The Tennessee Rich Family Home Page:Information about Stone Rich
Stone Rich (b. 1876, d. 1951)
Notes for Stone Rich:
Stone Rich,(Stonewall Rich)
I am Charles Ray Holt, born July 22, 1928 at Hilham , Tennessee in Overton County.My weight at birth was no recorded but, when I was about one month old, I weighed 3 and 1/2 pounds.
I now reside with my wife at 110 Holt Court, Warner Robins, Houston (pronounced house-ton) County, Georgia.We live about 6 miles from I- 75, exit 45 which is just about 10 miles south of Macon, Georgia.
I spent some time in the U.S. Marines, Army, and Air Force.
I was married to Sadie Wooden of Warner Robins, GA September 25th 1949.So, our 40th anniversary is coming up soon.
Sadie and I work as Civil Servants for the Air Force at Robins air Force Base, Georgia.When you are in our area, we invite you to call either of us at 912-922-6515 (home).We will want you to visit with us.Maybe you would like to tour the Museum of Aviation or some other interesting site.Or, just cake, coffee, and talk.It's up to you.
My grandfather was Stonewall Rich.When I was a small boy, my Grandfather would entertain me for hours.He would let me pull his mustache.When I pulled, he would snort and bite at me.
He tried to teach me some of the Cherokee Indian language.He particularly wanted me to learn to count in that language. Inow regret that I failed to do so.
My Grandfather was a very unusual man.He was considered to be one of the area experts at making wood (board) roofing shingles.He was also very good at splitting rails for making rail fences.He was also very good at splitting rails for making rail fences.He was unusually good at making boards for pailing fences.The boards were cut to a sharp point at the top.Pailings he made were always uniform in size and shape.Two strands of wire weave aroundthe Pailings to hold them together and for stretching the fence tight from post to post.In addition to keeping the fence tight and straight, it kept it in an upright position.
He was also quite a marksman.I can remember him winning half a cow (more times than one) at turkey shoots in Clay County, Tennessee.
Also, he was the champion fodder puller in the area.Fodder is corn leaves which were stripped from the corn stalks and tied in bundles to dry.Then the fodder was used to feed horses, cattle and other hay eating animals.When he was younger, he worked (rode0 the log river rafts down the Cumberland River to Nashville to be sawed into lumber.This was the mode of transporting used for transporting logs.He usually would depart for Nashville from Butlers landing in Clay County.He would ride a train back to Cookville (Tennessee Central Railroad) and walk home from there or would ride a steamboat from Nashville to Butlers Landing.
Sometimes in the early thirties, my Grandfather, his son Horace, and one of their drinking buddies, while intoxicated, got into a fight.My Grandmother, Ida Bowman Rich, ran between them and one, two, or all three of them shot her with a shotgun. Anyway, she wasn't seriously hurt.But, I suppose she carried some shotgun pellets for the rest of her life and to her grave.
Grandpaw loved to play poker.Apparently he wasn't a very good player.After he sold his cotton crop, he usually ended up with a new suit and other wearing apparel.But , within a few days he would lose all his money in a poker game.
He also liked to engage his Grandchildren in other card games, such as Rook or Canasta.
He was also a very likeable person.But, at the same time if he was under the influence of alcohol, he was subject to get into a fight.He was a man to be feared when he was angry.Even the toughest of roughnecks were careful not to cross his path.This was just as true afterhe became an old man as when he was younger.
He was quit a dancer.He loved to entertain his Grandchildren by shuffling his feet to sound like a train.To the ears of a youngster, his train impersonations were perfect.
One time, when he was riving (may not be a good work) boards, I was helping him.I must have been about 13 years old.I cut the end of my finger almost off.He spat tobacco juice on my finger, tied it together with a big red handkerchief and told me to get back to work.The finger healed in fine form but, I still have the scar.
Another time, he had bought a new suit but failed to buy a belt.(He usually wore suspenders).He borrowed my belt and wore it to town (Celina, Tennessee).When he came back, he had traded my beltfor another one.He told me he now had a belt of his own.I'm not sureI ever forgave him.AT the time and at my age, personal items such as a belt were hard to come by.
My grandfather was a man with a great ability and mental capacity.Yet, as I look back it seems that he lacked in both ambition and direction.
My Grandparents were separated at the time Grandpa died.All though I heard many reasons for the separation, I can only surmise that his shiftless life, lack of direction, alcohol, poker, and eye for women may have been a contributing factor.
He died of pneumonia and is buried in theRich Cemetery at Baptist Ridge (Clay Count), Tennessee.This is on the original Stone Rich farm, which is now owned by the heirs of Drue Rich McBride.
After my Father died, Grandpa came to our home for a long time.Finally, he told my Mother that he was going to manage her farm and business affairs.She informed him that she was quite capable of looking after her own affairs and raising her children.
Indeed, she was capable.She could make a dress to perfection from a picture in the Sears Catalog. She could make perfect biscuits, yeast bread, or, anything else she wantedmake.Her talents were so diverse that she could carve a rolling pin one hour and sew quilt pieces, hang the quilt and quilt, or knit or crochet a sweater or pair of socks the next.
In addition, she could direct hog killing, cleaning, curing, and smoking meat as well as any man.
My wife, Sadie Wooden Holt got to know and enjoy both my Grandfather and my Mother.At times she will fondly recall some of the things my Grandfather said or did.
She also held great admiration for my Mother.She Still remarks about how Maggie Rich Holt would blow In a tuning whistle or harp, sing a few do, re, me's and sing any song she wanted to sing.She also remarks about my Mother would order eye glasses from Ears Robuck & Co., for all the older people in the neighborhood.
She was a community servant who could when necessary, deliver babies, dress and lay-out the dear or, anything else that needed to be done.She has only one daughter (Wynell Taylor) of twelve children who would dare to do some of the things she could do.
My Mother also admired my wife who is also a person with many talents.She wanted Sadie to have her spinning wheel but, did not want it to be moved until after her death.Sadie has the spinning wheel. I regret that we never asked my Mother about the history of the spinning wheel.I assume that it was handed down to her.It is not as beautiful as one made in the age of modern equipment.But, it is well made and is well preserved.I am sure that it did well, and would still do all the things that it was supposed to do.
Sadie and I have five Children.They are:
Charles Ray Holt Jr.Warner Robins Georgia
Cynthia Laddell Holt Gresham,Macon Georgia
Cherly Lynn Holt NaJa,McDounough, Georgia
Cathie Dannette Holt,Washington, DC
Clayton Philip Holt,Student and Football Player, Georgia Southern College,
Statesborough, Georgia
Cynthia has five children, Charles has one, and Cheryl has three.
All the bloodline seen to have inherited some of the Stone Rich versatility of talents.There are some dark spots but, overall we have a heritage to be Proud of.