Hello Family,
I have started back on the trail of our elusive family history. In just the last three weeks or so, thanks to the many new databases that are now available online, I have found some things I want to share with you.
I am going to concentrate for a time on trying to discover our family roots as they relate to the ancestors and immediate family of Jacob Paregien -- our patriarch, for now. You are certainly invited and encouraged to get involved, especially by talking with the older members of our families and capturing the information in writing or audio/video that will either be lost or very hard to obtain when they are gone. Then share it.
Okay, here is the big question: If we were to have a PAREGIEN FAMILY REUNION IN 2005, would you come? How about the weekend following July 4th? In 2005 that would be Saturday, July 9th and Sunday, July 10th.
There are more of us in California, than anywhere, so if someone would host it out there that would be best. However, Peggy and I are prepared to host it here in the Oklahoma City area IF ENOUGH OF YOU ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT.
We could have a continental breakfast on Saturday morning to get acquainted, spend an hour or two going over the family history, break for lunch/afternoon, have a talent show (and more visiting) on Saturday night. On Sunday morning we could have our own church service, eat lunch (somewhere) together, then have an auction of donated items to raise money for the next one, and close that afternoon with more time to visit. And, of course, you may want to spend a few days exploring Paregien family origins in the area (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri). We want to hear from YOU. Yes, YOU. We know schedules are always subject to change, but will you attend the REUNION if at all possible? That is all we are asking (and how many of you will come). We will decide on September 1 whether to go forward with a reunion in 2005. So, please, LET US HEAR FROM YOU . . . SOON!!
------ Stan Paregien, Sr.
NOTES ON RECENT RESEARCH
ENTERPRISE CEMETERY:
My mother (Evelyn Cauthen Paregien Spradling) has many of her family buried in the Enterprise Cemetery, near Wapanucka, Oklahoma. That includes such surnames as Cauthen, McDaniel, Gary, Willingham, Garrison & Walters. There is a complete listing of the graves, along with a photo of each tombstone, on the web at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~okjohnst/Enterprise_Cemetery/index.htm
NOLEN, MARGARET ANN BOGLE:
She is the mother of Frank Paregien's wife, Mattie Nolen. She died on Dec. 4, 1917 near Wapanucka, Okla. She is buried in the Coleman Cemetery, in the northeast corner. . Frank Paregien hand-carved her small tombstone from a sandstone rock, and it simply reads "M.A. Nolen". The index for the cemetery lists the death as 1911. (found at )
PAREGIEN, ANN:
In 2003 she was listed as being on the board of Directors of the California Canning Peach Association "from the Kingsburg area". The CCPA local office is in Dinuba, Calif.
PAREGIEN, BETH:
In 2003 she was listed as a student athlete at Colorado State University in Lamar, Colorado. She was on the team roster for the Triathlon. And her email was: csutri@yahoo.com
PAREGIEN, FRANK & MATTIE:
Their marriage on Jan. 1, 1910 is recorded in the Coal County (Oklahoma) Marriage Index (Book 1, Page 396). See note under James A. Paregien
PAREGIEN, GLYN:
I found a photo of Glyn Dale Paregien online, and have posted it on my web site. There was no date.
But the caption said it was "Glen Paregian, Lorene Paregian, Merle Lewis, Elsie Cusher, and Katherine Williams."
It also noted that Glyn and Lorene Paregien were children of George and Eveline(Benn) Paregien (It is thought that Eveline Been was a full-blood Choctaw Indian). That made them the grandchildren of Louis Benn (who was son of Davis and Martha Labor Benn). The Merle Lewis pictured was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Bohanan) Lewis. And Merle's great grandparents were also Davis and Martha (Labor) Benn. . . . . . . . . Glyn's wife, the former Nell Dean Johnson, was the daughter of William Nelson ("Nell") Johnson and Minnie Lee Ernest. She was born on Nov. 8, 1925 in Lawrence (Pontotoc County), Okla. She first married Bill Sugg, then Glyn Paregien and, after their divorce, married Ted Aynes. She died on May 29, 1992 in Shawnee, OK., and is buried at Rosedale Cemetery in Ada, OK.
PAREGIEN, HENRY C.:
Son of Jacob Paregien, but he spelled his name: "Pearigen". The 1910 U.S. Federal Census shows him as age 43 (birth in Missouri in 1866), living in Wapanucka, Okla.
PAREGIEN, JACOB (b. 4-12-1816) :
He is listed as Jacob "Peregin" in the 1840 United States Federal Census, and was a resident of Jackson County, Illinois. The official Illinois state web site index of marriages has him listed as Jacob "McParigin" when he married Arias Parmley on Feb. 10, 1857 in Jackson County, Ill. (The big mystery is to find who his parents were and their country of origin.) . . . . . . . . In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census there is an "Avis" Paregien, age 52 (born in 1828 in Kentucky), a married housewife living in Cold Spring (Phelps County), Missouri (major town in the County is Rolla)--- Was this Jacob's second wife? . . . . The 1880 U.S. Federal Census shows Jacob M. Paregien (b. 1816) and wife Avis (born 1828) were living at Cold Spring (Phelps County), Missouri with five of their children: Henry C. Paegien (b. 1868), Mary Paregien (b. 1864), Nancy Paregien (b. 1858), Samuel Paregien (b. 1854) and Stephen Paregien (b. 1862). . . . . . . . . . . Also, there were two marriages in Phelps County that are of interest: (1) There was a "S.A.D. Parequin," age 19, who married Celia Lowe, age 18, on July 24, 1881 (Record Book 3). Robert C. Adams, MG. The father of the groom is listed as "J.M. Pareqin". The wedding was held in Miller Township . . . . . (2) Mr. Columbus F. Richardson, age 23, married "Miss Mary A. Paregin," age 18, on Jan. 19. 1883 (Book 3, Page 092). Jonathan Harrison, Justice of the Pace (Rolla, Mo.), officiated. The groom was from West Plains (Howell County). "J.M. Paregin" was father of the bride.
PAREGIEN, JAMES ALEXANDER (d.1915):
On June 20, 1876, James A. Paregien bought 80 acres of land in Cleveland County, Arkansas. The land was in Section 7, Township 9S, Range 9W, this according to a web search on Arkansas Land Records. There are only a few small towns in Cleveland County, including Rison, Staves, Kingsland and New Ediburg. The County is about 35 miles southeast of Pine Bluff, Arkansas (where he ended his Civil War duty and where he married his first wife. Was she from this area???). . . . . . . . . . James Alexander Paregien's marriage to his second wife, Tennie Hicks, took place on July 27, 1908. It is in the Coal County (Oklahoma) Marriage Index (Book 1, Page 135). He is listed as "Parigien". You can get a copy of the Marriage Certificate by sending $10 to the Coal County Geneological Society, P.O. Box 536, Coalgate, OK 74538.
PAREGIEN, JAMES EDWARD ("BUD"):
He married Julia Copeland on July 1, 1888 in Yell County, Arkansas. Each was 18 years of age. This was his first wife. (IGI Indiv. Record, Batch M586174).
PAREGIEN, JAMES RAY :
Jim Paregien is a son of James Eura Paregien. In 2004 he was working as a carpet dealer: Abbey Carpet, 2571 Highway 6 & 50, Grand Junction, Colorado 81505. Store phone: 800-293-9717. He is also a volunteer with the Habitat for Humanity project in Mesa, Colorado. And he is a member of the Lions Club in Grand Junction. His home phone is 970-234-9850. And his email is: pareg6@cs.com
PAREGIEN, JEANNIE:
In June, 2004 she was listed on a web site at visalia.k12.ca.us as a "Resource Specialist" at Mineral King Elementary School in Visalia, Calif.
PAREGIEN, LAWRENCE:
He is listed on the College of the Sequoias web site as a member of their first baseball team in 1929. His name is spelled "Paragien" on that list. His twin brother, Claude Paregien, was on the same team.
PAREGIEN, NANCY:
The 2000 Technology Plan for the Mesa, Colorado school system lists her as a lead person in procuring new computers.
PAREGIEN RANCH:
On a State of California web site we found where the state in 2002 set aside $1,100,000 to buy a part of the 234-acre Paregien Ranch located near Visalia (Tulare County), Calif. ( SE corner of State Highway 198 and County Road 168). The sponsor of this action was the Wildlife Conservancy Board.
PAREGIEN, ROGER:
Son of Buford Paregien. Now lives in Bakersfield, California and is a sales consultant for Jim Burke Ford at 2001 Oak St., Bakersfield, CA 93301 (work phone - 661-328-3600). His email at work is: rparegien@burkeauto.com
PAREGIEN, SHAWN & CARMEN (NUGENT):
I found a photo online of Shawn and Carmen and their children, Jackson Paregien and Allison Paregien (born June 10, 2003).
This is probably the son of Ronald Ralph Paregien (son of Claude Paregien) of Visalia. Carmen is listed on the internet as a graduate of the Class of 1991 at George Dewey High School at the Naval Station in Subic Bay, Philippines. Her email: cparegien@cs.com
PAREGIEN, STEVE:
He was a member of the FFA in 1983-84, from Visalia, Calif., as per the web site of the California Ag Education group.
WAPANUCKA, OKLAHOMA CEMETERY (ROSE HILL):
Some of my mother's relatives are there (surnames Garrison and Montgomery).The burial listings of the Rose Hill Cemetery in Wapanucka, Oklahoma can be found online at: .
QUESTIONS:
1. Who is Joyce Paregien? Born July 24, 1936 and died on Jan. 15, 1994 in California (zip 95423)
2. Who is Leta Paregien? Born Sept. 6, 1906. Her SSN was issued in Oklahoma. Died July, 1978 in Fort Worth Texas
3. When did Jacob Paregien die and where is he buried? Who are his parents and where were they born?
4. What is your email address? It is certainly far cheaper and faster to communicate by email. So if you have an email address, please send us a note?
5. Are you willing to support (i.e., attend) a PAREGIEN FAMILY REUNION in 2005? Would you be willing to host it? What date would be best for you? Please let us know your thoughts before Sept. 1.
If you have the answers to any of these questions, or family
stories or photographs you would like to share, please e-mail
the editor, Stan Paregien, Sr., at:
paregien@yahoo.com
Or: 1304 Pepperdine Ave.
Edmond, OK 73013
405-348-0403