A bit of my history

[The following is a transcription of the handwritten journal of my mother, Margaret Elizabeth “Beth” McKeown Miller. Her journal, contained in two spiral notebooks, runs from 1981 to 1996. The notebooks were found a few weeks after her death, which occurred suddenly in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 8, 1997. I have used brackets [ ] to include explanatory information I have added. Harry Malone Miller, Jr.]

August 19, 1981

I was born on March 30, 1924, the fourth child of John Stevenson McKeown and Margaret Emmie Beam McKeown.
I was named for both my maternal grandmother and my paternal grandmother and [also] my mother. However, my mother, having read ,Little Women, decided I should be called Beth instead of Margaret Elizabeth. I was small at birth and once wiggled my way out of the cradle between the bars.
My sister just older than me, Emmie Jane, had suffered an accident a few months before my birth. Mama still needed to care for her a lot as she had been badly burned from a pot of boiling water. Daddy made a "play pen" for me from a wooden box so that they could keep me out of mischief.
We lived for a short time after my birth on a farm in the Cornwell community of Chester County [South Carolina]. The house no longer stands.
Before I was a year old we moved to a farm on Douglas Creek on Ashford Ferry Road about 15 miles south of Chester, SC.
My father was John S. McKeown. He was born August 14, 1895 in Chester County [died October 21, 1978 in Lexington County Hospital, Lexington, SC, buried at New Hope ARP Church Cemetery, Fairfield County, SC. At his death, he was living with his son, John Wallace McKeown, in nearby Columbia.] His father was Thomas Mabry McKeown born April 9, 1852 died November 8, 1932. His mother was Margaret "Maggie" Cameron.
My grandfather [McKeown] was 9 years old at the beginning [of] the Civil War but he didn't talk to us much about it. By the time I came along he had many grandchildren and his health was not good. He fell and broke his leg when I was 8 and died several weeks later.
Later in [my] life after my father moved us to Fairfield County [SC] we knew a very elderly Negroe named John Brown, whom we fondly called "Uncle John" Brown. We spent many pleasant hours talking to him of the "olden times". He remembered making shoes during the Civil War for our Grandfather who was as he said "a mere lad". Uncle John was well into his 90's when he died.
The war years of course were fresh in the minds of my grandparents and my parents. The reconstruction days following the war had been difficult. Most Southerners were staunch Democrats. Republican was almost a curse word and spoken of as such.
My paternal grandmother was Margaret Jane Cameron. [She was born on] March 8, 1862 - died March 16, 1934 having just turned 72 a week before her death. She married Thomas on January 18, 1883. She was 10 years younger than he. They had 6 children all of whom lived to adulthood except for Edna who was[,] at the age of 11[,] burned. Her gown caught on fire and she died soon thereafter.

[The following is a list of Thomas and Margaret John McKeown's children:]
William - married Mary Cameron
Cora - [married ________] Varnadore
Lily - [married _________] Matthews}brothers
Ada - [married _________] Matthews} "
Annie - [married] Boyd Mobley
John [Stevenson] - [married] Emmie Beam
Edna - [died]

[The following entry is somewhat duplicative of the entry above:]
My paternal grandmother was Margaret Jane Cameron. She was born March 8, 1862 - March 16, 1924. She married Thomas Mabry McKeown (April 9, 1952 - November 8, 1932) and was ten years younger than my grandfather.
They had six children one of them Edna died as a young girl in a tragic accident. She was standing in front of an open fire in a flannel gown and she caught fire and was so badly burned that she soon died.
My father was always cautious about fire and taught us to have a healthy respect for it. We used open fire places to heat the house and rules were strict about handling fire. One never put paper in the fire for fear it would blow up the chimney and catch the roof on fire. On a farm any building that caught on fire would more than likely burn before you could summon enough help to extinguish it.

[The following is a list of the children of Jesse Franklin and Janie Elizabeth Craft Beam:]
1 - Emmie September 20, 1898 - February 28, 1989 age 81
2 - Albert Franklin May 12, 1901 - February 27 - 1957
3 - Hugh Ravis April 8, 1903 - September 29, 1919 [from] diabetes
4 - Herbert Samuel July 28, 1905 1981
5 - Ellis Burton September 3, 1908 - July 10, 1951 [from] emphysema
6 - Jesse Henry August 25, 1910 - May 30, 1911
7 - Grover Thomas February 4, 1912 - June 29, 1912
8 - Infant daughter [possibly named Betty Elizabeth] born & died February 12, 1913
9 - Ruby James June 29, 1914
10 - Elizabeth Wylia April 1, 1917 - July 4, 1917

Several of these children, those born between 1910 and 1913[,] are buried in Ridgeway, SC. My grandmother developed kidney disease which caused the death of Jesse[.] - Grover and the infant daughter died after my grandmother's death from flu.

My Parents

August 20, 1981

My parents met when they were children, having attended the same country school.
Mama moved to Ridgeway, SC, while small, lived there 4 or 5 years and then moved back to Chester County. She remembered that they moved back by train. She boarded in town to go to first and several people because she was not able to walk the long distance to school because of ---- ---- ---- from Polio. She was a good student and attended school until she had reached the level of her teacher's ability to teach. She wanted to teach but because of her mother's health in World War I was not able to continue her education. Some were buried in Ridgeway. Grandmama and Granddaddy and one child are buried at Bethlehem Methodist (also great granddad Paul Moses Craft and Elizha Bean) Church Cemetery in Chester County. One of my great-great grandparents is buried in a church cemetery at White Oak, SC, in Fairfield Cty.
Moving by train meant that they could not take everything with them. Mama said her last sight of the old house was of the clock still sitting on the mantle and some other things that were left behind.
When she moved back to Chester County, she was in her teens and she and Daddy met again and at the time of World War I just before Daddy left to go overseas they were engaged to be married. Daddy gave her a wedding band to keep until they could be married. She wore it from then[,] 1918[,] until her death in 1980. During her last illness, she could not keep it on her finger as she had lost so much weight. We took a gold chain to the hospital and she wore it around her neck. She gave it to her granddaughter Emmy Susan Bennett. Emmy being the only granddaughter named and called Emmy.
Mama had Polio as a small child. Just 2 1/2 or 3. When she recovered she was not able to walk. Grandmama [Beam]soaked her leg and exercised it each day and encouraged her to be active and she regained use of her leg. However this leg was shorter than the other and her foot was smaller. She overcame this handicap and reared six children of her own and helped with her orphaned sister and brothers. We children never thought of her as being crippled in any way. One rule however was enforced by my father in regard to this. When Mama called us we were to go to her even if for punishment.
Mama loved growing things and I learned to love plants from her. Working in the garden was one of my chores. (I was always a little leary of the cows - so did not learn to milk them).
Daddy planted a big garden and we canned enormous amounts each summer. With 8 people to feed it was always used before the next crop Canning in those days was an experience. Water had to be carried from the well or pump. The well was quite a distance from the house. Fruit jars were carried from the smoke house into the kitchen. Water was heated on the black iron wood stove. The jars washed and scalded. Then veg[etable] or fruit were gathered - more water to wash them was carried. They were prepared for the jars. Packed cold in jars or cooked first then packed in jars. Then the jars were placed in pans of hot water and boiled for up to an hour to insure safety. Later a pressure cooker was bought which cut down on the time.
Remember this was before air conditioning or electric fans. On a hot day in July, on a canning day, which would be almost every day as Mama canned or preserved enough veg for a family of 8 for the winter, the temperature in the kitchen could easily remain at 90-100 or higher.
Mama fried chickens and fried out saus[auge?] and canned these too. I believe this was done only after pressure cookers were available.
After a day of such hot work we would usually have leftover veg - cornbread and cold buttermilk for supper. Believe it or not this was a delicious meal. It must have been good for us because all 6 of us grew up to have good health.
We didn't have Bar-be-ques out doors but in August we frequently took our supper outside in the cooler air to eat. I remember watching shooting stars from the yard during this time.
Daddy was a farmer all his life. He had rented his own farm and lived on it before he was drafted into the army in [on] July 23, 1918 - [mustered out] August 15, 1919. I have a pie safe which he purchased for his house before he was married. [Harry Jr. now has this pie safe.]
Can you imagine a young farm lad, who had never been far from home suddenly being taken into the infantry[,] trained a scant few months, then put aboard ship and sent to Europe to fight in a war?
He was terribly seasick on the way over. By the time he arrived the war was almost over. He was kept there as part of the occupation forces[,] came home on August 15, 1919 to be married a few days later [August 18, 1919].
I have a picture of him still in uniform - also one of Mama and Daddy - his brother William Pierce McKeown and his wife Mary Woodward taken on their wedding day.
I wish I could remember more about his experience. He talked about the army mules - this was before motorized warfare - he talked about guard duty - guarding both German prisoners and recalcitrant American prisoners. Of being on the Rhine after the war on the 4th of July and seeing fireworks over the river. After Daddy's death Robert our youngest son said to me "I wish I had been old enough while Granddaddy was young enough so I could have asked more about World War I". He like me was not interested until it was too late.
I must find out from one of my sisters more about Daddy's war years. I have his discharge paper - his uniform insignia and two silk han[d]kerchiefs which he sent Mama while in the service. They are all framed to preserve them.

My oldest brother

August 21, 1981

Today I will think a little about my oldest brother Arthur Leroy McKeown. He was born during the time while the Spanish flu epidemic was still blooming. My Grandmother had it - also my mother. Grandmother died February 17, 1920 from the flu and a kidney disease from which she had suffered for years. More about her later.
Many pregnant women died before or during childbirth after having been weakened by the flu.
Dr. Leroy Lewis, my father's cousin[,] was their doctor. The week before Arthur's birth he [Dr. Lewis] had lost 2 close family members during childbirth. He stayed with my mother during her labor - never sleeping although he was exhausted. He told her later that had she and her baby died he had decided to give up medicine. He later moved to a northern state (Harve Da Garce, Maryland) can't remember which at the moment and was a successful doctor.
They named my brother Arthur for Daddy's wartime [WWI] buddy Arthur King. That is all I know of him. I remember my Daddy hearing from him when I was small but the passage of time caused them to lose contact. The Leroy was for Dr. Leroy [Lewis] which was a family name also.
Arthur contracted a stomach ailment while young. They called it colitis and he almost died. Somewhere in the family there is a picture of him sitting in a high chair looking starved. However he soon recovered and grew to more than 6 feet tall. A handsome young man who saw to it that his sisters measured up. He looked after us - teased us unmercifully loved us and expected us to do our best.
Arthur was a good student, but because of the depression and 5 other children still at home there was no way for him to go to college. In fact at that time it was considered a privilege to be able to finish high school. Neither of our parents had formally finished hi school. My father having gone to school (only for a short period, probably 4th grade) Mama had finished 10th grade having done most of this independently as the teacher had little more education than that.
Arthur found it difficult to find work, except for helping on the farm - so went into the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp for 2 years (I guess it was 2 years, I can't remember). He was stationed in Winnsboro [SC] and was sent to Nevada and California. This training served him well when he was inducted into the army. I am sure it helped him to pass the test of O.C.S. [See below.]
He was drafted into the service just prior to December 7, 1941. Served at Ft Jackson - passed the exams for officer training and became a second Lt. infantry in [the] army.
He married Annie Lee Brackett [of] Rock Hill [SC] on Aug 20, 1943. Was sent overseas to Africa a few months later was[,] then transferred to Anzio Beachhead in Italy[,] and was killed March 23, 1944.
These were tragic times. So many of the young men in our neighborhood church were killed. If the phone rang at an odd hour none of us wanted to answer because it probably was bad news.
I have a flag that hung in New Hope Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Fairfield County during the war - on it is a white star for each boy from the area that served overseas - a gold star for those who lost their lives.
Arthur was buried at Anzio and after the war his remains were returned to SC to be interred at New Hope.
This was a painful experience for us. There was a memorial service when he died and there was another when his remains were interred. However afterwards we all felt complete knowing that his final resting place was at home. (By this time I was married. His widow has remarried and had two children.)
My parents were somehow not quite the same after his death. Mama was so confident that he would live. However their faith brought them through this. Their other children are still living at this writing and my parents saw all of their grandchildren grow to young adults and when they died they had 6 or 7 great [grand]children. What a blessing for them and us.
Arthur's widow married Paul Horton and had three daughters. She remained close to my parents as long as they lived and was loved as a daughter.

Later:
History has shown that the bulk of World War II soldiers was formed from men who served in the CCC as they had a good grounding in the military. Also 50 years after the CCC history has recognized the results of their service. The Blue Ridge Parkway being one - the stone bridges and overlooks having been built by those men. 1997 Beth Miller

My Husband's Family

August 25, 1981

Harry's mother was Louise Elizabeth Yongue [The name Yongue is also spelled Young] born in the Hebron community of Chester County [SC] 8-17-1893[,] died 9-9-1962. His father was Lewis Harry Miller born (Union County [SC]) 4-14-1888 died 6-27-1949.
I have a record giving Lizzie Yongue's family back to her great grandparents on her mother's side. Harry A. Wells of Chester says he has a more detailed record and will make me a copy.
Mother Miller as I called her and later Granny to her 4 grandchildren was a very loving person. She had 2 living brothers and a living sister when I became a member of the family.
There had been _______ children. Scott died during World War I. Her older sister had died also.
Mary and Ed were twins. Aunt Mary lived to be in her 80s and was loved by all of us.
Mother Miller was a home loving person, a little shy with strangers but a giving person. Her grandchildren adored her. By the time they remembered her she was suffering from a heart ailment, angina, which finally caused her death.
Lewis Harry - called Miller by most family members was a wonderful person. I always called him Pop. I've always regretted that his death came before any of his grandsons were born because they missed so much never knowing him.
His father owned a livery station in Union, S.C. When Pop was young, I guess around 12 or 14 years old, he was riding a horse and somehow injured his leg and it was necessary to amputate it above the knee. At that time surgery was performed under any conditions and I believe his was done at home.
His determination, nature [natural] ability and wit enabled him to overcome this handicap and live a productive life. He worked in a Textile plant for awhile, then managed a grocery store - later built and ran his own store on York Road in Chester. Later he gave up the store and traveled in Chester County selling McNess products door-to-door. He got to know almost everybody in the Rural area because he called on them once a month. He was at one time on the County Commission and at the time of his death was Coroner of Chester County.
He came from a large family [brother] Lonnie [and sisters] Agatha [and] Dora. I did not know but one of them, Dora Tracey, who lived in Lockhart [SC] to a very old age.
Two of his grandsons are named for him Harry M[alone] Miller Jr and Lewis Michael Miller.
His parents were Stephen Decatur Miller, who died around 1925 and is buried in Union SC. His mother was Georgia Robinson Miller who died in 1947.
Mother Miller was born in the Hebron Section of Chester County and her relatives are buried at Hebron Presbyterian Church.
Her Father was David Joseph Yongue, her mother was Ellen Elizabeth Harvey Yongue. Her [Ellen Elizabeth] mother was Roseannah Stewart Harvey. Her [Ellen Elizabeth] father was William Harvey who I am told died in [the] War between the States. [This is correct. He was a lieutenant in the Confederate Army and died in battle at Petersburg, VA on June 18, 1864.]
After Pop died Mother Miller made her home with her oldest daughter Lanie Elizabeth Miller Wages - Mrs. Robert). First in Columbia, SC then in Fayetteville, NC. Her only granddaughter was 1 year old Robbie Elizabeth Wages [later married names] Roser Matthews when Pop died. She [Mother Miller] cared for her [Robbie] while Lanie taught school. She was a great influence on Robbie as she grew up.
She stayed with us for a few months each summer.
We remodeled the family house on York Road [Chester, SC] and lived there from 1950 to 1958 [actually 1959].
We always enjoyed her time with us.
Some years she would go to Kingsport, TN to spend a few weeks with her youngest daughter Gladys Louise Miller Elsea and her husband Ralph Elsea. Her health made it difficult to travel that far as often as she would have liked.
Gladys did not have any children, however she and Ralph adopted a 16 year old boy John Rice Elsea. He graduated from Hi school and college in Tenn. and is employed there.

School time

August 26, 1981

School starts here today for the local children.
I remember how excited I was about school starting. It was for me a new adventure each year. I attended[,] from 1st grade thru 5th[,] a one room school with one teacher. We loved Mrs. Tennant and tried to do our best.
The enrollment was always low so the year that I was 5 on March 30 I was allowed to enter school in Sept. I had begged to go all the year before. There were only 2 first graders. We would receive instructions and then work together while the teacher worked with other grades. There were possibly 15 to 20 students in the school.
There was a small room off the Main room that was the library. As soon as I could read I would slip off into the library and read anything I could pick up. Reading was a great pastime for a farm child - since there was no outside entertainment we made our own.
We played games such as Andy-over - played with 2 groups - a ball and a low building like a garage or shed. The ball being tossed over the building & back. We played crack the whip - a long line of children holding hands running along and flinging the one on the end off as we picked up speed. Leap-frog & May I. Rover-Rover come on over. This one was played by two lines of children - Each group holding hands. One of the opposing group was called over and tried to break thru the line. There were many others. On warm summer nights just at dusk we would march around the house sing. "ain't no bears out tonight - Daddy killed them all last night." Then one of the older children would slip away and jump out and scare us. Each time it was fun even tho we knew the game. I guess we all wanted to be a little scared but be safe too.
I think that your generation has missed something by having too much outside entertainment. Imagination was our playmates and we made the most of it.

Churches

August 30, 1981

Today we celebrated the Centennial of Unity [Presbyterian] Church [Fort Mill, SC] - that is the present building. The church has been in existence almost 200 years - having had four buildings.
We have belonged to Unity Presbyterian since 1968 when we moved to Fort Mill.
My life has been influenced by my association with several churches.
As a child we attended Bethlehem Methodist Church in Chester County. The same church to which my grandparents on each side had belonged and are buried in the churchyard. Perhaps also my paternal Great Grandparents. I need to check on that -- Also I think my maternal ggreat randparents. It is so easy to forget these things. One great grandfather I know was named Moses Craft and the other Elijah Beam. Maternal [Grandfather] Jesse Franklin Beam, Great Grandfather Elijah Beam, Jesse Beam are all buried at Bethlehem.
My older sister was named for her grandfathers - Jesse F Beam [maternal] and Thomas Mabry McKeown [paternal]. Her name is Jessie Thomas McKeown Matthews. Once when she was angry with my mother she told her "I hate my name - you might just as well have named me for my Great grandfathers."
It became a good family joke - a girl named Moses Elijah would have been something.
Bethlehem Church is a white frame Church, set on large wooded plot with the Cemetery to one side. The Hymn "Church in the Wildwood" brings Bethlehem to mind.
Many years ago - there was a one room school on the same plot of land with the church. It was in this building that my parents received most of their education. The school stood until the late [19]30's when it was torn down.
Church was held here only 2 Sundays a month. The minister had 2 other small churches to serve. When church was not held there we frequently attended Woodward Baptist Church on Ashford Ferry Road. It is still a very active church. 2 of my uncles are buried there Ellis B. Beam and Herbert Beam. I remember having Sunday School sitting on a block of rocks in the yard. This was the steps for the women to mount horses or step into carriage or buggy before the time of cars.
We moved in the late 30's and transferred our membership to New Hope ARP church in Fairfield County [SC].
Before I go to this I want to say something about an annual event at Bethlehem Church. Homecoming. In August there was always Picnic on the grounds. A church service - lunch - and singing afterwards.
The men cooked a pot of hash [and] the women brought picnic baskets. It was a time we children always looked forward to. The table was built between trees in the yard and remained there year round. We had fun sailing paper plates - Guess that [was] the forerunner of the frisbees.
My teen years were influenced by New Hope Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. It too was a beautiful, white frame church with a balcony in the back. Balcony was originally used for slaves to attend church. The church is 185 years old. Began in 1796 - the present building was built in 1882 so next year will be 100 years old. We celebrated the 150th anniversary in 1946 with Homecoming Picnic.
The minister all the time I attended there was Dr. W. A. Kennedy. He preached until well into his 70's. He performed mine & Harry's wedding service. We loved him - although we complained because his sermons were long - He was from the old school where you were given a full service each Sunday.
We attended youth meetings each Sunday afternoon and we really looked forward to it. All children in the area attended regardless of church affiliations.
There was no education building so Sunday School was held in the sanctuary. One class in each of the four corners of building with one in the session room which was a small separate building. It still stands on [the] ground[s].
My mother, father and brother are buried in the cemetery of this church. The cemetery is a quarter mile behind the church with a narrow dirt road to it. It is on the sight of an earlier church building. Now that the church membership has declined and services are held on an irregular basis something will need to be done about the care of this cemetery.
It is on a top of a small hill surrounded by old oak trees - fenced in with beautiful old wrought iron. The graves go back a long way. I am not sure how long. There are Civil War burials there who are unknown. [Also, there is at least one grave of a Revolutionary War patriot.]
I hope that some day those of you who read this will visit all three of these small rural churches. They filled a large part of the lives of the people who grew up in them and produced many people of High Principal over the years. Something is lost when these churches have to close their doors - but such is the way of life.
My mother wrote a history of New Hope Church. I must track it down and make a copy (Jesse McKeown Matthews of Jackson, Mississippi has copy.)
Speaking of the cemetery makes me remember my father's funeral. His funeral was on a Sunday. He and my mother were liked and respected by all who knew them. For Daddy's funeral the church was full with many people standing outside. There was no way to take cars for all these people to the cemetery as there was no room for parking so the family rode to the cemetery and the others walked. Somehow this gave a new meaning to his funeral. We had lost him after a long and loving life but the respect shown for him and to my mother on this occasion is something I will always remember. A life well lived with honesty and respect for others which is what my parents did is a great heritage. They never owned a lot of material things but they instilled in their six children and several others who lived with us at odd times a feeling of self-respect and a desire to do our best which has served us well.
My mother's funeral was a sad time for us as all funerals are. She died on Thursday, February 28, 1980. Her funeral was to be Sat. March 1 at 2 o'clock. The weather forecast was for snow but we could hardly believe it because Friday was a warm day. But during the night it began to sleet and by 8 o'clock on Sat [morning] we were into a winter storm. Her funeral was held at the funeral home for the family early Saturday with just a few of the family at the cemetery as the roads by this time were too hazardous for travel and the little road to the cemetery especially so. It snowed & sleeted all day Sat into Sunday with a very deep snow all over the state, even down to beach area. My mother would have smiled and said "don't risk anyone's life going to the cemetery in the snow. I am happy where I am. Daddy and I are together again."
They were married in 1919 and celebrated 59 years together. Mama survived him by a year and four months.
I still regret that -- was not able to go to the cemetery with us. The undertaker asked us not to try to go as roads were so Bad. My brother and two sisters went as they lived in [the] area. Harry and I, Harry Jr. and Virginia returned to R. [ock] Hill & Fort Mill as they had left two small children with a babysitter. We had a difficult time getting home in the snow and ice.

Hardships

September 8, 1981

It is easy to remember all the good things of the past. Today and I would like to recall some of the hardships my parents encountered in their lifetime - also some of the progress made during the same time.
They were born before the turn of the century. The south still had not recovered from the "War between the States."
They were both from farm familys and had had little chance for much education.
Daddy rented land and farmed for awhile before World War I. Came home[,] married, and began a family - still renting. Prices were high but farmers had little cash. Each year they had to borrow money on their next crop in order to have cash to buy seed, fertilizer, replace plows, etc. They in turn loaned money to the people, mostly negros, who "lived on the place" so they could buy staples until the new crop came in.
Each year at cotton selling time (Sept, Oct) after the settling up of debts[,] a farmer would often find that his cash left over would not be enough to carry him until fall again - so he would have to borrow on his next crop. This for most farmers was a constant struggle.
My father moved us to a farm on Ashford Ferry Road [located in Chester County, SC, about 8 miles south of the town of Chester, SC] when I was a baby anticipating buying the farm. However he couldn't come up with the cash so he had to rent it. This usually meant a bale of cotton went to the landowner.
This farm was owned by a Dr _______ Durham who lived in Columbia who had grown up on the adjoining farm. He was helpful and never pressured my father about the farm.
Daddy added on to the farm house several times as his family grew. [This house was torn down circa 2001.]
Finally, after the big depression of the 20's & 30's he was able to borrow enough money thru a Government Farm Agency, I can't recall what it was called (Farmers Home Agency) and he bought the farm in Fairfield County [located about 13 miles south of Chester, SC on Ashford Ferry Road, which is called Old Douglas Road once it enters Fairfield County] where we lived until Daddy and Mama moved to Columbia with my Brother and his family in [the] 1970's.
We as children never thought of ourselves as being deprived as most of our friends were farm children. There was plenty of food from the garden. We all worked around the house, garden and fields during summer and after school. My parents would have liked to send us to college, but could not but they were determined we would have as much education as possible.
My oldest sister [Jessie] attended school after graduation from high school to learn to type. She helped some in the elementary grades[,] substituting for teacher whos[e] mother was ill[,] along with taking the business courses available. She became a bookkeeper.
Emmie[,] my sister just older than I[,] went to work for Telephone Co and then worked for a Dentist and became a very competent dental assistant.
I worked a year as a waitress at the Hotel in Chester saved and borrowed enough money to go to a Business School in Columbia. I worked as a secretary at Thomas and Howard Co (a wholesale Co.)[,] then Borden Milk Co. and finally Springs Mills Inc before giving up work to raise my own family.
I worked at T & H [Thomas and Howard Co.] during World War II. One of my responsibilities was to keep a record of sugar supply - Sugar was rationed during war. Each family was allowed so much sugar per year and to purchase it you had to present a sugar stamp (The same was true for meat - gasoline and shoes). The sugar stamps were pasted into coupon books by the stores and presented to wholesaler with their orders for sugar. These were deposited in the bank to a sugar account from which the wholesaler would write a check to accompany a sugar order. This was one of my duties, keeping the sugar account.
We worked long hours during these times. Reporting for work at 7:30 or 8 AM and working until 6 or later plus 6 hours on Sat.
I bought a bicycle to ride to and from work. We lived in rooms rented from Miss Jessie Oates (we were me, Emmie, Jessie[,] until she married[,] and cousins Pat & Lucy Shirley. We had meals at Mrs. Collins boarding house. We had to give her our sugar and meat stamps so she could provide good [food] for us.
Those were sad times and yet looking back good times because being young the war couldn't stifle us completely.
I wrote Harry a letter every nite during these years. We did most of our courting by letter. He being stationed in Texas - Norman, Ok., Jacksonville Fla. and then Brazil and England - then on West Coast at end of war.
Pammie (Ruby Frances), my youngest sister, went to Winthrop for a two year commercial course staying one year with our sister in Law, after Arthur was killed. We all helped her with expenses. The last year she lived on campus.
John Wallace our younger brother became draft age at 18 just out of High School and altho we had just suffered the tragedy of the death of Arthur he chose not to ask for a deferment on the grounds of last surviving son. He served in Germany during and after war. Came home grown up. He worked at several jobs before going to work for S.C. Employment Agency and by dent of hard work, devotion and ability rose in agency to a very responsible position.
He took a lot of courses by correspondence and all those offered by agency and probably has as good an education as any College graduate.
Advancement in life, both spiritually and financially[,] I believe comes from the inner being. A desire to better oneself with a willingness to give the best of yourself to each job eventually has its rewards.
I am glad that our three sons had the opportunity to go to college and the ability to get their degree. I hope each one will lead a happy and rewarding life. Contentment in job and surroundings to me is more important than wealth.
I began this to talk about the hardship of the late 20's & 30's.
Having 6 children to feed is and always will be a tremendous responsibility.
Remember during these years very few people had telephones - electricity or cars.
In order to use a phone one either walked or rode a horse or mule to nearest phone - the lucky rural family who had money enough and lived where Telephone Service was available. In our community, it was the Colvins.
Illnesses were treated at home until they went away or became so bad that the doctor was sent for. My mother said she treated us with liquid aspirin and prayers.
My oldest brother had colitis and pneumonia at an early age. My sister Jessie contracted pneumonia one year at Easter time. There were no powerful drugs to use. It was a matter of good care, nursing during a week of high fever. Pneumonia at this time took many lives. Finally her fever broke and Mama, Daddy, family a[nd] friends who had nursed her were able to get some rest.
I fell off of a bale of cotton and knocked my right elbow out of joint. Had to be taken to town to the doctors office to have it set. I was 6 - 2nd grade - had just started school for the year. My arm was left in a cast for 6 weeks. When finally had it off I had to exercise it for a year to get mobility in the elbow again (I blame my poor handwriting on this experience)
My Daddy used to say he was never able to completely pay the Doctor's bills. There was always someone in family needing attention so he just payed something each month.
We all had whooping cough (This was before innoculations were available) chicken pox, German measles and red measles. Somehow we missed mumps and had them as adults.
Can you imagine 6 children having these diseases. It would take all winter or about 3 months from onset for it to run the gamut.
I was never very ill from these childhood diseases but Emmie & Arthur ran high fever with measles - suffered nose bleeds of such proportion that the doctor was called.
At that time when you had red measles you were kept in a dark room and not allowed to read for fear of eye damage. I was so bored the few days I was isolated.
My grandmother (Maggie McKeown) was gravely ill for more than 6 weeks before her death. She was nursed around the clock by her children, friend[s] and neighbors. The greatest burden falling on my mother as she was living with us. Mama sent the 6 of us off to school each day - cooked, did the laundry, and other chores with part time help from a negro lady named Ann Brice.
Ann was a good cook. She later stayed with us the week Michael was born to cook for Harry and look after Harry Jr.
My parents were fortunate in that they did not lose a child until Arthur was killed in the war.
5 children are still living and all the grandchildren -- & great grandchildren are healthy. What a blessing!

Mother's Birthday

My Mothers Birthday. Had she lived she would have been 83. I miss her!!! Died Feb 28, 1980

Last Sunday Sept 13 I had my 2 sisters Emmie Uldrick, her husband George - Pam Bennette and my Brother John W McKeown and his wife Mary Alice up here for the day. We enjoyed visiting together as it was one of the few times lately we have been together when there was not a family death or illness.

Jessie M. Matthews from Jackson, Miss. Was not here. We missed her. We plan to meet at Johnny's home on Dec 13, 1981 for family Christmas.

My great grandparents

I haven't written anything in this journal for some time. I awoke early this morning and remembered that my Fathers birthday was this month. He was born in 1895 - would be 89 had he lived.

I want to write a little about great grandparents and where they are buried.
Your maternal Great Great Grandfathers were named Moses Craft and Elijah Beam - I don't remember their wives names right off hand. I believe Moses wife was named Hannah. I need to look that up. Your great Grandfather Beam was Jesse Franklin. Your Great Grand-Mother was Janie Craft. She died young, right after world war I from kidney disease and also as a result of the spanish flue epidemic. His youngest child a daughter died soon afterwards.
Her name was Betty Wylie Beam. Grandmama - my mama cared for her but as happened so often with bottle fed babies in that time also with the flu she only lived a few months.

Mama also took over the care of Ruby Beam who was 4 or 5. She lived with them for some time before she went back to her father and stepmother. For mama it was like losing her own child. Ruby married David Y Bagley and had 4 daughters and a son. Mary - Ruby - Betty, Ann & David Jr. She and one daughter now live in Charlotte - 2 girls in R[ock] Hill and David lives in Tenn. All were smart and have bee successful. Mary died young, having become an alcholic - after living in Alaska for some years and having her husband die while there.

They are all buried in Bethlehem Methodist Church Cemetery in Chester County except for Moses Craft. I am not sure where he is buried. Some of family is buried at White Oak ARP.

Your Paternal grandparents on were Thomas Mabry McKeown and Margaret Cameron. They also are buried in Bethlehem Cemetery along with many other McKeown relatives.

Bethlehem Church is where I attended as a child and was a member until we moved to Fairfield County in the late 30's and became members of New Hope associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church where your grandparents John S McKeown and Emmie Margaret Beam and your uncle Arthur Leroy McKeown are buried.

Bethlehem is a pretty rural Church - white clap board with a porch across the front. I always think of it when I hear the hymn "The Little Church in the Wildwood."

I remember attending Homecoming picnic there until I was grown. There was permanent picnic table built in a grove of woods. It seemed to me as a child to stretch for a mile. At any rate it was spectacular when the Fried Chicken, country Ham - Tomatoes, sandwiches - cakes and pies were spread on it. In addition to the picnic the men always cooked "Hash" - It was beef stew that had been ground up and seasoned with fresh corn, tomatoes and potatoes. It was very good provided the men didn't get carried away and put too much pepper in the pot.

There being no T.V. and very few radios when I was young, people spent more time together. One of the ways a community visited together was to have an ice cream social or to cook a pot of fish stew, chicken stew, Hash or oyster fry and fish frys.

To make ice cream the women saved up milk and eggs for several days. A trip to town for ice was planned, the churns washed and a place to gather decided. The ice was in a big block and had to be chipped by hand - no crushed ice there. We never waited for the ice cream to be packed to harden - as soon as the crank became too difficult to turn we were standing there with a bowl and spoon.

I didn't mention "cooter stew". The men would catch the fish for stew and sometimes enough turtles (cooter) to make stew. I have watched the process of cleaning the cooter but don't think I ever ate any. Some times they would catch fresh water eels and add them to fish stew. Frog legs were sometimes served fried.

My Grandfather, Jesse F Beam, was the chief cook for stews. Sometimes he shook the pepper too liberally (probably had participated a little too much with the local Brew). My Father never drank, for which I am grateful. Not many men I knew drank to excess - only on occasion do I remember hearing about someone having a drinking problem

Picking up the Grandkids

This morning we picked up Jason and Jennifer at the R. Hill YMCA at 8 AM. They had been there all night at a "sleep - in". They were a bedraggled looking bunch of children. We took them to Hardees for Breakfast.

On the way home Jason turned to me and said "Granny, I'm glad my Daddy is my Daddy - because that makes you my Grandmama". What better compliment can one have?

We took them home with us. Apparently Jason had not slept much because he took a nap.

Jennifer helped us plant tomatoes and other things in the garden. She really gets with it!! Dirt all over - but hapy.
Harry & Virginia are moving next weekend to a new house out on #5 Highway. I like the house.

Jennifer gave her Granddaddy a sheet of paper on which she had written "I am Rich".

She explained she was rich because she had a good Daddy, Mama, brother, Granny Grandad, papa & Grandma - dog - new house, etc. Pretty good for a not quite 7 year old girl.

Harry and Springs Mills

Harry retired from Springs Mills April 30, 1985 after having been employed there since he finished High School 45 years -
His work record was interrupted in 1942 - 1946 while he served in the Naval Air Corp.

When he returned home he went to Clemson to finish college but continued to work at Springs on weekends holidays and summer, therefore was never terminated on their records. When he finished college he immediately began Spring training program (2 years training in all areas of Textiles) etc.

Pearl Harbor

I haven't written anything since April '85 and here it is Dec 7, 1985 - 44 years since Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and precipitated world war II for the U.S. War in Europe had gone on for several years. many lives were changed drastically by this day - so many young men died - including my Brother Arthur. But life went on. I finished Business school in Columbia and went back to Chester and began work at Thomas and Howard, a wholesale food warehouse. We worked long hours sometimes in Winter from daylight to dark 8:30 to 6 o'clock. Also worked a half day on Saturday. I did varied office work including Secretarial work. I was responsible for keeping the records on sugar purchases - any Co. or person who ordered an unusually large amount of sugar had to be reported to the Bureau of Alcohol Control to be checked out to see if they were making illegal whiskey. Also, I kept a Bank account of Sugar Coupon - everyone had a certain number of Coupons with which to purchase their sugar allotment. The stamps reached us and they were deposited in a bank account and checks written by us to our supplier. Very complicated but it proved to be efficient.

Some people, of course like all times tryed to cheat & made counterfeit stamps. I frequently would recognize these and we would report them. Some people were tried and convicted in court for doing this.

I left Thomas & Howard and worked at Borden Co. They bought raw milk from the farmers locally and processed it into evaporated milk. I typed checks to the farmers and did Secretarial work.

[Krista's note: Part of this jotted-in note of Beth's was cut off the top of the page!!!]

was a good cash crop for farmers, as they were paid monthly for their product.

When the war was over the man who had had my position choose to return to it. (It was a law that no Veteran could be refused his old job when they returned from Service).

I then went to work for Springs Mills as Secretary to the General Manager of the three Chester plants. I worked there until Jan 1950 when I stopped work to wait on the birth of my first child. Harry M. Jr.

I never returned to work outside the home. I have been contented with my choice of Mother Hood - childrearing etc.

Schooldays

Tomorrow - Dec 9, 1985 - we will pick up Jason and Jennifer at school and keep them until Harry Jr. picks them up to go to scout meeting.

That makes me think about my early school days.

The school I attended was a rural one room-one teacher school with grades 1 thru 7. After grade 7 the students rode in a small van to Chester to high school. Before I reached High school the school was closed and we rode a bus to Blackstock to school. I was in the sixth grade by then.

I began school in September often I was 5 in March. I was allowed to go because I begged to go and the enrollment was low. There was one other child in the first grade with me. The teacher would assign one class work to do while another class was reciting etc.

I loved school - mostly I liked reading - was never that great in Math. We had a small library right off the school room and when Mrs. Temaut, our teacher, was busy I would slip into the Library and sit on the floor and read.

I remember being in the Christmas program the year I was still five. I, being the smallest child in school, was an angel. I still remember the gauze wings with gold tinsel. I felt very important.

The teacher had the fathers cut a big cedar tree. It was placed on the stage, where the teachers desk sat. We decorated it with homemade (classroom) items and some of the teachers ornaments.

This was 1929, during the depression years. The school had no electricity so if a night affair was held there were Kerosine lamp for light.

We children though it was the loveliest sight of the year when we saw the tree when it was finished. We all knew that Mrs. Temaut had a gift for each child under the tree. For some children it was their only gift.

I guess, looking back, that this was a hardship for her, but she did it each year as long as she taught there.
We always sang carols and someone dressed as Santa Claus to give out gifts. This was done on the day vacation began.

We received one gift a piece at home (six children) and fruit and candy and mints and were very happy.
The girls usually had a doll and the boys a knife - a yo-yo etc.

A strange custom was shooting fireworks on Christmas morning. We carried a shovel of hot coals outside and lighted small firecrackers and sparklers from it. It is a wonder children weren't seriously injured, but none of us was.
Back to the school. It was a white frame building with wide steps and a porch. The door opened into a hall with rooms on each side. These were coat closits - one for girls one for boys - There we placed our jackets hats etc and our lunch.

There was no hot lunch program. We took whatever could be found. Sausage biscuit - Bacon & Biscuit - even baked sweet potatos. Occasionally the mothers, on cold days would send soup for all the students and it was heated on top of the wood heater (later coal).

The older boys brought in the wood or coal and started the fire each morning. One was assigned to bring a bucket of water for the water cooler which was kept in a store room. When we ran out of paper cup we were allowed to fold cups out of notebook paper. They worked fine.

At recess, when weather was suitable we ate lunch in the yard. There was a row of oak tree along the road and we each had our favorite spot. For years there were indentations on the ditch bank where we children had sat and kicked our heels into the bank.

The boys mostly played on one side of school - girls on the other. They played baseball etc. The girls played running games.

We always had an Easter Egg hunt in the school yard. The eggs were sometimes dyed with homemade ingredients. Peach leaves boiled made a pretty yellow as well as I remember.

My sister Jessie became ill at an egg hunt. It turned out to be Pneumonia and I remember how ill she was. This was before the days of antibiotics and pneumonia frequently was fatal. She, with good care from my mother and the neighbors, recovered after a lengthy time.

Food back then

Tonight I saw an ad on TV for Jello and it triggered a memory.

The first time I remember Jello my sister and brother were in high school (I guess) and they sold Jello mix to make money for a school project. Mama bought some and we made it up (but having no refrigerator it wouldn't set up completely.) We ate it with relish anyway.

This was in the fall before the weather turned cold and I remember helping to cut sugar cane and hauling it to a site where the making of molasses would take place. (across the road from our house).

The sugar cane was crushed in a device whereby a mule was hitched to a pole and walked a around to grind the juice out. The juice was placed in a divided pan which was heated until the sugar cane juice was evaporated and thickened into molasses.

We children took cold biscuits with us and begged the man making molasses for a taste. What a taste (hot syrup and a biscuit) Later in the year it would be time to butcher the hogs. The treat then was ribs and backbones - sausage and liver mush and fatigue from the long days work of preparing the meat to cure.

The men boiled a big pot of water. Then they killed the hog - By the use of pulleys they hauled the pig up on a log tripod - dipped it in the boiling water - scraped off the hair. Then split it down the front to remove the intestines etc.

This was done on a very cool day so the meat would cool quickly.

It was cut into the appropriate pieces. Ham - shoulders - side meat (Bacon). Back bones - ribs - tenderloin or P. chops. All scrapes (pieces too small to cure were ground into sausage. Liver mush was made. Souse meal (head cheese) made. The treat the next day was ribs or backbones, baked slowly in the wood stove served with baked sweet potatoes.

All the above was done by hand. The meat was set to cure in salt bins and everybody prayed for a few days of very cold weather to prevent it from spoiling. No refrigerator was available. The sausage would keep for some weeks in the cold smokehouse and was a real treat with hot biscuit and grits for breakfast before leaving to catch the schoolbus by 6:45 for the 20 mile ride to Blackstock to school.

My recent birthday

Yesterday was my Sixty second Birthday. It was also Easter Sunday - first time my Birthday and Easter had occurred together. Also the first time since I was sixteen that I had to use crutches. Friday I hit my foot on a shelf in a store and later in the day it swelled and hurt so badly I had to go to the doctor. It was badly bruised - so they put a splint on it. And I have not been able to walk without crutches all weekend.

However, I had a good birthday and Easter. Robert called twice - Michael came home Sat - did the cooking for us. Harry, Virginia, Jason and Jennifer came Sunday with a birthday cake + ice cream. Her parents were here from Charleston. Harry and family gave me a beautiful crystal shell box. Mike gave me white costume jewelry necklace - earrings + bracelet. Dayne Watkins came by Sat - brought me a pretty ceramic rabbit. Anne Elbott came in with greenhouse tomatoes. Sunday Roy Watkins came by - Dolly + Bill Templeton came over and brought some cake - Mae and Geog Gage came by. They gave me a cookbook.

Harry has ordered a kit to make a small table.

It is great to have a loving family and friends. Sometimes we take all of these for granted - forgetting what a blessing it is to have family and friends to share the good times and Bad times.

Mostly my life has been one of good times. They certainly outnumber the bad times.

My Great Grandparents grandparents, uncles - cousins on paternal side.
Great Grandparents - Grandparents - aunts - uncles maternal side - Beams. Great uncles in Ridgeway SC. The Craft side are buried in White Oak Concord Presbyterian Joaneck SC and other places.

[Editors Note - There is a slight slash through the above text]

Church Memberships

Sunday, July 6, 1986

This morning we celebrated communion at unity Presbyterian Church. During the service I began thinking back to communion service when I was young.

We attended Bethlehem Methodist Church in Chester county. Most of McKeown family is buried there also Beam family. At the Methodist Church you went to the front of the Church and knelt at a rail around the pulpit. At that time it was served from a common cup.

After Daddy bought the farm in Fairfield County we moved our membership to New Hope Associate Presbyterian Church. Communion there was served at a low table set up at the front of the church. The congregation went to the front and sat on long benches at the white cloth covered tables. At first the common cup was used, later the church was able to buy individual glasses.

I remember my grandparents being there at Bethlehem for service. I was not old enough to take communion with them. (Thomas Mabry McKeown + Margaret Cameron McKeown) I remembered my parents during the service. Daddy sang in the choir mama too later, after we were old enough to sit alone - Today Sunday July 13, 1986 Harry, Virginia, Jason + Jennifer moved there membership from Neely's Creek ARP to Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill.

A few weeks ago Harry + Harry Jr. went to Union trying to trace Harry's Family tree. It was an interesting day and productive.

Deaths in the family

Harry Jr. came over today with some the material he has acquired on the Miller ancestors.

He has copies of war records beginning during the revolution - war of 1812 - Indian uprising 1815 - Civil war records.

He read a letter written by his great-great uncle from a hospital during civil war.
It was from Burr Miller to his father Thomas Miller.

The first line was a common place greeting. The second line was Papa "Pere, Calas died today". Hearing that letter written to a beloved father about the death of a beloved brother caused me to cry as if it had just happened. I felt the pain for the entire family. Calas died from Typhoid fever. Burr was in hospital for some illness too but was able to nurse his brother.

About a month later Burr was injured killed at the battle of Sharpsburg and died ten to fifteen days later in hospital at Martinsville, VA.

This letter had a special effect on me because of my brother, Arthur, having been killed at Anzio Beachhead - WWII March 1944. His commanding officer wrote my sister in law Annie Lee Brocket (Horton) about it. The official telegram arrived several days later.

No telephones were available for rural areas. My (2) sisters and I were working in Chester. None of us could drive. Mr + Mrs Carlisle White - friends to us girls - took us down to tell mama + daddy about Arthur's death.

Mama told me later that she was convinced that Arthur would live through the war. She had a great faith - but the shock was such that for the first 24 - 30 hours she was disoriented and disbelieving. After that she accepted the fact that he would not come home again -
Daddy was hurt so badly that for years he could hardly talk about or call Arthur's name.

The pain lasted for the rest of their lives.
Mama's brother and his wife "Ellis + Mae Beam" had a child born the next year. They named him Arthur.

Two of my sister's named their sons after him. Jesse + Emmie - Joseph Arthur
Years later the government returned all remains from Anzio to US and Arthur is now buried in New Hope ARP Church - Fairfield County. Mama and Daddy were buried by him at their deaths.

Since WWII the U. States has been involved in the Korean war (1950) the year Harry Jr. was born and the Vietnam war both ended as unconclusive.
Roy Bennett, husband of Ruby Francis "Pam" was sent to Korea after their son Steve was born. He suffered a heart attack there.
Fortunately none of our immediate family served in Vietnam. Both were controversial and those who served felt that they were never recognized as people defending their country.

I hope we never have another war.

For my parents the civil war was still fresh in the minds of their parents - Then my father served in WWI - "the war to win all wars" was the slogan used for Nov 11 - armistice day. When I was a child - at school on Nov 11 we always remembered those who served in WWI with a moment of silence at eleven o clock. I always felt secure during those early years that the slogan was true It was a shock when I realized in my late teens that war was coming again.
The pain felt by so many was unbelievable. I was working in Chester by 1942. By 1943 1944 if the phone rang at an odd hour it was answered with apprehension - we never knew who had been killed or wounded - Joe Woodward - Dewey McKeown Arthur McKeown - a few - others were prisoners of war -

I found out in 1986 several of my grandfathers first cousins lost their lives in the civil war also Harry's grandfather lost two sons during the war.

My Grandparents

This morning at church the organist played Rock of Ages during the service.

It got me to thinking of my grandparents. I remember being at Bethlehem Methodist Church - Chester county as a child with my family including grandparents and singing that song.

My grandfather was elderly when I first remember him. He was slight of build. around 5"ft-8 it seems to me. He was stooped so could have been taller. He had a full white beard and made me think of biblical times. I remember him carrying me home on his back when I sprained my ankle. He was 72 when I was born and therefore didn't have good health at that time. We called him granddaddy Tommy. They lived near us until they died. My father had lumber sawed from the farm on which we lived with which to build granddaddy and grandma Maggie a house. My grandfather Jesse F. Beam sawed the lumber at his saw mill on Douglas Creek below our house. That house is now gone. Then moved across the road into another house.

They lived across the road from us for a while and that is where granddaddy died. Their grandchild lived with them. The road to that house was rough so Daddy had wood off the farm cut into lumber to build them a house nearer to ours. By this time grandmamma Maggie was not well and my mother looked after her.

Grandmama Maggie had reared a large family. Some lived nearby but she and granddaddy always wanted Emmie to care for them. She had six children but some how dealt with the care of 2 elderly people in addition.

Grandmama Maggie developed an abdominal hernia at some time in her life and as she grew older it sometimes would strangulate and cause her pain and thereafter her life she also suffered from what would later be diagnosed as emphysema (after her death).

Her doctor prescribed morphine for her to alleviate the pain she experienced and she developed dependence on it in her later years. My father was very upset over this and they had to try to keep her from taking too much of it.

She had, as most farm women, worked in the fields - had a garden chickens etc. She saved wood ash and made her own soap. She was a hard worker and by the time I remember her was a worn and old lady. We children loved them both dearly but we were their younger grandchildren and the excitement for small children had worn off.

She was bedridden in our home for 6 or 8 weeks before her death and someone sat by her bed for the entire time. The neighbors took turns with this and helped with meals.

My aunts and uncles came too, but the heaviest burden was on my mother as she had six children to send to school, cook, wash + iron for - all of this during Feb + Mar. I was ten when she died.

She had had a very difficult time as a child. She was born 1862 during the civil war. My mother said that she told her of her early days.

Her mother was left in charge of their farm when her father and brother went to war. A cousin of sorts promised to help her. Instead he took advantage of her and grandmamma Maggie was born. Her mother lost the farm, her slaves and of course her good name from all of this. (Again the civil war had a profound effect on the members of our family) When she [Maggie] was about 8 a neighbor family took her into their home to help her with her children. For the first time Maggie had a sense of family as this good lady treated her as her own and instilled in her a desire to better herself.
She was a good mother and wife and respected by her friends and neighbors.

We are what we make of ourselves!!!

Veteran's Day

When I was in grammar school at Douglas school in Chester county at 11 o'clock on Nov 11 we school children, age 5 to 15, laid our head on our desk for one minute to remember all those who had died in war to allow the freedom we have - even tho we were in the midst of a terrible depression, we were convinced that world war I was fought to end all wars. This was the slogan that followed the signing of the peace treaties.

Little did we children know that in our own lifetime we would experience WWII with the loss of our loved ones. Arthur my oldest brother whom I loved and respected who helped to reinforce what my parents taught me. Respect yourself - your name is worth more than money. Keep it free of shame. Respect your parents - etc. He died for those beliefs. I have letters from him to me and my parents. Each letter says "I love you". "I thank you for my love of life".

Today Veterans Day is a day to remember not only the revolution - civil war - 1812 - 1918 - 1941 but Korean war + Vietnam. Members of our family were in each war except the Vietnam --- Roy Bennett husband of Ruby Frances McKeown served in the Korean area after the war was battled. He suffered a heart attack there which eventually led to his death.

War I am afraid will be in our future. History seems to indicate that war is and will be a part of each generation with as an influence from Grandparents + parents or as a part of their life.

My grandparents were very much affected from the civil war - granddaddy Tommy McKeown being a young child and Grandmama Maggie Cameron McKeown having been born during the war and being a child of a single parent suffered and felt all their lives from this influence. In spite of this they reared a large family and instilled in them a respect for life and a desire for their children to better themselves.

I remember being told early on as a child - you don't have a lot of material things but the McKeown name is an honorable one and you are to live your life in such a way as to honor your family.

My mother's family also felt the same way. The Beam - Craft family tried to live in a way to better themselves.

Back to Veteran's day 1986 -
I am grateful to all the people - Mostly young men - who have given the ultimate sacrifice - their lives - that we may live in freedom.

I remember the pain I felt when Arthur was killed. For a while I felt that he was still over seas and a mistake had been made. In time I accepted that he and many others had died, been prisoners of war, for those of us who still lived it is my prayer that none of my children - grandchildren or great grandchildren will be called on to give the sacrifice of life for us or their country.

Christmas

Dec 26, 1986
It has been a good Christmas. Robert and Michael came home Wed - Christmas Eve in time to go to communion at Unity Presbyterian Church. We came home and had oyster stew for supper.

Christmas morning we opened our gifts. Then went to Harry Jr.'s home for dinner. Virginia cooked and served a beautiful meal for then people - Her parents, Margaurite + Louis Larsen, me, Harry, Mike + Robert and the four of them.

It was the first time in 30 years since we had had Christmas dinner away from home.

I thoroughly enjoyed having Christmas dinner with them.

Jason and Jennifer had had a great deal of gifts from Santa + parents. We had our gifts after the dinner.

Mike and Robert stayed in Ft. Mill until Saturday afternoon.

I cried when they left. It had been such a good time.

Harry and I have had 39 Christmases together. They have all been great. What a blessing!!!

A Battlefield

May 1988:
This summer my brother -- John Wallace McKeown - his wife Mary Alice Lee McK - Ruby Francis McKeown Bennett. Emmie Jane McK Uldrick her husband George Ellis Uldrick met at our sisters home (Jessie Thomas McK Mathews + Luther Wylie Mathews) home in Jackson Miss. For a family gathering. We enjoyed our visit together. We will get together again in fall or at least Christmas with all of family. Children + Grandchildren included.

On our way to Jackson Harry and I went by Chattanooga TN to visit Clucamay Battlefield. (We had visited Sharpsburg several years before we learned of Harrys family connection there. Also Petersburg where his uncle was injured and died.(Later in 1988 - Robert visited Chattanooga + Battlefield. He has visited many vicil war + revolution sites in Va - Md. SC + N.C.)

In Sept 88 Harry and I visited (drove thru Cumberland Gap entry - way across Appalachia - thru Tn Gy Indians following Abe Lincoln on his way to Springfield, Ill. And on to Washinton as President + "war between the states", We have visited James K Pok Birthplace, Purville, N.C. Andrew Jackson Birthplace S.C. (Hermitage. Nashville Tenn) Truman Lib + home in Independence MO. Franklin Roosevelt home, Hyde Park + Warm springs Ga. Lincoln Jeff Davis Confederacy.

Each different but each served their country well and as individuals converted
Lincoln and Davis shared in the tragedy of civil war. Both had young sons to die during this time.

Jeff Davis passed thru Fort Mill S.C. Spent nite at Springfield and held last mutiny of confederate states at white homestead.

I think we fail to see the importance of our area in both Revolution + Civil war. Perhaps we didn't have newspaper or historean in this area to record our contribution.

I have been reading a book on the burning of Columbia near the end of Civil War. I remember very little from school history on this.

This weekend Oct 7-8-9-10 we are looking forward to a visit from Bob + Gwen Juniper from Australia "Sidney". We met them on our first trip to England 1983. They will be joined by Logan + Robin Chapped, Jacksonville Fla whom we met on same trip. We look forward to much "remembering" + sharing.

Friends coming in

This weekend Oct 7-8-9-10 we are looking forward to a visit from Bob + Gwen Juniper from Australia "Sidney". We met them on our first trip to England 1983. They will be joined by Logan + Robin Chapped, Jacksonville Fla whom we met on same trip. We look forward to much "remembering" + sharing.

The Boys

Nov. 5 1990
Michael came home Sat. to spend the weekend. We always enjoy having one or all of "The Boys" here.

This was an exceptionally happy occasion. He was named vice-president-contoller at Colonial Life in Columbia where he has worked since graduating from Clemson.

We are proud of him and happy for him.

Robert has begun going to Mid Land Tech in Columbia to take some Electronic course with the view of getting a technical degree. We are proud of him for embarking on this journey.

Harry continues to do well at Telephone Co.

We are three times blessed to have sons who are Honest, Hard working, reliable and loveable. They have given us more pleasure than they know.

The Persian Gulf

Jan 16, 17, 18, 1991

War began in Persian Gulf Jan 16 in the afternoon here. Planes sent in undercover of night to bomb there. First reports show much damage in Bagdad and other areas in Iraq.

I feel so much pain sorrow and dismay that again during this century we are again at war. Going back 100 years or more we were still recovering from our own civil war. World War I, in which my father, John Stevenson McKeown served 1918 to 1919. Nov 11 was celebrated as Armistice Day. We were told it had been fought as "The war to end all wars" and I being in grammar school behind it with all my heart. At eleven o'clock Nov 11 in school we all had a moment of silence in remembrance of the wars successful end.

Then Hitler with his madness decided to try to take over all of Europe and in late 1930 war had struck again in Europe. Dec 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Again the United States was at war. My oldest brother had been drafted in fall so was already in service. He went to officers training school became an officer was sent to North Africa then to Anzio Beach Head, Italy where he was killed by shrapnel. Later my younger brother went into service. (He could have been deferred as he was only living son but choose to go). He served in Germany doing a lot of wiping out untrusted Germans in small towns using half tracks. He came home safely but much older from his experiences.
Harry Miller my future husband became a Navy pilot. Served in South Amer., Africa, England hunting submarines. Came home after V.C. was in team to go to Japan to map coast line for invasion when V-J day came.

Then Korea - Roy Bennett Brother in Law served there in occupation force. The 1950s came Vietnam. By then our 2 older sons were old enough to register for draft. It was over before Robert was old enough.

History proves that war changes the behavior of countrys that try to take over others but that place is never really won.

I pray this won't be World War III that can be the worst war ever!!!
When will we ever learn to live together in peace, with tolerance for other races - other religions people with different ideas? Maybe this time!!!

-- Margaret "Beth" M. Miller
-- Mrs. Harry M. Miller

Seattle and Canadian trip

Harry and I had a good trip to Seattle, WA May 28. From there we took a bus tour to Alberta [and] British Columbia. The Canadian Rockies are beautiful. The scenery covers desert or plains areas, then high mountains--glaciers--fruit farming areas--horse and cattle farms. We spent 2 days in Vancouver then went by ferry to Victoria. Butchard gardens was beautiful. Also the town of Victoria was interesting. A tour is good in that you don't have to worry about driving--hotel accommodations, etc. But there are times when you would like to stay longer in some places.

Family Matters

I haven't written anything for quite a while, since 1991, when the war in Irag was started. A lot of things have happened in our family in the last few years.
Sister Jessie lost her granddaughter Kerry to scleroderma. Kerry was Jane Matthews Larkin's daughter. She was the "apple of her parents eye" and also her grandparents. She became tired and diagnosed as having scleroderma, an auto immune disease that has no known cause and little treatment. Her death a few days before Thanksgiving [1991?] was a very sad day. Her loved ones have had a long recovery from their loss. However Jane was able to conceive about a year later at the age of 38 and was blessed with a little boy. They named him Brian and he has been a joy to all. (He was born on his Grandfather Matthews' birthday.)
On July 1 [1993], the family lost Jim Bennett at the age of 38. He was sister Ruby Frances Bennett and James Roy Bennett's son. He was married and had two children, Tara and Josh. For some reason we will never understand, he committed suicide. Jim was a free spirit. Loved to hunt and fish. Had shot many deer and turkey. He took his Uncle Harry [Harry Malone Miller, Sr., husband of Beth McKeown Miller, the author of this journal] turkey hunting twice. The last time, Harry shot a turkey. He always enjoyed talking to Jim about hunting. Jim probably would have liked to have lived in the late 1800s when he could have been more of a woodsman and pioneer. We all miss him.
On July 24 [1993], Michael [Lewis Michael Miller, second son of the author] will marry Anne Rebecca Nichols from Ohio and Columbia [SC]. We are happy about the marriage. We will have a dinner after the rehearsal, Friday July 23. They have made most of the plans, which I appreciated. Her mother Mary and father Jim have planned the wedding and reception. They are to be married at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Columbia (an old church) at 12 noon - reception following at the church. Then a fun party (Barbeque) at their home [Jim and Mary's] on Lake Murray.
Harry willl be the best man. Harry, Jr. [Harry Malone Miller, Jr., oldest son of the author] and Robert [Robert Stevenson Miller, third and youngest son of the author] will be groomsmen. Jason [Jason Andrew Miller, son of Harry, Jr.] and 2 friends of Mike's will be ushers. Jennifer will be in charge of the bride's guest book. I will just sit up front and be happy for them.
Her [Anne's] father [Jim] is an ordained Lutheran minister and will officiate at the service.
May 29 [1993], Harry and I left Charlotte for a trip to Seattle and British Columbia - We took a bus tour for 9 days with several days in Seattle. Had a great trip. Arrived home to temperature of 95 degrees, after having worn a sweater while we were away. We have had no break in weather since, also no rain, with no promise of any. In contrast to our drought, towns on the Missouri River and Mississippi are suffering the worst flooding in 100 years. The have more rain than they want or need. Wish we could share a little of rain. Many people in flood area have lost their homes, crops, & businesses. It will be some time before they recover.

Drought in SC

Farmers in S.C. are now threatened with losing their entire crop of corn, soy beans, and hay. The loss of hay will be catastrophic as S.C. raises a lot of beef cattle and depends on hay to carry them over in the winter.

Mike & Anne's Wedding Rehearsal

Friday, July 23, 1993

We left for Columbia about 1 o'clock to attend Michael and Anne's wedding on Sat.
They had made most of the plans for dinner after the rehearsal.
We went to 5 Points (Five Points, an area near downtown Columbia] to pick up rented wedding clothes for Harry, Harry, Jr., Jason, & Robert. Jason's didn't fit so the rental agency had to go to [the] warehouse and get the correct size.
We and Harry, Jr's. family plus Michael's best friend from Clemson stayed at the Marriott a few blocks from the church. The rehearsal dinner was held at "The Motor Supply Co." [a restaurant] in Columbia .
Reheasal was at 5:30. We arrived at the Motor Supply Company at 7:15. Other guests arrived at 7 PM. We visited with and enjoyed getting to know some of Anne's relatives from Ohio, Wisconsin, & Florida. Her grandmother, who is 80, reminded me so much of my mother.
Attached is a copy of the menu. [Menu is missing.] Food was great.
Harry welcomed our guests in his usual interesting, entertaining, and warm way. Anne's father, Jim Nichols, said the blessing.
After dinner each table was asked to stand, introduce themselves and make comments or toasts. There were some warm - some comic --some memories shared - all with a feeling of love and respect for Anne and Michael and their families.
It gave me such a good feeling to hear the warm statements and feel the love of family at such a happy occasion.

Mike & Anne's Wedding Day

Saturday, July 24 [1993]

We had breakfast with Harry [Jr.] and Virginia [Harry, Jr's. wife], Jason, and Jennifer [Harry and Virginia's daughter] at the Epicurean [a restaurant on North Main Street in downtown Columbia] a few blocks from hotel. Went to the church at 9:45 for wedding pictures.
At 11:45 ushers and groomsmen were in place in church to seat guests. Harry, Jr. escorted me to my seat - Steve Nichols [Anne's brother] escorted Mary Nichols to her seat.
Robert escorted me from the church after [the] service. All of wedding party came into [the] church from the narthex.
Harry , Sr. was best man. Harry, Jr. and Robert were groomsmen. Anne had Rawls as honor attendant. Her 2 cousins from Ohio, Sharon and Suzanne Betchl [sp?], were her maids of honor.
Her brother [Steve] escorted Anne into [the] church. Her father and David Donges [sp?] officiated. The service was warm and personal. Very meaingful.
Immediately after the service, there was a reception in [the] fellowship hall.
[The] room was beautifully decorated. Tables covered with pink or blue underskirts - over [?] floral in same color.
After [the] reception, many people joined Mike & Anne at her parents' home on Lake Murray for an informal party (swimming, boating, etc.). Then a meal of BBQ, pot[ato] salad, etc.
All of proceeding[s] had been well thought out and planned. We all enjoyed the wedding and are happy for Michael and Anne and pray their commitment to each [other] will mean a long and happy life together.
Harry and I had an opportunity this weekend to do a little looking back over our 46 years together and to realize all over again how blessed we have been. To have 3 sons, each of whom is unique in their personality, loving their parents and loving each other.
They have brought much joy into our lives. 2 grandchildren, Jason & Jennifer, have enhanced our lives and we hope their futures wll be good. They show much promise.

Jason, the Flyer; Jennifer, the Driver

Sat. August 20, 1993

Yesterday Harry went to [the] Rock Hill [SC] airport to watch Jason fly. The weather was hazy early so he only flew a short time. Jason hopes to get his private license to fly when he is 17. He has worked as a life guard at the New Heritage this summer to help pay for flying.
Jennifer received her restricted license to drice after her birthday May 26,1993. She drove over to spend [the] day with us soon afterward.
The two of them have grown up too quickly as always happens. We are proud of both of them.
Brother John W. McKeown and Mary Alice Lee McKeown's son Eric was married 2 weeks after Michael's wedding. She was Kelly Pollard. They will go to Japan for their honeymoon. Eric has a band [after hours] and will perform in Japan for a month. Kelly will go for 2 weeks. Brother John's older son John W. McKeown, Jr. was married in March to Donna _______ in a family wedding in Greenville, SC.

The Depression

October 13, 1993
Tonite I am alone. Harry is in NC to play golf. I will go up to Blowing Rock to meet him. Out of boredom, I watched the Waltons on TV. The show was on the depresison years. Their decision was to sell their land for cash (which was hard to come by) but the problem was they would lose land that had been good to them for years and go into service to others.
My father [John Stevenson McKeown] who wanted to own land during the '30s would not compromise and take the hand outs from the government (surplus food, etc). Eventually he was able to borrow from the government to buy land (perhaps that was a compromise but it allowed him to buy--pay interest and have land (land of his own). It meant more to him than I could then imagine but now I understand. Harry and I bought a piece of that land many years later when he [my father] wanted to pay off his loan and own his land and no mortgage. I am ashamed that I didn't appreciate how important that was to him and Mama [Emmie Margaret Beam McKeown].

Updates

March 26, 1994
I haven't written anything lately. We have had a busy spring. Decided that we needed to update our bathrooms since they were 26 years old -- the wallpaper faded -- faucets beginning to leak, etc. We talked about it for a month and finally made calls about fixtures.
Began on March 15th and finished a week later. The result was a cash outlay of $1250.00 - new wallpaper - new lavatory(cultured marble) - faucets and new 1.6 gallon per flush commodes. I am glad to have it finished.
We plan to leave Sunday (tommorrow) to go to Garden city to spend a few days at Michael's apartment there. It is a nice place sleeps 4 or 6 if Hide-A-Bed is used. We enjoy beach best late summer or early spring.
I will be 70 years old Wednesday March 30th. Looking back, I am amazed at the changes.
I remember my mother who was born in 1898 (father in 1895) telling me of dating in buggy and wagon. Then automobiles came along - then planes - then space travel and much more in her lifetime.
When I was in grammar school 3rd grade or so and talked of World War I, the was to end all wars - the one my father was in, I felt as if it was ancient history while it had only been less than 18 years and would be repeated before I was out of the teens. I grew up with the prospect of war. Lost my oldest brother and many of his friends and mine in it. Saw my younger brother enter the army at 18.
Harry, who was to be my husband, joined Naval air force. Served in South America, North Africa, and England and was training for invasion of Japan when war was over.
In spite of the war years, we had good times. Were married in 1947 while Harry was still in college. Had first child in 1950 - second in [19]53 - third in 1957.
They have all been a great pleasure to us and we are proud of each of them for their unique personality. We have certainly been blessed to have been given them as our children to love and nurture to adulthood.
I am thankful for the good health I have had for the past 70 years and hope for many more years.

WWII

April 19, 1994
Last night we watched a TV show called "When the Lion roared". It was a portrayal of Roosevelt, Churchhill, and Stalin in 1939-1945.
When the war started in England and Germany, I was 15 years old. When US entered war in [19]41, I was 17. The same age Jason [Miller, author's grandson] is now.
I thought I would never forget the date of invasion of Africa --Anzio beachhead when my brother Arthur [Leroy McKeown, Lt., US Army] lost his life --when Mussolini and Italy stopped fighting -- when the English were caught at Dunkirk and by sheer bravado & grit were evacuated to England --Normandy invasion --finally victory in England [Europe] -- then victory in Japan.
I had to look up dates in Encyclopedia --May2-VE [Victory in Europe] --Aug14-VJ [Victory in Japan] ([same date as] Granddaddy John McKeown's, my father's, birthday).
Harry and I tried to reconstruct when he left to train as a Naval pilot in Salisbury, NC 1942 -- left home Christmas eve 1942 for Athens, GA (when he and I realized that we were interested in each other).
He then went to Corpus Chrisi, TX and Norman, OK getting his wings in Oct. 1943. Home for a few days then off to South America by way of FL. Patrolled South Atlantic - Ascension Island to Natal, Africa. Then by way of North Africa to England. Late '44 until May 1945 when VE day came he was patroling over English Channel for submarines escaping from Germany.
Then home by boat to Norfolk. A few weeks leave - then to Washington state. Then to California to train for service photographing Japanese coast for invasion when war was over Aug. 14,1945. Home by mid-December [1945].
By January 5, he was enrolled at Clemson College (now University). He pretty much attended year around coming to Chester each weekend and working at Springsteen Plant [,one of] Springs mill[s,] each Saturday.
We were married June 15, 1947. I remained in Chester. He came home Friday afternoon - worked on Saturday (so did I) at Springs. He would leave around 4:30 [A.M.] Monday for Clemson and classes at 8:30 [A.M.].
That sounds wild now but we were young and adjusted to such a schedule.

Memorial Day

May 30, 1994
Yesterday Harry and I went to Chester [SC] to attend a Memorial Day service.
It was held in a small park on the top of the hill ["The Hill" is the center of downtown Chester and has been called by that name for years, since it is a significant hill] under a monument dedicated to the Veterans of the Civil War. There was [were] 150 small crosses placed there with the names of men who had given their lives during battle since [the Civil War:] World War I -World War II - Korea - Vietnam.
There were many names of men both Harry and I had known but my attention was on one cross with the name of Arthur Leroy McKeown, my oldest brother who died at Anzio beachhead in Italy, March 23, 1944. My first cousin, Hugh Mobley's name was there - killed aboard a Navy ship in the Pacific - Dewey McKeown another relative's name was there.
It was painful to see but I was gald to know all of these men were still remembered with gratitude and love for there sacrifice that this country would be free.
I pray that we here now and in the future will be worthy of them and protect this country from without and within as we are having so much internal bad feelings here.

Navy Squadron Reunion

September 1994
Harry and I went to Hot Springs, Arkansas to his Navy squardron reunion. There were several men there that he hadn't seen for a long time. We both enjoyed it.
Hot Springs is an interesting town, going back to early 1900 and up to World War II it was famous as a place to go for health problems. The hot water was purported to heal and cure.
There was a high rise doctors' office, plus a hospital for Navy and Army personnel.
After Sulphur [sulfa] and Penicillin was discovered fewer people went there "to take the waters" and the Bath houses fell into disrepair. The National Park (Hot Springs) is trying to perserve them.
We stayed in the Arlington Hotel. It was famous during Hot Springs "heyday" and has been restored and is a great place to stay. 10 stories-We stayed on the 3rd floor-very convenient.

Georgetown Trip

March 30, 1995
I have just celebrated my 71st birthday. Mary and John Hallett [neighbors] invited us down to their beach house at Debordiu [De Bordieu] near Georgetown [SC] for the Georgetown tour of plantations and homes. We went down on Thursday, March 30th. Al and Carolyn Martin [neighbors] joined us. We enjoyed attending the tour on Friday.
After we arrived Thursday, we heard some planes going over and realizing they were old type, rushed out on porch and located them. There were 2 planes, one a B-17 [and] one a B-24. Harry had flown a B-24 during World War II so he was delighted to see one still flying. Someone in Stowe, VT had restored one to World War II standards and was taking it on its last public tour. Harry and Harry, Jr will go to Charlotte over the weekend to see it.
Mike and Robert had seen them fly over Columbia on Monday and they went out to the airport to see them. Also Harry, Jr. was in Columbia at a meeting in a high rise office, heard the planes and rushed to the window to get a glimpse.
Harry received his wings in 1943 so these planes are well over 50 years old.
March 23, 1944 was the date my Brother Authur Leroy McKeown was killed at Anzio Beach in Italy. Very few people know about that time except for those who had family members there. They [U.S. Army soldiers] were marooned on a small cresent [crescent] of beach with the Germans holding the high ground. They [U. S. soldiers] lived in Sand Caves. Arthur was a First Lt. and was sent in as a replacement and lived about 6 weeks before being killed by sharpnel while on a night reconasance [reconnaissance]. He had been married for a short time. He was 24 and lives in my mind as my handsome, happy brother. Had he come home, I feel sure he would have accomplished a lot and given much to this country. As it was he gave himself for this country. We, his family, still grieve at our loss.

Garden Club

April 5, 1995
I have been program chairman for the Dogwood Garden Club here in Fort Mill [SC] this year. Today we went to Landsford Canal for our tour. Landsford Canal was built to carry cotton to Charleston from the upcountry. Before [the] Civil War, it operated for a short time before the railroads came into being.
The dogwood trees in Fort Mill are in full bloom making our town into a Fairy town.

Jason's Graduation

April 7, 1995
Daughter-in-law Virginia Miller called today to ask how many invitations we needed to Jason Miller's high school graduation. He will be 18 on April 26.
Children grow up so quickly especially grandchildren. Jason was our first grandchild and a beautiful child (13 months later Jennifer was born and she was and still is a beautiful child).
Jason will go to Clemson [University, Clemson, SC] in August following his Grandfather, Father, and Uncle Michael, and his cousin Shondra Neumeister.
My sister Emmie Uldrick of Donalds, SC was in Chesnee, SC helping out at the Western Auto owned by she [her] and her husband George and son Joe. She tripped over a box and broke her hip. Had a hip replacement at Self Memorial Hospital [Greenwood, SC] on April 5 and is recuperating OK. She is now 72 years old.
72 doesn't seem nearly as old to me now as it did when I was 50.

B-24's

April, 1995
We were visiting Mary and John Hallett at the beach March 30th thru April 2nd.
While there we saw a B-24 and B-17 plane fly over. Checked and found out they were to be on display at Myrtle Beach- Columbia - and Charlotte the next week.
The next week both Michael and Robert found out the B-24 would be in Columbia. They went to see it and called Harry. He had flown one in Brazil (1943) to Ascension Island to Africa looking for submarines (German). He arrived in England (1944-45) and flew escort over convoys from English Channel out into the Atlantic. He was stationed at Exeter.
Harry,Jr. also saw the B-24 fly over Columbia while attending a meeting.
He and Harry went to Charlotte to see the last air worthy B-24.

50 Years Ago

May 8, 1995
May 8, 1945, the war in Europe was finally over. It lasted 5 years.
U.S. entered Dec. 1941 - England had been at war over a year and by then Hitler had taken over most of Europe.
I was 17 when war started. Was 21 when over.
My brother Arthur was killed in March 1944.
My brother John Wallace McKeown, who was the only surviving son in our family and a farmer[,] could have had a deferment but felt an obligation to go. He had just passed his 18th birthday (I have a picture of him in uniform and he looks so young).
I called him tonight and asked where he was 50 years ago. He was in a halftrack unit and was sent into small towns to clear out remaining Germans. He remained in Germany in occupation force until 1946.
My father had done the same after World War I (supposedly "the war to end all wars"), yet in less than 20 years it happened all over again.
I wonder if we humans will ever learn to live in peace
The bombing of a government building in Oklahoma City, OK 3 weeks ago by an American citizen as revenge of some sort proves we are a lot further away from love for our fellow man than we thought (165 or more people were killed).
I called Johnny tonight to tell him how much I appreciated his sacrifice and the others who allowed us to live in freedom.

Memorial Day

May 29, 1995
During the next week, 5 of my Grandparents' great, great grandchildren will graduate from High School and go on to higher education.
Jason Miller and Tara Bennett to Clemson, SC -- Sean Larkins to U. of VA, VA - Mellissa Matthews to Auburn in AL - Heather Uldrick to Spartanburg Junior College.
My grandparents had very little education having been small children during the Civil War in the South. My mother finished High School, my father about 5th grade. Their ambition was for their six children to finish High School, which was ambitious considering that the country was in a great depression from the late 20's to late 30's. We all finished High School. I borrowed money and went to business shcool in Columbia. Pammie (youngest sister) went to Winthrop for a 2 year Business degree. Harry, Sr. finished Clemson after WWII.
Our children, plus nephews and nieces all had an opportunity to go to college and most finished at least 4 years.
It is great to see this generation maturing and planning to continue their education to prepare themselves for the future.
I wish each of them a happy and successful future.
Beth McKeown Miller

1995 Updates

January 2, 1996
I thought I would get around to writing more about 1995 but procrastinated so I will review the last months of '95.
Sister Emmie fell over her walking stick and broke her other leg while still recovering from hip replacement. By Christmas she was walking without a stick but is not entirely comfortable.
Sister Jessie had gall bladder surgery in mid summer. Had trouble with pancreas but as of to date it seems to be healing.
Sister Pam is mostly chair bound as the result of minor strokes or something and has to have assistance to walk and her speech is very slow and uncertain. She is the youngest of the five of us.
Brother Johnny has had some health problems but so far nothing serious.
I had gall bladder surgery Aug. 29. Laperscopic [laproscopic], stayed in hospital about 30 hours and came home. After 2 days at home my temperature went up. Went back to the hospital on Friday for 6 days with Bile duct leaking into stomach cavity. Was quite ill for 4 days mostly spent under pain medication so I don't remember much about it. Had a tube to drain this. Meantime the fluid there pushed my right lung out of place and I had mild pneumonia and fluid in the pleural cavity which had to be drained 10 or 12 times. Came home. Went back on Monday Sept. 11, for 1 day to have more fluid drain[ed] from chest cavity. Am doing okay now. Lost 12 # [pounds] which I guess was good.
Harry, my boys and daughters-in-law were great about looking after me. Also my neighbors and friends brought in meals- shopped for us and were wonderful and loving which helped us to cope.
We were and are ever so grateful for the compassion-concern and love shown us during this time.
I hope I will remember to return their kindness to others in need.
Christmas was a happy [time]. Robert was here for Christmas. Harry [Jr.]and family came over about 10 to exchange gifts. We went to his house for dinner at 6 o'clock.
Mike and Anne were visiting her relatives in Ohio so we will have a mini Christmas when they come up in January.
My only living Aunt (my mother's sister) called today. She is 81 and still very vital. We had a good visit and I will try to write down some of our conversation another time.
We hope and pray for a good year in 1996.
Beth McKeown Miller

Harry's 75th Birthday

July 31, 1996
I haven't written anything later [lately]. 1996 is over half over and I don't know where it went.
Harry, Sr. had his 75th birthday July 2. We had all the boys and their families here on the Sunday before to celebrate. They each wrote him a personal letter of appreciation for his life and what he had meant to them. A most emotional moment.
Jennifer graduated from High School in May and will go to Clemson U. in August. Jason has finished his freshman year there. I am glad they will be there together this first year for Jennifer.
Harry and I went to Emporia, KS to an Edlerhostel in April. It was great week. Study was on the plains of the Flint Hills. We learned about ranching and land usage. Met many nice people.
I was 72 in March- Harry, Jr. 46 in May. Jason 19 in April. Virginia 46 in May - Jennifer 18 in May - Mike was 43 in July. He has been married 3 years July 24.

Family Updates

September, 1996
Jason and Jennifer went to Clemson late in August. She is adjusting OK to be being away from home.
Jason is a sophomore and is living in an apartment on campus with 3 other boys.
I hope they both have a sucessful year.
Mary Alice Lee McKeown had surgery. Was a little scared about cancer but it looked OK.
Lanie [Miller] Wages [Harry, Sr's older sister] isn't well. Short term memory loss. I hope is improves. Storm "Fran" left Fayetteville without power on Thursday.

New Hope ARP Church

October, 1996
On September 29, New Hope ARP Church in Fairfield county celebrated its 200th anniversary. (I remember attending the [1]50th.)
Michael, Anne, Robert, Harry [Sr.] and I attended. Sisters Jessie and Emmie with their husbands were there. Brother John and wife, Mary Alice, were also there. Pam who is not well was in the hospital. Her children Steve and Emmy were able to come.
The last time we had all been there and sat near the front was for Daddy's [John Stevenson McKeown] funeral in [1978].
Johnny welcomed everyone and several area ministers and former ministers were there.
The church is barely holding on as so many rural folk have moved away. However with donations from former members, the cemetery and church are in good condition. The builders of the church were forward looking in that the sanctuary and balcony can seat over 200.
We had dinner on the grounds.
Afterward, our family went to front steps for pictures. Mike said he wanted to make an announcement. He told us he and Anne are expecting a baby in May. We were all delighted.
Harry and I had been married there 49 years ago so felt it was a good omen to hear of a new grandchild while there.
We left the Saturday after that to go to Grand Island, Nebraska to an Elderhostel. We left our car at the airport and flew US Air to Kansas City, MO- by US Air Express to Lincoln, NE. Rented a car and drove to Grand Island on Sunday. We rode about 200 miles around the country side. We enjoyed seeing all of the corn fields - sorghum - soy beans - cows - and a little town settled by the Danes called Daneborg. Pretty houses very much like Denmark. Also a town called St. Lebory where they grow wonderful watermelons and beautiful pumpkins.
Classes started Monday at the Stulk Museum. We were kept busy all week studying about the immigrants (mostly Germans who settle Grand Island). Also those who continue[d] west over the Oregon trail, Morman trail, etc. to go to west coast (California - Utah & Oregon & Washington state).
Also studied about Indians, Mountain men, and cattle drives.
Cooked a meal out on [the] prairie as the immigrants would have. Hauled all supplies out in hand carts like some of the Mormans used on theie trip west.
The museum has a good display on the era from wagon trains to present time.
The have moved in original building and made a replica of a Railroad town complete with railroad & cars.
Railroad towns were established about 10 to 15 miles apart so that all settlers could drive to a town after doing morning chores and get home in time to do evening chores.
The people who traveled west and settled these small towns were indeed a rare breed. The women had an especially lonely time on Homesteads. They were isolated on the Plains - no trees to break the scene and the wind blew almost constantly. Enough to drive one to distraction. No doctor - no neighbor to help for childbirth & sudden illness.
We saw the modern part of area one day when we traveled by bus to a working corn farm - then to a farm where the owner grew Long horn cattle, pigs, Thoroughbred horses and Draft Horses.
Then we went to see the Pioneer seed process. Learned more about how seed corn is grown and processed than I can recount. It is a very exacting and scientific process.
Then we went to a feed lot where the cattle are fattened for market. Again a very scientific process. The grain is hammered, mixed precisely with other products and fed twice a day so much per cow.
At the end of that day we were entertained by the Mayor of Grand Island at a downtown reception. By the time we arrived back at motel we collapsed and slept soundly until 7 AM.
On day we put up an Indian tent as the Indian women would have. They did it in 10 minutes. It took us longer. I was surprised at how warm it was. The wind didn't penetrate it at all.
By Saturday morning we hated to leave our new friends. All in all it was a very good experience.

Sister Pam's Health

November 8, 1996
We came home found that sister Pam's health was deteriorating. She has a neurological problem called Progressive Supernuclear Palsy of the brain. It began, as we are now a