Eva Greenwood Diary Continued

Diary entries of February 13th, 17th, and 18th, 1897.

February 13, 1897 – Saturday

   It didn’t rain yesterday nor today, and this evening I went for a solitary walk in the field. But I couldn’t go far, for it was muddy, and besides I hadn’t walked for long that my legs ached. Yesterday I was right cheerful all day, but this was one of my dark days, and I’ve felt my dependence so much and have been miserable. Then, too, I have not felt well. I want to see my Pard so.

February 17, 1897 – Wednesday

   Poured down rain Sunday and Mon., but the sun came out Tues. today it began clouding up again. I do wish the weather would stay good, so the girls could get over. This evening I took a long walk in the field – Leo says I walked nearly three miles altogether – for I want to get my legs limbered up, so I can walk over home as soon as the roads permit. Besides my health depends on it. I’ve gotten into such a nervous state, and suffer so from my limbs jerking, that I’ve written to Duncan to see if he can help me. Mama is just up from one of her spells.

February 18, 1897 – Thursday

   Felt much better today from yesterday’s walk, and this eve took another, but didn’t go as far, as it was late. I spent most of my time in sewing, so by evening felt the need to exercise. Had a letter from Pard today, and she wants me to go over Sat. So I’ll go, if it doesn’t rain; but, oh! I’m mightily afraid it will. Mr. Gassic is come up that same day. Mama has been feeling miserable all day.

(to be continued)

Diary of Eva E. Greenwood

The Pearl River County Historical Society Museum recently came into possession of a diary written by Eva E. Greenwood in 1897. The diary was written in a 177 page record book as shown in the photo below.

   Eva E. Greenwood was born 12 August 1870 near Pointe Coupee, Louisiana and died June 1967 in Picayune, Mississippi, age 96. Her father was Alfred Johnston Greenwood, who immigrated to the United States from the West Indies and became a naturalized citizen. Her mother was Camilla Stevens, maybe from Yazoo City, Mississippi. She had an older brother, Alfred Lionel Greenwood, born in 1868. According to early 1900s census records, Eva's mother gave birth to six children, only two of which apparently reached adulthood.
   Eva Greenwood was a school teacher in the area of Louisiana known as 'White Castle' for many years. In addition to writing in her journal she was also a prolific reader. The inside back cover lists 45 books she read in 1898. A note at the bottom of the page gives the total books read as 90. A family story indicates she became almost totally blind in her later years.
  Research has not turned up any information about when Eva moved to Picayune, Mississippi or exactly where she lived. Her brother's son, Alfred Lionel Greenwood, Jr. was apparently caring for her in Picayune. The records indicate that he passed away in Picayune in 1973. Since her nephew was a 'sugar chemist' there is some speculation the he may have moved to Picayune with his Aunt Eva to work for Crosby Chemical Company. To date, no evidence has been found to confirm or deny this speculation.
   As the diary is transcribed, excerpts will be posted on this blog, so check back from time to time.

February 7, 1897 -- Sunday

   I’ve been so long without a book that I couldn’t keep up my record and now it’s too late to go back and gather up the threads. In my last book I said I’d write here an account of our moving, but it’s so hard to open old wounds and go over painful scenes. The leaving that old house where the happiest days of my life were passed was the most painful event of my varied life. My heart seemed torn asunder, and I felt I was leaving life, youth, and happiness forever behind me. The last day I was at the house alone, for Mama came over here in the morning, and I was miserable enough. But I had one ray of sunshine – Dodd and Jack Booth came to tell me goodbye, and stayed with me nearly an hour. They hated to go then and leave me alone, but had to go to their work. As they went out, I saw Dodd’s eyes rest on the little gate, where we’ve spent so many happy hours, and I know his thoughts and mine were the same. In the evening when the last things were out of the house, I went to tell everyone goodbye, and then started off alone for this place and a new and strange life. As I turned the key in the door of that dear old house, I felt as if I was locking happiness behind me – shutting myself out into a cold and desolate world.

   Life here is a dreary monotony, a dull and uneventful existence. There is nothing to do, and the bread dependence is hard to eat. Were it not for Mama I would not stay; for while Leo is a s good as he can be, Daisy is nearly always cross and grum, and makes us feel miserable. But Mama is never well, and she is all I have left, so I cannot leave her. Ah! Well, perhaps God will have mercy on the fatherless.

   I always clean up our room myself, so the servants will have nothing to do for us, and I took all the lamps in charge. So I am not perfectly idle.

   We have an upstairs room, and our own things in it, so it is the only part of the house that seems like home, and in it I spend all my time.

   I’ve been over home (that neighborhood will always be home to me) twice, to see the Smith’s. The first time I spent the evening. Anais came home on the 29^th (Fri.) and I went over Sat. and stayed ‘til Tues. evening. It was so good to be there and to have my Pard back again. They were all so good to me, and seem to love me so. I would have stayed longer but was worried about Mama. The children being around me, and Charlie especially was devoted to me. Pard has gotten stout but does not look well. I did not get to see D—alone, for some of the others were with me always, but he was mighty nice to me. Mr. Judice as there Sunday.

  After they brought me back, I was lonelier than ever for a few days. La. was to have come over yesterday, but bad weather prevented. I am longing to see some of them again. When grinding was over, Seaton came to see us, before he returned home. He still writes, and sent me his picture Thurs. It is a splendid one. Miss Julia and Lila were her today.

February 9, 1897 -- Tuesday

   What is there to write about? One day is so like another, that when I’ve written one I’ve written all. Every morning I get up with the determination to conquer my feelings – to be cheerful & hide my discontent, all day it is a hard fight, and every night finds me beaten. Oh! I dare not think; for when I do, I feel as if my very heart will burst. Will I ever know real happiness again? My heart answers “Never.”

   I had a letter from Pard today. She is spending the week in town, as she begins teaching Monday. She says she nearly went crazy Sunday, at the thought that I was not there for her to go see. How many Sundays, and other days too, have I felt the same!

February 11, 1897 -- Thursday 

   Have been dreadfully homesick today; but tonight had a romp with Ivey, and it made me feel better. Leo went to the City today, to see Kracke on business. Somehow I hated to see him go and it has seemed lonely since, without him. Mama has been right sick with a headache. It has been raining all the week, & there is no getting out. I’m pining for a walk. Leo weighed me yesterday & I weighed 93 pounds.

(to be continued)

The USS California at Pearl Harbor

   On the morning of December 7, 1941, California was moored starboard side to Berth F-3 on the southeastern side of Ford Island. California was the southernmost ship along Battleship Row. The ship was undergoing preparations for material inspection and therefore the normally closed watertight doors were open on that fateful morning. At the time of the attack, two of her 5-inch guns and two of her .50-cal. machine guns were designated as ready guns
California sounded general quarters at 0750, and all hands began to man their battle stations and to set Condition Zed. Lt. Cmdr. Marion N. Little, the ship’s first lieutenant, was the senior officer present on board, and immediately took command and ordered the gunners to man their guns, and for the ships company to make preparations to get underway.
   As the gunners opened fire on the Japanese attack planes, a pair of Nakamima B5N torpedo bombers, approached the California and released their torpedoes toward the ship. Both hit the ship, one forward and the other aft. Because of the open doors and manholes the California began to fill with water and list to port 4 to 6 degrees. An order to counter-flood on the starboard side to help counteract the listing to port was given. However, the flooding on the port side continued to spread.
   At 0845 a bomb, believed to have been one of the modified 16-inch (410 mm) armor-piercing shells, struck on the starboard side. The bomb penetrated the upper deck, ricocheted off the second deck and detonated in the interior of the ship, causing extensive damage and killing about 50 men. The flooding continued and the California settled into the mud of the harbor.
   In the course of the attack, 98 men were killed and 61 were wounded. One of the sailors wounded was Seaman 1c Charles H. Byrd of Pearl River County Mississippi. Seaman Byrd enlisted in the Navy on 17 June 1941 and following basic training was received on board the California on 14 August 1941. Following the attack he was transferred  to the U. S. Naval Hospital -- Pearl Harbor where he remained until transferred back to the California on 28 February 1942. While he was in the hospital, the hull was patched, water pumped out and the ship finally re-floated on 25 March 1942.
   Charles continued in service with the California as the ship was repaired and moved out of dry dock under it own power and remained in port until 10 October 1942. Departing Pearl Harbor, the California met the destroyer Gansevoort at sea and the two vessels proceeded to Puget Sound, where the California would undergo major repairs and renovations, returning to service in the Marshall Islands on 8 June 1944.
   On 30 March 1944 Charles Byrd transferred to the newly commissioned Patrol Craft Escort, USS PCE (R) 848 with the rank of BM2c. The navy converted the hospital space on the PCE ships to communications centers and the USS PCE (R) 848 sailed to Hollandia, New Guinea in late September 1944. The ship was damaged by a horizonal bomber (kamikaze) on 27 October 1944. The ship was present in Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremony in September 1945. Returning home at the end of the war, Charles Byrd was a survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the kamikaze attacks on the American Navy at the close of the war. [1] [2]


[1]  (https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/california-v.html). Dictionary of American Naval fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
[2]Fold3.com. Retrieved 15 May 2019.

Kanteen Girls of Picayune

Kanteen Girls Enjoy Voyage on S.S. President[1]  

   “The finale for Kanteen Picayune took place in New Orleans last Saturday night with several Kanteen girls and their guests attending. Nine Kanteen girls attended this function, as follows:

Acel Ross Mitchell, director; Sue Goodwin, assistant director; Mary Jane Moore, first lieutenant; Marie Smith, second lieutenant; and Margret Bently, Bobbie Skinner, Virginia Wells, Marion Rowell and Lenore Ross.”

   The Kanteen Girls of Picayune were young ladies, sponsored by the City of Picayune and who worked with the USO organization during World War II. They provided social events and entertainment for the soldiers during the war. Many of the events the Kanteen Girls participated in were held at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg. It is also rumored that the Kanteen Girls participated in a talent show for the German and Italian POW’s at Hillcrest. The rumor has neither been confirmed or denied.

---

[1] Picayune Item, July 4, 1946, Vol. XLII, No. 27, page 1

WWI Aero Squadron Airman from Pearl River County, Mississippi

   Recently, while researching the  Journal of Mississippi History  for historical items of interest, I came across an article by William Jeanes in Volume LXV, no. 1 entitled, "Mississippi's World War I Airmen and the Naming of Keesler Air Force base. Jeanes reports that one "Shelby Batson of Poplarville flew thirteen missions as an observer with the 50th Aero Squadron. There is no complete list enumerating World War I observers by state of origin, . . . Some Mississippi airmen doubtless remain unidentified."[1]
   Searching in several of the online resources for genealogical and military information I found Shelby's draft registration form, a ship's passenger listing of his return from France and his father and mother's names, and his date of birth and death. In the early 1900s a large lumber mill was operated by a Batson family and it would add greatly to the WWI exhibit at the Historical Society museum if we could provide a connection between Shelby Batson and the Batson Lumber Company.
Comments welcomed.

[1] Jeanes, William. "Mississippi's World War I Airmen and the Naming of Keesler Air Force Base." Journal of Mississippi History. Vol. LXV, no. 1 (2003), p. 125.

Pearl River County Soldiers in World War I

   The Pearl River County Historical Society maintains a small museum on the third floor of the old City Hall building in Picayune, Mississippi. Access is limited because of the need to pass through the City Offices. However, an appointment to tour the museum can be obtained by contacting the author of this blog.
   One of the exhibits, currently on display, is a scrapbook and other materials of the local National Guard unit that was deployed during the Korean War. The unit were pontoon bridge builders and were on active duty in the early 1950s.
   Currently we are seeking information, stories, photos, etc. on soldiers from Pearl River County who served in World War I. Although the U. S. was a late entrant into this war, a number of Americans were deployed to France and helped turn the tide of the war in the Allies favor. Please contact the author through this blog if you have any information you are willing to share with the museum.

   The upper photo is of Nelson Penton of McNeill, Mississippi and the bottom photo is of Orvis Penton, also of McNeill, Mississippi. Both men served in the armed forces during WWI, but it is unclear if they actually were deployed to France and the battlefields. Any information on these and other soldiers would be greatly appreciated.

Tracing Family History

I came across an interesting little poem on the pitfalls found in searching one's family history. The poem was penned by Mrs. Charles Dean of Steven's Point, Wisconsin and quoted in Harvey: 1600 -- 1979. Compiled by Winnie Jo (Fornea) Stockstill. (Copy in the Pearl River County Historical Society Museum).

      I started out to trace my tree

To find, if I could, the makings of me

And all that I had was great great grandfather's name

Not knowing his wife or from which way he came

 

I chased him across a long line of  states

And came up with pages and pages of dates

When all was put together it made me forlorn

I'd proved poor great great grandfather had never been born

 

Then when my hopes were fast growing dim

I came across records that had to be him

The facts I collected than made me quite sad

Dear old great great grandfather was never a dad!

 

Just one of the many problems in researching history.  I wish you all good fortune in your historical research.