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Weber / Weaver family history
Here are three Weber Coats of Arms of Germany, the country where our familt came from. The last one is also shown as a Weaver Coat of Arm. I do not know if any of these are the correct one but the last one very well could be since it is from Germany and shown with both names. (Our first generation of Webers born in the United States changed their name to Weaver)
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A historical story of the Weaver family,
Written by Joseph Hasseltine Weaver one from the Jacob Weaver family:
(This story is shown just as it was copied. There are spelling errors but it is here just as Joseph wrote it)
Jacob Weaver was born in Cabarruss County North Carolina. in August I790.And for our purpose in writing this memorandum, was the head of our familv. Grandfather Jacob Weaver's father's name was Henry Weaver; but the earlier history of the family is very obscure to me, except that they came from Germany some time before the Revolutionary war and settled in the Eastern part of the country, probably Pennsylvania: from there they scattered over several states of the union. Jacob Weaver's mother was Irish his father was Dutch.
Jacob grew to young manhood in the community where he was born working on the farm, along with the rest of the family, mostly the men, however, as the women did their work mostly in the house, caring for the children, cocking, spinning and weaving cloth for making the clothes the family wore, mostly wool, as cotton was yet very insignificant, some flax was used in making clothes, especially for sewing thread. Most every thing was done by hand, as the machine age had not yet arrived.
Grandfathers wife, whom he married when around twenty two, name was Barbara Richey, she was full blood German. She was all the wife Jacob ever had and he was all the husband she ever had and they lived together till he died. .
Jacob Weaver lived in his native N. C. till all their children were born They did not practice birth control as we know about it now back then, so they were blessed with a good crop of young Weavers. For the benefit of my many relatives, and any others who may become interested, I shall give the names of that bunch of my uncles and aunts: Henry, the oldest, Betty and Lucy, Monroe, Joseph A. who was my father, Ambrose, nick named Krup, Isaiah, nick named. Sig, John Dave and James Adramius. I remember seeing none of them except Aunt Lucy and my father. I shall have occasion as we go along to refer to some of these, maybe all of them.
Becoming dissatisfied with the beautiful Carolina Piedmont and the once fertal valleys ,but now washing away, with every rain, Jacob began planning to move to the free lands of Alabama So in a short time he sold out and got together quite a bunch of his relatives and they set out for Alabama. They had five wagons drawn by a pair of horses or mules each. Several cows but not any other stock. In all about twenty people, except the slaves, of whom John Jacob had several.
They sat sail on or about January I st, I836, headed for thee Southwest. They could make only around ten to twenty mile a day, owing to the condition of the ,roads and the river crossings then once a week or even more they would stop over for hunting and rest, especially rest for the live stock, which would become jaided and tired out. Enough wild game was killed on these hunts to furnish meat for the whole carrivan. Thus they wended their weary way across the sandy slopes of South Carolina, and the red hills of the empire state of the South, Georgia. If Atlanta was there at all then it was not visable very far to the nacked eye. Nor was the hill city of Rome yet born But., the Mighty Coosa river was running south, jus just as she is now and has been for ages past and will, no doubt for ages to come. . Grandfather crossed. this mighty power plant at what is now Veals ferry, ten miles below where Rome now does "business.
After crossing the river, the next trouble was the Cathy hills. About five of these hills were to climb and go down with a bunch of stock already tired down; 'but they made the riffe getting ever the last one and out through, the , so- called narrows, 'before night came on. Many a time my father has shown me where he drove one of the teams up the little rocky creek which 'Was then the road bed as well as the creek bed. The Narrows was, very narrow places between two very precipitus hills , hardly room for two wagons -to pass: Now they were within twenty miles of Gaylesville , Alabama The place where they The remainder of this line is missing
Now it was nite so camp was struck and all hands being hungry and tired any kind of food would do and just any old place to sleep as well. would do to. Next morning all was up and alive with anxiety to get going, as they expected to go over the top today. The roads were no better than they had been for the last 400 miles of their travels, however before the sun went "behind the Western horizon the Chattooga river was 'foarded, few if any bridges were in evidence, in those parts at that time, and the villege of Gaylesville was reached. That 'burg was a settlement of some fifty people, but no post office any where in sight or hearing. Since that time that center of educational effort of that county, Cherokee, has increased her numbers by as many as one to two each year, until now she has around 250 people all told.
Very naturally grandfather stopped and made enquiry of some of the citizens concerning lands and improvements for sale any where in the neighborhood. He was told that a man named Parker living some seven miles, north east up on Mill creek had a small wheat and corn mill together with his claim for sale. This appealed to him at once. So he drove over to an Indian camp not far off, at what is now near Randall semitary, at Randall spring.
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At supper that night Jacob said to his wife: Mam, I should like to have breakfast a little early in the morning as I want to go up and look a mill and other improvments on an 80 acre clame on Mill creek about seven miles from here, Boys said he, get your guns in trim, feed the dogs up a bit and we will go a hunting while tending to some business, maby. This seemed to suit all round. Next morning was a fine day, for late February, not to cold and certainly not too hot So ever body in fine mttle and a sandwich in the pocket of wild meat taken on the road, a day or two before.
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The woods were full of wild turkeys and deer in Plenty, with squirels and rabbits in abundance. Some had saddles, some just blankets, some neither, just bear back, but all ready for the chase including the dogs, of which they had aplenty. Soon they reached the mill site, after taking several gray aquirels on the way, and flushing one bunch of wild turkeys. But the mill, all were in interested in the Mill with its surroundings, Mill creek was a flush clear streem winding through the hills and down the hollows with numerous little falls of a foot or more, with here and there an eddy of several yards with fish leaping up to catch the unwarry fly. Mountein trout, Red horse, Sucor, Channel cat and yellow cat and many other varieties, all feeding and playing hide and seek under the riples of the swiftly running little stream which was continually fed by clear flush mountain springs as they gurgled from mother earth in their limpid beauty and freshness.
The Mill was a mere shack of a house built of hewn logs, partly in the creek and partly on the bank, with a corn mill and a wheat outfit, which turned the dry grain into meal and flour. The wheat rock was said to have come from France, and .said to a solid Burr. The corn stone came from nearby millstone mountain and was of very fine quality neither too hard or too soft .The eighty acres of land on which the mill stood, lay for the most 'Part on the mountain, which butted up against the creek in abrupt fashion, rising some two hundred feet in almost purpandicular shape close by where the mill stood. This land and the improvements, including the Mill, of course, the object of grandfathers visit.- One thing of considerable interest to grandfather was the amount of power obtained which was measured by the hight of the head of water obtainable and the quantity held in pond or lake made by the primative wooden dam built in ancient fashion across the stream.
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After telling Mr. Parker his business and looking over the preiges until he was satisfied in his own mind what he wanted to do, he then asked Parker for his price and terms for the claim on the 80 acres of land with all improvements. Parker said it would take just seven hundred dollars in cash to get hi s claim and all improvements, and at that he would reserve the right to oprera1e the mill every other week for six weeks, untill he could find some other location.
Grand father after asking a few questions as to the security of Parkers claim and about the amount of gra1n generally ground in a given time told Parker he would take him up and give his price, meeting him the next day in Gaylesville to draw up papers to that effect. Parker asked why not go to Gaylesville this afternoon and close up matters,? Grand ather answered all right with me if that suits you best. Before the sun went down a quit claim deed was drawn and properly signed transferring all Parkers rights and interest in the 80 acres of land together, with all improvements 5 and appertinances thereto belonging.
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It was well that trade was consumated that day, for by next day Parker was badly dissatisfied and wanted to cancel the trade. Nothing doing Jacob Weaver told him that he was sorry but he was not doing business in childish fassion but only in the styIe of grown men. Grandfather moved in and used some little out houses and their covered wagons for lodging purposes until better buildings could 'be had. no other milling outfit was any where in the country within twenty or more miles. So this outfit was run day and night much of the time, the grain was brought from the small farms for these many miles in all directions .
Often a wagon load of fifteen' or twenty bushels would come to be-turned into bakable and etable food for the inhabitants both white, Red and black .I have often wandered why the Weavers did not settle on some of the brod acres of level land on the borders of the Coosa river or even the Chattooga, instead of locating in the hills or fringes of the Alleghanies , these hills, it is true looked like one vast park, with no under 'brush, but covered with fine timber every where, Oak, white, Red, water and some other, with Beach, Hickory, gum, Poplar with an abundance of fine Pin_ with bodies as high as forty or fifty feet to the first limb, and measureing two and three feet in diameter, all standing waiting for the hand of industry to come and use it. Very little of this virgin growth had as yet been touched.
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The air was cool in Summer, because of the climate and much shade, and the winters quite mild. To revert to the reason why the family located in the hill country instead of on lands more level. Of course the Mill was one thing, but another very important matter was .the swampy un-drained condition on the low lands along the rivers where people died of chills and fever in great numbers in the early settlement of the country The mill site was surrounded by hills and hollowers with very little land lying along the creek suitable for cultivation, and the community soon took the name of “the Dutch Cove” and that name still is used in referring to the community it having took the name from the Weaver family and their connection, all of whom come in there from North Carolina.
The State of Alabama.' was admitted into the United States in 1819. Then land could be purchased from the federal government. The citizen could purchase a quarter section for one dollar and a quarter an acre, or homestead the 160 acres for $15.00 by living' on the land five years and then making proof of that fact, Before the probate court of his county, he could then get little. Very little land throughout that part of Alabama had yet been taken up or cleared for farming or other use.
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The Red Man, The Indians were yet there in great numbers. He was then like he is yet and always had been from Columbus first contact with him: Rather lie in the shade than to work any day. He could hunt and come home and putt his feet under the tabIe, if his wife would rustle a meal for him. The best things you could say for these Indians was they were peaceable and would tell you the truth. Our people could understand little or none of their language, however a deaf person can make signs, and very much sign language was used between the Pale Face and the Red man.
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When an Indian would 'bring his "Turn" to mill, naturally he wanted to know how soon he could get the finished product. If that day the miller would point to the sun and point to the hour about, where the sun wou1d be when his meal, or flour, would be ready, in that case he would hitch his pony and wait; but if the miller pointed to the sun and then pointed his finger on down and back up with the riseing of the sun stopping, say with 10.00 0 clock next day, then the Indian would go home an return next day at the hour pointed to. When the Red man made you a promise he did his best to fulfil that promise He could hew a log to the line. and almost as smooth as if dressed with the plane.
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At the Kinkade quarter. some two miles from the town of Lyerly Georgia. still stands a hewed log house whose logs were hewed by the Indians. Be it said to his credit or shame whichever you like, the Red man got on with mighty little real hard work, in that community. .
The roads were generally in poor repair in that new country, being for the most part just openings cut through the forest along the hollows and around the hills. A man might live two miles from you across the ridge or small mountain, and it be ten miles around the road to his place. And pretty much the same thing in some parts is still true.
As has been mentioned, Parker reserved half the time for a period of six weeks, that he should run the mill and. have the net proceeds. The Public soon caught on and grandfathers week soon was getting nearly all the grinding to do. As we all know people just like a new management.
The men and boys went to work clearing land and prepairing it for cultivation. It being February, they had little time to waist if they put in much of a crop. On the 80 acres grandfather Purchased of Parker, I am confident there never has been as much as five acre cleared or cultivated, It was too ruff and broken. But they could clear land any place they wanted to and later on file on the land or homestead it.
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Any way to get in a crop, mostly of corn, Cotton was little known or cultivated in those parts then. It was very trying on the nerves of some of the younger set, the breaking up of the new land which was full of stumps and roots of the timber, alltogeather differant was it from plowing the old lands back in North Carolina. So disgusted was my father, with the situation, that he threatened to run away and go back to the Old North state, However he soon become better satisfied as he didn't have to work at the plowing job all the time, but got to go out hunting very often. At that time he was fourteen years old and large to his age so he could do a mans work at most any job at which they worked.
Grandfather soon had two stills running making a fine quality of corn liquor. There was no revenue or any kind of tax on makng or selling the stuff then. He would sell it for .50 cents a gallon, or swap for corn giving a gallon of liquor for a bushel of corn, then grind the corn and it would make two gallons for white corn or two gallons and a Quart cut of yellow com . Most everybody would take a dram but very few would get drunk. Some fellow here and there called old sots would get drunk when he could get enough to make him drunk. He was laughfed at and no one wanted to copy him. Most all families kept a bottle of good corn liquor on the mantle or galon jug well filled unjder the head of the bed and so they were unconciensly traing their own children so, some of made drunkards. As the tree is bent so it will grow is no truer than as a child is trained so he will go.
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One day my father was left with the still to watch, while Grandfather went for a load of something or other, when Papa heard the wagon coming he left off "playing with a bunch of pigs while he had been neglecting his duty about the still. He ran swiftly to see how things were coming on an found the still had 'been cooking very much to fast, he having neglected to cut the heat down, he grabed up the vessel or keg into which the “Singlings” had run and poured them back in the mash. When his father came he measured the depth of the loquer in the keg. Nothing was told him about his sons neglect.
However I am not now discussing the questions here indirectly refered to but only trying to give as best I may a brief outline of the history of my people and some of their neighbors as they came in contact with one another. Probly it would be in 'Place to here set down some of the names of places and thing 'around the community. Dirtcellar mountain was several miles long and contained much iron ore, as was found many years late. .
Lookout mountain, running from Ross' Landing, now Chttanooga, Tennessee to Gadsden A1abama a distance of one hundred miles. with many smaller hills and ridges and valies as well covering most all the country. Many springs of spark1ng cold water bubbled from the earth all through the country, a. "few of the most noted were Waterloo, where a small creek flows from it’. Berry spr1ng at the head of mill creek and many others I shall not name. Chattooga river runs through the county from the Georgia and Alabama state line to where it emptys into Coosa rive at Cedar Bluff, Alabama. These streams are more or less stocked with fish, and were at the comning of our people to. the country.
IN this new country the government had mighty little business with the citizen either pro or con.. There was one post office any where. Near the Dutch Cave. That was over on the East side of Coosa river not far from where Centre, the county seat now stands some fifteen or twenty miles away/. Grandfather got word there was a letter at the P. O. for him and he sent my father after it. It cost twenty five cents to pay the dews on the letter and.25cents each way to pay ferage across the river, 0.'75 cents to get one little letter.
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Our Peop1e had no cook stoves, no heaters, They cooked on the fire very much as if they we're camped out. : Some of the best biscuits I ever ate were baked in a skillet on the coals at an open fireplace in our old log kitchen, "by my mother,) The' women folk spun wool and cotton into thread and wove it into cloth and made clothes by hand with thread and needle, in those days. They new nothing of sewing machines or looms run by any thing except by hand. they grew flax and worked it up by-hand. They had plenty to eat, plenty of warm. clothes to wear and plenty of time for hunting and other sports. A woman in the field at work was a thing almost unknown in those parts, she had plenty to do in .the house. The mill was run almost all the time day and night. It vas not uncomon for some farmer to drive 15 or 20 miles with a waggon load of corn and wheat, bringing a "turn" or several of his neighbors, and stay all night and return next day to hi s home w th his load all ground.
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My people spoke both English and Dutoh, or German, sometimes a neighbor would come to grand father to barrow money for he was fairly well fixed with" stock and stuff for one in that day an1 time. If grandmother did not wish him to risk that loan she didn't hesitate to tell him so, but she would speak it in Dutch so the visitor cold not tell what she was saying.. . .
The boys. Five of them at a time would run that number of one horse plows cultivating their crops the younger brother, Add would keep up with all five following them with his hoe, and rest a good part of the time He went through the field giving it a lick and a promis, most of the time just a promis.
There was a family named Caldwell. one name1 Thompson, anther named Force, another named Clifton, and Beasly, Miller, Uncle Sam Miller, who taught a little school in the community, my father went to him two months which was about the surn total of his literary training, and another family named Penegar, a wheel right, He built a spinning wheel for my mother about 90 years ago. (My youngest daughter has the wheel now in Colo.) and Parks, and Dyche and a family just over in Ga. named Johnston, Uncle Jackey Johnston drew an 80 acre lot of land from the state of Ga. for a very small amount of money and come to the land and cleared a small acreage cultivating it and then went back to his family at a distant part of the country. Many others I might name but shall not here.
These old settelers have long since gone on to the beyond and their decendances are scattered to many parts of the country, while there are but few now living in the community of which I am writing: who remembers any of these older settlers of one hundred and more years ago. The Cleghorn family lived just over in Ga. with a large family of children; all red headed, and they had quite a bunch of negro slaves and severa1 of them were red headed. John and Cicero went to Summerrville, Ga, where they became very prominant as 'well as wealthy. A grea.t tradgey occoured in John Cleghorns family. He Was very much opposed to his daughter and her lover marrying, whose name was Arrlngton, of Rome Ga.. the two lovers walked out and down the railroad track a short distance where Arrington shot the girl then turned the gun on himself and ended it all, insofar as they were concerned. Wounds like that take many years to heal, if ever they do.
Another family lived just over in Ga. from where my People lived named Johnson. Jeff Johnson and Sam Finlay were rivals for the hand and heart of a fine neighbor girl, whose maiden name I have forgoten, Johnson won out and married her. :Finlay went almost deranged and lived much Ijke a hurmit. Later on old Feff as he was called, shot and killed a neighbor named Bill Arp Still later he himself was shot and killed from ambush, Near where Lyerly, Ga. now stands. Still later two of his sons and one son in law were hanged for murder. Yes tradgey upon tradgey.
In that same commun1 lived the Pr1ce family, who were very wealthy for their time, they had many broad acres and a field full of negro slaves. Many of the decendants of those slaves still live in that country, but few if any of the Price family live there now. Some of the Pierce negros belonged to Sardis Baptist church and remained in this white chuxch, many years after the Civil war.
Another prominant and well beloved family in those parts was the Adams family. Aunt Juliann Adams was one of the main Pillars in Sardis church for many years. .At one time there was ten other women with her her and two men Uncle Ruben Nedlock and. Uncle Alek Price, a negro slave, but they held on manily on the word of aunt Julyann. And that noble old church is still carrying on and May it live till Jesus comes.
1 shall now turn to my own people_ Grandfather was a Lutheran along with all the family, Of course there were no churches of any faith for long mils in that part of the country. A missionary, a Baptist,. came through the country and he preached at Grandfather's big barn one day, that that was a short time, two or three years. after they came to Ala Grandfather wanted this Baptist preacher to sprinkle some the young Children born since their removal to Ala. The Baptist preacher positively refused to do so saying if he would suffer his good right arm severed from his body rather than baptise, by Srprinkl1ng water on little Infants and call it baptism according to the Holy Scriptures. Ho indeed, he would not. That there was only one kind of that there was only one kind of water baptism known to the Scriptures, and that was immursion of a believer in. Jesus Christ in water, and nothing else constituted 'baptism, so Grandfather told the Baptist preacher he could not preach any more in his barn. ( Today I am quite sure there are more than thirty Baptist churches in that County, Cherokee, while if there is one Lutheran or Catholic church in the county of twenty odd thousand people it is unknown to the writer.
When the County was fires organized the court house was at Cedar Bluff, then called Jefferson which is located on the western bank of t Coosa river Later on the county seat was removed to a little vilage called Pine :Knot . which was nenar t'he geogra:phical center of the county and the name was chalged to CENTRE... These little towns have all remained small villiages because no manufactureing plants of any concequence, have been built in or about them, end for the reason that most of the country still lies in woods and brush, being hilly and broken unfit much of it, for cultivation.
While the great. Water power has not been harnessed and put to the service of man.
Time and tide wait for no man, and so it was with the first settlers of North Alabama. The first Capitol of the state at Huntsville, Was soon moved to Tuscaloosa, where the hospital for the insane, and the state University still remain, then on to Montgomery a little later, where the first Confederate Capitol was located in the sixties. But we are not interested in all that in this little memorandum.
Time was 'bringing u. change in the size and thoughts and manners of the Weaver family as well as in more weighty affairs. Boys were getting grown and the girls as well, who a few short years ago was barefoot lads and lassies were now becoming young men and young women. It has always been so, and at that age the youngsters find some way of entertainment. In this case the country dance was one of their ' chef diversions. A larg company of the young as well as some of the older set would gather at ssome convenient neighbors horme where they would have an old fassioned four reel dance. At Uncle Robert Camerons who mrrieed my grandmothers sister on my mothers side of the house, they had such a dance. Grand father Weaver, along with some of the younger people, attended that dance. My mother was there, a sixteen year old beauty, and grand father asked her to dance with him. She accepted the invitation. that was her first dance, but not her last by a long shot.
My father was around and liked to tip the light fanntastic toe, especcially vwith a sixteen yrear old who could sail out as light and as graceful as a Lark on her wing. So my papa stepped into the fun by inviting the beautiful young thing, named ANN KIMBELL, to take a turn with him. My father began falling down those prcipitous winding stairs at the bottom of which you are deep in love. A little more than a year from then he brought Ami Kimbell, the bell of Ga. home with him as Mrs. Joseph A. 'Weaver. A royal welcome was given them and they lived in the 'big shanty till they could do better.
At that time in 1812. my father was a little past 20 years old amd mother not quit 17, But she new how to 'Work and was not afraid to do if she could spin wool and cotton and make cloth. to make clothes for herself and for her husband. .
Her father was named Robert Kimlbell her Mother was Sarah Hinton before their marrage. They had a “house full" of children like the most families those times, Aunt Malissie nic named “Puss" and Ann, my mother, Jimie, Bob, Tom, Joe, Henry. Bill and aunt Betcy I knew' the two last named four of the 'boys went to the Civil war as soldiers and never come back. That was Bob and Tom Joe and Henry, Uncle Jimie died 'before the war, uncle Bill, the weakly one of the chilren , was the last of the boys to die. My mother out lived any of the family, She was 88 years old before she died. She was born March 30th, 1826; Papa 'was born Febuary 22nd 1822. when grandpa Kimbell was a young lad around 20 years old he was wresling with a neighbor boy and in their fall grandpa’s neck was broken but not the spinal column Nine pieces of bones worked out of his neck, of course he got well but could not turn his head any more. He was a farmer as most of the new settlers in that country was at the time. Very few of the Kimbell name live any where In those 'Parts now most of them have died out or gone on to some western clime. If must tell some of the ugly - - things as well as the matters of which I am proud. Then I should say here that one of my mothers sisters. And one of my fathers sisters. each 'become the Mother of an illegitimate child, a child out of wedlock, with shame that I write this. .
Father and-mother soon moved out into a little log cabin near by where my oldest brother, . Franklin Ambrose Weaver was born on June the 9 th 1843 He was a cripple, one of his legs was a Iittle shorter than the other. And that leg was a little weaker than the other. Mother said there was a little criple boy in the settlement and he would on occasion slip into her house to get something to eat. One day she caught him at his mischief and took out after him as he run and called for his brother named Dee, she said she believed that incident was the cause of her boy being a cripple. You may think what you please and it wont hurt my feelings
Well, the children, papa' s brothers and sisters soon married after they got grown. Aunt Lucy married her cousin Sig Weaver and they moved up in Ga. some three or four miles from grandfathers, where she lived all the rest of her long life, near 90 years old. Sig died when he was comparitively young, probly around 45 years old. Before lie died he wanted to be baptized by immersion and tried to get some of his friends to build a dam across his spring branch and back up the water so i t would deep euough to baptise him in, hut he was so verry sick they refused his request, He requested that they bring him a bucket of water to his bed, which was done: he sat on the side of the bed and poured the water on the top of his head for baptism.
Before he died, a few days later, he made request that none of his children should ever be sprinkled and call it baptism. This request was dsregarded by aunt Lucy and the children were sprinkled at the Presbyterian church near her home. One circumstance was noticed by the people who witnessed the ceremony: a large dog of the family was with the family at the time and he would walk from aunt Lucy to the door of the church and back to her waging his tail, he did this several times while the family were at the alter, people remarked about that dogs actions when they recalled the dead husbands and father's request.
Only two of the several children lived to be grown One other, who was born before marriage, is still living, or was at my last account, and if so she is right at 100 years old Mary Ragland,my full cousin Uncle Monroe and uncle Ambrose married early in life as did aunt Betty they called her Bets. And John Dave, and little Sig , as thy called Isaiah, and then Add the youngest.
Grandfathers health failed. but he would carry water to the field for drinking 'Purposes to the boys as they were harvesting wheat. My mother said to him, Pap, for that was what they all called him, let me carry the water you are not able to do that, He said no I can make it, I think. A very short time he had to take his death bed, and soon did at the age of 58. That was in the year 1848. He was burried at old Hopewell cemetary near where Tom Hatch now lives, in Ala. (The 'first 'Person everburied there was named Noe or Noah Province, my father drove the team of oxens to the grave, where was a little log school house, around 100 years ago now.
After grandfather died the property division was gradualy made among the heirs. What part my father got he took in land as did some of the others, uncle Monroe wanted the mill and most all the negro slaves fell to him as well, of whom there were several, sone 8 or 10. Ambrose got the Upper mill as it was called, This mill having been built soon after the family settled in the community, only about one mile up the creek from old mill. Monroe’s wife was said to have had about one eighth blood in her of a different race than the white race. her color showed that to be true. She looked about like a full blood Cherokee Indian.
Uncle Henry the oldest child of the family lived up the valey near the Ga. line. But he left those parts soon and I dont recall where he went. John Dave and "Sig Left there or died I dont know which, having; never been told much about them. Later one of Sigs' boys come back to the country looking after his. fathers estate. His name was Yancey Weaver. Ambrose wife become. a invalid a few years after their marrage. they had three girls in their home. They lived right close to the mill that uncle Ambrose then owned
One day during the civil war a man named Gorge' Grady rode up to the gate and called for uncle to come out he wanted to see him a minute He did and Grady shot him through the brest, he walked back in the house fell dead. Grady never was aprehended. Papa had to take the three little girls, Arminta, Vicy and mellie to his home and take care of them for a time after their mother passed away. after years of affliction.
Ambrose Weaver was killed on Feburary 27, 1865 Later on Arminta married David A. Pledger. son of Gaines Pledger, who lived' just over in Ga. from where my people lived. They had a house full of children. Vicey married Mack Ray. She died after her first born son John and daughter Ann were born Then Mack married Melly the youngest sister, she is still lving but Mack died several yers ago. They had some eight or ten children, all girls I believe.
Uncle Monroe and Papa made a deal on tile mill and a piece of land as a result Papa got half interest in the mill, and gave Monroe deeds to a fine tract of bottom land on the creek. they would run the mill week about. They made a trade when the civil war come on that Monroe was to stay at home and run the mill while Papa was to go into the Southern army, one miller was allowed to stay at home. Papa volenteered into the service so he could choose what service he prefered. He was in Cliftons Company, under Major Devenport, all under General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
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But my father was decidedly against the Cecession movment , and also opposed to slavery, he would not own a Negro, tho at this time quite a few was owned among the family but none by him, some of grandmothers fine bed clothes were stolen from her clothes line. and Liz one of the older women slaves was accused of taking the stuff, she bitterly denied the theft, but all the same every morning for some time she was made hug a post and nine hard, stinging lashes was put on her nacked back. with a gadget made for the purpose, by her master trying to make her own to taking the goods. She refused to own to it saying that her Mistress had committed the theft.
Papa stood it for a few days then he told Monroe that beating had to stop. that Sarah Monroes wlife got those things, and that he Father, had put up with this carrying on as long as he intended to. The whiping stoped and a search waa made in the home .of Monroe the goods were found wher they had been concealed by his wife Sarah. Neithe did Papa. and Monroe get along so well in their partnership in the mill business. Papa had quite a bit more custome come on his week than Monroe did on hi s week so Monroe got jelous and mad about that.
Uncle Monroe went to church and was led to seek salvation to the extent of going to the' "mourners bench so called. This he did several times. His relatives, some of them criticized him severly for not honering his infant baptism, sprinkling and forsaking his forbears, saying that their bones would turn over in their graves if they only knew how he was acting,. So he stoped his attendance at the services of Gods house and lapsed 'back into his old ha'bi ts and wicked life. He got sick later, then he promised his Maker if he would heal him. of this sickness he would serve him and lead a better life. he got well but he soon was the same in his maner of life as before. Later on he took his bed again never to arise. He said the Lord had left him and that there was no better place for him, he beged for people to pray for him, he would ask his three year old baby to pray for him, he made no distinction who it was he would beg for any and all of them to pray for him. Papa sitting near him one day. Monroe said Joe I want you to pray for me, Papa said Monroe it is to late to pray after the devil comes. Monroe was very wild in his manner, saying at times that he could see the very flames of hell ready to receive hin, and that was where he was going. He died that way.
I have given this sad circumstance as best I could as my Mother And Father gave it to me. It all hapened before I was born. His \Vife became a invalid and was for many years before her death. The oldest one of the boys Tom Weaver lived in the country for many years a respected citizen and died an old man. The youngest daughter is the only one living that I know any thing of. She is James W Bagleys wife. they live in that community Two boys Francis and La Fayette were mean beyond measure. Fayette waylaid my beloved brother, James A. "Bud" .and shot him to death without any cause. Bud and O. A. Gardner were plowing in a field of corn near the 'Public road when Fayette waylaid them and shot from the corner of the fence and killed brother dead. Gardner saw him plainly as he run from hi s hiding place. Garner was my brother in law. That wicked ---(rest of line missing).
Fayette Was aprehended in a few weeks by the civil authorites, and placed in the county jail, at Centre, Ala. A true bill charging him with murder was soon placed against him. His mother and one of his sisters went to visit him and he put on his sisters clothes and walked 'out a free man while she tarried in jail, He was never aprehended. It was thought.by our family that the jailor was paid a good sum to thus let him out. Just as they are raid now "for such work . Francis roved over much of the southwest practiceing his wickidness, after shooting Miller Force through his body. Francis was put in Jail but broke out and left the country. Force got well and after many years Francis-come back to his old home and was accused of many crimes while their. He told my mother that her card basket full of lead had been shot at him but that the lead had never been molded to kill him which was the truth for a little later on a steam boiler at a saw mill blew up over in Arkansaw and blew him into another world, also his partner and maybe some others.
I Shall now go back to my own family. Papa and mama were stout and healthy and not afraid to work. They moved into a little indian cabin on an 80 acre tract of land father baught from the United States Goverment and soon moved a hewed log house that Grandfather gave him, on the land near lasting cold spring a half mile from grandfathers. They lived in that humble home as long as father lived, about 63 years. There all my brothers and sisters fourteen, in all, were born, myself included, of course. Franklin A. is excepted 'because he was born before they moved there. He was so cripled that he should never have tried to farm but he did farm and made a hard living because of his affliction. He married at about 24 years old a neighbor girl named Christeen Murphy, daughter of Gerre or Jerre and Jennie Murphy. Chris died some 30 years ago Frank lived to be nearly 90 years old. He died about six years ago. They had five children, two girls and three boys, Tom and Walter, and Jennie are living, they have several children. They all live in Ga. and Ala.
Next of my sisters was Millie Adline. She married J. Thomas Pledger, a son of Ganes Pledger. They were married just at the beginning of the civil war. In four months Tom was' called to the collers of the south and fot four long years he went at the beck and call of the lost cause. One of the bedrocks of that lost Cause was Slavery as anounced by Alex. H. Stephens of Ga. vice president of the confederacy. The South had worked and slaved the 'black man for many years now the day of reconing had come The prayers of the afflicted and oppressed had, no doubt 'been heard by the God of justice, and the Lord of host was now calling to account the oppressors of the lowly defenceless. helpless African within, our domain. The Lord laid the job of freeing these helpless ,ignorant slaves en a man who was born. not in a palace, not in affluance but in obscurity, in a hovel, in poverty and unknown, Abraham Lincoln'. Who was ready to 'Put the whole power of the United States in action to bring freedom and liberty to every man and woman in America be he white or black. When the Lord sets out to do a job He dont fail! The South was reeked, the negros were set free and the South has never recovered from the destruction visited on her 'because of her folly and oppression. Has Egypt ever recovered from. her oppression of the Jews? That once proud nation that stood at the head of all the natioms of her time was wiped almost off the map from which Place she has never recovered. God is long suffering 'but when He strcbes forth his bare arm he executes judgment as only God can do justice. (I make refference to this as regards our own day before close this memoradom.
It was just after the Civil war that Eleathy and Geo E. 'Ned Pledger were married. They had a crowd of kids. There was Lawson, Willie, Henry. Andrew, Elizabeth, Aretta, Albert, Cleveland Lou, Octa, and Hurley. most all of them living and scattered over Texas and Okla. Most all with large families.
I Neglected to give the names of sister Millie’s children at the proper place so will give them here: The oldest was Culy, then William, Margaret., Lettie, George. Walter. Adaline, Alice and Ossie, a boy, nearly all these kids lived to marry and most of therm have large families. George Pledger married his own cousin. Bro. Franks oldest daughter. Lucy. Culy and Willie were my chums when we were children, Culy still living near Ft. Payne Ala. Her name is Mrs. Ton Keith. Willie died when about 17 years old. They live in Ga. and Ala. Sarah, or Sallie as we called her, Married O. A. Gardner, and they had a large family: Lizie, the oldest, then Louansia Della, Mattie, Julia, Arliffia. Joseph A?, George N. Mellle, Pluma, Nora, and Austin. Of these Lizie is dead, got burned to death, her clothing caught on fire from grass burning where she set it on fire. Della is dead, Mattie A widow at Ft. Worth Texas, large family both her first and second husbands' dead. The others all living with large families.
James A. "bud" Married Betty Murphy, a sister of Franks' wife, and they had three kids all boys. Jerre Farlee, John Henry and little Jimie, none now living but John, down in Texas if he is. As before stated Bud Was killed while plowing in his corn field. That was in 1816, June 9th.His widow never married any more; she loved her husband to well for that.
My mother had twins twice. One set died soon after birth and were not named. One set of twins were named Robert & Jacob. Jacob lived to about one year old when he died. Robert lived to be about nine when he died, when he died He would play he was preaching sometimes, especially after going to church and hearing the minister. One tine mama said the preachers text was "Behold - the Lamb of. God that taketh away the sin of the world" Robert would repeat that, with some little variations, and exort the other kids like he was to the manner born, But he took sore throat and from that the croup. Papa sent for the family doctor, post haist but horses and buggies were not as swift as automobiles or airplains, and Robert said to Papa, (The name we all called Father 'by) "That doctor wont get here in time to do me any good. Papa helped him up for a Iittle rest and as he laid him back on the bed he \Vas gone to "be with his Lord - It almost killed Papa: Robert was beloved of all the family. I was an infant in arms at that time.
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Loutisie Ellen the next child to me was about 'six years old when she died from. a long sickness of diabetes. I was about a year old when she died. Besides the twins, the other of the children died in infancy.
I have refered to the fact of Papa going to the army and serving as a soldier in the Confederacy of the south, because he lived in the south. Tho he was against slavery and against secession, bitterly, yet he, like : General Robert E. Lee \would not desert his country and take up arms against his home, his state, , his children. And so he .enlisted in the service o f his state. While he was in the service he did not know it if he killed a man. He never got a. scratch. :but one day he come home on furlo and there happened to be some horse thievs in that community, so two of them called on him next morning for no less purpose than to take hi s horse
He told them no they could not get his horse. the spokesman said they were pressing horses for the army. Papa said he would like to see your authority for w!ha t you say, knowing full well that he was lying. The rober produced a longhand writting to show his authority, Papa said I worked at 'Pressing horses a little myself and commission was in print. I will just show you my papers they are here in the house. Papa steped in the house and come out with his army rifle in his hand. The rober cursed. him and threw his pistol in Papas face telling him he would blow his heart out out of him accompanying his threat with 'bitter oaths ,at the same time snaping his pistol in Papas face twice at close range. He then wheeled his horse to run then papa caught him with a minnie ball just above the hip and out about half way between a point of neck and shoulder, killing him instantly.
He not only did not get Papas horse but lost his horse his fire aims and worse still his life. Papa had placed his pistols handy and when his gun was-empty he run back in the house for one of them. He got the and come out the back way to look after the other rober. One charge in the cilinder had been shot out and the gun was self action so when he come face to face with the second man he cocked his gun with his hand and snaped on an empty barrel. But he charged on toward the fellow and he took to his heels and the woods There was fifteen of those robers in the country Some of them called to get their dead comrad a few hours later.
An old lady in the community. Mrs. Foster had come to assist my mother in any way she could and when these outlaws come after their man they threw him across a horse to go somewhere with him, Mrs. Foster critacised them for being so brutish, then they took him. off the horse and told mother she must have him burried by a certain time or they would burn her house and all its contents. My sister drove an ox team and hauled the dead man to Hill Creek cemetary where a-few old men dug a hole for a. grave. They laid plank on the 'bottom of the grave and set plank on the side and then laid some on top of the dead body, Old Uncle Oburn Golightly got on these top plank with his feet, some someone objected to that indignity . Well Uncle Ogburn said if had doing the right thing he would not be here, So the covered him up and "Left him alone in his glory.
That bunch of' outlaws calling themselvesTexas Rangers robed and. pillaged the country for several days looking all the while for papa; but he was sick and not able to give them battle. had he 'been well he said he would he would have give them some trouble. pretty soon our boys were coming on through these parts retreating after the battle of Chicamagua and these Texans had business in other parts of the country. Mother said our own soldiers treated her worse than the yankeys, because they said the yanks would clea:n up the country when they come thru, which was afact, but our men paid for the stuff they took in Confederate money, while the northan soldiers offered to pay in greenback. Greenback was no good at that tine in Alabana so she took the confederate money, and it took $50 of it to get one bunch of thread of five pounds.
One old lady at Gaylesville where Shurman camped for ten days, went to General Sherman and asked him to leave a little something for the women and children to eat after he was gone; he replied madam when I leave here a crow will have to take his dinner with him if he flies across this country. They cleaned that country of food till starvation was starring every body in the face. My mother kept two milch cows in the yard and carried feed from the field for them to eat such as foder and any roufage she cold pick up. The corn was taken by the soldiers. She cooked turnip greens in water- for the children to eat.. A little corn would come to the mill and some wheat, that kept bread in the cupbord . She had an officer detailed to stay in her yard and make the soldiers keep their hands off of things in and about the house.
Such is the horrows of war, tho I have drawn a very faint picture of its effects yet to those who passed through it was awful and they never want to see an other. One day during the war, Papa and two men were standing near the mill talking they were on horses, when Cicero Acrage, one of Papa friends was seen coming across the creek at the ford, Acrage had said he would kill any man that stold his horse if he could come up with him. He had said these two men had got his horse. When he rode up to where they were he commenced cursing them, telling them they were the thieves who had stole his horse, drawing his pistol at the same time and shot them both down. One of the men died instantly, the other lived a few hours and died.
About that time a spy stoped at Mrs. Pitts home, near by, and got in her bed for a nap of sleep Captain Edwards was notified of the fact and he went after the stranger who claimed to be a southern soldier Edwards took him off with him as they road along the road. Near Papa home the spy shot Edwards and escped. Edwards died ---- ( Last line missing)
So Dutch Cove might be accuse of being "Dead mens Cove" there having been at least eight men killed within two miles in just a few years, some of the names I have given but not all, so I shall here give the names as far as I can: First Uncle Ambrose. "Krup" Weaver, Then Jones the Texan who my father, killed, the two C, Acrage killed, one named Sales, the other Jon, And Captain Edwards, killed by the spy. Then my brother James A. "Bud" Weaver, And a man named Bogus, thought to have been killed by Francis Weave. And another old gentleman named Oglesby, killed by Joe Allen, A Desparado.
After the Civil war was over and the soldiers come home they found the country striped in these 'Parts- by Shurrman' s march to the sea., a division of his forces having camped at Gaylesville, Ala. for ten days. Hardly a horse left nor but few very few cows, nor hogs neither any chickens to speak of in fact w'hen mother Hubbhard went to the cubbard to get. her poor dog a bone She found the cubbard was bare, so the poor dog got none. That was the case with more animals besides the dog. General William Tecumsia. Sherman had made good his threat to Mrs. Smyer about a crow would have to take its dinner along if it undertook to cross that teritory after he got through with it. That my dear readers is one of the main reasons the southerners hate the northerners with such consuming hatred. And it has caused t: the south to vote the democratic ticket regardless of who was on the ticket or who was on the other side. So we have remained in the place of a step child for all these years and doubtless will for many years to come.
LET me digress here and say a few words on the condition of the South and why it is so situated: before the civil war the negro slaves did most all the farm work except what was done by the Poor white trash" as the non slave owners who were tenants were called, but the negro was fed and clothed and 'cared for When he was sick. That expense was all the landed gentry was out. In the main, the south was proposeing to get rich growing cotton by slave labor the war bankrupted her. Since the war she have been trying to trying to rehabilitate by growing cotton and buying her food from the nortb and west and she has grown worse in debt year by year.
Small farmers are being sold out and becoming tenants. or going to the large centers and working at public works. Nearos, men women and children are growing cotton and getting a bare living of ruff food poor clothing and but little medical attention, living from hand to mouth year in and year out. 'Big land owmers are useing more machinery and less labor. And labor is out hunting a job! Our foreign markets for cotton has been lost, largly, and just what the outcome will be is hard to visualize. You can speculate if you want to. Let this be known however, that the wealthy landowners are still getting more and more of the 'best lands and the comon laboring man is getting more dependant all the time. A mighty turning to God is the best answer I know.
Probly I have digressed here more than I should, anyway I shall now go back to family affairs: I, Joseph H .Weaver come next in order of father & mothers children. I \vas born March the 12th 1867 in Dutch Cove where all their children were born, the peach trees were in full bloom. How do I know Just like 1 know every, thing el se I have heretofore written in this “brief” Been told of course.
The first thing I remember was when I was about forty three Months old, three years and seven mouths old, my youngest brother Henry E. Weaver was 'born. That made four in our family, four yes Papa ,Mama Henry and myself How come? Well you see the older children had all married or had died ,before Henry was born. James A. “Bud" the last to marry before Henry was 'born, was Married in the month of Aug. 1870, and Henry was born Oct. 5th, 1870. So we grew up together. I being the older always till I got grown, the largest. The only licking; my father ever give me, that I remember \Vas for not putting the harness on the mule for Henry gave me three licks with a hickory probably I should have had more When Henry was a 'baby and 'Put in the cradle and I was set to care "for him, while mama was doing her work, then is when I said I would never kiss another woman for a baby, as I was induced to do, the night he was born.
Mrs. Thompson told me if I would kiss her she would give me a baby, I did and then they set me up in a chair and laid a little baby in my lap. That was Henry. Ther was two things I always hated to do, one was to rock a crdle with a baby in it:; the other was to churn in an old fassioned churn. I think I have never seen a BOY who liked to do either for hours at a. time. I’d rock for awhile but when I Id get very tired and Henry crying about something unknown to me I'd give the cradle a few hard rocks and cry if you want to I’m not going to rock all day and then you wont go to sleep. and I’d go on out to play. That is the way mama said I’d do. I remember very little about it. I believe the "baby cradle has largly "been doneaeawa; with, and it should be if it is not. No little infant should be forced to lie in rocking machine and tortued by rocking it to and froe for hours at a time every day . Thats me
Well the years drug by oh, so slow it seemed for my first 15 years after I got to noticeing the calander for it looked like Christmas would never get here, that was when I was young Ah, woeful when what a change twixt now and then. I started to my first school when about ten years old, to Mrs."Molly" Henderson, in uncle Ogburn Golightly’s home near Mill Creek church, almost a mile and a half from our home, Three months was about all the long the school lasted then. Henry went about the second year that I went. The school age then cmmenced at seven. we drug alone working on the farm what we could helping papa to make a living and going to school about three months in the year. Some of my school mates were: J. Robt. Henderson, one of. the wealthiest Men in Cherokee county, Ala. now, and John & Riley Pevey John and Ganes Henderson, Joe Golightly, Lou and Pat Bell, Laura & May Bell, Mattie and Dosia Comer. Later on I went to other schools which I may refer to at a more opertune time.
I WILL now return to the time ,while grandfather Weaver was yet living. Ther was a Presbyterian preacher come into the community and come to grandfathers home. Papa wanted mother to besprinkled 'by this preacher, 'but she refused, however she consented to see the preacher so they walke over to grandfathers and. on the way they met the preacher. Mama said she had iust as soon seen the devil coming as him. He asked her if she did not want to be baptized she said no sir I do not I am not fit to join any church. She said she had rather dance than go to meetings. Papa Had "brother Frank sprinkled, he was an infant in arms Mother danced on when decent people had a dance at Uncle Robert Cameron’s. I 'belie she said she never was at a dance at any other place.
But she said she loved the fiddle to the point of worshiping the thing together with the music. She kept that up til she was about 23 years old or it may have been later I am not sure. Anyway after her conversion the dancing business was all over with. One of her little infants who was never named, was 'born and mother' was very near death as she thought she had "been reading the Bible and she has told me many the time the tears would. dim her eyes so she could not see to go on till she wiped the water out of her eyes, the word of God condemed her so severly for her manner of life, that she wept over her condition. That night after the little baby came she was left to he self and the baby and her God, Hot rocks were at her feet still she was suffering in mind and body but most of all in spirit. While on her lips and in her heart she was praying as best she could and the last thing she remembered saying was God be mercyful to me a siner The next she. Knew was she was perfectly easy in body and contented and happy in her soul. She called to papa to know where the baby was. Thinking probly grandmother Kimbell had took it to her bed . they found the baby cramed against one of the hot rocks at the foot of the bed. They attended to the little infant and put it in mothers arms then ask her what else do you want? She said I don’t what a thing except to hear you all sing and pray. Papa replied it is nothing but contraryness of you, you don' want any body to sleep. She said that did not ,hurt her feeling one bit. Papa went back to bed grandma. Kimbell remained up the rest of the night. Mother said she was contented and very happy in her feelings and as ready to go to meet her Lord as she ever expects to be but that gracious event was not to be now, but she was to get well and up from this bed and live a long and useful christian life.
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A little later a protracted meeting was being held near her home. Doubts had come into her mind as to wheather her experience was a real conversion or just a. happy trasitory state of feeling. 'In the meantime she read her Bible and talked much to her Lord about the matter. Then at this meeting above refered to she attended, at mill creek church, She went to a grove meeting held by the women and when she heard them singing and praying and telling of there experiances She was, moved to express her love for her Lord openly and boldly praising his blessed name in shoutings that could be appreciated "by her' friends as coming- frorm cincere and loving heart of child of God.
After this happy experiance mother asked her husband, my father, if she might join the church and be baptised. He said No, you may go to the Presbyterian church and be sprinkled, saying futher that he had been sprinkled and that he was as good as any body. No sir! We will have nothing to do with this gang they call Baptist. Burrying people in the water, it dont look altogether decent to me. All right Mother replied I shall rermain as I am, I can not be sprikled for baptism. My bible tells about where Jesus my Lord was baptised in the river of Jordon by John the Baptist, and that he corne strghtway out of the water, but dont say a "thing about John sprinkling any body nor the apostles, but where there was any baptiseing done it was like a buriel, only in water, instead of in the ground. No if I cant do as I wish in this matter I will just stay like I am.
This set papa to thinking and reading a little bit, but he lent very Much to the idea that every body would be saved, because the Creator willeth not the death of anyone. And Jesus Christ tasted death for every man. In other words he wanted to be a universalist and read the Bible to prove that doctrine was right and not to find out first hand what the Bible realy taught mans duty to his maker was. He was very much troubled about his refusal to let mother be baptised. So after a few months time he thought to get rid of that load he would give his consent to her request, and that, he thought, would give him relief.
So one day he told her that if nothing else would satisfy her she might go ahead and join the Baptist and be baptised. At the first opertunity she asked for membership at Sardis, or as it was first called old Walnut Grove, where the Baptist and Presbyterians both held their meetings. The building was near Prices' 'bridge, not then built, across Chattooga river. Preacher Newton. I think it was, baptised her. When papa saw her "buried with her Lord in baptism and raised to walalk in newness of lif a massage come to his soul in a whisper "Now she is baptised where do you stand"? Instead of being set free from his burdensome load it was now more heavy than before. Where do you stand? rang in his mind on and on. Back to his BibIe once more to prove that all men would finaly be saved.
One day he come to this -passage mathew 22 C. II-I 4 verse."And when the king came in to see the guest, he Saw there a man which had ,not on a wedding garment and he sayeth unto him, Friend. how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. That settled it with him, every body would not 'he saved under those terms. And he had to acknoledge to himself that he was one of people who did not have a robe of righteousness, as refered to in another place in the bible. By reading the Bible his troubles got worse and worse. finally one night he told mama that he was in very bad shape and he believed ------ (last line missing)
Finally in his restlessness, weary of body and mind he went to the bed and lay down and prayed , he rolled over and turned his face to the wall. He remained in that -position only a short. time, till he turned and got off the bed raiseing his voice to high tone praiseing GOD and shouting the tryumphant rejoicing of a redeemed soul, who had been translated into the marvelous light and liberty of salvation by the washing of regeneration in the blood of Jesus Christ his Lord. Mama said she could hardly keep him at home, tho it was in the night time. He wanted to go to his folks, brothers and other kindred and friends, and tell them of the love of God, and beg them to seek salvation in Jesus Christ his Lord. Some of them listened to him, others were cold and indifferant.
He soon joined the church at old Walnut Grove later Sardis, where mother had joined only a few months 'before. Be it said Their honor and faithfulness, like Christiana, in Pilgrims Progress, she carried her children with her All my fathers children who lived to be grown made prfession of faith and joined a baptist church, all Sardis ,except Henry the youngest child" he joined Rock Hill baptist church near our hone in Ala. Rock Hill had been organised in 1883 with about thirty members, coming mosty from Sardis and Mount Bethel churches, as soon as the church was orgarized and ready for business, O. A. Gardner, my brother in law was licensed to preach the gospel. And some time later he was ordained to the full work of the ministry, all by the church with the help of an invited councell of ministers. George W. Wilcox, our pastor, and J. M. B. Greshem and J. N. Webb composed the councel.
As previously indicated. Sardis chuch building was arrainged for and place located soon after father and mother united with the church; I believe it was about the year 1853 or maybe 1855, I am not sure about this date. One of the Price famlily, a woman. Gave the church a plot of land for a building site, on a little knole where the water runs away from the house on all sides. It was claimed that uncle Jackie Johnston would pass the “building and never look towards the house. So opposed was he to the _dmitte people . The Presbyterian church where he belonged had their house of worship just up the road about one quarter mile from Sardis. Which bore the name of Walnut Grove; tho it was not at the same location as old Walnut Grove.
May I mention here that one of uncle Jackies’ sons , Scott Johnston was a very fine preacher . I have heard_ him preach in Sardis church many a time, however he was a presbyterain. Rev. G. W. Wilcox and Scott Johnston carried on the –protracted meeting at Sardis in August 1882. Brother J. Hasseltine Glazner, the pastor of the church was detained at his home at Broomtown Ala. On account of the illness of his ‘wife, who died during that week and was buried on Saturday, “before the meeting closed, on the next day Sunday, as I remember it. And I was baptized that Sunday along with about thirty others who had joined the church during the meeting. Brother Glazner did the baptiseing. Among those baptised I can name only a few: Tabitha Adams A daughter of aunt Alcey’ Adams, Grandmother Kimbell’s sister, ,Wesley Edgeworth, two of my nieces Culy and Margurett Pledger, Robert and Dallas Lee, uncles of Senitor Josh Lee of Okla.
posibly I should state here that papa along with Uncle Elijah Adams were soon elected deacons in the church, after papa joined. Uncle Elijah was the husband of aunt Julian Adams who was the main leader in the church for some years. Both lived to be very old. Brother Glazner was pastor at Sardis from about the close the civil war till about the year 1686 or for about twenty years, when he resigned and move to Riseing Fawn Ga. After a. few years there he went as pastor, to Gadsden, Ala. For a few more years then he come back to Lyerly Ga. And preached to the church there and to Sardis till his death. He dropt dead in the church building at Lyerly about 1904. He died August 8 1904
I do not feel called upon in this account to say very much concerning myself, yet to be honest with my own children and grand children I shall give a brief account of my own activities as I come in contact with real life as I ploded along its realities: My life was much like other boys in our neighborhood, hard work and some play. We farmed for a living, some of the land was smothe and leavel, other ‘Parts was rough and rockey, none of it was any to strong. We used much fertilizer for producing our crops, such as corn, cotton some wheat and oats, many sorts of vegetables and fruit I made a. hand in the field as soon as I could do any good at it, helping my father cultivate and gather the crops.
I was sent to school at about ten years old for MY first time; that lasted for about three months, till next winter another three months. Our school system was indeed poor, but I liked to go to schooI and I thought much of my teacher, Mrs. Molly Henderson. When I was about sixteen years old I was sent to Broomtown about four miles from home; sometimes I would ride horse back, “but some of the time I would stay at Dr. and Mrs. Shamblins, and help do the work about the house, night and morning for my board. I tried to make myself handy about the milking and feeding and making fires and the like.
I thought very much of Mrs. Shamblin I even named my silkened haired hound puppy after her shepard, Lola. Dr. Shmblin had two boys, John L. and Arthur c. Both were in school with me both made medical doctors John liked his dram of liquor, which at the last stung like an adder. He died in middle life said to have been a victim of strong drink. I am not informed as to Arthur wheather he is still living or not; the old Dr. and Mrs. Shamblin have ‘Passed to the beyond many years ago; .
Later on went to school at Walnut Grove up in Ga. First to Prof. Milton Maroney for several months. Then to Prof William Doster for about two terms. That school did me more. Good than any I have yet attended I was older and could do more and better work. About my last school work at Prof. Dostere school, I was 22 years old. I had very little money or any way to make more, except hard phisical; labor on my fathers farm, however at age of 20 l went up into Tenn. To visit my sister Leathy and her family about one hundred miles from my home, and thought I was stepping out some. That was in March I went back home in July and Lawson, sisters eldest boy went home with me, then we ‘both went to school to Doster, had to walk only four miles.
One Sunday over at mill Creek church I met as I thought a very ‘beautiful and winsome young lady, and we shook hands, just in front of the pull pit with the formality of an introduction. We had ‘both lived all our lives in a. few miles of each other, but had never been thrown together or got acquainted. But from that day on we were very much acquainted. Her name was Haynie E. Ball I went down to call on her a few times and concluded she was not careing very much for me and should try some other plan to win her, if I ever turned that Trick, so I left off my attentions ,to her and paid court to whom ever come handy playing that sort of game for some three or four months.
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In the meantime steping out in some bright new clothes that cost more than I was really able to pay, I would speak to Haynie on meeting her and treat her with all due respect but would not dare ask for a date, or the privalige to call. I was just cold to the point of indifference. The Fifth Sunday in June a Convention of church workers were held at Rook Hill, our church, and Haynie and her fathers family come to the meeting I showed her due courtesy, but still associated with other girls, however, before she left for her home I hinted I would be pleased to call some time soon if that would be all right. She said it certainly would be all right. So I called, and called again, and again, till later on some six or eight months, I went for one term, not a full course, to Howard College, at Birmingham Ala.. This I should never have done, being to poor to complete the’ course.
However I accuired much knowledge while I was there During my stay at Howard, The southern Baptist Convention met at Birmingham and 1 got to see several of our noted Baptist leaders who were there. Among them was Dr. John A. Broadus, James P. Boyce. Carter Helm Jones and his aged father, who sat near his son Carter while the young son preached The Convention sermond, And Dr. J .D. Hawthorn, who was pastor of Atlanta, Ga. First church for many years, and by the way one of the finest looking men I have ever known; and the noted Spaniard, Dias, who was for a time a great leader in Havana Cuba., and very many other great men in our denomination at that time. That was in 1891.
I come home at the close of the school in June broke, yes worse than broke, out of money and in debt. Now before going to college, in the fall of the year, in Oct. 1890 to ‘be more acurate, one Sunday Haynie and sorne girl friend come over the ridge from Mill Creek church to Rock Hill, after their Sunday school meeting, and they went over to our home for dinner. I walked back to the church with Haynie, only about one quarter of a mile. And as we talked of’ our feelings and ambisions, she admited that she loved me like a ‘brother if she had one. That was what I had been wanting to hear for many months. That evening at her home she gave me her hand, her heart and her promis to be my wife . It was more than a year after’ that that we set a. date to be our wedding day. I had been away to school and we had been together many very many times and gotten use to one another but I had never kissed her lips in my Iife. About two or three weeks before we. Expected to get married I said to her, Haynie If you wish now to call it all off you have that privalige, you know me now better than you did a year ago so I shall grant you the right and you may act in the matter as you wish at this time. However, explaining to her that It ‘would about kill me if she cut it all out. She said she did not want to change our agreement, ‘but was willing and ready to carry out the agreement and become my wife. So that is just what happened on December the 20th, I891.
We have had our ups and downs. We have reared all the children the Lord gave us and they all have their own families. But before I refer futher to my own family I wish to tell you what I can about Haynies family:
George M. Ball was born on August 18th, I845 either in South Carolina, or Ga. His father's name was Rubin Ball. The family came from Spartanburg S. C. when Geo. M. was about 18 yeas old he went .to war in the service of the confederate states. He could have kept out of the service on account of his weight . He was vers small man and very young looking. But he prefered to fight with Stonewall Jackson and Robelrt E. Lee for his old native south than to counted a slacker so he went as a volenteer. After he han been in the service some two years he was wounded which made him a crpple the rest of his life. when he was released from the hospital, he went to his cousins Miss Josie balls in S. C" near Spartanburg. and stayed there till the surrender. Then he come to his old home in Chattooga. County Ga. He soon met Miss Amanda Willcox, whose people lived near Gaylesville Ala They were married sometime in August 1869. They had two children Haynie E. and Luna Juaneta.
MRS Balls people the Wilcox family were old settlers in that country and good citizens, well
respected. They like most of .the older settIers are all gone now. Mother Amandia Balls fathers name was John his Brothers name was Hiram. I knew them both. Father Ball was a good liver had a nice home and out of debt when Haynie and I were married, yet he 'He was a cripple. He died when about 57 years old in 1900. Mother Ball was killed in a cyclone March 1913. Also one of Juanetas little 'boys was killed at the same' time. Juaneta. married Walter H. Stancell in 1900, some time after father Ball died, and she still lives at the old home place with some of her children Stanncell droped dead last year in 1937. Neta as we all call her is at this writting' in very poor health. .
I asked, father and mother before Haynie and I were married ifg we might come and live with them, that was in the same old home where I was born and reared. They both said yes I was welcome to make theirs my home. 'l'his we did for several months. But Haynie become restless and anxious to get into our own living quarters. So we moved out into a. little log ca.b1n near the old home on the same farm owned by 'Papa for many years. On October the 19th, our first child was born, we named her Willie Estella, this was 1892. After making our next crop here with papa and Henry, my younger brother, we moved down to father Balls' farm and made one crop there. I had a good crop of cotton but not much corn. Cotton Cotton went down that year to as little as five cents a pound so in money values it was very little that I realize out of my years labor. I had wanted to go to Texas for several years and test out the west, so I thought it a good time to go. In the meantime we had our first born son to come to live with us on April 22nd, 1894. We called him Raleigh Knox. I was very proud of my boy, and loved him like my own body. .
Well in December, of that year we moved to the west; to Fort Worth, Tex When we started from home I was so overcome by the grief it was giving our folks that if could have chainged our plans and not have gone without showing cowardice, 1 would have done so. It is terable to tear loose from your loved ones when they are grief stricken and weeping on your neck because of the seperation you are bringing about. Certainly at the last I did not want to go, but we went on.
J. Milton Toles, living with his second wife, who was Dock C Jones 'widow, they live at Broomtown, Ala. and Bill Battles, was on their way to Texas with us. Battles has been dead several years. We landed at Fort Worth just at Christmas, and I had about $25.00 and a few household goods. Times were hard enough at best and .with little money and no job, every thing looked bad enough. I met an old Gentleman named Beal who lived out some two miles from town. He invited me to go out to his place for s. few days till I could look around. We accepted his invitation with many thanks, After about a wees stay there I got work on a fruit farm with a man named Crossling at $25.a month. 1 had to rent a house to live in and :buy a. new pieces of furniture so we could sorter keep house. I rented a three room .little 'house from a Mr.Shelton. I did not work for Crosslin long. he was short on money, but I took work with Mr. Shelton at $20. a month and did not have to 'Pay house rent. I held. that job till we left there for our old home in Ala. Some four months later.
Haynie never was satisfied a. day while we lived in Texas. Her people drew her, with cords of lovee towards Ala. And I had a a sensation not unlike hers. So back to our native land we went, howeverI could 'Promlis myself very little in the rnatter of ever accumulating any property above a common living.
We were welcomed home as most all young people Are, under similar circumstances and we lived tlhere with my father and mothelr as long as he lived. Papa deeded me and Henry his farm with the consideration that we take care of him and mother during their natural lives, pay his just debts and give them decant burials. This we tried to do, 1 built an addition to the old homle and we got on very well. Papa lived till March 5th I905, when he died
Our other children were all born there: Forrest a very active little seven pound boy, on May 7th 1896. Next was Ann come to be with us on June the 9th 1898. I thought she was one 0f the most beautiful babies I ever saw, and 1 never have changed my mind either, her hair was real black and she was fair John T. came along on time Sept 19 th, 1900. I wanted to call him. McKinley after our noble president, later martered, Haynie would not agree, so no no name was written in the Bible till after Theodore Roosevelt become :president, then we compromised on his name, John Theodore, and called for short Teddy. l like many calledd the president. Elbert Ball, was a little late in getting here, December 30.th. 1902; if he ha put it off two more days he would have been soon. Then Joseph Franklin. .June 5th,1905. Pendleton Graves. September 22.1907.
