Macclesfield, North Carolina, USA
Papa was born August 1890 to parents Joseph and Elizabeth "Betsy" Batts Varnell in a small farmhouse off Hwy 124 West, Macclesfield, NC.
Betsy Batts was the daughter of CSA Col. William Woodard Batts and wife Margaret Peele Woodard Batts.
An unfortunate death during tobacco season:
When Oscar was 14 (1904), his Uncle Bolen (Bolin, Bolden) Varnell was killed by Bolens son-in-law Joe Hines Phillips Sr. Seems Joe and Bolen were arguing about who would be able to use the tobacco barns in the back yard of the Joseph Phillips and Mary Ann Victoria Varnell Homeplace) family home ( Webb Lake Rd a half mile south of Hwy 124 Macclesfield, NC). Joe picked up a cart round (something like a peg that was placed in a trailer of tobacco that would hold the tobacco in the trailer), and smacked Bolen in the head,laying him out. This was a dedinite case of self defense, as Joe Phillips had been attacked by Bolin before, and this day, he ran at Joe Phillips with a piece of wood, meaning to do damage. It was stated it was just before lunch time and Bolen was looking forward to lunch as they were having his favorite fresh field peas as part of the meal. Also heard that Bolen was left unattended outside while waiting for the Doctor. Doctor came in while the rest of the family was eating lunch (dinner as country folk called it) and when asked if Bolen was ok... Doctor said "OK?" "He's dead" "Split his skull open". Joe was not jailed. I've yet to find out anything in the Edgecombe County records about it.
Now, back to Papa who was 14 at the time. When Oscar found out his Uncle had been killed by Joe Phillips; he went home and got a stool and climbed on it to get the shot gun above the door. Betsy Batts Varnell, his mother, kept kicking the stool out from him; so he couldn't get to the shot gun. This was repeated several times until she made him understand that killing Joe was not the right thing to do. Note: Joe Phillips was never the same after this. He didn't mean to kill his father in law. Alice Tanner (Joe Phillips Grand daughter) stated that Joe walked slow the rest of his life, always looking down, always looking sad.
Papa told his son Paul aka "Goodboy" Varnell , that a year or so later, he was hunting and Joe Phillips crossed his path. Papa had him in his rifle sight, but never pulled the trigger. He thought about it though.
1910 - Papa married his childhood sweetheart when they were both 20. They lived in a small farmhouse just down the road (going toward Macclesfield on Hwy 124, on the left just past the William Varnell farmhouse (Papas Grandfather). It was here that Papa got spooked one night. Something startled him and Miss Ida (Rosa was my Grandmother) went to the back of the house and used a yard broom and was scraping against the house at the bedroom where Papa was standing. He thought he'd heard a ghost. She laughed at Papa and he said "You shouldn't scare me like that". Evidently Miss Ida was a mischievous soul. :)
Miss Ida died a year after her youngest son was born with something called 'Milk Arm'. My Cousin calls it "Milk Arm Cancer". That's what old folks called it. Google knows nothing about i.
Rosa Annie Webb married Papa when Carl was 2 years old and Leroy Varnell was 14. Soon Papa was having children and grandchildren at the same time. There are a couple of the '1st family' Grandchildren who are actually older than Papa's "2nd Family' children Dad aka Goodboy and Clayton aka "Mooch".
1910 - Children of Oscar Bolden and Ida Corbett Varnell
*Leroy Varnell (1912) md Margaret Walston
*Mamie"Sister" Varnell (1914) md Julius Wooten Sr
*Margaret "Betsy" Varnell (1916) md Cooper Griffin
*Woodrow Varnell md Eunice Clark Webb
*Ida "Blanch" Varnell md Edgar Ray Rose
*Oscar "Carl" Varnell md Nanny Gray Webb
Rosa Annie Webb Varnell (Oscar Bolden Varnell)
1925 - Oscar md Rosa Annie Webb (b 1905) September 1925. Their family:
*Robert Perry Varnell (1926) md Ursula R (from Germany WWII)
*Allen Barber "Doc" Varnell (b 1928) never married.
*Joseph Clyde "Joe Clyde" (1930) md Alice "Peajack" Johnson
Nellie Gray "Nell" Varnell (1933) md David Hagans
*Clayton Thomas "Mooch" (1937) md Rebell "Skip" Puckett (divorced), md Sarah Susan Vick
*Sidney Paul Varnell (1939) md Nellie "Faye" Wiggins - (my Dad)
Places he lived:
1) Born in small house off Hwy 124 across road from William Varnell house.
2) Lived at Joseph Varnell House, down path (path starts at end of Webb Lake Road, Macclesfield NC). Graveyard is still at this location.
3) Lived with Ida Corbett at small house on Hwy 124 diagnoally (toward Macclesfield, before Webb Lake Rd) from william Varnell House.
4) Lived at Corbett Farm Rd. Nell and Mooch born there.
5) Lived at Bergum Farm (now Macripine Rd) near Pinetops.
6) Lived at Kingsboro - Cox Farm/Penelo or Joe Bourne Farm. Uncle William Fountain and Ella Varnell lived in a small house behind them. There was an electrical cord that ran from their house to the small house out back to provide one light (in the living room ceiling) for them.
7) Lived at Little Easonburg (street near Greystone subdivision)
8) Lived at Entryway of Candlewood subdivision on Hwy 64 before Little Easonburg. Papa died here.
Papa was born August 1890 to parents Joseph and Elizabeth "Betsy" Batts Varnell in a small farmhouse off Hwy 124 West, Macclesfield, NC.
Betsy Batts was the daughter of CSA Col. William Woodard Batts and wife Margaret Peele Woodard Batts.
An unfortunate death during tobacco season:
When Oscar was 14 (1904), his Uncle Bolen (Bolin, Bolden) Varnell was killed by Bolens son-in-law Joe Hines Phillips Sr. Seems Joe and Bolen were arguing about who would be able to use the tobacco barns in the back yard of the Joseph Phillips and Mary Ann Victoria Varnell Homeplace) family home ( Webb Lake Rd a half mile south of Hwy 124 Macclesfield, NC). Joe picked up a cart round (something like a peg that was placed in a trailer of tobacco that would hold the tobacco in the trailer), and smacked Bolen in the head,laying him out. This was a dedinite case of self defense, as Joe Phillips had been attacked by Bolin before, and this day, he ran at Joe Phillips with a piece of wood, meaning to do damage. It was stated it was just before lunch time and Bolen was looking forward to lunch as they were having his favorite fresh field peas as part of the meal. Also heard that Bolen was left unattended outside while waiting for the Doctor. Doctor came in while the rest of the family was eating lunch (dinner as country folk called it) and when asked if Bolen was ok... Doctor said "OK?" "He's dead" "Split his skull open". Joe was not jailed. I've yet to find out anything in the Edgecombe County records about it.
Now, back to Papa who was 14 at the time. When Oscar found out his Uncle had been killed by Joe Phillips; he went home and got a stool and climbed on it to get the shot gun above the door. Betsy Batts Varnell, his mother, kept kicking the stool out from him; so he couldn't get to the shot gun. This was repeated several times until she made him understand that killing Joe was not the right thing to do. Note: Joe Phillips was never the same after this. He didn't mean to kill his father in law. Alice Tanner (Joe Phillips Grand daughter) stated that Joe walked slow the rest of his life, always looking down, always looking sad.
Papa told his son Paul aka "Goodboy" Varnell , that a year or so later, he was hunting and Joe Phillips crossed his path. Papa had him in his rifle sight, but never pulled the trigger. He thought about it though.
1910 - Papa married his childhood sweetheart when they were both 20. They lived in a small farmhouse just down the road (going toward Macclesfield on Hwy 124, on the left just past the William Varnell farmhouse (Papas Grandfather). It was here that Papa got spooked one night. Something startled him and Miss Ida (Rosa was my Grandmother) went to the back of the house and used a yard broom and was scraping against the house at the bedroom where Papa was standing. He thought he'd heard a ghost. She laughed at Papa and he said "You shouldn't scare me like that". Evidently Miss Ida was a mischievous soul. :)
Miss Ida died a year after her youngest son was born with something called 'Milk Arm'. My Cousin calls it "Milk Arm Cancer". That's what old folks called it. Google knows nothing about i.
Rosa Annie Webb married Papa when Carl was 2 years old and Leroy Varnell was 14. Soon Papa was having children and grandchildren at the same time. There are a couple of the '1st family' Grandchildren who are actually older than Papa's "2nd Family' children Dad aka Goodboy and Clayton aka "Mooch".
1910 - Children of Oscar Bolden and Ida Corbett Varnell
*Leroy Varnell (1912) md Margaret Walston
*Mamie"Sister" Varnell (1914) md Julius Wooten Sr
*Margaret "Betsy" Varnell (1916) md Cooper Griffin
*Woodrow Varnell md Eunice Clark Webb
*Ida "Blanch" Varnell md Edgar Ray Rose
*Oscar "Carl" Varnell md Nanny Gray Webb
Rosa Annie Webb Varnell (Oscar Bolden Varnell)
1925 - Oscar md Rosa Annie Webb (b 1905) September 1925. Their family:
*Robert Perry Varnell (1926) md Ursula R (from Germany WWII)
*Allen Barber "Doc" Varnell (b 1928) never married.
*Joseph Clyde "Joe Clyde" (1930) md Alice "Peajack" Johnson
Nellie Gray "Nell" Varnell (1933) md David Hagans
*Clayton Thomas "Mooch" (1937) md Rebell "Skip" Puckett (divorced), md Sarah Susan Vick
*Sidney Paul Varnell (1939) md Nellie "Faye" Wiggins - (my Dad)
Places he lived:
1) Born in small house off Hwy 124 across road from William Varnell house.
2) Lived at Joseph Varnell House, down path (path starts at end of Webb Lake Road, Macclesfield NC). Graveyard is still at this location.
3) Lived with Ida Corbett at small house on Hwy 124 diagnoally (toward Macclesfield, before Webb Lake Rd) from william Varnell House.
4) Lived at Corbett Farm Rd. Nell and Mooch born there.
5) Lived at Bergum Farm (now Macripine Rd) near Pinetops.
6) Lived at Kingsboro - Cox Farm/Penelo or Joe Bourne Farm. Uncle William Fountain and Ella Varnell lived in a small house behind them. There was an electrical cord that ran from their house to the small house out back to provide one light (in the living room ceiling) for them.
7) Lived at Little Easonburg (street near Greystone subdivision)
8) Lived at Entryway of Candlewood subdivision on Hwy 64 before Little Easonburg. Papa died here.
Bergum Farm:
In 1937, Oscar lived on the farm that is currently where Maccripine Country Club (Maccripine Rd)is (current day is 2017). Dad's brother 'Clayton Thomas Varnell" aka Mooch was born at that farmhouse / Bergum (family) farm January 10, 1937. Dad is the baby, born December 22, 1939. Papa used to walk down the path to the Webb Farm (Ronald Webb farm in 2000, my Uncle CD Webb was born at that farm). Evidently, he was spotted one day on that path, on his knees, swatting....yes swatting a copperhead snake. Papa was drunk and never remembered it. I can't imagine being so drunk you could swat a copperhead with your bare hands.
Abt 1938 - Papa got angry with Uncle Jim Varnell (James Varnell - son of William and Sallie Barnes Varnell) one day, arguing over who would use the mules that day during farming (Macclesfield, NC). Papa moved his family to Kingsboro, NC, the (CSA) Gen. Cox Farm on Hwy 64 between Rocky Mount and Tarboro, NC. Dad was born in a small house beside the railroad tracks on December 22, 1939 on that farm. Also called the Joe Bourne farm.
1942 - Oscar holding a stick of his tobacco crop. Little boy beside him is Clayton "Mooch" Varnell - 3 years old.
Poison sumac:
Papa was told by his father, Joseph Varnell not to touch a specific plant, poison sumac. Evidently, he was stubborn (go figure), and went out and rolled in it, out of anger. He had quite the case of poison sumac rash on his body. Evidently, it was bad enough to trigger shingles in him which he suffered with for the rest of his life.
In 1937, Oscar lived on the farm that is currently where Maccripine Country Club (Maccripine Rd)is (current day is 2017). Dad's brother 'Clayton Thomas Varnell" aka Mooch was born at that farmhouse / Bergum (family) farm January 10, 1937. Dad is the baby, born December 22, 1939. Papa used to walk down the path to the Webb Farm (Ronald Webb farm in 2000, my Uncle CD Webb was born at that farm). Evidently, he was spotted one day on that path, on his knees, swatting....yes swatting a copperhead snake. Papa was drunk and never remembered it. I can't imagine being so drunk you could swat a copperhead with your bare hands.
Abt 1938 - Papa got angry with Uncle Jim Varnell (James Varnell - son of William and Sallie Barnes Varnell) one day, arguing over who would use the mules that day during farming (Macclesfield, NC). Papa moved his family to Kingsboro, NC, the (CSA) Gen. Cox Farm on Hwy 64 between Rocky Mount and Tarboro, NC. Dad was born in a small house beside the railroad tracks on December 22, 1939 on that farm. Also called the Joe Bourne farm.
1942 - Oscar holding a stick of his tobacco crop. Little boy beside him is Clayton "Mooch" Varnell - 3 years old.
Poison sumac:
Papa was told by his father, Joseph Varnell not to touch a specific plant, poison sumac. Evidently, he was stubborn (go figure), and went out and rolled in it, out of anger. He had quite the case of poison sumac rash on his body. Evidently, it was bad enough to trigger shingles in him which he suffered with for the rest of his life.
Country Air Conditioning:
The only air conditioning in their house at Kingsboro (Cox or Penelo Farm) was open windows and doors at night. Yes - this was before they had to lock doors. He had his own small metal fan (without a cage around it) that sat on his bedside table. Dad remembers hearing him cuss as he would reach over to move the fan closer, and hit the fan edges. It's a wonder he didn't butcher his fingers on those fan petals.
The doors and windows remained open, and it was not unusual for the boys to go out and their friends end up asleep in the bed (several to a bed), it asleep (passed out) on the front porch. This house was right beside the RR track, where Dad was born. Currently (2023) KanBan Factory is located there.
Making and storing moonshine:
Papa would make moonshine occassionally. Dad was about 5 or 6 and papa sat up all night making moonshine with Docs help. Put it in nice glass jars and hid it under the front of the porch. Then went to sleep. Dad was outside playing and the sun was shining just right to show all those bottles of moonshine shining. Dad woke up Doc and the 2 of them moved the moonshine further under the porch. Lol
Making and storing moonshine:
Papa would make moonshine occassionally. Dad was about 5 or 6 and papa sat up all night making moonshine with Docs help. Put it in nice glass jars and hid it under the front of the porch. Then went to sleep. Dad was outside playing and the sun was shining just right to show all those bottles of moonshine shining. Dad woke up Doc and the 2 of them moved the moonshine further under the porch. Lol
Taking the long way home:
Papa had gone out one day and he had walked ro Tarboro, NC using the railroad tracks. It was late when he came back and dark. He actually walked past the stop he wanted, and realized it when he heard people arguing at a home nearby. They heard him walk past. He walked down a mile or so, turned around and snuck back by so not to be noticed.
The still is discovered:
Papa would hide his still in the old barn across the railroad tracks. One day 2 boys from Fountain prison in Rocky Mount had run away, and they made it to Kingsboro where they hid and were found in the old barn. Police found the still and of course no one claimed it as theirs. It was confiscated and destroyed. Papa was....disappointed. lol
Cooling it at Little Easonburg:
Cooling it at Little Easonburg:
Papa loved to sit outside on the back porch when they lived at Easonburg in his underwear on hot nights. They lived in an area that was isolated and I'm sure no one could see him.
Inappropriate joke?
abt 1940 - Papa would ask my Dad (Sidney Paul Varnell) the youngest of 15 children (12 survived birth) "Who were you before you were my boy?". Dad was 3 or 4 or so and would reply "I was your little squirt". This caused Papa to laugh out loud. He was always asking Dad that.
"Don't touch me"
Oscar (and most Varnell's I know) could have a serious temper at times.
Oscar did not hug people. He would say "I can barely stand for a woman to touch me, you know I don't want a man to touch me, even shaking hands".
"Don't touch my hat"
Oscar hated for anything to touch his hat while on his head. Even walking under a tree branch, if it touched his head could cause him to grab the hat and throw it to the ground.
The love of Pepsi
Papa drank water all the time. He didn't drink soft drinks or tea much. Later in life, he was given Pepsi and decided he loved Pepsi. Before he died, he was nearly blind, and crippled from the diabetes. He would sit at home with Rosa and watch tv, see a Pepsi commercial and say very slowly.... "I sure would like me a Pepsi". Grandma would tell him "Well if you promise to sit right here and not get up, I'll walk to the crossroads (1/4 mile away) and get you 6". She would walk down to the country store, and purchase him some Pepsi's. Oscar would sit there and patiently wait.
Navigating at home
Dad stated that Papa could barely walk before he died. He would get up and put his hands on Rosa's shoulders and walk behind her.
Oscar Bolden Varnell 1890 - 1959
Oscar died August 1959, just a few days before his 69th birthday. He is laid to rest beside his 1st wife Ida Corbett Varnell, mother of 9 of his children/7 survived birth (Nettie was child #6 and she died at 3 months old); at the James Varnell graveyard (was William Varnell Graveyard - born 1824) on Hwy 124 West beside the creek and 1/8 mile to the William Varnell family home built in 1879. Daughter Nettie is between Ida and Oscar.
Rosa Varnell was laid to rest in 1988, mother of 6 of Oscar's children, beside her son Joe Clyde Varnell (died 1987), 2 rows behind and other side of the row at the same graveyard. Her son Doc Varnell was buried on the other side of her in 2008.
Scots Irish:
Inappropriate joke?
abt 1940 - Papa would ask my Dad (Sidney Paul Varnell) the youngest of 15 children (12 survived birth) "Who were you before you were my boy?". Dad was 3 or 4 or so and would reply "I was your little squirt". This caused Papa to laugh out loud. He was always asking Dad that.
"Don't touch me"
Oscar (and most Varnell's I know) could have a serious temper at times.
Oscar did not hug people. He would say "I can barely stand for a woman to touch me, you know I don't want a man to touch me, even shaking hands".
"Don't touch my hat"
Oscar hated for anything to touch his hat while on his head. Even walking under a tree branch, if it touched his head could cause him to grab the hat and throw it to the ground.
The love of Pepsi
Papa drank water all the time. He didn't drink soft drinks or tea much. Later in life, he was given Pepsi and decided he loved Pepsi. Before he died, he was nearly blind, and crippled from the diabetes. He would sit at home with Rosa and watch tv, see a Pepsi commercial and say very slowly.... "I sure would like me a Pepsi". Grandma would tell him "Well if you promise to sit right here and not get up, I'll walk to the crossroads (1/4 mile away) and get you 6". She would walk down to the country store, and purchase him some Pepsi's. Oscar would sit there and patiently wait.
Navigating at home
Dad stated that Papa could barely walk before he died. He would get up and put his hands on Rosa's shoulders and walk behind her.
Oscar Bolden Varnell 1890 - 1959
Oscar died August 1959, just a few days before his 69th birthday. He is laid to rest beside his 1st wife Ida Corbett Varnell, mother of 9 of his children/7 survived birth (Nettie was child #6 and she died at 3 months old); at the James Varnell graveyard (was William Varnell Graveyard - born 1824) on Hwy 124 West beside the creek and 1/8 mile to the William Varnell family home built in 1879. Daughter Nettie is between Ida and Oscar.
Rosa Varnell was laid to rest in 1988, mother of 6 of Oscar's children, beside her son Joe Clyde Varnell (died 1987), 2 rows behind and other side of the row at the same graveyard. Her son Doc Varnell was buried on the other side of her in 2008.
Scots Irish:
Papa used to tell Dad rhat we were Scots Irish, or feom scot Ireland. I've completed an ancestry DNA kit and my DNA is all UK and a little Northern Europe. Irish, Welsh, Scottish and surprise Swedish. Swedish on Dads side only. From tying the family tree to DNA, shows locations shere family lived in Europe. Our Scottish relatives most likely migrated to Ulster Scotland and worked plantations there, then, migrated ro US from there.
Papa and Wooten boys:
Papa once lived across from the Wooten family. His faughter Mamie married a Wooten. Papa couldn't stand living near them. They wanted to date his daughters and when he said no (too young), they would sugar his gas tank or do other mischief. Years later he was talking with Mamies husband Julius where Papa told him to his face that he didn't like the Wootens, He liked (Julius Wooten) YOU, and even YOU are a son of a b1tch! Awkward.
Mom and Dad (Faye and Goodboy) married March on 1959. They were home visiting from Norfolk Va, drove up to house on Sunset Ave Rocky Mount (Hwy 64), where Candlewood entrance is now...and all the family was there. Papa had passed away. Mom and Dad had visited her family first in Warsaw, so they didn't know. Dad was 19.
Mamie Varnell - remembering her Dad.
When Dads (Paul Goodboy Varnell) sister Mamie "Sister" Varnell Wooten was in the rest home on Green Street Macclesfield, Dad leaned over to tell her good ye after a nice visit.... she reached up, touched his face and said You sure do look like MY daddy. You can tell she loved Papa, their daddy. And yes, Dad looked like Oscar.
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