CART, CHILDREN, PEONIES & DECORATION DAY

A 

LINE 

COMPLETED 

WITH 

CONFIDENCE

(Confidence in the fact that mistakes may have been made)

May 24, 2019

_______________________________________________________________________

Feeling confident about genealogical research is a great feeling.

I have found that I get so excited when I find something here and there, but my tendency to "DIGRESS" becomes full blown.  


With that said, I'm now (for the moment) focused on … 

I forgot what I was focused on... just kidding!

.

My 'dead people' research includes some peculiar people, pitfalls, and problems. 

It also includes beauty, happiness, and 

great love.

I have completed my one paternal line of 
great grandparents with all of their children.  
I have deliberately 'cut' out spouses, children, etc… from most of the photos.  

Why?... to put the focus on one ancestor at a time.  

I want to look into one face - one life.

 To remember.  

To look into their soul.
_________________________________________

The information below is a summary 

of my Paternal Great Grandfather -  

"Cart"- William Carter Allison and his children.

WILLIAM CARTER ALLISON & LOUISIANA ANN GRACY

1858-1921                          1856-1928

LOU AND CART

They are both buried at the 

Allison Cemetery in Putnam County, Tennessee

The Cart Allison Home Place on 

Cookeville Boat Dock Road, Putnam County, TN

This PERFECT place was destroyed within the past few years.  

Makes me so sad...

CHILDREN OF CART AND LOU 

 1.  William Luther Allison (1876 - 1964)

First born son of Cart and Lou

My Grandfather

These photos are of my 'Pappy' (Luther to most people)- a man that in my eyes was larger than life.

He called me 'Little Faye'… I know that he put the word 'little' in front of most (if not all) of his granddaughters' 

(maybe grandsons') names.

(Eleven Children)

                   

2.  Dora Ida Allison Martin   

1879 – 1965 

 (My Grand Aunt)

I never remember hearing her name as 'Dora' - 

I heard 'Aunt Dorie Martin'   (that Southern thing)!

Dora (Dorie) and her husband Thomas Neely Martin are both buried at the 

Martin Family Cemetery in Baxter, Tennessee (off the Cookeville Boat Dock Road).

NINE children - or close to it!

3.  John Whitley Allison

1881 – 1957

(My Grand Uncle)

(photo courtesy of Janice Allison - John Whitley's granddaughter)

John and his wife, Octa (always pronounced 

'Aunt Octie'), are buried at the Allison Cemetery in 

Putnam County, Tennessee.

THREE Children

I was two years old when Great Uncle John died, but his life continues to be talked about and remembered within the family.  I remember 'Aunt Octie' vividly. She was the sweetest little woman with the most beautiful flowering bushes (peonies - and I think I remember hydrangeas) that I can still see and smell today.  There was always such a feeling of 'goodness' in their home - peaceful.

I never saw her with her hair down - she always wore it in a bun. Such love in that home.  

4.  Bettie Ann Allison Maynard

1883 – 1966

(My Grand Aunt)

          

 Betty and husband William Lawson Maynard 
are buried in the
 Cookeville City Cemetery in Putnam County, Tennessee.
EIGHT Children

5.  James Dow Allison

1886 – 1974

(My Grand Uncle)

GARDENS OF MEMORY CEMETERY

He and his wife, Virgie Caline Austin, are buried in the

Gardens of Memory Cemetery

 in McMinnville (Warren County), Tennessee.

FIVE Children

6.  Charles Casida Allison

1887 – 1959

(My Grand Uncle)

 Charlie and his wife Bertha Lee Green are buried at the
Pleasant View Cemetery in Putnam County, Tennessee.
TEN Children

7.  Samuel Ruben Allison

1889 – 1962

(My Grand Uncle)

FOUR Children

I LOVE THIS DOCUMENT - HAS MY PAPPY'S SIGNATURE (W.L. Allison) ON IT!

8.  Virgie J. Allison

1891 – 1974

(My Grand Aunt)

Vergie and husband (Charlie Maynard died in 1966 - Vergie in 1974)

 died in Calhoun County, Michigan.  I have been unable to find the burial site. 

SEVEN Children

9.  Lotta Suda Allison

1893 – 1991

(My Grand Aunt)

I remember my Daddy calling her 'Aunt Sudie Pirtle'

Aunt Sudie and her husband (Shelah D. Pirtle) 

are buried at the Peeled Chestnut Cemetery 

in White County, Tennessee.

No Children (?)

10.  Hugh Oscar Allison

1896-1974

(My Grand Uncle)

Hugh and wife (Lola M. Herron) are buried at the

Allison Cemetery, Putnam County, Tennessee.

(Three Children - I think!)

________________

This post will continue with spouses, children, etc.

Another day.

Decoration Day at the Allison Cemetery is always the first Sunday in June (this year June 7).  Everyone is welcome.  A brief remembrance service is held at 2 pm.

I found the article below and loved it...had to share. 

“Decoration Day, A Southern Tradition”  by Ruth Teaford Baker There are certain Southern Traditions that are misunderstood by many  people from other areas of the country.  One of these is “Decoration Day.”  We have been accused of being “morbid” by bringing back the memories of our loved ones who have departed this life.  “Leave the dead alone, and concentrate on the living,” they say.  Regardless of sentiments, there is a mighty exodus from other states into the South during the month of May.  The tone has changed somewhat from the past, but the basis of the tradition is strong family ties that transcend time and space.  People return to their roots as surely as the birds return year after year to their territories. It has not been many years in the past that a corpse was kept at home before the funeral.  The “wake” was a time when family and community came together with food and condolences at least a day and night before burial.  Even in today’s changes, food plays a big part in an effort to help neighbors through a hard time.  Food is brought into the home for several days and a large meal served on the day of burial.  This is unique to the Southern way of showing respect. Every town has its “odd” character that becomes a legend.  Ours was called “Lying Jack.” Although everyone in a 10 mile radius knew him and knew what he could pull with his playing with the truth in such a manner that would fool the most wise, they would still fall for his tales.  One day, he saddled up his horse, got his grave-digging shovel in hand and started for a cemetery.  At each house he passed, someone would call out, “Where you goin’, Jack?” Jack said, “Well, you know, Mrs. (well-known lady of the community) died last night.  I’m going to the graveyard to dig her grave.”  The men grabbed their shovels, and took off following Jack down the road like the “Pied Piper of Hamlin.”  When they arrived at the cemetery, there was a large group of men ready to get to the job at hand.  They realized they had fallen for another of Lying Jack’s tales. My large family lived close to the large “Douglas Guthrie Cemetery.”  My father and brothers were always a part of the grave digging that was done by hand.  All of the men in the community came together with picks and shovels.  There was no machinery to do the tedious job.  At times, dynamite had to be used to blast loose rocks that could not be handled any other way.  The men were experienced in the use of explosives.  Most had worked in the underground mines and the farmers had used it many times in clearing “new ground” for their fields. The young girls in the communities may not have a new Easter dress, but if at all possible, they had a new one for Decoration Day.  Looking pretty and sashaying up and down the road was the name of the game.  I can remember starting the day off with my lavender organdy dress with deeper colored bows on the sleeves and the neck that Mrs. Bessie Edgil had made for me.  New shoes finished my special ensemble.  It wasn’t many hours into the day that I had pulled off the shoes and still sashayed, the difference being, I was now carrying the new shoes in my hands.  New shoes surely do pinch the toes of a country kid who is used to going barefoot. The graves were decorated with fresh flowers from the yards and put into a quart fruit jar with water.  It wasn’t long into the day until they were drooping from the hot sun.  Then came colored paper.  Patterns were cut; each petal was pulled with the blade of the scissors, leaving it softly curled at the end.  A bud was formed and each petal was carefully wrapped in layers, followed by green leaves applied last and wired into place.  These were used as single flowers stuck into the ground with the wire; they were formed into wreaths; they were made into bouquets, and thus began the many-colored flowers that changed the look of the cemetery.  Later, the flowers were dipped into hot wax and this preserved them through the rains to come.  Silk flowers are relatively new on the scene.  Now, the cemeteries bloom all year due to the durable silk flowers on the market. Yes, the tradition of “Decoration Day” is alive and well in Walker County.  Every Sunday from late April to early June finds family members crisscrossing the county, meeting with families and renewing friendships.  All the new babies born in the past year are paraded for all to ooh and ah over, and to decide which side of the family he/she “favors.”  As we look around the tables, we want to hold the moment because we never know who will be missing next year.  As one of our pop songs reminds us, “We have This Moment to Remember."