I created this place for me to make contact with my extended family and share historical events and stories of Stewart County Tennessee. I am also researching family names such as: Hicks, Manning, Stalls, Sills, Page, Sexton, Smith, Dowdy, Fox, Joiner and Baggett.
I grew up in a small farming town in the heart of Oklahoma. We were raise to love God, Country and Family! Which is pretty important right now with the state that things are in.
After 20 years and through this blog, I have finally received a picture of my grandfather Elmer Eugene Smith. His sister Grace Smith's grand daughter had located this picture and several others that belonged to her grand mother. This picture was taken about 1948 in Dover, Tennessee. With Elmer is his oldest daughter Orie Jerlene about 11 years old, standing in the back. To the left standing is Hillman Eugene about 3 years old. On the right sitting, is my mother Lillian Lorena whom is about 4 years old. And on Elmer's lap is Raymond Earl who is about 2 years old. Elmer died of Parkison's disease on 23, 1967. He is layed to rest at the Andrew Smith Cemetery at Cumberland City, along side many reletives including his wife Leona and son Raymond.
Picture Provided by Tony Baggett, Grand Son of Artie Smith
Thomas M Smith was born about 1865 in Stewart county, TN. He was the son of Andrew Jackson Smith Sr. and Aretha Ann Etheridge Smith. Thomas married Rachel Fielder. Rachel was born about 1866. she was the daughter of James Fielder b:1840 and Liza Parrot b: 1842.
Thomas and Rachel had five known children.
Children of Thomas and Rachel Smith
1. Eva Smith, b: ? in Stewart county, TN.
2. Artie Smith, b:1885 in Stewart county, TN. m: 1905 to Walter Allen Baggett. d: about 1960
3. Ida Smith b. 1886 in Stewart county, TN.
4 Henry Allen Smith, b:23 Jan 1888 in Cumberland City. Stewart county, TN. m: Nancy A. Clements on 10 Oct 1908. d: 7 May 1969 at Carlisle, TN.
5 Maynard O. Smith, b: May 1888 in Stewart county, TN.
The 1900 Stewart county census finds Eva 15, Ida 14, Henry 13 and Maynard Smith 12 living with their grand parents James and Liza Fielder.
Any additional information on this family would be appreciated.
It was four years ago today that I lost you mom. You are missed as much now as you have and always will be. I will see you again some day I know. But till then, I love you!
Raymond was my mother Lillian's brother. He is buried at the Andrew Smith cemetery at Cumberland City along with his father and mother and many other relatives on the Smith and Baggett side.
Updated Material Sent By Dr. Ron Smith. Click on Image to Enlarge
Friends and Family, I received some very sad news from one of my dearest blog friends and newly found family members. Dr. Ron Smith notified me on Monday night that he had lost his father Edward Price Smith. Below is the email I received from Ron. I would like for everyone to please keep Ron and his family in your prayers. My Sincere Thanks, Marty Cossey
Dear Family,
This is to inform you that today at 2:50PM, my Dad, Edward Price Smith, age 93 departed this life. He was a good Christian man, loving husband and a strict and demanding father who encouraged us beyond what we thought we were able to accomplish. He will lie in state at the High's Funeral Home, McMinnville, TN with visitation Thursday and Friday evenings with services Saturday afternoon at Smyrna Church of Christ in McMinnville, TN. They have an email site but I haven't had time to secure it. Thank all of you for your prayers and kindnesses throughout this time. We will miss him sorely.
This is the marriage bond for Andrew Jackson Smith Jr. and Cora Green Viola Baggett. Notice the amount of the bond 1250.00. Who had money like that? Who could just whip out 1250.00 for a surety bond on someones else's marriage. Not many people could even do that today. In earlier times, a marriage bond was given to the court by the intended groom prior to his marriage. It affirmed that there was no moral or legal reason why the couple could not be married and it also affirmed that the groom would not change his mind. If he did, and did not marry the intended bride, he would forfeit the bond. The bondsman, or surety, was often a brother or uncle to the bride, not necessarily a parent. The bondsman could also be related to the groom, or even be a neighbor or friend, but those situations occurred less often.
The following information comes from Linda and Pam. They are both granddaughters of William and Mary Smith. They are seeking information on this family. I am a cousin to them on the Dowdy side. Mary Molly Dowdy is the daughter of my grandmother Rebecca Francis Dowdy's brother Marcus Luke Dowdy and Mary E Bryant. I also think that William Henry Smith may be the son of my great great grandfather Andrew Jackson Smith Sr's son John J. Smith. This would make us double cousins. Any information on this family would be greatly appreciated.
William Henry Smith was born 13 June, 1875 in Stewart county, TN. He was the son of John Smith and Susan Etheridge. William married Mary Molly Dowdy on August 5th, 1896. Mary was born in Stewart County Tn. She was the daughter of Marcus (Mark) Luke Dowdy and Mary Bryant. William and Mary had 10 children. William died on the 1st of April 1957. Mary died on the 23rd of November 1927. Both are buried in Houston county, TN. in the Gray Cemetery.
The children of Wm. Henry and Mary Molly Dowdy Smith are:
1.George Vernon Smith, my father, b. 28 May 1919, d. 28 Jul 1993 in TN, married Edna Virginia Sherman
2. Edna Smith, b.6 Jul 1897, d. 30 Jul 1933 in TN of Cancer, married Lee Walters
3. Mary Smith, b. 26 Feb 1899, d. 9 Apr 1913 in TN of Meningitis.
4. Adam Arthur Smith, b. 7 Mar 1901, d. 6 Jun 1986 in MI of Colon Cancer; he was married 2 or 3 times but I don't have the names of his wives
5. Gertrude Bell Smith, b. 14 Sep 1903, d. 8 Feb 1920 in TN of Epilepsy.
6. Susan Ellis Smith, b. 7 Nov 1905, d. 21 Mar 1961 in IL of Arterial Sclerosis, married Ira Burnaine
7. Vida Ruth Smith, b. 7 Apr 1908, d. 3 Mar 1940 in TN of Heart Dropsy, married Loney Edmonds. (note* Loney Edmonds is related to me on my Hicks side)
8. Louise Smith, b. 2 May 1910, d. 22 Mar 2001 in OH, married Clarence Pegram
9. Charles Edward Smith, b. 8 Aug 1912, d. 5 May 1996 in MD, married Hester Bigham
10. Gilbert Henry Smith, b. 22 Feb 1915, d. 26 Feb 2001 in TN of Colon, married Mary Browning
Andrew Jackson Smith Sr. was born in 1835 in Montgomery County, TN. New evidence indicates that he may have bee the son of James and Mary Smith. Andrew was married three times. His first wife was Elizabeth Odom. Andrew and Elizabeth had two children. They were Elizabeth Smith born in 1852 and John Smith born in 1854. Elizabeth died sometime after 1854 because on the 2nd day of March, 1859 Andrew married Agnes Elizabeth Nash. They were married by Justice of the Peace H. H. Trinkle. Agnes was born in North Carolina in the year 1839. She was the daughter of Joseph Nash and Tempy Smith. Agnes’s brothers and sisters were Nancy Nash born 1841 in NC, and who later married Andrew’s brother Joseph Smith, James Nash born in NC in 1843 and Louisa born in NC in 1846. Andrew and Agnes had 3 children. Their children were Joseph Smith born in 1860, William Smith born in 1862 and who married Jermie Townsend and Frederick Smith born 1863. On or around December 25 of 1861, Andrew volunteered for the Army at Fort Donelson. He was enlisted in the 50th Tennessee Infantry Company H. According to his pension application, Andrew was hurt by a cannon rolling on to him and knocking him down while he was loading it on the breast works. The cannon rolled onto his hip. He was taken to an Army hospital and then to prison. He was let out to go home. Andrews’s wife Agnes died soon after that, sometime between 1863 and 1865. Andrew then married Aretha Ann Etheridge on 5 November 1865. They too were married by H. H. Trinkle. Aretha was the daughter of Joseph Etheridge and Sarah Dunaway. She was born in 1850 in Stewart County, TN. She was 15 years old when she and Andrew married. As census records indicate, Aretha went by Ann. The 1870 Stewart County, TN. census shows that Andrew’s two children with Elizabeth are living with James and Mary Smith (his suspected parents) and his three children with Agnes are living with her parents Joseph and Tempy Nash. The 1880 census shows his and Agnes’s children still living with her parents. Andrew and Ann had twelve children. It is said by family members that Andrew had a total of 21 children, only 17 are know so it would suggest that some died as babies or very young. Ann died sometime between 1891 and 1899. Andrew filed for a Confederate pension on 18 September, 1899. He was denied any compensation. The Stewart County, TN census has 74 year old Andrew Sr. living with his son Andrew Jr. 39 and daughter in law Cora 32, grand children, Bertha E. 11, Ruth E. 9, Lillian 7, Gracie 5, Eugene 2, and a daughter not yet named, but whom became Angeline, 5 months old. Andrew died August 30 1916 according to Stewart county records, but his head stone says 1917. He is buried in the Andrew Smith cemetery at Scott’s Chapel near Cumberland City. TN. One of Andrew’s great granddaughters’s, Vickie Burns; told me that her grandmother Grace told her that when Andrew died, it was a very hot August day and as they were carrying the body down the hill to the cemetery for burial the body burst from the heat and a horrible smell was emitted. The family made diligent efforts to hurry and get the body in the ground. Not a pretty story, but interesting none the less. It is stories such as this that indicates the conditions our forefathers endured.
Andrew and Aretha Ann’s Children 1. Thomas M. Smith born 1865. Married Rachel Fielder. One child, Artie Smith married Walter Baggett brother of Andrew Smith Jr’s wife Cora Baggett. 2. Andrew Jackson Smith Jr. born 26 June 1870 Stewart County, TN. Married Cora Green Viola Baggett. Died 1927. 3. Nancy Smith born 1872. Married Thomas B. Allen. Died 1892 4. Louisa Belle Smith, born 1877. Married Sam Pulley on 6 September 1894. They had two daughters, Sadie b: 1900 and Goldie born 1906. Belle died before 1920 5. Josephine (Josie) Smith born 1878. Married Robert Brake. 6. Missouri Smith born 1879. 7. Cora Smith born in May, 1880. Married Homer Baker. 8. Maude Smith born 1883. Married Melvin Brumley. 9. Etta Smith born 1885. Married Joe Hull. 10. Ella Smith born 1888. Married James Winters 11. Arvia Smith born 1891. Marred Everett Clements.
Below is the continuation of my great, great grandfather Andrew Smith's pension application, to which he was denied compensation.
Third Page
How did you get out of the army?: Paroled
Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government?: No
Are you married, or have you been married?: I am or have been
If so, what is the size of your family?: 10 Children
What are the respective ages of your wife and children?: Wife is dead, Tom, 37, Andrew 27 married, Nan 24 married, Bell 22, Josie 21, Cora 18, Maude 16, Et14 married, Ella 11, Arvia 8.
Are not some of your children able to support you?: No
In what business are you now engaged if any, and what do you earn?: Not able to move
What estate have you in your right, real and personal, and what is its value?: 1 old mule, 1 young mule, 1 cow, 6 shoats, all worth About one hundred dollars.
What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is its value?: She did own 40 acres colon (?) land, worth about $40.00.
How have you derived support for yourself and family for the last five years?: I have managed to work a little.
Do you use intoxicants to any extent?; No
How long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?: All my life.
Have you an attorney to look after this application?: No
Witness my hand, this 16th day of Sept, 1899
Witnesses:
J. S. Edwards M.D. , Physician
John Odom, Witness
James Odom, Witness
Fourth Page
State of Tennessee, Houston county
Personally appeared before me Jo M. Harris clerk of the county court of said county, the above named A. J. Smith, the applicant, with who I am personally acquainted, and having the application read and fully explained to him, as well as the statements and answers therein made, made oath that the said statements and answers are true.
Witness my hand, at office, this 16th day of Sept, 1899.
Jo. M. Harris, Clerk
State of Tennessee
HoustonCounty – Personally appeared before me, Jo M. Harris. Clerk of the county court of said county, the above named, Dr. J. S. Edwards
One of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application and who is a physician of good standing and being duly sworn, says that he has carefully and thoroughly examined A. J. Smith, the applicant, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities:
Impaired action of left lower limb due to an old injury of left hip causing partial paralysis of motion and sensation greatly reducing his capacity for ding labor wherein waling or standing is required, Has Palpitation of heart, probably of Rheumatoid arigen (?) Witness my hand, at office, this 16th day of Sept 1899. Jo M. Harris, Clerk
State of Tennessee
HoustonCounty personally appeared before me, Jo M. Harris clerk of the county court of said county, the above named John Odom and James Odom two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, with whom I am personally acquainted and known to me to be citizens of veracity and standing in this community and who make oath that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant and that the facts set forth and statements made in his application are correct and true to the best of their knowledge and belief and that they have no interest in this claim and that said applicants habits are food and free from dishonor and further make oath to the following facts touching the applicant service in the army
I was recently informed by a new found cousin of mine Vickie, that our grand father Andrew Jackson Smith Sr. was a veteran of the War Between the States. She mentioned that he had filed for a war pension and that it was rejected. I have since then ordered a copy of that record.
The following is the information was taken from that Confederate Pension application that was filed by Andrew Jackson Smith Sr. This application is quite extensive so I will only relay the questions that Andrew himself had answered on the application. Andrew’s answers are underlined. This application will be posted in a part series, due to the amount of information provided.
First Page
Stamped Rejected
Soldier’s Application for Pension
A J Smith (Andrew Jackson Smith Sr.)
Filed Sept 18, 1899
Second Page
I, A. J. Smith, a native of the State of Tennessee and now a citizen of Tennessee, resident at Elk Creek, In the county of Stewart in said State of Tennessee.
I do solemnly swear that, while in the discharge of my duty in the service of the Confederate or United States, as a member of: Co. H. Captain, Elbert Sexton. 50thTenn, Col. Stacker.
I was wounded in the battle of (blank) and that from the effects of such wound or wounds I was disabled as follows: I was disabled by mounting a cannon on breast works (misspelled) by cannon falling against (scratched out) and throwing me against the cannage (misspelled).
In what County, State and year were you born: I was born in MontgomeryCounty in 1835.
When did enlist and in what command? Give the names of the regimental and company officers under whom your were serving at date of wound or wounds: I enlisted at DoverTenn, Sextons captain Stacker Col.
In what battle were you wounded and if not in battle state under what circumstances you received the injury or injuries?: Fort Donaldson received injuries as above stated
What was the precise nature of your wound or wounds? : I got a serious hurt in hip. Which hurt. Disabled me from services.
What limb if any did you lose by reason of said wound or wounds and if no limb state fully the disability caused by said wound or wounds and is said disability permanent?: The injury of hip causing paralyses of that limb on that side.
Were you incapacitated for service by reason of said wound wounds or service: I was taken to hospital.
Were you discharged from the army by reason of said wound, wounds or service?: Was taken prisoner.
If discharged from the army where were you and what did you do until the close of the war?: I was paroled and returned home, unable to move.
What was the name of the surgeon who attended you?:
Andrew Jackson Smith Jr. was born on the 26th day of June 1870. He was the 2nd child of Andrew Smith Sr. and Aretha (Reedy) Ann Etheridge. Andrew was Born in Cumberland City Tennessee. Andrew married Cora Green Viola Bagget on the 1st day of January 1897 in Stewart County Tennessee. Cora was born on the 3rd day of December 1877 and was the daughter of Robertson (Bob) Baggett and Rebecca Francis Dowdy. Andrew and Cora lived their married life at Cumberland City Tennessee. They had 8 children. Andrew died of a heart attack on the 26th day of October 1935. Cora died on the 12th day of October 1925. Both are buried along with a lot of family members in the Andrew Smith Cemetery, on Scotts Chapel Road near Cumberland City, Tennessee.
Children of ANDREW and CORA SMITH are: 1. Bertha Elmora Smith, b. 09 Dec 1898, Stewart County, TN; d. 02 Nov 1968. Married Robert Clayton Ballard 2. Ruth Ethel Smith, b. 28 Oct 1900, Stewart County, TN; d. 17 Dec 1987, Houston County, TN. Married Herman Allison Smith. 3. Lillian Pauline Smith, b. 24 Nov 1903, Stewart County, TN; d. 09 Dec 1940, Stewart County, TN. Married Johnnie Hollis 4. Grace Edna Smith, b. 18 May 1906, Stewart County, TN; d. 01 Nov 2002, Houston County, TN. Married Arthur Ewing Burns. 5. Elmer Eugene Smith, b. 02 Feb 1908, Stewart County, TN; d. 23 Dec 1967, Stewart County, TN. Married Leona Mae Hicks. 6. Edith Angeline Smith, b. 17 Dec 1909, Stewart County, TN; d. 27 Apr 1940; m. Wiley Barnes. 7. Thelma Irene Smith, b. 25 Nov 1912, Stewart County, TN; d. 28 May 2003, Houston County, TN. Married Ivy Gray and Homer Allison. 8. Lacey Alberta Smith, b. 15 Oct 1915, Stewart County, TN; d. Unknown. Married Albert Hightower.
Elmer Eugene Smith was born on the 2nd day of February, 1906. He was one of eight children born to Andrew and Cora Smith. Elmer was raised in the Church of God of Prophecy at Cumberland City in Stewart County Tennessee. Eugene had been married to a women by the name of Sally Pulley, they later divorced and he married Leona Mae Hicks, daughter of Milton Otis and Orie Hicks. They were married on the 25th of May 1936 by Magistrate, J. J. Wiggins of Stewart County Tennessee. To this union four children were born. Eugene was known to be a kind and very gentle man. was said to have a very good sense of humor. His daughter Lillian describes him as a man of about 5’ 6” tall and weighed approximately 150 lbs. His nicknames were Gene, or Bean. He had Black hair and Blue eyes. Eugene sang tenor with the family, which was almost a nightly thing for the Smith family. He had worked at the local newspaper and then later as an electrician. Eugene had gotten electrocuted on the job. It is said that he died and had to be resuscitated. He had had Parkinson's and this incident seemed to have worsened his condition. Eugene later became and invalid. On the 23rd of December 1967, Eugene passed on in his family’s home. He was interred at P Z Ridge in Scott's Chapel along with many members of his family. He is sadly missed by his family.
Eugene and Leona’s Smiths Children
1. Orie Jerlene Smith Born on the 7th day of May 1937 in Dover Tennessee. She married Clarence William Hutchison (b.1-11-1936) on 9-1-1955 in Stewart county Tennessee. To this union 3 children were born. 1. Thomas Eugene b. 8-28-1956 Dover Tennessee. Married Laurel Marie Thompson daughter of Chuck and Carmen Thompson. Tom and Laurel’s children were Michael Eugene (b. 10-15-1975) and Michelle Lee (b.2-7-1979) both children were born in Albuquerque New Mexico. – 2. William Clarence (b. 8-3-1957). Married Lanola Heaney daughter of William Heaney and Lee Etta Henson on 9-10-1982. They had one child Amber Renee (b. 10-24-1988). - 3. Jeanetta Lynne ( b. 12-23-1958). Married Larry Joe Brown. 2 children Amanda Renee (b. 5-16-1980) and Larry Joe (b. 5-17-1982).
2. Lillian Lorena Smith Born on the 8th day of August 1944 in Dover, Stewart County Tennessee. Married Jerry Don McConnell (b. 6-9-1947 – d. 10-16-1980) son of Alvie Orin McConnell (b. 10-14-1918 – d. 2-22-1997) and Margaret Eva Dunford (b. 3-15-1919 – d. 3-13-1999) on the 30th day of July 1964 in Weiser Idaho. To this union three children were born. Jerry Don McConnell Jr. born 28 May, 1965, Margaret Lea McConnell born 20 June, 1966 and Shannon Marie McConnell born 26 February, 1971. Lillian died on 20 April, 2006 in Cordell, Oklahoma. She is buried at the Hobart Cemetery in Hobert, Oklahoma.
3. Hillman Eugene Smith Born on the 21st day of November 1945 in Dover Tennessee. Hillman had no children.
4. Raymond Earl Smith Born on the 15th day of September 1947 in Dover Tennessee. Raymond married Lynda ? and had 2 children. Dawn Smith and Raymond Earl II. Raymond died of Colon Cancer on the 7th day of August 1986 in Dover. He is buried with both his parents at Scott's Chapel at P Z Ridge in Cumberland City Tennessee
December Term of Court 1935 Be it remembered, that on this the 6th day of November 1935. Before Hon. N. A. Link, County Judge of Stewart County of Stewart County, W. A. Baggett produced in open court a paper writing, purporting to be the last will of Andrew Smith, signed thereto, and being subscribed by Alex Dougherty and Mary Bee Stacker, as attesting witnesses, and moved the court that the same be admitted to probate, and record as the last will of Andrew Smith, deceased, and it appearing from the testimony of Ales Soughtery and Mary Bee Stacker, as attesting witnesses and that said instrument was executed by the said Andrew Smith on the day it bares date as and memory, and was more than 21 years of age, and it further appearing that the said Andrew Smith, lately died in Stewart County Tennessee, and his usual place of residence at the time of his death was in said count. It is so ajudged. And it is adjudged and declared by the court that said instrument is the true, whole and last will and testement of said Andrew Smith, deceased, and the same is hereby admitted to probate as such, and the clerk is directed to file and record the same.
It appearing in the court that Andrew Smith late citizen of Stewart County, Tennessee, departed this life testate in which he hath appointed W. A. Baggett, as executor and he having appeared in open court and given bond, the sum of Thirty Five Hundred (3500) with the surities thereon: W. H. Baggett, Mrs. Bertha Ballard, Mrs. Irene Gray, Miss Angeline Smith, Mrs. Albert Hightower, Mrs Grace Burns, Mrs Lillian Hollis, and Mrs. Ethel Smith, it was ordered by the court, that he be clothed with all power and charged with all duties and that letters of executors issue.
Marvin and I divorced in 1988, and I met Gary H. Prough. It was about one week there and the honeymoon was over. I still live with him. We have a beautiful place in Cordell Oklahoma. We have 60 acres that we plant in wheat. We also have a nice home. I worked for about seven and one half years at the Best Western Trade Winds as a desk clerk, in Clinton Oklahoma. I quit working there when we moved to Cordell. I have every luxury that anyone could want or need, these things that I had dreamed of as a child. That same little girl that daydreamed and had Arlar as a playmate is still a large part of me, but at 52, I will just stay put and enjoy the few things I can. I still love to read especially things about history. I love the Civil War, and stuff about my ancestors. I love working in my yard; all 5 acres of it, and visiting with people. I don’t really care much for animals. My kids are all grown now, and I have seven grandchildren.
I am so proud of all of them. They have all done so well with their lives. If there was only one thing that I could wish for, it would be that my kids and grandkids will find happiness and lots of love in their lives. I saw to it that my children never had to grow up without their basic needs. In years to come, when my descendants read this, I also want the best for them. I also would have loved to know you, just as I have longed to know my ancestors.
A few weeks later we found a small apartment in Payette. Jerry was still working in the honey factory, and I had gotten a job in the same nursing home that his stepmother worked. At night Jerry and I would cook supper together and spend the evening talking. Our life was like a fairy tale. A few weeks later I started waking up sick at my stomach every morning. We didn’t know what was wrong. Finally I went to the doctor, and he told me that I was pregnant. Jerry finally got up enough nerve to call his mother to let her know that we were married, and that he was going to be a father. His mother wanted us to come back to Oklahoma, so we did. We didn’t have much money, I was sick the whole way, but we made it. Jerry Don McConnell Jr. was born on May 28th 1965 less than one month from his father’s birthday. He weighed 10lbs 11ozs, he was so big, and we were so proud of him. One year later on June 20th 1966, Margaret Lea McConnell was born. Margaret was born on father’s day. She was quite a bit smaller then Jerry, and had dark hair, and brown/green eyes like her father. She was real sweet and didn’t cry much. When she was two weeks old, I had to have my gall bladder taken out. This was very hard to go to the hospital, and leave both of my babies. Their grandmother and aunt took real good care of them for me. We moved around a lot because of following construction work, but we always ended up back in Oklahoma. Shannon Marie McConnell was born on February 26 1971. It was about this time that Jerry and I started having problems. I just couldn’t believe it, we had such a nice family, but it only got worse. Jerry and I finally divorced in 1977. I met Marvin R Turner and married him in July of 1977. We also moved around a lot. My favorite place that we moved was Seattle Washington. It was a beautiful place. Jerry got killed in a car accident on October 16th 1980, and then my mother died on April 1st 1981. My father had already died on December 23rd 1967. After all this it seemed that I could never get my life back on a even keel. I was extremely unhappy. I just worked, took care of my kids, and took it one day at a time.
I was working as a carhop and Jerry came in, and he was flirting with me. He was real good looking, with black curly hair, and green eyes. He was real tan from working outside as a carpenter. I went back in after taking his order, and told the girls that I was working with that he was going to be my husband; they all laughed. On our first date we went to a drive in movie and talked all through it. I usually was bashful. And I could hardly believe we had talked so much. We went out every night after we got off work after that. Around the first of July, he asked me to marry him. He always said that I had said “ In a minute,” but I don’t believe that I said that. A few days later he came over and was very sad. I asked him what was the matter, and he said that his father and stepmother were moving to Idaho, and he had to go with them. I asked him to stay in Altus, but he said that he couldn’t because he was only seventeen. I was nineteen at the time. Anyway, I talked it over with my sister and it was decided that I would move to Idaho with them. We decided to get married there. Jerry had a 1956 Ford Crow Victorian, it was lime green and white. We drove it as we followed his parents. We left Altus on July 15 1964. It was over 100 degrees the day we left, but when we got to Colorado it was about 50 degrees, we about froze. Since I had never been anywhere like that before, I wouldn’t even take a nap for fear of missing something. I didn’t know how to drive, so Jerry had to drive all the way. Interstate 40 was not built as of yet, so we had to take route 66 most of the way. I thought we would never get there. When we did get there, it was to Payette Idaho that we moved. Payette borders Oregon. We found a place about ten miles out and into the country; we lived with Jerry’s parents. The only place that Jerry could find work in Payette , was in a small factory where they cleaned hives and made honey. He would get stung so bad that his feet would swell up. His car broke down, so he had to walk back and forth to work every day. I felt so sorry for him. On July 29th 1964 we went over to Weiser and got our marriage license. We went over Hell’s Canyon, this was the scariest place AI had ever seen. The next day we were married, his father signed for him. I had never been so happy in all my life.
Some people say that they didn’t realize that we were poor, but I always knew that we were. A lot of times when I was walking to town, school, or as I was sitting under a tree, I would daydream about how good life would be when I grew up. I think that is why I liked reading so much, because I could escape and put myself in different places. I loved my family very much, but I felt that I should have been some where else. In the winter we all had to saw wood, it was always so cold. I have never liked the cold. The old wood stove; when you sat around them, would burn up your front side while your backside would freeze. I think all this built character. My best friends through school were Brenda and Linda Newberry. We never saw each other except at school, but we always played together at school. I hated Sunday worse than anything. It was so long a day and boring; unless we went to church, it seemed liked it lasted two or three days. I went to the Baptist church in town on Sunday morning, and most of the time we went to the Pentecostal church at night. It was about five miles to the Pentecostal and we would walk both ways to and from. It was pleasant in the summer, but in the winter we nearly froze to death walking home after dark. I did a lot of singing in the churches, and I really enjoyed it. I also sang at school; in talent show, play ,ect… As I got older, one year went into another one with not much happening. During my senior year, the TVA bought our house and land, so they could flood the Cumberland River, and turn it into a lake (Lake Barkley) We moved in January 1962 to Clarksville. It was a really big place after living in Dover all my life. We bought us a big house at 401 High Street, and I really liked it. I was scared of Clarksville High School. It was so big, and I didn’t know anyone. My best friend at that time was Pat Carney; she lived across the street. We had lots of fun playing records and watching TV. in our new home. It was the first time we had electricity and a inside bathroom. I thought that I had died and gone to Heaven. Around this time, I started dating, but I was never allowed to go out with a boy. He had to come to my house, and when it was warm we would sit on the porch and sing, as me and my brother always did. My mother had taught us to play the guitar. When it was cold, we stayed in the living room with all the family. It was always so embarrassing. At first I had GI’s for boyfriends since we lived so close to Fort Campbell Kentucky. They would always come to Clarksville to have their fun. I worked at a restaurant, and later on as a carhop, so I met a lot of them. My favorite was Chuck Moak. I then started dating local boys. Some of these boys were; George Hough, Richard Denton, and Gary Adams. In 1963 I moved in with my sister, her husband, and children. We moved to Nashville for a while, and then we moved to Altus Oklahoma. This is where I met my first husband, Jerry McConnell.
Today is the third anniversary of my mother's passing. My mom meant alot to me. She was probably one of the best mom's that anyone could ever have. She was always there for us anytime, night or day. She was never critical of any of us for any reason. She would tell us that she did not think we were doing the right thing, but then let us make our own choices. If we made the wrong ones, she never made any snide comments or said I told you so. We knew. My mom was the best friend of anyone who knew her. She loved cooking birthday dinners for her family and friends. She would ask you what you wanted and she would cook it. She didn't care if you wanted a steak dinner or a pot of beans, it was your birthday! She loved holidays and the family getting together. She loved to sing and after she bought her Karaoke machine, she would throw parties and everyone would come over and eat and sing. My mom could sing anything. She especially liked old country music, bluegrass music and old gospel. My mom loved her kids and grand kids more than life its self. All her friends say that she bragged about how proud she was of all of us all the time. None of us have ever did anything that you could say was that spectacular, but in my moms eyes all of us were the greatest people ever born. I miss my mom very much and losing her has left a big hole in my heart and made a big impact on my life. I will never forget the things she has done for me and my brother and sister. She was my best friend! SHE, was the one of the greatest people ever born! I love you mom!
After 20 years and through this blog, I have finally received a picture of my grandfather Elmer Eugene Smith. His sister Grace Smith's grand daughter had located this picture and several others that belonged to her grand mother.
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