Letters of McCamy cousins on Ancestry

She was born a couple of months after I was, but in Austin TX, not Dallas.  I just found her name, her birth date and death date over on my Ancestry tree.  She was my 4th cousin, 1 time removed, who died 2 years ago.  I didn't know her.

Somehow adding someone to my tree that has such similar dates to mine is sobering.  Of course I'm still here to add her, as well as her living son, and his family, if I wish. 

1961 High School year book photo of Kay Carolyn McCamy

It's easy to look at birth/marriage/death dates of ancestors who have been gone for years...centuries are easiest.  But to look at a young woman's face who went through school at the same time I did, who danced to the same music at proms, who had her child in a hospital close to the same time I had mine...well, it's become telling a story about someone that could have been my friend.

Do I want to invite this cousin into my life now? Do I want to add her friendship a couple of years after she died at 73 years?  That helped a bit, thinking of how she did get old before she died.

Oh I'm playing with my emotions, I think.

Her obit says all kinds of details about her family...nothing was private then.  But I stop.  I don't want to add them here.  I think, how would I feel if I googled myself and found someone had written my name on their blog who didn't know a thing about me.  Nah.  I need to show some respect. 

However, I do want to share more of the richness of the lives of the McCamy family, how life was in those times that these people lived through.

There are some interesting letters that have been posted under her parents' ancestry sites, (Rogers and Catherine McCamy) which were written to her own grandmother, Ida Mullendore McCamy.

There is a lot more information that was posted at Ancestry that I'm not going to include.  Richard (Kay's older brother) was born in 1937 in Dallas TX. The letters are from Rogers and Kay Catherine McCamy from 1939-1947, with notes by Kay Catherine (1975) and then her grand-daughter, Megan (2000) added at the end.

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April 12, 1939

Dear Granny:

Richard and I are in the yard enjoying the sunshine. He has my cheese grater sawing on the chair and then hammering and working with the pliers on it. He keeps so busy all day, planting, digging and swinging. I wish you were here to sit with us. This weather is glorious.

Richard was so tickled over his card with the little chickens. I usually read your letters to him as he often understands and remembers things I would never expect. He is beginning to enjoy parts of the funny paper, too, and you’ll often find him sprawled out on the floor looking at the pictures…Time for Richard’s lunch. More later.

Love, Catherine



Dearest Mommy and gang:

Just a line to go with Kay’s letter. We are all well, broke and happy. Everything is rocking along just as usual. Dick is the only thing that changes and he is changed every half-hour. I think we’ll have to shoot him to stop him. He finds it mighty to make mud pies when out in the yard, especially as we don’t have a hydrant. We’ve been trying to train him to run up and down the garden rows, but his feet overlap and he tramps down the beans. It’s a wonder anything has survived both Dick and Blackie… Dick is talking plainer everyday and getting away from his baby talk. A baby is now babby instead of beddee, but a baby buggy is still a beddee guggy, and he likes to ride in it. The landlord left a wheelbarrow in the back yard and I’ve walked 1001 miles pushing Dick and Blackie. He got mad at me one night and dashed out the back door, plopped down on all fours in the yard and started drinking out of Blackie’s pan. That’s what you call revenge.

We are still looking forward to seeing you soon.

Love, Rog

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November, 17 1939

Dear Mom and Gang:

We got our first notice of payment on the house this week. We had been told by several people that usually the first payment did not come due until 6 weeks to 3 months after moving in, but we got our notice about Nov. 10th that the first payment was due on Nov. 1st -- $25.00. The dec. payment will be $30 and beginning Jan 1st they will be $35.00 until the 300th payment which will be $20.00. That is something to look forward to and strive for, because after all it is only 25 years until we get to make a $20 payment. I will be creeping around on a stick and Kay will be bouncing some of the great grand younguns on her squeaky knees. Some of Dick’s kids will probably get to take advantage of that $20 payment. Oh well, time will tell.

I love you everyone, Rog

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January 10, 1941

Dearest Mommy and Folks:

…I’m leaving at 6 this afternoon for a construction job in Newberg, Missouri at $200 a month and expenses…The job I’m going on is a $21,000,000 army camp and will last 6 months, then if I make good on that job then I will stay on – it could be a life time job. In about a month, if living conditions permit, I’ll come back to Dallas, trade the car for a better one and drive Kay and Dick back.

No more time now, must get straight with the City, pack and make the train—I’d hate to miss and mess the deal.

Rog



January 14, 1941

Dear Granny:

…My plan now, though subject to change, is trade the car in on a good second hand car and have the salesman drive it up, as I don’t want to drive it. I’ll go on the train…Richard misses Rog and I’m completely lost without him. I’ll move heaven and earth to get there and once my mind is set it is impossible to get off the track…

Love, Catherine


January 17, 1941

Dear Granny:

The latest news is that Richard and I will be unable to go to Missouri because of the crowded living conditions –15,000 or more moving into towns of 2,000…

I’ll write again when I hear more.

Love, Kay

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February 16, 1941

Dear mommy and folks:

…The job pays good and I like it, but it costs so much to live that we don’t clear a whole lot more than at home and Kay and Dick are stuck out in the Ozarks with nothing to do, nobody for Dick to play with except Blackie… Mom, I want you to see this place and eat some of the food – I’m fed up – damn near foundered – on pork and turnips, pork and parsnips, pork and pork. I’ve eaten so much pork that I can hobnob with the pigs and they don’t bite, just say, “Hi brother” and go on, or move over at the trough…

Love, Rog


 February 28, 1941

Dearest Mommy and folks:

…Kay and Dick left last Wednesday night for Dallas. Dick had a sore throat and the doctor here had said bad tonsils and Kay was just down with the flu…Everyone here has it or has had it so we decided a trip to Texas until April would be best for Dick…

I love you, Rog


November 13, 1941

Dear Granny:

…Your son, I know, forgets so many, many things and I try to see how he does, but last night was the limit. He called me about five thirty to meet him at our usual place. Richard and I rushed over and sat and sat. About fifteen till seven two policemen drove up and said: “Mrs. McCamy, your husband called and said he was home; that he forgot to get off the bus.” So Richard and I came home and found him eating beans. He had called the police station and the message was broadcast for fifty miles or more….

Love, Catherine



Rogers finally got a job with a Defense contractor in Austin, Texas where the Austin Company was building a Magnesium plant. He went down first, then Dick and I followed



February 27, 1942

Dearest Mommy:

… I have a little duplex rented out in Hyde Park (North Austin) and also have a deposit up on an apartment –extra nice—on the corner of Speedway and 31st. The apartment won’t be vacant until March 10th so we probably won’t stay long in the duplex…

I love you, Rog



March 6,1942

Dearest Mommy:

…So far our stay in Austin has not been so good. It has rained or the wind has blown a gale so Dick has been confined to the house. Friday night he developed a cropy cold and has steadily grown worse until today he had a temperature of 103. The doctor came out today but could not say definitely what the trouble is except there is a musical, asthmatic rattle and an infection of some kind. He said Dick is allergic to something, which causes his colds and croupy condition and asthma. He also said that the allergy is possibly inherited even as far away as an aunt or uncle…

Love to all, Rog

November 10, 1942

Dear Granny:

I don’t do much but take care of the baby, but the time flies…Carolyn is gaining fast. She looks all around now and smiles faintly though big in her sleep. The picture we are sending will give you some idea of what she looks like. Everybody thinks she resembles Dorothy and her children. I hope she does, especially in her eyes. She has long curly eyelashes and her hair is still a golden yellow color, so curly. I fell last night with her but held onto her, but nearly broke my knees. These d--- floors are bare and slick in places…


March 10, 1943

Dearest Mommy:

It seems like ages since I last wrote you, and no doubt it has been ages. For the past 2 or 3 weeks I have been working 15 to 16 hours a day, then go to Dallas Saturday night and get back early Monday morning. It was good while it lasted but it was too much overtime and they cut me back to the regular 9 hrs. and day, 6 days a week. The job is nearly finished and I don’t know when nor where I’ll be sent—if anywhere.

Enough of work, I never did like it, but I’m not afraid of it and can lie and sleep right along side of it.

I went home last weekend and found them all well. Sis is getting big so fast and cuter each week. She looks like a little tow-headed McCamy all the way. She tries so hard to crawl but can’t get anywhere. She does get around in her bed and always has her head jammed up against the headboard.

Rick is a big schoolboy but still a baby at home. He is a good little pal and I wish you were with him because I would like for him to have at least some of the pleasures I’ve enjoyed of which you are the first, last and biggest (don’t take this like it sounds). Besides I want to see my mommy too…

I love you, Rog

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After Dick got over the measles Carolyn had the measles and then they both had chickenpox. The house was cold with ice on the inside of the windows and I was sick so when we decided the people next door were selling dope (though we had no proof) we decided that Dick, Carolyn and I should come back to Dallas and so we got our house back and moved in after spending some weeks with mamma and daddy. Roger’s didn’t want to come back so we planned to sell our house in the summer and buy one in Amarillo by fall at the beginning of school.

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July 10, 1944

Dearest Mommy:

…Kay and the kids are still in Dallas and are well and happy. They moved back into our house last Friday… I spent a week of my vacation in Dallas 3 or 4 weeks ago and burned up. The summer is ideal out here.

There are no recent snapshots of the kids because we can’t get film, but Kay had their pictures made recently and will send one of each. Dick has all his front teeth out and is a picture. Sis is getting so big but still won’t talk. Her hair is down to her shoulders and is really pretty. Last time I saw them, both were covered with infected chigger bites and Kay was putting blue medicine on them. Sis looked like a spotted pup with that blue medicine sticking out of her white hair. Wish I could have them with me but for the past 1-2 months I’ve been mighty busy with wheat harvest, gin and grain elevator repairs so couldn’t have been with them much…

Love, Rog


November 18, 1945

Dearest Mommy and gang:

…Kay has been lost since you left. Believe she gets more dissatisfied with Amarillo all the time, but won’t leave on account of Sis. Sis still talks about tickling your pigs and still gets a lick out of thinking about it. Dick is in the “runaway” stage right now. About twice a week he threatens to run away and never see us again. I kiss him goodbye and tell him not to go out of the yard when he leaves us. It works swell. Sometimes he goes as far as his club house. We finally got it fixed up in pretty good shape…

I love you, Rog


May 27, 1946

Dearest Mom:

Got home about 3 or 4 hours ago and found your letter of last Friday. WE had a nice visit and meeting in Dallas. Spent Thursday night at Margaret’s then went on to Dallas early Friday morning.

We were dreading the stay in Dallas because of the heat and they’ve been having so much rain. But the weather was perfect the whole visit. We didn’t even get to boast of our Amarillo weather. When we got home this evening, about 6, the place was almost blowing away and the dust was so thick the prairie dogs were flying through the air digging holes as they blew along. I always thought that was a good West Texas story until I saw it today. Mom, I’m coming to Washington in two or three weeks and would like for you to come back with me… On Friday or Saturday I’ll take Kay and the kids to San Angelo to visit Dorothy. Then the next day, about June 9th, I’ll drive on to Dallas and catch the train for Washington. I’ll have two weeks vacation. We are afraid to go any place to eat out with the kids (Polio is still going in San Antonio with one or two more cases every day, 30 odd cases up to today and 2 or 3 new ones in Dallas yesterday). So I’m going to take our vacation and come see you. I can postpone it until later if you don’t think you can come back with me then…Sis, the little wart, says she wants to tickle your pigs when you go to bed. Dick says you can have his room, as he wants to fix up the back porch for his room and workshop…

Love, Rog

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Rogers went for Granny and she came to Amarillo and spent the summer and part of the fall with us. The letters were probably not saved or were lost as we do not have anymore until the summer of 1947 when we took a trip to Red River and then in the fall of 1947 when Rogers had to have his leg amputated.

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July 20, 1947

Dear Mom:

At last we’re off for that vacation. We’re just loafing along. Tonight we’re in Raton. Tomorrow to Red River where we have reservations for 3 nights. Then to Taos, Santa Fe and home the last of the week. Having a good lazy time…

I love you, Rog




October 1, 1947

Dearest Mom & Win:

Got home Monday night on the streamliner. Mel came with me. We had a compartment and it was without a doubt the roughest train ride I’ve ever made. Ed Dewey met us and all the Eubanks were there. Mrs. Beneke is leaving at 7 tonight for 3 months of visiting in Missouri.

Mel is out working my territory and goes home tomorrow night. He has really been swell to me. Came out to the hospital every morning at 10 for coffee. Has arranged to have a special clutch put in the new Plymouth I’m getting soon. He also did a lot of arranging for insurance, etc. Hospital bill was $225 of which I only paid $75. Not bad for a 3 weeks vacation.

I’m still feeling fine and the leg (rather what’s left) looks good. If my foot would just quit cutting up. Feels like it’s asleep all the time and you know that’s an uncomfortable feeling.

I got your letter and $5 Sunday and thank you. Started to send you a wire Monday that I was leaving but decided it might scare you. I’m a little afraid you don’t believe I actually feel so good and I don’t blame you. Actually I don’t think I was supposed to, but I was trying to be as tough and sturdy as my mother.

Love, Rog



October 8, 1947

Dearest Mom & Folks:

Now I know how you feel when you wait for the postman and he doesn’t bring anything. Sitting and lying around the house has been the hardest part of this ordeal.

The leg has been hurting more than usual lately so last night I called Bill and he said it is internal scar contraction which is causing it. Nothing to worry about because it is a good sign that everything is all right. I have to exercise it 20 times every hour by bending and straightening it out. This keeps the muscles flexible and will enable me to wear a leg sooner and better.

Everything from the very beginning has gone along very smoothly. I don’t know whether I told you or not, but it was supposed to take 2 operations. The first would be the amputation and then a 3-week period of bed. They were going to keep the bone open for observation and keep the skin in traction (with the weights and pulleys) then if there was no more infection in the open bone; they would roll up the skin and sew it together. However, on Sunday before going to Dallas on Monday, I got out and mowed the yard and over did myself. Consequently, the leg was reddish and swollen, as usual.  When the doctors looked at it on Tuesday, Dr. Girard said it looked bad, but there was a slim chance that if I would enter the hospital 4 days before the operation and keep the leg in cold packs that it would clean up to where they could do it in one operation --- however it was a very slim chance. Well, it worked and instead of entering the operating room again at the end of three weeks, I was home. Stayed there 20 days and could have been out sooner but Mel couldn’t get away sooner and I was having a good time.

I’ve been taking Phenobarbital to clam my nerves and sleep but Bill said to get off of it. Does something to your blood stream and was probably causing some of the pain. I’ve cut it out and the pain has cut down. Have to keep an elastic bandage on to shrink it so it will fit inside that willow leg. Bill talked like I’d be trying on a leg in about another 6 weeks. He said to go ahead and work or do anything I was big enough to do. Dammit, they just won’t let a guy be an invalid. However, I’m about fed up with this home life and inactivity. Everyday seems to improve the pains. If my damn toes would just quit cramping and that foot would wake up, it would feel good. That foot even feels like it has athletes’ foot like I had last year.

There was an intern at the hospital who did a biopsy, a fancy word for cutting out some chunks of the old scar to test for malignancy, the day before the operation. He is from Syria and has only been over here a couple of years so hasn’t has time to pick up many of our ways. During the biopsy he would punch around on the old scar until he hit a tender spot and I would flinch. Then he would grab his little bottle of flit and freeze that spot and quickly cut it out and carefully wrap it up. The first spot hurt, the second spot hurt like hell and I told the nurse to step back because I was going to kick the sunnavabitch right out the window if he hurt me like that again. He took me seriously, and the next two bits were away over on the side where I barely felt them. A few days after the operation he came back looking half scared, and wanted me to sign a paper giving the hospital authority to dispose of the old leg. Said it would be cremated. I was punchy on dope and told him “hell no” I wouldn’t sign it because I wanted the old leg pickled so I could take it home and put it in the refrigerator so I could scratch it if it got to tickling. He believed that too, but after some arguing I signed the paper and he made a beeline for the door. Must have thought I was going to hit him. I had told Dr. Girard to keep the SOB away from me after the rough biopsy. Before I left, we were good friends. He is going back to Syria next year and open his own hospital.

…Yesterday Kay took some pictures and we’ll finish the roll within a few days and send you a set to prove that I’m in good shape. Am learning the crutches pretty good, although I stay away from steps.

The kids are growing like weeds. Dick is 5 feet tall now and will be bigger than Kay before long. For some reason he didn’t go out for football after we bought all the gear for it. He weighs 90 lbs. And would have done good on a team. His schoolwork is really getting heavy and hard. However, he studies hard and is making good grades. As for little Miss Priss, she is going to be all legs and knees. Had her fifth birthday party last Saturday. She’s been looking for changes in herself now that she’s 5. Thinks there should be some difference in a 4 and 5 year old girl. She got a new tricycle and just gets off of it long enough to sleep. She gets a kick out of nursing me. She plays a lot with the little 8-year-old girl next door, when Judy is home from school.

Time to run around the block. That’s what we call my hourly exercise….

Love, Rog



October 10, 1947

Dearest Mom and Win:

…We went to town yesterday to see about a leg. It will be about 6 weeks yet before I try one. However, in a week or ten days the leg man will start wrapping the stub a special way to make it shrink…The legs are very fancy with ball bearings, bolts, wrenches, all wrapped up in rawhide and shellac.

…Must stop and take a bath. I can’t stand me any longer. It is no trouble to get in and out of the tub. We put Sis’ little rocking chair in the tub to lay “Stubby” on. That’s what the kids call it, and me now.

I love you,

Rog



December 1, 1947

Dearest Mom:

Just a note to let you know everything is all right. I’m going to Lubbock this week to get measured for a leg and it will be ready in 30 days. I have to go to Dallas January 5th for a sales meeting and will go by Fort Worth and get the leg then. I took a tumble last week and thought I’d broken all my ribs. Dr. Powers came out Thanksgiving morning and said I’d just pulled some muscles in my side and no ribs were cracked…

I love you, Rog


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December 11, 1975:


This is the last of the letters. I don’t know what happened to those written in 1949 and 1950. After Granny died these were found among her things.

In February 1951 Rogers went to Greenbelt in the car and brought Granny home with him. She was only there a short time when she had a heart atttack and died. She was buried in Knoxville, Tennessee.

We sold our house on Polk Street in 1949 and built one on Bowie. WE then sold that house and Rogers and two engineers from Denver formed a business rubber lining chemical tanks. This did not work out so we moved to Dallas in 1955 and Rogers went to work for a rubber company. Dick went to Southern Methodist University and Carolyn to Highland Park Junior High. I then went to work at Southern Methodist University.

Dick graduated from Texas University at Austin and then went to Washington, D.C., working for NSA and later for NASA. He married Kathy Stalans from Maryville, Tennessee. They have two little girls: Bria now age nine and Megan, age six. They returned to Dallas where Dick obtained a Masters Degree in Computer Science at SMU and then they returned to Maryland where they now live and he is with a consulting firm.

Carolyn graduated from Higland Park Hifgh School and attended Texas Tech one year and SMU one year. She then married Kenneth Coffelt of Oklahoma City and graduated from Notrh Texas State University. They have a little boy, Jeff, six years old. Carolyn is now teaching in Arlington in a private school where they live.

Catherine Landrum McCamy


July 12, 2000
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All of these photographs and letters were assembled and retyped by Catherine McCamy, and were among Grandady’s  (Eljah Rogers McCamy) things after his death

Megan McCamy Drobes
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Aren't these wonderful glimpses into a time when these cousins lived? I just feel as if I know them.  I'll share some of the photos from Ancestry soon.

  Dick lived until 2001.

I hope someday someone will enjoy reading about these folks, and maybe about my life as well.  I'll put more effort into expressing what my surroundings are like, as well as some of the trials and tribulations, and the celebrations too.

Some of the history of Logan's Chapel, Blount County, "Haggard Place" TN

James Lucian McCamy was Ida Mullendore's husband (I spoke about her yesterday.)

On the listing for his burial in 1915, his occupation is given as postman.  Ida continued to list herself as his widow in several city Directories, including children.

This quote contains "Parts of Memorial Day Talk made by James Lucian McCamy at Logan's Chapel May 20, 1911" (edited to include ancestors and McCamy information)

Logan's Chapel, Haggard Place, Tennessee (Posted to Ancestry by "MMD1969" on Jan 11, 2008

"Today we want to turn the pages of time back one hudred years and see who lived in and went to make up this neighborhood. But who were they? Who lived here? Well there were the Logans, the Kennedys, the Stones, the Kinnamans, the Duncans, the McCamys, the Cavins, the Greens, the Hafleys, the Shavers, the Davis's, the Kidds, the Newmans, the Julians, the Brakebills, the Dupe's, the Mayes's, the Martins, the Adneys, the Reeders, the Plumlees, the Porters, the Wolfs, the Wheelers, the Vineyards, the Covingtons, at Haggard Place.

"George and Rebecca Julian lived where Jas. McCamy now lives . They reared a family there; Isham, the eldest son became a Methodist Minister and lived at the old Allen Strick or Garner place just across the river from where Andy Davis now lives; leaving there he settled in Bradley County where he lived and preached until he became so old and feeble he would have to sit down and preach; finally dyng at the advance age of 88. His father and mother died just 15 days apart. George on Feb. 5 1845, and Rebecca on Feb. 20 1845, with a disease called Black Tongue. Their remains rest just back of this church in that little stone house. The date of their birth could not be obtained and does not appear on the slab at their heads. Neither do we know just when they came here, but it was as far back as 1820 and perhaps further. Their descendants are all gone except the great grand children descending from the marriage of their daughter Sallie to James McCamy, but Bradley County is full of them."

"We do not know when the Martins came from Virginia here, but they were among the first settlers of this country. Warner Martin and his wife Martha, or Patty as she was called, first settled at the Wm. Hall place or where Jno. Adney now lives. He built the first mill in this whole country, and it ground only corn. It stood just below the ford of the branch at his home. Some of the old beams with their logs castings were there as late as 1865. There they reared a family of four boys that we know of. They were Peter, Joshua, John and Leonard. These boys were sent to West Point to college and educated, three of them made lawyers and Jno. made a farmer and miller. The lawyers went early in life to Alabama where they plied their profession and where they dies. One being a judge who dropped dead on the bench after pronouncing the sentence of death on a fellow man but a murderer. John, with his father entered the entire valley around them, making in all 1410 acres of land which was very fertile and which had a very fine growth of timber on it. John married Sarah Swan whose mother was a Buckingham, and he built down the creek where Willie DeLozier now lives. This house was built half at a time, the first half about the year 1806. Their first child Warner was born 1808. William in 1810 then Henry and Leonard and John Frank, Lucian, seven boys and four girls Maria, Martha, Lizzie and Sarah; of these only Jno., Jr. made a farmer. Wm. Henry and Leonard read Law, while Frank made a wanderer. Lucian died at the age of 21. John married Isabella Porter, daughter of Capt. Jas. Porter and had two girls, Florence and Frankie; the latter died when only a child while Florence married Wm. A. Coulter but dies without any children. Warner Sr. died and was buried at Eusebia because that was the only church and burying ground in this country. His widow lived at the old home alone with her 30 odd negroes until she was old. Then went to her sons in Alabama where she died. That branch, I suppose, is still called the old Patty Martin branch. Patty was a member of the Eusebia church, and used to take her little granddaughter, John's Martha, behind her on a horse and ride to church every preaching Sunday, a distance of five miles. That little Martha was my mother (Elijah Roger McCamy's grandmother) and would have been 93 years old had she lived until now, being born in 1818. But she died in 1899. She wasburied here where she had lived nearly all her life. John built a modern mill a few hundred yards above where the present Sanderson Mill now stands. This mill ground wheat as well as corn, and also had a saw mill attached. Of course it was a sash saw which worked up and down, the circular saw being of modern times. John Sr. died about the time the last half of his house was built which was about 1835. His widow remained there until the close of the Civil War when she sold to Thos. Sanderson in 1866 and went to Alabama where several of her children had preceded her. There she died and was buried. The only representatives of that large family left in this neighborhood is Mrs. Sallie McBath, and the only ones in Tenn. aside from Mrs. McBath is her nrother Jas. L. McCamy (father of Elijah Rogers McCamy) and Mrs. Jno. E. Hood of Knoxville, who was a granddaughter of William. Jno. Jr. and his family are buried here, and Tho. Sr. at Eusebia. After Jno. Jr. died, which was in 1861, his widow married Geo. W. Henry, and reared three boys, Chas. Geo. R. and Willie. Chas. & Wille died just as they were reaching manhood, leaving only Geo. R. or Tobe as he is called, to represent the Porters and the Henrys. Tobe owns both Homesteads. That is, the Jno. C. Martin place and the Capt. Jas. Porter place, but lives in Maryville.

Thos. Sanderson was an Englishman and reared four children. Edward who is in the West.Barbara married Jno. Cunningham and dies  in Kansas recently. Annie married Geo. Brakebille and is the only one left in this neighborhood. Nellie married Lee McCampbell and lives in Knoxville. Mr. Sanderson and his wife died at Little River Station on the K. & A. R. R. and are buried in Knoxville. He sold the mill property to Mr. Beeson who diesd there as did his wife, and both are buried here. Their children have all gone.....

Wm. and Mary McCamy kept a public house and stock lot at what is now the Roex or Barbson ford of Little River. People traveled by wagon and on horse-back; they also drove horses and mules south and hence the necessity of stopping places. They settled there about the year 1820, reared a family of 7 boys and 1 girl. The boys were John, Tim, Jas., Robt, Sam Arthur, and Major. Jane was the girl. Jas. (Elijah Rogers McCamy's great grandad) married Sarah Julian and Robt. married her twin sister Martha. Jas. became owner of the old home and reared a family of 4 boys and 6 girls. The boys were Wm. Samuel (E.R's Grandady) Robt., and Jas. H. The girls were Rebecca, Martha, Sarah Ann, Neoma and Sophronia, twins, and Narcissa.  Wm. and Robt. still live in Murray Co. Ga., Wm. being 87 years old. Martha, Mrs. Dr. Morton and Narcissa live in Knoxville while Sophronia lives in Texas. All the others are dead. John married Elizabeth Shaver and made his home at the old Julian place where his eldest son Jas. still lives. All the other children, numbering in all, 6, are dead except Wm. who lives near Chattanooga, and Lizzie has been an inmate in Lyon's View asylum for 23 years. All the other McCamy's went south, maily to Georgia and there are only left in this neighborhood Jas (E.R's father) son of Samuel, and Mrs. Sallie McBath to represent those several large families. Rebecca married Josias Gamble and left three boys and four girls, all living in or near Maryville. The boys are Alex, Dr. Andy and Hon. Moses. Mrs. Dr. McTeer of Maryville is a daughter of Martha Morton. Samuel (E.R's grandaddy) married Martha Martin and lived on a part of the old Martin Farm where Has. Harris now lives until he dies in 1864 leaving a widow and 2 children, Jas. (E.R's dad) of Knoxville and Mrs. Sallie McBath of Bank.

If you know of anyone who came from these roots, they might like to know what Mr. McCamy had to say about them...though of course it's not documented proof that these are correct.

I am amused that I said these are not documented proof, because when I look at the parents of James Lucian, the Ancestry trees have a couple of choices.  The Samuel and Martha that are mentioned in the last paragraph by J. L. at the 1911 Memorial Day service at Logan's Chapel abovve, are not in agreement with other trees.  

But I'm not going to go chasing further on this quest.  I want to go back to (Elijah) Rogers McCamy, who had 2 children in Dallas Texas just around the same time I was born.  So there are some dangling ancestors here.  After all, J.L. was the husband of my 2nd cousin, 3 times removed! 

 I tend to think there are some discrepancies in the account given above, but perhaps it's because J. L speaks of himself in the last line as one of two children (E.R.'s dad) left with widow of Samuel when he died in 1864.  But why would he speak of anyone incorrectly?

The whole speech and article are also included now in my Ancestry tree.  http://www.tngenweb.org/blount/1911-history-of-logan%e2%80%99s-chapel/

 

Some of the Mullendores and "Rogers" McCamy

Ida Winfield Mullendore McCamy  1869–1951

Birth 20 SEP 1869 • Tennessee, United States

Death 15 FEB 1951 • Potter, Texas,  My 2nd cousin 3 times removed.

I'm struck by this photo that was included in her Ancestry site.

 

Annie Mullendore (never married), Ida Mullendore McCamy, (Elijah) Rogers McCamy. Annie did list herself as a dressmaker in one cite, and it seems she really did look as if she could make beautiful clothes.

 I've greatly enjoyed reading about these cousins on Ancestry.  Elijah went by the name of "Rogers" and he and his wife wrote letters to his mother, Ida.  There are many of them posted on the site of their family, and I just took the time to read through them.  They are so poignant and intimate, that I was sorry when there were no more.  It is a great look at 10 years of correspondence telling about their lives.  

I'm tempted to focus upon just the facts, the bare bones of a person's life.  But when there is love shining forth, I tend to want to share that. 

Ida M will be my focus for today.

She was the 4th of 7 children born to my first cousin 3 times removed, Dr.  Elijah Leonidas Mullendore (1835-1907) and his wife, Anne Elizabeth Trundle Mullendore (1842-1891). 

Dr. Elijah was the son of Dialtha Perry Rogers Mullendore (1810-1884). Dialtha was my great times 4 aunt, sister of Micajah Clack Rogers (1795-1873), my great times 3 grandfather.  (Isn't it fun that she's a 4 times great and he's only 3? That's because grandfathers are the same level as great aunts!)

OK, I'll get serious again.

She was born in Sevier County, TN, lived in Blount County TN, and Knox County TN, all of whilch are in east Tennessee.  She also lived in Maryland for a while, and Texas.  But when she died at 81 in Texas while living with her youngest son, she was buried back in Knox County, TN.

She married at 18, in 1888 to James Lucian McCamy (1857-1915). And they had 6 children, one of whom was stilborn and one who died at age 8. Their youngest, Elijah Rogers McCamy was just 5 when his mother became a widow. 

More about Joe Sharp

I was telling a friend about my fun pursuit of finding the relationship of J. A. (Joe) Sharp to my grandfather, George Elmore Rogers, Sr.  They wrote a bit of correspondence (including Poppy's cousin Hayden Ross) in 1954.

But I forgot to see what his relationship with me would be.

I figured if Poppy and Joe had great grandparents in common, that would make them 3rd cousins...but where would I be?  Fortunately Ancestry gives a description of how people are my relations.  OK, first to mention that Joe was a generation level later than my grandfather, so there's that.

He's my 3rd cousin, twice (or 2x) removed. That's what they say.

I just spent a bit of time looking at his wife's family, which gets into mother-in-laws and step fathers...there were a couple of divorces and remarriages there.  Oh my, stretching the definitions of relationships on Ancestry!.  I wouldn't have done that if some of them hadn't lived in my current neighborhood of Asheville, NC, or where I'd lived back in the 90s in Knoxville TN.  So a couple of these relations of Joe Sharp's wife until the close to the same time I was there as a resident.

I think Mrs. Joe Sharp, (1911-1999) Dorothy Weatherly Sharp, was interesting.  Her father John Bruce Weatherly was listed as a physician (1886-1926).

Then as of 1920 the census has four daughters in the Weatherly family.  However by 1922 apparently Dr. Weatherly married another person in Pennsylvania.  And by 1925 Dorothy's mother married another man...so on the 1930 census the Weatherly girls have a step father.  But not only that, their father has died in North Carolina and then been buried in the Deep River Friends Cemetery in High Point NC, in 1926 at age 39.  His own father lived a year longer than he did.

Dorothy's mother lived to within a few months of 90 years old before dying in 1981 in Knoxville, TN.  But her mother's second husband is the one who lived in Asheville, named James Carlton English, (1890-1950) who was listed in the Asheville NC directory of 1929 as a salesman. He had fought in WW I, but moved around between Tennessee and various counties in North Carolina.  His death certificate said "No Permanent Address" in a government facility in Mountain Home, NC where he had resided for over 9 months in 1950.  Mountain Home is in Henderson County, just next to Buncombe County where I now live.

OK, I'm beginning to feel like a voyeur, looking at a mother-in-law of a third cousin twice removed!

I think I'll go back to look a bit closer at some of the Sevier County people (Mullendores, McCroskeys) which have been sitting on my tree for ages.  When I was searching for Joe I saw an interesting woman who had lots of photos of her and her family.  My voyeurism is alive and well!

Incidentally I looked up Voyeur...
Miriam Webster said this:

Definition of voyeur

1 : one obtaining sexual gratification from observing unsuspecting individuals who are partly undressed, naked, or engaged in sexual acts; broadly : one who habitually seeks sexual stimulation by visual means

2 : a prying observer who is usually seeking the sordid or the scandalous

So I guess I'm ok,  because I don't seek sexual titilation nor sordid or scandalous details. Whew!

Joe "J. A." Sharp has a family again

Continuing on the trail to find cousin Sharp, among the first generation of 13 children, they mostly married and had children...fortunately not quite as many as their parents.  But I'm looking for Dialtha Rogers Mullendore's grandson J. A. Sharp, so now I have to check each of the children's children.  I've been hours plugging away.

1. Oldest Mullendore son, Abraham had 8 children, but only 4 were girls, and none married anyone named Sharp.  I'm skipping much of the information that Ancestry provided...after all, I want to find this today!

2. Mary Amanda Mullendore Brown had 3 children, the oldest daughter never married, and her second daughter has only a birth and death date without any census records even in her 80 years...strange.

3. Dr. Elijah Leonidas Mullendore had 7 offspring, 5 of whom were female.  and none married a person named Sharp.

4. Robert Bruce Mullendore, unmarried.

5. Suzanne (Kate) Katherine Mullendore Montgomery, who had 9 children, but only 3 were female.  So I'll check them out to see if anyone married a person named Sharp.  I must admit I'm miffed at this point because Ancestry is doing some kind of upgrade, which means I can't get the information on other people's trees about my ancestors to download.  I called them, and the assistant did not do anything, but it started to work on my 5th try.  Then a couple of people later, and when I wanted to add children to a person's site, it started asking me for their emails instead of their date of death.  I kid you not!  So with a grain of patience, I'll continue to look for J. A. Sharp's parents.

Her first daughter Mary Amanda Montgomery married an Enloe.
But her second daughter, Alice Dialtha Montgomery married Walter Alexander Sharp.

See that didn't take a lifetime, after all!  There were all those more Mullendore children which I now don't have to check out!  When I spoke to the Ancestry representative, I told her I was just trying to find out where a cousin was connected to my line.  I also emphasized that I am on Ancestry at least 5 hours a day (probably closer to 8) and have been adding cousins daily, through the hint process.  It was to clarify that I knew what I was doing.  Then I thought, I guess I add about 20 new relatives an hour...so that's close to a hundred a day.  Whew.

J. A. was also Joseph Alexander Sharp, with a nickname of Joe.  Born "about 1904 in Tennessee" (that's actually what it says on Ancestry about a man who did genealogy research!) and died 26 June 1971 in Sevierville, TN.

That makes me think that he wasn't a serious genealogist, but did claim to have various papers that would be of interest to family members who were serious genealogists! But wait, he was known as a Sevier County historian! So maybe he intentionally hid his origins from Ancestry! I've had that mood many a time when dealing with them!

From a story (submitted to Ancestry):

Born Aug. 9, 1903, in the Pine Grove Community, Joseph Alexander “Joe” Sharp was one of three children of Walter Alexander Sharp and Alice Montgomery Sharp. Along with his sister, Katherine, and his brother, Grady, he attended Pine Grove School and graduated from Murphy College.

[he was]...officially appointed Sevier County historian in 1950...He served a term as president of the East Tennessee Historical Society, served as chairman of the Sevier County Democratic Party, and served as secretary of the Shiloh Memorial Cemetery Association.

The historical markers situated at roadsides and in fields throughout Sevier County are the work of Joe Sharp. He was commissioned by the state of Tennessee to research and direct in placing the markers.

The Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville and the Rel and Wilma Maples History Center at the King Family Library in Sevierville both contain a valuable collection of articles written by Joe Sharp, which are available for research. His collection at the King Family Library contains 18 roles of microfilm.

In June 1932, he married Dorothy Weatherly, whom he met while they were attending Maryville College. They moved to Covington, Tenn., where he was teaching history.

Their children, David and Mary Jean, attended Sevierville Elementary School and Sevier County High School...[and went on to obtain higher degrees as well.]  

Since David and Mary Jean Sharp are still alive, their details aren't public knowledge on Ancestry.

 On Saturday morning, June 26, 1971, Joe Sharp died suddenly as a result of a heart attack. He was 67. His unexpected death brought an abrupt end to an unparalleled research effort on the history of Sevier County and its citizens.

Authored by:
Carroll Mcmahon, the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and Sevier County historian.  


So that gives me a better sense of a man who taught history for many years, then after retiring he spent a lot of time weaving the events of ancestors to the place where he lived.  I take back my impression that he might not have known what a legitimate researcher would know.

He actually had a "delayed birth certificate" made in 1954, based on his father's statement and the Family Bible. I wonder if any of the other Sharps had written records of their births.  These were mountain people, and to hear that he went to college says that education was more important to his family than to many other people in the 1930s.  He also worked to put himself through college.

I am glad to have some cousins that are related to this man.

How is a Sharp related to the Rogers?

Again searching for a connection to someone I know I'm related to.  This is getting to be a daily pursuit.  J. A. Sharp wrote my grandfather (and somewhere I have a copy of his letter), saying they were related through Mullendore and Rogers marriages.

And I do remember we just found a James Sharp married to one of Cynthia Cannon Rogers' sisters, Rebecca (see yesterday's post).

So I've looked at all the 13 children (well only the daughters actually) of Dialtha Rogers Mullendore and her husband John, to see if any married a Sharp.  Silly me, I will now go hunt up the letter.  I found nary a Sharp among them.

Mr. J. A. Sharp of Sevierville was interested in ancestry and history, so I should start with him.

OK, here's his letter to my grandfather's cousin, J. Hayden Ross of Houston in 1954.

All the hand-writing on this letter looks the same, so I think it was part of the original letter from J. A. Sharp.

My grandfather had been part of a Ross household at times as a boy, since he'd been orphaned at 2 years of age.  So his cousin Hayden Ross was someone who knew the history of the Rogers family, and whose mother had also been a Rogers, (sister to my grandfather's father, W. Sam Rogers.)

James Hayden Ross, 1880-1961

So the answer to my original question is that J. A. Sharp says he was a grandchild of the Mullendores branch of the Rogers lineage.  And that means I need to check each of the 13 children...having already looked at the 5 daughters, but not having looked to see which of any of the13 Mullendores had a daughter married a person named Sharp, in order to have J. A. as their child.  Oh my goodness, isn't genealogy fun?

I find it interesting that J. A. apparently didn't know about Rebecca, because he says he doesn't have any lineage including the Cannon family. But then a cousin who didn't live in the same community might have been totally unknown to him.

And since a genealogist of the 50's may not be around any more, I want to see if Mr. Sharp had children as well.

I'm off to see what I can see, hi ho, hi ho.

The answer to my quest

Who was the McCroskey who married a Rogers?  Or maybe someone who was a descendant of a Rogers?

I just looked at the names of 37 McCrosekeys on my Ancestry tree...none married to Rogers. I do add the married name for women as well as their maiden names, whenever I can.  That way at least I know where they went in their lives.  It doesn't work that way for men, so I can look to see if any of these men married a Rogers descendant.  That won't take too long.  (You've heard that before, haven't you?)

OK, my first task was including the 5 people whose names were spelled wrong, with a space between the "Mc" and the "Croskey".  While doing that I added about 20 more people.  I have no idea why these people were added several (maybe 5 times) because most of them were siblings with the same parents.  I just was focused on the Rogers connection.

And the fifth Mc (space) Croskey was Elizabeth Clack.  That's a great clue, because Spencer Clack was a Rogers ancestor.  So I went over the the Rogers list, and sure enough Elizabeth Clack Rogers married David McCroskey.  Yay me.

A portrait found attached to Elizabeth Clack Rodgers on Ancestry (many people's names were spelled several ways at that time)

Time frame?
Elizabeth Clack Rogers (1805-1860) b. in Sevier County, TN
m. 1828
to David McCroskey (1805-1885)

And who were Elizabeth Rogers McCroskey's parents?

Same ones as Micajah Clack Rogers...namely,
Rev. Elijah Rogers (1774-1841)
m. 1794
to Catharine Clack Rogers (1778-1850)

The McCroskey family called her Beulah "Aunt Katy" Rogers...how that came from Catharine Clack Rogers, I don't really understand, but that's what they've put on the markers about her.  The Rogers Family Bible doesn't have Beulah Aunt Katy as part of her name.

But now I know why I knew of that name!  And my next project will be to reduce the numbers of McCroskeys on my tree by merging the duplicates.  It's a good thing its a rainy night in North Carolina while I do this.  I also have a lot of photos to scan, so I don't want to take too long doing this!