HOW LONG HAVE WE LIVED IN BIG SODDY? Part Two

 My maternal grandfather, my Papaw, Thurston Claude Burchard (Pete), was born on October 17, 1913.  His family lived in Big Soddy Gulf (now a Soddy-Daisy city park) where his Daddy was a coal miner. There was a settlement called Burchardville somewhere at the end of the gulf and Flattop Mountain. Papaw walked out of the gulf every morning to go to school and walked back in every afternoon. 

1920 Census 

In 1920 Papaw's Daddy, Grant, was 26 years old, and his mother, Rachel, was 27 years old. Their family consisted of Papaw (6), Ruth (4) and Lucille (1). There was another daughter who died young. She might have been born between Lucille and Ruth. Her name was Vivian.

Grant was working as a coal-miner in the Soddy coal mines. He was born in Tennessee, his father was born in Tennessee and his mother in Georgia.  Rachel was born in Tennessee, and both of her parents were born in Georgia. 

Neighbors included: Burchard, Morgan, Wilson, Brackett (all kinfolk), Welch, Hughes, Bowman, Cranmore, Coleman and Lynch.  I recognize all of these names from my childhood and many of their descendants still live in Soddy and Flattop Mountain. People worked as miners, farmers, textile workers and in the school. 

1930 Census 

Papaw was 16 years old in 1930. Grant was 36 and Rachel was 37. The enumerator listed them as living on Back Valley Road.  *My son, Andy, bought their old homeplace on Back Valley Road just a few years ago.  Their cabin is gone, but it's the same property.* 

The family had grown and in addition to Papaw (16), Ruth (14), Lucille (11) there were brothers Archie (9), Warren (6), and a sister, Mildred (4).  All of the children but Warren and Mildred went to school. Grant was still working in the coal mines. 

Neighbors included: Sims, Morgan, Penny, Burchard, Brackett, Morgan, Coleman, Varner and they worked as truck drivers, in a sawmill, as miners, and in the schools. 

1940 Census 

By 1940 Papaw had married my Mamaw, Ruth Faith Graham, and they were the parents of my Sweet Little Mama, Alyne.  Papaw was age 26 and Mamaw was 22. He owned his own home and his occupation was a farmer. 

My Sweet Little Mama told me this story: 

In 1933 my Mamaw's brother died in an accident and as a result Mamaw was given ten acres of land by her Daddy (George Graham).  Papaw built a house on that land and Mama said Papaw and Mamaw loaded up all their belongings in a wheelbarrow and moved to the new house on Graham Road, where my Mama now lives.  The little house they moved from is either covered by Highway 111 (going up Flattop Mountain), or somewhere behind Varner Cemetery. 

1950 Census 

Papaw was 36 years old, he and his family lived on Graham Road, and he worked as a machinist at Sherman and Reilly, Inc., in Chattanooga.  Mamaw was 32 years old, my Sweet Little Mama was 15, and my aunts, Trudy and Martha, were ages 5 and 6. 

So, now, what is the answer to Andy's question "How long have we lived in Big Soddy"?  

My Papaw, your great-grandfather, was born 110 years ago in a settlement called Burchardville located somewhere back in Soddy Gulf. That's close enough to say "We've lived in Big Soddy for 110 years. 

Census and other records only show information and nothing about people's character or lives.  My Papaw and Mamaw were wonderful people, and the best grandparents a girl could have. They've been gone for many years, but I still love them and think about them.