Places around Lincoln - Part 2

Sharing more places around Lincoln, Tennessee as recalled by my grandfather Tim Marsh.

Number 27
Pryor's Mill, abandoned before my time. Lincoln was once called Pryor's Mill long before the Civil War. Passed here on the way to Pickett's when the creek was up over the foot logs during the rainy season.

Tim Marsh and Orville Pickett 1939

Number 28

Tom Delap Cotton Gin. We carried our cotton here to be ginned, getting to the grounds by three in the morning, before the line got too long.

Number 29

This was the Presbyterian Manse. It was here that frequent wiener and marshmallow roasts were held during the pastorship of Rev. Walter Quinn. Governor, as I was called, was always in attendance at all these functions with shoes shined and Vitalis on my hair.

Number 30

Dumping Ground. In this field, when I was about 14 or 15 years old, dad and I were dumped under a wagon load of corn fodder about 10 o'clock one Fall night, after the dew had fallen, so we could work the fodder. We had the fodder piled about eight feet above the frame and we were on top, dad in front with the reins, me stretched out on the back looking for the north star, heading for the barn. It was a harvest moon night but not light enough to see the hole that had washed out from the last rain - wheel in hole - wagon tongue snaps - fodder on top - mules going to the barn dragging the tongue behind them. Not a good day for the Marshes. Many arrow heads and fossils found here when plowed.

Number 31

Barrons. Pronounced "Barns," locally by the natives. It was a vast area of small white oak trees with huckleberry bushes everywhere and plenty of copper heads, never been cleared except by burning, abundance of wild turkeys here in the 20's and 30's during the winter time. Each Fall the Barrons would catch fire either by lightning or carelessness of man. All the farmers in the area would converge on the Barrons with hoes, shovels, rakes and wet tow-sacks to establish back fire lines and extinguish the fires. It was always an eerie sight from our back porch at night.

The Marsh Family in the 1930's
L-R: Michael Goodrum Marsh, Lelia Beasley Marsh, Timothy R.Marsh (front),
Richard Austin Marsh (back), Blanche Marsh, Maybelle Hardin (Grady's wife) and Grady Marsh

Number 32

J. J. Dunston Place. Mother and dad purchased their small farm from Mr. Dunston. Mr. Nelson later purchased this place. Mr. Nelson was not cut out for farming but he was a devoted Associate Reformed Presbyterian. He moved out from Fayetteville to become a gentleman farmer. This was no place for a gentleman farmer in the 1930's. he had a son Ed. who was a Southern Presbyterian preacher. He pastored at our church for a time. The thing that impressed me the most about Bro. Ed. was his shiny new Model A Ford that I was privileged to ride in to and from church as he passed by our house on the way to his father and mother's. My impression was that this will be the best car ever made and they would make this car forever with no possible improvements.

The elder Nelson had a daughter, Frances, who taught me French in high school, a waste of time. Mr. Nelson was close with his money, who wasn't. He found out that my mother was a pretty good barber so he would drop down and hint he sure needed a hair cut. Mother would sit him on the front porch and trim him up with her clippers. Other recipients of her generosity were me, dad, granddad, Johnny B. Marsh, Bob Mansfield, Mr. Dunston, Woodie Rush and Bro. Snell.

Mr. Nelson, as I remember, was so frugal that when he carried a three cell flash light to church with him at night, on the way walking home, he would only use the light switched on a few seconds at a time to conserve the batteries. He looked like a huge lightning bug going down the road. Often during the hot summer, drought would be upon us and the Elders and family would go to church at night after supper to pray for rain. Mr. Nelson would always holler for us on the way down to the church and we would all go down together. He would always bring his umbrella with him even if there was not a cloud in the sky. As far as I know, his umbrella never got wet.

Mother had a pioneering spirit. She helped build houses, worked in the fields, cut wood, cooked, washed, milked the cows, killed snakes and climbed the roof to put out a roof fire when a defective flue caught it on fire. If it needed to be done, she did it.

R. A. Marsh and Blanche Marsh 1935

A Young Richard A. Marsh

A Young Timothy R. Marsh