Ezekiel Amos Adams

Ezekiel Amos Adams is my maternal great-great grandfather.

Born September 29, 1846   Died August 8, 1927

• The Butler Herald, September 1, 1927

Death claims Mr. E.A. Adams, Confederate Hero

In the death of Mr. Ezekiel Amos Adams marks the passing of another Confederate
soldier, leaving only twelve others of his noble band in Taylor County
to wear the badge of honor so worthly bestowed.

Mr. Adams was a native of the county, being born in the eastern part of
the county 81 years ago and was named for his father, Mr. Ezekiel Adams.

The death of Mr. Adams occurred at 1:20 Sunday morning, August 8th at his
home near Bethlehem church in the southern part of the county. He had been
in declining health since November of last year and recently his condition
had been critical.

Mr. Adams had a very large number of friends in Taylor County who will
be grieved to learn of his passing. He was a man of sterling worth and
integrity and held the confidence of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
He put his every trust in his Maker and professed Christianity to a marked
degree. He believed firmly in the doctrine of the Primitive Baptist faith
and order and attended services at a church of that denomination regularly.

His faithful companion for many years was called to the Great Beyond April
7, 1919 leaving him with three sons and three daughters who still survive
towit: Mr. E.B. Adams and Mr. S.C. Adams of this county, Mr. H.V. Adams
of Jacksonville, Fla; Mrs. C.B. Barfield of Macon County; Mrs. Y.J. Garrett
of Jacksonville; and Mrs. Kate Stalnaker, of this county.

Funeral and interment of the remains of Mr. Adams took place at Bethlehem
cemetery Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock, services being conducted by Rev.
J.T. Adams.

Brown As A Berry

Okinawa 1964

Splashing out of the water, I heard my grandmother exclaim, “that child is brown as a berry.” My earliest memories of the proclamation filled me with happiness.  Now I am a grandmother and I have used that same phrase more than a few times. I can not think of any brown berries. A little research and I found the first usage is credited to Geoffrey Chaucer (14th century England), in at least two of his Canterbury Tales. In The Cook’s Tale,”Happy he was as goldfinch in the glade, Brown as a berry, short, and thickly made…” And in his description of the Monk, “He was not pale as some poor wasted ghost.A fat swan loved he best of any roast. His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.” Some scholars attribute this idiom to a description of grains or nuts possibly referred to as berries in the 14th century. In both cases it does seem to mean tanned skin or fur. Which is what it still means to this day. I am in love with this idiom which has survived mostly intact for 6 centuries!

The picture attached to this post was taken in 1964.  It is a picture of me (I am in the swim cap in the background), and two of my friends, Kim and Susie. Our fathers were stationed in Okinawa. We played at the beach often and so began my love of being “brown as a berry.”

Olden Days

“Grandma tell me about the olden days…” I love stories about days gone by. I am intrigued by common and uncommon turns of phrase. I hope to honor those who have gone before us by remembering the stories. I want to shed light on everyday colloquialisms past and present.  Some posts will be fresh, some “old as the hills.”