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On to Gallatin,
Tennessee! MEET
A PAPA DAUGHTER -- Mrs. Lillie Vertrees Odom: A special historical marker in honor of Peter Vertrees, erected by the Tennessee Highway Department, stands a block from the home he built for his family over a hundred and twenty years ago. Mrs. Odom still lives in the house where she was born.
David
Wright & His Paintings of American Historical Subjects: Both Mary and I were very flattered by this extra attention that was arranged by our host and hostess, Donna and Randy Lucas. Two of my brothers went home with Mrs. Odom and Donna. It was hard to say good-bye to the wonderful people of Gallatin. Enjoy the following paintings by David Wright: David Wright's Great Leaders of the Confederacy Collection: Longstreet, Lee, Cleburne, Forrest at Shiloh, and Stuart & Mosby. For more information, contact: Gray Stone Press Next
Stop -- Franklin, Tennessee!
NEW: Buy the PAPA BOOK or GIFT SETS
FREE AUTOGRAPHED BOOK PLATE by Prize-Winning Author Mary W. Schaller with your order of PAPA WAS A BOY IN GRAY Book or Gift Set. More
Papa Was A Boy in Gray Reports: More
Education Pages: |
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Mrs.
Odom, accompanied by her goddaughter Velma, delighted everyone with
her infectious good humor that had us smiling and laughing. Mrs.
Odom recounted the story of the time her father decided he wanted
a fish dinner so he went fishing in the Mississippi River below
Vicksburg, Mississippi. After a while he thought he heard a large
bee whizz by his head, then another one came even closer. He looked
up and saw a Federal gunboat in the middle of the river, and everyone
on board looked like they were pointing a gun at him. Those "bees"
were really bullets! Peter dropped his rod, jumped on his horse
and rode back to camp as fast as he could. "He liked fish," Mrs.
Odom said with a twinkle in her eye, "but he said he liked living
better." Photo: Mary with Mrs. Lillie Vertrees Odom at the Treasure
Island Bookstore.
The
front of the Historical Highway Marker states, "PETER VERTREES
(1840-1926). A prominent African-American soldier, minister, and
educator. Peter Vertrees was born December 16, 1840, in Edmondson
County, Kentucky, as Peter Skaggs. At age five he was apprenticed
to Jacob Vertrees whose name he assumed. From 1861-1865, he was
a cook and bodyguard under Dr. John L. Vertrees in the Orphan Brigade,
the Sixth Kentucky Infantry C.S.A., for which he received a pension
from the State of Tennessee. After the war, Vertrees came to Gallatin
where he began a sixty-one year Baptist ministry establishing churches
area wide. Continued [on back of marker.]" Photo: Front
of Peter Vertrees' Historical Highway Marker. Having your own highway
marker is a very special honor.
The
back of the Historical Highway Marker states, "PETER VERTREES
(1840-1926). In each church he established a chapter of the Sons
and Daughters of Charity to defray members' medical and burial expenses.
In 1875 he organized the East Fork Missionary Baptist Association.
Educated at Roger Williams University in Nashville, he opened a
subscription school in the 1880s and with funding from the Rosenwald
Foundation established several public schools. One block east of
here, he built a Victorian Cottage in 1888. The Reverend Peter Vertrees
died January 18, 1926, and was buried in the Gallatin Cemetery."
Photo: Back of Peter Vertrees' Historical Highway Marker.
Another
one of Gallatin's famous citizens came by the bookstore to visit
Mrs. Odom and to buy Mary's book. He was David Wright, one of America's
leading painters of American historical subjects. Three of his original
paintings, including "A Father's Prayer" -- a portrait of Robert
E. Lee and Traveller -- were on display at Govan's Gathering Place,
the restaurant next door to the Treasure Island Bookstore, in honor
of Mary's signing. Photo: David Wright's A Father's Prayer.
