Hi,
My mother's maiden name was Cora Ellen BYRD, married my Father, Robert Jay
CARMACK in early 1900's.
She states she was born in Mangum, Eastland County, Texas (Near Carbon, TX)
on April 29, 1897 to JOHN FRANKLIN BYRD b.(a guess is 1860 plus or minus 3
years) d. Jan 9, 1928. John Byrd married FLORA ANN (UNKNOWN)BYRD b. (Est
1860) d. Apr 17, 1899.
These BYRDs settled in Eastland County, TX, in/around the communities of
Mangum, Flatwood, Carbon. Mangum, TX.
Mangum, Texas, was built in the early 1900's at the junction of two
reailroads about eight miles SW of Eastland. Mineral water had been
discovered in the area, and a Mr. and Mrs. Switzer decided to establish the
settlement as a health resort.
The Mangum Mineral Water was found in 18 wells, and this potent brew was
supposed to cure rheumatishm kidney trouble, stomach trouble, skin and
blood diseases, and other ailments. Mineral Water was bottled by the
Switzers and shipped by rail to other places.
The Switzers built a 3-story hotel, the Don Carlos about 1908 and operated
it as a hotel for people to stay in while taking mineral baths for their
health. Train crews also ate in the large dining room. The Don Carlos was
the only hotel in Mangum and it lasted until the late 1930's. The town
also had a Post Office and two grocery stores.
(The above story was related by Harland Jones, whose father lived and
worked in the Don Carlos Hotel until about 1919, taken from an
Eastland County Newspaper dated Thurs, Nov 3rd, 1983).
Incidentally, MY Aunt Lottie Bell BYRD also worked(cooked)at the Don
Carlos, I would suspect in the early 1930s.
JOHN FRANKLIN BYRD and FLORA ANN BYRD had 6 children, HENRY, OSCAR(Pete),
Lee, Rebecca, Lottie, and Cora.
I am stalled at JOHN FRANKLIN BYRD and FLORA ANN BYRD...and have not been
able to get beyond that point.
If anyone out there has any connections or information relating to this
'flock' of BYRDs who settled in/around Mangum, Carbon, Flatwood, or
Eastland in Eastland County, Texas, please contact me at the above email.
I have a lot of old BYRD related pictures from that family group that I
have no identification for.
H E L P !!!!
Thanks,
Sincerely,
Norm Carmack
Austin TX
Lonzo(a)nabi.net
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