CAIN

Minnie Belle Cain Lasiter was the second oldest child of Mary Lou Belle and Alan Cain. She was born 5 Dec 1888 in Lamar AR, and married Brinkley Byrd Lasiter approximately 1905. Minnie passed away 2 Sep 1972 and Byrd significantly earlier in life in an oilfield accident (see Allen and Bobbie’s article immediately following this section for additional information). They had eight children: Allen Lee, Opal, Helen, Idell, Ettie, June, Florence, and Brinkley Byrd (Little Byrd) Lasiter, Jr. Both June and Little Byrd died relatively young in life.

Memories of Minnie Belle as a girl are rather scarce, but those were different times than present. Boys did outside work; while girls did “inside” house work and any other work as required like milking cows, gardening, tending chickens, canning, washing, etc. Girls would play with dolls and doll buggies, but were not allowed to pull a boy’s red wagon. Girls were not allowed to whistle – “Whistling girls like crowing hens always come to no good end.” They were encouraged to sew, embroidery and bake. From all accounts Minnie and her sisters had a superior upbringing to become marvelous homemakers and the “heart” of their respective homes.

Minnie Belle married Brinkley Byrd Lasiter when she was 17 and he was 20. Byrd’s childhood was overall “sad” – he lost his Dad when he was in the 4th grade. His mother remarried a “Mr. Brown” who had 3 boys just older than Byrd. Byrd had to quit school and do all the farm chores for the older boys while they continued with their schooling. He left home when he was twelve and lived with his oldest brother, Tom Lasiter. He never got to go to school again.

Both Minnie and Byrd were hard working people. Allen says his Dad worked 6½ days a week all his life except one day a year, the 4th of July. He taught his children to always appreciate their liberty. His jobs included carpenter, coal miner, farmer, rig builder and other oil field jobs. Minnie’s work included housework, milking, gardening, canning, sewing and raising children. During the early years they and their growing family went to church where Byrd did the singing. He also read one chapter in the Bible every night; ending with a family prayer. Allen recalls that one particular verse was explained “that means when you go to heaven you will know each other and be known.” That particular verse has been a comfort throughout the years.

The best times were at the Smith House, near Louanne, Arkansas. Byrd worked for Magnolia Oil Company as a pumper at night. During the day he farmed, selling eggs, butter and the biggest watermelons you ever saw. After three years of this the family was well off and life was good. Then, Byrd made one really bad mistake. He told his boss how well he was doing and that he made more money than the boss. One week later the boss gave him the option of quitting farming or quitting his job. His huge mistake was to quit Magnolia. He was older now and the depression hit - no job and six children to provide for.

After that there were some good times but more bad times, requiring numerous moves. Times began to be harsh. Despite all the children working, farming could not support the family. In addition, they lost little Byrd from food poisoning and June from diphtheria. The situation led Byrd to look for a job in the oilfield again. Minnie and Allen went to live with (in order) - Uncle Fred, Aunt May, Aunt Ruth and back to Aunt May’s – still no job, so back to the farm in Eagle Mills for awhile. Next, he had a job running an oil lease in Smackover for $88.00 a month. It was there that he was killed on the lease; he was 44 or 45 (the year 1929 approximately). At the time of his death, Helen was already teaching school and was instrumental in seeing that the other children got an education. Opal had an oilfield job and supported his mother and brother Allen, for some time.

As Allen says “My mother was a saint if there ever was one” and I agree. She was supportive in every way possible during the troublesome times. She did more than her share in whatever went on around her. She was a marvelous cook, housekeeper, seamstress and devoted Christian. Despite many hardships and tragedies, including loss of eyesight in one eye, she always presented a positive front, never complaining, always encouraging. She wrote letters to all her children once a week (Sunday afternoons) and kept up with all her grandchildren (teaching them “Red Rover,” “Kick the Can” and other games).

She lived her later years with Helen – or maybe we should say Helen lived with her – because wherever Minnie Belle Lasiter lived, she was caretaker of the household.

By: Allen and Bobbie Lasiter

My earliest memory of Aunt Minnie and Uncle Byrd was a trip to their home in Arkansas. I must have been six or seven years old. I’m sure we had visited them earlier in my life but I do not remember those visits. We arrived at their home after what seemed to be a long, long drive. They were standing in the yard as though they were waiting for us. I looked at Aunt Minnie and thought, “That lady looks just like my Mom except she is older.” I could not relate to her as my aunt at first – strange how children think. However, she was so kind and I soon loved her as my Aunt Minnie. We later visited them at another place. Florence wanted me to go to school with her, which I did. I don’t know why I was out of school unless we had finished our school year earlier than they. My Dad never allowed us to miss school except for illness.

Also, I remember a third visit to their home and, again, they had moved. Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon had bought land in Arkansas. Uncle Byrd was farming it. It seems this may have been near Stuttgart. My last trip to Arkansas was for a sad reason, Uncle Byrd took a job for an oil production company. He somehow got tangled up in the equipment of one of the oil wells and lost his life. On this trip, we went to Uncle Byrd’s sister’s home. It was a large country home with lacy curtains on the windows. Again, this is a child’s point of view.

After Uncle Byrd’s funeral – I don’t know how soon after – Aunt Minnie and Allen Lee came to live with us in Cotton Valley, LA. Allen Lee was close in age to Babe and Junior (whom we now call Phil). As usual, I can’t recall how long they were with us. This gave me an opportunity to know Aunt Minnie better. She was a kind, quiet, soft-spoken lady – so sweet.

From Cotton Valley, I believe she moved to East Texas. Helen was teaching school there and she moved closer to her. It seems the first home was at Laird’s Hill, near Kilgore. Later she and Helen bought a nice home in Longview where she lived until her death.

Aunt Minnie had a terrible round with glaucoma and practically lost her eyesight. She possessed the same trait as all of the Cain sisters, she kept going anyway. I never saw the beautiful drapes she made for their home in Longview but I heard others talk about them. Even though she could barely see, she continued to be independent.

I failed to mention one thing about our trip to visit their home when they were living on Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon’s place. They had a phonograph player that played cylinder records. At that time we had never owned a record player. This was the only one I ever saw that played cylinders. One record had the song or story of “The Preacher and the Bear.” As kids, we thought it was so funny. They played it over and over for us while we giggled and laughed.

By: Melba (Ward) Dupree—Niece

I feel sure that some time in my early years I must have known Uncle Byrd but I cannot remember ever seeing him. All I can remember about him is what I heard from some of the family. I do remember going to spend the night at a nice big farm house and my sister tells me that was Uncle Byrd’s sister’s home and that was when he passed away and we had gone to his funeral.

I have some really good memories of Aunt Minnie though. She was one of the sweetest and kindest persons and I loved her very much. Once I visited her and Allen Lee in Eagle Mills, AR. Our pastor and his family were going to visit relatives in Camden and they took me on out to Aunt Minnie’s house. I must have stayed 2 or 3 weeks with them. Allen and I had a good time playing together. Sometimes we would lie in the yard and try to guess what kind of car was passing on the highway by their house – whether it was a Ford or Chevrolet. That’s the only kind of cars I can remember back then. My mother and dad came upon vacation and took me home.

Later, Aunt Minnie and Allen came to Cotton Valley and lived with us for a while. I don’t know how long they stayed, but Allen went to school while they were there. I went with Aunt Minnie to pick cotton one day and it just about wore me out.

After they moved to Laird Hill, I went and stayed with them a few days. They lived close to Raymond and Louella and Allen and I played with Bobbie Merle. Of course, being a boy, Allen enjoyed picking at us, but we had a good time.

I don’t remember visiting with them anymore until they moved to Longview. By then Allen and Bobbie were married and Aunt Minnie and Helen were living together. I took my mother and dad to visit them a few times and we always would go to see Uncle Fred and Aunt Clara while we were there.

Aunt Minnie always made us feel at home and was glad to see us and I was always so happy to visit her. I’m glad for the memories I have of growing up and being able to know most of the Cain family. I count it a blessing to be a part of such a wonderful, fine family.

By: Margaret Ward—Niece

I was about 8 or 10 years old, I suppose, when Mom (Jessie) took us to visit Aunt Minnie. I don’t recall very much about the visit but I remember how sweet she was and that I loved her. She was having trouble with her eyesight at that time. Many years later after I was grown, Helen brought her to visit us in Cotton Valley on two different occasions.

By: Linda Hilburn—Niece