Anjalena Whittaker, the wife of Joseph Jackson is buried in Texas

TJ Moss

Solitute Plantation

This is aledged to be the home of Joseph Jackson's sister Emily Jackson and her husband in St Helena Parrish, Louisiana. The name of the plantation is Solitute. It is now owned privately.

The Picnic

This is a photo of Pauline Shaw and Cleveland Pharis.

The oil boom had hit Texas in the early 1900's and the Pharis boys were all involved making good money working the pipelines. This gave them opportunities to travel a bit throughout the beautiful Texas plains. Cleveland, Jesse and Elzy all worked the field for their various companies. The Texas springtime is well know for the bold patches of bluebonnets as well as the pinks, yellows and reds of various other wildflowers. The temperature is so lovely and cool. The sun shining and the clouds drift by as the Pharis boys worked the oil fields in the prime of the oil boom with jobs aplenty and money aplenty to date one of the lovely, sweet ladies from the various small towns proping up all over the prairie.

It was when the boys landed in Burburnett that the Pharis boys were struck with their first blooms of love in the spring of 1929.

Elzy was the first brother to fall that year. He met and married Vera Emmett, and they were married February 7, 1929 in Burkburnett Texas.

Now, the two older brothers, Cleveland and Jesse as close as brother can be, figured they needed to check out the local town and see if there were any other cute young ladies to catch their eye. That is when they also caught the eyes of sisters, Ruth and Pauline Shaw. Now, these boys stood out of a crowd. They were tall, handsome and had that southernly, gentlemanly walk that makes a girl's heart flutter.

Of course, love always begins very innocently, some cute girls walking down main street, giggling with their purchase of fabric to make a pretty dress for the local dance or purhaps a bit of sugar to bake something nice at home. The Pharis boys certainly would have noticed these very sweeet, pretty young ladies. After eye contact, came a little flirting, something to drink at the soda fountain and soon a dance on a saturday night. Before you could say springtime-- the boys were smitten!

Ruth told Pauline one spring day, "Jesse has asked me to marry him!" Pauline, Polly as she was known, was so happy for her sister and asked her when she thought they'd get hitched. Ruth said, "I'm not sure exactly, but probably pretty soon. He asked if we'd meet them for lunch tomorrow and maybe we can set a date".

Polly said, "why don't you fry up some chicken, and I'll make a cake, then we can pack a nice picnic lunch for the guys. I know you love to drive the Model T and we can meet them near the Burburnett road crossing by the Pecan tree". Ruth said, "that sounds like a right fine idea and will give them a chance to spend the more time together".

Polly didn't like making chicken, but she could whip up the best cakes and with some nice fried okra, blackeyed peas and cornbread to go with it, the meal would certainly be special. The next day, after making their lunch and putting the food in a basket they loaded up the ol' car and headed for the cross roads to meet their beaus.

After eating lunch Polly and Cleveland, Rock as he was known, decided to rest under a Pecan tree for shade against the hot afternoon Texas sun. Rock told Polly, "You are the prettiest, and sweetest girl I've ever known". Polly, blushing said, "Well, your pretty nice yourself". Rock told Polly, "I guess you heard about Ruth and Jesse wanting to get hitched". Polly said, "Yes, I think they want to get married soon, before the summer heat". Rock then leaned over to Polly and said, "Well, wouldn't it be fun if we also got hitched at the same time?"

That is when he pulled out a little box and gave it to Polly. As she sat beside him, she opened the little box and saw a beautiful Ruby ring set in sterling silver. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. "Oh, yes," Polly said, "I love you so much and can't wait to begin our life together!".

"Ruth!, Ruth!" Polly said. "It looks like we're gonna have a double wedding!" Ruth and Jesse with, knowing smiles, beamed "How does May 21st sound?".

At the picnic, plans for a double wedding were formed and Cleveland and Jesse married Polly and Ruth in Burkburnett Texas on a beautiful spring, amid the wildflowers of Texas.