Forget Me Not: C. J. Fortenberry, 1936, MS

Calvin Jefferson Fortenberry

22 June 1865 MS – July 1936 MS

Son of George Washington Fortenberry & Emily Pittman

Husband of Lucy Stogner

My 2nd Cousin, 3x removed

Tylertown – July 15 – Funeral services for C. Jeff Fortenberry were held from the family residence by Rev. W. R. Cooper of the Tylertown Baptist Church. 

Mr. Fortenberry, who was 71 years old, ws living in Walker’s Bridge community at the time of his death.

Following the services at the family residence interment took place in the New Zion cemetery. Mr. Fortenberry having been a resident of that community for many years prior to moving to Walker’s Bridge.

He is survived by three sons, Bill, Carl L. and Tillie F. Fortenberry, and one daughter, Mrs. Lily Estess. HE is also survived by one sister, Mrs. W. D. Brumfield, and five brothers, Monroe, Charlie, Mack, Columbus and Ed Fortenberry.

C. J. Fortenberry. (Jackson, MS: Clarion-Ledger, 16 Jul 1936) 6; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed June 2020. 

October Anniversary: Seth Morrison & Margaret Gruissy; 1880 OH

Seth Benner Morrison

24 March 1861 PA – 18 April 1952 OH

Son of William Hiram Morrison & Emily Benner

Margaret Jane Gruissy

26 December 1861 OH – 8 March 1946 OH

Daughter of Augustus Ceaser Gruissy & Mary Ann Everett

Married

24 October 1880 Medina, OH; 140 years ago

Creston - Mr. and Mrs. Seth Morrison on Oct. 24 will have been married 65 years. They feel that their 65 years have been years of planning and sharing and have enjoyed their children and their families. While Oct. 24 was the date of their marriage in 1880, they will not celebrate until Sunday, Oct. 28, when a family gathering and dinner will be held at their home two and one half miles west of Creston. Open house for friends and relatives will be held Sunday 2 to 5 p. m. and 7 to 9 p. m. The Morrisons, retired farmers, came to this community in 1900 and have made many friends. They are also well known in Medina County, having lived in a farming community near LeRoy for 9 years. Mr. Morrison is 84  years and Mrs. Morrison is 83. He was the son of Hiram and Emily Benner Morrison and was born March 1861 at River Styx. His good wife was formerly Margaret Jane Gruissy, daughter of Augustus Gruisys and lived her girlhood at Marshallville. They later moved to Wadsworth where she was married to Mr. Morrison at a small wedding in her parent's home with the Rev. G. Smith officiating. Little sorrow has come into the lives of the Morrisons, they had eight children, all living. They are Mrs. Mona Hurd, of Sonia, Mich., Mrs. Lena Swagler, Wadsworth, Mrs. Gusta Peters, Ithaca, Mich., Albert Morrison of Creston, Paul Morrison of Middletown, Mrs. Pauline Mowrer, Clifford Morrison of Akron, There are 31 grandchildren and 35 great - grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison feel it's a great blessing never to have a break in their family circle. Friends wishing to send cards should address them to Creston, Rt. 1. 

Source: "Morrisons Married 65 Years Ago." Unknown newspaper clipping, 1945. Copy from Sharon Ambrose, Ohio. 

Parents of

Mona D. Morrison Hurd

Lena Bella Morrison Swagler

Emily Augusta Morrison Peters

Albert Rowlen Morrison

Florence Vera Morrison Rowlee

Paul Allen Morrison

Pauline Ann Morrison Maurer

Peter Clifford Morrison

Other October Anniversaries:

3 October 1878     Jarrett Clymon Smith & Eliza Jane Brock     142 years ago

5 October 1847 MS     Tyra Jennings Tynes & Harriet Jane Alford     173 years ago

8 October 1880     Markusz S. Gartner & Libe Ruchel Lefkovits     140 years ago

18 October 1812 PA     Daniel Ritter & Lydia Knauss     208 years ago

19 October 1899 OH     William M. Mark & Alice Leota Heacock     121 years ago

21 October 1711 VA     Robert Wood & Mary Alford     309 years ago

The Will & Estate of Moses Hollis, 1793 SC

Moses Hollis

1728 VA - 1794 SC

son of John & Esther Hollis

Husband of Rosannah Berry Hagan

Moses is my 6x great grandfather.

There are several values in finding a will & estate papers for an ancestor. First, we can discover names of family members. Moses' will names Rosanna as his wife; Elijah, John, Berry & Nancy as children. The sale of his estate lists more Hollis family members, most likely more children & others. Unfortunately, the will also shows that Moses was a slave owner. Leaving out that information would be altering history. Reading through the items in his estate sale gives us a glimpse into his life. Many of the items relate to his farm: produce, livestock & tools. Household items are also mentioned: trunk, chairs, table, cupboard, pewter tableware & a frying pan. 

 The Will of Moses Hollis, 1793 SC

 

In the Name of God. Amen. This 9^thday of April one thousand and seven hundred and ninety three. I Moses Hollis of the State of South Carolina and County of Fairfield being very sick and week but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, but calling to mind the mortality of my body, and that is appointed all men once to die do make this my last will and Testament. Imprimis my Soul I give to God who gave it to me, and my Body to the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned. 

 

Item. I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Rosanna Hollis all my House and Household furniture, Also my Negro Girl Abe, my Horse Gruberty, Bridle and Sadle, [sic] two cows as long as she lives or remains a widow, and after that the Negro goes to my son Moses Hollis to his heirs and assigns forever.

 

Item. I give and bequeath onto my son Elijah Hollis one Negro boy Tony, wherein his assigns forever. 

 

Item. I give to my son John Hollis one Negro fellow Pad, to his heirs and assigns forever.

 

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Berry Hollis my Negro boy to him his heirs and assigns forever.

 

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Gladden my featherbed to her and her heirs and assigns forever.

 

Item. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Catherine Paterson four head of cattle to her, her heirs and assigns forever.

 

Item. I have on Negro fellow Ned, and one Negro boy Glasco, also five head of horses and eleven head of cattle and working tools to be sold on my Death, debts paid with the money and the remainder to be equally divided between all my children.

 

Lastly I nominate and appoint Zachariah Cantley and my soon John Hollis and my son Elijah Hollis executors of this by last will and Testament hereby disannulling all others hereto fore by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal, the day and year above written.

 

Signed and sealed and acknowledged. Thomas Goodram, Edward Tidwell, Berry Hollis, Moses Hollis                      Proved 17 July 1794

 

Source: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, South Carolina Will Transcripts, Series S108093, Reel 11, Frame 100; digital image (scdah.sc.gov: accessed Sept 2020) Moses Hollis, Fairfield Co.

The Estate of Moses Hollis, 1794 SC

 

Papers relating to the estate of Moses Hollis have been saved in South Carolina. The papers are of various sizes and are worn around the edges. The handwriting is faded and difficult to read. The papers include his will and the “Sale of Home Goods of Moses Hollis, Senr., deceased.” The following is a list of items from his estate and the people who purchased them after his death. It is not complete because it is not all legible. The estate was settled in December 1794. 

 

 

John Hollis                  one log chane [sic]

Isabell Littleton           one Lot of pewter

Wm Evans                   eight bushes of Rye

James Hollis                three bushels of oats

Elijah Hollis                one Lot of hogs

Berryman Hollis          one Lot of hogs

Peter Patterson             one stack of fodder

Thos Hughsone           Rifle gun

Peter Patterson            one Lot of corn

Berrel Gibson              one Lot of corn

Dit Tidwell                  one Lot of corn

Isabell Littleton           one Lot of corn

Thos Hughsone           one Lot of corn

Wm Hollis                  one hand mill

Samuel Pen                  one still

Jesse Gadden               one horse

Hugh Brown                one gun

Susannah Hollis           one horse

Wm Edwins                 one cow

Dit Tidwell                  too [sic] cow

George Lott                 one horse

Edward Tidwell           one cow

Samuel Owens             one Bull

John Hollis                  one heffer

Moses Hollis               one heffer

Charles ?                      one french musket

Moses Hollis               one rifle gun

Moses Hollis               one Lot of working tools

Wm Hollis                  one plow

Moses Hollis               one hand mill

Berryman Hollis          one chest

Berryman Hollis          one bed

Nancy Hollis               one trunk

Elijah Hollis                one glass

Abner Smith                too [sic] chairs

Susannah Hollis           one saddle

Susannah Hollis           one wheel

Widow Hollis              one cupboard

Widow Hollis              one churn

Widow Hollis              one tub

Widow Hollis              one oxen

Nancy Hollis               one table

Nancy Hollis               one frying pan

Berryman Hollis          one sow

Peter Patterson            seven head of hog

Moses Hollis               one boar

 

 

Source: South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670 – 1980; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com: accessed Sept. 2020) Moses Hollis.

Forget Me Not: James Sims Kelly, 1905 AL

 Newspapers.com is a favorite of mine for research. I feel that newspapers reports can add details to basic genealogy research. I was looking for anything to tell me more about James Sims Kelly. I found these articles.

James Sims Kelly

Sep 1828 TN – 1 August 1905 AL

Son of Sims Kelly & Mary Camp

My 1st cousin, 5x removed

Executive Appointments

The Governor yesterday made the following executive appointments:

James S. Kelly, notary public and justice of the peace, Oxford.

Source: Executive Appointments. (Montgomery, AL, The Montgomery Advertiser, 3 Sept. 1887) 8; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed July 2020).

J. S. Kelly Dead. An Honored Citizen of Oxford Goes to His Reward.

Anniston. Aug. 1 – Although not unexpected the death of James S. Kelly of Oxford came as a great shock to the entire community. This morning Mr. Kelly awakened feeling unusually bright and cheerful and went to breakfast. In a few moments he complained, walked to the door and in a moment fell from the porch. Before he could be lifted up he was dead.

James S. Kelly was born in Franklin county, Tenn. Sept. 2^nd, 1828 and was nearly 77 years of age. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Kelly. They had two children. One died when only a child, the other, Alfred Kelly, is a successful traveling man. His second wife was Miss Emily Goodlett, who survives him. From early manhood Mr. Kelly was an earnest, consistent member of the Baptist Church and true and loyal member to all its teachings. He was a writer of considerable power and in his articles  contributed to the Hot Blast over the non de plume of Sam Slim. He wrote entertainingly of the matters of current interest. He was a philosopher, a keen judge of human nature and possessing of a great heart that beat in sympathy with all of God’s creatures. He will be sorely missed by everyone.

Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed, awaiting news from his son, Alfred, whose whereabouts are uncertain. The services will be at the Baptist probably at 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon with interment in Oxford cemetery.

Source: J. S. Kelly Dead. (Montgomery, AL, The Montgomery Advertiser, 2 August 1905) 9; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed July 2020).

Funeral of James Kelly.The funeral of James S. Kelly took place at the Baptist church at 3 o’clock this afternoon, conducted by Rev. W. R. Ivey. The church could not hold the large crowd of friends that gathered. The services were solemn and impressive. The following acted as pallbearers: J. D. Wright, D. C. Cooper, W. S. Aderhold, T. A. Howle, W. F. Hanna and T. M. Draper. 

Source: Funeral of James Kelly. (Birmingham, AL: The Birmingham News, 3 Aug. 1905) 16; digital image, Newspaper.com: accessed June 2020).

Book Report: Everyday Life During the Civil War

When I write about the lives of the family who came before us, I do my best to dug up the hidden facts of their lives. But, to make them come alive again, I try to paint those dry facts with the colors of the world as it was when and where they lived. Therefore, I am often looking for books to teach me more about the past. Most every family was changed, in some way by the Civil War. This book teaches us about that time.

Everyday Life During the Civil War:

A Guide for Writers, Students and Historians

 Written by Michael J. Varhola

Published: Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books, 1999

Table of Contents:

1 North and South: One Nation, Two Peoples

2 Wages, Currency, Clothing and Dry Goods

3 Life in City, Town and Country

4 Food and Diet

5 Fun and Games: How People Entertained Themselves

6 The Civil War Viewed from the Home Front

7 Brothers at War: Billy Yank, Johnny Reb

8 Slang and Idiom

9 Technology

10 Arms, Equipment and Uniforms

The chapters in the book are divided into North and South. For example, what food was available during the war in each part of our country; what clothing was worn or what uniforms did the soldiers wear. 

I like to read about the everyday things that would have been a big part of the lives of the people in our families. For example, the families in the south were all affected by the food shortages and the increasing prices for the food they could purchase. Here are some examples from this book:

Food prices in 1861:

Bacon              12.5 cents per pound

Butter              20 cents per pound

Coffee              35 cents per pound

Flour:              $6 per barrel

Potatoes          75 cents per bushel

Food prices in 1865:

Bacon              $11 to $13 per pound

Beef                 $8 per pound

Butter              $15 to $20 per pound

Cornmeal         $400 per bushel

Flour                $325 to $1,000 per barrel

The book also includes a Civil War Timeline, Recommended Books, Bibliography, Resources for further research and Songs & Poetry.

If you want a clear picture of how life was lived at the time of the Civil War pick up this book and read.

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.

Seven Sisters Reunion, 1927 MS

The seven daughters of Henry Sims Brumfield & Martha E. Bickham reunited in Biloxi, MS in 1927. This newspaper article gives us details of their time together.

Meet In Reunion at Lampton House 

Biloxi, Nov 30 – An unusual reunion has been in session at the beautiful home of  W. M. Lampton on West Each, Biloxi, Miss. It was a reunion of “The Seven Sisters.”

Mr. Lampton is a believer in reunions.  His wife has six sisters who live in various parts of the state. 

As most sisters do these sisters visit each other at different times, but never before had they visited at the same time. Mr. Lampton conceived the idea that nothing could make his wife more happy than to have all his wife’s sisters visit her at the same time and in this thought Mr. Lampton was right. 

He bought a new seven passenger car and motored to homes of the six different sisters conscripted them and brought them to the Lampton home in Biloxi, where the fatted calf had been killed, where oysters and chicken were frying in the pan.

Did these ladies have a good time? You know they did. Of course, at first they all tried to talk at one time. They must tell each other everything. They all had so much news to tell each other they soon decided for them not to talk t the same time. Of course, each told about their fine children. They had so much to tell each other that they hardly ever retired before 3 o’clock in the morning. They told each other what dear husbands hey had and, of course, they talked about their childhood days and it is possible they had a delightful time talking about their first sweethearts when they were girls attending the old-fashioned country schools. After having the best time of their lives these sisters departed for their homes a few days ago.

The names of the sisters are as follows: 

Mrs. W. W. Leggett, Magnolia; [William Wright & Mary Emma (Brumfield) Leggett]

Mrs. H. F. Bridges, Bridges, Miss.; [Hugh Franklin & Lucinda (Brumfield) Bridges],

Mrs. H. M. Lee, Keota, Miss.; [Henry Monroe & Elizabeth (Brumfield) Lee],  

Mrs. W. M. Lampton, Biloxi, Miss; [Walter Monroe & Martha Lucy (Brumfield) Lampton],

Mrs. J. J. Lee ,Walkers Bridge, Miss.; [John Jesse & Alice Bickham (Brumfield) Lee],

Mrs. Will Mackey, Jackson, Miss.; [Amanda Eudora Brumfield],

Mrs. Myrtle Thigpen, Jackson, Miss. [Myrtis Brumfield].

Source: Meet In Reunion at Lampton House. (McComb, MS. Semi-Weekly Journal, 3 Dec. 1927) 1; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed June 2020).