Family History by Robert Monroe Fleming (Sr.)
Notes on Fanily History by Iva Causey Fleming
(Part 3)
Transcribed by Robert M. Fleming Jr.
I -- Another series of notes on family history by Iva Jennings Causey Fleming.
In April 1822, the senior elder of Little River Church was in the prime of mature manhood and in vigorous health that had never known interruption. What is life? Like the flower of the field it groweth up and is cut down. on December 22nd of that year the elder died. his illness was brief and painless. Perfectly conscious to the last, neither he nor any member of his family had a thought this sickness was serious until a few hours before it's fatal end. The congregation wept when met to deposit his dust. The faithful pastor came to weep with those that wept, and point to them the source from whence cometh help. The text of his discourse was, "Help, Lord, for the Godly man ceaseth". My Mother was then in her sixteenth year, heard the sermon, and many years afterwards often thrilled her children by her recitation of it's language. Touching their Grandfather's life, on the earth, and the recompense of the reward to which he had looked and with which he was then crowned.
The bereaved family were left in easy, independent circumstances. They had a good farm and a few good servants. Slaves by the local human laws, but kindly regarded members of the household. Whom the master and mistress had led in all the work of the family. The children had been trained to useful help. The first born, a daughter, then blooming into womanhood, was as bright as a ray of sunshine, lighting all the house and carrying cheer into all the relations of the family with their neighbors. She was her brother's ideal of all that is lovely and charming in a woman. She loved a find house and horse and from her early childhood had owned and rode one. She did not need a block or stile or gallant's hand, or the aid of a stirrup, to help her mount.
The widowed Mother had helped her Father rear his Motherless children, and managed his horsehold after they were all grown, and married before she married again. She had always shared with her husband at least equally the management of all their interests. Her oldest son, though only seventeen, was a good farmer. The way of life went on in this stricken home. The vacant chair became less and less noticed. The badges of mourning disappeared. The widow was yet on the sunny side of life. During the third year of her widowhood she married Major ?ezekial Howard, a gentleman of suitable age, of good presence and address. Whose company was pleasing to her. He was a man of wide experience in frontier life. He had the observing faculty, and that quality of imagination which pictured truly to his mind, at call, all the particulars of his experience. And enable him to project the picture on the minds of others. He had a lively humor, a kindly wit, infinite jest and an exhaustless fund ofanswers. He lived only a few years after his marriage and there was no off spring, from it, but he endeared himself to his step children. All of whom cherished his memory with veneration and tenderness.
Of the fruit of her first marriage six children survived the death of their Father. Eliza Adams, born April 24, 1804; Joseph Manson, born January 9, 1806; ?uliet Ann, born July 23, 1808; Rebecca Stevenson, born Sept. 16, 1812; Lilliah A., born July 7, 1814; John , born Sept. 11, 1819, died Sept. 16, 1819.
In May 1827, the eldest daughter married Joseph Causey. On Dec. 28, 1826 the second daughter married James H. Boyd. In 1831 the only son living went to Texas, then part of Mexico. On Dec. 27, 1832 the youngest daughter married Alfred Boyd, a brother of James Hall Boyd. And on Nov. 6, 1837 the third daughter, Revecca Stevenson married John Culbertson Long. The twice widowed Mother had no children in her home. Her function as Mother was ended. Mr. Long owned and resided on the farm adjoining that of his Mother-in-law. She sold her homestead and went to live with her son-in-law and and daughter who was the last to leave the parental roof. She lived with them till her death, which occurred Aug. 24, 1855. In this home I first saw her and them in in July, 1850. I remained with them for a few weeks and passed to Danville, where I was to enter Centre College, in Sept. From the time I was first able to write I had correponded accasionally with Grandma Howard. At her request I now promised to write to her stately so she could look forward to the time when the letters would come. I kept that promise substantially and was richly rewarded.
In the Spring of 1853, I learned through my letters from Texas, that my parents were thinking of visiting Kentucky in the Summer of that year. To see my Father's Mother and their kindred. The trip to Texas to "Blue Water", in Christian County was a trying one. Taking them two weeks time each way, instead of, a little more than one day in which time it can now be made. During those years, in the summer and fall seasons, yellow fever was epidemic at New Orleans, through which city the only eligible route ran. And numberous other causes made it debatable wether the visit would be made. How ever in one of my letters to Grandma I mentioned the possibility. She had given the hope of ever again seeing her only son in the flesh, and almost feared to revive that hope so lone cherished so,long deferred, and at last abandoned. This she wrote with toughing pathos, and after dwelling on her devout longing and patient waiting for the consolation of again embracing and blessing him, she said, "If the Lord does vouch-safe to fill the desire of my heart, it's voice will utter the grateful prayer of Ancient Simeon, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace."
Of course I sent this letter to my Father. It closed the debate. It carried the question. I received instructions to meet my parents at my Uncle Long's the first of July. I arrived there from Danville on the appointed day, but unexpected delays on the route prevented the prompt arrival of those from Texas. On July 3rd they arrived at the home of Squire McKenzie who was my Mother's brother, and who lived about three miles from Mr. Longs. My Mother stopped at her brothers and my Father took a saddle horse and went on to his brothers alone. A little before sun down the family were sitting in the yard, just in front of the dwelling, when my Aunt Rebecca remarked, "There comes a gentleman up the road riding Squire McKenzie's saddle horse". I turned to look and saying, "Thats Pa", ran to meet him. His Mother and sister met him in the gate and embraced him. Then said, "Manson, is this you?" Had the meeting been casual neither of them would have recognized him. Nor would he have recognized them. When, after staying with them for three weeks, he had parted with them never to meet again in this life, his Mother and sister continued to say, "Andrew is more like Manson to me". The theme is familiar and has been in man's experience from the beginning. But to witness such illustrations as this was will ever thrill the soul.
His wife and daughter came the next day, the anniversary of the immortal Declaration. He had but two children. An only son and an only surviving daughter. Both grown, the son, Andrew in his twenty-first year, and the daughter, Sarah, in her nineteenth year. The friends and neighbors called to rejoice with the re-united families. And their joy was full. The jubilee was not unduly prolonged. My parents returned to our home in Texas. My sister and I remained till the end of Aug., the close of our summer vacation. Then went to our respective schools at Danville and Shelbyville, Ky. Grandma Howard continued to,live in good health and happiness for the space of two years after our visit. On Aug. 24, 1855, "The Lord let His servant depart in peace." Born more than five years before the Father of her children, she survived him more than thirty-five years. Of their six children, who survived him, five survived her many years.
These five children had numerous off spring. To Eliza were born six sons and four daughters. To Manson, one son and two dughter. To Juliet, five sonsand four daughters. To Tillah, eight sons and five daughters. To Rebecca five sons and four daughters. In all fourty four grandchildren, of whom twenty five were sons and nineteen were daughters. Of those grandchildren thirty two were living on Aug. 24, 1855. And twenty five are believed to be still living in (1897).
The five children have joined their Mother on the other shore. The grandchildren, with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, form a host that, though widely dispersed, verifies in all it's constituents the experience and observations of David who from youth had not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread.
Mr Causey moved to Illinois from Mo. in 1835 and settled in Woodford County. The brothers James Hall Boyd and Alfred Boyd moved to Illinois in 1839 and settled in Christian County. On Aug. 30, 1846 James H. Boyd died and on Nov. 7, 1846 his widow, (my Aunt Juliet), married Rev. Joseph McCreary ?one. I never saw my Aunt Juliet or either of her husbands, nor her sister Tillah or her husband, nor any of the descendents of these two sisters of my Father.
I append to this sketch a letter of Mr. A.?. Boyd, of Lincoln, Illinois, that gives an interesting summary of facts touching their families.
In September 1870 I visited my Aunt Eliza Adams Causey at her farm in Woodford County, Ill. Seventy two years, the bearing and rearing of ten children and the toil incident to the hardships of a large household in a frontier settlement, had wrought their work on the springs of her physical being, but the force and flavor of her conversation showed the mature development of that brilliant intellect which had so impressed her brother in his youth. Her youngest daughter, Cornelia Letitia, had married Mr. Jacob S Cox, and they with their children, a son Calvin and a daughter named Flora, lived with Mother. Or she with them on the Old Homestead Farm. Her younger son, Calvin Emery Causey, lived near by and cultivated a part of the farm. Her son Joseph Lucian Causey, lived in the nearest railroad station town, Secor, three miles away. His wife and their one child, a bright daughter of about ten years of age, with him composed this family. Al l of these I met on that visit.
The family of Calvin Emery Causey I afterwards came to know well in Texas, where he was for several years, (1883 to 1888), my near neighbors in the town of Graham, in Young County. The other descendents of my Father's oldest sister, Eliza, I have not met. (Calvin Emery Causey was the Father of Iva Causey Fleming).
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©2009 Robert M. Fleming Jr.
This page was last revised on 29 August 2009.