Greetings,

I married a Van Alstyne who is not very interested in his family history. The thing is that his family hasn't had a family historian for several years now.

I have a J.A. Van Alstyne 3/15/1822 born in NY. He somehow got to Texas between birth and his marriage in 1850. He married a Sarah White (born Alabama 10/22/1825). Their wedding was in Grimes Co. Texas in April of 1850. His occupation was Grocery & Dry Goods (Marriage Record & 1850 Census)

Then his obituary & grave tell me the following.
He died 02/02/1894 in Texas and is buried in a small town named Weimer, Texas in Colorado Co. (Odd Fellows Cemetery) next to a woman named Sarah R. Her grave is not marked with her maiden name.

His Obit states he left a ill wife (Sarah) & one son (WM Van Alstyne). It also states that he was a business owner in La Grange (Fayette, Co. Texas) prior to moving to Weimer, Colorado Co. Texas and becoming a merchant in Weimer. I'm curious to know the name of his business and it's location.

I don't know who his parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts etc are, how & why he moved to Texas. How he got from Grimes Co. to Fayette Co. and then Weimer Co. Anything about his wife, was she the only one? Did they have more than one child? (William)

William A. Van Alstyne (their son) was born on June 14, 1851 here in Texas. In December of 1877 he married a Mattie Maud Hunter b. 09/08/1855. This new family showed up in 1880 in Colorado Co. Census. With a 9mo son John Heywood Van Alstyne & a 12 year old black servant girl 12 years old. William was a Justice of the Peace, and Judge in Weimer. William & Mattie had a total of 4 children John Heywood Van Alstyne, Willie C. Van Alstyne, Emma Edna Van Alstyne, Ethel Van Alstyne.

I listed Allen as a subject name since one of the later generation Van Alstyne children was my husbands Great Aunt. Her name was Cassie Mae Allen she married Charles (Bubba) Allen. Someone told me that if I listed their name it might help trigger some information.

Any help would be great! I don't have enough family assistance to go any farther. Please advise.

Thank you
Jennifer Van Alstyne
San Antonio, Texas