Plary Jane Hallmark Fowler Descendants

In Late November 1914, Isaac Joshua (Ike) Motes was shareopping for his father-

in -la-law Daniel Wesley Fowler. Ike's crop was located about one and one half miles

south of McRae, Ark. Near a railroad crossing called "Bomar Crossing.'. Isom Fowler,.

son of Daniel Wesley was helping Ike with his corn harvest and they were up-loading

a wagon load of corn into the corn crib.

Yjy Grandfather, Daniel Wesley, Isom, Ike and another uncle, Tilman Fowler had ordered some whiskey for the Holiday season whsich was only a few weeks away.

Uncle Tilman got up early that morning and decided he would be the good Samaritan He hitched up his rmles to the wagon, got his old shot gun and headed for the train depot at Beebe, Ark. some 2 1/2miles away to pick -up and deliver the whiskey. Tilman lived near Hills Comer, about 2 1/2 miles east of Beebe., Ark. He -made the pick up & headed for Ike's house about 2 1/2 miles north of Beebe and decided to sameple the product as he rode along and to ward off the chill that was in the air. The flavor was undoubtedly to his liking, for by the time he arrived at Ike's placse he was quite drunk. As Tilman approached the wagon from which the corn was being removed Ike climbed down to greet Tilman and rest himself. As the two men came face to face Tilman raised his double barrel shotgun and pointed it Ike's heart and said I've a good mind to kill you". Ike said, "You are too big a coward to kill anyone". As the last words left Ike's mouth Tilman swung the shot gun with all the force he could muster at Ike's head. Ike ducked the blow and swung his fist from ground level and struck Tilman beside the head. The blow slew him like David slew Goliath, except for one thing, Tilman -was still alive. Blood squirted from his eyes and nose and ran out of his ears and mouth as he lay there with each beat of his heart being nearer to his last.

Grandpa Daniel Wesley Fowler and Uncle Isom witnessed the entire episode and rushed quickly to Tilman's aid. The decision was quickly made that death was eminent unless help was provided fast. They loaded Uncle Tilman into a Surry and headed for Beebe to the nearest Doctor., some two and one half miles and about thirty minutes and one life away. The Doctor's diagnosis was not unexpected. He announced emphatically that Uncle Tilman had no chance whatsoever to live, because his skull was cracked and there was no way to stop him from bleeding to death.

The Doctor's report was carried back to Ike, and Ike with little or no formal education and no experience with the law bolted and run. He hopped a freight train in his bid for freedom and wound up in the cotton fields of Texas, where he thought he would escape the long arms of the law.

Motes., who had a two year old son, Casey and was expecting another. Rosie and Ike were both 21 years old and had been married three years. This was their second home after leaving Bells, Crockett County., Tennessee where they had married5 February 1911.

Ike was about 6 feet tall, near 190 pounds and a boy of exceptional strength. He would load five hundred pound bales of cotton from ground level on to a wagon just to show his strength. It was said that only a man of exceptional strengthcould perform this task.

Son could return home because, Tilman had recovered nicely.

Ike and Tilman remained friends until they both passed away, Ike at 73 in 1965 and uncle Tilman 96 in 1975i Kathy, Tilman's wife and Ike's sister is today 92 years old, Rosie is doing nicely at 90 and Aunt Ophelia Isom's wife, is 92this year of 1983 and just doing beautifully.

To this day no one knows why this all took place., but I believe 1914 at age 21 was when Ike Motes accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour and he served his Lord some 45 years as an elder and song leader in the McRae Church of Christ. This storyis well documented and has been passed down through the years.

Mary Jane (Hallmark) Fowler, wife of Daniel Wesley.,mother of Tilman and Isom died on January 22nd., 1915. on her headstone reads these fitting words. ''no pain,no griefs., no anxious fears can reach our loved one sleeping here."