2001
Ken Johnson has shared some 2 more photos of his Reynolds family with us. Your contributions are greatly appreciated Ken!

09 March 2001
Charlie Johnson has shared a photo of his Milbrath family taken in Fort Ogden circa 1921. Thank you Charlie!
Ken Johnson has also contributed a photo of the Hamilton family home built about 1910 in Nocatee. Thanks again Ken!

07 March 2001
Jo Carlson has contributed some tombstone photos of her Coker and Hampton family members buried at the Coker Cemetery in Limestone, FL. We thank you Jo and appreciate your patience!

22 February 2001
Ken Johnson has contributed a letter written by Walter H. Johnson to his mother during WWII. He has also contributed a photo of a man that was a friend of his grandfather, Gilbert Hamilton. The photo was taken in Desoto Co but his identity is unknown.

16 February 2001
Ken Johnson has contributed the high school diploma of Edith Hamilton for our vital records page. Also 2 new photos: tombstone photo of Coy & Bessie Johnson Flanders and a photo of Walter Johnson for our pioneer photos page. Thanks again Ken!!

12 February 2001
Ken Johnson has contributed 2 new photos (James S. & Ruby Johnson) for our tombstone photos page and a photo of his father, Paul Johnson, for our pioneer photos page. Thanks Ken!

06 February 2001
Ron Metz has shared some wonderful photos with us of his Williams, Lanier, Yeomans, Tippins and Sloan families. We appreciate your contributions Ron!

04 February 2001
Ken Johnson has added 2 photos (Paul and Malcom Johnson) for our tombstone photos page. Thank you so much Ken!

30 January 2001
Jo Norris Carlson has contributed a photo of the Friendship School circa 1908. All students and the teacher are identified. You can find a link to this photo on our pioneer photos index page and the Desoto Co schools page. Jo has added as much information as she knows about the photo but has asked for our help with more information about the school. Thank you Jo for this valuable contribution!

25 January 2001
Mary & Duane Eggleston has contributed the obituary of Carl L. Ellerd ('74). Thank you so Mary & Duane!

Edith Rogers has contributed the photo of Mary Lou Reynolds for our pioneer photos page. Thank you Edith!

24 January 2001
Edith Rogers and Ken Johnson have sent us 3 photos for the tombstone photos page: Gilbert Hamilton, A. D. "Gus" Johnson and Lula Prescott Johnson. We appreciate your contributions!

22 January 2001
We've created a new section to the project called Tombstone Photographs! We hope to get a good response and many contributors. You can find a link to this section on our cemetery index page as well as our pioneer photographs index page.

21 January 2001
Judy Golden Metz needs our help identifying 3 persons in her family photo. She believes they may either be Whidden or Murphy family members.

20 January 2001
Ken Johnson has sent us 2 more family photos and also scanned the church program for the First Baptist Church of Nocatee dated 1974.

17 January 2001
Ken Johnson has sent us 2 more family photos and added the 8th grade grammar school certificate of his mother for our vitalspage. Thank you Ken!

08 January 2001
Our site is getting a new look! Please pardon the dust as we make the transition. Every page is getting updated as needed. We hope you like it!

Edith Rogers has sent us some photos of her Hamilton & Reynolds families and a newspaper article about the Desoto Co Historical Society. Thank you Edith!

02 January 2001
Kenneth Johnson sent us some photos of his Hamilton, Johnson & Reynolds family; He's also sent us a letter that his dad, Oscar Johnson, wrote while in Ireland during
WWII; Also added to our scanned vitals page is the high school diploma of Oscar Johnson. We sincerely appreciate and thank Kenneth and his mother Edith for their contributions and help to our project!