Jeffersons who completed World War I Draft Cards in DeSoto Parish

These are listed by name, date of birth, race, parish and state.


Ben Jefferson 10 Jun 1880 Black Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Charlie Jefferson 4 Sep 1895 Black Louisiana Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Chesnutt Jefferson 29 Nov 1891 Black Louisiana Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Elijah Jefferson 26 Oct 1874 Black Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Harrison Jefferson 12 Sep 1889 Colored (Black) Louisiana;United States of America

Henry Jefferson 25 Oct 1893 Black Louisiana Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Henry Jefferson 23 Jan 1879 Black Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Isaac Jefferson 19 Jan 1887 African (Black) Texas;United States of America Not Stated, De Soto, LA

John Jefferson 26 Jul 1900 Black Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Louis Jefferson 23 Sep 1896 Louisiana Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Marion Jefferson 10 Mar 1871 Black Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Mark Jefferson 14 Feb 1884 Black Not Stated, De Soto, LA


Robert Jefferson 18 Nov 1889 Black Louisiana;United States of America Not Stated, De Soto, LA


Sylvester Jefferson 4 Jan 1899 Not Stated Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Thomas Jefferson 20 Oct 1884 Black Not Stated, De Soto, LA

Willie Hilton Jefferson 27 Jan 1894 Black Louisiana;United States of America Not Stated, De Soto, LA

African Proverbs

Rain beats a leopard's skin, but it does not wash out the spots.
Ashanti of Ghana

One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.
Ashanti of Ghana

Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.
Ashanti of Ghana

The moon moves slowly, but it crosses the town.
Ashanti of Ghana

The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.
Ashanti of Ghana

When the cock is drunk, he forgets about the hawk.
Ashanti of Ghana

There is no medicine to cure hatred.
Ashanti of Ghana

When a king has good counselors, his reign is peaceful.
Ashanti of Ghana

By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed.
Ashanti of Ghana

It is the calm and silent water that drowns a man.
Ashanti of Ghana

Where there is a will, there are sure to be relatives

Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.
Bondei

Love is like a baby: it needs to be treated tenderly.
Congo

You do not teach the paths of the forest to an old gorilla.
Congo

The friends of our friends are our friends.
Congo

Death does not sound a trumpet.
Congo

No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come.
Congo

To love someone who does not love you, is like shaking a tree to make the dew drops fall.
Congo

Sleep is the cousin of death.
Congo

A single bracelet does not jingle.
Congo

Pride only goes the length one can spit.
Congo

When your neighbour is wrong you point a finger, but when you are wrong you hide.
Ekonda

To one who does not know, a who garden is a forest.
Ethiopia

Evil enters like a needle and spreads like a oak tree.
Ethiopia

The witness of a rat is another rat.
Ethiopia

He who learns, teaches.
Ethiopia

Unless you call out, who will open the door?
Ethiopia

When the heart overflows, it comes out through the mouth.
Ethiopia

You cannot build a house for last year's summer.
Ethiopia

When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.
Ethiopia

The fool speaks, the wise man listens.
Ethiopia

A cat may go to a monastery, but she still remains a cat.
Ethiopia

A silly daughter teaches her mother how to bear children.
Ethiopia

It is easy to become a monk in one's old age.
Ethiopia

The fool is thirsty in the midst of water.
Ethiopia

One's name remains above the grave.
Ethiopia

As the wound inflames the finger, so thought inflames the mind.
Ethiopia-Oromo

Move your neck according to the music.
Ethiopia-Oromo

One is born, one dies; the land increases.
Ghana

Two waterfalls do not hear each other.
Gikuyu

When you see clouds gathering, prepare to catch rainwater.
Gola

One camel does not make fun of the other camel's hump.
Guinea

A good deed is something one returns.
Guinea

He who does not cultivate his field, will die of hunger.
Guinea

Knowledge is like a garden: if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.
Guinea

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.
Guinea

Death is like a robe everyone has to wear.
Guinea (Mandingo)

Always being in a hurry does not prevent death, neither does going slowly prevent living.
Ibo

When the brothers fight to the death, a stranger inherits their father's estate.
Ibo

God! I am in your hands! What you say will happen! Nothing baffles you!
Ibo

Words are sweet, but they never take the place of food.
Ibo

The rain does not recognize anyone as a friend; it drenches all equally.
Ibo

The death of an elderly man is like a burning library.
Ivorian

Hope is the pillar of the world.
Kanuri

After a foolish deed comes remorse.
Kenya

Talking with one another is loving one another.
Kenya

Life is a shadow and a mist; it passes quickly by and is no more.
Madagascar

Death is like a robe that everyone has to wear.
Mandingo

A friend is someone you share the path with.
Nilotic

When one is in trouble, one remembers God.
Nigeria

Time destroys all things.
Nigeria

Without retaliation, evils would one day become extinct from the world.
Nigeria

If you have one finger pointing at somebody, you have three pointing towards yourself.
Nigeria

You don't need pain killers for another man's headache.
Nigeria (Igala)

God does not sleep.
Nigerian (Bette)

If your mouth turns into a knife, it will cut off your lips.
Rwanda

It is better to be loved than feared.
Sierra Leone

A big fish is caught with big bait.
Sierra Leone

A cow must graze where she is tied.
Sierra Leone

Do not tell the man who is carrying you that he stinks.
Sierra Leone

He who does not seize opportunity today, will be unable to seize tomorrow's opportunity.
Somali

The wind does not break a tree that bends.
Sukuma

He who tells the truth is never wrong.
Swahili

To be without a friend is to be poor indeed.
Tanzania

A roaring lion kills no game.
Tanzania

The tears running down your face do not blind you.
Togolese

Water that has been begged for does not quench the thirst.
Uganda

It takes a whole village to raise a child
Yoruba

Whenyou will sit when you are old, it shows where you stood in youth.
Yoruba

If you damage the character of another, you damage your own.
Yoruba

Work is the medicine for poverty.
Yoruba

The man who has bread to eat does not appreciate the severity of a famine.
Yoruba

The horse that arrives early gets good drinking water.
Zulu

He who hates, hates himself.
Zulu

From the mouths of babes!

This poem was supposedly written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital. I found it to be a touching life lesson and advice for families and generations to come.

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask how are you? Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time to call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.

Life is not a race. Do take it slower
Hear the music before the song is over.

Obama, an all american family man

The following are images of Presidential hopeful, Barrack Obama with various members of his family.



Barrack's maternal grandparents pictured w/his late mother as a child


Barrack pictured w/his late mother and grandfather at high school graduation


Barrack pictured with his maternal grandparents



Barrack Obama's Kenyan, Harvard educated father



Barrack pictured with his paternal grandmother in Africa


Barrack pictured with his wife Michelle and their children

Nat and Sarah Hill, former slaves

Nat and Sarah Hill were my gggg-grandparents. They were slaves that were brought from South Carolina to Frierson, Louisiana in DeSoto parish.

1. Nat and Sarah Hill were the parents of at least 1 child, my ggg-grandmother, Mary Hill Hines who was the wife of Pompey Hines.

2.Pompey and Mary Hill Hines begat many children. Among them were my gg-grandfather David Hines who married Mariah Pressley Hines, daughter of Stephen and Phyllis Pressley.

3. David and Mariah begat many children. Among them was my grandfather Isam Hines who married Cornelia Jefferson Hines Nickelberry, daughter of Issac and Jane Brayboy Jefferson.

4. Isam and Cornelia had several children. Among them was my beautiful grandmother, Bessie Hines Burney who married William Burney, son of Anderson and Caroline Burney.

5. William and Bessie had 5 children, William, Jewel, (Living Son),
(Living daughter)and Rosie. William also begat Bobbie and Lois. Among them was my father, Jewel Burney who married Lottie.

6. Jewel and Lottie begat 5 children plus 4. Among them was me, Karen Burney.

I am the 6th generation from Nat and Sarah Hill and my son is the 7th but my great-nieces and nephews are 8 generations from the Hills.

The 1870 census list both Nat and Sarah Hill as being born in South Carolina and both at age 60, which means that both were born around 1810. James Madison was president at the time of their births. Nat Hill is listed as a farmer on the 1880 census.

None of their children were in the house at the time but there was one child who could have been a grandchild in the househould named Moses Hill, aged 12.

By 1880, 10 years later, Nat Hill had apparently passed away and Sarah was living in the household of her grandson, Danniel Hines and his wife Caroline Pressley Hines. (Danniel Hines was my ggg-grandfather, David Hines brother and his wife Caroline was David's wife Mariah Pressley Hine's sister so their children were double-kin. You see, in those days when you found a good man and he had a nice brother, you introduced him to your nice sister or cousin!) On the 1880 census, they have Sarah's age as 90 with her being born in 1790 which is 20 years older than she was on the 1870. This was not uncommon though especially among the older former slave population since they individuals often did not know their true age so they estimated it." However, 90 seems more plausible because her daughter, Mary was 67 and her grandson, Danniel was 40. Also, in the household by 1880 with Danniel and Caroline Pressley were their children and Danniel's mother, Mary Hill Hines since her husband Pompey had also passed away by this time. Hence, there were generations in that household in 1880.

I still have a lot to learn about my Hill line such as who were their other children? What part of South Carolina they came from? Although, I suspect Darlington county like my other lines in Desoto parish but have not confirmed it yet. Who were their slaveowners?

One thing I do know is that they both lived to see freedom. Nat Hill listed as a farmer was once the property of another and more than likely tilled the fields until days end for his Master. Sarah, I imagine would have also worked the fields or perhaps did the cooking, cleaning and other tasks related to the tending of her mistress' household.

Freedom must have tasted so sweet! To you grandparents, I dedicate this scripture:


Isaiah 65:21-24

21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Slavery in Kanawha county, charleston, west virginia

West Virginia is the state that I find the earliest record of the surname, Brittentine, one of my family lines. Although, my ggg-grandfather, Monroe Brittentine was born a slave in the neighboring state of Kentucky but later relocated to Plain Dealing, Louisiana.

My research revealed that farming and livestock operations in Western Virginia mainstrem and required the use of slave labor. However, there were many parts of the region that did not employ slave labor.

The region where I find Brittentines is the Kanawha County, Charleston area. This region consisted of valleys and of larger farms of tobacco and other cash crops which used slaves. You can click on the map above to view Kanawha county if you want to get a sense of where it is located in the state.


My research further revealed that in 1860, there were 490,308 slaves which represented almost 1/3 of the population in West Virginia. A substantial slave population existed in the Kanawha Valley. Due to the decline of plantation agriculture in the 1800s, slavery was no longer as profitable in the east and slaves were frequently hired out or sold. The salt industry was driven by poor white transients and slave labor, often leased from eastern Virginia. This was the first significant introduction of slavery into western Virginia because salt was the first major industry to develop. Of the slaves in the Kanawha Valley, half were owned or hired by salt firms. About 40% percent of these slaves were used to mine coal for the salt works because they could be hired from their owners for much lower wages than white laborers demanded. These slaves were usually leased and insured rather than bought due to the risk of death or injury in the coal mines.

Based on the above, it is highly probable that the Brittentines I located in this area were held as slaves on farms or salt/coal mines.

Congratulations to my nephew Jonathan Anene

Press Release
by Carla Anene

On Friday, January 24, 2008, Jide was crowned Third Grade Spelling Champion at his school. Jonathan, an eight-year-old scholar/athlete, bested all of his third grade peers and one formidable second grader to take the third-grade title in his school's spelling bee. Audience members hung on the edges of their seats as the third-grade competition went into overtime with the final two spellers, Jonathan and second-grader Madi, dueling it out. Earlier that morning second-grade spelling phenom Madi had captured the second-grade title, then thrilled audiences by out-spelling all third graders except Jonathan. Jonathan and Madi matched each other word for word until all of the words on the official third grade list had been exhausted. The moderator then went to an auxiliary list. The break in the match came when Madi misspelled "furniture." Jonathan stepped to the microphone and correctly spelled that word, and then spelled "muscle" to capture the title.

Jonathan's accomplishments are all the more remarkable when you consider his route to the championship. Just one week prior to the spelling bee, all third graders were required to participate in a "pop" spelling bee, without any opportunity for preparation. From that competition, Jonathan and 5 other classmates emerged as the top spellers. They were given the task of studying 522 frequently misspelled words, in addition to their regular homework assignments and extracurricular activities.

Following Jonathan's win, his mother beamed with pride as she congratulated Jonathan with a bear hug. She was overhead telling the school principal, "I barely made it here. This morning I awoke to a flat tire and a bent rim, but I pleaded with the guys at the repair shop to expedite the repair because my son was in the spelling bee. I also persuaded my boss to change the time of our staff meeting so I could get here. Then, there was heavy traffic due to the pouring rain, but nothing was going to stop me from getting here." Jonathan's mom arrived just as Jonathan's close friend and basketball teammate was eliminated. That ouster left Jonathan and Madi to duke it out for the title.

Over a celebratory dinner on Friday evening, Jonathan's parents reminded their children that Jonathan's victory, as well as his buddy's third-place finish, sends a powerful message that African-American students in general, and African-American males in particular, are an academic force to be reckoned with. Jonathan and his buddy are the only two African-American students in third grade. Jonathan's parents also noted that the only two African-American males in the fourth grade class also advanced to the finals in their division, although they did not place in the top three. Jonathan's parents shared with their son a favorite quote from the late, great Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. "There are three keys to success- preparation, preparation, preparation." Jonathan has already learned to put that motto into action.