Laura got some stories from Grandma Izzy about J O and Grace Thompson, and here are some of her notes!
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Grace was engaged to a wealthy man in town for 3 years, and JO was a humble farmer. And they got married - to each other. How did this all get started?
J.O. had married his sweetheart at 17 in Newnan, Georgia. He had his farm, his sweetheart, and two beautiful children - his happily ever after was coming true.
Then, a measles epidemic came, taking his two children and his wife.
The devastated young lover took residence with his uncle John on a neighboring farm. One day, JO said to John - I can't bear this place and its memories any more. John, I need to go - far away.
So JO hopped on the train in GA and rode the rails for – who knows where?
When he got to southern Virginia, he got off; found a job farming growing food for Mary Baldwin College (they grew all their own food at that time).
Unlike most men of the day, Grace's father believed women should be educated, and he paid her tuition for Mary Baldwin’s sewing college (located in southern Virginia).
She worked in a little sewing shop for high end alterations; furs, evening gowns, suits. etc. she'd been engaged for 3 years to a man in NC.
Just a few short months after leaving Newnan, JO decided to put his grief behind him.
He took notice of Grace Campbell, working in the office.
‘You have no ring. Do you have a fella?’
‘Yes, we’ve been engaged for three years.’
‘Three years! I don't know your fella at all, but I don’t think he loves you.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You’ve been engaged for three years, and he hasn’t married you. I'll marry you right now!'
And so, they courted, fell in love, and had 9 kids together! (She got married at 27).
Including my grandma Izzy.
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