Dad (Linus A. Davidson):  Taping was done at Grandma Davidson's (Dollie Catherine Lankford) house.  We want to do a little recording for posterity.  Now Mama, where were you born.  Just talk like you were talking to me.  GM:  Well I suppose I was born in Alabama, but I don't know what part.  Dad:  Wasn't it Geneva.  GM:  Well Geneva, Alabama is where I lived.  Dad: Your maiden name was Dolly Catherine Lankford.  GM:  Yes.  Dad: And your parrents died when you were real young.  What were their names.  GM:  William and Nancy.  Dad:  William and Nancy Lankford.  GM:  Aha.  Dad:  The best you know they lived in Geneva.  GM:  Well I guess so.  GM  I didn't live in the town of Geneva.  I lived in Geneva County.  Our Post Office down there was called Vaughnville then.  It was a little country Post Office.  You see my adopted people, the Vaughns lived there.  My foster father's people and his brother lived about a mile from there.  I don't know why they named that PO Vaughnville.  Dad:  They were probably influential citizens of that community.  GM:  Well, I guess so.  I don't know exactly why because there were a lot of other people there. 

 

Dad:  About how old were you when your parents died.  GM:  Well I think I was about 5 yrs old.  Dad:  Do you remember them.  GM  Well I remember her a little.  And my father I heard I was about 7 yrs old.  I don't know exactly.  I just can't remember exactly about anything like that.  I remember a man took me to my foster mothers.  And I remember hearing him talk to her.  And I don't know exactly what they were saying but they were talking about me I guess.  Ruth [Whittiker]:  You said he gave them some money.  GM:  Well I have heard the neighbors say that.  But nobody else did.  But he was talking to her as I say I think he took me there for her to take care of.  And I know I hung around him.  I don't know what he was to me.  But I guess it must have been some my father.  I hung around him because I was afraid of them.  But then afterwards I didn't know when he left.  I guess we were out playing.  And I don't know when he left.  And that is the last time I know anything about him.  Dad:  You don't know where they came from or what nationality they were.  GM:  I think he was English.  And she was Scotch I guess.  Ruth:  And you thought they came from Florida.  GM:  Oh I don't know.I don't know too much about it.  Ruth:  Your Uncle Don came from Florida.  GM:  I don't know whether he lived in Florida or not.  No I didn't say where he came from.  Dad:  Well then you lived there in Alabama with the Vaughns.  GM:  Yes about 14 yrs I guess.  I remember Ma wrote it in my little album.  She said you have been a part of my family for about 14 yrs.  For nearly 14 yrs I think she said.  I don't know if I have it now.  I think I threw it away.  Or tore it up or something.  Anyway then her brother came from Kansas and wanted me to go home with them.  Course that was after I got about...   Well I must have been about 18 or 20 Yrs old.  I never have...   I just didn't keep track of how old I was.  But anyway when I went up there I went to school in Kansas.  But I hate to try to tell anything that I am not too sure about.  Dad:  Well sure but you just can do the best you can.  Thats all you can.  GM:  But some of those other people Unkle Arkes, he was Pauls brother, my foster brother, they told me about this.  Course they would like to undo these other people so I don't know exactly what they were.  But anyway, he said that he gave them some money to take care of me.  I don't know $100 or $200.  Dad:  Was quite a bit of money in those days wasn't it.  GM: Yes I guess it was.  Anyway I guess he left when I was out playing.  I never did see him no more.  And he must have been thinking he was going to die pretty soon or something so anyway. 

 

Dad:  Well then you took a trip to Kansas.  GM:  Yes with Uncle Joey and Ant Kate Hayes.  Dad:  Now were they Vaughns.  Oh they were Hayes.  GM:  They were Hayes.  It was her brother and his wife.  And of course I didn't expect to stay.  I remember that when I got there I didn't like it at all.  Dad:  Who did you visit when you got there.  GM:  Well it was her daughter.  Her and her daughter.  They were there.  Dad:  They came down to Alabama visiting and came back up there then hah.  GM:  Yes.  Dad:  And ... how long did you visit.  GM:  Oh I was there till I was married.  Dad:  About how long was that.  GM:  Went to school a while and oh lets see.  I went to school about 2 seasons I guess.  And then I worked a while.  Just stayed at her house and helped her with her work.  But anyway then I got married. 

 

Dad:  How did you meet Papa.  GM:  Well in the first place, we both belonged to ... well in the first place I remember I had gone to the Methodist church one night. Guess it must have been by myself.  It was a little ways around the corner.  About a block or two.  He come and asked if he could see me home.  I said well I guess so.  Well then he took me home.  Then later on we belonged to the Good Temper Lodge.  And so I remember one night he was acting as one of the Officers and I was there and that's how we come to meet at the Good Temper Lodge you might say.  Dad:  Aha.  I don't know what the Good Temper was.  GM: Well it was some Order.  A good deal like they have now to stop people from drinking.  You were supposed to touch not, taste not, have not and all like that you know.  Dad: I see.  Well about how long did you go with Papa before you got married.  GM:  Oh I was pretty near 22 when I got married.  Dad:  Aha.  GM:  Why didn't I keep track of all of those things so I could remember about it.  Dad:  Well that is the way we all are.  There are a lot of things.  I wish I had a diary when I was a little child.  It would sure be lots of interest.  GM:  But oh about a year I guess, probably.