I am the oldest living male descendent of George Cullen Norred, my great grandfather who was a son of James Oliver Norred. James Oliver Norred was the stepson of Cullen Curlee Arnett who married his mother (Elizabeth Warren Norred Arnett) in 1834, Carthage, Leake County, Mississippi after James Oliver's father, Issac Oliver Norred was killed in 1833 Leake County, Mississippi. C C Arnett was the first Sheriff of Carthage in 1834. They migrated to Burnet sometime before the 1850 census where they are in Milam County, Texas then 1860 census puts them in Burnet County, Texas. James Oliver Married Margaret Amanda Coon in 1861.

George Married Nelle May Newton, daughter of John Calvin Newton, in 1891. They had three children, Lena May, Georgie (female), and my grandfather James Calvin Norred.

George Cullen died in 1897 and Nelle May remarried Baxter Euen Burns in 1900. They had one daughter, Minnie Jewel Burns. Minnie J Burns married Eppa Debo 1919. I knew these people well. My uncle Eppa and aunt Jewel, and aunt Lena were among my favorite people in the world. As a young man I spent a lot of time with them on their little ranch just outside Burnet, Texas in the 50's and 60's. My aunt Lena used to live in town but later because of her health she moved into a small trailer next to the ranch house. Lena was the family historian and researched the family history starting back in the 1950's until her death in 1969. We used to set around at night and she would tell family stories. hind sight is 20/20 they say .. wish had written some of this stuff down .. Right? I do miss her. Lena and Jewel were both the image of a pioneer woman. In their Sunday best with a bonnet on you could just see the covered wagons in the background. My brother and I used to sleep on the screened in back porch of this typical old "T" shaped ranch house. If something made a noise in the night aunt Jewel was out the door in a flash, her trusty .410 pump in hand and, "Tippy" her trusty OLD Border Collie (I swear that dog was as old as she was .. maybe older) on her heels. Sooner or later you heard Tippy barking, a shot or two and you knew what ever had annoyed her had gone to meet it's maker.

James Calvin Norred, my grandfather, married Annie Alice Hibler, daughter of Felix Hibler. We have a copy of the Hibler book too if anyone needs reference on that linage.

James Calvin's son James Clifford Norred was my father.

I do carry on!

Anyhow anyone interested in trading notes and resources on the above mentioned families please contact me. i inherited my aunt Lena's papers and have a lot of information especially on the Newtons and Picketts. Many of the Arnetts and Coons are covered. In many cases she has stories about the life of a lot of these people as she knew them or their descendants.

I have been working with Gerald Watkins and have been in contact with JoAnn of the Burnet County TexGenWeb project. I have Lena's copy of the Norred family picture that Gerald posted on that sight with people unidentified and she numbered and wrote on the back who everybody was for those of you interested. It might surprise you.

Sincerely,
James C Norred
james.norred@norreds.com