Window to the Past Weekly

THE SOOTER FAMILY

The Sooter family dates back to the time of Charlemagne and an armour bearer named LaSooteur in the era of 800 A.D. He was of Franco-German ancestry.

In 1737, George Sooteur of London sailed from England to Phiadelphia in the ship "Adventure" and landed in Delaware on September 6, 1737. He became engaged in the shoe making trade in America. In 1741, he married Nancy Carter of Chester County, Pennsylvania and they were parents of 7 children:

WILLIAM, JAMES, CHARLES, JOHN, NANCY, RUTH, and ELIZABETH.

In 1751, Geoge, Nancy and their children settled in what is now London Co., Virginia. He bought 108 acres of land there and farmed until 1767. They then emigrated to Augusta Co., Virginia (now Greene Co., Pennsylvania) where they lived until about 1797.

Two of their sons, James and Charles, served in the Revolutionary War under the command of Col. Jackwell Morgan and in the Virginia Militia. James Sooter was killed at the Battle of Cowpens in 1781. George Sooteur/Sooter died August 24, 1795 and Nancy Carter Sooter died in 1797 in what is now Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Soon after the mother's death, all the family, except William, emigrated to Ohio, near Marietta. William and his family went to Harrodsburg, Kentucky for about 10 years and then moved south into Tennessee. Some of the children of William Sooter were: EDWARD, RUTH, NANCY, & GREENBERRY.

Greenberry Sooter, son of Willim and grandson of George and Nancy, is the ancestor of the Miller Co. Sooter family. His children were: MILTON (1826-1875), MONROE, MANLEY (1831-1908), PAULINE (Gaw), and HARVEY VAN BUREN (1833-1899).

Harvey Van Buren Sooter married Sarah Ann Smith (1839-1914).

Harvey was a physician in the mid 19th century. By 1857, Harvey and Sarah were living in Newton Co., Missouri where their son, Charles M. Sooter, was born on August 24, 1857. The children of Dr. Harvey Sooter and Sarah Ann Smith were:

1. Rev. Charles Marriott Sooter b. 1857 married 1) Harriett Pankey 2) Jane Alice Carson 3) Lucy Stark
2. Louisa M. Sooter m. George Shelton
3. Rev. William M. Sooter m. Nancy Groves
4. Gerretta Sooter m. James N. Renfrow
5. Margaret Sooter m. John Hensley

Charles Marriott Sooter ----

Rev. Charles Marriott Sooter was born near the Grand river in Newton Co., MO in the Ozark Mountains of southern Missouri. His parents moved to Miller Co. when Charles was 12 years old, circa 1869. His ancestors were immigrants of Northern Ireland who settled in the Carolinas. Charles was born August 24, 1857, a son of Harvey Van Buren Sooter and Sarah Ann (Smith). His father was a physician who did not join a church until he was an old man and his mother was a Methodist. In 1873, Charles married Harriett Pankey who died a short while later after giving birth to 2 children, Nettie (Wiles) and Leona (Shelton) (photo 01).

01 Rev. Charles and Harriett (Pankey) Sooter

In 1876, he married Jane Alice Carson and they had 7 children including: Menso E., Charles W., Mark, Wm. M., Elizabeth (Hodgen) and Lena. In his early years of marriage, he took up farming and saw-milling (photo 02).

02 Rev. Charles and Jane Alice (Carson) Sooter

At age 27, while operating a saw mill, an itinerate Christian minister named Mapes came from Iowa and held revival services in the community. Charley attended these services and thereafter his life was changed when he realized he had received a calling from God. He was an unlearned man and at first he was afraid to speak publicly nor pray before a crowd. But anyone who remembers Brother Charles Sooter knows he overcame that obstacle with flying colors!

He preached and sang his way into the hearts of many central Missouri people and he also played the fiddle. It was said his gifts were Providential, but I am sure those Irish ancestors contributed to his talent as well. He helped to organize many churches in the area.... Union, Mt. Zion, High Knob, Campground, Humphreys Creek, Little Tavern, Liberty, Atwell, Cranford, Edythe, Ketchum (Okla), Iberia, Fairview, Gott, and Meta. He bought 140 yards of heavy canvas and made a huge tent. He conducted services under that old tent until a church could be erected. It is said he preached 5,250 sermons; had 4,500 conversions, and baptized over 3,000 people.

At first he traveled horseback, averaging 2000 miles a year. Later he used a two wheel cart and buggy and in his old age, drove a car. The greatest number ever baptized by him at one time was 76 in the Little Tavern creek and the greatest number ever accepted into membership at one time was 91 persons. He probably conducted more funerals than anyone, before or since, in our area (photo 03).

03 Rev. Charles Marriott Sooter

Charles Sooter died at his home 5 miles south of Tuscumbia in the summer of 1938. He had reached the age of 81 years and had continued his preaching almost to the end (photo 04).

04 Rev. Charles Sooter Death Certificate
Click image for larger view in PDF format

He truly was a 'Shepherd of the Hills' in our section of the Ozarks. He was referred to as a "Sky Pilot" because he had lifted so many hearts and souls heavenward and helped start so many folks walking down the right road of life.

His 2nd wife, Jane Alice, died in 1929 and he married a third time, Mrs. Lucy Stark, widow of William Stark. He was survived by Lucy, 7 children, a brother: Rev. W. M. Sooter (1862-1951); 2 sisters:

Lucy Sooter Renfrow (1866-1947); and Maggie Sooter Hensley (1877- )

His services were held at the Iberia Academy. The Jones Boys, old friends of Brother Sooter, had a beautiful and inspirational song service. " He was laid to rest at the Brays Union cemetery, east of Iberia. His descendants have carried on the tradition.... four sons became ministers, and the musical talent continues onward in his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren even unto this day.

Note: You can read more about Rev. Charles Sooter at this Miller County Museum website.

OLD-TIME OCCUPATION NAMES....

Acccompatant - Accountant

Almoner - Giver of charity to the needy

Bailie - Bailiff

Baxter - Baker

Bluestocking - Female writer

Boniface - Keeper of an inn

Brewster - Beer manufacturer

Brightsmith - Metal Worker

Burgonmaster - Mayor

Chaisemaker - Carriage maker

Chiffonnier - Wig maker

Clark - Clerk

Clerk - Clergyman, cleric

Cohen - Priest

Collier - Coal miner

Cooper - One who makes barrels of staves & hoops

Crocker - Potter

Crowner - Coroner/Undertaker

Dowser - One who finds water using a rod/stick

Farrier - A blacksmith who shoes horses

Gaoler - A keeper of the goal/jail

Hind - A farm laborer

Jagger - Fish peddler

Mason - Brick layer

Muleskinner - Teamster

Pettifogger - A shyster lawyer

Sawbones - Physician

Scrutiner - Election judge

Squire - Country gentleman, justice of peace

Stuff gown - Junior barrister/lawyer/judge

Thatcher - Roofer

Tipstaff - Policeman

Wainwright - Wagon maker

Whitewing - Street sweeper

I have other listings I will try to record at a later date... PLH

SHOCKLEY/BIRDSONG/HOLEYFIELD FAMILY

PEARLEY A. SHOCKLEY was born in Miller County 3 October 1883 near Mt. View community about midway between Iberia and Tuscumbia. He was a son of John R. Shockley (1824-1901) and his second wife, Lucinda Holeyfield, who married in 1875. The first wife of John Shockley was Mary Birdsong whom he had married in 1851.

John fathered at least eleven children by his two wives including:

1. Mary Josephine Shockley b. c/1854 m. Joseph B. Blankenship 1874
2. Livonia Isadora Shockley b. c/1856 m. Eugene Dayton 1886
3. Cornelia W. Shockley b. c/1858 m. died before 1880
4. Cordelia Catherine Shockley b. c/1866 m. Eugene Dayton 1885

Cordelia died soon after marriage to Eugene Dayton because he married her her older sister, Livonia, in 1886.

NOTE: The four children above belonged to Mary Birdsong, wife #1... The next seven children listed were from wife #2, Lucinda Holeyfield.

5. Charles Edward Shockley 1876-1960 m. Maud Anna Gardner 1900
6. Joel W. Shockley born 1878 --- died young
7. Georgia Alice Shockley 1879-1961 m. Jay Adams
8. Annie Lee Shockley 1882-1970 m. John Walter Doubikin
9. Pearley A. Shockley 1883-1926 m. Laura Ellen Shackleford 1913
10. Stella Maude Shockley 1885-1965 m. Dr. Ronald Marshall
11. Joseph Shockley born 1886 --- died young

Pearley A. Shockley married Laura Ellen Shackleford May 18, 1913. She was born near Iberia on May 1, 1895, a daughter of James H. Shackleford and Florence Ponder. Pearley and Laura (called Fannie per his obituary), lived on the Shelby J. Heltzell farm when he died in September 1926. It was located about 4 miles north of Iberia . Pearley and Laura Ellen were parents of two sons:

1. Claudius C. Shockley 1913-1989 m. Lucille Brown 1941
2. John Jewell Shockely 1915-1940 m. (evidently remained single)

The only descendants of Pearley and Laura Ellen are from the marriage of their son, Claudius Shockley and his wife, Lucille Brown, who lived many years in the area of Lake of the Ozarks. Pearley was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Iberia, a fraternal benefit society of securities and life insurances. It was founded in 1883 by a fellow who owned many businesses including mercantile, grain elevators, mills, real estate, and in addition to that, he was also a lawyer! Iberia had a Modern Woodmen organization for many years.

Pearley died on September 10, 1926 at the age of 42 years. His death was caused by a ruptured appendix that he did not recover from. He was survived by his wife, 2 sons, grandchildren, a brother (Charles Edward) and 3 sisters (Annie Doubikin, Georgia Adams, and Maude Marshall). His services were held at Fairview Church north of Iberia.

SOME SOUTHERN SAYINGS....

ANGLUN ---- The country that gave us Anglish

ARERS ---- (60 minutes) "Hit took me 2 arers just to get up the gumption enuff to talk to Lulu Belle"

AGONNA ---- (Future tense) as in "ahm agonna gichew ifn yew don't quit bothern my dawg"

AHERE ---- (In this direction) as in "yall come ahere. I got sumpten a show yuh".

BACKER ---- (Large cultivated weed you can smoke legally)

BAMMER ---- The state west of Jawjuh ---- the biggest town is "Buhminhayum"

BARD ---- Past tense of borry as in "my brother bard my truck and never brung it back"

BE-INS ---- 'Be-ins yore agoin to duh kitchen, why donchoo get me a glass of warter."

BIDNIS ---- What you get down to or stay out of other people's, as in "that ain't none of yore dad-burned bidnis".

BILE ---- Heat up until it bubbles

BOB WAR ---- Twisted wire studded with barbs for fencing.

CACKLEBERRY ---- An egg ---- Go figure ! !

CANNED CORN ---- A city in Mexico

CATTYWAMPUS ---- Crooked, not straight

CITIFY ---- To take the country out of the boy or girl ---- some say its impossible.

CONNIPTION ---- A major fit and total loss of control of one's temper.

Until next week!

Peggy Hake

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