Journal of Eula Frazier
Eula V. Frazier wrote this 51-page journal. Eula was the youngest
daughter of John Riley Frazier and Nancy Catherine Long. Eula was the
last of 8 children, and was born 12/12/1909 in Gibson Co., TN, and
died in March 1973 in Crockett Co., TN. She was the wife of John Wiley
Gibbons. Her father John Riley Frazier was born 03/07/1845 in Wayne
Co., TN and died 08/04/1922 in Dyersburg, TN. I am grateful to Eula's
daughters who were kind enough to share this with me. It is truly a
great source of family history. I typed it for viewing and it may
contain errors.
CHAPTER 1
When my daddy was a Boy he lived with his Father & Mother and Brother
& Sister his sister name was sallie. His Brother Sam. They were his
half Brother and Sister then his Father and Mother had 2 more Boys.
Jim Frazier and George Frazier.
Well my daddy was a Grate guy he tales his children about what he did
when he was a Boy he lived in Middle Tennessee. Him and sallie would
go hunting in the wood for some kind of meet, Rabbit or squirrels, and
of course they getting into something they had no buisness to. One
time my daddy said his daddy sent him some where to get something and
he stayed tell Dark. When he was on his way home it was Very dark. He
said there was something in the road. It look white he thought it was
a man. So he call out to it he thought it was his Brother Hom trying
to scare him. But there was no answer so he call out again Hom is that
you. Still no answer. Well Ill hit you he pick up a rock and threw at
the whit spot and up jump a road of cows, that sure did scare him so
he Ran home and when he got home he was out of breath, his Mother was
worried about him his Daddy said John make it then another time.
He was out and up in Middle Tennessee when you cut a tree down there
will bee Fox Hair on it and when it was dark it will glow in the dark
and you thank it is a light and the Moore you look at it seams to come
closer to you he got close enough to touch it and when he did it was a
old stump and it fell down it was Rotten He said he jump about 3 foot
hie and of course he ran again.
He was 18 year old when the Civil Was Broke out. So he went in to the
war to keep his Father from going he was in the war for 4 years.
(Capt. J.W. Phillips' Co. Lt. Art. C.S.A.) I don't think daddy was
every out of Tennessee. There was a Boy Friend of his that went with
him by the name of Parker Herrington (James Parker Herndon) daddy said
that Boy was so lazy. Said he staved to death if it haden Bin for him
he and my daddy went threw the war together. My mothers Father was in
the war to his name was John Long.
They was in all the Battles there was in Tennessee, he told us there
was time when he thought he starve to death one time they was going
threw some place said there was a Big White house on a hie hill he
said he was so hungry he could Harley live.
He said he was shure there was something to eat there for there was a
company there so he went up to the door and asked the cook for
something to eat she said honey child there is not any thing hear to
eat only some bread on the fire cooking in the Pan. He said he stayed
around and out of sight, and when the cook call supper he got close to
the Back door and when he heard her lift the lid from the skillet and
cut the Bread and then patted across the room he went in and got the
rest of the Bread. And went out with it.
CHAPTER 2
He said it was Egg corn Bread but it was good. Said when he got Back
to Camp the rest was Eating a Cow they had kill and was cooking it
they asked him if he wonted some, he said No I am full of good Egg
corn Bread. Well Mr. Parker Herrington said John did you Bring me
some. My daddy said No.
Well the war went on and on and them still starving. Well any way
something happen I dont Rember what But daddy said they tied him to a
Wagon Wheel to stay there all night But when the captain was gone he
got some one to untie him he was out of one thing and in something
else. My daddy was in the Battle at gettisburg. Waynberr and at chillo
(Shiloh) where the Bloody Battle was afell. One time he stoled a Pig,
he went up to this man house one evening Real late this was a log
house with a hall down threw it this Pet Pig and a Big Bull dog was
laying there in the Hall. My daddy said the man said the dog was a bad
one. So daddy said he was so hungry that he could harly stand it. So
he said good Night and started back to camp. But he diden go to far.
And when it was dark, he slip Back and he saw the light out he sliped
Back in the yard and crawl up on the Porch. and into the Hall. Where
the Pig and dog was at he crawled up to the pig and Felt to see if it
was the pig or dog, and it was so he stab the pig with his knife. He
said the Pig grunted and one of the Kids said daddy there is something
Bothern the Pig. The Man said only the dog. It will bee all right. So
daddy said he crawl off the Porch and carried the Pig on his Back.
He skent the Pig and carried into his tent and put it under his bed.
The next morning the Man came looking for his pig he search every tent
there all But my daddy. He said to the Man come in see for you self.
The man said I know it is not there daddy said he was scared he
thought well if he came in and fines the Pig he would be tied to the
Wagon Wheel again. But it would be worth it and a another time he was
in Knoxville Tennessee some one come threw with some Water Millons to
sell But daddy diden have any money. The Millons was .50 peace. He
said he walk up to the wagon. And was looking at the Mellons he said
finely he asked the man for his change. And the man said sorry son how
much money did you give me. $5 Dollars sir daddy got 2 Mellons and 4
Dollars in Money, so he maid it very well for a wile so he went on.
And then up jumped Mr. Parker Hearrington he said Hi John I shure
could stand some of that Mellon my self. Daddy said why dont you try
your Luck on getting some time.
Well it dont taste all that good but Mr. Harrington would say John you
steal for Both off us. Dont you. My daddy would say so be it and one
time he was in Nashville he said there was a Niger woman come by with
some she was selling them for 25 a basket. He said he only had money
witch they call shin paster. I guess some one would call it countfit
But he bought a dollar worth of Peaches the Niger Woman asked him if
it was good money and of corse he said yes. He carried the peaches
around a corner and begin eating them said hear she come the woman was
saying where is my peaches this money is no good but he said he was
eating as fast as he could.
CHAPTER 3
While the war was going on, and things happen every day. Finely there
was an end to it and the Girls at Chattanooga gave all the solders
their cross of honor. Well this is about all I can Remember of what my
daddy told me only I would cry when he talk like that.
Well he come home and Marred for the first time him and his first wife
had 3 Boys and one Girl witch Finly become my half Brother, sister. My
half sister was older then my Mother my Mothers Father was in the war
to. And he came home and marred. And him and my daddy were close
Neibors.
Finely my daddy helt my Mother when she was a Baby he was 25 years
older then my Mother finely his first Wife taken Real sick My Mother
set up there the Night she died And after that then daddy begin
courting my Mother and when she was 16 years old they Marred. They
lived in Middle Tennessee. Daddy work on the farm, and then they had a
baby Girl her name was Margaret Purl (Margaret Pearl) and then a
another Girl name Minnie and a Boy John & Jessie Lula Bob Aultie and
Eula. That's me the one now writing this story only it is the truth.
Well they raised all the children and in 1912 my sister Margaret
Marred a man from Arkansas and daddy and mother moved over they're in
1914. Well in the mean time I had another Sister. Minnie and Brother
John Marred. My Brother married the year I was born Dec. 12-1910. I
coulden Remember see my Brother. I would ask. What did he look like my
daddy moved in his son in law place that was with my sister Margaret
she Marred Jim Williams. They lived about 1 mile from us.
My Mother was very sickly. But some time we walk to my sister house. I
was 4 year old. That is when I really started remember thing as I said
Mother and I walk to see my sister and a long old country Road just
room for a wagon and mules to go down and on each side of the road was
some weed they had purple tops and I get them for a Parsal to hold
over my head and I ride stick for my horse. Some times I ask my mother
to carry me she say that her Back had a Bone in it and I say My has a
Bone to Moma an my Brother in law place he work a Lots Niger they pass
by our place going to pick cotton and I go to the fence and peep threw
the Old Niger Woman would say to me Hi Baby Doll, and I say Hi Blue
eyes.
The color people would pick cotton and my sister & Brother Bob would
pick with them and my sister Jessie would Sing for them Their was one
that every body liked Very Much. Her name was Lizzy everyone calls her
Aunt Lizzy. My sister would sing the song of a Rambler sweet Boy. And
of course aunt Lizzy would cry. So one time my Brother in law had his
wife Margaret and her sister Jessie to shoot some guns. For the Niger
they say All tho White Woman can shoot tho guns. Well then my Sister
Margaret had a baby Boy. He was a sweet little thing. For one reason I
was a 4 year old Aunt. I thought I very big then my sister Minnie
lived in Memphis she had a little Girl she was sweet to.
CHAPTER 4
She diden get to come home very much. I had 3 sister and a Brother at
home in the spring off the year every one would cut the corn stalk
Pile it up and Burn them I go around with My daddy and talk to him he
was getting Up in year then My Mother began getting Sicker. And I
Began having chills almost every day of course I was the baby and I
almost got my way about every thing. Some times my Mom would give me a
spanking. One time My Sister came to see us with her little Baby Boy.
I coulden keep my hands off him. Mom Kept say leave the Baby alone.
But of course I coulden so I Pick him up and My Mother Saw me and she
started to get me and I throw the baby in the Bed and Ran out the
door.
She came after me and down the road I went she was coming on after me
so I climbed a 4 stran Bobwire Fince and got in the cotton patch she
climbed over the fince after me. I tried to out run her But there was
some stickers in the field and I was Bare Footed and I got them in my
Feet so I saw my sister in the yard. I thought if I can only make it
to them But My Mother coate (caught) me and they was calling out Run
Little Sister Run. But It diden no good. For Mother was ever More
Paring that Elm switch on me.
Sometime in the year of 1915 my sister Jessie Ran off from home. She
stayed gone for a long time she went to my older Brother he lived in
Middle Tenn. But she finely came back home that like to abt killed me.
So things begin to happen My Sister Margaret and her husbman got a
Divorce in Dec. 1915 My sister Died at my sisters in Memphis then My
sister Jessie Married her Man. things went from Bad to worse. In Oct.
1915 my sister Lula Marred Author Worthy the lived at Cooter, MO.
Ill never for get before they Marred and While they was getting Marred
she wore a White Dress with a light Blue Belt I stood there watching
them getting marred But didn't know what they was doing So when my
sister started to leave I said I wanted to see them Marry. My Mother
Said they Married. Well I coulden Belive it for I thought that it
would Be more then that to it.
My Mother and I went to see Jessie she lived at Berrdet Ark. we went
in a wagon to see her But we was going to go home on train there was a
Rail road close to where My sister lived. While we had a good time, I
play with my little Nephews, and I named my self Mrs. Pipe stim they
call me that for a long time.
Then the time come for Mother and me to go home So we got on the train
when my Brother in law was putting me on the train he said Mrs. Pipe
Stine you cant talk if you do the man put you off. Well I stayed quite
tell the train stop. At Blytheville where I saw My Daddy. I said I
want my Daddy. The Man said go to your daddy. That Fall we moved from
that Place in the winter times over there when it was raining and
Muddy you coulden harley go no where for you wagon wheels would clog
up with Mud tell you stall. So we were moving and we got stuck it was
raining.
CHAPTER 5
My Mother and Brother were in the wagon my Brother was trying to make
the mules pull us out but they just starred there as dumb as they
could be. So my Brother in law comes and Made them pull us out My
Mother was very angry My Brother Law all way calls her Moma. He said
Moma why are you sitting hear in the rain why dont you drive them out
and gave a little laugh. He got us out of the mud. So we went on to
where we was moving it was on the state line at Arkansas & MO. We live
there for about 2 years.
There was a hole lots of collar people around us my Mother was scared
of them if she saw one coming at the house she would take me and my
sister Aultie out to the corn field that was out behind were we lived
and hide till they got gone. Well I begun having chills and got very
sick from them So my sister come to live with my mother & daddy after
her husbman Kill a Man her and her little Boy lived there the time he
was in the Pen.
We had Cows and Mules and we had out yard Fence in so the calf could
run in the yard. By some reason my Brother Maid him a little wagon and
me and my nephew tied a calf to the wagon and did we have some fun
until the calf Wagon and all ran over him he was hurt very bad.
Well Some time in the fall my half sister Lizy came to see us, my
Mother was picking cotton my dad was digging sweet Potatoes I was sick
But my Nephew was helping his grand daddy he carrying one Sweet Potato
at a time My Sister said for him to come in he said I want to Dig
taters Aunt Lizy. But he got sick to, one time I had a very hard chill
they call the Doc. and he tried to get my Fever down But he coulden So
they Bath me in Soda Water every 2 or 3 hours Until it went down.
Then one time I remember we was picking Cotton that was in 1917, my
mother & Brother Sister and me well about 3 o'clock in the evening I
had a chill in the Field they started home with me But I coulden walk
so they put me on a cotton sock to carry me. And finely my Brother put
me on his back and carried me home. I was very sick I can remember
that winter it Begin snowing in November.
Well we burned wood in a stove to keep us warm my daddy had gone to a
Nebor house to get some Milk. When he got home he said get some wood
on the porch. And I mean pill it hi. So we had our front porch Full of
wood in know time. Wile the snow still came down and very soon the
ground was White and it stayed that way for a longtime Well Christmas
came on and my Mother and Sister went to see my Brother in Middle
Tennessee. They had a very nice time. My Brother & his Wife had a
little Baby girl her name was Lessie. They came home with Mother they
came home on a Train. My Sister in law had a Box with the Baby Med
(Medicine) in it she was giving the baby some Med and the conductor
ask her if she had the Drug Store with her She said know sir Just
Part.
CHAPTER 6
Well they came to Steele MO, and got off and then they walk for about
2 or 3 Miles and carried the Bag & Bobbers. (?) When they got to
Cooter MO where my sister lived then my Brother came over to get the
Mules & Wagon so they could come to our house. In January my younger
Brother got the Measles and of course all that hadean had them got
them and my Brothers Baby Died. I know at one time that winter the
snow was real hi but I play in it when my Mother let us. My Brother
and his wife lived with us for a long time but they went back to
Tennessee.
In March 1918 my daddy moved over to Morsura we made a crop and when
it was finish we was going on a trip So my Mother went to town and
Bought us some new close. She got me some Black Slippers and White
long stockings. So we got every thing reedy Daddy and my Brother Bob
got the Wagon Bowed up with the sheet. I thought how funny that look.
But we finely got on our way.
We started out the First of July in 1918, we cross the Mississippi
River. I had seen the river but hadn't crossed it since I could
remember. I was 8 year old. Well when we got close to the river I was
scared daddy put the mules and wagons on the Boat and then the family.
We cross the river at Eallars Weaves and got off at Cotton Wood Point
we came on tell we got to Mingle Wood and my Mother Cook us some
Dinner. She maid a fire out on the ground and cook I really thought we
was almost to where we way going. But we had just started we went from
there to Finley, Tennessee and stay all night there.
The next morning my Mother maid us Breakfast we had Ham meat coffee,
Eggs scramble. Butter and Bread. That was so good. Then we started on
to Dyerburg Tennessee. We meet some of Daddies Folks. His half sister
Aunt Sallie, Cousin Bell Dunkins & her Husbman, We had and some of
aunt sallie Boys John & Dug Serrett we stayed tell the seckon of July.
I had 2 half Brother that lived Close to Trenton Tennessee. We travel
on we came Brother Gerge (George) house we had Dinner with. It was in
Tomatoes time Gerge Wife had bin picking tomatoes and her hands was
stain so my brother woulden eat and when we started on our way My
Brother said he was hungry. My Mother said why diden you Eat I maid
the Basket But she gave him some cookies that she had maid.
Well we went on to Trenton, where my Brother Eide lived. The next day
was July 4 in 1918. The cotton mill there was putting on a show in the
court house yard. So we stayed and went to see the show. We had IC
Cream, Water Mellon it was very nice. We walk on the railroad there
and back.
Well the 5-day of July we really did get going we travel and travel,
for a long time up on hill and another. We came to a river I believe
it was Buffalo River we had to cross on a Ferry. It sure was Scary.
You could see the water under the Boat it was only Plank Put together
with some logs. But By the help of the Lord we made it a cross. Well
daddy said I go some other ways home well we went on. Some of the
Worse Road I have every seen. Only far the road in Arkansas. But we
kept on until we got to my Brothers.
CHAPTER 7
On our way there we came to a Rock the road was cut threw it and it
hung out over the river when we come to this place Mother sister and
me got out and walk I wanted to get to the side where the river was
Mom said No. My Brother said when he drove the Mules threw there that
the Boys in the War would have something to tell when they get home.
But when he got back to Moursia he could bathe them.
So when we got to where we was going my Brother wanted to have a goat
Supper of course he was used to the Hill up there But my Brother Bob,
he coulden hardly make it they started off to get the goat to cook and
Bob almost Plait Out.
There was a meeting of Church of Christ going on. So we went to the
meeting had a very time I tried to walk with out my shoes and maid
Blisters on my feet. We stayed for about 2 weeks and then we started
back for home. On the way Back we ran out of Milk and Butter so we
stop one evening at a nice house to buy some Milk and Butter the Man
and my daddy knew each other far some time back.
My Brother sister and I waded in the creek, it was cold and Mr.
Ledbetter had a springhouse but the water from a spring ran threw it
that keep his Milk & Butter cold. We spent the night there but we
slept in our wagon. And the next morning we had Breakfast with them
and then started on a gin.
Well the time went by very slow, we came back by Dyersburg. To see
some more of daddy people. Some more cousin, they had a cotton Gin we
look it over for I had never seen one. It looks fun to me. So we
stayed around some time on our whey their or back we got some Light
Bread. But we couldnen eat it for it was no good.
Well we went on to the river and crossed and when we got home my
sister Lula & her husband stayed with our things. He said they were
going home. My Sister was Pregnet and she wanted to go home. We diden
do any thing Very much for a long time.
One morning Mother was cooking dinner and my brother in law came to
tell us that they had a new baby Boy. Well we went to see him he was
cutie. Well it wasn't Very long tell it was fall and my daddy Begin to
make plan to Move Back to Tennessee a gin, so him and his sun in law
they came Back to Tennessee to get us a place. We had a good crop, but
daddy sold it in the Field and in October 12 in 1918 we landed back to
Tennessee.
I remember the day we moved my sister Moved with us and her husbman
was funny. When we crossed the Mississippi river he call out the man
that Brought us a cross good by United State it was a very long day.
But we got to where we were going about dark and every one was very
hungry. So mother finely got our supper cook we eat and got our Bed
Put up and went to Bed. The next morning the men that had help us
started on their way back home.
CHAPTER 8
On there way back home one off the Boys got sick it was the year off
that awful Flue and that was what he had in a week or so he Died with
the Flue. There was a small town over there call Tyler MO there was a
bout 3 or 4 hundred people that lived at one time that winter there
was 40 people Died all at the same time. My sister that moved with us,
she and her Baby had the Flue and the baby almost Died he was so poor
you coulden harley hold him.
We moved on a Farm out from Dyersburg it was the MidWay Farm we moved
Boy a Family named Mr. Dock Rogers they had 3 girls at home it was in
During World War one they had 2 son in it Mr. Frank an Cobey. Well we
were picking cotton, Mr. Rodgers girls were helping us, and Mr. Frank
came home. His Mother tale him where the girls were and he came to the
Field. When his sisters saw him they rain to see him and I did to. And
he set down in the cotton Middle and hugs every one of us. And we all
went to the house together.
We all lived there until Jan. or Feb. there had bin a woman Kill buy a
Mule, she had lived in the house that we lived in every one around
there said on a Dark Night if you was Riding a Mule she Jump up behind
you a scream'n. They ask my Brother would he do if this happen to him
he Said she could have the Mule He didn't want any part of him we all
had a good time that Dec 24 Mr. Frank Rodgers and Miss Mandy Hescott
Married at Mr. Walker store on in the court house I dont Remember it
was an Christmas day.
We was sitting at Mr. Rogers house and up Road Mandy Father & 2
Brothers well that got every one kindly Scared Mandy Father came for
Frank to come out there Mandy didin want him to go out there. But
Frank said I am goin. So he went on. Nothing happened her Father said
is you and Mandy Marred. He said yes. And they road off and was good
friends after.
Frank and Mandy moved to Dyersburg Mr. Frank was on the railroad him
and too more Brothers Will & Burt in 1919 my daddy moved on Mr. Hudson
Place. It was close to the TC. Rail Road. Mr. Dock Rogers moved over
close to where we lived.
My daddy would talk about the house we was go to move in he say that
it had a Fair place in it that when we have our Fire to keep us warm.
I thought that was the Funniest Place I every saw to have Fire. But it
was OK.
Well that summer MR and the Rogers Girls had our self a time we put
nails or hair pins on the rail road track and let the train run over
them Mr. Frank tell us that we would get run over But we diden But the
train would Blow his Wissle at us. But nothing happen.
My Brother John and his wife came to live with us a gin Mr. Rogers
kept his cows in our Pasture. Mable & May Rogers would come to get the
Cows to Milk where the pasture was wood and a lot of mud holes we go
to get the cows and wade in the mud holes and there was snakes in
there we was very Lucky none of us every gotten Bit By one. Although
we could of But diden.
CHAPTER 9
Well my daddy had a Wood lot in Front of the house. My Mother was a
scarry. She was afraid of the tramps they walk along the railroad,
stop in, and ask for something to eat. So one day My Mother and Sister
in law were in the house and I come up to the door a Knock. My Mother
thought I was a tramp. They woulden open the door so scared she was
running across the room she was calling my Sister in law came on.
Eatter he Kill us.
But when she saw who it was she shure did tare me up. I was telling
her that my daddy was out in the woodlot But that diden help any. My
Mother got Very sick with her stomach. She diden Eat for 3 week she
only drank milk.
My Sister from Arkansas moved over here. She lived with us for a wile
her husbman had a car. It was the first time I every had Bin in a car.
I thought it was grand. I felt very rich My nefew thought he was rich.
This car had some little seats for little people to set in they carry
my Mother to the Dr. in Dyerburg and I go with her.
Finely my Mother got well and my sister moved to Dyersburg. And we
walk the rail road and carry her Milk Butter Eggs, and my Mother would
let me stay there I really thought I was something for getting to stay
in town My brother in law Ran a Taxi Car for him self. He had an old
car that he diden use.
There was a Family lived close to them this Family had plenty of
money. There was a white plank fence between my sisters house and them
they had a little boy too But they woulden let him play with any one.
So this old car that my Brother Law diden use was by his house. My
Nephew and me would play in this car that little boy would watch us my
Nephew say you cant play with us we are rich.
My sister would spank him. In the spring of 1919 the Boys began to
come home from the World war one. My daddy would sit on the front
porch and wave at them when they come by and say go on home boys. That
winter we moved back on the Midway Farm. My brother John and his wife
got them a place on the same Farm.
In February of 1920 my half Brother died with the flue. My daddy was
farming some stubble ground. He had mules, showed. I wanted to know if
he was going to put Lace up shoes on them.
That April my Brother and Sister law had a Baby Girl she was so sweet.
Her name was Louise. That fall he went back to Middle Tennessee it
sure did hurt my mother and father to see him go. In January of 1921 a
family moved in the house where my brother live. Mr. Pet Luckett and
his widow sister Mrs. Maude Brewer. Mrs. Brewer had 3 Boys and one
girl Vera. They were very nice Family. My brother Bob got stuck on
Vera. She had a Brother named Ralph. I was stuck on him.
We lived there that year, sometime in August 1921 my sister came from
Arkansas to see the DR., and she died. Mrs. Brewer stayed with my
mother all the way threw some time that Fall my mother go real sick.
She was down for sometime. I had to turn her in the Bed for about 3
weeks or longer.
That fall we moved on a Mr. Rice Farm, it was a good place my daddy
and brother was making a crop. In August 4 1921 my Daddy past away. We
shure did miss him so much, he was a good daddy.
We stayed on till that fall and went back to the Midway Farm. And in
1922 Brother and me maid a crop. It begin Raining we had 20 acers of
cotton to work and I mean it got bad to hoe. In September Mother
Sister and me went to Memphis to visit my sister we had a very nice
time her husbman was a streetcar matron. There was a Big Dinner gave
by the company. We went to that we carried something to Eat for lunch.
We stayed two-weeks and came home. It was time to start picking
cotton, we started picking I think abt the 20 ($20.00) of cotton we
made 3 bales. So my brother sold the mules and cow and every thing he
could.
That Dec. in 1922 him and Vera Brewer Married. They lived with my
mother in 1923 they had a baby girl born, her name was Mildred
Jaunita. (Mildred Juanita Frazier) we lived on Mr. Claiborne place out
from Fort Hudson school there is where I went to school.
We had a good crop that year we went to Dyersburg and bought us some
new cloths. I remember my coat was brown the only brown coat I every
wore. I don't like brown. That fall Mr. Claiborne decided that he
diden want any one to farm his ground for the next year so we moved
again on Mr. Fulks Farm we was living at this place. When I met my
husbman. Him and his Uncle diden live to far from us.
We would all visit he had a cousin Lular, she was a sweet girl she was
older than I was. So one night we went to visit them at that time I
haden seen them but my brother had. So I went in carrying Juanita, my
brother's wife was along but I was carrying the baby. We sit there for
a long time and listen to some records they played. So finally Juanita
wanted he mother. They was Christen People, they sing well, all of
them maid you fell like you was one of them. So we went home. On the
way home my Brother said to me I get my eyes of him. I said why he is
too old for me. My brother said you'll see.
So time went on. Where we lived there was no water so we carried water
from the next house. So one Sunday Evening I went to get some water
and he was there he tale me his name was Wiley Gibbons I said my name
Eular Frazier. So I got the water in a little time and when I started
home he said could I carry it for you. I said why yes. But on the way
home I was scared I diden know what my mother would say. I diden know
weather to say come in are to stay out.
But every thing work out fine for me, So we went in and then we begin
talking. He was a nice feller and a very good husbman. We dated for 2
years that was in 1924 I met him and in 1926 Dec 19 we married.
I remember before we marred there was some one else that wanted to
date me and for a little while I thought I wanted to date him. But I
found out that I diden. One time this boy was at my home, he was
terrible Jellis of Wiley, he calls him a bad name, and I slapped his
face for him. We walk and go to singings. We had a good time most of
the time. While we date his cousin Lula she was dating a boy his name
was Willie Gibson. He was a nice boy too. I had known him for a long
time before she did like him very much as a friend.
Him and my brother Bob was close friend of course Wiley and I had some
trouble in our dating times their was another Girl in our county she
liked him to and that diden work to much with me, I thought he like
her but he diden only as a Friend. We had a very nice time we go to
Church every time we could. We go driving on Sunday evenings one time
just for fun.
While we was driving we said we have some fun out at my mothers. We
diden say we was marred, but when we drove up she said for me to get
out and I thought and said no. She looks at me very strange so we set
they're for some time but finely I got out and went in the house. But
Wiley went on and he came back up there that night. So when he come in
place me taking his coat he put it on the bed and that really made my
Mother and Brother too think that we were marred But we was not. That
was in 1925 a year latter we were married on Dec 12, 1926. I was 17
years old on Dec 19, 1926 we were married we lived with his Uncle Ralf
Gibbons.
Some time in January we went up to see his mother and father. I had
met his Father and Brother but I had to meet his mother and sister. We
went in a Buggy and when we got there his Mother was over at another
sons. We stayed up there for a month or longer. It began to rain and
we coulden go home we started home one day and got stuck in the mud
the next day.
Smith his brother carried us to catch a train so we went to Newbern
and then we got a Taxi to carry us to Fort Hudson and we walk from
there to where his uncle lived. We stayed there for a week or so in
mean time we went to my brother and mother that was the first time I
had be away from my family.
In March in 1927 we began keeping house on Mr. Jim Fuller place. We
lived there for 2 years. We wanted a baby. It seams like that we were
not going to have one. I seen in the paper that the Nashville Orphan
home had a baby to give out I wanted that little baby so bad. But my
husbman and mother talk me out from getting it. My brother and sister
law had a baby boy. I carry him home and keep him all day.
So in March 18, 1929 we had a baby born to us. He was born on my
Brothers Birthday, so I named him after him James Robert (Gibbons) he
was a sweet little thing he was Brown eyes and black hair. When my
Brother heard about the baby he came to see us. James was 3 weeks old
and we moved to Memphis my brother on old Ford Truck we loaded it down
with the Furniture we had and I road on the Finder of the truck to
Dyersburg my sister was on the other Finder. We got a Buss from there
to Memphis, my husbman and the rest came on in the truck. Me and the
baby maid it fine we stayed in the house with my brother. My husbman
work at the Box Factory in Memphis. My sister in law work I kept her
children for her to work.
We lived in Memphis for over a year. But diden like so we finely moved
Back to Dyersburg in 1930. Me and my husbman work at Dyersburg Caning
Factory in the spring we moved to the Cotton Mill he got a Job working
in the Cotton Mill in he work for some time.
And in August 16, 1931 we had a little baby girl born she was a sweet
little baby. Her name was Margaret Viola she was a Brown eye. But she
was ball head. She never cried. She was very cute. I bought her a baby
buggy. When I go any where I put her and James in the Buggy together
and she had grown so fast most of the people thought they was twins.
When she was 2 years old we moved to another place. She cried she say
she wanted to go home. We tell her she was home. We lived in a house
that was hi from the ground I put her and her brother out to play.
They get under the house to play. James would make mud pie and put
then in the sun to dry and she eats them for moon pie. They were very
close. But some times they have spats.
On Dec 4, 1933 I had another little baby Girl she had brown eyes and
black curly hair she was a little doll. Her name was Mildred Jeane. We
moved back to Memphis in 1934 stayed down there for about 6 months. My
husbaman got sick and had to go into the Veteran Hospital he was in
World War 1. So the children and me moved back. We lived with my older
brother John.
My mother carried for the children while I pick cotton. I pick cotton
for one dollar per hudred pounds, for Mr. Dug Buwins he would say to
me you are not able to pick cotton. I wayed 99 pounds I coulden carry
my cotton when I got it pick. So my mother and I got a place in
Dyersburg and moved my mother was a swell mother she help us out so
many times my husbman came home we lived at one place and another for
19 years in Dyersburg.
In June 1927 we had a baby boy born his name was Aubrey Eugene. He was
a ball headed to, but he was strong. The night he was born it was
raining so tire was no one there but my husbman and the DR. Dr. Brown
was my Dr. He laid the baby on the table to Dress him and he almost
roll off the table. DR. Brown said he was the first baby he had to
hold during dressing.
The End.
ENDNOTES: George, Eide and Lizzie Frazier were from the first marriage
of John R. Frazier and Melvina C. "Sissie" Pope.
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