Wordless Wednesday Old Country Store circa 1840

Destroyed by fire in 2004
Union Church, Jefferson County, Mississippi

Photograph Courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas

Sunday Obituary Mrs Jimmie Leola McDaniel Sanders 1920-2012

Mrs Jimmie Leola Sanders was born to Preston and Revellar McDaniel on Dec 3, 1920, in Union Church, Mississippi. She was one of seven children and was youngest of her siblings.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paris Sanders, Sr; her father, Preston McDaniel; mother, Revellar Ephraim; brother, Roosevelt McDaniel; sisters, Bernice, Mary Lou, Annie Mae, Willie Mae, Jessie.

She attended Mount Moriah Elementary Junior High.

Jimmie Lee received Christ at an early age and rededicated her life on September 12, 2012, at 5:15 p.m. She was a faithful member of Bethel AME Church. In 1962, she united with Bethel AME Church and served in many capacities such as Stewardess Board member, Anna Belle Harris Missionary member, Class Leader, and member of the Mississippi Club.

Jimmie Lee was employed as a lead cafeteria worker for over 30 years, at the Terminal Annex United States Post Office and retired in the early 80s.

Jimmie spent endless hours assisting with the care of her grandchildren: Beverly, Anthony and Quantrell. She loved her family and was an excellent homemaker, always ready with special dish of comfort.

On December 20th, 2012, after months of illness, God took the spirit that he gave Jimmie; for the believers, we will see her again.

To cherish her memory are her children - Paris Jr, and Velma Lee; grandchildren - Beverly, Anthony, and Quantrell; great grandchildren - Paige and Austin; daughter-in-law - Marie; granddaughter-in-law Brooke; nephew - Robert Scott; nieces - Annie Mae Thomas, Geneva Smith; a host of relatives and friends.

How does Jimmie Lee Sanders connect to my family tree?
Jimmie's sister Mary Lou McDaniel married Frank Scott.
Frank Scott's mother, Catherine Matilda Markham Scott and my great grandfather Monroe Markham were siblings.

Old Country Store Union Church, Mississippi

Members of my family would be familiar with this store as this was the area they were enslaved. The store was located in Union Church, Jefferson County, Mississippi.

The store is said to have been built around 1840.
It was destroyed by fire September 08, 2004.

Pictures Courtesy of Nancy Brister

Fire Destroys Landmark
The Natchez Democrat
September 9, 2004

Amanuensis Monday Found Love in the Slave Pen

Slave Pen
Alexandria, Virginia
Image courtesy of Library of Congress

This is a bitter sweet testimony from Jane Harris Burnett who found love in a slave trader's pen in Richmond, Virginia. She and her future husband Robert Burnett likely were frighten, sold from family, not knowing where they were going and concerned about the new owner. John Torrey purchased them in Natchez, maybe at the Forks of the Road Slave Market. I wonder if Torrey was looking for a couple or if one or both asked him to buy them both.

Deposition A of Jane Burnett
Federal Pension Case of Jane Burnett (Widow of soldier Robert Burnett)
March 23rd 1898
Union Church, Jefferson County, Miss
I and Robert Burnett were bought by Mr John Torrey a number of years before the war from the traders at Natchez, Miss; I had become acquainted with Robert at Richmond, Va., where the traders first had us. My name in Virginia had been Harris, but on Mr Torrey's plantation I went by the name of my new owner. I took up with Robert Burnett at the slave trader's yard at Richmond, Va., and lived with him as his wife until his death in April four or five years ago; I cannot give you the exact date of his death. We were never divorced. Robert Burnett died of dropsy of the heart, so Dr McLean who treated him in his last sickness told me. When the Yankees had taken Natchez, Robert Burnett left for that place and enlisted in Co. C, 58 USCT, in which he served three years. After his discharged he returned home.

General Affidavit of John Torrey
In the year of 1852 February I bought them in Natchez, Miss and they lived as man and wife until 1863 when he went in the war and after he returned in 1866.

Source: Federal Pension Records of Robert Burnett
Private Robert Burnett of 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Digging up the Past at a Richmond Jail

Amanuensis Monday Name Confusion

George Washington aka George Thomas
1837-1912

George Washington aka George Thomas had several difficulties getting approval to receive a pension for service during the Civil War. One of his problems was he had a common name, George Washington. Seven men had the exact same name who served with the same regiment as this George, 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. A civilian who worked for the 58th, USCI, also had the same name. Here is one of George's depositions concerning the name confusion.

Deposition A in Case of George Washington
January 15 1890
Brookhaven, Lincoln County, Miss

I was born in Copiah Co, Miss near the Jefferson County line. My owner was Bill Brown. He was the only owner I ever had. I lived on his place till I went to Natchez & then to Vicksburg. I joined the army at Vicksburg & was discharged at Natchez.

I have heard you explain about that Geo Washington who claims on my service. I don't know him that man & never saw or heard of him. He is a fraud. I have no picture of myself. I had no nickname in service at all. I was clean shaved all the way through the army. I was never in the army but about 8 or 9 months in all. I was never in but two fights in service, one about 12 miles from Woodville & the other was on Bingham's Branch out from Natchez. At the last fight a man named of our Co named Sampson Martin was killed.

Yes, I use to know of a Gilbert Buoy in Jefferson Co, Miss. He is dead. He lived near Union Church & 8 miles from my owner. Yes, he owned a slave named Geo Washington born & raised on the place. He was younger than me. I knew that other Geo Washington before the war. His mistress was my master's sister. No, he was never in my Co at all. He ran away from Gilbert Buoy a long time after I enlisted. He came to Natchez & was put to driving a commissary wagon in the wagon train. I well knew him and saw him often. I am positive he was never an enlisted man at all. He never did a thing but drive the post team. He never came back to Union Church after the war & I never have seen or heard of him since I was discharged.

Yes, he had a wife. Her name was Susie. He married her before the war. Then when he was driving wagon at Natchez he had a woman named Mary.

The father of that other Geo Washington was named Peter Baker. The Geo Washington that lived at Buoy's before the war & that wagoned(sp) at Natchez was not the same man that was in Capt Picks Co 58th Regt as Geo Washington

George his x mark Washington

George Washington served with Company F, 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. He enlisted 08 Sept 1864 in Vicksburg, discharged 10 May 1865 in Natchez.

George's father was named Thomas Buie. After the War, he decided to use the name George Thomas. He married Rhoda Buie and had several children near Caseyville, MS. Many of George's descendants married into my Markham family.

A Body of Cavalrymen Coming up the Road

In April 1863, my people who were slaves on various plantations between Hazlehurst, Union Church, Caseyville, and Brookhaven, Mississippi, were busy hoeing, plowing, bedding corn fields when they would come face to face with Grierson's Raiders.

Colonel Benjamin Grierson's cavalry brigade consisted of the 6th and 7th Illinois, and 2nd Iowa Cavalry Regiments. Grierson Raiders were used as a diversion to distract Confederate leaders as thousands of Northern troops moved into position for a major assault on Vicksburg. Grierson and his 1,700 horse troopers rode over six hundred miles through hostile territory, over routes no Union soldier had traveled.

Grierson's Cavalry Raid: Knocking the Heart out of MS

The raiders tore up railroads and burned cross ties, freed slaves, burned Confederate storehouses, destroyed rail cars and commissary stores, ripped up bridges and trestles, and burned buildings; raided plantations for needed supplies, food and horses.

Union Troops destroy railroad tracks.
Courtesy of Library of Congress

Colonel Benjamin Henry Grierson
Courtesy of Library of Congress

They arrived in small town Hazlehurst on day eleven of their mission, April 27, 1863. After considerable damage had been accomplished and the men and horses had a hearty meal, they headed west. Caseyville and Union Church were farming villages, best known for a church, Union Church Presbyterian Church, and for the Scotch Presbyterians who settle the area. Grierson's raiders arrived in the community April 28 1863.

Union Church Presbyterian Church

Testimonies of Family Members from Union Church and Caseyville, MS

Levi Adams reside upon the plantation of Mr. Sterling Cato...and am by occupation a farmer. I resided upon the plantation of Mr. Cato all through the war, and one morning in the spring of the year during one of the years of the war I do not now recollect the year — Genl Grierson came thro here—I had been down to the horse lot and had just fed the stock and was on the point of returning when my attention was called to a body of cavalrymen who were coming up the road. They rode up to where I was and on by. Some of them in the mean time stopped and went into the horse pasture they opened the big gate as they went in, they caught the two mules that were in the lot and a blaze-faced sorrel horse changed their saddle and bridles from some worn out mules that they were riding to Mr. Cato’s and immediately rode out and joined the main body...Came in the house and took the plates off from the table and toted off what there was upon the plates and took all down to where their horses were eating and they they got through they left the plates lying upon the side of the road. Mr. Grierson took off the grey horse and the sorrel horse and the two mules...I recollect everything that happened very well—it was not often such sights were to be seen.

Milly McLean's Testimony; I am 56 years of age reside about 2 miles from Union Church town upon the Millsaps Plantation and am engaged in making a crop. During the war I lived with Mrs. McLean. I was a slave and owned at the time by Mr. McLean. I was raised in the family and lived with them during the entire continuance of the war -- In the spring time, about the time for hoeing corn the first time, I do not recollect the year, a large lot of the Yankee soldiers who were riding horses and mules came to Mrs. McLean’s place and some of them rode through our front yard and there into the side gate of the pasture where we kept our horses and mules, and took them off with them. I was on the edge of the woods - and had a plain view of the pasture where I first heard that the Yankees were coming. I went out towards the woods - I was afraid that they would harm me - and I watched them I stopped in the woods all night - some of them stopped at the place and in the house all night - and some of them down to Union Church. When they left the next day they took off the mules - they left one broken down horse he died shortly afterwards we never worked him - I was the cook - there was a good deal of meat taken I can not tell now how much

Alex Roundtree testifies: Age 38 years; Reside in Lincoln County, Miss., upon the Buie place near Caseyville. I was born and raised upon it - I was sick the morning that Grierson and his soldiers came to the place. I had been very sick but was able to be in the crib shelling corn - and when his soldiers came along I looked upon them and saw our mules. There was eight of them and our roam horse the soldiers were riding them - One of our mules came that same night - then the soldiers road by the house between 10 and 11 o’clock - they were driving a large lot of horses and mules with them. They got our stock out of the field where they were ploughing. The mules were all in good order...They took the majority of our stock and had mighty little left after they went away. I saw them take old master’s saddle. It was newly covered and take it off...All of these things were taken spring during the war while we were preparing land for corn.

Charles Roundtree testifies: Age 59; reside on the Buie place in Lincoln County, Miss. Lived on the place doing the last 45 years. Was a slave before the war; owned by the Buie family, and was a field hand...in the spring of the year while the war was going on Mr. Grierson and a large lot of Yankee soldiers came to our place and stopped in the road and a lot of the soldiers went into the field where the hands were ploughing and bedding up land for corn and told them to stop their work and get the mules out - they did so and they put their saddles upon them, that they took off from the horses and mules that they were riding. They rode them off and led off the stock that they took the saddles off from...I was not ploughing myself but I was right with those who were - I was cleaning up the ground.

Confederate cavalry units pursued Grierson vigorously across the state, all they gained was mass confusion. Grierson raiders continue their successful raid through Mississippi to Union occupied Baton Rogue, Louisiana.

Levi Adams was born about 1832 in MS. He married Amanda Gaines. She was born about 1835 in Kentucky, died Dec 30 1934 in Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS. Levi's descendants married into my maternal family.

Charles Roundtree was born about 1815 in MS. He married Caroline. She was born about 1825, and died 28 May 1924 in Vaughn, Lincoln County, MS.

Alexander Roundtree was born about 1835 in MS, died 04 Aug 1913 in Caseyville, Lincoln County, MS. He married Matilda Ensley, daughter of Joe Ensley and Lucinda? She was born about 1844 in MS, and died 09 May 1924 in Brookhaven, Lincoln County, MS.

Charles and Alexander may be father and son. Alexander named a son Charles. The Roundtree men were slaves on the plantation of the same slave owing family as my Markham family in Caseyville, Copiah County, MS.

Milly McLean was born about 1810 in Virginia. Milly's slave owner's daughter married a member of my family's slave owning family.

In remembrance of the 150 anniversary of the Civil War, year 1863, I submit this post to the West in New England's THIRD AMERICAN CIVIL WAR BLOG CHALLENGE

SOURCES:
Wikipedia
Daily Mississippian (Jackson, Miss. : 1861)
Dates: 04/28/1863 : 05/02/1863 Roll number: 20594
Library of Congress
Southern Claims Cases of Maria Catherine McLean Buie, Mary Lemons Buie and Sterling Cato

Tombstone Tuesday Dr J J McLean

Dr J J McLean
Born in Robinson Co., N C
April 25, 1828
Died in Union Church, Miss
Aug 21, 1905

Buried in Union Church Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Union Church, Jefferson County, MS

Dr McLean was the doctor for family members during and after slavery in the communities of Union Church, Jefferson County, MS, and Caseyville, then Copiah County, currently Lincoln County, MS.

Calvin and Odessa Banks Lowe

Busy this afternoon looking at pictures Cousin Nate emailed me before the holidays. It was nice to see a picture of Cousin Odessa Banks, daughter of Archie and Janie Scott Banks. I had no idea who she married so it was an extra bonus to get a name and photo of her husband. His name, Calvin Lowe, was not on my family tree but his parents were, Robert Lowe and Dezine Kelly. Robert's siblings Fannie and John married into my extended family.

I do what I call community research but I think the correct name for it is cluster research, which is researching extended family members, friends and neighbors of direct relatives. The Lowe family was from Union Church, MS, a neighboring village to the family home place, Caseyville, MS. The Lowe families connected to my tree descend from Eveline Lowe born about 1830 in Virginia.

Cousin Odessa was born about 1927 which lead me to the 1930 and 1940 censuses searching for her husband. In 1930, Calvin was a 7 year old in the household of his parents with his siblings, Euniemay, Hudie Mann, Willis, Chalmers, Jessie May, and Marie. In 1940, everyone except Euniemay is still in the household. I found a family group sheet that a cousin sent confirming the names of Calvin's parents.

Calvin and Odessa married, adopted three children: Stephen, Vera and Christopher.

The Couple's Obituaries
1923-1987

1926-2001

Calvin is the son of Robert Lowe and Dezine Kelly
grandson of Lewis Lowe and Amanda Johnson, Calvin Kelly and Harriet Reed

Odessa is the daughter of Archie Banks and Jannie Scott
granddaughter of Joseph Banks and Mary ?, James Pearly Scott and Mary Viola Markham
Odessa is my mother's half 2nd cousin.

Photograph courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas.
Obituaries from Daily Leader Newspaper, Brookhaven, MS.

Wordless Wednesday Mary Lou McDaniel Scott circa 1958

1902-1982
Daughter of Preston and Revella Ephraim McDaniel
Wife of Frank Scott
Mother of Paul, Jurlean, Annie Mae, Geneva, Willie, and Robert

Mary Lou married my mother's 1st cousin once removed.

Tombstone Tuesday - Mollie Whalam

Mollie Whalam
Born in Jefferson County, Miss
Died June 15, 1890
"She was a kind and affectionate wife, a fond mother and a friend to all."
Buried at Hickory Block Cemetery
Union Church, Jefferson County, Mississippi
Mollie Whalum was not found in the census records. The Whalum surname has a variety of spellings, which could be one reason she was not found. A candidate for Mollie is sixty year old Mary Whaland found in 1880, married to Henson who was a widower in 1900.

Photograph Courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas

Church Record Sunday 1858 Receipt for Hiring Preacher for Negroes

Prior to the Civil War, records of the area where my ancestor lived show that one method by which African Americans received their religious training was from a preacher hired by several slave owners. Reverend Smiley and most of the men who paid for Reverend Smiley's services were Presbyterians and lived in Union Church or Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi.

We the undersigned promise to pay the Rev. J H Smily the sums anexed to our names for his services viz to preach to the negroes at Zion Hill twice in each month for the balance of this year comencing with April, payable the first of January next. this April 3rd 1858

Wm Shaw $15.00 paid - (Shaw owned 53 slaves in 1860.)
D McArn $20.00 paid - (McArn owned 51 slaves in 1860.)
D H Cameron $5 paid - (Cameron owned 21 slaves in 1860.)
R D Torrey $5 paid - (Torrey owned 24 slaves in 1860.)
M McPherson $5 paid - (McPherson owned 8 slaves in 1860.)
John C McCormick $2 paid - (McCormick owned 9 slaves in 1860.)
J ? Scott $5 paid - (J L Scott owned 18, J W Scott owned 22 in 1860.)
?? paid by corn

Shaw, McArn, Cameron, Torrey, and McCormick owned members of my family.

See Copy of Receipt

My notes are between parentheses.
McArn (Duncan) and Family Papers, Collection Number: Z/1487, Box 3
Collection found at Mississippi Department of Archives and History
1860 Jefferson County, Mississippi, Slave Schedule

Wordless Wednesday - Mary Ephraim Bryant

Mary born about 1877 in Union Church, Mississippi, died after 1940
Daughter of Tuck Ephraim and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Thompson
Wife of Henry Keys Bryant
Mother of Robert John, Christine, Henry G, Brynetta, Leslie J, and Pauline

Mary's sister Ardella married my mother's 1st cousin once removed Willie Henderson.

Photograph Courtesy of Anthony Neal, Sr

Women and Hats

The women in my family loved their hats. A hat was needed for a funeral, wedding, church service, or a trip to see relatives even if the trip was just one county over.

Revella Ephraim McDaniel born about 1878 in Union Church, Mississippi.
Revella's daughter Jimmie Lee McDaniel Sanders
Unknown Woman
Estella Lee Williams Coleman born 1905 in Lincoln County, MS.

Photographs of Revella and her daughter Jimmie Lee are from the private collection of Anthony Neal.
Photograph of the unknown woman is from the private collection of Christi Young.
Photograph of Estella is from the private collection of Karen Pierce.