Joanne Kraft

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By JoanneKraft 15 Comments

Coming Home. Three Years in Middle TN

June 25, 2012, we finished filling a trailer and packed our suburban to drive 2300 miles in the heat–destination Middle Tennessee.

It’s been three years.

For three years I’ve asked Paul periodically, “Does this feel like home to you?”

“Yep.” He says every time with a smile.

His confidence has been annoying. 

It’s been harder for me to say that.

Sure, I know all the cliche’s: Home is where your heart is. Having someone to love is home.

Blah, blah, blah.

I believe we all want to know that we know that we know we belong somewhere–we want to drive a stake in the ground and know without a doubt “this is home”.

For me, home means roots. Roots are lacking here. Roots mean a place where generations scratched the soil and grew babies.

In California, I had roots. Four generations of roots buried deep created my history, my home. I’ve struggled with how my kids won’t know this connection with their ancients.

I’ve been intentional in Tennessee to remind my children they have west-coast roots. A needlepoint runner made by their Great-Great-Grandma Perlando hangs above my bed. Their grandfather’s military sword hangs in my oldest son’s room. Their Great-Grandma Cusumano’s hope chest and their grandfather’s worn Bible are waiting to be handed down.  Grandma Perlando Runner - edit

In Middle Tennessee – roots deep in southern soil are missing.

It’s why I’ve wrestled with calling this part of the country “home”.

 

God knew my heart and my struggle and an email arrived this week and changed all that.

My father in law passed along some information about a distant aunt, Edwina Ewing,  who moved to Holland after the Civil War and opened a museum that stands today. While that was a fun tidbit, the part that spoke to me was that she was from Tennessee.

It was Edwina’s sister, Lillian Ewing, (Paul’s Great-Grandmother) that piqued my interest.

I spent the past few days digging around and was thrilled to discover my husband’s family can be traced back six generations–here.

Middle Tennessee.

Nashville.

Franklin.

Deep roots in southern soil.

Once I confirmed the family line through Paul’s father, I excitedly created a field trip for all of us. We spent much of yesterday at the Nashville library and cemetery.

Here’s a little bit I discovered:

  • My husband’s great-grandfather (X6) Andrew Ewing, was a Revolutionary War veteran and one of the first colonists to arrive in Tennessee.
  • He was one of 256 signers of the Cumberland Compact–the prelude to the State of Tennessee Constitution.
  • Andrew Ewing was also the first court clerk in Davidson County (Nashville) and patriarch of  one of a handful of founding families here in this great state. He also played a big part in the building of the first court house in Nashville.
  • Four generations of my children’s Ewing grandfather’s are buried within miles of our new home in Middle Tennessee.
  • We discovered there’s a book written on Paul’s Great-Great Grandfather, Henry Ewing, a Major in the Confederate Army who was a journalist and went on to be owner of a newspaper in St. Louis. (As an author, I LOVE this.) We went to the Nashville Library and were able to look at the book. (We couldn’t check it out because it was in their historical collection.) Paul’s family tree was included in the back of the book, written in 1978. His grandmother’s name was one of the last children added.

But, wait, there’s more…

We went into the Nashville Library’s historical archive room and shared our story with the librarian. She was excited to pull out files on the Ewing family. In one of these files we held a jewel that brought tears to my eyes.

The will of  Paul’s Great Grandfather (X6) Andrew Ewing. Written and signed by his own hand in 1812.Andrew Ewing will - edit

From there we went to the Nashville Cemetery. Let me stop you here for a minute…

Our family LOVES cemeteries.

We’ve drug our kids through cemeteries all their lives. We find them fascinating. The history, the stories, the legacies and the older the better. I reminded our two youngest on the drive over, “We’ve taken you to hundreds of ancient cemeteries. This is the first time we will walk through in search of family.”

Holy ground. 

I snapped a picture of Grace and Samuel with their Great Grandma Milbrey (Williams) and Great Grandpa Orville Ewing (X5). Orville and his brothers Edwin and Andrew married three Williams sisters all from the Nashville and Franklin area.

And guess what? In my digging this week, I found sketches of their family homes online from the early 1800s. I plan on framing these home sketches and hanging them in my home.

Deep roots in southern soil.

The family history here is staggering. Paul’s grandfathers and uncles were doctors and attorneys. Which makes Paul’s Law degrees and love of the U.S. Constitution even more poignant.

  • Edwin Ewing was an ancient uncle and State Representative. When Daniel Webster died, it was Paul’s Uncle Edwin Ewing who gave the eulogy. This man was a founder of the Peabody College here in Nashville. Now, a part of the Vanderbilt University system.

For those of you not from around here, we live in an area rich in U.S. history. Our home is a few miles from the Carnton Plantation. It’s one of the historical homes we bring all our guests to. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve shared the story of the McGavock family and walked through their private Civil War Cemetery.

Grace & Samuel at the gravesite of their Great Grandparents. (Orville & Milbrey (Williams) Ewing).

The Ewing’s? They were close friends of the McGavock’s. Their families intermarried and knew one another from Virginia–even before moving to Franklin, Tennessee. I called The Carnton and spoke with the historian yesterday. They are well aware of the Ewing family. They’re gathering Ewing family documents for us and we’ll be visiting them next week. ewingsville flag

For the first time in three years our family has deep roots. There are six generations of my children’s heritage in Tennessee – more than any other state in America.

Just thinking about all of this makes my eyes well with tears. God knew how important a legacy is to this mama. He heard and answered. My children have a history they can hold on to here.

It brings to mind a conversation I had when we first moved. We were having breakfast at church and we sat with an old southern gentleman and his wife. Apparently, this stranger knew something three years ago that I didn’t.

He asked, “What brought ya’ll to Tennessee? Was it a job? Do ya’ll have family here?”

“No sir, we don’t have a job or family here.”

He thought for a minute, making eye contact, he asked a serious question. “Well, do you love it here?”

I thought for a moment and answered honestly, “Yes sir, I do love it here.”

He smiled, “Then welcome home.”

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

 

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Filed Under: faith, Uncategorized Tagged With: Children, faith, family, franklin, home, middle tennessee, tennessee

Comments

  1. Nicole Hitchcock says

    July 8, 2015 at 10:53 am

    SOOOOOOO AWESOME!!!!!

    Reply
    • JoanneKraft says

      July 8, 2015 at 2:46 pm

      Right!????

      Reply
  2. Mary Hampton says

    July 8, 2015 at 11:24 am

    Teary here in MT where our shallow roots have just been yanked to the surface. It makes me smile to know you’ve found your place there and are thriving and it gives me hope for us.

    Reply
    • JoanneKraft says

      July 8, 2015 at 2:47 pm

      Oh Mary, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were moving. We need to talk. I’ll send you a message. Hugging you from here.

      Reply
  3. Chris Pedersen says

    July 8, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    NO WAY!!! You cannot make up stories like this. You made me sob. How is it that you just recently found this all out? I hope you told those sweet ladies at the Lotz House. They love you. They’ll likely say, “I knew it!!” Happy for you, Joanne Kraft.

    Reply
    • JoanneKraft says

      July 8, 2015 at 2:48 pm

      Chris, it’s the craziest thing. I’m not even sharing all here. I could go on and on and on. It’s been such a blessing to my heart this week. So grateful. We loved Tennessee before, but now?

      Now it’s home.

      Reply
  4. Beth Thompson says

    July 8, 2015 at 3:13 pm

    Okay, my son just walked in and caught me crying over your post! Good thing he “gets” me.

    This is such a beautiful story! You’re not outsiders, but a family remnant returning to claim its roots. Any lingering feelings of not belonging are forever banished with the discovery of Paul’s heritage. What a great gift!

    Reply
    • JoanneKraft says

      July 8, 2015 at 3:29 pm

      Thanks Beth, I love that, “a remnant:”. . My children a family history here. That makes this sweet spot God brought us to even more blessed.

      I plan on encouraging my children to continue the work their descendants started. What incredibly huge footprints these folks have left them to fill.

      Reply
  5. Cindy says

    July 8, 2015 at 5:03 pm

    So cool Joanne, I had a similar experience in Franklin. Being a transplant from Northen MI, I never suspected My great great Grandfather, uncle and cousins were here before me and fought and died most likely on or near where we lived. They are buried in Nashville…I had no idea. So glad you found roots!!!

    Reply
    • JoanneKraft says

      July 27, 2015 at 1:20 pm

      Then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Maybe our relatives knew each other?

      Reply
  6. Dineen says

    July 19, 2015 at 8:13 am

    Wow! What a great story! And you had no idea before you moved there? That is stunning!

    Reply
    • JoanneKraft says

      July 27, 2015 at 1:20 pm

      It is the coolest thing!

      Reply
  7. Cecilia says

    May 23, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    I love your website. I hope others in Writerly Intentions will visit here too.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Focus on Him - Joanne Kraft says:
    April 12, 2017 at 6:07 am

    […] When we flew to Tennessee to spy out the land, God opened doors for us to walk through. His peace in our decision was apparent. God’s promises are not given lightly. When He says something He means it. So, when He says He will give wisdom–He will. But, the most important lesson for me is that when I believe Him it opens the door wide for the miraculous.  […]

    Reply
  2. Our 7 Year Tenniversary - Joanne Kraft says:
    June 30, 2019 at 7:09 am

    […] Your faith in God grows when you don’t just read about faith but walk it out. […]

    Reply

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