Story about the Davis Chapel Area (part 4)

The next morning there was a great crowd of boys starting home.  I left with others wearing my medal on the lapel of my coat and had on a little black derby hat I had bought in Jackson June 6th. 

Many pleasant memories cluster around the 6 months of my stay in Clinton.  I fully intended to return in the fall and received a letter from Mr. Wadlington, my boarding house keeper who was also one of the judges, insisting that I let nothing keep me from coming back saying, "You cannot afford to stay away".

I arrived at Sardis that afternoon at 3:30 on "Old Miss" and Dad was there to meet me with old" Dave" and the cart.  Just before getting home, I saw my folks in the field hoeing cotton, jumped out of the cart, ran across the field and we had a joyful reunion

Just after getting home, I went in a buggy to Chulahoma after sister Jessie and brought her home.  She also won a gold medal in scholorship at her school

Persuant of my intention to return to school that fall, I sold the "Child's Bible" to earn funds to do so, but was not very successful in the ventur.  I shall never forget the kindness shown me by Mr. N. L. Dorr (Mary's father) in lending me the money to pay for the books I had sold.  The trouble was, I made such poor collections.  When I carried the books around, the people who had subscribed didn't have the money to pay for them.  I collected about enough to pay back the $50 I borrowed from Mr. Dorr with very little over.  The publishers were kind enough to take back the books I didn't sell.  With such limited finances I thought it impossible to return to school.

In the fall of 1891, I together with Monta Harlan worked for Mr. Jasper Wilson who owned a cotton gin down near the bluff, he running the engine and I the ginstand.  We did other work for him when the gin was not in operation and one day while we were in the field picking peas, we agreed to swap sisters, which we afterwards did.

On December 23 of that year, Miss Igene Gurtrue Harlan and I were married and she has been the loving partner of my joys and sorrows for nearly 50 years.  This event occured at the home of her parents, Mr.& Mrs. J. C. Williams, 5 miles west of Batesville, Mississippi and it was one of the rainest days I ever saw in my life.

She is the granddauaghter of Mr. Milledge Towles who was among the first settlers of Mississippi.  I will never forget how faithfuly my cousin, Sidney Faulkner, stayed with me all that day in spite of the rain. My wife and I have traveled the long road of life together and today, what I admire most about her is her complete unselfishness.  She is not satisfied unless to the best of her ability she is helping others.

We have had 7 children, 6 of whom are still living.  The eldest, Fannie May, now Mrs. B. M. Rutledge of Spiro, Oklahoma was born near Sardis, Mississippi on Novembeer 24, 1892;  Winnie Irene, now Mrs. Ben T. Card, of Green River, Wyo. was born  near Bellvue, Texas on December 7, 1894; Bessie Viola, now Mrs. Einar Peterson of Sardis, Miss. was born near Sardis, Miss. on  May 17, 1897; Rufus Clyde born (and died) near Sardis, Miss. on May 5,  1901; Ella Bertha, now Mrs. Tolbert C. Key of Coldwater, Miss. born near Sardis, Miss. on February 15, 1903; Ocey Edna, born near Spiro, Okla. on July 22, 1906, now teaching in the Consolidated School at Sumner, Miss.; Robert Wayne, born in Spiro, Okla. March 15, 1913 now working in Hattisburg, Miss.