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Farming For A Better Future, page 319
Pleas Orr, Sr. wanted to buy a five-room house with electricity and at least 30 acres of cropland and 10 acres of pasture. He had $2,000 to invest in a new home. Pleas Orr, Jr. was 27 years old and married in 1935. He lived near his father in Harris where he rented a five-room house. Orr, Jr. rented 40 acres from his half-brother, L.G. Fields. On his 40 acres he grew corn, cotton, hay, sorghum, and potatoes. He wished to buy a farm if he could, but planned on renting 40 acres of cropland, 10 acres of pasture, and 10 acres of woodland. He wanted a five-room house with electricity and had saved $300. According to census records, by 1940, the father and son co-owned a farm on Lucas Ferry Road. Richard Settlers Richard Settlers lived in Belle Mina. At 60 years old, he and his wife, who was 45 years old, owned a three-room house with two bedrooms, no electricity or telephone, a wood burning stove, well, and outside privy. The house was 40 years old at that time. The Settlers were both born in Limestone County. They had two sons and two daughters. Although neither of the Settlers had any education, they subscribed to the Southern Agriculturist and had 12 books in their home. Although Richard Settlers owned his home, he did not farm at the time of the TVA visit in March 1935 because he lacked the funds and tools to get a crop started. Settlers stated he preferred work as a cotton farmer or in a steel mill. Mr. Settlers' interest and cooperation with TVA indicated that he was hopeful that the TVA could help him with his situation. He planned to move his family to Chattanooga where he would rent a three-room house with at least 25 acres of cropland and five acres of woodland. Mimia Smith Mimia Smith, also known as Mimia Woodruff Love, was 59 years old and living with her second husband in 1935. A note on the back of the TVA case file states “Wife is owner of land and head of household. Married present husband just last year and wife maintains control of property, crops, etc. Son lives in same house, and the two families halve the cultivatable land not rented out. Maintain separate establishments. Daughter living at home have been married and divorced.” Mrs. Smith owned a three-room house with two bedrooms, a wood burning stove, and a well but no electricity, telephone, or facilities. The house was built in 1905. Smith's first husband was William Love, who passed away in 1929. Together they had five sons and nine daughters, although four of their children did not survive to adulthood. From 1900 to 1920 they rented a farm in near Mooresville. Sometime between 1920 and 1929, William purchased at least 111 acres of farmland. In 1935, Mimia owned 25 acres of woodland, 30 acres of pasture, and 56 acres under cultivation producing corn, cotton, hay, and other crops. She rented out another 33 acres of cropland to her son James Love, and son-in-law, John Gordon. The Love-Smith farm had one mule, one horse, two cattle, three hogs, and 17 chickens. The family produced butter, milk, eggs, poultry, pork, corn, sorghum, peas/beans, peaches, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and wood on a regular basis. Their equipment included a wagon, mower, hay rake, stalk cutter, cultivator, turning plow, and harrow. Smith wished to relocate within the Mooresville area and hoped to buy a three-room house with at least 40 acres of cropland and five acres of pasture with the $3,000 she had saved. Martha Sue Beddingfield Yarbrough Mrs. Martha Sue Yarbrough was born a slave about 1853. She grew up in the Little Elk area in southwest Limestone County where she once belonged to the Beddingfield family. She married Joe Y. Yarbrough between 1870 and 1880. The Yarbroughs owned a farm by 1910, but Mr. Yarbrough passed away by 1920. Mrs. Yarbrough planned to move her two-story house to the nearby farm bought by her son, Critz. However, according to the 1930 and 1940 federal census records, Critz rented a farm and his mother already lived with him in 1930. I 319 - LIMESTONE - (4847)