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have written numerous family stories that record the last name as Pattison.
MY FATHER
by Telitha E. Cooper
My Father, Robert William Pattison, was born November 22, 1847 at Dalas, Georgia.
(Dallas is a city in and the county seat of Paulding County, Georgia, United States)
Despite the information from "Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939" the birth place
used for Robert William Pattison is from Telitha E. Cooper.
In Harmony with southern tradition, children were given several names
and nicknames. The Pattison family was no exception. Below is a listing
of the family members and the various names that they were know by:
Robert William was called Billie by his wife.
Emmaline full given name was Ethel Rilla Luranie Rendy Emmaline
Mason Ann Lucindy.
Mary Emmaline was also known as Mary Emmie or Mamie.
Telitha's given name was Martha Annie Telitha Elizabeth. She was
also know as Lizzie
Charles was called Charlie.
Sarah Olivia was known as Sallie Olivia, Ollie, and Libbie
Catherine Melinda was known as Kittie Melinda and Kate.
Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FP9K-VYG
Name: Robert Wm. Pattison
Death Date: 12 Dec 1921
Death Place: Miami, Dade, Florida
Gender: Male
Race (Original): White
Race (Expanded): White
Death Age: 73y
Birth Date: 22 Nov 1848
Birthplace: Atlanta, Ga.
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name: Emily Pattison
Father's Name: R. M. Pattison
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Occupation: Grove Owner
Street Address: 22 1/2 S. E. 1st Ave.
Cemetery: Woodlawn Pk. Cem.
Burial Date: 13 Dec 1921
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2116232
Reference Number: cn 12076
1850 US Census Paulding, Paulding Co., Georgia
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZYC-6GS
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Robert Patterson M 61 1789 Virginia Shoemaker
Martha Patterson F 45 1805 S. Carolina
Sarah Ann Patterson F 28 1822 Georgia
Elizabeth Patterson F 26 1824 Georgia
James Patterson M 23 1827 Georgia Shoemaker
Robert William Patterson M 5 1845 Georgia
1870 US Census Colquitt P.O., Miller Co., Georgia August 5, 1870
HeritageQuest Series: M593 Roll: 165 Page: 423
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MC3F-QSN
Household Gender Age Birthplace
William Patterson M 22y 1848 Georgia
Emerly Patterson F 23y 1847 Alabama
William Patterson M 7m 1870 Georgia
Martha Patterson F 50y 1820 South Carolina
1880 US Census Damascus, Early, Georgia
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8L5-D9F
Household Gender Age Birthplace
SELF Robert Patterson M 31 1849 Married GA GA GA
WIFE Emiline Patterson F 34 1846 Married AL SC SC
SON William D Patterson M 10 1870 Single GA GA AL
DAU Mary E. Patterson F 8 1872 Single GA GA AL
DAU Martha A. Patterson F 6 1874 Single GA GA AL
DAU Sarah O. Patterson F 4 1876 Single GA GA AL
DAU Clara J. Patterson F 1 1879 Single GA GA AL
Sister-in-Law Mary Merriman F 38 1842 Widow GA SC SC
MOTH Martha Patterson F 70 1810 Widow GA SC SC
Excerpt from "Family Moves to Florida"
In 1882, Robert moved his Family to Florida. After he had heard from a friend, Mr. Westbrook, he was encouraged to move to the area. The family traveled by wagon, train, boat and then train again. They took only what would fit in their suitcases. Mr. Westbrookmet the Pattison family at the train station and took them to Eustis, Florida.
It broke the children's hearts to have to leave Grandma Pattison in Georgia. She stayed with the Boatwright's and at the home of Zilphy Davis in Early County, Georgia. It was at the Davis home where Martha Annie King Pattison died in 1885 at the age of 60.
Excerpt from Life History of Emmaline Mason Ann Waller Pattison
Emmaline and Robert moved their family from plantation to plantation to plantation, Robert being an overseer (farm foreman) In 1882 they moved their family to Orange County (now Lake County), Florida. Later on Robert moved the family to a homestead in Blackwater, Florida (east of Seneca, Florida).
....... Sometime in early 1895, Robert and Emmaline sold their home in Florida and set out on a move to Texas. They were moving to Texas because Emmaline's half brother Jonas Waller was living in Texasas were some of her cousins. Clara and Kate were the only children still living at home at the time so they moved with their parents. Telitha related seeing her mother sitting in her chair in the back of the wagonas they set on their trek. They got as far as Blichton, Marion, Florida and must have settled there. Emmaline wrote letters to her children Telitha and Dennis postmarked "Blichton" for nearly a year. We assume that the oldest daughter "Mamie" must have lived in the area of Blichton because she wrote a letter to Telitha (February 16, 1896) telling that their Mother was gravely ill. Telitha who was living in Eustis, Florida was not able to go to her Mother's bedside. Emmaline Mason Ann Waller Pattison died on February 23, 1896 in Blichton, Florida. Emmaline was a little over 51 years of age. Emmaline was placed in a homemade coffin. It was lined with white percale and white lace. The outside of the coffin was draped with black percale and lace. She was buried at the Fellowshio Church Graveyard in Blichton. (Granddaughter Nellie Cooper Rogers has some remains of the fabric that was saved and sent to Telitha who was not able to attend the funeral.) Elias Thayer, a very dear friend of Emmaline, engraved a headstone for the grave. The stone read "Asleep in Jesus".
The 1890 US Census records were destroyed by fire
In the 1900 US Census R. W. Patterson lived next door to Eli Cooper Sr & Jr
1900 US Census Seneca, Lake Co., Florida
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M367-FZP
HeritageQuest Series: T623 Roll: 172 Page: 228
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head R W Patterson M Nov 1848 52 Married 3yrs GA GA GA
Wife Georgie S Patterson F Dec 1861 39 Married 3yrs 10 7 FL GA GA
Son Aldon C Patterson M Aug 1898 2 Single FL GA FL
Son Walter A Patterson M Nov 1899 6m Single FL GA FL
Stepson Guy O Tucker M March 1882 18 Single FL GA FL
Stepdaughter Effie E Tucker F April 1888 12 Single FL GA FL
Stepdaughter Eva L Tucker F July 1890 10 Single FL GA FL
Stepdaughter May E Tucker F May 1891 8 Single FL GA FL
Stepson Joseph R Tucker M July 1894 6 Single FL GA FL
Next door
1900 US Census Seneca, Lake Co., Florida
Cooper Eli F. Head M Feb 1859 41 Married 8yrs GA AL GA
? E. Wife F Jul 1873 20 Married 8yrs GA GA AL
James E. Son M Aug 1883 16 Single FL GA GA
Thomas J. Son M Dec 1888 11 Single FL GA GA
Mentie Dau F Jun 1893 6 Single FL GA GA
Next door
1900 US Census Seneca, Lake Co., Florida
Cooper Eli Head M Aug 1826 73 Married 54yrs AL SC SC
Elizabeth Wife F Jun 1828 71 Married 54yrs GA GA NC
Lowry Frank A. Boarder M Apr 1865 35 Single NC NC ?C
1910 US Census Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MVV4-CG9
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self Robert W Patterson M 62y Widowed Georgia England Ireland
son Alden Patterson M 12y Single Florida Georgia Florida
son Walter Patterson M 10y Single Florida Georgia Florida
Dated Oct 1941 by his Daughter, Telitha E. Pattison Cooper
His first name was Robert, after his father, but he went by the name
of William. His wife called him Billy. He was a small man with a light
complexion and golden hair, and beautiful blue eyes. He was a very nice
looking man, with a kind look about him. He wore a size seven shoe and
had very small hands. He never did any work with them to make them
grow until after he left Georgia and went to Florida.
He would not brag of his strength, because he was not a great big stout
man. As I said before, Papa was a small man, but he was able to do a great
many things and he did all that his strength would let him do. He was a jolly
man. He lived to be 79 years old and he still could see the funny side of life.
In fact, he never did "grow up" (I think she meant to be dour, heavy faced,
and grumpy. He had a high quick temper and in his younger days he drank.
He quit drinking long before I remember.
He entered the Confederate Army when he was fifteen, to fight for the
South in the Civil War. He was very small for his age and when he entered
the army he was treated as a mascot. During a fight or battle the men kept
him behind them, where it was safer.
After the Civil War he became what they called an overseer for his Uncle
Henry Boatwright, who owned a Plantation. Today he would be called a
foreman or manager.
He married my mother, Emmaline Mason Ann Waller, on January 11,
1868, at Blakely, Georgia.
She had a sister who name was Mary Waller Merrimon. A Widow.
Life History of Robert William Pattison
According to family records, Robert William Pattison was born on
November 22, 1847. His daughter Mary (Mamie) Pattison recorded
that her father was born in Macon, Bibb, Georgia. On the other hand
his daughter Telitha Pattison recorded that her father was born in Dallas,
Paulding, Georgia. Robert's Parents were Robert Pattison and Martha
Annie King. Robert and Martha had two children. The eldest, a daughter
named Mary, was burned playing around a bonfire and died at the age of
3 or 4. Robert had been married previously and had three children, Sarah
Ann, Elizabeth and James.
The 1850 Paulding, Paulding County, Georgia Census lists the spelling of Pattison
as Patterson. Below is the information gleaned from that census:
Robert Patterson 61 Virginia Shoemaker
Martha 45 S. Carolina
Sarah Ann 28 Georgia
Elizabeth 26 Georgia
James 23 Georgia Shoemaker
Robert William 5 Georgia
According to the writings of Mamie Pattison, Martha Annie King left
Robert Pattison around 1857. Taking young Robert William with her,
she moved to Blakley, Early, Georgia to be near her family. In a letter
written in 1915 to Telitha and Mamie, Robert explains different
circumstances. He wrote that his Father had died when he was 9 years
old. We do not know which of these conflicting stories is correct.
Robert entered the army before he was sixteen to fight for the Confederacy
during the Civil War. After the war he became an overseer for his uncle
Henry Boatwright (Martha Annie King's brother in law). Today he would
have been called a farm foreman.
The next time we have any record of Robert William Pattison is in the
settlement of the John Henry Boatwright estate. The estate settlement
states:
"To wife Zelpha a minimum (listed) of household goods and $75.00 for
support of widow and orphans."
Also in the estate settlement is a voucher signed on April 16, 1867 by
William Pattison, labourer, for the amount of $196.65 for labor performed
during 1867 and the fall of 1866. The voucher was signed with an "X".
From this information we can assume that he went by the name of William
rather than Robert. We will refer to him as Robert in this history at the
request of granddaughter Nellie Cooper Rogers. She says that Robert is the
name she has always used to refer to her grandfather, Robert William
Pattison.
Robert was a handsome man of small stature. He had a slim face and a fair
complexion. He was described as having golden hair and blue eyes. Robert
had small hands and wore size seven shoes. He had a high and a quick
temper in his younger days when he drank. Telitha related that she never
saw he father drunk as he had quit drinking long before she could remember.
Marriage Work and Family
Robert William Pattison married Emmaline Mason Ann Waller on January
11, 1868 in Blakley, Early, Georgia. This information was recorded in a
Bible that was given to Telitha Pattison at the age of nine (1882) by her
mother Emmaline. (The Archives in Salt Lake City, Utah has the
marriage date as December 12, 1868. This information was supplied to
the Archives by daughter Mamie Pattison. We assume the information
in the Bible to be correct, Therefore we are using the January 11, 1868
date.)
Robert never had the opportunity to learn to read and write as a youth.
It wasn't until after he had married Emmaline that this opportunity
came. Emmaline was the one who taught Robert to read and write.
Not long after Robert and Emmaline were married, an uncle had gotten a
lot of horses that needed to be trained. The uncle sent for Billie (Robert).
Emmaline was very worried but her husband was confident that he could
do the work. Robert chose the Negroes that he needed to help him and
started to train the horses. One of the horses seemed uncontrollable. The
owner of the horses told Robert not to bother with that particular horse
because "It didn't have any sense anyhow." Robert struck a deal with the
horse owner. If Robert could train the horse to drive around the town
square without the use of reins, the owner would pay Robert $100.00.
After the agreed upon time had passed, the entire town turned out to see
the demonstration. Robert hooked the horse up to a two wheeled racer
and climbed into the seat. He had no reins or lines to guide the horse
whatsoever. At the crack of the whip the horse started around the square.
At each corner of the square Robert would crack the whip and the horse
would turn the corner. When they arrived back at the starting place,
Robert called, "Whoa!" The horse stopped. He was paid the $100.00.
About that time Robert felt a need to strike out on his own and he quit
working for his uncle. Robert went on to be an overseer/foreman on
several plantations in Georgia. He had a way about himself that made
all who worked for him want to do their best. He was known to be a
good boss. The Negroes that worked for him had great respect for him
and would do extra good work to please Robert. Robert's daughter, Telitha,
remembered living on the Barebin and Kolemoky Plantations where her
father was an overseer.
On one particular occasion, a Negro had come to work under the
supervision of Robert. This man was known not to do his work and had
been treated shamefully on the other plantations where he had worked.
At the time of his hiring, the Negro told the overseer (Robert), "Mr.
Pattison, I will do my share of the work, But I get tired and have to rest.
I will work longer than the others to get my part done. Please help me do
my part." Robert was kind to the old fellow and the Negro proved to be a
good worker. Robert was always kind and patient to those under his
supervision.
The children born to Robert and Emmaline were:
Burton John 16 Oct 1868 Blakley, Early, Ga.
Dennis William 22 Dec 1869 Blakley, Early, Ga.
Mary Emmaline 28 Jan 1871 Blakley, Early, Ga.
Telitha Elizabeth 7 July 1873 Blakley, Early, Ga.
Charles 1 Feb 1875 Blakley, Early, Ga.
Sarah Olivia 3 Apr 1876 Blakley, Early, Ga.
Clara Jane 20 Nov 1878 Damascus, Early, Ga.
Catherine Melinda 12 Jan 1881 Damascus, Early, Ga.
Burton John died on the day of his birth 16 Oct 1868
Charles died 15 days after his birth on 15 Feb 1875
In Harmony with southern tradition, children were given several names
and nicknames. The Pattison family was no exception. Below is a listing
of the family members and the various names that they were know by:
Robert William was called Billie by his wife.
Emmaline full given name was Ethel Rilla Luranie Rendy Emmaline
Mason Ann Lucindy.
Mary Emmaline was also known as Mary Emmie or Mamie.
Telitha's given name was Martha Annie Telitha Elizabeth. She was
also know as Lizzie
Charles was called Charlie.
Sarah Olivia was known as Sallie Olivia, Ollie, and Libbie
Catherine Melinda was known as Kittie Melinda and Kate.
On each of the plantations where the family lived, the family was self
sufficient. They had a vegetable garden and raised poultry, cows and
other animals. They raised their own sugar cane from which they made
syrup. Robert was a good blacksmith and a shoemaker (he could make
the family's shoes). Telitha recalled watching her father build a fire by
striking steel and flint together. The children were taught to work and be
productive. As for schooling, the children walked to a one room school
where they received their education.
Robert's mother, Martha Annie King Pattison, lived with the family while
they were living in Georgia. Robert made sure that his mother had a room
to herself. The children would delight, when on occasion, they got to sleep
with Grandma in her bed. She was an industrious woman always spinning,
weaving and knitting. During their stay in Georgia other family members
lived with them from time to time.
Robert loved Emmaline dearly. However, as with the tradition of the time,
he wasn't openly affectionate. Men in that day took it for granted that their
wives knew they were loved. Telitha related that she knew her father loved
her mother because of his willingness to leave Georgia for the sake of his wife
and family. The following story was related to Telitha and Mamie by their
father years after their mother had died.
"Children, the reason I am working for myself instead of being and overseer
and seeing that the other man does the work is because of my religion and
for the sake of my wife and children. We overseers had a club and at the
meetings of this club we drank and told wild and dirty stories. Some of the
group would steal chickens and watermelons and many other things. It was
hard for me to go with the crowd and not drink. Of course, the other things
I never partook of so they did not bother me. I stood it for a few years but
they made fun of me behind my back. They knew better than to make fun
of me to my face. Then I heard of Florida and what a money making country
it was, so here I am. Making lumber was the chief industry of the country
and I could not boss because I did not know how. So for the sake of my
wife, who is an angel now and my children, I went to work under a boss and
have done common labor ever since."
Family Moves to Florida
In 1882, Robert moved his family to Florida. After he had head from a friend, Mr. Westbrook, he was encouraged to move to the area. The family traveled by wagon, train, boat and then train again. They took only what would fit in their suitcases. Mr. Westbrook met the Pattison family at the train and took them to Eustis, Florida.
It broke the children's hearts to have to leave Grandma Pattison in Georgia. She stayed with the Boatwright's and at the home of Zilphy Davis in Early County, Georgia. It was at the Davis home where Martha Annie King Pattison died in 1885 at the age of 60.
Robert soon got a job at the saw mill in the town of Taveres. This was about eight miles from Eustis. Robert's job was cutting logs. After the logs were cut, they had to be taken across the lake to the saw mill. Robert would nail about 40 of the 20 foot long logs together with planks. He would then climb on the raft and with a long pole, push the raft across the lake to the saw mill. During one of these crossings, Robert was caught in a horrible storm on Lake Dora. The raft had begun to come apart and Robert worked furiously to nail it back together. The whole town was down at the edge of the lake, some with spyglasses, trying to see what was happening out on the lake. The storm was so bad that Robert could not be seen at all. Finally, Robert made it back to shore with about half of the raft that he started out with. He was complimented on his courage and the prayers of his wife and children had been answered.
Robert's only living son, Dennis, was twelve when he worked with his father in the sawmill. On one occasion when the foreman was gone, the belt on the saw was about to come off. Young Dennis grabbed a stick and tried to force the belt back onto the saw. Unfortunately the force was too great and Dennis' hand was pulled into the saw. The hand was so badly damaged that it had to be amputated at the wrist.
Robert was known to be a brave man and not afraid of anyone. On one occasion two men, Drawdy and Pike, planned to kill Robert. There was only one way across the swamp and they conspired to ambush him there. Robert had heard the threats and saw the men ride into the swamp. Robert was armed and rode right into the swamp after them. As he approached the men, they got on either side of the path. Robert rode up close but not so close that they could grab his bridle reins. He jumped to the ground and told them that one of them was "his meat" and if they were not very quick both of them would be "meat." The men begged off from a fight and Robert had them mount their horses. Robert followed them to Mount Dora, Florida where he turned them into the local authorities. Some people said that he bluffed his way out of the situation because Robert had never killed a man. But, no one was willing to try him again for fear he would carry out his threats.
Robert was a prayerful man. His daughter Mamie and Telitha recalled being outside one night looking at the stars when their Father came out of the house. Robert did not see the girls and they remained quiet so as no to disturb him. He seemed to be in some sort of trouble for he had a worried look about him. Robert knelt down to pray. The young girls could not remember the words their father prayed out loud, but they said that he "seemed to pray for hours and that he cried like a child." Robert remained outside long after his prayers were finished.
Robert wanted to be his own boss again. He decided to take out a Homestead way out in the country. The place was east of Seneca, Florida and was called Blackwater. There was a shack on the property as other homesteaders had tried to make a living there at one time. Before long all of the money was depleted and Robert went out into the cypress swamp to rove shingles. Roving was a process of cutting down trees, sawing them into 18 inch blocks and then splitting them into shingles. The shingles were then smoothed with a draw knife. The older children, Dennis and Mary, helped their father with this work. The family made a good bunch of shingles, but they had no way to haul them to be sold. Robert struck out on foot, determined to find a team and wagon to haul the shingles. His wife Emmaline was very worried about him. It was a long way back to Tavares and all of the teams and wagons would be busy hauling lumber for the mill. One week passed and all the family had left was flour. Two weeks passed and the family was out of oil for the lamps. There had still been no word from Robert. One night, during the third week, the family heard a wagon rattling miles away and a man was singing as loud as he could. The whole family was overjoyed to see their father again. They all went to meet him except Telitha, who was very ill. Robert had brought coal oil back with him. The lamps were filled and lit and a fire was started. A dinner was prepared with all of the good food that Robert had brought home. While the family ate, Robert told his story:
"I walked up to that rich old contractor, Kelly, and asked him for a team. He looked at me and said 'can you managed a large team?' I said it doesn't take a large man to manage a large team and if anybody can manage a team, I can. So Mister Kelly said, 'I have some work contracted to be done and two of my men have left me. If you will do the plowing for me, I will let you have the team.'"
Robert's mind turned to his wife and family. He had no way of letting them know where he was or when he would be home. But he had to have food for they family, so he agreed to the work. When the work was completed and Robert was paid, he went to the large town of Eustis and there he loaded the wagon with the supplies and food that he needed for his family.
Robert used the team and wagon he had earned to haul the cedar shingles that he had made to be sold. After this was accomplished, the family loaded the wagon and they moved to Seneca, Lake, Florida. Robert worked there for Mr. Kelly many years. Robert had decided that he was not suited for homesteading and farming on his own. He did always maintain a garden for his family. He raised watermelons, corn, potatoes, and such.
Fish fries and picnics down at the lake were a favorite activity of Robert Pattison. He thoroughly enjoyed these socials with family and friends in the community.
Robert's mother, Martha Annie King, was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. She was very faithful to her religion but she did not teach religion to Robert or send him to Sunday School. It was her belief that a person was predestined to go to heaven or hell. She thought that if God wanted someone, the He (God) would call them to be saved. Robert's Mother did teach him to be honest and honorable. It wasn't until Robert was about forty years old that he aligned himself with the Freewill Baptist Church. He was faithful to his religion until his death.
Sometime in early 1895, Robert and Emmaline sold their home in Florida and set out to move to Texas. Clara and Kate were the only children still living at home at the time so they moved with their parents. Telitha related seeing her mother sitting in her chair in the back of the wagon as they set out on their trek. They got as far as Blichton, Marion, Florida and must have settled there. Emmaline wrote letters to her children Telitha and Dennis postmarked "Blichton" for nearly a year. We assume that their oldest daughter Mamie must have lived in the area of Blichton because she wrote a letter to Telitha (February 16, 1896) telling that their Mother was gravely ill. Telitha, who was living in Eustis, Florida was not able to go to her Mother's bedside. Emmaline Mason Ann Waller Pattison died on February 23,1896 in Blichton, Florida. Emmaline was placed in a handmade coffin. It was lined with white percale and white lace. The outside of the coffin wad draped with black percale and lace. She was buried at the Fellowship Church Graveyard in Blichton. (Granddaughter Nellie Cooper Rogers has some remains of the fabric that was saved and sent to Telitha who was not able to attend the funeral.)
Robert William Pattison married Georgia Ann Leforna Drawdy sometime after the death of Emmaline. Robert must have moved back to the Eustis/Seneca, Florida area. Robert and Georgia had three children:
Cecil Alden Pattison born August,7, 1899 in Seneca, Lake, FL
Walter Alexander Pattison born November 27, 1899 in Seneca, Lake, Fl.
Ralph Waldo Pattison born April 10.1901 in Seneca, Lake, Fl.
Robert's wife Georgia died on the 6th or 8th of November, 1903 in Seneca, Lake, Florida. Robert was able to take care of Alden and Robert but Ralph was raised by relatives. He lived with Edith McAllister for a while and then with Robert's daughter Mamie Stinson.
The rest of the information we have concerning Robert William Pattison is gleaned from letters he wrote to his daughters Telitha and Mamie. (These letters are in the possession of Nellie Cooper Rogers.)
During 1913, Robert was able to make two trips. He went by train to visit his daughter Telitha and her family that had moved to Arizona. He then spent a month visiting his daughter Clara and her husband who were living in Miami, Florida.
Robert's oldest living son, Dennis, died on November, 13, 1913. Dennis had been quite ill. He left a widow Lula and three small children. Lula resorted to staying with relatives and friends because she did not have the resources to care for her family. She did remarry. Unfortunately, at the insistence of her new husband, the three children were placed in an orphanage.
In a letter dated January 1914, Robert and his two sons Alden and Walter were living and working in Taveres. The boys are working with their father in the wood business. they were furnishing stove wood to the town of Taveres. The following is an excerpt from that letter:
"We are cutting wood, stove wood, and heater wood, fireplace wood. oak wood, pine wood, light wood, blackjack wood, willow oak wood, dead and live oak wood, water oak wood, hickory wood, long wood, short wood, big wood, little wood, straight wood, and crooked wood, dead wood and live, wood."
In a letter date November 1914, Robert and the boys are still in the wood business. They were contemplating moving to Eustis, Florida so the boys could work in the packing house. Robert's health was not too good and was having a hard time doing any productive work.
A December letter reported that they did move to Eustis. Robert was well and he told Telitha that he works every day but Sunday. "Remember I do not work that day." Robert was planning on doing a little farming. Walter Had taken a job with some rather rough people and Alden was milking cows in Mount Dora."
During the early part of 1915, Walter was working away from home. Alden and Robert had contracted to clear seven acres of land and they had earned $100.00. They had moved about a mile from where they were living to the main road between Taveres and Leesburg. There were a lot of automobiles traveling the road on Sundays and Robert enjoyed sitting in the yard to watch them. Robert was now 68 years old and he wrote the following in his letter:
"I have one wet handkerchief with tears and have now started a second one. It may seem foolish to you all for me to shed tears, but I can't help it. I am growing weaker and weaker every day. I am scarcely able to do anything."
During December of that same year, Robert wrote that he was not able to pick up 100 pound bags of cement and walk off with them anymore. His work load has changed quite a bit. He wrote this note to his youngest son Ralph who was living with Mamie in Mesa, Arizona:
"Dear Ralph,
I was so glad to hear from you and know you was well and doing so well. Hope you will be a good boy and keep your job and get your wheel paid for all O.K. Hope you will have a nice Xmas. May God bless you my baby."
By 1920, Robert was living with his daughter Clara in Miami, Florida. Clara wrote that their father was doing well and that while she was writing he was singing this song:
"When I was young I could kiss the ladies any old time. But now I am old and can't kiss them to save my soul."
Robert was always known to be a jolly man with a good sense of humor. He added a note to the letter explaining that Miami suits all of his family that lives there, but that he is not content.
"A farm is all that suits me...I want my mind employed. There is nothing like being on a farm and hearing the cow lowing and the calves bleating, hens cackling and roosters crowing. Step out in the morning and the horses nickering me for something to eat, see the corn, sweet potatoes and sugar cane growing, cow peas, sunflowers, kafer corn and mile maize growing for chicken feed, plenty milk and butter, plenty homemade bacon. I see my great mistake now when I spent money starting to Texas. I should have spent it on wild land all around me and went into farming. I am getting too old now to crave a fortune. All I want is something to eat, plenty tobacco to smoke, something to wear and a good time."
Robert was a true lover of the land and loved to work with it.
Robert contracted Dengue Fever. This was a virus spread by mosquitoes in tropical areas. It is not usually fatal but apparently Robert developed some other complications with this fever. His daughter Mamie wrote that he had a bad stomach with the Dengue Fever. At his advanced age, his body was unable to fight off the virus. Robert William Pattison died on December 12. 1921. He had gone to sleep on Sunday, December 11th and had slept peacefully. During the night, his breathing became irregular. At 10:49 A.M. on Sunday December 12, his spirit fled and he passed away peacefully.
The funeral was presided over by Reverend White of the First Baptist Church on December 14, 1922. Robert was laid to rest wearing a dark suit. The casket was covered with black cashmere lined with white satin. He was buried in a steel vault at the Woodlawn Park Cemetery near Miami, Florida.
MY FATHER
By Telitha E. Cooper
He is no 6 on Pedigree Chart No. 1
My Father, Robert William Pattison, was born November 22, 1847 at Dalas, Georgia. He was a small man with fair complection and golden hair, but his hair was not red. And as you can see by his picture he had a slim face. He had a short waist and beautiful blue eyes. He was a very nice looking man, and a man with a kind look about him. He wore size seven shoe and had very small hands. He never did any work with his hands to make them grow until after he left Georgia and went to Florida. He had a high, quick temper and in his younger days he drank some but I never saw him drunk as he had quit drinking long before I can remember.
He entered the army before he was sixteen to fight for the South in the Civil War. After the war he became what they called an "Over-seer" for his Uncle Henry Boatwright. Today he would be called a foreman or a manager.
When he married my Mother, Emaline Mason Ann Waller, on January ll, 1868, at Blakley, Georgia, he started out for himself. He quit being an "Over-seer" for his Uncle and had cotton plantations of his own and he rode a horse over them to see that negroes did the work right. But he did little of the actual work himself. He made shoes -in his spare time and was a good blacksmith but he really made a better boss. And he had a way with Him that made the negroes love him and they would do their work extra good just trying to please him.
My Father worshiped my Mother but he had a very poor way of showing it. Father, like lots of men thought Mother should take it for granted that he loved her. But to my Mother "Billie" was O.K. I know that my Father loved my Mother very dearly because it was his love for her and his desire to be the kind of a man that she wanted him to be that he left Georgia and moved to Florida where he had to do common labor instead of running his own plantation. The story I am going to tell here is a story that I did not know about until years after my Mother had died. My Father confided it to my Sister Mary and I. This is what he said," Children, the reason I am working myself instead of being an Over-seer and seeing that the other man works is because of my religion and for the sake of my wife and children. We Over-seers had a club and at the meetings of this club we drank and told wild, dirty stories. And some of the group would steal chickens and watermellons and many other things. It was hard for me to go with the crowd and not drink, of course the other things I never partook of so they did not bother me. I stood it for a few years but they all made fun of me to my back. They knew better than to make fun of me to my face. Then I heard of Florida and what a money making country it was so here I am. Making lumber was the chief industry of the country and I could not boss that because I did not know how. So for the sake of my wife, who is an Angel now, I went to work under a boss and have done common work every since." The first work my Father did in Florida was to Boss a sugar mill, but after the sugar season was over he had to do common labor. It showed that he was made of good material to come down from a manager of his own plantation to just common labor for some one else. And it also shows just how much he loved his wife and family even if he did not show it in every day life. But I also know that some of the reason for his success was the constant prayers of my Mother that Billie would do all right.
As my Father told in his story about the principal industry in Florida was lumber so he went to work cutting logs for a saw mill. After the logs were cut they had to be rafted across a lake to the saw mill. This raft was made by nailing the logs together with planks or boards, as we call them today. Then he would stand on the raft and with a long pole push the bottom of the lake to make the logs float the way he wanted them to go. As I remember it the logs were about twenty feet long and something like forty nailed together to make the raft. At one special time I remember he was out on the lake with a raft in a hard storm. Mother and all of us at home prayed so hard for him and his raft to be brought safely to shore. He was out in the middle of Lake Dora and the storm was so bad that it tore the raft to pieces, but he never gave up. He kept nailing the logs together again as they came apart. The whole town was down to the lake with spy glasses and field glasses trying to see what was happening to him. But the storm was so bad that they could not tell which bunch of logs he was on or even if he was still there at all. He came in on a small raft of about half the logs with which he started. As I said the whole town was there and everyone complimented him on his courage. Here again my Mother's prayers helped to save him.
My Father was not afraid of anyone or of any bunch of men. At one special time two men, Drawdy and Pike planned to kill him. There was only one way to cross a certain swamp and they knew he was going to cross that way. So they planned to kill him there. My Father saw them ride into the swamp and as I remember it now My Father was armed as he knew they had threatened him. My Father rose right on into the swamp and as he came near them one got on one side of the path and one on the other side. Father rode up pretty close but not close enough for them to get the bridel reins of the horse. He jumped to the ground and told them that one of them was his meat and if they were not very quick both of them would be. They begged off so he told them to mount their horses and go ahead of him. He drove them into Mount Dora, Florida and turned them in to the authorities. Some people called him a bluff because he never killed anyone
My Father was a prayerful man. Sister Mary and I had a habit of going out to look at the stars. And one night we were sitting there looking at the stars not saying anything when Father came out. We were quite aways from the house and he came quite near to us. He seemed to be in some kind of trouble for he looked worried. He knelt down to pray. I cannot remember the words but he prayed out loud and cried like a child. It seemed to us that he prayed for hours and then he stayed out there a long time after he had prayed. We dared not move for fear he would hear us and know that we had heard him.
One time my Father thought he would go take a homestead and farm and then he could be his own boss. we moved way out in the country on a homestead. Well, in time his money ran out so he went to the syprus swamp, which was near by, and rove shingles. By "Rove" I mean that he sawed the trees down and then sawed them into eighteen inch blocks. Then he split the block into shingles. Then the shingles were smoothed with a draw knife. Dennis, my brother and sister Mary helped him. They had a nice lot of shingles but could not get them hauled. So he struck out afoot to find a team and wagon to haul them. Mother knew not where he would find the team for it was a long way back to Traverese where he came from and all the horses there were busy with logging and lumber. One week past and all we had left was flour. Two weeks past and still no word from Papa. I had been very sick and we were miles from anyone. One night we heard a wagon, rattling miles away and a man singing as loud as his voice would let him shout. My what a happy family. All but me met him and I just can remember it because I was so sick. We were all so very happy because now there would be no more darkness. We had been out of oil for the lamps for some time and Papa had brought coal oil with him so the first thing a lamp was filled and lighted and a fire was made. And then all the good things that Father had brought with him were cooked. Then while we were eating Papa told his story. "I walked up to that old rich contractor Kelly and asked him for a team. He looked at me and said, 'Can you manage a large team?' I said, 'It does not take a large man to manage a team and if anybody can manage a team I can.' (Right here I would like to say that my father was a horse trainer in his younger days. So Mr. Kelly said, 'I have some work contracted to be done and two of my men have left me. If you will do the plowing for me I will let you have the team.'" My Father's mind was on his wife and he knew he had no way of letting her know how long he would be gone. But then they had to have food for us children so he agreed and went to work. And when he was paid he went to the biggest town which was Eustis and loaded the wagon with good things.
Father hauled his shingles and sold them. Then we were all loaded in the wagon and moved to Seneca, Florida and Father went to work for Mr. Kelly. He worked for Mr. Kelly for a great many years, I do not remember just how many. No more homstead nor farming for Father. He raised gardens, watermellons, corn, potatoes and all such things after his days work was done.
Now I will tell you about his horse training. When he was a young man his Uncle got a lot of horses to train so of course he sent for Billie. Mother was very worried but Father was not. So Papa chose the negroes he needed to help him and started to train the horses. One of the horses seemed uncontrollable. So the man Papa's Uncle was training the horses for said not to bother with that horse because it didn't have any sense anyhow. Papa said that if they would give him a certain length of time to train the horse he would drive it around the square without reins to guide it. I do not remember the length of time he was given but I imagine it was a fair enough time to train the house. The man said he would give Papa one hundred dollars if he could do it. The square was a square in town. Of course the whole town was very excited about it all and they had the square well squared when the time came. Papa hooked up the horse and with a long whip in his hand he got into the two-wheel racer and cracked the whip. He had no reigns or lines whatsoever to guide the horse. At the crack of the whip the horse started around the square. At each corner Papa cracked the whip and the horse would turn. Then when he arrived back at the starting place Papa said Whoa! and the horse stopped. He got the hundred dollars.
My Father was an excellent swimmer. He could out swim most any man both in distance and fastness. He could tread water, in other words he could walk in the water. I don't mean he could walk on the water but in deep water he could walk with his head and shoulders above the water.
My Father could not brag of his strength,because he was not a great big stout man. As I said before my Father was a small man. But he was able to do a great many things and he did all that his strength would let him do.
My Father was a jolly man. He lived to be seventy-nine years old and he could still see the funny side of life. In fact he never did "grow-up". He died in Miami, Florida, December 12, 1921.
Dated October 1941, at Mesa, Arizona
signed__________________
Telitha E. Cooper
This was told to Nellie Rogers the 7 of April 1963 by Telitha E. P. Cooper:
"Us girls got to talking about who was the best man and we all agreed that my Dad was the best man. One girl said she never saw him without a smile on his face.
"My Father was a chair maker. He made them and sold them to neighbors. He made them out of hickory. He was handy around the farm and could do anything like that."
Nellie says he made a trip to Arizona to visit her mother but she does not know the details. Clara Cooper Kinsey may be able to gives us more details this trip.
Note: All US Census records post the last name as Patterson but family member
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