This story was written by her youngest daughter, Kate Lang Dane (Mrs. Seymour Dane) in 1963, just prior to Mrs. Dane's death.
Martha was born February 14th, 1846, at Sunny side, near Folkston, Georgia. Her parents were Letitia Rhea (Ray) Paxton Mizell and Joshua Everett Mizell, who had lived in Camden County until Joshua's Uncle William Mizell gave him his home farm in Charlton County, Georgia.
Letitia Paxton was the daughter of Joseph Paxton and Martha McClesky. Martha McClesky was the daughter of James McClesky and Isabella Rhea (Ray). James McClesky was a revolutionary soldier, serving in North and South Carolina; and a Captain in the Third Regiment of Georgia Militia in the War of 1812. He emigrated to Georgia from N.C. shortly after the revolution. (DAR Natl Number 381897).
She was only sixteen when the war between the states began. She shared the work of maintaining a home for ten; helping to milk the cows, make the butter, spin the cotton and weave the clothes which were needed for her family and for the slave family of six. Educational opportunities were few, but her Aunt Sarah, who shared the home was a great reader, and supplied the magazines and books the family read. The Christian Advocate was a monthly paper and Godey Magazines were greatly appreciated. She taught school and was paid with Confederate money, which soon became worthless. Her devotion to her brothers, Jack and Everett, who were in the Confederate Army, made her happy to join with others who had been asked to make shirts for the soldiers.
She was a woman of great strength of Character and devotion to duty. On the 6th of February, 1867, she was married to Felder Lang, a soldier in the Confederate Army, who had come home to Camden County only two years before. Their home for a while was Incachee by the sea, near Brunswick. Here they share cropped with the owner, Burwell Atkinson. Martha making the butter, after milking the cows, and giving the butter as rent. Soon her father, Joshua Mizell, gave them a small house and one hundred acres near him. One daughter had been, Letitia Lang Howell. The family soon built a new house which was the birth place of five more children.
Martha took part in the affairs of the community and boarded the teachers until a public school system was established. She was determined to have the children get an education, so about 1883 she got her husband, Felder, to let her buy a home in Folkston where the children attended school.
This did not last long, so she was back on the farm boarding teachers again until she looked forward to better things.
When the family moved to Fort McCoy, Florida, in 1887, she set about to have a nice home with fruit and flowers and friends whom she made. A second move to Ocala, Florida, and a third to Dade County, Florida, brought her happiness, but the same old duties. A life long Methodist, she placed her membership at Trinity Methodist Church, Miami, Florida, in 1907.
In 1906 she joined the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Southern Cross Chapter. While living at her final home in Miami she delighted in the visits of her children:
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Howell of Branford and four children
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lang and their three children
Mr. and Mrs. B.G. McDonald of Folkston, Georgia
Mr. and Mrs. William Glass Meggs, Sr., of Miami, Florida, and their six children
Mr. and Mrs. Guy C. Lang of Branford, Florida
Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Dane, of Redlands, Florida
(All are deceased now)
In 1933 she rented her home at 675 W. Flagler Street, Miami, Florida, and went to live with her daughter, Mrs. Seymour Dane, in Redland, Florida. Here she joined the Home Demonstration Club and the Woman's Club of the Redlands, and was an active member of the club.
She died in Redland on January 26th, 1936, and was buried from the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Glass Meggs, Sr. She is buried in Woodlawn Park Cemetery, Miami, Florida. Rev. H.G. Tyler of Trinity Methodist Church of Miami, Florida, officiated. Death was caused by pneumonia just two weeks prior to her 90th birthday.
From the records of Marjorie M. Gowin (Mrs. T.S.)
No comments:
Post a Comment