Hattie O Teague

My Great-grandmother, Hattie Orlena, was born November 4,1886 in Salem, Deut., Missouri. Her parents are Ebenezer Teague and Mary Tennessee Walker. Her Birth Record (after age 12) says she was born in Missouri, the census below says the same, some other 'sources' say she was born in Massac County, Illinois.

There is a half-written half-drawn document on blue paper that was attributed to Hattie, now I'm not so sure she wrote it herself. It says:

Judge Walker, (“mom’s” grandfather on her mother’s side)Married Mary Walker Teague Richardson (arrow pointing to Judge Walker)Mary Walker Teague Richardson (Teague was first marriage, Richardson was second marriage)

Hattie Teague Sharp (mom - 1887 – 1974)
Brothers were Clarence Teague and Walter Teague

Hattie married Cal Sharp
Children born to this marriage were Cal Sharp, Inez Sharp and Ralph Sharp (Ralph’s last name later added an “e” to the end of Sharp.

Burl Sharp married Nora Poe and were the grandparents on dad’s side.
Calvin Sharp (dad) 1885 – 1970

Children were Cora Sharp Smith
Mae Sharp McBride
Eunice Sharp Teague
Fred Sharp
Alva Sharp
Lannes Sharp

Note at the bottom of the page: About all I know – really don’t know dates other than mom and dad”s.

Her son, Ralph, writes the following about her:

“My father was a sawyer in a lumber mill and this meant he had to go where his work was and that meant his family had to move also, some climates were very damp and swampy, and my mother could not live under these conditions, so this is why we could not all be a family. I lived with my mother as did my brother & sister... My mother was a seamstress and did sewing for other people.”

“I quit High school in my Sophmore year to get a job and help with the expenses as I still lived with my mother we had a big garden and mom always did a lot of canning.”

“In 1933 Cal was burned quite bad and we sent for mom to come out, and when Cal was better Mom went to work as manager of the Blue Ox Inn. And as usual she had her flowers…”

"My mother married Raymond Smith who had lost his wife thru illness and he owned a large farm in Belknap. This was in 1950 and mom had her garden and chickens and they grew corn, oats, wheat. After Raymond passed away mom could not handle the big house or farm, so every thing was passed on to his son and mom moved to a duplex in Metropolis and became very ill and passed away in a convalescent hospital in 1974 and is buried in New Hope Cemetery. She was 88 when she passed away."

US Federal Census of 1920, January 5th and 6th
State of Illinois, Massac County, Metropolis Precinct.
Supervisor district 16, Ennumeration Dist. 94, Sheet 1B.

Johnson Street, near Vienna

SHARP, (John) CALVIN, head of house (line 90)
Renting house number 307, male, white, age 34, married. Can read and
write. Born in Illinois, Father born in Illinois, Mother born in Kentucky. Can
speak English. Works as a band sawyer in a saw mill.

Wife: SHARP, HATTIE (they put an initial "H" here...)
Female, white, age 33, married, can read and write. Born in Missouri, Father born in Illinois, mother born in Illinois, can speak English.

Son: CALVIN L.
Male, white, age 14, single, attended school the previous year, can read and write. Born in Illinois, Father born in Illinois, mother born in Missouri, can speak English.

Daughter: INEZ
Female, white, age 12, single, attended school the previous year, can read and write. Born in Illinois, Father born in Illinois, mother born in Missouri, can speak English.

Son: RALPH F.
Male, white, age 6, single, attended school the previous year, can read and write. Born in Illinois, Father born in Illinois, mother born in Missouri, can speak English.

It must have been very tough at this time to divorce and try to make a living while raising a family as a woman. I have been writing a book on this in my own mind and draw a great deal of strength from these women in our family history.

I have often wondered what Hattie went through at first that made her mind up to get away from John Calvin Sharp and his typical living environment. How bad was it really? Did she not know it could be like that when she married him? Did her health change after they married or was it always a bit frail? What was it like for her after she left? She seemed to have a strong sense of self and didn't just go and marry the next fella who came along. She tried to support her children as best she could, but either she had very headstrong and enterprising sons (not a surprise) or they were just as desperate to make a better life for themselves. This is a recurring theme of the times, as well. Almost like being first generation immigrants, there was urgency.

I have heard the phrase spoken of Hattie's oldest son that "as soon as he could drive he ran away to California," and her youngest followed suit, following his brother.

Despite this "running away" image at face value, there was still a strong familial bond. Hattie came out on several occasions to California to live with/near her boys. She stayed long enough on one occasion to run The Blue Ox Inn, compliamentary of the nearby Paul Bunyon Lumber Company. Quite a responsibility for a "housewife"... Again, I think she had a lot of brass despite her frail outward condition. She had to have.

One published obituary, with 6-5-74 written in pencil at the top, reads as follows:

HATTIE SHARPE SMITH
Hattie Orlena Smith, oldest child and last surviving member of the family of Ebb and Mary Walker Teague, was born November 4, 1886, in Massac County, Illinois. After a lengthy illness, death came early Wednesday morning, June 5, 1974, at the Parkview Convelescent Center in Paducah, Kentucky. She was 87 years old.

She confessed her faith in Christ at an early age at New Hope Baptist Church in New Columbia, and remained a member there during her lifetime.

In 1904, she was united in marriage to Calvin Sharpe. To this union were born three children, Calvin, Inez, and Ralph. Forty years later, she was united in marriage to Ray Smith, who preceded her in death in 1969. For the past few years, she had made her home in Metropolis.

Besides her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence and Walter Teague.

Those left to mourn her passing are her devoted children, Mrs. Inez Roby, Calvin and Ralph Sharpe; six grandchildren, Mrs. Gerry Wardlaw, Joe and Dan Roby, Col. Bradford Sharpe, Mrs. Beverly Corbett and Mrs. Janice Winkler; sixteen great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren, Mrs. Barbara Main and Raymond Smith; one sister, Mrs. Iva Miller; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. at the Miller Funeral Home Chapel
with burial in the New Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Herbert Simpson officiated.
Pallbearers were Wayne Teague, Raymond Smith, Cecil Beckman, E.A. Sullivan,
Lester Harper and Ira Kilgore. Mrs. A. B. Hankins was the organist.

Another obituary (where from?) reads:

Mrs. Smith, 87, Metropolis, Dies
METROPOLIS, ILL., June 5 -- Mrs. Hattie Sharpe Smith of the Spence
Apartments in Metropolis died today at Parkview Convalescent Center in Paducah.
She was 87.

She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Gerald Roby of Paducah; two sons, Calvin Sharpe of Chico, Calif., and Ralph Sharpe of Marysville, Calif; one sister, Mrs. Iva Miller of Paris, Tenn; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Miller Funeral Home. The Rev. hubert Simpson will officiate and burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 3 p.m. Thursday.