KENNETH SCOTT EARLY YEARS

 

On February 2, 1899, I was born in the home of my parents, Elzumer and Carrie Mae Scott in Chicago, Illinois.  My dear mother was attended in this, her first child bearing, by a very nice Irish neighbor lady, an experienced "midwife," who had been closely watching this lovely young lady, who as a young bride, had moved from the rural area of northwestern Missouri to the big city.  When the attending doctor finally arrived, this kindly but outspoken neighbor said, "Everything has been promptly attended to and you might as well go back to where you came from."  Presently my father arrived in response to the call to his office downtown, and was elated to find that his wife and firstborn son were doing well.

There is little record of my first years in Chicago.  I have a much-treasured, enlarged and framed picture of myself riding on a wheelbarrow of grass clippings, being pushed by my father.  

Does anyone have the original of this photo?

We found part of it! Elzumer

It shows the dress style of that period, with my father wearing a stiff white collar and tie, which must have been the way city surburbanites were supposed to dress when doing their yard work.

Kenneth

I also have a picture of my mother and myself, taken in a local park, showing us dressed in the fashion of that early period. 

Does anyone have the original?

When I was about four years old, my parents decided that the big city was not the place where they wanted to spend more of their life.  Perhaps this was influenced somewhat by their sadness in the death of their second child, Raymond, who died on December 23, 1902, from whopping cough at the age of nine months.  He was buried in Chicago, Illinois.

Raymond E. Scott, age 5 months, March 16, 1902

So Father accepted an offer to become cashier of the First National Bank of Ridgeway, Missouri, and we moved to the town about five miles from his birthplace.  Our home there was a rather small house only a few blocks from the main street of that town of less than 1,000 population.  We had a barn where we kept a driving horse and buggy, a cow, and a nearby chicken house where we kept enough hens to supply us with eggs and an occasional chicken dinner.  Near the house was a cellar where we kept the milk, butter, and the garden vegetables during the winter months.

AARON GRAHAM SCOTT FAMILY REUNION IN 1911

Kenneth's recollection of the first Scott family reunion
Grandfather Scott was very fond of his family. With the help of my father, he arranged the first reunion of his family at the farm about 5 miles north of Ridgeway. Uncle Charlie and his family came from Chicago, Oat and family came in an old Ford from Tourner, Colorado. Aunt Minnie, Ruthy, and family came from western Kansas. Zene and family came from Washington, D.C. and all others from nearby. Tents were provided for sleeping quarters (with the teenage boys including myself sleeping on blankets in the barn with hay as a mattress). There was a regular rifle target shooting gallery, ball games, kite making and flying contests, foot races, and croquet games. A wagon load of ripe watermelons was available to all. One day friends of the family were invited from the countryside. That made a big crowd and several brought their band instruments resulting in a brass band being formed. As the oldest grandson, I ran a race with my great aunt, Rachael Robb, Grandfather Scott's older sister--a great story teller--who could from the first time in our memory, tell stories about Grandfather Scott, to the joy of us children. This was the first of several Scott family reunions.

Aaron Graham Scott Family Reunion, 31 Aug 1911

The Scott Family Reunion, August 31, 1911
We have a delightful account of this reunion, though unfortunately we don't know who wrote it.  We feel confident the photo above is from this reunion, as the account below states "there were sixteen of us"--the same number of children in the photo.  The woman to the left of Aaron Graham Scott (center) is Eva Alice Eyerly, whom he married in 1898 after his first wife, Ann Eliza Bandy, died in 1897. Aaron Graham and Ann Eliza had 13 children (to his left and standing behind him), two of whom died as children.  The children to the right of Eva are the five children that she bore Aaron Graham. Elzumer, Kenneth's father, is standing in back just to the right of the tree.

Here's the account written shortly after the reunion took place:

    On Thursday and Friday of last week there was a reunion of the A. G. Scott family that will be remembered, by Graham and the children at least, for many years to come.  All the children were present, some not having been home for seven years, and it was the first time they were all together since fourteen years ago.  Six states were represented, as it were, by those who came from a distance.  There was Charley from Chicago, Illinois; Ota from Towner, Colorado: Minnie from Chase, Nebraska: Zenith from Washington, D.C.: Edna from Indianapolis, Indiana: and Eva from Topeka, Kansas; the balance of the family living here.  There are sixteen in all and every one is enjoying the best of health.  It was quite a treat to meet on the old farm again.  Other relatives who came from a distance were Mr. Jerome Traupel with his wife and daughter from Van Wert, Iowa, and Mrs. Rachel Robb, whose home is in Hoyt, Kansas.

    Eva was the last of the children to arrive.  She was met by the others on Wednesday, at Blythedale, from which place they all went to the cemetery to place flowers upon the grave of the dear mother who had left them just fourteen years before.

    On the following day they were at the farm home where every preparation had been made for the pleasure and comfort of all.  Tents were stretched upon the shady lawn; a large swing, a shooting gallery and games for both young and old.  Just before noon the children presented Mr. Scott with a large rocking chair with the wish that it might not only be useful to himself but to his wife also who had done so much to make the reunion a happy one.  At dinner time the table was filled with everything good, and for the first time in many years all were once more assembled at their father's table.  In the evening the boys played the fife and drums and marched up and down the road just as they used to do so long ago.  Every one enjoyed it immensely, especially Graham, who seemed to be the youngest of the bunch.  When the music began he stepped upon the porch and did an old time dancing stunt with surprising spryness.

    The next day, Friday, relatives and neighbors from far and near, gathered in, bringing well- filled baskets with them.  About 140 were present.  In the yard a long table heaped with all manner of good things to eat; great platters of fried chicken, meats, salads, pies, cakes, fruit, etc.  As a side issue there was a wagon load of ripe melons furnished by Oliver Scott.  Ample justice having been done to the sumptuous repast, the attention of the crowd was directed to the ball game which took place in the pasture just south of the house.  Players were quickly chosen and the game was on.  Battery for one side: Roy Scott and Hugh Brinigar.  The other: Less Bandy, Ruthy Jacobs and Guy Crosby.  Umpire E. Scott.  Our space will not permit of a detailed description of the marvelous and sensational plays which were made (to say nothing of the rank decisions of the umpire), but Ol Scott, in a heart-rending effort to make a home-rum, went down on all fours between third and home, his wind about gone.  He made a brave effort to reach the goal on his hands and knees but put out ten feet from the plate.  Omer Hutton played all over the field, his main object being to keep out of the way of the ball, and at bat the same motive prevailed.  Bill Loy completed a famous home run by sliding the last fifteen feet on his head.  Score 16 to 5.

    After the game a large crowd gathered in the house to join in the singing, and then came martial music.  In the midst of the fife and drum music, Uncle Bill Graham could remain silent no longer, and told the boys how he had marched into the battle of Gettysburg to the tune of “Smithton” which they had just played, and while he was now growing old, if another call was made for volunteers and he was to hear the strains of that music he would certainly have to “fall in” and shoulder arms in the defense of his country.  There were many other features of entertainment during the day, one of which was an interesting foot-race between Aunt Rachel Robb, age 82, and Kenneth Scott, age 12; Mrs. Robb easily won, and undoubtedly holds the record for one of her age.

    The reunion was an event that will long be remembered, not only by the children, but by all who were present.  A series of splendid pictures were taken during the two days by L. J. Wight and J. R. Day.  In a few days the children will have returned to their respective homes, and will carry with them a memory of that home-coming which years cannot efface.

    Charlie Scott returned to his home in Chicago Saturday after attending the family reunion at the home of his father, A. G. Scott, northeast of town.

A. G. Scott Family Reunion, circa 1917.  Elzumer and Carrie Mae are behind and to the right of Aaron Graham (center).

THE SCOTT FAMILY REUNION TRADITION

Comments by Mary Lee Call, unless otherwise noted:
We are greatly blessed to belong to a family that for generations has loved getting together to laugh, sing, and tell stories.  Elzumer Scott, Kenneth’s father, seems to have had an especially keen interest in organizing and documenting family gatherings.  In notes he kept for the reunion in 1939, he indicates that his old camera was used to take photos at “our first reunion in 1907.”  Elzumer was the oldest child of Aaron Graham Scott, and perhaps that is one reason he felt responsible to promote family unity.

Children and grandchildren of Aaron Graham Scott (seated on porch), 1909.  Kenneth, age 10, is 2nd from left

Aaron Graham Scott and family, circa 1917

From Aug. 6th to Aug. 11th, 1939, many of the descendants of Aaron Graham Scott gathered at Big Springs, Idaho.

Family member examining "Scott Reunion" notice on Big Springs Inn sign

There was a printed program booklet, including blank pages for notes on each day’s events. Elzumer, who organized the reunion, took careful notes of those in attendance, as well as the activities every day. Notice how the women are always wearing dresses and the men are in suits! 

1939 Scott Reunion program booklet.  The photo of Big Springs is very similar to the ones at the web site linked above.

The “Reunion Song,” printed in the inside cover of the reunion booklet, really captures the spirit of the Scott family and some of their favorite past times.. It was written by Carrie Mae’s sister-in-law, Evelyn Sallee, “for the Sake of Old Lang Syne,” or in other words, “for old time’s sake,” and sung to the tune of “Oh, Susanna!”

1939 SCOTT REUNION SONG
We’ve gathered from California, we have come from Buffalo,
From Chicago and from Washington, and Indianapolis too;
From Utah, Colorado, and we’ve come from “Old Mission.”

CHORUS
Happy greetings. Welcome every one.
We sing for “Auld Lang Syne’s sake”
And we’re having lots of fun.

‘Twas back in 1874 that father built a home. [“Father” is Aaron Graham Scott.]
Near the church in Pleasant Valley, and ‘twas there we all were grown;
‘Twas many happy years we spent ere we began to roam.
And even now our memories take us back to that old home.

There was skating in the winter time and there was lots of snow.
In Summer the “Ole Swimmin’ Hole” where we all loved to go.
In daytime there was work to do and we were busy boys,
But evening brought the “Singin’ School” and all the other joys.

We girls were busy every day when we were not in school,
A cookin’ for the harvest hands and minding every rule.
We had to wash, we had to iron, we had to bake and sew,
But with it all we had our fun and lots of parties too.

In these beautiful surroundings: mountains covered o’er with pine,
With their frangrance on the breezes and the lovely columbine.
Who could ask for greater happiness than we’re enjoying here.
Recalling days of long ago, and friends we love so dear.

We know that our reunion here will soon be at an end.
We know not how, or where or when that we shall meet again.
So let’s be merry while we may and laugh and sing and play.
So we’ll recall in coming years our happiness today.

Elzumer had everyone attending the reunion sign their name, including the children who had learned to write. In the next colum, he wrote their birth dates, followed by the city and state where they lived at the time of the reunion. According to this record, there were 42 family members in attendance.  Elzumer himself was the oldest, age 65, and Billie Joe Scott, age 2 1/2, was the youngest.  Many family members lived in Idaho, where Aaron Graham Scott had moved with his family, while others came from Washington, D.C. (Kenneth, Zene and Myrtle, or Mildred, as she was known at the time), Chicago, Towner (Colorado), Indianapolis, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles.  Only one family member, K. Lewis Weary, still lived in Missouri.

1939 Register of those attending, including signatures, birth dates and current residence.

Scott family members at 1939 reunion.  Elzumer is 2nd from the left and Kenneth is 5th from the right in the back row.

According to Elzumer’s notes, there was a similar pattern for each day of the reunion:  In the mornings, a group of family members would drive over to Yellowstone Park or Jackson Lake, while other family members remained at camp, enjoying each other's company. In the evenings, the family would gather to sing and tell stories. On one evening, the “young folks” were in charge of the program.

Songs suggested for "Group Singing":
Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All here
I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad
Home on the Range
She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain
The Old Gray Mare
There’s a Long, Long Trail
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Now the Day is Over
Blest Be the Tie

Another Sallee relative, Ethyl Sallee–Snow, wrote a song for the reunion.  Following is one of the verses:

THE GATHERIN’ O’ THE CLAN
Tune–“The Wearin’ o’ the Green”
Oh, listen friends and you shall hear
The news that’s going round:
The Scotts’ll be a meetin’
From all the world around.
Oh, the Scotts have lads and lassies,
That are worthy of the name,
and for beauty and for numbers,
They can put Dionne to shame!
There’ll be happiness and merry smiles,
To Joy, there’ll be no ban,
When the Scotts will be a-meetin’
At the Gatherin’ o’ the Clan.

NOTES BY ELZUMER SCOTT:
Aug. 7th: A very fine day...Visiting, reminiscing and taking pictures occupied most of the day. Group meeting at Inn again tonight with logs burning in the huge fireplace. Stories were told of by-gone days & songs were sung.

Elzumer (on the left next to his brother Charles) with his Premo camera, purchased about 1895 in Chicago.

Aug. 8th: ...”A fine day... Had a good group meeting tonight–no set program but several present made interesting talks and we all sang songs.

Elzumer and his younger sister Edna Scott Smith

Aug. 9th: A nice day.  Another party go to Park today with Irvin in his car....Others visited around camp & took pictures.
...Had our big bonfire outside 6:30 to 8 pm. & roasted weiners & marshmallows.
After that was over we went inside Inn for singing and business session.
At this meeting the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
E. Scott, Pres., Edna Smith, V. Pres. and Zene W. Scott, Secy-Treas.
It was suggested our organization be named “Scott Family Association”.
...This meeting was one of the best had.--Great interest was taken by all–with the thought that the Scott family reunions should be continued at intervals of not longer than 5 years.

The Scott sisters:  Minnie (1882-1964), Edna (1889-1971) , Eva (1889-1961) (twins), and Mary (1893-1977).

The Scott brothers:  Ralph 1894-1972), Zene (1887-1969), Nick (1880-1961), Ote (1878-1943), Chas (1876-1951), 'Zumer (1874-1961)

Aug. 11th: A fine day...About 8:30 pm. all that was left at camp got in cars & drove to Pond's Lodge, 10 miles away, to enjoy program put on by the young folks.
...Roland played the piano, several of the young people, in fact all of them, gave numbers...& then all sang songs. Not having time to rehearse & some leaving, young folks did not put on their musical act, but the script was filed with our Sec’y Zene.

Ruth Elizabeth, age 13, and her mother, Mary L. Abbey wait for train to return to Los Angeles.  Elzumer noted that Ruth passed away suddenly less than a month later on Sept. 5, 1939.

This “Benediction” was also included in the printed program:
The Lord bless thee and keep thee;
The Lord make His face shine upon thee.
And be gracious unto thee.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,
And give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

We have a copy of a “Scott Reunion Song,” to be sung to the tune of “Sidewalks of New York,” which was composed, played and sung by Roland and Helen Scott at Signal Moutain Lodge, Jackson Lake, Wyoming, during the family reunion, Aug. 11th to 16th, 1946.

1946 SCOTT REUNION SONG
East coast, West coast, We’re here from all around,
The Scotts are having a rosy time;
There’s not a single frown,–
It’s swell to be together in nature’s wonderland,
And greet the folks from far and near
Among the Tetons Grand.

East coast, West coast–we’ve come by car and train;
And those who had the “bank-roll”--
Came in by a-e-r-o-p-l-a-n-e; There’s Alice, Ruth & Minnie
And Zene and Howard too,--
We’d like to mention the others, but
‘T would take all night if we do.

East coast, West coast, We’re here at Jackson Lake,
Eva Grace had a birthday–And Aunt Edna baked a cake;
The squirrels are taking over; They are smoking pipes
I see,–Uncle Zumer had quite a time
Chasing his pipe up a tree.--

Carrie Mae and Elzumer at camp.  Not sure if photo is candid or staged!

East coast, West coast; So now the time has come
To pack the old jalopy and take it on the run;
And those who missed this meeting, should make a
Solemn vow,–that next time they will be on hand
If they have to sell the cow.

The reunion of Aaron Graham Scott's in 1946 is the last one we have on record. Kenneth and Mary, however, continued the family tradition and held reunions with their sons and families throughout their lives. We will share photos of those reunions in future posts.

SCOTT ANCESTORS

In this post we’re taking a break from Kenneth’s personal history to talk about his Scott ancestors.  Most of the information below is quoted (with some editing) from the book The History of Northwest Missouri, published in 1915, unless otherwise noted.

AARON T. SCOTT (1772-1862)
Kenneth’s great-great grandfather, AARON T. SCOTT, was Scotch-Irish and a soldier during the War of 1812.  He was born in 1772 on the Virginia - Tennessee border and died near Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois in 1862.  His wife's name was ANNA AJA [or AGA].  Aaron T. is the earliest Scott ancestor we know about.

MOSES S. SCOTT (1818-1888)
Kenneth’s great grandfather, MOSES SCOTT, was born just across the river in Ohio from Indiana on 3 December 1818, and died on his farm near Blythedale, Missouri on 3 February 1888, at age 70 years.  He spent his boyhood in Jefferson County, Indiana, and there was sparingly educated, in that he was able to do little more than to read and to write.  He was a brick maker by trade and made the first bricks from which was constructed the first college at Hanover, Indiana (www.hanover.edu), and worked at that and farming, both at his home in Missouri.  However, in Missouri he abandoned his trade that he might give his entire attention to farming.

MOSES SCOTT came to Missouri in the company of several families from Knox County, Illinois, where he had spent some three years as a farmer.  His outfit for the journey and effects comprised an ox team and a yoke of cows.  The journey took from June until September.  Among the families forming the caravan was that of JAMES CHAMBERS GRAHAM, his father-in-law, who settled in the same neighborhood.  MOSES SCOTT’S settlement was a mile southwest of Blythedale, Missouri.  The farm he improved and made it his final home. His old brick kiln was on Big Creek, west of Eaglesville, on the Williams' place.

MOSES SCOTT’S participation in politics was as a Democrat but he never held public office.  He was a Baptist of the missionary faith.  He lived up to the teachings of the church and was known to be strictly reliable in his dealings with others, paid his way as he went, and never allowed himself to get into debt.  The period of the Civil War did not materially affect him except as his own son Elzumer [Kenneth’s great uncle] entered the 23rd Regiment, Missouri Volunteers, Infantry Compound D, and went with General Sherman to the sea.

MOSES SCOTT married MARY ANN GRAHAM, daughter of JAMES CHAMBERS GRAHAM, and JEMIMAH TALBOTT of English descent, on 16 May 1843. 

MOSES S. SCOTT, 1817-1888

MARY ANN GRAHAM, 1825-1882

AARON GRAHAM SCOTT (1850-1922)
Kenneth’s grandfather, AARON GRAHAM SCOTT, was one of the ante-bellum [post Civil War] settlers in Harrison County, Missouri.  He came there in September 1858 with his father, MOSES SCOTT.  AARON GRAHAM SCOTT was a native of Jefferson County, Indiana, born near the city of Madison, Indiana, on July 18, 1850.

AARON GRAHAM SCOTT was a child when brought to Harrison County, Missouri and secured a somewhat limited education in the district schools.  Starting out as a farmer just before reaching his maturity, he worked for a time as a farm hand at the salary of $15 a month and his employer was PASCHAL BANDY, whose daughter, ANELIZA [or ANN ELIZA]  BANDY, Aaron Graham Scott married on 24 August 1871 at her father's home in Blythedale, Missouri. After several years they first rented a small property known as the Grist farm, located near Eagleville and later rented the Landy place.  Here he spent a short time.  Next he purchased 100 acres of raw land, now the Loveless place.  Thus, he improved them and exchanged it for the present place in section 14 township 65 range 27.  This was a settled place and he succeeded William Kincade here in 1888.

AARON GRAHAM SCOTT owned 260 acres and was engaged in stock and grain farming.  He embarked in short-horn cattle and Poland China hog breeding.  His short-horns came from the Kansas bull and he had his first exhibit for prizes in the fall of 1914.  In politics he was a Republican and for two years he was assessor of Marion Township.

AARON GRAHAM SCOTT and his wife, ANELIZA BANDY, had thirteen children.  She died at the age of 43 on 22 August 1897 of typhoid fever.

AARON GRAHAM SCOTT, 1850-1922

ANELIZA BANDY SCOTT, 1853-1897

Aaron Graham Scott and sons, 1893.  According to Mary's identification on the back of the photo:  L to R: Elzumer, Charles, Oscar (Nick), William (Oate), Zene (youngest), Aaron Graham

According to Mary:  L to R:  Aneliza Bandy Scott holding Ruth, Minnie, Edna and Eva (twins)

When Kenneth's son Wayne finished his mission in California, he visited his grandfather ELZUMER and obtained genealogical information on the Bandy family from him.  At about the same time, Elzumer's brother, Zene, told Mary that PASCHAL BANDY AND LOVICIA HOLLAND were Latter-day Saints.  However, they did not go west with the Saints, but affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  As their daughter ANELIZA was dying she asked her son, ELZUMER, to call the LDS elders for a blessing for her which he refused to do and ‘always regretted this decision.’   

After ANELIZA died, AARON  married EVA ALICE EYERLY, on 7 September 1898. They had five children, making a total of nineteen children for Aaron Graham!  He died on 11 June 1922 in Meridian, Idaho (near Boise).

LETTER FROM ANELIZA BANDY SCOTT
We have a copy of a very touching letter written by ANELIZA to her son, ELZUMER, Kenneth’s father, about a year before she died.  ELZUMER, age 22, was living in Desmoines, Iowa at the time.

July 27, 1896
Ridgeway, Missouri
Dear Zumer:
I write you a few lines.  It has been raining all morning.  The threshers were coming to finish.  They were here two nights last week–but very little done–it rained every night.  I am tired of them.
I was very much disappointed Saturday evening, as you did not come.  Some of the children were out on the style all the afternoon looking.  Charlie [age 20] came home Friday night and told us he went up after you.  Minnie [age 14] had her chickens dressed–all the work was done so we could hear every word that was said.  Charlie never got back until sundown.  Cal [Scott] came home with him.  I never was so disappointed.  Edna [age 7] cried and “wished every man up there was dead so Zumer could come home.”
Ralph [age 1 ½ ] is not well–has not been for several days.  The rest of the folks are well, as far as I know.  Your Uncle Ol [Scott] is coming back to Missouri.  They have failed again. Your Pa is trying to rent a place for him.  Pa is gone today to buy calves.  If you need money let us know.  Can you save any money?  I know it takes money to keep a fellow going.  Pa is coming up to the fair [at Desmoines].  I would come if you were keeping house.
The Valley singers are getting ready for the Blythedale Picnic.  Don’t know when it will be yet.  Maybe you can come then.  Am not going to look for you until I see you.
Am glad you had a good time the Fourth.  I did not go anywhere.  Pa and the children went to Ridgeway.  I was sick that morning....
Tuesday.  We are threshing today [and] it will take a half day tomorrow.  Ice cream supper at your Uncle Zumer’s tonight.  Pa took his bird dog out hunting last week. and got six prairie chickens–only one got away.  He thinks his dog is a dandy.  You will have to take a hunt when you come down.  Ralph is better today.  Eva, Edna [twins, age 7] and Ruth [age 5] got up sick this morning.  I think they will be all right in a few days.  I have lots of things to tell you before I am done with this life.  I must close.  It is time to get supper.  Your Aunt Mollie [Mary Scott Brinegar, age 35] is helping me.  She sends you her best respects, and said tell you she was making apple pies.
Love from all, write soon–
Your Mother and Father

KENNETH’S ACCOUNT OF HIS GRANDFATHER
The following account is in KENNETH’s own words, based on what his father told him:     

Grandfather [AARON GRAHAM SCOTT] bought (in l847) 100 acres native land--unimproved--in original sod for $1,000.  He started improving with a team of horses, and a plow.  They had a few chickens and a milk cow, sow and pigs.  He cut timber for the house and fencing from near Big Creek about 3 miles west of the farm.  He dug a well about 150 yards from the house at a spring.  The well was walled with native stone.  The water had to be hauled to the house on a sled--two barrels full at a time.  Grandmother [ANELIZA BANDY] often had to carry water to the house when they were busy in the field.  Fences were poor and the sow would get into grandmother's chickens.  One day after asking Grandpa many times to keep the hogs fenced up, she surprised the family by having a roast pig for dinner.  She had killed the hog with a club--cleaned and roasted it.  Grandpa could only say how good the pig tasted.

Grandpa Scott's father [MOSES SCOTT] lived on a 40 acre farm near Blythedale, Missouri also.  In later years he used to ride a medium sized roan horse named Dick to town.  Just before Grandpa Moses died, he gave Dick to Kenneth’s father.  Dad was very fond of him and rode him a great deal.  Dick liked to swim with dad in the pond. In fact, he would go swimming alone.  Dick was quite balky when they first harnessed him to work.  He had to be humored awhile to let him get used to the collar on his neck.  Dad traded old Dick for a real nice sleigh that he found in Bethany about the time he became interested in going with the girls.

Source:  Ridgeway:  Then and Now, 1880-1980, p. 47

Grandfather Scott gave a site for the Baptist Church at Pleasant Valley.  Grandpa and Grandma were the charter members.  Reverend Joe H. Burrows of Cainsville helped organize the church and for many years was the pastor at Pleasant Valley, coming out there once a month to preach.  He drove his team about 7 miles over old clay roads.  He never asked for a salary but gladly accepted any small amount the small congregation would give.  Grandpa A.G. led the singing.  He had a clear tenor voice and often sang solos.  Hester Caldwell Harrison played the organ—or tried to.  Much of the church was made of fine native walnut.  Grandpa always welcomed Baptist ministers to his home.  Often itinerant travelers who heard of this would get in posing as Baptist ministers.

Ridgeway high school class, including three A. G. Scott children:  Ruth, Eva and Edna (Ridgeway Then and Now, p. 66)

Grandpa’s children attended the Pleasant Valley school--one room--up through the eighth grade.

The following account is from a tape-recorded interview with Kenneth, found in the appendix to his and Mary's autobiographies: 

My grandfather Scott, I guess it was because he had a family of boys, and in that little town of Ridgeway, they had two drugstores that were pretty close together and there weren’t many stores in that town but they had these two drug stores and they sold liquor on the sly. Grandfather was poisoned on [against] this stuff. He was always trying to find something and he would move in on a...because of his family.

When I was about 10 or 12 years old, Grandfather Scott (he had a farm north of town about 5 miles) would bring a load of corn that he had raised to the mill which was not very far from our home in Ridgeway, and there he grew all that corn and whatever form he wanted--a rough grind or maybe some other grind that we ground into flour for use in the home. The rest of it might be ground up rough as feed for the cows. A dry corn meal or hominy. I guess he had a good watch dog and when my grandfather moved into town when this last family of children were old enough, some of them, to go to high school. They bought this house south of town and it was there when they had this little Dalmatian dog. I’d open the gate, the house sat back in the lot a ways and as I started to approach, the dog was watching and he’d come down and he’d listen. When I’d step to one side, he’d step over in front of me. When I’d step over on the other side, talking to him, he’d be over there. About the third time he did that, he would “Grrrrr”. You’d better start up or he was going to take a hold of you. Just as soon as someone from the house called, “Okay [Pooch?]. That was it.

I never met father’s mother [ANELIZA BANDY]. Grandfather Scott married a second time…[and] he had five boys and two girls in the [second family].

[Kenneth tells about memories of July 4th: going to his grandfather’s farm and shooting off dangerous fireworks, enjoying a band playing in their town, and making home made ice cream made with ice from their ice house.]

When Grandfather Scott got his crops all in--and he’d always feed out some steers--he’d have them already along just about the early fall for sale...then he was ready to go take a trip someplace. And he did take a number of trips...somehow or another he got off into the Boise Valley and was very fascinated with it. He bought a little 15 acre tract or orchard, apples mainly but a few peaches. And he wanted all his family around him. He even wanted Uncle Zene who had a job in Washington in the Interstate Commerce Commission and Uncle Zene got a year’s leave of absence and went out there with Aunt Myrtle and they had a little orchard tract. They got so disappointed out there with that job, trying to make a go of operating an orchard that they gave it up and came back to Washington before the year was up. Then is when my grandfather had this nice big home in Meridian out of Boise about 10 or 15 miles. I believe my grandfather died at that home because he enjoyed that home.  

AARON GRAHAM SCOTT MEETS JIMMY SKUNK
Here’s a fun story about his grandfather that Kenneth had in his papers.  I’m not sure of the source, but I’m guessing it may have been included in one of their family chain letters.

    There had been a heavy snow in the early part of the night, and then it had ceased and all the little folks of the forest and meadow had gone forth in search of food or to gambol in the moonlight, and the fresh snow that lay like a huge carpet over all, hung on bushes, draped over weeds and tufts of grass, making hiding places everywhere for those who must dodge enemies that ever seek to destroy them.  By morning Peter Rabbit and his folks had well-beaten paths to all parts of the thicket where they had played tag and hide-and-seek through the still hours of the night.  Here and there in the more open spaces could be seen the trail of Billy Mink and Jimmy Skunk where they had passed like dark shadows seeking some low roosting bird or a meadow mouse, or some luckless rabbit that they might surprise and capture.  And so it was that when daylight came there was a scramble among the little folks for hiding places.  The rabbits found shelter under thick clumps of bushes and under weeds and tufts of grass well covered with snow.  Billy Mink crept under a rick of cordwood that happened to be near by, and Jimmy Skunk, finding a small pile of brush well covered with snow, crept underneath, and having a full stomach from his catch, curled up and soon went to sleep, intending to continue his quest for food again when dark shadows returned in the evening.

Skunks.  Source:  www.birdphotos.com (via Wikimedia Commons)

    These were the conditions one cold winter morning a good many years ago on the farm of Graham Scott (probably about 1885) a few miles northeast of Ridgeway, Missouri.  Now, Graham liked to hunt, so after the chores were done and the stock all fed and watered and plenty of fuel wood laid in, Graham, accompanied by his cousin, Omar Hutton, set out to get some rabbits.  It was an ideal day to hunt.  It seemed that almost every clump of bushes or patch of weeds yielded a rabbit when kicked.  Being good shots, their game bags filled rapidly.  Everything was going lovely when Graham happened to come to that particular pile of brush where Jimmy Skunk was taking a nap.  He did not notice skunk tracks leading to the brush pile, and thinking only of rabbits, he poised himself ready to shoot and gave the pile of brush a tremendous kick that sent the sticks, twigs and snow hurtling high in the air.  Now, Jimmy Skunk is usually very peaceful, but being so suddenly and rudely awakened, and not knowing what it was all about, and seeing a huge form standing near, he immediately went into action and, without further investigation, turned his gas gun on the enemy and delivered a full charge, most of which struck Graham's boots, but the fumes enveloped him and spread far and near.  It is needless to say that Graham beat a hasty retreat, much to the satisfaction of the skunk and the amusement of Omar, who happened to be far enough away to escape.  This ended the hunt and the hunters returned home.

Clothes were sent out to the woodshed for Graham to change.  His coat and pants, which had not received a direct charge, were hung out on the line a few days until the perfume left.  But his boots had to go through a more drastic process of deodorization.  He had heard that burying in the ground would draw out the scent.  Did it?  Well, a few weeks afterward when Graham came to Sunday School at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church (which he attended faithfully) and stood around the wood-burning stove with others warming themselves before services, Omar sniffed a little and looking down at Graham's boots, said, “Graham, I think you dug them up too soon.”  And maybe he did!!

BANDY ANCESTORS

We’re continuing to profile Kenneth’s ancestors, in this case the Bandy ancestors of Kenneth’s paternal grandmother, ANELIZA BANDY. The following stories were compiled in 1900 by Kenneth’s father, ELZUMER SCOTT, from information furnished by members of the Bandy family.

GEORGE BANDY (1758-1838)
Kenneth’s great-great grandfather, GEORGE BANDY was born in Virginia about the year 1758. He was of German descent. He was married to DRUCILLER MEADOWS about the year 1778 or 1780. His wife was of Scottish descent. He was a farmer by occupation.  They moved from Virginia to Kentucky in the year 1815. Mr. Bandy enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary War of 1776-7. He died about the year 1838.

RHEUBEN BANDY (1785-1861)
Kenneth’s great grandfather, RHEUBEN BANDY, was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, his occupation being that of farming. In 1810 he was married to Miss SIBBY ATKINSON and during this same year they moved from Virginia to Kentucky. The trip was made with pack-horses, a distance of 500 miles across the Cumberland Mountains, there being no railroads in this section of the country at that time. A small iron kettle which was used for cooking purposes on this journey is kept and preserved at this time [1900] by one of their children, Mr. George Bandy, of Galesburg, Illinois, who may well feel proud of his keepsake, as it must be almost, if not fully, 100 years old.

PASCHAL BANDY (1821-1900)
Kenneth’s grandfather, PASCHAL BANDY, was born in the state of Kentucky, of Irish descent. His occupation was that of farming.

Paschal Bandy was baptized and confirmed a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839 by Jehiel Savage.  He later affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by attending the Lamoni, Iowa Branch and the Cainesville, Missouri Branch. (“Early LDS Membership Data” from the LDS Collectors Library, Infobases, 1995).

At the age of 21 years he married Miss LOVICA HOLLAND (1824-1906) on March 10th, 1842 in Tazewell County, Illinois.

Paschal Bandy and Lovica Holland

Lovisa Bandy was baptized a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1850 at Knox County, Illinois by Gould.  She was confirmed by Jones.  She attended the Lamoni, Iowa Branch and the Cainesville, Missouri Branch (LDS Collector's Library, Infobases, 1995).

In the year 1857 Paschal moved with his family from Illinois to Missouri, traveling across the country in a wagon. He bought a few acres of land (I think from the government) in Harrison County about six miles S.E. of Eagleville and 2-1/2 miles South of what is now Blythedale, though there was no town there at that time. Upon this land he built a home where he spent the remainder of his life, except the last three or four years. Here each of his children grew up to be men and women and were married, most of them at the old homestead.

At the time he moved to Harrison County he found this section of the country practically unsettled, most of the land belonging to the government, which could be purchased for $1.25 per acre. The wild open prairie country afforded an abundance of good pasture which made stock growing a very profitable industry for those who had sufficient money to engage in it. Mr. Bandy saw this opportunity and took advantage of it. He was soon in possession of a large farm of good tillable land. Adjoining this was plenty of nice timber land which he also purchased.

Wild game was abundant there at that time, including deer, antelope, buffalo and wild turkey. He was very fond of hunting, and during the long severe winters while the ground was covered with snow he killed a great many deer and turkeys. His favorite fire-arm was a long barreled muzzle-loading rifle with which he became an expert marksman. Two faithful companions, “Old Charley” his saddle horse, and “Tige” his dog, always accompanied him on these hunting expeditions; and they too seemed to enjoy the sport fully as much as did their master. The scent of gunpowder to “Old Charley” was better than clover, and that of a deer trail to old “Tige” better than a warm breakfast. Mr. Bandy has told us that many times when there was plenty of snow or ice on the ground he has dragged a deer home ten or twelve miles on a bush or branch of a tree attached to “Old Charley's” tail.

[Elzumer Scott, Kenneth’s father, told the following to Kenneth when he visited Elzumer in San Jose, California, in 1959, a year before Elzumer’s death.

“Paschal Bandy, grandmother Aneliza Bandy Scott's father, lived about two and a half miles south of Blythedale, Missouri. He was a good farmer and an expert shot with a heavy, long-barreled muzzle loading rifle. During his lifetime, he killed seventy-eight deer for meat. (He wanted to make an even 100, but didn't.) He would drag them in, tied to a limb, tied to the tail of his horse. There were lots of wild turkeys in the county. Grandpa Bandy was such an expert shot, that he was always barred from participating in the annual turkey shoot when turkeys were given to the best shots.

Male Eastern Wild turkey.  Courtesy of www.KenThomas.us

He was a powerful man. He would hold his gun as steady as if it were in a vise. The old gun, which was kept in perfect condition by him, was kept by his son, Henry Bandy, for many years. One of Henry's daughters, Lily Bandy, threw it out of the upstairs window one day. The stock broke out and the gun was thrown on the junk pile where it rotted away. Paschal Bandy's family came from Kent Township, Illinois, and from Illinois to Harrison County, Missouri.”]

With the advance of years a flood of immigration scattered over the West, making pioneer life a thing of the past; during which time Paschal Bandy was planning and laying out what afterwards became one of the best equipped farms in the county. Success followed in his footsteps, as it always did with the sturdy advance agents of civilization. He lived to see his eight children grow up, marry and prosper, and prior to his death could point with pride to his four living generations.

He was a model of an industrious and systematic farmer. His land was cultivated as a garden spot, and gave evidence on every hand of being tilled by one who was master of the art. No part of the occupation which goes to make up a model farm was neglected. In springtime his rich gardens, vineyards and orchards were full of flowers and blossoms, and when harvest time came the broad fields of golden grain told their own story. He always raised plenty where others would often fail, and this resulted in his adopting a philanthropic custom of planting more than he needed so that he could aid a needy neighbor, an act for which he was widely known. His watchword was “No success without labor.”

He was a man who had little use for law. Not by way of failing to recognize its usefulness, but strongly opposed its application to settle disputes. He insisted that the law was made for dishonest people, and that neighbors should settle their disputes by arbitrations. Once in his life was he unable to agree with a neighbor who insisted on testing the merits of the case by law. To this he objected, but generously allowed his disputant to select three arbitrators to decide the point at issue. It was unanimously decided in Mr. Bandy's favor.

He looked upon pride as the enemy of mankind, and carefully avoided assuming any attitude that would bring such an accusation upon him. He was a great believer in practical education for children, but was firm in his belief that the coming generation was being given too much theoretical education and not enough practical knowledge. He often expressed regret at the inclination of young men to leave the farm and seek their fortunes in the city.

He took but little interest in newspapers and seldom read one. His lack of faith in the press began some years ago. One day he was looking over a paper and discovered an article, with bold headlines, announcing the painful injury of an alleged neighbor. He carefully read it, anxiously seeking an opportunity to help the afflicted, but suddenly threw down the paper in disgust when he found that the injured person had been promptly cured with St. Jacob's Oil.

A more God fearing man never lived; and his motto was the Golden Rule, the teachings of which always seemed uppermost in his mind when dealing with a fellow man. Early in life he professed Christianity in the belief of the Latter-day Saints, and was a faithful follower until death.  [NOTE:  Paschal Bandy was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839 by Jehiel Savage. He and his wife, LOVICA HOLLAND, later affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by attending the Lamoni, Iowa Branch and the Cainsville, Missouri Branch.  Source: LDS Collectors Library, Early LDS Membership Data.]

The Bible he loved best of all books. Many times I have seen him, after a hard day's work, sit down and for hours read aloud from this book. For years the light he read by was produced by home-made tallow candles. His usual hour for rising in the morning was 4 o'clock the year 'round, and during the winter months it was his custom to begin the day's work by reading the Bible an hour before daylight. His patience and studiousness in this respect were rewarded, for the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments were indelibly stamped on his memory.

In 1895 Mr. Bandy decided that he and his wife were getting too old to any longer look after so large a farm and it was sold. They purchased a few acres of well improved land one-half mile south of Blythedale, Harrison County, Missouri, where they might enjoy the remainder of their days with less hard work.

Paschal Bandy in later years

It was indeed sad news, especially to we grandchildren, when we were told that the old home was to be sold, for we had learned from early childhood to love the place until it became to us a sacred spot. We loved it because it had been the home of our father or mother; a place where we always found a hearty welcome, and there was always a treat of some kind in store for us no matter how often we came or went. The quaint old fire-place, with its huge chunks of wood burning brightly, and around which we used to gather and eagerly listen to the hunting stories told by grandfather, was in itself enough to fill the heart of any ordinary youth with delight.

The following year after Mr. Bandy and wife moved to their new home he was stricken with paralysis, partially losing the use of one side of his body. From this time he was obliged to use a cane in walking. Most men would have given up further work entirely when such work on his part was unnecessary to maintain the comforts of life, but it was next to impossible for this man to be idle one day. I remember calling to see him one hot day not long after he had received this paralytic stroke, expecting of course to find him sitting in the shade somewhere about the house, but to my surprise I learned from grandmother that he was out in a hay-field nearby with his team and mowing machine. I found him there running the machine when he was scarcely able to move about on foot with the assistance of his cane.

He continued to look after and cultivate his truck patches and few acres of corn though he was almost without the use of one arm. The next year he had another slight attack of the same dread disease and this time he was left almost helpless. He now realized that further work on his part was out of the question, and would sit for hours in deep meditation. He suffered no physical pain, but we will perhaps never know what the mental suffering of one in this condition whose whole life has been so full of vigor and activity. However, he bore it all with patience and without a murmur, as one who had for years been preparing for that better and brighter home above. Within a few months he was stricken for the third time with paralysis which left him entirely helpless. In this condition he lingered for several weeks until the end came, February 18th, 1900.

How fitting the hour of his death. On the Sabbath day, just as the last rays of the setting sun cast their shadows across the approaching darkness, just as the light of day went out, so vanished the life of this grand old man. He had climbed the heights and left all superstitions below, while on his forehead fell the dawn of a grander day. We can feel that he who sleeps has but gone to receive the reward for which he has been striving all these years. May many such men be born.

Let us state here that every good and noble deed so fittingly bestowed upon Grandfather Bandy, was equally applicable to his helpmate, Grandmother Bandy, who must for a short time wrestle with life's billows alone. She has shared his joys and sorrows all these years, ever carrying her share of the burden, a true, a faithful and loving wife. Their lives have truly been a beautiful illustration of that most sacred obligation between man and wife. Surely the Father in Heaven will meet them with open arms and say “Well done thou good and faithful servants, thou hast earned thy reward.”

HUGUENOT ANCESTORS: SALLEE AND BONDURANT

The following material is taken from a variety of sources collected by Kenneth, Mary, and Jeanene. For ease of reading (and contrary to my academic training :)), I have removed the references and mingled the words of the original sources–but the original versions are available in the large collection of stories of Kenneth’s and Mary’s ancestors I have mentioned previously.

JEAN SALLE’(born about 1624) and MARIE MARTIN (born about 1635)
Kenneth’s 6th great grandfather was JEAN SALLE', direct ancestor of Kenneth’s mother, CARRIE MAE SALLEE.

He and his family were Huguenots. The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France from the sixteenth to the seventeenth centuries. Because of religious persecution, Jean Salle' left the village of Mougon, France for the security of the Protestant stronghold, La Rochelle, and settled in St. Martin on the Ile de Re', France.

Source:  Wikipedia.org.  Courtesy of  Réalisation Pline Category:Île de Ré Category:Maps of French Islands)

 

St. Martin harbor.  Source:  Wikimedia.org.  Courtesy of  Gilbert Bochenek

Jean Salle' became, like his father, a master shoemaker. He married Claude Martin, daughter of JACQUES MARTIN, master hat maker, of St. Martin, and his deceased wife JUDITH FORTIER, November 24, 1654. Claude Martin Salle' died sometime after 1654. Jean Salle', age 44, secondly married MARIE MARTIN, age 33, Claude's sister, April 11, 1668.

ABRAHAM SALLEE (SALLE’) (1674-1720) AND OLIVE PERRAULT (born about 1673)
Kenneth’s 5th great grandfather, ABRAHAM SALLEE, was born February 22, 1674 on the Isle of Re'.
At the time of the Revocation of the Edict_of_Nantes in1685, ABRAHAM SALLEE was 11 years old.  This event was the culmination of approximately150 years of religious persecution endured by the Huguenots, and many fled to England, including, ABRAHAM SALLEE.  The Huguenots were the educated middle class--producers, tradespeople, and artisans. 

Escape of a Huguenot family.  Source:  http://manakin.addr.com/engravings.htm

We know little of Abraham's youth. His parents, according to the Protestant Register of Isle de Re', appear to be illiterate, yet, Abraham was an educated man. His parents and two of his brothers abjured [swore to give up] their Protestant faith on June 5, 1686, the year after the Revocation, and yet Abraham seems to have stayed strong a Protestant. He could write fluently in French and English.

One source says that shortly after 1685, ABRAHAM SALLE' left France for England. In 1698, at age 24, he sought citizenship in London. In 1699 he married OLIVE PERRAULT in St. Catherine-by-the-Tower. His wife was probably daughter of sister of Daniel Perrault or Perreau, who was Commander of the ship “Peter and Anthony”, which brought 169 French Refugees to Virginia in 1700. Following their marriage, Abraham and Olive embarked for America, arriving in New York in 1700. Soon they joined about seven hundred Huguenot refugees who were given land in an abandoned Monacan Indian village called Manakintown, Virginia.

The Huguenots established the colony in Manakintown, founded on the principles of religious freedom, discipline, thrift, and industry, located on the Indian frontier, twenty-five miles from the nearest military outpost. They traveled sixty miles up the James River to The Falls where they traveled overland to the deserted Indian town. Ten thousand acres of land had been set aside for the Huguenots, each person receiving one hundred thirty-three.

By Nov. 10, 1701, ABRAHAM SALLEE had moved to Manakintown, as the list of French refugees on that date shows: “Merchant Suillee, below ye Creek, his wife and 2 children, and one negro woman.” Abraham Sallee was probably the most important member of the Huguenot colony at Manakintown. He was a merchant, Clerk of King William Parish, a member of the Vestry, a Captain of militia, and a Justice of the Peace.

There seems to have been a conflict between Abraham and the minister of the congregation, Claude Philippe De Richbourg. There had been various dissensions and outbreaks as early as 1704. Richbourg has been described as a “gentle” man. Abraham Salle', on the other hand, was described as “irreconcilable and the maker of such [sic] trouble and stirrer-up of strife.” The argument took place on March 27, 1707, when someone called out, “assassinate that damned fellow with the black beard!” “That 'bougre de chien' ought to be hanged up out of the way!” Yes, this was our ancestor. The minister only wanted the Register of Christenings delivered to him. Nevertheless, our ancestor proceeded to insult de Richbourgh while in the pulpit and even after he came out. Abraham was summoned to appear at the next Council to answer a petition. The Council found, after a full hearing of both parties, in their opinion, that the complaint of de Richbourg was groundless and ordered to be dismissed. Claude Philippe De Richbourg left Manakintown in 1711 or 1712, removing to South Carolina.

Evidently ABRAHAM SALLEE was not satisfied with his situation in Manakintown because he wrote to George I of England, requesting that he be granted land in some more fertile spot, possibly in Ireland. The letter was given to the Virginia Historical Society, and is assumed to have been written soon after the accession of George I of Great Britain to the throne of England in 1714.

King George I by Sir Godfrey Knelleraption, National Portrait Gallery, London.  Source:  Wikimedia

 To His Royal Majesty, Sire:

Since the address of Congratulations which we your humble, very faithful and very obedient French Protestant subjects in Virginia, have taken the liberty of sending to Your Majesty, we have seen in public print that Your Majesty has approved a project which has been presented to you to settle French Protestants in Ireland.

We take again the same liberty in presenting ourselves by this very humble petition at the feet of your Sacred Majesty, not being able to do otherwise, to beg with deep respect, to be kind as to permit us to have some part in this solid and advantageous establishment which Your Majesty intends to make in this country in favor of poor exiles.

It will be for us, Sire, a subject of eternal gratitude and great satisfaction, in as much as, your Majesty will procure us, in the celestial food and bread of life which is so precious to us and yet so rare in this country, that our souls thirst after it; our minister having died some months since. In the second place, our families, which are pretty numerous, and the place we occupy quite limited, we find ourselves in the impossibility of procuring any situation for our children, or even to have them instructed, or give them any education.

In the third place, what a joy it would be for us, Sire, to be brought nearer to Your Sacred Majesty, to sacrifice to your service all that remains to us of life, which undoubtedly would not fail to inspire, also, our children from their earliest youth, with the same sentiments of love and obedience for Your Majesty. We never will fail to imprint this sacred duty in their hearts in whatever place we may be.

Sire, we supplicate once more, Your Majesty, to grant us that grace and to withdraw us from a place where we suffer. For a long time we would have been out of it if we had been in a state to leave it of ourselves, and to pay our passage, but we are wanting in means for that purpose. There is quite a considerable number of families who wait only for the orders which it may please Your Majesty to give them thereupon. In the meantime, we continue, and will ever continue, during the course of our life, to offer thousands of prayers to Heaven for the preservation of your sacred person, for that of the Great Prince, your successor, of the Illustrious Princess, his wife, of all Royal posterity, and for the prosperity of your arms to the confussion [sic] and destruction of your enemies.

ABRAHAM SALLE'
in the year 1714

His petition was not granted and Abraham Sallee died at Manakintown in 1720. His will, dated Aug. 9, 1718, and probated in Henrico Co., in March, 1719/20, gives his nativity in France as cited above, requests to be buried with his wife, and leaves slaves, land, and considerable property to his sons Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, William and PETER, and to his daughter Olive Magdaleine.

SCOTT COUSINS EXPLORE MANIKINTOWN
Flash forward to September, 2005, when Debbie, Cindy, and Mary Lee decided to visit Manakintown, Virginia, after discovering the website for The Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia . (Kenneth was evidently a member of the Society as he received their newsletters.)  We made arrangements with the librarian to meet us at the headquarters. We looked at the exhibits in the research library and the librarian shared several records with us relating to our ancestors.  The gift shop offers several books containing records of the colony and a traditional Huguenot cross pendant. The white dove represents the Holy Ghost.

Traditional Huguenot cross pendant

The librarian also took us into the small church, built in 1895, that replaced the earlier church building of the Manikin Episcopal Church, founded in 1700.

As we approached the Huguenot society headquarters on the Huguenot Trail (Robius Road, 711) , we had noticed a county line sign, but thought little of it. Later, however, as the librarian showed us the location of ABRAHAM SALLEE'S property, we noticed that the county line passed through it. Because of that small detail, we were able to locate the land. We knocked on the door of the impressive 18th century home, and the owner answered.  When we told her that our ancestor was Abraham Sallee, she graciously showed us around her property, including the home that was built in 1713 for Abraham Sallee’s daughter, Marianne and her husband, Charles Clark, who also built the large manor.

Home built for Marianne Sallee in 1713 on land formerly owned by Abraham Sallee

PIERRE SALLEE (1714-1752) AND FRANCOISE (FRANCIS JANE) BONDURANT (1712-1777)
Back to the story of our Sallee ancestors. Based on the limited information we have, it appears that our Sallee family stayed in Virginia until the early 1800s. Kenneth’s 4th great-grandfather, PIERRE SALLEE, was only 6 years old when his father, ABRAHAM SALLEE, died. He married FRANCOISE BONDURANT in 1733 in Goochland County, Virginia.

Francoise’s father was JEAN PIERRE BONDURANT(1678-1734), also a Huguenot refugee. He was the son of DR. JOSEPH AND ELIZABETH ANN BONDURANT, who remained in France. JEAN PIERRE BONDURANT arrived at Manikintown 20 Sept. 1700 on the boat “Ye Peter and Anthony,” an English galley which sailed from London bound for the James River in Viriginia. The Captain of the boat was Daniel Perroin. (Recall that other sources name the Captain as DANIEL PERRAULT OR PERREAU, father of OLIVE PERRAULT, PIERRE SALLEE’S mother.) The Captain gave Jean Pierre Bondurant money for the passage. JEAN PIERRE (anglicized to JOHN PETER after he settled in Virginia) was born near Lyons, France, about 16778. To avoid the religious persecution, he left France and went first to Germany, then to England, and finally to Virginia. He died in Virginia in 1734. He was not married when he reached Virginia, but in 1708, he married ANN FAURE, born about 1699.

JACOB BONDURANT SALLEE (1743-1800) AND JUDITH TRUEMAN (born about 1761)
JACOB SALLEE, Kenneth’s 3rd great-grandfather, was 9 when his father, PIERRE SALLEE, died. He married JUDITH TRUMAN in 1785 in Henrico County, Virginia.

MOSES SALLEE (born about 1790) AND ELIZABETH WHITMORE (born about 1792)
MOSES SALLEE, Kenneth’s great-great grandfather, was a native of Virginia and a cooper [barrel maker] by trade. According to one account, he and his wife, ELIZABETH WHITMORE, moved to Montgomery County, Tennessee, in 1822, when their oldest child, JOSEPH MAXEY SALLEE, was eight years of age.

JOSEPH MAXEY SALLEE (1815-1897) AND MATILDA ANN DUNKERSON (1813-1856)
Kenneth’s great-grandfather, JOSEPH MAXEY SALLEE, was of French descent, born in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1815. The year following his marriage to MATILDA ANN DUNKERSON in 1838, he emigrated to northern Missouri and located near Edenburg (now Grundy County), where he took up a claim. About a year later he sold out and came to Mercer County. There he settled upon a farm owned by Israel Smith, situated in Harrison Township. About two years later he moved to Lindley Township where he resided until 1878, at which time he moved to Mt. Moriah, Harrison County, where he lived and served as a postmaster. He also held that position in Burr Oak, Mercer County. He was an officer of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons [Free_Masons] lodge in Cainsville in 1868 when it was organized.

He was one of the oldest settlers of northern Missouri, which, when he came to it, abounded in Indians and wild animals. It was a vast unbroken prairie. He was a Democrat and was for one year assessor of half of Mercer County. His wife, MATILDA ANN DUNKERSON, was born in Kentucky in 1813. She died in 1856 and was the mother of nine children of whom THOMAS EDWARD SALLEE was the second.

THOMAS EDWARD SALLEE (1841-1817) AND ADELIA PUTNAM (1846-1904)
Kenneth’s grandfather, THOMAS EDWARD SALLEE, a farmer and stock raiser, was born in Mercer County, Missouri, March 20, 1841. He received a common school education during his years and made his home with his parents until of age. In 1861 he married Elizabeth Woodward who was born in Decatur County, Indiana, and was the daughter of Elder John Woodward. She was born in 1845 and died in 1862. In 1867 Thomas Edward married second ADELIA PUTNAM, daughter of LUTHER CHARLES AND LUCY ANN PUTNAM, a native of Huron County, Ohio. She was born October 5, 1846 and came to Mercer County at the age of eighteen years. CARRIE MAE SALLEE, Kenneth’s mother, was the fifth of nine children. She was 27 when her mother died in 1904.

Thomas Edward Sallee (1841-1917)

Adelia Putnam Sallee (1846-1904)

Thomas Edward and Adelia Putnam Sallee and family.  From the birth order of the children, I assume that Carrie Mae is on the far right in the back row, as she was the 5th child.

Mr. Thomas Edward Sallee was a strong Union man during the war and in March, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Third Missouri Calvary for three years, participating in the battle of Springfield and numerous other skirmishes. In June, 1864, he veteranized and enlisted in Company M, Thirteenth Veterans Volunteer Calvary and was afterward promoted to Company C of the same regiment. In August 1865 he was made a Second Lieutenant which position he held until his discharge in May, 1866, at Ft. Levinworth, Kansas.

Thomas Edward Sallee, Captain in Union Cavalry

We have the following letter regarding his service in the “War of Rebellion” [Civil War]:

Maj. O. D. Green
Asst. Adjt. General St. Louis MO
June 15, 1864

Major,

I have the honor to report that on the evening of the 12 Instant a party of 20 guerrillas made a dash into Calhoun, burnt one church, 1 tavern, 2 dwelling houses and robbed 2 stores.

The leader, Dr. Beck, a notorious character, was killed by Lieut. Thomas Sallee, of the Citizens Gard; 3 of the Gard were wounded.

I am very truly your obedient servent,
E. B. Brown

About 1857, THOMAS SALLEE entered 100 acres of land in Section 3, Township 65, Range 22, where he located after his marriage and where he resided. He owned 100 acres of land and was one of Harrison Township's most respected, enterprising farmers. He was one of the original directors of the Agricultural and Mechanics Association of Mercer County, which purchased the site and organized the county fair. He was a Democrat and was elected in 1875 the county assessor and re-elected in 1877, thus serving 4 years. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church for 26 years. His wife was a member for 30 years.

Front row L to R: [Mary Williams Sallee--maybe] w/ baby, Lucy Ann Ewell, Kenneth, Carrie Mae Sallee Scott, Winnogene

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[Note that in the photo above, the elderly lady, Lucy Ann Ewell Putnam (born 1822), is Kenneth's great grandmother!   The others on the back row are Evelyn Severe and her husband, Arthur Sallee, Kenneth's aunt and uncle.  We believe Mary, Kenneth's wife, who labeled the photo made an error and the woman in front on the left may actually be Mary Williams, whom Thomas E. Sallee married on in 1906.  Adelia Putnam Sallee died in 1904 and Winnogene was born in 1905, so they could not have appeared in the same photo.]

Adelia Putnam Sallee

The following account is from a tape-recorded interview with Kenneth, found in the appendix of his and Mary’s autobiographies:

My Grandmother Sallee died when I was quite young so I don’t have any recollection of her, but Grandfather Sallee, Thomas Edward, he’d sell fuel, coal, and various kinds of feed because many of the people in the town had a horse or team. That was quite a business. He had a big substantial wagon...a fine big team of horses that would pull that around.

There were some of the streets in Chillicothe that were paved in those days and brick pavement and I could just see my grandfather’s assistant driving the team around delivering the feed to the customers. He was quiet an interesting fellow. It [the feed store] was a nice place to go.

Grandpa Sallee was a captain in the Civil War, a captain in the Calvary, on the Union side. He had a long, white beard. [Kenneth was a teenager--about 17 or 18--when he knew his grandfather and didn’t pay too much attention to his stories.]

Thomas Edward Sallee (1841-1917)

My grandfather Scott and my Grandfather Sallee were very good friends. Mother and Dad were the reason for them getting acquainted. They didn’t get together very often. Grandfather Scott lived in Ridgeway and Grandfather Sallee in Chillicothe.  It seemed to me a terribly long ways down there because they had to go on a train. We’d change trains a time or two...but it really wasn’t very far down there....

They had the Chillicothe Business College and Dad went down there to attend business college and Mother was a member of the Baptist Church. Father got acquainted with her in church. Grandfather Sallee was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat and Grandfather Scott was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, but they lived 25 or 30 miles apart.

I went to business college down there in Chillicothe and stayed with Grandfather Sallee and that was his second wife. He had three wives:  He had one who died before he got back out of the army. They were married only a very short time before the Civil War.  Adelia [Kenneth’s grandmother] was his second wife. Mary Williams I think was his third wife.

[Our records show that THOMAS SALLEE and his first wife, MARY ELIZABETH WOODWARD, were married on 7 April 1861.  She died in 1862, the same year their first child was born and died, so it may be that she died in childbirth, or that they were both stricken by an illness.  In any case, Thomas was a widower when he fought in the Civil War.]

CARRIE MAE SALLEE AND ELZUMER SCOTT

HUGUENOT APPLE PECAN TORTE
Here’s a sweet dessert for those of you who made it to the end of the longest blog post so far! I found it in Better Homes and Gardens in November 1993 (p. 228). I have made it several times and it is delicious!

Huguenot Apple Pecan Torte, Better Homes and Gardens, Nov. 1993, p. 228

The seventeenth century French Huguenots, who settled in South Carolina [and Manakin, Virginia, where Grandpa Scott’s ancestors settled], were famed for their cooking. This French apple cake is still an American favorite.

2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
4 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 ½ cups pecans
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 cups sliced, peeled apple
1 cup whipping cream
2 Tbsp. sugar
Toasted pecan halves (optional)

Stir together flour, baking powder, and lemon peel; set aside.

In a blender container or food processor bowl place eggs, the 3/4 cup sugar, and vanilla. Cover and blend or process till smooth. Add the 2 ½ cups pecans. Blend or process about 1 minutes or till nearly smooth. Add the flour mixture and blend or process just till combined. Spread the batter evenly into 2 greased and floured 8x1/2-inch round baking pans.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or till lightly browned. Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool thoroughly on racks.

Meanwhile, in a skillet heat water and lemon juice to boiling. Add apple slices. Reduce heat. Cover; simmer 2 to 3 minutes or just till tender. Drain apple slices. [I am experimenting with sauteeing the apples in a little oil and–next time--with a little sugar to cook and carmelize them, to give them a prettier appearance.]

In a medium bowl beat whipping cream and the 2 tablespoons sugar till soft peaks form. Place a torte layer on a cake plate. Spread about half of the whipped cream evenly over layer. Arrange apple slices in a single layer on whipped cream, using as many as needed to cover surface and reserving remaining for top. Top with second torte layer. Spread remaining whipped cream on top of second torte layer. Arrange remaining apple slices and, if desired, pecan halves on top. Chill 1 to 2 hours. Make 12 servings.

Nutrition facts per serving: 311 cal.. 26 g total fat (6 g sat. fat), 98 mg chol., 24 g carbo., 55mg sodium, 5 g pro.

Let me know if you try the recipe and think of a better way to cook the apples. Enjoy!