Friday night
Dear Mama & Daddy:
Guess you will be surprised to hear from me again this week, but as I have something important to tell you am writing you again. I have been called to do missionary work here in Atlanta. I feel that I am indeed blessed to be able to do work for the Lord in this way. Pres. Callis asked Howard to go to see him Wed. night & he had a good long talk with him. asked him about me doing this work & of course Howard gave him consent gladly. I am to work with one of the other Lady missionaries. We will "go tracting" & visiting about three days a week. I, of course, will come home in time to fix Howard's supper for him at the same time. Pres. Callis blessed us this morning & sent us on our way. I am working with Ethel Smith, from Columbia, who is on a six months' mission. She just go here Sunday night. We gave out 10 small tracts each today as well as visited five families. I am tired tonight but feel very happy & thankful that we had such a good days work. We had several refuse our books but no one slammed the door in our faces. How I hope the Lord will bless me so that I might do my work at all times in the best way. I am sure it will do more good & bring me more happiness than any other thing in the world. We had a very nice conversation with one lady. It means, of course, that I must study plenty & I hope I will be able to study well & remember. Howard is very much pleased & I know it will be a means of giving me a stronger testimony of the gospel. Howard has gone back to work & although it is only a little after 6:00 I am awful sleepy. We were up late last night, guess that's the reason. Tell Mac I got her letter & will answer it soon. Hope both of you are well. Is Faye coming? Write me soon. Lots of love, Mary.
Notes:
[Letter is undated and without the envelope. Charles A. Callis was president of the Southern States mission from 1908 until 1933 when he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve. There is no mention of her oldest child Patricia, born November 29, 1932, nor any discomfort related to pregnancy. Patricia tried to recall all the places where her parents had lived in her youth and doesn't have them living in Atlanta until 1936 or so. The 1930 census shows them living in Waco, Texas. It's likely the letter was written between 1930-1932.]
[I have been trying to track down when Sister Ethel Smith might have arrived in Atlanta. She is mentioned in the Liahona the Elders Journal Vol. 28, No. 3—904, page 65. However, she is mentioned as "Miss" which makes me think she wasn't yet a missionary. There is an Ethel Smith showing as born in 1910 from Columbia, SC who could be this same woman. Found this in Vol. 28, No. 21—922 INDEPENDENCE, MO., MARCH 31, 1931 page 501:
ARRIVALS AND ASSIGNMENTS:—Howard
C. Larsen, Park Valley, Utah, to South Georgia, and
Ethel Smith, Columbia, S. C , to Georgia.
Therefore, I am fairly confident that Mary Hucks was called to be a part-time local missionary in March 1931.]
[I don't know how long Mary accompanied Sister Ethel Smith, as by the May 12 Liahona edition there is an entry speaking about Sister Smith and her companion, one of the full time Lady missionaries, Cora Lay, working to organize Primaries in the Atlanta area. So perhaps Mary was a fill-in until Sister Lay could join Sister Smith. Of course, President Callis was very familiar with Mary's father, Daniel Malcolm Bethune, and would have been comfortable calling Mary to work as a missionary.]
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Letter from Patricia Hucks to Mrs. D.M. Bethune
Monday [September 20, 1943]
Dear Grandmother,
I have been sick every sence Friday Danny is ok. but gets meainer by the day. on his birthday he got to suits and a lot of toys. He had fun bursting baloons and playing with the other chirldren.
Howdy has has to walk to school every morning. He dosn't like that alot.
I get to ride to school, but not from school home. I like my 2 teacher this year.
How is every body down their? Come up to see use as soon as yo can. Tell Louise & Carolyn to come up one week end. We are all find.
love, Patricia
[Envelope]
617 Westmont Dr
Fayettivelle N.C.
I care of Mrs. D.M. Bethune
Mc Bee S.C.
postmarked Fayetteville N. C. Sep 21 6:30 PM 1943
3 cents postage stamp
Dear Grandmother,
I have been sick every sence Friday Danny is ok. but gets meainer by the day. on his birthday he got to suits and a lot of toys. He had fun bursting baloons and playing with the other chirldren.
Howdy has has to walk to school every morning. He dosn't like that alot.
I get to ride to school, but not from school home. I like my 2 teacher this year.
How is every body down their? Come up to see use as soon as yo can. Tell Louise & Carolyn to come up one week end. We are all find.
love, Patricia
[Envelope]
617 Westmont Dr
Fayettivelle N.C.
I care of Mrs. D.M. Bethune
Mc Bee S.C.
postmarked Fayetteville N. C. Sep 21 6:30 PM 1943
3 cents postage stamp
Friday, April 13, 2018
McCaskill research - Kenneth & Nancy McLeod descendants
I came across some entries in FamilySearch that were clearly incorrect as the father died before his supposed 3 children were born. It wasn't an easy solution so I decided to take a hard look at the McCaskill family info I have and compare it to what is in FamilySearch and clean things up a bit if I can.
I've started with Allen McCaskill and his wife Nancy and will move through their descendants.
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/30179892/family?_phsrc=Gjr430&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true
Kenneth & Nancy McLeod have 7 children listed:
1) Alexander L McCaskill is shown in several places as having been born in 1825. His find-a-grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134833082/alexander-l-mccaskill) listing shows 4 January 1829. This latter date is supported by his age on subsequent censuses. Alexander married Catharine (alt. Catherine) Campbell Gillis (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30239143/catherine-campbell-mccaskill) and they had 3 daughters, Catharine having died the near the youngest daughter's birth. The oldest, Mary McCaskill, was born in late 1859 as she was shown in the 1860 census as being 7/12 months old on June 6, 1860. She also shows as 10 in the 1870 census. Searching through cemetery records to see if I could find Mary's in the Euchee Valley Cemetery where her parents are buried, I ran across a listing (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33328118/infant-daughter-mccaskill) of an unnamed infant daughter of "A.L and C.C. McCaskill born and died on the 16th of October 1858". While not 100% certain, I am confident enough to include this child in FamilySearch, although there is the question as to whether or not she was stillborn as there was no name given to her.
Mary McCaskill - There are several family trees on Ancestry.com that list Mary as having married James "Jimmie" Vaugh Bowers (BIRTH 27 OCT 1859 • Freeport, Walton County, Florida
DEATH 9 OCTOBER 1881 • Euchee-Anna, Walton, Florida, USA), with one listing (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/65152150/person/30476075266/facts) a marriage date of 24 February 1881.This same listing shows her name as Mary E. "Mollie" McCaskill and death info as 7 SEPTEMBER 1897 • Noxubee County, Mississippi. However, no source info is provided. She is also listed as marrying Woodson Boyle ( BIRTH DEC 1846 • Noxubee County, Mississippi, USA
DEATH Noxubee County, Mississippi) on 25 Aug 1885 at Eucheanna Valley Presbyterian Church. This marriage date is shown in Florida Marriage records. (Mary Bowers and Woodson Boyle). Woodson was apparently married previously (Mary Connor, born 1849, married 30 November 1869 all in MS) had a son named Connor. I am trying to locate where Woodson might be buried so I can see if Mary is buried there too and what her gravestone says. No luck so far finding Woodson, Connor or either Mary that was Woodson's wife. I have some concerns about the death info shown above as it turns out there is another Mary E. Mollie McCaskill who was born in George. It begs the question why none of the other McCaskill info I have gives the Mary in question a middle name or a nickname. OK, so I found her. I was looking at Anna's family and saw that a niece was listed, a Hortense Boyle. Recognizing the last name I looked it up and found a listing in Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/30179892/person/400080385623/facts?_phsrc=Gjr134&_phstart=successSource) that showed her father Woodson and mother Mary.
Beatrice Boyle - Married David Burford Murphree and had 4 children: Margaret (never married), Mary Lucile (Ralph C Willits), David Burford Jr.(Hazel?) and Hugh Linyer Murphree (living). Entered info into FamilySearch.
Hortense Boyle - Married Bryant Merritt Bell, did not appear to have any children. Entered info into FamilySearch.
Mary Victoria Boyle - Never married
Jeanne Boyle - Married Robert Edward Sanford, did not appear to have any children. Entered info into FamilySearch.
Catharine Victoria McCaskill - Catharine marries Lauchlin Daniel McDonald and they have 3 children - 1) Catharine McDonald, who marries William Kemper Jennings and they have two sons shown in findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82494834/william-kemper-jennings). There might be additional children to add based on the gravestones in the associated photos. As they were born after 1908 I have not included them now nor put them in FamilySearch with their parents. 2) Melville Cromwell McDonald, no marriage shown, dies at age 21. Birth and death dates as listed in FamilySearch were different than what was shown on gravestone (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33328165/melville-cromwell-mcdonald) and I changed them to match. 3) Willie D. McDonald, another son who died without marrying, also at age 21.
Anna Didelake McCaskill - Marries Jesse Roscoe McLane and had 7 children.
1) Anne Chapin McLane, appears to have never married. FamilySearch lists her as Anna C. and her gravestone as Annie Chapin. I'm guessing that she was Anna, named after her mother, but they called her Anne or Annie.
2) Gertrude McLane, also appears to have never married.
3) Ruth McLane, also never married.
4) Dr. Jesse Newman McLane - It's unclear how many times Jesse was married. FamilySearch lists Mary Helen Gray (can't find a marriage date and they must have dirvorced before his next marriage) and Marguerite B. (Brittain) as wives, but there is also a New York City marriage listing for a Laura Berham. I haven't been able to pin down the marriage date for Mary Helen Gray or when divorced. So far I have only been able to find one child, Jesse Newman McLane aka Scooter. Scooter died in 2013 and was married to Loretta per the obituary. Ancestry had their marriage license which showed that Scooter had been married at least one time previously, his spouse having died. Loretta had also been married, but divorced.
5) Arthur Gillis McLane - Married Augusta P Landbeck
6) Catharine McLane - Married Carleton McGauly, had a daugther Catharine who married George E. Jessen and they had two daugthers. I did not include this last group in FamilySearch due to their birth years
7) Ralph Melville McLane - Married Mary Ruth Pearce
There is Frances M Rushing McLane buried in the same cemetery (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107685963/frances-m-mclane) that likely married one of the McLane sons or grandsons listed above. However, I haven't been able to find the connection.
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2) Allen Lewis McCaskill - Married Margaret Caroline McFarland. His gravestone says he left 9 children, but Family Search only has 7 listed. Did not find any additional information about their marriage date.
1) Nancy McCaskill - her gravestone shows "Nannie" as her nickname. Married Merrit James Ausley and had 1 child listed, Luman McCaskill Ausley, who married Allie Mae Neely and apparently did not have any children.
2) Mary Ann McCaskill - Married John Curry Ausley. (Don't Have Marriage Info)
-Thomas Allen Ausley - Married Viviane Inez Subers, no children
-Charles Merritt Ausley - Married Elizabeth Mulford Saxon, 4 children, Charles Saxon Ausley,Margaret McCaskill Ausley, John Curry Ausley, Helen Saxon Ausley. (Various children to be researched)
-Gertrude Ausley - Married Albert Clyde Kelley, had 4 children, Ausley Calvin Kelley, Albert Sumter Kelley, Frances Kelley, Sarah Kelley. Could not find death info on Sarah. Conflicting info on Frances' spouse(s). This group could use a revisit at some point.
-Calvin Kershaw Chisholm Ausley - Married Ella Rebecca Flowers and had two sons, Robert Chisholm Ausley (Ola Little Kelly. no children) and Bert Thomas Ausley (unmarried) .
3) John Calvin McCaskill - Married Emma Powell, 9 children
-Alvin Lewis McCaskill - Married Annie Louise Hay, John Calvin McCaskill (Olga Heins, Johngy Richards), Annie Righton McCaskill (Robert Garnett Hodgkin)
-Bertha Powell McCaskill - died as an infant
-Allen Robert McCaskill - (Unmarried)
-Harry Lee McCaskill - Married Juliet Cornelia O'Neil, Mary Emma McCaskill (Sherwin Bernard Hays), Harry Lee McCaskill (unmarried), John Calvin McCaskill (Edna May Kennedy)
-John Calvin McCaskill - (unmarried)
-Kenneth Baldwin McCaskill - died as an infant
-Charles Moore McCaskill - Married Alice Gray Carr (at least 2 children, both living)
-Ralph Emerson McCaskill- Married Mary Chandler, Ralph Emerson McCaskill (family), William Chandler McCaskill (family), infant son who died
-Alice McCaskill - Married William Hinson Royall, has family
4) Kenneth Alexander McCaskill - Married Ruby Dell Hollomon, one son Kenneth Alexander McCaskill (Elizabeth Barker, family), one unnamed infant daughter.
5) Margaret M McCaskill - Married John Scott Dunn, no apparent children
6) Allen Peter McCaskill - Married Vernita E Nicholson, had an infant child who died. Needs more research.
7) Catherine Christian McCaskill - Married John Wesley Stuckey, 2 sons, Allen Nelson Stuckey (Monika Hildagarde Schoenfeld and family) John Wesley Stuckey (Gussie Juanita Beachem and family)
8) Scotland Newell McCaskill - never married
9) Sarah Baldwin McCaskill - never married
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3) Mary McCaskill - Married Charles Baldwin McFarland, had 8 children. Census ages: June 1860 - 29, August 1870 - 39, June 1880 - 47, February 1920 - 88
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/3075420/family?usePUBJs=true
1) Nancy M McFarland - Married John E. Perkins.(Could not find John's grave nor connect him with his parents.) Census ages: June 1860 - 6, August 1870 - 15, June 1880 -25. Three children:
-Charles B. Perkins - His death certificate shows he was married. His WWII draft registration lists contact person as "Mrs. Mary Perkins," living in the same town, Center, Texas.
-Luther Martin Perkins.- HIs death certificate also shows he was married and the informant was "Mary Perkins."
-Alexander Perkins. Married "Ola" (1940 census) and must have had at least one child as their grandson "Billie Ralph Scurlock" is listed in the census at age 6. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47266935/billy-r-scurlock).
There are other Perkins in the cemetery where Charles and Luther are buried who could be one or the other's children based on their birth years. (Neuville cemetery.) Follow Up
2) Margaret C McFarland - died at age 13 Did not find grave or exact dates. Should have been on the 1870 census with her family in Walton Florida but wasn't. Census ages: June 1860 - 2
3) John D McFarland - born 1861, no other info found. Census ages: August 1870 - 8, June 1880 - 19. Above Ancestry family tree lists him as dying in 1896, no source.
4) Katherine Annah McFarland - never married. Name is shown as Catherine "Kate" McFarland. Census ages: August 1870 - 6 (Kate A), June 1880 - 16 (Kate A), Feb 1920 - 53
5) Allen McCaskill McFarland - Census ages: August 1870 - 4 (Allen A C), June 1880 - 12 (Allen A.M.), death cert shows as "single".
6) Mary Christian McFarland - Census ages: August 1870 - 1 (Christian M), June 1880 - 9 (Mary C), 1900 census with husband lists her birth at May 1872 and 28 years old as of June 8. April 1910 census listed as 38. Math doesn't work. Her death certificate (filled out by her daughter) shows her father as "Jno McGarland" for some reason. Is it possible that there was another child born in 1869 who died before the the 1880 census, and likely before May 1872? Had it been a daughter named Christian M (for Mary?) I could see perhaps the next child--born in May 1872--being named Mary Christian. Even at that she should have been listed as 8 in the 1880 census and not 9. Add to it that while her gravestone lists her birth year as 1872, the findagrave entry shows it as 25 December 1873. Mary Christian married Calvin Riley and had 5 children.
-Mary B Riley - Married Calvin Rider and had children (4?)
-Raphael Whatley Riley - Married Byrdie Purvis and Helen Marie Thompson. In Marie's obit a granddaughter is mentioned, Kathy Riley Bradshaw. However, no mention is made of a child of Marie's who would be Kathy's parent as her two listed children--sons-- are both named Ruby after their father, Marie's first husband. It is possible that Byrdie had a child (likely a son) who was Kathy's parent and Marie claimed her as her own granddaughter despite being a step.
-Curtis B Riley - Married Mary Ann Boulware. Did not find info on any children or Mary's parents
-Allen M Riley - Married Lucille Brown. 1940 census shows 2 children. Didn't find Lucille's parents.
-Knox Daniel Riley - Married Robbie Crawford, two sons, Dan and Calvin.
Follow up on this line
7) William Calvin McFarland - Census ages: June 1880 - 6 (Wm C), His grave marker shows he was married to Ruth McFarland, which someone has identified in FamilySearch and the Ancestry Family Tree as Ruth Jennings. FamilyTree shows her born 16 August 1894, died 5 December 1912. Have not found any other info on her. There is a 1900 census listing for a Ruth Jennings, daughter of "Robt L" and "Hallie" Jennings, age 5, born in August 1894. It appears that her mother remarried a Clayton Arendt by the 1910 census. although mom's name is shown as "Harry" and Ruth and her sister's (Annie in 1900, Jennie in 1910) last name is shown as "Jenning." Both are listed as step-daughters. Supporting this case is that both census listings for Ruth's father birthplace show "Virginia." There are enough records showing that Hallie did marry Clayton and she died in 1943, although her death certificate (info from Ann J. Martin, who is likely her daughter "Annie") shows Hallie's father (W.M. Andrews) is from Georgia, while Hallie lists him from Alabama on at least two censuses. It is possible that Ann guessed it wrong. There is a Ruth Cowart McFerran that shows up in the California death index also as Ruth Cowart Jennings as being born on 16 August 1894, which is the date that is in FamilyTree. (Died on 6 April 1983 in San Francisco.) This seems pretty thin, especially considering that there is a death date in 1912.(18 years old.) Is it possible that whomever entered the info into FamilySearch grabbed this info by mistake? Of course, it would help if there was a grave marker. There is a 1880 census record for a Hallie Andrews born about 1869 (Ruth's mother in 1900 census is listed as born in Nov 1868) whose father was born in Alabama. She is living with her mother Sarah who has remarried a guy named Richard Wood. She is listed with her two brothers William and James T. I am returning to the original premise and wondering if Ruth Jennings was indeed married to William McFarland. He would have been 20 years older and had to marry her when she was 18 or younger. There is no documentation supporting this marriage. I also find it interesting what William's gravestone reads: William C, Beloved Husband of Ruth McFarland. It makes it seem like she is the focus and not him. Also, as he died on May 30, 1913, and she supposedly died 5 months earlier, who paid for the gravestone and chose the inscription? They couldn't have been married very long. Also, where is she buried if she really did die before him? While his death certificate doesn't indicate who provided the info, it does show him as "Married" and not "Widowed" as would be the case had Ruth died 5 months prior to him. The Ancestry McFarland Tree lists 5 December 1912 as their marriage date and not Ruth's death date and that makes more sense. Maybe whomever entered the info into FamilySearch goofed. Nothing pops up for a Ruth McFarland on a census that would relate to William, nor can I find him in the 1910 census. What if someone grabbed the Ruth Cowart Jennings info from her death index and saw that her father's name was Jennings and wishful thinking put her as William's wife? There really isn't any proof that a Ruth Jennings was married to William. I think I am going to leave this for now as there isn't enough concrete evidence to continue trying to figure it out. Return to in the future.
8) Kenneth Malcolm McFarland - Census ages: June 1880 - 3 Married Caroline Zilpha Hooker and had a son, Kenneth Malcolm McFarland (and family). Caroline dies and he married Annie Ben Powell and they have a daughter Margaret McFarland (and family). Annie dies and later he marries Oma Rivers. I couldn't find much info on Oma.
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4) Sarah McCaskill - Does not appear to be married. However, the history of the McCaskill in which she is #34 inclues this: " Daughter of Kenneth and Nancy #15. Born 1834 Kershaw Co., SC. Died 1910 Same. Married I. G. McCaskill, lineage unknown. She is buried in the Old Scotch Cemetary in Bethune, SC. She and her husband do not appear in any S.C. census." Sarah herself does appear in the 1850, 1860, 1880, and 1900 censuses, with varying ages that loosely connect to an 1834 birth year. She shows as "Single". I believe the marriage info was in error as there is nothing to indicate she was married, including her gravestone which lists her as a daughter of K & N McCaskill and not a wife of anyone.
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5) Christian McCaskill - Married Dr. James McLean McFarland, no children. There is a discrepancy about her birth year as findagrave lists it as 1826, but her tombstone and several censuses support a 1836 birth. Also note that Andrew McCaskill (who has very complete info on the McCaskill family and is the host of the family tree listed at the top of this document) does not include Christian as one of Kenneth and Nancy's children. In the 1900 census she is listed as "Single" even though she was actually widowed.
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6) Catherine Margaret McCaskill - She also does not appear to have married. In this case the McCaskill history lists her as "unmarried."
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7) John Daniel McCaskill - Married Catherine Isabella Gillis Bethune. Had 4 children:
1) Kenneth Daniel McCaskill - His name is in question as in the 1880 census when he is 2 he is listed as "Dan'l Kenneth". In the 1900 census he is listed as "John D" just like his father, which looks to be a mistake.
I've started with Allen McCaskill and his wife Nancy and will move through their descendants.
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/30179892/family?_phsrc=Gjr430&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true
Kenneth & Nancy McLeod have 7 children listed:
1) Alexander L McCaskill is shown in several places as having been born in 1825. His find-a-grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134833082/alexander-l-mccaskill) listing shows 4 January 1829. This latter date is supported by his age on subsequent censuses. Alexander married Catharine (alt. Catherine) Campbell Gillis (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30239143/catherine-campbell-mccaskill) and they had 3 daughters, Catharine having died the near the youngest daughter's birth. The oldest, Mary McCaskill, was born in late 1859 as she was shown in the 1860 census as being 7/12 months old on June 6, 1860. She also shows as 10 in the 1870 census. Searching through cemetery records to see if I could find Mary's in the Euchee Valley Cemetery where her parents are buried, I ran across a listing (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33328118/infant-daughter-mccaskill) of an unnamed infant daughter of "A.L and C.C. McCaskill born and died on the 16th of October 1858". While not 100% certain, I am confident enough to include this child in FamilySearch, although there is the question as to whether or not she was stillborn as there was no name given to her.
Mary McCaskill - There are several family trees on Ancestry.com that list Mary as having married James "Jimmie" Vaugh Bowers (BIRTH 27 OCT 1859 • Freeport, Walton County, Florida
DEATH 9 OCTOBER 1881 • Euchee-Anna, Walton, Florida, USA), with one listing (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/65152150/person/30476075266/facts) a marriage date of 24 February 1881.This same listing shows her name as Mary E. "Mollie" McCaskill and death info as 7 SEPTEMBER 1897 • Noxubee County, Mississippi. However, no source info is provided. She is also listed as marrying Woodson Boyle ( BIRTH DEC 1846 • Noxubee County, Mississippi, USA
DEATH Noxubee County, Mississippi) on 25 Aug 1885 at Eucheanna Valley Presbyterian Church. This marriage date is shown in Florida Marriage records. (Mary Bowers and Woodson Boyle). Woodson was apparently married previously (Mary Connor, born 1849, married 30 November 1869 all in MS) had a son named Connor. I am trying to locate where Woodson might be buried so I can see if Mary is buried there too and what her gravestone says. No luck so far finding Woodson, Connor or either Mary that was Woodson's wife. I have some concerns about the death info shown above as it turns out there is another Mary E. Mollie McCaskill who was born in George. It begs the question why none of the other McCaskill info I have gives the Mary in question a middle name or a nickname. OK, so I found her. I was looking at Anna's family and saw that a niece was listed, a Hortense Boyle. Recognizing the last name I looked it up and found a listing in Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/30179892/person/400080385623/facts?_phsrc=Gjr134&_phstart=successSource) that showed her father Woodson and mother Mary.
Beatrice Boyle - Married David Burford Murphree and had 4 children: Margaret (never married), Mary Lucile (Ralph C Willits), David Burford Jr.(Hazel?) and Hugh Linyer Murphree (living). Entered info into FamilySearch.
Hortense Boyle - Married Bryant Merritt Bell, did not appear to have any children. Entered info into FamilySearch.
Mary Victoria Boyle - Never married
Jeanne Boyle - Married Robert Edward Sanford, did not appear to have any children. Entered info into FamilySearch.
Catharine Victoria McCaskill - Catharine marries Lauchlin Daniel McDonald and they have 3 children - 1) Catharine McDonald, who marries William Kemper Jennings and they have two sons shown in findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82494834/william-kemper-jennings). There might be additional children to add based on the gravestones in the associated photos. As they were born after 1908 I have not included them now nor put them in FamilySearch with their parents. 2) Melville Cromwell McDonald, no marriage shown, dies at age 21. Birth and death dates as listed in FamilySearch were different than what was shown on gravestone (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33328165/melville-cromwell-mcdonald) and I changed them to match. 3) Willie D. McDonald, another son who died without marrying, also at age 21.
Anna Didelake McCaskill - Marries Jesse Roscoe McLane and had 7 children.
1) Anne Chapin McLane, appears to have never married. FamilySearch lists her as Anna C. and her gravestone as Annie Chapin. I'm guessing that she was Anna, named after her mother, but they called her Anne or Annie.
2) Gertrude McLane, also appears to have never married.
3) Ruth McLane, also never married.
4) Dr. Jesse Newman McLane - It's unclear how many times Jesse was married. FamilySearch lists Mary Helen Gray (can't find a marriage date and they must have dirvorced before his next marriage) and Marguerite B. (Brittain) as wives, but there is also a New York City marriage listing for a Laura Berham. I haven't been able to pin down the marriage date for Mary Helen Gray or when divorced. So far I have only been able to find one child, Jesse Newman McLane aka Scooter. Scooter died in 2013 and was married to Loretta per the obituary. Ancestry had their marriage license which showed that Scooter had been married at least one time previously, his spouse having died. Loretta had also been married, but divorced.
5) Arthur Gillis McLane - Married Augusta P Landbeck
6) Catharine McLane - Married Carleton McGauly, had a daugther Catharine who married George E. Jessen and they had two daugthers. I did not include this last group in FamilySearch due to their birth years
7) Ralph Melville McLane - Married Mary Ruth Pearce
There is Frances M Rushing McLane buried in the same cemetery (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107685963/frances-m-mclane) that likely married one of the McLane sons or grandsons listed above. However, I haven't been able to find the connection.
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2) Allen Lewis McCaskill - Married Margaret Caroline McFarland. His gravestone says he left 9 children, but Family Search only has 7 listed. Did not find any additional information about their marriage date.
1) Nancy McCaskill - her gravestone shows "Nannie" as her nickname. Married Merrit James Ausley and had 1 child listed, Luman McCaskill Ausley, who married Allie Mae Neely and apparently did not have any children.
2) Mary Ann McCaskill - Married John Curry Ausley. (Don't Have Marriage Info)
-Thomas Allen Ausley - Married Viviane Inez Subers, no children
-Charles Merritt Ausley - Married Elizabeth Mulford Saxon, 4 children, Charles Saxon Ausley,Margaret McCaskill Ausley, John Curry Ausley, Helen Saxon Ausley. (Various children to be researched)
-Gertrude Ausley - Married Albert Clyde Kelley, had 4 children, Ausley Calvin Kelley, Albert Sumter Kelley, Frances Kelley, Sarah Kelley. Could not find death info on Sarah. Conflicting info on Frances' spouse(s). This group could use a revisit at some point.
-Calvin Kershaw Chisholm Ausley - Married Ella Rebecca Flowers and had two sons, Robert Chisholm Ausley (Ola Little Kelly. no children) and Bert Thomas Ausley (unmarried) .
3) John Calvin McCaskill - Married Emma Powell, 9 children
-Alvin Lewis McCaskill - Married Annie Louise Hay, John Calvin McCaskill (Olga Heins, Johngy Richards), Annie Righton McCaskill (Robert Garnett Hodgkin)
-Bertha Powell McCaskill - died as an infant
-Allen Robert McCaskill - (Unmarried)
-Harry Lee McCaskill - Married Juliet Cornelia O'Neil, Mary Emma McCaskill (Sherwin Bernard Hays), Harry Lee McCaskill (unmarried), John Calvin McCaskill (Edna May Kennedy)
-John Calvin McCaskill - (unmarried)
-Kenneth Baldwin McCaskill - died as an infant
-Charles Moore McCaskill - Married Alice Gray Carr (at least 2 children, both living)
-Ralph Emerson McCaskill- Married Mary Chandler, Ralph Emerson McCaskill (family), William Chandler McCaskill (family), infant son who died
-Alice McCaskill - Married William Hinson Royall, has family
4) Kenneth Alexander McCaskill - Married Ruby Dell Hollomon, one son Kenneth Alexander McCaskill (Elizabeth Barker, family), one unnamed infant daughter.
5) Margaret M McCaskill - Married John Scott Dunn, no apparent children
6) Allen Peter McCaskill - Married Vernita E Nicholson, had an infant child who died. Needs more research.
7) Catherine Christian McCaskill - Married John Wesley Stuckey, 2 sons, Allen Nelson Stuckey (Monika Hildagarde Schoenfeld and family) John Wesley Stuckey (Gussie Juanita Beachem and family)
8) Scotland Newell McCaskill - never married
9) Sarah Baldwin McCaskill - never married
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3) Mary McCaskill - Married Charles Baldwin McFarland, had 8 children. Census ages: June 1860 - 29, August 1870 - 39, June 1880 - 47, February 1920 - 88
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/3075420/family?usePUBJs=true
1) Nancy M McFarland - Married John E. Perkins.(Could not find John's grave nor connect him with his parents.) Census ages: June 1860 - 6, August 1870 - 15, June 1880 -25. Three children:
-Charles B. Perkins - His death certificate shows he was married. His WWII draft registration lists contact person as "Mrs. Mary Perkins," living in the same town, Center, Texas.
-Luther Martin Perkins.- HIs death certificate also shows he was married and the informant was "Mary Perkins."
-Alexander Perkins. Married "Ola" (1940 census) and must have had at least one child as their grandson "Billie Ralph Scurlock" is listed in the census at age 6. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47266935/billy-r-scurlock).
There are other Perkins in the cemetery where Charles and Luther are buried who could be one or the other's children based on their birth years. (Neuville cemetery.) Follow Up
2) Margaret C McFarland - died at age 13 Did not find grave or exact dates. Should have been on the 1870 census with her family in Walton Florida but wasn't. Census ages: June 1860 - 2
3) John D McFarland - born 1861, no other info found. Census ages: August 1870 - 8, June 1880 - 19. Above Ancestry family tree lists him as dying in 1896, no source.
4) Katherine Annah McFarland - never married. Name is shown as Catherine "Kate" McFarland. Census ages: August 1870 - 6 (Kate A), June 1880 - 16 (Kate A), Feb 1920 - 53
5) Allen McCaskill McFarland - Census ages: August 1870 - 4 (Allen A C), June 1880 - 12 (Allen A.M.), death cert shows as "single".
6) Mary Christian McFarland - Census ages: August 1870 - 1 (Christian M), June 1880 - 9 (Mary C), 1900 census with husband lists her birth at May 1872 and 28 years old as of June 8. April 1910 census listed as 38. Math doesn't work. Her death certificate (filled out by her daughter) shows her father as "Jno McGarland" for some reason. Is it possible that there was another child born in 1869 who died before the the 1880 census, and likely before May 1872? Had it been a daughter named Christian M (for Mary?) I could see perhaps the next child--born in May 1872--being named Mary Christian. Even at that she should have been listed as 8 in the 1880 census and not 9. Add to it that while her gravestone lists her birth year as 1872, the findagrave entry shows it as 25 December 1873. Mary Christian married Calvin Riley and had 5 children.
-Mary B Riley - Married Calvin Rider and had children (4?)
-Raphael Whatley Riley - Married Byrdie Purvis and Helen Marie Thompson. In Marie's obit a granddaughter is mentioned, Kathy Riley Bradshaw. However, no mention is made of a child of Marie's who would be Kathy's parent as her two listed children--sons-- are both named Ruby after their father, Marie's first husband. It is possible that Byrdie had a child (likely a son) who was Kathy's parent and Marie claimed her as her own granddaughter despite being a step.
-Curtis B Riley - Married Mary Ann Boulware. Did not find info on any children or Mary's parents
-Allen M Riley - Married Lucille Brown. 1940 census shows 2 children. Didn't find Lucille's parents.
-Knox Daniel Riley - Married Robbie Crawford, two sons, Dan and Calvin.
Follow up on this line
7) William Calvin McFarland - Census ages: June 1880 - 6 (Wm C), His grave marker shows he was married to Ruth McFarland, which someone has identified in FamilySearch and the Ancestry Family Tree as Ruth Jennings. FamilyTree shows her born 16 August 1894, died 5 December 1912. Have not found any other info on her. There is a 1900 census listing for a Ruth Jennings, daughter of "Robt L" and "Hallie" Jennings, age 5, born in August 1894. It appears that her mother remarried a Clayton Arendt by the 1910 census. although mom's name is shown as "Harry" and Ruth and her sister's (Annie in 1900, Jennie in 1910) last name is shown as "Jenning." Both are listed as step-daughters. Supporting this case is that both census listings for Ruth's father birthplace show "Virginia." There are enough records showing that Hallie did marry Clayton and she died in 1943, although her death certificate (info from Ann J. Martin, who is likely her daughter "Annie") shows Hallie's father (W.M. Andrews) is from Georgia, while Hallie lists him from Alabama on at least two censuses. It is possible that Ann guessed it wrong. There is a Ruth Cowart McFerran that shows up in the California death index also as Ruth Cowart Jennings as being born on 16 August 1894, which is the date that is in FamilyTree. (Died on 6 April 1983 in San Francisco.) This seems pretty thin, especially considering that there is a death date in 1912.(18 years old.) Is it possible that whomever entered the info into FamilySearch grabbed this info by mistake? Of course, it would help if there was a grave marker. There is a 1880 census record for a Hallie Andrews born about 1869 (Ruth's mother in 1900 census is listed as born in Nov 1868) whose father was born in Alabama. She is living with her mother Sarah who has remarried a guy named Richard Wood. She is listed with her two brothers William and James T. I am returning to the original premise and wondering if Ruth Jennings was indeed married to William McFarland. He would have been 20 years older and had to marry her when she was 18 or younger. There is no documentation supporting this marriage. I also find it interesting what William's gravestone reads: William C, Beloved Husband of Ruth McFarland. It makes it seem like she is the focus and not him. Also, as he died on May 30, 1913, and she supposedly died 5 months earlier, who paid for the gravestone and chose the inscription? They couldn't have been married very long. Also, where is she buried if she really did die before him? While his death certificate doesn't indicate who provided the info, it does show him as "Married" and not "Widowed" as would be the case had Ruth died 5 months prior to him. The Ancestry McFarland Tree lists 5 December 1912 as their marriage date and not Ruth's death date and that makes more sense. Maybe whomever entered the info into FamilySearch goofed. Nothing pops up for a Ruth McFarland on a census that would relate to William, nor can I find him in the 1910 census. What if someone grabbed the Ruth Cowart Jennings info from her death index and saw that her father's name was Jennings and wishful thinking put her as William's wife? There really isn't any proof that a Ruth Jennings was married to William. I think I am going to leave this for now as there isn't enough concrete evidence to continue trying to figure it out. Return to in the future.
8) Kenneth Malcolm McFarland - Census ages: June 1880 - 3 Married Caroline Zilpha Hooker and had a son, Kenneth Malcolm McFarland (and family). Caroline dies and he married Annie Ben Powell and they have a daughter Margaret McFarland (and family). Annie dies and later he marries Oma Rivers. I couldn't find much info on Oma.
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4) Sarah McCaskill - Does not appear to be married. However, the history of the McCaskill in which she is #34 inclues this: " Daughter of Kenneth and Nancy #15. Born 1834 Kershaw Co., SC. Died 1910 Same. Married I. G. McCaskill, lineage unknown. She is buried in the Old Scotch Cemetary in Bethune, SC. She and her husband do not appear in any S.C. census." Sarah herself does appear in the 1850, 1860, 1880, and 1900 censuses, with varying ages that loosely connect to an 1834 birth year. She shows as "Single". I believe the marriage info was in error as there is nothing to indicate she was married, including her gravestone which lists her as a daughter of K & N McCaskill and not a wife of anyone.
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5) Christian McCaskill - Married Dr. James McLean McFarland, no children. There is a discrepancy about her birth year as findagrave lists it as 1826, but her tombstone and several censuses support a 1836 birth. Also note that Andrew McCaskill (who has very complete info on the McCaskill family and is the host of the family tree listed at the top of this document) does not include Christian as one of Kenneth and Nancy's children. In the 1900 census she is listed as "Single" even though she was actually widowed.
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6) Catherine Margaret McCaskill - She also does not appear to have married. In this case the McCaskill history lists her as "unmarried."
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7) John Daniel McCaskill - Married Catherine Isabella Gillis Bethune. Had 4 children:
1) Kenneth Daniel McCaskill - His name is in question as in the 1880 census when he is 2 he is listed as "Dan'l Kenneth". In the 1900 census he is listed as "John D" just like his father, which looks to be a mistake.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Mary Lucile Bethune Hucks Residences, Addresses
Birth (July 7, 1908)
Bethune Plantation,
Thomas Crossroads,
Clyde, South Carolina
1919
Hartsville
19??? - 19???
Bethune Plantation,
Thomas Crossroads,
Clyde, South Carolina
1930
Waco Texas
per 1930 Census
1936
Florence, South Carolina
1936 -1938
Sheridan Way Rt 2 (corner of Sheridan and Peachtree?)
Altanta Georgia
(See letter from Emma Bethune dated February 9, 1938)
1938 -1947
177 Peachtree
Fayetteville, North Carolina
612 Westmont Drive
Fayetteville, North Carolina
1947 - 1955
1567 South 2100 East
Salt Lake City, Utah (phone #82632)
1955 -
Bentley Avenue
Los Angeles, 25, California
1956
Eastbourne Avenue
Los Angeles, 25, California
1956?
Malcolm Avenue
Los Angeles, 25, California
1956-1957
San Francisco, Calf
1957 - 1964
1417 Veteran Avenue Apt. 3
Los Angeles 25, California
1964-1965?
1769 Kelton Avenue
Los Angeles 24, California
1965
1078 1/2 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Los Angeles, California
Olympic Blvd?
Beverly Hills
Santa Monica?
1973?
E. 15th Street
Newport Beach, California
4/1980 -
123 2nd Avenue #1014
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Cove Point
Provo, Utah
468 Stadium Ave
Provo, Utah
1993 - Death (February 16, 1994)
East Lake Care Center
Burial
February 19, 1994
Olympus Park Section (Northwest corner)
Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park
3401 Highland Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah
Bethune Plantation,
Thomas Crossroads,
Clyde, South Carolina
1919
Hartsville
19??? - 19???
Bethune Plantation,
Thomas Crossroads,
Clyde, South Carolina
1930
Waco Texas
per 1930 Census
1936
Florence, South Carolina
1936 -1938
Sheridan Way Rt 2 (corner of Sheridan and Peachtree?)
Altanta Georgia
(See letter from Emma Bethune dated February 9, 1938)
1938 -1947
177 Peachtree
Fayetteville, North Carolina
612 Westmont Drive
Fayetteville, North Carolina
1947 - 1955
1567 South 2100 East
Salt Lake City, Utah (phone #82632)
1955 -
Bentley Avenue
Los Angeles, 25, California
1956
Eastbourne Avenue
Los Angeles, 25, California
1956?
Malcolm Avenue
Los Angeles, 25, California
1956-1957
San Francisco, Calf
1957 - 1964
1417 Veteran Avenue Apt. 3
Los Angeles 25, California
1964-1965?
1769 Kelton Avenue
Los Angeles 24, California
1965
1078 1/2 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Los Angeles, California
Olympic Blvd?
Beverly Hills
Santa Monica?
1973?
E. 15th Street
Newport Beach, California
4/1980 -
123 2nd Avenue #1014
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Cove Point
Provo, Utah
468 Stadium Ave
Provo, Utah
1993 - Death (February 16, 1994)
East Lake Care Center
- 1001 N 500 W
- Provo, Utah 84604
Burial
February 19, 1994
Olympus Park Section (Northwest corner)
Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park
3401 Highland Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Louise Bethune Cobb Letter to Patricia Sheranian 7-7-1979
Saturday afternoon
Dear Trish -
Well you all have been gone for two days now and Katie and I are still lonesome. I haven't decided to clean house yet, in fact it isn't too ____ to me. I did wash the towels Thursday, and yesterday we all spent the day with Bessie. Faye & Rebecca spent the night too & tonight also. They will be back here tomorrow.
The flowers took my breath, I was so shocked and their beauty in unspeakable. You shouldn't have done that, but I do love them and they are beautiful. You let your good thoughts run away from you - eh?
I am charmed with your adorable family and their Mother. You sure have reasons to be proud of them. They are all real cute. Faye Funder___ & Boopie(?) said to tell you they were sorry to have missed you but enjoyed the children.
Charles R. called Thursday afternoon for you and was real upset he missed you. He said maybe in ten years you could meet again.
I hope the Washington trip was more interesting to the boys than Hartsville. Ha.
I'm sure nothing went as you wanted it to but I do hope it was worthwhile for you. It was so good to know your grown(?) family.
We have had rain all day today & still no sunshine. I'm glad this didn't happen last Saturday.
Let me hear from you-
Love to all-
Louise
Note: I've included this letter not so much for its historical content as for its representation of the graciousness of a Southern woman. We were visiting Louise and other relatives while back East to attend the Bethune Family Reunion in Bethune, South Carolina. I seem to recall that I spent the night at Louise's (in Hartsville) for at least a night or two. (We also stayed in Myrtle Beach for at least a night.) Her reference to the previous Saturday seems to indicate that is when the reunion was held and we must have left Hartsville on Thursday for Washington DC. (What a poor memory I have!) -KV
Dear Trish -
Well you all have been gone for two days now and Katie and I are still lonesome. I haven't decided to clean house yet, in fact it isn't too ____ to me. I did wash the towels Thursday, and yesterday we all spent the day with Bessie. Faye & Rebecca spent the night too & tonight also. They will be back here tomorrow.
The flowers took my breath, I was so shocked and their beauty in unspeakable. You shouldn't have done that, but I do love them and they are beautiful. You let your good thoughts run away from you - eh?
I am charmed with your adorable family and their Mother. You sure have reasons to be proud of them. They are all real cute. Faye Funder___ & Boopie(?) said to tell you they were sorry to have missed you but enjoyed the children.
Charles R. called Thursday afternoon for you and was real upset he missed you. He said maybe in ten years you could meet again.
I hope the Washington trip was more interesting to the boys than Hartsville. Ha.
I'm sure nothing went as you wanted it to but I do hope it was worthwhile for you. It was so good to know your grown(?) family.
We have had rain all day today & still no sunshine. I'm glad this didn't happen last Saturday.
Let me hear from you-
Love to all-
Louise
Note: I've included this letter not so much for its historical content as for its representation of the graciousness of a Southern woman. We were visiting Louise and other relatives while back East to attend the Bethune Family Reunion in Bethune, South Carolina. I seem to recall that I spent the night at Louise's (in Hartsville) for at least a night or two. (We also stayed in Myrtle Beach for at least a night.) Her reference to the previous Saturday seems to indicate that is when the reunion was held and we must have left Hartsville on Thursday for Washington DC. (What a poor memory I have!) -KV
Emma Thomas Bethune Pepper Relish Recipe
Pepper Relish
12 red peppers
12 green peppers
12 onions
Chop all and mix, then cover with boiling water and let stand 5 minutes. Drain. Add 1 pint of vinegar, 2 cups sugar, 3 tablespoons salt. Boil 5 minutes. Pack in jar and seal.
12 red peppers
12 green peppers
12 onions
Chop all and mix, then cover with boiling water and let stand 5 minutes. Drain. Add 1 pint of vinegar, 2 cups sugar, 3 tablespoons salt. Boil 5 minutes. Pack in jar and seal.
Inscription from McCaskill Family Bible
"Printed 1804 in Edinburgh. This book was brought from Minganish in the Highlands of Scotland by my grandnephew Allen McCaskill -1811. Signed Dm.Bethune (grandfather)"
Notes:
1) This inscription information comes from an undated photocopy I found in my grandmother's (Mary Bethune Hucks) files. It is likely that she handcopied the inscription as this appears to be her handwriting and the Dm, Bethune mentioned would be Daniel Murdock Bethune, her grandfather.
2) "Minganish" is Minginish on the Isle of Skye.
3) The "grandnephew" reference is puzzling as that person would most likely have to be younger by 2 generations than Daniel Murdock Bethune, who was born in 1845. My guess is that whomever made the copy had a hard time reading the original inscription as there seems to my eye to be an indication that the "nephew" was added (as in not in the same penstroke flow) after the "grand." Daniel Murdock Bethune's maternal grandfather was Allen McCaskill, born in Minginish, Scotland. Daniel's mother Christian McCaskill was born April 1810 in Minginish, and Allen's next child (Catherine) was born in Kershaw County, South Carolina in 1815.
Notes:
1) This inscription information comes from an undated photocopy I found in my grandmother's (Mary Bethune Hucks) files. It is likely that she handcopied the inscription as this appears to be her handwriting and the Dm, Bethune mentioned would be Daniel Murdock Bethune, her grandfather.
2) "Minganish" is Minginish on the Isle of Skye.
3) The "grandnephew" reference is puzzling as that person would most likely have to be younger by 2 generations than Daniel Murdock Bethune, who was born in 1845. My guess is that whomever made the copy had a hard time reading the original inscription as there seems to my eye to be an indication that the "nephew" was added (as in not in the same penstroke flow) after the "grand." Daniel Murdock Bethune's maternal grandfather was Allen McCaskill, born in Minginish, Scotland. Daniel's mother Christian McCaskill was born April 1810 in Minginish, and Allen's next child (Catherine) was born in Kershaw County, South Carolina in 1815.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Golden Wedding Mr. and Mrs. Allen Thomas Bethune
Celebrate Golden Wedding Mr. and Mrs. Allen Thomas Bethune, former residents of this
city celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a large and lovely reception on
Saturday at their country home in Mecklenburg county. Yellow roses, daffodils, and
yellow tapers were used as room decorations. Receiving with the celebrants in the living
room were their children Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Bethune, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Bethune of Richmond, Va., Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Bethune of Columbia, S. C., Mr. and Mrs E. E.
Bethune, and Miss Frances Bethune.
Mrs. Bethune was gowned in aqua crepe and wore a shoulder bouquet of yellow rosebuds. Miss Betsy Bethune of Richmond, Va., granddaughter of the couple, kept the guest register in the gift room, where numerous gifts in gold were displayed. In the dining room the table was spread with hand-made lace and centered with a three-tier wedding cake ornamented with yellow roses. A salad plate was served by Misses Susan and Sarah Frances Bethune and Miss Gerry Genrich, the latter of Columbia, S C. Coffee was poured by Mrs Edna J. Almand of this city, and Mrs. Jack Drye served punch. Receiving hours were from 2 in the afternoon to 7 in the evening, and more than 100 guests called to extend congratulations and felicitations. The only absent member of the family, Mrs. Orin R. Parris of Salt Lake City, Utah, called her parents by long distance while the reception was in progress. Out-of-town guests were Mrs. Kate McNaull, Mr. Eugene Brown, Gene and Lorena Brown of Columbia, S.C., Mrs. D. M. Bethune, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Cobb, Mrs. R. C. Grant, Richard Grant, Mrs. J. V. Fagan, Mrs. Leonard King, and Mrs. John McDonald of Hartsville, S. C., Mrs. John Cagle and Hugh Cagle of Hamlet, Mr. and Mrs Hugh Witherspoon of Maysville, S. C, Mrs. E. Z. Truesdale, Miss Stella Bethune, and Mrs. M. G. King at Bethune, S. C., the Rev. and Mrs. Neil S. Truesdale, Rebecca and Althea Truesdale of Newberry, S. C.,
Mrs. Hattie J. Ross, Mrs. A. C. Jones, Mrs. Maude Green, and Miss Margaret Bostie of Forest City Mrs ttussell Riley of Blacksburg. S. C., Mrs. A. Feuer and Ronald Feuer of Dallas, Mrs. Maggie Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Klllough, and Mrs E. B. Austin of Matthews; Mr and Mrs. John R. Bamett of Huntersville; Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. O. K. Forrester. Worth Jordan, Miss Nancy Jordan, Charlie Ledford, Mlu Nell Lee. Mrs. Paul Xhyne, Miss Elolse Hesbitt, Mrs tfova Tatham, Mrs. H. M. Webb. Kr.' and Mrs. Thomas C. Church E Halnes Gregg, Otis L. Peach, and Ur. and Mrs. Bcb Green of Gas- tonla; Mr. and Mra. Charles Baker of PfnevUle, and Mr. and Mrs Ray Preslar and Mr.^nd Mra. Hardy Davis of BelmocC Source: The Gastonia Gazette, Woman's Page 19 April 1950 Note: The above was taken from an OCR rendering as a paid subscription is required to see the actual document. As such, there are many misspellings, especially in the last paragraph. -KV
Mrs. Bethune was gowned in aqua crepe and wore a shoulder bouquet of yellow rosebuds. Miss Betsy Bethune of Richmond, Va., granddaughter of the couple, kept the guest register in the gift room, where numerous gifts in gold were displayed. In the dining room the table was spread with hand-made lace and centered with a three-tier wedding cake ornamented with yellow roses. A salad plate was served by Misses Susan and Sarah Frances Bethune and Miss Gerry Genrich, the latter of Columbia, S C. Coffee was poured by Mrs Edna J. Almand of this city, and Mrs. Jack Drye served punch. Receiving hours were from 2 in the afternoon to 7 in the evening, and more than 100 guests called to extend congratulations and felicitations. The only absent member of the family, Mrs. Orin R. Parris of Salt Lake City, Utah, called her parents by long distance while the reception was in progress. Out-of-town guests were Mrs. Kate McNaull, Mr. Eugene Brown, Gene and Lorena Brown of Columbia, S.C., Mrs. D. M. Bethune, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Cobb, Mrs. R. C. Grant, Richard Grant, Mrs. J. V. Fagan, Mrs. Leonard King, and Mrs. John McDonald of Hartsville, S. C., Mrs. John Cagle and Hugh Cagle of Hamlet, Mr. and Mrs Hugh Witherspoon of Maysville, S. C, Mrs. E. Z. Truesdale, Miss Stella Bethune, and Mrs. M. G. King at Bethune, S. C., the Rev. and Mrs. Neil S. Truesdale, Rebecca and Althea Truesdale of Newberry, S. C.,
Mrs. Hattie J. Ross, Mrs. A. C. Jones, Mrs. Maude Green, and Miss Margaret Bostie of Forest City Mrs ttussell Riley of Blacksburg. S. C., Mrs. A. Feuer and Ronald Feuer of Dallas, Mrs. Maggie Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Klllough, and Mrs E. B. Austin of Matthews; Mr and Mrs. John R. Bamett of Huntersville; Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. O. K. Forrester. Worth Jordan, Miss Nancy Jordan, Charlie Ledford, Mlu Nell Lee. Mrs. Paul Xhyne, Miss Elolse Hesbitt, Mrs tfova Tatham, Mrs. H. M. Webb. Kr.' and Mrs. Thomas C. Church E Halnes Gregg, Otis L. Peach, and Ur. and Mrs. Bcb Green of Gas- tonla; Mr. and Mra. Charles Baker of PfnevUle, and Mr. and Mrs Ray Preslar and Mr.^nd Mra. Hardy Davis of BelmocC Source: The Gastonia Gazette, Woman's Page 19 April 1950 Note: The above was taken from an OCR rendering as a paid subscription is required to see the actual document. As such, there are many misspellings, especially in the last paragraph. -KV
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Margaret Letter To Mary July 7, 1984
July 7th 1984
Dear Mary,
We wish you a "Happy Birthday" I remember - Papa took us (me Mac and Louise) down to Aunt May's - at that time she was living in a house across the road, while her "big" home, (on the other side, where it is now) was not completed. Aunt May was always so good to us, and especially if Mama needed her to help with the children. I don't remember Aunt May ever being real provoked at any of us. If she ever said No! don't do that!!!! we knew she wasn't "fooling." If we didn't say, "thank you," and "please at the table, we were corrected and then we got what we asked for. If we didn't, (like Mac she wouldn't say either -she had to leave the table without getting what she asked for.
You was a "beautiful baby" I thought. "Ole Aunt Delia" was with Mama- She alway called Mama, "Babe" She had looked after Mama when a child. She and her husband lived on the Chesterfield Road in their own house and they would cut thru our field to get to the road in front of our home. and I remember, we little girls always knew when Douglas was coming, he always smoked a pipe and we could "smell it." I was allowed to "hold you" if Id sit right in the low rocking chair, that Mama always sat in when she would rock the "little ones" to sleep at night. We had a nice comfortable Home to live in. It was very impressive two-story home. Beautiful setting under the Big oak Trees and the lovely Magnolia. We each had a porch to have our "play house home" in - with our dolls we'd (J.K. Me, Mac & Louise) go visiting each other - our greetings were: How are you "Miss Kate" today - She'd say the same each of us was "Miss Kate", I don't remember how we all decided on the one name. (JK was never called Kate, only when we were "playing house."
I soon tired of dolls and I wanted to hold you as I was almost eight in August 12th after you were born.
Mama sewed for all of us, except Janie Kate - Aunt May and Grandma looked after her.
Janie Kate 1898 was born at the old Thomas home at the Cross Road. The later Papa had a job with A.M. McNair at Clyde S.C. it was then a post office. Later, before I was born Aug 12th 1900 we lived at Clyde S.C. after I was born. Papa was Mr McNair's bookkeeper
Mama and Papa and J.K. + me lived in house across the road from the McNair Home which was a big house up on a high ? Hill. They had a daughter, that J.K. loved to play with and her name was "Bessie" -My! I was a "little" baby and named: Margaret Elizabeth, which was too much name for a two year old (J.K.) So she cried and begged to let her call me by her friends name; So thats how I got that name Bessie, which I didn't like as I grew older - The other sisters had names of relatives and Bessie wasn't a relative name - So I always loved my real name - but was never called either name "Margaret or Elizabeth", until John and I went to a "Retirement Home" at Myrtle Beach S.C. then I announced my name Margaret. Have been called this for over three years. It seemed more "elegant" to me. All of my Legal papers - Insurance all business transactions was Margaret Elizabeth our Marriage License of course too.
I was so happy when Patricia's baby girl was born and she had you, Mary, the proud grandmother, to call me and tell me that the new baby girl was given one of my names - "Elizabeth" - Made me feel so proud that some one in the "Family" (Bethune) would carry on the same name of our great grandmother, her name was Elizabeth Reeves. Mama told me I was named after my two great grandmothers.
Mary have you told this to Elizabeth or Lisa. I'd love to know my name sake, maybe some times this Summer!!!
Mary, you were named for Papa sister Aunt "Mary Yarborough" and Aunt Mary Thomas which was "Aunt May". Mama's sister Sally Louise was named for Aunt Sally, Papa's sister, McCaskill. Janie {Catherine + Papa's mother Kate was named for both grandmothers, and Aunt Kate McNaull Papa's sister. Mac was named for Papa and Mama. Emma Malcolm.
Last, but not leas - when I M.E. was eleven years old, another baby girl - her name is Thornwell Faye - name for Mama's brother Thornwell Thomas. He was older than Mama and he died when his two sons (were small) Thornwell Norwood Thomas (Aunt Sallie's maiden name - and Hamilton Thomas named for one grandfather Thomas. Faye was the last of the girls - she ___ the older sisters thought she was "spoiled". But any way she was loved very much by all of us. She knew then, that Mama "____" for her to come now.
Well! Mary I know you are wondering why I've written this to you. Maybe you'd like to have it copied and give copies to your children. Hows that for a Happy Birthday present?? Hope you have many more. You have a wonderful family and you taught them the Gospel and they are a joy and a great pleasure to you. (You had a big decision to make early in your Life about you and your family). A beautiful daughter and two good looking sons. They are all true to the gospel that you taught to them.
Their families are to be proud of. I know you can truely love them and be very proud of the good decisions you made many years ago. and now I'm thinking of the "big" Bethune Reunion we had together - and how your family of good looking boys and girls. I've enjoyed remembering that Reunion - our family John & mine, was a very small one.
I'm so glad you and all your family could come back to the "place" where our Bethune began. Oh!: if Mama and Papa could have seen all of us. I know they would have been proud of their "Six Daughters" - and their families.
Then our last Reunion of the Six Sisters - and some of their family, is well to be remember. It was such a "short time" to be together our last time, Before we had to part with one one of the Sisters, and the Circle was broken. She was too young to die, I heard her lonely daughter, Carolyn make that remark the day of her mothers funeral. It was such a sad time for all of us. Then we were all together again. She left behind those attractive grandchildren and their Mother who has made such a good mother for them. They all loved their Granny so much and she loved them.
I hate to stop writing on "this sad note" but I've never written anything about Louise unless I cried! Never had an idea that she'd go before I did. Guess she was more prepared to go, than I.
Hope I'll get to see you this Summer. ___ disappoint me & all of us.
Love to you and all your family.
Bessie or Margaret.
Dear Mary,
We wish you a "Happy Birthday" I remember - Papa took us (me Mac and Louise) down to Aunt May's - at that time she was living in a house across the road, while her "big" home, (on the other side, where it is now) was not completed. Aunt May was always so good to us, and especially if Mama needed her to help with the children. I don't remember Aunt May ever being real provoked at any of us. If she ever said No! don't do that!!!! we knew she wasn't "fooling." If we didn't say, "thank you," and "please at the table, we were corrected and then we got what we asked for. If we didn't, (like Mac she wouldn't say either -she had to leave the table without getting what she asked for.
You was a "beautiful baby" I thought. "Ole Aunt Delia" was with Mama- She alway called Mama, "Babe" She had looked after Mama when a child. She and her husband lived on the Chesterfield Road in their own house and they would cut thru our field to get to the road in front of our home. and I remember, we little girls always knew when Douglas was coming, he always smoked a pipe and we could "smell it." I was allowed to "hold you" if Id sit right in the low rocking chair, that Mama always sat in when she would rock the "little ones" to sleep at night. We had a nice comfortable Home to live in. It was very impressive two-story home. Beautiful setting under the Big oak Trees and the lovely Magnolia. We each had a porch to have our "play house home" in - with our dolls we'd (J.K. Me, Mac & Louise) go visiting each other - our greetings were: How are you "Miss Kate" today - She'd say the same each of us was "Miss Kate", I don't remember how we all decided on the one name. (JK was never called Kate, only when we were "playing house."
I soon tired of dolls and I wanted to hold you as I was almost eight in August 12th after you were born.
Mama sewed for all of us, except Janie Kate - Aunt May and Grandma looked after her.
Janie Kate 1898 was born at the old Thomas home at the Cross Road. The later Papa had a job with A.M. McNair at Clyde S.C. it was then a post office. Later, before I was born Aug 12th 1900 we lived at Clyde S.C. after I was born. Papa was Mr McNair's bookkeeper
Mama and Papa and J.K. + me lived in house across the road from the McNair Home which was a big house up on a high ? Hill. They had a daughter, that J.K. loved to play with and her name was "Bessie" -My! I was a "little" baby and named: Margaret Elizabeth, which was too much name for a two year old (J.K.) So she cried and begged to let her call me by her friends name; So thats how I got that name Bessie, which I didn't like as I grew older - The other sisters had names of relatives and Bessie wasn't a relative name - So I always loved my real name - but was never called either name "Margaret or Elizabeth", until John and I went to a "Retirement Home" at Myrtle Beach S.C. then I announced my name Margaret. Have been called this for over three years. It seemed more "elegant" to me. All of my Legal papers - Insurance all business transactions was Margaret Elizabeth our Marriage License of course too.
I was so happy when Patricia's baby girl was born and she had you, Mary, the proud grandmother, to call me and tell me that the new baby girl was given one of my names - "Elizabeth" - Made me feel so proud that some one in the "Family" (Bethune) would carry on the same name of our great grandmother, her name was Elizabeth Reeves. Mama told me I was named after my two great grandmothers.
Mary have you told this to Elizabeth or Lisa. I'd love to know my name sake, maybe some times this Summer!!!
Mary, you were named for Papa sister Aunt "Mary Yarborough" and Aunt Mary Thomas which was "Aunt May". Mama's sister Sally Louise was named for Aunt Sally, Papa's sister, McCaskill. Janie {Catherine + Papa's mother Kate was named for both grandmothers, and Aunt Kate McNaull Papa's sister. Mac was named for Papa and Mama. Emma Malcolm.
Last, but not leas - when I M.E. was eleven years old, another baby girl - her name is Thornwell Faye - name for Mama's brother Thornwell Thomas. He was older than Mama and he died when his two sons (were small) Thornwell Norwood Thomas (Aunt Sallie's maiden name - and Hamilton Thomas named for one grandfather Thomas. Faye was the last of the girls - she ___ the older sisters thought she was "spoiled". But any way she was loved very much by all of us. She knew then, that Mama "____" for her to come now.
Well! Mary I know you are wondering why I've written this to you. Maybe you'd like to have it copied and give copies to your children. Hows that for a Happy Birthday present?? Hope you have many more. You have a wonderful family and you taught them the Gospel and they are a joy and a great pleasure to you. (You had a big decision to make early in your Life about you and your family). A beautiful daughter and two good looking sons. They are all true to the gospel that you taught to them.
Their families are to be proud of. I know you can truely love them and be very proud of the good decisions you made many years ago. and now I'm thinking of the "big" Bethune Reunion we had together - and how your family of good looking boys and girls. I've enjoyed remembering that Reunion - our family John & mine, was a very small one.
I'm so glad you and all your family could come back to the "place" where our Bethune began. Oh!: if Mama and Papa could have seen all of us. I know they would have been proud of their "Six Daughters" - and their families.
Then our last Reunion of the Six Sisters - and some of their family, is well to be remember. It was such a "short time" to be together our last time, Before we had to part with one one of the Sisters, and the Circle was broken. She was too young to die, I heard her lonely daughter, Carolyn make that remark the day of her mothers funeral. It was such a sad time for all of us. Then we were all together again. She left behind those attractive grandchildren and their Mother who has made such a good mother for them. They all loved their Granny so much and she loved them.
I hate to stop writing on "this sad note" but I've never written anything about Louise unless I cried! Never had an idea that she'd go before I did. Guess she was more prepared to go, than I.
Hope I'll get to see you this Summer. ___ disappoint me & all of us.
Love to you and all your family.
Bessie or Margaret.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Daniel Malcolm Bethune Life Story
My great grandfather, Neil Bethune, left Scotland in the latter part of the eighteenth
century and settled in Montgomery
County , North Carolina
My father Daniel Murdock Bethune was born in Kershaw County
20 Feb. 1845, married Esther Catherine McCaskill born in 1847 in Chesterfield County
I had little schooling – went 3 years to a one teacher
school ten weeks each year. In my late teens, however I went to Atlanta Ga.
Our home was of moderate means as result of War between the
States. Sherman
burned nearly everything they couldn’t carry away. My father was in S.C. House
of Representatives during Reconstruction Days and he said there were Negroes in
there couldn’t read or write their names. He also fought in the War – went in
at age sixteen. He said the South went through some terrible times during that
period. My father was left several thousand acres of land by his great Aunt
Katie McCaskill and was land poor with no slaves to work it. Some families
stayed on with us though.
My grandmother’s people –McCaskills – were cattle raisers,
had turpentine business and were rice planters. My father grew rice and
irrigated the field ____ creek. Cotton was the main crop. My father was a
devout Presbyterian and taught us the Catechism and Bible at home. We had
family prayers morning and night. My home tasks were attending sheep cattle and
farming. I had a pet _____.
(As told to Mac)
(P.S. by Louise) I married Emma Jane Thomas 6 Sept 1897 at
her home on a Monday morning. We met at Pine Tree Presbyterian Church in Kershaw County Clyde before moving to my
wife’s homeplace after her mother’s death. By that time we had 3 children
(girls) and 3 more were born later - Janie Kate, Bessie, Mac, Louise, Mary, and
Faye.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Charlotte News Article 2-24-1953
THE CHARLOTTE
NEWS
ON AUG. 30, 1886
Eyewitness Tells Of Judgment Day On South Carolina ’s Coastal Plain
By BILL WILLIAMS
GASTONIA — Lo, they thought the hour of judgment was upon them.
It was on the night of August 30, 1886, when an earthquake ripped throughCharleston , S. C., tearing
trenches in the streets and rocking houses back and forth like small ships at
sea. The wind sounded like a roaring herd of jet fighters.
As the earth shook and trees trembled, it had company in the many frightened Negroes and white folk.
“I remember that night just as well as if it were last night,” said “Col.” A. T. Bethune, a resident of theBerryhill
School section in Mecklenburg County
“I was down at the barn, helping some of the men with their chores when the first blast of wind warned us of a storm.”
Colonel Bethune, the son of a man who owned three plantations was only 10 years old at the time of the earthquake, but his vivid recollection of the catastrophe brings gasps of awe from listeners as he relates the happenings of that night.
GASTONIA — Lo, they thought the hour of judgment was upon them.
It was on the night of August 30, 1886, when an earthquake ripped through
As the earth shook and trees trembled, it had company in the many frightened Negroes and white folk.
“I remember that night just as well as if it were last night,” said “Col.” A. T. Bethune, a resident of the
“I was down at the barn, helping some of the men with their chores when the first blast of wind warned us of a storm.”
Colonel Bethune, the son of a man who owned three plantations was only 10 years old at the time of the earthquake, but his vivid recollection of the catastrophe brings gasps of awe from listeners as he relates the happenings of that night.
WIND CAME FIRST
“We were living about 50 or 60 miles from Charleston ," he continued, “and the wind was
blowing from that direction. Some of the colored folks were uneasy about it,
but dad just told them there was nothing to worry about. That wasn’t enough
assurance for them, though, especially after the first tremor set the houses rocking
and the trees waving.”
According to the colonel (he picked up the nickname somewhere),
workers fell to their knees and began to pray. Horses began to neigh and mules
began to bray. Dogs barked and chickens, in frightened excitement, ran from one
part of the yard to the other.
“All the workers thought that judgment day was upon them”, he went on.
“There were quite a few fellows across the creek who wanted to be with everyone else on the farm. They picked up some pine torches, lit them and started toward the farm. I remember one old fellow— his name was Shadrach— told all his children and the other folks around him to kneel down. He was going to pray.
Well, just about the time he started to kneel down himself, the wind blew hard and the window came open that gave a plain view of the Negroes coming across the creek. Carrying torches they looked exactly like somebody walking across the River Jordan.
“Well, anyhow, when Shadrach looked up and saw the torches, he shook all over and said:
“All the workers thought that judgment day was upon them”, he went on.
“There were quite a few fellows across the creek who wanted to be with everyone else on the farm. They picked up some pine torches, lit them and started toward the farm. I remember one old fellow— his name was Shadrach— told all his children and the other folks around him to kneel down. He was going to pray.
Well, just about the time he started to kneel down himself, the wind blew hard and the window came open that gave a plain view of the Negroes coming across the creek. Carrying torches they looked exactly like somebody walking across the River Jordan.
“Well, anyhow, when Shadrach looked up and saw the torches, he shook all over and said:
“Ain’t no use to pray now. Here comes the fire.! You’ve never seen a
man look so relieved in all your life when he found out that the lights were
torches carried by workers.”
One man, said Colonel Bethune, had the idea that judgment day would come in the morning.
"When the earth shook once,” Bethune continued, “he shouted out, ‘Lordy, I didn’t know that judgment day was coming at night. I thought it’d be morning.’”
By next day, the tremors had ceased and the wind had quit blowing. All over the farm, however, branches and leaves from trees, shredded by the violent force of the wind, had piled up in huge mounds.
“My dad wanted to clean up the mess as soon as possible,” the colonel went on. “He sent a man by the name of Daniel Jackson over to one of the rice fields to get some hoes and rakes. Well, you know how some of these roots and gum, and stuff catches on fire and smokes — sometimes months at a time.
When Jackson got over there and saw the fields smoking like they were on fire, he high-tailed it back to the house, leaving the hoes and rakes behind. He came running up to my dad and said: “Boss, we don’t need any hoes. It’s judgment day already.’
Colonel Bethune, now an employee of the Carter Traveler Company inGastonia , said his father
once owned three plantations.
“He never wanted to make money, though,” the watchman at Carter’s went on.
"When he made money, he invested it in other things. When he sold something, he practically gave it away. For instance, he once sold 1,400 acres of land of $1,100. I bought 600 acres from him once for $600”
One man, said Colonel Bethune, had the idea that judgment day would come in the morning.
"When the earth shook once,” Bethune continued, “he shouted out, ‘Lordy, I didn’t know that judgment day was coming at night. I thought it’d be morning.’”
By next day, the tremors had ceased and the wind had quit blowing. All over the farm, however, branches and leaves from trees, shredded by the violent force of the wind, had piled up in huge mounds.
“My dad wanted to clean up the mess as soon as possible,” the colonel went on. “He sent a man by the name of Daniel Jackson over to one of the rice fields to get some hoes and rakes. Well, you know how some of these roots and gum, and stuff catches on fire and smokes — sometimes months at a time.
When Jackson got over there and saw the fields smoking like they were on fire, he high-tailed it back to the house, leaving the hoes and rakes behind. He came running up to my dad and said: “Boss, we don’t need any hoes. It’s judgment day already.’
Colonel Bethune, now an employee of the Carter Traveler Company in
“He never wanted to make money, though,” the watchman at Carter’s went on.
"When he made money, he invested it in other things. When he sold something, he practically gave it away. For instance, he once sold 1,400 acres of land of $1,100. I bought 600 acres from him once for $600”
PEOPLE LIKED NAME
It was because of the elder Mr. Bethune’s generosity that the name of Lynchwood, S. C., was changed to Bethune. His philanthropy made the people of that little town see fit to change its name to honor Mr. Bethune.
Colonel Bethune is married to the former Eva Ross ofBlacksburg , S. C. He is 76 years old.
It was because of the elder Mr. Bethune’s generosity that the name of Lynchwood, S. C., was changed to Bethune. His philanthropy made the people of that little town see fit to change its name to honor Mr. Bethune.
Colonel Bethune is married to the former Eva Ross of
Note: Allen Thomas "Colonel" Bethune's father was Daniel Murdock Bethune.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Emma Bethune 1938 Letter to Mary Hucks
Tuesday night -
My Dear Mary,
Emma Jane Thomas Bethune Life Story
I, Emma Jane (Thomas) Bethune was born 24 Oct. 1872 at Thomas' Cross Roads in Darlington County, S.C. My father, David Hamilton Thomas was born 11 Sept. 1820 in Darlington Co. S.C. and died 9 Feb. 1897 at Thomas' Cross Roads. My mother, Jane Elizabeth Reaves, was born 9 Nov. 1835 in Darlington Co. S.C. and died 11 Feb. 1904 at Thomas' Cross Roads.
My father and mother were married 15 Mar. 1866, but they had both been married before and each had a child. My father had a daughter, Mary Thomas, who was then 7 years old and my mother had a son, John Ervin McLure age 5 years. After they had been married several years they would jokingly say - "My child, your child, and our children." They had 3 children. My brother Hamilton Thornwell was born 21 Feb. 1867 and died 23 Nov. 1910. My sister Lula was born 15 Oct. 1868 and died 11 months later. We were a devoted family, not feeling that we were step brothers and sisters.
My father was a big landowner and farmer as his father before him, however after the war between the States he had only land as his slaves had been freed, for whom he had paid high prices for years before. Sherman's troops came through and camped a short distance from our home and they took all the stock, food of every kind - in fact they left the home unburned because my stepsister, Mary, was at home alone with a mammy and the mammy got her to beg the officer in charge to spare her home. They had a struggle in the years following the war, but kept their land which had been in their families since granted to them by King of England.
I went to a one teacher school and when in my teens I would help the teacher. One of my last ones was Katie McKinnion,who later married A.Mortimer McNair, who later became a prominent business man in Hartsville, S.C. In Sept. 1891, I went to Greenville Female College for women at Greenville, S.C. I did not go back the following year, as my grandmother Reaves, who lived with us, was ill and died 20 Oct. 1892.
On 6 Sept. 1897, I married Daniel Malcolm Bethune from Kershaw Co. S.C. at Pine Tree Presbyterian Church. I winked at him during a prayer and met him after the service. We were married later and lived over there. When my mother died in 1904 we had three daughters -- Janie Kate, Bessie, and Mac. I fell heir to my mother's home, so we moved there to live in Darlington County where three more daughters were born --Louise, Mary and Faye.
My father was a very religious man and was a devoted member of Mt. Elon Baptist Church. My mother was a Presbyterian and they would go to her church one Sunday and to his the next. I joined the Baptist Church, but in Jan. 1915, my husband joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), so May 21, 1917 four of my daughters and I were baptized and confirmed members of the same church.
In July 1919 we moved to Hartsville for better schools and lived there until January 1930 and we moved back to our home at Thomas' Cross Roads. Five of my daughters were married there and I had four grandchildren. At different times all the children lived with us for a while and then we were finally left alone as the sixth daughter had married.
20 June 1940, my husband died with cancer of the stomach. He was diagnosed at Duke Hospital in N.C. but died at home. How lonely I was and how I missed him. Our path hadn't been smooth all the time, but we had so much to be thankful for. In about a year, I went to Hartsville to live with my daughter, Louise. I started to going to church meetings regularly, especially to Sunday School and Relief Society and I enjoyed them and by studying learned more about the Gospel. I have and have had for long time faith in ordinance of healing by the Priesthood, as I have seen the Power manifested a number of time.
P.S. (By Louise)
My mother visited each child regularly and especially when needed to help out. She was at home in any kitchen. She died 3 Nov. 1953 in Hartsville with cancer of bone. She suffered greatly and was sick about six months.
P.S. (By Louise)
My mother visited each child regularly and especially when needed to help out. She was at home in any kitchen. She died 3 Nov. 1953 in Hartsville with cancer of bone. She suffered greatly and was sick about six months.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Patricia Sheranian Christmas 2009 note
I was born in the same Thomas Home
My Great Aunt May never married. I remember her and her stories of the Civil War. She would let me sleep in her bed once in a while. It was very high and she was very small not much taller than I was as a child, we both needed steps to get into the bed which was made of feathers. It was wonderfully soft and deep. She was precious in frills and lace.
Great Aunt May’s house was about a long city block from my grandparents home, the
The Bethune sisters all married.
Janie Kate Bethune Grant had one son
Emma Malcolm “Mac” Bethune Fagan had a daughter and a son.
Margaret Elizabeth “Bessie” Bethune Cagle had two sons
Sally Louise Bethune Cobb had one daughter
Mary Lucille Bethune Hucks had one daughter and two sons
Thornwell Faye Bethune Crossley had one son and three daughters
We spent most holidays together at our grandparent’s home as children and teens. We spent summers with aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents often at the
When Papa was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Lattergiay Saints it was early in the year 1917 in January. He was
baptized in the Clyde Pond. Soon after, five of his daughters were baptized and
eventually his wife Emma Jane Thomas Bethune was baptized also.
His daughter, Janie Kate, died not having been baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but that has now been done. Kent Vorkink my son is doing some research on past relatives so the families can be sealed together in the
After my family moved to
My youth was made up of many family “memorable memories” and “traditions” for which I will ever be grateful and thankful.
May Christ bless you and your family and may your Christmas be filled with “memorable memories” and may you cherish each and every one!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
I wish I was with you to squeeze you tight
I wish I was with you to squeeze you tight
Love
Patricia Hucks Vorkink Sheranian
2009
Margaret Elizabeth (Bessie) Bethune Cagle "Life Account"
“Once upon a time, Man meets Lady at a church meeting (out
from the little town of Bethune
SC Darlington County which was joining counties with Kershaw City
Emma Jane lived about ten miles from the Bethune Plantation at a “crossroad section” in
Emma Jane Thomas and Daniel Malcolm Bethune were married on Sept 7, 1897 in the
Emma Jane’s mother was married to McLure first time. They had the one son Erwin, uncle Doctor McLure. He grew up and practiced medicine in that area. Emma Jane’s father married Shields first time. They had one daughter Mary Elizabeth Amanda our Aunt May.
Daniel Malcolm Bethune was the oldest child of Catherine
Margaret McCaskill and Daniel Murdock Bethune. His four sisters were Sally,
Mary, Margaret Elizabeth and Catherine (Kate) the youngest one and one brother
Allen. All of theses families were dear to me. There were our aunts and uncles
and their children, our first cousins.
Daniel and Emma had a daughter born August 23, 1898 her name was Jane Kate (named for both grandmothers)
Then another daughter Margaret Elizabeth born August 12, 1900 named for both great grandmothers.
Another daughter, the third child, named Emma Malcolm for her mother and father nicknamed “Mac” who was born October 7, 1901 the only blue eyed daughter. We the three oldest daughters were born in different places, Janie Kate arrived at the
Then Sally Louise was born at Thomas Cross Roads in the Thomas’ new home (our mother’s home when she was 12 or 13 years old.) I can remember her arrival. We three children were taken by Papa to stay at Aunt May’s home, then when we came back home our little sister named Sally Louise was there. We laughed and were so happy to have another baby sister, Her birthday March 7. 1905, she was named for Papa’s sister our Aunt Sally McCaskill.
Then on July 7, 1908 another daughter arrived named Mary Lucille named for Papa’s sister our Aunt Mary Yarbough. I was so glad I could “look after’ her as I was soon to be eight years old. She was lots of fun to play with when Mama would let me.
Then on September 1, 1911 another brown eyed daughter was born. I was old enough to “look after” Thornwell Faye, named for Mama’s brother. These three last to be born all were born in the Thomas Home where our mother lived from 13 years old until she was married September 7, 1 897.
This was a lovely two story home with big oak trees
surrounding the home and a big magnolia tree on the left side of the house. We
girls had swings in the oak trees and climbed the magnolia. I got to the bottom
limb and I kept watch over the younger girls that I was afraid they would fall
and get hurt. On the right side of the yard was a very deep well and a building
called “the well house.” We were not allowed to play around the well. We had a
happy home life. We all went to school to a graded school which was not far
from our home. This was called Clyde School as we little girls were old enough
we went to school there except Thornwell Faye, she was the baby and didn’t want
to grow up, so she never went to the school there.
On rainy mornings Papa never let us walk to school, he got the scurry or buggy out and “hitched” the horse to it and would come back for us in the afternoon if it was still raining. When summer came Mama was real busy sewing our summer clothes and we got new hair ribbons and sashes to wear on our new Sunday dresses.
We always went to Bethune to visit our cousins and aunts and uncles in summer. We had ten or twelve first cousins we’d visit. Something new for us to go up town in Bethune as our home was in the country. Sometimes our “city” cousins came to visit us. They enjoyed our fruit orchards. We had all kinds of fruits and a big garden that Papa worked every summer so we had such good vegetables and Aunt May had a big cherry orchard which she let us climb up the trees to eat cherries.
Our oldest sister Janie Kate lived with Aunt May at Thomas Cross Roads which wasn’t very far from the home where the five of us lived with Mama and Papa. Aunt May loved Janie Kate “like her very own”. She had more clothes etc than we had but I’m glad I lived in the home with Mama and Papa. Aunt May was so good to all of the other five children when Mama would let us go down to Aunt May’s house. She had games for us to play. She had a gentle horse named Nellie that we could ride. Some of us would fall off but never really got hurt and a dog named
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Bethune Ancestors Private Posts
I've created a second Bethune Ancestors blog called Bethune Ancestors Private Posts where posts that deal with religious and other personal matters will be housed. Access is limited to a list of approved viewers and I ask that any materials found on that site not be copied or distributed without permission.
These are the posts currently on Bethune Ancestors Private Posts:
1) Emma Jane Thomas Bethune Patriarchal Blessing
2) Mary Lucile Bethune Hucks Patriarchal Blessing
3) Daniel Malcolm Bethune Testimony - Liahona 1916
4) Daniel M. Bethune Story - Liahona 1941
These are the posts currently on Bethune Ancestors Private Posts:
1) Emma Jane Thomas Bethune Patriarchal Blessing
2) Mary Lucile Bethune Hucks Patriarchal Blessing
3) Daniel Malcolm Bethune Testimony - Liahona 1916
4) Daniel M. Bethune Story - Liahona 1941
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