JOHAN ALFRED AND MARY JANE (HARGROVE) MAGNUSSON

Johan Alfred (Euin), along with his father Anders Peter, mother Anna Maja (Johannesdotter) Magnusson and two younger brothers, Johannes Magnus (Joe) and Carl Peter (Charlie), left Sweden 26 July 1871 for the seaport of Gotenborg Sweden

Johan Alfred, Mary Jane, Lee Roy & Edd Magnusson

There they sold their services to the Captain of the Ship "The Rollo" for passage to America; set sail on 4 Aug 1871 for England; boarded "The City of Bristol" and sailed 21 August 1871 for New York. (Johan Alfred was listed age 15 under the name of Petterson and traveling with P. Petterson, age 53). When the family arrived in New York, the captain sold their labor to Colonel Richard C. Gardner, a prominent citizen of Giles County, Tennessee. Gardner sent the Magnusson, Petterson and Limbaugh families to Elkmont, Alabama by train. At Elkmont they went by wagon to Elkton. These families worked for Gardner for one year to pay for their passage and another year as a shareholder. The Magnusson family lived in a two family log house that was located on Ridge Road between Elkton and Ardmore.

Johan married Mary Jane Hargrove, daughter of James Thomas and Martha (Catchum) Hargrove in GCT 15 June 1880. They were the parents of two children Edward Jackson and Lee Roy.

J. A. Magnerson, J. M. Magnerson and A. P. Magnerson, each for the sum of $261.00, dated 8 December 1886, and bearing interest from date made notes for the purchase money for land sold to them by Elliott, said lands being land of the Estate of Samuel H. Morell deceased which was sold under the order of Giles County Court. The Magnusson house at Blowing Spring Hollow was one room with an upstairs. The kitchen was a separate house behind the main house. A spring with very cold water was about four feet from the house. The house and kitchen was in Tennessee but the barn was in Alabama. He moved his family to the Sand Springs Precinct, Estaville Post Office in Limestone County, Alabama about 1915.

The 1910 census of Giles County, District 1, shows John Magnusson age 53, works on own account, could write, owns 149 acre farm free of mortgage, married 30 years, 2 children with 2 living, Mary J. wife age 52, could read but not write, Alton H. Thompson age 21 born Tennessee, border, and

Johan Alfred was a big man, over six feet tall and weighed over 200 pounds. He was a very strong person and could stop a wagon loaded with a bale of cotton. To keep the wagon, with no brakes, from rolling down the hill too fast he would hitch the horses to the wagon and start them down the hill then he would catch hold of the spokes in the wagon wheel. The Magnusson name is found in Giles County, Tennessee and Limestone County, Alabama records spelled several different ways including Morgson, Morgerson, Magnerson, Morganson, Magnu Son, Mockerson, and Mock. (499 words) Submitted by: Mike Magnusson, P. O. Box 268, Ardmore, TN 38449.

ALFRED AND RACHEL STANDEN

When Rachel Steele and her son Gary left Pulaski in November 1965 to travel to Frederick, MD where her sister Sara lived, she probably never thought that she would return to reestablish residency. She had obtained employment and hoped for a better life. Sara and Rachel were born in Pulaski to G. Butler and Sarah Frances (nee Robinson) Peeler.

Frances was born in Sparta in White County, TN to Daniel Lanice and Sarah Frances (Mason) Robinson. They lived and and are buried in Winchester, TN. Butler was born in Hohenwald, TN to Jack Moore and Hattie Jo (nee Kincaid) Peeler. Jack Moore is buried in Swiss Cemetery in Hohenwald by his parents Jasper J. and Aurelia (nee Harris) Peeler. Hattie Jo was born to William and Eliza (nee Richardson) Kincaid. She lived in Minor Hill and is buried in Minor Hill Cemetery. Her second marriage was to William Noah McMasters.

It was the first Sunday in December when Dr. Alfred Standen entered church services and saw Rachel sitting near the front. Thoughts went through his mind, and one was that she would become his wife. Al had graduated the year before from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University and was a research veterinarian in the Pathology Division at Ft. Detrick, MD where prior to veterinary school he had fulfilled his military obligation.

Alfred and Rachel Standen

Several weeks passed, Rachel and Al started dating, and six weeks after their first date they married. Al adopted Gary, and they remained in Maryland until September of 1970 when they moved to Ohio - Al’s home state. Here he practiced small animal medicine and surgery for eight years then two years in Cleveland, OH , and finally he bought into a huge veterinary clinic in Avon Lake, OH. The stay here was twenty years.

During that time Rachel became a professional bowler. She also started playing golf which she continues doing at present. Almost daily, weather permitting, she can be found at Hillcrest Country Club teeing off.

When it came time to retire, Al sold his portion of the clinic practice, and they moved to Pulaski leaving Gary and his wife Lisa in Ohio. Rachel golfs. Al works part time at the Giles County Animal Hospital. Both are members of the East Hill Church of Christ. Al is a member of the Giles County Historical Society. He also plays the baritone at Christmas with the MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS group. (406 words) Submitted by Alfred C. Standen, DVM, 408 Westgate Dr., Pulaski, TN 38478.

MILITARY BIOGRAPHIES

MASTER SGT. LOGAN WATKINS

Logan McCuin Watkins was born in Giles County on 14 Jan. 1924. The son of Logan Cal and Clara Mai Petty Watkins. In 1941 Mack as he was called lied about his age and joined the Navy. During this time Mack was wounded in combat earning him his first purple heart.

Master Sgt. Logan Watkins

After the war Mack mustered out of the Navy and joined the Army. During this time he was ordered to Korea where on 6 Sept. 1950 near Hoesan-ni, Korea his battalion was attacked by a large hostile force. Mack volunteered to lead a small group to counter attack the enemy. During this attack Mack was wounded again earning him his second purple heart and for his actions was awarded the Bronze Star with a "V" for valor. The citation reads "By his in dominate fighting sprit and exemplary courage, he assisted materially in the successful repulsion of the hostile forces."

After Korea Mack mustered out of Army to enlist in the Air Force where he retired in 1968 after 27 years. Mack with little formal education had earned the highest rank held by an enlisted in the military. Mack died on 17 Feb. 1969 at the age of 44 and is buried at the Mt. Zion Cemetery just across the Giles County line in Lawrence County, Tennessee. (216 words) Submitted by Michael E. Watkins, 1078 Post Horn Run, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30045.