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Terri's avatar

I was one of those children who loved to listen to family stories. My granddaddy, William F. Fain, often told me about my great-grandfather, Iota Oscar Fain, his parents, and siblings who farmed in north-eastern Georgia and ran a general store in the 1860s. My great-great-grandfather, William Hollen Fain was a southerner, yet was vehemently anti-slavery, as were many in that region. When Sherman came through, he sent out teams of soldiers, one of which raided the Fain family's farm. The soldiers went room to room, piled up belongings, sliced open the feather pillows and mattresses, dumped the feathers, and poured sorghum molasses over everything. They used the family's own property and products to destroy all they had. Their clothes, linens, and furniture in each room were ruined, that is until the reached the oldest sister's room where they attempted to demolish her hope chest. She'd been hiding under the bed, but came out roaring, attacking the soldier molesting her treasure with her fists and feet. He backed out of the room, said "Pardon me, Miss," called his fellow soldiers together, and they rode away.

After the Union won, the community's angry pro-slavery citizens set the family's store ablaze and salted their fields. This final devastation meant they could not stay, so they packed up and left, finally settling in northern Arkansas after a second failed homestead in northwestern Georgia where their anti-slavery position was met with even more hostility.

Grandaddy's aunt eventually set up housekeeping in Arkansas with her husband, the hope chest and its treasures intact.

My great-great grandparents, William Hollen and Susan Fain, rest in Lead Hill, Arkansas. Their commitment to what is right cost them so much, but it has been a light in my family, one that still guides me, my children and my grandchildren.

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Deborah Unger's avatar

Just saw this and wanted to share:

Husband rued: "I'm sad to be raising our children in these dystopian times."

Wife recalled a quote she had read:

"Never feel sorry for raising dragon-slayers in a time when there are actual dragons."

#VoteBlue2022

"It's a great life if you don't weaken." ~My Mom

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