FORMER JACKSON SCHOOL TEACHER PUBLISHES BOOK

JACKSON -- Doris Brennecke Davault, a retired Jackson High School teacher, recently culminated a nearly two-decade effort to "prove" her relation to a Revolutionary War soldier with the publication of her book, "Costner - Chostner 1550 - 1991."

Davault said her mother was a Chostner, which spurred an interest in tracing her family history to Thomas Costner, a Revolutionary War ancestor. She began her research in 1972.

Davault credited her cousin James Earl Chostner of Pueblo, Colo. for exhaustive research that made publication of the book possible. She also received contributions for the book from descendants of the Costner/Chostner, Estes, Hopkins, James and Nanny families.

Chostner spent many years collecting information for the family history before he died in 1972. Davault helped him collect the information and, at the time of Chostner's death, had typed much of his material to eventually present to a publisher.

Davault said a copy of the typed material was the basis for the book, which she began to compile in 1990.

"It has taken many, many hours and days of writing letters and calling people throughout the United States and Canada to get the needed family history and genealogy," she said.

By completing Chostner's work, Davault said she hopes to have preserved the rich history of the Kestner-Kastner-Costner-Chostner family and the related families of Estes, Hopkins, James, and Nanney. The families all were from Bollinger County.

Davault also became a member of the John Guild Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in February 1973, as she "proved" her relation to Thomas Costner.

She is a native of Cape Girardeau County and has lived in Jackson the past 35 years. She was a school teacher for 31 years, the last 18 as a business teacher in Jackson High School. She attended Southeast Missouri State University where she received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in business education.

Doris and Wm. Hughes Davault, also a retired Jackson school teacher, have been married 50 years. She said that without her husband's help, she couldn't have completed the book.

The Davaults have two children, Webster Davault of Crowley, Texas and Suzanna Clippard of Sarasota, Fla., and five grandchildren.

To obtain a copy of the book, contact Davault at 1508 Highway 72 West, Jackson, Mo., or call 243-3207.