"HOW THEY MET" Written by Vivian Shannon Mullen July, 2001 All of this information I got from Marriage records at Charleston, Tallahatchie Count Ms, and the Cemetery. James Anthony Shannon-Born November 16, 1861 Died, August 22, 1936- and Martha Janie Shannon-Born. March 16, 1858-Died . March 15, 1935-both buried at Henson Cemetery, Cascilla Ms, Tallahatchie County Marriage of Bood 1890-Page 450- Shannon, James Anthony-- Branscomb,Jannie,-02-06-1889. Their only child that lived was-James Vernon Shannon born December 17,1891-October 10, 1972 Vivian wrote this beautiful love story of her Grand Parents that she loves so dear, and will till the day she meets them in the sky. I would like to share this story about how my Grandfather, James Anthony Shannon and Grandmother, Martha Jane Branscomb told me when I was about fifteen years old. My Grandmother Janie ( as she was called by her family) had been called to Charleston Ms from her home in Enid Ms to help her sister Julia Branscomb Fonda take care of some of the sick children. One night her brother-in-law Charles Fonda, who was the sheriff of Tallahatchie County Mississippi came in for the night and had a guest with him. In those days people often spent the night with some one, because they did not travel very far on horseback at night. This man was introduced as a deputy Sheriff from Panola County Mississippi. He had cone down to pick up an escapee from Panola County Jail. Janie said she thought "he was a fine looking man." He was about 6'1", black hair and brown eyes.(As I remember him Grandfather was a handsome man, even after he got older) He was always very polite, thanked her for a good dinner as he told her goodnight, and said he had to be on his way early the next morning. Janie got up early the next morning in order to fix breakfast for him before he would leave. She felt he would need food before he got home. The long ride from Charleston to Batesville was about 25 miles. Before he left he got a chance to ask if he could call on her Sunday afternoon. And she said yes!, and that she would be back home in Enid by Sunday (she had already been at her sisters two weeks. The sick children were better. On Sunday he drove up in a "Fine Buggy" that was Janie exact words. They went for a buggy ride. Not too long after that they were married (how long I do not know). Her brothers did not want her to marry him because he was Catholic and he was a Methodist. However Granny said that was not the real reason. They just wanted her to stay there and cook and take care of the house. All of the other girls had married and left home. By then she was 28 and that was considered an "Old Maid" at that time. Grandfather never seemed to forgive her brothers for the treatment she received from them. When her parents died she received nothing from the Estate. The brothers kept it all. She said " she was not given one quilt or blanket", she continued to love them all of her life. Grandfather took good care of her all of her life. She had great respect for him and called him "Mr. Shannon". I never heard him raise his voice to her, and I stayed with them more than I stayed at home. They were a very unusual couple. He was a rare person who was calm and never seemed to be disturbed about anything. When the Banks failed in 1934 or 1935 he lost all of his money (he had sold oil leases) and had a good bit. I never heard him mention it. Maybe he talked to Grandmother, but never where I could hear it. Granny was the one who told me about it years later. However, they must have received a little back as sometimes after he died in 1936 she put a head stone on his grave. I do not know where the marriage 1890 came from. As I have always thought my father was the middle child, and I know he was born in 1890, so that would make him the oldest if date of marriage is correct. I think they were married 48 years. USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This page done by Helen E. Staten Arnold, July 22, 2001.