Sarah Elizabeth McCullough Tidwell of Alabama 1857-1913 #52Ancestors #8

Sarah McCullough was born January 3, 1857 in Perry County, Alabama to Gabriel J. and Mary Meggs McCullough. She was the oldest of five children.. She was also sometimes known as Martha and Bettie.

From my cousin Sandy Mathis Grods

In the 1860 census, her family was living in Severe, Perry, Alabama. By the 1870 census, both her parents were dead. Gabriel is presumed to have died in the Battle of Selma, Alabama in 1865. Mary may have died in childbirth of the twins, Thomas and James, in 1863.

Sarah was living in Perry County with William Edmonds and family in 1870. No close family connection is known at this time. Age is indexed as 20, but if you look at the original, it is 10. All the other McCullough children were living with various different relatives.
William Edmond M 90y
Parmelia Edmond F 45y
Margaret Edmond F 20y
Tracy Edmond F 18y
Cromwell Edmond M 17y
Rachell Edmond F 13y
Amos Edmond M 10y
Sarah Mccullough F 20y (10y)

I have not found Sarah in the 1880 census.
Sarah married Phelan Tidwell September 13, 1881 in Jefferson County, Alabama. Martha is crossed out, and Bettie did not have the Ts crossed, so all the indexes show Billie McCulla. Phelan is indexed in the Marriage Book as Phelan Ridwell.

Jefferson County Marriage Book Vol 9 Pg 424

Phelon (or Phelan) and Sarah raised a large family of nine children:
McKesterson "Kess" born July 9, 1882
Zada Belle born December 1883
Zola Mae born March 1885
Martha Jane "Mattie" born August 1886
Beverly Clinton born October 8, 1888
Ella Debaugh born September 22, 1890
Madeline Virginia born 1891
Phelon Thomas Young born July 22, 1894
Deforest born July 25, 1898

Tidwell family about 1891
From left: Zada, Phelan, Ella, Kess, Beverly, Sarah, Mattie, Cynthia "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell, and Zola

The family lived in Perry County until after the 1900 census. They had moved to Bibb County by the 1910 census.

Picture in Sandy Grods collection

TIDWELL
Blocton Enterprise, Thursday, 14 August 1913
A SAD DEATH
Mrs. Phelan Tidwell died at her home near Big Springs on Friday evening about
six o’clock from a second stroke of paralysis. Mrs. Tidwell had lived eight years in the
community in which she died, and was never heard to speak a harm word of anyone, and
she was ever ready to assist those in distress or in need of sympathy. She lead a model
Christian life in the church, at home, and in the neighborhood, and none had aught but
kind words to speak of her. She was known in this place, and it was with deep regret that
her friends here learned of her death. Of Mrs. Tidwell it can be said that truly a good
woman has gone to her reward. The remains were interred at Mt. Carmel cemetery
Saturday evening, Rev. J. L. Busby officiating. She leaves a husband, four sons and four
daughters to mourn her loss, to whom we extend deepest sympathy.

Funeral of Sarah McCullough Tidwell from Sandy Grods collection

Sarah is buried in an unmarked grave in Mount Carmel Cemetery, West Blocton, Bibb County, Alabama

Beverly Clinton Tidwell of Alabama 1888-1955 #52Ancestors #7

Beverly Clinton Tidwell was born October 8, 1888 in Perryville, Perry County, Alabama. He was the son of Phelan and Sarah Elizabeth McCullough Tidwell. He was the fifth of nine children. He was known as Clint or B.C.. He was named Beverly after his great grandfather, Beverly Cornelius, and/or his uncle, Beverly Cornelius Tidwell..

Phelan Tidwell Family. Beverly is 5th from the left.

Perry County was one of the few counties in the US to have a surviving census from 1890.
1890 Census Perryville, Perry Co AL Beat 8
Series: M407 Roll: 1 Page: 15

Phelan Tidwell, Head, Age 44, Born AL, Farmer, can read & write
Elizabeth, 33, 5 children born, 5 living, Born AL, can read & write
McKetron (McKesterson) , son, age 9, born AL
Zada, daughter, age 7
Zola, daughter, age 5
Martha J, age 4, daughter, born AL
Beverly C, age 2, son, born AL

The 1900 census was a challenge. Everyone in the family was listed with the last name Phelon.
Oldtown, Perry, Alabama
Series: T623 Roll: 36 Page: 191

Phelon, Tidwell 53 M W AL Sept 1847, 57, Married 19 years, Farmer
Phelon, Sarah E, Dec 1857, 42, 9 children, 8 living, born AL, Father TN, Mother AL
Phelon, Kessie, July 1882, 17, Farm Laborer
Phelon, Zada B, Dec 1883, 16
Phelon, Zola M, Mar 1885, 15
Phelon, Mattie J, Aug 1886, 13
Phelon, Bevley C, Oct 1888, 11
Phelon, Ella D, Sept 1890, 9
Phelon, Phelon, July 1894, 5
Phelon, D. Forest, July 1899, 11/12

The family moved to Kingdom in Bibb county by 1910
Philan Tidwell 64
Bettie Tidwell 53
Clinton Tidwell 21
Ella D Tidwell 19
Phelen Tidwell Jr. 15
Forrest Tidwell 10

Clint served in WWI in the Alabama Wagoner Supply Company, 89th Infantry.

Clint Tidwell, WWI

Clint became a house carpenter and built many houses in Jefferson County Alabama. He also built at least one bridge

Bridge in Perry, Alabama built by Clint Tidwell

In 1920, Clint was living in Bessemer, Jefferson, Alabama in a boarding house along with his brother McKesterson. Both had occupation as house carpenter.

Clint Tidwell, Bessemer, Alabama

Clint married Flora Jane Carter about 1930. I have not been able to locate a marriage record, but they were not married when the census was taken in April, 1930. Clint was living with his divorced niece, Lucille Blake Bentley, and his father Phelan.

Clint and Flora had two daughters, Anna and Mary. They lived in Hueytown, Alabama.

Per my mother, Anna, Clint had the original idea to build the Hueytown Community Center. He donated his time and labor. He caught pneumonia and suffered his first heart attack while building it.

Beverly Clinton Tidwell died of a heart attack May 31, 1955. He was buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Alabama.

The Birmingham News
June 1, 1955, page 8

"SERVICES ANNOUNCED FOR BEVERLY TIDWELL

Funeral services for Beverly Clinton Tidwell, 65, a widely known Hueytown building contractor, who died yesterday in a local hospital, will be held tomorrow.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, with the Rev. Fred Jordan, the Rev. John Hones, and the Rev. Clay Herring officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining church cemetery. Brown-Service, Bessemer, directing.

Mr. Tidwell, who made his home in Hueytown for the past 30 years, lived at 112 Lindbergh Rd. at the time of his death.

He was active in church and civic work and was a member of the Pleasant Ridge Church.

Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Flora Carter Tidwell; two daughters. Miss Anne Tidwell, an employee of the Birmingham News Circulation Department, and Mrs. Winifred Justice; three brothers, M. Kess Tidwell, Dallas, Tex., Thelon* Tidwell, Bessemer, and D. Forrest Tidwell, Norfolk, Va.; and two sisters, Mrs. Martha Blake, Trenton, N.J. and Mrs. William H. Ellis of Birmingham."

*Actually Phelon
------------------------------

Flora Carter Tidwell of Alabama 1905-1981 #52Ancestors #6

Flora Jane Carter was born August 13, 1905 in what would become Hueytown, Alabama. Flora was the daughter of Samuel Thomas Carter and Mary Alice Warnick Carter. She was born four months after her father was killed in the Virginia Mines.

Flora Carter

Flora is the baby in Alice's lap

Flora's mother was remarried in 1909 to James Harve Hamaker. He raised Flora and her sister Dessie.

Flora as a girl by snowball bush, Hueytown, AL

Flora attended Hueytown High School, where she was on the girl's basketball team.

1921 Girl's Basketball Team from Hueytown Historical Society. Flora is 2nd from the left in the back.

Possibly Senior Picture

Flora married Beverly Clinton Tidwell about 1930. I have not been able to locate a marriage record.
My mother, Anna Janet, was born January 21, 1931.

Flora holding Anna near the washpot and chinaberry tree, 1931. 

Another daughter, Mary Evelyn, followed in 1935.

Flora at TB Sanitarium, Birmingham, Alabama. 2nd from the right.

Flora contracted TB at some point and was sent to a sanitarium for 16 months. The sanitarium is now known as Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital in present day Homewood, Alabama. Flora lost a lung to TB.

Flora's husband Clint died in 1955. Clint was a carpenter, and built Flora a house at 112 Lindburg Rd, Hueytown. Flora's Aunt, Annie Brown, lived next door.

When I was a child, Flora lived with her mother Alice Warnick. Flora moved back to her house in the 1970's.

Flora, her mother Alice, and me

Flora was an excellent seamstress. She could make anything on her treadle Singer machine, which I was lucky enough to inherit. I remember one Christmas ripping off the paper to find a Parisian box. Uggh, clothes...the bane of every child's Christmas. I was delighted to find inside a wonderful set of clothes for my doll, all handmade by my grandmother. If I spent the night and had forgotten my PJs, before bedtime there would be a set made, complete with buttons.

Flora lived alone up in her 70's She then moved in with her daughter Mary.

Flora died April 9, 1981, and is buried next to husband in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Alabama.

Mary Alice Warnick Carter Hamaker of Alabama 1883-1970 #52Ancestors #5

Mary Alice Warnick, known as Alice, was born July 14, 1883 in Alabama or Mississippi, depending on the census you're reading. She was the third of eight children born to George Washington Warnick and Flora Jane Cargo Warnick. She was raised in Jefferson County Alabama around the Hueytown area.

Alice married her neighbor, Samuel Thomas Carter, December 22, 1901.

Samuel Thomas and Mary Alice Warnick Carter

They had a daughter, 'Dessa, about 1903. Alice was pregnant when Samuel died February 20, 1905 in the Virginia Mines which you can read about here. Their daughter Flora Jane was born August 13, 1905.

Flora, Alice and O'Dessa Carter

On July 22, 1909, Alice married James Harve Hamaker.  My mom told me they were married in a wagon by a circuit riding preacher. He raised Alice's two daughters and together they had a son, Roma Neal Hamaker October 12, 1911.

James Harve and Alice Hamaker

Harve purchased land originally belonging to the Huey family and built Alice a house at 3121 Warrior River Road, Hueytown. When I was a child I thought it was very strange to have to go outside on the back porch to access the bathroom. Lights hung down from the high ceilings from a cord. The stove/heater in what I guess would now be a den always had some flatirons warming on it. I remember having the sheets of the bed warmed in winter with those flatirons, before they were piled with tons of heavy quilts.

Flora, Alice and Dessie

My dad supplied Alice with Red Seal snuff. She had long gray hair which was kept in a bun until bedtime, when she would take out her hairpins and brush it. She tatted lace.

Harve, Alice. Roma, and his wife Pearl on vacation in New Orleans 1948

Warnick Sisters. Alice on the left.

Alice is buried beside Harve in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Alabama. At her funeral, I remember the pastor saying he once thought a small child was trying to open the heavy wooden door to the sanctuary. When he went to help, there was Mrs. Hamaker, who was too weak to open the door. She lived to be 87.

George Washington Warnick of Alabama 1855-1949 #52Ancestors #4

George Washington Warnick was born July 27, 1855 in Blount County, Alabama. He was the son of Caleb Rogers Warnick and Sophronia Holley Warnick. He was the oldest of ten children.

George married Mary Della Monk April 8, 1875 in Blount County, Alabama. They had a daughter, Ida Arleva, born April 1877. Mary either died in childbirth or shortly thereafter.

George married Flora Jane Cargo August 12, 1877 in Blount County, Alabama. They had eight children:
Dora born July 26, 1878; Margaret P "Maggie" born October 1879; Mary Alice born July 14, 1883; Eugene Ednor born January 19, 1884; Maude born October 31, 1888; John R. born June 1892; Annie Etta born December 29, 1894; and Willie Ray (a girl) born April 1899.

George was a farmer on most census records. The family is found in 1880 in Smithville, Monroe, Mississippi. By 1900 the family had moved to the Hueytown area of Jefferson County, Alabama.  They remained in the area until after the 1910 census.

Warnick Homeplace

In March of 1910, George was made guardian of the estate of his grandchildren Claude and Ora Cargo. His son-in-law Edmond Cargo had died in the Virginia Mines explosion in 1905.

STATE OF ALABAMA
BLOUNT COUNTY
COURT OF PROBATE

To the Honorable John G. Kelton Justice of Probate of said County; The petitioner of the undersigned, George W. Warnick, respectfully represents that Claude Cargo and Ora Cargo are minor heirs of Edward {actually Edmond} L. Cargo, deceased, that they are of the age of ten years and seven years, respectively, that they reside in Blount County with their mother, Maggie Cargo, the widow of the said Edward L. Cargo, deceased, that the said minors have no father or other legal guardian residing in this State, resident in this County, and have an estate in their own right, situated in this State which is estimated to be worth about Five Hundred Dollars.

That your petitioner is the grandfather of said minors and a resident of this State and now prays your honor that he may be appointed the guardian of the said estate of said minors Claude Cargo and Ora Cargo upon his entering into the bond in such sum as is required by the Statute and with security or securities to be approved by your honor.

Guardian's address.
Bessemer R.F.D. #1

{signed}
G W Warnick
Burgin, Jenkins & Brown Attorneys

STATE OF ALABAMA
JEFFERSON COUNTY

I, George W. Warnick, being duly sworn deposes and say that the facts alleged in the above petition are true according to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.
{signed}
Geo W Warnick
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18 day of Mar 1910
1910. {signed} A. J. Smith J.P.

By the 1920 census, George, Flora, and daughter Dora had moved to Boaz in Marshall County, Alabama. By this time Flora was disabled with arthritis. In 1930, George and Flora are living in Calera, Shelby, Alabama with now married daughter, Dora Stonecypher. In 1940, George and Flora were still in Shelby County, and had a housekeeper, Dora Mae Cost (not their daughter Dora). Some time after this census, George and Flora moved in with their daughter, Annie Warnick Brown in Flat Top, Jefferson, Alabama.

Flora died in 1945.

George Washington Warnick at the funeral of his wife Flora

George died November 19, 1949.
WARNICK---George Warnick, age 94, passed away Saturday p.m. at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. A. J. Brown, at Flat Top, Ala., survived by two sons, Eugene and John Warnick, seven daughters, Mrs. Ida Mumpower, Mrs. Dora Stonecypher, Mrs. Maggie Cargo, Mrs. Alice Hamaker, Mrs. Maud Parson, Mrs. Annie Brown, Mrs. Willie Ray Stewart. Funeral services Monday 11 a.m. from Bethlehem Methodist Church. Interment Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Bell directing.
Birmingham News, November 21, 1949, pg 34.

George and Flora are buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Jefferson, Alabama.

Flora Cargo Warnick 1859-1945 #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks-#3

Used by permission of http://www.nostorytoosmall.com/

Flora Jane Cargo Warnick was born October 6, 1859 in Blount County, Alabama to Albert and Sarah Yielding Cargo. She was the youngest of four children. You can read more about Albert here, and about Sarah here.

Flora had a hard early life, as her father died in the Civil War when she was two. She was 18 when she married George Washington Warnick in Blount County, Alabama. He was a widower with a four month old daughter, Ida.

Flora and George had eight children: Dora born July 26, 1878; Margaret P "Maggie" born October 1879; Mary Alice born July 14, 1883; Eugene Ednor born January 19, 1884; Maude born October 31, 1888; John R. born June 1892; Annie Etta born December 29, 1894; and Willie Ray (a girl) born April 1899.

This small pitcher was given to me by my Aunt Mary. It belonged to Flora Cargo Warnick.

At some time Flora became disabled with arthritis. In her later years she was totally bedridden. Her daughters Dora and Annie cared for her.

Warnick Homeplace. Not sure of location.

The Warnick family was interesting to trace in the census. They seemed to move around a lot.
In 1880 they can be found in Smithville, Monroe, Mississippi. George is a farm laborer.
In 1900 they are around Hueytown, Jefferson, Alabama. George is a night watchman.
In 1910 they are still in Hueytown. George is a farmer.
In 1920 they are found in Boaz, Marshall County, Alabama. George is a farmer.
In 1930 they are found in the home of their daughter, Dora Stonecypher, in Calera, Shelby County, Alabama.
In 1940 they are still in Shelby, Alabama. They have a housekeeper, Dora May Cost.
Some time before 1945, they moved in with their daughter Annie Warnick Brown in Flat Top, Jefferson, Alabama.

Flora Jane Cargo Warnick. She had red hair and was bed-ridden for years with arthritis.

Obit of Flora Cargo Warnick

WARNICK---Mrs. George Warnick, age 86, Flat Top, Ala., passed away June 3 at a local infirmary. Survived by the husband, G. W. Warnick; 1 son, Eugene Warnick; 6 daughters; Mrs. J. H. Hamaker, Hueytown; Mrs. A. J. Brown, Flat Top; Mrs. Homer W. Stewart, Sylacaua; Ms. B. H. Mumpower, Rutledge Springs; Mrs. Thomas Cargo, Blountsville; Mrs. D. F. Parsons, Gadsden, Ala. Funeral Services Tuesday 11 a.m. from Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Hueytown, Rev. Autrey Powell and Rev. Thomas officiating, interment adjoining cemetery, Bell directing.
---Published in The Birmingham News, Monday, Jun 4, 1945, Announcements/Deaths pg 14

Strangely daughter Dora Warnick Stonecypher not mentioned, nor is her son John R. Warnick.

Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Jefferson, Alabama

Sarah Yielding Cargo #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks- #2

Used by permission of http://www.nostorytoosmall.com/

Sarah Elizabeth Yielding was the daughter of John Jasper Yielding and Nancy Billingsly Yielding. According to the mysterious "Yielding Family Bible" that has only been seen as a transcript online: "Elizabeth Yeilding daughter of John and Nancy Yeilding his wife was born on Tuesday the 14 of November 1820". Census records would put the date as correct. Sarah was born in Blount County, Alabama, and was the oldest of six children.

Sarah married Albert Cargo in 1847. They made their home in Blount, Alabama near both of their families. Sarah bore four children: William R. "Cobb" in 1848, Jeremiah Clemons "Clem" in 1851, Nancy about 1856, and  Flora Jane in 1859.

In April 1862, Albert left home to fight in the Civil War (You can read about that here). Sarah was left to care for the farm and the children ranging in age from 14 to 2. Most of the men in the area, including Sarah's brothers and brothers-in law, had gone off to fight in the war. I can almost picture the women in the area banding together to help each other.

The news of Albert's death in July of 1862 must have been a terrible blow to the family. Albert only had a personal estate of $100.00 in the 1860 census, and owned no property that I can find. Sarah filed for Albert's back pay in 1862 and received $53.96 in 1865.

.
Sarah and family were listed in the 1866 Alabama census in Blount County. Things had changed by the 1870 census. The family had split apart. Cobb had married Sarah Lugania Sexton in 1869. They would have four children. He had five more by his second wife, Mattie Aldridge. Cobb was enumerated as a farm laborer, and couldn't read or write. Nancy was living with her maternal grandparents, John and Nancy Yielding, who were in their 70's. She was enumerated as Nancy Congo. I was unable to find Sarah, Clem, or Flora.

Sarah was found again by the 1880 census. Living with her were Jeremiah and the first of his three wives, Almeda Martin, along with his growing family. He would have seven children with Almeda, two with Emma McRae, and nine more with Permelia Coggins.
Flora married George Washington Warnick in 1877. They would have eight children.
I have not been able to trace Nancy after the 1870 census.

Sarah died some time after the 1880 census, and is buried in New Lebanon Cemetery in Blountsville, Blount County, Alabama next to her son, Jeremiah.

As always, if you are related to this family, I'd love to hear from you!

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #1 Albert Cargo of Blount, Alabama

I'm following the blog prompt from No Story Too Small, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.

Used by permission of http://www.nostorytoosmall.com/

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. 
If you decide to play along, don't forget to use the hashtag #52Ancestors

Albert Cargo was born about 1818 in Blount County, Tennessee. He was the son of Samuel Alexander and Sarah Malcolm Cargo. Albert was the second of eight children.
The Cargo family moved to Blount County, Alabama by the early 1820's. Samuel was appointed Constable in Blount County June 24, 1823.

Albert married Sarah "Sally" Yielding about 1847. By the 1850 census, they had a son, William R "Cobb" Cargo. He was born December 15, 1848. Albert was shown as a farmer.
Other children were Jeremiah Clemons "Clem", born March 2, 1851; Nancy born 1856; and my great-great-grandmother Flora Jane, born October 6, 1859.
The 1860 census shows Albert as a farmer, with personal estate of $100.

Albert took up arms for the cause of the south. He mustered in the 48th Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company A, C.S.A. on April 7, 1862. He went to war leaving Sarah to raise four young children. Flora was only two years old.

From http://hardeesguard.wikispaces.com/

In May 1862, the 48th Alabama went to Auburn, Alabama, and in June moved to Virginia with 1,100 men. Albert never made the trip. He died of fever June 10, 1862 in Auburn. Albert's final resting place is unknown, but possibly Pine Hill Cemetery, Auburn, Alabama.

Lane Cake- A Southern Christmas Tradition

My grandmother, Flora Carter Tidwell, was an excellent cook. She often made Lane Cake for the holidays. It was one of my mother's favorites.

Flora Jane Carter Tidwell

Tradition has it that Emma Rylander Lane, of Clayton, Alabama, won first prize with her cake at the county fair in Columbus, Georgia. She published a cookbook, Some Good Things To Eat, in 1898, and she included the recipe as "Prize Cake".

Lane Cake was mentioned several times in To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout Finch said, “Miss Maudie Atkinson baked a Lane cake so loaded with shinny it made me tight.” (Shinny is slang for liquor.)

From http://www.thesecondlunch.com/2010/04/omnivore-books-edible-art-contest/

Ready to get some bowls and pans dirty? (Really, it takes a ridiculous amount!) I honestly can't even fathom making this without an electric mixer as Miss Emma and contemporaries did. I have even seen some versions of the recipe calling for 16 layers!

Here's my version:

LANE CAKE RECIPE

- CAKE –
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
8 egg whites*
1 cup milk

*Separate eggs, placing 6 whites in a large mixing bowl, 2 whites in a small bowl and all the yolks in a saucepan (yolks will be used for the filling, the 2 remaining in the frosting)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl of mixer beat 6 egg whites and salt until foamy; gradually add add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until stiff. Set aside.

In a separate large mixing bowl, cream the butter, remaining sugar and vanilla. Add the flour mixture a little at a time, alternating with the milk. Remove bowl from mixer and fold in the egg white mixture gently but thoroughly.

The choice of pans are yours. The original recipe was baked in pie tins. You want to end up with at least 3 layers. You can use a bundt pan (my personal choice), or 8 or 9 inch round pans. You can cut the layers after baking into additional layers. Divide the batter between 2 or 3 or 4 pans if using round pans. Grease and flour whichever pans you choose.

Bake in a 350-degree oven until edges shrink slightly from sides of pans and tops spring back when gently pressed with finger, or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean — about 20 minutes depending on which size pans you choose. (The thinner the layers the faster it cooks). Place pans on wire racks to cool for about 5 minutes.

Turn out on wire racks; turn right side up; cool completely.

- FILLING -

8 egg yolks
1 cup sugar

1 cup shredded coconut

1 small jar maraschino cherries, drained (reserve a few cherries for the top)
1 cup raisins, finely chopped

½ cup butter, at room temperature
1 – 3 cups bourbon or brandy
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecan pieces

In a large saucepan, combine egg yolks, sugar, coconut, cherries, raisins and butter. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly until very thick. and mixture mounds when dropped from a spoon. Remove from heat; stir in bourbon, pecans, and vanilla. Cool slightly.

-TO ASSEMBLE CAKE-

Depending on which size pan you chose, slice bundt or layers diagonally to make 3 or four layers. A bread knife works well for this. The filling is placed between layers, not on the top or sides. Filled cake can be stored 1 week ahead if stored airtight in a cool place. If refrigerated, allow to stand at room temperature for half a day before serving because the texture is best when cake is not served chilled. Frost top and sides with boiled white frosting. I like to decorate the top of mine with a few maraschino cherries and pecan halves.

-BOILED WHITE FROSTING ( AKA 7 MINUTE FROSTING) -

1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup hot water
2 egg whites

Beat egg whites in a large bowl of mixer until stiff.

Combine sugar, cream of tartar, salt, and water in a saucepan. Cook rapidly without stirring to soft-ball stage (240 degrees on a candy thermometer), 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat. With the mixer on, pour hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites, beating constantly at high speed until frosting is shiny and smooth and will hold stiff peaks.
Put layers together (on a cake plate) with Lane Cake Filling, stacking carefully; do not spread filling over top. Cover top and sides with Boiled White Frosting. The frosting is thick enough to make beautiful swirls.

___

Before you go running from the kitchen, I have also successfully cheated by using a white cake mix for the cake, and then assembled using the filling and frosting. The filling and frosting are what really makes the cake!

I would love to see some links to your traditional recipes!

Mary Gray Danforth Wheat-A Pair of Mules Back a Wagon Off a Bridge -The Result

I introduced Mary Gray Danforth Wheat in the post Augustus Walter Wheat-The One-eyed Merchant of Marthasville.  This post tells the story of her death.

From The Atlanta Constitution, Oct. 5, 1886 -- page 11 Column 2

MRS. WHEAT KILLED.

A Pair of Mules Back a Wagon Off a Bridge -The Result.

By Late grandfather of JGKlein, inherited by father of JGKlein, used with permission [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A horrible accident occurred at Pope's bridge on the Chattahoochee river, ten miles from Atlanta, Wednesday morning, in which Mrs. Augusta Wheat lost her life, and her nephew was hurt, and narrowly escaped death too.
Mrs. Wheat lived about fifteen miles from Atlanta, and at the time she was killed was coming to Atlanta. Early Wednesday morning, Mrs. Wheat, accompanied by her nephew, a young man named Danforth, left their home in a two horse wagon, drawn by two mules. The day was a pleasant one, the roads were good, and as the mules trotted over the road, Mrs. Wheat, nor her nephew had no thought of the terrible calamity which awaited them. In reaching Atlanta it was necessary for them to cross the Chattahoochee river. Their most direct route was by the Pope bridge, and at that bridge the accident happened. A portion of the bridge is covered, and on either side of the roofed portion the sides of the bridge are protected by guards. When the team reached the bridge, the mules hesitated in stepping upon it. Young Danforth pushed them with the whip and they finally stepped upon the bridge, but advanced jumping, prancing, and shieing. Finally they came to the covered part of the bridge and stopped. The young man tried to force them on, but they refused to move forward and began backing. The young man sprang out, and grabbing one of the mules by the bridle, attempted to lead them over the bridge. He succeeded in stopping them in their backward moving and started them through the bridge but after they had advanced a short distance they again stopped and again commenced backing. The young man lost all control of the mules, and in a second they pushed the rear end of the wagon against the guard, which gave way. The instant the guard gave way the rear wheels of the wagon dropped over the edge of the bridge, and in another second the wagon was hanging in the air and the mules were on the bridge. The mules made a desperate effort to hold their own, but were quickly drawn over the edge of the bridge, and together Mrs. Wheat, the wagon, mules, and the young man, dropped into the river, a distance of eighteen feet. The water was not deep, and the instant the young man could regain his feet he began a search for his aunt. The search resulted in finding the lady dead. He carried her to the land, and then secured help from some one near by. The body was removed to a residence, and then several persons joined in recovering the mules and wagon. Both mules were badly hurt, and one of them died soon after he was taken from the water. The wagon was almost completely demolished. Mr. Danforth was considerably bruised by the fall.

There is also a handwritten account as follows:
Mrs. Augusta Wheat D 9/29
Res 15 miles from Atlanta beyond the Chattahoochee River was driving to Atlanta with her nephew F.W. Danforth in a two mule wagon. The team started accross Pope's Bridge on the river but balked and started to back up. The wagon was pushed against a guard post. Danforth having lost control of the team the guard post broke and wagon, mules, Mrs. Wheat and Danforth dropped into the river 18 feet below. Mrs. Wheat was instantly killed. One of the mules was fatally hurt and Danforth was uninjured. He is 50 years old and a well to do farmer of Cobb County. Note: was Mrs. Wheat related to Augustus W. Wheat?

The answer to that is yes. She is actually Mrs. Augustus Wheat. How do I know? Her nephew is Mr. Danforth.

I have searched for quite some time for the location of Pope's Bridge. I finally reached out to a facebook page covering Douglas County, GA entitled Every Now and Then I was delighted that +Lisa Cooper put a great effort into checking out the location for me. Jeff Champion of Champs Clocks was contacted. He is considered an expert about the stretch of the river in question. He started out by finding a map with the names of people living in the area:

Note the Pope families near the river

• From +Lisa Cooper : He is guessing that Pope’s Bridge is at the Highway 78 bridge crossing…the Bankhead Highway crossing. Look at the map he provided me. There were two Pope homes just west on Turner Ferry Road which is Bankhead/78. Turners Ferry was the crossing through the Civil War. I’m told the map was drawn in 1895 and represented folks in the area at that time.

The Georgia Genealogy page on Facebook where I had posted a query jumped into action, finding this article from The American Engineer, Vols 19-20 January 29, 1890:

Thank you to Shanna O'wen and Yvonne Mashburn Schmidt for finding this article!

I forwarded the article to Jeff Champion. Here is the reply:

"I attached a new map. The Howell Green ferry became Queen's ferry and joined with old Gordon Road near Charley Brown Airport. Near to where Six Flags is on the river. Proposed bridge would have been maybe where hwy 139 crosses now. That makes it look more like Green and Pope's bridge WAS in fact hwy 78 bridge location."


A few weeks passed, and I got an email from Jeff Champion:
"Pope's Bridge mystery solved, for real this time
Turners ferry is hwy 78, Howells ferry is at I-20 and Green and Pope's Bridge was old Gordon Road altered slightly when Charley Brown airport went in.

See the circa 1887 map. Sorry my estimate was off. OLD GORDON RD is the answer we were looking for."

Starting at the top, Turner's Ferry is the vicinity of the Current Hwy 78 Bridge. Then see Green & Pope's Bridge which is at or near the Old Gordon Road Bridge. Then see Howell's Ferry which would have been just North of current I-20.

Old Gordon Road doesn't go all the way to the river anymore. The roads were changed when the airport was built. The current location would be on 139, the bridge crossing Mableton Parkway SE and Martin Luther King Jr Drive SW.
This makes sense because if the wagon left Mary's home heading to Atlanta, it would have been in the area. Mary is shown as living in District 1273 in the 1880 Census.

For reference, the location of the bridge would be about one mile upriver from Six Flags Over Georgia.

Mary was the daughter of William and unknown. Her stepmother Mary Egerton Danforth. She was born about 1825, probably in Old Campbell County, Georgia. Her siblings were James, Alziria, Albert, John C, and William M. Her burial place is unknown, but probably in Douglas County, Georgia.