This effort is in memory of my grandaunt, Miss Laura Underwood, of East Columbia, Texas, who awakened my interest in family history when I was still small enough to sit in her lap. Throughout my childhood I remained an attentive audience as Aunty passed along family lore to yet another generation. When I was ten or eleven, she gave me a collection of memorabilia and family photographs that were kept in an old trunk beside her bed. Already I had spent many happy hours rummaging through that trunk, and I could barely believe my good fortune. Some fifty years later, Aunty's gift to her little namesake inspired the design of this site. Most all of the images (excluding icons) and many of the photographs on the following pages are from that collection.

Family history research is an ongoing effort, and I have undoubtedly made errors of inclusion, exclusion, interpretation and judgement. Furthermore, because the quality of sources varies, so does the quality of information. I therefore urge each person to use his or her own judgement, and verify whenever possible. I am always happy to answer any questions, and welcome any comments, corrections or additional information.

To rummage through our family history, please use the menu in "Aunty's Trunk" - or if the trunk doesn't open, use the expanded menu below.

     Legend

A direct ancestor of the compiler, Laura M. Cooper, and her brothers, Joe Jr. and George Munson (Windmill J brand registered in Brazoria County to Laura M. Cooper; originally registered to Joe U. Munson)
A person related through George Poindexter Munson II, the compiler's paternal grandfather: (Windmill brand registered in Brazoria County to Joe U. Munson; designed by and originally registered to George P. Munson)
A person related through Louise Underwood, the compiler's paternal grandmother (Ammon Underwood's 'initial' brand registered in Brazoria County in 1848)
A person related through William Lemuel Horn Jr., the compiler's maternal grandfather: (Crescent Arrow brand registered in Brazoria County to Ruth Anna (Horn) Munson)
A person related through Ruth Minerva Fairfield, the compiler's maternal grandmother: (in recognition of the New England seafaring history of the Fairfield family)
Immigrant to America
There is a photo on the person page. Most person page images link to a larger image or thumbnail index.
Link to a photo
Link to a gravestone photo
Link to a text or document exhibit
Link to an Adobe Acrobat file that requires at minimum the free Adobe Reader.
Link to an external Internet site

     Acronyms and Abbreviations

d.s.p.[Latin] descessit sine parole; died without issue
nfknothing further known
NNNo (given) Name

     Software

Wholly Genes The Master Genealogist, "The complete family history project manager"
John Cardinal's TMG Utility, "the essential TMG companion tool"
John Cardinal's Second Site 3, TMG companion program for Web site creation
I recommend Mozilla Firefox as a superior alternative to Internet Explorer.

We're family, too!
Lulu and Ziggy