Rubbing Elbows with The Lincolns!

Family folklore says I am related to Herbert Hoover (the 31st President of the United States) and Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis & Clark). 

Are we related? It's possible. I haven't been able to find any connections....yet! (I am still looking!)

But....... my maternal 6x Great Grandfather Jacob Gum Jr. and his son Jesse did rub elbows with the Lincoln Family. Yes....THAT Lincoln Family:

Abraham Lincoln circa 1846

Family tradition tells that Jacob Gum sold his Virginia land to Abraham Lincoln, grandfather of the 16th President.
Pond, Fern Nance, "Jesse Gum Survey," in Abraham Lincoln Quarterly, June 1950, pg. 123

Boom! Doing business with the Lincolns!

Not once, but twice!

In February of 1834, Jesse hired the young surveyor, Abe Lincoln, to prepare a report of his (Jesse's) holdings. Jesse owned about 800 acres in 4 tracts. An account of the Gum Survey of 3 March 1834 appears in the Abraham Lincoln Quarterly, "Jesse Gum Survey by Fern Nance Pond, June, 1950.

How cool is that?

Two Early Lincoln Surveys

How am I related to Jacob Gum?

Jacob Gum is the father of Sally Gum. Sally Gum married Simpson Montgomery. Their daughter Lydia Montgomery married Elijah Watkins. They had a son, James Watkins who married Nancy Lewis and they had a son, Charles Lucas Watkins. Charles married Susan Thomas and they are the parents of my Great-Grandparents Doris and Lawrence Watkins. (Grandma Shirley's mom and dad)