Lovable Courageous Callie

By Tommie Plier Mitchell

Lovable Courageous Callie

This memoir spotlights Callie during her early years living in the country. She lives through a severe illness. As she grows older, she marries a handsome man who decides he wants to farm for a living. Living in the depression years brought about many challenges to this young couple. They have seven children in fifteen years.

Callie finds herself alone at the age of thirty six. How will she make a living for herself and her children? Relatives and friends are convinced she cannot take care of seven children living in the backwoods of Alabama so they want her to give some of the children away. As she experiences the situations in her family, she becomes more determined that she will make it. Crises such as illnesses, snake bite, a gun shot wound, a burn and polio strengthens her resolve and dependence on her loving and caring God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452097657

Tommie Plier Mitchell

Co-authors Angie Dawson and Derek Jensen compiled all photographs and information over four visits to Montserrat. Beyond Relaxed: Precious Time in Montserrat is their first book one they say was inspired by the island itself. It began as a collection of photographs compiled to show family and friends this mysterious place called, Montserrat. Every photograph (except 3 of the 200+photos) was taken by either Angie or Derek. They affectionately describe Montserrat as an authentic island experience. Its a place where they meet interesting people, can truly relax and hear themselves think, are continuously fascinated by the islands unique history, and marvel in the presence of the majestic Soufriere Hills Volcano. In Canada, Angie has worked as a television producer and radio news reporter, and currently operates a video production company. With 23 years in telecom as a business systems analyst and designer, Derek now also works as a commercial pilot. The two are currently travel-working and taking plenty of photographs along the way!

Book preview

Contents

The Birth and Early Years

School Years

Life in Shelby County

Sickness

The First Move

Heartthrob

Marriage

Their Own Home

That Night!

Another Girl

Illness

The Birth of a Son

Another Move

One More Girl

Tommie Frances Joins Family

Birthday Party

Country at War

George’s Namesake

The Last Little Boy

Ill Again!

Death!

Beginning Trials

Spring Plantings

Adventures

Lifestyle Change

Burned

The Search!

Changes

Electricity!

Problems

Married Out West

The Tall Postman

Off to the Big City

Promises

Forgotten Name!

1960 Brings Changes!

Goal Accomplished!

Another Change

Empty Nest!

Surgery!

A Telephone!

Birthday Celebrations!

Twilight Years

Callie’s Legacy

About the Author

Special thanks to my son Gary for insisting that I do an initial video with my Mom, Callie in November 1996. Many thanks for all the assistance I received from my loving family especially my sisters, Lois Gilmore, Dorothy Golson, and Faye Griggs and my brothers, George and Eirl Plier. Thanks to my daughter Patsy and my nieces and nephews who have read this and given me additional input.

To my brother Durward who has gone on to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was instrumental in giving information about Daddy’s reaction to the government’s cotton allotments and the selling of the property located across the branch.

If I have made any mistakes and errors pertaining to dates and events, I am truly sorry and ask everyone’s forgiveness.

The Birth and Early Years

LIFE FOR THE WILLIAMS family was an exciting life but filled with much work. On a farm, there was always lots of work to be done. With six members of the family, there had to be at least one tomboy. A tomboy being a girl who really wished she had been born a boy. Every step her Dad took, Callie wanted to be there.

Affie Addicue Merrell Williams (Callie’s mom) and Thomas L. Williams (Callie’s dad) were united in marriage on March 16, 1899 in Shelby County, Alabama. This union was blessed with three daughters and one son. Belle was the oldest who was born on November 19, 1900. Annie, the second daughter made her way into the home on May 22, 1902. A son, Isaac, was born April 22, 1905. Callie Idella was born July 31, 1908. In addition to these births, a boy named David lived two hours; a girl, Lillie Mae, lived two days and another girl was still-born. Life was hard in those days and infant mortality was high.

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Belle, Annie, Thomas, Affie, Callie, Isaac & Grandma Williams – 1917

Grandma Williams had a very unusual name (Ruthie (Molly) Alabama Vanderslice Williams). She married Hillary B. Williams and they had two daughters. After his death in the Civil War, she married Baruck Williams (a Williams cousin). They had one son, Thomas, and one daughter named Rena. She lived with Thomas and his family until her death.

The Williams family lived in the Spring Creek Community located about three miles from the Shelby Ironworks. Shelby Ironworks was a mine that was known for making pig iron. The mines operated until about 1922. Shelby was a town that depended on the mines for its existence.

Spring Creek Church (currently named Bethlehem Baptist Church) was located about a mile from the Williams’ home. This church only had services one week end a month, on a Saturday night and Sunday morning.

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This monument is located in the Town Square in Lexington, N.C.

David M. Merrell (Grandpa Merrell) was a fourth generation descendant of Captain Benjamin Merrill. Captain Benjamin Merrill was a Regulator who protested the unjust rule of England prior to the Revolution. There has been an interchange of the spelling of the Merrell (Merrill) name over the generations probably caused from the census takers. Captain Benjamin attended Jersey Baptist Church (formerly Jersey Settlement Church) which was constituted in 1755. Jersey Baptist Church is still in existence today. In his book Captain Benjamin Merrill And the Merrill Family of North Carolina, William Ernest Merrill, M.S. writes

The War of the Regulation ended, not with the Battle of Alamance in 1771, but with the adoption of the State Constitution in 1776. Benjamin Merrill came from New Jersey prior to 1756 and settled in the Jersey Settlement near Salisbury. He was a Captain of the Rowan County Militia prior to the movement of the Regulators. Captain Merrill was one of the unfortunate victims of Tryon’s brutal tyranny. He was on his way to join the Regulators at Alamance, with a company of over three hundred men, when he intercepted Gen. H. Waddell and forced him to flee to Salisbury, after taking most of Waddell’s men as prisoners. He and his men were within a day’s march of Alamance when the roar of the battle met them, and after hearing of the victory of the Governor’s army he disbanded his men and returned home. He regretted that he was not present at the battle so he could fight with his fellow patriots. Some accounts give him credit for being in the actual battle. He was taken prisoner by Colonel Fanning and his men, and brought to Tryon’s Jersey Settlement Camp on June 1, 1771. After being put in chains with the other prisoners and dragged through the country to Hillsborough, he, on June 19, 1771, paid forfeit with his life…………. On being permitted to speak just before the execution, he said that fifteen years previously he had been converted, but had back-slidden, yet now felt that he was freely forgiven and that he would not change places with anyone on the grounds, in concluding he referred to his wife and eight children. It is said that one of Tryon’s soldiers was heard to declare that if all men went to the gallows with a character such as Captain Merrill’s, hanging would be an honorable death. Captain Merrill was a man held in general esteem for his honesty, integrity, and piety.[1]

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Descendants of Benjamin Merrell

Grandma and Grandpa Merrell lived about six miles from the Williams family. The Sundays that Spring Creek Church didn’t have services, the Williams family would walk the six miles to Mosteller for services. Mosteller (known for its good fishing) was a town that was located nearer the Coosa River.

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Back – Daniel, his wife Kesian, Affie, Warren, Minnie, Fannie, Freddie, Middle–Ann Urcery (Mary’s mother), Grandpa David Merrell, Mary Merrell holding Daniel’s baby Lethia, Front–Cynthia and Pearl Year 1896

Another event that stood out in the Williams family household was Protracted Meeting time (same as revivals today). Thomas Williams would gather all the widow women (usually five or six) who lived nearby and keep them in the Williams home during the meetings. Grandma Williams was well-noted for her getting happy at these meetings. Callie would ask her Grandma why she let herself get so excited and wear herself out? Grandma Williams would just reply that someday she hoped she would understand when God revealed himself to her. One of the great aunts was also known for her shouting. That aunt’s son was at the church on one occasion, he saw his Mom headed toward him so he jumped out the window to keep her from getting to him.

Grandma Williams had a big influence on Callie in her younger years. While Affie was doing all the cooking for the family, Grandma Williams would instruct Callie in the art of embroidery and quilt making. Callie loved to sit and talk to Grandma Williams while she would tell her stories of how her family survived during the Civil War period. She would tell how they would parch corn, boil the parched corn to make coffee because there was no coffee to be bought and no money with which to buy it if there were any. Callie, being a tomboy, didn’t enjoy staying inside, but if she had to she didn’t mind getting her instructions from Grandma Williams. If Thomas couldn’t take Callie fishing, Grandma Williams would.

Another of the big highlights in the life of the Williams family was the Summer Singing School. All the children would attend. Six of the cousins would come and spend the time with the Williams family. The Uncle and the Aunt would bring food to help take care of the children during the time that they would stay for singing school. Callie could learn the notes but just could not get the timing right for singing. She still enjoyed trying though.

School Years

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Edgar and Callie in Third Grade

(Note those toes on the brogans)

ISAAC WAS BORN WITH a cleft palate. This caused many problems during the childhood years. At this time in life, there wasn’t much that could be done for a child born with a condition such as this, but to accept the fact and live with it. Of course, the sisters would defend their brother against the other students at school. Callie was the nearest in age to Isaac so she found herself in defense of him often.

School in those days was a one-room school house about twenty feet wide and sixty feet long with all grade classes together. The school was located about four miles from where the Williams family lived. Everyone walked to school in those days during the rain, sleet, snow or whatever weather came. Icicles were not unusual during the cold weather. Edgar and Callie were the only students in the third grade. Callie had knitted the socks that she wore the day the picture was made.

Can you believe there was only one teacher for about sixty students? Of course, the teacher expected the older students to help teach the younger students their lessons. The school only went through the seventh grade. The teacher of the school would board with one of the families who lived nearby. Callie could remember two of the teachers boarding with their family.

Respect for the teacher and obedience was expected from each child. The one teacher was able to maintain order over all sixty or so students. Punishment was putting your nose in the corner for a period of time. Paddling was another form of punishment. If you got a paddling at school, you also got one at home.

The only way the Williams children could go further in school was to go and stay closer to town with the Aunts. But, the children didn’t want to leave home. Callie was allowed to go through the seventh grade twice since there was no higher level provided.

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Callie’s Seventh Grade Report Card - 1922

Everyone enjoyed recess and lunch period at school. Different people would make string balls to be used to play baseball. Syrup buckets were used to carry the lunches to school. The buckets would keep the lunch from getting smashed as you traveled the road to the school. Hopping, skipping, walking and running were the means of getting to school. On very rare occasions, Thomas would carry the children to school in the wagon. These occasions were very rare because there