Faded into the Mist of Time
Mariann Musgrave Brownson
Rawls Family page 10
Myrtle married before 1935 (2) Charles Leroy
“Roy” Rountree, born Dec. 5, 1883. Myrtle Lee Gray Rawls Rountree died
in Apr.,1976.
Son Homer E. “Andy”
Rawls was born on Jun. 24, 1916 in Fairfield, IL.
He was 16 when his father died.
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| Homer "Andy"
Rawls, High School Photo (Photo courtesy of Linda Adams, Faded Into the Mists of Time) |
Andy was of the generation that grew up during
the depths of the Great Depression.
Unemployment surged to 20% by 1934.
President Franklin Roosevelt,in an effort to employ single young
men, created the Civilian
Conservation Corps to help develop America's natural resources.
The CCC was opposed by Republican politicians, who labeled it
“socialism”; nevertheless, popular support surged as the CCC went on to
employ over 3 million young men.
Andy joined the CCC in
1934, and was sent to Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, MO, for six
weeks. He became a member of
Troop 692, which was ordered to Giant City State Park in Southern
Illinois. His
troop built the lodge and cabins at Giant City, as well as nature
trails and drainage projects.
The stone and massive timbers used to build the lodge were all
quarried, carried and hewn by hand.
It was hot, heavy work that paid $30 a month, with the condition
that $25 of it be sent to his wife and family.
The men were clothed, fed, and sheltered in camps while they
worked on projects. You can
still find old concrete bridges in rural Wayne County, and all over the
United States, marked “CCC”, built by these young men.
The lodges and trails they built in parks across the country are
still in use and admired today.
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| Mary Evelyn Gaston Rawls |
Andy married on Dec.
1,1935 Mary Evelyn Gaston, born Mar. 18,1917, the daughter of
Seth Clifford Gaston and Carrie Edith Sons.
Mary's father died in the Great Influenza Pandemic.
She and her sister Maxine were supported by their mother Carrie,
who worked at the Sexton Manufacturing Company in Fairfield.
Sexton's made “long-johns” and other underwear.
When Carrie went to Lockyear Business College in Evansville, IN,
the girls lived with their Sons grandparents on the farm.
Here's the text of a letter Mary wrote to her mother in Jan.,
1932, during the Depression:
“Dear Mother:
Isn't this a lovely
Monday morning? I sure hope
it stays this way for a few days.
What did you do yesterday?
We stayed home until yesterday eve.
I went down to Milners.
Thats the only place I ever go besides Uncle Clates & thats so
far to walk. The folks
stayed home all day. They
were afraid if they got out they might get sick & you would have to send
them some medicine (ha ha).
Grandma just about blew up because you sent the medicine.
They are both feeling as good as ever.
We never got all of the “Groceries” from Uncle C's until this
morn. Pa said he guessed he
just stay home again next
Saturday again & have
Uncle Clate to tell you we were just on starvation & maybe you'd send us
something to eat (ha ha).
Aunt Laura called out
yesterday but couldn't hear us.
Perhaps you had better send us some batteries next time.
Every time any thing is said about needing anything we just say
“tell the girls & they'll get it.”
We have a lot of fun about it.
We had a letter from Aunt
Lorene Saturday. She didn't
talk much like they will come home.
She said they were coming back here to live next year.
She thinks they can make just as good here as they can up north.
Paul, his sister & her boy friend were up there one night.
Paul was getting his car.
He is going to farm Aunt Belle Mc [?] place this summer.
I asked Alta about the
pictures & she said she would order some more.
They are $.25 without the frame & $.35 with it.
Grandma is about done the quilt.
I think she will get through this week.
How is Mrs. Lappin?
I wish you could come out.
Well I will quit & study.
With love, Mary E.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
[hugs and kisses]
xoxoxoxoxoxox “
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| Back L. to R.:
Andy Rawls, Mary Gaston Rawls, Maxine Gaston Mack Front Row L. to R.: Carrie Sons Gaston, Donald Vernon Mack, Carol Ann Mack Christmas, 1936, Fairfield (Photo courtesy of Mariann Musgrave Brownson) |
Andy operated a plumbing
business in Fairfield; he later worked as a traveling salesman. Mary was
an expert seamstress, and worked at the Farmer's Store.
She also joined the Business and Professional Women's
Organization. She and Andy
were members of the First Baptist Church.
After their children were grown, they moved to Indianapolis,
where they lived for ten years and managed an apartment complex. They
returned to Fairfield in 1979.
In 1981, Mary was diagnosed with cancer.
Despite surgery and several hospitalizations, she did not
recover, and died on Feb. 17,1982.
She was only 64 years old.
Andy moved to an apartment in Greenwood, IN, to be closer to his
children. His health failed
and he died on Nov. 21,1986.
They were buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Fairfield.