Rook

    Each family has their own traditions that are special and must be followed. Whether it is eating Thanksgiving dinner at grandma's, going on family vacations to the beach, or having weekly movie nights, every family has customs. For my family, the card game Rook is ours. When my parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents all get together, it is inevitable that a Rook game will break out. Not only is it such a common occurrence, but it can become very competitive, as well. Multiple tables will be playing at once, not only rivaling against the opposite team but competing against those engaged in other games, also. Rook tends to be a tricky game. It is not difficult, but you must think and make decisions wisely in order to be victorious.
  My papaw would always tell that Rook is a card game that was created over a century ago. This game has mainly remained around the southern area of the United States. It was actually created by extremely religious people as a replacement for traditional cards. Classic cards were too closely related to gambling, in the opinions of those people. My papaw has played this game his entire life and has passed it throughout the family, until now, everyone loves to play.
   You are probably wondering what Rook even is. Well, the card game has 57 cards in a deck, each one of four colors: black, red, yellow, or green. Every card also has a number on it from 1 through 14, except for one, the rook card (it has a bird on the card), and certain cards have different point values. The game is played between two teams with two people on each team. At the beginning of every round, the teams estimate how many points they believe they can win in the round and bid on them. Attempting to win. The teams compete against each other and earn or lose points. Typically, Rook is played until one team reaches 500 points and is deemed victorious. This game can take an extremely long time, even hours.
     As you can see, Rook is a major part of my life, especially at family gatherings. This card game has been in my family for generations, as well as many to come. There is always a ready deck of Rook cards at nearly any event.  At my papaw's house, there is unfailingly a deck close within reach. Hopefully, the great game of Rook continues to bring families like mine together for a fun time filled with competitiveness and laughter. Where is your deck of Rook cards?

Checker Champion

   My great grandfather, Paul Davis, is one extraordinary man. He started the business Davis Brothers Nursery and worked there, with his brother, for many years. He was married to his wife, Mary, and together they had three children: Jacinta, James (my grandfather), and Teresa. Throughout his life, he has accomplished an amazing title. Once he retired from the nursery business, Paul took up playing checkers. At his house now, there is a room overflowing with trophies, medals, newspaper articles, checker boards, and checkers. Good was an understatement.

Paul Davis playing checkers in the 1980's

   Paul began his addiction as a small child playing at a country store, however, he does not remember his very first game. In an interview, he said, "You get good by having somebody beat you for about a year." He started playing more and more, beating every amateur that crossed his path. Eventually, he commenced competing in tournaments. Of course, he endlessly continued to be victorious over his opponents. Over time, he moved up and was playing in more advanced competitions, strengthening his skills. He developed his capabilities so much he could beat you in a game every single time. Multiple people would team up to try and win but never succeeded. Paul was so advanced in his checker playing expertise that he could win from another room, without even looking at the board. How? On his personal checker boards, each square was numbered, and he knew which square was which number. Someone could be using the board during a match and say, "I moved my checker from square 3 to 4." He, not even glancing at the board, could say, "Move my piece from square 8 to 7," and win.

   Papaw got so good at playing checkers, he could not find anyone locally to challenge to a game. His family and friends all knew that he was too good and they stood no chance. Paul began traveling in order to find worthy opponents of equal or better skills to further his own. He and his wife traveled across the country to play checkers. Mary said in an interview that they would plan their vacations around his checker matches, they became so frequent.

   In 1988, my papaw won the title of the United States Go-As-You-Please Checker Champion and went on to compete on the international level. The following year, 1989, Paul Davis competed in the worldwide GAYP checker championship. Even though he was not victorious, the opportunity alone to play internationally is a once in a lifetime experience. Not only did he represent the country, but he also represented our community and family in an outstanding way.  Like I said, good was an understatement.

Davis Brothers Nusery

     Horticulture has been an interest throughout my family for generations. It all started with my great-great-great-great grandfather, Eli Davis, Jr. He was a man of many trades, one of which included grafting trees. His sons, C.C Davis and his brother James Davis, followed in his father's footsteps and began a nursery business of his own, called "Silver Leaf Nurseries."

Silver Leaf Nursery

    The nursery began in 1876, in Rose Hill, Virginia. They grafted and sold fruit trees, which were transported across the tri-state area by horseback, wagon, or railway freight. Each tree cost 10 cents. The majority of customers during this time wanted to obtain an orchard of their own. This, of course, required employees, who were paid daily. Laborers could receive their day's wages in one of three forms: 50 cents, 5 pounds of bacon, or 1 bushel of corn. 

    James died young, but eventually, C.C. expanded the business himself. The nursery began selling vines, shrubs, nut trees, and ornamental trees. The business thrived for many years. C.C. died in 1932, and 3 of his sons bought and continued the business. Unfortunately, the Great Depression soon swept through the United States, crippling Silver Leaf Nursery.

This was not the end of the family nursery business. Around 1920, Elmer and Bernard Davis, C.C.'s sons, had begun a business of their own, "E.C and B.B. Davis Nursery Co." In 1948, Elmer's sons, Paul and Claude Davis, took over the business, renaming it "Davis Brothers Nursery."

Pictured above is Paul Davis in the midst of his business's trees.

Davis Brothers Nursery

     Paul and Claude turned the company into one who met the needs of more modern homes and businesses. This turned the focus away from selling fruit trees, and more towards being the best salesmen of ornamental trees and shrubs. Paul's son, James, graduated college as a horticulturist and landscape designer and joined the business in 1969. By the late 1970's, Davis Bros. Nursery was doing amazing. They had roughly 30 employees and were operating plantings along Virginia highways, as far as Richmond, Virginia Beach, and around Washington D.C. In 1995, James's son, Jason (my father), graduated college, with a degree in Horticulture, and joined the business, just like his father had. Davis Brothers Nursery is still in business today, in Rose Hill, VA. 

    

So Many Greats

     I'm sure most of you have met multiple people with the last name Davis. In fact, most Davis families that live around Lee County came from the Eli Davis, Sr. descent. I have traced from myself all the way to this great (6x) grandfather of mine, and now I'm sharing it with you. 

  Like I said, Eli Davis is my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. He was born in Stafford County, VA, August 11, 1779. and later married Martha Baker, who was only 15 years old, during 1806. Her father was a chaplain in the Revolutionary War and pastored Thompson Settlement Baptist Church, in Lee County. Her mother was from French Huguenot descent. Eli and Martha later moved to Claiborne County, TN, where he taught school and she was well known as an excellent baby deliverer and herbal doctor. Together they had 12 children, the 9th being Eli Davis, Jr. 

   Eli Davis, Jr. was born in Claiborne County July 6th, 1823. He married Nancy Jones, later having 5 children. They lived in Lee County where Eli taught school, earning $1 a day. In 1881, he and his wife organized Silver Leaf Baptist Church. The church started off in the local log school house and has since grown into the church that I attend today. Eli also was the chairman of the first Board of Supervisors of Lee County, a trustee of Cumberland College, a surveyor of the county, a Mason, and was loved by everyone. 

   Their 3rd child,  Claiborne Columbus Davis, better known as C.C. Davis, married his wife Mary Sophrina (Mollie) McDaniel January 9,1879. In 1876, he and his brother James furthered their father's interest in horticulture and began Silver Leaf Nurseries. Mollie and C.C. had 8 children. 

Below pictured are Eli Davis Jr, his son C.C. Davis, and his wife and their 8 children. 

Back row: Sylvan, Elmer, Vida, Maurice, Bernard, Eugene
Front row: Norman, Eli Jr., C.C., Mollie, Melvin

   C.C. and Mollie's third child was Elmer C. Davis, born August 31, 1883. If you've been keeping up, he was my great-great grandfather. He and his brother Bernard continued their father's business, just as C.C. did with his. He was also postmaster for 22 years in Rose Hill, where he lived throughout his entire life. Elmer married Flora Gobble, and they had 6 children, pictured here:

Left to right: Flora, Elmer, Ferne, James, Claude, Paul, Jean, Glenn

Mary Lemarr and Paul Davis at the time of their marriage. 

   Elmer's son, Paul Davis, born April 21, 1919, married his wife, Mary Lemarr on February 7, 1940. He, like generations before him, continued the nursery business. Paul and Claude, his brother, branched off of his father's business and created a similar one called Davis Brothers Nursery, which is still in business today. Mary served as secretary at the family business. Paul and Mary had 3 children: Jacinta, James, and Teresa.

 James Davis was born November 19, 1940. On February 23, 1965 he married Carolyn Davis. They had 4 children. My father, Jason, was the only son born out of four children.  James picked up his father's business and is still head over the company today. Carolyn served as secretary at the Nursery, for a short while, and taught as an art teacher for Lee County schools. 

   Like I said, Jason Davis, born January 20, 1973, is the third born child and the only son. He works alongside his father, James, at Davis Brother's Nursery. On October 14, 1995, he married my mom, Martha Davis and they had 2 children. My mother previously had a flower shop business and now teaches horticulture at Lee County Career and Technical Center. 

   And then there's me, Anna Davis.