The O'Neal Times

Andy "Hound" O'Neal  ??-??-???? - December 19, 2022 Andy one day up on the hill across the fence looking for a squirrel a rabbit or a coon! My poor dog died this morning with no notice. I fed him yesterday and made sure he had water. He ate two servings and everything seemed normal. This morning I went out to feed him and found him asleep. When usually he's barking for his breakfast I should have known something was wrong. I said " Your not asleep are you?' and no movement indicated the truth. He was gone or asleep for good.  He was rather old and I'm not sure how old but I don't think he died of old age but it looked like it must have been natural causes. Why do they call death natural when there's nothing natural about it? Because he's a dog they say we are not supposed to grieve. I've also heard they can't show emotions but I've seen love, jealousy, shame, or guilt as well as joy and above all else loyalty. However a...

                The O'Neal Times                       July 24 2022                 Henry Clay Mathews History: On this date back in 1940 Henry Clay Mathews died. He was my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side. Photos: Virtual cemetery: 

                   The O'Neal Times                      August 21, 2022                  John Harrison Burks  History: John Harrison Burks was born on this date August 21st back in 1873 which was 149 years ago. John Harrison Burks was my second great grand father.  John Harrison Burks (m) Cosby Belcher                      Robert Lee Burks                    Great  Grandfather                Dolly Delena (Burks) O'Neal                   Paternal Grandmother                   Donald Dewey O'Neal                         ...

Robert Lee Burks In loving memory of Robert Lee Burks  On this date August 9, 1898 Robert Lee Burks was born. He was my grandma's father which made him my great grand father. I never met him because he died before I was born. Everyone that knew him however said he was mean. I don't think I ever heard anything good about him. I know they say you shouldn't speak bad of the dead but I guess if everyone agrees it must be so.  Robert was the son of John Harrison Burks and Cosby Belcher Burks. He was one of nine children. He had two older brothers and an older sister when he was born. According to one census record the 1910 Census. One brother was named William Burks and the other was  named Herbert Burks. His older sister was named Virgie Burks. I never have been able to locate his record of birth. However I've found conflicting records. For example his marriage certificate to Laura O'Neal says he was born in Wyoming County, West Virginia. However I found another marriag...

Everyone gets discouraged at some point. Some people are always in a state of depression because they can't seem to find any hope. Regardless of why you are discouraged there is a way to deal with it. Today I was reading a scripture in the Bible about King David. He was the King of Israel and he had wanted to build the temple. A house for his God Jehovah. He was likely too old and this task was too big and would take a younger man to accomplish the task to the finish. Needless to say he was discouraged.  I recently lost my grandma and she was my last grandparent. It is discouraging to think that our life span is so short. It made me question "What's the point?". She lived a long full life but what's left? Only her memory. Her house, her belongings gone and even some of her children are  already sleeping in death.  I have to say it puts things in perspective. So, to strengthen my faith I was reading the Bible and today the verse was from 1 Chronicles 9:1. At first ...

August 18, 1915 Paul Samuel O'Neal