Jesse & Ida Artemisha “Mishie” Shamburger Maness 

 

This reflection of Jesse & Mishie Maness’s history was shared by daughters Flossie Johnson and Swannie Johnson…Father Jesse helped Grandfather Dumas with the farm and crops when growing up.  He went to St. Phillips Episcopal Church School and while in school, met a very young lady by the name of Mishie.  They were married at St. Phillips Episcopal Church and began their marriage in the home of Grandfather Dumas.  Within months they moved into their own home.

They had 14 children:  John Warner Maness (April 9, 1894-July 5, 1983), Ada Lugenia Maness Brower (June 22, 1896-September 22, 1967), Flossie Adeline Maness Johnson (May 31, 1898 – May 5, 2001), Henry Dumas Maness (November 19, 1900-August 29, 1940), Annie Jane Maness Brower (August 7, 1902-February 10, 1989), Claudia Mae Elizabeth Maness Brower (September 9, 1903-November 5, 1988), James Roosevelt Maness (March 18, 1905-September 23, 1934), Dossie Lee Maness (October 14, 1907-September 2, 1955), Elsie Simeon Maness (March 12, 1909-February 12,1943), Genore Coronis Maness (November 30, 1910-February 17, 1984), Swannie Elizabeth Maness Johnson (July 21, 1912-June 14, 2009), Laney Leon Duncan Maness (April 16 1914-December 29, 1996), Marvin Quenroe Maness (November 30, 1915-December 10, 1988), Jesse Cornell (JC) Maness (August 10, 1918-March 21, 1985).

Father Jesse was a blacksmith and a farmer.  He was also a carpenter and built the homes for his family and the other buildings on his property such as the barn, the granary, the blacksmith’s shop, the potato house, the chicken house, a smoke house for curing meat, and a corn crib.  He was often called upon to make the coffins for his deceased neighbors.  Even though Father Jesse had wagons that were used for farm work, he also had a buggy for his and Mother Mishie’s use.  He was the first in the community to own a covered wagon which was teamed by two white mules and a horse.  Father Jesse was one of the founders of Bear Creek Congregational Church, a deacon, and the church song leader, and he set aside every Sunday evening for family prayer.

In the home, Mother Mishie made the soap (from meat scraps of hogs and lye), washed the clothes with a scrub board, and boiled them in a large cast iron (a black pot in a solution of water) with lye soap.  The house floors were made of planks and they were scrubbed with a “shuck mop” and a solution of lye soap and water.  At times sand was used as an abrasive for cleaning the floors.  The floors were swept with a field-straw broom which was made by Mother Mishie and the yards were swept clean by a broom made from a dogwood tree.

For recreation, the family played horseshoes, took pictures in front of a “vetch patch” (which is where Sister Swannie’s daughter Marian now lives), and children had a “Flying Mary” to ride on which was made from a very large tree stump and a wagon wheel.  The family also had a quartet named the Perilous Four-which consisted of brothers Coronis, Laney, Marvin, and one of their friends – George Dowd.

Within the community, there was a band called the Bloomwood Band.  The members were:  Uncle Henry Brower-Cornet, Brother Henry – Baritone Horn, Brother Simeon – Alto Horn, Brother Dossie-Cornet, Brother Roosevelt-Bass Horn, John Down – Tambourine, Robert Morrison – Tenor Horn, Lonnie McCarthy-Bass Drum, and Fred Thomas – Snare Drum.  There was a club made up of young men with the initials Y.M.B. – Young Men of Bloomwood and a club for the young ladies, G.G.C. Girls Glee Club.  There were also social activities at the church, usually on Saturday nights that were held as fundraisers.  One of the outstanding activities always held was the “Box Party.”

These are just some of the highlights and history of the Jesse and Mishie Maness Family.

Pictured below are photos of Jesse & Mishie Maness’s Family

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