. . . On the Redus Family
Hattie Ellen Taylor Redus
March 29, 1954

When I came into the Frank Redus Family November 6, 1889, I felt very strange in a home I'd never seen.  I had only met the family a few times at Shiloh Church.  I tried to be a faithful daughter-in-law and loved them for they were my own husband's people.  I enjoyed hearing them tell of the past for I have always liked history.

Father Redus' mother was Abbie Elizabeth Molloy, his father was Henry, a local Methodist preacher.  Their children were Frank, William, Thomas, Dale, Lydia and Chelnissa.  His last wife was Jane Nealand and their children were John and Henry Wood.  All moved to Arkansas except Father and Mother Redus.

The Civil War came and southern men called "Tories" brought terror and death forcing men off to war claiming they had authority.  They came in the night and at gun point carried Father Redus.  They didn't want to give time for him to put his shoes on, but Mother Redus told them he was going to put on his shoes.  He was not heard from for twelve days, and they feared that he was dead.  He was in jail at Fayette.  From there he was taken to war, leaving Mother Redus and small sons, Jim Henry and Gan  She had to plant and plow corn, made enough for bread.  She said they often had just buttermilk and cornbread.  Father Redus was captured and carried to Long Island.  The Yankees were good to him, but he worked on a ship until his feet froze, so he suffered from that.  He was a true Christian of the old time religion, died of a stroke June 14, 1903.

Father Redus' two uncles, Jimmy and Miller Redus were hanged by the Tories because they thought they had money.  Uncle Jimmy was alone at the old "Grandma" Ward place.  Mr. Moses Denman and a black man went next day, cut the rope and took his body down, burying it in his garden on planks.  Later he was moved to Mt. Nebo Cemetery.  A note on a tree by his body said "Death to anyone who took him down."  Mr. Denman, a brave man, risked his life to bury him.  The same night Uncle Miller Redus was with his two girls at the old "Combs" place and he was hung also.  Lucy and Jennie were threatened as they tried to hold their father.  One Tory slung one of the girls off the porch by her hair.  One girl stayed by his body while the other went and got Sis Pennington to go miles in the night to get help to take their father down.  Most all of the men were gone to war.  Mr. Pennington was hanged.  Mr. Guin and wife found him hanging in the woods.  I can remember both Lucy and Jenny Redus.  They married Penningtons and brought their families often to Furnace Church.

This is as was told to me by Father and Mother Redus.  Their graves, with our baby Lola, are in the old Mt. Nebo Cemetery five miles west of Vernon, Alabama.