Karen has diligently researched the finding of Danville and has made it her mission to tell the story of this town that her family settled. 

Karen currently lives in Montgomery Co., TX. and is married to with two grown daughters.  Karen has deep roots in Montgomery County on her mother’s side.  Settling in the Danville area were:  Irvine and Tabor families in 1837; Spiller family in 1848, and Great – Grandfather, Alexander Elton Garrett, in 1895.  Further family settled in part of Montgomery Co. that later became Grimes Co. were:  Abraham Womack family in 1835;, Henry Robinson family in 1837; Jackson McElroy Montgomery family by 1850; O’Neal family settled between 1851-1856; and lastly, Terrell family came in 1851, later settling in Conroe about 1881.

Hobbys – Genealogy and historical research; Gardening; Reading.
Association Memberships:

• Past member of Montgomery County Genealogical & Historical Society for 8 years. 
• Served as Lookup Volunteer; awarded Volunteer of the Year in 2008 for work on the research of Old Danville.  Completed 3 Montgomery County, Texas ‘Early Settler’ lineages.
• Served as Registrar for Daughters of the American Revolution (Kingwood Chapter) for 3 years.
• Registrar for Conroe Chapter of Daughters of the American Colonists – 1 year.
• Served as Registrar for United Daughters of the Confederacy (Humble Chapter); a position held for 4 years.
• Proven, documented, lineages with the following lineage societies:
  Daughters of the Republic of Texas
  Colonial Dames of the 17th Century
  The Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin In the Colony of Virginia
  Jamestowne Society
  Magna Charta Dames
  The Plantagenet Society
  Order of the Crown of Charlemagne
  Order of the Merovingian Dynasty
  Colonial Order of the Crown
  Sovereign Colonial Society of Americans of Royal Descent

She has contributed articles on her family history and the history of Danville to The Herald, in it’s publication entitled “Old Danville, Texas” published in 2008 (Vol. 31) and built the website for the Old Danville Cemetery which includes a separate webpage for each burial with pictures and any known biographical information as well as a detailed chain of title to the cemetery lands. The website includes documentation of her ongoing research into the Town of Danville and the Joseph Lindley Survey which involves a detailed study of the deed records from ca. 1835 through ca 1870s.

One of her favorite projects was the discovery and documentation of the original well site which was used as a landmark for the Town of Danville lots in 1848.  The well could be dated as early as 1835-1837.

Another ongoing project is the research on her Henry ancestors in Scotland.  She descends from the sister of Patrick Henry’s father, John Henry.  Thus, Patrick Henry’s paternal grandparents are common ancestors.  The result of extensive, detailed, research published online in a series of articles is entitled, “Margaret’s Letter” which can also be found on this website.