Deja Vu: Isaac Stirring Up Memories of Katrina

Mention "Hurricane Katrina" and most people shudder at the memories left by one of the most devastating storms to ever hit land in the southern United States. Hurricane Katrina made landfall in southern Plaquemines Parish, just south of Buras, Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane at 6:10 a.m. central time on the morning of August 29, 2005.  At the time of landfall, Katrina was packing winds of near 125 mph east of its center.  While in the open gulf waters, Katrina had at one time been a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of near 175 mph.  As a huge and strong Cat 3 hurricane, Katrina brought widespread destruction and devastation to areas in several southern states, particularly Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.  It forever changed the lives of many people in the New Orleans and Mississippi gulf coast regions.  

Now, seven years later, on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall, another tropical system is wrecking havoc across Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as portions of Alabama and Florida. Hurricane Isaac made its first landfall at 6:45 p.m. CDT on August 28, 2012 over a small section of land in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana as a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph.After re-emerging over gulf waters and creeping along the borders of Louisiana coastline, it made a second landfall at 2:15 a.m. CDT August 29 just west of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.  

As Isaac approached the Louisiana coast, the minds of many residents turned back to the memories of widespread devastation and personal loss experienced from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.   Feelings of anxiety stirred hurried preparations for those in the forecast track of approaching Isaac. My husband and I are among those who vividly remember Katrina.  The days following landfall of Hurricane Katrina include some of the worst moments of our lives.  It is not an experience that we would chose to reclaim.  This past Sunday, when it became likely that Isaac was heading toward us, my husband and I made our final preparations for the storm- we fueled our vehicles, stocked up on canned goods and bottled water, checked our supply of flashlights and batteries, caught up the laundry and more.  We continually watched the news as updates came in regarding the strengthening of the gulf storm.  We hoped and prayed that Isaac would not become another Katrina.  

Though Isaac doesn't compare to the ferocious blow that Katrina dealt, it has still left behind widespread destruction and flooding in its path.  Here, in southern Mississippi, residents have been feeling the effects of Isaac since Wednesday morning, getting worse through Wednesday night, and expecting the severe weather to linger through late today (Thursday) and into tonight.  Since Isaac is such a broad, slow moving storm (moving between five to eight mph), it is continually dumping sheets of rain upon us.  It is predicted that some counties in southern Mississippi will receive up to 18 inches of rain before the system moves out of our area.  Naturally, local schools and several businesses are closed and residents have been advised to stay indoors as much as possible.  There have already been several tornado warnings posted throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Closer to home, tornado warnings have been previously posted in Pearl River, Wayne, and Hancock counties.  Wind gusts here, in Marion County, have been reported at about 35-40 mph.  Several reports of power outages have been posted while power companies are working overtime to restore electricity to local residents.  (Fortunately, we have not lost power yet).  There have been reports of downed trees and power lines and light structural damage throughout the area.  Additionally, Marion County is under a flash flood warning.  Pearl River, which runs through the county, is said to be already at 16.5 feet, while minor flood stage is 17 feet.  

Most recent radar image, 6:05 AM, Thurs, Aug 30, 2012

The above image shows the heavy rain slowly passing through the Columbia area where I reside. Areas to the east including Waynesboro, Leakesville and Wiggins are getting even heavier rain at present.  A friend of mine just posted on facebook that the downtown area of Columbia, including Main Street, is presently flooding.  That is bad news for several businesses located there.  

Downed trees across a vehicle in Columbia- one of the reasons people are encouraged to avoid driving during the storm (fortunately, the driver escaped shaken but unharmed)

Downed tree across a house in Columbia yesterday

Structural damage to a local business on South High School
Avenue in Columbia yesterday evening

Like most others, I will be glad to see the final remnants of Isaac fade away, becoming only a memory in the hurricane history records of the south. Realistically, I know that in the future there will eventually be another  hurricane as deadly as Katrina, but I hope and pray that I nor my loved ones will have to bear witness to such an intense, powerfully gruesome storm again in our life time. One Katrina was enough.  

Sharing Memories (Week 35): Ice Cream, the Old-Fashioned Way

Just one example of an old-fashioned
manual ice cream churn

One of my favorite childhood memories is the making of old-fashioned vanilla ice cream.  The making of ice cream was a summertime family affair, one in which my siblings and I could participate in together along with our parents.  I recall Mom getting the ingredients all together and spreading them out on the kitchen counter- eggs, vanilla flavoring, condensed milk, pet milk or whole milk and sugar (maybe additional ingredients but I'm uncertain).  She had to first beat all the ingredients together before pouring them into the bowl of the ice cream machine.  Often, my siblings and I would gather around in the kitchen and watch her while asking a thousand and one questions.  Dad would next pour ice and rock salt into the tub, surrounding the center bowl which held the ice cream mixture.  He then laid a large heavy towel across the top of the machine.  Then the churning began.  We each took turns manually turning the crank, forcing the center bowl to spin, while listening to the grinding of the rock salt and ice mixture in the outer tub.  As the mixture began to freeze, it seems the manual churning became harder, and that's when Dad would take over until the ice cream was ready.  

There's nothing quite like the taste
of good, old-fashioned homemade
ice cream- delicious!!!

I don't remember how long preparation time was- perhaps a couple of hours in all, but it seemed to take forever to us kids.  The best part of the project was gathering around together and devouring our bowl of delicious, homemade vanilla ice cream.  What a tasty treat to have on a hot, summer day!  Mom and Dad later purchased an electric ice cream maker which took the hard labor of hand churning away and Mom even became creative with ice cream recipes- I remember she once did some peach ice cream and blueberry ice cream, and from time to time we would have some extras for topping such as chocolate syrup or cookie bits.  I also remember a few ice cream socials with my Stogner family.   Not only was homemade ice cream a cold, delicious way to celebrate summer, it was also a way to celebrate family time and togetherness.  It has been many years since I've had a bowl of the old-fashioned home-churned ice cream but the dessert remains one of my favorites to this day.  I am particularly fond of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream because it at least comes close to the old-fashioned taste I loved as a child ;)

John Dubose (RS), c. 1700-1788, SC

My paternal 7th great-grandfather, John Dubose, son of French immigrant Isaac Dubose (DuBosc) and Suzanne Couillandeau, was born c. 1700 in Craven County, South Carolina and died c. 1788 in South Carolina.  He married first Susannah Lemonier c. 1725, daughter of James Lemonier.  They had one daughter- Susannah Elizabeth Dubose, born c 1728.  She later married Robert Lewis.  (Registry book of Prince Frederick Parish, Winyah, pg 55).  

After the death of his first wife, John Dubose married second Mary Whilden c. 1730.  She was born c. 1710, the daughter of John and Mary Whilden.  John and Mary Dubose owned land in Berkeley County, South Carolina which they sold in 1744.  They later moved to the Lynches Creek area in the Darlington District where John had received land grants by 1750.  As an old man, John Dubose was one of eight Duboses in Captain Elias Dubose's Company under the command of General Francis Marion in the Revolutionary War.  

Children of John Dubose and second wife Mary Whilden:

i.    Martha Dubose (1730-1808), married John Warren (RS)- my paternal 6th great-grandparents, see more about them here

ii.    Mary Dubose, married first Henry Sparrow, married second Josiah Clemmens (Clements)

iii.   Elias Dubose (1737-1789), Captain, served in the American Revolution; twin to brother Daniel Dubose; married Lydia Cassels

iv.    Daniel Dubose (1737-1801), Captain, served in the American Revolution; twin to brother Elias Dubose

v.     Elizabeth Dubose, born c. 1742, married Clement Brown; twin to Isaac Dubose

vi.   Isaac Dubose, born c. 1742, twin to Elizabeth; married his first cousin, Sarah Dubose, daughter of Peter; served in the American Revolution

vii.    Joseph Dubose, born c. 1745

viii.   Margaret Dubose, born c. 1747

ix.    Rebecca Dubose, born 1752, married her first cousin Captain Andrew Dubose, son of Peter.  

Information on the John Dubose family was obtained from the rootsweb page of Stephen J. Coker, who wrote about the family based on research done by Mrs. Leola W. Konopa.  (Click here to view information), and also on information published on the genealogy page of J. Liptrap, which may be viewed here.  

Death Certificate- Sabra Crawley Herrin

Certificate of death for Sabra Crawley Herrin

Sabra Crawley died 28 January 1925 in Lumberton, Lamar County, Mississippi.  The cause of death was listed as lobar pneumonia, and she had been under the care of Dr. Dubose for approximately four days prior to her death.  Sabra was married to William H. Herrin, who was listed as the informant on the death certificate.  The record also shows that she was born in Harrison County, Mississippi, the daughter of John Crawley and Polly Merrit (Merritt) Crawley.  

Death Certificate- William H. Herrin

Certificate of death for William Herrin

William H. Herrin died 31 January 1928, though his grave marker lists his death as 27 January 1927.  According to the death certificate, William was ill for 3 to 4 days with bronchitis, under the care of  Dr.  Mason of Lumberton, Mississippi.  The record also shows that William was a farmer and was of the age of 77 at the time of his death, which is incorrect, if he was born in 1857.  It also states the parents of William were Green Herrin and Cynthia Lott.  Informant was William's son, Albert Herrin.

John Warren (RS), c. 1725-1806, VA>SC>GA

John Warren, my paternal 6th great-grandfather, was born c. 1725 in Virginia.  He was in Craven County, South Carolina by the 1750's.  He married Martha Dubose c. 1751-1752, the daughter of John Dubose and Mary Whilden.  She was born c. 1730 in Jamestown, South Carolina.  

There are records of three land grants to John Warren in Craven County (later Florence County), South Carolina, the first dated 07 January 1752 (see following image) which included 100 acres on the north side of Lynches Creek, bounded on the east by Henry Sparrow.  Additional land grants included 300 acres on the northeast side of Lynches Creek dated 13 December 1764 and 100 acres on Sparrow Swamp dated 03 October 1769.  On 05 May 1758, John Warren signed a petition for a road to be built from near Lynches Creek to Charleston, South Carolina.

Land description, 100 acres granted to John Warren on 07 Jan 1752

Another early record showing the family of John Warren in South Carolina was the register book for Prince Frederick Parish, Winyah.  Before the American Revolution, the state church of South Carolina was the Church of England (Protestant Episcopal Church).  The church of Prince Frederick Parish, Winyah was one of the oldest in the state, formed in 1734.  It served part of Craven County between 1734-1768.  The old church register book contains the name and baptismal date of John Warren, "the Son of John Warren and Martha his wife, born December 18th 1752 Baptized May 29th 1753".

Excerpt from the Register book for Prince
Frederick Parish, Winyah, page 30, showing
 the name of John Warren

  

In 1775, John Warren served under the command of Captain Elias Dubose in the Volunteer Independent Company of St. David's Parish (now Darlington County), South Carolina.  His son, John Jr. and son-in-law, John Norwood, were in the same unit.  Also serving in the same company were John Pigott, Sr and his sons, John Jr and Nathaniel.  The Warren's and Pigott's maintained close ties and some of the members of both families would later marry and reside near each other in Liberty County, Georgia.  John and Martha's sons, John Jr, Elias and Joseph served the latter part of the Revolutionary War in Georgia under the command of General Andrew Williamson in the regiment of Colonel John Thomas.  In 1792, John Jr, Elias and Jesse Warren (and John Pigott) were listed as militia spies in the company of Lt. Colonel Daniel Stewart (see following image).  Jesse Warren was John Jr.'s oldest son.

Clark, Murtie June, American Militia in the Frontier Wars,
1790-1796, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

It is speculated that John and Martha Warren moved to Georgia c. 1780-1790, following their sons whom had been given land grants in the area around Liberty County.  In the 1805 Land Lottery list from Liberty County, Georgia, John Warren Sr was issued two draws, John Jr was issued two draws, John 3rd was issued one draw and winner, Penelop Warren (widow of Joseph) was issued two draws, and Samuel Warren was issued two draws.  In Bryan County, next to Liberty County, Jesse Warren was issued two draws.  In the 1807 Land Lottery for Liberty County, Martha Warren (widow of John Sr) was issued one draw and John Warren Jr was issued two draws.  It is assumed that John Warren Sr. died c. 1806.   It is also speculated that his wife, Martha, died c. 1808 in Liberty County, Georgia.

Children of John Warren and Martha Dubose:

i.    John Warren Jr. (1752-1821), married 1773 Elizabeth Perkins, daughter of Samuel Perkins and G Rees. She was baptized 22 Oct 1761 at Prince Frederick Parish Winyah, Craven County, South Carolina. John was baptized 29 May 1753 in the same parish. He served in the Revolutionary War in Capt. Elias DuBose' Company of Volunteer Militia from St David's Parish in 1776. He later also served in the 6th Company, Col. John Thomas' Regiment, Georgia Militia, February 1778, for which he received land in Liberty County, Georgia. They moved to Liberty County, Georgia, by 1783, were he was a deacon at the Midway Church 1791-1810, and Justice of the Peace in December, 1791. In 1810, they moved to Sandy Hook, Mississippi, on the Pearl River just opposite the point where the Louisiana State Line meets the river. After Elizabeth's death, John married 28 Jun 1816 Sarah Ann Watkins Lott, widow of Arthur K Lott.  

ii.   Mary Warren (c.1754-3 Aug 1831) m.12 Apr 1774 Capt. John Norwood (c1750-c1829) lived in Darlington District, South Carolina. (I doubt estimates of her birth in 1750, because she, too, would have been baptized on 29 May 1753, when 85 children from the community were baptized, including her brother and four cousins.  35 were baptized the next Sunday. 

iii.   Elias Warren (c1756-1825) m.22 Dec 1788 Susannah Burford married in Liberty County, Georgia, moved to Marion County, Mississippi, between 1817 and 1820.  Served in the Revolutionary War (see above notes).

iv.  Martha Warren (c.1760-1831) m. John Pigott, son of John and Elizabeth Pigott in Libety County, Georgia; moved to Marion County, Mississippi with other family members.

v.  Joseph Warren (c1760-between 1797 and 1805) married Penelope (Lott?) Ratcliff;  died in Bryan County, Georgia, one source says 1 Mar 1797;  widow Penelope had a widow’s draw in the 1805 Land Lottery. In March, 1806, in Liberty County, John Warren (Jr) was appointed guardian for Joseph’s minor children (under age 14) John, Sarah, Elias, and Solomon.

Some of the information on the children of John Warren and Martha Dubose obtained from Warren family group sheets, online history at Ancestry.com and from the research of J. Liptrap, click here to view his notes.  

New Book Released: Images of America: Marion County

Images of America:
MARION COUNTY

A new book featuring images from the past and some of the history of Marion County, Mississippi has been recently released thanks to the efforts of the Marion County Historical Society.  The soft cover book, published by Arcadia Publishing, has 127 pages and is divided into sections covering the history of Marion County including agriculture, education and worship, events and gatherings, industry, logging and railroads, Columbia, citizens of the past, Main Street, photos of homes in the area and natural disasters.  It is available through local retailers including Dutharene's, Cook & Fortenberry, Shepard's Pharmacy, The Round Table, and Main Street Gifts.  The purchase price listed on the book is $21.99 + tax.  

I purchased my copy a couple of days ago and I've enjoyed browsing through the old photos of our area and reading up on its history.  A couple of my ancestors, Nathan Lott and Henry H. Johnson, are among many pioneers from the area featured in the book.