Augustine Crier A Great Leader in Our Community

Augustine Crier
Photo Courtesy: Augustine Crier facebook

I had the pleasure of meeting Augustine Crier some years ago. I heard so many beautiful things about her. There are so many things I truly admire about her, for one, her commitment to preserving the history of "Grant Chapel AME Church" in Amite, Louisiana. She is a caring woman who does so much for her community. She updated the church facebook page faithfully with upcoming events, church announcements and other news.  She pays tribute to the accomplishments of local people on the pages.Preserving the church history is one thing that is lacking in the African American community all across the United States. She writes a column for the local newspaper.

Mrs. Crier is a Woman of Valor, a woman of character, and standards. Some of her former students from Westside Middle School told me how great of an educator she was. She is the administrator of "Lost and Missing Children's Road  Home" you can learn more about this informative at the link provided below. 

She is a former teacher for 36 years in the public systems of Tangipahoa Parish and St. Helena Parish. Degrees: BS in secondary education, major in social studies with minor in English. Master's Degree in Supervision and Administration, and Plus Thirty in Supervision and Administration, Certification our elementary school principal and Certification for Teaching Supervision Training. Served in training teachers for Southeastern University for two years. 

Mrs. Crier is a Icon in Tangipahoa Parish and is certainly appreciated for her many contributions in improving the community and empowering the youth in the community. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MissingChildrenRoadHome/about/

Women Servants of Tangipahoa Parish

Mrs. Christine Harrison was my neighbor in Amite, Louisiana. We all called her Ms. Tina in the community. A beautiful woman with a beautiful smile is how I will always remember Ms. Tina. She was married to Governor Harrison.

Photo Courtesy: Glynis Vernon Gordon

Left to Right: Mrs. Buckhalter, Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Harrison

Tangipahoa Parish Civil Rights Icon Bobby Cyprian

Bobby Cyprian
Photo Courtesy: Antoinette Harrell

Civil Rights Icon Bobbie Cyprian was a member and secretary of the Sweetwater Voters League. He was born in 1940 in Independence, LA. His parents were Andrew Cyprian, Sr, and Beatrice Alexander. Sweetwater was known for syrup making, and sugar cane raising. 

He joined the 1967 Bogalusa Civil Rights March for the 105 miles march to the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol. "I went down to Greenville Park High School to fight injustice," said Cyprian. I was young, and I was working for a white man who was mistreating me. I knew I had to stand up for my rights, he said. The marchers were met by the KKK when they reached Hammond, Louisiana.

During the night while attending a meeting at Greenville Park School, the KKK came and started shooting. No one was shot or killed. We resolved the meeting, and a day later, we gather to start marching again. I picked it up where the overpassed in on 1-55. When we got to Walker, the KKK was waiting for us; they were hollering, "niggers, you will never make it to the State Capitol. "Under pressure from the U.S. Civil Rights Divison, Governor John McKeithen agreed to dispatch nearly 700 National Guardsmen and 500 state trooper to protect the demonstrators as they walked down the center of Highway U.S. 190.

I asked him to give me the history behind the name Sweetwater. The wagon felt through a crack, and all the syrup fell into the creek, and they call the community "Sweet Water" according to the folk tales, it just one the many stories behind the name of Sweet Water. 

Mount Olive School was the first African American; Mount Olive Baptist Church started the school. Bobbie attended school there and from Burgher Elementary School. 1n 1955, he went to West Side School in Amite, LA.

Uncle Alex and Aunt Melissa's Golden Wedding Anniversary

Alex Richardson and Melissa Wheat Richardson
Photo Courtesy: Glynis Vernon Gordon

Uncle Alex and Aunt Melissa celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in this picture. His sister Alma Richardson Gordon and her husband, Willie K. Gordon, Sr., celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with them. The wedding took place at Gordon Chapel Church in Amite, Louisiana. Sorry, I don't have the date that the event took place. 

I love the eyeglasses they're wearing. Aunt Melissa's parents were Saul and Corrine Wheat and Uncle Alex 's parents were Thomas and Emma Vining Richardson. 

Good Times Spent with Cousin Walter

Emmitt Richardson, Sr. and Walter Richardson, Sr.
Photo Courtesy: Glynis Vernon Gordon

My mother and her maternal cousin Walter Richardson, Sr., had an extraordinary bond that developed after her father, Jasper passed away in 1962.  "Walter told me that he couldn't take the place of my daddy, but I will be here for you," said Isabel. My mother would get so excited when she got the news that  cousin Walter was coming to  Louisiana to visit his parents, siblings, and extended family. My mother was on that list of people to visit in Amite, Louisiana. To this very day, she still talks about Cousin Walter and his children. She often reminisce on  Sunday's  after church Walter, Jr, and her cousin Freddy jumped in the car and headed home with us. Aunt Melissa would call the house and asked my mother If they were with her. "My mom just knew they had asked her!" It didn't matter because it was alright with  my mother and Aunt Melissa. My mother always had Sunday's dinner ready on a Saturday night. We took our Sunday clothing off and had dinner before running outside to play.

We were just as excited as my mother to hear that cousin Walter was coming to Louisiana. He had such a big heart for everyone. He was just a handsome and kind person. I remember one time when he came to visit, his brother Earl Lee brought a busload of cousin to my mother's house. We had fireworks and all the candy and cookies we wanted. My mother had cooked their favorite meals. One thing I remember her cooking was her delicious tuna casserole and baking her homemade yeast rolls. I guess that was one of Cousin Walter's favorite meals. They sat around the table, laughing and reminiscing on their childhood days. I only wish that the genealogy bug at bit me then. 

Fireworks, snacks, and cousins was a great combination for all the kids. Cousin Earl Lee and Walter had so much fun watching all of us play together. It wasn't a holiday or a special occasion, and it was just family coming together to spend time with each other. While writing this blog, it's taking me back to those beautiful evenings spent on my grandparents' place. I want to record those sweet  moments before they slip away from me. Family was very important back in those days. Not just your immediate family but all family. Cousin Walter and Earl Lee was those kind of people. They loved all their families and treated everyone with love. 

Cousin Earl Lee laugh and smile would light up any room. When he parked the bus and let everyone off the bus, he would smile, watching the kids run off the bus and started playing and screaming with laughter. 

The Richardson and Gordon Clan of Amite, Louisiana

Photo Courtesy
Glynis Vernon Gordon

This picture is truly a treasure for the Richardson and Gordon family. They're all first cousins and the offsprings of  sister and brother; Alexander Richardson and Alma Mandy Richardson Gordon. They all was at the fifty wedding anniversary of their parents. Uncle Willie and Aunt Mandy celebrated their golden anniversary with Uncle Alex and Aunt Melissa. Eleven of them as now past on. Only one person in this photograph is living. 

First Row: Left to Right

Barbara Gordon, Helenstine Richardson Williams, Earl Lee Richardson, James E. Gordon, Joseph Richardson

Middle Row: Left to Right

Man in the black suit unknown, Pete Richardson, Frank Gordon, Samuel Richardson, Darnell Richardson

Back Roll: Left to Right

Willie K. Gordon Jr., Walter Richardson, Sr., Nathaniel Richardson.

Celebrating Their Golden Anniversaries Together

Mr & Mrs Wille K. Gordon, Sr.
Photo Courtesy: Glynis Venron Gordon

"How often is it that a brother and sister celebrate their golden wedding anniversary together with their spouses" My maternal aunt Alma "Mandy" Richardson Gordon and her husband Willie K. Gordon, Sr did. Her brother Alexander Richardson and his wife, Melissa Wheat Richardson.  The two anniversaries brought their two families together for this joyous occasion.  I was so happy that Glynis  Vernon Gordon shared the photographs with me. The golden anniversary is one of the most celebrated wedding anniversaries.  Our family have a large number of family members whom have been married over thirty years.

Just recently, my Uncle Henry and his wife Aunt Sarah celebrated their golden anniversary. It's so beautiful to see our family celebrating the jubilee of their marriage. Surrounded by their children, grandchildren, family members, and friends. Anyone who had been married knows without a shadow of a doubt that it can be challenging.  These couples raised their children, they laughed, and they cried together. No matter what they weathered the storms to remain faithful to their vows. 

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Richardson
Photo Courtesy: Glynis Vernon Gordon

Not everyone gets an opportunity to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary for two reasons; divorce and the death of a spouse. "I know if anyone would've asked them what was the key to their marriage?" The first thing they each would've told us is; put "God" first, to listen and respect one another.  It's so beautiful to see my great aunts and uncles. 

I can only imagine what this beautiful day was like for them. "Looking at their beautiful children and grandchildren, daughters-in-law,  and sons-in-law fifty years later. Aunt Mandy's smile said it all. She was just as happy as she was fifty-years ago when she married her handsome guy.  This is the kind of love that we need to see. Both couples fell in love fifty years old and kept loving each other to death did them apart. My grandfather  Jasper Harrell,  Sr., died in 1962; he and my grandmother married in 1931. After my grandmother didn't remarried after my grandfather passed away, she remained a widow until her death. Most of my uncles on the Harrell side of my family passed away before their wives. Their wives remain widows until this very day. All of my uncle's wife is living except for my Aunt Primose Bennett Harrell. 

I certainly want to thank Glynis Vernon Gordon for sharing these photographs with me. I told her that I would post them in one of my blogs. I hope that other family members would share photographs with us. 

Who is This Unidentified Soldier?

I'm sitting at my desk going, through my many files this morning with a fresh cup of peppermint tea and a stack of pictures on my desk. One of the pictures on my pile of unidentified images is a picture of a very handsome African American soldier.  I know that the photo came from Tangipahoa Parish because 100 percent of the photograph that I have in the files came from Tangipahoa Parish. 

It was Roy Curtis who shared the photograph with me? Roy lives in Fluker, Louisiana. Roy had forgotten the name of most of the people in the the pictures except for his relatives. Most of the images he gave me were pictures of people he couldn't identify. 

If I knew his name, I could look him up on Ancestry or Family Search.  Well, I hope that someone can identify this soldier. If anyone has any information, please contact me by email at; afrigenah@yahoo.com

Questions:

1. What is his given and surname?
2. Where was the picture taken?
3. Do he have relatives in Tangipahoa Parish?

The McCoy Family of Tangipahoa Parish

U.S. Freedmen's Bank Record
Horace Mccoy

Lewis Chas McCoy was born in 1848 in Louisiana. According to the United States Census, his father was born in Mississippi, and his mother was born in Virginia. Lewis was a Freight Hand. He was married to Alice Braehill Lawson (Daggs)  McCoy. Their children were; Joe, Rosa, Rachel, Fred, Ester, Alma, Manilla, and Thomas McCoy.

Manilla married Palmer Roscoe Harrell in Amite, Louisiana. They were the parents of Ellis, Doris, Helen, Theodora, Arthur, Bobbie, Audrey, Vera, Joseph,  Elbert, and Yvonne Harrell.

Alice was living in the household as a domestic with Esaw Lawson in the house of Ambrose D. Henkel in 1870. Alice was sixteen years old. She was born in 1854 in Louisiana and died at the age of sixty-two in 1937.

Lewis had an account with the Freedmen Bank. On September 30, 1872, he opened his account. He said this father named was Horace McCoy, and his mother's name was Estabella Harrison McCoy.  Horace and Estabella Harrison married in 1884 in Tangipahoa Parish. Horace was born in 1818 in Mississippi. 

Manilla McCoy Harrell

Lewis donated land he owned to his son George in 1880. The land was near his father Horace. The scanned document can be found in the Louisiana, Wills and Probate Records, 1756-1984 Tangipahoa Parish for Lewis Cass McCoy.

I haven't yet connected the dots were Alice is concerned. How did Alice become a Daggs? Where did the name Braehill come from? Was she a Lawson by maiden name?  What was her relationship to Esaw Lawson? In the United States,  Esaw was a laborer in the Henkel household. Ambrose was a merchant born in Tennessee around 1815. Living in the same house with the Henkel was a woman named Harriet Wells, she was thirty years old.  It appears that Harriet had a daughter named Elise Wells. 

Ambrose Henkel was a slaveholder in St. Helena Parish.  He owned eight enslaved people according the 1860 U.S. Federal Census-Slave Schedules. 

The Old Jim Temple Homestead

Jim and Othell Temple Homestead

The old Jim Temple homestead is located in Amite, Louisiana. Jim and his second wife Othell Butler Temple their children in the home; Walter, Hollis, Robert, and Bernard. Near the old house is the Temple Cemetery. 

The house was well built. In the back of the house is the old barn and the smokehouse was near by. Jim and his wife lived in the house until they died. The house was surrounded by lots of farm land. Jim and two sons; Walter and Robert Temple continue farming until they could no longer farm. Their son Hollis was a blacksmith in Amite, Louisiana. Hollis was born in 1908 in Amite, Louisiana  and died in 1983.  

James "Jim" Temple was born around 1845. Jim was first married to Margarette Amacker Temple. They had several children in their marriage; Mary, John, James, Margaret, Charles, Amelia, Victoria  Mattie, Delia, and Ellen.

Treasuring Family Photographs

Alexander Harrell and his offsprings
Courtesy of Monteral Harrell and Isabel Harrell Cook

My Harrell side of the family is very blessed with photographs, and thanks to my first cousin Montreal Harrell for sharing her collection she inherited after her father passed away. Often , family members do not like to share their photographs. During  the family gathering we can pull out our photograph collection and reminisce on the special times we shared with family and friends throughout the years. 

Technology has made it so much easier to share photographs these days. Everyone has a camera on their phone and can instantly take , pictures of a photograph and make a copy of it. I did a little I used photoshop to create a graphic design with Grandpa Alexander and eight of his thirteen children. That's not a bad number to say the least. Many people wish they had photographs of their ancestors.

As a family historian and genealogist I really appreciate how Monteral manages her collection. She understand how important it is to preserve the images and most importantly sharing them with others family members who value the images. Many family old photographs are tucked away in shoe boxes, in dusty dark attics, and  chester drawers. Every pictures has a story to tell. 

Man Addison Sold in St. Helena August 29, 1860

The sale of Addison in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. The newspaper article described negro man was offered for sale on Friday, the 3rd day of August ist., (1860) was bid off by Mr. Margaret Jackson who failed to comply with the terms of sale. The said boy will therefore again be offered forsake the said 29th day of August, 1860, a la folie enchere, under the provisions of Article 2, 589 of the Civil Code of Louisiana.

J.J. Wheat, Sheriff
Greensburg, Aug. 16, 1860

Cherry Grove Plantation in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Cherry Grove Plantation was in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. David Bradford was the Plantation Agent. Below is a list of individuals who signed their x to work on the plantation in 1868. Source: Jesus Christ Latter Day of Saints Church: Roll 48, Labor Contracts page 81-1865-1868

The following surnames is listed; Small, Jackson, Gordon, Muse, Taylor, Robinson, Atkins.









Cherry Grove Plantation

James Small/age 30/21  Male/21 April 1868/Employment/Made his X
Millie Small/age 33/Female/ 21 April 1868/Employment/Made her X
Cube Jackson/age 20/Male/21 April 1868/Employment/Made his X
Nancy Jackson/age 18/ Female/ 21 April 1868/Employment/Made her X
Sally Gordon/age 35/Female/21 April 1868/Employment/Made her X
Tighlman Muse/age 22/Male/21 April 1868/Employment/ Made his X
Adelia Muse/age 18/Female/21 April 1868/Employment/Made her X
Joshua Taylor/age 21/Male/21 April 1868/Employment/Made his X
Ellen Robinson/age 28/ 21 April 1868/Employment/Made his X
Matilda Atkins/age 19/21 April 1868/Employment/Made his X

Oak Grove Plantation in Clinton, Louisiana

Agreement with Freedment
Oak Grove Plantation
Source: Family Search

The Agreement with Freedmen Contracts can provide vital information for any genealogist or family historian who is researching their family history. My family was held as slaves in East Feliciana and my search led me to this record that is published by Family Search.  The plantation contract provides the name, age, gender and class of each person. Each of the individuals signing the contract couldn't write. Therefore they had to make the mark. The youngest person was a child ten-year-old. His name was Moses More. Please see the list of people below who signed the contract to work on Oak Grove Planation in 1867.

Agreement with Freedmen on Oak Grove Planation, Parish of East Feliciana, La. Employed by J.A. Reily. Employment 01 Jan 1867. 

Name                   Date                   Employment                                                        

Gabriel Moore More/ 06 Feb 1867/Employment

James More/ 06 Feb 1867/Employment

Betsy More/ 06 Feb 1867/Employment

Selty More/ 06 Feb 1867/Employment

Moses More/ 06 Feb 1867/Employment

Elias Bordner/ 06 Feb 1867/Employment                     

Wm Charles/ 06 Feb 1867/Employment                    

Isaac Simmons/ 06 Feb 1867/Employment

George Thompson/06 Feb 1867/Employment                   

Jack Brown/06 Feb 1867/Employment

George Mason/06 Feb 1867/Employment 

Steven Oldham/06 Feb 1867/Employment

Lacy Frances/06 Feb 1867/Employment

Ellen Bruce/07 Feb 1867/Employment

Alice Oldham/07 Feb 1867/Employment

Gustus Oldham/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Elias Oldham/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Dick Bordner/07/Feb 1867/Employment
Louisiana Johnson/07 1867/Employment
Virgil Stewart/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Jack Henderson/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Newton Simmons/07 Feb 1867/Employment
George Cross/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Polly Robinson/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Chas Locket/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Lizzet Locket/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Randall Richardson/ 07 Feb 1867/Employment
Isan Richardson/ 07 Feb 1867/Employment
Bert Richardson/ 07 Feb 1867/Employment
Ben Richardson/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Sarah Richardson/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Ananis Richardson/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Isaiah Richardson/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Capt Joe/07 Feb 1867/ Employment
W.H. Budd/07 Feb 1867/Employment
S Mcconahey/07 Feb 1867/Employment
John A. Reiley/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Sally Demer/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Eli Demer/07 Feb/1867/Employment
Ann Demer/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Ned Demer/07/Feb 1867/Employment
Clarisa Chamber/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Isaac Chamber/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Abram Lee/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Patty Lee/07 Feb 1867/Employment
Paul Lee/07 Feb 1867/Employment

                              

                                                                             

                                                             





Source: Roll 44, Labor Contracts, 1864-1868/ Page 331 of 838
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

I found My Great Grandfather's Brother John

John and Harriet Marriage License 1883
Source: Tangipahoa Clerk Office

For decades I couldn't find anything on maternal great-grandfather Alexander brother John. Today all of that changed. I decided to look at the marriage index of all the Harrell men who were married between 1850 and 1950 in Tangipahoa Parish Clerks Office. I looked at every John marriage records. One of the documents revealed my  great Uncle John. John was married to Harriett Harrison on June  21st, 1883.  He was twenty-nine  years old and, his bride was twenty-two  years old.  His parents names were on the marriage license; that how I know, I had the right, John. I hope that I can continue to find records on him. I want to find out if he and his wife had any children. If so, where are they?  John was born in 1852 in Louisiana. His parents were Robert and Darkus Harrell.  John was one year younger than his brother Alexander. In 1880 John moved out of his parents house in St. Helena Parish and moved to Tangipahoa in 1880.