Barry County Missouri - Edward & Mary Russell Easley of Eagle Rock Edward and Mary Russell Easley of Eagle Rock (Barry County Missouri) © Written by Darla Ball Marbut Edward & Mary Russell Easley Edward was born December 28, 1840 (tombstone marker). He is listed in the 1850 census records for Green Berry Easley for Barry Co., Mo. Edward lived near Eagle Rock, Missouri before it was Eagle Rock, Mo where Roaring River and White River joined. It is now where Roaring River and the Table Rock Lake join. His father, Green Berry Easley owned over 600 acres in the area that his sons inherited. Family life as Edward and his family knew it came to an end during the Civil War, when both his parents died and perhaps one of his brothers. As there were three young children left with no parents, the older sons would try to come home as often as they could to help them. Even at that the young children almost starved to death before the war was over. The Easleys had operated a ferry to take people across the White River. During the war it was sunk later to be found and brought up my Edward Easley. He used it as a walk way in his barn lot. Cassville Democrat - August 5, 1922 - Historical Boat. Ned Ealsey of near Eagle Rock has portion of barge used during Civil War. A portion of the old Ferry Boat used during the Civil War to carry Federal Soldiers across White River at Easley Ford and which is now being used as a sidewalk in a barn lot in time of wet weather. This is what one will see on visiting the home of Edward Easley an old and respected citizen of near Eagle Rock on Roaring River, if a request is only made to do so. The historical timbers were taken from White River by Mr. Easley two years ago after a few days of very high water which brought the old timbers up from their resting place on the bottom of the river at the old historical ford. The boat is said to have been used by Federals in crossing the river during the time of General Sterling Price's Raid. The old story of the boat is that two or three boats were constructed for the soldiers to ferry the river and when an army had safely reached the other side, holes were bored in the bottom of the boats which was weighted and sent to the bottom of the river as a final resting place until they might be brought up by high water of human hands. (End of article). The old boat, barge, ferry remains went back under water as Edward Easley's old homesite is under water as a result of a lake going in during the 1950's. Edward enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War September 16, 1863 and was discharged May 28, 1865. He was in Company E of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry. He returned home in May of 1865 and on October 18th of that year married Mary Elizabeth Russell daughter of Milo Butler Russell and Nicey Haddock Russell. Mary and Edward were married by E.T. Smith, J.P. They say there was a road that connected Washburn Prairie and Roaring River. The road followed Roaring River and crossed it 9 times on its way to White River. Milo and Nicey lived on that road that took people to the head of Roaring River to the mill. Mary's girlhood home wasn't very many feet from the river. One could imagine that was how the young people met. Judging from a picture and what has been told about Edward, he was not a very large man. He was a hard worker. In the 1870 Census for Barry Co., Mo., for Edward his personal property was valued at $1,000, real estate valued at $1,000. In those days, this was considered doing very well for a couple married only 5 years. In this census Mary was 24, Julia 2, and Marvelana "Lonie" was 7 months old. A Susan Gillum age 20 born in Tennessee was living with them. She was probably a hired girl to help out with chores. On February 3, 1875 Edward's brother, Christopher Columbus "Lum" Easley sold land to Edward. Warranty Deed dated Jan 23, 1875 for Section 2 of Range 26. This land was located on White River and originally belonging to their father, Green Berry Easley. It seems the remaining sons, divided up the land. Faye Maloney Ball, Edward's granddaughter said it was always a family story that Grandpa Ed or "Ned" as they called him had gold that he kept in fruit jars. He also kept some of it in a trunk. It has never been proven but it has always been a family story, that when the family left Boone Co., Mo., those that stayed kept the land and bought out the ones leaving with gold piece. Those leaving for Barry Co., Mo had the gold to buy new land in Barry Co., Mo. Green Berry, at least one of his sisters, and maybe his Mother and Father, William and Sarah Graham Easley came to Barry Co., Mo around 1838. Green Berry Easley had owned property in Boone Co., Mo. (Copies of homestead papers can be gotten for that property and his in Barry Co., Mo from www.glorecords.blm.gov). The Bushwhackers certainly believed the story as they tortured Green Berry trying to get him to tell where the gold was hidden. The injuries received caused his death. He must not have told, as his sons seemed pretty well off just 5 years after the Civil War was over going by the Census Records of the Personal Property, etc. Most folks were having a very hard time right after the Civil War as so much destruction went on in Barry Co., Mo during that time. Another family story told of them having a "Manny" who they really loved. Edward always told, "She raised me, my brothers and sisters and we loved her very much." During the Civil War she was stolen and taken away by slave dealers. From the "Goodspeed History: Slave owners of Barry Co., Mo in 1861 - Green Berry Easley 1 slave valued at $600. They said the young children ran after her and cried when they took her. As Green Berry died October 29, 1863 and Evaline died Jan 3, 1964, I expect their "Manny" might have been the only one they had left as Edward their brother wasn't discharged until May 28, 1865. These children would have been Hulda born 1851, Mary born in 1853 and Robert born 1855. Edward was a very resourceful and creative person. He used a piece of a spice wood twig to clean his teeth and he cleaned them every day. He had almost all his teeth when he died. He was very fugal as shown by the story of him trying to save wear on his shoes. He went after the cows barefooted and one day stepped on a big locust thorn running it through his foot. It took nearly all summer for it to heal. Even though he raised horses, he did his farming mostly with oxen. They made all their own clothing from the cotton they grew and the wool of their sheep. The wool was washed, picked, combed, and carded. The spinning was done on a large wheel for wool. Flax fibers were drawn through a comb to remove stalks then spun on a small flax wheel. This thread was used with the woolen yarn to make linsey-woolsey. Linsey- woolsey was woven on looms into strong coarse linen like material. They made their own dyes in most cases - brown from walnut bark, red from sumac berries, yellow from peach bark, purple from oak and maple, and gray from cedar berries. Indigo was used for blue but was so expensive it wasn't used often. They tied these in corn shucks and boiled with their yarn and thread in big black kettles. In Edward and Mary's front room there were rocking chairs, camelback trunk, cane-bottom chairs and a tall safe in which Mary kept bed linens. They had cord beds in the bedrooms. These had woven ropes instead of springs, as we know them. They kept a fire in the fireplace year round. The house was located at the mouth of Roaring River and White River. Mary said fire was needed to drive away the dampness. This provided live coals to start the cook fire in the kitchen. In the kitchen was a large long table, wash stand on which were two buckets of water, gourd dipper, soap dish and wash pan, a tall cabinet for dishes, square cook table used to prepare food for cooking, a meal and a flour box. They kept 25 to 50 sacks of flour stacked on benches with metal covering the legs of the benches to prevent mice from climbing. Every few weeks the flour was shifted. There was a hand pump near the kitchen to furnish water to the house. On the back porch was a wash stand. Above the wash stand was a mirror in a diamond shape with metal hooks to hang towels. A bucket of water and a wash pan was on the stand. When the men came in from the fields they would wash up here. The mirror still exists and belongs to an Easley descendant. Two large kettles outside were used to heat water for washing their clothing. One kettle was used to boil the white clothes with a small amount of lye for bleaching and homemade soap for cleaning. The clothes were first washed by hand in a wooden tub. Then the laundry was boiled in one of the large kettles. After boiling 15 or 20 minutes, they were removed from the kettle with a hickory stick and put into a wooden tub to be cooled by pouring cold water over them. They were then rubbed by hand some more, wrung out, and put in clear rise water in another kettle. The rinse water had bluing added by balls of blue, that were tied in a cloth and dropped in the final rinse. This made their clothing appear white. They took great pride in the whiteness of their clothes. Edward and Mary hired a woman to come in and help on wash day. They usually did the laundry once a week and it took all day. Irons were heated on the fire to iron their clothes. These were pieces of metal in a sharp oval shape. They had a detachable handle. As one oval was used and cooled down another was heating on the fire. The detachable handle helped in changing them. In the beginning the handles were permanent and had to be handled with a hot pad. The women ironed everything including the sheets. "Old Joe" peddlers came in the spring and fall. Their hacks were covered and filled with all the necessities that the family couldn't make for themselves. The "Old Joe" peddler was a very welcome visitor and his visit was looked forward to for days. They could buy their needles, pins, balls of bluing, buckles, ribbons, pots, pans, flavorings, spices, materials, etc. Just like Wal-Mart coming to you in a wagon. Mary made her own lye. They saved all the ashes and put them in a wooden hopper with a trough, that led to a stone jar. They poured water over the ashes occasionally. This soaked over the ashes and ran into the jar. This is the way they made lye water. The lye was used in making soap. At butchering time all the scraps of the pig were put in large black kettles over a fire and stirred with a hickory stick. Hickory sticks were used because other woods would stain or color the soap. This was stirred until all the fat was boiled out of the rinds that were called "cracklings". Lye water was poured into the cracklings with a small fire under the kettle and kept stirred at all times until the "cracklings" were eaten up by the lye. The fire was extinguished and the mixture settled into a jelly like soap. The soap was covered and let set for about 3 days. Then it was cut into bars and left to dry in the sun for about 3 more days. Mary also made very delicious bread by mixing "cracklings" and corn meal called "crackling bread". The lard that came from "cracklings" was stored in stone jars for use during the coming season. Edward waited until cold weather usually around Christmas for "hog killing time". The neighbors would all get together for this. They hauled wood, gathered up their iron kettles, pulled up long sleds and filled the kettles with water for use the next day. The work would start at daylight the next morning. They built fires under the kettles of water, cut hanging sticks that were placed in trees for hanging the pork out to cool. They positioned several tilted barrels, that they filled with the boiling water. The dead hogs were dipped in the boiling water several times, took to the sled to be scraped with a special tool that resembles a round sharp disk with a handle on the top of it. The hair of the hog was removed in this way and cleaned well. Cold water was then poured over the hog and it was taken to the hanging sticks to be cut open and the insides removed. It was then rinsed again and let cool for one day. The meat was put in the "smoke house" where it was salted. They rubbed the salt into the meat by hand. Hams and middlings were hung with a wire over a fire made with hickory chips, usually in an old bucket. The smoke from the chips gave the meat a delicious flavor. The pork was ground into sausage, fried in large black skillets and stored by placing a layer of lard and a layer of sausage until the huge stone jars were filled. After they were filled the jars were sealed with more lard. The sausage contained red pepper and sage grown in the garden. Every part of the pig was used in some way. Edward always made his own molasses that was stored in 50 gallon wooden barrels. Every fall he made 4 barrels that would be used the coming year. These barrels were stored in the smokehouse where the meat was kept. Their granddaughter, Faye Maloney Ball, remembered seeing the cellar full of all kinds of fruits and vegetables to be used in the winter. Mary made her own cottage cheese. This was done by letting the milk sour (clabber). It was then heated on the fire until it turned into curds that came to the top. The remaining liquid was called whey. The curds were lifted out and put into a colander and drained or put in a flour bag and hung on the clothesline to dry. Then it was brought in the house put in a bowl with sweet cream and salted. Butter was churned each morning with a churn usually made of cedar wood. Buttermilk was used for drinking and making bread. Whey and left over food scrapes were mixed with chops (ground corn) and fed to the chickens or the pigs. As they wasted nothing, the skimmed milk was also fed to the animals. A cloth was placed over a stone jar and the fresh cow's milk was poured through the cloth. The milk was left until the cream raised to the top. The cream was used to churn butter and used on the table at mealtime. Edward and Mary had ten children. Their first child was named in honor of Green Berry Easley but only lived from Aug to October. He was buried in the Old Cemetery on his father's place. Then two little girls were born. Their next little boy lived only two years. Then they had 4 more boys and two more girls. The family grew and prospered but it was a hard life. Edward and Mary's daughter, Arizona's family came down with an illness and their handsome son, Edward, went to help them out. He took the illness and died at the age of 18 in 1903. Arizona's family recovered. Another daughter, Julia died in 1907 and Mary went to Mountain View, Kiawa Co., OK and brought Julia's children back to live with her and Edward. Only seven of the 10 children lived to have families. After 58 years of marriage, Mary Elizabeth Russell Easley died February 20, 1928. Her obituary read: GOOD CITIZEN DIES NEAR EAGLE ROCK. Mrs. Edward Easley was born and reared in Barry Co. was 78 years of age. The sad news came to this city Tuesday of the death of another old time, highly esteemed citizen of Roaring River Township, at the old home at the mouth of Roaring River where she had lived so pleasantly and happily for so many years. Now gloom and sadness surrounds the old home, because she has gone to her Heavenly reward in that Holy City. (She had been born just a little ways from the Head of Roaring River.) Mrs. Mary (Russell) Easley died Tuesday, February 20, 1923, at 9 a.m. surrounded by her relatives and friends of pneumonia, age 78 years. She was the wife of probably the oldest citizen that was born and reared in Barry Co., now living, Edward Easley, who was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Green Easley, one among the earliest settlers of this county. She and Mr. Easley were married in her young girlhood days and ten children were born of this marriage seven of whom are living, who are Mrs. William Tucker of near Golden, Mo., Mrs. Sam Skelton of Eagle Rock, Mo., Mrs. Henry Maloney of near Roaring River Springs, Charley, Finis and Floid near the old home. She was a member of Eagle Rock Baptist Church. (She was baptized the first Sunday in June 1869.) She was a sister of Mrs. Boon Haddock of near Eagle Rock, Mrs. Julia Skelton of Eagle Rock, Mrs. Tennie Dell of near Mano and William Russell of Oklahoma. Rev. J.T. Brattin of Cassville, conducted funeral services at the home, after which the remains were interned in the Easley Cemetery. A large number of sorrowing relatives and neighbors assembled to pay their last tribute of love and respect to the memory of the deceased. Edward was to live for 9 more years. He would visit his daughter "Molly" (Mrs Henry Maloney) when he was ill, as Molly would treat minor illnesses with herbs and medicine that she made. He thought a lot of Molly and her family. He was known to loan them money during hard times and to bring bolts of material to Molly out of which she make clothing. There is a letter that reveals he also made loans to the other children as well. There is a letter dated Oct 31, 1923 from the Carthage Hospital at the corner of Forest St. and Centennial Avenue, Carthage, Mo., addressed to Floid Easley that reads, If the weather is not stormy Mr. Ned Easley will arrive in Cassville, by way of the Frisco, Friday Morning. Please meet him there with the car. If unable to leave Carthage on that day, he will start home the first nice day following. He has received both your letters and has appreciated them. His eye is doing very well. Is able to see out of it to some extent now. Very truly, Miss Mary Smith (Nurse). Also, there is a receipt dated June 17, ??? reads: Received of Ed Easley $25 in full payment of glasses. Signed Dr. O.L. Smith, 310 St Louis Street, Springfield, Mo. It was hand written on a small piece of notepaper. There is a letter dated April 4, 1931, Eagle Rock, Mo written to the Bureau of Pensions, Washington D.C. asked for an address change from Mano, Mo to Eagle Rock, Mo. This would be his pension for being in the Civil War. He hadn't moved but his address had changed. Geraldine Prier Ball was present when Edward "Ned" Easley was baptized at the age of 90 in February in Roaring River not too far from the Roaring River Baptist Church. Many said he wouldn't live through the baptism, him being so old and the water so cold. Geraldine said when he came up out of the water she kept looking expecting him to die any minute. However, he was to live two more years. Edward died December 20, 1932. The following article appeared in the Cassville Democrat Newspaper: "Uncle Ned Easley Dies Sunday Morning: Age 92 Years - Honorable Barry County Man Born on Farm Near Home Where He Died...(Headlines) Uncle "Ned" Easley, one of Barry County's oldest citizens, passed away Sunday Morning at 8 o'clock at his home on White River, near Eagle Rock, following an illness extending over the past few months. Nearly Ninety- two years ago, this excellent character was born on a farm on White River, a short distance from his home where he passed away. Ever since that time he has been a resident of this county, living in the same neighborhood where he was born. He had lived on his present farm since the year 1865. In that same year, Uncle Ned, as he was familiarly known, was united in marriage to Miss Mary Russell to which union 10 children were born. He was survived by Charles, Finis, Floid, Mrs. Henry (Molly) Maloney, Mrs. William Tucker (Arizona), and Mrs. Sam Skelton (Lona) all of whom reside in this county. Mr. Easley's excellent wife preceded him in death 9 years ago, since which time, his son, Floid, and family, have made their home with him on his farm at the mouth of Roaring River. Uncle Ned served in the Federal Army in Company E, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry, during which time he was stationed at Cassville, Berryville, Arkansas and Springfield. He was discharged at Memphis, Tennessee and received a pension of $65 monthly. He was injured slightly during the war and was brought to the hospital located in Cassville of which the late Dr. John Ray, early owner of the Cassville Democrat was in charge. This information was given John Ray, Editor of the Democrat, in June 1927, when Uncle Ned was in Cassville. During this conversation, Mr. Easley said Dr. John Ray was his family physician, and he considered he and his son, the late Charley Ray, among his very best friends. The writer has enjoyed many conversations between his father, Charles Ray and Uncle Ned, when they would meet in Cassville and talk over olden times. They were very interesting and their experiences of early days were quite exciting. Uncle Ned Easley was a man in whom every one had explicit confidence. Ever since an early age in life, he was one of the county's largest livestock dealers. He was successful in all his undertakings and accumulated quite a large sum of money during his lifetime. He was a great admirer of saddle horses and always kept them on his farm and did practically all his traveling in that manner, making the long trip on horseback from his home to this city frequently a distance of around 20 miles. His word was his bond. He always stood for things that were right and honorable and was kind and loving husband and father. Uncle Ned had been a subscriber to the Cassville Democrat ever since the first week of its publication, back in 1872. Impressive funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon by Rev. Norman McNabb, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Easley Cemetery. When Edward died in 1932, he left personal estate of the value of $1400 (court records). His son, Charley was administrator of his estate. There were 7 heirs of his estate: Lona, Arizona, Charley, Finis, Mollie, Floid, (Julia's children) - Bessie Evans, Clarence Williams, Charley Williams, Nora Staton, Mary Hannah (Hogan), Ed Williams, Perry Williams, and Jessie Summers. The document was dated May 9, 1933. Edward, Mary and several of their children are buried in the Easley Cemetery near Eagle Rock, Mo. There were some Civil War soldiers buried there that started the cemetery. Edward said White River was so hard to cross to get to the older Easley Cemetery (where his father and mother are buried, Old Easley Cemetery) that he would bury his family with the soldiers. Edward and Mary's children: 1. Greenberry Easley born August 18, 1866 and died October 3, 1866 from tombstone in the Old Easley Cemetery near Golden, Mo. 2. Julia Easley born September 25, 1867 m. William Williams Feb 21, 1886. She was probably buried in Oklahoma. 3. Marvelana "Lona or Lonie" Easley born Oct 28, 1869 m. Samuel Skelton Jan 20, 1889. They are buried in the Munsey Cemetery near Eagle Rock, Mo. 4. Joseph Easley born December 25, 1871 died Mary 3, 1873 buried in Easley Cemetery near Eagle Rock, Mo. 5. Arizona Easley born February 7, 1874 m. William C. Tucker September 11, 1898. They are buried in the Viney Cemetery near Golden, Mo 6. Charles Easley born March 8, 1877 m. 1st Mary E. Lewis and 2d Lillie Mae Farwell. They are buried in the Easley Cemetery near Eagle Rock, Mo. 7. Finis Easley born Oct 13, 1879 married Edna Josie Curry January 26, 1902. They are buried in the Easley Cemetery near Eagle Rock, Mo. 8. Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) Easley born Oct 13, 1883 m. Henry Edward Maloney Jul 3, 1916. Mollie is buried in the Easley Cemetery near Eagle Rock, Mo 9. Edward Easley born May 30,1885 died Dec 20, 1903 buried in the Easley Cemetery near Eagle Rock, Mo 10. Floid Easley born Dec 29, 1890 married 1st Vineta May Holman August 14, 1912 and 2d Mabel Utter after 1933. They are buried in the Mano Cemetery. Please do not publish the article without the consent of the writer: Darla Ball Marbut HC 81, Box 8356 Cassville, Mo 65625 Darla@mo-net.com Barry County MOGenWeb Archives © 2001 Susan Tortorelli All Rights Reserved