Book: "CAIN" by Margaret and Mildred Ezell - Cain and Associated Families of Amite County Mississippi. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mildred and Margaret Ezell ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS 1910 Fr.Co. MS E.D. 68-18 Gammill, Charles 42 MS; Norna wife 35; Ethel dau 16; Ray son 14; Esther dau 12. (C) Minnie E. Gammill, b 15 May 1870, d 24 July 1963; m 23 Dec 1891 Alex Murray, Meadville, MS (Fr.Co. 1-470 by J. M. McGehee, W.W. Gaziwiul bondsman), b 26 Oct 1866, d 27 June 1948, bur O'Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, located about 5 miles SE of Bude on Forest Rt. 147. (D) Alas (Alice) Cormin (Cumy) Gammill, b 22. July 1872, d 7 Jan 1940, bur O'Zion Baptist Church Cem.; m 14 Nov. 1894 Jim H. Holland, she age 22, he age 28 (Fr.Co. 2-104). he was b 20 Apr 1866, d 15 July 1948, son of Paxton Holland. (E) Willey Wilson Gammill, b 11 Aug 1874; m 6 Jan 1895 Mary A. Williams (Fr.Co. 2-129 by O.O. Hall, J.H. Holland bondsman). 1910 Fr.Co. E.D. 68-19 Gammill, William H. 36 MS; Mary wife 33 MS; Prentiss son 14; Carrie dau 11; Edgar son 9; Sallie dau 7; Pearl dau 4; Ernest son 7/12 MS. Of their children, Pearl m Leon Porter, lived Rt. 1, Meadville, MS. Their children. Faye Porter, Eulis Porter, Ned Porter. See later (F) Thomas Ruthford Gammill, b 10 Apr 1877, d 10 July 1968; wife Effie Smith b 23 Apr 1884, d 4 Jan 1926, both bur Zack T. Smith Cem., .7 mile south of Mt. Olive Cem. in Fr. Co. The Smith cem is in Amite Co. almost on the county line. There is a marriage bond in Fr.Co. 23 Jan 1901 T. R. Gammill to Effie Knight by W.B. Cruise, M.B.S. If this is ours, Effie married first ___ Knight but a bond has not been located for them. 1910 Fr.Co. E.D. 68-7, Gammill, Thomas R. 33 MS; Effie wife 28; Littie dau 7; Birdie dau 1 6/12; Marrene dau 3/12 MS (G) Ernest Ivy Gammill, b 10 Feb 1879, d 17 June 1893. (H) David Aaron Gammill, b 13 Dec 1880; m c.1904 Eva Seale, dau of James Nathaniel Seale and Indiana Temperance Wilkinson, who was dau of Micajah Wilkinson and Jane Stokes. James N. Seale was son of Elijah Seale, son of Moses and Jane (Cain) Seale. See p.20 of this write up. 1880 Fr.Co. Beat 5 Cain's E.D. 146-22 Seale, James M. 34 MS; India T. wife 30 LA; Renn H. son 8; William J. son 5. 1900 Fr.Co. Beat 5 #89 Seale, Indiana Apr 1846, 54, m 35 yrs, 9 children 3 living MS MS MS; Eva dau Sep 1887, 12 MS MS MS 1910 Fr.Co. Beat. 4 Gammill, Aaron D. 29, m once, for 6 yr, MS MS MS; Eva wife 22, md once 6 yrs, 3 children 3 living; Curtis son 5; Rena dau 2; Marion son 3/12; Seale, Indiana, mother in law 65 wid 9 children 3 living MS MS LA; Montgomery, Wilkey, lodger, 15 MS TX MS. (I) Mary Eller Gammill, b 17 Apr 1883, d 28 Aug 1960; m 14 Jan. 1903 Elemuel "Lim" Phiffer Porter (Fr.Co. 3-90 by B.Y. Halford M.G.), he b 12 May 1881, d 11 Nov 1915. Page 151 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS Both are buried at Mt. Zion Cem, Fr.Co. He was a railroad flagman, killed in a Homochitto Lumber Co. log train wrecked near Bude, MS. (a) Meredith Roosevelt "Buck" Porter, b 21 Oct 1903, d 9 July 1969, bur Mt. Zion Cem., Fr.Co.; m 1st Ora D. Cole; 2nd Elizabeth Evans; 3rd Bobby Tyus; 4th Margurette Robertson; 5th Obie Wilson; 6th Ann (b) Louie Odell Porter, b 28 Apr 1905, d 7 Nov 1905. (c) Houston Phiffer Porter, b 10 Oct 1906, m 23 Nov 1938 Myrtis Lee Brewer, b 16 Dec 1910, dau of May Cain and Ed A. Brewer. 1/ Betty Jane Porter, b 12 Jan 1940; m 10 Feb 1962, William Franklin Hallberg, Vicksburg, MS 2/ Mary Lynn Porter, b 14 Nov 1944 The Rev. H.P. Porter compiled a history of the Porter family mimeographed in 1962; additional information regarding the descendants of Mary Ella Gammill and Elemuel Phiffer Porter will be found therein pp. 66-68. Phiffer Porter now (1977) owns the "Dempsey Cain Clock", the clock from the boy's bedroom. (d) Earl Phenrix Porter, b 20 Jan 1909, d 11 Jan 1966, bur Mt. Zion; m 1st Hallie Bowlin; 2nd Lillie Bell (e) Herman Obedell Porter, b 12 Oct 1911; m 12 Oct 1935, Donnice Lyons Sullivan (f) Warren Aaron Porter, b 28 Apr 1915, d 18 Sep 1974, bur Mt. Zion; m 27 Apr 1935 Alyce Burns. (g) Callie Gammill, b 11 July 1885; m 16 Dec 1902 (Fr.Co. 3-74 by B.Y. Halford M.G.); J.M. Smith; 2nd Cupit. 1/ Dovie Smith; m James Fletcher Jones, b 10 Mch 1899, d 31 July 1976 (h) Jacob Clarence Gammill, b 15 Aug 1887, d July 1953; m 25 Oct 1908 (Fr.Co. 3-547 by C.F. Gammill) May Whittington, lived Eddiceton community in Fr.Co., MS. 1/ F.E. Gammill (i) Rena (Regina) Gammill, b 6 Feb 1890; m 10 Apr 1910 (Fr.Co. 4-71 by Charlie F. Gammill J.P.) Floyd McManus Charles H. Gammill, b 24 Jan 1842, d 10 Aug 1873, son of Gammill; m 4 Jan 1866 (Fr.Co. 4-398 by Zach. Reeves, G.P. Hunt bondsman) Virginia Cain, b 19 April 1846, d 4 June 1929, dau of Dempsey B. Cain and Rebecca Holloway. She m 2nd George W. Byrd. Mo st of the write up on this line was supplied by Tempe Fenn Crosby. See Crosby, p.908, etc. Charles H. Gammill served as a private in Co. A, Seventh MS Infantry, C.S.A. Known as the Franklin Rifles of Franklin Co., MS, Co. A was mustered into the state service on 29 Apr 1861 at Meadville, MS. During the entire period of his military service, Charles Gammill carried two $5.00 gold coins in his pocket. He told later that at some time during this period he decided that if he ever married and had a daughter he wanted to have these coins made into earrings for her. The earrings were made for his daughter Tempie Cain Gammill, and she wore them until the time of Page 152 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS her oldest daughter's graduation from high school when she gave them to Verna for a graduation present. Verna did not care for earrings so she took them to Hainer's Jewelry Store in McComb and exchanged them for a brooch. When Virginia Cain's brother Isaiah and Charles Gammill returned from the War and found the Gammill family home burned and his family departed, Charles Gammill accepted. Isaiah's invitation to stay a day or two with him at his father's home. It was there that Charles Gammill met Virginia Cain, and, evidently, when he left two weeks later, he carried with him the promise of her hand in marriage. An entry in the marriage records of Franklin Co., MS shows that a marriage license was issued January 2, 1866 to C.H. Gamble (he signed Gammill) and Virginia Cain. Tempie Cain Gammill was once asked by one of her daughters if she had ever let Otis Fenn kiss her before they were married, She primly replied, "No, I might not have married him if he had. But her mother, Virginia Cain Gammill told with a smile that after Charles Hardy Gammill came back from the Civil War with her brother that they would meet at the well located away from the house for a good night kiss. Charles H. Gammill and Virginia Cain were married at the residence of Dempsey B. Cain on January 4, 1866 in a double wedding ceremony with Gabriel P. Hunt and Adaline Parsons. The brides wore dresses of white swiss, and, because Adaline was not as tall. as Virginia Cain, they made her dress longer hoping that it would make her look taller. She always told that her dress was too long, and she was uncomfortable. The ceremony was performed on the front porch of the house, and the guests stood in the yard. (Note: Gabriel was the son of Moses Hunt. 1850 Fr.Co. #218 Moses Hunt 35 Ky; Elizabeth (m 1-21-1840 Godbold) 30 f MS; Thomas R. 9 MS, Hinson 8; James K. 6; Gabriel 3; Emily 1. 1880 Pike Co. Beat 4 E.D. 41-43 Hunt, Gabriel 33 MS; Adaline wife 28; Ida F. dau 13; Ada C. dau 11; Eliza Jane dau 6; Phoebe dau 4; Triphens dau 1 MS The customary "infare" was held the next day at the home of the groom's father Mr. Hunt, and all the friends in the county were invited. Great quantities of food had been prepared, including a roast pig with a red apple in its mouth. The tables were arranged in the form of a cross, and the newly married couples stood on opposite sides of the centers of the tables to receive the good wishes of the guests.. On their wedding anniversary in 1872 or 1873, Charles H. Gammill presented Virginia Cain with the Bible which is presently (1977) in the possession of Flavia Goza James, McComb, MS. Following the notation of Charles H. Gammill's birthdate in this Bible is the notation, "Itawamba Co." This addition is in Virginia Cain Gammill's handwriting, but, seemingly, it was added a number of years following her original entry. This bible contains the following entries: "Births Charles H. Gammill was borned January 24th 1842. Itawamba Co., MS Virginia Cain was bornd April 19th 1846. Page 153 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS Hardy C. Gammill, son of Charles & Virginia Gamill was bornd August 28th 1867, Franklin Co., Miss. Tempa Cain Gamill, daughter of V. & C. Gammill was borned Dec. 25th 1870. Franklin Co., Miss. George Dempsy, son of G.W. & Virginia Byrd was borned October 31st 1875. Franklin Co., Miss. Redon Bufkins, son of G.W. & Virginia Byrd was borned Nov. 7th 1877. Franklin Co., Miss. Rebecca Byrd, daughter of G.W. & V. Byrd was borned June 7th 1880. Franklin Co., Miss. Lena Byrd was borned Sept. 14th 1882. Franklin Co., Miss. Marriages Charles H. Gammill and Virginia Cain was married Jan. 4th 1866 at the residence of D.B. Cain Otis L. Fenn and Tempie C. Gammill was married Dec. 9th 1886 at the residence of her mother Mrs. G.W. Byrd C.H. Gammill and Cora Hunt was married Dec. 3rd 1890 at McComb, Miss. George W. Byrd and Virginia Gammill was married Nov. 17th 1874 at the residence of D.B. Cain Jesse A. Goza and Lena D. Byrd was married Jan. 21st 1906 at the residence of Mr. C.H. Gammill, McComb, Miss. E.L. Jetmore and Rebecca Byrd was married July 15, 1912 at McComb, Miss. Deaths Charles H. Gammill departed this life Aug. 10th 1873. He lived a Christian life and died in the triumph of faith. Dempsy B. Cain departed this life Nov. 15th 1885. He lived a Christian life and died in the triumph of faith. G.W. Byrd died 2? of June 1912 George D. Byrd died May 5, 1914 at Jackson Mary E. Byrd first wife of G.W. Byrd died Aug. 13th 1868 Tempie C. Fenn died 3rd day Mar. 1915 Cora Gammill wife of Hardy G. died Sep. 10th 1920 Lena Byrd Goza wife of J.A. Goza died on June 25, 1943 at McComb, Miss. Virginia Cain Byrd, wife of G.W. Byrd died June 4, 1929 at McComb, Miss. Births George W. Byrd was borned May 3rd 1840 in Franklin Co., Miss. Cleveland Byrd, son of G.W. & Virginia Byrd was borned Feb. 5th 1885. Franklin Co., Miss. Jessie Flavia Goza was borned Jan. 1st 1910. Daughter of Jesse & Lena Goza. McComb, Miss. Genevieve Goza was borned March 2, 1914 at McComb, Miss. Mary V. Jetmore was borned Nov. 16, 1913 at Jackson, Miss. J.A. Goza was borned Jan 29, 1880 in Chickasaw County E.L. Jetmore was borned Mar. 9, 1871, New Castle, Md. Charles H. Gammill became ill with pneumonia in 1873. Dr. Hatton Weathersby was called, and when he arrived said, "You're killing him with kindness, open those closed windows and doors and give him fresh air." In spite of loving care, however, C.H. Gammill Page 154 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS died August 10, 1873. Although she was only two and a half years old at the time, Tempie Cain Gammill remembered seeing her father laid out in his casket in front of the fireplace at their home at Little Springs, Miss. A Confederate marker was secured by the Rev. H.P. Porter and placed on C.H. Gammill's grave located south and under a magnolia tree in the Cain family cemetery near Cain Mill Creek in Franklin County, Miss. It bears the inscription: "Artificer / Charles H. Gammill / Co. A. / Miss. Inf. / C.S.A." Virginia Cain, 5 eyes usually filled with sentimental tears when she saw her grandson Charlie Fenn, and she commented often about his rememblence to Charlie Gammill. Ethel Fenn Bardwell has the original copy of Virginia C. Gammill's Memoirs which we quote with only the omission of brief portions quoted previously, i.e., the purchase of a sewing machine by Dempsey Cain. "In 1846 there came a wee small baby into the world, the youngest of five children--two brothers and two sisters of which all grew to manhood and womanhood. The author is the wee baby. I grew as others did in the loving care of a sweet, good mother . Five years and death claimed her, and I was left to face a dark world without the care of a mother.. I faintly remember my sweet mother; only one thing I can remember. The woods was on fire. Father had all the hands to fight the fire to keep it from the fields. So Mother saddled her riding horse, named Mingo, taken me behind her and went to the fire. She got off and set me in the saddle, and Mingo shook himself as horses do when they are warm, I fell off, and that is all that I can remember of her. I was left to the care of my other sister and an old black mama until my sister married at 15 years, and then my father married a Mrs. Seals of Pike then my school days began. My first teacher was Mr. Rollins a very fractious man. He punished me the first day for chewing sweet gum." (You pick drops of sap off gum trees, melt it in a lid on the stove, cool and chew it.) "I did not know it was against the rule. I did not go to him but a short time. My next teacher was a kind old Methodist preacher, Mr. Vears, he learned us to sing "My Country Tis of Thee " and many other things. There were no public schools those days. My next teacher was Mr. Clark, a fine young man and a good teacher. I walked three miles to school every day and back home at night so tired when I got home. I just fell asleep anyway. Well, the next was Mr. Briggs. Will hasten on. Mr. Peyton was a good man. Went to him two years, and then came a dear sweet lady, the first lady teacher that had ever taught in our county. Miss Sable Clary, a native of Ky. I loved her so much. In this time I was quite a big girl. My next was a crabed man named Smithe, but a good teacher. I had many friends that was very dear to me, but there is very few of them living. Between school sessions my stepmother learned me to sew as the sewing was all done for the white family and the Negroes too and was done by hand. My sister lived near Chatawa, and her husband was an engineer for a large sawmill. I stayed with her and attended school there when the school first was opened at Chatawa in 1859. I spent many happy days with my sister. One night the dog barked, and my brother-in-law went Page 155 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS thinking some bear was around. But everything was a bright red. He called sister and I. We went out and the grandest sight in the heavens that I ever have seen. The sky was red as blood and something like the moon and flashes of lightning shooting every way. It lasted until about 12 o'clock. Oh, It was a grand sight." (World Almanac--Donati's Comet, October, 1858 once every 2,000 years. Finest comet of 19th century. Tail halfway from zenith to horizon.) "Well, I went home and soon the clouds of war began to loom up over the distant horizon, and the Southern States seceded. War was declared and a call for volunteers- the first Company A the 7th Mississippi regiment was made up of the flowers of the country. I had two brothers and brother-in-law and two uncles and cousins. And then the day of parting came. Oh, so sad, may not come back anymore. Very soon all of the young men were gone to the front, and then the spinning and weaving and making clothes for our boys in camp and battlefields. Oh, how we worked and praid, but at last the war was over, and our beautiful Southland lay in ruins, devasted and robed. The Negroes were freed and turned loose among us, taught social equility. Our state was run under marshal law, and a white man had no liberty. If he crooked his finger at a Negro he was arrested, carried to Natchez, court martialed and shot or imprisoned. The women were not safe.. My father had two Negroes to steal two of his best horses and went to Natchez, and we haven't seen Negroes nor horses to this day. That was the last year of the war. Well, the men that was left came back to build up their homes, but many homes were sad--had missing ones. My youngest brother was wounded at Shiloah, came home and married Miss Lizer Parsons, was walking on crutches when married. Soon went back to the front and was killed in Alabama and buried in Cold Creek. My brother-in-law was killed at Murpheesboro, Tenn., left my sister with four little boys. Oh, so sad. The cruel war was over. Then came the ragged few, to find homes devastated and ruined, but they had the pep and went to work to build again. I was married to Mr. C.H. Gammill 1866, January 4. We had a double wedding Gabrel Hunt and Adaline Parsons were married the same day. I lived very happy, had two children, but the Lord seen fit to take my dear one away so I was left alone to buffet the world with my little ones." Virginia Cain entertained her children and later her grandchildren with her stories about Civil War times -- burying valuables, making clothing and flags. She told also that following the war she made some of the first Ku Klux Klan robes that were made. They secretly brought the cloth to her and she remained hidden behind locked doors until they were finished. Some of Virginia Cain's recipes found in her Bible and pasted in her father's journal of 1852 follow: Pickled Peaches -- 4 quarts vinegar; 3 1/2 lbs sugar. Place vinegar and sugar over fire and when boiling drop peaches. Scald ten minutes. Put in jars, cover with hot syrup. From Noda James Pickled wild plums -- 2 qts plums, 1 " vinegar, 1 lb sugar, spices Coconut Pie -- 3 eggs, 2 c sugar, 1/2 c butter, c. sweet milk, 1 grated coconut--use 1/2 milk of coconut, bake in rich crust. Page 156 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS Cheese Cake--3/4 c. butter, 2 c. sugar, 4 eggs, 1 c. sweet milk, 1 big spoonful flour, yellow of 6 eggs, 2 1/2 c. sugar, 1 c. butter, 2 c. cream, if sour 1 pinch soda, 4 T flour. Ginger Snaps -- 1 scalding hot c. molasses, stir in t. soda, pour it while foaming over 1 c. sugar, 1 egg and 1 T ginger beaten together and add T vinegar and enough flour to roll. 1870 Fr.Co. #93 Gammill, C.H. 26 blacksmith MS; Virginia 24; Hardy 3; Margarette 22 (Sister to C.H. Gammill). Descendants a) Hardy C. Gammill, b 28 Aug 1867, d 20 Sep 1930; m 3 Dec 1890 (Pike Co. D-54) Cora Hunt, b 1 Nov 1874, d 10 Aug 1920, both bur Hollywood Cemetery, McComb, MS. They lived in McComb, MS; he was employed in the Illinois Central Railroad shops there. He attended Otis Fenn's 60th birthday celebration at the Houston Douglas home on Avenue E in June 1930. At that time he had cancer on his nose and one leg was amputated. 1/ Sadie Gammill, m Owens, Tylertown, MS. 3 children. 2/ Jimmy Gammill; m several times. 3/ Mattie Gammill, b 1 June 1895, d 15 Apr 1973, m 7 Dec 1915 J.D. Varnell (Pike R-469) A/ Charles A. Varnell B/ Cora Varnell C/ Jodie D. Varnell Jr. D/ Robert A. Varnell, lived Flint, Michigan a/ Rita Elizabeth Varnell; m John A. Tabor b/ Donna Kay Varnell E/ Bessie Mae Varnell F/ Juanita Varnell; m _______ Kelley, lives McComb. G/ Marvin Eugene Varnell, b 15 Nov 19__; m 7 Sep 1951 Stella Marlene Etheridge, b 27 July 1934, dau of E.J. & Retha Belle (Brown) Etheridge. a/ Beverly Jean Varnell, b 9 Sep 1953; m 9 Feb. 1974 Clifton O'Neil Hamilton b/ Ginger Carol Varnell, b 2 Nov 1959 4/ Thelma Gammill; m several times, no children. b) Tempie Cain Gammill, b 25 Dec 1870, d 3 Mch 1915, dau of Charles Hardy Gammill and Virginia Cain; m 9 Dec 1886 (Fr.Co. 1-174 by W.W. Boils M.G., L.J. Imes bondsman) Otis Leroy Fenn, b 12 June 1866, d 27 Aug. 1950, both bur Hollywood Cem., McComb, MS. He is son of Daniel Willoughby Fenn and Mary Letha Ann Dickey. Otis Fenn was born near Smithdale, MS in a log house. When this house burned, it was replaced by the large house later owned by Lois and Nona Fenn which was also destroyed by fire about 1935. The pounding ruler used by an early teacher forced Otis to use his right hand for writing, but he used his left hand for all other manual tasks. He joined Mars Hill Baptist church and was baptized in the Tangipahoa River near the post office at Smithdale. Otis and Tempie were childhood acquaintances, but Otis told that when he saw her riding on horseback one day wearing a hat trimmed with a red rose and black ribbons "he knew she was the girl for him." Page 157 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS They were married at her mother's home located near Mt. Zion Church in Franklin County. Clarence and Nona Fenn and Nog Imes and his wife, Melium were among those present. Otis rented a small farm owned by Eph Brown and located near his father's home, and it was here that Verna, their first child, was born. A short time later, they moved to Centreville, MS where Otis worked in the store owned by his brother Robert Fenn . In 1895 he was employed by the Illinois Central Railroad and moved his family into a house located in the second block north of the present McComb Public Library. Their back yard joined that of Postmaster Kellog, who lived on the corner. Verna an d Thetus were taught by Mr. Kellog's redheaded, maiden sister-in-law Lottie Butterworth, who owned 12 cats and 12 dogs. Their tuition was paid with milk from the family cow; Miss Lottie used this to feed her 12 cats. Thetus, age five at the time, got a whipping because at the end of the first week she could not say the alphabet in order. Otis and Tempie enjoyed April Fool pranks, she once offered him his usual big, fat breakfast biscuits with cotton in the middle of them. Otis was especially fond of custard pie, but he was responsible for her making them one time with salt instead of sugar. He enjoyed an occasional toddie with Mr. Coly Holmes at the warehouse of Holmes' Store. But Mr. Holmes once jokingly substituted a bottle of vinegar; Otis waited some two or three years and then repaid him in kind. The parents called each child's name three times in succession as they "got them out" each morning: "Verna, Verna, Verna; Thetus, Thetus, Thetus; Charlie, Charlie, Charlie," etc. In those days before restaurants, the children took turns carrying hot meals in baskets to Otis in the car shops and to a few of the other railroad men. In October, 1898, Leroy was born in a two-story house which stood on the corner north of the McColgan Hotel. Two of the upstairs rooms of this house were used by overflow guests from the hotel. The children helped with the china bowls, pitchers and tin chambers used in these rooms. The $5.00 monthly rent was used to buy a half-tester walnut bed, a marble top dresser and washstand and a two-door mirrored wardrobe for the front downstairs bedroom. That same year Otis caught his right index finger in an old-style freight car coupling or linking pin. Dr. O.B. Quin came to the house, put Otis to sleep and amputated the upper portion of the finger; this was buried and later besieged by ants. However, Otis always declared that the almost unbearable itching of his hand stopped when they dug up the finger and put it in a box. Verna, Thetus' Charlie and Ethel received rings for Christmas in 1898, and a short time later the picture was taken (Leroy is also included) in which they proudly display their new rings. In 1900 Otis was ill with typhoid, and the family moved to Little Springs to live with Tempie's mother. While in Little Springs, Verna, Thetus, Charlie and Ethel, the Cain children--Lois, Lola and Bill -- and Willie and Arva Byrd attended private school taught by Cousin Lizzie Jones in the home of Mrs. W.H. Cain near Mt. Zion Church. One afternoon after a Page 158 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS rain the creek was up, and they could not return home. Mr. Cain fed them, put them to sleep on pallets on the floor, and kept the fire going all night. The next morning Otis came on horseback for them. They returned to McComb in 1901 and moved to a house near the East McComb School. Otis was employed by the Illinois Central Railroad as a switchman; in 1909, he was promoted to the position of night yardmaster. These parents used the standby remedies of the day: sugar with two drops of turpentine, Simmons Liver regulator, sulphur and molasses in the spring, sassafras tea from roots gathered in the woods, assafiditie in a bag around the neck if contagious diseases were prevalent. Mrs. Lizzie Hupperich, their friend and neighbor, supplied all her neighbors with the proper dosage of 5 powders of calomel and soda which she measured and folded in small papers; this dosage was followed with castor oil. Dr. Gatlin was the family doctor who delivered several of the children. Once an older child watched Tempie drawing colored threads from the selvage of flannel. She used these to briarstitch baby clothes, but when asked what she was doing, she replied, "Layovers to catch meddlers, and you were the first one I caught." Most of the children were given family names. However, "Ethel" was a name Otis heard while working at a sugar mill near Ponchatoula, LA, before he and Tempie were married; Helen was named for Mrs. W.A. Gill, the Baptist preacher's wife; Elizabeth was Mrs. Hupperich's name. Albert was named for Albert Gardner, the husband of a Dickey aunt. Willard Lamar was named for the famous statesman Willard Q.C. Lamar. Lois Fenn named Mildred for a character in a book; a book was also the source for Verna. Tempie Fenn spent a good bit of the morning of March 2, 1915 on the back porch of their home at 714 Pearl River Avenue uncrating a four-piece china washstand set which was to be a wedding gift for her daughter Thetus. When she finished it was almost time for the boys to come from school for lunch, and she decided to fix a quick lunch of eggs in the iron skillet over the hot coals in the open fire place. She backed up to the fire to warm herself, and her dress caught fire. Her immediate reaction was to get the baby safely away from her, and with one push she sent the baby buggy across the room to the opposite wall. Helen, who was four at the time, remembers the thump of the buggy against the wall, the glowing coals, the flames blazing up her mother's clothing, and that terrified she ran down the back alley to the nearby school to get Willard. They rushed back to the house and went to wake Otis who (working nights at that time) was asleep in the front bedroom. Tempie told him to get a blanket to throw on her to smother the flames, but by that time all her clothing had burned. Her hair was singed, but the little percale dust cap which she was wearing had saved her hair from burning. Verna and Charlie, living in Meridian, were contacted, and they came on the train the next morning. Tempie was conscious when they arrived and asked to see her small grandson Claudie Fenn who had been taken to Ethel's. Her mother Virginia Gammill Byrd and her brother Hardy's wife Cora, who was a practical nurse, were with her; about 11 o'clock she went into a coma and died about five or six that afternoon. Page 159 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS Census reports: 1880 Amite Beat 4 E.D. 46-48 Fen, D.W. 47 MS; Mary L. wife 42 MS; Ida E. dau 20 MS; Clarance E. son 18; Otis L. son 14; Ada B. dau 12; Mona T. dau 9; Eunis E. dau 7; Cladius L. son 5; Lois E. son 2 1900 Pike Beat 4, McComb E.D. 112-43 Fenn, Oatis Jan 1855, 45 MS; Tempie wife Feb 1858, 42, MS; Verna dau Mar 1883, 17; Thetus dau Dec 1888, 11; Charley son Aug 1891, 8; Ethel dau Sep 1893, 6; Lee Roy son July 1897, 2. 1910 Pike McComb E.D. 105-1 Fenn, Otis L. 43 MS; Tempie wife 39; Baley, Vina dau 21; Baley, Claude, son in law 22 MS; Fenns: Wilma dau 18, Charlie son 17; Ethel dau 15; Leroy son 12; Mildred dau 8; Willard son 4; Albert son 2. Descendants: 1/ Verna Lois Fenn, b 26 Aug 1888, d 29 Dec 1973; m 23 Dec 1908 (Pike N-306) Claude Charlie Bailey, d 13 May 1964, both bur Meridian, MS, son of Lot A. and Ella (James) Bailey. In 1906 Verna Fenti was one of the eleven members of the first class to graduate from the new McComb High School. At that time it was the custom for friends and relatives to present flowers to the graduates at the conclusion of the graduation exercises, and she remembers that Benton Quin was also a graduate and that someone presented him with a bouquet of cabbages. In April, 1912, they moved to Meridian, MS, where Claude was employed by the Southern Railroad. He was elected Constable and served from January, 1932 to 1940; he was detective for the city of Meridian in 1941; in 1942, he returned to work for the Southern Railroad and remained there until his retirement. To the amusement, but often feigned exasperation of his wife and to the delight if his friends and relatives--young and old--Claude Bailey was a tease, and when he was around, things were never dull or quiet. His father lived to be over 100 years old , and after Claudie Fenn Bailey's retirement from the Navy and his own retirement from the railroad, he delighted in telling, as if it were a great welfare joke, that three generations of his family were on retirement. A/ Claudie Fenn Bailey, b 28 Nov 1910 McComb, MS; m 21 June 1941 Mary Clare DeMott, dau of Marguerite and (Capt) Max B. DeMott. The sword which was given to Capt. DeMott by Gen. Douglas McArthur's father is now owned by Claudie Fenn Bailey. Claudie Fenn Bailey graduated at the age of 16 from the Meridian High School: in 1934, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. He was on duty on the destroyer U.S.S. Page 160 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS Honolulu at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese made their attack on December 7, 1941, and his ship was hit. He served as Commander of the U.S.S. Henderson during Admiral Byrd's expedition to the South Pole in 1946. Promoted to the rank of Captain in 195 3, he retired in 1959 and is presently living in California. a/ Mary Clare Bailey, b 13 Mar 1942, Coronada, CA b/ Max DeMott Bailey, b 3 Oct 1944, Annapolis, MD 1/ Thetus Nona Fenn, b 11 Dec 1890, d 5 Mar 1977; m 5 Mch 1915 (Pike R-413) Joseph Wright Reid, b 9 Aug 1885, Ott's Mill, LA, d 12 Mch 1954, bur Kentwood, LA. For several years after graduating from high school, Thetus taught in the McComb City schools. The Rev. W.A. Gill introduced her to the Illinois Central Railroad night watchman J. Wright Reid. He had first seen her waiting on tables at an ice cream and lemonade festival in the yard of the Dan Harvey home (later the site of the East McComb Grammar School). Otis Fenn and Charlie Bardwell both worked with Wright Reid and told Thetus, "Date him, he seems to be a pretty nice fellow." After a court ship of five years, they were married at the home of the Rev. Theo Whitfield. Wright Reid was special agent for the Illinois Central Railroad from March 1, 1909 until his retirement March 1, 1946. (See READING ABOUT THE REIDS by Irene Reid Morris). A/ Joseph Wright Reid, Jr., b 12 Jan 1916, McComb, MS; m 2 Oct 1942, Mary (Betty) Douglas. B/ Ethel Irene Reid, b 14 July 1917, Greenville, MS; m 29 Aug 1937 James Polk Morris JR a/ Virginia Merle (Ginger) Morris, b 14 Nov 1939, McComb, MS; m 15 June 1963 William Luther Caughman JR. 1// Catherine Leigh (Cathy) Caughman, b 24 Feb 1965 2// William Luther Caughman III, b 31 May 1967 b/ James Polk Morris III, b 11 Sep 1943, McComb; m 28 Dec 1965 Nell Rose Gill. c/ Dan Scanlon Morris, b 1 Oct 1949 McComb, 1// Dan Scanlon Morris Jr. C/ Preston Reid, b 16 Dec 1918, d B Mch 1920, bur Woodlawn Cemetery, Summit, MS D/ Verna Mae Reid, b 5 Mch 1921; m 13 Aug 1943 Frederick M. Kelly a/ Frederick M. Kelly Jr, b 3 May 1944, Jackson, MS b/ Mary Catherine Kelly, b 2 Jan 1949, Mobile, AL E/ Catherine Reid, b 2 Oct 1922, Baton Rouge, LA,; m 29 Dec 1944 Robert Pinckney Watt a/ Robert Sydney Watt, b 13 Nov 1951 Page 161 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS F/ Elbert Reid, b 2 Oct 1925; m 1958 Nancy Scott a/ Alice Louise Reid, b 19 June 1959 b/ Scott Reid G/ Colvin Reid, b 28 Nov 1927; m 21 Dec 1948 Jerry Anne Farr a/ Michael Alan Reid, b 28 Feb 1958 b/ Steven Ward Reid, b 21 Sep 1959 H/ Robert Edward Reid, b 11 Sep 1929 See the reference READING ABOUT THE REIDS. 3/ Charlie Willoughby Fenn, b 25 Aug 1892, d 26 Nov 1943, bur Houston, TX. m 18 Dec 1912 (Pike A-70) Mary Elizabeth (Mamie) Sullivan, b 9 June 1895, dau of A.J. and Emma Sullivan. In 1924, Charlie and Mamie Fenn moved to Houston, TX where he was employed as engine foreman by the Port Terminal Railroad. A/ Howard Charlie Fenn, b 21 Oct 1913, Meridian, MS; m 12 June 1937 Christeen Knox, dau of Sam and Elsie Knox. Christeen and Howard were married in a double wedding ceremony with Evelyn Fenn and Alton Isbell at Central Methodist Church, Houston, TX. a/ Mary Irona Fenn, b 23 Aug 1938; m 14 Sep 1957 Barney Washington Bennett, b 25 Nov. 1936. 1// Michael Howard Bennett, b 26 Sep 1959 2// Judy Ray Bennett, b 7 Apr 1964 b/ Rebecca Christeen Fenn, b 25 Mch 1941; m 23 Apr 1960 Robert Gerald Edwards, b 21 Nov. 1932 1// Lisa Ann Edwards, b 29 Mch 1961 2// Steven Lee Edwards, b 26 June 1962 c/ Sammy Howard Fenn, b 16 Mch 1946; m 20 Nov. 1965 Neecie Diane Fehlau, b 14 Sep 1947 Sammy Howard Fenn owns the gun which Daniel Willoughby Penn used during the Civil War and also the Yankee sword which he captured at the seige of Port Hudson, LA. d/ Peggy Sue Fenn, b 8 Feb 1950; m 22 Nov 1966 Alf Martin Gronstedt, b 25 Sep 1946 1// Robert Lee Gronstedt, b 13 Sep 1967 B/ Mary Evelyn Fenn, b 26 Apr 1916; m 12 June 1937 Alton Monroe Isbell, son of Jule Isbell a/ Evelyn Janet Isbell, b 27 Mch 1939; m 29 Dec 1959 Donald Linberg Buell, b 10 May 1936 1// Julie Anne Buell, b 15 Apr 1968 2// Jeffery Fenn Buell, b 20 July 1970 b/ Ronald Monroe Isbell, b 28 Jan 1948; m 24 Jan 1970 Aless Ann Serafino. c/ Brenda Kay Isbell, b 30 Jan 1950; m 12 Oct 1969 Theodore Jay Mandell, b 5 Sep 1942 Page 162 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS 4/ Ethel Virginia Fenn, b 28 Feb 1895; m 18 June 1913 (Pike R-112) Charlie Clayo Bardwell, b 9 May 1891, m 23 Mch 1951, both bur Hollywood Cem., McComb, MS, son of Robert Benton and Pallie (Wooley ) Bardwell of East Fork, MS. A/ Robert Charles Bardwell, b 14 Sep 1914; m 5 Sep 1937, Charlene Lillard, dau of Charlie E. and Ouida Lillard. a/ Phyllis Jeanne Bardwell, b 23 Nov 1939; m 1st ______, m 2nd Chard Williams B/ Otis Leon Bardwell, b 6 June 1917; m 21 July 1940, Minnie Jim Harvill, b 20 Sep 1919, dau of Orah Whitson and Grover C. Harvill. Otis Bardwell served in the 54th Naval Construction Battalion, 1942-1945. a/ Otis Ray Bardwell, b 8 June 1947 b/ James Robert Bardwell, b 19 Dec 1953 C/ Clayo Bardwell, b 22 Dec 1919, d 12 Nov 1920. D/ Mary Virginia Bardwell, b 27 July 1922; m 10 Mch 1939, Jesse L. Greer, son of Wiley and Pat (Cole) Greer. a/ Charles Wiley Greer, b 3 Jan 1940, d 5 Jan 1940 b/ Jessie Clayo Greer, b 3 Mch 1942 c/ Billy Pat Greer, b 21 Oct 1944 d/ Otis Richard Greer, b 30 May 1947 e/ Frank Vernon Greer, b 2 Jan 1951 f/ James Herman Greer, b 1 Jan 1954 E/ Thetus Helen Bardwell, b 23 Sep 1927; m 29 Apr 1948 Joseph Elizey Jordan, son of Hollis M. and Marie Jordan. a/ Charles Melton Jordan, b 14 Oct 1951 b/ David Clyde Jordan, b 11 May 1957 c/ Dana Marie Jordan, b 22 June 1960 5/ Leroy Dempsie Fenn, b 24 Oct 1898, d 24 July 1951, bur Hollywood Cem., McComb, MS; m 20 Dec 1920 (Pike V-354) Veta Grace Price, b 1 Sep 1901 A/ Tempie Pauline Fenn, b 7 June 1925, McComb, MS; m 21 Feb 1954 Ralph Crosby, b 21 Feb 1921, son of Dewey Lamar Crosby and Charlie Rochelle Smith a/ Kevin Fenn Crosby, b 29 Aug 1956, Baton Rouge, LA; m 16 Apr 1983 Carol Michel Smith, dau of Edward B . and Marion (Frederick) Smith 1// Samantha Nicole Crosby, b 20 Jan 1987. 6/ Mary Thelma Fenn (twin), b 27 Dec 1901, d 30 June 1902 of yellow jaundice, bur Hollywood Cem., McComb 7/ Mildred Thelma Fenn (twin), b 27 Dec 1901; m 21 Oct 1920 George Houston Douglas, son of George T. and Mary Ann (Pierce) Douglas and a brother of Albert Douglas who m Reba Fenn, dau of Hollis Clyde and Beulah (Terry) Fenn. See also THE DOUGLAS FAMILY by Lamar Douglas. Page 163 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS A/ George Houston Douglas Jr., b 20 Nov 1924 McComb, MS, d 5 Jun 1969, bur Tunica, MS; m 17 Sept 1944 Betty Jane Dortch, dau of W.J. and Lois (Innis) Dortch. a/ James Donald Douglas, b 4 Feb 1947 b/ George Timothy Douglas, b 6 Aug 1952 c/ John Carl Douglas, b 26 Apr 1954 B/ Delma Faye Douglas, b 14 Nov. 1926; m 31 Dec 1945 Roy B. Moorman, son of N.L. and Beulah (Wilbourn) Moorman. a/ Bonnie Fay. Moorman, b 6 Nov 1948 at Naval Hospital, Coco Solo, Canal zone, Panama b/ Royce Moorman C/ Emma Ruth Douglas, b 17 Apr 1931; m Joseph Edward Lovelace, son of Joseph Donald and Ruth (Powell) Lovelace of Winchester, AR a/ Linda Jo Lovelace, b 9 Dec 1950 at Naval Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX: m 15 May 1971 Phillip Ray Mansell, son of Winford Earl and Freida Nell (Watts) Mansell 1// Christina Ruth Mansell 2// Phillip Matthew Mansell b/ Karen Ann Lovelace, b 14 Jan 1955; m 1 July 1972 Gary Brumbelow, son of Ernest and Donna (Lewis) Bruubelow 1// Gary Joe Brumbelow, b 31 Jan 1973, Memphis, TN 2// Douglas Michael Brumbelow, b 18 June 1975, d 20 June 1975, bur Forest Hill South, Memphis TN. 8/ Willard Lamar Fenn, b 3 Oct 1905, d bur Chattanooga, TN; m 13 May 1928 Edith Ina Williams, b 12 Sep 1906, dau of Allen L. and Willie Louvenia (Avant) Williams. A/ Edith Patrice Fenn, b 9 June 1931; m 16 Apr 1951 Paul Leroy Johnson, b 3 Aug 1928, son of Alfred H. and Edna Frances (Marimont) Johnson. 9/ Albert Dickey Fenn, b 10 Oct 1907; m 27 Oct 1932 Helen Louise Johnson, b 28 Feb 1913, dau of Tom and Hattie Johnson. Albert Fenn served in the U.S. Navy during WWlI from 1944 to 1945. He is now self-employed commercial sign painter, Houston, TX . A/ Willard Charlie Fenn, b 25 Jan 1934; m 12 June 1953, Barbara Ann Jacobs 10/ Helen Elizabeth Fenn, b 11 Sep 1910; m 11 Jan 1936 William Tony Cobb, b 13 Mar 1887 DeKaIb Co., GA, d 8 Nov 1951, bur Baton Rouge, LA, son of James Ransome and Mary Jane (White) Cobb. A/ William Douglas Cobb, b 7 Sep 1937; m Sep 1958 Judith Lynn Angelloz a/ William Douglas Cobb Jr., b 28 Nov 1959 11/ Tempie Aletha Fenn, b 5 Feb 1914; m 29 Apr 1938 Frank Hill Anderson, b 1 Nov 1914, d 3 Feb 1977 son of Frank Egleton and Savannah Ora (Hill) Anderson. Page 164 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS A/ Douglas Hill Anderson, b 8 Dec 1946, m Bonnie Otis Leroy Fenn (1866-1950), widow of Tempie Cain Gammill; m 2nd 16 Sep 1916 (Pike T-95). (Mrs.) Ada Simpson Loflin, widow of Zachariah Lowe Loflin. Her four children were (1) Robert Loflin, Clarksdale, MS (2) Ray Loflin, Natchez, MS (3) Zachariah Lowe (Zeke) Loflin Jr., Ph.D., taught Mathematics at S.L.I., Lafayette, LA, now chairman of the Mathematics Department, Louisiana College, Pineville, LA. (4) Anna Belle Loflin; m Shirley O'Poole; live in Jackson, MS. Miss Ada and her children lived across from the place where Otis worked; her fine cake baking was instrumental in their joining the Fenn household, and after their marriage, Otis Fenn's house on Pearl River Avenue was soon known for the fine food its boarders enjoyed. About 1934, Otis retired from railroad service, and they moved to Jackson, MS, where Miss Ada died February of 1940. Otis Leroy Fenn m 3rd 3 August 1940 (Mrs.) Eunice (McDonald) Tillman who d 25 June 1948, bur Crystal Springs, MS. "Tee" as she was affectionately known to the family, was a widow with one son John Arnold Tillman, who m Ruth Ott Arnold Tillman and his wife lived in Baton Rouge, LA where he died 25 May 1960. Otis Fenn never lost his love for the railroad. "Tee" often told how he would wake at night and listen for the trains. He worried if they were late and always breathed a sigh of relief when they finally made their way up and over the hill at Crystal Springs on their way to Jackson. He spent much time at the depot and usually met every train; but, regardless, he always checked them with his "railroad" watch to see if they were on time or exactly how late. He used his "gold pass" to do most of his shopping in Jackson and made the train trip from his home in Crystal Springs for even such small purchases as hot toasted nuts. He planted a handful of small gladioli corns from a bulb company in Michigan and took great pride in the blossoms which eventually became so numerous he sold bundles of them to florists in Jackson. On several of Otis Fenn's birthdays--60, 75, 81--a great family picnic was held. Children, grandchildren and later great grandchildren gathered from Houston, Texas, Memphis and Chattanooga, TN, Baton Rouge and Kentwood, LA, Meridian and McComb, MS. The first of these was held at the home of Mildred and Houston Douglas located in the 700 block of Avenue E in McComb. Lois, Nona and Clyde Fenn came from their homes in the country in Lois' Model T Ford, Albert came from Houston, TX in his new Model A'. Leroy had a red Chevrolet with a rumble seat; photographs were taken which include both Otis and Tempie's relatives. Tempie Fenn Crosby, 5 years plus 5 days at the time, was too involved in the activities of the day to eat so she remained to watch more picture taking. Sitting on the bottom railing of the steps, she decided she might be in the way and/or included in the picture so she moved further back. She is glad now that the picture taken Page 165 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS that day does include her with her great aunt Ida Fenn Fulghum, P'pa Otis Fenn, great aunt Nona Fenn, great uncle Clyde Fenn, great aunt Lois Fenn and great uncle Charles Hardy Gammill. The last of these family reunions was at the park located north of Crystal Springs, MS. After Tee's death, Otis stayed with different members of his family and often made trips by train to Visit with relatives in Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. He was in the car driven by his brother Claude Fenn on August 27, 1950. North of Liberty, Miss., they were struck by a car occupied by five Negroes (driven by Isaac Weathersby) and Otis was fatally injured. His unusually blue eyes twinkling above his mustache are remembered with affection by those who knew and called him Papa, Grampa or P'pa . Tempie Cain Gammill and Otis Fenn are buried near the entrance of the Hollywood Cemetery, McComb, Miss. Their graves directly south of the present McComb High School are marked with a large pink granite stone. Most of the above family and all the family stories are from Tempe Fenn Crosby. See her CAIN, ETC. publication. Virginia Cain Gammill married second 17 Nov 1874 (Fr.Co. 6-76 by J.G. King M.B.S., S.A. McManus bondsman) George W. Byrd, b 3 May 1840, d 27 June 1912, son of Redden Byrd and Elizabeth C. Cain. (For the Redden Byrd family, see later). He served in Co. A, 16th Miss. Vol. Inf. C.S.A. 1861-5. Some entries of him and his family can be seen in the Virginia Cain Bible Record, p.147 of this write up. 1850 Fr.Co. MS #304 Dempsey B. Cain 37 m MS: Rebecca 33 f LA; Elizabeth 13 f MS; Isaiah 12 m MS; Mary 11 f MS; Hardy 9 m MS; Virginia 5 f MS; Virgil Holleway 12 m MS; Gustin Holleway 8 m MS; Elizabeth Byrd 32 f MS; James Byrd 14 m MS; George Byrd 12 m MS; Charles Byrd 8 m AR; Wilson Byrd 4 m AR; Phredonia Byrd 10/12 f TX; Mikajah Jones 23 m MS overseer. 1860 - not found 1870 - not found 1880 Fr.Co. Beat 5, Cain's Dist, E.D. 146-13 #106 Cain, D.B. 67 blacksmith MS MS MS; Byrd, George W. 40 son in law MS MS MS; Virginia Byrd 34 dau childbed MS MS MS; George D. Byrd, 4 grson; Redden B. Byrd 2 grson; also other grandchildren were there. 1900 -not found 1910 Pike Co. McComb E.D. 106-22 Byrd, G.W. 69 MS; Virginia wife 68; George son 28; Bufkin R. son 25; Rebecca dau 23; Cleve son 21 MS. Issue of Virginia Cain by G.W. Byrd: c) George Dempsey Byrd, b 31 Oct 1875, d 5 May 1914, never married. d) Reddon Bufkin Byrd, b 7 Nov 1877; m 4 Oct 1914 (Fr. Co. 4-436 by B.Y. Alford M.G.) Fanny Murray, b c.1896, dau of Alexander and Minnie Murray. 1910 Fr.Co. Beat 4, P.160 #272 Murray, Alexander 44 md once for 18 yrs MS MS MS; Minnie wife 41 md once for 18 yrs 6 children 6 living; Lois dau 15; Fannie dau 14; Velma dau 12; Clyde son 9; Vetha dau 2; Willie dau 7/12 1/ Marian Byrd e) Rebecca Byrd, b 7 June 1880, d 22 June 1939; m 15 July Page 166 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS 1912 Edward L. Jetmore, b 9 Mch 1871 (9 Mch 1866 the cemetery reading) New Castle, IN, d 23 Mch 1936, both bur Mt. Zion Cem. 1/ Mary Virginia Jetmore; m ___ Jones. 6 children. 2/ Myrtle Jetmore; m ___ Buie of McCall's Creek, 4 children. Found in Concord Baptist Church Cem., Fr. Co. MS are the stones: John Allen Buie, b 1 Sep 1915, d 4 Mch 1982; m 22 Nov. 1934 Myrtle J., b 29 Aug 1916. 3/ Edward L. Jetmore. 1 son. f) Lena D. Byrd, b 14 Sep 1882, d 25 June 1943; m 21 Jan 1906 (Pike K- 296) Jesse A. Goza, b 29 Jan 1880, d 20 July 1955, both bur Hollywood Cem., McComb. Virginia Gammill Byrd lived with them in their home at 703 Pennsylvania Ave., McComb, MS until her death in 1929. Her marker in Hollywood Cem. reads: Virginia C. Byrd 19 Apr 1846, 4 June 1929. 1/ Flavia Goza, b 1 Jan 1910; m 21 Sep 1930 ___ James, A/ Patricia Ann James, b 24 June 1933; m Walley, New Orleans B/ Carolyn James, b 5 May 1935; m ___ Kennedy, Atlanta, GA 2/ Genevieve Goza, b 2 Mch 1914; m 17 Mch 1942 ___ Cook, Jackson, MS A/ Gayle Cook, b 9 Jan 1943 B/ Lenita Cook, b 9 June 1946 She was named for Lena Goza and Juanita Varnell. g) Cleveland Byrd, b 5 Feb 1885, never married. There is some material in a Genealogical File at the MS State Archives apparently deposited there by Edgar Allen Cain of Breckenridge, TX, son of Dempsey B. Cain who was son of James Isaiah Cain and grandson of Dempsey B. and Rebecca (Holloway) Cain. The material seems to be the work of grandson Dempsey B. Cain. Much of the material from this file is reproduced here. This material begins with Hardy Cain, b c.1768 N.C., d 1814 (about October) and his wife Mary ___, b about 1775, d 1837 or 1838. His children are James (1789/1834), Isaiah (1795 N.C./ 1855), Mary (1808/ ), and William F. (1810/1876). Dempsey Benton Cain, son of James and Anna (Johnson) Cain, had a plantation, a cotton gin, corn mill and manufactured wagons and buggies. He was in the Confederate Army only briefly as he was let out to make wagons for the army, although he paid a man to serve in his place. His son James Isaiah Cain served the CSA army in the Engineers Corps, helping to build fortifications and was company clerk with the Pontoon Engineers through TN, GA and AL. After the War he bought a farm near Little Springs and built a cotton gin (mostly by his own hands from timber in the nearby forest). He was killed by a black man who was a tenant on one of his farms, and he was lynched. Dempsey Benton Cain, son of James Isaiah, was born on his father's farm near Little Springs, Fr. Co. MS., died 3 ct 1967. He married Page 167 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS Emily Denson Bostick in Houston on November 7, 1894, who died in Chelsea, MA on 8 Oct 1918, two days after Otta Lee died, both during the flu epidemic. Emily was born in Sunflower Co. MS. After her death, Dempsey married Watsie Nowlin on 8 Nov 1919. Dempsey came to Alvin (Brazoria Co.) TX to visit his brother Hiram in the fall of 1887. A month later he went to Richmond (Fort Bend Co. TX) to work for the Cockrans, living there for about 3 years. He attended Hill's Business College in Waco (McLennan Co.), then went to Rosenberg (Fort Bend Co.) for about 1 1/2 years and to Houston for a year, where he leased and operated Hiram's dairy. It was there that he met and became engaged to Emily. He moved to Yoakum (Lavaca Co.) on 1 Sept 1894 to open a grocery business for himself. He went out of this business in 1929 and became an agent of the Amicable Life Insurance Co. He and wife, Watsie, moved to Edna (Jackson Co.) 1 Aug 1944. He had joined the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Fr. Co. MS at the age of 14, and now joined the First Baptist Church in Yoakum 1 Nov. 1896. He was selected "Texas Baptist Father of the Year" by the BAPTIST STANDARD magazine and featured in their issue of 12 June 1963. Children of Dempsey and Emily: Otta Lee Born December 22, 1895 Died October 6, 1918 Edgar Allen " October 22, 1897 Arthur Benton " November 6, 1899 " December 29, 1970 Lester Dempsey " November 2, 1903 " April 22, 1967 Earl Hiram " March 2, 1907 " March 10, 1961 The family history material is followed by a narrative report which is not only interesting to us as a history of one branch of our family, but also it depicts much of life as lived in this period in the deep south. Much of it reads: "My name is Dempsey Benton Cain, my grandfather's name. I was born on our plantation on July 6, 1869. "The plantation was on the main public road that leads from the city of Natchez, MS on the west to the town of Summit, MS on the east. Summit is on the Illinois Central Railroad that runs from New Orleans to Chicago. Our home was fifteen miles from Summit and fifty miles from Natchez. "James Isaiah Cain, my father, was about five feet ten inches tall, weighed about one hundred sixty-five or one hundred seventy pounds. His hair was almost black. He stood very erect and was healthy and industrious. He was born and raised on my grandfather's plantation at Little Springs in Fr. Co., MS. "My grandfather had a plantation, a cotton gin, a corn mill, and a factory which manufactured wagons and buggies. As my father grew up, he learned to operate them. He was a fine wood and iron workman. "About the time he married, my father bought a plantation five miles east of Grandfather's on the same main public road. On our farm we had three tenant farm houses which we rented. In addition we usually hired two young men to work on the farm, gin mill, etc. They lived in our house. "Our cotton gin was a very large building about 75 feet square. It was two stories high with no flooring on the first, or ground floor. Here is where the four horses went round and round, Page 168 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS pulling two levers which turned the gin. The gin machinery was on the second floor. The cotton press extended from the ground up into the second floor. 'Two horses were used to operate the press. "My father built the gin. He built the gin house and cotton press. The timber (plentiful on the plantation) had to be cut and fashioned and brought to the location. It was a big job. Father hired some help, but he did most of the work himself. It was very substantial. Most of the work was put together with mortise and tenon. The mortises, or holes, were in the large upright posts and the tenon out in the end of the large sills that went from one side of the building to the other. When the tenon or tongue fit in the mortise, it was very substantial. A hole was bored in the post and in the tenon, a wooden pin made of tough white oak was driven very tightly in this hole to hold the mortise and tenon together. All the mortise -and tenon and holes were made before the building was erected. They all fit in their places, not an error was made. "To make the screw that pressed down the cotton, Father went to the forest and cut a tall straight elm tree. He turned it by hand lathe to cut the threads on it. For the nut that the screw went through, he used two large pieces of timber about two feet by four and eight feet long, cut thread on them, and then bolted them together for the screw to turn in. "All the timber used in building the gin and screw, also the cog, cog wheels, and pulleys Father made of wood. He cut them from the forest on the plantation. "To raise this building or put it together, Father invited several of his neighbors to help him. It was all put together in one day. A sumptuous dinner was served to the men by the ladies. It was a nice gathering, almost like a picnic. "When my brother, H.H. Cain and I were very small (he was two years older than I), our job was to drive the four horses round and round pulling the two levers to keep the gin running. We ginned cotton in the winter. Under the gin where the horses we re, the gin house was open. Brother H.H. and I would almost freeze. Sitting on the levers, driving the horses, we thought the North Pole was close to us. "It took all day to gin two bales of cotton. The seed cotton was carried in baskets up steps and put in the hopper. A man stood at the gin and raked, or fed by hand the cotton from the hopper into the gin. As the cotton was ginned, the seed fell at this man's feet. The lint cotton was blown, very loosely, in a large room. It was pushed, rolled and thrown down in the press. A man got in the press and stomped the cotton down as it was thrown in. The baggan or wrapping, was placed on the cotton of the press before the cotton was thrown in. When the press was full, the baggan was placed on the top of the cotton and fallow block was placed on it. Then the large wooden screw would press the cotton down to the size of a bale. Six iron ties or hoops were put around it. It was kicked out of the press and was then ready for market. "Father bought a new steam engine (a 6 1/2 horse power Book Walter). The boiler stood upright to power the engine. We then could gin seven bales a day. We also had a corn mill which ground corn for the public. I learned to operate any part of the gin--mill and engine. Page 169 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS "To furnish water for the engine, there were two ponds or tanks. That was not enough water so we put gutters around the eves of the gin house to catch the rain water. To make the gutters we cut trees about eight inches thick, split them in half with an axe and chopped out the inside, making a trough for the water. We dug a cistern for the rain water. It was ten feet wide and fifteen feet deep. After it was dry and ready to be lined with cement a cow from the cattle in the gin lot fell into the cistern. The pulleys and ropes were not strong enough to pull her out. We secured a large pole, about the size and length of a large electric light pole, put it across the cistern, re-enforced the ropes and pulleys, then out she came. "The road from Natchez to Summit ran through our plantation. The road circled around our house. Outside the front gate there was a large open space called a stomp yard, because there the cattle came and 'stomped' the ground down. There were many large red oak trees and the ground was open and smooth. The cotton gin, the blacksmith and carpenter shop, the sugar and molasses mill, the horse lot and cow lot were all around the edge of the stomp ground. "It was about 100 or 125 feet from the front gallery of the house to the front yard gate. The front gallery steps were about twelve feet wide. A gallery post was at each end of the steps. The front gate posts were the same distance apart as the gallery posts. There was a hedge of evergreen wild peach, which did not bear fruit on each side of the walk. This hedge was kept trimmed straight on each side from gate post to gallery post. It was like looking down a lane to look from the gallery to the gate. Finally the hedge grew so tall that it lapped overhead. Then it was like looking through a tunnel. Finally all the underpart of the hedge was trimmed off up to about head high. This left a tall hedge over the walk. It was like this when I left home. "Out in the yard on each si de of the hedge there were different kinds of shrubs and flowers. A hedge of arborvitae cedars were on each side of the yard fence. "Our house was a community center. Since Father was the Justice of Peace, the Justice Court was held here. "At that time there were no undertakers or funeral homes. When there was a death in the neighborhood, men would gather at our shop and make the coffin. They usually took some planks out of our gin floor for the coffin. (They were later replaced.) "I can remember how the coffins were made. I could design one now. The coffins were covered with cloth. Black was usually used for the adults and white for the children. Nice bright metal was used for the handles and trimmings. Two men on fast traveling horses usually went to Summit for this material. "The first thing that I remember was seeing my little baby sister being nursed from the bust of an old Negro woman (my mother was sick). This woman was an ex-slave of the family, who remained with us after she was freed. "Our kitchen and store room was about forty or fifty feet from the house. I remembered Sister (our oldest sister) calling me at night to tell me that the kitchen was on fire. I saw it burn to the ground. Father took the glass windows out of the house on the side nearest the fire to keep them from breaking from the Page 170 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS heat. We boys drew water from the well and filled washtubs. Father wet quilts and spread them on the roof and sides of the residence to keep it from burning. "This fire left us with no place to cook. Father built a temporary shed nearby. Later he built a large kitchen with a large dining room. They were connected to the residence. "My mother's twin sister, Frances, married Calvin Jones soon after Father and Mother were married. They owned a farm about two miles from our home just off the highway. They had several children. They sold their farm to Hiram McGehee and moved to TX when I was about three years old. They spent the night in our home just before going to Summit to take the train. I saw Aunt Frances with a round tin box or cylinder just large enough for a twenty dollar gold coin to fit in. She said, 'I am going to tie this around my waist for safe keeping while we are traveling.' "One day my father went squirrel hunting and I went with him. I was about five years old, too young to shoot a gun; so I just followed him. My foot began to hurt, and since I was barefooted, I thought I had stepped on a thorn. I said to my father, 'I've stuck a thorn in my foot'. When he came back to get the thorn out, he saw a snake crawling away. It was a ground rattle snake, small, but very poisonous. My foot was bleeding from the snake bite. Father spit on my foot, wiped the blood and dirt away, put his mouth to my foot and sucked the blood and poison from it. He said he was very careful to spit out all the blood. He took me home as quickly as possible, painted the foot with iodine and kept it painted for several days. He said that if he had not sucked the blood and poison from my foot, it would have caused death. For several days I could not walk. I could not even stand straight, but had to crawl on my knees and hands. "One evening at the kitchen door, my mother was churning milk in a dasher churn. She was talking to some of us children. She suddenly stopped churning and put the churn up. She sent my brother Hiram on horseback for our family doctor, Dr. Hatten Weathersby. He also was to tell Father who was working at his father's to hurry home. "To be out of the way and not to disturb, we small children slept on a pallet on the kitchen floor. In the night we were awakened and told that Mother wanted to see us. She called each child to her bedside separately. She said, 'I am dying and will never see you again on this earth. So live, that when you die you can join and see me in Heaven. I will be there.' "My mother, Sarah Franklin Cain died October 4, 1879, the fall of my tenth year. "My brother, Dr. J.I. Cain was teaching school near our home. I was one of his pupils. He was a good teacher and did not have much trouble with his pupils generally. One boy, Lee Bowling, gave a great deal of trouble. According to school rules at that time, the teacher used the switch. Lee got punished with it. Lee's father, Harvey Bowling, heard about it and sent word to the teacher that he (the father) was going to whip Isaiah for his boy's revenge. Page 171 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS To shorten the distance home there was a foot path that went through the forest. Almost everyone used this short cut. Harvey Bowling climbed a tree just over the path. He said to his son, 'Lee, hide behind this tree and when the teacher comes along, jump on him and hold him. Then I'll jump down on him and we'll give him a good thrashing.' "When Isaiah did come, Lee's courage failed him. Instead of jumping on the teacher, he just stood still. My brother saw him and asked what he wanted. About that time Lee's father slid down from the tree, his courage gone, too. Isaiah recognized their plot and gave both father and son a good lecture. He told Harvey to go home and told lee to go on to school. He also said that if Lee needs a whipping again, Lee. would get a double dose. Lee became a good pupil. "Lee was also a good baseball player. He was equipped with a sharp elbow. He would stick it out when a player would run on base--to knock the opposing player off. Lee's team was playing a match game against the best team in Summit. This team thought that they would run all over those country boys. They reckoned without Lee's elbow. When they'd run into Lee he'd stick his weapon into their ribs, real hard and almost knock the breath out of them. They would complain, but were told not to run into those country boys. The city boys lost. Lee grew up to be a good citizen. "We usually attended the Mount Zion Baptist Church. It was about five miles from our home and about two miles from my grandfather's. The church was on land donated by our Uncle, William Cain. "His field fence was close to the church. He usually hitched his buggy close to the fence while attending church. After dinner, during the recess of a protracted meeting, he would get into his buggy, call young people around him and talk to them about the Lord. One Sunday he summoned Ben and Lency Byrd (two of our nephews) Hiram, and me to his buggy. During his talk we four were converted. "There were no meetings at night. The regular meetings were held before noon and we went home for dinner. When the protracted were held, there was one meeting and sermon before dinner and one in the afternoon. There was a large permanent table in the yard. Everybody brought food and all ate together. "When people would join the church, we had to go to a creek for the baptism. We four boys were baptized in a small spring creek near Aunt Ann Byrd's home. "To get drinking water, the young folks went down a steep hill near the church to a nice cool. bubbling spring of water. The young men had a nice time helping the girls up and down the hill. "Almost all the young single people went to church on horse back. The ladies used sidesaddles. (Ladies never rode astride). Before sitting on the horse, they pulled on a long skirt made of light brown linen, called a riding skirt. The ladies usually came to church with their family. When they got to church there was usually a young man waiting for her. He would lead her horse to the large block where she would dismount. Her escort would take her horse and his and hitch them. Then the couple would go to church together. The young men wore a long overcoat, called a Page 172 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS duster and made of light brown linen, for his riding apparel. He usually had a bright colored wool shawl over his saddle. "The horse block was made by splitting a large log about twelve or fifteen feet long. Then the flat sides were turned up. Two small posts about three feet high were put under one end. The other end rested on the ground forming a slanting board. The lady would get off her horse on the high end and walk down the split log to the ground. After church the young man would lead his and her horses to the horse block. She would walk up the log until she got high enough to sit on the side saddle. The two young people would ride to the girl's home. Many a question was popped and many a match was made on this ride together. "Our family rode to church in the family carriage. It had two seats. The occupants faced each other. The driver rode on top on a seat. A small seat was made on the back for the nurse. The carriage was pulled by two horses. "I can remember distinctly seeing the families drive up close to the church. The family would get Out of the carriage. The men would go in one door and the women in another. They did not sit together. "MY GRANDFATHER, D. B. CAIN. I was named for my grandfather. He said that he wanted me to succeed him in his business but he died when I was a small boy. Grandfather stood very erect. He was about five feet 11 inches tall and weighed about 175 pounds. His hair was dark brown before it turned gray. He was very strong and could do very much hard work. He had a store which kept a good stock of merchandise, was Justice of the Peace, and post master of Little Springs, MS. "His plantation was on the road between Natchez and Summit. It was very large. During slavery he had many Negro slaves. After they were freed, many of them remained with him as long as they lived. "He raised Cotton, corn, sorghum, sugar cane, peas, and other staple crops. He had a shop that manufactured wagons, buggies, plows and other implements. Near the shop was the saw mill and turning lathe that prepared material for the shop. Grandfather used horse power for this mill and turning lathe. He cut all the wood material used in the shop from the forest off the plantation. Most of it was white oak and hickory. He used bois d'arc wood for the hubs of the wheels of the buggies and wagons. He grew this wood especially for this purpose because it was hard and tough and would not shrink. The bois d'arc trees were in a long row extending from the residence by the side of the road to a steep hill at the edge of a dense forest. On a creek that ran through the plantation was the cotton gin and corn mill operated for the public. They were run by water power but the press that baled the cotton was run by mule power. The cotton gin only ran during the fall and winter but the corn mill was operated all year long. One of the ex-slaves ran it as long as he lived. "Our home was six miles east of the mill. When I was just a small boy my parents would put a sack of shelled corn on a horse and I would ride the horse to the mill. When I got to the mill, I would holler. The old Negro would come take off the sack of corn, Page 173 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS grind it into meal, and take out a portion for a toll. All of the corn, except a small part, was ground into meal. The small part was ground very coarse for use as hominy. I carried an extra small sack to put this in. The toll charges were usually used to raise and fatten the hogs. The hog pasture was close to the mill. "I usually liked to take the corn to the mill. There was one thing I dreaded though. There were a few wild bears in that country. The road went through a dense forest of large trees. One large tree had blown over against another and when the wind would blow slightly, these trees would moan and screech. I thought the noise came from wild bears that were looking at me and that the woods were so thick I could not see them. Sometime after that my father and I were passing along that road together, I heard the noise again. I said, 'Father, listen to the wild bears.' He listened and knew at once what it was. He explained that it was just the trees screeching together. I never was afraid to take that way again. "There was a man from Ireland, named Haley. He was a very fine cabinetmaker. He did some work for my grandfather. When he was ready to retire, he asked my grandparents to let him live with them the remainder of his life. He had accumulated a good sum of money and had enough to last his lifetime. They gave him a private room which opened into the main (east) living room. There was a large fireplace in the living room. His room's door was near the fireplace. He always sat on the side of the fireplace near his door. In his room he kept a large tool chest that he had used before he retired. He kept all these tools bright and shining. There was not a speck of rust on any of them. He had a large trunk he kept his clothes in and a large four-poster bed he had made. No one ever went into his room except my grandmother when she went to clean. "Mr. Haley was a subscriber to the NEW YORK SUN. He would read this newspaper during the day. At night by the fire, he and Grandfather would sit around and discuss the news. I remember hearing them talk about the Turkish War. "Mr. Haley liked to smoke a pipe. He had a clay pipe, his 'every day pipe' and an imported decorated China pipe for Sunday. My grandfather gave him a track of land to raise his tobacco on. He grew all the tobacco he used. He also grew mullin which he mixed with the tobacco. "When Mr. Haley would get sick, he wanted Grandmother to stay close to his bedside as he wanted to tell her something if he should be about to die. He outlived both my grandparents and moved a few miles to our cousin's, John P. Jones. All of his belongings moved with him. He died at a ripe old age. but before he died he told Mrs. Jones that there was a false bottom in the trunk. Some money was found in the trunk. "Years passed and his tools were given to different ones. The contents of his trunks were disposed of, the bedstead was discarded, the posts of it were used in the horse lot to make part of a fence. After many years, the fence was torn down. The old posts were used in different things. Finally, they were cut to be used in a barn. In them was found a large number of twenty dollar Page 174 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS gold pieces. Before Mr. Haley had retired he had bored a hole in the bottom of the bed posts and had put the money in them. "All the water that was used in the household was drawn from the springs. To get there you had to go out the front yard gate , cross the public road, and out a gate that went in the plantation. There was the water drawer. A large wire with supports under it was stretched very tightly from the water drawer to large posts at the bottom of a steep hill. There at the foot of the hill were several nice cool, bubbling springs which were continually running. From the spring several wooden troughs carried water to a large trough. "On the stretched wire were two rollers from which a large bucket was hung. A rope had one end fastened to the rollers, the other to a large drum. The bucket would roll down the wire and would stop under the large trough of water. It would take only a few seconds to fill the bucket, then the bucket was pulled up along the wire. (After a number of years, there was a well dug between the kitchen and the dining room.) "On the creek below my grandfather's gin and mill were large patches of cane called cane brakes. This cane is like the bamboo used for fishing rods except the walls are thinner and the hole is larger. It grows so thickly that a person cannot walk through it. Most are fishing pole size but some grow to the thickness of a baseball bat. There were usually dead leaves and trash among the cane. Sometimes a careless person would let a fire get started. The fire would heat the joints of the cane and cause steam to form. The cane would explode and would sound like a lot of guns being fired. This destroyed the cane. "The Indians used cane for making blowguns. They would smooth out the inside so an arrow would go through easily. The cane was usually about ten or twelve feet long. The arrows were made of hard, heavy wood and were very sharp. The Indians would scorch the arrows on one end to make them harder. The other end had a piece of cotton or a feather fastened to it, just large enough to go through the gun freely when it was blown very hard. The Indians used these blow guns to kill game. "When I was a little boy, Indians would pass in small bands selling these blow guns and other things. We would buy the guns from them. We boys got so we could kill birds and rabbits with them. We never could kill large game. My brother, Hezekiah, and I loved to visit Grandfather and Grandmother. In going from the residence to the cotton gin and corn mill, we passed some chiquapin trees. We liked to eat the nuts. We would thrash them off the trees, then let them lie in the sun to open out of their thorny, thick hulls (you could not open them by hand). When we got our pockets full of nuts, we had a nice time playing Hul-Gul (How many? 6--9--12--Or handfull?). Our grandparents lived about two miles from Mount Zion Baptist Church. Our family would often go from church to our grandparents'. We would eat dinner and visit with them for a while before going home. "One day Hezekiah and I wanted to stay longer and go down to the spring where the bucket was. We liked to put out little flutter Page 175 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS mills to turn in the water trough. We asked our parents to let us stay a while. They agreed but said we would have to walk home. "We went down to the springs. We played there longer than we realized. It was almost dark when we noticed. We knew what chores we had to do when we got home. We started out running. Brother said to me, 'Can we run all the way home? You know it is 5 miles.' "I said, 'I can, if you can.' We waded in a two foot deep creek, dipped up some water with our hands to dr ink, but we never stopped running until we reached home. We did the chores on time. "Grandfather was past seventy-five years old when he died. The several heirs of his estate sold their interests to parties uninterested in preserving the plantation. They turned it into cattle raising country. The residence was vacated. Grass, bushes and trees grew very thick even against the house. "It was reported that my grandfather had money hidden in the walls of the house and in the brick chimneys. Vandals almost tore the house down and made a wreck of the whole house. The house was finally burned. There is nothing left but the cemetery which has grown up with bushes. The land now belongs to the government for forest land. "The nearest tenant house to our plantation house housed a Negro, Amos and his family. He farmed part of the land on the plantation. Father furnished all the teams, tools, and seed. Amos and Father divided the farm products in half. "Amos was a good hand to work around the gin and shop. He was good at tramping the lint cotton in the press. Father paid him for the extra work. Amos was very agreeable. "A Negro man about Amos' age moved in the neighborhood on another farm. He and Amos got to be very good friends. He seemed to be a trouble maker wherever he lived. He and Amos visited each other often. "We had a corn mill that was powered by a steam engine. Late one evening Father was doing some work near the back end of the gin house. Isaiah was attending to the corn mill and I was the engineer. "Amos climbed over the fence at the back of the gin house and went to where my father was. They began to talk. On account of the noise the machinery was making we could not hear what they said. We saw them begin to fight. Father had a stick about the size of a walking cane and Amos got one about the size of a man's arm and about four feet long. He hit Father on the head with the pole, crushing his skull as an eggshell is crushed when hit. Amos ran away. Officers were notified. They hunted for him all that night, found and arrested him the next day. They brought him to our home, locked large chains around his feet, then fastened them over the joist in the kitchen. For three days until Father died, three men sat facing the prisoner with guns in hand, ready to shoot at any time. There were a great many men with these guns who stayed there during those three days. There were so many guns that they were stacked out in our large front yard, like guns were stacked during the War between the North and the South. "Father died on April 30, 1883. "After he died some men came to my grandfather and said they were Page 176 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS going to take the prisoner and hang him in the gin house where he had killed Father. Grandfather asked them not to do it but to take him to Meadville, the county seat, and put him in jail, and let the law take its course. "Seven officers were appointed to take the prisoner to the jail. They put him on a horse and tied his feet under the horse so he could not get off. The men stopped at Cousin Hiram McGehee's for dinner. After dinner they started again to the jail. The officers said suddenly a large number of men appeared in the road in front of them and demanded the prisoner. Then men took Amos, and untied his feet from under the horse. They put a rope around his neck, tied it to the limb of a tree and drove the horse from under him. When the rope was being put around his neck, Amos said, 'Men, I deserve to be hung.' None of our family knew anything about this until after it happened. We were told by officers and friends. "When Father was killed Hiram was going to school at A & M College at Starksville, MS. He came home then and never did go back to finish his education. He lacked one year of finishing. At college he had advanced to be foreman of the school farm, a very high and responsible position. At home before he went to college he had learned to be a real good molasses and sugar maker. The college did not grow sugar cane, but grew sorghum for syrup. The syrup the college was making was dark and rancid, not very eatable. Hiram told the authorities he could take the sorgham and make better syrup from it. He made one batch to show them. It was of a clear amber color and tasted good. After that he always made the syrup at college. "Living near the college was a widow woman, Mrs. C. E. Cochran. Hiram got acquainted with the family. It had several boys and two girls. One of the girls was named Fannie. The widow Cochran moved to Richmond, TX. Hiram and Fannie corresponded and finally Hiram gave up the management of our farm and went to TX. He and Fannie married. "In about 1887 our family disbanded and left home. Sister Lizzie and I went with Aunt Frances Jones (Uncle Calvin's wife). Our step-mother, Addie Godbold had gone back to her old home. We went to visit Hiram and Fannie in Alvin, TX. "We got on the train at Summit, MS for New Orleans, the first leg of our trip. It was the first passenger train I had ever seen. Aunt Frances, Uncle Calvin and Sister Lizzie took seats near the middle of the coach. I had to find a Seat at the back end. "As the train started off, I could hear the car wheels, 'Bump-bump'. I thought there was something broken and the train would soon stop, but the 'Bump--bump' got faster. Then I decided there was nothing wrong and after listening to the 'bump--bump' a while, I concluded it was the car wheel rolling over the joints of the rails. Soon dawn came, I could look out of the car windows. I could see a rail fence sometimes a barbed wire fence. I had never seen a barbed wire fence although I had heard that TX had them. There were long stretches of fence--sometime rails and some times barbed wire. I thought that some man must have a very large field to have all this fence. I knew he could get plenty of fence rails from the nearby forest but wondered where he could get so much barbed wire. Page 177 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS "As the train rolled on towards New Orleans, I noticed that when it crossed a highway or went through a town there was a gap in the fence. So I decided that was not a large field fence but was the railroad fence. I did not ask any questions as I did not want to expose my ignorance. "When we got off the train at New Orleans, Uncle Calvin ordered a large closed carriage to take us to the depot at a boat landing on the MS River. The carriage was drawn by two large horses with heavy iron shoes. The carriage wheels had iron tires. The streets were paved with round cobble stones and was very uneven. The iron shoes, iron tires, and cobble stones made a tremendous noise. "We arrived in Houston early in the morning, changed cars from the S.P. railroad to the G.C. and S.P., then rode to Alvin 25 miles away. "Fannie wrote her mother that I was looking for a job. Mrs. Cochran sent word for me to come to Richmond to work on her dairy and Johnson grass farm. I wrote to Mrs. Cochran and told her I'd be on a certain train. My letter was delayed in transit, so when I got to the depot there was no one to meet me. "I asked the depot agent, Mr. Beasley, if he knew any of the Cochran family. He said, 'Yes, they are my good friends' I asked him to direct me to their ranch. His directions were, 'Walk down the Santa Fe railroad towards Galveston about 2 miles. On the left you will see a large two story brick home. That is the Cochran ranch.' I walked from the depot carrying my little bundle of clothes. "For working for Mrs. Cochran, I got twenty dollars a month and my room and board. I had a nice large upstairs room. "The first morning I was there she told me she wanted me to take the milk to Rosenberg. It was to be delivered to the depot restaurant, the two hotels and to some homes. There was no one to show me the route to Rosenberg nor where the milk customers were. The Cochran's little Negro boy, Hayes, whom they were raising and educating, pointed out the dim, winding path to Rosenberg. Hayes introduced me to Sambo, the big white mule who was to pull the cart. I loaded the fifteen gallon can of milk for the restaurant and the two ten gallon cans for public and hotels in the high two wheel cart. It was three and a half miles to Rosenberg through a dense huisache thicket. I crossed the railroad and two pastures and passed by the slaughter house. There were seven gates in all to open and close. "I taught Sambo to come through these gates without being driven or led. When I would open the gate and say, 'Sambo, come through' Sambo would come through without hitting a gate post He would stop as soon as he was on the other side and start as so on as I got in the cart. "Mrs. Cochran was very suspicious. Right before I would leave with the milk, she would measure the milk in each can. When I would return she'd measure it again to see if she had been cheated. After working for her for several months, she learned to trust me and did not measure the milk any more." The largest part of this collection are the copies of old letters, Page 178 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS mostly written by James I. Cain to his wife during the Civil War between March 1862 to Dec. 1864. These were given by Hiram Calvin Cain to Edgar Allen Cain who eventually typed copies and distributed the originals among a number of the descendants. Also, included was a daguerrotype of James I. and Sarah F. Cain, which Hiram had had photographed and included in the collection. See p 334 for a xerox. The copies reproduced here are examples of the letters found in this file. Corinth, MS Mch 29th 1862. Dear Sarah I have the opportunity this morning of writing you a few lines, & send them by uncle Hardy for it seems as if it were an age since I wrote to you I am well this morning and I feel better than I have for some time. Calve is well & all of my mess Calve Robert Goshen John P & uncle Elish. I have not but a few minutes to write as uncle is almost ready to start. I want you to write to me very often I want you to state what all is doing and how all is getting along I want you to see and make the boys feed my hogs and try and save my pigs be industrious Sarah and do good. ask father for such things as you want and he will get them Remember me in your prayers and live a christian life for I am surrounded by many tryals and dangers, but I think I can over come the temptations of this unfriendly world if so we can meet in a better world where wars and troubles sease to be Yours Truly Husband J.I. Cain Camp near Shelbyville, TN January 22d, A.D. 1863. My Dear Wife I again seat myself this day to let you hear from me, as I know you are looking for a letter from me for I have not writen but one to you since the Battle. you must not think hard of me for not writing oftener for I have so much to do I cannot write very often, but I will try and write oftener to you hereafter. I had a letter writen to you to send by Arch Sample 2 days ago but he started before I knew it, so I will tell you all the news in this letter. Arch has got his Discharge at last and started home yesterday morning. Sarah, this was the reason I did not send my letter by him was that he started before I got up. I am in Good (health) and all my mess. I have but 7 in my mess besides myself now as 3 of my mess got wounded in the Battle at Murfreesboro. our orderly Sargeant A.E.Ford got his right arm shot off at his elbow by a _____ our Second Sargt. Joe Parker got a flesh wound in his right arm. Tom Lard got wounded where Bryant Caraway was wounded at Shilough. We got 13 wounded in our 'Co' I believe. We lost not one killed. I would tell you all that was wounded in our Co. & in the Regt., but I reckon you have heard before this time as all the boys are coming home that were wounded and I expect that some will be at home when I hear from you again. (I am in hope 50.) We have moved since we got back to this town. We are camped one mile and a half from town, a south course. We moved on account of Small Pox being in our Regt. We have a ___ Co. 'G', the Goode Rifles. Our Regt. is camped one mile from the Brigade off to ourselves. Co. 'G' is 2 hundred yards from us. We moved here last Wednesday ___ a week. We are in a beautiful place to camp, and are handy to water & wood as we camped in 60 yards of a beautiful and flush running creek. But I am sorry to say to you we have but 2 tents in the Co., at least ours has but 2. Some have Page 179 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MS CAINS 3 or 4 to the Co. as they have more men and better Officers. We have suffered some right smart since we have been at this camp as we had hardly anything for Soldiers to be ___, especially like us one half without tents. It rained the first day we got to this camp & all night & all the next day until late in the evening when it commenced sleeting and it sleeted awhile & commenced snowing & snowed all night & one day until the snow was 3 inches thick. The snow lay on the ground 2 or 3 days and it commenced snowing again 2 days & one night steady, so we have not had any clear weather since we moved to this camp. Why, Dear, I do not know what my mess would have done if I had not got hold of an old wagon sheet. It was just large enough for my mess. We fared just as well as those that had tents. We have been pretty hard pressed for something to eat since we have been at this place. I will tell you what we draw & how much. We draw one pound of meal for each man a day, one & a quarter of Beef, one spoon full of salt to each man for one day. The Beef we draw is fresh & quite poor, so you may see we have to be sparing with our rations or we will fall short. We do not get enough to eat. We draw less at this time than we ever have since I have been out. It is not because it is not here for there is lots of corn & hogs in this part of the Country. I will tell you the reason why this. The Government is removing all the Provisions Out of the Country, they ___ to ___ our troops to where they are not subject or liable to be taken by the enemy. I cannot say that we will leave here for I do not know but I rather think we will but not soon. The enemy is advancing on ours. They are at Murfreesboro and said to be 5 or 6 miles this side of there. Wm. Parker's wife came to camp 2 days ago on her way to Murfreesboro to see her husband, he was so wounded She got permission from our Gen. to go so she says she is going if she has to go by herself and walk. She is a brave Woman but she will have to go through the Yankee lines & it is doubtful whether they will let her return or not. I received a letter from Sister Mary yesterday Directed to her Dear (lost) Companion, but I did not know what to do with it so I was anxious to hear from home and I broke it open and read the contents to myself & burned it immediately. I also found one enclosed in it directed to Brother Hardy. I also read it. I found the piece of Poetry enclosed also. I am going to keep it. You can show sister Mary this letter. I hope she will not think hard of me for breaking her letter & reading it. O, I am sorry that he is not here to receive & read this letter. But Poor unlucky man, he is gone and I hope to a better world than this where there is no more Wars and troubles, but to that bright & happy home where Jesus dwells. But it grieves me to think of his last & lonesome Companion that is left alone to mourn & to grieve on his account. But I hope they will grieve but only think it is God that has called him home to eternal rest. And that they are travelling the same road, and it will not be long until they meet him in that bright & happy home where they never will part. Other pages are missing... Camp near Shelbyville, TN March 10th, 1863 The men they captured was out on outpost one mile from the Brigade, one of them passed the first pickets, when our men fired at him and wounded his horse, but missed him, so he put back afoot. While the Page 180 -------------------------------------------------------------------------