It's funny what we learn about our ancestors. Yours owned a Saloon and mine ran a still. I believe it was the son of the GGGrand who served in the 32nd Alabama who started it. I guess this happened soon after they migrated down here and were pretty destitute. They had lost what they had in Covington County, Alabama and followed the work in the lumber business. Even with one arm, the former soldier still tried to make a living. When the mills closed he ran a truck farm. Sold veggies and such. I was surprised when I read the Agricultural Census for Covington County at the extent of his acerage and assets listed down to crocks of butter and bales of hay. They were not considered poor when the war began. It had to be a real strain on the emotions for the families involved and the finance situation was a big change too. It seems to be, in the little recorded stuff for them at that time, that they came here with a group of other neighbors in wagons pulled by mules. Of course, it wasn't like crossing the plains heading West but it was still like a journey into the unknown. Some of these families who migrated together also had a few marriages amongst the young.

My GGGrandmother brought cuttings of a tea rose her grandmother had and she got it going. Cuttings from that one have been on every piece of property a family member has owned. I too have it and because of that connection, I seem to enjoy it's one time a year showing of the flowers more than a lot of other purchased roses I've had. Same goes for the white wisterea from an older aunt. These are the most tangibles things to be handed down and we all (in the family) feel a more rooted tie to that line because of those plants. If they cared enough to be certain they would at least have something with a family tie, we sure don't want to be the one who breaks that connection.

Pam

Pam