Trouble in Post War Russell County

 Dramitis Personae

Cops
Jesse Caudill - former Lieutenant Colonel, 13th Kentucky Cavalry (CSA)
John H. Candler - former Captain, 48th Virginia Infantry

Robbers
John Burdine - leader of the robbers
Thomas Cunningham - patriarch of the Cunningham family
Oliver Cunningham - son of Thomas
John Combs - son of "old Alex Combs"
Elkanah D. Snapp - son of William A. Snapp, married to John Combs' sister
William Snapp - either the father or brother of Elkanah D. Snapp

Witnesses
Philip Jerome Reynolds - served in 22nd Virginia Cavalry
Nat S. Dickenson - served in 16th Virginia Cavalry
Riley Suit - served in 37th Virginia Infantry
Elbert S. Fugate - noted Doctor in Russell County, paid for a substitute to serve in War
 
Thomas Cunningham lived in the Moccasin District of Russell County during the Civil War. He had a large family including his sons Oliver and Elbert C. Immediately after the war, in the spring of 1865, Thomas and his son Oliver were apparently connected to a band of robbers operating in Russell County.

The County Law Order Book for November 9, 1865 lists the various indictments against members of the gang.

[To be added - indictments]

The County Law Order Book for December 5, 1865 details an indictment against robber William H. Collins.

[To be added - indictments]


These excerpts from an 1890 Chancery case tell the story.

1890-23, p. 24

Deposition of P. J. Reynolds

QUESTION: Didn't you hear him [Thomas Cunningham] & his boys spoken of & discussed in connection with certain robberies committed in this & other neighborhoods in this county just after the war?

ANSWER: I didn't hear his name [Thomas Cunningham] connected with it as I now rember of but it was one of his Boys Olliver.

QUESTION: Didn't Oliver live at Thomas Cunningham's his father at the time of these robberies & did you not hear & understand that stolen goods &c was at said Thomas Cunningham's house & that he afterward returned said goods, or some of them?

ANSWER: I heard that Olliver belonged to the Robber Band I never heard that Thos Cunningham was connected with it until this morning in this yard & heard it from Mr C. H. Dickenson.

p. 37

N. S. Dickenson

QUESTION: Are you acquainted with the general reputation of Thomas Cunningham & sons for Honesty, Morality &c in the neighborhood in which they live? By Sons I mean Elbert, Elijah & Olivar.

ANSWER: Yes Sir I am acquainted with their reputation.

QUESTION: What is that reputation good or bad

ANSWER: Bad as to Thos Cunningham and his son Olivar who is now dead as to honesty. In the Spring of 1865 Thos. Cunningham and his son Olivar were connected with a band of men who where systematically robing citizens on Mocasin and else where and it was the common report and talk that Thomas Cunningham the father of E C Cunningham kept and concealed the stolen goods, his son Olivar who was actively engaged in the robbing was at that time living with his Father Thos Cunningham. I remember that N. E. Burdine told me that Thos. Cunningham returned Flour to him which had been stolen from him by this same band of robbers. Jessee Caudill raised a band of men in Spring of 1865 and shot two of the robbers and was upon the even of shooting others of them when it was agreed by them that the goods which they had taken should be returned by them to the parties from whom they were stolen as far as it was possible to do so. It was in accordance with this agreement that these goods were returned to Burdine by Thos Cunningham.

...

QUESTION: Who of his [Thomas Cunningham] neighbors said that he concealed stolen goods for the robbers state their names fully.

ANSWER: I don't remember but two persons one of them was John Combs who was one of the Robbers and who acknowledged this to me, and N. E. Burdine.

QUESTION: Did N. E. Burdine tell you that Thomas Cunningham belonged to or was connected with the Band of Robbers

ANSWER: That was my understanding.

QUESTION: Who is John Combs and is he dead of alive if Dead how long since he died?

ANSWER: John Combs is a son of old Alex Combs, and is dead. Can't state how long he has been would say 12 months or more.

p. 52

Riley Suit

QUESTION: Are you acquainted with the general reputation of Thomas Cunningham and his family in the naborhood in which they reside for honesty, morality, and general integrity of character?

ANSWER: Yes sir.

QUESTION: What is that reputation good or bad?

ANSWER: It is very bad as to some of them. They told me that Thomas Cunninghams house was headquarters for this robbing gang just after the war, and Thos Cunningham had the Futher reputation of having concealed the stolen goods of this gang on his premises. This clan stole a good deal from this naborhood and elsewhere. Mr N. E. Burdine told me that Thos Cunningham returned some flour & other things that had been taken from him. Mr Burdine said Mr Cunningham did this under and agreement that no more of them should be killed if the goods were returned. I suppose he was in the company that is what they told me. I understood his name was on the list or role when they captured the name who had the role.

p. 244

John H. Candler

QUESTION: Were you in any way just after the war connected with a band of citizens organized for the purpose of putting down a gang of Robbers who infested this & other communities of this County?

ANSWER: in 1865 I think I belonged to such an organization.

QUESTION: State if you know, who was the head of the Robbers & in what community did they belong?

ANSWER: John Burdine Bro of N. E. Burdine of this community was the leader most of the Robbers belonged to this community except a company brought in by a man by the name of Capt. Fauble [sic Caudill], his & Burdines Co were together a good deal here & in the lower end of the co.

QUESTION: Were you at any time along, when a search after stolen goods was made - if so, state when it was under what circumstances & where did you go to search?

ANSWER: I was a long when a search for stolen goods taken by these Robbers was made this was in 1865 after the Robbing was put down there was an agreement with those who had lost goods & property that said goods & Property should all be brought & deposited at Oak Grove Church in this community. We had a Pretty correct list of the Property stolen we found after Examining what was brought back to the Church that there was a good deal that had not been Returned. It was then that I went out with the crowd to look for the Remainder. We were told several places where the goods were probably deposited & told where we would find stolen goods. We first went to Elkana Snaps we found at his house a secret place for the reception of stolen goods it was under the back porch floor. Next to uncle Billy snaps we found a similar place there we went from there to Mr Thos Cunninghams as we went we met Ollivar Cunningham we turned him back & made him go back with us he was armed & we disarmed him we went to Mr Thomas Cunninghams and found a similar place there this place was under the cutting room floor were were were directed to look it was a right smart square of a place dug out beneath the cutting room floor.

QUESTION: Give me if you please some idea of the dimensions of this place beneath the cutting room floor was it recently dug &c?

ANSWER: A man might have stood erect in this place I speak of but I hardly think he could the place was pretty much the size of the cutting room it seems to have been dug since the stable was put up & it might have been dug a year of more & possibly might have been dug 2 years from the appearance of the dirt you could hardly tell when it was dug in fact I couldent tell when it was dug.

QUESTION: You stated that you went out with some men to search for a remainder of goods & property that had not been brought up, is this correct?

ANSWER: Yes sir.

QUESTION: Was not the property & goods brought back to the church, returned by the robbers in the most secret manner to the church?

ANSWER: That was the object of the church being selected in order that the Robbers might not be exposed.

QUESTION: As a fact did not your neighborhood believe that the whole Cunningham family was aware of these Robberies & of Oliver's part in them & that stolen goods were in their house & premises?

ANSWER: I believe that was the impression and general opinion at that time.

QUESTION: As a fact did not the place under the cutting room that you have spoken of have the appearances of having been recently used?

ANSWER: Yes sir I think it had it had that appearance.

p. 257

E. S. Fugate

QUESTION: State what you know if anything about the connection of the Cunningham family or any of them with certain robberies committed in 1865?

ANSWER: I never heard of any of them being connected with it except Olliver he lived at that time at his fathers Thomas Cunninghams. I have tried to forget their mother as much as possible more particular as Olliver was a good friend before and after this unfortinate affair that Olliver got into be acknowledged to being in this affair & by his being with them he saved me from being Robbed that is what he told me that it was through his influence.

I'll check the criminal court records to see if there is any more information on these robberies.

From The Desk Of..., Southwest Virginia Letterhead, 1874-1890

William J. Campbell Suffers a Fearful Wound

William J. Campbell was born circa 1826 in either Russell County, Virginia or Hawkin's County, Tennessee (sources vary.) His father's name is unknown, but he lists his mother as Elizabeth on marriage records. He married for the first time circa 1846 to Susanah Williams. She died and on October 2, 1864 he married Margarett J. McCloud. She divorced him in 1876. On September 21st of that year, he married for the third and last time to Mary J. Clark.

William enlisted in the 37th Virginia Infantry on March 10th, 1862. Apparently he was with that unit for just a short time, for he then enlisted or was transferred to the 16th Virginia Cavalry and was with the 16th during the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania in 1863. He fought with the 16th at Gettysburg and, on the retreat from Gettysburg, he participated in a skirmish at Jones' Cross Roads, just south of Hagerstown, Maryland.

In a letter to the editor of the Abingdon Virginian, Lieutenant Bernard H. Reynolds writes of this skirmish:

"During the fight at Jones' X Roads, Md., on the 10th of this month, Lieut. H. S. Fickle and privates L. H. Clapp, William Campbell and James M. Dills, of Co. A, and Jack Myers of Co. F, flanked a stone fence, behind which lay 60 men belonging to the 16th Maine infantry, and after about five minutes hard fighting, hand to hand, but not until they had captured about 40 of the Yankees and killed and wounded the balance. Just as they were taking off the prisoners, a Regt. came out of the woods, and they were obliged to let most of the Yankees loose. They brought out six prisoners and only had one man wounded, viz: William Campbell shot through the body, but is getting well. Clapp knocked one Yankee down with his gun, and while he, Clapp, had his knees on his breast, fired five shots, four with his pistol and one with his gun. James Dills shot a Lieut. as also did Clapp. By a Baltimore paper received this morning by a flag of truce, the Yankees reported a loss of 23 killed and wounded, and six prisoners."

Writing a letter to his wife on July 20th, 1863, Isaac Vermillion, a sergeant in the 16th Virginia Cavalry, writes:

"Bill Barnett had his left arm broken between the elbo & rist & Billy Campbell poor fellow received a dangerous wound, I fear it will kill him. I cant see how he is to recover. The ball struck him in the left hip passing through & out at his privates leaving a dangerous wound. They are both at Winchester now at the hospitle with hundreds of others in the same fix."

Beginning in 1867, the Virginia government enacted legislation providing relief to veterans wounded or killed during the War. In 1878, Campbell applied, stating:

"Applicant William J. Campbell after being duly sworn says that he is a citizen of this State and was a soldier in the Confederate States Army. That in July 1863 he was wounded by a gun shot from the enemy while covering a retreat of Lee's from Gettysburg Pa. That said wound was made by a minny ball shot by the enemy and entered his left groin & passing through the body. That 3 different pieces of bone worked out of wound from behind. That said wound has produced a permanent disability and prevents the free use of the left leg in manual labor. That he suffers constant pain from said wound and often it rises in his let groin and completely prostrates hime for 2 or 3 months at the time; during which times applicant cannot get about at all."

Joel R. Campbell, another Sergeant from the 16th Virginia Cavalry, attests:

"[I] was with applicant and helped to carry him off the field. that witness has lived near Applicant ever since the war and knows that applicant has been confined twice with said wound for 2 or 3 months, & perhaps longer one of those times."

Campbell's pension application is approved and he receives a one time payment of $60. In 1891, he applies for a yearly pension. This too is approved and he is awarded the sum of $35 per year on December 14th, 1891. No record is found of Campbell after 1891 and his wife is listed as a widow in the 1900 census; apparently William J. Campbell died between December 14th, 1891 and the summer of 1900.

School Picture at Jesse's School House

Here's a picture labeled "School at Jessee School House". Below is the listing of who is in the picture. The date is roughly 1910.

1. George Martin - son of Ballard and Daisy Martin. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 213, age 7.
2. Lucy Martin - daughter of Ballard and Daisy Martin. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 213, age 7. Twin of #1?
3. Mary Gilmer - Mary E. Gilmer, daughter of Lafayette and Margaret E. Gilmer. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 225, age 6.
4. Etta Mae Campbell - daughter of Harvey and Lucinda Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 223, age 8.
5. Unknown
6. Nancy Campbell - daughter of Harvey and Lucinda Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 223, age 11.
7. Dallas Williams - son of Charles P. and Annie Williams. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 236, age 8.
8. Homer Williams - son of Charles P. and Annie Williams. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 236, age 4.
9. Dwight Campbell - son of Edward M. and Maggie O. Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 240, age 9.
10. Ernest Campbell - son of Edward M. and Maggie O. Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 240, age 10.
11. Mabel Campbell - daughter of James V. and Mollie Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 215, age 10.
12. Elihu Campbell - son of Harvey and Lucinda Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 223, age 11.
13. Lola Jessee - daughter of Vince and Celia Jessee. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 226, age 10.
14. ? Sutton -
15. Stella Hawkins - daughter of Margaret Hawkins (#21.)
16. Rachel Campbell (Carter) - daughter of Harvey and Lucinda Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 223, age 14.
17. Russell Thompson - George Russell Thompson. Son of ? 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 226, age 12. Living with his uncle Vince and Celia (Thompson) Jessee (see #13.)
18. Ethel Campbell - daughter of James V. and Mollie Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 215, age 13.
19. Ada Tignor (Martin) - daughter of Lilbern G. and Mary Jane Tignor. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 222, age 14.
20. Judd Campbell - son of Edward M. and Maggie O. Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 240, age 12.
21. Magaret Hawkins (Teacher) - Daughter of Thomas T. and Rachel P. (Campbell) Hawkins. Not found in 1910 Census.
22. Doc Garrett - Unknown. Possibly Briscoe or Edmond K. Garrett, 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 235, ages 17 and 14.
23. Bill Campbell - son of Harvey and Lucinda Campbell. 1910 Census, Lebanon 59, 223, age 17.

[Update 10/6/2015]

See below for the honor role for this school in November, 1913. Several names are the same and grades are given.

The Love Story of Roena Burdine, part 2

For part 1, click here.

I told you there was a twist in Nathan and Roena's love story. This entire post consists of direct quotes from chancery cases and newspaper articles.

J. J. Dickenson another witness for complainant deposes and says in answer to questions. I am 69 years old, live in Russell and am a farmer. I knew N. E. Burdine intimately and he was my near relative...I knew Roena & helped to haul her from Abingdon when she was a child. N. E. Burdine bought her and Fannie her mother from Mr. Greenway at Abingdon & I have known her ever since. I knew her as a slave of N. E. Burdine and knew her as a housekeeper of N. E. Burdine....

Question: Was she a neat looking woman or what was her personal appearance?

 Answer: She was about three fourths white & like most women the neater she was dressed the better she looked. She was a very good looking colored woman.

C. C. Bolton being sworn & in answer to questions says. I'm 40 years old, live in Wise county, Farmer. I lived at Hawkins Mills from Nov 16 1882 till March 1889 in Russell county...Roena had been married but her husband died a number of years before I went to Hawkins Mills...N. E. Burdine denied being the father of any of Roena's children except Nan...Mr. Burdine seemed very much attached to Nan's children and treated them very kindly.

J. J. Dickenson: While Nancy was a child she ate at the table with N. E. Burdine & wife because he said she was his daughter and did not want to turn her off with the negroes and that he intended to give her a good farm.

Eliza C. Owens: When I first knew Nan she was a petted child in the house....I think Mr. & Mrs. Burdine took Nancy about with them in their buggy when she was a child...She was petted and spoiled as a child in the house & especially by Mrs. Burdine.

Mary P. Fugate: N. E. Burdine & his wife E. C. Burdine raised Nancy...She was a petted child...she had her bed in their room.

Clark Dorton: I have known N. E. Burdine ever since I can remember. Somtimes Burdine was agreeable and easy to get along with and at other times he was not, with some people he got along with very agreeably and with others he did not, he hardly ever had any body with him on the farm that he did not have trouble with, I mean that worked with him on the farm...Mr. Burdine was a very disagreeable man in his family when he was drinking. He was very quarrelsome and high tempered when drinking. He drank a great deal.

Jesse B. Fuller: Question: Was N. E. Burdine given to dissipation at times & to violent bursts of anger? Answer: As much so as any man I was ever acquainted with...He would get mad at you one day & curse you and the next day be friendly.

C. C. Bolton: At this time Mrs. E. C. Burdine was in very poor health, almost helpless...I heard it said by physicians that Mrs. E. C. Burdine had a female trouble.

Jesse B. Fuller: I knew the character of Edith C. Burdines affliction only by hear-say, it was commonly reported & commonly talked that she had something like the gravel & her water had to be taken from her.

 Nancy Burdine: Your oratrix and her mother had been slaves and had belonged to said N. E. Burdine, and after their emancipation they had remained with him and had served him and his wife for a considerable length of time in the capacity of house servants, and N. E. Burdine and wife were greatly dependent on your oratrix and her mother.

 Jesse B. Fuller: Question: Is it not true and so understood in this community that Roena bore several children to N. E. Burdine? Answer: Reports say so.

 S. A. C. Easterly: I was acquainted with Roena Burdine, I never heard any complaint from Mr or Mrs Burdine against her, she seemed to give perfect satisfaction.

 Thomas G. Hendricks: I was acquainted with Roena Burdine and first got acquainted with her about from 10 to 15 March 1883 when she moved from Russell county to Walnut Grove farm I then owned in Washington county.

C. C. Bolton: During the time I first knew Roena Burdine she lived on Mr Burdines farm in the farm house and moved from there to near Wallaces's Switch on T. P. Hendrick's walnut shell farm. She told me that she was dissatisfied with the way she was living or the life she was living there on Mr Burdines farm and that she was going away...Mr Burdine seemed to be very much troubled because Roena had moved away. He made considerable effort to have her come back. He asked me to carry a letter to her once and read it to her when I was going to Bristol & in the letter he made some propositions as to what property he would deed her and Nan if she would come back...The letter I carried to her was rather affectionate...When Roena was talking about going away from N. E. Burdines farm place I understand that her reason was that she could not live a Christian life there with N. E. Burdine the way they had been living...

Thomas P. Hendricks: Mr. Burdine seemed very much troubled about Roena leaving and he asked me to help him to get to move back...Mr. Burdine & I went across to her house & the conversation was in reference to her moving back to his farm...he told me that he would give Roena & Nan the farm he bought from Christopher Frick if they would return...she finally consented to return to the home of the said N. E. Burdine, upon the terms stated in the contract that was afterwards drawn and executed.

The Contract: Know all men by these presents that I, N. E. Burdine, of the County of Russell and state of Virginia, am held and firmly bound buond in the sum of Ten thousand dollars to Roena and Nancy Berdine, colored, of the same county and state.

The condition of the above bond are as follows: That I, N. E. Berdine will make or cause to be made a good will to the land that I purchased of Christopher Frick...the said land to be divided between the two parties...I also give to Roena Berdine colored, one fourth part of the stock, and of the grain, & mean, &c., and growing crops that may be on the farm at my death, all the household and kitchen furniture at said farm, I also give to her my Bank stock amounting to One thousand Dollars in the Bank of Abingdon. And I give to Nancy Berdine Five hundred Dollars cash all this property and cash to pass to the other parties by will at my death, providing they live and remain with myself and wife during our natural lives...

 Frank Easterly: N. E. Burdine decd was my great uncle. I have in my hand the family Bible of N. E. Burdine & it shows that Edith C. Burdine wife of N. E. Burdine died the 8th day of January 1888 & it further shows that they were married the 30 day of November 1843. I have examined the monument of Roena Burdine & it shows that she died the 1st day of Octo 1885.

N. W. Easterly: N. E. Burdine married the widow Burns in October 1888. It must have been in November of Decr 1888 or possibly in January 1889 that Nancy Burdine left N. E. Burdine's dwelling house.

Nancy Burdine: Your oratrix avers that, in pursuance of said contract, she and her mother, the said Rena, did at once return to the home of said N. E. Burdine, and they, together, lived with and served the said N. E. Burdine and his wife, until the death of said Rena; and your oratrix after the death of said Rena continue to live with and serve the said N. E. Burdine and wife, until the death of the wife; and then after her death your oratrix continue to live with and serve the said N. E. Burdine, until his death, which occurred on the ___ day of ___, 1897. Your oratrix did not live all the time at the home of said N. E. Burdine, for the reason that a few year after the death of the wife of N. E. Burdine, the said N. E. Burdine married again, and the wife of this last marriage did not desire your oratrix to live at the house with them, but the said N. E. Burdine had your oratrix to move to one of his farm-houses, where your oratrix remained in his employment, and rendered him valuable services, until his death.

Nancy Burdine: Your oratrix avers that she and her mother rendered all the service and performed all the duties, that they were to render and perform, as a consideration for what said N. E. Burdine undertook to do and perform by the contract above mentioned; and that it became and was the duty of said N. E. Burdine to fully perform said contract upon his part...

Richmond Dispatch, 9/16/1900: Nancy brought suit to enforce the contract by which the farm and back stock were to be given to her mother and herself on Mr. Burdine's death...The lower court decided against Nancy...

 Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, Burdine vs. Burdine's Ex'or.:  We are of the opinion that the daughter is entitled to the property which Mr. Burdine agreed to devise and bequeth her, and that the personal representative of the mother (who was made a party defendant to this suit by an amended bill) is entitled to the bank stock mentioned in the agreement of April 6, 1883. We are further of opinion that the widow of N. E. Burdine is not entitled to dower in the land which he agreed to devise to the complainant.

The Love Story of Roena Burdine, part 1

I'm going to tell you a story, maybe it's a love story. Well, actually, I'm going to let the principals in the affair tell the story, in their own words. It's a story that spans 50 years. It's a story with a twist. It's a story that eventually ends up in the Virginia Supreme Court.

This entire post consists of a eulogy written by Nathan E. Burdine, of Russell County, for Roena Burdine, written shortly after her death in 1885.

Epitaph on the tombstone of Henry first child of Roena Burdine Decd, & purchased by her, & lines selected

Henry Burdine died Sept 5/53
Aged 1 year and 9 days

Loved in life, in death remembered

Roena Burdine was born in the Town of Abingdon, on the 9th day of April 1836, was brought to this county of Russell when some five year of age, then a healthy stout child of very uncommon bright intellect for one of her age and sex, which continued to grow as she matured to womanhood, but at full age was destitute of any book learning, having been so situated in life up to that time and after, gave her no opportunity to be otherwise, but her mind being so very clear and sound, she acquired quite a store of good manners, good conduct, nice modest ways, sensible language for friendly and religious conversation. By observation from those she was frequently with during her years of raising that she made choice to keep company with and hear talk, sought and obtained such company as often as her circumstances would permit until she was, for many of her last years fully capable & competent to converse fluently with educated ladies and gentlemen, always tried to shun bad vulgar wicked company.

For many years of her young age she was required to work in the fields, as the man with whom she lived was a farmer and with such weak male help that her assistance was much needed, and she soon had to do her full part at every kind of work that could be reasonably expected or done by any female and was a willing and extraordinary good hand. After she was some twenty five years of age, she was required to take the oversight and management of all the housework in and out of doors, as the former mistress of the house had lost her health, after which time she managed the work doing the principal part herself, such as spinning, coloring, weaving, making the course clothes, salting meat, preparing the lard, tallows, soap, and all such ready for the use of a family consisting of some twenty or thirty persons, and at the same time had the trouble and care of four or five of her own children, all of which she done to the satisfaction of those with whom she lived as she did the field labor when younger. She was then requested and imployed as a principal housekeeper with the care entire control and management of all and every thing that pertains to same which she has done in every way for the past eight or nine years as near to perfection as the same could be done.

Never was known to act in any way in the least dishonest during her life for the last ten years, or more. She often had access to property and money, to the amount of several hundred dollars, that she might have used in a dishonest way at her will, but never was known, nor suspicioned of doing so to the value of one cent at anytime. She was always ready and anxious to advise her children and other friends the best & most honest ways to persue in all things kind and accommodating to her children, friends, and neighbors, expecially those that were poor & destitute. Loved to go to church as a Methodist, paid liberally to the support of the Gospel, according to her means, was a consistent member of the Methodist Church South, and died as the same on the night of the 1st day of October 1885, leaving five of her children and many other relations, devoted friends, and neighbors to mourn the loss of so kind and noble woman, which is very grievous with one whose loss is greatest and all that can be born.

A short time before she died, she was talking to some of her friends about her probable departure and future prospects of heaven and became so much excited religiously that she became quite exhausted and worried, and was told by her friend to try and resist and refrain from such that she had not strength to exert herself to such extent. Well in praising God so loud & so much as her then feeble condition would not admit of such. When she replied that there was rest for the weary, that she would soon be permited to praise God more perfect with lungs stronger, & such as would not tyre nor wear out, with loved ones, and friends that had gone before her and that was waiting and watching for her at the beautiful gate.

The writer of these lines knew her and all her ways, from five years old until the day of her death and have often, as has other friends, saw her as happy in the enjoyment of religion when at her house & almost alive while engaged at her housework as ever she was seen at any Church at the greatest revival meetings, and from such undoubted witnesses from her repeated talk of heaven and immortal happiness that she so often said awaited the redeemed spirits, the writer of these lines who lost all his help and company in her death, has living hopes that our but more especially the loss of one that feel it most sorely, that the same has been her infinite and eternal gain, and expects so to hope and think until the misteries of eternity are unlocked to his knowlege but to know this now if it were possible to obtain such knowlege from the heavenly world, would give more consolation and satisfaction than is expected this side the grave but if he could his grief would then end but not his sorrow for himself.

Perhaps it was two months previous to her death, she went on a visit to Washington County principally to see some of her children, a distance of some twenty five miles, on horseback, over mountains and hills. The journey in going & returning was too tiresome & wearisome for her then feeble condition & she never recovered from it but continued after she returned to her home to work and direct the same as long as she could, as she was never inclined to idleness. Some two weeks before her death she was compeled to surrender to the affliction which three skilful physicians called congestion of the brain and although the three that was called to her relief the affliction baffeled all their skill. For some eight or ten days & nights before she died she fell into a stupor or sound sleep so that it was very difficult to arrouse her, the greater part of the time during this stupor she appeared to be almost intirely unconcious, so that when she could open her eyes and see such friends as was at her bedside she would fail to recognize them except her friend that she had lived with nearly all her life, her children, and a neighbor that had lived on the same plantation for many years, that she had great respect for, being raised near each other & by the same connection.

And after all this history and description of her excellent character & qualities as a Christian lady, and how ever grievous to the friend whose loss was so great and that miss and lament her death most grievious, on the night of the 1st day of October 1885, at near 3 O Clock, death came and there was no defense; and the one that feels the occurance of the death most has strong hopes that immediately thereafter her dear spirit met those of her loved ones of whom she often spoke in her religious exercises while here among us, and that beautiful gate was opened to receive her happy spirit that was permited to go in there in perpetual and more noble praises to God through an endless eternity. God grant that her redeemed spirit may know in eternity, the uses of waiting & watching at the same beautiful gate for those she loved best and left behind and all her dear friends.

All the preceding and succeeding lines have been, & will be written for a present to Jas. D. Burdine in memory of his dear Mother and other friends, which the giver hopes he will read, keep, and think to observe her good example.

Epitaph on the tomb stone of Roena Burdine.

Born April the 9th 1836 &
Died October the 1st 1885
Aged 49 years, 5 months & 22 days

She was a tender mother here
and in her life the Lord did fear
We hope our loss has been her gain
And that with Christ she gone to reign

Loved supremely in life & remembered sadly in death

Selected and written by a very near friend.

Classic Car For Sale, Only $360!

The top photo shows William Bertron Campbell, in his Army uniform, sitting in the front seat of a 1915 Ford Model T Runabout. The year would have been ca. 1918, as he enlisted on December 6, 1917 and was discharged in March of 1919. During the war he was stationed at a hospital in Secaucus, New Jersey. The second photo is James Vincent Campbell and family, sons Maynard and James, and wife Mollie. Again the car is a Ford, probably a Model T Touring. The occasion is probably the funeral of Francis Marion Steele in 1925. Lastly, there is a bill of sale for a 1916 Ford Model T Touring car to William Elbert Campbell. Only $360. William Elbert was the father of William Bertron Campbell, and he married the daughter of James Vincent Campbell.