There’s an old Bible that has had a place of honor on my credenza for many years. My children never knew a time when it wasn’t there. It’s rather amazing that it’s here at all since there are few items that have been passed down from the Tompkins side of my family. This is one of them.
The bible has a long and interesting history. It has a copyright of 1900, but it begins with a record of my great grandparent’s marriage in 1893. This tells me that they entered the information after the event, but Texas marriage records confirm the date. My Tompkins grandmother probably became its protector about 1932 when her dad died and then my dad rescued it in 1955 when his mother passed away. I can’t actually remember when I took possession of it, but I imagine it was about the time my parents divorced in 1971. That means I’ve had it already more than 40 years.
The cover of the book was separated from the spine and it had seen hard wear. I was fortunate to find an expert on repairs of old bibles who had a business in Lubbock where we were living. As a struggling graduate student, I couldn’t afford to do anything about it, so I asked my father for money to have it repaired as a birthday present. It was a request I’ve always been grateful I made.
The Family Record pages within the book list births and deaths. However, just as interesting were the clippings tucked into the pages. There’s a wedding announcement, an account of a 90th birthday celebration, as well as notices of deaths of children and adults including at least one murder. There was also a heartbreaking letter of condolence that also contained a clipping of hair wrapped in tissue and part of a dress – all that remains to record the life of one small child.
With these few scraps we are invited to remember those who went before us. The family of Mary Emma Hester and John William Tompkins weren’t extraordinary in any way. They lived a life of ups and downs while five children came into the world as a result of their union.
John William Tompkins was born in Franklin, Alabama in 1864 but left after 1880 to live briefly in Florida and then move on to Cherokee, Texas. He was there in 1893 when he married Mary Emma Hester who was twelve years younger than he. The Tompkins were farmers in Alabama and continued that life in Texas. Photographs of the farm show a family struggling financially. In 1900 he is working as a prison guard probably to bring in cash instead of crops. By 1910 he has moved the family to Hood, Texas where he once again farming.
Mary Emma was a woman characteristic of many during that time. A photograph of her shows a mother thin and drawn holding a baby who is clearly ill. Little Grady Olin lives only seven months. She had already lost Gladys Thelma whose mementos I found in the bible. That leaves her in the 1910 census with two children Allen Edwin and Osa Pearl. In 1915 Wainwright was born, but by 1916 at the age of 39 she is gone. One could guess that she may have died as the result of a pregnancy.
Faced with three small children to care for, J. W. makes the decision that many fathers have made over the ages. Within a year he marries Martha Ella Kirkland who has been widowed herself.
By 1920 only the youngest child Wainwright is living with the family and J.W. is working as a wagon driver. A photo of Wainwright shows a lonely young boy playing with his cat. He probably was.
The 1930 census reveals a change. Wainwright is now a young teenager living at home, but an 11 year old grandson Gordon G Lancaster (son of Pearl) is now living with them also. One can imagine that two lively boys living under the roof of adults in their mid sixties might have taxed the patience and energy of both caretakers.
Census records stop after 1930, but the history goes on. I wish I could say it was a tale of happiness, but I can’t. In 1932 John W shoots and kills himself at the age of 67. He and his first wife Mary Emma are buried in the Acton Cemetery. Their eldest son Allen Edwin dies in 1935 probably of suicide having had financial struggles for most of his adult life. The youngest child (Wainwright) leaves Texas as soon as he is of age and moves to California severing ties with the family. Pearl (whose story will be told in more detail later) marries five times before she is 50 and eventually also ends her own life.
It’s not a pretty tale, but it is real. The family faced struggles that one cannot completely imagine but which draws our sympathy. Turning over the pages of the family bible touching each of the pieces of life that are recorded makes me sad. Words such as these: Little Grady Tompkins died Saturday evening after two weeks of suffering was buried Sunday afternoon in the Acton Cemetery. All that loving hands could do was done but it seemed that nothing did him any good. The bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of all in their sorrow.
What I try to remind myself is that they moved on as best they could. And for that I honor them with this account.
I liked this post. Even though it contained some sad tales of the family, it reminded me of the play I saw last night, Our Town, which is still on my mind.
Our Town seemed ordinary to me for the first two acts, and then–like this post–it turned dark, focusing on death but leaving the subtle message that we all need to appreciate every moment of our lives.
Thanks for this perspective. It helps.