Upson County GaArchives History .....Cary, Frances Caroline Flewellen Memoir 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Archie Colburn acolburn@tyler.net February 4, 2005, 11:18 am

Written 1905 by Mrs. Frances Caroline Flewellen Cary
Mineola Texas

NOTE: Her husband was John
Cary, a lawyer.  She was a daughter of Thomas Flewellen. Originally written in 
hand.

Pa's house consisted of one large room with a back shed room and what was then 
called the piazza in front.  The great attraction then, however, was mother's 
sister, Miss Caroline Drake, a beautiful and highly accomplished young lady 
from North Carolina, just graduated from Salem, N.C. then considered one of the 
best schools in the south. The officers were very attentive to her, and I 
remember that our family spent a day at their samp several times through 
invitations from the officers.

Not many years afterwards the Indians became so troublesome that the government 
decided to move them to the Territory.  I have seen as many as a hundred at a 
time pass our house. The government provided well for them, comfortable tents 
and small rooms on wagons drawn by teams of oxen and mules and horses.  A large 
crowd of them stopped at Pa's gate, and of course every child in the place, 
white and black, rushed to see them.

Among the Negro children was a small mulatto girl -- the Indians began to 
jabber and make signs at her --- she ran off and hid.

Several families of Indians (wealthy) owning large farms and many slaves near 
Columbus, Georgia, did not leave in many years, if at all.

The Rosser family had their children educated in Columbus. The girls were 
beautiful. I have seen some of them, and some of my relatives were in school 
with them about the time Mrs. Caroline LeHenty lived there.

About 1830 Pa moved to what was called the Butte place a 1/2 mile from the 
Upson Camp Ground.  Then I entered my first school  There was a church on the 
ground in which they taught.

Uncle Russel Flewellen, Uncle John Persons, and Pa had tents adjoining each 
other, and the back yard was in the same inclosure. I shall never forget the 
merry and pleasant times we children of the three families had while meeting 
there.  I don't think Pa ever missed tenting a year until he moved to Arkansas 
and Texas.

After moving to Thomaston six miles away he tented there.  It was three years 
after Pa left Ga before he came out.  I attended the Camp Meeting once or 
twice, but never felt satisfied. There was not one of the families tenting 
there on the ground. Nearly all scattered and gone.

It was while living at the Butte place six miles from Thomaston that the great 
meteoric (1834) displace occurred. I remember many incidents that happened.

Pa was a member of the Legislature at that time and Ma and the children were 
alone except for a white woman that Pa hired to stay with us.  Uncle Sam (as we 
always called him) who always made ires in the house, knocked at the back door 
before day and said, "Mistress get up, judgement day has come!".  The stars 
were all falling when the door was opened. In a few minutes every Negro on the 
place was in the house, praying, shouting, crying, singing. They stayed until 
broad daylight, or as long as they could see a meteor.  It was indeed a grand 
but awful spectacle. Every star in the firmament seemed to be in motion, and 
many fell to the earth.  I believed then, and still think, I could hear a weird 
noise, almost as indistinct as the falling of snow flakes.

After the closing of the school at the camp ground I went to school a year or 
two in Cullodenville, in Monroe Co, staying with Uncle Russel's family and next 
to Mr. Flenagon who taught at Liberty Chapel, a church a mile and a half or two 
from Pa.  He was a popular teacher, but unreasonably strict. He was an Irishman 
educated for a priest. He had a sweetheart back there who rejected him before 
leaving Ireland. While boarding at Pa's he received a letter from her promising 
to marry him if he would return. He left in a few days and was gone several 
months before we heard from him.  Finally Pa received a letter from him, he was 
in New York and wanted to return to Ga, but his money had given out. He asked 
Pa to send him enough to defray his expenses back. Had been to Ireland but the 
girl disappointed him again. He was in a sad plight when he got to Pa.  The 
ship on which he returned sprang a leak in mid ocean.  He worked at the pumps 
until every fingernail was perfectly black and remained so a long time.  He 
afterwards taught in Auburn, AL.

Pa moved to Thomaston. I went to school there until the GA Female College in 
Macon was completed -- said to be the first exclusive female college in the 
world I was there at the dedication, and one of the first students to enter.

George Pierce (afterwards Bishop) was President. Mr. Ellison Slade, Matterson 
and Moseney the male teachers in the literary department.  The music teachers 
Miss Lord, Miss Massey and Mrs. Ahink.  I entered the Sophomore class and left 
school after completing the Junior course and married before I was 16.  That 
act I consider the greatest error of my life, marrying so young before 
completing my education.

The year before I went to college Pa took his family to North Carolina to visit 
her (perhaps mother's) parents, staying a month or two with them.

Pa, Uncle Calvin Drake, Aunt Louisa Drake and myself took a pleasure trip up 
North for about two weeks. My aunt and I stayed in Philadelphia a week. Aunt 
having her teeth worked on.  Pa and Uncle were traveling in New York. Pa 
thought of leaving me in Philadelphia at school. I was much opposed to staying. 
Previous to going north he tried to get me in school at Salem, NC but failed.  
I was glad as I didn't want to be so far from home folks. There were very few 
weeks while in Macon that i failed to see some relations or acquaintances, it 
being the principal market for our section, though at that time there was no 
railroad to Macon from any direction.

I forgot to mention in the proper place that the family traveled 500 miles in 
carriage and buggy.

Uncle Calvin Drake was visiting Ma at the time, and persuaded me to go with him 
by stage, steamboats and railroad.  There was such a storm at sea the day we 
were to leave Charleston we had to wait a day. The sea was so rough every lady 
passenger on the steamship was sick.  Two of John C. Calhoun's daughters were 
along going to spend the session in Washington City with their father.  I spent 
a very pleasant time while on the ship until we got sick. Just before getting 
to Wilmington, N.C. we got better and ate the first meal since leaving 
Charleston. The chambermaid brought a large plate of large slices of cold 
boiled ham, a cruet of mustard and light bread. We all sat around it on the 
cabin floor. In a few moments the last mouthful disappeared. We left Wilmington 
on a railroad that had but a few miles completed. There was no engine -- the 
one coach being drawn by a mule. At the terminus there were horse coaches, four 
of them. The passengers going by Tarburrong (Tarboro) 13 in each coach. Of 
course the men rode on top with the bags. The passengers had a merry time 
talking from one coach to another. I enjoyed the trip as well or better than 
any part of the journey.

On our return trip we had two old fashioned four wheel carriages and a buggy. 
My Aunt returned with us and came in her carriage. So many crowds made it 
difficult to get entertainment and sometimes not before 9 or 10 o'clock at 
night.  

One night, after begin refused time and again, we stopped at a large fine 
looking home in S.C.  A man came out said he couldn't take us in as there was 
no one there but himself and wife taking care of the summer residence of some 
wealthy city man. "Well, said Pa, "I'm going in anyway whether you want me or 
not. We are all tired, the children sleepy, horse jaded."

After going in the house Pa talked to the old lady and got her in a good humor. 
She gave us two of the best meals we had on the journey and was very kind.  Put 
all of us to sleep in a ball room on the second floor -- was very large. I 
think there were -- windows in the room.

When we were married Mr. Cary was in partnership (in Law) with a Methodist 
preacher, M. Obediah Gibson -- had practiced a long time in the community and 
was considered a fine lawyer. My Cary bought a house in town where we lived 
several years, then sold that and bought another with about the same 
improvements as others, a larger lot on which we had built a beautiful cottage 
with four rooms, wide hall and plastered throughout.  Sent to New York for 
furniture the handsomest I had while housekeeping. Not long after that he 
concluded to move to Macon. Sold place and house furnished as it was. We lived 
in Macon until we came to Texas.

That was a pleasant move to me as I had a good many relatives there. I  knew so 
many of the young folks. The first year we rented on College Hill -- our 
neighbors were first class.  Mrs. Chappel, a sister of ____ lived just across 
the street, we were quite intimate, especially and myself.

We moved down near Cotton Avenue where two of my cousins lived on adjoining 
lots, they married brothers, Jack and William Ross.  Jack [was] one of the 
richest men in Macon. I could not have been more pleasantly situated, of course 
I knew a good many of the younger folks. 

I lived in Macon six years and never attended but one party during the time, 
except to my next door cousin who had two grown daughters --- they frequently 
gave parties and I would go over through the back fence and stay awhile.  I had 
numerous invitations but I didn't enjoy such crowds and my children I never 
like to leave at night.

My neighbor, Mrs. Chappel, gave a swell costume party, composed of the upper 
ten -- I had a special invitation from Mrs. C and her niece, Miss Lamar, to 
attend.  I declined going and mrs. C. send me work to come and if I didn't wish 
to dress in costume which she didn't intend doing, I could stay in her room 
with her. I have always regretted not going. I have never attended anything of 
the kind.

Mr. Cary's law partner was a classmate of his and one of the leading firms in 
the city. I can't remember his name at this time.  Our expenses in Macon were 
enormous.  Mr. Cary said about three thousand dollars a year.

He was raised in Thomaston, Ga (Upson Co) was a great politician and knew the 
majority of the people, was elected to the legislature when Sallie was a year 
old, and a year or two afterwards the Democrats ran him for Congress.  He was 
defeated on account of having just changed his politics -- he was formerly Old 
Line Whig.  All these circumstances combined caused our place, what you might 
term a house of entertainment, minus the money, generally realized at such 
business, that I think was the cause of so much expenditure, he never failed to 
invite his friends who often stayed two or three days.  

Forgot to mention in the proper place that while spending the Session in 
Milledgeville, I formed the acquaintance of many eminent statesmen as we 
boarded at the same hotel with Alex Stephens and his brother Linton all the 
time -- sat opposite us at the same table, we were quite sociable.

George Crawford, Gov of the State, Bob Tombs, John McPierson Bernin, the two 
Stephens, were some that I met, and many others that I can't recall.  I had a 
pleasant time although didn't mingle in the merriment of the season, attended 
no party except those given when we were boarding and the Governor's Ball where 
I saw mos of the distinguished men of the state on the floor at the same time.

When Henry Clay was a candidate for President he passed through Thomaston from 
Columbus, Ga, came in a fine coach and four splendid white horses.  Mr. Cary 
made the speech of welcome. Mr. Slay responded in a short address, after which 
everyone was introduced.

Mr. Clay made things agreeable and amusing with his ready and witty remarks, 
until dinner was announced. I remember some of his expressions.  An old man 
came up, shook hands with Mr. Clay and said, "There is old cream of tartar".  
Mr. Clay answered, "Yes sir, are you ready for the dose?"

Another came up and offered to make him (Mr. Clay) a present of a fine gun. He 
took it, after inspecting said, "My friend, what kind of a gun is this?  The 
man replied, "A Van Buren gun".  Mr. C, handing it to the man said, "My friend, 
take your gun, there is no telling which way it will fire."

He then proposed the crowd should by vote decide which was the ugliest of the 
two ugliest men in the house, Old man Day (a citizen of Upson Co) or himself. I 
don't remember the decision. Then dinner was announced, after which he left 
amidst deafening cheer.

O.W. Polk on his return from Washington after his turn as President expired, 
stopped in Thomaston half a day where he was given a big dinner. I had the 
honor of a short conversation, a seat near him at table and shaking hands with 
him twice.  Wm Polk, M. Houston and Mr. Cary's father were roommates while in 
Congress.  Mr. P spoke of it said Mr. C's father was a highly appreciated 
friend and shook hands again on leaving. I had long before heard that Mr. C's 
father writing speeches for Polk and Houston.  I never saw a face that 
indicated more strikingly a kind an sympathetic nature. He dangled your Grandpa 
Shelton on his knee and said he was a fine boy.  

I have told about Mr. Houston and Mr. C's father -- they were travelling on a 
stage coach and as there was a considerable bend in the road, they got out and 
walked through a field to a farm house where they got water and rest.  The lady 
of the house was barefooted and carding, and when the stage drove up on leaving 
Mr. C's father, George Cary remarked to the lady, "You are so busy I will not 
trouble you to shake hands," and bid her a goodby shaking her big toe, which 
insulted her.

She reached to get the horn to blow for her husband when Mr. Houston told her 
to excuse his friend who had a short time before lost his wife and almost his 
mind.  She accepted the apology and they left.

Mr. Cary met Mr. Houston in Tyler, on one occasion and asked him if he 
remembered the circumstance.  He said he did distinctly, and laughed about it. 
Mr. George Carey, while a member of Congress, said in the presence of John 
Randolph (who was a member of Congress), the only way of a chance to 
distinguish himself would be to fight a duel with Mr. R.  Which made him very 
angry and he forthwith challenged Mr. C.  Friends interferred and things were 
amicably settled.

I remember in childhood when tomatoes were cultivated for ornaments, no one 
thought of eating them, and were considered by some to be poisonous. I remember 
when there were no matches, people had to perpetuate their fire by very 
carefully covering the chuncks, or if they lost see would borrow from a 
neighbor, or strike fire with a flint and steel.  

The first mile of railroad built in GA was in Savanna.  Mr. McCalpin owned a 
large brick yard near Savannah from which he made and sold large quantities of 
brick. He had a railroad built to convey his brick to town.

When I was quite a child, Mr. Swift, a northern man, built and managed a cotton 
factory in Upson County. They made no cloth, but thread for weaving. It was put 
up in packages which they readily sold to citizens of Upson and other places. 
It was a great convenience to the people. The factory was there when we left 
GA, and I suppose it is still there. It was the last time I inquired about it.

The Swifts were clever and popular citizens -- they visited our family.  Mrs. 
Swift was an elegant lady, always stayed at our tent during Camp Meeting. 

Mr. Thomas Flewellen, my father, was nearly 91 years old when he died, and had 
never seen a house burn down-- the nearest he ever came to seeing one was the 
State House in Milledgeville, GA while he was a member of the Legislature 
[1831]. The building was on fire, had gained such headway that the crowd had 
decided it was useless to attempt to save it, when a Negro man 
said, "Gentlemen, if you will furnish me with water, I'll put out the fire and 
save the building.  Father said he never saw anything to equal his perseverance 
and daring. He would take shingles ablaze, run down the roof and throw them 
off -- if any lodged near the edge, he would run down then kick them off.  The 
people stood aghast, expecting every moment to see him buried to the ground and 
killed.  He saved the house without injury to himself. The state bought and set 
him free.

==========================
NOTE: Sam Marlor was his name -  1831. See story here:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~gabaldwi/baldbios.htm#Sam%20Maror

The Union-Recorder Bicentennial 2003 special section Sam, a slave of builder 
John Marlow saved the capital from burning in 1831. "He was publicly commended 
for his efforts and rewarded with an order of emancipation by the General 
Assembly in 1834 which also included the appropriation of $12,000 with which to 
compensate his owner, the builder John Marlor. Sam then took his former owner's 
name and became know as Sam Marlor (or Marlowe)." 
====================================

I had four brothers, all of them in the Confederate Service during the "Uncivil 
war" as Bill Arp called it very appropriately.  I think we were living in Texas 
at the time.

Brother Thomas was working for the Confederacy in Tyler, Texas. Next oldest 
brother, Russell, was a student in Emory College in Oxford, GA. He was anxious 
to join the army.  Father was in GA on a visit at the time, and wanted him to 
finish his collegiate course, but finally gave his consent for him to join the 
army. He was at the beginning and passed through the war fighting desperately 
most of the time and came out without a scratch.

He was in the Seven Day's fight around Richmond, VA.  Randal Flewellen, a first 
cousin was fighting by his side when a ball stuck Randall in the mouth knocking 
out all his teeth and piece of his tongue.  Dr. Edward Flewellen a surgeon I 
think in Hood's Division says he was very brave and daring.  Brother Russel 
died in Rains Co. Texas in 1902.  Cousin Randal F. is living in Florida and 
doing well - has no children.

My third brother, Wilbur, was quite young when he enlisted, he was unfortunate, 
was shot in his hip by a minute ball. Col Boggess of Henderson, Texas, said he 
saw him when and heard the ball when it struck him -- said he must have leaped 
15 feet from the saddle. He was carried 20 miles behind someone on a horseback 
before his wound was dressed, and when taken off the horse, the blood was 
running out the top of his boot. He was taken prisoner while in bed with the 
wound where he was kept until the surrender.  Five years afterwards while in 
New Orleans taking a medical course, the wound commenced paining him, and Dr. 
Logan performed an operation, and extracted the ball.  He has been a great 
sufferer ever since the war, has frequently had abscesses to form over the 
wound which confines him in bed, two or three weeks at a time. He has to use a 
buggy when practising.  He is living in Belton, Bell Co, Texas. 

My youngest brother, Joseph G. Flewellen, was in the army in Galveston until 
the surrender. He lives in Smith Co, Texas, near the town of Mineola. He has 
seven living children, all married except the youngest, a daughter about 15 
years old.

Since I married, my life has been somewhat eventful.  Politics has been the 
bane of my life, which dates from the first day after marriage and ever since 
was a whirlpool of excitement, the effects of too much politics up to the time 
of Mr. Cary's death.  He always expressed himself publicly, especially when 
politics was the subject which came near on two occasions of being the cause of 
his being killed.  A man by the name of Worthy took offense of something Mr. C. 
said and told him if he opened his mouth again he would kill him.  Mr. C. 
opened his mouth as wide as possible and Worthy stabbed him. All thought the 
wound mortal and Worthy left immediately for Texas.  Mr. C. was confined about 
three months with that wound, he came very near dying.

When we lived in Henderson, Rusk Co, Texas, he got into another political 
scrape in which was clubbed over the head, his skull must have been fractured 
it was so long in healing, and aft it was apparently well, abscesses formed on 
different parts of his body. It was months before he recovered sufficiently to 
leave the house. Of course, his independent manner of expressing himself kept 
me in dread and suspense nearly all the time, especially on  election 
occasions.  If he ran for office Old Aunt Sallie Rogers that raised him always 
gave a big dinner to his friends, which was always a large crowd -- furnished 
beds also.

The elections in GA were conducted with more enthusiasm, consequently in a 
boisterous manner, and on either side there was not a stone left unturned if 
they thought it would profit their candidate. The ladies were as enthusiastic 
on such occasions as the men, all sort of devices and schemes were resorted to 
by some, not very honorable or honest I suspect.  I have know of men being made 
drunk, carried in the country and kept there until after the election. I was 
always kept in dread and suspense, a miserable life to live. 

 I passed through it all and had remarkably good health until 13 years ago I 
had a severe attack of grippe.  My recovery was almost miraculous. I was 
deleterious and unconscious for three weeks. That spell shattered my 
constitution and I have never recovered from the effects.  I am an octogenarian 
since September 29, 1905 and can therefore cherish no hope of better health. I 
firmly believe, however, but for that attack I would have lived to be a 
hundred. 

My father, Thomas Flewellen died in his 91st year, he was very erect and his 
walk full of life up to the time of his death. He read almost incessantly, as 
strictly honest and honorable, a kind and helpful father and neighbor -- always 
planning for their comfort, profit and pleasure. 

Not many years before his death he received a letter from two men out West they 
were orphan boys living in Pa's neighborhood prior to moving west, he was very 
kind to them, helping and advising when it was necessary.  They wrote Pa a long 
letter, said they were prospering, had accumulated a competence, and they owed 
their success to his kindness and good advice -- thanking him for all he had 
done for them which they would never forget, wishing him a long and happy life. 
Pa appreciate the letter so much and often spoke of it. Nothing gave him more 
pleasure than to know that anything he had said or done had assisted anyone. 

He was visiting Fannie once and said to her that he was too much trouble and 
ought to stay at home. Her reply was, "Grandpa if your children, grandchildren, 
and great-grandchildren can't with the greatest pleasure wait on you, 
especially after you have done so much for them, they would be too mean to 
live."

He then said, "Well, Fannie, if I have ever done the least thing to contribute 
to your pleasure and happiness I am truly glad for it."  I have often heard him 
say he wanted to die not owning and account on earth.  I have no doubt but what 
he gave charitably hundreds of dollars, amounting in the aggregate to a 
considerable fortune. 

My mother was Miss Frances Drake of Nashville, North Carolina. She certainly 
had a much energy as anyone I ever knew. The welfare and pleasure of her family 
was the greatest desire of her life. No one was ever more successful in 
attaining that desire for her family were devoted to her, and her grandchildren 
worshipped at her shrine. She was a perfect bookworm and well informed on many 
subjects.  I have always thought she grieved herself to death over my second 
daughter, Fannie Cary's death.  I never saw her smile after that. She talked of 
nothing else, and died in less than two weeks.

My Grandfather Drake was nearly a hundred when he died, which occurred during 
the war of Secession (in Auburn, Al) was carried to Nashville, NC and buried by 
his wife's side.  He was a remarkable old gentleman, was clerk of the District 
Court in Nash Co many years, was quite intelligent.

I have several letters of his the postage was 25 cents from N.C. to GA. He was 
a boy 12 years old sometime during the Revolutionary War, and would relate many 
things that took place. I have often heard him tell of a battle he witnesses 
fought at his Father's house between the Tories and his Father's family 
consisting I think of only three.  He said he saw the Tories coming -- he ran 
to the gin about a quarter off, and from a hill saw the fight. Meanwhile his 
father barrackaded the house, but finally had to surrender. He said the officer 
of captain was in love with his sister, had addressed her several times and 
been rejected before they surrendered, supposing he would renew the courtship.  
They arranged that his Sister should conceal a pistol on her person, at a 
signal from her Father, she was to shoot the officer, take possession of their 
arms and defend themselves but at this juncture a company came up, rescued them 
and made prisoners of the attacking party.  My Grandfather Drake took care of 
the door and facings in his mill. When I visited him in my 14th year, I saw the 
old mill door and facings full of shot.  Grandpa Drake always said he was a 
heir (one of them) to the large estate of Sir Francis Drake in England. I often 
heard him say there was but one link missing in the chain, which he was all his 
life hunting but never found.




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