Thanksgiving 1959 Johnson Family

Some of you may have seen this picture posted on Cathy's site. Pictured are Paul, age 9, Betsy, age 11, and Cathy, age 13, with their cousins on Thanksgiving Day 1959.

Today, November 30, is Cathy's birthday.

Happy Birthday Cathy.

Post Thanksgiving Redux

This week after Thanksgiving has been a busy one hence the lack of posting plus I am running low on material so now would be a great time for you to submit pictures and stories.

Water and Gas

I can not recall my grandmother's house before it had running water and gas (natural) heat. However, I can not picture a water tower in Plantersville. Where did the water and natural gas come from? I think there might have been a gas meter next to the chimney on the east side of the house. I don't know where the water meter was, and I can't remember ever seeing either meter read.


I know that TVA supplied the electricity, but who supplied the water and gas back before Plantersville was incorporated?

The Channel

You might remember the stream west of the railroad going from Plantersville to Verona. The stream was called "The Channel." You may recall that it had steep banks on each side. I have been informed that The Channel was man-made, dug around the turn of the century to drain a swamp area. This area was evidently what we called "the bottom" when I was living in Plantersville. If you go to this site, an article about the history of Lee County, refers near the bottom of the article that a large swamp area was drained. The article was published in 1907.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mslee/rowland.html

Roger Moore

Mitchell's Store

I read in the Plantersville Connection that you asked for confirmation that Harve Mitchell's store was once near Mr. Charlie Monts' store. Harve's store was next door to Arthur and Madge Bailey's house. The store was adjoining the woods across from the Mabry house that you used to walk through to get to your Aunt Grace's house. I got my social security number when I started to work for Harve at this location, working on his peddling truck that went up into the "tater hills" section, down to the Brewer community, and the Richmond area among others. I would box up eggs and put chickens in coops that we carried, as the farmers used eggs and chickens to barter.

Nearer to the turn of the century, the store was owned by Charles (Choc) Rogers, my grand-father's brother, and Tom Johnson, I believe, Cecil's father. Harve married Kittye Rogers, Uncle Choc's daughter. Uncle Choc's wife, Aunt Kittye, was the sister of Tom Johnson. When I was a youngster, Mr. Harve and Mr. Tom were running the store. It had originally been located next to the post office, which was across from the Lester Gunter house.


Roger Moore


Note from George: Does anyone remember what year Mr. Mitchell moved his store to the location next to the gin?

Jack Price on a Plantersville Prank

Back in the early 1940's there was this story being told that involved Ed Parker, Hulon Parker, Your Dad, E.C. Kelly and other's, don't remember their names...This Group would meet on weekends at the old R.R. Depot and play Poker...
 
Ed and Hulon thought up a prank that they would pull...They had gotten a pistol that shot blanks and they were going to act as if they got angry at each other and one would shoot the other....
 
They did this and as one of them fell over mortally wounded...THEN, E.C. Kelly Fainted !!! The Prank backfired on them !! They thought that E.C. had died !

Silas "Pip" Borden

Silas "Pip" borden is the son of Benji Borden, grandson of Cathy Johnson Garrett and great-grandson of Brother and Mrs. Silas Johnson.

From Sandra Monts

Before I forget it, it would be nice if those who remembered Cecil and wanted to contribute to the Boys and Girls project, might do so in memory of Cecil. A more worthwhile project I can't name.

The house east of Uncle Charlie's store was Arthur and Madge Bailey, father of Pete Bailey, husband of Maxine Monts, daughter of Charlie and Berta Monts. Pete and Mac had 3 three children. Dennis, in Tupelo, twins Pam in Amory, and Jan in Tupelo.

Next to their house, Harve Mitchell store, not sure of date or anything.

The store next to your "Miss Sarchie's" house was built as you stated; In back on the east side was George Perry's barber shop. Alene's beauty shop was inside, a small room on the east. My mother, Montez,(Tez) ran it while Alene was on maternity leave one time. We lived next to your Aunt Johnnie and Uncle Fielden. I have many fond memories of them. Also, when the Gillespies came to be head of the Plantersville School, they lived in one side of their house. The barber shop in Uncle Charlie's store was operated by a Mr. Scribner, whose family lived in one side of the Julia Kelly house next to us on Central St. across from Jiggs and Jewel's house. Jewel was Miss Julia's daughter, as were Hoyle, Woodrow, Noel, Bonner, Jessie, and Ruby Conlee, Monts.

The Gillespies were here only three or four years, then to Shannon. He taught high school English. I was a student of his in the 12th grade. He was wonderful. That was 55-56. The next year they went to Verona as Principal and Mrs. G. taught 4th grade. I believe they retired in '72 or '73. He was a wonderful person, Christian leader, doing so much for students, families, etc. He had cancer and died about '79 or so. I can look it up. Mrs. G. lived on for several more years. Mr. G's nephew, Eddie Cooley came to Verona out of college, and took Mr. G's place, staying until he retired four years ago. He, also, was wonderful, and all were very close friends of mine and my children.


Note from George: Pam Bailey married Danny Booth, didn't she, and their son, is his name Daniel, played football for Ole Miss a couple of years ago.

Also, I remember the Gillespies very well; after they moved away, they visited my grandmother often.

Mike Collier

While in Tupelo I spoke with Bobby Collier. As many of you know, Mike Collier has been receiving treatments for cancer since February. After one of those treatments a couple of weeks ago, Mike suffered a serious heart attack. He is recovering nicely from his attack and hopes to resume his treatments soon.

This year has been a tough one for Mike and his family. Mike and Kay and their two boys moved to Clinton about the same time that we did. Wes, Mike's youngest son, and Cam, my daughter, graduated from high school in the same class, and Barry, who is two years older lives close to Mike and Kay.

Both Wes and Barry played baseball at Hinds Community College, where I taught, and also for Mississippi College.

I didn't see a lot of Mike until he retired a couple of years ago, but after that we tried to meet for coffee as often as possible.

Post Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and was able to spend time with families. Now is the time for hitting the treadmill, exercise bike and working off all the food we ate.

We left Clinton Thanksgiving morning and drove to Pontotoc. Brother Paul and Laney Sims were excellent hosts as usual, and everyone who was there last year was there again except for one. My sister-in-law picked up my mother from Riverbirch in Plantesrville, and my mother seemed to enjoy the day with us.

We spent Friday and yesterday in Tupelo at my mother-in-law's.

It's good to be home, and now as my granddaughter would say: "It's Christmas Time."

Names

These are the names and numbers for Judy Borden's map.

Judy Borden's Map

This is a map of the Plantersville school district in the 1940s. Again, the quality is not great. The houses have numbers. See next post to match numbers to names.

Plantersville Map

Cathy Johnson Garrett drew this map, unfortunately it turned out a little faint when I copied it, of her memory of Plantersville in the 50s. Judy Borden has a similar map in her book of Plantersville in the 40, I think. I will post it later for comparison purposes.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope that all of you have a very happy Thanksgiving.

We will spend Thanksgiving Day in Pontotoc with Paul and Laney Sims and the weekend in Tupelo.

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Plantersville School

Some questions and comments about the history of Plantersville school that Roger sent. The history mentions the school being on Cemetery Hill in 1910; is that the location across from the current cemetery; I always thought that the school was once located there.

I've searched the picture trying to find one of my uncles or aunts. My grandparents may have either lived in the Tater Hills and my uncles and aunts attended Kelly's Chapel or they were in Tupelo. When my father was born in 1908, they lived on Park Street next to the railroad in Tupelo. My grandfather carried the mail until, according to Aunt Johnnie, his horse was killed by the train.

They moved into the old Repult house ca. 1914; Cecil told me the exact date as he remembered the first time he saw my Dad, but I have forgotten what he told me (always take notes).

Aunt Grace would have been about 12, Uncle Ernest 10, Uncle Morris 8, and Tempie Ruth who was also born in 1900 died about the time this picture was taken. Aunt Johnnie would have been about 3, Aunt Lucille would have been a baby if she were born when the picture was taken.

I hope some of you can find some of your relatives in the picture; remember if you double click the picture should become larger.

The Elbows

Judy Borden, in her book, refers to where the highway makes a ninety degree turn to the east and goes for about a half mile before making a ninety degree turn south as the elbows. Between the elbows is as close as Plantersville had to a Main Street. The house I lived in for much of my youth was located on this elbow.

My memory is fuzzy so hope you can assist me. In my memory there was a large tree where the highway turned east in front of the Price/Coggin house. I remember, or think I do, people knocking on our door in the middle of the night with blood on their faces asking to borrow the telephone. When was this tree removed?

Just west of the first elbow was the Repult house; I recall it as being large; when was it torn down? At the edge of Earl Kelly’s property was a house. At one point children about my age lived there and I think we played together. I seem to remember the grandmother falling off the porch one afternoon and dying. When was this house torn down?

In our pasture just east of the tree was evidence of a former building. I thought I was told that it had been a service station. Did the Repults have a station or store there?

Across from our house was the post office which had previously been a drug store. What year was the post office moved from near the railroad? East of the road that ran next to the post office and led to Aunt Johnnie’s house were trees among which cotton bales were sometimes placed; early in this blog I posted a picture of me and my cousins and Dot on one of these bales on Thanksgiving Day 1944. I think Roy Partlow bought and sold cotton; is that correct?

Until the mid 1940s, there was a pasture between us and the Joe Partlow place; Doc Smith built the building in 1946 or 7; Roy Partlow operated the store nearest us and at one time Leighton Gray operated the other one. Was Leighton related in some way to Doc Smith? I have a neighbor here in Clinton who is a cousin of Leighton’s but he doesn’t know a lot about him.

Then there was Charlie Monts’s store which I think at one time had a barber shop and a beauty shop. Across from the store was the Mabry place. In my memory the house was vacant but still had furniture inside; behind the house was Mabry Lake where Doris took us fishing and occasionally we would cut across the Mabry place on our way to school.

There were woods east of Monts’s store with a path that we took to walk to Aunt Grace’s house.

The highway then turned south and went just past the high school before becoming a gravel road.

Please correct and add to my memories.

Note:
Charlotte Diggs: "You referred to Leighton Gray and Doc Smith. They were brothers-in-law. Doc was married to Oda Gray Smith. Miss Oda is still alive and resides in a nursing home in New Albany. The Grays were from the New Albany area. Miss Oda should be approaching or past 100 now. There were several siblings in the Gray family and I will ask Mama about their names and where they might be at this time."

George: That fits as my neighbor, Brother Jimmy, is from New Albany or near there.


Besides the barber/beauty shop, which I don't remember, Dr. Cantrell had his practice on the east side.
Also, Harve Mitchel had a store east of the Monts' store. I know these two businesses were there when I was 5 and on up, don't know how long.

Sandra and Tommy

I may be wrongt about the barber and beauty shops; I thought that George Perry Partlow had a barber shop and that Butch's mother had her beauty shop there, but I might be wrong. I'm not sure they existed at the same time; one may have replaced the other.

In an earlier post, Jack Price mentioned Harve Mitchell's store. When was it moved? I don't remember a store other than Mr. Charlie's until the one was built next to our house.

George: My neighbor, Jimmy McCaleb, is a former missionary and is Leighton and Mrs. Oda's first cousin. He did not know Mrs. Oda was still living. I think he said that his mother and their mother were sisters. Although Brother Jimmy is around eighty years old, he still goes on mission trips abroad. He has a sister who lives near the hospital in Tupelo.

History of Plantersville School

HISTORY OF P.H.S,

(From the Kampus Whiz published in March of 1944 and courtesy of Roger Moore.)

According to all available information, Plantersville school began about 1860. The site of the original building is now the site of Mr. Booker Towery’s home. It was a small two-room affair constructed from logs and rough hewn planks. It served the purpose as both a schoolhouse and a Hardshell Baptist Church. It was furnished with benches and desks made from long planks against the walls.
The teacher received her salary through subscriptions. That is, at the beginning of a term,each pupil’s parents or guardians pledged to pay a certain amount, either in money or farm produce for the services rendered. The teacher usually boarded around with her students. One of the earliest teachers was Miss Mag Carson.
There were approximately forty pupils enrolled in this school and their ages ranged from five to twenty-one. The Blue Back Speller was the most important book. Others consisted of any books the pupils might own.
At the end of the school term, the teacher proclaimed an Examination and Exhibition Day. This was an all-day festival including oral examinations and a delicious picnic lunch. The Exhibition was held at night and students made speeches, recited poems, and performed amusing dialogues. School terms usually lasted about five months in the Winter session and two months in the summer term. Basketball ws unknown to these pupils, but they had many interesting recreational games.
After this school, a combination schoolhouse and Woodman’s Hall was built on Cemetery Hill in 1910. It was a two-story building containing three rooms. When it was first built, it was not a graded school. It was made a graded school about 1917, and taught from the first through the eighth grade.
The curriculum included arithmetic, reading, English, history, geography, spelling and writing.
In 1917, it was made a consolidated school. This building was used until it could not accommodate the enrollment which at its greatest was about one hundred.
Some of the teachers were: Jim Harris, Miss Maude Murff, Mrs. Shannon, MIss Nora Sly, Miss Vera Temple.
Our present grammar school was built in 1910. It contained an auditorium, three classrooms, and two smaller rooms used for various purposes. Grades ran from the first through the tenth.
The first principals were Mr. Lawhon and Mr. Riggins. Among the first teachers were Mrs. Dixie Deaton and Miss Katherine Rogers.
The school children were especially drilled in the 3 R’s, dramatics, music, and practical studies.
In 1929 our present high school building ws erected and the old grammar school remodeled. The high school contains six classrooms and a large auditorium. In recent years many valuable additions have been made. Among them our gymnasium, stage, indoor bathrooms, recreational equipment and beautification project.
The first graduating exercises were held in 1933. Since then eleven classes have been graduated.
Our school of today is greatly advanced over the first Plantersville school which many of our grandparents attended. We have more advantages and opportunities than they ever dared dream about. Let’s make the most of these opportunities as we fight the battle of education. Let’s take care of what we have and strive for what we need.

Plantersville School ca. 1906

Roger Moore send the following. His mother had written: "school group my first year in school" on the top of the picture and drawn an arrow to where she was on the second row.


The attached History of Plantersville School was published in the March, 1944 issue of Kampus Whiz, the monthly publication of the Commercial Club when I attended PHS. I'm also attaching a picture of the student body of the school my mother's first year in school. She was born in 1900. I don't know what year she started to school. She apparently has drawn an arrow pointing to herself on the second row (the seated row), ninth from the right. I can't identify any others, and I doubt there would be anyone around now that can.

Roger Moore

CREATE

I am back from my trip to Tupelo/Plantersville; I didn't have time to visit with anyone, but hope to see some folks next week as will be there from Thursday until Sunday.

There is additional information on the Boys and Girls Club post concerning how to make a donation if one is interested. CREATE has agreed to help out.

Pictures

The wonderful pictures posted today are courtesy of Amy Bostick borrowed from her Uncle Tommy's collection. Thanks to both Amy and Tommy.

Aren't We Cute?

Who are these beautiful young ladies?

Cathy writes: From left, Donna Williams, Laura (or Sarah) Williams, Susan Williams, Marilyn Sample, and Jerrianne Monts

Snake?

Is that a snake these youngesters are holding? If so, there has to be a story behind this picture. Someone share it with us.

From Cathy: from left, Ken Mitchell, Paul Johnson, and ?

Paul Johnson writes that the other boy is Jerry Johnson.

Up a Tree

Who are these tree climbers?

Cathy: from top, Cathy Johnson, Linda Partlow, Jean Jutman.

Wading in the Creek

Anyone know where this photo was taken and who the waders are?

Blowing Bubbles and Making Faces

I think I recognize a Williams, but need you to identify the others.

Cathy: The two girls standing are Patty and Peggy Monts, not sure which is which. Sitting on the table is Susan Williams

Games

I was born too soon. In my time, we played baseball and later tennis; our bunch missed riding horses and playing games such as the one pictured here.

Boys Doubles

Venturing a guess, from the right: Fred Grant, Boyd Williams, Jim Borden; don't know the boy on the end.


Cathy: Davey Harris is on the left end. You got the others right.

Checkers Anyone?

A couple of players concentrate over the checkers board while others are kibitzing.

Playing checkers are Jim Borden and Betsy Johnson. Onlookers are Marilyn Sample and Cindy Partlow. The man's name escapes me.

Cathy asks: if the man observing is Jerry Hendrix?

Sandra and Tommy confirm that it is Jerry.

Swing Batter, Batter

A game in progress at the new field in front of the gym. I had memories of many hours spent in that gym. Several of us and Jerry Monts played basketball in the gym just a few days before his accident.

That is Cecil coaching third base, isn't it? When did they begin playing games there instead of at the field near the railroad? I remember attending games at this location when I was in college.

Cathy comments: That does look like Cecil's stance. My most vivid memory of baseball here is when Richard hit a grand-slam home run. It was quite a fluke, he usually struck out.

Baseball Team

I don't recognize any of the players or the coach; was this a Plantersville team?

Girls on Horses

I didn't know there were horse rides at the park. Not certain who these girls are. Who did the horses belong to?

Cathy: Linda Partlow on the left, Cindy Partlow on the right. The horses usually belonged to the Williams.

Men at Play

From right, Buddy Partlow, Tommy Monts, and Gene Monts, I think. Need help with the other gentlemen.

Cathy: sitting on the ground is Junior McWhorter, with the tie may be one of the Methodist ministers, J.T. Borden in front of him, Harold Towery, and you got the rest.

Sandra Monts writes: that the man in the tie is her uncle Johnny Parker, her mother's brother.

Cecil's Kids

I can't identify any of the children. Please help identify them.

Boy on a Horse

Picture sent courtesy of Amy Bostick by way of her Uncle Tommy Monts; the man is Joe Rogers; is that Bubba on the horse?


Cathy: That is Bubba Rogers with his daddy.

Oops: that's Rodney not Bubba on the horse.

Plantersville Trip

I will be in Plantersville/Tupelo the early part of this week. I will try to add posts on Thursday so check back then.

George

Note: Trip has been put on hold until weather settles down. Probably be in Tupelo Wednesday and Thursday.

Boys and Girls Club of Plantersville

Gloria, the mayor of Plantersville, sends the following information:



The mayor, board of aldermen and women and community leaders are working with the Boys and Girls Club to establish a first. Most of the clubs are in much larger towns and cities. I have been working with the staff at the BGC since May to lay the foundation of what could be the first such club in a rural area. Many of the children and youth in our town and outlying areas need the nurture and support that was automatic when we were growing up. I intend to do everything that I can to make this happen. Local ministers and community businesses and leaders are attempting to match a very generous donation of $20,000 pledged by Walter Fleishacker, owner of Northeast Metal Processors, as start up money. There is grant money available but it is not advised to depend completely on this. Would you please pass the word and consider a donation, either in memory of someone that meant a lot to you growing up, or in honor of someone as a Christmas gift? If you are interested, please pass this along to others that I may not reach. Please contact me on my cell phone (662-213-0077) or by e-mail: shollands@comcast.net. We don't actually have a specific bank account yet, so a check would need to be made out to Town of Plantersville and earmarked for the Boys and Girls Club. I look forward to hearing from a lot of people.

Thanks,

Gloria Holland
247 Old Planters Road
Plantersville, MS 38862
Telephone numbers:
home-662-844-2004
work-662-377-2865
Town Hall-662-844-2012
Cell-662-213-0077

CREATE will accept donations:


All donations should be sent to Mike Clayborne at Create (address and phone number listed below). If all donors would send me an acknowledgement of their gifts, I can keep an account of their donations. All donors will receive a letter of acknowledgement from CREATE as well. This will be the letter they will need for tax purposes. Please make sure that all donations are designated to Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi – Plantersville Clubhouse.

Thanks.

Mike Clayborne
CREATE
P.O. Box 1053
213 West Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38802
662.844.8989

Patrick Gunnin
Chief Professional Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi
P.O. Box 1098
213 West Main Street, Suite 240
Tupelo, MS 38802-1098
Work: 662.841.6504
FAX: 662.841.6425
www.bgcnms.org

Sandy McFarling

Congratulations to Sandy and her family on the arrival of a new grandson. Jackson Ray McFarling was born September 13.

Plantersville's Birthday

Judy Borden indicated that while the original charter can not be found, there is documentation that the act to incorporate the town of Plantersville was approved on February 24, 1890.

Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham RR

According to Judy Borden's book: "In 1887, the Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham Railroad was built, as was customary in that day, on land donated by local residents. Rader Armstrong, Mary Bucy's great grandfather, and Thomas William Johnson, grandfather of Cecil Johnson and great grandfather of Carroll Mitchell, donated a half interest in forty acres of land to the rail company to get them to route the line through Plantersville. The line rn along the foot of the ridge bordering the Town and Tulip Creek bottom west of the town. A little depot was built at the bottom of the hill where the railroad crossed the dirt road to Verona."

Cathy Johnson Garrett's Web Site

Cathy writes:


Cathy Johnson Garrett has a blog http://pvillepost.blogspot.com
Fair warning: If you are easily offended by liberals, Democrats, or Episcopalians, DON’T GO THERE!
The rest of you will enjoy her candid observations and reflections. Oh! She frequently posts pictures of her grandchildren, and shares news of her family members.

Sammy Hall

Sympathy to the family of Sammy Hall of Plantersville. I noticed in the Journal's obituary that he has a sister named Bobbie; I assume this is the Bobbie Hall who was in my class in school.

Tommy and Sandra Proud Great-Grandparents

Sandra Temple Monts writes:

"This morning, our granddaughter, Tiffany, Tom's daughter, gave birth to a 7 pound precious little girl. Her name will be Kendra Grace. All are well. God has truly blessed us. Our first great-grandchild, Elijah, will be 4 on Nov. 22."

First Stores in Plantersville

According to Judy Borden's book:

"Although the village is considered one of the oldest in Lee County, it was 1870 before Con Issac established the first store in the community on a site about 100 yards east of the present juncture of Highway 6 and Richmond Road. In 1872, a post office was opened in Issac's store and the Postal Department selected the name of Plantersville.

Will Pounnd opened a store across the road from Issac about the time the Post Office was established. Later, Albert Mabry purchased Will Pounds's store."

Second Page of Robert Henderson Rogers's Letter

The second page of Robert Henderson Rogers's letter courtesy of Roger Moore.

Robert Henderson Rogers

Roger Moore writes:


I notice that you asked for the name of any relatives from Plantersville that served in the Civil War. My mother's grandfather, Robert (Bob) Henderson Rogers, served. My mother used to tell of sitting on his lap when she was a little girl, and he would show her his cap that had a bullet hole through it that was obtained at Shiloh. The attached file is a letter written by him to the Secretary of Interior asking for information about his grandfather, James Rogers, who served in the Revolutionary War. Although R. H. Rogers lived about three miles south of the present Plantersville, his address on the letter is shown as Verona. That confirms your comment about Plantersville not yet being founded at the time he wrote the letter. James Rogers died in Monroe County, near Aberdeen ca. 1843.

Mr. Borden

Even though I was young when Mr. Borden died, I have vivid memories of him. Doris took me fishing many times at Borden's Lake, and we frequenlty visited the Bordens. Doris's sister, Mamie Lou, lived on the Borden's place and worked for them.

Borden Men

Three generations of Borden men in a picture taken ca. 1948.

1954 Play at Plantersville School

From left: James Sartain, Laurie Bishop, Davey Harris, Connie Fields, Woody Sample, Cathy Johnson, Jamie Rogers, Brenda Diggs, Phillip Williams, Georgia McWhorter, Ruth Ponders, Bobbie Gooch, behind Connie.

Courtesy of Cathy Johnson Garrett

Get Well Buddy

Buddy Peters has had some health problems recently. Hope he's feeling better.

Thomas Williams

Sympathy to the Thomas Williams family; Gloria Holland send the following:

Tom Williams, a lifelong Plantersvillian, passed away this morning. He was the son of ZB and Celia Williams. Tom was one of the funniest and nicest men that I ever knew. He is survived by his wife, Janie, and his two daughters, Laura Hankins and Sarah Williams and their families. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Holland-Harris Funeral Directors. The number at the funeral home is 662-840-5000.

Plantersville and the Civil War

Plantersville did not exist during the war,not being established until 1890. According to Judy Borden's book, T. W. Johnson, the grandfather of Cecil and the great grandfather of Carroll Mitchell, and Samuel Stewart Young, the father of Irene Young Partlow and Stewart Young, fought in the war.

I have confirmed that my great grandfather, George Alexander Morris, enlisted in Marion County, Alabama; he was from Smithville, but after the war, he married his second wife and moved to Richmond. Michael Marion Kelly, my grandfather, is supposed to have been in the army, but have had less luck finding information on him. He lived across from what is now the Tombigbee State Park.

If you had family members in the Civil War from the Plantersville area, please let me know.

Unity Presbyterian Church

Raymon Stovall's house was one hill over to the west from the church, and at certain times in the dead of winter you could see the church from his house. Raymon and most of his family were members and are buried in the cemetery there.
David Allan Webb, grandson of Kitty Morgan, has done lots of work on the church's cemetery. His site is: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~unitycem/unity.html

I've lost contact with David, but the last time we corresponded, he was working on a Ph.D. in the Classics at The University of Missouri.

Raymon spelled his name without the d, much to the chagrin of my spell check.