(The book "Mulkeys of America" is no longer in print. However, xerox copies of the book are available from the author's nephew.) Contact: Chris Houghton at cvh@twofirs.com

My great-grandmother left a typewritten booklet of fun family facts for us.   It is such a treasure to have this careful recording of our family's history.  I wish my ancestors could have been bloggers so I would know what daily life was like for them!

With the family tree info she recorded and a bit of searching on the internet I've been able to marvel at God's Covenant blessings throughout the generations of one side of my family. 

FAMILY LINEAGE:

Lila Gearheart was the daughter of Ollie Quinby(daughter of John Quinby) and James Haden Gearheart.  James Haden Gearheart was the youngest of the eleven children of Valentine Alexander Gearheart and Harriet Jane Mulkey.  Harriet Jane Mulkey was the daughter of Sarah Martin and James Harlan Mulkey.  James Harlan Mulkey was one of the sons of the Pioneer Preacher, the Reverend John Mulkey and Elizabeth Hays.  The Reverend John Mulkey was the son of Jonathan Mulkey and Nancy Howard.

SOLDIERS:

Jonathan Mulkey (1752) was a soldier in the American Revolution.  His grandson James Harlan Mulkey was a chaplain and a physician for the Confederate Army in the War Between the States.  One of James Harlan Mulkey's sons was in the Confederate Army and one of his sons was a Union soldier!  Val Gearheart and John Quinby were Union soldiers.  So Harriet Mulkey Gearheart had her husband and one brother on the Union side and her father and one brother on the Confederate side.

MEN OF FAITH:

According to ncbible.org, the Puritan John Newton personally taught and greatly influenced Philip Mulkey, the father figure for the largest known branch of the Mulkey family.   (Throughout my family line, the influence of John Newton can be see as many male children were named after him.)  Philip's preaching son, Jonathan is referred to as the first Baptist minister in the state of Tennessee.  Jonathan's son, John, began preaching by the age of 20.  (Two other brothers also became Baptist preachers.)  Several Mulkeys were Pioneer Preachers with the wagon trains heading west to Oregon.  John did not go west, but had a great influence preaching to many who did.

My great-grandmother records that her father told her of going with his grandfather, James Harlan Mulkey, as he ministered to the people of the Ozarks "both spiritually and physically."  She writes "he learned a great deal from him that was never forgotten.  He could quote Scripture, chapter and verse, till the day he died.  He also knew every kind of medicine (except newly discovered), where it came from, and what its use was."

COVENANTAL BLESSINGS THROUGH THE GENERATIONS:

It is such a blessing to be able to trace men and women of faith back several generations in my family.  The Bible tells us that the Lord works in families and promises to bless those who love Him to a thousand generations. 

May we always remember . . . to live and to think . . . generationally and covenantally!