The 13th Button: Destiny or Coincidence?
When Liz, Jolene and I visit the Cherokee Nation, Webbers Falls is always our first stop, where my mother Vera Nell Evans (b 1916, d 2005), grandmother Gracie Dellar Garret (b 1899, d 1948), great grandmother Mary Jane Collins (b 1875, d 1959), all born daughters of Webbers Falls.
While visiting Webbers Fall Museum, where I was doing some family research with the help of museum director George Miller, George mentioned and was excited about their expansion project. They are remodeling the large vacant, unused unit next door. They are going to enlarge the museum, add a gift shop and expand the historical displays. They currently display mannequins dressed in Vintage Military Uniforms. George said they didn’t have any US Navy uniforms. I told him I had been in the Navy and I would see what I could do. When I was honorably discharged in 1962 I had a complete set of Wool Blues, Whites and a Wool Pea Coat, however my mother was tired of holding them and gave them all away (I don’t think they would fit me anymore).
When we got home I started my search. I found a pair of vintage WW I blue wool 13-button bell bottom pants with string tie at the back waist band, a blue wool-jumper, a WW I & II blue wool crackerjack hat, two neckerchiefs, and a white cotton jumper. One White Hat (Dixie Cup) cotton cap donated by our Cherokee Citizen CNCV Member Elena (Hansen) Roberts’ husband Jeremy Roberts, who served two tours of duty in the US Navy Submarine Service. WADO! Jeremy, Elena & William Thank You For Your Service!
When I received the 13-Button Pants there were four missing buttons on front flap. I searched the pockets, in a small zippered pocket I found three of the buttons. I just needed one more matching button. I searched on line, I went to a used clothing store and went through trays of buttons and found nothing. Our neighbors Ron & Carol Pope are antique dealers, so I called them and asked if they had any vintage US Navy buttons. Carol said oh yes, Ron has a large collection of military buttons. She brought over a bunch of varied buttons, none of them matched. I gave her one of the buttons to take to Ron, lo and behold Ron found the one matching button, YEAH! Ron. We first met Ron & Carol Pope when we moved to Roseville in 1986. As we got acquainted, we discovered Ron and I share the same French/Cherokee ancestors, brothers James and John Shoemake, 1780s South Carolina. As my search continued I wanted to find a pea coat. Carol called me, she found a forgotten one in her vintage closet. I was able to procure that pea coat, however there was another missing button on the pea coat. Once again Ron found a matching button, mission accomplished, WADO! Ron.
Destiny or Coincidence?
The sailor’s name Evans is stamped on the pea coat, Evans is my mother’s maiden name.
The sailor’s name Scott stamped on the wool hat, Carol Pope’s maiden name is Scott
The missing buttons were found by my Cherokee Cousin Ron Pope.
--Mike Webb
