By Dickie Dixon

For Posterity’s Eyes:  December birthdays:  14^th:  George Wright 15^th:  Billy Raye Lipscomb 16^th:  Martin Baker, Kelly Williams, Shanda Emmons 17^th:  Corey Nobles, Fran Barnes, Kierra Hart 18^th:  Hieu Ly 19^th:  Kenneth Poskey 20^th:  Eva and Guesna Friesen 21^st:  Rosette (Font) Hudgins

A Sign of Acceptance I discovered about ten years ago from one of my first cousins a story which, as a young boy, I had never heard about:  something that happened in my extended family at  Thanksgiving  in 1958.

The story goes like this.  My oldest brother Don graduated from Texas A & M with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in May of 1958 and almost went to work as a USDA red meat inspector in Gonzales, I think.  Not too long after Don graduated, he met Margaret Snapp, a native of Cuero, and brought her to meet the family.  Almost every major holiday, we ate at my grandparents’ house on my father’s side, the home of Blanche and Bony Dixon. Both of my parents came from a family of eight, so this holiday meal was always well populated with aunts, uncles, and first cousins (I had about 38 or more cousins.)  When you walked in the front door, seven aunts greeted visitors in the sparsely furnished  living room with the double throat fireplace and the kidney shaped desk, except for those who might be superintending the meal in the kitchen with Blanche, my grandmother.  All of the aunts were always immaculate, well-dressed, and very nice.

This one was going to be different because ripples were running through the Dixon family that Don, the oldest grandchild, was marrying a Catholic.  Now before you quit reading this, you will have to realize that, when Bony married Blanche in 1907, she converted him all the way.  He was Sabbatarian, a teetotaler, and staunch in following Baptist beliefs.  He helped start Clawson Baptist Church, I think, and  I presume after Pilgrim’s Rest, a quarter-time church, was torn down to build their house.  Now, the men and the children ate first, mainly because with seven sons and Bony, there was not much room for the ladies.

In spite of their differences with Margaret biblically, and I’m convinced out of their love for Don, the uncles lit on a plan to make Margaret feel accepted.  So, this is what they did:  they invited her to sit with the men for the meal—something that had never happened before nor never happened afterward either.  But, sure enough, it turned the trick, and it made her feel accepted and a part of the family.  And now this column’s readers have it, how Margaret Snapp—soon to be Dixon—received a  sign of acceptance in 1959.

Save the Date! The Angelina County Genealogical Society will hold its December meeting/Christmas party on December 18, 2017 at 3 pm in the fellowship hall of Keltys United Methodist Church on Old Mill Road in Keltys, Texas.  Speakers announced earlier for the event,  Rex Parkman and Bill Wesley, will not be able to attend because Bill has a cataract surgery the next day.  Members and guests of the Society will enjoy a potluck dinner and a gift exchange.  For more information, call Dickie Dixon at (9360 240-8378, or email him at dickie.dixon@hotmail.com

Dickie Dixon will discuss “Ten Good Reasons You Need to Use City Directories in Your Research,’ when he speaks to the Vernon Parish Genealogical Society on January 6, 2018 in the Vernon Parish Library in Leesville, Louisiana.  For more information, call the Vernon Parish Library.

The Newton County Historical Commission is sponsoring the Newton County Genealogy Conference on Saturday, February 10, 2017 in the Newton County Civic Center on 213 East Court Street.  For more information, call Dickie Dixon at (936) 240-8378, or e-mail him at dickie.dixon@hotmail.com

For book notices or reviews please send me a complimentary copy to Kissin’ Kuzzins  P. O. Box 151001 Lufkin TX 75915-1001

Send your queries to dickie.dixon@hotmail.com by mail to Kissin’ Kuzzins P. O. Box 151001 Lufkin TX 75915-1001 or by phone to (936) 240-8378