Anne, I'm sure we're cousins some how. My momma was from down by the Silver Creek Church. She was Dorothy Simmons, sister of Carrie Lee Alford and Danny Simmons. She grew up in her grandpaw's house Thomas Carroll Simmons. It seems he was named after his grandpaw's (William "Black Bill" Simmons who lived at Dykes Crossing) stepson, Thomas Carroll. Thomas Carroll was the son of Thomas Carroll Sr. and Margaret "Fannie" Francis Brumfield Carroll Simmons. Fannie was Blackbill's second wife and Thomas Carroll Jr. must have been about 9 when they married. He must have been a pretty cool dude for his step brother, W.R. Simmons, to name his son (and my greatgrandfather) after him.

His descendants are trying to figure out who Thomas Carroll Sr. was and where he came from

Thomas Jr married Ella Magee who was the daughter of Catherine Gray daughter of Sherod Gray about two miles NNE from Dykes Crossing. Anyway, that's how I found your wonderful story. I really enjoyed your story and wanted to thank you for writing it.

As far as the Bogue Chitto tribe. No Such Thing - Unless you count the tribe that has those mid night war dances down by the mouth of Sweetwater Creek. A lot of hoppin and hollerin does go on. But the closest relations to those Bogue Chitto Indians would be the Mardi Gras Indians down Naw Lyns way.

Unfortunately, in the early 1900's a bogus genealogy was created in order to tap into Choctaw funds. The perpetrators were hauled before congress and some good reputations were soiled. To this very day I wonder- "What were they thinking!"

Thank you again,
Allan Harl Thomas
allanharlthomas@gmail,com