McGraw story concludes; Roberts descendant seeks information

Last week we left the McGraw family struggling, along with all members of their community, to survive a disastrous summer season.

The community pastor had confirmed their fears that the world was, indeed, coming to an end. I've learned a little more about this story from Bobby Jackson of Peachtree City, who tells me the story took place in the Senoia area where the McGraw family owned land.

I also heard from another reader this week who is seeking information regarding Indian connections to her Roberts family in Fayette County. Her letter appears at the end of the McGraw story.

Once again, our thanks go out to Dr. Al McGraw, the author of the story about the freezing summer of 1879, and the East Lauderdale News in Rogersville, Ala., the newspaper that ran the original article.

Dr. McGraw continues his story:

"Every day for several months, friends, relatives and neighbors took turns visiting. They somehow felt much more secure in groups as they kept the long vigil for the end of time.

"According to Granny's story, there was hardly a night all during that strange, bleak, cold summer without a killing frost. No corn or peas ever made it out of the ground, but even if they had, they would have been killed by the frost. Neither were there many days when the heater wasn't filled with lighted logs.

"When, at long last, December arrived and the blasts of the north wind grew colder, most everyone began to breathe more easily.

"However, it was not until the warm days began to arrive in April 1880 that they began to believe the world wasn't going to end after all.

"Granny's family, along with several hundred other families, survived that year for no other reason than they happened to be blessed with good, unselfish neighbors. Those families who happened to raise more foodstuffs the year before than they needed for themselves, gladly shared it with those who were less fortunate.

"For instance, a farmer with a large crib of corn and two or three hundred extra pounds of dried peas and lima beans shared it with the needy. The same was true with those people who had several pigs, oxen, cows and horses, but no feed. Neighbors who did have extra fodder, corn, and so on, shared it with the unfortunates. To make sure that no person or animal went hungry, prominent citizens made their rounds checking on such things.

"Granny McGraw would always emphasize that all the people of the community were really close before the 'summer that never was,' but afterward, they became even closer.

"Ironically I was browsing through the school library one day a few years ago, and came across a book that was devoted entirely to strange phenomena, particularly in the field of meteorology.

"Surprisingly, I came across an account of 'the summer that never was' at the latter part of the 19th century.

"According to the account, the cold summer of 1879 was not widespread. It supposedly only covered some sections of the Eastern Seaboard states. Naturally, the people in those areas thought it was cold everywhere.

"That being the case, it is not surprising many folk of the area came to the conclusion the world was about to come to an abrupt end.

"'Many, many days,' Granny would always say, 'we didn't have a morsel of food other than some parched corn or hominy Ma made out in the wash kettle. We wouldn't have had that if'n it hadn't been for two close neighbors. For two or three days, they'd bring us a tow sack of crib corn. If'n the weather wasn't too bad, Ma would have us youngens gather her up some brush wood and build a big fire around the family wash pot. In the meantime, she and Pa would shell some of the ears of corn by hand. Then she'd take the corn and put it in the pot of boiling water. She had to boil it hours on end before it would even get tender enough to be called hominy. Course, the fact is, it never would have got tender if she hadn't used a big bucket of ashes.

"'On the days when it was too cold or rainy to get outside, Ma would parch up a big bowl of the corn. She'd rake out a big parcel of ashes on the hearth and roast the corn for us. Believe me, that parched corn was really sumptuous when a body is hungry. Some good buttermilk sure would have been good to have washed the parched corn down with, but we didn't have any milk.

"'One good thing about it, though; we had plenty of good, cold spring water running right close to our house!'"

One can only imagine the hardships our ancestors suffered when unseasonal weather or other disasters struck. I appreciate Bobby Jackson's sharing that story with us.

Turning to another topic entirely, Rynda Roberts Clark of Kenedy, Texas, is seeking Indian ties to her Fayette County Roberts family. Rynda writes:

"Dear Judy,

"I came across the Web page of your newspaper, The Citizen, while searching for Fayette County, Ga. genealogy.

"My maiden name was Roberts and I am the great-granddaughter of Joseph Roberts (b. 10 Oct., 1842/Fayette Co.) and Martha Jane Slaton (b. 24 June, 1843/or 44/Fayette, Co.). They married there in Fayette County on 14 Oct., 1866 after Joseph's time in the army was finished.

"Here's what I need to know. I have been told that his grandmother, Clementine (Fincher) Roberts and his great-grandmother, whose name I can't find, were both either Cherokee or Creek Indians. I hope you, or someone who reads you paper there in Ga., can help me out on this. It's about to drive me batty!

"Hope to hear from you soon!

"Rynda Roberts-Clark, 623 County Road 329, Kenedy, TX. 78119. E-mail: cryingdove57@yahoo.com.

"P.S. If anyone has a photo of either of the aforementioned people, please ask them to make a photocopy of it. Thanks!"

I appreciate Rynda's writing to us and I hope those who have connections to or information on her family will contact her.

We're looking for stories about your ancestors. Send them to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!