Old Tennessee Newspapers

Last Tuesday night was the meeting of our reading group at the library. It was good, as usual, but the best thing is I was able to come early and poke around in the genealogical section. Y'all know how I love old newspapers, and I found a book called Genealogical Abstracts from Tennessee Newspapers compiled by Sherida K. Eddlemon in 1989. It contained abstracts from several Tennessee newspapers from 1803-1812, over 200 years ago, or way back yonder, as some would say.

From the Carthage Gazette and Friend of the People (don't you love that?) in 1809:
January: Mrs Sally Anderson died in the town of Liberty on the 21st. She was the consort of Mathias Anderson of that town.

February: *For sale, salt petre. T. Dickson, Miller &Co., Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky.

*Young Celah will stand this season at my plantation on Goose Creek. James Ware.

*For sale, Mann's Lick salt. Basil Shaw.

March: My wife Susannah Waggoner has eloped from my bed without just cause. I will not pay her debts. My son Daniel and my daughter Caty are acting for themselves. I will not be responsible for their debts. Cornelius Waggoner.

May: My wife Mary Calhoun has left my bed without just cause. I will not pay her debts. William Calhoun, Jackson County. (There seemed to be a lot of that going around. I wonder about Susannah's and Mary's side of the story.)

. . . .continued tomorrow

Comments

Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures. We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything. Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.

100 miles or less: Rattlesnake Saloon

The Rattlesnake Saloon was opened on Labor Day, 2009. Dining there is an unique experience. It is way out in the boonies in Colbert County, Alabama. It is hard to get to, even for locals, but they have had visitors from all over the United States and many countries throughout the world. Sitting comfortably under the huge rock overhang, I couldn't help but think about the people who have sought shelter there from storms or heat. I can imagine the Native Americans using this place for a meeting area or a dry place to camp for a while. Not so many years ago, it was used as a pig pen. They have good food and live music and a hitching post if you want to ride your horse there. Most of us were picked up in a pickup, called the "Saloon Taxi", that runs from the parking lot to the restaurant continuously while they are open. The Rattlesnake Saloon is aptly named. During construction, workers unearthed a mother rattler with twelve babie...

Out of the Dirt: Bragg-ing

Like every reader, I have my favorite writers. There have been so many that have stirred my emotions and made me a part of their world, and I'm thankful for that. The one is love the best, the one I cherish , is Rick Bragg. Yesterday, Rick was in our area. We were privileged to see a newly released documentary about his life called Out of the Dirt . Afterwards, he talked to us about family and roots. His first book, All over but the Shoutin' , was recommended to me years ago. Very early in the book, I was thinking, "Who is this? He is writing about me, about my family." I have never actually met anyone in the book, but they are all my neighbors and kinfolks. His other books are just as well-written. In his book, Writing for the Soul , Christian author Jerry Jenkins had this to say about Rick Bragg: I read other writers and strive to be like them. I read others, like Rick Bragg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist, and simply surrender, knowing I will ...

Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Search This Blog