Robert Jackson Shannon
S-13

Robert, born in 1848 and died in 1933. When he was almost fifteen years old, during the civil war, all the men were gone from home and he was left there to take care of the women and children. One day he was on his way to try to find some food, when he heard horsemen coming.

He was as tall as a man, so he had to hide. There was no place to hide except a large log by the side of the road. He quickly laid down beside it for he would have been captured or killed if seen. He lay there for what seemed like hours while a whole unit of Union soldiers rode by. Some of the horses almost trampled him, but fortunately, none of the soldiers looked down.

His wife, Julia Ann Caroline, daughter of John Waller and Amanda Harrison Caroline Street, also had a brush with the Union Army. Her folks had hung their meat and other food in trees near their home. She was about ten years old and had some little trinket she was afraid the Yankees would find. She ran to a hollow tree to hide it and was caught by some of the soldiers. They cursed her and threatened her life, but they didn't see the food in the trees, or her little trinket.

R. J. and Julia Ann's early life together was begun near Walnut, where they had a store. R.J was also agent for the railroad and Postmaster. After a time, they moved, by boxcar on the railroad, to Faulkner,MS, doing the same work. They later moved to Tiplersville, MS, which at the time was bigger than either Walnut or Faulkner. It had a Gin, a Racetrack, Livery stable, and several stores. People came from as far away as Dumas to buy their supplies.

R. J. continued his career, adding the skills of carpentry and general construction to his already being a farmer, merchant, postmaster, and railroad agent. He helped survery the "Doodlebug" railway built by Colonel W. C. Faulkner in the 1870's. He helped rebuild the railroad and extend it to Ripley, MS, to Middleton, TN. Then in 1898 he built the first telephone line from Middleton to Pontotoc. This was known as the Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Company. Family, family connections, and kin did the building and operation of the company.

During this time they were making their living from the farm. His wife and girl kept "drummers" as salesmen were called, and federal trainsmen and others in their home. This caused some fo the children to say, "Hopper Town, Sexton Street, Shannon Hotel and nothing to eat." The food was good and plentiful, but the children had to wait until everyone else had eaten.

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R.J. and Julia had the following children who were born over a period from 1870 to 1894:

Marcus Leander - married Samantha Pitner

Nona Ella - married Willie B. Wright

Sarah Elizabeth - married Dan Pitner

William Anderson -married Maude Smith

John Tilden -died at age 9

James Biggs -married Fannie Rutledge, then after her death, Myrtle Marsh

Robert Luther -Jennie King

Walter Jackson -Nelle Pegue

Amanda Maude -married Chare B. Rowland

Laronza De Ferris (laron) -married Katie Boyle, died, then Estelle Barlow

Theresa Mitchell -married Thurmon Horton

Lester Street -married Effie Hopper

Virgie Maribelle -married Christopher (Tip) Thornton. A grandson, William R. Pitner came to live with them at age 13 to be trained by his grandfather. He married Addie Mae Hopper.

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In 1919 when they celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary, there were 67 descendants. On this occasion, they reversed the old way of Golden Wedding gifts by giving $1,700 in gold to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, instead of receiving gifts.

One of R. J.'s accomplishments, besides being a successful businessman and prosperous landowner, was the building of a church building for the Church of Christ in Tiplersville. After becoming a member of the church late in life, he realized the need and wanted to do something to show his love and gratitude to God for being blessed with a wonderful wife and family and success in his undertakings. The church was built in 1918. Then to further help the community, he paid the bills of the people when they were unable to pay, due to sickness or death.

There are many descendants from this family who are successful in many fields. One of those was Oscar Laron, who had been the president of Peoples Bank in Ripley, and continued actively as Chairman of the Board until his death. Another grandson, J.A. Thornton, became a gospel preacher, due in part to his grandfather's influence.

Robert Luther "Doc"

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