At The Courthouse

Last week Diana and I visited the Grayson County courthouse records room. They showed us how to use the computer to search records filed in the books. One of the books had marriage licenses.  We didn't get to stay a really long time; but in the short time we were there, I did find this document of my grandparentts.

Family Photo

George Marlow and Sallie Lucille Scoggins

I do not know any details about this picture other than it is a classic of my grandparents. This was taken early in their lives, based on the car. However, they look old. They always looked old, maybe having twelve children would do this to you. This is their home place where they always lived. 

Some special things to notice:

Their pose

Their shoes and clothes

The girl on the porch

The car and the house

Questions I have about the picture:

The occasion

The year

The girl on the porch

How did they have enough money to have all their assets

Love

I really do not know too many stories about my grandparents and "greats" relationships, but I do know about my parents. One of my favorites and one of the last is the week my father died. It was April 11 - three days before he passed away. He was sick and had been in the hospital. He was pretty much stuck at home. This morning he told mother to go get him a dollar bill. She argued with him that he did not need a dollar bill, that he was not going anywhere. He kept on until she brought him one. He had cut a heart out of the newspaper and had taped a fifty dollar bill to it. He gave it to her for their anniversary - a dollar for every year they had been married - 49 years.

When he passed away, some part of my mother died, too. She really never got over losing him although she lived 15 more years without him. . Even though they were pretty much opposites in many areas, what they had - worked. I guess they balanced each other out with their love and respect for each other.

Surprise - I found a Gem

One of the questions that I keep researching is why did my people come to Grayson County. Last week in the library I found this answer to why my Taylor line came to the area. Here is what I found:

Parents: Perigan Taylor and Sarah Nelson (died in Taylorsville, Tenn)

John Nelson Taylor 1805-1862 and Carey Ann Shepherd 1812-1865 (died in Taylorsville)

         Children:Phalander (Pete) Y. Taylor, John Nelson Taylor, Robert (Bob) Taylor, James (JIm) H. Taylor, and Surse Shelby Taylor came to Texas in 1866-1867 from Flora, Mississippi, after the Civil War in a covered wagon and horseback. They left Mississippi because they lost their slaves and their land. They could no longer farm their cotton plantation or operate their cotton gin. The Taylor boys stayed 4 years on a farm they bought 10 miles west of McKinney in the Pecan Grove cemetery area. The move to Texas revealed many hardships. They had no money left to build homes after purchasing their land. For the first year they put their wagon beds together and that was sleeping quarters. They cooked on open fires. After 4 years in Mckinney, three of the brothers married. The two unmarried brothers John and Surse then went to Brady in south Texas about 1870 to 1883. In this area they built up a sizeable heard of cattle with their own brand –heart up- heart down. After 13 years they sold out for $14,000 and the balance due in cattle. 

         In 1882 the Taylor brothers sent for Thomas Taylor and Margaret Nelson Hulme, fully aware of the hard times in the south after the Civil war. They lost all their property during the Civil War. In 1883 they decided to come to Texas to live with Thomas's brothers until a house was available.

They came with eight children by train to McKinney and lived with his brothers until a house was available. They shipped their household items, cattle and horses by train to Texas. Sallie Lucile, "Granny" was 2 or 3 years old. Sally  crossed the Mississippi River on her third birthday, the story is told. Every family member worked on the farm to make a living. Life in Texas was a big change. Margaret and the girls had never cooked or sewed. Slaves had previously done all their work, so they all learned together. Three more children were born in Texas, for a total of 11 children.