The Mothers I Miss

The mothers I have known.
Left - Sallie Walton, my gr. grandmother 1863-1961

Center - My mother Pauline Walton  1919 - 1997

Right - my grandmother Sarah Ellen Bass Walton 1896 - 1978

Mother's Day is always a strange day for me. 

I now understand why my own mother never truly liked the day either. She was raised by her grandmother and aunt. She loved both of them dearly, and she always said that once they were gone mother's day was a strange day for her. In spite of the flowers and gestures of appreciation and love shown towards her on that day, she longed for and missed the two women who had nourished her so much.  Her own mother was Lily Martin, a beautiful woman who died as a young mother, succumbing to tuberculosis like so many people did in the 1920s. 

My mother's mother Lily Martin

1894-1919

Because she died so young, I would often stare at this beautiful portrait of her, wondering who she was, what she liked, how she saw life in her few short years. Her smile however, was always a part of my childhood, and through the words of my mother, Lily was always there. My mother Pauline was less than a year old when her mother passed, and she often spoke of how she wondered what it would be like to have a mother, but then she would always point us though that she did grow up with lots of love around her, and she had the privilege of knowing a grandmother's love.

Now my own mom has gone, and though I can smile now that she has finally met her own dear mother, and is with her grandmother once again, I feel the words she often spoke about this day. It is a day to marvel at the fact that life emerged from the mothers, but the longing is still there.

But I also reflect now on the other mothers that I have known. My grandmother Sarah Ellen Bass Walton was always the other house where I spent time. She and my gr. grandmother Sallie lived together on the corner of 12th and T street for 40 years. It was not till I was an adult that I realized that they were mother-in-law and daughter in law and not mother and daughter. 

Grandma and Nannie--I spent countless hours and days there at their house, playing in the backyard and marveling that the incredible vegetables growing the huge backyard garden, and being dazzled by the colors of the flowers in the front yard garden. And I recall tasting the ripe persimmons that would fall off the big tree in the front yard. 

The sights and smells of Grandma's house were so distinct. The smells of everything from hot coffee brewing on the stove to Grandma's chicken & dumplings, are there. I can even recall the scent of the tins snuff that both of them occasionally dipped, as all of these are a part of my memory. Those days were the days of innocence and fun and my childhood, and all of these ladies were there.

Yes, today is a strange day for me. But I do appreciate the next generation of mothers, and aunties and sisters and big mamas who carry forth the same spirit of love and guidance. 

Olivia Walton Dedner & Ella-Marie Lillian Dedner, the next generation.

But one's own mother---the smiles, the hugs, the warm embraces, meant so much. The tears she wiped, the scraped knees that she bandaged, the songs she sang, and the words of comfort, are all remembered. The sweetness of her voice and the kindness of her spirit, and the melody of her laugh, I recall all of them.

Today provides lots of opportunity to reflect and appreciate the mothers and grandmothers and gr. grandmothers, and aunties on this day. They are all loved, and all remembered.

And yes, on this day, I do so terribly miss my mother. I will always love her.

Pauline B. Moore Walton

1919 - 1997

Fascinating Allies of the Colored Maternity Ward of Ft. Smith, Arkansas

Image of Mrs. Rose Weinberger's engagement photo from Ancestry.com
Image of Mrs. Beatrice Robertson from Chicago Defender, March 1936

My recent blog post about the 17 babies saved by the "Colored" Maternity Club has generated much interest. One of the reasons is that so little is known about it, and now seven decades later, it's history is not  known, and it has been basically forgotten. But thanks to the efforts of fellow genealogist Dr. Shelley Murphy, a small piece of the history of the Maternity Club or Maternity Ward has surfaced.

 It is known that the founding director of the Maternity Ward was Mrs. Beatrice Robertson, who operated the ward from her home someplace on North Division Street. Fellow genealogist and researcher, Shelly Murphy of  Fluvanna County, Virginia, read the piece closely, and she noticed that I made a reference to Twin City Hospital, and she decided to see if that would lead to some additional clues.

Well she found one.


Clues Found:
The clues for Dr. Murphy came from the fact that in the previous article, I made a passing remark about Twin City Hospital. And readers may also recall the listing that I located from the city directory of Ft. Smith in 1936 that mentioned that Mrs. Robertson was active in the YWCA. These were the clues.


She decided to conduct a Google search, and she pulled up an interesting book that provided an interesting reference to the works of the Jewish community in Civil Rights and in race relations. There was a reference to the city of Ft. Smith in that book as well. And one interesting reference referred to a woman who was a leader in the city, a leader in the Jewish community, and one who advocated for a number of changes also in the Black community. Today, many remember in Ft. Smith for her volunteerism. Well it appears that she may have also had an impact on the maternity ward.  Mrs. Rose Wienberger assisted in the establishment of  a nursery for black children, and later she was a supporter of the establishment of Twin City Hospital and also served on its board. And understanding the little known history of the Maternity Ward, the nursery grew out of the efforts of the maternity ward itself.

Mrs. Weinberger was also a leader with the YWCA of Ft. Smith. Now most people who grew up in Ft. Smith recall that there were two YWCA facilities in the city. There was one on Lexington Avenue for whites and there was the one for many years on North "H" street for the black community. Well Mrs. Beatrice Robertson was quite active in the YWCA, which is quite possibly how she met Mrs. Weinberg.

So on her Google search, Shelley Murphy found an interesting passage that might lead to more information, and she sent me the following message:

          ".....there was a Jewish connection to Twin City, (The Quiet Voices: Southern Rabbis and Black Civil  Rights, 1880-1990) maybe something in there."

Well I decided to look at the book that she referenced.

(This book published in 1997 contained a small mention of Ft. Smith, Arkansas 

and the role of Mrs. Rose Weinberger, who was known for her volunteer efforts.)

 I read the small but significant reference to Ft. Smith and to Mrs. Rose Weinberger of the city of Ft. Smith and realized that she is another one of the people whose actions are not fully known. Although Mrs. Weinberger was honored by the city for her outstanding volunteer work, I am not sure if the city was aware of how greatly she also worked for the betterment of lives in the Black Community during the Depression. However, the book Quiet Voices did reveal something significant and it became clear to me, that Rose Weinberger and Beatrice Robertson had to have interacted with each other, and they were somehow fascinating allies.

 Note this excerpt from the book:

Source: Excerpt from Book Quiet Voices. Southern Rabbis and Black Civil Rights, 1880s to 1990s.

University of Alabama Press, November 1997 p. 104

It is quite clear that for Mrs. Robertson's maternity ward to operate, some assistance from the white community would have been needed, and it appears that the voice of support and influence would have been Mrs. Weinberger.  And there was a great need for the maternity home, because none of the hospitals in the city served black patients, so if a woman was in dire need of medical care, this birthing facility would have been an essential place, and it is not hard to conceive that truly lives would have been saved when a clean place was provided for women to give birth and mostly likely the newborns' lives were indeed saved.

Looking at the history of the YWCA in Ft. Smith, there is no question that these two ladies worked together. Rose Weinberger and Beatrice Roberston  were truly fascinating allies in the effort to bring quality medical care and infant care to the community, during the demanding years of the Depression.

So, my interest in the Maternity Ward continues. And now, even more questions have arisen:

-Where exactly was the Maternity Ward? Was it really on the part of Division Street that Google pulled up, or was it possibly on the other side of Division, near St. John's?

-Could there be any photos or records of the facility? Could there be records or photos among the papers of Mrs. Robertson? Does anyone in Ft. Smith remember her, and know who her descendants might be?  And could there be photos or documents among the private papers of Mrs. Rose Weinberger that could be located? (Does anyone have contact with the descendants of Mrs. Weinberger?)

-And just who were those babies saved? If someone knows people who were born in either 1935 or 36, then they just might be candidates for one of those babies. Can they be found? And is there anyone living today who might recognize the faces of any of the 8 babies in the photograph?

Photo from Chicago Defender, March 1936.

The answers will have to come from the community and from those who can still remember.

Who Were the 17 Infants Saved in Fort Smith Arkansas?

Source: The Chicago Defender (National edition) (1921-1967) [Chicago, Ill] 07 Mar 1936: 5.

While exploring some old newspapers a fascinating article caught my attention from the Chicago Defender, as it pertained to my hometown of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Apparently the 1930s were years of many health issues facing children nationwide and newborns were clearly the most vulnerable. This was the heart of the Depression and it was also an era when there were no antibiotics and many vaccines simply did not exist. As times were difficult, many would die from disease and lack of good nutrition and most likely many babies died as well.

There was apparently an effort made by an industrious woman in Ft. Smith Arkansas, who was interested in seeing that the most vulnerable children would survive during those critical years of the Depression, when health care was sparce and particular for those who were poor and Black.  The headline from the The Defender was clear, as the lives of 17 infants were saved by the acts of the Maternity Club.

But exactly what was this "maternity club"?
Is there anyone still living in Ft. Smith who might recall hearing of this maternity home?
And who were the babies?

If they were born in 1936, the year the article was written---they would now be about 77 years old.

Well upon careful examination, of this article in the Chicago Defender it appears that this was a birthing facility, a birthing home for women established in 1935. The founding director of the home referred to as the Maternity Ward, was Mrs. Beatrice Broy Robertson.

Founder of the Maternity Club was Mrs. Beatrice Broy Robertson

Not having much information about Mrs. Robertson, I took a look at the Ft. Smith City Director of 1938 and noticed that the address was actually the residence of Mrs. Robertson. it is noticed that she was quite active in the early days of the YWCA in Ft. Smith as well.

I don't live in Ft Smith, but this story deserves to be told---as there are possibly some elders still in the city of Ft. Smith, who were the very infants who were saved! And their descendants are here today--because of the actions of the Maternity Club and Mrs. Robertson.

Location of The Maternity Ward

According to the article, the Maternity Ward was located at 828 Division Street in Ft. Smith which is now occupied by part of the Nelson Hall Homes. However, in the 1930s the Maternity Ward was located there, and was operated under the direction of Mrs. Beatrice Broy Robinson.

Looking Down Division Street, and the pin shaped marker points to the site where

the Maternity Ward was once located. Today it is in the vicinity of Nelson Hall Homes in Ft. Smith

Image Source: Google Street View.

It is not known how long the Maternity Ward existed. It is most likely that once Twin City Hospital was opened, the maternity ward was moved there.

However for those residents with a strong sense of history and preservation, this can be one of those wonderful historical challenges.

Are there people still living in Ft. Smith, who remember Mrs. Robertson and her legacy?  
Are there any images of the Maternity Ward or of the old homes along Division Street?  
And who were the 17 babies born at the home in 1935 and 1936?

When the article in the Chicago Defender appeared in 1936, there were plans to expand the tasks of the Maternity Club, and to engage in outreach to serve the community.

History is sometimes more than the stories of the famous leaders, but it is often the story and the preservation of the memories of the small communities from which we come.  I was delighted to see the article and hope that the work of Mrs. Beatrice Robertson will be strongly remembered and cherished in Ft. Smith where 17 babies lived because of her. They are now elders and but Mrs. Robertson's work to save the babies should not be forgotten.

Freed Slaves of Ft. Smith Arkansas 1865

Records of the Field Offices of the State of Arkansas, Bureau Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands.

Source of Image: Internet Archive

Those interested in history of Ft. Smith Arkansas, especially of the African American population might be intrigued by a record that could be considered the first freedom document reflecting the Black citizens of the community.

It was exciting to see these records of my hometown while working on another project and scanning the names of these newly freed slaves it became obvious that this document should be shared with the community that it represents.

Ft. Smith had it's own Freedman's Bureau Field Office, and the Old Commissary Bldg is believed to be the site where the Bureau operated.  This would be the very same office where former slaves as well as those left destitute by the war, would turn seeking provisions in terms of food, rations and work.

Old Commissary Bldg, Ft. Smith Arkansas

Among the thousands of records that reflect former slaves many are hard to find among the Freedman's Bureau records, because although they are microfilmed, most pages are not indexed and they often appear in no discernible order. However if one takes the time to explore the microfilm roll by roll, then some true gems emerge.

With this particular record it is one rich with names, of former slaves who lived in or near Ft. Smith Arkansas in 1865.  The document was created in June of that year, so this is possibly the earliest record to date reflecting the former slaves of western Arkansas. Most likely it was a report that was sent to Little Rock from the Ft. Smith Field office by superintendent, Francis Springer who also served as champlain.

Seeing the names of the former slaves who lived in Ft. Smith, who were freed, and what their status was immediately after the war is exciting and endearing. This is significant for so many reasons. A mere five years before, the enslaved appeared in the Federal Census on the Slave Schedules with only their age, and gender, and with no names.

Slave Census Schedule, Sebastian County, 1860

And here, only five years later, immediately after Freedom, at last their full names appear. At last they were recorded in the community where they lived, toiled, were born and died, as full citizens.

Page 1

  

Page 2

Page 3

Source of images: 

Records of the field offices for the state of Arkansas, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872  Open Library

It is especially exciting to find and to share these pages, in light of the milestone 150th year in which we celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation. I should also point out that Arkansas was indeed one of the places in which slaves were affected by the Proclamation. The fact that at long last these families were now being reflected as citizens makes this a true document worth treasuring and worth sharing.

Those who study the history of Ft. Smith, western Arkansas and the entire region, will find this unique record to be critical for them as they study the community's history and its unique past.

   * * * * *

WATCH NIGHT: Oh Glorious Day!

Page 1 of the Emancipation Proclamation

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom."

"And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons."

"And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God."

By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN

 * * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *    * * * * *

The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe

And so it came to be--the Proclamation was released and with time, freedom came to the land. Some were already free by January 1st, others had to wait for some time. But no matter how long they had to wait, they endured, remained faithful and resilient and found freedom!

 On now that the day has come that this Proclamation is commemorated, I also commemorate those who toiled so long in bondage without hope and without joy! They kept their faith and were rewarded at long last! And for that I can rejoice and be glad!!!

   

One of the many copies of the proclamation made after January 1st 1863.

One of the oldest dated documents that I have reflecting my ancestors is an estate inventory with the names of all of the slaves of Major John Bass. The document was created in 1860. These men, women and  children ranged in age from 65 years of age to 2 months. In 1860 they were there together, enslaved, but thankfully, with time they were all freed. 

Estate Inventory of Major John Bass of Giles County Tennessee, 1860

Like my ancestors on other lines, freedom came to them in many ways. My uncles Sephus and Braxton joined the Union Army as well as Uncle Sephus' two sons. Mitchell was sent to Arkansas, and a daughter was eventually sent away from the family as well from the family unit before freedom finally came. Some freed themselves and others had to wait.

But when they were finally released from the yoke of bondage---it had to be a happy day, indeed!! As much as they had prayed for the day to come, finally freedom did come to them.  All are honored, today simply because they endured. And because they endured, I am here today.

The symbol of their freedom is the Proclamation Released on this day January 1st.

Whatever day that my ancestors found freedom, I cherish the emotion that they must have felt! Their prayers had been answered. They must have believed that God finally had heard their pleas, and had washed way their sins for they had truly reached that Happy Day of Freedom.  

Some could only watch as time brought freedom to them.

Some did fight for their freedom and won.

And all of them prayed that the day would come.

For all of them, no matter when, it was  a Happy Day!

Statement Made by Congressman John Lewis in the Prologue 

to the Commemoration Booklet of the Emancipation Proclamation

WATCH NIGHT: Honoring My Arkansas, Tennessee, & Mississippi Ancestors

National Geographic Video Retelling the Story Surrounding the Proclamation

Those for whom the Emancipation Proclamation were the enslaved in many states and for my ancestors, whose enslaved in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi, would be included.

Some of their stories of Freedom, I know---some escaped when Union soldiers came through.Many of them joined to fight!

Others seized their own freedom and followed the men. and they later were declared contrabands of war, and were quickly put to work to support the army with their labor.

Contrabands working to secure the railroads.

Source: National Park Service Image

Women as well as men became contrabands, finding a new freedom. Some served as civilian workers for white regiments, as cooks, laundresses and servants.

A group of contrabands that served the 13th Infantry from Massachusetts

Many knew that if they could find sanctuary, and join others they could take refuge in some of the new Freedman colonies that formed and dotted the countryside in so many places.

An image of one of the Freedman's colony villages that appeared during the War.

Source: National Park Service

But so many stayed at home. They did not leave, for they could not leave. In so many places there were no Union soldiers coming through, no men were given the chance to fight for their freedom, and so many were simply taken further away, to avoid the hope of Freedom. My ancestor Amanda was among them. She was taken to Lowdnes County Mississipi away from where she had lived in Tippah County. The threat of losing Amanda, the matriarch and cook to the family was too much and before my Amanda could join her family who had begun to leave, she was taken away. So unlike many in her family who had escaped, she was truly forced to wait for Freedom to come to her.

Taken from the Southern Claims Commission File

of Amanda Young, Tippah County, Mississippi.

Eventually the slaves were indeed freed, and it is said that there were those scenarios repeated in many hamlets and villages across the south. The Proclamation of freedom was read to them, and they were finally released into a new life and their future had begun again.

Their freedom stories are not known, but there are a few, whose names I do know. I honor them for their resilience and their desire to survive/

I honor my ancestors enslaved in Mississippi:

Amanda, Berry, John, Harriet, Violet, Nancy, Alsie, Paralee

I honor my ancestors in Arkansas:

Louis Mitchell, Georgia Ann, Minerva

I honor my ancestors enslaved in Tennessee:

Irving, Nancy, Sephus, Napier, Silas, Susan 

After so much, suffered so long, they were declared to be "forever free."

WATCH NIGHT: I Know Where My Ancestors Come From

Video: I Know Where My Ancestors Come From

This video was created in honor of my ancestors enslaved in Indian Territory. They lived in the Choctaw Nation most of the time and briefly in the Chickasaw Nation.

* * * * *

On my father's side is a unique history--that of slaves born in Indian Territory, taken west by the Indian Tribes that were relocated in the west.

I knew one of them Sallie, my gr. grandmother. I have told her story already. But there were others about whom so little is known.  I found some of these storied embedded in other documents, and other related files. Sallie was born during the Civil War, but her mother Amanda, lived a good portion of her life enslaved. And quite accidentally I also learned the name of Amanda's mother- Kitty Perry, a slave of the Perry clan from Mississippi, a large Choctaw family.

Though they are names without faces they belong to me, nevertheless. Amanda, Sallie's mother did live to see freedom as she died in 1898. But little is known about her mother Kitty. Amanda also had a brother Jackson Crow.  He too was born enslaved, and he died in 1888. But as much or as little is known, I am still compelled to say their names, so that they shall not be forgotten:

On this day, I honor these ancestors, who were not freed by the Emancipation, for the lived outside of the boundaries of the United States---they lived in Indian Territory.  Freedom would come three  years later with the Treaty of 1866. But because the lived under the same institution of enslavement--they are  honored here as well.  Their story is part of my story, and I call their names:

Sallie Walton

Amanda Perry

Kitty Perry

Joe Hunt Perry

Jackson Crow

Indiana Perry

They honor them on this day, commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation, for they too were slaved and they two lived to breathe the sweet air of freedom.