The Family of Francis Marion Shaw Newsletter Volume 9 Number 2
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Authors
Shaw, Bryan Lee
Issue Date
2000-07
Type
Text
Language
en_US
Keywords
Berrien County Historical Foundation (Nashville; Ga.) , Nashville (Ga.) , Berrien County (Ga.) , Newsletters , Periodicals , Berrien County (Ga.)--History--Sources , Electronic records , Grady County (Ga.)--History , Historic preservation--Georgia--Berrien County , Georgia--Genealogy
Alternative Title
Abstract
This newsletter profiles Marion Mansfield "Buddy" Knight, a grandson of Francis Marion and Rachel Allen Shaw, whose life was characterized by a persistent pursuit of elusive dreams and significant financial hardship. Despite his early education and initial success in farming, including purchasing land in 1902 and expanding his holdings, Mansfield's life became a "trail of court proceedings" involving deeds, mortgages, and sheriff sales. He frequently borrowed against his properties, both independently and in partnership with his brother Leland and mother Eliza, especially after moving to Brooks County to manage his deceased father's farm. The boll weevil infestation between 1914 and 1916 further exacerbated his financial difficulties, forcing him to rely on less profitable crops. By the early 1920s, he and his brother faced mounting debt, leading to sheriff sales, the loss of much of their land, and Leland severing their partnership in 1925. Mansfield eventually lost the farm between 1931 and 1932, though he continued farming, even placing property in his daughter's name to rebuild. His life, marked by financial setbacks and family discord, was cut short at age 58 when he died suddenly from a massive stroke in March 1940.
Description
This item contains 1 PDF with 6 pages in addition to 6 JP2 files