For many years John kept informal records but then sometime around 1956-1957 he began keeping more formal records which he saved in folders.  It was in 1957 that John started including in his letters a standard genealogy datasheet which he asked people to fill out about with names, birth dates, etc. about family members.  Below is such an example received from his cousin Ralph E. Mixson.#83  Next to Ralph’s name at the top left of the page is “#83” which is the person’s reference number that John assigned to each in his Mixon-Mixson book.  It is not clear when John first started assigning person numbers, but I would imagine John did so sometime later.  (John himself is reference #51 where John Mixon the 1st is #1.  I am listed in book with reference number #963).

 

Genealogy Form for Ralph Mixson [f07-d01]

As John received back the forms it led to additional persons which he then sent new blank forms and his list of Mixsons grew.  Following such leads soon led him to my father Morris Darlington Mixson#918 which then Dad provided John the details on my sister Brenda#962, brother David#964 and myself#962.  This was prior to 1961 as our younger sister Beth was not listed John’s first book.   John listed over 5,000 Mixon-Mixson decedents over the course of his three books, with reference numbers assigning sequentially the numbers give some indication to when John added them to his records.

Previous

Next