Below is a booklet that was writen by Helen as a handout at a family reunion held in Flagstaff, AZ over July 4 weekend in 1990.
The Birth of a Union
Written by
Helen Sligh
L.B. (Lannis) Mitchell was born in Lonoke County,
Arkansas, December 1883, the son of James Stanley
Mitchell. He was the son of Benjamin William Mitchell of
Snow Hill, North Carolina.
When the Civil (slave) War broke out in 1861, James Stanley
was a young sixteen year old Confederate soldier who went
through four years of war and came out in one piece. Part of the time he was a drummer boy.
After the war he settled down in Lonoke County where
he studied for a while to be a doctor. In 1872 he married
Mary D. Hodges. Her people came from Shelby County, Tennessee. To them were
born six children, three daughters and three sons.
Tragedy struck the little home on December 3, 1881.
Three of the children were playing outside near the home.
A dead tree fell on them killing one instantly. Another
died in a few days of injuries from the accident. The other
one recovered. A few years later she died. (We think it was
from some kind of illness.)Then in a year or so the middle boy was wrestling with a neighbor boy and tore the lining of his stomach and he died in a couple of days or so. The mother went into shock and nothing seemed to help. She couldn’t take so much sadness. They put her in mental hospital.
Uncle Belve, Mary's brother, came and Lonoke Co. and
got L.B. who was about 3 yrs old at the time. He took him home with him to Prattsville, in Grant Co. Arkansas and raised him sending him to school along with his own three daughters.
Written by
Helen Sligh
L.B. (Lannis) Mitchell was born in Lonoke County,
Arkansas, December 1883, the son of James Stanley
Mitchell. He was the son of Benjamin William Mitchell of
Snow Hill, North Carolina.
When the Civil (slave) War broke out in 1861, James Stanley
was a young sixteen year old Confederate soldier who went
through four years of war and came out in one piece. Part of the time he was a drummer boy.
After the war he settled down in Lonoke County where
he studied for a while to be a doctor. In 1872 he married
Mary D. Hodges. Her people came from Shelby County, Tennessee. To them were
born six children, three daughters and three sons.
Tragedy struck the little home on December 3, 1881.
Three of the children were playing outside near the home.
A dead tree fell on them killing one instantly. Another
died in a few days of injuries from the accident. The other
one recovered. A few years later she died. (We think it was
from some kind of illness.)Then in a year or so the middle boy was wrestling with a neighbor boy and tore the lining of his stomach and he died in a couple of days or so. The mother went into shock and nothing seemed to help. She couldn’t take so much sadness. They put her in mental hospital.
Uncle Belve, Mary's brother, came and Lonoke Co. and
got L.B. who was about 3 yrs old at the time. He took him home with him to Prattsville, in Grant Co. Arkansas and raised him sending him to school along with his own three daughters.
James Stanley and his older boy, James
Frank, continued to live there at the little home. James Stanley went
everywhere on horseback doctoring the sick and delivering babies. He also
visited his wife in the hospital when he could. He died from sickness in May
1890.
James Frank was fifteen years old when his
father died. He made it on his own for a few years. He married and to him and
his wife were born two daughters. James Frank studied to be a Methodist
preacher and preached a lot. At around the age of 45, he was in Snow Hill helping
his relatives with the harvest tobacco. A storm came up while he was hanging
tobacco leaves over a metal bar. Lightning struck the barn he was in and killed
him immediately.
L.B. is the only one of six children who lived a long life. (there must have been a reason)When he was about nineteen years old he fell in love with
Pearl Hope and they married.
L.B. is the only one of six children who lived a long life. (there must have been a reason)When he was about nineteen years old he fell in love with
Pearl Hope and they married.
They started housekeeping in Prattsville,
Arkansas, about
one-half mile down the road west of the Bodie Hope home. About
a year later a son, Stanley, was born to them and about two
years later Beron was born. Then Pearl was pregnant again. She suffered
from a severe sick stomach that nothing seemed to help. She
died in March 1909.
L.B. was left with two small children. It was time to start
a crop. There was nothing else to do but to take the two
children to his father-in-law, Bodie Hope, and let them take
care of them during the day. He would go plow all day, go back
to the Hope's house and pick up his two little ones, take them
home, fix supper, bathe them and then put them to bed. The next
morning he would do the same thing all over again. Day after
day this had to be done. I am sure Claude (Pearl's younger
sister) actually took care of the two little ones during the
day.
Claude was fifteen years old at this time and Bodie Hope had
big plans for her. He was going to make a school teacher of her.
He already had two sons in college, one studying to be a doctor
and the other studying to be a dentist.
one-half mile down the road west of the Bodie Hope home. About
a year later a son, Stanley, was born to them and about two
years later Beron was born. Then Pearl was pregnant again. She suffered
from a severe sick stomach that nothing seemed to help. She
died in March 1909.
L.B. was left with two small children. It was time to start
a crop. There was nothing else to do but to take the two
children to his father-in-law, Bodie Hope, and let them take
care of them during the day. He would go plow all day, go back
to the Hope's house and pick up his two little ones, take them
home, fix supper, bathe them and then put them to bed. The next
morning he would do the same thing all over again. Day after
day this had to be done. I am sure Claude (Pearl's younger
sister) actually took care of the two little ones during the
day.
Claude was fifteen years old at this time and Bodie Hope had
big plans for her. He was going to make a school teacher of her.
He already had two sons in college, one studying to be a doctor
and the other studying to be a dentist.
Claude and L.B. had other plans (secret
plans). Claude loved
L.B. so much that the college plans went out the window. On her
sixteenth birthday, at a certain hour she went in the bedroom
and got all dressed up. She looked down the hot, dusty road and
saw L.B. coming in a one horse buggy (just as they had planned).
She jumped off the back porch and made a run for the road. L.B.
reached out a hand to help her get-aboard the buggy. Pop! went
the horsewhip and off they went. "Gitty-up, gitty-up! Pop! went
the whip again. Faster and faster they went. Then they heard,
"Stop! Stop! I said. Stop! I'll shoot! Stop!" Pop! went the whip
again, but they were too far gone. Bodie went back in the house
and put the shotgun back on the wall rack.
L.B. so much that the college plans went out the window. On her
sixteenth birthday, at a certain hour she went in the bedroom
and got all dressed up. She looked down the hot, dusty road and
saw L.B. coming in a one horse buggy (just as they had planned).
She jumped off the back porch and made a run for the road. L.B.
reached out a hand to help her get-aboard the buggy. Pop! went
the horsewhip and off they went. "Gitty-up, gitty-up! Pop! went
the whip again. Faster and faster they went. Then they heard,
"Stop! Stop! I said. Stop! I'll shoot! Stop!" Pop! went the whip
again, but they were too far gone. Bodie went back in the house
and put the shotgun back on the wall rack.
Now Claude was married. She had a husband and two children. She
was happy, happy!
This was the birth of a union in which thirteen more joined:
Milburn, Hope, Frank, Beulah, Reba, Helen and Hiram (twins), Bob,
Doris and Dortha (twins), Bodie, Patti and Theresa.
was happy, happy!
This was the birth of a union in which thirteen more joined:
Milburn, Hope, Frank, Beulah, Reba, Helen and Hiram (twins), Bob,
Doris and Dortha (twins), Bodie, Patti and Theresa.
Now at July 4, 1990 this union has
multiplied to about 280 people. It started 81 yrs ago.
L.B.'s oldest brother, James Frank married and a daughter was born
to them. The daughter, Mae, came to visit Mom and Dad one time
about 1928 or so. James Frank came to visit them about the year
1920. Milburn remembers how much he loved Uncle Frank and how he
cried when Uncle Frank went back to North Carolina. Milburn said
that Uncle Frank could put a shotgun on his shoulder and walk tall
and straight and the gun stayed on so well balanced that while
walking about one-half mile he didn't even have to touch it with
his hands.
L.B.'s oldest brother, James Frank married and a daughter was born
to them. The daughter, Mae, came to visit Mom and Dad one time
about 1928 or so. James Frank came to visit them about the year
1920. Milburn remembers how much he loved Uncle Frank and how he
cried when Uncle Frank went back to North Carolina. Milburn said
that Uncle Frank could put a shotgun on his shoulder and walk tall
and straight and the gun stayed on so well balanced that while
walking about one-half mile he didn't even have to touch it with
his hands.
Mary (Dad's Mom) finally recovered from her
shock and lived
with her relatives. About 1915 Dad went to get her and brought her
to his house to live with him and Mom. He then bought the "York"
house nearby and moved her into it. She lived most of the time by
herself.
with her relatives. About 1915 Dad went to get her and brought her
to his house to live with him and Mom. He then bought the "York"
house nearby and moved her into it. She lived most of the time by
herself.
In 1930 or
so, Grandma wanted to go to the Confederate Soldiers
Home at Sweet Home, near Little Rock. She came back to visit us a
few times but never wanted to stay. She died there in 1949 at the
age of ninety-five. She stood straight and tall. Her back was
straight as could be at the age of ninety-five. She was buried at
the Philadelphia Cemetery near Prattsville.
Home at Sweet Home, near Little Rock. She came back to visit us a
few times but never wanted to stay. She died there in 1949 at the
age of ninety-five. She stood straight and tall. Her back was
straight as could be at the age of ninety-five. She was buried at
the Philadelphia Cemetery near Prattsville.
Bodie Hope was a deacon in the Baptist
Church at Prattsville and
about twenty years later the church ordained L.B.(our dad) as a
deacon in the same church. The Mitchells were all taught right and
were baptized as members and believers into the Baptist Church at
Prattsville.
about twenty years later the church ordained L.B.(our dad) as a
deacon in the same church. The Mitchells were all taught right and
were baptized as members and believers into the Baptist Church at
Prattsville.
If you are reading this and you have
Mitchell blood in your veins, you can be sure that your forefathers and mothers
prayed for their children and their children’s children on down, that all of
them would gather in heaven after this life at that Great Reunion in Heaven.
Don’t miss it! You must trust Christ Jesus as your Saviour. No one can do this
for you. You must do this for yourself. Be watchful everyone. Can’t you tell
these are the last days prior to the Lord’s return?
How Did The Mitchells Make it so Good
L.B. and Claude were farmers. They first
settled at the Ed Keese
place about one-half mile west from the Bodie Hope home. They
moved from there to the "Parks" place about one-half mile south of
Highway 270.
place about one-half mile west from the Bodie Hope home. They
moved from there to the "Parks" place about one-half mile south of
Highway 270.
The government decided to build a 20 mile
graveled road from
Prattsville to Tull. It ran right in front of our house. The road was
called "The Sol Burnet Pike."
Dad struck it rich. He had eight horses, a wagon, and gravel on
his land and he was able to work. The government employed all. There
were four teams of horses, a wagon, and Dad. They also bought gravel
from Dad. The place where they got the gravel is still a gravel pit
to this day. The road work lasted about two years.
After this the Mitchells really took on big farming. Dad bought
more land, set out fruit trees, and bought more cows and a cream
separator. We shipped cream in five gallon cans to St. Louis,
Missouri. The tag was wired on the side of the can. It said, "When
full ship to St. Louis, Mo. When empty ship to L.B. Mitchell,
Prattsville, Ark."
One day Hope was leaving home for college at Fayetteville. Just
for the fun he got one of the cream can tags and marked out all
but, "When empty ship to L.B. Mitchell, Prattsville, Ark." As he
left home he wired it to his belt.
We milked twelve to seventeen head of cows by hand and then
poured the milk through a cream separator. Neighbors from all
around came with buckets and caught the skim milk as it ran out
the spout. They carried it home for family use and we gave all
that was left to the hogs.
Dad bought more land. This included the "Robinson" place down
by the river, and the "Quinn" place with a peach orchard on it.
Mom and Dad bought a car, ripped out the back, then added a truck
bed at the back. Mom filled the truck bed with vegetables twice a
week and drove to Sheridan and sold out every time. In winter she
sold milk, butter, fresh pork and sausage, turnip greens, potatoes,
and green shallot onions. When she couldn't go, the boys and Reba
went for her.
They sent Stanley to Monticello to college. Not many people had
money for their son's tuition.
When school was out every year, crops were planted, plowed and
laid by. The boys bought a broken down car, got it running, then
stripped it down to four wheels, two seats, and a motor and
steering wheel, packed a few changes of clothes and headed for the
wheat harvest in Kansas and Nebraska. In two months they were back
home with their pockets full of money. This was a yearly thing.
Two different times they brought friends back home with them who
were sons of the farmers that they worked for. Oscar Olsen was the
first, then a year or so later Donald Lambert came home with them.
Both spent a few weeks in Arkansas and went back to Kansas. Only
Donald stayed a school term with the boys.
Stanley saw a beautiful brown eyed girl that he just couldn't
live without, so we lost him to the State of Nebraska and we haven't
seen much of him since. He is still there. (The Mitchells all have blue eyes)
Prattsville to Tull. It ran right in front of our house. The road was
called "The Sol Burnet Pike."
Dad struck it rich. He had eight horses, a wagon, and gravel on
his land and he was able to work. The government employed all. There
were four teams of horses, a wagon, and Dad. They also bought gravel
from Dad. The place where they got the gravel is still a gravel pit
to this day. The road work lasted about two years.
After this the Mitchells really took on big farming. Dad bought
more land, set out fruit trees, and bought more cows and a cream
separator. We shipped cream in five gallon cans to St. Louis,
Missouri. The tag was wired on the side of the can. It said, "When
full ship to St. Louis, Mo. When empty ship to L.B. Mitchell,
Prattsville, Ark."
One day Hope was leaving home for college at Fayetteville. Just
for the fun he got one of the cream can tags and marked out all
but, "When empty ship to L.B. Mitchell, Prattsville, Ark." As he
left home he wired it to his belt.
We milked twelve to seventeen head of cows by hand and then
poured the milk through a cream separator. Neighbors from all
around came with buckets and caught the skim milk as it ran out
the spout. They carried it home for family use and we gave all
that was left to the hogs.
Dad bought more land. This included the "Robinson" place down
by the river, and the "Quinn" place with a peach orchard on it.
Mom and Dad bought a car, ripped out the back, then added a truck
bed at the back. Mom filled the truck bed with vegetables twice a
week and drove to Sheridan and sold out every time. In winter she
sold milk, butter, fresh pork and sausage, turnip greens, potatoes,
and green shallot onions. When she couldn't go, the boys and Reba
went for her.
They sent Stanley to Monticello to college. Not many people had
money for their son's tuition.
When school was out every year, crops were planted, plowed and
laid by. The boys bought a broken down car, got it running, then
stripped it down to four wheels, two seats, and a motor and
steering wheel, packed a few changes of clothes and headed for the
wheat harvest in Kansas and Nebraska. In two months they were back
home with their pockets full of money. This was a yearly thing.
Two different times they brought friends back home with them who
were sons of the farmers that they worked for. Oscar Olsen was the
first, then a year or so later Donald Lambert came home with them.
Both spent a few weeks in Arkansas and went back to Kansas. Only
Donald stayed a school term with the boys.
Stanley saw a beautiful brown eyed girl that he just couldn't
live without, so we lost him to the State of Nebraska and we haven't
seen much of him since. He is still there. (The Mitchells all have blue eyes)
The house and barn needed new roofs. Dad took the boys, two
wagons and some food, along with saws and axes, and went to South
Arkansas to get cypress logs. This was called “The Cypress Break”. It was a three or four day task.
They came back with two wagon loads of cypress logs. Then they put
up a power sawmill, sawed the logs into sixteen to eighteen inch
blocks and split them into shingles. They had some left over to sell.
Mom and Dad bought the girls a piano and Beulah took music lessons
from Mrs. Ferguson. When she learned to play well she played for
services at our church.
We were among the first in the community to have a piano and
Victrola (oh, how we loved the records, 11 Home on the Range" and
"Way Out on the Wind Swept Desert"), a radio, and a car. Saturday
nights all the neighbors would come to our house to hear the
"Grand Ole Opry with Uncle Dave."
Dad built a one room grocery store. We call it "The Filling
Station" We sold gas, kerosene, oil and staple groceries, but it
didn't last long. Most everyone wanted to put it on a tab and
later they couldn't pay the tab.
Bodie
Hope gave Mom a Holstein calf, white and black spotted. They named
her "Blackey." All of us remember "Ole Blackey."
She gave birth to twelve heifer calves in all.
She grew to be the biggest cow on the Mitchell farm. She was big!
Another "unforgettable" was a big, white, flop eared mule named
"Ole Jo." He was as big as a horse but he was a mule. All the boys
learned to plow with "Ole Jo." He was slow and gentle. Also there
were Jack," "Rodey," "Sam," "Bell," "Bess." and "Toney."
Another "unforgettable" was a big, white, flop eared mule named
"Ole Jo." He was as big as a horse but he was a mule. All the boys
learned to plow with "Ole Jo." He was slow and gentle. Also there
were Jack," "Rodey," "Sam," "Bell," "Bess." and "Toney."
Oh! We can't forget "Ole Toney."
He mainly belonged to Hiram. He was a
quarter horse and full of stunts, a real show- off.
quarter horse and full of stunts, a real show- off.
Every afternoon when the sun got so low in
the sky, Mom would
call me and say, "It's time to go get the cows." This was my job
for years. I would go to the barn, get "Ole Fanny's" bridle and
go to the horse pasture and find her. I would walk up to her and
give her a few pats on the neck. She would stop grazing and I
would talk sweet to her. Then she would hold her head down so I
could put the bridle on her head. I then led her to the closest
fence and climbed up on the fence to get aboard. We would then
head for the back side of the cow pasture. It was not a hard
task and when the cows saw us coming, they would stop grazing
and slowly head for the barn.
"Ole Fanny" was a gentle old red mare. I have been on her back
with three others at the same time. "Ole Bess" was the best mare
we ever had but she was a Mustang and too fast and high strung for
the little ones.
call me and say, "It's time to go get the cows." This was my job
for years. I would go to the barn, get "Ole Fanny's" bridle and
go to the horse pasture and find her. I would walk up to her and
give her a few pats on the neck. She would stop grazing and I
would talk sweet to her. Then she would hold her head down so I
could put the bridle on her head. I then led her to the closest
fence and climbed up on the fence to get aboard. We would then
head for the back side of the cow pasture. It was not a hard
task and when the cows saw us coming, they would stop grazing
and slowly head for the barn.
"Ole Fanny" was a gentle old red mare. I have been on her back
with three others at the same time. "Ole Bess" was the best mare
we ever had but she was a Mustang and too fast and high strung for
the little ones.
Oh, yes! You must hear about "Ole
Jolley Boy." He was our
Jersey bull. Dad entered him in the Grant County Fair in 1927 and
won first place.
Jersey bull. Dad entered him in the Grant County Fair in 1927 and
won first place.
You really need to know about "Ole
Watch." He was the best stock
dog that we ever had. He could really put the horses and cows where
they belonged. We went fishing one day at Nalls Lake, Mom drove the
truck and some of us rode in the back with "Ole Watch." While we
were fishing "Ole Watch" was bitten by a large rattlesnake. He almost
died there but we hauled him back home where he really fought to
live, but couldn't make it. He died in the front yard under the
sycamore tree. We were all sad for days because we lost him.
dog that we ever had. He could really put the horses and cows where
they belonged. We went fishing one day at Nalls Lake, Mom drove the
truck and some of us rode in the back with "Ole Watch." While we
were fishing "Ole Watch" was bitten by a large rattlesnake. He almost
died there but we hauled him back home where he really fought to
live, but couldn't make it. He died in the front yard under the
sycamore tree. We were all sad for days because we lost him.
The boys liked to fish by setting out
trotlines for catfish. We
didn't have time to fish much so they just set out lines and caught
the fish while we all slept. Sometimes they didn't catch very many
and at other times they caught a bunch, but as usual the big one
always got away.
didn't have time to fish much so they just set out lines and caught
the fish while we all slept. Sometimes they didn't catch very many
and at other times they caught a bunch, but as usual the big one
always got away.
Dad and Mom's legend was, "Be honest,
be kind, and love one
another."
When Doris and Dortha were little (one and a half to six years
old) you could ask them, "Who is the prettiest?" Doris would say,
"Dortha is." And Dortha would say "Doris is."
another."
When Doris and Dortha were little (one and a half to six years
old) you could ask them, "Who is the prettiest?" Doris would say,
"Dortha is." And Dortha would say "Doris is."
If anything broke that had a motor, Frank
and Bodie could fix it.
Milburn was the school's athletic boy He won ten gold medals at the
school contest. Mainly he won in track. Some of the medals were won
when he went to Sheridan High School.
Milburn was the school's athletic boy He won ten gold medals at the
school contest. Mainly he won in track. Some of the medals were won
when he went to Sheridan High School.
Mom fixed her school kids such good lunches
that the boys began
stealing Hope's lunches every day at school. Mom couldn't stand for
her boy to go all day without lunch. So about the fourth day they
got his lunch and hid to eat it, Mom tried a cure; it worked. She
fixed Hope two lunches. For one lunch she opened the sandwich,
shaved a few slivers off a new bar of soap and let them fall in
the sandwich. Then Hope took off to school, put the lunch in the
usual place and hid the good lunch. Sure enough the boys got it,
but it was the last time they swiped his lunch!
stealing Hope's lunches every day at school. Mom couldn't stand for
her boy to go all day without lunch. So about the fourth day they
got his lunch and hid to eat it, Mom tried a cure; it worked. She
fixed Hope two lunches. For one lunch she opened the sandwich,
shaved a few slivers off a new bar of soap and let them fall in
the sandwich. Then Hope took off to school, put the lunch in the
usual place and hid the good lunch. Sure enough the boys got it,
but it was the last time they swiped his lunch!
Back on the farm, Dad grew cotton, corn,
sorghum, soybeans,
peanuts, popcorn, watermelons, cantaloupes, pumpkins, sweet
potatoes, and all kinds of vegetables. When dry weather hit like a
drought, Dad and Mom would go to the low land near the woods and
plant fall gardens. They turned out good.
peanuts, popcorn, watermelons, cantaloupes, pumpkins, sweet
potatoes, and all kinds of vegetables. When dry weather hit like a
drought, Dad and Mom would go to the low land near the woods and
plant fall gardens. They turned out good.
Never a land knew so much business as did
the Mitchell farm. It was highly alive and growing from sun to sun. It was
alive on all four comers and in the center. Everyone worked hard, and at
times
a little harder, to get the job done.
We were taught to love and respect one
another, but in spite of
our good teaching, our human nature took over and we fussed some.
We all got spankings if we just wouldn't obey. We all had
responsibilities.
our good teaching, our human nature took over and we fussed some.
We all got spankings if we just wouldn't obey. We all had
responsibilities.
Our mom and dad loved us. Mom knew where we
were every minute
and also knew what we were doing. Mom was the leader of the
family and always seemed happy. Thank God for such a super mom
and dad. If Mom ever regretted not being a school teacher, she
never said so.
and also knew what we were doing. Mom was the leader of the
family and always seemed happy. Thank God for such a super mom
and dad. If Mom ever regretted not being a school teacher, she
never said so.
(4 paragraphs have been left out here about
living descendants to protect their privacy)
What about Sickness in The Mitchell Family?
There was sickness in the Mitchell family? Yes!
There was the
usual-colds, fever, flu; and malaria fever. There was also measles
and chicken pox and mumps. All who had such got special care. The
one that was sick was the favorite until he got well. Attention
centered on the ones who had need.
Bob was the first severe case. He was born with a mole on the
back of his neck which he kept scratching and it got to looking
real bad. Mom carried him to a doctor in Little Rock and it was
pronounced malignant melanoma (skin cancer). The doctor began
treatments, burning it off with radium. It took five or six
treatments to heal it.
usual-colds, fever, flu; and malaria fever. There was also measles
and chicken pox and mumps. All who had such got special care. The
one that was sick was the favorite until he got well. Attention
centered on the ones who had need.
Bob was the first severe case. He was born with a mole on the
back of his neck which he kept scratching and it got to looking
real bad. Mom carried him to a doctor in Little Rock and it was
pronounced malignant melanoma (skin cancer). The doctor began
treatments, burning it off with radium. It took five or six
treatments to heal it.
Doris was born with a blood blister on her
back. At the age of
three or four Mom carried her to Little Rock and had it burned off
with radium.
three or four Mom carried her to Little Rock and had it burned off
with radium.
When Bodie was about eight or nine months
old he got into a pan
of parched peanuts. He tried to eat one and began coughing and
sucked part of a hull down his throat to his lung. After a week of
hard breathing and coughing Mom took him to Little Rock. The
doctor x-rayed and there it was. He went down Bodie's throat with
long prongs to remove it. Mom and Bodie stayed several nights at
St. Vincent Hospital.
of parched peanuts. He tried to eat one and began coughing and
sucked part of a hull down his throat to his lung. After a week of
hard breathing and coughing Mom took him to Little Rock. The
doctor x-rayed and there it was. He went down Bodie's throat with
long prongs to remove it. Mom and Bodie stayed several nights at
St. Vincent Hospital.
When Mom first got there and saw the doctor,
a Catholic Nun
tried to take Bodie away from her and send her home. Mom held fast
and said, "If I go, my baby goes with me. And if my baby stays, I
stay." She had several rounds with the Nuns but never did let go of
her baby He coughed continually. Her staying with Bodie and holding
him in her arms helped save his life.
tried to take Bodie away from her and send her home. Mom held fast
and said, "If I go, my baby goes with me. And if my baby stays, I
stay." She had several rounds with the Nuns but never did let go of
her baby He coughed continually. Her staying with Bodie and holding
him in her arms helped save his life.
Pattie was born with a big blood blister on
her back. When she
was about one year old, Mom discovered a hard lump in her own breast.
The doctor advised surgery as soon as possible. In a week or so she
had surgery at St. Vincent Hospital. One breast was removed. It
was malignant.
was about one year old, Mom discovered a hard lump in her own breast.
The doctor advised surgery as soon as possible. In a week or so she
had surgery at St. Vincent Hospital. One breast was removed. It
was malignant.
Dad was really busy with farming and got
someone to bring her home
from the hospital. When Dad came from the field and got to the field
gate he saw Mom was home. Dad dropped the horse's reins and ran to
meet her and she opened the yard gate and ran to meet him. They
embraced each other and I saw them both wiping away tears.
Patti, about thirteen months old, caught a cold when Mom was in the
hospital. After Mom got home Pattie just kept getting worse and Mom
got Dr. Hope, her brother, to come over to treat her. After a week of
bad sickness Patti died. Dr. Hope pronounced it pneumonia. Her lungs
had filled with infection. Mom had planned to have the blood blister
burned off with radium but never got a chance.
from the hospital. When Dad came from the field and got to the field
gate he saw Mom was home. Dad dropped the horse's reins and ran to
meet her and she opened the yard gate and ran to meet him. They
embraced each other and I saw them both wiping away tears.
Patti, about thirteen months old, caught a cold when Mom was in the
hospital. After Mom got home Pattie just kept getting worse and Mom
got Dr. Hope, her brother, to come over to treat her. After a week of
bad sickness Patti died. Dr. Hope pronounced it pneumonia. Her lungs
had filled with infection. Mom had planned to have the blood blister
burned off with radium but never got a chance.
Later Theresa was born. When she was about
two and one half years
old, Mom began going down. The cancer began to spread. The doctors
did not know about cobalt treatments in 1931. Mom kept going as long
as she could. In February 1935 she asked me if I would quit school
and stay home with her and Theresa so Dad could start a crop. I
dropped out of school when I was fourteen years old. She was up and
down for a few weeks. About the last six days she was bedfast. One
of those days she took her ring off her little finger and gave it to
me. I thanked her for it and I wear it to this day. Mom was
conscious till the day she died. Theresa was about three years old.
old, Mom began going down. The cancer began to spread. The doctors
did not know about cobalt treatments in 1931. Mom kept going as long
as she could. In February 1935 she asked me if I would quit school
and stay home with her and Theresa so Dad could start a crop. I
dropped out of school when I was fourteen years old. She was up and
down for a few weeks. About the last six days she was bedfast. One
of those days she took her ring off her little finger and gave it to
me. I thanked her for it and I wear it to this day. Mom was
conscious till the day she died. Theresa was about three years old.
Dad lived twenty-five years longer and died
of colon cancer in 1960.
He was seventy-seven years old.
He was seventy-seven years old.
At this date, July 4, 1990, three more
adults have died.
1) Hope died June 1984 at age 72 of cancer and arthritis.
2) Dortha died July 1984 at age 60 of cancer of the liver.
3) Beron died October 1988 at age 83 of strokes.
We have also lost four of Dad's grandsons. 1) Robert Mitchell
(Hope's son) and his wife were killed in an auto accident December
1946. Robert was 2 years old. 2) Brad Mitchell (Stanley's grandson)
at about age 25 died in 1981(?) of a motorcycle accident. 3) Loch
Mitchell (Bob's son) died at age 36 in 1988. 4) Robbie Worthen
(Beron's son) died at age 52 in 1988.
1) Hope died June 1984 at age 72 of cancer and arthritis.
2) Dortha died July 1984 at age 60 of cancer of the liver.
3) Beron died October 1988 at age 83 of strokes.
We have also lost four of Dad's grandsons. 1) Robert Mitchell
(Hope's son) and his wife were killed in an auto accident December
1946. Robert was 2 years old. 2) Brad Mitchell (Stanley's grandson)
at about age 25 died in 1981(?) of a motorcycle accident. 3) Loch
Mitchell (Bob's son) died at age 36 in 1988. 4) Robbie Worthen
(Beron's son) died at age 52 in 1988.
What About War?
Civil War 1861-1865
James Stanley, at sixteen years of age, was
in the Confederate army with headquarters at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He
was a drummer boy part of the time. He went through the four years and
came out in good shape. The following is from records at the History
Commission, Little Rock:
"James S. Mitchell who served as a soldier in the army of the
Confederate States being a member of the 13th Regiment of Infantry
from the State of North Carolina.
"James S. Mitchell who served as a soldier in the army of the
Confederate States being a member of the 13th Regiment of Infantry
from the State of North Carolina.
"He was honorably discharged from such
service on or about the 19th of April 1865 and did not desert."
James
Stanley died May 17, 1890. This was twenty-three years after the
Civil War. (I found this on the record of Molly's application for a
Confederate pension.)
Barney Mitchell, James' older brother, was
sent to Tennessee as a
Confederate soldier. He was wounded two different times, but recovered
from both wounds He later settled in Oklahoma.
Confederate soldier. He was wounded two different times, but recovered
from both wounds He later settled in Oklahoma.
World War I
1914-1918
Clifton Hope, Mom's brother served in World
War I in Europe. He
returned home safe and healthy in spite of all the influenza that
killed so many.
returned home safe and healthy in spite of all the influenza that
killed so many.
World War II
1939-1945
Hiram, Bob and Milburn served in World War
11. Hiram wanted to be
an aircraft pilot but he couldn't tell Army green from brown (a bit
color blind). This was a real disappointment to him so they put him
in the aircraft mechanical department.
an aircraft pilot but he couldn't tell Army green from brown (a bit
color blind). This was a real disappointment to him so they put him
in the aircraft mechanical department.
Bob got the job of office work, searching
and guarding German
soldiers that had been taken prisoner by the United States.
soldiers that had been taken prisoner by the United States.
Milburn had asthma problems and was discharged
some time later.
Bodie was drafted later and sent to the
South Pacific, the Philipines.
Thank the Good Lord, all got back home safe
and sound.
Since then there has been wars and rumors of
wars. The end has not come yet. Aren’t you glad we live in the good ole U.S.A.?
World War
III ?
Oh God! Come get all your children before
then. Would you help all the Mitchells be ready for the rapture?
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