|
|
The first issue received
positive, if limited feedback. We are happy that you enjoyed receiving and
reading it—it makes the work put into the production and publishing of the
newsletter well worth the time, effort and expense. Speaking of expense, we forgot to credit Lester and Melba Dupree with contribution of $50 for the first newsletter, even before seeing it—now that was a leap of faith! Thanks so much! Since the first issue was published additional contributions have been received as follows: Jon and Sylvia Barker—$50, Lester and Melba Dupree—$25 and Margaret Ward—$25. These contributions will cover publication costs of this issue. Thanks so much on behalf of the whole family! Beyond the contributions of money, also much thanks to those of you pitching in with articles. As we stated in the first issue, without your active participation, the newsletter’s success will be limited, so keep the support coming. Authors need to know that we have established a deadline of 45 days prior to the issues effective date to receive your input if it needs to be converted from hard copy (paper) to computer file format. Example: for Issue 3 which will be for the period July—September 01, we will need articles by 15 August in order to support a mail out date of approximately 25 September. This may seem extensive, but by the time we produce the issue, mail to Beaumont for printing and mailing, we need the lead time to ensure success. Thirty days in advance (1 September) is acceptable for “soft copy”. Almost any soft copy format is usable (from MS Word to WordPerfect to email), but a Word or WordPerfect document file is preferred because it is easier to re-format when required. |
|
| Oops! | |
|
We apologize for errors and are
working to avoid same, but as you know "To err is human". Please continue to let
us know of mistakes. Corrections and errors of omission from Edition 1 include: We mistakenly referred to the Cain family cemetery as Tokalon; it is Ware’s Chapel Cemetery formerly known as Tokalon. It is located near the small town of Tokalon (see page 12 for a more detailed map. In Sympathies Extended, we mistakenly reported that Tabatha Herring lost her grandfather Owens. This should have stated that her two children Samantha and Marandia Owens lost their grandfather Owens. |
|
| Special Congratulations! Lester and Melba Dupree celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary on May 4, 2001 |
|
| Patterson Bluff Revisited | |
|
The Issue 1 feature on Patterson
Bluff triggered some additional memories included herein.
Jessie said that May and Willie would go down and “clean out” the cistern. She remembers one occasion when “their family was concerned if Willie would be overcome with gas after he was down in the cistern longer than they thought he should be. But he made it just fine. Melba Dupree mentioned remembering her mother May talking about a time when a bar of soap got down in the cistern and made for soapy drinking water! Rebecca Dupree Hirasaki writes: In 1969 in September, I took Mom and Pop (Editor’s Note: May and Elmer Ward) on what was probably their last vacation. The three of us visited all their living siblings, except Pop's brother in Louisiana - Lester? Anyway, we also visited Aunt Rella in Arkansas and made the trek to Patterson's Bluff. I enjoyed going there so much. It meant a lot to me. Mom told me (on many occasions) about being stuck in the cistern. I still have very vivid memories of the house and surroundings. Move forward to about 1998. Amy (Editor’s Note: Amy is Rebecca’s daughter) and I went to a wedding of her friend in Paris, Arkansas. On the way there I had to visit the Patterson Bluff place. It was a bit more difficult, but after talking to people along the way we felt we had found the place. The house is now gone and there were a couple trailers and a newer house. I really wanted Amy to see the place, but I guess it had been too many years. Amy and I also went to the cemetery. I had always felt left out that I had never been to the family cemetery and I enjoyed it very much. it is so pleasant. Jessie was also born at Patterson Bluff May 2, 1910. |
|
| Revision to Dublin Arkansas Area Map | |
 |
|
| Ask Jessie | |
|
Jon Barker asked Jessie
for information about Willie Cain as he had no remembrance of Willie being his
uncle. Willie Monroe Cain was the second son born
to Allen and Mary Lou Belle. Jessie, nor anyone else that is Willie married Leona Dave Himar (of German descent). Their first child, Charlie, died at perhaps 1 to 2 years old. His tomb is next to Willie (which is a tall Woodman of the World tombstone) in the Ware's Chapel Cemetery. Willie and Dave's second child was a girl, Mary. For treatment of his TB, Willie entered the Booneville, Ark, TB Sanitarium. Jessie remembers several members of the family going to visit Willie at the Sanitarium: Mary Lou Belle, Ada, Dave, Mary, Jessie and possibly Bessie all rode in a wagon to Booneville. It was quite a distance to travel and they spent at least one night in the wagon enroute. Jessie remembers hearing the adults talk about being fearful for their safety as there were no men along to protect them, however, the Lord took care of them as they made it just fine. When they got to the sanitarium, Willie was allowed to come out on a screened porch to visit with them. As medical science was not very advanced at that time (no anti-TB drugs), they really could not do much with the disease. Willie got worse and requested to go home to die. He was allowed to do so and was in his early 20s when he passed away. Mary was very, very young at this time.
|
|
living as far as we know, have much recollection of Willie; Jessie was only 4 or
5 years old when he died. She recalls the story about Willie in “Patterson Bluff
Revisited,” and also that Fred felt responsible for Willie’s early demise. At
some point, Fred and Willie were wrestling as teenage boys do, and Fred
accidentally fell on Willie, making contact with his elbow in his chest. Later
on when Willie contracted tuberculosis (TB), Fred felt guilty about the
wrestling accident, thinking that he had caused him to get TB and to die.
Later,
Leona Dave re-married and lived for many years. She was taken care of by her
daughter, Mary, in her last years. Mary married a Mr. Lum and had a son and a
daughter. Mary currently resides in Strong, Ark. with her daughter, Leona. Her
son lives not too far away in northern LA. Jessie remembers she and May Cain
Ward with possibly Babe (Margaret Ward) visiting Mary many years ago, and has
also been in touch by phone from time to time. Mary has visited Jessie and she
and Leona also attended the 50th wedding anniversary celebration for Jessie and
Meredith Hilburn in Cotton Valley, LA in 1990 (see photo).