James West Lineage

JAMES WEST + ELIZABETH UNKNOWN

1. JAMES WEST

----2.1 RICHARD WEST

----2.2 MARTHA ANN WEST

Civil War. Private, CSA. Enlisted in Company L, 6th Arkansas Cavalry, Monticello, AR on 1 January 1863. Absent without leave from 15 June 1863, present to 29 February 1864. Captured at Mound City, KS, on 24 October 1864, confined at U.S. Military Prison, Rock Island, IL. Exchanged at City Point, VA on 10 March 1865; born in Mississippi on 9 August 1828; died in Arkansas on 3 January 1894; buried in Deal Cemetery, Drew County, AR; widow Martha A. (West) Meredith filed Arkansas pension application #16862 from Drew County, AR on 15 August 1901; listed in Drew county 1860 census; occupation farmhand.

--------3.1 HENRY "HANK" MEREDITH

--------3.2 THOMAS MEREDITH

--------3.3 MATTIE MEREDITH

------------4.1 HERBERT JORDAN

OBITUARY provided by Jann Woodward thru ARDREW-L@rootsweb.com

21 October 1937

In the death of Mr. L.J. Jordan, Drew County loses one of her most highly respected citizens. Born in 1866 in Ashley County near the line of Drew, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Jordan, former residents of southeast Arkansas, marrying in Drew county at an early age to Miss Mattie Meredith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Meredith, the deceased had spent practically all his life in Drew county, where he was engaged in farming. On Monday morning, October 11 (1937) he left his home Monticello to look after his farming interests located sixteen miles south, staying with Mr. and Mrs. Clarence garrison, the tenants on his farm. On Thursday night about nine o'clock he succumbed from an attack of rheumatism, from which he has been a long sufferer. Everyone had a high regard for "Lark" Jordan and he was familiarly called, and everyone esteemed him for his honesty and his moral life. Surviving are his wife, one son, Herbert of Monticello; one brother, Rufe Jordan of near Monticello. Funeral services conducted by Dr. T. W. Croxton of the First Baptist Church, Monticello, were held last Saturday morning at 10:30 o'clock. Interment was in the Prairie Grove Cemetery.

There is a Hattie B. Meredith, born 4 March 1866, Died 18 August 1887 also buried in Deal Cemetery, Drew County, AR. Relationship to other Meredith's not known.

----2.3 ELIZA WEST

----2.4 MARGARET E. WEST

CIVIL WAR INFO

--------3.1 JAMES L. DEAL

------------4.2 SALLY DEAL

------------4.3 LUCY DEAL

----------------5.1 WINTHROP "JIM" JUDKINS

--------------------6.1 JIMMY JUDKINS (twin)

Lived in Lacey Community, Drew County, AR, after leaving Shiloh Community in Ashley County, AR. Never had any children of their own, but she had an adopted son and daughter and then a natural son from her previous marriage. Names Pam, Mary and Greg.

--------------------6.2 EDNA JUDKINS (twin)

------------------------7.1 HUBERT MORRISON JOHNSON

----------------------------8.1 LEONARD JOHNSON

--------------------------------9.1 UNKNOWN MALE JOHNSON

--------------------------------9.2 UNKNOWN FEMALE JOHNSON

----------------------------8.2 DANNY JOHNSON

--------------------------------9.1 UNKNOWN MALE JOHNSON

--------------------------------9.2 UNKNOWN FEMALE JOHNSON

----------------------------8.3 MYRA JOHNSON

--------------------------------9.1 UNKNOWN FEMALE

----------------------------8.4 MARY SUE JOHNSON

--------------------6.3 EVERETT "MONK" JUDKINS

--------------------6.4 TOM JUDKINS

--------3.2 CALVIN FRANKLIN DEAL

--------3.3 MARY LOU DEAL

--------3.4 WILLIAM LAFAYETTE DEAL

------------4.1 JAMES M. DEAL

----------------5.1 MARY DEAL

----------------5.2 JAMES DEAL

----------------5.3 GARLAND DEAL

--------------------6.1 LEANNE DEAL

----------------5.4 JULIAN STANLEY DEAL

----------------5.1 ELIZABETH DEAL

------------4.2 ALEXANDER MONROE B. DEAL

------------4.3 ARY MARGARET DEAL

------------4.4 WILLIAM FOY DEAL

------------4.5 LUNA DEAL (male)

------------4.6 SUSIE EMILY DEAL

----------------5.1 AUBREY BLAIR (male)

----------------5.2 W.L. BLAIR

----------------5.3 OLGA BLAIR

------------4.7 HENRY HARVILLE DEAL

------------4.8 ANNIE LEA DEAL

------------4.9 VERA V. DEAL

--------3.5 JOHN MONROE DEAL

------------4.1 MYRTLE M. DEAL

--------3.6 ROBERT THOMAS DEAL

--------3.7 ELIZABETH "LIZZIE" DEAL

------------4.1 HENRY ADCOCK

--------3.8 HENRY LEE DEAL

------------4.1 TOMMY DEAL (female)

--------3.9 CHARLY W. DEAL

----2.5 C. ANN WEST

----2.6 FRANCIS M. WEST

----2.7 ROBERT WEST

Land for the cemetery was given by Mr. Robert (Bob) West during the Civil War Period. It was once known as the "West Cemetery", but later called the "Deal Cemetery" because so many Deals were buried there. (Ref. Mrs. A.L. Jordan)

1860 census for Drew County, Veasey Township
Robert West, Age 32, Male, Farmer, 4160, 685. He would have been born 1828
Frances (Daniel), Age 25, Female, born TN
Martha, Age 8, Female, born AR
James, Age 6, Male, born AR
Allen, Age 4, Male, born AR
Dudley, Age 2, Male, born AR
Richard, Age 32, male, mechanic, born AL (brother to Robert West)

--------3.2 MARTHA (MATTIE) FRANCES WEST

September 20, 1931 Clipping
Newspaper name not shown, date is handwritten

As a result of a stroke of paralysis, Mrs. J.D. Fryer died at her home at Bullard Chapel, near Tishomingo early Sunday morning. Mrs. Fryer was well known throughout the county having been a pioneer in the early days of the state. Rev. F.B. Parker of the Tishomingo Baptist church officiated at the burial at the Tishomingo cemetery held at 11 o'clock Monday morning.

December 10, 1936 Clipping
Newspaper name not shown, date is handwritten

J.D. Fryer Dies
J.D. Fryer, 86, died at his home, five miles northwest of town Thursday morning after an illness of about a month. Funeral services were held Friday morning at the home with Rev. W.I. Lowe, pastor of the Baptist church here, and Rev. Julia Standridge, pastor of the Nazarene church at Madill, officiating. Surviving are two sons, Bob Fryer of Dallas and Richard Fryer. Nowata: one daughter, Miss Margaret Fryer of the home; and several grandchildren. Including Richard Fryer, Jr., manager of the Princess and Thompson theaters in Tishomingo. Mr. Fryer came to Oklahoma long before statehood and settled in what is now Johnston county. His wife preceded him in death about five years ago.

He appears on the 1860 census as Albert, Age 7, born MS as the youngest son. His older brother is named John D. Fryer, aged 20 so he may have used his brother's name in the Texas/Oklahoma environment. There's a 13-year difference in their ages and it is doubtful that if his brother took over the family for whatever reason, the birth dates, etc. wouldn't have changed to fit the older brother and they remained the same. The photographs of John Domron Fryer (previously Albert Frank/Frank Albert) shows a man about the age he should be if he was born in 1853 as the census computes and the family record shows. There is a line in Elizabeth Cornealia Anne Fryar Spruill letter of 1892 that states: "I feel a particular interest in your children because they are all pa's & ma's descendants that bear their name." This seems to mean that the older brother had died and any male issue he may have had were also dead.

1860 Yazoo County, MS Census
R.H.M. Fryar, 56, Physician, VA
Nancy, 41, SC
John D., 20, Overseer, AL
Cornelia, 17, AL
Albert, 7, MS

Family record in possession of Karen Cotter shows Frank A. Fryer
Oklahoma census shows him under the name John D. and it is not his older brother who was named John D. Fryar but born 1840, AL per computation from 1860 Yazoo County, MS census

It is not known why he left Mississippi and ended up in Arkansas. From family correspondence we know that he or the wife owned land in Arkansas but no record can be found. There was land in Johnston County owned by a Martha West but we do not know if this is the correct Martha West or if their home was located there. They were acquainted with John Monroe Deal who lived near Lacey, Drew County, AR and may have used their post office to receive his mail since it was the only post office in the area. The family has been illusive during their time in Arkansas nor do any of the surviving relations in the area seem to be familiar with the family. Sometime after 1888 when his youngest daughter was born (in Arkansas) and 1892, the family left for Texas. The oldest surviving son apparently met and married his bride in or around Kaufman, TX in 1892. Frank Albert or John Domron Fryer entered into a partnership with a Mr. Henderson to construct a place of business for a Mr. Jones in 1894. A handwritten copy of the contract survives and is in the possession of Karen Cotter. Martha and the youngest children apparently settled in Texas while he went to Indian Territory, now Tishomingo, Johnston County, OK. There are many letters from him in various locations to his wife in Texas. They appear in the Oklahoma census per Juanita Gilbreath Wolfe but she didn't provide the year. He built the Opera House in Tishomingo, OK per Juanita Gilbreath Wood but her source is not known. There are invoices dated 1 June 1905 and 1 May 1906, which indicates, he was owner of a business, J.D. Fryer & Sons, Independent Ginners, Motto: "We buy seed and seed cotton" in Tishomingo, OK.

One of the first contacts was Gail Howell (a descendent of the "Deal" family provided me additional information about the West's from Latter Day Saints (LDS) Family Search and it started there. Beth Thurman provided the marriage information with a trip to the Monticello Courthouse, Drew County, AR.

The names and dates of birth/death dates of the following children came from a Family Record dated 1894 plus other later information.

LETTERS TO ALBERT F. FRYER FROM HIS SISTER, CORNEALIA ANNE FRYAR SPRUILL

Offahoma Leake Co Miss
June 24/80

Mr. A.F. Fryer

Dear Brother

It is night and all the family are enjoying natures sweet return (restorer) except myself-I sit up later than usual to indite a few lines to you and Johnnie I have been due her a letter for three or four months or perhaps longer.

So you see others have cause to complain as well as you of my neglect-but with all my care and responsibilities you will all have to extend a charitable hand and overlook seeming? negligince for I assure you it is not willful. How does my little namesake come on. Is she pretty-kiss her and tell she must favor her old Aunty. I would have been much pleased if you had given her my full name so there would have been another E C A Fryer but there is another Cornelia Fryer any way.

You must do your best (-) you and sister Mattie to make her a good and smart woman that she may reflect credit on her (this) name.

Uncle Davie's health is no better

Jim Frank Fulton was alive two weeks ago so I heard but very low_ I had a letter form Vic (?) (How about Tis? like in the second letter?) a short time ago_ No new[s] of importance said give you her love_

I know of no neighborhood news that would interest you_

I am tired and getting sleepy I will try to write a more entertaining letter next time.

My love to Mattie and the little ones_ As ever your affectionate

Sister
E.C.A. Spruill

Addressed to Mr. A.F. Fryer
Lacey Drew Co. Ark

Home Leake Co Miss
Aug 3rd/80

Mr. A.F. Fryer

Dear Brother

I have no plausible excuse for my long silence to offer except ill health_ I have not felt like exerting my self enough to write_ I am glad to inform you my health is now better.

This leaves us all in ordinary heath [sic]. We are having some very gloomy weather a great deal of rain and this evening we have been sitting around a fire and felt quite comfortable_

Notwithstanding so much rain the crops I believe are considered quite good_

There was a large picnic at Ofahoma last Saturday A great many persons in attendance_ I did not go not being well enough. Cousin Dameron and some of the children went_

Duncan Fulton came down to attend and spent a night with us. He said they were all well at Home except Willie whose health he said was not good_

Jim Frank died of consumption He? (yes) said he heard uncle Davy was very low. I have not had a letter from them in some time. I have just written to Willie Lindsey I hope to hear from them soon.

Mrs. Jones (Emma Patton used to be) died at the Greenwood place two or three weeks ago or perhaps a month ago. Tis said she died an awful death not feeling at all prepared, begged Jones her husband to kill him self and go with her

What an awful thing to die unprepared

I pray we may all make better use of our time, and have no fears to meet his face, at the last hour_

The wind is sighing as dismally through the trees, as if it was midwinter

The family are all asleep. And the clock is my sold wakeful companion and its steady ticking warns me that it is getting late_

Write soon My love to Mattie and the children a dozen kisses for little Cornelia

Ever your affectionate Sister
E.C.A. Spruill

Home Leake Co. Miss
May 23rd/81

Mr. A. Fryer

Dear Brother

Once again I indite you another epistle which I think will be the third since hearing from you. What can be the matter with you, that you do not write. You certainly are sure that I am desirous of hearing from you. Nay very anxious indeed

If you are sick and not able to write, you surely could get some one, to write, for you.

It was some time last year that I received the last communication form you I think likely, in May or June since then I have written you two letters and this is the third. Now I think, you thought as much of me as I do of you you would have written to me before this even had you not received my letters. Now I ask, beg of you to please write if you possibly can and ease any anxiety of mind.

I thought you were likely going to pay me a visit last winter and you wished to give me a pleasant surprise, and the children would say, whenever I would mention it. Ma uncle Albert is coming out to see us, this winter, the reason he don't write; but I waited and looked in vain.

We are all very well and find plenty of work to do. Bennie has no hands this year. He and the children are trying it alone. Dick is a pretty good plow boy Lula Lella and Benjy does a good deal of hoeing.

It is almost impossible to hire labor in this country now_ I have a splendid garden this year, and over a hundred chickens.

Uncle Davy was still living the last account I had of him, which was about three weeks ago. Still very low, I was up at Conway a short time since. Willie Fulton was very low with consumption. I do not reckon he is alive now. The same that John Ellin and Jim Frank died with. Duncan has it also but is able to be up, but not able to do any labor. They seem to be a most unfortunate family. Willie said he was prepared and had not fears of death. What a happy thing.

O that we may all feel so when our time comes. I have thought some times may be you had consumption and was not able to write to me.

I hope not though_ My love to Mattie and the children the same accept, with a true sisters blessing for yourself

Loving by your sister
E.C.A. Spruill

Ofahoma Leake Co Miss
June 2/92

Mr. A.F. Fryer

Dear Brother

Yours of recent date containing picture has been received, much to my pleasure and satisfaction we were all glad to get it_ The children as well as myself_ I think John R a handsome fine looking boy and tell him for me that his auntie hopes he is as smart and good as he is handsome. Tell him I want him to study all he can_ read everything he can, that is useful and instructive, and when he is a man I want him to come and see me if he can't come before. I feel a particular interest in your children because they are all pa's & ma's decendants that bear their name, And I want them to do it honor keep it up to its old standard You know Johnnie Freyer has long since changed her name to Phillips. I wrote you about it, but perhaps you never received the letter. She married a wealthy widower, with one child, a little girl 6 year old I think when Johnnie was married. She has two children of her own now. Two little boys And they are lovely children. I paid her a visit last summer In Sep Bennie Lella and myself. She lives on the Yazoo river 20 miles above Yazoo City. has a lovely home And every thing to make life pleasant. Her post office is Belle Prairie Yazoo Co Miss. I received a letter form her last week, She had been quite sick, but was better. Lula taught school in Yazoo County year before last near Free ???? (I couldn't read it either and couldn't find any city near Eden (where Belle Prairie was located. Found it on an old map) 8 or 10 miles from Johnnie's. And she spent a good deal of time with her. She would send for Lula about every other Friday evening and she would stay until Sunday evening. Then the measles got in her school And as she had never had it she suspended school for a month and went to Mr. Phillip's until they got through with the epidemic.

I think you have changed very much since I saw you last. Your bad health has told on you you seem to be thin in flesh. When you left here you had a round full face. I hope however your health is permanently restored be careful of exposing yourself for you know we are a family predisposed to consumption I know I have it

Two years ago had several hemorrhages. I thought then my time on earth was short but through God's mercy I am here yet And my health is better and I feel so thankful that He saw fit to spare me yet awhile to my children

The children are all anxious to see you Lula & Dick are the only ones who remember you. Dick was laughing about some of your pranks the other day I think he said you were playing hide & seek with him And hid from him on top of the smoke house. Yes send on the other pictures as soon as convenient by all means we are anxious to see them. We want to see Mattie's too. And tell me the age of your children I have forgotten. John R is 15 or 16 is he not and is he your oldest? All send love to you and family Write soon to your loving sister

Cornelia F. Spruill

Ofahoma Leake Co Miss.
May 10th/89

Mr. A.F. Fryer

Dear Brother

You most welcome letter was received not long since.

It is needless for me to say I was glad to hear form you and your. You certainly are the most greaterish (?) (I thought maybe quakerish) somebody I know about writing. The Wheet (Wheel) organization of which you spoke is I suppose something like the Grange and Alliance A society representing farms and farming interest. Well I wish you much success. We had the Grange here awhile And a Grange store at Ofahoma but did not last long. Now they have the Alliance You also spoke of having a post office in connection with the store I hope you will get along with that better than a couple of men in this country did. I reckon you know the Wilsons. Will and Rube. They had a store and post office just across Reddog at the Manderville place. Well they have got into quite a serious difficulty about the post office. It is said they paid a debt with stamps and then reported more stamps canceled than there had been letters mailed at their office. And then their Store was burned down with two pair of mail bags in it containing considerable money__ And they are accused of that So they were arrested by the United States Marshal last winter and had to give bond. And their trial is to be in Jackson in the United States court some time in this month. I guess they are feeling pretty badly. It is the general opinion that they will travel on to Sing Sine (Sing) the United States penitentiary. How much better it is for people to be honest in all things with a clear conscience towards God and man. Let me and mine be poor always rather than rich on ill gotten wealth. I would not be in Mrs. Willson's place much less theirs for all this world contains. Even could they manage to come clear people will alway[s] be suspicious of them. If I have but little here let me know that little is honestly mine so when I lie down to sleep I can sleep the sleep of the innocent.

I guess if they were back where they started they would pursue a different course. Will Wilson is married Rube is not. Do you get a salary for attending to the store? Is it near the place you have been living or have you moved. Are any of your children going to school? And are you cultivating a crop? How is Cornelia Has she ever recovered from the effects of the fever that partially paralized her? You see I want to know it all. Your last letter was so short it was unsatisfactory. I believe I wrote you of Bennie's bad health. He is improving a little now but we heard several times this winter and spring that he was not to be with us long My health is not so good as when I wrote you last. I am suffering with a soreness in my breast.

The days are getting along tolerably well with the crops. I believe but they have in too much. I am afraid they will not be able to keep up with it.

Cousin Dameron is to be married the 15th of this month. (This comment was a postscript added upside down on third page of letter)

[rest cut off bottom of page] Your loving sister (E.F. Spruill)

Ofahoma, Miss
June 8, 1893

Dear Uncle Albert:

You must not think that I did not appreciate your letter because I neglected answering it so long for I assure you I did not intend doing that way but I have been so busy that it seemed that I never had any leisure time to devote to writing but as mamma is writing to you this morning will send you a few lines

Sister Lula? the baby and myself spent a very pleasant day with Aunt Liza Rimmer yesterday. I wish you could see the baby, he is so pretty and so sweet How do you like Texas?

I would like so much if you could come out and pay us a visit we would be so glad to see you.

In what part of Texas do you reside? Is it any where near cousin Dameron Hall she lives near Trickham, Coleman Co. We think perhaps she is coming out this summer as we havnt heard from her in some time.

How do Aunt Mattie and Cousin John Robert like the "Lone Star" state?

I am expecting to visit Canton soon. This week or next, with papa. I am anticipating a grand time, you know my cousin Mrs. Covington is living there now.

Good bye for this time
Love to all the family & a large portion for yourself

Your loving niece,
Lella Spurill

------------4.1 NAMMI LELLA FRYER

------------4.2 JOHN ROBERT FRYER

----------------5.1 LEROY FRYER

----------------5.2 JOHN ROBERT FRYER, JR.

----------------5.3 J.W. FRYER

------------4.3 JOSEPH D. FRYER

------------4.4 CORNELIA M.H. FRYER (CAROLINE)

----------------5.1 JOHN F. GREEN

----------------5.2 RUBY GREEN

----------------5.3 MAMIE CAROLINE GREEN

--------------------6.1 CAROL ANN DOTY

--------------------6.2 ELDRED LEE DOTY, JR.

----------------5.4 WILLIAM GREEN

------------4.5 LUCY L. FRYER

------------4.6 ALMA D. FRYER

----------------5.1 MARGARET ELIZABETH "MATTIE" WHITE

----------------5.2 LUCY LENORA WHITE

--------------------6.1 TONY LYNN FULKERSON

--------------------6.2 JOHN CHRISTIAN FULKERSON

----------------5.3 PAULINE ALLIE WHITE

----------------5.4 ALICE LABELLE WHITE

--------------------6.1 BOBBY RAY GILBREATH

------------------------7.1. DONNA RAYE GILBREATH

------------------------7.2 KELLY CLINTON GILBREATH

------------------------7.3 BRIAN KEITH GILBREATH

------------------------7.4 RONALD WAYNE GILBREATH

--------------------6.2 JUANITA LABELLE GILBREATH

------------------------7.1 ROMANA LYNN WOOD

------------------------7.2 ROBERT BRYAN WOOD

------------------------7.3 TRENA MARIE WOOD

------------------------7.4 JOHN KELLEY WOOD

------------4.6 RICHARD SAMUEL LEWIS FRYER (SR)

----------------5.1 VERA LOUIS FRYER

THINGS AND PEOPLE OF TISHOMINGO I REMEMBER
By Vera Fryer Bass

The first that I remember of Tishomingo was in 1912, when we first moved to Tishomingo from Ada, Oklahoma. At that time the highway was through the woods and had to go over the bridge at Pennington and around the rocks at the western part of Tishomingo and then on to Ravia. We came from Ravia to Tishomingo on a hack driven by horses. The thing I remember most about it was the darkness.

We stayed for a while at my grandparents, whose house was the last house in Tishomingo on the Ravia Road. My grandfather was J.D. Fryer and he and my grandmother had eight children. Four of them passed away in childhood. The ones left were Mamie Caroline, Alma, J. Robert Fryer, Richard Fryer (my father) and Margaret Fryer.

Minnie (that was the name we used for her (Mamie Caroline)) married J.M. Green. They had four children: John F., Ruby, Caroline and William Green. Minnie died in 1912 and is buried at Tishomingo. J.M. (Mack) Green was injured at the city pump station while on duty and died from his injuries July 10, 1918. He, also, was buried at Tishomingo. Mack Green was the first person to go over the swinging bridge in a vehicle, which at that time was a horse and buggy.

Alma Fryer married Robert White and they had four children: Mattie, Lucy, Pauline and Alice White.

J.R. Fryer (Bob) married Ollie Loveless and they had three sons: Roy, Robert and J.W. Fryer. Robert died in the flu epidemic in 1918. J.W. died later at age 44 years. Roy Fryer married Dixie Harris, and they had, to the best of my knowledge, five children. Two passed away, Robert and Alma Lee.

Ruby Green, daughter of Minnie and Mack, married Ernest Mullins and lives at Idabel, Oklahoma. Her sister, Caroline, married Eldred Doty and had three Children: Eldred Jr., Robert and Carol. All three are now married.

William Green never married. He makes his home with his sister Mrs. Eldred Doty at Dickenson, Texas.

John Green first married Marie Orr, who died a short time after their marriage. Later he married Frances Bates, no children. John died in 1974.

Richard S. Fryer married Allie Cox, who previously was from Nashville, Tennessee. She was sister to Mrs. J.J. Stobough, another Tishomingo pioneer. The Stoboughs lived at the end of Kemp Ave. in a large two story home which is still standing.

My parents bought a house from some people named Bunch. They lived there until their deaths. It is located now at 408 S. Mickle St. and is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Parkhill.

Richard and Allie had six children. Lovie Mai married Earl Karr of Vinita, Oklahoma. They had one son Richard Earl Karr. Vera married Fred L. Bass of Tishomingo. Juanita married W.A. White of Ardmore. The had one child Vera Karen. Dorothy married Robert Reilly in California.

Richard married Audene Hill in Tishomingo. Audene was later killed in a car wreck at Vinita, Oklahoma, where Richard and Son ran a theater. Richard managed the Thompson Theater at Tishomingo at the time he married Audene. Later Richard and Audene moved to Grove, Oklahoma. Richard later married and had one daughter, Rhonda. Rhonda is now married to a man named Cunningham and lives near Grove, Oklahoma.

Farris (Jack) married Margaret Agee at Vinita and they had one daughter, Ardyth Ann, who now lives at Grant's Pass, Oregon.

My father (Richard S. Fryer, Sr.) made the first fire truck that Tishomingo had. My grandfather (John D. Fryer) built the old Opera House that was close to where Lafittes Drug now stands. My father and Bob Fryer had a gin in Tishomingo which was previously J.D. Fryer & Sons. Across the street from the gin was Shirley Smith, who also owned a gin. At that time Tishomingo easily supported two gins.

On our side of Pennington Creek lived a number of families I remember. They were Mr. And Mrs. John Deaton and Mrs. Henson (Mrs. Deaton's mother). Deatons had three children, John, Gracie and Henry. Down closer to the creek lived Mr. And Mrs. Jim Loper and daughter Theresa. Two brothers had a Soda Plant just across the creek on the right side going to town. Mr. and Mrs. Elis Dick lived next to the Deatons. Mrs. Ellis Dick was related to the Lopers. Mr. and Mrs. George Kingsberry lived up next to the woods, which is now W. 14th St. across from J.D. Fryer's place. Mr. and Mrs. Trotter lived across from the Kingsberry's. They had a daughter Velma who married Hal Stamps. Mrs. Mack Rutherford was another daughter. There was a son, Clarence T. Mr. and Mrs. Seth Moore lived up on the hill, where Russell Trammel now lives. They had several children, George, Bertha, Alva, Florence, Mallie and Edna.

People by the name of "Hill" lived where Mrs. W.L. Hamilton now lives. They were Indians and had three sons at that time.

There was a train through Tishomingo then – and we spent some very pleasant times going up to where the railroad tracks were and the bridge crossed Pennington Creek. My father (Richard S. Fryer, Sr.) came to several close calls (on this railroad bridge). At one time he worked at the ice plant and walked over the bridge, as it was much closer to our house and the plant. I went to school with a boy by the name of Homer Roundtree. He and his uncle were walking over the bridge when a train came upon them. The uncle jumped and caught Homer in such a way that he was killed. Homer fell on his uncle and only had severe injuries.

Dr. Ledgerwood lived diagonal from where we lived and they had children: Pryor, Grace, Anna Mae, Jamie, Ethel, Helen, Lillian and Safford.

I often think how pretty Pennington Creek looked then. The water was clear and was rippling as it went on down to the Washita River. When I was in Tishomingo last it was so murky and all you could see was carp. When we were youngsters we often caught a supply of perch, some quite large, and our mothers would cook them for us. Perch have never tasted like those did.

When the gravel haulers took gravel from the Creek close to the swinging bridge; a hold would be left and most of learned to swim there. Up the hill from the creek was a spring that had very cool water. Before the ice plant was there may people would walk over the bridge and get cool water to drink. Kingsberry pasture was so pretty then also. In the spring Dad would take us all through the woods to pick violets and we would all come home with a big bunch of violets. They didn't look like wild violets but more like domestic ones. A very deep purple.

In the fall, after the first frost, Dad would take us back to the woods with a flour sack to pick up hickory nuts. On cold winter nights we would crack the hickory nuts and pop corn that my father had raised, with good country butter melted and poured over them.

The children of today do not realize the fun that we had then. All the fruit and vegetables we raised ourselves. My how good the tasted and how proud we were of the things we personally grew in the gardens for the family and friends to enjoy.

Bungie and Essie Chapman lived at the northeast of the block, just across from the Fryer place. The Senior Mr. Chapman grew tobacco there. He was Bungie's father. Bungie at that time had an automobile dealership. At the other end of the lot lived people by the name of Lindsay. One I remember was named Sheb Lindsay and one daughter was named Lavinia, another Gertha.

In the area next to the creek, which is called "The Park" was all woods, except for a small house in the center of it, where a Grace Crowell lived. From what we understood she was a writer. We were all afraid of her because some one told us that she was an old maid. We made the mistake of calling her that and she was always fussing at us. She had a white Spitz dog that we were very afraid of.

Copied from Johnston County History
Issued by The Johnston County Historical Society in 1979

----------------5.2 DOROTHY CHARLOTTE FRYER

To the best knowledge of her niece, Karen Cotter, she was the only one of the children to be college educated. She had a degree in nursing and apparently worked in mental institutions in various locations until the work got her down. Believe she moved to California with her sister Vera and her husband to California. After WWII ended she lived with them for a while, then went to work for McClellan AFB, North Highlands, CA and purchased her own home nearby. The location wasn't that far from her sisters in Roseville. She lived fairly quietly and had a long time man friend, Ray Adessa but they never married nor lived together.

----------------5.3 FERRIS JACKSON FRYER

--------------------6.1 ARDYTH ANN FRYER

------------------------7.1 LUANNE DEYOE

----------------5.4 RICHARD S. FRYER, JR.

--------------------6.1 RHONDA SUE FRYER

------------------------7.1 TY GENE CUNNINGHAM

------------------------7.2 WADE GENE CUNNINGHAM

------------------------7.3 CLINT GENE CUNNINGHAM

------------------------7.4 JOSHUA LEE HUTTON CUNNINGHAM

----------------5.5 JUANITA FRANCES FRYER

--------------------6.1 VERA KAREN WHITE

------------------------7.1 CINDI DENISE COTTER

----------------5.6 LOVIE MAI FRYER

--------------------6.1 RICHARD EARL KARR

------------4.7 MAGGIE FRYER

----------------5.1 EARL F. FAIRMAN

----------------5.2 ERNEST FAIRMAN

--------3.1 JAMES LOUIS WEST

------------4.1 MARTHA FERBY WEST

------------4.2 FANNIE WEST

------------4.3 WILLIE BELLE WEST

------------4.4 UNKNOWN WEST

------------4.5 UNKNOWN WEST

------------4.6 UNKNOWN WEST

--------3.3 WILLIAM DUDLEY WEST

------------4.1 ALICE REBECCA WEST

There are several other Flemisters buried in Lone Sassafras Cemetery but don't know if they are linked. There is no Alice Flemister buried there but if she outlived her husband, she may have remarried or been buried elsewhere.

------------4.2 JENNIE

------------4.3 TOM WEST

------------4.4 CHARLIE WEST

------------4.5 PEARL WEST

------------4.6 JEWEL WEST

--------3.4 CALVIN T. WEST

--------3.5 FERBY E.I. WEST

--------3.6 MARGARETTE WEST

--------3.7 MARY L. WEST

--------3.8 JADOCK WEST

--------3.9 RICHARD C. WEST