Massey Family of South Carolina and Alabama:Information about James Thorny Massey
James Thorny Massey (b. 17 October 1873, d. 26 September 1969)
Notes for James Thorny Massey:
Thorny was only six years old when his mother (Mary Elizabeth Underwood) died from "slow fever" as a result of giving birth to twin boys. The baby boys were buried in the casket with their mother.
After Thorny's mother died, his father married his mother's sister, Lucretia Underwood. She became a loving mother to her sister's five children. "Aunt Lu" also later had seven living children of her own.
Thorny's education began about 1879 at the Frazier schoolhouse built on the Col. James Frazier farm, later owned by John Massey, now know as Wynwood Lake Estates. The exact location was about 100 yards behind W. E. "Bo" Massey's home. The school was a one-room building with a chimney constructed of clay mud, and sticks alternately laid to hold it together. Thorny, other Massey children, and the Keiths composed the bulk of students. Like any boy, upon a dare Thorny would not hesitate to enter the building through the chimney. Fire usually destroyed buildings with this type of chimney. The sticks would dry out, catch fire, and burn through the chimney to the building structure.
In the early 1890s Thorny peddled meal, ground by his father, at the old Massey Mill, now known as Camp Mary Munger. Using oxen or mules to pull his load, he would often pick up other peddlers that were on foot. Among those were Mr. Burger, later owner of Burger Dry Goods Company and Mr. Louis Pizitz, founder of Pizitz Department Store. The ride was a welcome one; their backpack of wares were often a very heavy burden.
In 1896, Thorny left home at the age of 23 to make his fortune in Texas. With $3.75 in his pocket, he went to Pratt City and "hoboed" a freight train to Paris, Texas. Picking cotton at 40 cents a hundred pounds (about $1.40 per day), he was able to save enough to put in 40 acres of cotton and 10 acres of corn the next year with B. M. Taylor. They made 20 bales of cotton, which brought 7 cents per pound and 300 bushels of corn which was sold at 25 cents per bushel. For the years work, each cleared $204.00.
Glenn Brothers of Argo had written him with a job offer paying $15 a month. Thorny came back from Texas, took the job and five years later married Josephine Williams. He worked for Glenn Brothers a total of 15 years. In 1913 he bought the Argo store, took J. C. Youngman as a partner and sold to him in 1918. Thorny then moved to Birmingham and worked for W. S. Brown until they sold in 1929. He took Dewey Pinson as a partner and they began business as Massey & Pinson. In 1934 Pinson sold out to Thorny and he began operating as J. T. Massey Mercantile. His son Hugh, bought into the business in 1944 which is now owned by Hugh Massey, Jr.
Thorny worked over 70 years in the mercantile business and remained active until his death September 26, 1969.
[Emassey.ftw]
JAMES THORNY MASSEY
In 1896, Thorny left home at the age of 23 to make his fortune in Texas. With $3.75 in his pocket, he went to Pratt City and "hoboed" a freight train to Paris, Texas. Picking cotton at 40 cents a hundred pounds (about $1.40 per day), he was able to save enough to put in 40 acres of cotton and 10 acres of corn the next year with B. M. Taylor. They made 20 bales of cotton, which brought 7 cents per pound and 300 bushels of corn which was sold at 25 cents per bushel. For the years work, each cleared $204.00.
Glenn Brothers of Argo had written him with a job offer paying $15 a month. Thorny came back from Texas, took the job and five years later married Josephine Williams. He worked for Glenn Brothers a total of 15 years. In 1913 he bought the Argo store, took J. C. Youngman as a partner and sold to him in 1918. Thorny then moved to Birmingham and worked for W. S. Brown until they sold in 1929. He took Dewey Pinson as a partner and they began business as Massey & Pinson. In 1934 Pinson sold out to Thorny and he began operating as J. T. Massey Mercantile. His son Hugh, bought into the business in 1944 which is now owned by Hugh Massey, Jr.
Thorny worked over 70 years in the mercantile business and remained active until his death September 26, 1969.
More About James Thorny Massey:
Date born 2: 17 October 18731
More About James Thorny Massey and <Unnamed>:
Marriage: 27 November 19031
Children of James Thorny Massey are:
- Lelia Vestal Massey, b. 5 October 1904, Argo, Jefferson Co., AL, d. date unknown.
- +Hugh Henry Massey, b. 5 January 1907, Argo, Al.1, d. 18 March 2003, Birmingham, AL.
- John Zoda Massey, b. 17 November 19081, d. 12 January 19091.
- +James Emmitt Massey, b. 26 December 19091, d. 30 October 1967, b. Greenwood Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX1.
- William Roy Massey, b. 23 September 19121, d. 2 October 1963, Birmingham, Al.1.
- Mildred Ruth Massey.
- Lilia Vestal Massey, b. 3 October 19041, d. date unknown.