Lee, this was Cornelius Elmore Cagle,(James, Benjamin, Jacob, George,
John Dutchman, Leornart.) He married Leona Elien
Mitchell, from Sand Mountain, DeKalb Co Al.d/o John and Mary Jane
Mitchell. He was quite a guy, I just wish I
had listened more because he loved to talk...I was busy raising my
family, but he was very smart, had a beautiful handwriting...(you know,
that fancy script, like we see on some old papers) He was overseas in
France and Germany in WW1 and was gased, and lost one lung, and the use
of his legs. He was a big man, big booming voice, never met a stranger,
and liked to stay on the go. She, on the other hand was a stay at
home...had a cow, calf, pigs, chickens, big garden...all on that two
acre lot.They did buy an adjoining lot where they raised hay. I heard
her say one time, 'Neal hasn't worked a day since we married" but he had
a cab there, in the town I grew up in, Maplesville. Owned a Willys, and
had the only taxi service for a number of years. He really like to go
places, sometimes staying away two weeks, he traveled to North Alabama,
Georgia and Tennessee to visit Cagles all the time. She never went with
him.He had loads of pictures and was never without his camera. (No, I
didn't get the pictures, the daughter did, and i have no idea where they
are) I am so sorry I didn't have him writeeverything down for me...I had
no idea of what it would mean.I could tell a lot of stories that are
hard to believe! One thing he did tell me, he told it a lot....when he
was sent back to the states to the hospital...from overseas..(I forget
which hospital was first) I know he spoke of Memphis V.A. anyway...a
young doctor who upon viewing all the tests results came in to talk to
him and told him, he probably had about four or five years to live in
that condition...he looked into the doctors eyes and said " Oh No, I
intend to outlive you, Doc" and as it turned out...he did.
Stella