Caroline E. McGowin Mancil (Callie)

One of my first posts here was about my great grandmother, Callie. My grandfather Jake had told us that her real name was Caroline but on her marriage and death certificates etc. all I found was Callie. I cannot find any kind of birth record for her. There are a few places that have her listed as the daughter of James McGowin II and his second wive Virginia Sanks but after some research, Virginia is too young to be her mother. Her death certificate lists her as the daughter of Sam McGowin. I am in touch with Sam's descendants and trying to see if they know who her father is as she is not listed on any roster of his family. Her youngest son George said it was known amongst her children that she was disinherited for marrying her husband, James Bryant Mancil who was called Tobe. I would like to solve that mystery. I have been able to solve some of the other mysteries surrounding this woman. Firstly, we knew that she had been killed by her son-in-law, Angus Graham. We never knew what happened to him or where she was buried. I believe her daughters knew but my grandfather was very young when she was killed and I'm not sure if he asked. Talking about her made him quite nervous. I learned from his youngest brother George's daughter that George witnessed her death and my grandfather might have as well. My grandfather talked of the killer being married to his sister Ruby. I wondered if Angus had ever been tried. After much searching I was able to find a blurb that he was acquitted on the grounds that he was not sane at the time. A year later I find him still married to Ruby living in Pensacola. Ten years later he has been divorced and remarried with two young children. I wonder if he ever thought about Callie and the damage he caused to her children. Her husband married a much younger woman and his younger children were sent to live with family elsewhere. My grandfather never spent another day as a student after that. If he even set foot in that house again I am not aware of it. What kind of a person could shoot their mother-in-law in front of her young child (or children) and leave her there to die? But I digress..... A short time ago I found out where Callie was buried, McCurdy Cemetery in Century, Fla. I wondered why she was there and not in the McGowin cememtery near her home? There were many entries for Find a Grave but none for her or her deceased children (I knew at least one was buried with her, Ruby, who died at age 30.) I emailed the person who had taken most of the photos and asked if he was in the area if he could verify for me that Callie had a stone and possibly take a photo of it. I was elated this morning to receive the news that he had not only taken a picture of Callie's stone but pictures of three of her children's stones as well. That gave me more information on two of her children. This is a photo of her stone:

The inscription is so perfect for her. "Rest mother, rest in quiet sleep while friends in sorrow o'er you weep." I love that it says MOTHER on the stone. It's been nearly 100 years since her death but she lives on in me. So, it's Thanksgiving. I wasn't feeling well today and I didn't make a big dinner. The day seemed kind of gloomy until I received this wonderful gift from a stranger. Thank you kind sir, thank you. A part of me will rest easier knowing that my great grandmother has this stone and has four of her children with her.

The Value of Photos and Memories

I am living through the remnants of a nightmare here in New Jersey. While we were fortunate and only lost a windowsill and lived without power seven or eight days there are many who are trying to pick up the pieces and move forward. Most Jersey people, like our New York natives are pretty tough. We rallied after 9/11 and jumped to support our neighbors who had commuted to New York and were the victims as well as their families. Right now many from my town are going down to the worst hit areas and sorting through what can be salvaged and taking food, toys, blankets etc. to those people. My mother attends a local church and the assistant pastor there lives near a river and was hard hit. They were evacuated the day before and will not be able to return to their homes for months, if ever. They are still waiting for an insurance adjuster to make that determination. Last night we went over to help them get their new lap top and printer set up temporarily. They are staying in an apartment, part of my mother's home until they can find something more permanent. While there Joyce was painstakingly removing photos from a waterlogged album and placing them between paper towels to dry. This particular photo album contained a lot of information about her family which related to the pictures on each page. Most touching was the picture of her (she was 8) and her older siblings. Next to it was a large newspaper clipping about a tractor incident which claimed her father's life. She was telling me how her mother had to hire someone to run the dairy farm and split the profits with him. That left her mother with $13 for the week. Her mother had a small book which had the amounts of every penny she spent. Rice crispies were 13 cents a box then. She then shared something with me that she found that the piano lessons she so loved were 50 cents a week. That was a lot of her mother's small budget. She never knew and her mother continued giving them to her. There was also a picture of a lovely coat. As she had gotten older she learned that had been an adult coat that her mother took apart and remade for her. The collar yoke had a stain and her mother embroidered flowers to cover the stain and then matched them on the other side as well. I felt so enriched to be sharing these stories and photos of her history. Once again the importance of these things hit me. Her mother is long gone, as is the coat but she is keeping the memory alive. I saw her grandparent's wedding photo. It was a wonderful experience to share this with her. I think she enjoyed it too. Her furniture can be replaced, so many things can but these photos and stories are priceless and cannot. I'm so happy she was able to preserve them.

Back Again Soon

There has been a brief hiatus. I live in Central New Jersey where the hurricane hit us. We were without power over five days. It was restored but I am left with an empty refrigerator, freezer and five loads of laundry to do. We are on gas rationing for now. I plan to be back soon. Keep the families of New Jersey in your prayers.Many are still without power or food, some have flooded or missing homes.