COLLIN COUNTY HAS MANY HISTORICAL PLACES
Brenda Kellow
February 12, 2012
Many of the towns were founded when Collin County was formed in 1846. The northeast section of Collin is rich in history and the names of the old settlers are well known. Many were Catholic immigrants from Ireland while the Protestants were second or third generation Americans of Scots Irish descent.
The Old St. Paul Catholic Church in the Town of St. Paul operated as a mission by the Catholic Diocese of Galveston after its inception in 1847, which predates the formation of the Dallas Diocese by 34 years. It was the first Catholic Church in either Collin or Dallas Counties. According to the records of the Dallas Catholic Archives, the Galveston Diocese was composed of all of the State of Texas east of the Colorado River. Father Thomas Henesey was the first circuit priest, followed by three Martiniere brothers of France.
In the fall of 1869, Bishop C. M. Dubius of Galveston bought the land for the church for one dollar. The sellers were Protestants Andy and Lucinda Burns. Shortly thereafter on 27 November 1869, Emily Gallaher sold Bishop Dubius two acres for the church cemetery for ten dollars. The deed says it is ‘on the waters of East Fork’ of the Trinity River (now Lake Lavon) in St. Paul.
St. Paul Catholic Church was destroyed three times, first by a cyclone in 1871 and the final time by a fire. Nothing of the church remains today. The Saint Paul Catholic Cemetery, where some of the earliest pioneer’s remains reside, is still open for burials.
FREE PROGRAM ON USING THE 1940 CENSUS: Time is running out to be able to use the 1940 census when it is released on Monday, April 2. Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. will present a free program on February 18, 2012. The topic, “1940 US Federal Census,” is presented by Meg Hacker, Director, Archival Operations, NARA SW Region. The 1940 US Federal Population Census program will help you to prepare to use it. This session will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Program Room at the W. O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX 75075-3712. For additional information, please check our website at www.genealogyfriends.org. For questions, please e-mail [email protected].
LEARN-N FEATURES TWO NEEDY SUBJECTS: Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. will present a special Learn-N session on February 25 from 10:30-12:30 at the W. O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Road in Plano, first floor. Two subjects will be discussed. Barbara Coakley will present “Using the BLM Website” and “Land Records at the Local Courthouse”. A donation of $10.00 would be appreciated with all proceeds used to purchase materials for the Genealogy Section of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library. For additional information about this session or Genealogy Friends, please check our website at www.genealogyfriends.org, under the Events, then, Learn-N’s tab.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? This spring genealogists have two television programs to watch and enjoy. You are familiar with Who Do You Think You Are on NBC, but this season PBS adds to their show list Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
The third season of the NBC show premiered on February 3. Our American version is based on the hit British program of the same name. This season’s stars include Martin Sheen, Marisa Tomei, Blair Underwood, Reba McEntire, Rob Lowe, Helen Hunt, Rita Wilson, Edie Falco, Rashida Jones, Jerome Bettis, Jason Sudeikis and everyone’s favorite southern chef Paula Deen. Their roots take us back to Ireland’s freedom fighters, the American Revolution and the African nation of Cameroon. For details see www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/.
Beginning on March 25 at 7 CST, the new ten part series, Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., features Professor Gates who is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. Famous celebrities featured are Kevin Bacon, Robert Downey, Jr., Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters and Rick Warren. For more on this series access www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your-roots/about/.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].
The Old St. Paul Catholic Church in the Town of St. Paul operated as a mission by the Catholic Diocese of Galveston after its inception in 1847, which predates the formation of the Dallas Diocese by 34 years. It was the first Catholic Church in either Collin or Dallas Counties. According to the records of the Dallas Catholic Archives, the Galveston Diocese was composed of all of the State of Texas east of the Colorado River. Father Thomas Henesey was the first circuit priest, followed by three Martiniere brothers of France.
In the fall of 1869, Bishop C. M. Dubius of Galveston bought the land for the church for one dollar. The sellers were Protestants Andy and Lucinda Burns. Shortly thereafter on 27 November 1869, Emily Gallaher sold Bishop Dubius two acres for the church cemetery for ten dollars. The deed says it is ‘on the waters of East Fork’ of the Trinity River (now Lake Lavon) in St. Paul.
St. Paul Catholic Church was destroyed three times, first by a cyclone in 1871 and the final time by a fire. Nothing of the church remains today. The Saint Paul Catholic Cemetery, where some of the earliest pioneer’s remains reside, is still open for burials.
FREE PROGRAM ON USING THE 1940 CENSUS: Time is running out to be able to use the 1940 census when it is released on Monday, April 2. Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. will present a free program on February 18, 2012. The topic, “1940 US Federal Census,” is presented by Meg Hacker, Director, Archival Operations, NARA SW Region. The 1940 US Federal Population Census program will help you to prepare to use it. This session will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Program Room at the W. O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX 75075-3712. For additional information, please check our website at www.genealogyfriends.org. For questions, please e-mail [email protected].
LEARN-N FEATURES TWO NEEDY SUBJECTS: Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. will present a special Learn-N session on February 25 from 10:30-12:30 at the W. O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Road in Plano, first floor. Two subjects will be discussed. Barbara Coakley will present “Using the BLM Website” and “Land Records at the Local Courthouse”. A donation of $10.00 would be appreciated with all proceeds used to purchase materials for the Genealogy Section of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library. For additional information about this session or Genealogy Friends, please check our website at www.genealogyfriends.org, under the Events, then, Learn-N’s tab.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? This spring genealogists have two television programs to watch and enjoy. You are familiar with Who Do You Think You Are on NBC, but this season PBS adds to their show list Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
The third season of the NBC show premiered on February 3. Our American version is based on the hit British program of the same name. This season’s stars include Martin Sheen, Marisa Tomei, Blair Underwood, Reba McEntire, Rob Lowe, Helen Hunt, Rita Wilson, Edie Falco, Rashida Jones, Jerome Bettis, Jason Sudeikis and everyone’s favorite southern chef Paula Deen. Their roots take us back to Ireland’s freedom fighters, the American Revolution and the African nation of Cameroon. For details see www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/.
Beginning on March 25 at 7 CST, the new ten part series, Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., features Professor Gates who is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. Famous celebrities featured are Kevin Bacon, Robert Downey, Jr., Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters and Rick Warren. For more on this series access www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your-roots/about/.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].