Family History - and other matters.: 2021

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Mama Oeser's Oyster Dressing

Mama Oeser's Oyster Dressing

by Ann Oeser Kuhns

Ingredients are ready to be mixed together with the Turkey broth to make Mama Oeser's oyster dressing.

Equal parts cornbread, biscuits, and light bread, made a few days ahead so they can get a little stale, to soak up the broth. Crumble the bread and mix it together. Equal parts onions and celery, chopped.

I used 2 big bunches of celery and about 7 or 8 onions) 2 bunches of parsley; at least one dozen eggs and canned oysters. I also add to taste, poultry seasoning; salt; pepper. I boil the chopped veggies in enough broth to cover until tender and then mix bread, veggies, raw eggs, and turkey broth and seasonings. I usually set a little of this aside to bake for people that don't like oysters. Then I open the canned oysters, drain them, and mash with a fork so they will mix well with the other ingredients. Add enough broth to make the mixture a little thicker than a cake batter and bake until firm in the middle and lightly brown all over the top. 

I also cook my turkey the way that my Mama and Mama Oeser did. I steam it on top of the stove in a big covered roasting pan, this creates the rich broth for the dressing and giblet gravy. When the turkey is done, cover with butter and brown it in a hot oven.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Delana Lowe and others vs. Gideon A. Lowe and others.

Metropolitan Government Archives of Nashville and Davidson Co., TN

Davidson County Chancery Court Loose Records

Rule # 1638

Delana Lowe and others vs. Gideon A. Lowe and others.

Petioners - bill for partition and distribution of the estate of Gideon H. Lowe, deceased, late of Davidson Co., TN, filed May 10, 1856.

Delana [Delany] Lowe, widow of Gideon H. Lowe.

Richard Redding and Catherine B. his wife, citizens of Cheatham Co., TN.

Thomas R. Shearon and Mary J. his wife, citizens of Dyer Co., TN.

Joseph Willis and Tennessee his wife, citizens of Alexandria, Dekalb Co., TN.

Ezekial S. Gleaves and Elizabeth A. his wife, citizens of Dixon [sic] Co., TN.

Leonard J. Lowe of Gainsboro, Jackson Co., TN.

Against

Gideon H. Lowe

Sarah D. Lowe

Letitia A. Lowe

Anna M. Lowe

And Toney N. Lowe or Neri T. Lowe

All of whom are citizens of Cheatham Co., TN and under age of twenty-one years, and Alexander Lowe of Robertson Co., TN.

Complainant Delana Lowe is the widow of Gideon H. Lowe, deceased, late of Davidson Co., TN and the complainants Catherine B. Redding, Mary J. Shearon, Tennessee Willis, Elizabeth A. Gleaves, Leonard J. Lowe and Louisa E. Lowe; and the defendants Gideon H. Lowe, Sarah D. Lowe, Letitia A. Lowe, Anna M. Lowe and Toney N. Lowe are the children and heirs at law of the aforesaid Gideon H. Lowe, who died intestate at his residence, in the month of September 1853, said residence then being in Davidson Co., but now in Cheatham Co., TN

At his death Lowe owned; one tract on the north side of the Cumberland, near the mouth of Marrowbone creek, also one half of another tract called the meeting house tract, containing in all 570 acres. Another tract owned in common with Alexander Lowe of between 90 and 100 acres in Robertson Co., now occupied by Richard Redding and his wife, on the road that runs from Nashville by Sycamore Mills to Clarksville, about one and a half miles from Sycamore Mills.

List of slaves named in file -

Allen; Clary; Andrew; Peter; Blackstone; Marinda; Green; Daniel; Clayton; Levi; Harriet; Richard; Shepherd; Edney; John; James [Jim]

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

A good life

I am not formally educated beyond high school, but I have received instruction from some of the best minds of the Nashville history elite. I have been so fortunate to have John Egerton and Paul Clements as trusted mentors and friends. Many people in the local history scene have been friends and advisors. George Zepp, Ann Roberts, Robbie Jones, Tara Mitchell Mielnik, Tim Walker, David Ewing, Pat Nolan, Bobby Lovett, Linda Center, and Ridley Wills are among many who have helped and advised me along the way.  

I held a position for about 15 years at Metro Nashville Archives as an archives assistant. For 10 years prior, I had been a volunteer at the archives. Davidson County Historian John Connelly was a wonderful friend during those years. I worked with patrons who became friends. Others were found to be relatives sharing one family line or another. Visitors at the archives came in to discover the family history. Some were researching for their master's thesis or a doctoral dissertation. Some wanted to know more about a house's history or how a street was named. Working with authors who were researching material for a book was special. Dr, Mary Francis Berry was so impressive, and it was an honor to receive a credit mention in one of her books. I had an opportunity to work with researchers from the Kennedy Center Honors program by contributing photographs of a young Oprah from the Metro Archives collection. 

Every day I learned something new. I also learned to let go of long-held beliefs when facts proved they were not true. One of the hardest to let go of was Fort Nashborough. It did not exist. Though the settlement was called Nashborough in the beginning, the Fort was named the Bluff Station. When Paul Clements first told me this, I did not believe him. But after several years of research, I had to finally accept that he was right. 

My proudest accomplishments are in being married to Jimmy for over 53 years. Our daughters are wonderfully talented people, and our two grandchildren are hard-working and caring. Both worked in grocery and retail operations all through the pandemic. We never know how long how time on earth will be. I am hoping for ours  to last for many more years. I have so much more to learn and memories to share. The journey has been a good one so far.
 
P.S. Our granddaughter is now engaged and will be married in 2023, Hope we can stay around long enough to witness the next chapter. 

Debie and Jimmy Cox 2016

Thursday, June 24, 2021

A Saturday Morning Memory from Meridian Street

Debie Oeser Cox

This memory is from the early summer of 1964 when I was twelve, living at 1017 Meridian Street. I had awakened before the sun came up, which was unusual for a night owl like me. Our house was usually full of people. Mama was one of 12 children and Daddy one of ten children, so there always a cousin spending the night, and at times, one or more of Mama's siblings living with us.

On that morning, all was quiet, just Mama, Daddy, and me at home. I went out to sit on the front porch steps as the sun came up in the sky. We had a high, wrap-around porch on our late Queen Ann-style house. It was suddenly fully daylight, a cloudless blue sky. The weather was pleasant, not humid, and probably about 70 degrees.

The street sweeper was coming down the hill from Vaughn towards our house. The huge truck had rotating brushes that swept the street and a water spray to wash the debris into the storm sewer. The Purity Milk truck pulled up in front of Mrs. White's house, and the milkman hopped out and ran up to her porch to leave her order of milk and juice. There was a bird of some sort high up in hackberry singing a sweet song. I looked up and down the street at all the houses with neat yards and freshly cut grass, which I could smell in the air. Someone was cooking bacon, and it made me hungry. Across the street, Mrs. Newby came out to sweep her porch. Next door, my sweet friend, Ophelia Primm, who to a twelve-year-old was ancient, but was probably no more than 70, opened the door to let her little pomeranian out.

No one seemed to notice me sitting there. I decided that I would always remember that morning. I would keep that memory of that view of my little world forever in my heart. It is such a quiet, simple moment that it probably doesn't seem memorable, but it a piece of Meridian Street that I always have with me. I can call up the scene in my mind's eye, and Meridian Street is transformed to 1964.

1017 Meridian ca 1970

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Shelby Park Memories

We rode through Shelby Park yesterday. It was such a welcome sight after being cooped up all winter because of the weather and the Covid19 pandemic. A beautiful reminder that life is renewed every spring. Blooming trees, flowers, and seven baby ducks following their mother across the lake. Jimmy and I both laughed out loud when we saw them. As we passed the baseball diamond they were filled with people doing what they have done every spring for over 100 years.

Shelby Park was privately owned from 1892 until 1905. It was an amusement park with a bandstand and a dance pavilion, a flying Jenny, swings, a bowling alley, and more. The owners went bankrupt and the was in limbo until the city purchased it a few years later. Shelby was opened as a city park in 1912.

Click to read about The First Shelby Park

Almost every person who lived near the park in the old days spent a lot of time there. Before air conditioning was common in homes, seeking out a cooler environment was a necessity. From my mother I have stories of my great grandfather going to movies in the park, accompanied by a female friend. They courted but he remained a widower. Mama and her siblings grew up there. Running up and down hills and fishing in the lake. The boys would recover golf balls and sell them to golfers. When they were older they would caddie and even later played golf there.

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Golf Course
House is still standing in East Nashville

The girls went to social gatherings at Sycamore Lodge and spent time at the Mission House being taught crafts by local volunteers.

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Sycamore Lodge

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Mission House

On hot summer days, they would help their mother prepare and pack up supper. Their Dad would meet his family in the park. Blankets were spread on the ground and they would gather under giant trees in the shade for their meal.

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives

After eating the children would run to the playground. Some would climb the steps to the windmill. The others would go over to the boathouse where they could go up the stairs and look out over the lake. Their parents would nap under the trees and enjoy a peaceful time.

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Monkey Bars

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Windmill

Parks and Recreation- Shelby Park- Metro Nashville Archives- Boathouse

As they watched the sunset they would walk home together. My grandparents moved often but they were always in East Nashville and within walking distance of Shelby Park.