First Generation

1. Frank ACKLEY was born about 1835 in New York.^1,2 1880 census states both his parents born in NY On 20 Jun 1880 he was a farmer at Houston , Texas.¹ He appeared in the census in 1880 in Texas. He was living in 1880 in Houston , Texas.¹ About 1871 they left Michigan leaving Louvicia's sister, Carrie Smith and two brothers, Oscar and Arthur Smith in Michigan. They traveled to St. Louis by covered wagon. There they sold the wagons and horses and came down the Mississippi River by steam boat top somewhere in Louisiana. Again they got a team of horses and a wagon and came to Texas, stopping somewhere in the vicinity of Conroe. At that time the Houston and Great Northern Railroad was being built between Houston and Palestine – later the railroad came to be known as the International Great Northern RR. Co., of which the famous Sunshine Special, Houston to St Louis was a part.

Frank went to work on the construction of the railroad and working on the railroad as it progressed northward from around Conroe and Phelps in about 1871 and 1872

Frank ACKLEY and Louvicia SMITH were married.^1,2,3 Louvicia SMITH was born about 1837 in New York.^1,2 first name may also be listed as Lavina, Louvica or Lanincy
1880 census states her father born in NH and mother in VT She appeared in the census in 1880 in Texas. Frank ACKLEY and Louvicia SMITH had the following children:

+2	i.	Eugene "Gene" ACKLEY.
3	ii.	Living.
+4	iii.	Frank ACKLEY Jr.
+5	iv.	William A ACKLEY.
+6	v.	Theodore Benjamin ACKLEY.
7	vi.	Edward ACKLEY was born about 1879 in Texas.1 He appeared in the census in 1880 in Texas.