Letter to Maybelle [Williams] McDade re: Gravesite—Andrew Pickens Butler

(See notes below)

April 10, 1970

Mrs. Joe S. Bravenac, Sr.

338 Merrick Street

Shreveport, LA 71104

Dear, Maybelle,

This afternoon George Martin and I took Mary McDade home to Haughton; she had been here since early Tuesday morn. I decided to call "Miss" Toinette Burt. She gave George the directions to find Capt. Butler’s (G-gf Andrew Pickens Butler) grave. We drove on towards Benton, on a large hill to the right of the highway. We found Capt. Butler’s grave enclosed in an old iron fence, gate taken off. The tombstone was off the base. A Mr. Gerald Burt drove up on his tractor, told us that he found the tombstone far away from the grave, however, he knew where it belonged so he and his field hands placed it in the enclosure. There are about 300 people buried in this cemetery, known as the Coate’s Cemetery. Now there’s no sign of the tombstones—covered over with dirt—sand, etc., only Capt. Butler’s enclosed iron fence and one other. A vault is under the ground, he showed George and me. …a handsome young man, Gerald Burt III, doing the work himself with help of 1 other young man, farming like it used to be. Gone are the good old days.

…We plan on flying to Battle Creek, Michigan to spend a week with Elmo III and Mildred and three children, then on to visit for a week with Joe, Jr. (Joe Bravenec, Junior), Mary Jane, and the boys. Virginia Lorette (Bravenec) will go with us. The "three Virginias."

George and I are going to clean off the Old Burn’s graveyard Saturday morning—between McDade (Louisiana) and Haughton where my mother’s own mother is buried, Virginia [Locke] [Prince]). She is also Dr. Prince’s mother (Uncle Shea). The W. D. Mercer’s are buried there too. It is grown up in weeds. Aunt Ella Mercer took Uncle Shea and "Gran" after their mother died two until Grandpa Prince married again two year ago. Son Alford of Haughton—cows got into the cemetery and broke my grandmother’s tall monument off in 2 places—was put there in July 1871. Tinsley and George cemented one part back, but could not lift the long tall piece—so laid it close to her grave. I locked the gate…to keep the cows out.

When I get a bit more straightened out, I’ll send for McDade coat of arms. My—someone is trying to get the Tom Pickett lineage. (Thomas G. Pickett, Junior, s/o Thomas G. Pickett and Eula [Pope]; Eula [Pope] is the daughter of Sidney N. Pope and Sarah "Sallie" Fort [Connell], widow of James Germany McDade, Jr.) Adeline ([McDade] Roemer) sent them to me, rather he mailed papers to me from Vicksburg, Mississippi. I do not know where Henry Pickett lives—he is a preacher. I do know where Uncle Tom Pickett and his wife are buried—in Fillmore (Cemetery). Henry Pickett has two sisters—I’ve lost track. Coz Milton Pickett is buried near Grand Bayou. I went to that funeral.

…

Love and best wishes,

Virginia

Transcribed and contributed by Betty M McDade

Transcriber notes:

Virginia [McDade] Bravenec), d/o John Tinsley McDade and Virginia Alice "Jennie" [Prince]; John Tinsley is the son of James Germany McDade, Junior m. Sarah "Sallie’ Fort [Connell].

 

Notation written on outside of Virginia’s envelope: "Capt. Pick Butler’s grave—Coates Cemetery near Benton