The family Bible says Davie. He was still living at the time this information was compiled in 1934. The family Bible shows that he was married Jan. 22, 1879. I cannot read the entry well--it might be to Hattie(?) or Mattie(?) D.(?)...os(?). THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER ABOUT THE MASSEY FAMILY HISTORY AND OTHER THINGS. THE GRANDFATHER MENTIONED MAY BE DAVID MASSEY, SON OF ALLEN ALONZO MASSEY 2-12-73 Rt. 4, Box 376 Dunnellon, Fla.32630 Dear Lois: Have so often framed letters in my mind, but those thoughts can never be carried by the post office. We are having a few days of cold weather-turned off cool Fri. P.M. and we had a slow rain all night and for 24 hours-never enough to run off the eaves of house-just dripped-and temperature never above 47º The white frosts for Mon., Tues. & Wed. with near 30º gave us real shivers. We've lived here for over 6 years and have never had so much cold at one time until Jan. & Feb. All of our poinsettias against south of house were killed back - while they were in their peak of beauty. We live in the Northwest Central part of the Fla. peninsular, about 25 miles from Gulf and straight across 120 miles to Daytona Beach. It is in the rolling hill section where they raise fine horses and lots of cattle. The cattle and horse farms are well kept - and the country people we are they are a joy to behold. We live 26 miles west and a little north of Ocalo, 100 miles north of Tampa and 100 miles northwest from Orlando and Disney World (We've never been there as my husband does not walk very well. He has Osteo-arthritis in lower spine, and hardening of the arteries, making his circulation a factor in walking. We returned to Memphis and Hernando area in June of past summer. We still own and rent my home in the very heart of Hernando, Miss. You know the Massey family settled with Chickasaw Indians about 8 miles east & a little South of Hernando. Their address was always Coldwater, Miss. There were 3 other families settled there when the arrived. The Greers were one family and Grandpa's mother was a Greer. Grandpa Massey was a real fisherman and often walked the 3 1/2 miles to river to fish. In fact he walked the distance when he was 86. Everybody was too busy to drive him. He had his plans to fish, so he took his bait bucket, fishing pole & net for fish & walked it. They missed him and drove down to Coldwater River when they saw his fishing things gone. He had had several attacks. He told them he had his plans, too, so why should he bother them. He had walked it many times and knew where he was going. He was a joy to all of us in the family, and never dropped or was stopped from joking & kidding. In fact, he was kidding them about the service they were giving him when he died. Grandpa had 3 older sisters one married a Hurt, one a Brigance & one an Alexander. Had one Brother killed in Civil War. One died later (without marrying) from injuries. There was a younger brother, Will, two younger sisters, Aunt Nan and Aunt Lena. (These are the shortened names we knew them by) Uncle Will and the two sisters lived together until he died, then Aunt Nan died, then Granpa died (and Floyd Snell Grandpa's nephew became adm of the estate) Aunt Lena was the youngest and was blind from cataracts when she was about 12 yrs. Her mother sent her to New York to learn to read Braille, and as long as she lived she had her Braille papers & publications mailed to her. She was a ray of sunshine to all who knew her. She was small probably never topped 80 lbs. She could tell a ripe tomato by the feel. Some folk worried about her being bitten by a snake, but she could smell them and stayed very still until she heard them crawl away. She could tell one quilt in the stack from another - and for years helped to quilt by feeling the pieces. One of the other great nephews slipped a sweet potato out of the ashes on the hearth (They always had a big fireplace) and ate it. Just as he finished Aunt Lena called his name and said she was glad he enjoyed the potato. She thought that year's potatoes were unusually good. We - my twin sister (Mildred Delanie- the Delanie for Grandma Massey) and I - tried to tiptoe in and surprise them - we were about 10 or 11 yrs. Aunt Lena let us get inside the yard gate about 10 steps & then called out to Aunt Nan. "Euclid's twins are here." Mildred & I dearly loved them. The old log house with dog trot was still standing in 1962, and was owned by one of their descendants. Don't know about it since we moved down here. One of Miro's nephews, Marvin Massey, lives at Palestine, Ark. and is Postmaster there. My Brother Euclid Marshall Massey, Jr. lives in Memphis, and those are the only 2 nephews Miriam has. The other 2 both lived in Hernando & Sardis, Miss. My niece - brother's daughter- has Great Grandpa's family Bible and I've asked her to photostat the pages. If you would like copies I'll have them made, as there are several members of family wanting copies, I know of other Massey family members who are in DAR and at one time I had family number, but have lost it now. J. M. and I are both very thankful to a loving God for his care. We're both able to be up and busy bodies about home. Haven't had much garden in 3 yrs. Do have early Blackberries (April) and lots of scuppernong grapes. Have a few peaches & quinces. Hope you and yours have a blessed & joyous season. God bless each of you. Modena Thomason THE FOLLOWING LETTER IS WRITTEN BY MODENA THOMASON Dunnellon, Fl.. 32630 Dec. 17, 1977 Dear Lois: I want to thank you for the Christmas letter and card in 1976. Have thought several times this year I would write you, but my time is too short - or am I too slow. J. M. died November 17, 1976. I was exhausted and took me a long time to get over being exhausted. God was very good to me and I give him praises for his wonderfully loving care. We were able to have J. M. at home (as he wished it) all the way thru his illnesses. He just stopped breathing. It was not shock to me, as the Lord helped me to realize 2 1/2 days before the end that he was dying. I had all papers filled out and signed to take care of everything, except the death certificate. The doctor came to the house and finished the form and the Under taker from Forrest City, Arkansas (where we lived before moving to Florida) had him on the way to be prepared within 2 hours. I had my list all made up of the calls to make and messages for each. Had J. M.'s clothes ready and all information and funeral arrangements written down. God was really with me to have all that done before hand. I had lots of paper work and records to get into shape and for almost two years we had nurses and I did all cooking and washing, filling in for nurses and taking care of our affairs. We still had a few matters of business to clear up in Arkansas and Miss. before I was ready to go back to Fla. Also had rented the Fla. house until May of 1977. The latter part of May I came down here. Not closing any doors - so left my apartment as it was. Had the other apt. in Hernando Miss. house rented to a fine young couple. Of course, when I arrived here I had to consult with Lawyer and tax consultant about how and what and when to do certain things. Thanks to a good God. I had been a steno. and an accountant, so I got busy and did all of my own work. And you know how the just daily living takes a lot of time. The final day I filed the last returns and that was after the middle of August. A (widow) neighbor of mine and I took off to see a few places in Florida. Then back home to have a chimney built on the house and bought a Franklin Stove to have installed. (Now I have it going and enough wood for this winter - I hope. I promised his nieces and nephew I would see them for a short visit this year. In September I made those visits and then to my family. Have a brother at Heber Springs, Ark. a sister in St. Louis, Mo. and 2 sisters in San Diego, Calif. I visited my brother and we went to St. Louis together. I stopped by to visit a few hours with my husband's sister-in-law. and then Back to Hernando to get things ready and set up to leave that place for this winter. I had to arrange to have some heat in my apt to keep the pipes from freezing. Had to check on bills, etc. Paid the man to keep the yard. Never had seen the fall leaves more beautifully colored. I came back home to Fla. and spent two-three weeks getting paper work caught up. I have such a good neighbor that I made up the checks that would need to be paid for the next month. Had my mail forwarded to her and she filled in amount of checks. I had envelopes addressed and stamped. She also checked on my house. On October 19 a widow neighbor of mine and I left for her daughters'. So we drove out taking out time and seeing what we wanted to see along I-40 We arrived at her daughters' the night of Nov. 4. We had traveled over 4,000 miles. Both of us had a good time and not one bit of trouble anywhere along the way. God is due all thanks. I went from her daughters to San Diego for a visit with my 2 sisters. It was the first Thanksgiving in over 23 years the 3 of us had been together. And it was the first time in 22 years my twin and I had celebrated our birthday together. Came home on Nov. 30, so I've been trying to catch up all this month. Must get busy and plant some garden, even though I have to cover it on the frosty nights. Also cover my poinsettia until after Christmas. It is pretty now. Hope you are keeping well. Enclosed is copy of information taken from my great grandfather Masey's family Bible. I got that this year and had the pictures made. Will get more information from County and State records when I go back to Miss. Also need to check the census records. Will pass it along when I can get to it. It does take time. If you will please let me hear from you. Want to keep in touch if at all possible. Best wishes for a most wonderfully blessed holiday season. God keep you ever in His care and give you Peace. Love Modena Census: 1900, PALESTINE PCT, TATE, MISSISSIPPI, Series: T623 Roll: 829 Page: 113 307/308, Massey, David, head, w, m, Feb 1852, 48, m, 21, MS, SC, MS, farmer, read, write, speak Eng., own, free, farm ----, Delanie, wife, w, f, Jul 1854, 45, m, 21, 5 children, 4 living, MS, TN, AL, read write, speak Eng. ----, Euclid, son, w, m, Feb 1880, 20, s, MS, MS, MS, farm laborer, (months att. school unreadable), read, write, speak Eng. ----, Allen, son, w, m, Aug 1882, 12, s, MS, MS, MS, farm laborer, (months att. school unreadable), read, write, speak Eng. ----, Fred, son, w, m, Dec 1886, 13, s, MS, MS, MS, at school, attended school 5 months, read write, speak Eng. ----, Miriam, dau, w, f, May 1889, 11, s, MS, MS, MS, at school, att. school 5 mos., read, write, speak Eng.