This is a picture of my great-grandfather Gee (Jehu Stokely) Sawyer's older sister Barbary. The back of the picture reads
"F. L. Evans & Barbra Prophet, Jehu's sister, who tried to drive him off his farm. "
Barbara or Barbary was born about 1839 to Archibald and Sallie Killian Sawyer(s). She was probably named for Sallie's mother, Barbary Fulbright Killian. I have not researched the Greene County court records for the lawsuits involved in her efforts to drive him from his farm. It's on my list of things to do. That notation was made by my aunt (and Gee's granddaughter) Janis Sawyer who was her generation's family historian. Barbary married William Proffitt and was widowed in 1870 when he was killed by a falling tree.
There is no record of her marrying Mr. Evans, nor do they appear in any Greene County census together. She was enumerated as widowed and living first, with her brother William in 1880 and then as Barbary A Prophet, head of household in 1900.
For all their warmth and light-heartedness the Sawyers had long memories. Threaten their father - or the farm - and they did not forget.
