| Sources |
- [S120] A Place Called Home: Our Story, David L. Popiel, Duay O'Neil, et. al., (2006, The Newport Plain Talk / Jones Media Inc.), dpopiel@xtn.net., 119.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 23 Nov 2008.
Just Plain Talk - They are thankful to have lived so long
Hog-killing cold weather cloaked our hometown just as predicted by my Town & Country Drug Store signs of the Zodiac calendar that offers more cold weather for Thanksgiving.
Some days ago, I looked up to see Joe France at the Plain Talk front desk. Duay O'Neil, mild mannered reporter, had the great idea to do a "Joe the Plumber" photo with him. Joe is retired from the vocational school teaching building trades but he still works some, handling plumbing repairs for the county jail.
The very next day, when I got my mail there was a letter addressed to his mother, Sibel France. My address is off Allen Road, she lives in Newport off Northside. You recall we visited the Douglas Avenue neighborhood months ago and talked about her. My plan was to eventually visit her and that took place last Thursday. There was a small truck parked in the driveway, and I thought it must be Joe's. It was her sister's, Eva Smith, who at 90 still drives and gets around just fine. Sibel uses a four-legged walker to get around because she endured many hip surgeries in recent years. At 88, she looks after herself but admits she had to quit driving to the quilting circle at the Tanner Building and community center.
Of the 8 children, they are among five surviving children of Charlie Kilgore and wife, Lisa Ottinger Kilgore. She lived to be about 108. They were married in February 1912 and lived in the Oven Creek community off Goodwater Road. Sibel was born July 14, 1920 and her sister was already 19 months old. The youngest is Irene Wood and other survivors being Mary Ownby, and Jimmy Kilgore.
Charlie was a farmer and the children were important because of helping with chores from hoeing hills of corn to hanging tobacco. The children didn't have money to spend so they found their playthings. The children would walk to the nearby Natural Bridge and during the winter found icicles hanging from the overhead rocks. They broke these off and carried them way for play. They attended Harned's Chapel school. He died Feb. 29, 1980, a leap year. Lisa lived up until several years ago. Sibel worked as a teenager at Hop Maddron's restaurant and married at age 20 to Harley France on Jan. 1, 1941. Many young couples were married or began dating in Cocke County the year the US entered World War II. They stayed in Cleveland, Ohio, a short time and then Harley went into the Navy. By 1944 they moved into a small frame house owned by Liston Bryant off Northside. Little Drew Douglas who still lives in the neighborhood was there too. It was a time you knew your neighbors and Sibel can still name most all of them. The Frances paid $10 a month rent. She recalls they bought a set of bedroom furniture for $49 from Bryant, who ran a small furniture store off Greeneville Hwy. near St. Tide Hollow Rd. In addition to Joe, the Frances' other child was Linda. Joe is now married to the former Francis "Jiggs" Ramsey. Linda married Darrell Talley and both live at Oak Ridge and are retired. Sibel showed me a beautiful photo of the couple and their children and families. I counted 24.
One of the places Sibel shopped at was a small grocery store off Knoxville Hwy. near Douglas Ave operated by Mr. Hedrick. She showed me a grocery bill from 1941. The total was just over $5 but she only had $3 and charged the rest. Bread was a dime, milk 10 cents. You remember buying your school lunch for 25¢ and milk for 2¢, as I did too. The reason I mentioned school lunch prices because for more than 30 years Sibel worked as a cook, first at West End School and later the high school. Eva joined her for about 11 years. The principal was Joe Zavona when Sibel retired in 1986. Before Harley and Sibel moved to Northside they lived in a two-story apartment that used to exist between our building and what used to be Kyker motor Company. They paid $5 a month rent to Joe Kyker Sr. Joe France was born in the apt.
With Thanksgiving arriving Thursday, I asked the sisters what they were thankful for. "I am thankful that the Lord has allowed me to live so long," said Sible. Eva chimed in, "And good friend and family." As children of the Great Depression they never wanted for food, shelter, or family love. And even though the kids threw a piece of wood at Mom's pet gobbler, knocking it out, he recovered for other Thanksgivings.
I plan to return next week to Sibel and her era but there's some other news. You recall we paid some visits to the shops in Bettye Ann Bewley's building off East Broadway near Men's Den. I see that Imogene Turner has opened Ace Antiques and Things in the spot formerly occupied by Deb's Dress Shop. We will pay her a visit. I forgot to pass this along to you in Sept. You recall that in April Larry and Polly Gray, across from Billy Hugh Sparks farm, had a pile of Schnauzers. It happened again on Sept. 25 when the same mother had nine pups, all healthy.
In plain talk, when you have never been through a Great Depression, living through the 1930s seemed quit normal and the nation survived as it will the current downturn.
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name: Syble Kilgore
Event: CENSUS
Event Date: 1930
Event Place: Parrottsville, Cocke, Tennessee
Gender: Female
Age: 8
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Birthplace: Tennessee
Estimated Birth Year: 1922
Immigration Year:
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Enumeration District Number: 4
Family Number: 163
Sheet Number and Letter: 7B
Line Number: 99
NARA Publication: T626, roll 2238
Film Number: 2341972
Digital Folder Number: 4548152
Image Number: 00070
Household Gender Age
Parent Charles Kilgore M 34
Parent Letha Kilgore F 33
Ellen M Kilgore F 16
Mary E Kilgore F 14
Eva Kilgore F 12
Syble Kilgore F 8
Arine Kilgore F 6
Luise Kilgore F 3
- [S112] Census, 1940.
name: Sible Kilgore
titles & terms:
event: Census
event year: 1940
event place: Civil District 2, Cocke, Tennessee, United States
gender: Female
age: 20
marital status: Single
race (original):
race (standardized): White
relationship to head of household (original):
relationship to head of household (standardized): Daughter
birthplace: Tennessee
estimated birth year: 1920
residence in 1935: Rural, Cocke, Tennessee
enumeration district number: 15-4
family number: 233
sheet number and letter: 12A
line number: 22
nara publication number: T627
nara roll number: 3881
digital folder number: 005461287
image number: 00094
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Charlie Kilgore M 45 Tennessee
wife Letha Kilgore F 45 Tennessee
daughter Ellen M Kilgore F 26 Tennessee
daughter Sible Kilgore F 20 Tennessee
daughter Irene Kilgore F 16 Tennessee
daughter Louise Kilgore F 14 Tennessee
daughter Charlie Blanche Kilgore F 9 Tennessee
son J Dale Kilgore M 5 Tennessee
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 10 Jul 2011.
(July 14, 1920 - July 10, 2011)
Sible Louella France, age 90, of Newport, passed away Sunday July 10, 2011 at Newport Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was a Charter Member of West End Baptist Church and retired from Cocke County School Systems as Cafeteria Manager after 37 years of service. She was an avid quilter and gardener. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Frances France of Newport; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Darrell Talley of Oak Ridge, TN; brother, Jimmy Kilgore of Greeneville; sisters, Irene Wood of Knoxville and Mary Ownby of Dandridge; special niece, Barbara Williams of Newport; eight grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren; also a host of nieces, nephews and other family and friends. Funeral services will be held 8:00 pm Wednesday, July 13, 2011 in manes Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Scott Gorrell officiating. Burial will be 11:00 am Thursday, July 14, 2011 in Resthaven Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at Manes Funeral Home prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to West End Baptist Church, 116 Kirk Street, Newport, TN 37821
Family and friends may sign the guest register on line at: www.manesfuneralhome.com.
Manes Funeral Home in charge.
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