Page 76 - my-people-abbie-harris-beck

THE REASON PAPA AND MAMA CHOOSE GENEVA

Papa and mama were living at what is now Darlington, Florida. Papa bought
timber land and set his turpentine still up. Jesse was two years old. Mama felt at home
among the pretty pine trees that she grew up with in the "swamp", until a tornado came.
Papa grabbed Jesse and Maggie, (as he called her) and they hid in a ditch. Mama said
things blew over them but they were not hurt. Mama told Mr. Harris, "I'll not live here
any more." Papa had nothing left except pine trees. Papa and Mama had made friends
with the Vaughan family near Geneva at Vaughanville. Papa begin to look around this
area. Geneva was know for its good weather and good people. Papa found 160 acres of
land at the edge of town by the railroad track. It was cleared for farming, had plenty of
pine trees in the area for a turpentine still and a saw mill. Papa sold his 9,280 acres of pine
trees and made Geneva, Alabama home. On this farm four other children were
bom ...never a storm or tornado did mama experience again.

My drawing of the house that Papa built:
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