ADVICE TO A YOUNG LADY

While searching on my ancestry tree just the other day, I ran across this poem written my my g g uncle, John Bramblett Beall. He was forever writing poems and short stories and he was the editor of a small newspaper after the Civil War. A certain young lady came to visit the family in advance of her marriage to William Beall. After her leaving, it came to the attention of the family that she had left several article of clothing behind. In forwarding the items to her, Mr. Beall attached the poem above. I tried to transpose in larger type, as close to the writing as I could make out but if anything is incorrect, please let me know after your reading. Pleas notice the date on this letter. Well over 140 years ago.

                                           "ADVICE TO A YOUNG LADY"
More than sixty years ago, one of the young ladies of our city paid a visit to relatives in Franklin, Ga. Upon returning home, she left at the home of the late Col. John B. Beall, her shaw, a little sacque, and a peleasse. In sending the packages containing these articles to her, Col. Beall added a letter. This was recently found and the philosophy of it, as well as its quaints as, is such as to make it of lateral to others. The recipient of the letter has kept it since before her marriage sixty-two years ago, and now presents it for publication. It is as follows:

                                                                                  Franklin, Ga, Aug. 22, 1872.
Dear Rhoda:
Enclosed find a sack to cover your stays, A shawl for your back, and a fine peleasse.
I'm so stupid today, that is looking around, For somewhat to say, only this I have found,
And your pardon I ask: Will you give it to me? For the self-given task, and the bold simile!
Last year will be a stay, that shall fasten and bind Any impulse of temper disposing your mind
To words, bitter words, to conseration sad strife Which mar all the beauty, the glory of life.

A loved one constrained by the ties of the world The ceaseless turmoil and versital whirl.
Some unkind expression may chance to let fall Some seeming reproof, that stir up your gall
And the impulse will start--let the stay bind it down Not a word of retore! not even a frown.
But to bring him to sorrow in sackcloth and ashes Let a crystal-like tear deck your dark silken lashes
Let the sack be the smile that shall ever impart A veil for the wound that may probe to the heart

And the effort of will that it hides shall control The bitter resentment that springs in the soul
Until anger, forgetting expressions shall prove That the magic of smiles may convert it to Love.
And the grateful flow of the la polonalse Let it figure the graves, the charm I will say
Of the milad, of the heart, the charm that shall ever via The eye of affection and keep from sin.

A mantle of charity to hide in the breast The faults that are seen in the wall of the best
A cloak of discroties, to hide from mankind, From the sharp ear of Rumor, the blade like the wind
Of the desert, those things that are marred to home And the breast of affection, wherever we roam.
And the shawl, it is love that warms the whole life and skate out the world, with contention and strife;

Shouts out the cold winds of fear and distrust, Of suspicion whose breath will cover like a rust;
Keeps the oval warm with a spirit-like fire While it builds open hope, rising higher and higher,
Till faith gives it wings, and upward it flies, Cuts loose from its armor and rests in the skies.
Dear cousin, farewell, when my head is laid low And my time shall have come to depart
May you feel that the humor larglous my pea It is warmed by a loving heart.

Your affectionate,
John Bramblett Beall

To Miss Rhoda Frances Merrell, later Mrs. William Beall

THE FIVE MINUTE RULE WITH GOD

     I received this GOD CHART in an e-mail the other day and since it only had the chapter and verse from the Bible, I decided to add the verses to it so I wouldn't have to look them up when I was reading. Some of the reference verses made sence to me and some of them didn't, but it still is a great read and it lets people know how much God loves them and takes care of them. He watches over us daily and sometimes we take him for granted. He blesses us so much that we should thank him everyday. Just look around and see all the things that he had given us. No one could ever thank him enough in our life time for all he has done. People write songs about him and glorify him but it still isn't enough. Please take time today for just 5 minuets to thank God for your life. Just 5 minutes isn't a very long time and yet if you make it a habit to spend 5 minutes with God everyday, you will see a difference. All he asked of us is 10 % and that includes your time. In 24 hours, we should give him 2 hours and 40 minutes a day, so we all fall short. Most people just visit church on Sunday and a few on Wednesday night so just try 5 minutes a day for a change. When you first wake up in the morning, take a minute to thank God for waking up today. At each meal, thank him and a minute at bedtime to thank him for the day. You will see that you really have time for God and all his blessings will begin to pour in and fill you with his love. He took time to make you and mold you in his image and I don't think 5 minutes is much time to give back. Then you will find that you have a little more time each day for GOD.

YOU SAY---GOD SAYS
You say: "It's impossible", God says: 'All things are possible'.
Luke 18:27- and He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with GOD.
You say "I'm too tired", God says: 'I will give you rest'.
Matthew 11:28-30- Come unto to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in eart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
You say "Nobody really loves me", God says 'I love you'.
John 3:16, John 3:34- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
You say: "I can't go on", God says 'My grace is sufficient'.
II Corinthians 12:7,9 & Psalm 91:15- But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
You say: "I can't figure things out". God says 'I will direct your steps'.
Proverbs 3:5,6-Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
You say: "I can't do it", God says 'You can do all things'.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
You say: "I'm not able" God says 'I am able'.
II Corinthians 9:8- And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
You say "It's not worth it", God says 'It will be worth it'.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
You say: "I can't forgive mself" God says 'I forgive you'.
I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1-If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
You say: "I can't manage", God says 'I will supply all your needs'.
Philippians 4:19- But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
You say: "I'm afraid", God says 'I have not given you a spirit of fear'.
II Timothy 1:7-Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says 'Cast all your cares on ME'.
I Peter 5:7-Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
You say: "I'm not smart enough", God says 'I give you wisdom'.
I Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
You say: "I fell all alone" God says 'I will never leave you or forsake you'.
Hebrews 13:5-Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.

God determines who walks into your life.....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.
Father, God, bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need this day. And may their lives be full of your peace, prosperity and power as they seek to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

Please take five minutes today for GOD and he will pour out a blessing that you can't contain.

MEMORIAL FOR CONNIE CULBERSON

     A precious friend crossed over the river, that she sang about so often, this passed weekend. Connie Culberson. A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and Christian person to just be around. Her husband sang a song titled "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" and that was Connie. Her sweet spirit could be felt just being around her. And her singing could lift you up to heaven. "I've never been this homesick before" or "The Anchor Holds" would send chills throught you and you knew that the Lord was in the house and was in her singing. She will be missed by her family and friends. The following are a couple of comments from her facebook page where everyone left messages for the family.

  "My sweet friend Connie Culberson
You fought a good fight with this battle of Cancer, but God saw fit to call you home today, I am so thankful he brought us together as close sisters in Christ. When you woke up and told Fay and Me that you would tell Mama hey for us I knew it would only be a matter of minutes before you went home to be with OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, Now you have your perfect healing, with a beautiful smile you went home, I will see you again one day, but until that day I will miss your smile,and will always remember the love you had for me, this is not a good bye my sweet friend it is I will see you later."
"My love and prayers go out to all. What an awesome lady my Connie has been. She sang like an angel, soared like an eagle through storms of life and marched as a mighty warrior! She was one of my blessings. So thankful God sent her and her family my way. Rest in peace, sweet Connie! And may ministering angels be with all of us who were left behind."

OBITUARY

Mrs. Connie Faye Smith Culberson, age 62 of Shannon, passed away Saturday morning at her home surrounded by her loving family.  She was born Dec. 3, 1949.

Connie was a lifelong resident of Floyd County and a 1967 graduate of Coosa High School. In 1981 she became a graduate from the Walker Technical Institute where she obtained her Associates Degree in Accounting. She was employed by Riverside Chevrolet in the accounting department. Connie was of the Baptist faith and served on the WMU at Eastview Baptist Church, Unity Baptist Church, and Bible Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her father, Tip Minton Smith and a niece, Donna Maxwell of Forney, AL.
Survivors include her husband Jerry Thomas Culberson; her mother, Anna Kate Smith Justice; six sons, Kiley Smith, Jason Culberson, Jason Morris, Jeremy Culberson, Bryant Culberson, and Randy Randolph; two daughters, Jennifer Culberson and Katie Culberson; two sisters, Barbara Maxwell of Forney, AL. , and Christine Simpson of Gaylesville, AL. ; fourteen grandchildren and ten nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday August 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM from the Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church with Jackie Culberson, Milford Williams, and David Blasengame officiating. Interment will follow in the Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery in Rome.
The family will receive friends Monday August 20, 2012 at Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church in Shannon from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.

Lady Isabella Matilda of Mar, Countess of Carrick

When I started this journey many years ago, I never knew where it would take me. I met many cousins in the different areas of the United States and sent them numerous e-mails to stay in touch. But the most amazing fact that I found was a King. I had studed this person in History and had seen Braveheart many times but I thought that my line was no where near related to Royalty. One cousin who contacted me sent me knowledge that a distant cousin had traced our line through the Magruders back to Robert the Bruce. Well I did some googleing and started with Verlinda Magruder. She was the great grandmother of Martha Peyton Beall and Gen. Frederick Beall who are my third great grandparents. Verlinda was the daughter of Samuel Magruder and Sarah Beall. So this family of Bealls and Magruders married in the families for many generations.

     Verlinda's great grandmother was Lady Margaret Campbell of Perthshire, Scotland. Margaret's great grandmother was Lady Isabel Elizabeth Stewart, Countess of Argyll. The Stewart line traces back to Sir Walter Stewart III of Scotland and Princess Margaret Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce. There are a lot more interesting facts between these generations. But one thing that I read about was Lady Isabella Matilda of Mar, Countess of Carrick. She was born in the year 1277 and died in 1296. Her Scottish Gaelic spelling is Iseabail. She was the first wife of Robert the Bruce and the grandmother of Robert II of Scotland, founder of the royal House of Stuart. She died before Robert was crowned King of Scots and never became queen. Robert mourned her death for over 5 years.

     She was the daughter of Domhnall I, Earl of Mar and Helen (or Ellen) of Wales (1246-1295), the illegitimate daughter of Llymelyn ab Lorwerth ("the Great")Prince of Wales; she had previously been the wife of Maol Cholouim II Earl of Fife. She was a wealthy woman in her own right. Her lands were most of the northeastern section of Inverness. Isabella spoke Gaelic and High English. She was an educated lady of medieval time. Her father was one of the seven guardians of Scotland who believed Robert Bruce to be the rightful King of Scotland. Despite the considerable risks, the Earl of Mar could foresee the advantage of the two families joining in marriage and bearing an heir to the throne, and the marriage of Isabella and Robert was arranged. Mar was the first to sign over the estates of his family to the Bruce.

     Isabella was married to Robert at the age of 18 and legend has it that they were much in love. Shortly after their marriage Isabella became pregnant. She had a healthy pregnancy but she died soon after giving birth to a daughter, Marjorie Bruce in 1296. Isabella is buried at Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire.

     Robert married his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh six years later. Isabella's daughter, Princess Marjorie (died 1316) married Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and their son became Robert II of Scotland. From him descend the monarchs of the House of Stewart and the later royal families of the United Kingdom.

     Any reference to Isabella being taken prisoner by the English in 1306 I think is false. Robert's marriage to Elizabeth took place in 1302 so she is probably the one taken prisoner. Robert was born in 1274 and died in 1329.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_of_Mar

THE WOODEN BOWL

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, A year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and
four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. Buy the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult.. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.

When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the
boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. '

The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, Neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note,

I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: A rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a
'life.'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I
usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a
friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

     This was an e-mail that I received today and I so enjoyed it that I wanted to add it to my blog. I am getting to a point in my life where I have to have a few things done for me that I can't do any more. Can't bend over and pick up things out of the floor. Hold on to the doors and walls when I walk through the house. My hearing is going and I have had eye surgery on my right eye and in the near future, will have it done on the left eye. In the mean time I take care about what I do and don't go outside without my cane. I have fallen to many times to go without it.
      The golden rule that I learned a long time ago"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This was on a banner in my school room just about everyday of my life. The bible say to honor thy father and thy mother that their days may be long on the land. Many people in this day and age forget who took care of them when they were growing up. Even animals take care of their young until they are able to fend for themselves.
     Don't forget the elderly. An old saying but it is so true. "There but for the grace of GOD go I." My former husband has always been an independent person and took care of himself. In the last couple of months, he health has deteriorated and he can't even walk. No one knows what the future holds for us. We may be in the same shoes as the man with the wooden bowl. My dad and step-mom were well taken care until the day they died. No one grumbled or complained about the spills they made or changing the bed linens. You say well that is embarrassing, but GOD provided the means for us to be able to fetch and carry for them until the end. There are no regrets. We miss them and would love to talk to them again but I know they are together again and watching over us and waiting for us to arrive and introduce us to the rest of the family that has gone on before us.

NOAH'S FLOOD

I woke up this morning to rain. Thank you Lord.

I wonder what it was like when the Lord told Noah that it was going to rain. It had never rained before. Just a mist watered everything on earth. I couldn't even calculate how many days before this rain. Everyone laughed at him about making a boat big enough to hold all the animals. I am sure before this time they had used small boats for fishing. But these were timy compared to the ark. And trying to catch all the animals couldn't have been easy. The Lord had a hand in this endeavor. I don't think Noah would have known where to find most of them. How would you go about it? From the jungles of Africa to the seas of the Atlantic and Pacific. You say, "why the ocean?" Some of these animals had to have land at some point in time. Polar bears and penquins need the land as well as the sea. When GOD spoke to the the animals, they all went to the ark They knew that they would be taken care of by the Lord.
But the point is that Noah did as GOD commanded him reguardless of what the people thought about him. How many time do we do as GOD commands, or do we even listen to Him. Do we pretend that we didn't hear or ignor all the signs as imagination. Sometimes it pay to heed the words of the Lord. It could save our lives.

Exerpt from "The Woman at the Well"

 I have just finished reading "The Woman at the Well" by Dale Evans. I read quite often and her book "Angel Unaware" was probably my favorite as it was about her daughter, Robin, who died. Most all her children were adopted yet Roy and Dale showed no difference in them. Even though they were from a famous family, they were raised in a Christian home.

The following is an excerpt from "The Woman at the Well"

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I was at my typewriter wondering what to do next, when all of a sudden my fingers started running over the keys. Please bear with me and my mistakes, because it has been so long. I am also getting senile! My grandchildren seem to think so, though I don't believe it for an instant. Rather with the end so near, I see things in a different perspective, I still see a future, and not a materialistic one-but a future that I will not have to struggle through, as I have in the past. I am quick to point out peoples' faults, but this is only because they take life as if it were going to last forever. There are times when my memory fails me, but I can still remember so much more! My eyesight is nearly gone, but I see more things now than I've ever seen before, and though I can't hear well I have heard what I should have heard-and when I could have done something about it. My fingers are not as nimble now, and only through other hands can my thoughts be conveyed. Yes, I am what you call old and aged, but soon I will once again be romping around. I may look like a dried-up old prune, and these wrinkles may tell a story, but I am so beautiful. It is too bad you do not understand, you feel sorry for me when I hobble across the street, or when your young men bump into me and spill my packages, You have even laughed at me in my good dress with that crooked little hat, but I feel no sorrow. If only you could have what I have! This young girl beside me knows nothing of what she will be or even what she wants to be when age permits her. Oh yes, she may outrun me, but unless she awakens, as so many others ought to, she will never outlive me, nor out go me. I have more energy to see the truth and have it revealed to me forever, but my body is decaying, as it must. All I have said is nothing, and yet it is everything. Look at me. You see an old woman. Look again, you see a young heart. A young soul! I have known sorrow, but comfort has always followed. NO, I really have not much to say; how I do ramble on about nothing! I am growing weaker with each word that pours from my mouth, and soon I will be gone. But I will keep watch and know that I must not interfere. I will be rooting for the blind to see!

WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME

I found this poem in a newspaper a few months ago and thought I would write it on my blog for everyone to see. It pertains to alot of people that we have lost and I can relate to it. I don't know the author so if anyone knows, please let me know.

"WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME"

When that tomorrow started without me-and I wasn't there to see-
and when the sun rose and found your eyes all filled with tears for me.
I wished so much you wouldn't have cried, the way ya'll did that day,
while thinking of the many things-we didn't get a chance to say.

I knew how much ya'll loved me just as much as I loved you,
and each time that you thought of me, I knew you would miss me too.
But when those tomorrows start without me-please try to understand
that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,
and told me my place was ready, in Heaven far above
and that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly loved.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,
for all my life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, so much left yet to do-
It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving all of you.

I thought of all the yesterdays-the good ones and the bad.
I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday just even for a while
I'd say good bye and kiss you all 'cause I wanted to see you smile.

But then I fully realized, that this could never be
for all our love and memories would have to take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things that I would miss tomorrow,
I thought of you and when I did, my heart just filled with sorrow.

But when I walked thru Heaven's gate, I felt so much at home,
then GOD looked down and smiled at me-from His beautiful golden throne.
He said, "This is eternity, and all I have promised you-
today your life on earth is past, and here life starts anew.

I promise you no tomorrows because a day here will always last
and since each day's the same, there's no longing for the past.
You have been so faithful, so trusting and so true
though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven and now at last you're free.
So wont you come and take my hand and share my life with me."
So when those tomorrows start without me-don't think we're so far apart-
all of you remember when you think of me, I'm right there in your heart

Southern and proud of it.

Received an e-mail just the other day asking me if I was a genuine Georgia Peach. Well I recon I am one as I was born and raised in Georgia in a little town of Rome. We rolled up the streets at 6:00 pm and visited our neighbors, made home made ice cream, and watched TV until 11:00 pm and went to bed. I received this message just today and it best describes us Southerners.

Southerners know their summer weather report:

Humidity

Humidity

_____

Southerners know their vacation spots:

The beach

The rivuh

The crick

_____

Southerners know everybody's first name:

Honey

Darlin'

Shugah

_____

Southerners know the movies that speak to their hearts:

Fried Green Tomatoes

Driving Miss Daisy

Steel Magnolias

Gone With The Wind

_____

Southerners know their religions:

Bapdiss

Methdiss

Football

_____

Southerners know their cities dripping with Southern charm:

Chawl'stn

S'vanah

Foat Wuth

N'awlins

Addlanna

_____

Southerners know their elegant gentlemen:

Men in uniform

Men in tuxedos

Rhett Butler

_____

Southern girls know their prime real estate:

The Mall

The Country Club

The Beauty Salon

_____

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:

Having bad hair and nails

Having bad manners

Cooking bad food

_____

Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them,

you "PITCH" them.

_____

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."

_____

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."

_____

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in: "Going to town, be back directly." (

Correction: directly wasn't in our vocabulary. The correct word is "dreckly!")

_____

Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.

_____

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well

_____

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'!

_____

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that"just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.

_____

Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.

_____

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.

_____

A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.

_____

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... and when we're "in line,"... we talk to everybody!

_____

Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.

_____

In the South, "y'all" is singular, "all y'all" is plural.

_____

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

_____

Every Southerner knows that tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; that scrambled eggs just ain’t right without Tabasco, and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.

_____

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!

_____

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.

_____

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say,"Bless her sweet little heart"... and go your own way.

_____

To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southernness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your little heart!

_____

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff....bless your hearts, I hear they’re fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!

_____

Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fah-evah !

There ain't no magazine named "Northern Living" for good reason. There ain't nobody interested in livin' up north, nobody would buy the magazine!

Now Shugah If you're a Northern transplant, bless your little heart, fake it. We know you got here as fast as you could.

 

Humidity

CELEBRATING MOTHER'S DAY

     In 1870, Juliet Ward Howe, author of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic", was the first in America to want to honor the mother's that had lost sons in the civil war. She was so tired of all the carnage and called on mother's to come to her aid. She wanted an international Mother's day celebrating peace and motherhood. It never came to fruitation but the seed had been planted. A West Virginia women's group led by Anna Reeves Jarvis began to celebrate an adaptation of Howe's holiday. It was to observe and re-unite families and neighbors that had been divided between the Union and Confederate sides of the war. After Mrs. Reeves death, her daughter campaigned for the creation of an official Mother's Day in remembrance of her mother and in honor of peace. But it wasn't until 1914 that Woodrow Wilson signed it into observance. The second Sunday in May was decided on for the day to honor all mothers and has remained to this day.


                                                   "A MOTHER'S LOVE"
~based on I Corinthians 13~
A Mother's love is patient, through all her daily work and care.
A Mother's love is kind to all whether great or small in God's Kingdom.
A Mother's love is not jealous, but rejoices in all good things.
A Mother's love is not arrogant or rude, but is humble, mild and modest.
A Mother's love doesn't focus on self, but gives herself to others.
A Mother's love is not irritable, even when frustrations overwhelm.
A Mother's love does not keep track of wrongs; she thinks of doing good.
A Mother's love is happy with the truth, and seeks to share truth with her children.
Never stops being, patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.
A Mother's love never comes to an end.

     Mother's Day has just passed and I was fortunate enough for all my children to attend my home for a impromptu supper. Although I did most of the cooking, and my husband stated that it should be cooked for me, I think Mother's Day should be for what you want to do. So while I am still able, I will cook. There may come a day when I am not able and the children have to cook for me. Besides, if I do the cooking, it will suit my taste buds and I can do without all the sugar. I still surprise them with what has sugar and what does not.
I was lucky enough to have 3 mothers in my life time. My biological mother, I had for 15 years and then she was killed in an automobile accident. But while her time here on earth, I was loved just like a little girl and treated as such. All the frilly dresses and fancy shoes, taking dancing lessons and piano lessons, taught to cook fancy and sew a straight seam, even crocheting, came from my mom. My mom was a very talented woman. She could make any sort of dress just by looking at a picture. She was a great hairdresser. She drew pictures, with colored pencils or charcoal. She played the piano. She was a great chef and cake decorator. And flowers, she could make beautiful arrangements as well grow the flowers that she put in the vase. I was never that lucky. I really thought my mom could do anything. Except die. That was the shock of my life, learning to live without her. But I did and survived with the help of 2 other women. Ruby Franks Dean and Evelyn Johnson Dudley Beall
      I married in 1962 and met Granny Ruby. She sort of adopted me since my mom was dead. I had been so spoiled that I didn't really know how to do alot of things in the kitchen. Especially make biscuits. She could make the best biscuits that I ever tasted. It is no wonder that I gained so much weight. This was a home where biscuits were cooked every morning and sometimes for dinner. No cold cereal here. I guess that is why Marvin does not eat cold cereal now. Mostly it was gravy and biscuits, with 2 kinds of meat. Eggs, grits or oatmeal, and sometimes creamed corn with sliced tomatoes. I had never eaten those 2 foods for breakfast. I thought they were crazy. Well I set about to learn how to make these biscuits. I thought the task would be easy since it looked so simple. Little did I know. The first ones, I was told that they had to much powder on the faces. Really hurt my feelings, but they tasted good. After about 2 years, I had accomplished the task. Then she set to teaching me how to make quilts. On a treadle sewing machine, no less. I couldn't sew a very good, tight seam by hand. There was alot more to it than I thought. I knew how to sew, and that helped a little. It takes some time to cut enough pieces to make a quilt top. The first one, I was lucky in that Ruby had a top ready. Since it was cold weather and we needed it in a hurry, she decided to hand turf the quilt. A turfing needle is not like a regular needle. It is about 3 inches long and has a larger eye to put in larger thread. This was cotton thread that she got at a chenille bedspread factory. So to start, you have to have a lining and filler, then the top. For this particular quilt, she didn't use batting but an old threadbare blanket. She said it would work better in a hand turfed quilt. It wouldn't bunch up after washing. The process is this: with a long thread, you sew a seam through all layers. Each stitch is about 3 to 4 inches apart. After the whole thing is done, you go back and clip between each stitch and tie the ends in a knot. This makes knots all over the top. You then hem around the edges and you have a very warm quilt. After I finished, I was thrilled that I had made this project. So I decided to make a smaller one for my baby, Jimmy. I later learned to make a quilt by the process of a quilting frame. But it never thrilled me as much as the first one because the top was made by Ruby's mother, Katie Eller.
     Over the years, Granny Ruby was there for me in so many ways. She never forgot my birthday and would bring me some little something even if it was a candy bar to let me know she remembered. She watched my children while I worked at night. I never had to have a babysitter. When ever we would have a dinner, Rhonda had to make the slaw. I still make it today, the same way that she liked it. She died in 2006 and I miss her.
     Miss Evelyn, I met at the Krystal before she ever married my dad. When I stayed with her, we would get up at 4:30 in the morning to be at work by 6 am. She called me her personal beautician. If ever a little grey started showing, we would put on the auburn. French twist hairstyles were popular at that time so this is how it would be fixed. Everyone bragged on her hairstyle. I can recall her saying," I have a personal beautician." I also remember one Christmas when I sat up just about all night so that the Barbie Dream house would be ready for Deborah when she woke up the next morning. Evelyn had given out of energy by the time we got to that project. After she married my dad, she did not show the least bit of difference between the children. They were all hers and she would fight for you in more ways that one. I remember once when I lived in Rome, Jeff was playing in the backyard and the neighborhood children started throwing things at each other. One boy threw a piece of glass and hit Jeff right between the eyes. He needed stitches so I called Evelyn. She came right over and took him to the emergency room. When she came back, she proceeded to go and talk to the child and his mother. Well an argument erupted from this and I thought it would become a fight. Evelyn told her right quick that they better not mess with her grand babies again or she would call the police to take care of the matter. She was intolerant of injustice in any form. We lost her in March of 2011 and I miss her so much. I still remember the trip she made to my house once to bring my children some clothes. I wasn't at home, and the door was locked. I had gone to the store for some reason but I was cooking pinto beans for supper. Evelyn said the smell was so good, that she almost tried to climb through a window. She said the only thing that stopped her was a police car rode by. I would sometimes cook her beans when I visited her. And she would make egg salad when she knew that I was coming to her house. David went hiking one summer with his son so I went to Evelyn's house to stay all night. She thought that she still had to wait on me and I could walk better that her. She loved her family more than anything except my dad. I will see you again in the hereafter. You filled a void in my life when I really needed a mom.

MY STORY OF JOHN YATES BEALL

   I  have started this story many time with no results. Just can't get all my facts together. I have been fascinated with this subject since I found it on the internet about 1998. "The Hanging of John Yates Beall." First of all, let us find out about the name Beall. It is based on the ancient Celtic god "Bel" who was by some accounts similar in nature and function to the Greek god "Apollo." The best known patriarch, Ninian Beall, came to this country as a slave more or less. He was an indentured servant and as he worked, he accumulated land in the Maryland area. He originally spelled his name "Bell" but he was commanded to change it to the older spelling, Beall, when he was sent to the New World in 1653. This was to politically disassociate the members of the clan who supported the Stuarts from the parts of the clan that remained loyal to the Crown.
Variations on the spelling include Bell, Beal, Belle, Bel, and of course Beall-but these are all related families. In fact there can be various spellings of the name in the same family. Much research has been done to prove that all the Bealls and different spellings are one and the same.
      My tale begins with John Yates Beall, a distant relative of mine. He was born at Walnut Grove, Jefferson County, Virginia on January 1, 1834. His parents were George Brooke Beall and Janet Yates. He was studying for the law at the time of his father's death in 1855. So he came home and farmed for the family until the outbreak of the Civil war when he volunteered for the "Botts Greys" and mustered into Company G, 2nd Virginia infantry. After being incapacitated by a wound, he went west and then moved into Canada. While in the latter country, he contrived a plan to liberate the Confederate prisoners at Johnson's Island prison. With this plan in mind, he returned South and solicited the approval of the Confederate authorities. He was commissioned as acting master in the Confederate navy, but was not assigned to command. On his own initiative, he began a series of exciting privateering enterprises along the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, but he was captured in November, 1863, and confined in irons at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland. until he was exchanged on May 5, 1864. Unable to secure the approval of the government, he went to Canada without orders to carry out his favorite plan of liberating the prisoners on Johnson's Island. On Sept. 18, 1864, with a small band of picked men, he captured the "Philo Parsons" and "The Island Queen" and would probably have reached Johnson's Island, but for a mutiny in his crew and the miscarriage of other plans. He was forced to abandon his project and was captured in citizens clothing at Niagara, NY on Dec. 16, 1864. He was hurried to New York. General John Adams Dix ordered a military commission for Beall's trial, which began on January 17, 1865. He was represented by James T. Brady. The arrest of Beall had not been published in the newspapers and Confederate authorities were unaware of his status. On February 8, the commission found him guilty on all charges and sentenced him to death.
      The story of Beall's arrest and trial then appeared in the newspapers, and efforts were made to save him. Appeals were made by many prominent people, including six Senators and ninety one members of Congress, but President Lincoln refused to intervene and Beall was executed on February 24, 1865.
      There is a legend discussed by Lloyd Lewis that Lincoln was approached by John Wilkes Booth who was a friend of Beall's to save his life, and that the President agreed to do so. But Lincoln changed his mind (the legend goes) when he was approached by his friend and Secretary of State, William Henry Seward, who insisted that Beall's activities had been dangerous to the citizen's of New York State (Seward's state). Supposedly a furious Booth determined to kill Lincoln and Seward for this betrayal after Beall was executed.

PELLAGRA

     While I have been working on my family tree, I came across something that puzzled me. A disease called Pellagra. My grandmother on the Beall side died from this in 1924. As I ran across this on some other death certificates, I decided to find out what were the causes.             Definition:
  "Pellagra is a vitamin deficiency disease most commonly caused by a chronic lack of niacin (vitamin B3) in the diet."   I found this disease mostly occurred in women from about 1910 thru 1930. In the early 1900's, pellagra reached epidemic proportions in the American South. There were 1,306 reported pellagra deaths in South Carolina during the first ten months of 1915. At first, the scientific community held that pellagra was probably caused by a germ or some unknown toxin in corn. Primary research was set up to study this disease in prisoners and they determined a certain diet could cause the condition. By 1926, Dr. Goldberger established that a balanced diet or a small amount of brewer's yeast prevented pellagra. It was also determined that women died more often than men due to the fact that men were the breadwinners of the family and were given preference and consideration at the dinner table. They also had pocket money to buy food outside the household. Women often gave protein foods to their children first. The women would eat what was left, and I had a first hand view of this when I first married as my mother-in-law would always cook for her husband and son the choice foods. Even at breakfast, eggs were given to the men first and if any were left, then the children were feed. Women would eat gravy and biscuits with maybe a piece of fatback. And at other meals, meat parts and choice vegetables were given to the men first, and then the children. Often many families lived in one house and ate together, so the men and older boys ate and the children were feed in the kitchen. The women were always left behind.
     Pellagra no longer stalks the nation as it once did. But during the early part of the 20th-century, pellagra, a disease that results from niacin deficiency killed many poor Southerners. Dr Joseph Goldberger discovered the cause of pellagra and stepped on a number of medical toes when his research experiments showed that diet and not germs caused the disease. He also stepped on Southern pride when he linked the poverty of Southern sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and mill workers to the deficient diet that caused pellagra.
     I wish this research had taken place sooner that that era. Then I could have known my grandmother. My dad had to grow up without his mother. How many other children in the South were in this same situation. My dad always told me that his mom died from pellagra, an iodine deficiency, but this was not the case. Since he was from a family of 7 children, then this mother was often last at the table and would probably eat any leftovers. This is hard to fathom in this day and age but we don't know what took place in that era. It was hard for farmers to make a living unless they had children to work the acres. And after this, the depression of the 30's. We are fortunate to have food today, with access to a store to buy the things we need. We don't have to grow anything except for pleasure. Plus, we have plenty of vitamins and minerals that sold over the counter. Thank goodness for the doctors who took the time to discover and find cures for these diseases.

MARY "MOLLIE" O'CONNER FOX

     This is a story about my 5th great grandmother, Mary "Mollie" O'Conner.
     She live in a coastal town in Ireland with her parents. A large ship was anchored on the coast and the men on the ship put up a big swing and invited the girls to come aboard to swing. The next thing the girls knew, the ship with them on board was way out on the ocean. They were to far to swim back to shore. All these boys and girls were to be sold as indentured servants in America.
     While they were on the ship, Mollie got awfully sick and they thought at one time that she was dead. She was tied on a plank and they were fixing to throw her overboard but there was a man on the ship who had known her father in Ireland and he would not let them because he did not think she was dead. She really did revive in time to keep from being buried alive at sea.
     This man who saved her life got her a job at a hotel as a chamber maid after they landed in America. The port where they landed was possibly Charleston where Charles Fox's father, Henry Fox III had a law office.. Mollie wrote back to her mother and told her where she was and asked for a passport so she could return home. Her mother was afraid that she might really die if she tried to cross the ocean again so she wrote Mollie that she had rather know that she was alive and be where she could write to her than to risk crossing the ocean again. Mollie is said to have come from a very good family and she was educated. They have proof of this as she could sign her name instead of making an "X" on legal documents in 1785. South Carolina census records suggest that Mollie was most likely born in 1740 to 1750 time period.
     One night John Charles Fox spent the night at the hotel where Mollie O'Conner worked. He left his pocketbook at the hotel and Mollie found it the next morning and gave it to him when he came back. Their courtship began then and there. They were married and had three daughters named Nellie, Betsy and Katy and a son named Matthew was born in about 1766 in Abbeville, South Carolina. Their father fought in the Indian War and was captured by the Indians. The family learned afterwards that he was brought to Alabama and tortured to death. They supposed that it was at the Flat Rock in Clay County, Alabama.
     Their daughter, Betsy, never married and after her parents death, she went to live with a nephew. One day she was left at this home with a little boy while they went to town. While they were gone the boy went to a neighbor's house crying and saying his Aunt Betsy was asleep and would not wake up. When they got there, they found that she had dropped dead.
     In the days of Mollie and Charles Fox, the white people were divided into Whigs and Tories. The Whigs were the better class. The Tories were friendly with the Indians and they went about raiding the cribs and smokehouses of the Whigs. One day they went to the Fox home while Charles was about a mile away from home. They ordered Grandma Fox to fry all the ham and then they started throwing out the corn to the horses. Betsy and Katy would throw it right back into the crib and fought the men until the Indian Chief made the men leave the corn alone, saying the little girls were very brave, and that they needed their corn for bread. One of the Indians picked up little Agnes Ables, who was the daughter of Nellie Fox Ables and marked around her hair with his knife as if to scalp her. Betsy ran for her father and he followed them and killed fourteen Indians. Later, as was told before, the Indians caught him and tortured him to death. The torture was done with pine splinters under his fingernails and setting them on fire.

This original story was by Kaye Stoneking and revised by Frances Parris.
Parts of this story is from Bertie Maude Hayes, the great, great, great, granddaughter of Mary "Mollie" O'Conner and was handed down through the family.

GRANDMA'S APRON

I don't think our kids know what an apron is or was when our grandmothers used them.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few and it was easier to wash aprons than dresses cause aprons required less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees along with peaches. I was ready to help gather nuts for candy. Ma Jones made the best hickory nut candy ever. And pecan pies, can't match that taste to anything today. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.
And in this day and age, they would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. But I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron-but LOVE...... and I miss all those hugs and teacakes that grandma made and all the tea parties.

My grandmother who I called Ma Jones had 2 dresses, 1 for Sunday and 1 for everyday. But she had quite a few aprons that I dearly loved and she made them out of flour sacks. The first project that I learned to sew in Home Economics was an apron and I never forgot how proud I was when it was finished. My grandma was not around to see it and neither was my mom so I had to show it off to my Aunt Josie and she loved it and gave me some material to make her one. She knew how to sew, but she just wanted to help me learn different ways. I miss her.

JONATHAN AND LOUSINDA BARRETT HOOPER

     Jonathan Hooper, son of Andrew and Dicea Hooper, was born about 1820 in Bascombe County, NC. As a boy he moved to old Union County, GA with his parents and settled on Fodder Creek. On Feb. 9, 1854 he married Lousinda Barrett (1837-1911) Family tradition holds that Lousinda was part Cherokee Indian belonging to the Swetland Roll. They lived on Fodder Creek for a while but moved to the Alf Cove (now called the Green Cove) near Young Harris in the latter part of the nineteenth century. They made their living by farming. It is handed down that Jonathan Hooper was small in stature and was crippled. The date of his death is not known, however, he enumerated in the 1880 Census. The legend is told that Lousinda wanted to move west and they started on the journey. Along the way, a wagon wheel broke and Lousinda got someone to fix it as Jonathan was not able to make repairs. Before reaching Catoosa County, Jonathan became sick and died. He was buried along the side of the road in an unmarked grave. None of the family could remember the location.
     After the death of Jonathan, Lousinda married a Ridley. They lived on the head of Byers Creek and they made a living saw milling and farming. Then Mr. Ridley died and was sent out west for burial. "Granny Ridley" was well known for her stubborn independence and refused to live with her children, but she did live near a son on Byers Creek. A story is told (strange but true) of "Granny" killing a bear with an axe that dogs had buried in a gully near her log home. She is buried near a daughter (Mary Ollie) in the Wood Station Cemetery near Ringgold, Georgia.
     The children of Jonathan and Lousinda Hooper are: 1. Milly Ann (1855) who married Alfred Land, 2. WA (1856) who probably died in infancy, 3. Robert Richard (1858-1926) who married first Lou Gene Hunter and 2nd Alice Bryson, Jonathan "Pink"(1861) who married Lou Ivey, Dicea (1863) married James Carroll and moved out west, Green Berry (1865) who probably died in infancy, Mary Ollie (1866) who married William Burns and is buried in Wood Station Cemetery, UA (Gus) (1868) who married Hannah Lou Thomas and is buried in Ringgold, GA, Ulysses Allen (1878) who married Elizabeth Baily and moved to AL.

Relationship to Marvin Lee Burns:
Jonathan and Lousinda Barrett Hooper
Millie Ann Hooper and Alfred Land
Cintha Angeline Land and James Edd Burns
James Jefferson Burns and Ruby Lee Franks
Marvin Lee Burns

CHARLES SAMUEL DENEEN 1863-1940

I came across an interesting fact yesterday while working on my family tree. Many new documents have surfaced recently about applications for the SAR and the DAR. I just read one and was amazed at the findings about a descendant of Colonel Samuel Beall and Eleanor Brooke. Their daughter, Verlinda Beall married William Dent. Eventually the line comes to a Charles Samuel Deneen. It was then that I found out that his son had applied to be a member of the Sons of the Revolution descending from Samuel Beall. I decided to do some research on this man. I found a death record that stated he was buried in Oak Woods cemetery in Chicago, Illinois. Well nosey me goes to the web site of findagrave to see if he is listed. As it turns out, he is listed as a famous person. There is a picture of him so I checked out the google website and pulled up his name. This is the information I found:
He was born May 4, 1863, in Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois with his parents being Samuel Hedding Deneen and Mary Frances Ashley. Samuel H Deneen's mother was Verlinda Beall Moore. She was named for her grandmother. He was the 23rd governor of Illinois and the first one to serve 2 terms. While in office, from 1905 to 1913, he was a Progressive reformer who headed the respectable faction among Chicago Republicans. Charles S. Deneen's father was a Latin professor at McKendree College; he was the grandson of a Methodist minister and the great grandson of a territorial legislature who opposed slavery. His father was an Adjutant in the Civil War. The young Deneen graduated from McKendree College and taught in downstate and Chicago schools before getting a degree from Union College of Law.
In 1891 Deneed married Bina Day Maloney of Mount Carroll. They had 4 children, one of which was born in the Executive Mansion.
Deneen was a short, stocky man with a look of determination on his face. Author Robert Howard states Deneen's standards of integrity and competence were "quite superior" to those of competing politicians. He was a straight-laced Methodist who served nothing stronger than lemonade in the Executive Mansion and invited the evangelist Billy Sunday to hold a prayer meeting there.
Deneen was a hard-nosed administrator and his administration made major changes in state government. Some of the many changes included the state highway commission, started during his administration and the building of 120 miles of experimental highways. Motorists were required to register their cars and pay two dollars for identification plates, with the money going into a road fund. State school appropriations were doubled and more money was provided for the University of Illinois.
Charles Samuel Deneen played an indispensable role in shaping the future of the entire Illinois state park system. He was dedicated to protecting the state's threatened natural resources. He was instrumental in the state's purchase of Starved Rock, located near Ottawa that stands as one of the preeminent archaeological, historic and scenic landmarks in Illinois. Starved Rock was purchased during Governor Deneen's second term. During this time, a State Park Commission was established and Starved Rock was the first state park.
Among the changes made during the Deneen administration was the nation's "mother's aid" law that provided funds for dependent and neglected children. Workman's Compensation and Occupational Disease Laws were enacted; women were limited to a 10-hour workday and mining laws were modernized. The above are but a few of the industrial safety laws his administration promoted.
Robert Howard, author of "Mostly Good and Competent Men, Illinois Governors, 1818-1988", views Deneen as effective, unpopular, and durable. His honesty was never questioned. The people of Illinois benefited from Deneen's considerable accomplishments during his two terms as governor. Unfortunately biographers have overlooked him.
In 1924, the former governor was elected United States Senator. In the Senate, he supported Coolidge on the World Court and other issues. In 1930, he was defeated for renomination in a three-man field.
Deneen also served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1892. He had also been the lead prosecutor in Chicago's infamous Adolph Luetgert murder trial.

Family Tree:
Charles Samuel Deneen IL 1863-1940 m Bina Day Maloney
Samuel H. Deneen 1835-1895 IL m Mary Frances Ashley 1836-1914
William Lyon Deneen 1798-1869 m Verlinda Beall Moore 1802-1855 d IL
Hinton Moore 1760-1828 m Annie Dent 1767-1845 b MY d Illinois
William Camel Dent 1730-1805 m Verlinda Beall 1736-1815 (Maryland)
Colonel Samuel Beall (Maryland) 1713-1777 m Eleanor Brooke 1717-1800Charles S. Deneen died at age 77 on February 5, 1940, in Chicago where he was practicing law. He is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago with his wife beside him.

MYSTERY OF TWO MARY ANNS

     I have repeatedly tried to find out about Mary Ann Johnson, second wife of Thomas Jefferson Burns, to no avail. I know she didn't come from outer space as she would have had to have parents. Was she born in North Carolina or Georgia as this family lived close to the state line. At one time on the census records, Tom is shown living in one county and the next census record another county. He never moved, the county line changed during a 10 year span. I just read a short story about her that I had never seen before when I googled her name. A daughter of Tom's had asked Mary Ann to marry her dad. Mary Ann was so shocked that she fainted, but she did eventually marry Tom and had 8 children. I never knew about his 2 wives until about 5 years ago when my sister-in-law told me the story. According to Tammy Burns who is the daughter of James J. Burns, her uncle Johnny had told her that his grandmother was Mary Ann Johnson, but Nick's mother was Mary Ann Hullender. Now Nick is the brother of James Edward Burns who was the father of James and Johnny. Four children were born to Tom and Mary Ann Hullender Burns before 1871. A daughter named Sarah Elizabeth came in the year 1871 about November. I don't know this for sure but I think her mother died in childbirth as after this event, Tom married Mary Ann Johnson. So the 1880 census record shows that he is still married to Mary Ann but her age is 25 with children, Abraham, James and Louise and no one was the wiser until a granddaughter by the name of Mary Lou Martin Kile (daughter of Radie Lou Burns Martin) started a family tree and in her research uncovered this fact. After this, it is just speculation as no one knows about Mary Ann Johnson. On the 1900 census record, she says that she is the mother of 8 children of which 7 were still living. This 8 includes John Abraham Burns, 1873; James Edward Burns,1876; Louise A. Burns, 1878; Candius Burns, 1884; Mendie Burns, 1885; Rose Burns, 1888; Jefferson Brisco Burns, 1892; David Sylvester Burns, 1894.Then I find no more record of her, even her death. When Tom died in 1927, he is listed as a widower. 22 years have passed with no record of her that I can find on the internet other than an affidavit for Tom's pension from the Civil War dated September 5, 1905. He is stated as living with his wife and 4 children and is unable to work. He also states that his wife has been sick for over 2 years. I can not find any record of her death or her burial location.
     Then we come back to Mary Ann Hullender. Tom and Mary Ann had 5 children and there are records for all of them. I even found her parents but no burial location. Tom was buried in Zebulon Cemetery close to his son, Nick. Why wasn't Tom buried close to one of his wives. What was the reason for this? This remains a mystery to me as I wanted to save this story for my children. As time goes on, it will be harder to find anything on the family. My children are all Burns' and are a direct line from Thomas Jefferson Burns. Still am not sure if this name contains an "e". Some of the children add it to their names and some don't use it. Children of Tom and Mary Ann Hullender Burns are listed as William Jesse Burns born in 1863; Martha Jane Burns born in 1866; Joseph C. Burns born in 1868; Nicholas Elisha Burnes born in 1869 and Sarah Elizabeth Burns, born in 1871. Nick continued to use an "e" in his name until his death.
     On the 1870 census record, he(Tom) is listed as married to Mary Ann Hullender. She is the daughter of Nicholas Hullender and Elmira Elizabeth Hambright. She was born in 1843 as she is listed on the 1850 and 1860 census record with her parents. On the 1870 census record, she is listed with Tom Burns and they are both stated as 28 years old.