DAISY MAYES DIARY
DIARY OF DAISY PEARL PRUITT
WRITTEN BY: DAISY P. PRUITT
DATE 1984
THIS BOOK HAS MY CHILDHOOD,AND FAMILY MEMORIES OF LONG AGO,AS I AM GETTING ON IN YEARS, 87. I AM NOW A WIDOW AND MY BELOVED HUSBAND,FRANK PASSED AWAY SEPT.25TH 19-83.I WAS BORN TO MARY (ALLISON )MAYSE ON THE 2-
SEPT.18-97.IN LATER MY FOLKS DIVORCED,US KIDS WERE PUT IN FOSTER HOMES ,WHEN I WAS 3.,THE PEOPLE THAT HAD ME WAS ALBERT AND BELL CATRON,THERE WERE 2 GIRLS AND 3 BOYS,ME AND SUSIE AND BOYS WERE BILL,RAYMON AND DRODEN,WE WENT ALL DIFFERENT PLACES,WE DIDN'T SEE ONE ANOTHER FOR A LONG TIME,OUR GRANDMOTHER ALLISON HAD TAKEN SUSIE TO NORTH CAROLINA WITH HER SO WE HAD NEVER SEEN SUSIE AGAIN,SHE DIED IN THE 20S,ALL GONE NOW,I'M STILL HERE FOR SOME REASON,ALL OF MY BROTHERS ARE GONE TOO.WELL, I LIVED WITH THE CATRONS
UNTIL I WAS 22 YEARS OLD,I MARRIED FRANK PRUITT THE SWEETEST MAN IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
I GREW UP IN SMYTH COUNTY VIRGINA,BROADFORD,I HAD 5 COUSINS,ALL ABOUT MY AGE,WE ALL GREW UP IN LESS THEN A MILE OF EACH OTHER,WE ARE ALL LIVING TODAY BUT ONESHE DIED YEARS AGO HER NAME WAS MAE CLEAR.ALL OF US ARE WIDOWS NOW AND UP IN OUR 80S.HERE ARE THE NAMES OR MY COZ. CARRIE FRYE,ROSILIE BAKER,VIRGIL MALOYED,EMMA DEBUSK,AND MYSELF.WE PLAYED TOGETHER EVERY DAY,FIGHT A LITTLE SOMETIMES,THEY PICKED ON ME BECAUSE I WAS THE SMALLEST,I SURE DID TAKE MY PART,WITH THEMWE WERE IN THE DOG HOUSE ALOT,FOR WHAT WE WOULD DO.......
WHEN I WAS 5 YRARS OLD MY MOTHER(THATS WHAT I CALLED HER)TOLD ME THAT SHE COULD GET ME A DRESS FROM 1 YARD OF MATERIAL SHE HAD,IT WAS WHITE WITH SOME KIND OF TINY FLOWERS ON IT,AND SHE COULD GET ME 3-4 DRESSES FOR 20 CENTS.SHE HAD PAID 5 CENTS FOR A YARD,SHE HAD DRESSED ME IN MOSTLY RED DRESSES SHE SAID I LOOKED BETTER IN RED THEN ANY OTHER COLOR,I HAD VERY LONG HAIR (VERY LONG) MY MOM WOULD BRAID IT IN TWO PARTS,AND ALWAYS HAD PRETTY RIBBONS ON MY TWO BRAIDS,I CAN JUST SEE ME NOW,HOW I USED TO FRISK AROUND.........
MY MOTHER GAVE ME A BIRTHDAY PARTY WHEN I WAS 15,BUT NO BOYS,SHE SAID I WAS TO YOUNG TO INVITE THEM YET FOR AWHILE,I CAN REMEMBER CARRIE BEING THERE,MOM SIT A BIG PAN OF NICE RIPE GRAPES ON THE TABLE,WE HAD LOTS OF THEM,WE PLAYED GAMES,SOME OF THE GIRLS BROTHERS CAME,WE LIKED THAT,I REMEMBER ONE TIME ON SUNDAY ALL OF US GIRLS,STARTED OUT TO GO TO AN OLDER WOMANS HOUSE WE WERE TOLD THAT SHE COULD TELL FORTUNES,WE THOUGHT THAT WE WERE OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE OURS TOLDWE MUST HAVE BEEN 7-8 YEARS OLD,WHEN WE GOT THERE WE TOLD HER WHAT WE HAD CAME FOR, SHE LOOKED AT US,AND CALLED US PISSANTS AND GO HOME,,WE WAS AFRAID OF HER,SO WE RAN AS FAST AS WE COULD GO,AS WE TOPPED A BIG HILL WE SAW A HUGE STORM COMMING, WE GOT IN IT,WE ALL SAT DOWN AS CLOSE AS WE COULD GET,BUT MY HAT GOT RUINED...MOM DID SOME WASHING FOR A FAMILY FOR 25 CENTS UNTIL SHE GOT 2.25 AND GOT ME A PRETTY WHITE HAT THAT HAD YELLOW ROSESAND RIBBON ON IT,(OF COURSE I JUST HAD TO WEARIT THAT DAY, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT AFTER THE STORM,IT CAME DOWN IN MY FACE AND ALL THAT YELLOW STUFF ALL OVER ME,I HAD TO HOLD IT UP SO I COULD SEE .......MY MOM DID EVERYTHING TO ME BUT KILL ME,I WENT WITHOUT A HAT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR,
ONE TIME ,I WAS ABOUT 10,ME AND ROSILIE PLANNED TO GO ON SATURDAY NIGHT TO SEE A GIRLFRIEND ,ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MY HOUSE,MOM WAS GONE SOMEPLACE,WHEN ROSILIE CAME ,WE COULDN'TGO UNTIL MOM CAME HOME,SO WE DECIDED WE WOULD DRESS UP IN LONG SKIRTS, I GOT IN MOMS CLOSE AND GOT SOME LONG SKIRTS OUT,JUST ABOUT THE TIME I GOT MINE ON ,HERE CAME MOM,ROSILIE ALREADY HAD HERS ON,ROSILIE YELLED HERE COMES MRS C.I MADE A BIG JUMP OFF OF AN OLD TRUNK I WAS STANDING ON LOOKING AT MYSELF,I COUGHT THE SKIRT ON A PIECE OF TIN THAT WAS STICKING OUT AND TORE A BIG PLACE IN MOMS SKIRT ,,SHE WAS SO MAD,SHE SENT ROSILIE HOME AND WHIPPED THE TAR OUT OF ME,WE DIDN'T GET TO GO ON OUR TRIP,ON ACCOUNT OF THAT OLD BROWN SKIRT,AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF ,SHE HAD PAID 25 CENTS A YARD FOR IT.THAT WAS THE KINDA STUFF WE WOULD GET INTO.WE HAD A HUGH SUGAR CAMP,WE ALWAYS CALLED IT,WITH ABOUT 30 SUGAR TREES ON IT,WE WOULD PLAY IN THE LEAVES IN THE FALL,IT WAS BETWEEN MAE'S AND ROSILIE'S HOUSE,SO MAE AND I WOULD GET IN TROUBLE,ONCE THE GANG WAS PLAYING IN THE LEAVES AND ME AND MAE TOOK EMMA'S SKIRT AND HAT AND STUFFED THEM UNDER A BIG LOG AND BURRIED THEM UNDER SOME LEAVES,WELL EMMA'S MOTHER FOUND OUT AND CAME DOWN I GUESS SOME OF THE KIDS TOLD HER THAT WE DID IT, BUT WE MADE LIRES OUT OF THEM,CAUSE EMMA HAD CLOTHES ON BUT SHE STILL MADE US DIG THEM OUT AND GIVE THEM TO HERWE WERE OUT OF ONE THINGRIGHT BACK INTO SOMETHING MEANER,WHAT ONE COULD THINK OF ANOTHER COULD DO.,WE WERE A BAD BUNCH.BUT WE ALL GREW UP TO BE NICE YOUNG LADIES,MARRIED GOOD MEN,BUT ALL ARE GONE NOW,
I DIDN'T HAVE AS GOOD LIFE AS THE OTHER GIRLS DID.THEY ALL HAD SISTERS AND BROTHERS TO GO PLACES WITH,WHERE I DIDN'T,I COULDN'T GO ALONE LOTS OF PLACES SO I DIDN'T GET TO GO.
1917WHEN WE GREW UP WE WENT TO LOTS OF DANCES,ONE TIME ONE OF OUR FRIENDS ,SHE WAS KINDA LAZY, DIDN'T LIKE TO WORK,SO SHEWOULD PAY US TO DO HER WORK,SHE TOLD US TO PICK UP ALL THE OLD ROTTEN APPLES AND SCRUB THE FLOORS,SO WE DID,WE HAD WORKED ALL DAY IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NEW YEAR,THERE WAS A LOT OF SNOW AND REALLY COLD,SHE MADE US STOP THE DANCES AT MIDNIGHT BECAUSE THE NEXT DAY WAS SUNDAY,,MOM AND I CAME OUTTO GO HOME AND SOMEONE HAS STOLD HER OVERSHOES,SHE HAD TO WALK HOME WITHOUT THEM,SHE SURE DONE SOME FUSSIN' ALL THE WAY HOME,BUT WE HAD HAD A LARGE CROWD AND EVERYTHING WENT FINE,THAT WAS A YEAR OR SO BEFORE I GOT MARRIED
I WAS ABOUT 20 I THINK, I SURE DID LIKE TO GO TO THEM DANCES,I COULDN'T DANCE AT ALL, NOT A STEP, BUT SURE LOVED TO GO AROUND THE FLOOR,NO ONE WANTED ME FOR THEIR PARTNER ,I WAS TO SHORT ABOUT 4'11 FOR THE TALL MEN,WE DIDNT DANCE LIKE THEY DO NOW'IT CRAZY STUFF THEY DO NOW,TO ME ANYWAY.....
WE LIVED IN A LITTLE 2 ROOM LOG CABIN FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS THE OLD MAN BOUGHT SOME LAND WAY UP ON A BIG MOUNTAIN AND BUILT A 3 ROOM HOUSE WE LIVED IN IT FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS,THIS IS WHERE I WAS LIVING WHEN FRANK AND I WERE MARRIED. WE MARRIED IN JULY ON THE 29TH IN 19-19,HE HAD JUST CAME HOME FROM THE SERVICE ON JUNE 12TH19-19 ...AFTER BEING IN FRANCE FOR 2 YEARS
I SURE DIDN'T LET HIM PLAY AROUND TO LONG,I GOT HIM WHILE THE GETTIN WAS GOOD,TO MANY BUTTERFLIES FLYIN AROUND HIM,I COULDN'T TAKE THE CHANCE TO LONG
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MARRIED 67 YEARSTHIS JULY,HE WOULD GET MAD AT ME SOMETIMES ,BUT WE ALWAYSMANAGED SOMEWAY TO GET TOGETHER AGAIN..WE WENT TOGETHER FORM 19-13 TO 19-19 HE WAS IN FRANCE DURING THIS TIME,MY FOLKS DIDN'T LIKE FRANK,BUT I DID.AND THAT WAS ALL AMOUNTED TO ME ANYWAY,WHEN I LIVED IN THE LOG CABIN THERE WAS A LITTLE BROOK RAN RIGHT IN OUR YARD,I USED TO PLAY IN IT ALL THE TIME,MOM SAID SHE HAD DRESSED ME AS MANY AS 4 TIMES A DAY,SHE WOULD GIVE ME A GOOD SPANKING EVERYTIME,JUST AS SOON AS SHE WOULD TURN AROUND..........RIGHT BACK IN THE BROOK I WOULD GO,I WOULD STEP ON A SLICK ROCK AND FALL IN ALL OVER AGAIN I WAS 3-4 THEN I GUESS
ONE DAY ROSILIE CAME TO SPEND THE DAY WITH ME,MOM WAS GONE,I GUESS WE WERE 9-10 MOM HAD SOME REAL LITTLE CHICKENS AND WE GOT AFTER THEM GOT 1 EACH.AND PLAYED WITH THEM LIKE THEY WERE OUR BABIES.ALL DAY ,IT WAS A HOT DAY TOO.THEY KEPT GETTING AWAY FROM US SO I WENT INTO THE HOUSE AND GOT 2 TOWELLS SO WE COULD WRAP THEM INI GUESS THEY GOT TO HOT, IT HAD KILLED THEM ,,,,WHEN MOM CAME HOME SHE'D MISSED THEM I TOLD HER A SNAKE GOT THEM,I GUESS I SAW THE OLD HEN FIGHTING SOMETHINGUP ON THE HILL,I JUST BET A OLD SNAKE ATE THEM SHE WAS SURE OF IT,,WE BURRIED THEM CHICKS,POOR LITTLE THINGS........
WE WOULD ALL GET TOGETHER IN THE SUMMER AND GO WAY UPON A BIG MOUNTIAN
MAKE PLAYHOUSES GATHER MOSS OFF THE TREES AND LOGS,WE WOULD STAY UP THERE ALL DAYBEFORE WE WOULD GO HOME,WE WOULD JUST PROWL AROUND IN THE WOODS AND LOOK FOR WILD FLOWERS AND BIRDS,WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THIS SIN-FUL STUFF FOR INTERTAINMENT THEY HAVENOW-A-DAYS....WE HAD TO MAKE OUR OWN,,,I CAN REMEMBER ONE TIME WHEN WE ALL WENT A LONG WAY TO A PLACE WHERE ONCE WAS A SAWMILL,WE WOULD GO OVER THERE AND PLAY IN THE SAWDUST ALL DAY OUR MOTHERS DIDN'T KNOW FOR A LONG TIME WHERE WE WERE GOING BUT, WHEN THEY DID FIND OUT,,OH BOY ...IT WAS ALL OVER WITH THEN,THEY SAID WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN BURRIED IN THE DUST 6 FEET UNDER.MORE THEN THAT IT WAS MORE THAN A MILE FROM OUR HOUSEMINE WAS THE CLOSEST,WE DIDN'T GET TO GO TO THE SAWMILL PLACE ANYMORE,AND THAT WAS ONE OF OUR GOOD PLAYGROUNDS ,,IT WAS WAY BACK IN A BIG MOUNTIAN,WE ALL LOVED THE WOODS IN THE SUMMERTIME.THERE WAS ALWAYS 3-4 OF US TOGETHER MOST OF THE TIME
ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL,WE HAD A BALL FEILD WE PLAYED SOFTBALL,WE DREW UP 2 SIDES,WE HAD TWO SIDES OUR TEAM AND THE OTHER TEAM,ONE DAY EMMA DEBUSK, WAS ONE THE TEAM THAT WON I WAS ON THE LOOSING SIDE,EMMA SAT RIGHT BEHIND,AND WAS TEASING ME ABOUT LOOSING THAT DAY,,,SOMEONES,OMETIME , HAD PUT A HOLE IN THE BACK OF MY SET,SHE LOOKED THROUGH THAT HOLE,AND SAID GOODY WE BEAT YOU TODAY,I HAD A BUNCH OF TURKEY FEATHERSIN MY DESK TO DUST WITH,I DIDN'T DO A THING BUT GRAB UP ONE OF THE FEATHERS ,AND PUNCHED HER IN THE EYE ,BECAUSE SHE LOOKED THROUGH,SHE DIDN'T TELL THE TEACHER AND NEITHER DID I,SHE HAD A BAD EYE FOR A FEW WEEKS,THANK GOODNESS IT DIDN'T PUT HER EYE OUT,SHE COULD HAVE BEEN BLIND IN THAT EYE,TO THIS DAY,I AM SORRY TO THIS DAY FOR WHAT I DONE,SHE SHOULD HAVE KEPT HER EYE AWAY FROM THAT HOLE,SHE CRIED AND WENT HOME,SHE CAME TO SEE ME AND FRANK AFTER WE MOVED TO FLORIDA,I ASK HER IF SHE REMEMBERED THIS AND SHE SAID YES, HER MOM AND MY MOM WERE SISTERS,
I LIKED TO PLAY BALL WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRLWE PLAYED ALOT AT SCHOOL,WE WOULD TAKE TURNS SWEEPING ,2 GIRLS WOULD TAKE ONE SIDE AND 2 GIRLS WOULD TAKE THE OTHER SIDE,ROSILIE AND I WERE PARTNERS,WE HAD ONE DAY A WEEK,WE HAD TO SWEEP ,IT HAD BEEN VIRGIE MALOYDS AND HER PARTNERS DAY ,BUT THEY RAN OUT TO THE BALL FEILD TO PLAY,INSTEAD OF DOING THEIR JOB,THE TEACHER TRIED TO MAKE MEAND ROSILIE DO IT,I TOLD HER TO GO TO THE BALLFEILD AND GET THE ONES THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO DO IT,SHE HANDED ME THE BROOM AND I THROUGH IT BACK AT HER,AND SAID DO IT YOURSELF, ROSILIEWAS JUST STANDING THERE AND DIDN'T SAY A WORD, I DIDN'T GET AS MUCH SCHOOL AS THE OTHER GIRLS,I LIVED FAR AWAY AND WHEN THE WEATHER GOT BAD I COULDN'T GO,I HAD TO STAY HOME ABOUT 3 MONTHS OF THE YEAR,I DIDN'T GET TO GO AFTER THE 6TH GRADE,I GRADAUTED AT 6TH GRADE , ONE OTHER TIME I HAD ASK THE TEACHER (MRS.GRAY ) TO LET ME HAVE A CORE FROM A PEAR SHE WAS EATING, I ALLWAY WAS DOING DUMB THINGS LIKE THIS.
MY DAD WORKED ON WATCHES AND CLOCKS A LITTLE,,SO ONE DAY AT SCHOOL MY TEACHER ASK ME IF MY DAD WAS A (SILVER SMITH) AND I SAID NO HE WAS (ALBERT CATRON), THEN SHE TOLD ME WHAT SHE WANTED ,SO I TOOK THE WATCH TO MY DAD TO BE FIXED,
I WAS AT VIRGIES HOUSE ONE DAY,WE HAD WENT OUT TO PLAY IN THE CRIB,IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OFCRIB IS,ITS NOT A BABY BED,ITS WHERE A FARMER KEEPS HIS CORN UNTIL THEY SELL IT NEXT SPRING,WELL THEY HAD A CROSS CUT SAW HANGING UP,AND IT FELL ON ME AND CUT ME ON THE UPPER LIP,WE ALL COME RUNNING INTO THE HOUSE,ME BLOODY AS A STUCK HOG,HERE COME ALL THE WEMON,DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HA[[ENED TO ME,OF COURSE IT HAD TO BE ME...I HAVE THIS SCAR ON MY LIP TO THIS DAY,I DON'T SEE HOW IT STRUCKMY LIP, PASSED MY BIG NOSE,BUT IT SUREDID.....WE DIDN'T LIVE IN SIGHT OFAHOUSE WE LIVED WAY BACK FROM ANYONE,I DON'T SEE HOW I LIVED BACK THEN,BUT I DID..
I DID SOME DANGEROUS THINGS BACK THEM,BUT THE LORD TOOK CARE OF ME,OR I WOULDN'T BE HERE NOW,I AM WRITTING THIS BOOK JUST TO SHOW YOU WHAT WENT ON BACK THEN.WE WERE NOT THE ONLY KIDS THAT DID ALL SORTS OF THINGS,THEY WENT IN GANGS,THIS BOOK JUST TELLS ABOUT WHAT OUR GANG DID.I WASN'T THE LEADER,JUST THE BIGGEST PART OF IT,I GUESS
MOM WAS ACHURCH GOER,SHE HAD TAKEN ME IN WHEN I WAS 3,
SHE WAS A TEACHER,SHE TAUGHT TEENAGE BOYS FROM 14 TO 18 SHE TAUGHT FOR 9 YEARSSHE GAVE A PRISE TO THE BOY WHO COULD SAY THE MOST BIBLE VERSES EVERY SUNDAY,
EVERY SUMMER ONE DAY IN JUNE ,I WAS ABOUT 5,SHE HAD A VERSE FOR ME TO SAY FOR THE CHILDRENS DAY AT CHURCH,WE HAD TO GO TO THE CHURCH ON SATURDAY TO PRACTICE,ONE SATURDAY I HAD TAKEN A STUBBRON SPELL JUST BEFORE WE WERE TO LEAVE FOR CHURCH, SHE WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD SAY MINE IT ONLY HAD 4 LINES,, I WOULDN'T SAY IT, SO SHE PUT ME IN THE CRIB IN THE BARN AND CLOSED THE DOOR,SAID WHEN I SAID IT I COULD COME OUT,IF I DIDN'T SHE WOULD GO ON TO THE CHURCH WITHOUT ME AND LET ME OUT WHEN SHE GOT HOME,,,IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR,YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD ME ,I SURE DID SAY THEM,I HAD ONLY 4 LINES TO SAY ,HERE IT IS :
LORD HELP MEEVERY DAY ,
TO LOVE THY MORE ANDMORE ,
TRY TO DO THY WILL,
MUCH BETTER THEN BEFORE,,,
I WOULDN'T SAY IT BEFORE,SHE WOULD GET SO MAD AT ME........
WE WENT TO CHURCH AS LONG AS I WAS THERE,I RAN OFF FROM THE CHURCH THE DAYIGOT TO BECOMEMRS.FRANK PRUITT,ONE OF MY DAYS I LOVED SO WELL,MY FOLKS DIDN'T WANT ME TO MARRIE HIM,I FOUGHT WITH THEM SEVERAL YEARS,OVER HIM,BUT I FINIALY WON,MOM SAID I COULDN'T DATE TILL I WAS 16,I KNEW DAD (FRANK FROM 19-13 WE WERE ABOUT 11 YEARS OLD I THINK AT THAT TIME,......
WE HAVE HAD SOME BAD TIMES AND SOME GOOD TIMES,IT DIDN'T MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE HOW ROUGH THE ROAD GOT I LOVED HIM,AND WOULD STICK WITH HIM TILL THE END,AND DID,I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT MY FAMILY,AS I LEFT THEM WHEN I WAS 3,THE LADY THAT TOOK ME WAS FRANKS COZ, FRANKS FATHER WAS NAMED JOHN,AFTER I MARRIED FRANK SHE(MY MOM )AND I HAD BECOME COUSINS,,
WHEN ME AND FRANK GOT MARRIED WE HAD ALL OF OUR FURNISHINGS,READY TO GO AND KEEP HOUSE,BUT COULDN'T FIND A HOUSE FOR A LONG TIME ,WE STAYED WITH HIS FOLKS FRON JULY UNTIL NOVEMBER,WE MOVED IN AN OLD ONE ROOM STORE HOUSE,THE CELING WAS SO HIGH WE COULDN'T REACH IT,IT HAD SPIDERWEBS ALL OVER IT, WE LIVED THAT WAY FOR A YEAR AND GOT A BETTER PLACE LATER ON....
WE DIDN'T MOVE AROUND SO MUCH,WE PRETTY WELL STAYED PUT,WE MOVED TO BROADFORD VA WHEN OUR DAUGHTER WAS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OLD (ROBERTA) WE STAYED THERE 10 YEARS WE LOST A LITTLE BOY WHILE WE LIVED THERE , HIS NAME WAS CLARENCE FRANKLIN PRUITT,HE'S BURRIED AT RIVERSIDE IN VIRGINA HE DIED IN AUG,10 19-23 BORN 19-22 WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS RONG WITH HIM,LIVED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER HE GOT SICK.AND THEN AFTER HIS DEATH 1 YEAR JOHN ALBERT WAS BORN. JULY 27 19-24ITS HARD TO REMEMBER ALL THE DATES,I WAS 23 WHEN I HAD ROBERTA SHE WAS BORN IN OCT 19-20,SHE WAS OUR FIRST SHE WAS BORN IN MCCRADY VA.ONLY WEIGHED 4 BS AT BIRTH CARL WAS MY BIGGEST BABY HE WEIGHED 8 LBS,FAT LITTLE BOYAND PRETTY ONE ALSO, I'M GETTING A LITTLE OLDER NOW,AND A GREAT GRANDMOTHRE ALSO.WELL I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT ALL I CAN THINK OF FOR THE CHILDREN,FROM HERE ON IN,WILL MOSTLY WRITE ABOUT DAD AND MYLIFE...
FROM THE FIRST TIME WE SAW EACH OTHER TILL HIS DEATH19-83 SEPT,25
HE WAS 86 WHEN HE PASSED,HE HAD BEEN IN FRANCE FOR 2 YEARS ,HE CAME HOME JUNE 12TH TO JULY 29TH WE HAD MARRIED ON TUESDAY EVENING ABOUT 6 PM. AT SALTVILLE VA.GOT A OLD COLORED MAN TO TAKE US TO HIS SISTERS ANN A FRIEND WENT WITH US,BIRTHA FRYE...WE HAD SUPPER AFTER WE CAME BACK,THE MINESTER, THAT MARRIED US WAS REV.WAMPLER,HE LIVED ON MAIN STREET IN SALTVILLE,VA.
FRANK WORKED AT THE PLASTIC MINES,AT THAT TIME AT NORTH HOLSTOR VA.,HE WORKED THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS,WE MOVED TO N.HOLSTOR IN A DOUBLE HOUSE WITH HIS BROTHER HURBERT,AND BIRTIE HIS WIFE,WE STAYED THERE 3 YEARS THEN MOVED TO BROADFORD VA.ABOUT 10-11 MILES FROM HOLSTOR,THE MAN WE LIVED WITH THERE BOUGHT SOME LAND THERE AND GOT FRANK TO BUILD A HOUSE ,SO WE ALL COULD LIVE THERE TOGETHER,WE HAD A PRETTY NICE 7 ROOM 3 BEDROOM,...
ROBERTAWAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD THEN.WELL WE GOT THE HOUSE ALL READY,WE HAD A LITTLE HOUSE RENTED REAL CLOSEFOR 3 DOLLARS A MONTH,WE LIVED THERE ALL SUMMER......ALL THE KIDS WERE BORN THERE.. BUT ROBERTA,WE LIVER THERE ABOUT 10 YEARS THE OLDCATRON,MADE US MOVE OUT SO HE GOT THE HOUSE AND THE LAND,WE DID GET OUT,RENTED A HOUSE JUST DOWN THE ROAD A SHORT WAY,STAYED THERE ABOUT 4 MONTHS THEN MOVED TO OHIO,FRANKS FOLKS WE ALREADY THERE,HAD BEEN FOR A LONG TIME,CARL WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD JUST A BABY WHEN WE CAME TO OHIO,I LOVED IT HERE IN MT VERNON OHIO, WE RENTED A HOUSE ON RICH HILL RD.STAYED 3 YEARS,THEN MOVED TO A FARM,FRANK WORKED FOR THE RENT HERE,WE WERE THERE ABOUT 6 YEARS CAME BACK TO CENTERBURG AND BOUGHT A HOUSE ON HARTFORDAND WERE THERE ABOUT 5 YEARS,SOLD IT AND WENT ON A FARM WE DIDN'T STAY THERE LONG,JUST OVER THE WINTER, OCT THRU MARCH.,THE MAN WHO OWNED IT RENTED IT TO SOMEONE ELSE SO WE HAD TO MOVE AGAIN;
WE COULDN'T GET ANOTHER HOUSE SO WE MOVED IN WITH FRANKS BROTHER AND HIS WIFE HENRY AND HAZLE,FOR A WHILE THEY LIVED JUST OFF CLAYTON STREET,WE STAYED THERE FROM MARCH TILL MAY WHEN WE BOUGHT A PLACE IN RICH HILL,19-40 THIS WAS THE YEAR ROBERTA GRADUATED ,WE STAYED THERE 21 YEARS,WE THEN BOUGHT A PLACE IN CENTERBURG,STAYED THERE 2 YEARSSOLD IT AND MOVED TO FLORIDA, WE LIVED THERE 12 YEARS ,AND THEN CAME BACKOCT 27TH 19-76 , FRANKS SISTER ANNHER HUSBAND BILL WERE HERE, WE HAD BOUGHT THIS HOUSE ON HOWARD STREET FROM THEIR KIDS AFTER THE FOLKSPASSED AWAY ...WE WENT BACKTO FLA, FOR 2 WINTERS WE DIDN'T FREEZE THE 3RD WINTER SO WE STAYED IN OHIOAND DID JUST FINE,FRANK LIVED 10 YEARS AFTER WE CAME BACK TO OHIO IT WAS FRANK THAT WANTED TO GO TO FLORIDA I NEVER DID .,JUST WENT FOR HIM,I ALWAYS LET HIM HAVE HIS WAY, WE GOT ALONG MUCH BETTER THAT WAY IF I WENT ALONG HIS WAY INSTEAD OF MINE,WE ONLY MISSED 3 YEARS COMMING BACK TO OHIO ,WE CAME ONCE AND STATED 4 WEEKS WE CAME BY PLANE 3 TIMES BY BUS ,CAME WITH FRIENDS AND CLYDE AND MY DAUGHTER MARY BROUGHT US ONCE WE, CAME UP ONCE WITH THE BRICKLEY BOY,WE CAME TO CARLS ABOUT 12 AM.,THE BOY GOT LOST IN COLUMBUS , I DIDN'T LIKE PLANE RIDES, I HAD TO DRESS UP ,WEAR HIGH HEEL SHOES AND A BRA,I JUST COULDN'T STAND THAT MAKEUP ALL AT ONCE,I WAS AFFRAID OF THAT PLANE,FRANK SAID,HE LIKED IT BUT I DIDN'T THINK HE DID,WE CAME FROM ORLANDO THE LAST TIMEIN 3 HOURSAND ARRIVED IN COLUMBUS, OHIO WE CAME STRIGHT ON ,WE DIDN'T SOP ANYWHERE,NO MORE FLORIDA FOR THIS CHICK,IT A NICE PLACE LOTS OF PRETTY THINGS TO SEE,JUST FOR A FEW DAYS ON VACATION IT'S FINE ,,FEBURARY IS A GOOD TIME TO GO DOWN THERE,FRANK AND I HAD A NICE LITTLE TRIP A FEW YEARS AGO ,WE WENT TO ANDERSON SC..FOR A WEEKWE WENT BY BUS TO SEE EMMA SHAW HIS SISTER,we rode all nightgot there about 10 am they met us in greenville sc.a few years ago we went to danville ill to see mary and clyde.we went there to help on his farm for about 6 months,we went in sept.a few years ago,if frank had kept his health a little better longer,we would have travled a little more,i think after the children grew up we had a chance to get out more,JOHN WENT TO THE SERVICE,THE GIRLS AND CARL GOT MARRIED,OH I GOT TO TELL YOU THIS,FRANK, WAS WORKING ON A FARM IN JOHNSTOWN OHIO,WE HAD BOUGHT THE BOYS A PAIR OF BATAM CHICKENS,THEY WE NOT VERY OLD BUT THE HEN DID LAY SOMEEGGS,WE HAD SOME OTHER CHICKENS SITTING ON EGGS IN THE HENHOUSE,I WENT IN AND BEHOLD ,THERE HE WAS THAT LITTLE BATAM ROSTERFIGHTING THE BIG HEN OFF HER EGGS AND TOOK OVER THE NEST ,I TOLD FRA NK ABOUT IT HE MADE LIGHT OF IT,SAID IT COULDN'T BE TRUE,HE COULDN'T COVER ALL THOSE BIG EGGS SO I TOOK SOME OUTHE SAT ON 6 AND HATCHED OUT 5 OF THEM,HE WOULD FLY UP ON THE BARN AND WOULD CROW FOR THEM,AND THE LITTLE ONES WOULD RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE HOLLORING FOR HIM,WHEN HE WAS TAKIN CARE OF THEM,HE WOULD CLUCK TO THEM JUST LIKE THE OLD HEN WOULD TO HER BABIES,WE SURE GOT A KICK OUT OF IT,WE WERE LIVING IN RICH HILL OHIO AT THAT TIME JOHN WAS 15-16 SOME WHERE ALONG THAT,,,WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL ITHIM OR HER,A MAN CAME TO TAKE PICTURES OF JOHN WITH THE ROOSTER,BUT THE OLE ROOSTR WOULD MAKE A FUNNY SOUND AND OFF THEY RANTO SAFTY UNDER SOME WEEDS,THE MAN GOT THE PICTURE AND IT CAME OUT IN THE NEWS A FEW DAYS LATER"MT VERNON NEWS"HE NEVER CROWED ANYMORE,UNTIL ALL THE CHICKS WE GONE,,,,ROBERTA WAS ABOUT 5 SHE WOULD BEG FRANK FOR A DRINK OF WHISKY,HE ALWAYS KEPT A LITTLE AROUND,HE TOLD HER SHE WAS TOO YOUNG FOR THAT SORTA STUFF,BUT SHE DIDN'T THINK SOSO ONE DAY SHE FOUND A LITTLE LEMON BITTERS BOTTLE SHE CAME TO HIM TO MAKE HER A BOTTLE LIKE HIS, SO HE POURED A LITTLE IN HER BOTTLE ,WE HAD AN OLD WASH STAND WITH A DOOR AT THE BOTTOM,HE PUT HERBOTTLEIN IT SO SHE COULD TAKE A LITTLE SUP.AND PUT IT RIGHT BACK IN IT,SO ONE DAY HE TOLD HER HE WOULD BUY HE AN ORGAN IF SHE WOULD STOP DRINKING ,SO SHE DID REALLY STOP SO HE BOUGHT HER THE ORGAN,THAT STOPPED THE WHISKY BUSINESS,MARYWAS MY LITTLE HELPER,SHE LOVED BEETS ,SHE WOULD STAND AND WATCH THE BEETS GET DONE SO SHE COULD HAVE THE SKIN OFF THEM TO EAT,WE WOULD SIT AND TALK ,SHE WAS APRETTY BABY AND SO GOOD,SHE WAS GOOD GRANDMOTHER SHE HAD 8ALL PRETTY CHILDREN....
CARL WAS A MOMMA'S BOY AND STILL IS THE BABY
THIS IS A RECORD OF MY FAMILY
MY MOTHERS, MOTHER WAS EMILY CLEAR
FATHER WAS HARLAN MAYSE
MOTHER WAS MARY ALLISON
SIBLINGS WERESUSIE ,BILL,RAYMOND,DRODEN
DAISY MAYSE m COLUMBUS FRANKLIN PRUITT 19-19
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