NameBeulah Maggie Richee
Birth13 Sep 1885, Gleason, Weakley County, Tennessee24,28,3,4,29,30
Death25 Jan 1969, Murray, Calloway County, Kentucky24,14,31
Death MemoMurray Calloway County Hospital
BurialEast Side Cemetery, Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee27
OccupationHousewife
ReligionBaptist
FatherRobert Azemery Richee (1850-1901)
MotherMary (Mollie) Ardean Boothe (1858-1929)
Spouses
Birth23 Nov 1872, Weakley County, Tennessee21,22,23,3,4,24,25,26
Death5 May 1925, Weakley County, Tennessee24,25,26
BurialEast Side Cemetery, Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee27
Burial MemoOscar Lee Farmer was originally buried at the Old Martin Family Cemetery. However, when his wife, Beulah, died in 1969, his remains were moved to the East Side Cemetery in Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee.
OccupationTobacco Farmer10,3,4
ReligionBaptist
FatherWilliam (Will) Henry Farmer (1842-1884)
Marriage18 Dec 1904, Weakley County, Tennessee32,10
ChildrenWilliam Alton (1905-2000)
 Basil Lee (1908-1979)
Birth2 Mar 1869, Tennessee33,34,35,36,37
Death7 Sep 1936, Weakley County, Tennessee33
BurialEast Side Cemetery, Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee
OccupationGrocery Merchant34
ReligionBaptist
Marriage9 May 1926, Weakley County, Tennessee38
Birth25 Feb 1873, Obion County, Tennessee8,14,39,40,41
Death20 Mar 1966, Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee8,14
BurialNew Concord Baptist Church Cemetery, Kenton, Obion County, Tennessee42
Burial MemoKenton, Tennessee sits on the border line between Obion and Gibson Counties. The cemetery is at the Concord Baptist Church about 4 miles NW of Kenton, and appears to be in Obion County.
OccupationFarmer41,39
ReligionBaptist
Marriage20 Dec 1942, Weakley County, Tennessee43
Notes for Beulah Maggie Richee
My grandfather, Oscar Lee Farmer, died unexpectedly in 1925. As a result, my grandmother, Beulah Maggee Richee (Farmer, Smith, Dozier) lost the farm to the bank. She married George Wester Smith in 1926. Mr. Smith owned the property at 235 Moody Street, Martin, Tennessee. Upon his death in 1936, his will provided that grandmother could live in the house throughout her natural life. She married Phillip H. Dozier in 1941. We called Mr. Dozier "Pa Dozier". She continued to live on Moody Street until after Pa Dozier's death in 1966. She died in 1969.

Grandmother had a mischievous grin that discounted her stern demeanor. One of my humorous recollections was in about 1964, Joyce and I told grandmother we would visit her on a given date. At the appointed time of our arrival she had stepped out to go to the grocery store. Anticipating our arrival, she wrote a note and left it on the door. It advised us that the house key was under the doormat and we should enter and make ourselves at home. That was typical of a more innocent time.

She was a good cook, although, in her later years she tended to overcook everything. I've come to understand that this is somewhat typical of senior citizens. She seemed to cook constantly. In the early days I remember her cast iron wood stove. I remember the first time she showed me the water reserve on its side. I thought that was very curious, but later reasoned that it was a practical source of hot water and kept the air in the house moist. When I was there, it was my job to keep the water reservoirs filled. I estimate that she replaced the old wood stove with a gas stove in about 1948. I remember the crowder peas, black-eyed peas, okra, mustard greens, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fried chicken. There was corn bread for supper and biscuits for breakfast. She prepared pies, cakes and biscuits on her porcelain clad oak sideboard. I remember the aroma from her biscuits would wake us in the morning. They were smooth and flaky and would melt in your mouth. My brother and I were disappointed in her later years when she converted to Ballard biscuits. We were shocked the first time she did this but had to accept it as a sign of the times. At other times she would make breakfast toast in the oven. I always thought that was unique but special.

Grandmother had a big black cast iron kettle in the back yard. I'm told that before my time she did the family wash in that kettle, and would also make lye soap.

Grandmother's house on Moody Street was behind the University of Tennessee Martin (UTM). She lived a humble life and took in UTM student borders for a little income. Pa Dozier worked at the University as a maintenance man until he retired.. The house was later bought by the University and torn down to make a parking lot. The parking lot is still there. I vaguely remember that they kept a cow in the shed on the lower back yard. She would sell the milk and butter for a little extra income. One time, she demonstrated her butter churn to us and we were fascinated.

We would stay in the rental rooms vacated by the college students in the summer when they were off. It was a white wooden frame house. A big covered porch spanned the front and had the typical suspended swing that squeaked.

I remember the bathroom had a dim light bulb hanging from the ceiling. The wattage was not marked but I would guess it to be about 25 watts. It gave off an orange glow. It always fascinated me because it was always there from the time I could remember, roughly 1942. In fact, it was there and working when Dad helped close the house sometime in 1967 or 68. Dad gave me that bulb which I proudly keep displayed on our kitchen cabinet. Occasionally I plug it in to verify that it still works. It does! This is the only tangible thing of Grandmother's that I have. I'll never understand why Dad did not keep some other memento to remember her by.

There were always sweet peas growing somewhere in the yard. They provided a special scent. She also liked petunias and gardenias.

I recall, when I was a young boy, Aunt Lela who everyone called "Sister", telling a story about a Richee family adventure that became known as the "Hollow Log Story." As typical of a young boy, I did not pay enough attention to the story to retain the details. I asked my brother if he could recall the story and sure enough he couldn't recall the details either. Fortunately, Opal Dellinger interceded for me and resurrected the story with the help of her brother, Vernon Richee. They reinstated the story as follows:

"The family, at that time consisting of Pa Richee, Ma Richee, Alton, Lela, Mattie, Ina and Beulah who was a baby, was returning from a short visit to Pa's half-brother, Henry Richee. Henry lived near Bradford in West Tennessee (some 25 miles away from home). All the Richee children had always referred to him as Uncle Henry.

They had gone on a Saturday, planning to return home on Sunday by the way of Uncle Joe Richee's and have a visit with that family. A very bad cloud, with torrential rain falling during the night, delayed their return home on Sunday. All roads were dirt and were very muddy after a rain. It was late in the afternoon when they got to Spring Creek, a body of water they had to cross to get home. The mules became frightened at the sight of the water. Pa, thinking this was just a 'slue,' tried to get them to go on, but the team reared-up, breaking loose from the wagon. This left the family stranded for the night -- too far to go back and could not go forward.

Apparently, this big hollow log was their only refuge, so they went for it. Pa crawled into the log first, then urged the family to come on in. Pa arose at daybreak next morning, finding the water had receded and the mules were waiting. So Ma, 'baby' Beulah and the other four children crawled out. Pa hitched-up the mules to the wagon and the family headed for home. They went by the way of Uncle Joe's for a brief hello and good-by, but were most thankful to get home safely".
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Censuses

1930 Census
10 Apr 1930 Census, Weakley County Tennessee, Martin, Enumeration District 4, Sheet 9A, Household 195
Smith, George W. Head M W 61 M TN TN TN retail grocer
Smith, Bulah Wife F W 44 M TN TN TN
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1920 Census
3 Feb 1920 Census, Weakley County Tennessee, District 7, Enumeration District 139, Sheet 20A, Household 442
Farmer, Oscar Lee Head M W 47 M TN TN TN farmer farm owned free of mortgage
Farmer, Bulah Wife F W 34 M TN TN TN
Farmer, Alton Son M W 14 S TN TN TN
Farmer, Basil Son M W 11 S TN TN TN
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1910 Census
28 Apr 1910 Census, Weakley County Tennessee, District 7, Enumeration District 142, Sheet 4B, Household 68
Farmer, Oscar Lee Head M W 36 M 5 2 2 TN TN TN farmer
Farmer, Bulah Wife F W 23 M 5 2 2 TN TN TN
Farmer, Alton Son M W 4 S TN TN TN
Farmer, Basil Son M W 2 S TN TN TN
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1900 Census
8 Jun 1900 Census, Tennessee, Weakley County, Civil District 23, Enumeration District 135, Sheet 6A, Household 110
Richee, Robert Head W M Nov 1851 48 M 23 TN TN TN farmer
Richee, Mollie Wife W F May 1857 43 M 23 8 8 TN TN TN
Richee, Alton Son W M Dec 1879 22 S TN TN TN farmer
Richee, Lela Dau W F Apr 1880 20 S TN TN TN
Richee, Ina Dau W F May 1883 17 S TN TN TN
Richee, Beulah Dau W F Feb 1885 15 S TN TN TN
Richee, Jodie Son W F Jan 1887 15 S TN TN TN
Richee, Carl Son W F Oct 1890 9 S TN TN TN
Richee, Calvin Son W F May 1893 7 S TN TN TN
New Note notes for Beulah Maggie Richee
The following are recollections from Opal Dellinger.

The family at that time consisting of Pa Richee, Ma Richee, Alton, Lela, Mattie, Ina and Beulah, who was a baby, were returning from a short visit to Pa's half-brother, Henry Richee, who lived near Bradford in West Tennessee (some 25 miles away from home). All the Richee children had always referred to him as Uncle Henry.

They had gone on a Saturday, planning to return home on Sunday by the way of Uncle Joe Richee's and have a visit with that family. The entire family, my father and all, had always said 'Uncle Joe'. He must have been younger that Pa Richee, maybe a half brother, also. I remember two of his daughters, Oda (Richee) Roney and Maude (Richee) Bynum by his first wife (they said), but his second wife, Miss Lora. I do remember their daughter, Mary Richee was about three years older than my sister, Rubye. Mary graduated from Vanderbilt University nursing school in Nashville, TN and became a nurse at a hospital in Ocala, FL. In 1936 or 37 she was found dead in her room. (It was during my first year in college). The autopsy said, 'a cerebral hemerrhage'. She was buried at Mt Zion Cemetery near Gleason.
Last Modified 3 Aug 2012Created 28 Jun 2014 using Reunion for Macintosh