Button Recycling

Our ancestors truly knew the value of a dollar.  Today we talk about being "green" and have trendy recycle and reuse sayings but they didn't think of it as being green, they thought of it as being thrifty, economical and saw the potential to reuse items when possible.

This tinbox, which was surely a magnificent thing in its day, was used to store buttons.  And not just the occasional button that popped off and needed to be sewn back on.

When clothing wore out they removed the eyelets, hooks, buttons, collars, cuffs, lace and anything else that could be reused on another piece of clothing.  And then they used the remaining clothing to stuff mattresses, pillows or used them as cleaning rags.

Here's what we found inside this particular tinbox.  A truly unique collection of buttons, clasps, hooks and beads.

The Ferguson-Bozeman Nuptials 1930

We believe this to be
Harry and Helen.

Harry Maxwell FERGUSON is our first cousin, twice removed.  His grandmother on his mother's side was Agnes MORAN.  She married B.D. IRVINE and it was their daughter Sophia that married Charles A Ferguson, the parents of Harry.


Harry fell in love with Helen Josephine BOZEMAN, the daughter of Augustus Nardin BOZEMAN and Mary Josephine, maiden name unknown at this time.




Harry and Helen were married on July 19, 1930 at the Little Church Around the Corner in New York.

This is the front of a card that was sent to them from the church on one of their anniversaries and as a little fundraiser nudge.

My dear Friends:
This is the anniversary of your wedding and we want you to know that we are thinking of you and are sending you our Blessing and greetings.  May each year bring you increased happiness.
When you were married you became members of the Little Church Family.  Please do not forget to renew your membership this year and help us build up the Endowment Fund that is to keep the Church here at 29th Street for years to come.
Let us hear from you--and better still, come in and see us when you can. Be sure to let us know of any change of address.
Faithfully your friend,
Randolph Ray

On the back is written:
This is the church Harry and Helen were married
in 1930.








Here is another photo of the same couple.  These pictures were with the wedding invitation and the card from the Little Church around the corner.  The picture above is undated but on the back of this one it says Aug. 1, 1946.

I found this wonderful little video on Youtube about the Church.  The church was founded in 1848 and was named the Church of the Transfiguration.  It has a long tradition of ties with the theater and interestingly enough it received it's name when the rector of a nearby church refused to perform a funeral for an actor and and referred them to "the little church around the corner".  

Mrs. Sam B. Wilson Dies - 1939

Before she was Mrs. Sam Wilson she was Paralee  T Wilson.  Her parents were Joseph Wilson and Parmelia Duncan.  She was born August 12, 1848 and died May 10, 1939.  She married Samuel D. Wilson (the newspaper clipping incorrectly said "B") March 9 1873 in Williamson County Tennessee.  They moved to Obion County Tennessee and eventually lived in Newbern, Tennessee.  They had two daughters Laura D. Wilson and Lillie Wilson.

Virginia Shumate Moran her sisters also lived in Newbern Tennessee with their uncle Quincy Shumate and his family.  This obituary was found among the papers of Virginia Shumate Moran.

Mrs. Sam B. Wilson Dies; Funeral Today

Native Tennessean, 90, was Mother of Memphis

Newbern, Tenn., May 10-- Mrs. Sam B. Wilson, lifelong resident of Tennessee and member of one of the most prominent families in Dyer County, died here tonight at 6 o'clock in the home of her son-in-law, Atty, Gen. John M. Drane.

One of the oldest residents of Newbern, Mrs. Wilson had lived here for 54 years and was one of the most active members of the First Methodist Church.

Mrs. Wilson came to Newbern from Obion County, where her husband, the late Sam Wilson, who died 30 years ago, was one of the leading landowners in this section.  She was born at Franklin Tenn.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon in the First Baptist Church of Newbern, with the Rev. H.W. Davis officiating.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at Newbern.

Mrs. Wilson leaves two daughters, Mrs. John M. Drane of Newbern and Mrs. H.A. Roop of Memphis; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.