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Farming For A Better Future, page 118
KEY rather increased sharply and then fluctuated. At the beginning of the century there were only 4 households that owned farms in Stevenson - Philip Matthews, Isaac Walls, Nelson Lamberson, and Jacob Tally. Together these farms represented less than 1% of the total households and 5% of the African American households. By 1910, there were 28 (7%) African American-owned farms in Stevenson and that number peaked at 55 (11%) farms in 1920. While the African American-owned farms only accounted for 11% of the total households at their peak, the farms represented a large portion of the African American households. From 1910 to 1940, farms owned by people of color made up at least a quarter of all households of color and as much as 43% in 1920. On the 1940 census, three neighborhoods are notable for their concentration of African American farming landowners. One is labeled simply “New Town,” which is adjacent to “Avery” and the other neighborhood known as “Avery Negro Town.” George Tally (c. 1867-1944) owned a farm in Stevenson from at least 1910 to 1940 and most likely his death. Tally lived in Avery Negro Town alongside others with the surname Tally, either immediate family members to George Tally and others are unknown relations. On the 1940 census, two of George's daughters lived next door on their own farms. Emma Lee Tally Joiner (1898-1977) and Ella Mae Tally Buckner (1905-1991) are widowed and divorced, respectively. Ella Mae was married to Ulysses Van Buckner (1898-1968) who was the brother of Joseph Early Buckner (1889-1965). Buckner also owned a farm in Stevenson on Lee Highway in 1940. The decade prior, Buckner owned a farm in the neighboring community of Bass on Bass-Anderson Road. A veteran of World War I, Buckner and his wife, Ollie Mae (1902-1964), are buried in Long Acre Cemetery west of Stevenson south of County Road 53. Matthew Tally (born c. 1875) owned a farm in Stevenson from at least 1920 to 1940, but his relationship to George Tally, if there is any, is unknown. The same is true for Andy Tally (born c. 1855) who owned a farm from at least 1930 to 1940. (Left) Stevenson Depot, 2010 (Flickr, User Brent Moore) - (4646)