John Halsell Image 1

My Mother was Christened Amanda Melvina Halsell. She was borned in Johnson county, Illinois. Birth was February 28th. She could not read or write. She had forgotten her age. She was 18 years of age when she was married. Her's and Dad's marriage licence was bought at Morrilton, Arkansas. Her father's name was John Calvin Halsell. He was one of 13 children. He was a native of Mississippi. Aunt Winnie told me that his father owned a big plantation in the state of Mississippi and his father disinherited Grandfather because he refused to marry the woman that his father had chosen for him. Him and two other young men who were his companions were travelling in a covered wagon. When one of the young men had takened ill Grandfather had gone to seek help for his sick companion and as I understand it a group of young people had gone out to their camp site to sit up with the young man who was ill and some of the young ladies in the group had learned that Grandfather's name was John and he had hole in the seat of his pants .... and mother said that her mother and the other girls amongst themselves got to calling him "ragged ass" John, not dreaming that she would ever marry him. Both my Grandfathers were great hunters back in those days when there was lots of wild game. Grandmother's maiden name was Polly Ann Deaton. She had two brothers, one Mother always referred to

Winnie Pauline Hall letter 2a