Oral Family History from Brother Davis

Things Eliza Ann Jones White told her Granddaughter Myrtle White Davis
Who In Turn Told Her Son Edwin M. “Brother” Davis.
Reference: Letter from Brother Davis to L.F. “Bud” Hammond dated August 10, 2009 and reprinted below as received.

Here are things my (Edwin M. "Brother" Davis) mother told me that, Eliza Ann Jones White, her Grandmother told her:

1. Thrashley White could cure the toothache. People came from all abound seeking relief. He never told anyone his secret.
2. Grandmother, Eliza Ann Jones White, was called “Mu” by her children and most grandchildren.
3. Grandmother, Eliza Ann Jones White, would tell my mother Myrtle and Aunt Ethel, “children let us go to bed early tonight cause we are going to get up early tomorrow morning and walk to Kershaw to see our kin fold”. This scared my mother and Aunt Ethel to death. Just the idea of walking 35-40 miles with “Mu”.
4. During reconstruction after the Civil War* the Yankees were destroying any and everything. The Yankees came through the yard of Eliza Ann Jones White, and her young children and their garden. One of the children hallowed, “Mu, dem, damn, Yankees are pulling up all our onions!” Scared all to death as every one was more afraid of the Yankees than a snake. You remember the story of the pet rooster that Eliza Ann Jones White and children hid in the loft of the home when the Yankees came by then pulverized that the rooster would crow while the Yankees were in and around the house. (See the blog note from Emma Rae Hammond Eskridge for more information.)
5. Eliza Ann Jones White walked from the Westfield Community to where the Yankees were camped at Sneedsboro on the Pee Dee River, to pick up kernels of corn that the Yankees horses dropped while eating. She then walked 3 – 4 miles back home to cook the corn making corn meal and etc.
6. The Whites were great fish eaters and dearly loved to fish.
7. No doubt about the Indian blood. My mother had the olive complexion and several of my 1st cousins are real brown. Carl White, Jr., son of Carl White, Sr., son of Heyward White, son of Eliza Ann Jones White and Thrashley White, our cousin who lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina, made all White Reunions except the very first one before his death. He had a sister, Vivian, who was Miss North Carolina in the Miss America Pageant. Carl said she was very dark skin and when she walked across the stage in Atlantic City for the Miss America Finals he jumped up and called her by her pet name. Seems the whole family used her nickname.
8. My mother said she never remembers any one coming to visit Eliza Ann Jones White, “Mu” while she lived with them from the Thrashley White side of the family. Strange because Eliza Ann Jones White with all those children and no brother or sisters from the Thrashley side came to visit.
9. There is a Polly Sowell near Buffalo who is kin to us. Polly Sowell is a retired school teacher and my mother and I went to visit her and her mother several years ago. They came to the White Reunion about 30 years ago seeking information on Wiley Jones and Sara. They have no more knowledge on Wiley and Sara than we do. Polly Sowell is alive as of August 4, 2009, but not in too good of health. Wiley Jones and Sara would be her great grandparents and Eliza Ann Jones White, her great aunt.
10. On the farm of Ethel Lee Short, daughter of Ira B. Lee, son of Sara Jane White Lee, daughter of Eliza Ann Jones White and Thrashley White, there is a spring known even today as the Lemons Spring. Ethel told me several times where it is located but I never went to the location. The land today is owned by Ethel Lee Short’s daughter Jackie Short White who lives in Rockingham, North Carolina. Ethel and I think it is behind the house of Jane and Jim Lemons who Thrashley White was living with in 1850. Several people had mentioned in to me and probably Danny Lee could show us where it is. I am sure I know about where Eliza Ann Jones White and children lived.

Edwin M. “Brother” Davis

* I, Bud Hammond believe this event took place when General Sherman’s US Army moved through Chesterfield County in February 1865. Reconstruction was started after the Civil War ended.