An Invitation to the Memorial Service for David Palmer, CSA Veteran

You are invited to a memorial service for C.S.A. Veteran David Z. Palmer to be conducted at Lann Cemetery, Splunge, Monroe County, Mississippi, at 2:30 PM, Sunday June 6, 2010.

Palmer served in Company B of the 3rd Battalion of the Mississippi State Troops and the service is to mark his grave and to honor his memory. David Palmer was born January 3, 1817 and died June 21, 1887.

Several out-of-state family members are expected to attend this ceremony which will feature re-enactors from local historic military units providing color guard and rifle salute. A bagpiper is expected to be a part of the program.

Hill Country residents will find this sort of memorial service to be a moving and colorful tribute to one who served in the cause of his country. Please make plans to attend to both learn more about our local heritage as well as to welcome Mr. Palmer's relatives to Hill Country.

Historic Lann Cemetery is located near Splunge in the eastern part of the hills of Monroe County, Mississippi. It is the burial place of both Southern Confederates and Southern Unionists who survived the war and learned to live peacefully as neighbors in Hill Country.

If you need help with directions to Lann Cemetery, please email hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com It is recommended you bring your own folding chair. Please be advised there are no facilities nor buildings at Lann Cemetery so come prepared.

Strike-overs on grave markers: Mark the perfect man . . .

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

A favorite Bible verse is Psalms 37:37 --- "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace."

I found this verse as an epitaph on a grave marker recently in a cemetery in Itawamba County, Mississippi. On closer examination, however, the "strike-over" on the stone mason's work made me ponder the situation. These two photographs explain. (Left click for a larger image)

Mistakes made in stone are difficult to correct --- when ordering a stone be sure of your information. When receiving a stone, make sure that the mason has done it correctly too. Although my pre-need stone had no mistakes in the spelling of names, the marble company installed it backwards contrary to the written set of instructions/contract I had provided/signed with them. They most willingly came back to the cemetery and did it correctly when I complained (of course I was holding 1/3 of the agreed upon price in reserve for a final inspection of the stone).

Mark the perfect men and women in your family with correctly written and correctly placed markers.

Two little angels . . .

(left click for a large image)

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

The two angels above were photographed recently in Fulton Cemetery, Fulton, Itawamba County, Mississippi. The image was intriguing and I made a close-up photograph of the marker.

(left click for a large image)

Look at the marker. At first glance it appears to mark the death of one child and I inventoried the marker as a single-name-stone for the burial of Powel Clayton, 1861 - 1862. But the two angels chiseled upon the stone made me wonder. So I took a second look at the stone and saw beneath the word "Also" a notice of the death of an unnamed daughter for which no dates were provided.

Here is an image the bottom of the stone enlarged (and enhanced by changing contrast). Note the inscription

ALSO

Unnamed Dau. of same

Two little angels who beckon

us to Heaven

(left click for a large image)

The two angels on the top of the stone, one obviously a larger child, a boy, and the other smaller and female, were most appropriate images for Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Clayton to have engraved upon the marker in the early 1860s for their two children.

Source:

Photograph of the burial marker for the children of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Clayton. Fulton Cemetery, Itawamba County, Mississippi. Terry Thornton. May 13, 2010.

LANN CEMETERY, Monroe County, Mississippi: A Video

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

The video below was made Sunday afternoon, May 16, 2010, at Lann Cemetery near Splunge, Monroe County, Mississippi. Click the start buttons to view.

As expected, it was cool at Lann Cemetery.

SOURCE:

Lann Cemetery. Video. Terry Thornton, Fulton, Mississippi. May 16, 2010.

Lann Cemetery Road Part 2 --- A Through-the-Windshield Video

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

The video below was made Sunday afternoon, May 16, 2010, on Lann Cemetery Road, Monroe County, Mississippi. Click the start buttons to view.

The video starts on Lann Cemetery Road about 3/4 mile north of the cemetery. After a short distance along the ridges of the Hill Country, the route takes us past "Splunge International Airport" and ends at Lann Cemetery located at the junction of Brown-Taylor and Lann Cemetery Roads near Splunge. On the map below, place names, roads and creek names are highlighted in red; the portion of Lann Cemetery Road shown on this video is highlighted in green.(Left click map for a larger image.)

Several of my Thornton relatives are buried at Lann Cemetery including my great-grandparents, James Monroe Thornton and Nancy Jane Lay Thornton. It was Granny Nancy Jane who selected Lann Cemetery as a burying ground --- she said it was cooler there than at the other local cemeteries.

And Lann Cemetery was such a good choice, there is where I plan to be buried --- and where I already have a grave marker waiting . . . in the cool . . . quiet, rural setting in the middle of Hill Country.

In the next video, Lann Cemetery will be shown.

SOURCES:

Lann Cemetery Road, Part 2. Through-the-Windshield Video. Terry Thornton, Fulton, Mississippi. May 16, 2010.

Lann Cemetery Road Map modified from the Mississippi Department of Transportation Highway Map of Monroe County. For a complete map visit www.goMDOT.com

Lann Cemetery Road Part 1 --- A Through-the-Windshield Video

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

The video below was made Sunday afternoon, May 16, 2010, on Thornton Road and Lann Cemetery Road, Monroe County, Mississippi. Click the start button to view.

The video starts on Thornton Road; at the junction of Thornton and Lann Cemetery Roads, a right turn takes us south on Lann Cemetery Road along the high ridge that runs west of the Splunge-Sipsey River Bottom. On the map below, place names, road and creek name are highlighted in red; the portion of Thornton Road and Lann Cemetery Roads shown on this video are highlighted in green.(Left click for a larger image)

Part 2 of this video follows and will show the area along Lann Cemetery Road past the "Splunge International Airport" and end at Lann Cemetery at the intersection with Brown-Taylor Road.

SOURCES:

Lann Cemetery Road, Part 1. Through-the-Windshield Video. Terry Thornton, Fulton, Mississippi. May 16, 2010.

Lann Cemetery Road Map modified from the Mississippi Department of Transportation Highway Map of Monroe County. For a complete map visit www.goMDOT.com

Thornton Road Part 2 --- A Through-the-Windshield Video

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

The video below was made Sunday afternoon, May 16, 2010, on Thornton Road, Monroe County, Mississippi. Click the start buttons to view.

The portion of Thornton Road shown in Part 2 is from the high ridge overlooking Weaver's Creek, down into the bottom and across Weaver's Creek (named for my great-great-great-grandfather Frederick Weaver), and up to the top of the high ridges near Ole Smoky. Ole Smoky was the high point on the line of hills separating Weaver's Creek watershed from Splunge Creek further to the east.

See the map below for the location. Place names, road and creek name are highlighted in red; the portion of Thornton Road shown on this video is highlighted in green. (Left click map for a larger image)

Part 3 of this video follows and will show the area from the intersection of Thornton Road across the ridges along Lann Cemetery Road.

SOURCES:

Thornton Road, Part 2. Through-the-Windshield Video. Terry Thornton, Fulton, Mississippi. May 16, 2010.

Thornton Road Map modified from the Mississippi Department of Transportation Highway Map of Monroe County. For a complete map visit www.goMDOT.com

Thornton Road, Part 1 -- A Through-the-Windshield Video

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

The video below was made Sunday afternoon, May 16, 2010, on Thornton Road, Monroe County, Mississippi. Yes, the road is named for me! Click the start buttons to view the video.

The portion of Thornton Road shown in Part 1 is from the intersection of Hatley-Detroit Road, through Thornton Farm, and ends about 1.2 miles down the road on the high ridge overlooking Weaver's Creek (named for my great-great-great-grandfather Frederick Weaver, one of the earliest settlers in Hill Country). See the map below for the location. Place names, road and creek name are highlighted in red; the portion of Thornton Road shown on this video is highlighted in green. (Left click map for a larger view)

Part 2 of this video follows and will show the descent into and the ascent out of Weaver's Creek Bottom.

SOURCES:

Thornton Road, Part 1. Through-the-Windshield Video. Terry Thornton, Fulton, Mississippi. May 16, 2010.

Thornton Road Map modified from the Mississippi Department of Transportation Highway Map of Monroe County. For a complete map visit www.goMDOT.com

Hills, Horses, and High-flying Flags: Hill Country Ramblin's

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

Sunday afternoon, May 16, after an evening of heavy rains and flash flood warnings, Sweetie and I decided to drive through the Hill Country of eastern Monroe County. And we were so glad we did --- the roads were passable and the trees were all washed clean of the pollen and so brilliant in their new greens for summer. Never have I seen foliage so full on trees --- even the oaks are hanging heavy from the weight of so many leaves.

Below is a photograph of the hills --- made from Lann Cemetery Road looking east. Since I'd last driven that road, timber cutters have opened up a vista not previously noticed by me. It looked like home. (Left-click photos for a larger image)

On the return, we drove through Parham. Thanks to some kind soul or some group of kind souled folk, the flagpole at the old section of New Hope Cemetery at Parham now has a new, large flag. THANKS, someone or some group, for placing a much-needed new flag on the pole at the cemetery. It really looks good as you can see in this photograph.

We also drove Parham Store Road. I had to stop and photograph Canterbury Farm's pasture-full of miniature horses. These tiny, beautiful creatures make me wish for one to pet. Here is one photograph of the pasture of miniature horses at Canterbury Farm. [I believe that most of the adult miniature horses stand about 28 - 30 inches tall. Think large dog for sizing them.]

For more information about the miniature horses at Canterbury Farm near Parham, click this link to their website:

http://www.canterburyminis.com/index.html

Hills, horses, high-flying flags --- what more could one ask for in Hill Country on a Spring afternoon? Oh, I visited my grave marker at Lann Cemetery. It is still a pre-need sort of marker. It is always a good day when I find my grave marker un-used.

Itawamba Historical Society: May 18, 2010 Meeting

The public is invited to the regular monthly meeting of the Itawamba Historical Society, Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at 6 PM. The meeting is in the auditorium of the society's complex at Mantachie, Mississippi, on the corner of Church Street and Museum Drive. A light meal will start the program followed by a short business session after which the program will begin.

The program, My Grandmother's Quilt, will be presented by Joe Nell Wood and will feature the names from a circa 1932 Friendship Quilt which belonged to her grandmother. The quilt will be on display at the meeting and a slide presentation of all of the names from the quilt will be shown. Below is shown Mrs. Wood's grandmother's name and block from the quilt.

Some surnames that the research of the names from this almost eighty year-old quilt include (but not limited to): Wood, Wallace, Carroll, Sheffield, York, Whitten, Trammel, Gray, Bean, Armstrong, Duncan, Chatham, Gassaway, Moore, Gurley, McDaniel, Gregory, Loden, Ganaway, Bradley, Jackson, Martin, Clayton, Lesley, Gurley, Wright, Franks, Cayson, Farris, Nabors, Summers, Ballard, Stidham, Bostick, Selby, Wiugul, McMillen, Shields, Crawford, Loague, and Kyle. Many of the surnames are from families centered around the community of Dorsey, Itawamba County where the quilt is thought to have been made.

If you would like to see the quilt and perhaps find your mother or grandmother or great-grandmother's name stitched in thread (and maybe in their own hand) on this friendship quilt, you are invited to the meeting Tuesday evening. Who knows, you might discover one of your ancestors who signed, embroidered, pieced, and then helped quilt this historical artifact.

Other Friendship Quilts are on display at the Society's museum and will be shown at the meeting Tuesday evening. The Itawamba Historical Society's 2010 Friendship Quilt Project includes the location and documentation of locally made friendship quilts as well as the production of a new friendship quilt to be raffled off later this year.

Fulton Cemetery, Itawamba County: An Inventory of Names on Grave Markers

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

An inventory of the names on the grave markers at Fulton Cemetery has been posted at Itawamba County Mississippi Book of the Dead. The alphabetized listing of the names is based upon a photographic record of the cemetery done May 13, 2010. The list contains 463 names, year of birth and death, as well as a link to the photograph of the grave marker.

Fulton Cemetery is presented at the Book of the Dead in four parts:

Post 1 is an introduction with general photographs and a map to the cemetery.

Post 2 contains the Surnames A - G

Post 3 contains the Surnames H - M

Post 4 contains the Surnames N - Z and Unknowns

Other Itawamba County cemeteries previous posted to the Book of the Dead include

Pleasant Hill Cemetery

Keys Cemetery

Maxey Cemetery

Chastain Cemetery

Files Cemetery

Asbury Cemetery

Little Cemetery

Walton Cemetery

Use the information in the right-side bar of the Book of the Dead to move from section to section.

BACKWARD GLANCES by Samuel Wallace Tapscott of Bigby Fork, Mississippi

And Another Account of the Ridings Family Murders, 1880

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

This week I've had the pleasure of reading some of Sam Tapscott's delightful book, BACKWARD GLANCES, about growing up "in and around Bigby Fork in Itawamba County in the 1880's and 1890's."

But first, let me tell you how this pleasant reading opportunity came about. The telephone rang over the weekend. A reader of the Hill Country blog and of the Hill County column in the Amory MONROE JOURNAL, Mike Loden, was calling to tell me of his connection to a couple of articles I'd written about the Ridings Murders of 1880 in Bigby Ford.

See these links to re-read about the triple murder of Henry Brown Ridings, his wife, and his infant daughter:

A Hill Country Story Told in Stone: The Ridings Family (includes photograph of triple grave marker from Pine Grove Cemetery at Bigby Fork)

The Ridings Family Murders, 1880, Monroe County, Mississippi (includes a transcription of the Chickasaw Messenger's story, The Bigby Fork Tragedy, published January 8, 1881, and a link to J. Brown's family recollection of the murders)

Mr. Loden is a descendant of the Ridings Family through Pleasant Henry Ridings (his great-great-great-grandfather). Pleasant Henry Ridings and David Ridings (the father of Henry Brown Ridings) were brothers.

And Mr. Loden was telephoning to say he had access to another written account of the murders --- the one in Tapscott's book. Mr. Loden was kind enough to offer to photocopy and to mail me the account --- which he did along with several other pages from the now out-of-print book as well as some family genealogy. Below is Samuel Wallace Tapscott's account of the murders (from pages 211 - 213 of BACKWARD GLANCES).

Brown Ridings Family Murdered

Along about the year of 1880, there appeared in the Bigby Fork neighborhood a vagabond job-hunter named Miller. He worked around over the country for wages. It was noticed that he would stay at one place a short while and then move on to some other place, still hunting work, while dark and bloody schemes were working in his depraved mind.

He first secured employment from Mr. Thad Boyd, but worked for him only a short time. He then moved over to Brown Ridings' place. Mr. Ridings, a young man who was married and had one child, an infant, gave him employment and he went to work.

In his confession later, he said that he would hire to a man and make investigation as to whether he kept money around the house. He did this by eavesdropping at night after all the family had retired for the night. He said he soon found out that Mr. Boyd had no money, but came near doing so too late, for at one time he had put his axe near the door to the room where the family slept, intent upon a murder that night, when he suddenly found that Mr. Boyd had no money in the house.

He had worked for Mr. Ridings for only a week when he decided that he had struck his opportunity. He learned, he, said, that about two hundred dollars was kept on the premises. This money he coveted very much, and he was determined to have it at any cost. So, one night, he placed his favorite weapon, an axe, in a handy place, and after all was silent and as still as death itself, he stealthily crept to the bedside of his sleeping victims. With one heavy blow he snuffed out the life of Mr. and Mrs. Ridings. He killed them instantly, he said. The baby awakened, and, not desiring to kill it, he placed it on the ground outside the house. He then ransacked the house for the treasure he sought. He searched in vain for over an hour, he said, but found no trace of any money. Setting the house on fire to cover up the crime, he was preparing to leave the scene of his crime when he discovered the baby was crying at the top of its little voice. He said the baby's cries made him nervous, so he turned on his evil heels, grabbed the infant by its heels and dashed its brains out against the door facing, and tossed it over on the bed with its mother and father. He then left by way of the back gate to make a get away. He said he had not slept any that night, so, when he reached a point called Marstella's crossing, near Shofapotofa Creek, he sat down beside a large tree and fell asleep. This was probably two miles from the scene of his dastardly crime.

"Uncle Davy" Ridings, the murdered man's father, happened to wake from his slumbers to look across the field to see his unfortunate son's house in flames. By some strange trick of fate, the entire neighborhood became aroused and gathered around the burning building. Uncle Davy had to be restrained from entering the burning building, or he too would have perished in the flames.

All decided that a murder had been committed, and suspicion was immediately filed on the late hired hand who had been seen around there the day before.

Fresh tracks were found in the plowed ground and these were followed to where the degenerate was found beside the large tree fast and sound asleep. On being awakened, Miller must have decided that the jig was up with him and he began to confess. He told all about how he had eavesdropped his victims, and how he had set the house on fire and how he had disposed of the infant child. But by now an angry mob had him in its clutches, determined to take no chances on a miscarriage of justice. He was carried back to the scene of the crime. Esquire Elihu Young had convened his court at the same time and reached a verdict first. Esquire Young was anxious, as an officer of the law, to uphold the dignity of the state, and called in Major Cason, a school teacher of the community, for advice as to what should be done. The Major told him all he could do was to command the peace. The Esquire mounted a nearby pine stump and cried at the top of his voice, "Gentlemen, I command the peace." An irate mobster picked up a convenient pine knot and knocked the benevolent esquire from his perch.

In the meantime, the mob had decided the case. Miller was found guilty, and condemned to death in its most horrid form. He was hanged to a limb of a nearby tree until he was about half dead and then placed on a pile of fence rails and burned. Miller had paid with his own life for the murder of the Ridings family. Of course, the proceedings were a little out of line with strict ethics, but is satisfied everybody, and thus the murder of the Ridings family was avenged. No one ever knew who Miller was, were he came from, but everyone did know where he went when he left Bigby Fork.

This account by Tapscott confirms many of the details from the others previously cited; all tell of the same gruesome triple murders and of the vigilante action which followed in Bigby Fork on December 17 - 18, 1880.

But this account is slightly different --- it is written by someone who grew up in Bigby Fork and someone who was kin to neither the victims nor of the murderer. Who is Samuel Wallace Tapscott?

Samuel W. Tapscott was born March 31, 1877, son of Lucious Lycureus Tapscott and Narcissa Cason Tapscott, all of the Bigby Fork area. Samuel Tapscott was three years old when the murders occurred and no doubt heard numerous details of the murders over the course of his childhood.

By 1910, when Mr. Tapscott was 33 years old according to the Monroe County Mississippi census, he and his wife were living in Nettleton where he was the manager of the local telephone company. In his household, besides his wife who was a telephone operator, were Narcissa Tapscott, 64, his widowed mother, who did not work, and his sister, Mary E. Tapscott, 36, who also was a telephone operator.

On the 1920 census of Booneville, Prentiss County, Mississippi , Samuel W. Tapscott, 42, Manager of the Exchange, was enumerated along with his wife, 40.

The World War 1 Draft Card for Samuel Wallace Tapscott was filed in Booneville and establishes that he was born March 31, 1877, that he was married to Lyda Bell Tapscott, and that they resided on First Avenue in the City of Booneville. He was employed as the manager of the Cumberland Telephone Company.

On the 1930 census of Booneville, the Tapscotts are shown: Sam, 53, manager of the telephone company, and Lida, 51. In their household resided Jennie Ballard, his sister-in-law, 50, the owner of a variety store and Isabel McLeran, 60, a salesman in a general store.

The Providence Cemetery, Nettleton, Mississippi, inventory done by Jonell Powell in 2004 (and available on the Lee County MSGenWeb) lists the following burials:

SAMUEL WALLACE TAPSCOTT

March 31, 1877 - June 30, 1946

LIDA BELLE CAMPBELL TAPSCOTT

April 15, 1876 - September 18, 1942

Nearby are his parents with these markers:

LUCIOUS LYCUREUS TAPSCOTT

July 15, 1838 - August 13, 1905

NARCISSA CASON TAPSCOTT

June 29, 1845 - February 1, 1926

Thanks to Mike Loden of Monroe County for the Tapscott account of the Bigby Fork murders.

SOURCES:

Ridings Family Genealogy Summary Sheet, and other information provided by Mike Loden, Bigby Fork, Monroe County, Mississippi, May 10, 2010, in personal correspondence as well as telephone calls on May 8 and 12, 2010 with Terry Thornton.

Tapscott Family Census information 1910 and 1920 from Heritage Quest Online available through the Itawamba-Lee County Library System and 1930 Census information from Ancestry.com. Both services accessed May 12, 2010.

Tapscott Family Burial information from the inventory of Providence Cemetery, Nettleton, Mississippi, by Jonell Powell, 2004. Available at Lee County MSGenWeb. Accessed May 12, 2010.

Tapscott, Sam W., Backward Glances. Booneville, Mississippi: Booneville Printing Company, 1943, pages 211 - 213.

Tapscott, Samuel W., World War 1 Draft Registration Card, available through Ancestry.com. Accessed May 12, 2010.

BLACK CONFEDERATES IN THE CIVIL WAR

Posted by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

Scott K. Williams' article, BLACK CONFEDERATES IN THE CIVIL WAR, is an interesting read. It can be found at the following link: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/blackcs.htm

Thanks to Alabama cousin Carl Thornton for calling my attention to this article.

An important and must-read opinion piece from the DAILY JOURNAL 05-09-10

Posted by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

Sonny Scott of Sparta, Chickasaw County, Mississippi, is a community columnist for the Daily Journal published in Tupelo. His column today, Schools may be reaping important unintended negative consequences, is one of those rare, "right-on" articles about many of the major problems facing society and public schooling in what passes for education today.

I've searched for a link to the Journal's online version but don't find Scott's article there --- so go out and find a copy of page 7A, May 9, 2010, of the Sunday Journal and read what Scott has to say. I think you'll agree with him that "you can't make apple pie out of road apples."

UPDATE: Readers "Randy" and "Ann" advised me that the column was now on the Journal's website. Here is the link (thanks to Randy); http://www.nems360.com/view/full_story/7374302/article-SONNY-SCOTT--Schools-may-be-reaping-important-unintended-negative-consequences

Readers of the print version of the Daily Journal are fortunate to have access to Sonny Scott's column --- but I wish the Journal would also include his work in their online version so the world could read his words.

Because Scott started his piece with the old country proverb about apple pie, I'll end this endorsement of his work with another food proverb: You can't make mayonnaise if you don't break eggs. Maybe some school administrators, but, more importantly, some parents will read Scott's words and start "breaking eggs."

BURDINE: Civil War Letters

Addison Fletcher Burdine writes to his wife, Ruth Standefer Burdine

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

A few days ago, a descendant of Addison Fletcher Burdine, late of Monroe County, sent a link to transcriptions of the letters AF Burdine wrote to his wife "Rutha" Standefer Burdine during the Civil War. A member of a North Mississippi Hill County unit, Company F, Second Mississippi Cavalry, AF Burdine was a First Lieutenant.

Here is the link to the eighteen letters: http://www.oktibbehamsgenealogy.org/Military_Heritage/Burdine_Letters.htm

Addison Fletcher Burdine and Ruth Standefer Burdine are buried at New Hope Cemetery, Parham, Monroe County, Mississippi. His father and grandfather are reported to have been buried at Burdine Cemetery near Pearce Chapel, Monroe County. Her family was one of the earliest and most influential pioneering groups in the eastern hills of Monroe County; much of the area in present-day Parham was once owned by the Standefers.

The letters AF Burdine wrote to his wife are dated May 18, 1863 -- February 17, 1865. It is not known if she was at their plantation in Itawamba County near Ironwood Bluff/Bull Mountain Creek just north of Smithville or at another home perhaps in Monroe County during this period. AF Burdine on more than one occasion writes that she might move to their older place if she would be more comfortable; the original Burdine Plantation Home was in Itawamba County; AF Burdine and Ruth Burdine also resided in Monroe County.

The transcription of the letters tells much of the Burdine Family but, more importantly, the letters reveal much about the life and times of Hill Country citizens during the turbulent Civil War. Anyone with an interest in Monroe County and Itawamba County should read the letters for an understanding of many aspects of life both on the battlefield and on the homefront. Additionally, family researchers will no doubt learn about some of their ancestors as the letters are full of local names.

Below is a listing of some of the individuals mentioned in the letters (highlighted in bold blue). The relationship of individuals listed is an on-going research project --- please feel free to post comments of correction or to post additional information about the names.

Addison Fletcher Burdine, 1823 - 1905, writer of the letters. Son of Wesley Burdine, 1800 - 1887; grandson of John Fletcher Burdine, 1772 - 1845 (both Methodist ministers; both buried at Burdine Cemetery at the historic Siloam Church grounds near Pearce Chapel, Monroe County, Mississippi.

Ruth Henrietta Standefer Burdine, 1833 - 1916, wife of Addison Fletcher Burdine. Throughout the letters she is referred to as Rutha. Daughter of William Price Standefer/Standifer; granddaughter of Luke and Mary Alice Price Standefer/Standifer. Luke and Mary Standifer are buried at New Hope Cemetery, Parham, Monroe Country. The grave for Luke Standifer, 1767 - 1834, is marked with the notation "2d Lieutenant VA Militia Rev. War." Other Standifer burials are marked by only a pile of brick at New Hope Cemetery.

Children of AF and Rutha Burdine mentioned in the letters:

1. "Gimy" is James Shafer Burdine

2. "Larisa" is Larissa Virginia Burdine

3. "Valeria" is Charity Valeria Burdine

4. "Sweet Babe" or "Little Babe" never named in the letters is Mary Leona Burdine

Other children of AF and Ruth Burdine include

1. John Luther Burdine 1854 - 1862 buried at New Hope Cemetery, Parham

2. Ira Price Burdine

and several other children born after 1865.

Aunt Charity is Charity Standefer, Ruth Standefer Burdine's aunt. In later years, Aunt Charity lived in a cottage in the yard of AF Burdine and Ruth Standefer Burdine. Charity Standefer, 1795 - after 1870, is buried at New Hope Cemetery, Parham, Monroe County.

Armstrong individuals named within the letters require more research. The D.A. Armstrong and the Mr. Armstrong mentioned throughout the letters are probably the same individual. It would appear that AF Burdine left this individual in charge of the plantations while he was in the military. David A. Armstrong 1811 - 1889 is buried in Beans Cemetery in Itawamba County; it is not known at this time of his connection/relationship to the Burdine Family.

D. Armstrong is thought to be AF Burdine's brother-in-law, David D. Armstrong, husband to Mandane Burdine, sister to AF Burdine.

The two Armstrong men called "Dick" and "Dock" are probably A.D. Armstrong and Adolphus Armstrong, both Privates in Company F, 2nd Mississippi Cavalry --- and both may be AF Burdine's nephews.

A.D. Armstrong married J.A.M. (Julia?) Pearce in 1880 in Monroe County. A.D. Armstrong, 1846 - 1917 and Julia Armstrong, 1861 - 1946, are buried in Maxey Cemetery, Monroe County, Mississippi.

There is a military marker without dates for "A. Armstrong, Company H, Second Mississippi Cavalry CSA" at New Hope Cemetery which may be Adolphus Armstrong. More research is needed.

John Armstrong mentioned in the letters is also unknown at this time.

George Dilworth is probably Private George Dilworth, Company H, Second Mississippi Cavalry. Further, AF Burdine's sister, Melissa K. Burdine, married George Dilworth. This individual could be AF Burdine's brother-in-law.

Steavan Dilworth is probably Private Steven Dilworth, Company F, Second Mississippi Cavalry. It is not known at this time the relationship of Steven to George Dilworth.

James Burdine is probably AFBurdine's brother, James C. Burdine 1831 - 1914. James C. Burdine was a Private, Company A, 43rd Regiment Mississippi Infantry CSA.

Mary Parchman most likely is Mary Jane Burdine Parchman McCullen, sister of AF Burdine. At the time of the letters, Mary Jane Parchman was the widow of James M. Parchman who had just been killed in action at the Battle of Shiloh.

Judith Fears is Judith Victoria Burdine Fears, 1837 - 1913, sister of AF Burdine. She was married to William Johnson Fears, 1834 - 1911. She is buried at New Hope Cemetery, Parham, where she is listed as Juda V. Burdine Fears on the marker with W.J. Fears. W.J. Fears is also listed on a family marker at New Hope Cemetery for Hansford J. Fears and Peachy Ann Chism Fears as one of their eight children.

John Fears. Because he was entrusted by AF Burdine to hand-deliver one of the letters to Ruth Burdine, it is believed that John Fears was a kinsman or certainly a neighbor of the Burdines. At this writing, however, it is not clear who he is.

Barman Terel is Blair Moorman Terrell of Quincy. His son mentioned is John Thomas Terrell, 1843 - 1864, who was killed in the Civil War and is buried at Oakland Cemetery, Fulton, Georgia.

Ben Rigans is probably B.F. Riggan, First Sergeant, Company F, Second Mississippi Cavalry.

Captain Anderson is Joseph A. Anderson, the Captain of AF Budine's CSA unit.

John Hatchcock is most likely John Hathcock, Private, Company F, Second Mississippi Cavalry.

Patrick is probably Thomas J. Patrick, Corporal, Company F, Second Mississippi Cavalry.

Dick's uncle Tom Murphy may be T.A. Murphy, Private, Company C, 43rd Regiment Mississippi Infantry, CSA.

John, Lou, and her 4 youngest are probably slaves of AF Burdine.

Emery, Lister, Esex, Little Essx are probably slaves of AF Burdine.

Ed Pearce is probably the E.P Pierce, 34, farmer, as enumerated on the 1860 Monroe County Federal Census.

Lum Pearce, Old Man Wadkins, Clabe, Cleyborn, Jo, Stea, Mr. Hudson, Lorsy, Murphy, Lt. Roy, Jo Carter, Jery shot and killed, Whitecer, and nun are unknowns. More research is needed.

Two of the unknowns listed above are mentioned within interesting activities --- AF Burdine explains to Rutha Burdine to "send well to Lorsy and have a new hat made" and then mentions "Nun" regarding hides that AF Burdine left to be tanned and to get the leather (earlier he mentions to get shoes made).

"Jery shot and killed" is another name and another tragic circumstance which requires more research.

SOURCES:

Addison Fletcher Burdine by Carol Ann Burdine. Transcription of Letters. Posted at Oktibbeha County Mississippi. Copyrighted 2008 by William Price. Note: In the header of this article it is stated that Addison Fletcher Burdine and Ruth H. Standefer Burdine are buried in New Hope Cemetery, Calhoun County, Mississippi. They are buried, however, at New Hope Cemetery, Monroe County, Mississippi.

Index to Online Cemetery Records Monroe County Mississippi by Terry Thornton, Monroe County GenForum, a series of 24 articles from # 2150 through 2173, September 11, 2006.

New Hope Cemetery, Parham, Monroe County Mississippi by Terry Thornton, August 2008 (print version copyright by the New Hope Cemetery Perpetual Fund) and 2009 (digital version, Compact disc, copyright jointly by New Hope Cemetery Perpetual Fund and William T. Thornton).

Burdine Cemetery, Cemeteries of the Hill Country by Terry Thornton, Article #s 85, 86, 87, April 6, 2009.

On the Sanctification of Miss Charity Standefer by Terry Thornton, Hill Country of Monroe County, # 107, July 1, 2007, Volume One, 2009.

Charity Standefer b 1795 VA d after 1870 Monroe County MS by Terry Thornton, Monroe County GenForum, # 2580, February 18, 2007.

Miss Jessie Pierce's History of Smithville, transcribed by Terry Thornton, Hill Country of Monroe County Mississippi, Articles 756 - 762, December 12, 2008. Available on Hill Country, Volume One CD, 2009.

Mother Monroe by W. A. Evans, as reprinted by the Mother Monroe Publishing Company, Hamilton, Mississippi. 1979.

Mother Monroe Every-Name Index by Terry Thornton, Itawamba Historical Society, October 2006.

Cemetery Markings, Itawamba County by Betty Burton-Cruber.

Various online family trees from a number of contributors

Terrell Society of America, information from Don C. Terrill in email to Terry Thornton, June 12, 2007. See also Quincy Mississippi, Part 3 --- The Terrell Family and Store Ledger by Terry Thornton, Hill Country of Monroe County Mississippi, # 76, June 10, 2007.

J.T. Terrell's burial information in a letter transcription posted by Bob Franks, The Civil War: A Fallen Itawamba Soldier's Burial in Atlanta, Itawamba History Review, May 28, 2007.

Thanks to Jim Young of Missouri, great-grandson of Addison Fletcher Burdine, for sending the link to the transcription of the letters. Mr. Young is the owner of the letters.

Thanks also to the Monroe County Discussion Group (Jerry Harlow, Aberdeen, Mississippi; Mary Anna Riggan, Lackey, Mississippi; Rita Thompson, Hatley, Mississippi; Judy Sullivan, Amory, Mississippi; Bob Franks, Mantachie, Mississippi; James Alverson, Biloxi, Mississippi; and Lori Thornton, Morristown, Tennessee) for assistance in sorting through the Burdine Family.