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They were poor and struggling but they had each other and to them that’s all that mattered. Jack and Mattie married on September 17, 1917. They lived on an 80 acre plot of land homesteaded by his father who died when he was only three. Jack, the youngest of eight children, was raised by his mother on this very piece of land. Jack and Mattie were hard working farmers. Quiet unassuming folk, they lived off the land. They grew cotton for cash and a variety of vegetables to subsist on. They also raised hogs, milk cows and chickens. Jack was also an avid hunter who would often kill squirrels, rabbits, possums and raccoons to supplement their diet. 2
Life on the farm wasn’t easy by any means. Fields had to be plowed and planted. Animals had to be cared for and fed. Crops had to be harvested and prepared and to make matters more difficult they had to care for his aging mother who lived in a small cabin nearby. They were capable, hardy people so they not only survived they thrived. It was only a year after they married that they began their family. James Lewis was born July 10, 1918. Over the next twenty four years eight more children followed. 3
Jack and Mattie were well known and respected throughout their rural community. They often invited friends and relatives over for a meal and friendly fellowship. Sunday was their day of rest and relaxation. The kids would go outside and play while the adults would sit underneath a shade tree and swap stories about kin folks or old times or the weather or whatever happened to be on their mind at the time. It was just a good day to visit and plan for future endeavors that could only be accomplished by the group such as building a new home for a neighbor or harvesting someone’s ripe cotton crop or that next hunting or fishing trip. All in all those were the golden days. 4
Unfortunately those days didn’t last long. Jack got involved in the distribution of homemade spirits, moonshine. Though he didn’t make it himself he had a convenient place for the producer to sell his wares and not expose himself to the scrutiny of any would be revenuers. At the end of prohibition and the beginning of the great depression Jack turned this business into a desperately needed cash cow. Until one day the local sheriff came calling. He informed Mattie that he was looking for Jack because a man had died from tainted moonshine. Mattie broke down and cried. She told the sheriff that she had seen the man that day and that he had bought some whiskey but he had already been drinking before he stopped by. 5
Jack was arrested and charged with manslaughter and possession of untaxed spirits. For several months Jack sat in jail awaiting trial. Mattie retained a lawyer for his defense. They only thing they owned of any value was the 80 acres. The lawyer Coon took it as payment for his services. 6
Finally Jack had his day in court. Basically he was acquitted because the prosecuting attorney couldn’t prove that the man bought the poison whiskey from Jack and they couldn't find his stash of moonshine. This was an event that changed his life forever. 7
He vowed then and there never to have anything to do with moonshine again. Fortunately Mr. Coon, the lawyer, allowed them to stay on the land that now was his. For the price of freedom, three hundred dollars, the land they loved so much was no longer theirs. 8
Jack died in 1977 leaving behind his wife of sixty years and nine children now grown. Mattie died in 1982 at the ripe old age of 85 leaving behind her numerous brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and the legacy of a survivor.9
Author notes
I started to make this a fictional story but decided to tell it the way it really was as a piece of family history. The story of how my grandparents lost their farm was told to me by my grandmother one evening sitting on the porch.
photo: Jack and Mattie on their 50th wedding anniversary.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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excellent
I really like this one. I need to write one about Uncle T before he passes away...he just turned 89.
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Sad in a way, but also very interesting. We often bipass the parts of our memories if they are of hard times, here you lay it all out, the good and the bad. I could really tell that this was a true story, just by the fact that it sounded very personally and realistic. The first sentence really summed it up, you can be poor and struggling but happy and loving at the same time--regardless of hardships.
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This read like a novel, I was tied to it all the way through and wouldn't have put it down for anything. That it is fact makes it all the more wonderful in the penning. I think that anything that we have lived through or been a part of, or listned to always has a great effect on us, I can tell that this story about your Grandparents helped you to find the guts of the story that make for a good novel, even a short one.
Well Done!
~Katie~
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This is a great tale and truly, could be either fact or fiction. I am happy to note though that it is fact and in your telling of it Leo you have brought about that ring of truth which makes it all the more acceptable.
Wishing you the very best of luck with the contest.
Sammy
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This is fabulous Leo! You did a great job taking us all through a small part of your family heritage. Like my friend cyberartist, I too would love to hear more. This is the stuff we all like to hear at the feet of those much older and wiser than us. This is life as it was... harsh, cruel, sometimes unfair, but families stood by one another and didn't crumble. You told this very well. Thank you for entering the contest and good luck!
(`'•.¸(`'•.¸ ¤ ¸.•'´)¸.•'´)
~~~Touchof1der~~~
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wonderful
Leo,
You've surely outdone yourself with this one. I agree with every comment above. What makes this special is the way with which you've related your family history. It's reminicent of a time when these were the tales that were spun at the dinner table or during a family get together. Makes me wish I had a tape recorder or sat and wrote everyone of them. Your family is so very lucky to have one such as yourself to be able to recreate your history with such vivid imagery. Too few families these days even know their family history. And here you are, not only do you know it, but you've recorded it with such extrodinary eloquence for future posterity.
Good luck my friend. This is one the should garner the gold.
~Michelle~
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Leo this is a fascinating slice of history with a solid story thread weaved through it personally I would have loved for you to have giving it a little more perhaps I’m being greedy but I was just warming to Jack and Matte and mad with the lawyer and it was over. I really hope that you give this story another look when you can let the reader smell the still cooking away, feel the danger of a delivery, what the man that died went through. And build up that twist were he gets off but looses everything. Screen writers and novelists would sell there mothers for stories like this It has love & romance, adventure, danger and with eight children I would imagine a little comedy. All the best
Paul
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Glad you added the photo, it sure pulls the reader into the story. Great story, and I am sure that during that time period there are hundreds of stories that have gone untold because of shame of passing them on. I'm glad you got to hear the stories of your family. You can continue to pass them on. Good job.
Cheryl
Cheers!
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Now, you make sure you add this to the growing treasure chest for Hunter! In it will shine for him all the richness of his history. Lucky boy to have a grinpa such as you - guess it just runs in the family.
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Oh! The best to you in this contest! You deserve a trophy for this true story.
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This story reads like a passage from a great novel. Oft times fact is so much more revealing than fiction. I am glad you decided to keep this as a part of your family history. There are many stories of how our ancestors lost their land. This one is heartwrenching. I am glad you committed this to memory, and even more pleased that you decided to share it with us.
My great grandfather was a farmer. He passed his land on to his eight children, which divided it up between themselves. Some sold large chunks to the government. Others still have pieces of that land today, that their children are living on, in Mobile, Alabama. Very nicely penned my friend.
Much Love,
Renee
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Leo, you're never better than when you're relaying these wonderful family "treasures!" I've always felt that the truth was indeed, more fascinating than fiction! And what a story this is! You had me on the edge of my seat, when I read about Jack's delimma; and then literally on pins and needles, waiting to know the outcome of the trial! Thank God it turned out the way it did! And how wonderful that they were able to continue to live on the land he had known all his life! (Though I'm sure it had to be a difficult, and constant reminder of his mistake.) This was a wonderful story, and you told it, as with the rest of the stories of your families history, with candor, and warmth! Bravo!
Paula
Edited on Sep 11, 9:41 p.m. because ''. -
Wow this literally gave me bumps. My grandpa was a farmer too. Fascinating story I bet they were awesome. I love the way you pulled this together. I am writing my history in poetry for my sons too. The best gift you can give is your roots...your grandma did that for you.
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Life throws us a curve ball ever so often. I guess we just have to do like they did and learn how to hit it. You can go on, as they did. Not always easy, but with the right person, it can be done.
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