Georgia: Columbia County: Biography DOINGS AND UNDOINGS OF THE CLYATTES ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Marilyn Cliett jean123321@netzero.net ==================================================================== DOINGS AND UNDOINGS OF THE CLYATTES By Martha Isabel Fortson Dalton James Lee Clyatte and Martha Matilda Burgess were married soon after "The Civil War". Eleven children were born of this union, namely: Benjamin, Newton, Bob, Rose (the writer's mother), David, Alex, Leila, Effie, Claude and Clare (twins), and John. None sur- vive at this time (December, 1972). The following doings are really true. EFFIE LOSES RINGS Now Effie had two nice rings. They were gone. Where can they be? She began to cry, and looked at Lany McGlamory's feet and there on her toes were Ef- fie's rings. On one occasion, Effie had a new dress. A neighbor, Mr. McGlamory, complimented her new dress Effie, beaming, pulled up skirt and said: "A new pet- ticoat and new drawers with lace on them !" LEILA HAS A BEAU A young man from Augusta, Georgia, came calling on beautiful Leila. He had a surrey with fringe on the top and drove two prancing bay mares. But, when the boys saw this rig approaching, each held his nose very tightly. Why? The young man was named Mr. Har- key! MISS ROSE GETS TIPSY At Christmas time, it was a custom for young and old to visit friends for eggnog. Now after several visits. Rose gets too much eggnog and when she reached home, she felt as if she could take the stairs two at a time. It happened that she had a date with her fa- vorite boyfriend, instead she went to bed and fell fast asleep. Of course, her mother claimed she was ill. "Might be coming down with a cold," she said. NEW TWINS When the twins were quite young, a neighbor, Mr. Mc- Daniel, called to pay his respects and good wishes to the new babies. After a lenghthy visit, he rose to go. He looked at grandma, then at the babies. "Mrs. Clyatte, you are so tiny surely you cannot give enough suckle for two husky boys." Grandma assured him; although small, she came from Jersey stock and both babies were fed quite well and satisfied with their diet. THE BED ON FIRE When the- twins were babies, grandma had Leathie, the colored help, who slept on a pallet near by in order to help. Leathie got up, half asleep, and set a small kerosene lamp under the edge of the bed. The smoke awak- ened grandma and she yelled, "Leathie are you trying to burn me alive?". In her haste, grandma stepped in a small chamber pot and her foot was wedged in the pot. She limped all over the room with her foot in the pot. Finally, the fire was put out and her foot was released from the pot. THE EARTHQUAKE 1896 All were in bed fast asleep when the dishes rat- tled, the windows rattled, brick fell from chimneys. Poor old Mary Ann, who slept in the basement, ran up steps to grandmothers room and asked: "Miss Matt, is you sewing on the 'sheen this time'o'night?" At the same time, a revival was in progress at Mount Mc- Carmet Church for the blacks, and the pastor was deep in prayer: "Oh Lord, please send a mighty power down on us to shake these folks up and fill us all with the Holy Ghost " Just then, the earthquake came. The preacher jumped out of the window and remarked: "Lord, I'll axe you dat no mo." THE CYCLONE Old Eph came from town on March 28, 1875 the day the cyclone blew Appling, Georgia, away. He asked, "Miss Matt, had you heard about the cypose? It blew Appling away, but it did leave the jail and the court- house." ROBBING THE BEES Jimmy Lee was robbing the bee hives, Neet was holding the smoke. He remarked to Neet "I say, hold that smoke !" Neet replied: .-"How in the name of God can I hold thesmoke when a bee is in my britches?". THE RED CAPS AND SITTING GOOSE The twins were very young when their mother bought them their first billcaps that were a bright red color. A goose was sitting on a nest full of eggs in a fence corner. First-Claude, then Clare poked his cap at the goose to hear her hiss. The old goose reached out and took a cap in her bill and gently placed it under her. Then, the other cap was neatly tucked inside the nest. The boys yelled and screamed and ran to their mother. Their little world had suddenly caved-in Their mother said: "That is O.K. The goose will have a nice warm nest now, and-when the goslings hatch what a nice nest they will have " Of course, later, the caps were rescued by the hands of their loving mother. THE GIN HOUSE Younger children were not allowed near the gin house. The twins slipped off and went to the gin house. The oldest brother, Ben, ran the gin. He saw the little fellows, took their little red hats, and one at a time put the hats on top of the engine whistle. When the cord was pulled, the hats went high into the air. Big brother rescued said hats after the twins promised not to come back. THE BUTTING-GOAT AND JIMMY LEE The boys called their dad, Jimmy Lee (behind his back, that is). They taught a big goat to butt when they gave the signal. Now, poor Jimmy Lee had a case of hemorrhoids. He had an outdoor privy where he went to doctor his hemorrhoids. He had salve in one hand and a pan of warm water in the other hand. A loose board in the fence serVed as a gate. Just as Jimmy Lee was ready to pass through the said gate, the boys yelled: "Now, Billy Gol" Billy went with head bowed and sent the old man through the gate, board and all. Of course, the boys made themselves scarce at once. THE BAPTIZING A mother hen had 15 beautiful chicks. The twins had just witnessed their first baptizing after a revival meeting. With so many house guests, the boys had to "Take a tater and wait" at meal time. A hard rain had made a perfect pool for baptizing, so the small chicks were the victims. When the chicks seemed hard to catch, they were given a sharp rap on their heads with a stick. All 15 were baptized and placed on a board. The mother hen created such a scene that Aunt Neat, the cook, ran to see what the matter could be. I assure you that the twins really got their bottoms warmed up, but good! THE GARDENING SEASON In the spring. It was time to set out cabbage plants. The boys watched carefully as each plant was placed in the rich soil with tops showing. They had an idea. Why not plant baby chickens and leave heads out and maybe they would grow faster. Grandma heard such chirping and mother hen fussing as she ran length of the garden row. When grandma beheld a row of small yellow heads, she began breaking peach tree switches,enough said. U.S. OF LINCOLN COUNTY One day a travelling man asked Bob, "Does Mr. Lee Clyatte live here?" "Yes sir," answered Bob. "Is he at home?" asked the travelling man. "No- .- - sir," answered Bob. "He has gone to the United States of Lincoln County." THE CHURNING - The Clyatte home was a huge old house:' three stories high with an ell for kitchen and dining room and a porch, full length, with a well on the porch. As a child, how I loved to turn the windlass and bring up a bucket of cold, sparkling water. The cellar was an ideal place to keep the churn of milk until it clab- bered and was ready to churn. Two small boys decided to churn the clabber. For a churn dasher they used a tall boot, caked with red, dried mud. I'll wager that was the first red buttermilk the boys ever saw, and their bottoms were a shade redder when their Mamma punished them. THE SURE SIGN OF DEATH Mrs. Ruben Blanchard lay sick of a fever. A screech owl flew in the window and perched himself on the head- board. The cook saw-the owl and yelled, "Mr. Blanchard, that is a'sure sign of death." Mr. Blanchard got a fire poker and gave the owl a sharp rap on the head. The limp owl fell to the floor. "You are right, Mandy," Mr. Blanchard answered;as he pitched the limp owl-out of the window. THE SHADOW ON THE WALL Mr. Ruben Blanchard mended shoes and harnesses as a trade. With eight boys and three girls at the Clyatte Mansion and many horses and mules at the-barn, sometimes. the mending took two weeks. After supper, the children listened to tales Mr. Blanchard told. He had a habit of pulling on his short beard as he talked. Mr. Blanchard was called on to lead the prayer for evening devotional. All knelt in front of their chairs. As Mr. Blanchard spoke, the little beard moved up and down making a shadow on the white plastered wall. Alex saw it first and punched the one next to him, and so on around the room. The children sneaked out one by one, then Aunt Mary, a visitor, attempted to leave and fell. Tears were streaming down her face. "Are you hurt. Aunt Mary?" asked Newt. "No, I am tickled", she replied. Then came grandma. "What are you doing out here?", asked Bob. "I came to make you behave." No one was left to pray but Mr. Blanchard and grandpa. The boys decided their dad would give them "Hell" for'this, but believe it or not, the old man did not punish them, nor nary a word did he say about the event. I'd be willing to bet my eye-teeth the old man peeked at the wall and saw his first moving picture (and a good one too). THE BURNING UP Grandpa had warned Alex that he would "burn him up" the next time he caught him smoking. Thinking his dad was gone for the day, Alex rolled and lighted his cigarette. Just then, the old man appeared, grabbed a shingle and gave Alex a sharp rap on the behind. The box of matches In Alex's hip pocket sat him on fire and the only water In sight was the horse trough, so Alex jumped In and out went the fire. DROPPING PEAS Two of the young boys were told to drop peas. Being near the creek, they naturally wanted to finish the job and go fishing. There was only a peck mea- sure of peas left, so the boys dumped them Into the creek. Many landed on soft dirt and sprouted In a hurry, as thick as hair on a dog's back. The boys had not planned for this to happen and punishment came on strong. DAVE DECIDES TO LEAVE HOME After a severe whipping by his dad, Dave decides to leave home. He packed his belongings in a pillow case after he had torn the lace from it, and dropped the bundle from the upstairs window. Aunt Mary, a visitor, heard the bump as bundle hit ground. Dave was a "Mamma's boy" and slowly came downstairs and sat by his mother. "Mamma, I love you," said he. Grand- ma assured she loved him, too. "You are not thinking of running away are you?", she asked. Dave began to cry and was persuaded to stay at home and be a good boy. THE MULE TALE (QUOTE ROSE) "When I was four-years-old, a fighting mule jumped the fence and ran away. I heard the mule's hoofs hit- ting the road and ran and hid In a fence corner. My daddy saw me and yelled to Henry, a black man, 'Get that child!' and George, a hired man, grabbed the mule by the lips and hung on. The mule had his feet raised to crush me in the fence corner. The mule raised George from the ground many times, but George held on. Next day the mule was traded. Never in all of my life had I been as frightened. You may well believe I stayed in the yard with the gate locked tight for a long, long time. THE NEW SCHOOL MARM In the old days, the country churches had preaching twice a month. The business and conferences were held on Saturday afternoon. A deacon of Sharon Baptist Church at Winfleld, Georgia, had lost a fine Milk cow, fresh in. He announced his loss, giving a detailed description of the said cow. At the same time, it was the deacon's duty to tell the church about the new school marm. "Brothers and sis- ters," beamed the deacon, "You have a great surprise in store. Not only beautiful, but Miss Annie Mundy has ta- lent. She sings and plays the organ and piano beautifully, Miss Mundy has very high rating as a teacher. She has a way of lending a helping hand to her fellowmen. She has a radiant smile and a dimple in her right cheek. I am sure you will love her." The deacon sat down. Just then, he thought of one detail that might help locate his lost cow, so he arose again and exclaimed: "Brethren and sisters, I forgot to tell you, she has a big black wart on her left hind teat " ALEX AND JACK BEASLEY LEAVE HOME Alex and Jack were ten years of age. They deci- ded to run away from home and get a job. They ate their school lunch and threw away the lunch boxes. They reached Grovetown, Georgia, about fifteen miles from home, and finally found a home wt^ere they spent the night. All the people who consented to take the boys in had to eat was cornpone and fatback. The old man of the house was reading the newspaper and saw a picture of a bride and groom. The man asked Alex if he were kin to the Clyatte groom, whose picture was in the paper. Alex answered, "Newton Clyatte is only my brother." The old man said: "Is your dad Lee Clyatte?" "Yes," answered Alex. "Well, I know your dad. You boys get' a good night's sleep and in the morning, you start for home." The next night when Alex reached home, Dave reached for the gun, hearing someone on the steps. Grandma said, "Put down the gun, Dave, that is Alex." Alex grabbed his mother and after a big hug and kiss. said: "Mamma, I am so glad to see youl" Grandma answered, "Why you have only been gone one day." "I know, but I am still glad to see you. Any supper left over?" THE BEWHISKERED MR. GRAY Mr. Gray and grandpa were deep in conversation. Clare watched and could see no mouth. Mr. Gray had a very thick mustache and a long thick beard. Clare wondered how Mr. Gray could eat, so he asked him. Getting no answer, Clare shook Mr. Gray gently and asked: "Mr. Gray, how do you eat a biscuit?" The answer was:- "Just wait my boy until suppertime and you will see." That little'four-year-old really did watch, but was not sure yet where the biscuit.-went. Aunt Fannie Roberts, grandma's sister, had a par- rot. Now the cook had a pound cake In the oven. She had slipped out enough cake batter for a small layer for herself. Aunt Fannie had a small chair In the kit- chen near the fireplace. The parrot was in his cage near the fireplace. The cook's small cake was ready, so she took it from the oven, just as Aunt Fannie was entering the kitchen. In haste the cook raised the pillow in the chair and hid her cake there. The parrot observed, and as Aunt Fannie started to seat herself, the parrot shouted: "Burn your ass. Missus, burn your ass I" A man was selling cord wood. As he neared Aunt Fannie's house, this'same parrot, sunning on the back- porch, yelled: "Throw it off. Mister, throw it offi" Now no one used wood at this house, so when the man knocked on the door to collect his pay. Aunt Fannie said: "I ordered no wood. Must have been that par- rot." The roan loaded his wood again, and slipped on porch and gave the parrot a sharp rap on the head. He fell limp to the bottom of his cage. James Clyatte married Elizabeth Kinder on August 18, 1855. Children Date of Birth Peter June 10, 1854 David October 5, 1855 Isaac December 21, 1857 Luclnda December 4, 1839 Elizabeth January 7, 1841 Thomas July 15, 1842 *James Lee March 12, 1845 John March 25, 1849 Joseph C. November 17, l851_ William Newton January 25, 1855 James Lee Clyatte married Magilda Burgess on September 15, 1865. Children Date of Birth Benjamin Franklin August 1,1866 James Newton January 22, 1868 Robert Lee October 1, 1870 Rosa Lillian November 16, 1872 David Casey March 20, 1875 Alexander Stephens March 17, 1877 Leila Maude January 4, 1879 Effie May December 5, 1880 Claude Eugene and August 25, 1885 Clarence Cluese August 25, 1885 John Fortson October 29, 1890 Rosa Lillian Clyatte and Henry Mell Fortson (11-16-1872 to 10-11-1967) (5-10-1870 to 10-14- married in Sharon Baptist Church, Winfield, Columbia Georgia, on 10-21-1896. Four children: 1. Henry Clyatte Fortson (10-14-1897 to 5-21-1956) married in 9-1926 Lucye Anne Timberlake (died 10-19-1967) One child: Rosabel Clyatte Fortson McCauley Two children; Teresa Anne McCauley Judith Carol McCauley 2. Martha Isabel Fortson (born 5-51-1900) in Tignall, Wllkes County, Georgia married 7-12-1925 Joseph Franklin Dalton (died 9-7-1950) Three children: (1) Dorothy Rose Dalton (4-8-1924 to 5-11-1961) married 2-5-1945 Charles E. Hoskin, III No children (2) Mary Rebecca Dalton (born 12-10-1926) married 5-28-1955 Gilbert Ray Beam One child: Gilbert Franklin Beam (born 7-50-1956) (5) Jo Ann Dalton (born 10-18-1928) married 12-51-1950 John A. Harrelson Three children: John A. Harrelson, Jr. (born 6-9-1953) Martha Jo Harrelson (born 8-2-1961) Laura Grace Harrelson (born 10-25-1962) 5. Mary Frances Fortson (born 10-4-1905) married 6-19-1926 (1) John Bones Hill (died 2-20-1955) married 6-7-1953 (2) James R. Wainwrlght No children Stepchildren Wainwrlght 4 Ruth Estelle Fortson (10-24-1907 to 10-21-1954) married 6-5-1952 Leon Marion_Ferst 0ne child: Madeline Jean Ferst (born 8-21-1955) married 12-21-1957 LeConte Valdi Cooper - One child: Valerie Jean Cooper (born 7-7-1958)