Sarah Katherine “Kate” Stone (8 Jan 1841 – 28 Dec 1907)

Sarah Katherine “Kate” Stone was born on 8 Jan 1841 at Mississippi Springs in Hinds County, Mississippi (402, 541). She was the second child of William Patrick Stone and Amanda Susan (Ragan) Stone. Her older brother, William Ragan Stone was born in Oct 1839, likely also in Hinds County, Mississippi. At her birth, Kate Stone’s father was about 27 years old, and her mother was 18. Two younger brothers were also born in Hinds County: Coleman Stone in about 1844 and Frederick Walter Stone in about 1845.

At the 1 Jun 1840 federal census, William and Amanda Stone were likely living in the Hinds County, Mississippi household of Amanda’s father, Jesse Battle Ragan (389). Although Kate’s father owned land in other parts of Mississippi, the William and Amanda Stone family, including Kate, her older brother William Ragan Stone, and her two younger brothers, all born in Mississippi, may have continued to live with Jesse B. Ragan for some period prior to Oct 1846.

Before Oct 1846, the Stone family migrated to Madison Parish, Louisiana where by 1848, Kate Stone’s father established Stonington Plantation near the town of Delta (87). Kate Stone was about five years old when the family moved to Madison Parish. A brother, James Armstrong Stone, was born in Madison Parish on 1 Oct 1847 (403).

The 19 Aug 1850 federal census of Madison Parish, Louisiana enumerates the William P. Stone household including Amanda S. Stone, age 28 years and born in Mississippi; William R. Stone, age 11; Sarah Stone, age 9; Coleman P. Stone, age 7; Fredrick W. Stone, age 6; and James A. Stone, four years old (404). William Patrick Stone was 36 years old and a planter. With the exception of James A. Stone, who was born in Louisiana, all children of William and Amanda Stone were born in Mississippi. Also living in the William P. Stone household was Thompson E. Stone, a student 18 years old and born in Tennessee was also living in the William P. Stone household.

Kate Stone’s brother, John Beverly Stone, was born in Madison Parish, Louisiana 1848 (406). Her younger sister, Amanda Rebecca Stone, was born on 23 Dec 1852 (424). Both siblings were born in Madison Parish, likely at the Stonington Plantation.

As a young girl, Kate Stone as well as her older brother William R. Stone attended boarding schools at Clinton in Hinds County, Mississippi (401, 24 Mar 1863). Clinton was about six miles north of Mississippi Springs where Kate was born. In the fall of 1853, Kate Stone entered the Nashville Female Academy in Davidson County, Tennessee. Her father, William Patrick Stone, died likely of cholera or yellow fever on 6 Dec 1855 at about 41 years of age; Kate was 14 years old (541). After the death of her father, the Stone family likely resided in Warren County, Mississippi, perhaps again in the household of Kate Stone’s grandfather, Jesse Battle Ragan. Kate, however, was at school in Nashville much of the time. A Nashville newspaper notes her graduation from the Nashville Female Academy, typically a four year program, in Jun 1858 (256).

On 16 May 1859, Kate Stone’s mother, Amanda Susan (Ragan) Stone, purchased 1,280 acres of land in the Carroll Parish of Louisiana where she established the Brokenburn Plantation (391, 392). The Stone family were living at Brokenburn by 11 Jul 1860 when the federal census enumerated the household of Amanda Stone as it was at the beginning of the American Civil War (308). In addition to Amanda Stone, then 36 years old, and her children, Ashburn B. Ragan, age 16 and born in Mississippi, as well as a teacher, Albert B. Newton, age 24 and born in Mississippi, were also living in the household. Ashburn B. Ragan was Amanda Stone’s youngest brother. At the 1860 census, the Stone family received mail at both the Omega Post Office in Madison Parish, Louisiana and at the Pecan Grove Post Office in Carroll Parish.

On 26 Jan 1861, Louisiana voted to secede from the United States of America. Three months later, Kate Stone began a journal that would chronicle her experiences through the Civil War and into the period of reconstruction that followed (401). By Oct 1862, Kate’s three older brothers; William Ragan Stone, Coleman Stone, and Fredrick Walther Stone; were serving in the Confederate Army (401, 10 Apr 1863). Having taken New Orleans as well as Confederate fortifications on the Mississippi River north of Vicksburg, the Union military were pressing Vicksburg, and its actions extended into Madison and Carroll Parishes of Louisiana. With Union soldiers ransacking plantations near Brokenburn, the Stone family fled their home at about midnight on 27 Mar 1863, eventually seeking refuge in Lamar and Smith Counties of Texas. Stone family refugees included: Amanda Susan Stone; Amanda’s sister, Vansa Laura L. (Ragan) Buckner; Laura Buckner’s daughter, Beverly Buckner; Sarah Katherine “Kate” Stone, James Armstrong Stone, John Beverly Stone, and Amanda Rebecca Stone. On 9 Jun 1863, Laura Buckner and her daughter Beverly returned to Mississippi to join Laura’s husband Dr. Buckner. In route to Texas, difficulties arranging transportation delayed the family’s progress, and they paused along the way to rest and recuperate from their trials. The family arrived in Lamar County, Texas on 7 Jul 1863, about three months after leaving Brokenburn. The Stone family remained in Texas as refugees until 8 Sep 1865 when they began the journey from Tyler, Texas back to Brokenburn (401, 11 Sep 1865), arriving two months later on 11 Nov 1865 (401, 16 Nov 1865).

On 7 Mar 1866, a cutoff of the Terrapin Neck on the Mississippi River that had been predicted for more than half a century finally occurred (1071, 1078). The Terrapin Neck had narrowed until it was only about 30 feet wide, and the channel that the river cut across it rapidly enlarged. On 28 Mar 1866, it was reported that the little steamer Lida Norvell had come down through the new cutoff instead of taking the bend way, and her captain said he believed the new channel was now safe for all boats. Perhaps this diversion of the Mississippi River channel eventually reduced flood risk to Brokenburn, but at the time, the cutoff likely damaged levies and may have been responsible for periodic inundation at Brokenburn for some time (401, 22 Sep 1867).

After a break in the Harris levee about five miles east of Brokenburn, the Stone family again sought alternative living arrangements (401, 22 Sep 1867). They moved to Mr. Goodrich’s plantation and eventually rented part of the Wilton Plantation house. Kate Stone’s brother, William Ragan Stone, rented land from Mrs. Henderson as well as Rose Hill Plantation on the Mississippi River in Madison Parish, where Amanda Stone and the rest of the family joined him.

On 8 Dec 1869, Sarah Katherine “Kate” Stone and Henry Bry Holmes married at Yazoo City, Yazoo County, Mississippi (541). The ceremony occurred at Walton Bend Plantation, then the home of Kate Stone’s brother, William Ragan Stone. At their marriage, Kate Stone was 28 years old, and Henry Holmes was age 31 years. Henry Holmes was born in Louisiana, a son of Henry Holmes and Julia (Bry) Holmes. At the 29 Jul 1870 federal census, Henry Holmes age 32 and Kate (Stone) Holmes age 25 were living in Ouachita County, Louisiana (481).

In Apr 1873, twin boys, William Stone Holmes and Emmet Holmes, were born to Kate and Henry Holmes in Louisiana. Emmet Holmes died in about 1878. A daughter, Amanda Julia Holmes, was born on 16 Sep 1878 also in Louisiana (408). At her daughter’s birth, Kate Holmes was 37 years old.

In 1879 and again in 1881, H. B. Holmes paid tax on property at Delta in Madison Parish, Louisiana. The 15 Jun 1880 U.S. federal census of the Town of Delta in Madison Parish, Louisiana enumerates the Henry B. Holmes household (487). Henry Holmes was 41 years old, born in Louisiana, and working as Clerk of the Court. His father was born in North Carolina, his mother, in Louisiana. Kate Stone was recorded as 32 years old and born in Mississippi. Her father was born in Virginia, her mother in Mississippi. William Holmes, age 7 years was born in Louisiana, and Amanda Holmes, age 3 years, was born in Louisiana.

After 15 Jun 1880 and before Madison Parish, Louisiana assessed 1885 taxes on land holdings, the Henry and Kate Holmes family migrated from Delta to Tallulah in Madison Parish, Louisiana. Before 1885, Henry Holmes acquired an additional 533 acres of land in Madison Parish, Louisiana where he established the Wayside Plantation (117). He had a home built on part of this land near Tallulah and bordering Walnut Bayou (or Brushy Bayou). The 1890 Madison Parish tax list includes H. B. Holmes as taxed for Wayside as well as livestock, wagons, jewelry, and guns (117).

Kate Stone’s mother, Amanda Susan (Ragan) Stone died on 12 Mar 1892 (470).

The 17 Jun 1900 federal census of Madison Parish, Louisiana enumerates the Henry B. Holmes household in Township 17 North of Range 12 East (408). Henry Holmes was 62 years old, born in Louisiana, and working as a farmer. His father was born in North Carolina, and his mother was born in Louisiana. Kate S. Holmes was 58 years of age and born in Mississippi. The census records her father as born in Virginia and her mother as born in Mississippi. Also living in the household were the Holmes children, William S. Holmes, age 27 years and Amy J. Holmes, age 22 years. Both children were born in Louisiana.

On 15 Mar 1902, the United Daughters of the Confederacy admitted Kate Stone Holmes as a charter member of the Madison Infantry Chapter, Louisiana Division (402, 512). Mrs. Kate S. Holmes, Mrs. Amanda R. Stone, and Miss Amy J. Holmes are listed as charter members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Madison Infantry Chapter #561, Tallulah, Louisiana. The charter is dated 15 Mar 1902. (From records of Hermione Museum, Tallulah, Louisiana, 27 May 2002).

In Nov 1900, Kate Stone Holmes began transcribing her journal pages from the Civil War era into bound volumes (401). She signed the first volume on 12 Jul 1907.

Sarah Katharine “Kate” Stone died six months later on 28 Dec 1907 at Tallulah in Madison County, Louisiana. At her death, Kate Stone was 66 years old. She is buried in Silver Cross Cemetery at Tallulah in Madison Parish, Louisiana (441).

Sarah Katherine “Kate” Stone Census Summary

1850 U.S. Federal Census (404)
William P. Stone Household
Madison Parish, Louisiana
19 Aug 1850
William P. Stone, a: 36, b: Tennessee (Plantation Owner)
+ Amanda S. Stone, a: 28, b: Mississippi
William R. Stone, a: 11, b: Mississippi
Sarah K. Stone, a 9, b: Mississippi
Coleman P. Stone, a: 7, b: Mississippi
Fredrick W. Stone, a: 6, b: Mississippi
James A. Stone, a: 4, b: Louisiana
Thompson E. Stone, a: 18, b: Tennessee, Student

1860 U.S. Federal Census (308)
Amanda Stone Household
Ward 1, Carroll Parish, Louisiana
11 Jul 1860
Amanda Stone, a: 36, b: Mississippi (Plantation Owner)
William R. Stone, a: 20, b: Mississippi (Planter)
Sarah K. Stone, a: 18, b: Mississippi
Coleman P. Stone, a: 16, b: Mississippi
Walter F. Stone, a: 15, b: Mississippi
James A. Stone, a: 13, b: Louisiana
John B. Stone, a: 12, b: Louisiana
Amanda R. Stone, a: 10, b: Louisiana
Ashburn R. Ragan, a: 16, b: Mississippi
Albert B. Newton, a: 24, b: Mississippi (Teacher)
Post Office: Omega and Pecan Grove
Real Estate Value: $130,000
Personal Estate: $83,000

1870 U.S. Federal Census (481)
H. B. Holmes Household
Ouachita, Louisiana, USA
29 Jul 1870
H. B. Holmes, a: 32, b: Louisiana, Farmer
+ Katy Holmes, a: 25, b: Louisiana
Personal Estate: $1,000
Ward 4, Post Office: Monroe

1880 U.S. Federal Census (487)
Henry B. Holmes Household
Delta, Madison Parish, Louisiana
15 Jun 1880
Henry B. Holmes, a: 41, b: Louisiana, Clerk of the Court
Father b: North Carolina, Mother b: Louisiana
+ S. K. Holmes, a: 32, b: Mississippi
Father b: Virginia, Mother b: Mississippi
Willie S. Holmes, a: 7, b: Louisiana
A. J. Holmes, a: 3, b: Louisiana

1900 U.S. Federal Census (408)
Henry B. Holmes Household
Madison Parish, Louisiana
17 Jun 1900
Henry B. Holmes, a: 62, b: Louisiana, Farmer
Father b: North Carolina, Mother b: Louisiana
+ Kate S. Holmes, a: 58, b: Mississippi
Father b: Virginia, Mother b: Mississippi
William S. Holmes, a: 27, b: Louisiana
Amey J. Holmes, a: 22, b: Louisiana
Ward 4, Township 17 North of Range 12 East

The Journal of Kate Stone

It is unlikely that Kate Stone wrote in a nicely bound book or even in a simple notebook, but rather she probably wrote the initial drafts of her journal on whatever loose paper she could acquire at the time. Responding to inquiries by John Q. Anderson in Jan 1954, Kate Stone’s daughter, Amanda Julia “Amy” Holmes, clarified that her mother wrote originally on plain paper and later copied these pages by hand and without revisions, destroying the original pages as she transcribed them. Since Kate Stone traveled with these accumulated loose pages, it seems likely that she kept them organized in some sort of satchel or perhaps bound them with twine.

Kate Stone transcribed her original diary pages into two bound record books. The binding of the first volume is labeled “Official Bond Record, Madison Parish.” The second volume is labeled simply “Journal.” Kate’s husband, Henry Bry Holmes, served as Clerk of the Madison Parish, Louisiana Court, and perhaps with is assistance, she likely acquired these books from the Madison Parish courthouse as a second-hand resource. A number of pages were removed from the beginning of the first volume, as if Kate discarded these before beginning to transcribe her journal pages.

The first page of volume one is dated Nov 1900. Kate Stone signed a cover page, with the top-half removed, and dated it 12 Jul 1907. Taken literally, these dates may imply that Kate worked over a period of six or seven years to transcribe her original journal pages. Kate Stone died on 28 Dec 1907, five months after signing the cover page.

In 1946, Kate Stone’s daughter, Amanda Julia “Amy” Holmes discovered the bound volumes containing her mother’s Civil War era journal in an old bookcase at her home, at least 38 years after Kate Stone’s death. In the late 1940s, Amy Holmes transcribed her mother’s journal by typewriter, making three copies. Seeking interest in publication, she shared her transcript and the handwritten journal with several parties.

In a journal entry on 1 Jul 1861, Sarah Katherine Stone writes about her mother’s recollection of Kate’s childhood. Kate ends the entry with a very brief description of herself.

July 1: Mamma is sick again today from the medicine. I hope she will be relieved by tomorrow. It upsets everything for her to be sick. I cannot settle to any work or even read with any comprehension. Commenced Anne of Geierstein to be read in connection with Motley’s sketch of Charles the Bold. A wet disagreeable day, Mamma sleeping through most of it, but she waked up this evening and was telling me tales of my babyhood and early childhood. It seems My Brother and I were quite noted little people in our circle of acquaintances. At eighteen months I learned my letters with My Brother, who was fifteen months older, and by the time I was two and a half could read very well. I knew Mother Goose by heart, could repeat pages of poetry and a number of little tales, and chatter of any and everything by the hour. And yet I was a good little child and the delight of my Father, who thought me a wonderful little creature and would never let me be crossed. I was his only daughter for so long. I remember his pleasure when Sister was born after six sons had been ushered into the world. My Brother had read through the Testament at five years old. They must have started us to school when we were babes. I do not remember the time when I could not read. My first recollection of books was trying to teach my little Aunt Serena, three years the older, her letters, sitting side by side on the steps. How strange it seemed to me that she could not read. I thought everybody read as everybody talked—naturally. Mamma’s talk was a great surprise to me as I had always thought I was the ugly duckling of the whole family. Aunt Sarah, Cousin Titia, Cousin Jenny, and Serena—all of us children together, though all older than I—I always heard praised for their beauty. I had always, since I could think, had the idea that my Father and all the family petted and encouraged me because they thought me so ugly and were sorry all the time that I was suffering from this idea, for it has been the shadow on my life. I was my Father’s favorite; he thought me perfect. I had the admiration of the rest of the family for what they were pleased to think my quick, bright mind. The knowledge of this will, I think, change my life from this night. Finding that I have been much beloved all my life, I will try to put away the morbid thoughts that have so often harassed me—the fear that, being ugly and unattractive, no one could ever really care for me, and that I was doomed to a life of loneliness and despair. Mamma by one long, sweet talk has exorcised this gloomy spirit; from this time forth I will try to make the best of the girl that Father loved so. Mamma says I was the quaintest-looking little figure when three years old, being small with long yellow hair plaited down my back—my Father would never allow it to be touched with the scissors. I had a short, stumpy, little body and the very tiniest feet and hands, like bird claws, so small and thin, and a grave dignified manner. But I was an incessant chatterbox with the funniest lisp when perched in a high chair in the chimney corner reciting poetry and telling tales to amuse the laughing grown folks. The lisp I have kept to this day, try as I will to get rid of it. But not another feature is like the Kate of today. I am tall, not quite five feet six, and thin, have an irregular face, a quantity of brown hair, a shy, quiet manner, and talk but little. What an egotistical page, but it has made me happy. No more morose dreamings, but a new outlook on life.

Sources

94. Stone, Sarah Katherine. Brokenburn: The Journal of Kate Stone 1861-1868. John Q. Anderson (Ed.). Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1972. 1 Jul 1861.

Walter Prichard Manuscript

The Louisiana State University Libraries hold a typescript copy of the original journal of Kate Stone created by Professor Walter Prichard of Louisiana State University in the late 1940s for consideration for possibly publication. The manuscript is cataloged as:
SPEC_COLL LLMVC-- C:68 (1 Box)
OCLC Number: 387771841
382 leaves
Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library
Identified on WorldCat, 9 May 2012. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/387771841

Notes and Comments

Dr. James Green Carson owned Anchorage Plantation on Joe’s Bayou in western Madison Parish.

Web Links

Battle of Milliken's Bend
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lamadiso/articles/battle_of_millikens_bend.htm

History of Silver Cross Cemetery
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lamadiso/articles/silvercrosshistory.htm

25 Aug 1862. “…Kitty Lee, a Lake Washington girl, and an old playmate of mine when we were little people.” Lake Washington is in present-day Washington County, Mississippi, near Glen Allan, Mississippi. Kate’s comment to her Journal may imply that her family at one time resided in Washington County, Mississippi.