John Wesley Wammack 

Sep.15, 1850 - Mar. 23, 1933

Quote from book "Womack or Wammack of Izard Co., Ar." by Don Womack. Dedicated to my father John Wesley Wammack who was 72 years old when I  was born, and to my mother Catherine King Wammack who was 44 years of age when I was born.    Not only am I grateful to be alive, I am lucky to be here  at all.

My father was a carpenter and farmer.  He was known for his "dry wit" -- was a prolific reader before losing his eye sight to cataracts,  and had taught music (singing schools) at one time.  He use to tell,  how, during the Civil War,  he would take his little tin cup down to the spring -- along with a small pattie of corn bread made without shortening or salt, and eat his breakfast.  This was all they had. He said they almost starved.    Also he use to tell how scarce salt was.  His father and mother would dig up the dirt floor of the smoke house where meat, while curing, had dripped -- boil the dirt in water, drain off the water, then let the water evaporate, thus leaving the salt."

Don Lee Womack was the only child of father's third marriage.
I recall having heard my Father tell about the time some "bushwackers" came into their house, picked up a shovel of coals from the fire place, and started to throw them in the feather bed.   My Father, age about 13 or 14, said to them,  "go ahead and throw them in.  But I will have you know that in 30 minutes all of you will be swinging by your necks from the limb of a tree.    For you see, my Uncle and a band of men are just outside.  " At this they threw the shovel and coals back into the fireplace,  got on their horses and rode away.  My Father said his Mother scolded him for having told a lie...for he did not have an Uncle with a band of men. However,  he reminded his Mother that he had saved their house from being burned down.   "Again, I heard my Father tell about the time he was returning from Mill (corn Meal).   Some Northern "Yankee" soldiers road up beside him and said,  "young Man, you are our prisoner. " when they came to the place where he was to  turn off to his house, he invited the soldiers home with him and told them he would cook them something to eat. They declined; and he heard them say as they rode on down the road,  "that young fellow sure is a brave little boy...and has a lot of nerve.  "This is taken from a marker on the Court House Square in Hartville, Mo. "During the Civil War, Hartville was the scene of a bitter day-long battle...11 Jan 1863... in which some 2,500 confederates under Gen. John S. Marmaduke encountered about 1,000 federals from Gen. Fritx Henry Warrens command. Victory was claimed by both sides; but confederate loss was heavy.     On Marmaduke's staff, Col. Joseph O. Shelby and Col. Joseph C. Porter were mortally wouned."

Don Lee Womack, 19 Pinehurst, Memphis, TN 38117

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