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Author: lmiles197
Surnames: Cecil
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.cecil/484.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
My great grandfather was Albert Cecil who was born in Polk County Arkansas. His wife died
giving birth to my grandfather, Mack Lee Cecil. He then went to Texas, joined a cattle
drive and went up the Chissom trail and futher to Montana, founding Harlem Montana where
he is buried outside of town in the town cemetery. He had a saloon there where Butch
Cassidy and gang used to drop by. Albert lost a lot of money in poker. Viola was ashamed
of her dad's gambling ways. Yes, Albert married an Indian woman. He never saw his son
Mack after leaving AK. But the family kept in touch by post. My father Alfred Albert Cecil
was curious about his grandfather's history and in 1958 took my mom,2 brothers and I
to Harlem. Viola was wonderful! We visited the relatives there and the reservation about
60 or so miles south of there. We saw the old stone Cecil Hotel in Harlem. I would give
more details but I am at work now. I have news clippings of the visit from the Harlem
newspaper. My grandfathe!
r Mack was raised by his uncle Francis Marion Cecil near Mena AK. My brother went to
Montana I think in the late 80s and visited Viola in a nursing home.She was so excited to
see him. She died only about 3 weeks later. Her sister became a nun in Riverside CA and we
visited her a year later. I think there were three sisters. I will have to look at my
files. I was only 11 when I saw Viola. We stayed for a week. There is a Cecil Cemetery in
the woods near Vandervort AK. Alberts dad and mom are buried there. I will get you
Viola's married name.
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