“America,” I imagine she whispered tearfully. “You’ll be safe there—and free. Trust in God. Become good husbands and fathers. I love you always.”
After one last embrace, she hurried her young, terrified boys onto the steamship under the cover of night.
At dawn, the brothers cautiously sneaked to the top deck in hopes of catching one more glimpse of their mother. As the ship departed from Ireland, the boys spotted a familiar red handkerchief waving from the dock. Frozen by grief and fear, they fixed their eyes on the one who loved them most and watched her until she was no longer visible. That would be the last time the 8- and 10-year-old boys ever saw their mother.
For the next several days, they hid in the ship’s boiler room to keep warm. Although they were careful not to make a sound, the captain discovered them. He allowed them to continue sleeping in the boiler room as long as they would fire the boiler. To compensate for their passage, they were made to scrub the deck.
Over the long journey, the boys ached to return to their mother. Life had been wonderful until their father passed away unexpectedly. Then famine struck the land, and their mother was forced to marry a widower whose farm joined her land. She still couldn’t provide for her children, and worse, the new husband was an abusive alcoholic. Desperately, she wrote a letter to the boys’ uncle in America. She explained the situation and how sending them away was the only option to keep them safe. He responded and promised to take care of them if she could find a way to send them.
Once the ship finally arrived at Ellis Island, they boarded a paddleboat that took them to the dock in New York. An unfamiliar uncle found the nervous boys and traveled back to South Carolina with them on horseback.
John Henry and James Joseph lived with their uncle and worked for him until they were old enough to marry. James Joseph fell deeply in love with a young belle but again found himself heartbroken when she died during childbirth, along with their little girl.
Soon after, the brothers decided to venture to unsettled land out West. Once they made it to Mississippi, they had their doubts about crossing the river during the harsh winter. So, they settled in Choctaw County and found work helping a farmer gather crops and clear land in exchange for room and board.
Before spring came, James Joseph found love once more, married, and settled in Chester, a booming frontier town. However, John Henry couldn’t give up his dream of exploring the Wild West, so he set out alone, never to see his brother again.
James Joseph and his wife Sarah Jane endured hardship, yet they successfully raised five sons. From those sons came many generations of God-fearing, hardworking, patriotic men and women.
Coincidentally, over 120 years later, I, too, have one daughter in heaven and five sons, just like my great-great-great-great-grandfather James Joseph. Growing up, my favorite place in the world was in the home of my grandparents in Chester, Mississippi. I played on and explored the very same land James Joseph’s children did.
My fondest memories involve shelling peas with my grandmother as she taught me about the Bible. I cherished sitting under the shade tree with my grandfather and listening to stories of his days as a mischievous boy attending a one-room schoolhouse. Though they left no monetary inheritance, the memories made and the spiritual heritage they passed down are priceless treasures.
Faith and family were of utmost importance to my grandparents, along with their love for America. They lived through very trying times for our country. As children, they were scarred by the Great Depression. During his senior year, my grandfather was called to serve in World War II and then was crippled during the polio pandemic shortly after.
My grandparents witnessed a presidential assassination, segregation, the rebellious hippy movement, strife over the Vietnam War, and 9/11. Yet through it all, they taught others to love as Jesus loved, to work hard, and to never take one day of freedom for granted.
America is a flawed land made up of flawed citizens, but no other country in the world has been as blessed by God Almighty. We have much work to do, but I believe in the God upon which our foundation rests. It’s a country so amazing that a selfless mother could ship her sons over with the assurance that they could survive with only faith and perseverance.
We must defend our liberties, so I can continue to say to my sons, “America. You’ll be safe here—and free. Trust in God. Become good husbands and fathers. I love you always.”
