Sunday, August 26, 2018

Forget Me Not: William Jackson Fortenberry, 1928 MS

William Jackson Fortenberry
5 December 1853 MS – 3 March 1928 MS

Son of Burrell T. Fortenberry & Eliza Jane Ellzey
Husband of Canolia A. Simmons



Photograph from Find A Grave
Memorial #40876341


W. J. Fortenberry Died Saturday. 
Former Pike County Man Buried at Magnolia
Monday – End Came at Hospital at Jackson

William J. Fortenberry, a former resident of Smithburg, was buried at Magnolia Monday morning at ten o’clock. His death occurred in a Jackson hospital Saturday afternoon. The Rev. Mr. Lane of McComb, the Rev. Mr. Gunn of Osyka and the Rev. Mr. Davis of Tylertown conducted the services. 

Mr. Fortenberry was a member of the Baptist Church, a devoutly religious man of high ideals and principals. He was at one time a member of the Pike County Board of Supervisors. At the time of his death he was 74 years old.

He is survived by seven sons and four daughters. The sons are: W. [Jimmie Wanzie?] Fortenberry of Jackson, F. E. [Ferman Esco] Fortenberry of Osyka, E. V. [Victor Eurel] Fortenberry of Monticello, Dr. A. J. [Andrew Jackson] Fortenberry of Natchez, S. D. [Burrell Sheldon?] Fortenberry of Atlanta, and C. L. [Charlie Lane] Fortenberry of Monticello [not listed, Henry Glen Fortenberry] The daughters are: Mrs. O. L. Summers of Greenville, Mrs. J. C. Denman of Franklin, La., Mrs. A. M. Doods of Jackson, Miss., and Mrs. Henry Steinbemer of Little Rock, Arkansas.

The body will be sent from the Tom E. Taylor Funeral Home this morning to Magnolia, where funeral and internment will be held at 10 o’clock. Rev. Gunn officiating from the Baptist Church, assisted by Rev. Lane and Rev. Davis.

[Notes in green are mine.]

Source: W. J. Fortenberry Died Saturday (McComb, MS: Semi-Weekly Journal, 7 Mar 1928) 1; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed July 2018.

The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, MS, 4 March 1928 also lists the sons but includes G. H. Fortenberry of Natchez.

Note: I have theses daughters: Lelia Pauline Fortenberry, Myrtis Jane Elizabeth Fortenberry, Sarah Louise Fortenberry and Mittie Terell Fortenberry.  If you can match those names to the married names above I'd like to hear from you!






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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Book Report: Everyday Life in the 1800s

Everyday Life in the 1800s: 

A Guide for Writers, Students & Historians

Marc McCutcheon
OH: Writer’s Digest Books, 2001



Chapter 1. Slang and Everyday Speech
Chapter 2. Getting Around
Chapter 3. Around the House
Chapter 4. Clothing and Fashion
Chapter 5. Occupations
Chapter 6. Money and Coinage
Chapter 7. Health, Medicine and Hygiene
Chapter 8. Food, Drink and Tobacco
Chapter 9. Amusements
Chapter 10. Courtship and Marriage
Chapter 11. Slavery and Black Plantation Culture
Chapter 12. The Civil War
Chapter 13. Out on the Range
Chapter 14. Crime


This is a lively reference book on everyday life in the nineteenth century. The details from this book can add “color, depth and realism to any fiction (or nonfiction) setting”. These details of the lives of our ancestors can certainly bring our family histories to life.

The chapter on Money and Coinage, for example, is very interesting. In the early 1800s the coins in circulation in America included: Russian kopecks, Dutch rix-dollars, French and English coins, silver dollars from Mexico and South America. Both cents and shillings were used. It was a confusing mess until 1857 when the government banned all foreign coins. In rural areas, however, many people spent their lives without ever holding any coins at all. They traded rather than sold items.


Are you familiar with these terms related to nineteenth century money?

Bit                               one-eighth of a dollar
Coppers                      slang for cents
Eagle                           a ten dollar gold piece
Half cent                     a unpopular copper coin issued from 1793-1857
Half dime                   a small silver coin issued from 1800-1805
Medio                         the Spanish half-reale; also known as fip, picayune or six-pence
Pocket full of rocks    having plenty of money
Slug                             a fifty-dollar gold piece, most widely used in CA
Two-cent piece          bronze coin issued 1864-1873; first coin with “In God We Trust”        


I am enjoying reading this book and incorporating many of its details in my writing. You might enjoy it too.


MY LIBRARY


At the top of this blog, click on My Library for many more books that I have found useful for genealogical & historical research.



Sunday, August 19, 2018

Forget Me Not: Sarah Fortenberry Smith, 1943 MS

Sarah Fortenberry Smith
4 May 1892 – 6 Dec 1943

Daughter of: Jesse Crawford Fortenberry & Susan A. Ryals
Wife of: Marshall E. Smith
My 2ndcousin, 3x removed



Photograph from Find A Grave
Memorial #93459874


Mrs. Marshall E. Smith Dies. Deceased Was Sister of Mrs. Hobgood, Mrs. McDaniel, and Essley Fortenberry. Sympathy is being extended to Mrs. W. O. Hobgood and Mrs. Lewis O. McDanieland Essley Fortenberry of McComb in the loss of their sister, Mrs. Marshall E. Smith, 51 years of age, who passed away Monday at King’s Daughters’ Hospital at Brookhaven. 

Following services conducted by the Rev. James L. Sullivan, pastor of the First Baptist church of Brookhaven, at 11:30 o’clock Tuesday at the Smith home in Brookhaven the body was taken to Mrs. Smith’s home six miles southeast of Tylertown for internment in the Fortenberry family cemetery. She was the former Sarah Fortenberry.

For several years her husband served as a highway patrolman in this section and is now associated with he OPA as an investigator, working with Jackson and Brookhaven as headquarters. 

Surviving Mrs. Smith are her husband, Marshall E. Smith; a son, Billy Fortenberry Smith, serving overseas with Marine Corps.; three sisters, Mrs. W. O. [Dixie] Hobgood, Mrs. Lewis O. [Nell] McDaniel, McComb; Mrs. Warren E. [Ruby] Woods, Tylertown, and five brothers, John C. Fortenberry, Willis F. Fortenberry, George W. Fortenberry, and Easley Fortenberry, all of Tylertown and Essley Fortenberry, of  McComb. [1900 Census shows two sons named Easley.]

Source: Mrs. Marshall E. Smith Dies (McComb, MS: Enterprise-Journal, 9 Dec 1943) 1; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed July 2018.

[Notes in green are mine.]





Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Fortenberry: Furlough & Marriage, 1945 MS


Weldon W. Fortenberry
b c 1920
Son of Willis Franklin Fortenberry



Sgt. Weldon W. Fortenberry Back From Pacific Area

Progress, Jan. 19-Sgt. Weldon W. Fortenberry of the Fifth Air Force arrived home Monday to spend a 20-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Fortenberry. Sergeant Fortenberry has been stationed in the Southwest Pacific for the past three years. Upon the expiration of his leave he will report to Miami, Florida, for further instructions.


Source: Sgt. Weldon W. Fortenberry Back From Pacific Area (McComb, MS: Enterprise-Journal, 22 Jan 1945) 5; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed July 2018.






Malissia Dunn Bride of Sergeant Weldon Fortenberry

Progress. Feb. 2. A wedding of much interest in Progress and in surrounding communities as that of Miss Malissia Dunn, of Bude, Miss., to Sgt. Weldon W. Fortenberry.  The double ring ceremony was said briefly and impressively at the First Baptist parsonage Saturday, January 27 at 6:30 o’clock in the evening, with the Rev. Wyatt R. Hunter officiating. Attendants were Mrs. M. H. Blackwell of McComb, sister of the bride and Miss Pansy Fortenberry, sister of the bridegroom. The bride was lovely in a becoming white wool frock with which she wore black accessories. 

Mrs. Fortenberry is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Dunn of Bude, Miss., and has been employed at the Gulf States Utilities in Baton Rouge during the past eighteen months.

Sgt. Fortenberry is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Fortenberry of Progress, is now enjoying  furlough home after serving for three years in the South Pacific. 

After his furlough he couple will go to Miami, Florida, where Sgt. Fortenberry will be given a new assignment.



Source: Malissia Dunn Bride of Sergeant Weldon Fortenberry (McComb, MS: Enterprise-Journal, 2 Feb 1945) 6; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed July 2018.




Sunday, August 12, 2018

Forget Me Not: Jesse D. Brumfield, 1935 MS



Jesse Davis Brumfield

1877-1935
Son of Willis Nathaniel Brumfield & Nance Haley
My 1st Cousin 4x removed


Jesse D. Brumfield Dies at his Home in Mesa Community


Tylertown. Funeral services were held for Jesse D. Brumfield, who died at his home in Messa Community, with the Rev. V. C. Walker and Tylertown Blue Lodge Masons conducting the services. Interment was made in the Burkhalter cemetery.  Mr. Brumfield, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Willie Brumfield, is survived by his wife; four daughters, Mrs. Percy Fortenberry, Misses Tillie Belle, Emma and Rosa Brumfield; two sons, Hiram and Howard Brumfield; two brothers, John and Henry Brumfield, and one sister, Mrs. James O’Quinn. He was a member of the Centerville Baptist church and had lived a good Christian life. He was married in 1901 to Miss Lutisha Estess.

Source: Jesse D. Brumfield Dies at his Home in Mesa Community (McComb, MS: Semi-Weekly Journal, 10 December 1935) 2; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed May 2018.


Photograph from Find A Grave
Memorial #89383973

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Wednesday, August 8, 2018

1948 - August 8 - 2018 70th Anniversary


My Parents'
70th Anniversary

Delbert Keith Brown 
27 July 1928 OH- 24 October 2000 NY
Son of Roy Jesse Brown & Ivy Regina Mark

&

Alberta Joy Gardner
26 March 1928 NY - 10 August 1992 NY
Daughter of Nathaniel Gardner & Helen F. Coyle




70 years ago today my parents, both 20 years old, were married. My mother said she wanted to get married in August because it was less rainy than July. She also liked the repetition of the "8s" in the date, 8/8/48.

They were married in the Rectory of the Church of the Resurrection in Germantown, NY. At that time Roman Catholics who married outside their faith were not allowed to be married in the church itself. My mother came from a long line of Irish Catholics but my father had no religious connection. My mother told me that this policy was changed soon after their wedding. Because she was married in the rectory, rather than the church, she decided to wear a hat rather than a veil.

30 years later my husband & I would be married in that little Catholic Church in Germantown.


My maternal grandfather, Nathaniel Gardner, had died in 1944. The invitation shows that my grandmother paid for the wedding & reception on her small income. My mother sewed her own wedding gown. The bill for the reception, held at the General Worth Hotel in Hudson, NY, shows that the meals were $1.75 for each guest and the cake was $14.00.



My parents took a honeymoon by driving to New York City & Washington, DC. I have letters written by my mother to her mother during the honeymoon trip. When my parents returned they lived with my grandmother until they saved up money for their own place. First they had a small apartment and later, c 1952 they bought a small house on Woods Road. The house is still in the family and my nephew & his small family live there today. It is a house full of happy memories.


1968
20th Anniversary
Del & Joy




1988
40th Wedding Anniversary,
My parents, their four children, two children in law & five grandchildren

If my parents were still with us today I could post a photograph of them with their four children, two children in law, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. I cannot do that but I can make sure all their grandchildren & great grandchildren know the stories about their lives. 



2018
The great grandchildren of Delbert K. & Alberta Joy (Gardner) Brown. 



Congratulations, Mom & Dad.
You created a wonderful living legacy that continues today & tomorrow.

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Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Civil War Veterans Reunion, 1926 MS

Annual Reunion of Civil War Veterans

I never know what I will find when I search Newspapers.com. I recently put in my Brumfield surname and a range of years. I was looking for an obituary which I did not find but I did find a dozen assorted articles that do relate to my family. This article shows that several family members were in attendance at the reunion. I had not known that a couple of these men were veterans. From here I will go to fold3 to find their service details.


My photograph from Manassas Battlefield


The annual reunion of Stockdale Camp Confederate Veterans of Pike County, was held in the city hall in McComb Wednesday, June 23, with General W. M. Wroten presiding. “Dixie” was sung by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, with the invocation by Rev. J. L. Sells. Misses Dorothy Brumfield and Nellie K. Holmes of the Children of the Confederacy, gave an exhibition of fancy dancing. Miss Mary Margaret Fugler gave a reading. The welcome address was given by Major Dean C. Holmes, who in an eloquent manner made the Boys in  Gray feel welcome to the city. P. J. Albright welcomed the visitors on behalf of the  local Sons of Veterans. Dr. W. P. Price, pastor of the Magnolia Baptist Church, responded, paying tribute to the soldiers of the South. Following this, General Wroten made general announcements and business of the camp was attended to. 

W. W. Grant, a veteran from Crystal Springs, gave some interesting incidents of the war, dealing more especially with Howard Divinity, 94 year old Negro, of Copiah County, who went through four years of war with his master. 

The veterans then assembled in the basement of the Centenary Methodist Church, where a splendid dinner was served by he local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. D. A. Brumfield, president of the local chapter, welcomed the visitors. Miss Thelma Stewart, with the Violin, accompanied by Mrs. Beverly Dickerson, entertained by music. Readings were given by Miss Sue Fay Nall and Grace Allen. Josephine Stanton, president of the state organization of Children of the Confederacy, responded to the welcome. Rev. J. H. Lane and F. D. Hewitt made brief remarks. 

Following this, the memorial service, honoring departed members, was held, with Mrs. W. T. Stuart in charge. “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” was sung by the Daughters of the Confederacy, after the invocation, by Dr. J. W. Mayfield. Bruce Benson gave a reading, “The Man We Can Never Forget,” a tribute to Woodrow Wilson.

In the absence of Mrs. Joseph C. Rankin of Gulfport, Mrs. W. T. Stuart, read the memorial address honoring the departed heroes in gray. Mrs. R. M. McEwen placed a flower in a large wreath in memory of each veteran who had died since the last reunion. Nine flowers were placed representing as many men: W. P. Andrews, Ira L. Felder, A. J. Mixon, George Stewart, John E. Carter and Henry Q. Garner of McComb; Dr. R. H. Purser, and H. H. Cutrer, of Magnolia; G. F. Cutrer, Osyka. A brief tribute to the memory of Rev. R. H. Purser, was made by Rev. J. H. Lane. The benediction by Rev. J. L. Sells closed the memorial service. 

The resolution endorsing the sale of Confederate memorial coins passed at the session one year ago was readopted. A letter was sent to the absent Rev. J. M. Hutson, as follows: “Stockdale Camp, Confederate Veterans of Pike county, in annual reunion assembled, hereby express to you our sincere regret that you are unable to be with us this day. We trust you will soon be well and about again. As our faithful chaplain, we miss your presence among us.”

In closing the reunion, General Wroten said it was one of the best meetings ever held by the camp. “It has been just like a state reunion,” said General Wroten. The Local U. D. C. and people of McComb were thanked for heir hospitality and entertainment. 

A feature of the afternoon was the presentation of a flag by the camp to Mrs. W. T. Stuart. Dr. Wroten, in making the presentation, said the camp had ordered a large flag to present to Mrs. Stuart but that it had not yet arrived. In lieu thereof he presented a small Confederate flag. 

The camp voted to send five dollars to Howard Divinity, 94-year-old Negro of Copiah County, who fought in the Confederate army and who is now blind.




Reunion Sidelights
The oldest veteran present was a visitor, Jesse K. Brumfield, of Tyler town, who is ninety years young. He was one of the most active men present. His son, C. I. Brumfield [Claude Isaac Brumield], county superintendent of education in Walthall County, was with him.

The reporter started to ask each veteran how old he was. Each one insisted on telling how young he was. The following were present: W. M. Wroten, Magnolia, 80; Joe Berryhill[Joseph W. Berryhill], Magnolia, 80; B. S. Alford [Barnabas Seaborn Alford], 83; M. M. Hart, 78; R. B. Bales, 79; John W. Gaitlin, 81; S. R. Quin, 80; all of McComb; J. H. Jones, 79; T. L. McGeehee, 80; E. A. Jarvis, 79, of Summit; J. W. Williams, 79, A. E. Spears, 81; Joseph Mixon, 83, of Osyka; N. E. Alford [Needham Edwin Alford], 80, Fernwood; R. S. Bridges, 80, Holmesville.

Source: Pike County Holds Reunion. (Jackson, MS: Daily Mississippi Clarion and Standard, 1 November 1926) 1 & 3; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed May 2018.

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