Home in the Wilderness is a novelized family history covering the years 1848-1880 in West Tennessee. Effie wrote the book in the 1930s and 40s in Dresden, Tennessee, but it was not published. In 2000, the Meek and Maiden families began to check the facts in the manuscript and to prepare it for publication, complete with end notes to confirm facts, a few old photos, and family trees of all the descendants of James and Mary Meek. Now everyone interested in this period and region can read this fascinating account from an author who grew up hearing legends and lore around the family dinner table.Civil War buffs may find the descriptions of movements with General Nathan Bedford Forrest of particular interest, and the book includes an authentic letter from William Meek describing the Battle of Brice's Crossroads.
Home in the Wilderness contains historical vignettes of Marshall County, Chapel Hill, Nashville, Memphis, Weakley County, the Duck River, and Martin--all in Tennessee. There are also references to Hickman, KY; Columbus,KY; and Hernando and West Point and the Battle of Brice's Crossroads, MS.
Surnames in the book include MEEK, HENLEY, WILSON, HOPKINS, HAWLEY, MAIDEN, RALSTON, SIMS, HENDRIX, WAGGONER, COOK, ATKISON, MARTIN, HARPER, TREVATHAN, TREVILLION, CULBERTSON, WOOD, COLE, FREEMAN, BALDRIDGE, HOGARD, HAWKINS, LEFFLER, and MAHON.
Most of the facts in the manuscript are accurate, for example, the early street names in Nashville (1848); the buildings, locations, and roads named in Memphis (1864); and the battle reports regarding Columbus, KY, Brice's Crossroads, MS, Forrest's raids on Memphis, and the fighting at Union City, TN.
Hope you enjoy the book!
