Grammie used to say...Self praise is half scandalize.

Sufronia and L.C.

S

ufronia Wilson and L.C. Taylor, my grandparents from Holmes County Mississippi

 Holmes County is located in the west central part of Mississippi. It was created February 19, 1833 out of the land originally ceded by the Choctaw Indians in the Treaty of Doak's Stand, October 18, 1820 and known as the "New Purchase." Out of the original large county of Hinds was formed Yazoo County, and Holmes was formed from Yazoo in 1833. A portion of western Holmes County was contributed to the formation of Humphreys County in 1918. Holmes County was named for Governor David Holmes, fourth Territorial governor, first Mississippi state governor, and later U.S. Senator. 

Between 1820 and 1830, nearly 30,000 people moved into the lands opened up by the Doak's Stand Cession. The population of Mississippi increased 175 percent during that decade. Between 1833 and 1837, prices "rose like smoke," and Mississippi land offices sold over seven million acres of land on a seemingly limitless supply of credit. Towns sprang up overnight, and the charlatans, gamblers and speculators swarmed into Mississippi, ready to make their fortunes. The land boom created an atmosphere much like California would experience in 1849. The bubble burst in 1837, when Andrew Jackson ordered federal land offices to accept nothing but hard cash for land, and land prices plummeted. There was a mass movement westward, often to Texas, as speculators went broke and moved on to a new start.

Not all immigrants were speculators or charlatans, however. Great numbers of small farmers moved into these lands from the soil-weary seaboard states, attracted to the virgin soil. Census schedules often reflect the migration patterns of these families, as often the birthplace of the parents was Virginia, North Carolina or South Carolina, that of their older children Tennessee or Alabama and the younger children and grandchildren, Mississippi. Very few settlers in these counties were foreign-born.

Holmes County attracted many of these immigrants, drawn to its rich soil. All crops grew well, but the area was especially suitable for farming grain and fruit. Timber was abundant, and there were numerous rivers and lakes. The Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad connected Durant and Tchula with the county seat, Lexington, and this farming region shipped large quantities of produce to northern markets through the connection in Durant with the Illinois Central Railroad.

Four of the oldest settlements in Holmes County are now extinct: Rankin, Montgomery, Vernon and Georgeville. Rankin was located about five miles from Tchula. Montgomery was on the west bank of Big Black River at Pickens Ferry. Vernon was about 12 miles north of Lexington, and was once a thriving town.  (http://msgw.org/holmes/history/history.htm)

My grandparent Sufronia and L.C. Taylor, were born in Rankin County and Pickens, Mississippi, respectively.  They lived all their lives in Mississippi.  Grandmother Sufronia died in Homles County at the young age of 49; she was buried in Marigold, Mississippi where her mother was buried.  Grandfather L.C. gradually migrated to Bolivar County where he died.

The area from Tchula to Pickens, Lexington and Durant might seem like a short distance, but it was often walked or traveled by horse and wagon.  I have driven these roads and they are still pretty rural.

As sharecroppers, the only work for my grandparents was farming, raising cotton.  Granddaddy raised sugar cane and made cane syrup, selling some and keep some for his family.  And you can bet he made some pretty good "white lightning."  My grandfather loved the drink!

This depot in Durant, MS remained active until well into the 1990s!  I road the train from Durant to Chicago a number of times during the summer.  Grandmother Sufronia's sisters all migrated to Chicago; and we got to visit during the summer.

As sharecroppers, the only work for my grandparents was farming, raising cotton.  Granddaddy raised sugar cane and made cane syrup, selling some and keep some for his family.  And you can bet he made some pretty good "white lightning."  My grandfather loved the drink!

This depot in Durant, MS remained active until well into the 1990s!  I road the train from Durant to Chicago a number of times during the summer.  Grandmother Sufronia's sisters all migrated to Chicago; and we got to visit during the summer.

A Simple Blacksmith

D

eath of Nelson Gray

My great grandfather, Nelson Gray, was born in 1822 on a plantation in Georgia.  His mother was a house servant named Sarah and his father, James Gray, was the brother of the plantation owner (Archie Gray).  Until a cousin found this newspaper article, we only had census records and stories written about him by one of his sons.  It seemed odd that a man would live on this earth for 77 years and leave nothing more than a census report behind documenting his presence.
Great Grandfather Nelson was a blacksmith by trade.  Blacksmiths were very important to the community in the 1800s because they worked with metal to provide weapons, farm tools, cooking utilities, etc. and they also made repairs.  At the onset of the Civil War, great grandfather Nelson would have been about 39 years old with a wife and several children living on a plantation with extended family on near by McCrary, Riley and Mitchell plantations.
He is listed in the 1880 Census of Carsonville, District of Taylor County Georgia, Race-Mulatto.  Here he is listed with his wife Cassie and their children, James, Martin, Josephine, Josie, Amy, John, Admon, Cassie Ann Ellen.  A grandchild Marietta Brooks (This would have been the daughter of Cassie’s first son, not Nelson’s son.) and his maternal uncle Peter B. Gray.  Another child, Georgia Gray, is listed; however, her relationship cannot be verified at this time.  It is likely “Georgia” was an error in documentation and should be Archie Gray as he was born in 1879.  Three children were not listed on the 1880 Census, Sarah Gray who would have been married and out of the family home and Archie and Champion (my grandfather).  Champion (1882) was not yet born.

 

OBITUARY

 “Nelson Gray, aged 77 years, died at his home near Carsonville, on Monday  morning the 20th inst., after a long but patient illness. He was an honest, faithful servant, a blacksmith by trade, who in early life did a broad range of work in Taylor, Talbot and Upson counties. He was an excellent workman, kind and obliging and was liked by all who knew him. But the toil and hardships with him are ended; the last note upon his anvil has been sounded, and as he tried to live, so say a consistent member of the Baptist church; we trust his soul is at peace with its God.”
  Taylor County Tracer" Vol-9, Issue-9; Butler, Ga., Tuesday, March 28, 1899 (Newspaper), Vol. XXIII No. 22

Welcome Aaron Michael!

So much has occurred since I last posted.  I am shocked that it has taken so long...life just life.  I plan to begin from the latest and try and catch up, filling in from 2010 (only the big things:)

I made a new I-Spy quilt for the latest of my descendants, Aaron.  I thought he might need something to spit, pee and poop on as he learned to crawl.  There are pics of animals under each flap.  I am hoping he will learn to love animals and not fear them.

Aaron is number 7 of my grands, number 33 of the great-grands.