Day 23 - Jim comes home

Jane quietly closed the door behind her. It the darkened room, Polly was asleep on the daybed in the front room. It had been a rough year for Polly who was not the robust person she’d once been.

She was 61-yrs-old now and time had taken its toll.  The year was 1886 and Polly lived with her youngest daughter Sarah and husband, Henry Depew. She was no longer working and spent most of her time resting. She’d used up much of her strength and energy comforting Jane when John Carter was murdered in 1884. Jane was 8-months pregnant with Lillie on the day that John Brewer shot John Carter. 

Jane tiptoed into the kitchen to find Sarah sitting at the kitchen table, pen in hand. Pausing in her writing, she looked up and answered the question she saw in Jane’s eyes. “Yes, I’m writing to Caroline. I imagine she’ll be shocked. I wonder if she and Robert will make the trip all the way from Oklahoma.” 

Jane looked skeptical. “That’s a long way to go with all those kids and Robert may not be able to leave his job for that long. The lumber business is volatile as it is.” 

“Still,” Carolyn said, “I’m going to let her know. This is the biggest news in years. Do you want to tell Mom?”

“I guess someone has to tell her,” Martha replied. “There’s no time like the present” and with that, Jane headed back to the front room.  She walked over to the daybed and touched her mother on her shoulder.

“Mama,” she whispered. Polly opened her eyes and smiled at her.  “Mama, he’s home,” she said softly.  Polly looked confused. “Who’s home?” she asked. 

“Daddy’s home.”

The kids were excited when they heard their grandfather had come home. Jane wasn't quite sure how she felt. He had been gone a very long time and hadn't been much of a father. Her younger sisters, now parents themselves, did not remember him so they were excited too. She had decided to take a wait and see attitude.

Polly, who had gotten older and bitter as time had gone by, was flat out angry. In fact, she had divorced him some years back. Now, she was living with Sarah and Jim wanted to live there too. That made her even angrier. Jane didn't have room and Caroline had moved. Jim didn't care. This was his family and he was staying. The rumor he had another family in California didn't seem to bother him at all.

Jane wanted the kids to know their grandfather. They had grown up without a father as she had and it was important that they at least knew him. He had wonderful stories to tell from giant trees to earthquakes. He was almost larger than life.

Jim was 35 when he left for California. There are just some people who are drawn to the lure of riches beyond belief and Jim was one of them. He loaded up the horse with supplies he purchased at the Station and without looking behind him, left his family.

He was flooded with relief. Finally, he was moving on. He loved his wife and children but they were stumbling blocks to the life he had planned. He never meant to stay at the station. He was very much like his father. He had heard the stories of how his father had come to the Station for supplies and somehow stayed even though it wasn’t his plan. Now, he was picking up the gauntlet and doing what he father didn’t. It was strange that his dad had disappeared when he was five and sometimes he wondered where he had gone. He was never found and 30 years later, it was still a mystery. No one goes out to chop wood and disappears, especially when he was with John Jr. and Andrew. Both of them were evasive about the disappearance but it was a long, long time ago.

Like many of the gold hunter, Jim headed for New Orleans. Making his way overland, he arrived in New Orleans and boarded a ship that would take him through Panama and arrive in San Francisco. By 1867, he was living in Salmon, California. (Forks of Salmon was originally a settlement in the now defunct Klamath County California.)

Jim didn’t find gold but he did find a lifestyle that suited him. He built a home overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the little town of Trinidad, 18 miles from the largest Redwood forest. By 1870, he had purchased land in Dow’s Prairie and was farming. It was very different from Tennessee. Back home, Jane was married and had three children. Caroline and Sarah had steady beaus who they would also marry. Polly had retired and spent much of her time just waiting for Jim to come home.

In 1855, he was registered to vote as a California resident and he owned 168 acres. He listed the value at $915.00. He grew hay and had farm animals. There is no record that he had a 2nd family and the census does not bare it out but there was the rumor. His name changed several times. He was McCollom and McColloam.

In 1886, Jim came home two years after John Carter died.

Jim moved in with Sarah when he returned to Sneedville. He regaled his grandchildren with tales of bigger than life trees and earthquakes. He talked about the ocean and the storms that blew in. It was a life they could not comprehend and thought he was making it up. He seemed happy to be home even when he learned that Polly had divorced him and wanted nothing to do with him. She was already living with Sarah and it made it uncomfortable.

Polly died in 1886, two years after Jim came home. The girls felt lost without their mother who had been the major part of their lives. Sarah and her husband continued to let Jim stay with them after Polly’s death. Henry Depew would tell Jim every morning when he went out to the fields that he needed to be gone when he got home. Every evening when he returned, Jim would be sitting next to the stove whittling something. It never changed and he said it every day until 1896 when Jim passed away. Jim was buried next to Polly.

Jane made peace with her father. She was not spiteful and had a loving heart. By the time Jim came home, she had lost her husband and his presence was good for the kids.

In 1886 when Jim came home, Mary Leoni was 18. Laura was 16. Floyd was 13. Luvena was 11. Della was 9. Victor was 6. William was 4 and Lillie was 2. Missing John as much as she did, the arrival of the children’s grandfather helped fill the void. With his experience out West, he kept the kids entertained.

Caroline had Ida who was 11. James was 8. Launa was 7. The twins, Victor E and Ollie were 6. Bonnie was 4. William R was 2. Charles was born the year Jim came home.

Edger was born 3 years after he came home. Bessie was born 7 years after he came home and was 3 when he died. He didn’t see these children. They had moved to Virginia and only met them at Polly’s funeral.

Sarah’s children were:

William Lafayette 13

James N (named after his grandfather) 12

Mary 8

Alice 7

Kenneth 6

Ida 3

Mack 1

Effie, Levy, Leonard, and Carl were born after Jim came back. All of them got to spend time with their grandfather too since he lived with them. It must have been pretty crowded.

Day 16 - Luvena (Luvenia) Finetta Rhea

Luvenia is in the family picture. She is on the right side of Jane.

As robust as Andrew had been, Luvenia wasn’t. She was a sickly baby and a sickly toddler. By the time she reached school age, she was never well enough to go. Jane kept hoping she’d outgrow it but nothing changed.

In 1875, when Luvenia was born, there were no tests to find diseases of the heart. The only doctor around was Doc Campbell but he serviced Sneedville and the surrounding areas and was not up on the latest technology. He barely made it though each day with his services needed far and wide.

Dr. Campbell was aware of Luvenia’s illness and suspected a hole in the heart. He also knew that if a child made it past adolescence; they had a pretty good chance of living a longer life. He had explained all of this to John and Jane when Luvenia was about two. He suggested they take her to a specialist in Knoxville but money was tight and the trip was expensive. They decided to save up and take her when she was a little older but any spare money was spent when Andrew died. At 5-yrs-old, Luvenia was not strong enough to run and play with the other children but she seemed happy enough doing small projects where she excelled.
They put off the trip to Knoxville and started saving again.

When Luvenia was nine, John Carter was murdered. Of all the children, she felt it the most. Her father was her hero. He never let her tire herself out and carried her almost everywhere. Any kind of exertion left her breathless and it hurt him when she couldn’t catch her breath. She was his little princess.

Jane was aware of Luvenia’s suffering. She was pregnant, had four-yr-old Victor and two-year-old William, who were very active. Trying to keep the boys from getting into trouble and dealing with her husband’s death left little time for Luvenia. It wasn’t until her mother suggested teaching Luvenia embroidery that she found a solution that worked for her unhappy daughter.

Both John and Jane valued learning and could read and write so Luvenia was schooled at home. Her father had insisted that she have the same education as her siblings. Even though she didn’t attend school, she was a better reader than her brothers and sisters.

Needlework was considered a part of a girl’s education and Polly believed that it would be the perfect outlet for Luvenia. In the evening after leaving work, she made her way to her daughter’s house.
“Girls,” Polly shouted as she walked into the house, “Come see what I have.” Laura at 14 and Leoni, 16, were not interested in sewing. They had done enough and were quite frankly tired of it. “It’s not sewing” Polly told them, “It’s decoration.” Nothing she could say would make them pick up the colorful floss and a needle. Della, who was seven, looked decidedly interested. Luvenia approved of the colors but wasn’t quite sure what she was supposed to do with it.

“We are going to make a sampler”, Polly said.

“What’s a sampler?” Luvenia asked.

“It’s a way to show off what you can do with a needle. You can decorate your piece anyway you want. You can make the alphabet, create an animal, and write a saying. There are different stitches to learn.” Polly replied.

Della looked slightly less interested. “I don’t want to Grandma,” she said.

That’s fine,  Della, you don’t have too” said Polly.

“How about you Luvenia?” Polly inquired.

“What would I make?” she asked.

“I have a suggestion if you’ll let me,” Polly said. “I thought it might be nice if you made something for you to remember your papa. You could sew his name at the top with his birth date. We could find a nice verse in the Bible you and he liked. At the bottom, we could put the day he died and finish it with a fancy border. When it’s done, one of your brothers could make a nice frame and we could hang it on the wall.”
Luvenia’s eyes lighted up. “That’s a lovely idea, Grandma. I want to get started right away. I want to make something special for Papa. Show me how.”

Polly was pleased that the young girl had something special to do. That first night she showed her the basic stitches and helped her draw out the beginning pattern. As the weeks went by, Luvenia learned more and more until she was more than proficient. As promised, she finished the sampler in no time at all and Floyd built it a fine frame. It was hung in a place of honor in the parlor, soon to be joined by other equally impressive pieces.

Luvenia was born on December 19, 1875 and passed away on April 22, 1913 at the age of 37. She is buried in the Depew Family Cemetery next to her mother. She never married and left no legacy. She is one of the forgotten ones because no one lived after her to tell her story. Luvenia Finetta Rhea was my great aunt and her life matters to me.

Day 12. Caroline and Sarah

Just a little scrap of a photo but it is so much more. The lady on the left is Caroline McCollum and to her right is Jane McCollum. 

In 1870, Polly McCollum had a house full of people. Jane had married and moved out but 18-yr-old Caroline and 20-yr-old Sarah were still there and they weren’t the only ones.

Polly’s sister Eleanor had moved in. She had bounced around a lot since the death of their parents and had finally given in at Polly’s insistence. At 30, she was in the position to take over the domestic job that Polly had held for years. The family in Sneedville was pleased that Eleanor was able to step in when Polly could no longer do the heavier tasks.

Polly was not in the best of health. Supporting the children after James left had taken its toll. He would occasionally send money but it had never been enough. Her frail body was a testament to the damage arthritis could cause. Although she had ignored it for years, she could no longer do the lifting and heavy cleaning needed. Polly had asked Eleanor to come stay with her but she was an independent woman who didn’t want to be beholding to anyone. Now that Eleanor had a way to share the load, she moved in gratefully.

The two sisters got along well. Eleanor liked the thought of being a part of the McCollum family. Jane was already married and gone when Eleanor arrived but she wasn’t far away. Eleanor adored Jane’s three small children. She didn’t have much time to run and play with them but they loved it when she read to them. Maybe not so much the baby but Andrew and Leoni would curl up with her whenever they had the chance.

Eleanor was also entertained by the girls. Caroline didn’t seem to be interested in finding a man to marry but Sarah was always on the lookout. Eleanor had never married so she found the two attitudes interesting. She had once felt like Sarah but understood Caroline. The three of them had lively discussions about the role of women in the society and Eleanor was of the opinion that women were held back. Caroline was the one who agreed with her most of the time but Sarah just wanted to find a man and get married. Polly didn’t get involved. She had her own opinion of men.

Although Polly was not making money, Eleanor gave her most of what she made. Polly wanted to add to the income and decided to plant tobacco on two acres behind the house. Polly and the girls lived on the river, east of Rhea Hollow. It was still family land that John had been given by John Elijah. To farm the land, Polly needed help so she asked their nearest neighbor Joseph Depew. He didn’t have any children to spare but did mention he had a nephew who was looking for work. Henry Eli Depew came to see her and she liked what she saw. At 20, he was a dependable young man who was willing to work for room and board plus a little spending cash. That was a perfect solution for her.

It is not clear if Polly noticed right away that Sarah also thought it was a good plan. Henry Depew was handsome albeit a little shy. Sarah had grown up around lots of boy cousins was not afraid of Henry. She thought him exceedingly handsome. His short brown hair was neatly combed in place and he kept his mustache trimmed. At 16, she was smitten by the young man.

It was Eleanor who alerted Polly.

“Sarah’s in love.” She told Polly.

“Really?” was Polly’s response. “She’s in love all the time. She falls in love once a week”

“No, really, Sarah is in love with Henry”, Eleanor retorted.

Polly looked at her sister and realized she was serious.

“Sarah’s in love”. She asked.

“Watch her around Henry. Watch her eyes. I don’t think he knows it yet but mark my words, she is going to snag him,” Said Eleanor.

“She’s still a little young”, said Polly.

Eleanor laughed. “You were an old maid of 23. Jane was out of here at 17. Sarah is 16. Mark my words; she and Henry will be married before she is 20.”

“I guess I will need to pay more attention. If you’re right, how long will it take Henry to figure it out?” Polly replied.

“We’ll see.”

Caroline knew. Sarah had informed her that she was going to marry Henry. Like her mother, Caroline was used to Sarah falling in love so she didn’t put much stock in what Sarah said. But as time went on, she noticed the Sarah was not flirting with the other boys any more.

“You are serious about Henry, aren’t you?” Caroline had asked.

“Didn’t I tell you I was going to marry him?” Sarah rolled her eyes. “No one gets it” she exclaimed.

“Okay, don’t get mad. Did you tell Henry? She said.

“You just don’t tell Henry” Sarah replied. “He has to figure it out on his own. I am willing to give him some time before I start pushing but I want to get married by the time I’m 19”

“Well, good luck,” Caroline responded. “That gives the poor guy about two years.”

Sarah looked at her and scowled. “At least I have a guy,“ she said smugly.

“You don’t have a guy at all” Caroline retorted. “You have a dream and it’s certainly not set in stone.”

From the kitchen came Polly’s voice. “Ladies, that’s enough.”

It wasn’t that Caroline was not interested in marriage; she was, in her opinion, a little more selective. There were not many young men who were willing to provide a spouse nicer clothes, a nicer house, or a more upscale life. Caroline did not want to spend her life in Sneedville. She wanted more.

She and Jane had gone round and round on the topic. Jane was a homebody and really didn’t care much about social niceties. The idea of moving up was not something Jane was interested in and didn’t see why Caroline would want more. Caroline didn’t understand why Jane was so content with almost nothing. Jane wore her clothing without ornament. Caroline poured over the most current papers on fashion and jewelry and was always trying to copy it.

So while Sarah finally got Henry to see that he was in love, Caroline kept waiting.

Sarah and Henry married in 1871. True to her word, she was under 20. Caroline was 21 and the last single sister. Eleanor kept telling her that there was nothing wrong with waiting for the right guy. Caroline knew that. She loved that Jane had a bunch of kids and Sarah was happy with her new husband but she still wanted more.

Robert P. Tyler came into Sneedville in 1873. He was a lumber dealer from Rye Cove, Virginia, which was 26 miles away. He came with the special order shutters that John had ordered. It was a surprise for Jane who had wanted real shutters on the house.

Robert dressed well. He had an air about him that spoke of success. Jane and John invited him to stay for dinner and invited Polly, Eleanor, and Caroline. Caroline was immediately taken with the 26 year old lumber dealer. As he spoke about the business, she hung onto every word. She wanted to know about his home town and he told her it was also near the Clinch River. Rye Cove, he said was full of caves to explore. He never tired of exploring.

He seemed to be taken with her too. He asked if he could write to her. She, of course, said yes.

Jane and Polly were amused. Caroline had found her man. She was 24 and they had all but given up on her finding someone suitable or that could meet her standards. She went around quoting him on business and the caves. She was insufferable.

They wrote constantly and in late 1873, she moved to Virginia to live with his family. Polly missed her and although it wasn’t that far away, she didn’t have the money to make the trip or the strength. Caroline sent her a chatty letter in March of 1875 to inform her that she and Robert had had a daughter they had named Ida Belle. This was news to Polly as she hadn’t known that Caroline was pregnant and was sure that her daughter would not have married without telling her.

She wrote back expressing joy about the baby but disappointment that she had not been informed of the wedding. Caroline wrote back to her quickly telling her that the wedding would be in May and that she hadn’t missed it. The baby was a surprise for her and Robert too and they had not planned it. Ida Belle was the most perfect baby and they would be coming to see her after the wedding.

True to her word, Caroline, Robert, and the baby arrived for an extended visit. In fact, the Tyler children spent a lot of time growing up in Sneedville. They got to know all their cousins and in later life, shared some of the fun times they had together in letters. Ida turned out to be the family historian of sorts. Each of her letters described where he siblings were living, how many children they had. She spent a lot of time reminiscing about her mom and Aunt Jane. The letters have been preserved. There was only one problem. Her writing is awful and it is hard to read them and decipher what they say.

This will be finished when I get through the letters to see what else she has to say. It was a surprise to learn that she was born before her parents married and that would have been taboo in those days.

She probably was sent to Virginia to have the baby but that needs a little more research. Would they have accepted her in Sneedville, pregnant and not married?

Day 10 - Life

Life went on. John farmed the land and Jane was busy with new babies. Washington Floyd Rhea (called Floyd) came along in 1873, followed by Luvena in 1875. Fidello Florence (called Della) was born in 1877, Victor Edwin in 1880, and William Ogden (my grandfather) in 1882. The last child, Lillie Bower, was born in 1884. They were not always easy years and several events helped form the person Jane would become.

The family was comfortable. They had enough food and the house was full of noisy children. Jane would often sit on the balcony and feel her heart fill with joy at the sound of the kids. They were a happy family.

She missed her father who had not come back home from California. He would not return until 1886. It is said that the only thing he came home with was a piece of gold.

In 1875, Carolyn married Robert Tyler and moved to Virginia so Polly didn’t get to spend a lot of time with the 10 grandchildren but they did spend some of their summers in Sneedville. The older child, Ida, wrote letters to Victor and talked about the fun they had as kids. Sarah married Henry Eli Depew in 1871 and added an additional 9 grand-kids. With Jane’s 9 kids, there was always someone underfoot when they got together. 

Day 8 - John and Jane marry

Preparing for the wedding on March 5, 1865, was hurried. There was no point in putting it off and John had talked to Polly, She approved of him and knew that he would be good to her daughter. He was steady and already had land left to him by his father. It was good farming land and bordered the Clinch River. John had started a house next to the river against the granite face of a cliff. Using the granite as the back of the house, it was set on higher ground so it wouldn't flood when the river was high.

They didn’t plan to stay there forever and she imagined that they would have to build a bigger house if they had a few children. She liked it and it wasn’t far from her.  She wished she could provide more. She didn’t get much from James. Sometimes money would appear in a letter but it was nothing to count on. Her wages as a domestic barely keep them afloat. At least she had a few hogs and chickens, which provided meat and eggs. She saved the chicken feathers to use for pillows. She would make some for Martha and John although Jane had made some for her hope chest. The garden provided fresh vegetables in the spring and summer and root vegetables to store for the winter.

The girls were busy with all the chores that should have been hers. Still, it was good training for them and they had all the skills they needed.  She had saved enough to buy some pretty lace to make a veil. The peddler who had come through a year or so ago had some fine fabrics. As lovely as they were, she only had a little to spend for frivolous fancies when she really needed the flannel for blankets.

Jane’s wedding dress wouldn't be extravagant. Jane didn't seem to care, she had decorated one of her best dresses with beads and ribbons and it looked lovely. She was really excited about the lace veil. 

The biggest contention came when they were deciding whom to invite. Polly, Jane, John, and his mother Lucy sat down to make a list. It started out quite simple. On Jane’s side, there were only three people: Polly, Caroline, and Sarah. Then there were the Rhea’s.  John Elijah Rhea had passed away six years earlier. Lucy had managed to maintain the farm with the help of the children. There were several still at home and they needed to be invited.  Lafayette was 13 and wanted to be a part of the wedding. They decided that he could be a groomsman opposite of Sarah. John wanted his brother Abijah, who was 29, to be the best man. Jane agreed to that with Caroline as the Maid of Honor. 

Sterling, the oldest brother at 41 lived in Sneedville. He was the blacksmith for the town. He and his wife, Samantha had seven children ranging in age from 1-yr-old to 11-yrs-old. John’s oldest sister Elizabeth Ann who was 35-yrs-old and her husband Benjamin Burchett also lived in Sneedville. Their nine children ranged in age from 5-yrs-old to 18-yrs-old.  By the time they had counted up the two families they figured that they would need to have everyone bring food. Polly and Lucy certainly couldn't afford to feed all those people alone. 

They kept counting. James and his wife Raquel lived one county over. They weren't sure they could make the trip but they counted them anyway, adding their five children.  George who was 30 and Jesse, 26, both lived at home so of course, they needed to be invited. 17-yr-old Sarah and her husband William Parten lived in Sneedville and made the list.  That did not include any of the family friends living in town. They finally decided anyone bringing food would be welcomed. 

The weather in March of 1865 was not favorable for an outside wedding. Lucy’s house was bigger than Polly’s was so they decided that the wedding could take place in the parlor and the guest could spill over outside if necessary. 

John and Jane picked March 5, as the date for the wedding. It was good time for a celebration. Succeeding from the Union and the loss of the war had devastated the folks in Tennessee. For one day, it would change the focus and give people a chance to have a good time. While the rest of the country would be celebration the 2nd inauguration of President Lincoln on that day, they would be celebrating something they could endorse. 

It wouldn't be until the 1880’s that the wedding poem would become the standard for all brides “Something old, something new Something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe”. However, traditions did follow immigrants to America. The Scottish/Irish ancestry that made up most of the families in Sneedville came with its own customs. 

“Jane, I have something for you.” Polly said to her as she came into the kitchen on her wedding day. She moved to the sideboard and pulled out a small package wrapped in tissue paper. Tissue paper was a relatively new invention used to make clothing patterns. The left over pieces were used to protect precious objects.

Polly handed the package to Jane. “I like the idea of you taking something old into your new life. It has certain merit keeping us connected.” Polly said.

“My mama gave that to me on my wedding day. It was her prayer book. You can wrap it in your nicest hanky and carry it with a few flowers.”

“Oh Mama, do you really mean to give this to me?” Jane said with tears in her eyes. “I will cherish it.” 

Day 7 - John is home

Not much is known about the family views regarding slavery but they were fiercely independent and didn't care for government interference in their lives. Like many poor families, they would have fought for States Rights. Three of John Elijah’s children enlisted and fought in the Civil War. Sterling, the oldest didn't enlist until 1864, the year before the war ended and he surrendered at Appomattox, VA on April 9, 1865 when he was 38.

John Carter and Abijah both enlisted when the war started. John was 19 and Abijah was 25. They were part of the 29th Tennessee Infantry in Company D. Their company was paroled in Greensboro, NC on April 9, 1865 but both of them were home before the surrender. There isn't any information on why they were home before the end of the war so it leaves it open to interpretation.

“Mama,” Jane yelled as she slammed the door behind her, “He’s home!” 

Polly McCollum looked up from the pot she was stirring. “Who’s home?” she asked. 

“John is home. Abijah and John are home,” she said. “Lucy just saw them and couldn't wait to tell me. I expect their mother is happy.”

“I suppose she is,” replied Polly. “Will you please call your sisters, dinner is ready.” 

Jane hurried to find her sisters. Maybe now, he would ask her mother for her hand. He’d been gone almost three years and she’d heard that the Confederate Army was ready to surrender. It didn't matter to her. John Carter Rhea was home and she was 17- yrs-old, in love, and all grown up. After all, John’s sister Sarah got to get married at 14, the same age that she had been when John went to war. 

Polly filled the plates and set them on the table. The girls sat down and offered a prayer. 

“I got a letter from your father today,” Polly started but 15-yr-old Caroline interrupted.

“Is he coming home?” she asked. Jane and 13-yr-old Sarah waited expectantly for the answer. 

“No, he said that they were finding gold all over the place and he thought he might have a lead on a vein”, she replied. 

“Mama, if I get married, will he come home?” Jane wanted to know.

Caroline and Sarah looked up sharply. “Married,” they squealed.

Jane looked a little smug. “John came home today” 

Preparing for the wedding - Day 3 of the Family History Writing Challenge.

Day 3

Preparing for the wedding on March 5, 1865

Getting ready for the wedding was hurried. There was no point in putting it off and John had talked to Polly, She approved of him and knew that he would be good to her daughter. He was steady and already had land left to him by his father. It was good farming land and bordered the Clinch River. John had started a house next to the river against the granite face of a cliff. Using the granite as the back of the house, it was set on higher ground so it wouldn’t flood when the river was high. They didn’t plan to stay there forever and she imagined that they would have to build a bigger house if they had a few children. She liked it and it wasn’t far from her.

She wished she could provide more. She didn’t get much from James. Sometimes money would appear in a letter but it was nothing to count on. Her wages as a domestic barely keep them afloat. At least she had a few hogs and chickens, which provided meat and eggs. She saved the chicken feathers to use for pillows. She would make some for Martha and John although Martha had made some for her hope chest. The garden provided fresh vegetables in the spring and summer and root vegetables to store for the winter. The girls were busy with all the chores that should have been hers. Still, it was good training for them and they had all the skills they needed.

She had saved enough to buy some pretty lace to make a veil. The peddler who had come through a year or so ago had some fine fabrics. As lovely as they were, she only had a little to spend for frivolous fancies when she really needed the flannel for blankets. Martha’s wedding dress wouldn’t be extravagant. Martha didn’t seem to care, she had decorated one of her best dresses with beads and ribbons and it looked lovely. She was really excited about the lace veil.

The biggest contention came when they were deciding whom to invite. Polly, Martha, John, and his mother Lucy sat down to make a list. It started out quite simple. On Martha’s side, there were only three people: Polly, Caroline, and Sarah. Then there were the Rhea’s.

John Elijah Rhea had passed away six years earlier. Lucy had managed to maintain the farm with the help of the children. There were several still at home and they needed to be invited.

Lafayette was 13 and wanted to be a part of the wedding. They decided that he could be a groomsman opposite of Sarah. John wanted his brother Abijah, who was 29, to be the best man. Martha agreed to that with Caroline as the Maid of Honor.

Sterling, the oldest brother at 41 lived in Sneedville. He was the blacksmith for the town. He and his wife, Samantha had seven children ranging in age from 1-yr-old to 11-yrs-old. John’s oldest sister Elizabeth Ann who was 35-yrs-old and her husband Benjamin Burchett also lived in Sneedville. Their nine children ranged in age from 5-yrs-old to 18-yrs-old.

By the time they had counted up the two families they figured that they would need to have everyone bring food. Polly and Lucy certainly couldn’t afford to feed all those people alone.

They kept counting. James and his wife Raquel lived one county over. They weren’t sure they could make the trip but they counted them anyway, adding their five children.

George who was 30 and Jesse, 26, both lived at home so of course, they needed to be invited. 17-yr-old Sarah and her husband William Parten lived in Sneedville and made the list.

That did not include any of the family friends living in town. They finally decided anyone bringing food would be welcomed.

The weather in March of 1865 was not favorable for an outside wedding. Lucy’s house was bigger than Polly’s was so they decided that the wedding could take place in the parlor and the guest could spill over outside if necessary.

John and Martha picked March 5, 1865 as the date for the wedding. It was good time for a celebration. Succeeding from the Union and the loss of the war had devastated the folks in Tennessee. For one day, it would change the focus and give people a chance to have a good time. While the rest of the country would be celebration the 2nd inauguration of President Lincoln on that day, they would be celebrating something they could endorse.

It wouldn’t be until the 1880’s that the wedding poem would become the standard for all brides

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something new
And a silver sixpence in her shoe

However, traditions did follow immigrants to America. The Scottish/Irish ancestry that made up most of the families in Sneedville came with its own customs.

“Martha, I have something for you.” Polly said to Martha as she came into the kitchen on her wedding day. She moved to the sideboard and pulled out a small package wrapped in tissue paper. Tissue paper was a relatively new invention used to make clothing patterns. The left over pieces were used to protect precious objects. Polly handed the package to Martha.

“I like the idea of you taking something old into your new life. It has certain merit keeping us connected.” Polly said. “My mama gave that to me on my wedding day. It was her prayer book. You can wrap it in your nicest hanky and carry it with a few flowers.”

“Oh Mama, do your really mean to give this to me?” Martha said with tears in her eyes. “I will cherish it.”

964 words - 6 short

Research, resources, and ready to roll - Day 2 of the Family History Writing Challenge

“Mama,” she yelled as she slammed the door behind her, “He’s home!”

Polly McCollum looked up from the pot she was stirring. “Who’s home?” she asked.

“John is home. Abijah and John are home,” she said. “Lucy just saw them and couldn’t wait to tell me. I expect their mother is happy.”

“I suppose she is,” replied Polly. “Will you please call your sisters, dinner is ready.”

Martha Jane hurried to find her sisters. Maybe now, he would ask her mother for her hand. He’d been gone almost three years and she’d heard that the Confederate Army was ready to surrender. It didn’t matter to her. John Carter Rhea was home and she was 17- yrs-old, in love, and all grown up. After all, John’s sister Sarah got to get married at 14, the same age that she had been when John went to war.

Polly filled the plates and set them on the table. The girls sat down and offered a prayer.

“I got a letter from your father today,” Polly started but 15-yr-old Caroline interrupted. “Is he coming home?” she asked. Martha and 13-yr-old sister Sarah waited expectantly for the answer.

“No, he said that they were finding gold all over the place and he thought he might have a lead on a vein”, she replied.

“Mama,, if I get married, will he come home?” Martha wanted to know. Caroline and Sarah looked up sharply. “Married,” they squealed. Martha looked a little smug. “John came home today”

The photo is James Northcross McCollum

James Northcross McCollum, born in 1820, grew up in Sneedville, Tennessee not far from the Gray farm. He and Polly Gray spent their early days together. Like his daughter would later do, he married his childhood sweetheart in 1847 when he was 26-yrs-old and she was 22-yrs-old. Polly knew that James had grander plans than living his life in a backwater town. When he came to her in 1853, seven years after they married, and told her he thought that he could make much more money for the family if he went off to California to find gold, she knew she couldn’t stop him. Martha Jane was just five when he left, Caroline was three and Sarah was a year old.

Polly was a little surprised that Caroline and Sarah still wanted their father to come home. Neither of them remembered him. Only Martha had memories of being Daddy’s little girl.

James had not found gold but did find a life that suited him. The weather in Northern California was similar to Sneedville and he lived in the Redwoods that lined the coast. By the time Martha decided she was going to marry John, he had been gone for twelve years. None of them knew that James Northcross McCollum would not return until 1886. By that time, Polly had divorced him and had been working all those years as a domestic servant for a wealthy family. 33 years is a long time to be gone from home but he did well. Even though he wasn’t fond of farming in Tennessee, he owned land that he farmed in Klamath, California.

If I were to write this as a short story, fleshing out the middle, this is how I would end it.

Martha quietly closed the door behind her. It the darkened room, Polly was asleep on the daybed in the front room. It had been a rough year for Polly who was not the robust person she’d once been. She was 61-yrs-old now and time had taken its toll.

The year was 1886 and Polly lived with her youngest daughter Sarah and husband, Henry Depew. She was no longer working and spent most of her time resting. She’d used up much of her strength and energy comforting Martha when John Carter was murdered in 1884. Martha was 8-months pregnant with Lillie on the day that John Brewer shot John Carter.

Martha tiptoed into the kitchen to find Sarah sitting at the kitchen table, pen in hand. Pausing in her writing, she looked up and answered the question she saw in Martha’s eyes. “Yes, I’m writing to Caroline. I imagine she’ll be shocked. I wonder if she and Robert will make the trip all the way from Oklahoma.”

Martha looked skeptical. “That’s a long way to go with all those kids and Robert may not be able to leave his job for that long. The lumber business is volatile as it is.”

“Still,” Carolyn said, “I’m going to let her know. This is the biggest news in years. Do you want to tell Mom?”

“I guess someone has to tell her,” Martha replied. “There’s no time like the present” and with that, Martha headed back to the front room.

She walked over to the daybed and touched her mother on her shoulder. “Mama,” she whispered. Polly opened her eyes and smiled at her.

“Mama, he’s home,” she said softly.

Polly looked confused. “Who’s home?” she asked.

“Daddy’s home.”

It seems to me that the story of James and Polly should have its own place. I like the thought of the ending and the beginning being the same because that’s how it would have gone down. Since this is only Day 2 of the challenge and I have already somehow changed the focus, I am going to leave this as is. Who knows where this will lead but I find myself more than vested in the lives of these people, my family.

BTW, 1886 was the 1st Rose Parade, something that my family attended all the years I was growing up. The first continental railroad transported the first oranges across the country. My husband and I were docents at the California Citrus State Historical Park in Riverside, California and we know all about this major event that made Riverside the richest city in the country at that time. The history that I know about California is colliding with the family history that I am learning.

991 words - 9 short

Straddling the line between fact and fiction

Lying in the land of Memoir: Straddling the Line Between Fact and Fiction is an incredible article sharing thoughts about what we remember when writing a memoir and the actual truth.

I am joining the Family History Writing Challenge and don't know what was said in 1918. I wasn't there but I do have information about that time from my great grandmother's letters. To tell her story, I have done the research into her past and can make educated guesses about her life. Still, I will have to embellish some to fill in the gaps.

The article clearly shows how it is possible to add dialog and details because what we really want to share are not the exact details but the flavor and texture of the times and the person we are writing about. It won't make her story any less true nor the trials and troubles she endured. I want to write about her strengths, ability to overcome obstacles and abiding faith.

Need to find out who James Northcross McCollum really was

Finding that James Northcross McCollum left his family in Tennessee while he went off to the gold mines in California was interesting enough. Then to find out that in the 1880 Census, Mary Polly McCollum listed her marital status as divorced, added another wrinkle. I don't have the records to back the divorce but have written to the Hancock County Historical Society for help.

I had great success with other historical societies in Wisconsin when researching my husband's family so I am hoping for similar results. I have lots of questions. Most of the historical societies do research for reasonable prices and can often find the backup documentation. The hardest part is waiting.

Making a timeline

I would imagine that there is software out there to make a timeline. Ancestry.com creates a timeline for each person but doesn't combine it on a family level. With the Gaulthair family, I used Excel to combine all the family members into some sort of order. I found it was really helpful.

With the Rhea family, I decided to do the same. I started with Martha Jane McColloam and her parents. I was shocked to find that my great, great grandfather, James Northcross McColloam, left his family somewhere between 1852 and 1867 and went to California. Doing a little research, I found that he was a miner in Klamath County, California. That is a beautiful area and is described as the Redwoods meeting the sea. I don't know if he was a gold miner on his own or worked for one of the larger mining companies. However, I did find that he was still there in 1880, leaving his wife, Mary Polly Gray,

to raise the girls in Tennessee.

It was certainly a change in career for him as he was a farmer when he headed west. It makes me wonder why he would make such an abrupt change. California would have been a real adventure for him and for all those times I have been there, I never realized that part of the Tennessee family had taken the same paths. While he was there, he experienced earthquakes that were not common in Tennessee. The weather is different. It does snow in Trinidad but certainly not like the winters in Sneedville.

Again we don't know when he came home but when he died in Sneedville, Tennessee, he was 75 years old.