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FAMILY STORIES

Curtis Wainwright, of Citronell and Deer Park, Alabama, Washington County, was a great help in helping me out with the Abe Baxter Murder in 1932, in Vinegar Bend, Alabama, Washington County.

Hi Curtis,

That was some story, thanks so much. May I please use it on my Waldrop Website?

Have you ever heard of Shep Baxter who lived in Vinegar Bend? He and his wife , Janie were Post Master in the Post Office in Vinegar Bend.

When I was , say four years old until I was twenty, I use to come to Washington County with my parents. My dad was born in Hiwannee, Alabama 1906, he left in 1924 when the his papa James Harry Waldrop 1869-1924 died. His papa was called Capt Harry, he worked as an engineer for the M & O Rrailroad.

We used to come down every summer for a couple of days. We would stay with Margaret Conley Rockwell. Margaret was a school friend of dad's and they remained friends until dad died in 1962. Margaret's house in Vinegar Bend was on the street behind the Post Office. I think before the post office that is there now, there was a house owned by the Turners that Mr. Eb Turner's mistress lived in. Shep Baxter bought the house. Shep was my grandpapa first cousin. Margaret had a daughter Margaret Rockwell Rowell of Citronelle. and a son Dr. Rockwell.

Margaret and daddy went to the School there in Citronelle.

My grandpapa "Capt Harry" lived in Citronelle in the early 1900s and lived across the street from where the Depot you to be located.

There were two churches betwee Deer Park and Vinegar Bend or Vinegar Bend and Escatawpa. Daddy used to pull out of Margaret's driveway and seems like he turned to the left , while backing out. seem like turned somewhere on that road and we drove to a place where there were two Churches. One was Methodist and one was Baptist. They were very close together. They were both clean little white wooden Chruches. This might have been in 1950 to 1959. My parents would always take one of my friends on vacation with us to keep me entertained. My two older sisters were married by then. I can remember us visiting there and telling us stories of the Church. One day we went in. My friend went in one Church and I went in the other. The Churches were so close you could reach out and touch one another's hand by sitting in the windows.The Churches were that close. At one time mama took a picture of my friend and I sitting in the windows reaching over to show how close the Churches were.

Do you ever remember your parents talking about these Churches or have you ever drove pass them? I have driven all over Deer Park looking for them.

I have heard Joe Skumro one of the Killers in the Abe Story lived in Deer Park.

Vernice Platt Davidson, x wife of J. T. Davidson. J. T. was Post Master of Vinegar Bend, now his daughter Donna is. Vernice told me when she was young and lived in Deer Park, they lived in a house on a street and the back yard had a gate that open into the yard behind them. She said Joe Skumro would cut thru late at night to get to the yard behind her and it scared her to death. Those were some mean men.

Have you received my Web Site Address yet. I am interested to see if you reconize anyone on the site. If you have anything to add, I would love to start a link on you and your findings about Washington County and Citronelle.

I look forward to hearing from you. I would love to add any story or information or photos you could share.

Hi Sandra,

Yeah, that will be fine to pass that story along. I don't know of any of the other killers, But something tells me that Skumro is a character that I have heard about and I just didn't remember the name. If it is, then what I have been told is that he had eyes like a snake, wicked, cold and piercing. Seems that all the women folk feared him as if he were Old Satan, himself. I know Mizell was feared. You know, he was said to have been a cannibal! Whoa Nelly!! Another bad one in that area was old man Homer Dixon. During his time, he was known as some bad hombre. And you know it was really Dickenson, instead of Dixon? Be good, Me

Hi Sandra,

Don't worry it was worth the wait. I knew that story! It has been told as long as I have been alive. I didn't reme mber the names, just Mizell's. Back in about 65 ol Mizell sideswiped us in our flivver there on hwy 45 there in Citronelle. He was silverhaired and either blue eyed or maybe green. He looked like a killer. He swiped the car while Mama had a carload of young'uns, and he just drove on. But, a few days later he came by the house and apoligized to my Daddy while he was sitting up on the front porch smoking winstons and drinking coffee. Mama stayed up in the house, because she was scared of him. I don't know if money was paid for the damage or not. And the land that I own in Deer Park now is where ol Mizell lived in a shack, reckon he killed anybody els

e and buried there on my land? ooooh... Curtis

Hey Sandra,

I thought I had posted this tidbit on My Family.Com, but I've missed it if I did. So, in case you didn't see it either I wanna pass this over to you. The old barn that was in Vinegar Bend where Abe was body was hidden is standing in Citronelle on hiway 45 right across the street from Pratt Turner's sawmill. Oscar Hearn went to Vinegar Bend and disassembled the barn and reassembled it back at his dairy farm. It still stands... Whatcha' think about that? Me

Hi Sandra

Yes indeed, I thought you might been interested in that. Oscar Hearn was my wife's (Leslie) Grandaddy. He was a carpenter in his younger years and his very last 10, he was a street preacher. He was filled with an intense impatience, to tell the Good News. According to Leslie's Mama (Bea Richardson) she says that Oscar, Joe and Dewey (Hearn) went up there and did all the work tearing down the barn and then reconstucting it. I have been in that barn a zillion times and never knew its secret, until you and I had talked, and then I talked with my Mother-in-Law (Bea). As best that I can tell you the barn ain't haunted. It still looks purty good. In fact, during Hurricane Frederick some of the tin got blown off and me and Dewey Hearn nail it back. So, I think you will have a fine picture to take, oh yeah, the Living Word Church ownes the property there and the Preacher Man is Marc Hobbs... Curtis(Wainwright)

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for the picture of that old depot. I remember when I was a boy roamin' around Citronelle town. There was segregation, and always up around that old depot was true to life black men. That was about the only place you saw them. They would sit around and stand around that old depot all da lib long day on Saturday. You know, Saturdays was the day people came to town, men would get hair cuts, women would gossip, and young'uns would try to meddle. Saturday was grocery buying day and folks would load up for the whole cotton-pickin' week. On a different subject, just up from the old barn that po ol Abe was hid in, right at the Washington County line. Is the remnents of the old store that was owned by John (Boy) Jones It was in that store where they are

Wash Daily. That store still stands... Be good... Me

Hi Sandra,

Oh yes, Steve is my double first cousin. We are very much kin. I don't have the gray beard and I have'nt fought in any Civil War battles, but I do have sideburns. That question about the Wainwright's of Washington County is a good one, and I have looked into it some, but I have not researched it. The Wainwright's that I know of came out of Baldwin County. With this one exception. There is a old family story about a 'Uncle Luck' that lived in Thomasville maybe after the Civil War. He was supposed to be a river boat Captain that got into a rucus with a mean feller there in Thomasville. It festered all one Satarday and ended up in a showdown, and Luck shot'im down. I hope he wasn't ol Abe. Luck sounds like he might be family, because it is sid that he was a singin' and pickin' troupadour. And Wainwright's hang from the music vine. All of them. Do not go to any trouble researchin' the story on ol Po Abe. Just tell me what you want too. And make it easy on yourself. As you pointed out Deep Dark Washington County was full of violence back then. I know all about that cause I was born right there in Citronelle. I appreciate all that you do, and thanks... Take Care, Curtis

Hey me, ( posted March 9, 2004)

When you turn into Deer Park , go down pass the store on the left and go in to Deer Park, there are two old brown wooden buildings, on the left. Do you know what they used to be?

Where is the store located where Sumrall, was arrested. I've heard his name pronounced several ways.

Does anyone remember where the murder itself took place in Vinegar Bend?

Was Abe's Barber Shop in Chatom? Did Abe live in Chatom or Fruitdale?

I found a building in Chatom that looks like the building in the History of Washington County, Book. I think it was turned into a Shriner's meeting place.

If you ever run across answers to these questions , please let me know.

The Citronelle Depot looks great, they's done a beautiful joy of brining it up to date.

I'm impressed with the Confederate Soldiers surrendering at Citronell, Alabama in 1865., see picture and information on Civil War Plaque, I sent you.

Have a great day.

Sandra

Hey Me,

(Posted March 9, 2004)

Thanks, you've given me an idea how to find the store. I am just curious and want to see the area for myself.

I need to run a Census report on Abe and see if I can palace him when and where.

I haven't thought about him living in Vinegar Bend. That's s good thought. Many of the Baxters that were related did live in Vinegar Bend and Escatawpa. I can't remember any of my ancestors living in Deep Park. But, then again I don't know where they all lived.

Oh yeah, the Old Escatawpa Cemetery that is behind the newer Escatawpa Cemtery, the ole one going down the dirt road. I found a lady whose maiden name was Wainwright. My ancestors are buried in that Old Escatawpa Cemetery, but it's gotten where you can't get to it for the trees, bushes, weeds and so on. It's the snakes in the summer and Deer Hunters in the winter. Dr. Woods a Dentist in Waynesboro, refused to work with me when I talked with his a few years ago. He said he would sell me the whole 800 acres but not a couple of acres of the Cemetery. I talked to his aunt a Mrs. Woods who was married to Dr. Wood's (Dentist) uncle. She was furious with her nephew. But, I couldn't see upsetting her.

So, the Old Escatawpa Cemetery every year goes deeper and deeper hidden. I was able to find my grandparents, one uncle and a couple of cousins. But I am missing many ancestors who were close to me.

My great grandpapa was a State Rep. of Washington County,1868-1870 and he is buried there along with a Civil War or Rev. War soldier, that we can't get to and have a Marker put on their graves.

Always nice talking to you, knowing you know the people and area I am talking about. Steve told me years ago that you also had relatives in Washington County. I remember looking the names up and sending them to him. I remember he has an ancestor that was pretty well known for his part in the Civil War. I saw the flag at the Montgomery Archive that the ancestor fought under. I that was nice knowing when I viewed the Flag and told my grandchildren about Steve Wainwright's ancestor. They are small but they thought it was neat that I knew someone who had an ancestor in the Civil War that fought under that Confederate Flag. Then they were off to play with the 1950s telephone and typewriter hands on display.

Thanks again, you've been a great help.

Sandra

Curtis Wainwright, of Citronell and Deer Park, Alabama, Washington County, was a great help in helping me out with the Abe Baxter Murder in 1932, in Vinegar Bend, Alabama, Washington County.

Hi Curtis,

That was some story, thanks so much. May I please use it on my Waldrop Website? Have you ever heard of Shep Baxter who lived in Vinegar Bend? He and his wife , Janie were Post Master in the Post Office in Vinegar Bend. When I was , say four years old until I was twenty, I use to come to Washington County with my parents. My dad was born in Hiwannee, Alabama 1906, he left in 1924 when the his papa James Harry Waldrop 1869-1924 died. His papa was called Capt Harry, he worked as an engineer for the M & O Rrailroad. We used to come down every summer for a couple of days. We would stay with Margaret Conley Rockwell. Margaret was a school friend of dad's and they remained friends until dad died in 1962. Margaret's house in Vinegar Bend was on the street behind the Post Office. I think before the post office that is there now, there was a house owned by the Turners that Mr. Eb Turner's mistress lived in. Shep Baxter bought the house. Shep was my grandpapa first cousin. Margaret had a daughter Margaret Rockwell Rowell of Citronelle. and a son Dr. Rockwell. Margaret and daddy went to the School there in Citronelle. My grandpapa "Capt Harry" lived in Citronelle in the early 1900s and lived across the street from where the Depot you to be located. There were two churches betwee Deer Park and Vinegar Bend or Vinegar Bend and Escatawpa. Daddy used to pull out of Margaret's driveway and seems like he turned to the left , while backing out. seem like turned somewhere on that road and we drove to a place where there were two Churches. One was Methodist and one was Baptist. They were very close together. They were both clean little white wooden Chruches. This might have been in 1950 to 1959. My parents would always take one of my friends on vacation with us to keep me entertained. My two older sisters were married by then. I can remember us visiting there and telling us stories of the Church. One day we went in. My friend went in one Church and I went in the other. The Churches were so close you could reach out and touch one another's hand by sitting in the windows.The Churches were that close. At one time mama took a picture of my friend and I sitting in the windows reaching over to show how close the Churches were. Do you ever remember your parents talking about these Churches or have you ever drove pass them? I have driven all over Deer Park looking for them. I have heard Joe Skumro one of the Killers in the Abe Story lived in Deer Park. Vernice Platt Davidson, x wife of J. T. Davidson. J. T. was Post Master of Vinegar Bend, now his daughter Donna is. Vernice told me when she was young and lived in Deer Park, they lived in a house on a street and the back yard had a gate that open into the yard behind them. She said Joe Skumro would cut thru late at night to get to the yard behind her and it scared her to death. Those were some mean men. Have you received my Web Site Address yet. I am interested to see if you reconize anyone on the site. If you have anything to add, I would love to start a link on you and your findings about Washington County and Citronelle. I look forward to hearing from you. I would love to add any story or information or photos you could share. Hi Sandra, Yeah, that will be fine to pass that story along. I don't know of any of the other killers, But something tells me that Skumro is a character that I have heard about and I just didn't remember the name. If it is, then what I have been told is that he had eyes like a snake, wicked, cold and piercing. Seems that all the women folk feared him as if he were Old Satan, himself. I know Mizell was feared. You know, he was said to have been a cannibal! Whoa Nelly!! Another bad one in that area was old man Homer Dixon. During his time, he was known as some bad hombre. And you know it was really Dickenson, instead of Dixon? Be good, Me

Hi Sandra,

Don't worry it was worth the wait. I knew that story! It has been told as long as I have been alive. I didn't reme mber the names, just Mizell's. Back in about 65 ol Mizell sideswiped us in our flivver there on hwy 45 there in Citronelle. He was silverhaired and either blue eyed or maybe green. He looked like a killer. He swiped the car while Mama had a carload of young'uns, and he just drove on. But, a few days later he came by the house and apoligized to my Daddy while he was sitting up onthe front porch smoking winstons and drinking coffee. Mama stayed up in the house, because she was scared of him. I don't know if money was paid for the damage or not. And the land that I own in Deer Park now is where ol Mizell lived in a shack, reckon he killed anybody else and buried there on my land? ooooh... Curtis Hey Sandra,

I thought I had posted this tidbit on My Family.Com, but I've missed it if I did. So, in case you didn't see it either I wanna pass this over to you. The old barn that was in Vinegar Bend where Abe was body was hidden is standing in Citronelle on hiway 45 right across the street from Pratt Turner's sawmill. Oscar Hearn went to Vinegar Bend and disassembled the barn and reassembled it back at his dairy farm. It still stands... Whatcha' think about that? Me

Hi Sandra

Yes indeed, I thought you might been interested in that. Oscar Hearn was my wife's (Leslie) Grandaddy. He was a carpenter in his younger years and his very last 10, he was a street preacher. He was filled with an intense impatience, to tell the Good News. According to Leslie's Mama (Bea Richardson) she says that Oscar, Joe and Dewey (Hearn) went up there and did all the work tearing down the barn and then reconstucting it. I have been in that barn a zillion times and never knew its secret, until you and I had talked, and then I talked with my Mother-in-Law (Bea). As best that I can tell you the barn ain't haunted. It still looks purty good. In fact, during Hurricane Frederick some of the tin got blown off and me and Dewey Hearn nail it back. So, I think you will have a fine picture to take, oh yeah, the Living Word Church ownes the property there and the Preacher Man is Marc Hobbs... Curtis(Wainwright)

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for the picture of that old depot. I remember when I was a boy roamin' around Citronelle town. There was segregation, and always up around that old depot was true to life black men. That was about the only place you saw them. They would sit around and stand around that old depot all da lib long day on Saturday. You know, Saturdays was the day people came to town, men would get hair cuts, women would gossip, and young'uns would try to meddle. Saturday was grocery buying day and folks would load up for the whole cotton-pickin' week. On a different subject, just up from the old barn that po ol Abe was hid in, right at the Washington County line. Is the remnents of the old store that was owned by John (Boy) Jones It was in that store where they arrested Skumro, some call him Skumarall, and the other man Wash Daily. That store still stands... Be good... Me

Hi Sandra,

Oh yes, Steve is my double first cousin. We are very much kin. I don't have the gray beard and I have'nt fought in any Civil War battles, but I do have sideburns. That question about the Wainwright's of Washington County is a good one, and I have looked into it some, but I have not researched it. The Wainwright's that I know of came out of Baldwin County. With this one exception. There is a old family story about a 'Uncle Luck' that lived in Thomasville maybe after the Civil War. He was supposed to be a river boat Captain that got into a rucus with a mean feller there in Thomasville. It festered all one Satarday and ended up in a showdown, and Luck shot'im down. I hope he wasn't ol Abe. Luck sounds like he might be family, because it is sid that he was a singin' and pickin' troupadour. And Wainwright's hang from the music vine. All of them. Do not go to any trouble researchin' the story on ol Po Abe. Just tell me what you want too. And make it easy on yourself. As you pointed out Deep Dark Washington County was full of violence back then. I know all about that cause I was born right there in Citronelle. I appreciate all that you do, and thanks... Take Care, Curtis

Hey me, ( posted March 9, 2004)

When you turn into Deer Park , go down pass the store on the left and go in to Deer Park, there are two old brown wooden buildings, on the left. Do you know what they used to be?

Where is the store located where Sumrall, was arrested. I've heard his name pronounced several ways.

Does anyone remember where the murder itself took place in Vinegar Bend?

Was Abe's Barber Shop in Chatom? Did Abe live in Chatom or Fruitdale? I found a building in Chatom that looks like the building in the History of Washington County, Book. I think it was turned into a Shriner's meeting place.

If you ever run across answers to these questions , please let me know.

The Citronelle Depot looks great, they's done a beautiful joy of brining it up to date.

I'm impressed with the Confederate Soldiers surrendering at Citronell, Alabama in 1865., see picture and information on Civil War Plaque, I sent you.

Have a great day.

Sandra

Hey Me,

(Posted March 9, 2004)

Thanks, you've given me an idea how to find the store. I am just curious and want to see the area for myself.

I need to run a Census report on Abe and see if I can palace him when and where.

I haven't thought about him living in Vinegar Bend. That's s good thought. Many of the Baxters that were related did live in Vinegar Bend and Escatawpa. I can't remember any of my ancestors living in Deep Park. But, then again I don't know where they all lived.

Oh yeah, the Old Escatawpa Cemetery that is behind the newer Escatawpa Cemtery, the ole one going down the dirt road. I found a lady whose maiden name was Wainwright. My ancestors are buried in that Old Escatawpa Cemetery, but it's gotten where you can't get to it for the trees, bushes, weeds and so on. It's the snakes in the summer and Deer Hunters in the winter. Dr. Woods a Dentist in Waynesboro, refused to work with me when I talked with his a few years ago. He said he would sell me the whole 800 acres but not a couple of acres of the Cemetery. I talked to his aunt a Mrs. Woods who was married to Dr. Wood's (Denist) uncle. She was furious with her nephew. But, I couldn't see upsetting her.

So, the Old Escatawpa Cemetery every year goes deeper and deeper hidden. I was able to find my grandparents, one uncle and a couple of cousins. But I am missing many ancestors who were close to me.

My great grandpapa was a State Rep. of Washington County,1868-1870 and he is buried there along with a Civil War or Rev. War soldier, that we can't get to and have a Marker put on their graves.

Always nice talking to you, knowing you know the people and area I am talking about. Steve told me years ago that you also had relatives in Washington County. I remember looking the names up and sending them to him. I remember he has an ancestor that was pretty well known for his part in the Civil War. I saw the flag at the Montgomery Archive that the ancestor fought under. I that was nice knowing when I viewed the Flag and told my grandchildren about Steve Wainwright's ancestor. They are small but they thought it was neat that I knew someone who had an ancestor in the Civil War that fought under that Confederate Flag. Then they were off to play with the 1950s telephone and typewriter hands on display.

Thanks again, you've been a great help. Sandra Hi Sandra Yes it is good talking with you. I know some about that Escatawba cemetery. I have been told that a family of Wainwright's lived there and were buried there. I know some of them Wood's you are talking about, and when I see them I'll asked them about that cemetery. I will keep talking to those Deer Park folks for you, those Richardson's are great record keepers, and have good memories. Steve loves that Civil war period, he was born a hundred years too late. He is a good fella, and is a top notch artist. Very creative. Full of fun too. Take care of yourself and write when you want too... Me

LETTER COPIED BY SANDRA LEE WALDROP DOOLITTLE, NOVEMBER 9, 2003, FROM JUDGE OF PROBATE J. W. GORDY TO GOV.W. H. SMITH , MONTGOMERY , ALABAMA CAPITAL MARCH 10, 1869. (COPIED FROM A COPY TAKEN FROM THE FILES OF GOV. W. H. SMITH.

PROBATE JUDGE OFFICE

ST STEPHEN

WASHINGTON COUNTY

His Excellency

W. H. Smith

Governor Montgomery, Alabama

March 10, 1869

Sir,

In obediance to your Private Secretary's letter of the with persons to fill the board of Commissising(spelling in copY of letter??) for Washington County.

District No. 1 John D. Stokes

District No. 2 Jackson W. Faith

District No. 3 Thomas R. Long

District No. 4 Joseph R. Waldrop***

I am opinion the above named gentleman will serve and make a good Board.

Your Obt. Servant

J. H. Gordy

Judge Probate

Copy of a copied letter from Joseph Ryan Waldrop written in 1856, on the eve he was getting ready to leave Martagorda, Texas and also leave Victoria K. Thomas and the baby she was going to have in a couple of months. Son Joseph Mark Henry Waldrop.

MCDONALD WALDROP

HENRY LOW WALDROP

NANCY CAROLINE WALDROP( MRS. SEABURN HIGGINBOTHAM)

In CARE OF I. H. JACKSON

EXCT OF G. B. WALDROP DIS(??)

(G. B. STANDS FOR GREEN BERRY WALDROP , JRW'S PAPA)

FILED THIS 4TH DAY OF 1854

GEORGE ??? Martagorda, Texas

Oct 1, 1856.

Mr James Jackson will please remit to me in person of Postmaster and let him Register the same in the office the sume of two hundred and sixty dollars being amount due to me , and this shal nne a receipt in full for the five hundred dollars rec of my fathers, est. please remit the same in South Carolina as Lousiana Bills if convienent and do so by first mail if possiboe as I am on the eav of starting a journey to _____(?).

Joseph Waldrop

Give my respects to all friends I am in possession of Henry's lett and satified with the amount.

J. Waldrop ******************************************************************************************************* Fou

nd in Columbus Ledger Enquirer.

HARRY POU WALDROP, BORN NOVEMBER 1, 1906, DIED STEPTEMBER 7, 1962. Harry Pou Waldrop was born November 1, 1906 in Hiwannee, Mississippi , Wayne County.

Died in Columbus, Georgia, Muscogee County, at home, 3410 Hamilton Road, Columbus, Georgia. Telephone FA -22471. Son of James Harry Waldrop and Minnir Lee Masters. Married Myra Elnora Richardson.

Harry finished the eleventh grade in Vinegar Bend, Alabama Washington County. They only had eleven grades in High School in the early 1900s.

Daddy started out early by working with his papa James Harry Waldrop on the M & O (Mobile and Ohio) Railroad the line ran from Mobile , Alabama up to Ohio and back again. Capt. Harry would let Harry Pou take trips with him up to Ohio. Capt, Harry would let daddy handle the Throddle and control it when they were going thru the Mississippi swamps.

Jan and I was able to drive thru Winchester, Mississippi, not far from State Line, Mississippi and drive thru the narrow twisting swamp road that ran beside the train tracks that daddy rode while making his dream of being an Engineer like his papa, come true. It was the start of a beautiful dream to follow in his papa's footsteps. While Jan and I was driving beside the same route daddy and Capt, Harry would take, we were able to see after almost a hundred year a young teenager with his papa at his side showing him just how to handle the throddle and how as the old song goes keep his eyes on the rail. Our problem, there were very few rails left. Mostly ,Jan and I saw were the stumps left where the rails were. The rails were laid on top of these stumps. There was a path clear both ways where they had taken up trees a hundred years ago to make way for the trips back and forth. You could see out in the black water ,and thru the shadows from the trees not far away was a cleared path with stumps still left behind to remind you that this is where they travelled. It was nature's way of showing you what daddy and Capt. Harry saw while going back and forth on their journies. It wasn't a beautiful site, it was full of shadows and the sun was blocked out. But who knows what my daddy as a teenager saw thru his young eyes , standing by his beloved papa and looking up at him, knowing this was the going to last forever. Dark dreary swamp with dirty water that came up to the twisting road, was where daddy wanted to be. The beginning of his dreams that were to quickly end in a few years. Not long after this his papa would die, his mama and little brother go one way and his older sisters go another. Little did he know in a few years six members if his family would be scattered like sand in the wind. He stayed in touch with each one of them, but it was never the same as the closeness the Waldrop family once had in Vinegar Bend, Alabama, when he thought life can't get any better than this. Small town, small town boy

Daddy in 1924 walked away from his dreams of ever working on the railroad. He was left as head of the house at eighteen years old. He couldn't make enough to take care of Grandmaw Minnie and Uncle Monte who was still very young. The older girls, Aunt Joe Ollie and Aunt Helen were married, Aunt Louise went to live with Aunt Mary Ellen McIlwain Baxter . Grandmaw Minnie went to Mobile to live with her sister, great Aunt Fannie Masters Barrett, Sweeting . Uncle Monte went with Grandmaw Minnie. Uncle Mont must have been around ten or eleven. Uncle Monte was drug from pillow to post and lived with Aunt Fannie along with living with his older sisters. Off and on he lived with my mama and daddy. Uncle Monte had a desire to go back and live where he was raised in his young years and where home was to him. 1924 Uncle Monte had just few memories of a happy home filled with love and all around him belonged to him as the older children had. As he grew these memories faded. He was robbed of all the good memories the others had. I hope somehow, some way Uncle Monte knew how much he was loved by his sisters and brother. While he was going from pillow to post, all the others had homes and families.

Once my Daddy left Vinegar Bend, Alabama he worked in Mobile , Alabama for awhile . Later daddy went to work for Southern Bell Telephone Company, starting out as a Linesman digging holes for the poles, climbing and wireing them and was transferred to Columbus. A few years later he became an Installer for Southern Bell T & T, This is when he became know as the "Telephone Man". After seven heart attacks and cancer of the eye he retired. Southern Bell Telephone Company kept a place for daddy up till the last year. When Daddy couldn't see and was weak with his heart, the Company placed him in an office in one of the Bank Building down town and he worked at his own pace from his office.

A LETTER FROM THE KKK FOUND IN THE FILES OF GOV. SMITH'S FILES IN THE STATE CAPITAL IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA IN 1869.

Letter found in the file of Gov. Smith's 1869 files. I (Sandra) found this while reading letters to and from Joseph Ryan Waldrop when he was in the Montgomery, Alabama Capital, 1869 , while he was State Rep. of Washington County, Alabama.

This is a copy of a letter from the KKK, about a Jocob Fisher.

HEAD RE: 3 DIVI K. K. K

SPECIAL ORDERS MAY 28, C. M. D.

As the Klan has for some time been idle and now wishes more work. You are with in ten days to take the life of one Jacob Fisher if he is to found and in proof that it has been done you are to bring his head which is to be preserved in the archives of the Klan.

By the order of

(B.G.P.Y.)

To ' " '

C. B. H.

STORY GOES, A MAN NAMED OWENS WHO LIVED IN ESCATAWPA, ALABAMA,WASHINGTON COUNTY SHOT AND KILLED JOSEPH RYAN WALDROP.

I think Owens ambushed and killed our JRW. Story goes Owens was in JRW's Store that day and our Joseph Waldrop refused to let him have more credit for his animals food. Owens was charging but not paying and Granpapa Joe wasn't going to let him keep on charging and not pay , so he closed Owen's account.. They had words and that night Joseph Ryan Waldrop was ambushed and killed.JRW was closing up his retail store with was downtown Escatawpa , and was headed for home when he was ambushed and killed. Stories go Great Grandmother Sarah Baxter Waldrop always told him, " One day Joe you are going to come home boots first." And he did.

SHEPARD LAWRENCE BAXTER: " Shep Baxter"

Stories given to me by my sister ***** ********* ******* ****. Shepard Lawrence Baxter was the meanest man in the world and killed colored people at the drop of a hat. my other sister said there was a lake they drained and found the skeltons of the colored people Shep Baxter had killed. There is no proof at this time to back this up. But this is how the stories go. I could find nothing in my research about Shep Baxter according to the people in Washington County he was a nice man. He and his wife Janie Jones were well respected by the town of Vinegar Bend, Alabama, Washington County, where Janie and Shep were Post Masters, in Vinegar Bend's Post Office. There is a beautiful Bell donated to the Escatawpa Baptist Church in Eascatawpa, Alabama, Washington County. The road the Escatawpa Baptist Church is sitting on is Baxter Road, named after his grandparents J. W. and Chairty Williford Baxter.(Update: as of 2003 Donna is the Post Mistress of the Vinegar Bend Post Office. Donna is the daughter of Vernice Platt Davidson and J.T, Davidson former Post Master of Vinegar Bend, Alabama, Washington County. Vernice Platt Davidson is the gr granddaughter of our Elizabeth Baxter Platt. Elizabeth and our gr grandmother Mary Elizabeth Woulard,Moss, Buckalew, Masters were sister.

WASHINGTON COUNTY MEDICAL HISTORY

During the county's early years trained medical doctors were few. The practice of medicine was done by lay people who used home remedies. As the county become more populated physicians began to settle in the area. They were among the few educated men of their time and were most often the leaders of a community.

Two of these Medical Doctors were our own.

1885 thru 1904, Dr, John Henry Cooper, son of , Nancy Baxter and William J. Cooper. Nancy Baxter Cooper was the sister of our great grandmother Sarah Baxter Waldrop. Dr, Cooper was the fist cousin of our grandpapa James Harry ("Capt. Harry") Waldrop.

also, Dr. Joseph Ryan Waldrop until he was ambushed and killed August 13, 1870. He is our gr grandpapa married to Sarah Baxter Waldrop and papa of our grandpapa James Harry Waldrop and Joseph Ryan Waldrop, Jr. Dr. Waldrop was killed in the fall of 1870 and Joseph Ryan Waldrop, Jr. wasn't born until the spring of 1871. James Harry must have been between a year or year and half when the baby was born. James Harry was born in 1869.

Loper , Alabama.

Loper was established by George Thomas Loper in 1891, when he and several members of his family settled the area. Among these were George Washington Loper, a first cousin, and the wives of the two men, Ella D. and Eleanor Eunice McGuire. Joseph and Sarah Loper, original settlers of this family, also owned land in the area.

Ella Dora McGuire was the daughter of Anne McGuire and her first husband McGuire. Anne's second husband was Benjamin F. Woulard, Jr. (1842-1914). Ben Woulard was Ella's steppapa.

Eleanor Unice McGuire was the daughter of Dicey Woulard, McGuire, Lofton.

Ben Woulard married Anne McGuire his sister Dicey Woulard married McGuire. Ben Woulard and Dicey Woulard were sister and brother to our gr grandmother Mary Elizabeth Woulard, Moss, Buckalew, Masters. Elizabeth, Ben and Dicey Woulard's parents were Benjamin F. Woulard, Sr. and Eunice "Unity" Williford Woulard. They lived in Wayne County, Eret and State Line, Mississippi. They are also related to our Baxters in Escatawpa and Vinegar Bend, Alabama , Washington County. Unity Williford Woulard and Charity Williford Baxter were sisters. Their grandson and grand daughter James Harry Waldrop and Minnie Lee Master were second cousin married. We are all double related.

Juanita and I (Sandra) Waldrop are sisters and we are also fifth cousins. Our Family Tree is very narrow.

CASEY JONES WORKING ON THE RAILROAD WITH "CAPT. HARRY" (OUR GRANDPAPA)

Casey Jones is belived to have been born on March 14, 1864, (our Capt. Harry born 1869) in Southeastern Missouri, but spent his early childhood in Cayce, Kentucky. His first railroad job was as a cub operator inthe Mobile & Ohio Railway yard in Columbus, Kentucky. He received the nickname Casey since he was formely from Cayce, Kentucky. He worked his way up as brakeman and later fireman on the M&O ( Our Capt, Harry worked with the M & O 1889-1924) between Jackson, Tennessee and Mobile, Alabama. He married Janie Brady in 1887 and they would have three children, Charles, Helen and John Lloyd. In 1900 he was promoted to passenger engineer. He was assigned engine 382, a Rogers Ten-Wheeler, to pull the train between Memphis,Tennessee and Canton, Mississippi. On the morning of Monday, April 31, 1900 Casey Jones died in the accident at Vaughan.Mississippi that made him famous.

Engineer Jones was solely responsible for the collision by reason of having disregarded the signals given by the flagman. (Newman)

For more information on the story of Casey Jones. Go to Johnathan Luther "Casey" Jones

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