DNA Matching: It's all Relative

The "cousin" that Stella writes to first appeared as a solid green bar on Ancestry.com DNA match system when we did a Howerton search. There are more than thirty matches, but this is a very strong one. We click into this match's family tree then  check to see if and how this tree's Howertons match up with our Howertons.

 Here is where the finger crossing starts and the Search Sisters hope to get lucky.
1.We hope that there are common ancestors easily seen. 2.We hope the tree has some solid research behind it. Lots of trees on ancestry.com are slap dash affairs, or locked and private, or poorly documented with no hints to be found. 3. We hope the creator of the tree is an active, enthusiastic, saavy family history buff who is willing to share.

On the J.S. tree we find this beautiful portrait of Frank Milton Howerton, a good sign. Further inspection tells us that this Frank Milton was born in Oklahoma. Close, but not Arkansas. We look at his parents.... and find James A Howerton.

Frank Milton Howerton 1877-1941

You convince yourself that sending a message might be worth your time, then you put your questions together in a message and send it off. Then double cross your fingers. And wait. Sometimes you wait for months or even years for a response. Stella writes to AM Cooper, owner of this J.S. match:

"Jan 28, 2016: We have a high likelihood 4th? cousin DNA match. Looking at your tree it seems pretty likely that your James A Howerton, father of Frank Milton Howerton, is also our great great grandfather. The information we have about his family was hard won given that he and our great great grandmother never married or lived together."

After a few weeks AM Cooper, tree owner, writes back:

"Feb 13, 2016: My tree should be completely open and visible to you. Frank Milton Howerton is my great grandfather. His daughter is my grandmother who at 92 is still alive. She didn't really know her own mother. She was primarily raised by her aunt Florence."

While our new cousin doesn't have details that give us a definite link, the DNA connection tells us that Search Sisters and AM Cooper, their cousin, have a strong protein match with this Howerton line.  While we can't be sure James Nathan Howerton was Paralee's papa, we can be reasonably certain based on the DNA evidence we all descend from this line of people who call themselves Howertons.