There were seven children in this family if Uncle Alfred and Grandpa got it right. They tried hard to remember. The first was Mary Etta who went by Etta or Etter born Oct 1893 in Hickman County, Tennessee and died in Arkansas. Grandpa and Aunt Etta were very close but Etta was not liked by many including her other siblings and my grandmother. The second child was grandpa. Third was Charles born Oct 1898. Grandpa couldn't remember his name because he died so young but I found him on the 1900 Hickman County Census age 2. I assume he died soon after 1900 and I have not found his grave. Fourth child was Uncle Chub born 1901and died in Texas but he was brought back to Humphreys County for burial. Uncle Alfred and his twin was born 1907. His twin died. And grandpa and Uncle Alfred said there was a little sister that died. They couldn't remember her name or where she was buried. They both told me "We were feeding her hard candy and it killed her." Through tearful eyes that was all they could tell me so I don't know if she choked on the candy or she died later and grandpa and Uncle Alfred lived the remaining of their lives thinking they killed their baby sister. They both said they very seldom had candy and she wanted some so they shared. It was so sad seeing the look on their face when they told me this and the tears dropping from their clear blue eyes.

Sometimes he would smoke a cherry flavored cigar or a pipe and I still remember the smell in the air. He walked most everywhere he went. It was nothing to see him hiking along the roadside with cane in hand. It looked like he had a little dance rhythm going with his cane. He liked to play checkers and often was found in town under the shade tree at the court house with the men playing checkers.

 When I first started researching I had no idea the importance of taping conversations or making sure I had all I need right away. I guess I thought they would always be there to ask. My first interest was of those already past on and I didn't get all the information I should have on Etta. I know when she went to Arkansas her last name was Howell but I do not know if she married and used a different name. It has made it impossible for me to find her records there but I am still looking.

Grandpa was married three times. He first married Melissa Buie December 24, 1913. They had one child Audie Lou Howell. Melissa went to visit her parents when Aunt Audie was about three or four months old and never came home. Grandpa said that weekend he went down to see if they were ok and take some clothes for Aunt Audie because Melissa didn't carry but a few clothes. Melissa's mother told grandpa that Melissa didn't want to see him. He returned the next weekend to try again but Melissa had left with Aunt Audie and the family would not tell grandpa where they were. Grandpa did not see his daughter again until she was an adult and married. I will write more on this in the stories section.

Grandpa married second to Bessie Howell February 29, 1920. He said they were only married about three months and she was a cousin. I haven't tracked down her family. They did not have children.

Click the next button for Grandma Elise Cannon Howell's page and look for stories of them and others on my family stories page.