Etta Icie Davis

10 May 1888 – 15 February 1970

Etta Icie Davis was born on May 10th 1888 to Leutica Carver and James Davis in Robbinsville, North Carolina. Leutica and James were never married but had two children, Etta and Cena. The 1890 census would have been helpful in determining where Etta lived between 1888-1891, but I presume, it was with her mother or maternal grandparents, Azor and Lucinda. Etta's son, Robert Meeler always said that she was raised by her grandprarents.

Starting in 1891, Etta lived with her mother and new step father, John Starlin Deaton. Upon this marriage, Etta gained four half-brothers: Reuben, David, Isaac, and Robert Lee.

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Etta in her middle age

Deaton Marriage

In December of 1900, Etta's mother, Leutica passed away, presumably due to child birth. That same year both her grandparents, Azor and Lucinda had also passed away. They were buried at Lone Oak Cemetery in Robbinsville. Leutica is also buried in Lone Oak Cemetery beside her infant child.

Etta's only full sibling, Cena, also passed away. Cena cause of death is currently unknown. It is suspected that she died sometime between 1900-1908. She was listed in the 1900 census and then suddenly disappears from all records with no named headstone.

Etta was now alone with no direct blood relatives besides her father who was not apart of her life. On February 14th 1902, had a child with her step-father, John Starlin Deaton. The child was born near Santeetlah Lake in Robbinsville, North Carolina. The doctor that helped deliver the baby was S.F. Howell. Etta named her first child, John Henry Deaton.

Etta had two more children, Jacob Leander Deaton on March 8th 1904 and Harve Wesley Deaton on November 14th 1907. Both born in Robbinsville, North Carolina.

Father: James Davis

Mother: Leutica Carver

Sister: Cena Davis

Half Brothers: Reuben Deaton, David Deaton, Isaac Deaton, Robert Lee Deaton
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First Husband: John Starlin Deaton

Children: John Henry Deaton, Jacob Leander Deaton, Harve Wesley Deaton

Second Husband: James Meeler

Children: Charlie Meeler, Odell Meeler, Robert Lee Meeler, Elsie Lucille Meeler
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Dr. Swinfield F Howell making his rounds

Leaving North Carolina

In February of 1908, Etta's husband, John Starlin Deaton was shot and killed while clearing new land near Hanging Dog, North Carolina. It is unknown whether Etta was with him at the time but her half-brother, Isaac, followed the river thirteen miles to Tellico Plains to try and get help. John Starlin passed away and was buried in Garrett Cemetery while their was snow on the ground.

Etta was now by herself again having to care of a six year old, three year old, and three month old. Her half-brothers were also still teenagers at the time.

She decided to go someplace where she knew some people. John Starlin's sister, Martha Ann Wheeler, lived in Towns County, Georgia which was forty three miles away from where John Starlin was killed. Etta loaded everything they owned onto a wagon pulled by an ox and made the trip. With her was children, John Henry, Jacob Leander, Harve Wesley, and half-brothers David and Robert Lee Deaton. Isaac and Reuben decided to stay behind and fiend for themselves. The trip was a rough one and it took several months to arrive to the household of Martha Ann Wheeler. They often had to camp out over an open fire.

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Etta in Georgia

Meeler Marriage

Etta married James W. Meeler on August 22nd 1910. Rev. Robert Freeman Rice performed the ceremony. James Meeler was thirty years older than her, he was born in 1858. Meeler was a sharecropper and farmed on other peoples land.

Etta and James Meeler had five children, Charlie, in 1912. Odell in 1916, Annie Mae in 1920, Robert in 1923, and Elsie in 1927.

Etta lost her two year old daughter, Annie Mae, in 1922.

James Meeler was said to have been very mean to Etta's Deaton children. John Henry, Jake and Harve frequently huddled up outside the house in the chimney corner to stay warm. Etta would secretly slip them in through the window at night after Meeler had went to sleep. During the day they stayed in the barn and Etta had to slip them bread out of the house in her apron in order to feed them. Things continued to get worse and Etta had to start begging the neighbors to raise the older children.

James Meeler had cancer that had started to rot his eye out. During the night, he used a net to cover his face to keep the bugs off it. James Meeler died in 1928.

Times were hard for Etta once again, she was alone having to care for 4 children. She begged her son, Harve, to stay with her and help her with the crop instead of going back to the mountains and working in the logging camp. He agreed to stay until he got married in 1935.

L to R: Etta, Robert, Elsie, Charlie, Odell

Etta holding grandchild, Carole Meeler

Later Years

L to R: Eddie Daniel, Etta, Earl, Carrie, Martha Ann, Ophelia

Etta and son, Robert Meeler

Etta and daughter-in-law, Lonie Lilly

Etta with granddaughter Carole, and great granddaughter Angelina.

After the Meeler children was grown, Etta eventually moved in with her daughter Odell and her husband E.C. Gerrell.

In 1970, Etta had Cervical cancer that had kept her in the bed sick. The last time her granddaughter, Martha Ann Deaton, saw her, she apologized for being in the bed. She said her grandchildren had never saw her in the bed sick before.

Etta passed away on Feburary 15th 1970. She was buried beside her daughter, Annie Mae Meeler at Damascus Cemetery.

Etta's Death Certificate

Etta's Luggage Briefcase

Stories

Etta had no schooling. She could not read or write. My grandmother, Martha Ann Deaton, said she always had to listen to the news on the radio everyday at noon when she would go and visit her. She would always listen to the local obituaries this way.

Etta's grandson, Thomas Emory Deaton told me that grandma Meeler would get so mad at him when he was playing in her fig tree.

Etta's granddaughter, Ophelia Deaton told me that when Etta was sick and near the end of her life, Ophelia gave Etta a kiss on her cheek, and Etta responded with "Don't you get enough sugar at home?"

Etta's grandson, Lee Looney described Etta as a "pistol" and that he would go eat dinner with her all the time.