A Twist of Tobacco

William Morton Savage Died aboard the USS New Mexico Sept, 7 1919 Not a lot is known about Uncle Bill.  His sister, Alma Blanche Savage was my grandmother. Their father left when they were very small and their mother married a man neither of them got along with.  Bill joined the Navy quite young and served through World War 1 and was assigned to the USS New Mexico.  The New Mexico was the first to have a turbo electrical transmission. A high speed steam turbine powered a set of generators. The generators powered  a set of generators. The generators provided electricity for electric motors which turned the propeller shafts. Wonderful site with many photos of the building and tours of the U.S.S. New Mexico Bill was an Engineman 2nd class and worked in the engine rooms. On September 7, 1919, while docked at San Francisco , with 1000 visitors on board for a tour of the newly appointed Flagship of the Pacific Fleet, a fire started in the ...

Truman Alvin Holcomb and Cora Belle Martin Holcomb and sons: Travis, Willie, Ocie, R.V. and Marvin Dogs un-named "This is a very sad part of our Holcomb history. Here is what my dad told me. By the way, I only saw my father cry twice and the first time was while he was telling me this story. I was about 12 at the time. Then I saw him dabbing his eyes, 15 years later when he took Anna and I to Fairview Cemetery to see Willie's grave. That day he pointed to where it was, but couldn't go in himself. He stood outside the little fence and dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief. Grandpa Holcomb was going to town (I believe to Savoy ). He wanted my dad to go with him so he could help him load the supplies he was going to buy. He was going in a wagon that was pulled by his mule. Dad was 13. Willie wanted to go and I guess it was all right with Grandpa, but Dad did not want him to go because he knew Willie would be his responsibility, and he was going t...

Guy Malcolm Ownby March 2, 1925- April 25, 1980 Find a Grave Memorial The Carpenter by John Conlee Born the 7th of 8 children and raised in rural North Texas , Guy rode his horse, Lady 10 miles each way to see the young girl he would marry as soon as she finished High School.  He joined the Merchant Marine right out of High School and served for a year after they married.  He served aboard the SS Garnet, SS Gold Creek, SS Cape Nunn, SS Tule Canyon, SS Boulder Victory and SS Lindenwood. When he left the Merchant Marine (when they discovered that I was on the way) he tried his had at farming.  Realizing that the rural life wasn't for him, he moved his young family to the city and went to work for Mrs Tuckers Shortening.  His first love was always carpentry and after 12 years in the shortening plant, he decided to be his own boss and opened Ownby's Cabinet Shop which he worked until his health wouldn't allow. When the following indenture fo...

Dateline, Sherman Democrat, October 5, 1927 ............ On September 25, 1927, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Taylor, four generations of Ownbys, numbering over 100, gathered for a family reunion, honoring Sam M. Ownby of Woodbury , Tennessee .  It had been 54 years since the brothers and sisters had been together. The Ownby family of eleven were all born in Tennessee prior to the Civil War.  The three oldest boys served in the Confederate Army.  Most of the family came to Texas in the 1870's and early 1880's. The reunion dinner was served on the lawn.  A 42 foot long table had been constructed for the occasion.  The honor guests were seated according to age: *(deceased siblings in italic) Mary Smith Ownby Brown Watterson Knox Polk Ownby - 85 - Whitewright , Texas Edward Dallas Ownby Samuel Mortimer Ownby - 81 - Woodbury , Tennessee Anderson J Ownby (Andrew Jackson) Ownby - 79 - Savoy , Texas Elizabeth Nancy Ownby Taylor - ...

'NUFF SAID Click link for Marty Robbins Battle of the Alamo

A Band of Brothers All Civil War buffs and most Movie fans are familiar with the rousing tune and lyrics of The Bonnie Blue Flag.  It chronicles the struggle of the south's determination to maintain states rights and the pride they had for their country. It doesn't matter if you agree with the political aspect or if you disagree.  The song is rousing in tune and the lyrics carry a major impact. We are a band of brothers, Native to the soil Fighting for the property We gained by honest toil. And when our rights were threatened, The cry rose near and far; Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag That bears a single star! chorus: Hurrah! Hurrah! For Southern rights, Hurrah! Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag That bears a single star! As long as the Union Was faithful to her trust, Like friends and brethren, kind were we, and just; But now, when Northern treachery Attempts our rights to mar, We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue flag That bea...

"Two months after his arrival at Camp Chase , Watt had settled into a routine. He was housed in Prison 3 which contained 18 barracks, each 24 by 100 feet. Built two foot off the ground each building had open foundations to deter tunneling. The ground between the barracks was graded so water would run into a main ditch leading to a larger drain. Supplied with plenty of wood, soap and water, each barrack contained two large box stoves and 80 bunks and was designed was designed to hold from 200 to 300 men. Prison 1 contained commissioned officers and Prisons 2 and 3 contained field officers and enlisted men. Relatives were kept separated and not allowed to visit or communicate. Each prison was surrounded by an 18 foot tall parapet and patrolled by armed sentinels. As new barracks were built the prisoners would take wood scraps and use their knives to shave bits of wood for bedding. The prison authorities discovered this and forced the prisoners to burn their bedding. A report...