banalban on Family Tree Circles

I started my genealogy research when I was a preteen, having always been curious, possibly to the point of aggravation, and would nag family members with questions about our family. I was fortunate to occasionally meet with a 2nd cousin who passed on events that she well remembered about my paternal grandmother. This cousin, Daisy Parsons McDougal, died a month after my last visit with her during the early 1990's.

My grandmother, Mamie McDaniel, (1891-1988), was born and raised in Adger, Jefferson County, Alabama.
I remember my grandmother often seemed depressed and would escape to another time and place, lost in thought;
she would always sing and say names of people and places I had never heard of. I asked Daisy if she knew the reason for this, as she and Mamie were very close growing up. (Daisy also lived into her 90's, but was by no means mentally faltering when I last met with her).

Daisy related that at 18, Mamie was engaged to a young man named Grover LaFoy, who was a coal miner. Grover was an orphan and had lived with his uncle's family while growing up. He had recently bought timber land and was planning to make a life with Mamie. Grover took the train when he visited Adger and one weekend, in 1909, he did not show up. Naturally inquiries were conducted and the family received news that Grover had been killed in a freak accident while at work. He was walking through the outdoor area of the mines, when a worker, laboring above him, accidentally dropped a hammer. It struck Grover and he was killed instantly.

Of course, Mamie did not take the news well and had a nervous breakdown. Grover must have been a man of providence,
as he had previously completed and recorded a will naming Mamie as his sole benefactor. Daisy stated Mamie was not herself for some time and that she eventually gave control of the money to her parents. (The land was later sold to Peabody Coal). Possibly as consolation, Mamie married Olin Dunn, a friend of the family. Mamie and Olin had a very unhappy marriage and later divorced (Olin is buried just outside the family plot at Adger Cemetery).

Several years later, Mamie married my grandfather, Henry Glenn Broadwater Sr.(1891-1963). In my opinion, their marriage never seemed happy either. But, Mamie had a life of leisure; my grandfather employed a maid and she never rose before noon. When I would visit, she would teach me Old South, feminine ways. I well remember her frustrating attempts to teach me how to crewel! She would also apply cream to my hands at bedtime and place gloves over them so I would have soft hands (I still do)!

So, Mamie's somber revelations I had witnessed as a kid, with her sitting on the front porch in her rocking chair, finally made sense; she would rock back and forth and sing several songs, some religious but mostly melancholic Irish tunes, and repeatedly say Grover's name over and over. She said things like, "why did you have to go"?, "I miss you so much", etc. Years later when I started fully researching my family history, I was able to prove and document Grover's will, the divorce, among other incidents. Daisy's recollections were vivid and detailed and I truly feel none of this was hearsay nor the tale embellished. Mamie, after 70+ years, had never forgotten the love of her life.

I have been searching for my father's paternal side for a very long time and still not having much luck
locating what I am looking for. Henry G. Broadwater, 1926-2007, was the son of Henry G. Broadwater, Sr.
1891-1963, both born in Alabama. Henry Sr. was the son of John Henry Broadwater, 1855-1910, was born in
Russell County, Alabama and married to Lucy Broughton. John Henry was the son of Charles Broadwater, 1827-1884.

Charles is my "brick wall" ancestor and it has been very difficult to confirm information on him. Of any elusive ancestor I have, Charles is the one I want to find, having promised my father to do so before he died.

In the 1850 SC census, he is listed living in Edgefield SC with a DJ Gilchrist, occupations of farmer and plantation owner, respectively. Charles was settled, and married to Bunnetta Beck Gray, by 1852, in Russell Co.,Al.
Searching the 1840 SC census there are two head of household males with the Broadwater surname in Edgefield, and both had sons in the age range for Charles. These men are Charles and Scarborough; I have located the children of Scarborough in other records, and a Charles is not listed as one of his children.

Adhering to certain family values and attitudes for the time, I have wondered why a 23 year old, single man would not
be living with his father and family in the same town. Was the younger Charles possibly a relative of one of the two head of household Broadwaters'? I suppose there's always the possibility of a rift in the family as well and he just decided to move out.

I would love to hear from someone on this site that is related or has information on my Broadwaters'. Charles' parents are my "missing links" and since the Broadwaters' are so well documented prior to 1800, I feel I shouldn't have too many problems researching further once I find whom Charles' parents were. I have recently found an Ancestry entry for a Charles Henry Broadwater being the father to Charles, but the submitter does not know where or how she received the information and the entry displays Charles Henry's date of birth as 1812, which would mean he would have been 15 when Charles was born in 1827. Possible, but who knows. Thanks!!

I am researching my Appalachian roots in the area of Sequatchie and Marion counties to include eastern Tennessee and possibly into North Carolina.
My grandmother was Nina Belle White, 1901-1989, born in Whitwell, TN; her parents were Adeline Copeland 1872-1917 and Joseph Woodson White 1864-1920, both dying in Alabama.
I have not been able to locate much information on the Copelands' and the only info on Joseph White is his parent's names from his death certificate showing Joe White and Jane Person (I located a researcher who believes Jane's actual surname was Apperson, prevalent in the east TN area).
Adeline Copeland's parents were Joseph Howard Copeland 1847-1908 and Olly Ann Harvey 1848-1922. I don't believe Olly's parents ever married; they were Eveline Harvey, b. abt 1828 and James McWilliams 1824-1892.
Currently, I am very interested in Eveline as there is no further mention, or record, of her after 1860.
I have additional information and stories about the family and welcome any additional information about them.
I would also love to share and correspond with any "cousins" who are also researching. Thank you.