These are the stories of our Mary Lewis/Johnston (maternal) and Mike Hix/Russell (paternal) ancestors, with narratives about three generations. To navigate to each ancestor’s narrative, use the menu above or click on the names in the pictures below.

Lewis and Johnston ancestors

Our Lewis and Johnston ancestors on our mother’s side of the family epitomize the strength and adventurism of this country’s earliest settlers. 2nd-great-grandparents Stephen and Medora Lewis helped establish a community in Texas in the 1870s. Great-grandfather Lon Lewis served as Tulsa’s first sheriff. Great-grandmother Hattie (Fleeman) Johnston documented her family’s service in the Revolutionary War. While our Lewis and Johnston ancestors suffered hardships such as divorce or untimely loss of parents, they persevered, cared for their families, and left lasting legacies.

The most significant family link to our country’s history is the connection to our first president, George Washington, via our 2nd-great-grandmother, Ursula Carter Fleeman. Ursula’s 2nd-great-grandfather, Colonel Fielding Lewis, was married to George Washington’s sister, Betty Washington Lewis. Our family truly is part of the foundation and fabric of our country! Please click on the below ancestors’ names to discover their stories.

Lewis paternal side:

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Johnston maternal side:

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Hix and Russell ancestors

Our Hix and Russell family roots, going back three generations, stem purely from a handful of counties in Tennessee and Kentucky. Each of the below ancestors began their lives in that area as farmers (Oscar Hix is the one exception having lived only in Texas). For the most part, these ancestors eventually journeyed to Texas, although the reasons for such drastic geographic relocation remain unclear. However, we can theorize that the changing conditions in the region after the Civil War, such as the decrease in available farm land because of recently freed slaves, likely contributed to our farming ancestors’ migration. Perhaps family stories and documents can reveal more specifically what prompted these moves.

Hix paternal side:

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Russell maternal side:  

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