Lovable Courageous Callie

by Tommie Plier Mitchell

Overview

Lovable Courageous Callie

This memoir spotlights Callie during her early years living in the country. She lives through a severe illness. As she grows older, she marries a handsome man who decides he wants to farm for a living. Living in the depression years brought about many challenges to this young couple. They have seven children in fifteen years.

Callie finds herself alone at the age of thirty six. How will she make a living for herself and her children? Relatives and friends are convinced she cannot take care of seven children living in the backwoods of Alabama so they want her to give some of the children away. As she experiences the situations in her family, she becomes more determined that she will make it. Crises such as illnesses, snake bite, a gun shot wound, a burn and polio strengthens her resolve and dependence on her loving and caring God.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452097633
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	04/25/2011
Pages:	164
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

Read an Excerpt

Lovable Courageous Callie

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By Tommie Plier Mitchell

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Tommie Plier Mitchell
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-9764-0

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Chapter One

The Birth and Early Years

Life for the Williams family was an exciting life but filled with much work. On a farm, there was always lots of work to be done. With six members of the family, there had to be at least one tomboy. A tomboy being a girl who really wished she had been born a boy. Every step her Dad took, Callie wanted to be there.

Affie Addicue Merrell Williams (Callie's mom) and Thomas L. Williams (Callie's dad) were united in marriage on March 16, 1899 in Shelby County, Alabama. This union was blessed with three daughters and one son. Belle was the oldest who was born on November 19, 1900. Annie, the second daughter made her way into the home on May 22, 1902. A son, Isaac, was born April 22, 1905. Callie Idella was born July 31, 1908. In addition to these births, a boy named David lived two hours; a girl, Lillie Mae, lived two days and another girl was still-born. Life was hard in those days and infant mortality was high.

Grandma Williams had a very unusual name (Ruthie (Molly) Alabama Vanderslice Williams). She married Hillary B. Williams and they had two daughters. After his death in the Civil War, she married Baruck Williams (a Williams cousin). They had one son, Thomas, and one daughter named Rena. She lived with Thomas and his family until her death.

The Williams family lived in the Spring Creek Community located about three miles from the Shelby Ironworks. Shelby Ironworks was a mine that was known for making pig iron. The mines operated until about 1922. Shelby was a town that depended on the mines for its existence.

Spring Creek Church (currently named Bethlehem Baptist Church) was located about a mile from the Williams' home. This church only had services one week end a month, on a Saturday night and Sunday morning.

David M. Merrell (Grandpa Merrell) was a fourth generation descendant of Captain Benjamin Merrill. Captain Benjamin Merrill was a Regulator who protested the unjust rule of England prior to the Revolution. There has been an interchange of the spelling of the Merrell (Merrill) name over the generations probably caused from the census takers. Captain Benjamin attended Jersey Baptist Church (formerly Jersey Settlement Church) which was constituted in 1755. Jersey Baptist Church is still in existence today. In his book Captain Benjamin Merrill And the Merrill Family of North Carolina, William Ernest Merrill, M.S. writes

The War of the Regulation ended, not with the Battle of Alamance in 1771, but with the adoption of the State Constitution in 1776. Benjamin Merrill came from New Jersey prior to 1756 and settled in the Jersey Settlement near Salisbury. He was a Captain of the Rowan County Militia prior to the movement of the Regulators. Captain Merrill was one of the unfortunate victims of Tryon's brutal tyranny. He was on his way to join the Regulators at Alamance, with a company of over three hundred men, when he intercepted Gen. H. Waddell and forced him to flee to Salisbury, after taking most of Waddell's men as prisoners. He and his men were within a day's march of Alamance when the roar of the battle met them, and after hearing of the victory of the Governor's army he disbanded his men and returned home. He regretted that he was not present at the battle so he could fight with his fellow patriots. Some accounts give him credit for being in the actual battle. He was taken prisoner by Colonel Fanning and his men, and brought to Tryon's Jersey Settlement Camp on June 1, 1771. After being put in chains with the other prisoners and dragged through the country to Hillsborough, he, on June 19, 1771, paid forfeit with his life.... On being permitted to speak just before the execution, he said that fifteen years previously he had been converted, but had back-slidden, yet now felt that he was freely forgiven and that he would not change places with anyone on the grounds, in concluding he referred to his wife and eight children. It is said that one of Tryon's soldiers was heard to declare that if all men went to the gallows with a character such as Captain Merrill's, " hanging would be an honorable death." Captain Merrill was a man held in general esteem for his honesty, integrity, and piety.

Grandma and Grandpa Merrell lived about six miles from the Williams family. The Sundays that Spring Creek Church didn't have services, the Williams family would walk the six miles to Mosteller for services. Mosteller (known for its good fishing) was a town that was located nearer the Coosa River.

Another event that stood out in the Williams family household was Protracted Meeting time (same as revivals today). Thomas Williams would gather all the widow women (usually five or six) who lived nearby and keep them in the Williams home during the meetings. Grandma Williams was well-noted for her getting happy at these meetings. Callie would ask her Grandma why she let herself get so excited and wear herself out? Grandma Williams would just reply that someday she hoped she would understand when God revealed himself to her. One of the great aunts was also known for her shouting. That aunt's son was at the church on one occasion, he saw his Mom headed toward him so he jumped out the window to keep her from getting to him.

Grandma Williams had a big influence on Callie in her younger years. While Affie was doing all the cooking for the family, Grandma Williams would instruct Callie in the art of embroidery and quilt making. Callie loved to sit and talk to Grandma Williams while she would tell her stories of how her family survived during the Civil War period. She would tell how they would parch corn, boil the parched corn to make coffee because there was no coffee to be bought and no money with which to buy it if there were any. Callie, being a tomboy, didn't enjoy staying inside, but if she had to she didn't mind getting her instructions from Grandma Williams. If Thomas couldn't take Callie fishing, Grandma Williams would.

Another of the big highlights in the life of the Williams family was the Summer Singing School. All the children would attend. Six of the cousins would come and spend the time with the Williams family. Th e Uncle and the Aunt would bring food to help take care of the children during the time that they would stay for singing school. Callie could learn the notes but just could not get the timing right for singing. She still enjoyed trying though.

School Years

Isaac was born with a cleft palate. This caused many problems during the childhood years. At this time in life, there wasn't much that could be done for a child born with a condition such as this, but to accept the fact and live with it. Of course, the sisters would defend their brother against the other students at school. Callie was the nearest in age to Isaac so she found herself in defense of him often.

School in those days was a one-room school house about twenty feet wide and sixty feet long with all grade classes together. The school was located about four miles from where the Williams family lived. Everyone walked to school in those days during the rain, sleet, snow or whatever weather came. Icicles were not unusual during the cold weather. Edgar and Callie were the only students in the third grade. Callie had knitted the socks that she wore the day the picture was made.

Can you believe there was only one teacher for about sixty students? Of course, the teacher expected the older students to help teach the younger students their lessons. The school only went through the seventh grade. The teacher of the school would board with one of the families who lived nearby. Callie could remember two of the teachers boarding with their family.

Respect for the teacher and obedience was expected from each child. The one teacher was able to maintain order over all sixty or so students. Punishment was putting your nose in the corner for a period of time. Paddling was another form of punishment. If you got a paddling at school, you also got one at home.

The only way the Williams children could go further in school was to go and stay closer to town with the Aunts. But, the children didn't want to leave home. Callie was allowed to go through the seventh grade twice since there was no higher level provided.

Everyone enjoyed recess and lunch period at school. Different people would make string balls to be used to play baseball. Syrup buckets were used to carry the lunches to school. The buckets would keep the lunch from getting smashed as you traveled the road to the school. Hopping, skipping, walking and running were the means of getting to school. On very rare occasions, Thomas would carry the children to school in the wagon. These occasions were very rare because there was always work to be done beginning at daybreak and ending at dark.

Life in Shelby County

William Patrick Lay obtained U.S. Congressional approval on March 04, 1907 to build the Lock 12 Dam on the Coosa River. This bill was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt. Lay began purchasing the land in 1910 and work began on the hydroelectric power plant in 1912 and was completed on December 31, 1913. The Dam was named in honor of Lay in 1929. Water levels vary seasonally. Power production is enhanced by maintaining water levels (higher levels for summer and lower levels for winter). The water levels are controlled by Alabama Power.

After the Coosa River was backed up, Thomas would rent an island to raise crops on. Cotton and corn would be planted there on the fertile land. Most of Thomas' farmland was red clay that didn't produce to Thomas' satisfaction. When Callie got older, she got to work all day with her Dad in the field. Chopping cotton or thinning corn did not bother Callie. Cutting sprouts or helping plant the corn and cotton by hand was fun. This was made very enjoyable because her Dad would allow them to fish during their rest times, and during the lunch period. She loved those days. During certain times of the year, she was allowed to help bait the hooks on the trot-lines and go along with her Dad and Mr. Jasper Carden as they run the trot-lines. Trot-lines were long lines with hooks dangling from them and something attached to make the line float across the water. This line would be attached and placed across the stream and attached on the other side. The line would be left usually overnight and checked for fish the next day. Fish was one of the family's meat sources. Other meat sources were pigs, goats, sheep, beef, and chickens. She never enjoyed eating beef. She would say the longer she chewed it, the bigger it got in her mouth. She would choose just to eat vegetables when there was beef to eat.

One time when Callie was allowed to go fishing with her Dad and Mr. Carden, she was putting the caught fish on a string to put back into the water until the fishing experience for the day was over. An accident occurred that let the whole string of fish go. Needless to say, the men were not happy with her. But they were able to catch enough fish for both the men's families before going home for supper.

At other times, Callie was permitted to go squirrel hunting with her Dad. She wasn't allowed to carry a gun, but she would go around the side of the tree where the squirrel was and cause it to go to the other side of the tree. Callie's Dad would then shoot up into the tree and the squirrel would fall down. Squirrel dumplings and squirrel gravy was a delicacy that the whole family enjoyed especially Callie. Callie's Mom, Affie, knew how to cook. The squirrels would be boiled until tender that sometimes could take hours. The cooked squirrel would be cooled so it could be de-boned. The de-boned squirrel would then be placed in the gravy or dumplings.

Driving the cows, sheep and goats to the barn after being on open range all day could bring about some hours of freedom for Callie. This was not easy work though the sunshine and fresh air was wonderful.

For a period of time, Thomas furnished goats and sheep for the Shelby Hotel. The cook at Shelby Hotel was well known because the train would make a stop in Shelby and many people raved about her cooking. Callie didn't like the work that had to be done for these sheep and goats because skinning animals stank. It had to be done anyway whether she liked it or not. Not only the meat was used from the sheep, the wool was shirred and used. The free range of sheep and the feeding of sheep were okay, but Callie didn't like any other work dealing with sheep. Spending time with her Dad made it bearable though.

Fruit tree orchards were another source of income for the Williams Family. Apple, pear and peach were some of the trees planted. The apple orchard seemed to thrive best. Canning season would bring jelly, jam and preserve making. The apples were dried, canned or cooked for applesauce. The apple peelings were used to make apple jelly. The pears were used to can and to make pear preserves. The peaches were canned and used for preserves or jam, and the peeling was used for jelly. Nothing was wasted. Feeding the rotten fruit to the pigs meant there was no waste at all.

Thomas had one or two beehives so the family could enjoy the honey. The honey was used a lot for a breakfast food. It was also used to sweeten other foods.

Another means of supplementing income in Shelby County was to make "corn likker" (moonshine). Many households participated in this even though it was against the law. Grandma Williams told her son, Thomas, if he chose to make moonshine, she was moving out of his house. So, Thomas never participated in making any moonshine.

It was a pitiful sight to see the animals come staggering home after they got into the moonshine. Cows, goats, hogs, and sheep would stagger home sick, some even died from drinking too much. You could not drink the milk for at least two days after the animals would drink the moonshine. The only animals that were not given free-range were the horses because they were too valuable.

Callie learned to milk by the time she was seven years of age. When you are brought up on the farm, you learn to do a lot of things that you don't enjoy. But you can learn to survive if you need to.

Sickness

Callie enjoyed being with older people. She felt that she could gain wisdom from them.

She really enjoyed visiting Grandma and Grandpa Merrell at Mosteller. Grandma Merrell embellished the thought of cooking on the fireplace. Grandma Merrell was in possession of a wood stove but she enjoyed seeing her food cook slowly in iron pots strung across the fireplace. Or was she afraid if she went to the kitchen to cook, she might miss some of the conversation going on? Callie loved to watch Grandma put the potatoes (irish and sweet) in the iron skillet, place the lid on the skillet, place the skillet on coals of fire, then cover the lid with coals of fire. This allowed the potatoes to cook evenly through and through.

Grandma Merrell always attended the Methodist Church but Grandpa Merrell attended the Baptist Church. After the death of Grandpa Merrell, Grandma Merrell started attending the Baptist Church. No one ever understood this. It was just the way it was!

In the later years of Grandpa Merrell's life, he suffered a stroke and was unable to walk. Callie loved putting Grandpa Merrell's socks and shoes on his feet. Tying the shoestrings was also a pleasure for Callie to do for Grandpa Merrell. Grandpa Merrell was a very religious man, and believed everyone needed to study the Bible. Callie received a Child's Scripture Question-Book belonging to Grandpa Merrell that he used as a boy. This little book "Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1879, by the American Sunday-School Union, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington." Callie prized this possession greatly. Tommie is now in possession of this book.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Lovable Courageous Callie by Tommie Plier Mitchell Copyright © 2011 by Tommie Plier Mitchell. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

1. The Birth and Early Years....................1
2. School Years....................8
3. Life in Shelby County....................11
4. Sickness....................14
5. The First Move....................18
6. Heartthrob....................21
7. Marriage....................23
8. Their Own Home....................26
9. That Night!....................27
10. Another Girl....................31
11. Illness....................35
12. The Birth of a Son....................36
13. Another Move....................38
14. One More Girl....................42
15. Tommie Frances Joins Family....................45
16. Birthday Party....................46
17. Country at War....................51
18. George's Namesake....................54
19. The Last Little Boy....................57
20. Ill Again!....................59
21. Death!....................61
22. Beginning Trials....................64
23. Spring Plantings....................74
24. Adventures....................77
25. Lifestyle Change....................79
26. Burned....................81
27. The Search!....................83
28. Changes....................85
29. Electricity!....................88
30. Problems....................90
31. Married Out West....................92
32. The Tall Postman....................96
33. Off to the Big City....................99
34. Promises....................104
35. Forgotten Name!....................108
36. 1960 Brings Changes!....................112
37. Goal Accomplished!....................116
38. Another Change....................119
39. Empty Nest!....................124
40. Surgery!....................133
41. A Telephone!....................139
42. Birthday Celebrations!....................141
43. Twilight Years....................147
44. Callie's Legacy....................151
45. About the Author....................155