Isaac Kirksey and Dan Rather

In their article, “Dear Sister Antillico . . .”:  The Story of Kirksey v. Kirksey, William Casto (Texas Tech) and Val Ricks (South Texas) unearth a lot of fascinating information about the parties to, and the background of, one of the most famous “consideration” cases in U.S. contract law history, Kirksey v. Kirksey, 8 Ala. 131 (1845).

One nugget in that delightful piece may have escaped your notice:  Isaac James Kirksey (1797-1865), the brother-in-law who (the story goes) threw the poor widow Kirksey out in the cold, is the great-great-great grandfather of former CBS News anchor Dan Rather.  Isaac, it seems, married one Mary Connally, the sister of Angelico (not “Antillico”) Connally Kirksey.  Isaac and Mary’s daughter Eliza Jane Kirksey married one Daniel Rather of Talladega County, Alabama, in 1840, the same year Isaac sent the invitation to his sister-in-law.  The Rathers moved to Shelbyville, Texas, and the rest is history.  You can read about it in the Dan Rather genealogy.  (Image: Wikipedia)

[Frank Snyder]