Car Stories

A picture of an antique auto reminded me of several car stories involving my parents.

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One warm day my dad, Jim Bennett, was outside with some friends. As luck would have it he was wearing his first store bought suit. His mom, a skilled seamstress, had always made the clothes for the family. This must have been a big deal.

His friends had firecrackers they had brought over. Jim had just started to light one when a car filled with girls pulled up to say hello. He quickly stuffed the firecracker in his back pocket.

Unlike all those times when a boy thinks the fire cracker is lit and it isn't, this time it was... POP!

The firecracker went off and so did his pocket.

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When my mom, Julia, was a teen. Her dad was persuaded to take Julia and a car full of her friends for an ice cream in their new car. Mother was trying to show everyone how much she knew about cars. This certainly proved to be an exaggeration.

My grandfathers concern had probably been keeping his car clean while all these girls ate ice cream. Instead as he left the ice cream shop, he was greeted by screaming girls in a car rolling down a hill. My mother had moved the car from park into neutral. The car was moving and she didn't know how to brake.

Up in the air went the ice cream. Off he went chasing the car. Luckily the hill wasn't too steep; so the car wasn't going very fast. He was young and took off racing to jump on the foot board,reach in and steer the car safely until it came to rest at the bottom of the hill.

No one had an ice cream that day.

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My dad had a football scholarship to college. It paid for books and tuition, but not for housing, food or living expenses. He always had jobs to cover those expenses plus he helped his sister Lois pay for college.

In addition to football practice. He worked for Floyd's mortuary as an ambulance driver. He would pick up the deceased and perhaps drove for funerals. He was the precursor to an EMT. He was dispatched to bring people to the hospital and actually delivered a baby or two in the process. He did dishes and other tasks at the boarding houses where he stayed.

During the summer he worked in area mills and saved his money for school. One year he bought a car which he rented to other students on weekends. He had his own Hertz rent-a-car, before Hertz. He couldn't afford to take a girl on a date, but he could still get the benefit.

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Growing up in the South, there were many cold days, but fewer frigid days.

The winter after we married was very, very cold. As a young couple, we frequently came to Spartanburg. It is hard to remember if we were talking at the table or watching the 11 o'clock news. The talk turned to how cold it was going to be that night. My dad was inspired to ask if we had added antifreeze to the car.

It is amazing what is not taught in college. I had a nice vocabulary, but didn't know what antifreeze was. I probablly would have recognized the term antigravity from Star Trek. I certainly didn't know I needed to add antifreeze to a car. I had never needed to before. (My dad had always taken care of the car.)

Up the stairs we went... out to the carport ... up went the hood... opened the radiator... ICE! It was too late for antifreeze. Out came very long extension cords and a hair dryer. My dad rigged it to blow on the radiator through the night and saved it.

Sam Bulloch - not a pretty story

If we record the good stories, we should record the bad also.

If Sam Bulloch was born in 1891, he was 3 years older than Mabel. At twelve his father died. At twenty four he died. This article says he was 28. I wonder how his father's death changed his life. This article (word for word) was on the front page of the Atlanta Journal.

HOTEL MAN KILLED; SLAYER IS DYING
9 Sept 1915 , Bullochville, GA

In Dying Condition, Hotel Proprietor Wrests Pistol From Slayer and Returns Three Deadly Bullets.
Columbus, Ga., September 9. - (Special.) -- G.A. Thompson, agent of the Southern railway and proprietor of the Tuscawilla hotel at Bullochville, Ga., and member of a leading family at Bullochville, is in a dying condition early tonight, the result of a sensational shooting affray in the dining room of the hotel this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

Reports from Bullochville are that Bulloch was in the dining room of the hotel creating a disturbance and that Thompson reproved him and then stepped out to get the town marshal to have him removed. Not seeing the marshal, he asked W.B. Butts, a friend of Bulloch's, to remove him. Butts induced Bulloch to leave the dining room and Thompson asked the guest to leave the dining room, saying that he feared trouble. It is stated that just then Bulloch broke loose from Butts and ran inside the dining room, drawing his pistol and shooting Thompson, who seized him. Thompson, Bulloch and Butts were all struggling for the pistol, but Thompson succeeding in getting it and remarking that he was going to die and that he would get the man who shot him, began firing at Bulloch despite earnest pleas. The first shot struck Bulloch in the breast and he fell to the floor and Thompson then shot him three times, two of the bullets lodging in his head. With the last shot Thompson fell to the floor, dying almost before anyone could reach him.

Thompson has been railroad agent at Warm Springs for a good many years and a year or two ago bought the handsome three-story Tuscawilla hotel from W.B. Butts at a reported consideration of $10,000. He leaves a family.

Bulloch is a 28 years old and unmarried. He is a member of the prominent Bulloch family for whom Bullochville is named.

Various versions have reached Columbus as to the reason of the original disturbance in the hotel, in which Bulloch is said to have figured. One report is that Bulloch became angered at one of the waiters and was about to punish him when the proprietor of the hotel interfered. Whatever the nature of the trouble Thompson thought it best to have Bulloch removed from the dining room.

A long-distance message from Bullochville early tonight stated that Bulloch was shot in the chest, over the eye and in the head, that his spinal column was struck by one of the bullets and that there is seemingly no possible hop for him to recover.

The Atlanta Constitution Sept 10,1915 Front page

Usually there is time to change direction in life. If there was time, Sam didn't take advantage of it.

Mabel - College Graduation 1914

In April 1914, Mabel graduated from "Georgia Normal and Industrial School" in Milledgeville, GA. Today it is Georgia College and State University or just Georgia College for short. This picture of her graduating class appeared in the Atlanta Journal.

Notice the heading of the column just below and to the left regarding Women's Sufferage. Massachusetts had just passed the right to vote in their state.

Each generation lives in interesting times. It is nice to reflect on our ancestors in context of their time. I wonder what events our decendents will see as significant in our time.

Andrea and Peggy may smile when they see that "Miss Regina Pinkston" was her classmate. Miss Pinkston was my favorite teacher in high school. I had her for Geometry, Trig, and Senior English. If I had known how great she was, I would have taken Latin from her. I was told that she was certified to teach every course taught at our high school except shop.

I believe she had Macbeth memorized. I can almost hear her recite the part of the witches talking around the cauldron "double, double toil and trouble". I never had a teacher or professor who entranced me from the moment she began class until it concluded. My worst nightmare was being required to memorize a poem and reciting it in her class. My knees were literally knocking.

Year after year Miss Pinkston was chosen as the Teacher of the Year by the Valedictorian. After she retired from teaching, she wrote a comprehensive history of Meriwether County. I was told her father lived to 101 years old and walked to church every Sunday of his life. Perhaps he lived next door to his church. She was an amazing lady.

If Grandmother's education was similiar to Miss Pinkston's, I would have loved to hear her stories and experiences. Grandmother was ill from the time I was a toddler and died when I was in first grade.

Cyprian Bulloch, Jr and Benjamin F Bulloch

(Refer to the August 2009 post for additional information)

Cyprian, our direct ancestor, is shown in this picture with his brother Benjamin F Bulloch. They were business partners along with their cousin.

Cyprian's Home



Ben's Home

History of Bullochville by Julia Harry Bennett
, Bullochville/ Warm Springs, Georgia

Responce to incorrect information appearing in Manchester Newspaper:

Dear Mr Grimes,

My brother, Henry G Harry, has sent me your nice article about Bullochville. We hope you will rectify the fact that Bullochville was not named for Theodore Roosevelt's mother, Martha.

Please read Regina Pinkston's "The Historicle Account of Meriwether County". On page 349 she tells that Bullochville was named for Benjamin F Bulloch and my Grandfather Cyprian Bulloch, Jr. They, with their brother-in-law, W.T. Bussey, formed Bulloch, Bussey and Coimpany. I am enclosing a 1911 article which tells thaey owned some 2,000 acres of land, most of Warm Springs from the top of the Warm Springs Mountain to the top of the mountain above Manchester.

These 3 men owned 3 of the store buildings still in use on Main Street, a coffin factory, cotton gin, bank, gristmill, 2 Bulloch homes, one or both on the National Register of Colonial Homes.

The gave the land for the Baptist church, the cemetary, the school, the US Fishery plus 2/3 of the water from Cold Springs.

Our Bullochs came from Edgecombe County, NC. In 1800 Stephen Bulloch married Winnie Robinson. Their home was between Rocky Mount, NC and Wilson, NC. Winnie died in 1806. Stephen Bulloch brought his two young sons to Greenville, GA to live with their Grandmother Robinson.

Cyprian Bulloch Sr. settled between Bussey's Cross Road and the Raleigh Rd. His brother, Henry moved to Arkansas. These boys were not related to Martha Bulloch who lived in Roswell, GA. Her ancestors are buried in Savanah, GA.

Elliott Roosevelt, in his book about Warm Springs called my Aunt Minnie who ran the store in Warm Spings forever, "Cousin Minnie", but they were not related.

Sincerely, Julia H(arry) Bennett

PS. My brother, Henry, is on the Board of Directors of the new museum. My father, Rev W. G. Harry, was Mayor of Warm Springs all the years FDR was President but the last one.




Article: "Group Studied Valuable Estate 50 Years Ago" December 8, 1911
Probably the most extensive subdivision of land in western Georgia is now going on in Bullochville, where a committee of division of the Bulloch, Bussey and Estate is now located.

The property consists of approximatedly 2,000 acres and is considered one of the most valuable estates in Meriwether County comprising town lots in the corporation of various _________, Bullochville, Cold Springs and South Springs. It entirely surrounds the property of the U. S. Fish Hatchery at Cold Springs, and extends from Bullochville to nearly the prosperous town of Manchester

At the request of different interests the court appointed a committee of division to make an equitable allotment so that all hiers, including minors numbering 12, would be fully protected. The commission which has been in closed continurous session about a week, consists for seven men.

Henry Valentine Parkman

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Henry Valentine Parkman was married twice. There were three children born to his marriage with Elizabeth Huffman. Serana b 1836, David b March 22,1838, and Rebekah b 1840 she died unmarried 1909. I do not know the cause of Elizabeth's death.

His second wife, Mary Ann Glanton (b Oct 22, 1819/ Oct 27, 1903)married him about 1842. It must have been daunting to start marriage with three small children.

Both ladies married Henry in Edgefield, South Carolina. Henry and Mary Ann had five daughters - Julia Cordelia Parkman my GG Grandmother - was their third child.

In 1847 the family moved to Cherokee County, Georgia. Within a year they decided there was too much illness in the area, they moved to Meriwether County. They settled about 1 mile south of Bussey's Crossroads.

According to a family history Henry was the first area farmer to engage in terracing. Neighbors thought he was wasting his time, but came use the same practices. He built a large grist mill and gin on his plantation that were used for many years. To provide water for the mill, he built a large pond known for years as Parkman's Pond. The dam was built of rock by slave labor. Probably they were the slaves Mary Ann received from her grandfather John Kilcrease (Gilcrease). Those slaves moved with the couple from South Carolina when they moved to Meriwether, County.

Although he was 60 years old, Henry fought in the Civil War. This is interesting because he hired a substitute so his son David would not need to enlist. David ran away and enlisted anyway. David fought under General Gordan in many prominent battles, including Gettysburg.

Henry and Mary Ann are both buried in the Macedonia Cemetery.

Gaye - Teacher of the Year - 2008 Aiken County

By ROB NOVIT
Senior writer
One wouldn't call the annual Aiken County Teacher of the Year banquet overly stuffy by any means, but it is a rather formal event. Then Gaye Pappas was named the new district teacher of the year at the banquet last week. Things got a bit more informal in a hurry, thanks to her hearty laughter and infectious smiles that never seem to go away.

At Paul Knox Middle School the next day, Pappas was still smiling in her special needs classroom as she accepted congratulations from students and faculty members.

"I'm just a hot dog and blue jeans kind of girl," she said cheerfully.

But Pappas is also a serious professional with 34 years of experience, even as she describes herself as an education "gypsy." Her husband Ted is an accountant /troubleshooter, and the couple has moved often.

Pappas has taught in seven South Carolina school districts and three other states. She has worked with special education, including administration, for most of her career, but in recent years taught science in a Dorchester District 2 middle school. When she interviewed with principal Brenda Smith at Paul Knox three years ago, Pappas was ready to return to special education.

"I've been extremely pleased how the faculty has accepted me, and I'm proud to be a part of it," she said. "The kids had a party for me and the faculty did, too, and I was amazed."

Pappas spent the early part of her childhood in the small town of Manchester, Ga. Her military dad was overseas much of that time, and her grandfather, W.G. Herry - a minister and farmer - was a big influence.

"He always let me follow him as he trooped through the woods," she said. "He had such a love of nature, and the Georgia pines still speak to me."

Her mother and other relatives, including those dating back to the 1700s, were teachers. After enrolling at Winthrop University in the early 1970s, Pappas was steered to special education by a professor, Dr. John Gallien.

She felt drawn to that field, recognizing that for many years, special needs children rarely could get an education. Pappas took a course in special education "and yes, this was something I could do," she said. "We have a responsibly to care for one another."

In a professional biography written for the teacher of the year competition, Pappas believes her biggest contribution is the progress that so many of her students made through hard work. Over the years she has received invitations from former students for their high school graduations and weddings.

She helped Carl, an eighth-grader and non-reader, learn to read during lunch every day. Pappas worked with LaKeisha, who in desperation had written "help me" over and over on a test she didn't understand. Hank was a ninth-grader - big and tough-looking and intimidating. But he had no mother and no support and was ready to drop out of school until Pappas took an interest in him. Today he's married with children and operates his own welding business.

"I believe it takes courage to teach," Pappas wrote. "... We teach so many broken children who are in need of more from us than we, as a profession, have ever been asked to give. If a teacher has courage, he or she will take risks necessary to achieve the excellence that is so essential to a child's learning."

Pappas loves her kids at Paul Knox and can't help but smile when she sees them, so full of joy. Previously, she taught most of them all day in self-contained classes, but the district now has inclusion with traditional classes in science and social students. That's a process that's still being worked out, Pappas said.

"But today was a beautiful day," she said Monday, "to see the progress they've made, the 100s they've made on quizzes. The other teachers themselves are so willing for me to help. It's amazing how accepting they have been."

Pappas welcomes the opportunity to serve as an "encourager" for young teachers. But she is still amazed that she has been chosen to represent the district's teachers for the next year.

"I don't think it has sunk in yet," Pappas said. "It's such an honor, but I'm extremely humbled. There are so many master teachers at this school. I'm not the finest teacher you will ever meet, but this year I'll speak for the finest."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.


It is especially nice to have other people recognize my sweet sister for her hard work. When she was in grade school, she played with a little girl who had serious health issues. I wondered if knowing her contributed to her decision to become a special education teacher.

Gaye has active compassion. She doesn't stop in the classroom. Her love for others is demonstrated daily.

My Matriarchal Line

Me...Jan
Mother - Julia - (1922 living)
G - Mabel BULLOCH (1894-1954)
GG - Julia Cordelia PARKMAN (1853-1936)
2G - Mary Ann GLANTON (1819-1903)
3G - Jane (Jincy) KILCREASE/GILCREASE
(1795-1823)
4G - Mary unknown. (______-1849)

I should find a simple explanation of DNA. It has been a long time since I took biology. Don't laugh if my explanation is flawed.

The women in a line share one identical X chromosome passed from mothers to daughters. My sisters, my nieces, my daughter, my mother's sister and her daughters and grand daughters all share the same matriarchal DNA. It goes back unchanged for many generations, but is difficult to follow because women change their name when they marry and records are limited.

If my matriarchal line contributed to Anna's red hair, it might have been from one of these ladies. That is because she receives an X chromosome from both parents. However, her matriarchal DNA will be from her mom. She will share the same X chromosome as Wendy's girls, but Jon & Michelle's daughter has Michelle's matriarichael DNA.

Sons all receive one X chromosome from mom, but not always the same one. They always have the same Y chromosome..going back generations. So theY DNA of my son's and grandson's DNA is identical with one another, plus their Dad and his father's Y DNA.

I will post my boys Patriarchal Line too.

I would love to have a family member submit our Bennett DNA or Harry DNA. My dad only had sisters and daughters. Uncle Henry had 3 sons; so perhaps they will find it worthwhile.