May 18, 2016
I spent some time yesterday making the two hour trip to
Blackville, SC to continue trying to stay ahead of Mother Nature at the
Reed-Odom graveyard. When I got to the field where it lay I was struck by how
easily we can let memories of the our past history be consumed by neglect and
simply not respecting the ones that made our lives possible in the first place.
We are, after all, nothing but a spot in time that acts as a bridge between a
life past and a life to become a bridge to another life to pass one day, our
own. This caused me to think how my future ancestors will to come to wonder
about my small place in the line of our family here in America. It took me a
large portion of my life to want to know about what made my lineage something
to take pride in and to reflect on the hardships they must have endured on
behalf of their families. My family past had the “unity” of a family structure
to face the difficulties of their time and it is most worrisome that we are
losing the same “unity” today. We need to get back to stronger family ties and
more respect for the trail blazers that went before us and left us a history of
their life and the gift of their name. As I cleaned the overgrowth from the
ground covering the eight graves in the Reed – Odom graveyard I found myself
mentally speaking to each as if they could hear me. Eight simple graves that
represent my family history today.
To my Third Great
Grandmother, Julia F. Odom Reed I said rest well, you are not forgotten.
Where in the world rest your husband John Reed? It would be most wonderful to
be able to respect his last resting place, as well. You were about 20 years old
when your father in-in-law Samuel died. Where can we find his final resting
place? If we knew we might even find your mother-in-law, Mary Clark Reed. So
much lost that may never be found.
To my second Great
Grandfather, John Wiley Reed I said, rest well, you are not forgotten. I
think you were called “Wiley” but will never know for sure. I have started a blog spot for your memory
at http://johnwileyreed.blogspot.com which includes the beginning of my caring for
your last resting place, http://johnwileyreed.blogspot.com/2012/06/reed-odom-family-burial-site-in.html
. I think you were, as most, a farmer that believed in being educated better
that most in your day. I believe you worked hard and achieved a status in your community
and raised a family that prospered after surviving the horrors of the War
Between the States. How disheartening it
must have been for you to have witnessed firsthand the sovereign rights of your
individual state violated by those who would come to oppress your life, destroy
your home and place a military rule over you during your youth. Thank you for your service in defense of your
homeland as I continue to renew the flag at your grave. I proudly place this
flag of heritage to the Confederacy States that opposed oppression of a
centralized government. A government that cowardly hid behind the civil right
issues of slavery to cover up the fact that without the riches of the
agricultural south paying taxes and providing goods, the industrial north could
not have survived. I cannot imagine how degrading it must have been to be
disrespected and violated by your own countrymen. It must have been even worse
on you and yours to have lived through the “Reconstruction” period of martial
law as well.
To my third great
Uncle, James Henry Reed I said, rest well, you are not forgotten. You are
well remembered by your direct ancestor, Marilyn Reed Thomson. She has made
your lineage well known to those who choose to know their personal histories
and lineage. She has documented and verified many aspects of your life and
lineage for anyone interested at http://samuelreedfamily.blogspot.com/
. As I refresh the flag of the heritage to the Confederacy States on your
grave, I say thank you for your service to your homeland and for standing with
your brother in her defense. I also send my admiration for your strength and
endurance for your survival of the war years 1861-1865 and reconstruction
forced on your homeland thereafter.
To my Great Aunt
Ellen Reed Birt Aldrich 1835 -1902 I said, rest well, you are not
forgotten. You married young to Cornelius Birt, Sr. sometime between 1850 and
1860 making you between 15 and 25. First you lost husband, Cornelius Sr. in the
service of his country, the Confederate States of America on September 14,1862,
when he was killed in action at South Mountain, Maryland where he remains. Rest
in peace there. You soon thereafter in 1869 lost your son, Christopher C. Birt
1853-1863 , at the age of 10. You next lost your son, Cornelius R. Birt
1862-1879 at the age of 17. Both sons rest here with their mother. You
re-married to John “Jake” Aldrich and again were widowed by the 1900 US census.
To my Great Aunt
Martha I. Reed Kemp 1844-1925 I said, rest well, you are not forgotten.
You married late in life (41) for the time in about 1885 to
a man 10 years your junior, Henry Kemp. You apparently had no children with
Henry. Henry was taken very ill and was confined to the State Hospital for the
Insane in Columbia, SC in 1918. You apparently went back to your maiden name of
Reed as you were registered as “head of household” on the 1900 US census.
To my Great Uncle
Kemp 1854 – 1919 I said, rest well, you are not forgotten. I know just enough about your life to hope
that you had in your 65 years some measure of a good life. Whatever caused the issue
that caused your actions to be committed to the hospital was a sad event in
your life, for sure. I hope you found a
quiet and safe place before your death.
To my First Cousins,
three times removed, Cornelius and Christopher I said, rest well, you are
not forgotten. If only you had had the opportunity to have lived to adulthood
and made your contribution to history. We will never know what could have been.
Rest well.
