Digging Up Your Family

DeMumbrie’s and Richards’ Plantations Under Water

If you will remember (or if you haven’t been here before and this is new to you) I mentioned back in June that I think I found approximately when Spencer DeMumbrie died. I gave the dates I was estimating as between September 1874 and September 1876. However, after mulling it over, and speaking with my mother numerous times, I believe I can shorten the length of time to something more approximate. I made a call to the Mississippi Archives to see if they they knew if there were any specific months that the taxes would have been done in the 1870s, but they didn’t. However, they did confirm that if Spencer’s estate paid taxes in 1876 then he would have died between the 1875 tax season and the 1876 tax season. Then I remembered that at the end of every year the county sections were recapitulated and sworn and signed on specific days that the information was true. In 1874 that date was June 30th. In 1876 that date was September 4th. So, given the furthest dates possible, I would say Spencer died sometime between May 1, 1875 and September 4, 1876. That is still a lot of time to cover.

I am not saying that I know what happened to Spencer. If I had to guess I would say it is possible he either a) drowned, or b) died of pneumonia. Don’t hold me to that. The reasoning, however, is due to a terrible flood that occurred in the latter half of 1875 to Spencer’s plantation. I will not transcribe the entire news article, as it is very long, but here are portions of the story that appeared on the front page in the August 3, 1875 issue of the Memphis Daily Appeal:

GENERAL INUNDATION

The reports of the doings of the rivers above here the past twenty-four hours are anything else by encouraging; on the contrary, they are of a most disheartening character. Up to yesterday afternoon, we saw some hope for the planters in the Mississippi valley, but the dispatches and the official report of the signal service bureau have begotten a different feeling, and we are almost disposed to give up the ship. Still, there are those who believe there will not be a general disaster, but we fear their opinions are not well-founded…

…The only great disaster yet known between Memphis and Friar’s point is at Demummer’s bend, where the water is running with tremendous current through the fields. At Richard’s bend, just below, the water is covering a good deal of cotton, but as yet not so effectually at its mercy as at the Demummer place…

I would assume that the newspaper would have mentioned his death, and it may have and was just transcribed wrong. But now I have it narrowed down within roughly 16 months. Keep your fingers crossed!

Also, I think it’s worth mentioning that George Washington Richards, Esq died of pneumonia on September 2, 1875. Being Edmund’s son and Jerome’s brother, he would have been living at the Richard’s plantation. So the idea of death by pneumonia after slogging through a flooded plantation isn’t that hard to imagine, or any other illness or disease that may be the product of a flood.

A Mystery Unbottled at DeMumbrie’s Landing

I had found some interesting documents pertaining to Spencer DeMumbrie, but it is going to take a bit to transcribe them. So I decided to share this newspaper article that mentions his river landing! It appeared on page three of the November 26, 1868 edition of the Memphis Daily Avalanche. All typos are left intact in the transcription.

A MYSTERY UNBOTTLED.

Letter to the Avalanche Found Floating in a Bottle on the Mississippi.

A Memphian Corks up His Sorrows and Prepares to Leave the World.

On the 16th of November a bottle, well corked, was found floating down the Mississippi river at Demumbrie Landing, about one hundred and fifty miles below Memphis. The bottle contained a note written on a smooth bristol board card and signed J. S. Jones, whoever that is or was. The tenor of the note is that he was about to throw himself overboard and trust to the hospitality of catfish and mud-turtles. Whether he carried his intention out and now sleeps in a watery grave

“With scarce a shred to tell of human form,

Or fragment for the seabird or the worm.”

or reconsidered the motion he made to jump over, or laid it on the table, is purely conjectural. At the time of writing the note its author must have had a steady hand, for the chirography is smoothe and business-like. If we could call spirits from the vasty deep we would ask them if any such man as Jones found his way to the locker on the 12th of October; as it is, we do not know any one named J. S. Jones who ever lived in Memphis. One presumption is that somebody bottled up the card and cast it upon the waters as a practical joke, to see if it would come back after many days in the newspapers. Another presumption is that some man, temporarily disgusted with life, wrote the note and threw it overboard from some boat, but failed to follow the bottle any further than the guards. Possibly he had followed the bottle to much before that time to feel like trusting himself all alone in so much water. Here is the note, verbatim:

October 12 1868

Good bye. Should this ever be picked up the finder will confer a great favor by allowing it to be published, so as my friends may know what as become of the poor, miserable creature that I am. Send it to the Memphis AVALANCHE, as that is my dear home, and all that are near and dear to me live there. The cause of this rash act will never be known. I often wish I had gone with our lost cause, which I done my all to sustain. Now for the deep waters of the Mississippi.

J. S. Jones

When we read the concluding sentence we almost hear a heavy splash in the water, and see a struggling form which repents of rashness, alas, too late, go down, and see the waves close over him in the distance and forever. If such a person ever lived in Memphis, his friends can see the card just as it was taken from the bottle by a citizen of Demumbrie’s Landing, Mississippi, by calling at the AVALANCHE office. The card was slightly damaged by the water, but the writing is as plain as when first traced.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this was made up by the newspaper to sell more copies. No doubt a bottled note was probably found at DeMumbrie’s Landing, however…I bet the newspaper wrote it, bottled it, and cast it in the water, just waiting to see it return so they could then write about it.

Edward Wesley Block

Arizona Pioneer and Cemetery Research Project (www.apcrp.org) member.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF EDWARD WESLEY BLOCK

DECEMBER 8, 1938 TO SEPTEMBER 1,2013

Ed Block was born December 8, 1938, in St. Helens, Oregon, the oldest son of John and Elsie (Bandeen) Block. When Ed was a small boy, the family moved to Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Washington High School in 1955 and enlisted in the Army, He served two years active duty in Germany.
He enrolled in Portland State University and graduated with a B.S. in Psychology in 1963. Later he was in the M.B.A. program. Ed married Kathy (Katherine Buehler) on June 5, 1964. Most of his career he was with Multnomah County Juvenile Court in Portland.

Throughout most of their 48 years together, Ed and Kathy traveled extensively to Hawaii, Europe, Mexico, and Australia, as well as most of the U.S. Upon the retirement of both (Kathy taught special education), they moved to Lake Havasu City full-time in 2002. In the S.W. they enjoyed adventures with their 4×4 Toyota and a small beat-up trailer to the back county to prospect for gold, bow hunt for javelina, hike, go spelunking, study astronomy, explore ghost towns and pioneer cemeteries, and do photography. Ed was a booster in the Arizona Pioneer and Cemetery Research Project and participated in research and preservation of pioneer cemeteries in Arizona.

Ed died at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada around 12:30 PM on Sept. 1, 2013, from complications of a stroke. He will be dearly missed by his wife Kathy, his brother Bill Block of Prescott Valley, Kathy’s brother and sister-in-law John and Karyn Buehler of Portland, Oregon, and many friends and neighbors. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. His organs were donated to the Nevada Organ Donor program and a surgical team was on hand to share with others, so part of his spirit will live on in others.

Ed was pre-deceased by his brother Lyle B. Block, and his parents.
Ed wished to be cremated and his ashes placed at a favorite prospecting spot.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to APCRP.
Neal Du Shane
1224 Canvasback Court
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525

Memorial celebration of life is pending, info will be available from:
Lietz-Franze Funeral Home
21 Riviera Blvd.
Lake Havasu City, AZ
928-855-4949

Susan Richards and Sterling Hood

I kept going over this court record concerning Sterling Hood and Susan Richards, but I had a difficult time transcribing it! My mother was able to figure out what it said, so she ended up doing the transcription.

A little background on Susan and Sterling:

Here is a snippet from The Richards Epic Part One:

Susan Richards was born about 1813 in Jones County, North Carolina. Susan, or Suki as she was known, had suffered an illness and her mind had never matured (according, again, to Earle Epic). She lived with her mother in 1850, where she is listed as “idiotic”. In 1860, after Rhoda had passed (I suppose?) Susan was living with her sister Rhoda and family, again listed as “idiotic”. I am unable to find Susan on a census record after 1860, so I can only assume that she died sometime prior to 1870.

Also from The Richards Epic Part One:

Rhoda Richards was born August 15, 1829 in Jones County, North Carolina. Though the exact date of marriage isn’t known (from what I understand the marriage records are missing), Rhoda married Sterling Hood about 1849, most likely in Crittenden County, Arkansas. Rhoda died on March 11, 1911. The children of Rhoda and Sterling are:

Nancy J Hood was born about 1850. I have no further information.

James W Hood was born in August of 1853. He married Ester S (surname unknown). James and Ester had the following children: Sterling Hood, Parker E Hood, Rosa Lee Hood, Julia F Hood and James W Hood, Jr.

Hillary or Hillowry E Hood was born about 1855. I have no further information.

Robert S Hood was born in 1858. He married Minnie M Newton on July 24, 1890. Robert and Minnie had the following children: Olive W Hood, Bluford K Hood, Nancy Rhoda Gertrude Hood, Ida Bell or Isabell Hood, Jessie Caroline Hood and Rachel Hood.

Laura Hood was born about 1865. She married WT Wilkins on December 19, 1886. I believe I found her on a 1940 census living in Houston, Harris County, Texas with her granddaughter, but I can’t be certain. I have no further information.

Edmund P Hood was born about 1871. Edmund married Dora Jane Place on October 8, 1893. Edmund and Dora Jane had the following children: Jerome R Hood, Clarence R Hood and Everett P Hood.

Ok, so while slogging through the court records of Crittenden County, Arkansas I came across this little mention concerning Susan Richards’ guardianship. So I now at least know she was still living in the Autumn of 1860. I hope I can eventually find the death dates of everyone.

Susan Richards Guardianship

Now on this day the account of Sterling Hood Guardian of Susan Richards filed Oct 16th 1860, is laid before the court examination to, and it appearing to the court that said account has been duly advertised and no exception, and the court having carefully examined the same doth approve and confirm the same. It is further ordered that the said Guardian be and he is hereby allowed to sell a sufficient amount of the personal property of his ward to pay off her indebtedness.

One of the great things about finding something like this is that it reminds me to research people I may have forgotten about. And I do not want anyone to ever be forgotten. And although neither Susan or Sterling are in my absolute direct lines, it is still important to research them. Valerie of Begin With ‘Craft’ wrote a fantastic post about the importance of researching ancestors that are not in your direct lines that everyone should read!

Freeland, McQueen, and Perry

I have spent so much time attempting to find where Elizabeth Freeland (McQueen, Perry) lived in 1870 that I nearly gave up. I had been searching for her under the name Elizabeth Perry, and I had been searching for her husband as Claiborne/Claiborn/Clayborn/Clayburn Perry. I just kept coming up empty-handed. I assumed that after the Civil War they both must have died prior to the 1870 census. Well, I was wrong. They didn’t both die. I will do a short (haha, yeah right) recap here of previous records and posts as a reminder/new information for old and new readers alike. I won’t go into way too much info, especially since I have written extensively on Elizabeth’s first marriage (which you can find under the Freeland and McQueen family tabs in the left hand column). So, just to sum it all up and bring it all back around to today’s information:

Elizabeth Freeland was born about 1804, location still unknown but narrowed down. In 1820 she married Peter McQueen in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. By 1827 the family had moved to Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Peter had sold off all of their belongings, then took two slaves and skipped town. In 1837 he shows back, kidnaps the two oldest daughters and disappears again. Elizabeth was granted a divorce in 1839 in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. In 1840 she married Claiborne Perry (from here on out in this post he will be referred to as CP since I have no idea how his name is actually spelled) in Lauderdale County. By early 1846 Elizabeth and CP moved to Crittenden County, Arkansas.

Elizabeth’s children with Peter McQueen:

Louisa and Melissa McQueen were the two daughters that were kidnapped. Louisa lived until 1903, however Melissa died in 1851 in Marshall County, Mississippi.

Caroline McQueen married Edmund Richards in 1846 in Crittenden County, Arkansas and she died sometime between 1856 and 1860, though I am not certain if she died in Arkansas or Texas.

Elizabeth’s children with CP:

CP, Jr joined the Confederate Army in September 1861 and died in a Fredericksburg, Virginia hospital in February 1862.

Nathaniel Perry joined the Union Army with his father in November 1863 and died in the hospital at De Vall’s Bluff, Arkansas in January 1865.

Ok, this is where it gets a little hairy. There is about to be some interesting information that I can’t quite wrap my mind around.

In 1850 the Perry family was living in Jasper, Crittenden County, Arkansas. The family members listed are:

Charles Perry, age 36 years, born in Arkansas (this is CP)

Elizabeth Perry, age 37 years, born in Alabama (this age is off by about 10 years)

Claiborne Perry, age 8 years, born in Alabama

Nathaniel Perry, age 5 years, born in Arkansas

Mary McQueen (1), age 37 years, born in Louisiana, also the only one listed as over the age of 20 who cannot read or write (remember this name and age; age may be off, also, as will be explained later)

In 1850 daughter Caroline and her family were living in Tyrongee, Crittenden County, Arkansas. The family members are listed as:

Edward Richards, age 25 years, born in Arkansas (this is Edmund)

Catharina Richards, age 22 years, born in Mississippi (this is Caroline)

George Richards, age 3 years, born in Mississippi (his obit says he was born in Crittenden County, Arkansas, though)

Lucy Richards, age 2 years, born in Arkansas

Mary Edwards (4), age 14 years, born in Tennessee (remember this name)

Mary McQueen (2), age 18 years, born in Mississippi (remember this name)

In 1860 the Perry family was living in Union, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The family members are listed:

Claghurn Perry, age 46 years, born in Alabama (this is CP)

Elisabeth Perry, age 56 years, born in Louisiana

Sarah McQueen (3), age 25 years, born in Alabama (who is this? she is listed in the order to assume she is Elizabeth’s daughter)

Claborn Perry, age 18 years, born in Mississippi

Nathan Perry, age 13 years, born in Arkansas

So, we are back to the mystery people:

1. Mary McQueen, born about 1813 (or 1823, as will be explained later) in Louisiana

2. Mary McQueen, born about 1832-34 in Mississippi

3. Sarah McQueen, born about 1835 in Alabama

4. Mary Edwards, born about 1836 in Tennessee

Let’s break it down where these people went (I promise, there is a reason for this concerning the Perry death).

1. As of right now, Mary McQueen (1813/23) does not exist outside of the 1850 census.

2. Mary McQueen, aged 23 years (1833-1834), married 1) John Lewis, aged 44 years, on January 5, 1857 in Crittenden County, Arkansas. They had at least two children: John Lewis (abt 1857) and Alice Lewis (1870); Mary McQueen (Lewis), aged 36 years (1832-1834), married 2) Galutice (or Galucia) Spencer Chapin, aged 54 years, on September 7, 1870 in Hot Spring County, Arkansas. As of now I am unable to locate any further whereabouts after the 1870 census. See #3 for possible relationship to Elizabeth.

3. I cannot even guess what may have happened to Sarah (1835). I am making a total guess that she is a child of Elizabeth, and if so then she had to be either a) Peter’s child IF he returned prior to the kidnapping (which goes against the divorce papers), OR b) Elizabeth has a “thing” going on with another man. Then there is c) she is not a child of Elizabeth, in which case: who is she and why is she listed in the order as a child?

4. Lastly, Mary Edwards (1836). She, too, is difficult. She has a pretty common name. I don’t know how she is related to the family, if at all.

note (mainly to myself): Mary could also be Polly, Marie, Molly, etc. Sarah could also be Sallie, Sarie, etc.

Ok, so back to the death. While searching on FamilySearch for Elizabeth and CP I came across an interesting marriage record. It is terribly transcribed and I really want to see the original because I know it is for whom I am searching, I’m just not sure of the spouse’s actual name.

Clabourn Perry married Man A Mcgabba on January 20, 1865 in Pulaski County, Arkansas. And I can’t find a copy of the original online. It’s driving me insane because if…not if, when I order it I will have to wait about two more weeks until I can see the actual record. And that’s only if they can still find the record (you’d think it would be easy, but remember when I ordered the marriage certificate of Leah/Sarah DeMumbrie and Henry Hodges and Tunica County, Mississippi couldn’t find what happened to the book after it had been scanned for FamilySearch?).

Well, a quick search of the Civil War pension index led me to another card filed (I had posted an incomplete one here).

This one has that his widow’s name is Mary A Perry. The “Mcgabba” is throwing me off. I can only guess it is McQueen, based on previous information. Sigh.

However, this does tell me some information I have been searching for: Elizabeth died sometime between the enumeration of the 1860 census and January 20, 1865. Saying how she died would only be a guess, considering disease and war, or even old age (for that time). I’d like to think that she didn’t have to see all of her children die. Of the children I know were definitely hers, the only two that did not pass before her were Louisa and Nathaniel (Nathaniel based on his death date between January 3rd and 17th, burial on the 18th, CP’s marriage on the 20th). Seeing that she did not have an easy life at all, this does comfort me a little.

Looking around a little more I found CP on the 1870 census with his wife in Union, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The family members were listed:

Clayton Perry, age 58 years, born in Alabama (this is CP)

Mary A Perry, age 47 years, born in Tennessee (this puts her birth in about 1823…so it is possible that she is the 1850 Mary McQueen with the Perry family and that census had her birth off by about 10 years, the same as Elizabeth…also, you have to take into account that rarely were the same birthplaces listed per census).

Interestingly, living next door to the Perry family in 1870 was the household of:

Galucia Chapin, age 54 years, born in Ohio

Mary Lewis, age 35, born in Mississippi (they had not yet married)

John Lewis, age 12 years, born in Arkansas

Alice Lewis, age I month, born in Arkansas

Scott Wyatt, age 20 years, born in Arkansas (most likely just a boarder)

I am unable to locate CP and Mary A Perry after this census, with the exception of the pension card. I will have to order that file from NARA. If I am reading it correctly then it is telling me that CP applied for invalid pension on July 8, 1885 in Arkansas. His wife then applied for widow’s pension on July 11, 1892 in Indian Territory. So exactly when and where he died, I’m just not sure yet. I’m sure the actual file will tell me, though.

Biscuits or Another Kind of Recipe?

Today I bought a book that is pretty interesting, and bizarre. I went to a little shop called Pam’s Honey Creek Candles and Trash to Treasures (www.honeycreekcandles.com). While browsing I saw a little paperback recipe book. I was pretty sure it was all biscuit recipes and I was wondering if there was a recipe for the beaten blistered biscuits my mom wants so bad.

Front CoverReach For The Biscuits

REACH for the hot biscuits. They provide valuable carbohydrates that help build up strong energetic bodies. Eat TWO EXTRA biscuits at every meal and have lots of energy for school work and play.

SILVER FOX FLOUR

Always Runs Best

Monroe Milling Co., Waterloo, Illinois

I found that Monroe Milling Company was in operation at the grain elevator from 1924 until sometime after 1940 (information can be found here). I was unable to find anything on the actual Silver Fox Flour brand.

Back CoverEnergy Foods

ON PARADE

EVERY boy and girl loves the good things mother bakes with soft wheat flour – hot biscuits, hot rolls, home-made light bread, waffles, cookies, pies, cakes and doughnuts. Eat lots of these ENERGY FOODS. They are good for you.

The inside cover of this flour advertisement goes on with little pictures of children doing various things accompanied by:

Biscuits give you energy for that winning spurt of speed at the “finish.” (boy crossing a finish line)

Eat plenty of biscuits and jump “red-hot pepper.” (girl jump roping)

Hot biscuits with milk or syrup give you energy for doing good school work. (teen girl with diploma)

Touchdowns come easy with plenty of biscuits under your belt. (boys playing football)

Sounds like biscuit recipe book, right? Am I right?

I was wrong. I was flipping through it and realized that the “recipes” in the book were not biscuit recipes. In fact, they weren’t actual “recipes” at all. I discovered that the flour company cover was a ruse.

The REAL Front Cover ALBERTUS MAGNUS

Being the Approved, Verified, Sympathetic and Natural

EGYPTIAN SECRETS

White and Black Art for

Man and Beast.

REVEALING THE

Forbidding Knowledge and Mysteries

of Ancient Philosophers.

The Title Page

ALBERTUS MAGNUS

BEING THE APPROVED, VERIFIED, SYMPATHETIC AND NATURAL

EGYPTIAN SECRETS

OR,

WHITE AND BLACK ART FOR MAN AND BEAST

THE BOOK OF NATURE AND THE HIDDEN SECRETS

AN MYSTERIES OF LIFE UNVEILED; BEING THE

Forbidden Knowledge of Ancient Philosophers

By that celebrated Student, Philosopher, Chemist, Naturalist, Psychomist, Astrologer, Alchemist, metallurgist, Sorcerer, Explanator of the Mysteries of Wizards and Witchcraft; together with recondite Views of numerous Arts and Sciences – Obscure, Plain, Practical, Etc., Etc.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

It goes on to list the contents of Volume One, as there are three volumes in this paperback. Pam, the woman who sold it to me, was just as interested in how this came to be and researched the book a bit. She found a website that she printed out the information and stuck it in the book for whoever bought it. I found the same website, plus a little more. What is certain is that Albertus Magnus did not write this book.

Joseph H Peterson apparently released another edition of the book in 2006. According to his words on Esoteric Archives:

NOTE: the editor does not endorse or recommend any of the recipes found in this book. -JHP

This little Silesian spell-book seems to have first appeared "in Braband" with a second expanded edition printed in Cologne in 1725. [PEG, p. 41] It is clear from the contents that this collection has nothing to do with the great Dominican scholar Albertus Magnus (ca 1193-1280). Neither does it have anything to do with Egypt, but rather "Egyptian" is used to refer to Gypsies — more properly the Roma — based on the mistaken belief that this diverse ethnic group originated in Egypt. It’s connection with actual lore of the Roma is also tenuous, and "Egyptian" is used more as a generic term for "magic". (In exactly the same way "Magic" originally meant "of the Magi" referred to the Median tribe and later the Zoroastrian priesthood, but was eventually used generically to refer to Eastern wise men or wizards.)

According to Will-Erich Peuckert, the language and use of idioms point to an origin in the Swabian-Alemannic region. (PEG, pp. 43-44.)

The German title reads Egyptische Geheimnisse für Menschen und Vieh. The edition I have used was printed in Allentown, 1869. The English edition has no date.

The original German edition contains 4 books. Each book is paginated separately, and has its own Title page, table of contents, and index, though all four books are bound together. For the first three books the recipes are not numbered, but the fourth book numbers them. The English translation stops at 3, and maintains a continuous page numbering.

I have silently corrected many typos in this text (or at least enough to identify plagiarists), but please let me know if you find additional errors. Thanks, –JHP

But really, all of this about the book itself is not what is interesting. What I find interesting is that someone back in the 1920s or 1930s, my guess being a housewife (perhaps), had this book and didn’t want anyone to know. So she wrapped a flour advertisement dust cover around it and probably kept it between her Betty Crocker and Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks…you know, somewhere her husband would never look. Littered throughout the “grimoire” are notes that all include the word “special”:

For the Fever – “special”

When you have Lost your Manhood – “man-special”

For the Palsy – “special here”

To make
an Ointment for the Cure of the Itch – “a special”

To Vanquish a Man – “A real special”

That Nobody may hurt you and how to be Secured against all Assailants – “(Seay at all times) special special special here” (interestingly enough, this is not exactly what I would expect to find in a “spell book”. This one says:

Now I will walk over the threshold. I met three men, not yet very old. The first was God the Father, the other was God the Son; the third was God the Holy Spirit. They protect my body and soul, blood and flesh, that in no well I will fall, that water may not swell me at all, that a rabid dog may never bite me, that shot and stone may never smite me, that spear and knife may never cut me; that never a thief may steal the least from me. Then it shall become like our dear Saviour’s sweat. Whoever is stronger and mightier than these three men, he may come hither, assail me if he can, or forever keep his peace with me. † † †)

I am going to continue to research the book and cover. I find it interesting that someone really studied the book, but kept it well hidden, most likely in plain sight.

Wordless Wednesday: J.E. Wallace

JE Wallace

Dental Plates 1933

I found this advert in the April 1933 issue of Comfort Magazine. I wrote a little history about Comfort Magazine back in February (click here to view that post).

When I looked up the location of this dental office I wasn’t able to find any information. It looks like the building may now be a parking lot. Surrounding the parking lot are the Academics and Arts buildings for the Whitney M Young Magnet High School.

I think the biggest question I have is: what do they do with the plates after the 10 day trial?

DENTAL PLATES on 10 Day Trial FREE!

$4.98

Free Trial

WHY PAY $50 TO $75 FOR PLATES?

To introduce our new “Hold-Fast Dental Plates” in your vicinity, we will send you a complete set or just an upper plate or a lower plate as may be required on a FREE TRIAL. No continuous, painful impression-taking or expensive visits to the Dentist, or need to spent large sums of money to have the comfort and pleasure of comfortable fitting dental plates. HOLD-FAST PLATES will improve your appearance, give you comfort – they are light weight, and look natural. Why pay $75.00 and up for plates elsewhere when you can get plates just as good from us for as low as $4.98?

Fill out and mail the coupon at once. Don’t delay while this special offer is on. Mail the coupon today!

CHICAGO DENTISTS

CHICAGO

Murdered Flowers

I finally found the name of the man that Peter McQueen murdered in Choctaw County, Mississippi! Well, the last name of the man, anyway.

In the April 10, 1899 issue of the Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA) was an article that had been reproduced from an issue of the Walthall Warden (Walthall, MS). The article, from what I understand, was originally written by S. Newton Berryhill, the man that penned “Backwoods Poems”. After listing several murders in early Choctaw County, Berryhill wrote:

I do not include the three Grays who killed Judge Edwards and Luther Edwards, during the war, and were killed in jail by citizens; nor old man McQueen, who killed Flowers in 1865, and, having fled, was pursued by a company of the U.L.A., who got ahead of him this side of Houston, and shot him from the roadside. In these cases the killing of the man-slayers was the direct and immediate consequence of their crimes – the penalty which the law itself would or should have inflicted.

I am hoping that I can figure out who the man was he shot. Perhaps a descendent of the Flowers family knows the story!

Other instances mentioned:

First – Clerk, a lawyer, who once lived at Greensboro removed to Carrollton, where he killed a man whose name I do not recollect. He was himself killed the same year by J. Lancaster, at one time editor of the state Advocate, the first newspaper ever published in Choctaw county.

Second – Gibson Clark, who lived for many years near the site of Walthall, killed a lawyer named Lindsey at Greensboro. Several years afterward Clark shot himself through the brain by his own rifle, pulling the trigger by means of a string tied to his toe.

Third – James C. Powers, who had killed a man in Pickens county, Ala., was killed at Greensboro by Dr. T.J. New.

Fourth – Thornton, who had served a term in the penitentiary for manslaughter, was killed at ‘Bucksnort,’ a suburb of Greensboro, by the same Dr. New.

Fifth – Seth Platner, known as ‘Young Seth,’ killed Criswell Snow at Greensboro. He afterwards killed a Mexican woman in Texas, and was pursued by a party of Mexicans, who riddled him with bullets.

Sixth – George Davis killed an old man whose horse he had just levied upon. Davis was afterwards killed in Texas.

Seventh – Dr. E.F.H. Johnson, better known as ‘Old Jaybird,’ killed a man at Snowville some thirty-five years ago. He was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. About six years ago he was shot and killed at night in Greensboro by parties unknown.

Eighth – Robert Medley killed a lawyer named Nowlin at Greensboro, and was in jail at the beginning of the war. He volunteered, and was released from jail; rose to the rank of captain in the renowned Fifteenth Mississippi Regiment, and was wounded at Shiloh, a ball piercing his forehead. He became a gambler, and was killed by another gambler in Hinds county.

Ninth – Thomas Johnson killed David McKey at Greensboro a few years after the war. Johnson was killed by Thomas Holland at Walthall eight or nine years ago.

Tenth – Arnold Brantly, who grew up to manhood in Greensboro, I think, killed two men. He was shot dead in Winona fifteen years ago. Will and Henry Ringer, who were born and raised in the western part of Choctaw county, it is believed, killed him. It is also believed that it was they who killed General Wm. Brantly a few weeks afterwards. They fled from the county.

Eleventh – Henry Ringer, the younger of them, was shot and killed at night at his home in Florida a few years ago.

Twelfth – Story killed William Dunn at Greensboro about twelve years ago. A few years afterwards he was killed in Arkansas by Jones, another Choctaw boy.

Thirteen – Alonzo Nolen, who was born and raised in Greensboro, was killed by Jones about the same time.

Fourteen – Jones, the slayer of the two men, was shot and killed in Sunflower county a few years ago by a person unknown.

For the Forrest Bondurant Fans

One of the most popular searches that brings people to my blog is Forrest Bondurant. And who can blame you? Tom Hardy certain did a good job characterizing a brooding, bad boy Forrest in the movie Lawless. So, I figured I would throw a few goodies out there for all of the Forrest Bondurant fans.

Richmond Times-Dispatch, February 4, 1931

Deputy-Sheriff Charged With Taking Bribe

Officer and Two Alleged Moonshiners Must Face Trial at Rocky Mount

ROCKY MOUNT, VA., Feb. 3 – (AP) –A deputy sheriff and two alleged violators of the prohibition law, indicted on charges growing out of an alleged act of bribery, will be tried [in] Court.

Deputy Sheriff H.T. Abshire was indicted yesterday by a Franklin County grand jury on a charge of accepting a bribe, while Jack and Forrest Bondurant were indicted on a charge of attempting to bribe officers and with transporting liquor.

The grand jury also indicted Deputy Sheriff C.L. Rakes on a charge of malicious shooting in connection with the wounding of Jack and Forrest Bondurant on December 19, when an automobile driven by Forrest Bondurant is alleged to have carried 150 gallons of liquor.

Deputy Sheriff Abshire provided bond and the bond provided by Deputy Sheriff Rakes shortly after the shooting was continued.

Forrest Bondurant is in a Roanoke hospital with a wound alleged to have been inflicted by Officer Rakes when Rakes and Abshire halted two automobiles driven by the Bondurant brothers at Magpie Creek Bridge on the Redford-Rocky Mount Road. Jack Bondurant was in the hospital several weeks. Officers contended the shooting occurred after the brothers objected to having their car searched and drew guns.

County authorities charge that an offer of $75 was made to the two officers to let the loaded car pass.

Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 31, 1935

Church-Goers Fear to Pass Filling Station

Franklin Supervisor Testifies of Bad Reputation of Business Place

[I removed the first first section because it did not pertain to the Bondurants]

Aged Supervisor Testifies

The filling station, R.A. Sink, for 32 years a member of the Franklin Board of Supervisors, said, was operated at Burnt Chimney by Jack, Forrest and Howard Bondurant – the first two of whom a deceased deputy sheriff, C.L. Rakes, and alleged co-conspirator, shot at a liquor blockade. Shooting at the station made people “afraid to pass by that gas station to go to church,” the aged supervisor, bearded and slightly deaf, said.

He characterized the reputation of the brothers, who were Government witnesses, as “bad,” speaking of their truthfulness, but said he was talking chiefly about a statement R.L. Minnix, grandfather of the wife of one of the Bondurants, made before his death, that they were “the toughest mess that ever struck our section.”

[I removed the last section because it did not pertain to the Bondurants]

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