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When I was a young child, my mother used to take my sister and I from Charleston, South Carolina to her folks’ family farm near Mize, Mississippi.  My grandmother, by then a wrinkled old woman, was born Reatha Sullivan.  She was the great-granddaughter of a man named Pappy Tom Sullivan.

 

Being that young, I had no idea that the quiet little farm of my Uncle Gene and Aunt Mae was at the very heart of a notorious little region called “Sullivan’s Hollow.”  The “holler” had the reputation for being the meanest, roughest, toughest place around.  If you weren’t from there, you didn’t go there.  If you did, anyone from hundreds of miles around would know you might wind up being hitched to a mule, stabbed, sliced, beaten, shot, whipped, and /or hanged.  It was that simple.  I met a few people from a town in Mississippi about 50 miles from the holler at our church, and when I told them my folks were from Sullivan’s Hollow, their mouths tightened and a look of dread crossed their eyes.  Reputations die slowly in Mississippi.

 

The truth is, most of the folks I knew in Sullivan’s Hollow work good, decent, God-fearing, hard-working people, who genuinely wanted just to take care of their own and for the most part be left alone. 

 

When we visited the old farm in the late 1960’s, there was still on old cabin we’d stay in with wooden slats you could see through, and a rusty tin roof that sounded like machine-gun fire when it rained.  Going to the bathroom involved a trip across the back yard, which at night could be quite and experience.  But what the house lacked in comfort, the family more than made up for in warmth and love.  My older cousins Douglas and Carlin would take us fishing for mudcats in the pond, shoot their rifles and shotguns, and on rare occasion, even ride their pony. 

 

The descendant tree below shows the family of Pappy Tom Sullivan.  His ancestry is still somewhat questionable, and if you look around the web, you’ll find plenty of places that talk about Pappy Tom, Wild Bill Sullivan, and the rest of Sullivan’s Hollow. 

 

In the old cabin, there was a large oval picture obviously made many years ago.  It wasn’t until much later in life that I learned the significance of this picture.  The picture, circa 1910, shows the family of O.B. Sullivan.  The taller girl standing to his right is my grandmother, Reatha Sullivan.

 

 

Descendants of Thomas Sullivan

 

 

Generation No. 1

 

1.  THOMAS3 SULLIVAN  (JOHN2, JAMES1) was born January 15, 1785 in South Carolina or Columbia, GA, and died June 10, 1855 in Smith County, MS.  He married (1) MAUD ELIZABETH ARNOLD 1809.  She was born 1790, and died 1846 in Smith County, MS.  He married (2) MARY WORKMAN 1822.  She was born April 23, 1803, and died October 10, 1891 in Smith County, MS.

     

Children of THOMAS SULLIVAN and MAUD ARNOLD are:

2.           i.   JAMES4 SULLIVAN, b. 1810, Mississippi; d. Unknown.

              ii.   MARGARET SULLIVAN, b. 1812, Mississippi; d. July 28, 1869, Smith County, MS; m. JAMES JACOB HARVEY, 1827; b. 1805, South Carolina; d. February 17, 1863, Smith County, MS.

             iii.   THOMAS HOGTON SULLIVAN, b. 1814; d. Unknown.

             iv.   LODERICK SULLIVAN, b. March 10, 1815, Mississippi; d. March 25, 1891, Smith County, MS.

             v.   STEPHEN SULLIVAN, b. December 1816; d. March 25, 1891.

             vi.   OWEN SULLIVAN, b. 1817, Mississippi; d. Unknown.

            vii.   JOSEPH SULLIVAN, b. June 1818, Mississippi; d. February 15, 1895, Smith County, MS.

           viii.   DANIEL SULLIVAN, b. 1819; d. Unknown.

             ix.   CELIA SULLIVAN, b. 1820; d. Unknown.

             x.   FREDERICK SULLIVAN, b. February 20, 1821, Mississippi; d. April 15, 1897, Smith County, MS.

             xi.   CLARA SULLIVAN, b. 1822; d. Unknown.

     

Children of THOMAS SULLIVAN and MARY WORKMAN are:

            xii.   THOMAS JEFFERSON4 SULLIVAN, b. July 23, 1823, Smith County, MS; d. 1897, Smith County, MS.

           xiii.   CAROLINE SULLIVAN, b. 1824, Mississippi; d. April 15, 1872, Smith County, MS.

3.        xiv.   HENDERSON SULLIVAN, b. August 21, 1825, Smith County, MS; d. 1895, Smith County, MS.

            xv.   ELIZA JANE SULLIVAN, b. July 28, 1827, Smith County, MS; d. 1895, East Feliciana Parish, Ball, Louisiana.

           xvi.   MARK SULLIVAN, b. March 29, 1830, Smith County, MS; d. August 17, 1913, Smith County, MS.

          xvii.   WILEY P. SULLIVAN, b. August 20, 1833, Smith County, MS; d. April 18, 1904, Smith County, MS.

         xviii.   MARY ANN SULLIVAN, b. May 19, 1835, Smith County, MS; d. 1924, Smith County, MS.

           xix.   SAMUEL R. SULLIVAN, b. June 11, 1839, Smith County, MS; d. January 25, 1917, Smith County, MS.

            xx.   CORNELIUS J. SULLIVAN, b. February 18, 1841, Smith County, MS; d. February 25, 1917, Smith County, MS.

           xxi.   LOUGHTON SULLIVAN, b. May 24, 1844, Smith County, MS; d. August 20, 1898, Smith County, MS.

          xxii.   ALEXANDER SULLIVAN, b. October 09, 1847, Smith County, MS; d. March 20, 1937, Smith County, MS.

 

 

Generation No. 2

 

2.  JAMES4 SULLIVAN (THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born 1810 in Mississippi, and died Unknown.  He married (1) PATSY ROLLINS.  She was born 1826, and died Unknown.  He married (2) FANNIE ROBERTSON.  She died Unknown.

 

More About JAMES SULLIVAN:

Grave: Alex Sullivan Cemetery

     

Children of JAMES SULLIVAN and PATSY ROLLINS are:

              i.   WILKIE5 SULLIVAN, b. 1852; d. Unknown.

              ii.   JOHN BEN SULLIVAN, b. February 14, 1856, Smith County, MS; d. April 1938, Smith County, MS; m. OPHELIA EVELYN TUGGLE; b. January 1863; d. July 1911, Smith County, MS..

             iii.   RUFUS SULLIVAN, b. 1858, Smith County, MS; d. Unknown; m. LAURA LEE; d. Unknown.

             iv.   EDWARD SULLIVAN, b. 1861, Smith County, MS; d. Unknown; m. NANCY SULLIVAN; b. 1858, Smith County, MS; d. Unknown.

4.          v.   OLIVER B. SULLIVAN, b. 1864, Smith County, MS; d. 1933, Smith County, MS.

             vi.   MARGARET JANE SULLIVAN, b. 1868, Smith County, MS; d. 1949, Smith County, MS; m. SAMUEL STEELE; d. Unknown.

     

Children of JAMES SULLIVAN and FANNIE ROBERTSON are:

            vii.   MATILDA5 SULLIVAN, b. 1833, Smith County, MS; d. 1913, Smith County, MS; m. JOHN ARTHUR COTHERN; d. Unknown.

           viii.   DANIEL B. SULLIVAN, b. 1836; d. Unknown.

             ix.   CLARA SULLIVAN, b. 1838, Smith County, MS; d. Unknown; m. JOHN WILLIAM AARON, SR.; d. Unknown.

5.          x.   LEWIS SULLIVAN, b. 1840; d. 1915.

 

3.  HENDERSON4 SULLIVAN (THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born August 21, 1825 in Smith County, MS, and died 1895 in Smith County, MS.

     

Child of HENDERSON SULLIVAN is:

              i.   WILLIAM CICERO5 SULLIVAN, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 3

 

4.  OLIVER B.5 SULLIVAN (JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born 1864 in Smith County, MS, and died 1933 in Smith County, MS.  He married MARGARET CLARK.  She was born 1871, and died 1939 in Smith County, MS.

     

Children of OLIVER SULLIVAN and MARGARET CLARK are:

6.           i.   BELL6 SULLIVAN, b. May 08, 1886; d. October 1965.

7.           ii.   DARCUS SULLIVAN, b. July 20, 1888; d. September 07, 1952.

             iii.   ELIAS SULLIVAN, b. July 22, 1890; d. July 22, 1971.

             iv.   SHELBY SULLIVAN, b. February 08, 1894; d. August 06, 1931.

8.          v.   HEBRON SULLIVAN, b. August 25, 1898; d. September 26, 1963.

9.          vi.   REATHA SULLIVAN, b. July 02, 1901, Smith County, MS; d. November 07, 1979, Smith County, MS.

10.       vii.   IVA SULLIVAN, b. November 17, 1903; d. July 20, 1978.

11.      viii.   TINA SULLIVAN, b. November 17, 1904; d. October 22, 1991.

 

5.  LEWIS5 SULLIVAN (JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born 1840, and died 1915.  He married EMMA GRUBBS.  She was born 1834, and died Unknown.

     

Children of LEWIS SULLIVAN and EMMA GRUBBS are:

              i.   ABBE6 SULLIVAN, d. Unknown.

              ii.   EMMA SULLIVAN, d. Unknown.

             iii.   NOLE SULLIVAN, d. Unknown.

 

 

Generation No. 4

 

6.  BELL6 SULLIVAN (OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born May 08, 1886, and died October 1965.  She married ? HARVEY.  He died Unknown.

     

Children of BELL SULLIVAN and ? HARVEY are:

              i.   CAMMIE7 HARVEY, b. Private; m. ? GREEN, Private; b. Private.

              ii.   ROSS HARVEY, b. Private; m. PEGGY, Private; b. Private.

 

7.  DARCUS6 SULLIVAN (OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born July 20, 1888, and died September 07, 1952.  She married WILLIAM JASPER STEWART, son of WILLIAM STEWART and FRANCIS COCKRELL.  He was born February 02, 1880, and died May 05, 1957.

     

Children of DARCUS SULLIVAN and WILLIAM STEWART are:

              i.   OLIVER7 STEWART, b. Private.

12.         ii.   BARNEY STEWART, b. Private.

             iii.   ALMA STEWART, b. Private.

             iv.   RUBY STEWART, b. Private; m. MITCHELL WARE, Private; b. Private.

 

8.  HEBRON6 SULLIVAN (OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born August 25, 1898, and died September 26, 1963.  He met HATTIE GENTRY Private.  She was born Private.

     

Children of HEBRON SULLIVAN and HATTIE GENTRY are:

              i.   HOWARD7 SULLIVAN, b. Private.

              ii.   JAMES DALE SULLIVAN, b. Private.

 

9.  REATHA6 SULLIVAN (OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born July 02, 1901 in Smith County, MS, and died November 07, 1979 in Smith County, MS.  She married JOSEPH J. STEWART December 28, 1919 in Sullivan's Hollow, MS, son of WILLIAM STEWART and FRANCIS COCKRELL.  He was born November 07, 1891 in Simpson County, MS, and died November 13, 1962 in Smith County, MS.

 

More About JOSEPH J. STEWART:

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, near Mize, MS

     

Children of REATHA SULLIVAN and JOSEPH STEWART are:

              i.   O.W.7 STEWART, b. 1921; d. 1922.

13.         ii.   EUGENE STEWART, b. February 21, 1925, Smith County, MS; d. October 07, 1981, Smith County, MS.

14.        iii.   BERNICE STEWART, b. Private.

15.        iv.   NEVIL SCOTT STEWART, b. April 19, 1929, Smith County, MS; d. May 14, 1991, Lauderdale County, MS.

16.        v.   JOSEPH STEWART, b. Private.

17.        vi.   LEXIE REE STEWART, b. Private.

 

10.  IVA6 SULLIVAN (OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born November 17, 1903, and died July 20, 1978.  She married CHARLES RICHARD STEWART, son of WILLIAM STEWART and FRANCIS COCKRELL.  He was born April 06, 1894, and died March 08, 1953.

     

Children of IVA SULLIVAN and CHARLES STEWART are:

              i.   FRANCES7 STEWART, b. Private; m. CHARLES JOHNSON, Private; b. Private.

              ii.   BIBBLENE STEWART, b. Private.

             iii.   CHARLENE STEWART, b. Private.

             iv.   REBA JUNE STEWART, b. Private.

             v.   TALMADGE STEWART, b. Private; m. HENRIETTA JOHNSON, Private; b. Private.

 

11.  TINA6 SULLIVAN (OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born November 17, 1904, and died October 22, 1991.

     

Child of TINA SULLIVAN is:

              i.   DOROTHY MAE7 SULLIVAN, b. Private; m. JOHN D. PICKERING, Private; b. Private.

 

 

Generation No. 5

 

12.  BARNEY7 STEWART (DARCUS6 SULLIVAN, OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born Private.  He met CORDIE ? Private.  She was born Private.

     

Children of BARNEY STEWART and CORDIE ? are:

              i.   JOY8 STEWART, b. Private.

              ii.   SHIRLEY STEWART, b. Private; m. ?? THOMAS, Private; b. Private.

             iii.   JESSE GAY STEWART, b. Private.

 

13.  EUGENE7 STEWART (REATHA6 SULLIVAN, OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born February 21, 1925 in Smith County, MS, and died October 07, 1981 in Smith County, MS.  He met LELA MAE JOHNSON Private.  She was born Private.

     

Children of EUGENE STEWART and LELA JOHNSON are:

18.         i.   DOUGLAS8 STEWART, b. Private.

19.         ii.   CARLIN STEWART, b. Private.

20.        iii.   CHARLOTTE STEWART, b. Private.

             iv.   NORMA JEAN STEWART, b. Private.

 

14.  BERNICE7 STEWART (REATHA6 SULLIVAN, OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born Private.  She met (1) JOE JORDAN Private.  He was born Private.  She met (2) GEORGE ETHERIDGE Private.  He was born Private.

     

Children of BERNICE STEWART and JOE JORDAN are:

21.         i.   YVONNE8 JORDAN, b. Private.

22.         ii.   YVETTE JORDAN, b. Private.

 

15.  NEVIL SCOTT7 STEWART (REATHA6 SULLIVAN, OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born April 19, 1929 in Smith County, MS, and died May 14, 1991 in Lauderdale County, MS.  He met AMANDA LEE POWELL Private, daughter of MORGAN POWELL and ???.  She was born Private.

     

Children of NEVIL STEWART and AMANDA POWELL are:

              i.   PAMELA8 STEWART, b. May 05, 1955; d. May 29, 1978.

23.         ii.   MARCY STEWART, b. Private.

24.        iii.   LISA STEWART, b. Private.

25.        iv.   KAREN STEWART, b. Private.

 

16.  JOSEPH7 STEWART (REATHA6 SULLIVAN, OLIVER B.5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JOHN2, JAMES1) was born Private.  He met (1) SYLVIA Private.  She was born Private.  He met (2) JEANNIE Private.  She was born Private.

     

Children of JOSEPH STEWART and SYLVIA are:

              i.   MAJOR E