Genealogy Data Page 1665 (Notes Pages)

[Strahan Family Reunion .FTW]

AUNT VINIE Lavina West Mitchell born in Washington Parish La..

Close family ties were important to Sarah Pittman. As her life drew to a close, she made her 10 children promise to hold a reunion on a day in August for the rest of their lives. That deathbed promise is still being honored to this day. Barry Pittman, at a reunion 2 years ago, told a story about his great, great, great Grandmother, Lavina West Mitchell, who lived in Nicholson, Miss. during the Civil War. He talked about the time the federal troops from Gainesville helped themselves to some of Vinie's best cows. Aunt Vinie was a small woman weighing hardly a hundred pounds, but when provoked was easily aroused. She gave the soldiers a tongue lashing and she told them she would make sure every last one of them died. They were all killed in a short time. Some of them are buried near her home which stood just north of where the Cedar Grove Church now is. So many of these troops were waylaid and killed that only larger groups were sent out to forage for supplies.
Aunt Vinie's maiden name was Lavina West. She was born on August 17, 1806 and married John M. Mitchell in 1825. Lavinia West Mitchell died at over 90 years of age and was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery. She literally has hundreds of descendants now living in the area.
Source Ila Mae Pittman Smith
Book by S.G. Thigpen
By Tom Stevens
Corrected by Tom Stevens
"Aunt Viny"
I think I did Aunt Viny an injustice in the last issue. The 2nd hand stories I took my story from were, I think, a little exaggerated. Try this version.
John M. Mitchell and Lavina West Mitchell owned and operated a store in Nicholson. They farmed, raised and sold cattle and bred fine horses.
Courthouse records show that Lavina "Aunt Viny" was involved in numerous real estate deals. She was apparently literate, well informed and devout in her belief in God.
In 1849, John Mitchell injured his back breaking a unruly filly. He suffered a great deal and spent a great deal of time at a popular "Healing Springs", up Pearl River, north of Joseph Wheat's Plantation and run by the Ott family. He was in such bad shape, he thought he was going to die and made his will. About 1855-56, he was miraculously cured. His back probably slipped back in place.
He made it home in time for Amarantha's wedding to Bill (William Green Wheat) Wheat in 1856. (story in following Issue)
Louisa Ann Mitchell, Viny's youngest daughter, told her last bit of history just before she died in Dec. 11, 1932.
"My sister, Amarantha's husband Bill Wheat, died shortly after he came home from wounds and exposure which he received in Service in the Civil War. My brother, Rutillious, came back limping using a cane so he could walk. He was captured twice in a Yankee prison camp. My brother, Cecellius and his son Rutillous, went off to war and made it home in good shape. My sister Peg's husband Dave Stockstill, also fought, but came home Ok.. They just riddled the body of my sister's, Mary Jane Bennett's Husband with Yankee bullets, but he made it home. I shall never forget My Mothers "Viny's" face during all those awesome years, and how she and papa rallied to help us all.
When them Yankee thieves, plunderers and rapists got down along Pearl River, and one tried to force his way through Mama's gate, she shot him dead and hung him over the gate. She came into the house where I was huddled in a corner, muttering, "That's for my son in one of your prison camps and that's for my son-in-law in one of your stinking hospitals. Mama blew her distress horn so Papa would come. Her little gray donkey came running when he heard her horn. Then Mama sat down and started rocking and singing hymns. Her face was white as a sheet. She ask me to get her pipe."
After the Civil War, when age was creeping up on Viny, she was seen often riding a small gray donkey named "Cusseta", gentle and easy for a petite lady to mount. She grew and cured her own tobacco and enjoyed her pipe, until she was too old and weak to hold it.
Lavinia West Mitchell died at over 90 years of age and was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery. She literally has hundreds of descendants now living in the area.
Source: Five Generations Mitchell
byVivan Davis Bornemann
Source: Ila Mae Pittman Smith

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Burge Glenda Annette [Female] b. 23 NOV 1952

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Title: Strahan Family Reunion .FTW

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Title: WarrenBurge.FTW

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Title: Strahan Family Reunion .FTW

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Title: WarrenBurge.FTW

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Burge Melissa Colleen [Female] b. 30 MAY 1960

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Title: Strahan Family Reunion .FTW

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Title: WarrenBurge.FTW

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Title: Strahan Family Reunion .FTW

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Title: WarrenBurge.FTW