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Marie Reese
LOWn(i.PS County, Ala.
The Clif:ord Hawkins Family. Scene at
the Reese ante-bellum nlentation mnnsion
on Southwest outskirts of Lowndesboro.
From interview with Mrs. Hawleins and her
daughter, Mrs. Cecil Bozeman. Hawkins
family moving, address Hope Hull, Ala.
Bozeman address Lowndesboro, Alabama.
SALLI -ROWN
In the environments of the small village of Lowndesboro
is the remains of an ante-bellum plantation mansion which was built
in the early part of the lgnn century, by a pioneer for his family.
On down through the years, the pioneer has passed on, the children,
nine in number, left the home n st. The beautiful daughters graced
the homes of prominence in dif'erent towns of Alabama, while the sons
who were victims of the civil strife, are sleening in a graveyard
nearby.
After the family circle we.s broken, the old mnnsion ws un-
occunied, save by the memories and ghosts of other days. It passed
with the surrounding plantations, into other hands and vis, used to
hose he tenant farmer.
Its benutiful architectural attractiveness,
the memories of its former ,rendeur and cultural ntmosnhere were for-
gotten. Sentiment was a thing of the -"est. It urns nurchnsed by one
who chose to register the dollars instead of sentimental memories. The
tensnt femily moved into what ',s a mere 'shell" of what was once a most
interesting snecimen of the nlente+ion m-nsion of the wealthy fermer.
Sallie and her -Pemily, coneisting of her husband, herself and 13 children
were loved in. Sailie was mentioned first due to feet that she was the
"breed winn-r" and the resnoneibility fell on her eho-ilder. From the
concrete ribbon" which is the southern bounds of the smell village the
Sallie Brown 2
ton of the old house can be seen at a diotonce surrounded by a grove of
Pl_Pnt wllich no doubt sheltered the "Red Sticks" when they held
dominion over these environs.
Theapproach is m.de to the home by p. road which winds around and
about through a cotton field until the oak lawn is reached. Several
centuries old trees stand to guard the old mension, which had it not
been for the wonderful durability of the material used in its construc-
tion, would hove yenre no decoyed and been but a, memory. The out-
look w s one of bleakness and desolation. No yard, no fence or flowers.
The ten-nt family wero too buoy fighting for the necessities of life to
adorn their surroundings.
The beautiful rorticoes that were sunnortPd by m•ssive colonial
columns, the lovely shuttered blinds were all gone, destroying the tvne
and outlines of the once handsome house. Glosses that were once chrming,
and rare sidelif*hts end fanlights were broken out -nd /*enlaced with
1D-rds end p. nillov stuffed in to keen out the wind and dold.
Instead of stens, the entrance into the house was made by use of
a box, which did not look that it would stand ono's weight. The int,--ior
wee, far from being rePonpt, but was corresnonding in annepronce with in
arreorance witl* the eternal. Glolmy, emrty and most uninviting, the
windowo all out, wells dingy .)r.d all smoked un, cPused from cooking luo+
enyw_be-e with unouitole conveniences. Plaster falling in most nleces,
c-uoing re uneasiness that a piece might fell any minute end :four heed
might be reminded of how heavy it w'o me e in that 'eriod.
The large rooms and hallways were not suited to the furniture and
household goods of this tenant former femily. The beds and trunks and a
few other necesoary niec-s were virtually loot in the on-cious arprtments.
The fpmily had increased so rPridly, end the income hod foiled to make
same record, so they had no funds to invest in furniture end scarcely
comforts.
Sallie Brown
3
There were 13 children, whose birthdays ranged from high school
girls to babies, the oldest of list being fins which made the nethway
to P livelihood harder and more difficult. When the visit was made the
was called from the "washtub" and seemed plePsed to talk and no doubt
needed the rest from her laborious task. She entered with a baby swing-
ing on either side of her dress, and as a matter there were so many they
were in evidence everywhere, and what was said to be "sandwiched" in.
It seemed that necessarily she was at the head of the family,
She had to take the initiative. The old song "Mverybody Works at my
House but my old Man" was the "mot -o." He had a weak heart, the
doctors said CO and could not. Sallie endorsed him and excused him on
all sides, doing clouble duty and working her poor fingers to the bone
for him and his. While he sat with the weak heart in the shade of
the nearby stor-s, exchanging gossip and jokes with thole who chanced to
lingsr with him.
On Saturday, the week -end and marketing day, it WPS he who wont
into the city to trade and spend the money she had earned by hard toil.
She abd tge oldest children which ,ere mostly girls, tilled the land and
did their utmost best to "wrest" a scant living from it. TW had a
small cotton acreage, some corn and potatoes, etc. In addition a nice
small bunch of cows which gave milk enough for the home use and a small
doily shipment. Also she raised chickens, eggs anr3an excellent vegetable
garden, these helping out the family living expenses.
Sallie was strong, halthy and most cheerful. But despite her
willing mind are willing hand her expenses .could not be met and she was
compelled to"take in washing," at a few dollars a month. nnally see-
ing this was not sufficient, she ap-ealed to the charity neople of the
village and they gladly and generously went to her assistance.
Sallie Brown 14.
The members of Home Missionary Society took up her case and gave
them continued aid, however a humourous coincidence occurred during the
period of time that she and her cause were "under their wings". Sallie
was in need of clothing for the anticinated addition to the family. The
ladies of the Home Mission resnonded to the call with a suitable layette,
but When the "event" came about there were two additions made instead of
one, and the little outfit had an encore: It had to be duplicated, as
there were twy most adorable little girls. Little Mien and lielen.
History repeats itself, and believe it or not', ere many summers
passed she mpde the same appeal to the good ladies and they prenared a
second layette and little Herbert and Hubert arrived: Two most precious
little boys. Both sets of twins are identical and most attractive. About
this time the ladies were "outdone" and determined to give her a "call."
We're willing to assist in reason, but called a halt, as to "dunlicating."
Sally and fenny were Mormons or latter day .Saints and the belief in
large families were one of the most devout characteristics. They never
attended."Sunclay School and the attendance of services at a church other than
their own was strictly against their faith. Occasionally, but very rarely,
they went into Montgomery to worship and sometimes an intinerant Mormon
visited their home. Ap, of the children who were.the school age were sent',
via the bus tliat Passed within sight of their home.
with all the hardships
and handicaps in their pathways they reached out for an education and went
to school as best they could.
On an average about six went at a time and it was an uphill attemp
to eouip themwith wearing apnarel, food for lunches and books but where
the will is the way comes. Daily there was a mad rush to get breakfast,
fix lunches and catch the bus down at the Big gate on the highway.
Sallie sneaks of prenarations to this and the eding night. 114.ter
Sallie brown 5
the little ones are fed and tucked in bed and she begins and as many chi'dren
as she has to attend school she collects their clothing and makes as many
niles, consisting of clothes, cons, books, etc. so as to facilitate matters
next morning, when durin7 the cold winter morning the /ienton School lug blows
all too soon. The older children aseist with the smaller ones and while the
mother prenares the early meal and the lunch boxes which are mot often filled
with a large baked yam, they get in line and in readiness.
She lines them un in a row and. the little faces are scrubbed and heads
bruehed. N ture has teen most generous to them in regard to health and
apneerance. Each and every one is pretty and to an extent attractive and will
"get by."
As time passed two of the girls married. Two others got too "grownish"
to work in the field barefooted as they were accustomed to do. Edna, the oldest
girl married and rassed out of the nicture and as her family increased so
rapidly she most naturally had her own resnensibilities. Fannie May married
at fiftePn and also nassed from the household picture. Three babies in lese
than that many years was hernallotment". Her h-alth gave way and she had to
be cent to the Sanatorium for a while (thereby glving the hard werking husbond
who hod gotten a ood start) a set -bock. Grnce and Gene who were "near -twins"
and very rretty, 7ot "boy -struck" ned threw all ettentien to "good -thing".
The weak (7) hearted fnthPr still snent his time at the crossroads
stores and continued to discuss the crons, weather, etc., etc. stitulnted
by or oe-esienel "done". Thus it is seen that the ren:.:s of Sallie's force
ore thinned which at best wee too feeble.
Grece ran away and married, bl'.t stayed married only a short time. She
returned and by intercession of -•ind friends was nut on the 7.Y.A., a sewing
erojeet for young women. She nuts in two weeks at. $6.50 rer week and is
taught to sew. Also a certain mount of mrterial is given her free each month
for her -ersonel uoe and she is taught to make it. un on the project.
Gene is still -lurtinp" end Sallie irorking by day and worryinp by niPht
end bins to se- the "hand' ritinp on the Her help is inadeouate,
she can't "make the -r-e." By the harPs toll she has raised a nics.
lit -le drove of cows through the years. Many little mouths have yet to
be fed and little bodies cored.
"She thinks of t'e "mortpape now. Necessity forces her to "co tact"
.aim. He is herd. He entic01 the ne-,dy rrns-Pr't and after he or she is "tied"
hard fast, he seys his dollar has t,ro PaPlPs on it, moanina. he lends dollar
for do'lar. The farmer, "in tough" can't meet this, but too le'e he is "tied."
The victims have to pet someore else to ray him out, thereby eettinp dePrer
in the mire or he is closed out end has to bepin all over.
Also the landlord sees that the house room is wasted. Sallie's small
face is too wProc to rrodu-e. She is i.iven notice! The house and lend will
cash in" more being cc-u-ied hy larper family and she ,nd the flock is adrift.
As a consolation she is con^Pded a milk cow, eto., an for rotetoes and her
small amount of furni'ure. On movinp she will have to make a bo-tom start,
and in time her life's rroPrrm will be doubtles a renrPtition. She is bri:i.ht
and chp,rful, still "lova,. hr man" rnd seeminPly wi-linp to TiPPt life end
its herdshirs -ith r smile.
Sept. 27, 193g.
Ooripd Oct. 7, l'3.
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