|
a.
|
Note: My aunt Ramona (Ramona Gray Bailey Rose), wrote the following about our Bailey side of the family:
"Our folks were born and reared near Bethel, N.C. Mama was the daughter of Sally and Edward Cherry, and Daddy was the son of Annie and Cyrus Bailey. Mama and Daddy united in a solid marriage on December 19, 1906 as a result of being classmate sweethearts. He was nineteen and she was eighteen. Daddy was affiliated with the Atlantic Coastline Railroad as a telegraph agent in Conetoe, NC. On October 23, 1907 Big Brother (Linwood Jr.), their first child, was born in Conetoe. Some time later the railroad transferred him to Port Norfolk, which is now called Portsmouth. While living in Virginia, Mama became very ill with typhoid fever. She was one of the fortunate ones to survive because so many others did not during that wicked epidemic. Mama was always a courageous lady and fought a good fight to overcome this problem Sister (Mabel Cherry) was born while they were residing in Portsmouth.
A few years later the railroad transferred Daddy to Hobgood, NC. He continued to work as a telegraph agent for some time, but Daddy was on the night shift and he could not sleep well in the day time so he resigned and went into business for himself. He did some speculating--purchased some small farms, bought and sold logs and I've heard him say he even shipped some of thje finer logs to Europe. Daddy bought some dry goods stores in Hobgood and also the Hobgood Hotel.
The Lord blessed him financially. Our father was a humble man and always grateful for his blessings and he use to say oftern that Mama spent the money wisely and each additional child motivated him to provide more. He was a very modest man about his success and did not take any credit for himself. Such a fine provider and Mama was always supportive.
Well, by now you know there are other Bailey children in the picture other than Big Brother and Sister. Along came Herbert, and there was Milton, then Ruby, plus Charlie, next "E", baby Ronald, and there's Clayton, and also Romona. They had purchased a two story house and as the family grew I understand they moved the home place bak some to enlarge the front yard and the house. A parlor, sun parlor, carport, screened-in back porch and two additional rooms adjoining the back porch were added. There was an apple tree and a cherry tree on the south side of the house. Have you ever tasted an apple from a Hogbood tree? Was delectible! A playhouse was built on the north side including electric lights. When we sat down to eat a meal after the blessing was asked we were exposed to different meats--like Hobgood frog legs, bird, squirrel, rabbit, venison, oysters, rainbow trout, and home grown chickes--of course, Hobgood style. With this many children dining together, sometimes we had several meats to please everyone. Kinda special to enjoy good food with that many relatives on a regular basis. The Waltons just thought they had it made!
|
