I enjoyed reading your story. Thanks for sharing with us. Marilyn Morris in TN On Jun 7, 2006, at 3:32 PM, marilyn e brown wrote: > I grew up in one of the families who went north to live and > financially > better themselves. Although the plans were to return to Fentress > County. > Many things happened to prevent this ever happening. My father and > grandfather first went to Chrysler Plant in New Castle, Indiana and > then dad > got on at Perfect Circle. Grandad went back to Tennessee. He was > just there > to make extra money. Their situation was that the homeplace had > been divided > and divided and divided. A very large farm can only be divided so > many times > before the amount of land is not conducive to maintaining a family. > I also > think that some were just not cut out to be farmers and some were > best when > living the life of a farmer. I have uncles who lived and worked in > the north > for various lengths of time. One in Ft. Wayne stayed and retired, > then went > home. He has been back on land that has been in his family for > generations for over 20 years now. Others tried it but it was just > not the > way of life for them. We never made the trip back to Tennessee > every weekend > or every month like many did. We did go at least twice a year for a > week or > two. Dad and mom would have probably gone back but children, > grandchildren, > and mom's health prevented them from leaving their home of forty > years. I > have made sure that my children and grandchildren know from whence > they come > and where the family roots are. I haven't been able to take them > back to all > the other southern states where some lines originated. That is the > reason > for this search---to leave them a history. Marilyne > > On 6/7/06, Ron Smith <rsmith0127@yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> Hi Everyone, >> Over the past I've noticed many obits posted by Brenda, Willie, >> and others >> that have MANY families from Fentress county that have migrated to >> Muncie, >> Indiana and other areas of Indiana - mine included. Do any of you >> know when >> this all started, the reason it started, who started it, and why >> Indiana? I >> know my paternal Smith family all were born in Fentress county and >> were >> farmers but ended up near Richmond, Ind. (where I was born) >> shortly after >> World War II. Were there any others that migrated north earlier than >> that? What about the Great Depression? Were there other families >> that >> migrated during this time frame? I'm just curious as to how >> everyone seemed >> to end up in one area so far away. I know this is probably how >> many people >> ended up in Fentress and other surrounding areas that migrated >> from VA & >> NC. Many families left areas together to settle in other areas - >> they >> helped each other build homes, barns, and get the farm land >> cleared. But, >> many of the TN >> families were farmers and went north for manufacturing jobs. My dad >> worked as a "Tenant farmer" for years in Indiana, bouncing from >> one farm to >> another every few years. He eventually found a job in >> manufacturing and >> retired as a Tool & Die Maker for Alcoa in Richmond, Ind. >> >> Anyone have a story they can share about their family migrating to >> another >> area of the country and why? >> >> Thanks! >> Ron Smith >> >> >> ==== TNFENTRE Mailing List ==== >> Don't Forget To Check The Courthouse & Bible Records For Pre 1865 >> Overton >> and Fentress Marriages.Also, Look For Recorded Wills. >> >> > > > ==== TNFENTRE Mailing List ==== > Fentress County List has the best, most helpful and friendly people > on any List...You ALL are the greatest..... > To See Previous Posts http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/tnfentre