When I was young, I stayed with my grandmother quite often during school breaks. One summer I copied her family history notes into a green four subject notebook, never fully realizing what a valuable resource I had recreated until my mother asked to borrow it a few years ago. The pages have darken and my handwriting has matured since that summer long ago.
I enjoy scanning the pages from time to time wishing I had recorded the many stories my grandmother shared with me as I wrote. I recently read a children's book titled, "What You Know First" by Patricia Maclachlan in which a child does not want to leave the only home she has known. The mother helps the child let go by explaining that her baby brother will need someone to tell him about their old home in the future.
My grandmother knew first, and she did her part by passing the stories along. Now, it's my responsibility to keep the stories flowing to the next generation. If I don't, who will.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Stella's Roots, Part 7
One day I hope one of my entries reads, Stella's Roots, Final Chapter. When I'm ready to throw up my hands and say "We will never know anymore than we know now!", new information comes along. This week something big came along.
Several weeks ago Jim and I composed a letter requesting help from yet another new found cousin in Seattle. In the letter we outlined who we were and our goal to find out who Stella's parents were. Cousin Bruce called Thursday. We were thrilled, and he was tickled to hear from us!
Unfortunately, his health hinders his mobility and overall health. He has good days and bad days. The day he called, he was experiencing a good day. I mention his health because his family records are stored in his attic. Hopefully by the next conversation, he will have the family history boxes out of the attic. He said it had been a long time since he even thought about his family history and didn't feel comfortable quoting any dates without his notes.
Bruce did tell Jim that Stella was the last child of Marlin and Fannie Goins. Marlin was killed prior to her birth when a mule kicked him in the head, and Fannie died of influenza sometime after Stella was born. All of the children were sent to live with others. He was adamant about Marlin being Stella's father. We have hopes he has death dates to support him.
Jim and I are ready to pack our bags and head to Seattle, but I guess we'll wait. Bruce said he would call Jim within the next two weeks.
Several weeks ago Jim and I composed a letter requesting help from yet another new found cousin in Seattle. In the letter we outlined who we were and our goal to find out who Stella's parents were. Cousin Bruce called Thursday. We were thrilled, and he was tickled to hear from us!
Unfortunately, his health hinders his mobility and overall health. He has good days and bad days. The day he called, he was experiencing a good day. I mention his health because his family records are stored in his attic. Hopefully by the next conversation, he will have the family history boxes out of the attic. He said it had been a long time since he even thought about his family history and didn't feel comfortable quoting any dates without his notes.
Bruce did tell Jim that Stella was the last child of Marlin and Fannie Goins. Marlin was killed prior to her birth when a mule kicked him in the head, and Fannie died of influenza sometime after Stella was born. All of the children were sent to live with others. He was adamant about Marlin being Stella's father. We have hopes he has death dates to support him.
Jim and I are ready to pack our bags and head to Seattle, but I guess we'll wait. Bruce said he would call Jim within the next two weeks.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Leap Day Birthday
The chances of being born on Leap Day is 1 out of 1461. So, are the chances of a set of twins being born on February 29th higher? Personally, I'm not sure, but I think it's pretty darn amazing. My gg grandmother and her fraternal brother were born on February 29, 1888. A passing photographer was so taken with the idea of twins being born on leap day, he took their photo. Unfortunately, I don't possess that photo.
I remember my grandmother saying her mother only celebrated her birthday every four years.
I remember my grandmother saying her mother only celebrated her birthday every four years.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Over the Mountains They Came, One by One
I'm fairly certain all my relatives came over the mountains to settle in the hills of Tennessee. Probably they traveled different routes. One of those ancestors was William M. Evins. He was born August 11, 1787. There is some confusion as to exactly where he was born. His children at different times said he born was born in Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina. So, who knows which path he took over the mountains..
About 1810 William married Elizabeth Woolsey. Together they had thirteen children over a span of 22 years. One of their children was my ggg grandfather, William A. Evins. Other children included Martha, John, Aaron, James, Elizabeth, Samuel, Wesley, Elvira, Manerva, Susanna Matilda, Nancy and Sarah. On a Culleoka side note Samuel became a preacher, and at some point he was the pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Culleoka.. Two of Samuel's sons, Wesley and Benton, operated the Evins' Brothers Store in Culleoka beginning in 1893.
By the early 1800's William had moved into Middle Tennessee. The first official record of a land purchase was in 1818. He bought 69 acres of land in Bedford County for $241. Not much is known about William or his children. He was probably a struggling farmer raising a house full of young'ems. He and his wife were buried in Old Flat Creek Cemetery in Bedford County. Near their graves are three broken headstones bearing the names of Manerva, Martha and Wesley, their children. William A. and his wife were buried in this cemetery as well..
About 1810 William married Elizabeth Woolsey. Together they had thirteen children over a span of 22 years. One of their children was my ggg grandfather, William A. Evins. Other children included Martha, John, Aaron, James, Elizabeth, Samuel, Wesley, Elvira, Manerva, Susanna Matilda, Nancy and Sarah. On a Culleoka side note Samuel became a preacher, and at some point he was the pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Culleoka.. Two of Samuel's sons, Wesley and Benton, operated the Evins' Brothers Store in Culleoka beginning in 1893.
By the early 1800's William had moved into Middle Tennessee. The first official record of a land purchase was in 1818. He bought 69 acres of land in Bedford County for $241. Not much is known about William or his children. He was probably a struggling farmer raising a house full of young'ems. He and his wife were buried in Old Flat Creek Cemetery in Bedford County. Near their graves are three broken headstones bearing the names of Manerva, Martha and Wesley, their children. William A. and his wife were buried in this cemetery as well..
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| William M. and Elizabeth Evins |
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| William A. Evins |
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Stella's Roots, Part 6
Jim has been in contact with his new found cousin concerning his mother's biological family. Between the cousin's surgery and a car accident, their conversations have spread over several months.The cousin has not provided any new information directly related to his mother, Stella, but has shed new light on the family dynamics.
Keep in mind, we are going on the assumption Stella's mother was Fannie Goins. Prior to Stella's birth in 1920, Fannie already had four children: William C., Paul, Annie and B.W. According to the 1920 census, Fannie was a widow. Her husband, Marlin Goins, died prior to 1920. So, the question remains, 'Who was Stella's father?' Unfortunately, that question will forever be unanswered.
The cousin speculates Fannie probably died shortly after Stella was born. Her father, B.W., was sent to live with Clay and Carrie Goins around the age of seven which coincides with Stella's birth. The other children were sent to other places to live as well. Jim's mother eventually landed at the Vocational School for Girls in Tullahoma as a young child.
On a side note Carrie was Marlin Goins' sister who married their cousin, Clay Goins. Clay and Carrie had six children and all but one lived. The surviving child was mentally disabled. On the 1930 census B.W. and Carl(this may be William C. or Paul was misspelled on the 1920 census) were listed as nephews living with Clay and Carrie.
The brother referred to as Dude( not sure whether he is the William C.or Paul) reportedly drank and was in and out of jail often. Jim remembered as a young boy, his parents visiting "Dude" at the jail in Chattanooga. He and his wife had six children. After their divorce, the children were put in an orphan home.
Supposedly, Aunt Carrie documented the family births and deaths in her bible. If this bible still exists, it might answer a few of our questions!
Keep in mind, we are going on the assumption Stella's mother was Fannie Goins. Prior to Stella's birth in 1920, Fannie already had four children: William C., Paul, Annie and B.W. According to the 1920 census, Fannie was a widow. Her husband, Marlin Goins, died prior to 1920. So, the question remains, 'Who was Stella's father?' Unfortunately, that question will forever be unanswered.
The cousin speculates Fannie probably died shortly after Stella was born. Her father, B.W., was sent to live with Clay and Carrie Goins around the age of seven which coincides with Stella's birth. The other children were sent to other places to live as well. Jim's mother eventually landed at the Vocational School for Girls in Tullahoma as a young child.
On a side note Carrie was Marlin Goins' sister who married their cousin, Clay Goins. Clay and Carrie had six children and all but one lived. The surviving child was mentally disabled. On the 1930 census B.W. and Carl(this may be William C. or Paul was misspelled on the 1920 census) were listed as nephews living with Clay and Carrie.
The brother referred to as Dude( not sure whether he is the William C.or Paul) reportedly drank and was in and out of jail often. Jim remembered as a young boy, his parents visiting "Dude" at the jail in Chattanooga. He and his wife had six children. After their divorce, the children were put in an orphan home.
Supposedly, Aunt Carrie documented the family births and deaths in her bible. If this bible still exists, it might answer a few of our questions!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Gullicks
To keep all the names in the family tree straight can be overwhelming. For an outsider to follow this blog and make the family connections, is virtually impossible. To simplify the matter or to make the water muddier, today's post is about my grandmother's father's mother's side of the family. Got it? How about my grandmother's grandmother, Minerva Gullick Evins.
In previous blogs, I have mentioned Minerva. She was the daughter of Jonathan A. and Frances Gullick. Jonathan's father, William Gullick, was one of the first settlers on the Buffalo River in Wayne County. In my notes she had two brothers, Jonathan W. and James A.Gullick. Jonathan was born on June 15, 1840 and died on November 15 of that same year. James was born in 1842, and no death date was listed. I assumed he died young as well because he did not appear on the 1850 census. Minerva and a sister, Matilda, were the only children listed with their parents on that census. I have found notations that Matilda died in 1860. Of the Gullick children, Minerva lived the longest, but she died at the age of thirty from complications related to childbirth in 1877. Sadly, the parents outlived all their children.
Two years ago we traveled to Wayne County in search of the Dabbs Cemetery, the burial place of the Gullicks. When compared to the other headstones in the cemetery, the Gullick headstone was quite unique and impressive. One large headstone faces four stone slabs. The headstone reads "Evins Gullick." Each slab represents one of the following family members: Jonathan Gullick, Fannie Gullick, Minerva Gullick Evins, and Thomas Evins.
I'm uncertain of the location of the cemetery with the location of their family home, but I plan to do a little investigative work. One would assume they did not live far from the cemetery. Maybe when the weather cools, we will set the GPS for the back roads of Wayne County.
In previous blogs, I have mentioned Minerva. She was the daughter of Jonathan A. and Frances Gullick. Jonathan's father, William Gullick, was one of the first settlers on the Buffalo River in Wayne County. In my notes she had two brothers, Jonathan W. and James A.Gullick. Jonathan was born on June 15, 1840 and died on November 15 of that same year. James was born in 1842, and no death date was listed. I assumed he died young as well because he did not appear on the 1850 census. Minerva and a sister, Matilda, were the only children listed with their parents on that census. I have found notations that Matilda died in 1860. Of the Gullick children, Minerva lived the longest, but she died at the age of thirty from complications related to childbirth in 1877. Sadly, the parents outlived all their children.
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