George Fitts

KENOLY FAMILY HISTORY

GEORGE FITTS

George W. Fitts was born at White Shoals, Virginia on October 28, 1857. His father was from Tennessee and his mother was a native Virginian. The events that brought him to Camden County have been forgotten, but it is known that he was living in Missouri in 1881 as a daughter, Eveline, was born here in October of that year. - {Source 1}

The first, local record of George Fitts relates to a tragic summer day in which two of George's brothers were killed at a picnic near Gravois Mills. The August 14, 1890, Morgan County Leader, gave the events of that day.

"Friday, Gravois Mills, about ten miles south of this city, was the scene of a shooting which resulted in the instant death of Joe Fitts, colored, at the hands of Constable Milburn Bond, and the fatal shooting of Emmiitt Fitts, colored, a brother of Joe Fitts, by Babe Cable of Camden county. From the testimony of witnesses before the coroner's jury and other eyewitnesses, the following was gleaned:

It means from their statements that a picnic was in progress at Gravois Mills, and George White and Emmitt Fitts were furnishing the music for the dancers. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon Babe Cable, a white man, came up to White and sat down in his lap. While sitting there talking to White and Emmitt Fitts, he became involved in a quarrel with Fitts and struck Fitts with his fist. Then Fitts struck at him with his banjo. Then an older brother of Fitts, George, took up the fight for his brother, and while he and Cable were fighting, Constable Milburn Bond seized George Fitts and Cable ran around the north side of the dancing floor. Emmitt Fitts then started towards Cable and as Fitts turned the northeast corner of the floor Cable, who was some fifteen or twenty feet away southeast, shot Emmitt. Joe Fitts, another brother who was across the road east of the parties, came running up with his pistol in his hand, and demanded of Cable why he shot his brother. D. E. Allen interfered, as both men had their pistols out, and told Joe Fitts to put his pistol up, which he did. Constable Bond came up and taking hold of Joe Fitts ordered him to give up his pistol and then shot him twice, killing him instantly. George Fitts came running up and struck Bond who turned and snapped his pistol at him but it did not fire. Bond then ordered the crowd to stand back and commenced reloading his pistol. Bond gave himself up to Justice Rastorfer and Justice Finley took him in charge and turned him over to a man named Kennedy, who went home with Bond. Cable immediately after the shooting mounted his horse and started off, but was arrested by Justice Rastorfer. The wounded man, Emmitt, was taken to the house of Doctor H. R. Fish where his wound was dressed. Sunday Doctors Williams and Fish cutout the bullet that had passed through the body and lodged near the spine, but it was to no avail as he died Tuesday forenoon. Coroner W. K. Wright held an inquest over the body of Emmitt Fitts Tuesday. The verdict of the jury was that he had come to death by gun-shot wounds inflicted by Cable and that Justice Rastorfer held an inquest over the body of Joe Fitts the evening of the killing, and the jury returned a verdict that he came to his death by gun-shot wounds inflicted by Milburn Bond. Joe Fitts was shot twice in the head, one bullet entered in the front of the head and one in the back of the head. All the pistols were of the Smith & Wesson pattern and thirty-eight caliber, except Joe Fitts' which was thirty-two. Sheriff Doman went that night to the scene of the shooting, and with Thomas Price, Press Silvey and A. Offiner took the prisoners in charge and brought them to town Saturday evening. The prisoners waived an examination before Justice Rastorfer Tuesday. It is not known whether they will be tried this term of court or not."

Robert (Bob) Fitts, George's son, remembers being told by his father that Emmitt Fitts and George White had quit playing for the day when Cable demanded that they continue their music. When they declined, he became enraged and hit Emmitt, starting the fight that soon ended in bloodshed. - {Source 2}

Milburn Bond and S. J. Cable, charged with murder in the first degree, where taken to jail in Jefferson City to await their trials. Both trials were held in Versailles during the month of August of 1891 and resulted in miss-trials. The August 13, 1891, issue of The Tipton Times commented on the case:

"In the Morgan Circuit court last week Milburn Bond was tried for murder and the jury failed to agree, It is understood that the jury stood 9 for conviction and 3 for acquittal. The case of Cable who is charged with participating in the same crime was begun on Monday. It will be remembered that Bond and Cable killed two colored men at a picnic in the south part of Morgan. At the time it was characterized by many as a most cruel and brutal murder, but the accused have had the moral support of some very prominent and influential citizens. A good deal of feeling has been aroused by the miss-trial."

Cable and Bond were re-tried in August of 1892 with the charges reduced to manslaughter in the 4th degree. Both were found guilty with the former receiving a two-year sentence in the penitentiary and the latter going to jail for six months. - {Source 3}

Eveline, George's daughter, made headlines of her own in 1897 when she filed charges of attempted rape against Albert "Zeph" Murphy. Eveline and Zeph, along with their attorneys, got together before the trial in an attempt to settle the case. Their efforts were rewarded so well that the young couple was married in jail with a hat being passed around to pay the minister. They had two children, George E. Murphy born in January of 1900 and Arbie C. Murphy born in about 1905. Both boys were living with their Grandfather Fitts in 1910. - {Source 4}

George Fitts married again on August 12, 1897; his bride was Josephine Murphy from the Horse Shoe Bend area. Born on April 24, 1876, Josephine was the daughter of Nancy, a black woman, and Captain Murphy, a white man. Her stepfather was Jack Murphy, a former slave of the Murphy family. Nancy Murphy's parents were both from Georgia. - {Source 5}

The Fitts family continued to live in Camden County on a rented farm until sometime past 1910 with George making a living as a farmer and doing any other kind of work he could get. With the exception of one child, their children were born by 1910.

Descendants of George Fitts

1 George Fitts Born: Oct 28, 1857 in Virginia Died: Apr 12, 1918 in Lebanon, Missouri age at death: 60
. +(Unknown)
...... 2 Eveline Fitts Born: Oct 1881 in Lebanon, Missouri
*2nd Wife of George Fitts: . +Josephine Murphy Born: Apr 24, 1876 in Horse Shoe Bend,Missouri Died: Nov 27, 1956 in Lebanon, Missouri age at death: 80
...... 2 Lulu Fitts
.......... +Ike Chambers, Sr.
.............. 3 James Chambers
.............. 3 Guy Chambers
.............. 3 Ike Chambers, Jr.
...... 2 William James Fitts Born: 1896
...... 2 Emmitt Fitts Born: 1899
...... 2 Julia Fitts Born: 1901
...... 2 Elmo Raymond Fitts Born: 1907
...... 2 William Robert (Bob) Fitts Born: 1910
.......... +Beulah Case Born: Mar 10, 1913 Died: May 13, 1972 in Lebanon, MO age at death: 59
.............. 3 Velma Fitts Born: in Lebanon, MO
.................. +(Unknown) Moore
.............. 3 Clara Fitts Born: in Lebanon, MO
.................. +(Unknown) Stamps
.............. 3 Richard Fitts Born: in Lebanon, MO
...... 2 Cecil Daniel Fitts Born: Aft. 1910

Sometime after 1910, the George moved his family to Lebanon. During this time period, he became seriously ill, suffering from dropsy that he had contracted while working in Colorado. With fluids building up in his legs, he had to greatly restrict his activities. Unable to work and knowing that death was impending, George used this time to counsel his children. He emphasized the importance of getting along with white people in order to make a living and urged them to stay with their mother and help her in every way they could. George W. Fitts died on April 12, 1918. - {Source 6}

After his father's death, Bob Fitts went out each day, admonished by Josephine, his mother, that he must bring something back that evening. Going from house to house, Bob hired himself out to do whatever jobs were to be had for an eight-year-old. Whether it was cleaning a house or doing the laundry, he attempted to make his work flawless so that he would be rewarded with a small amount of money or some food to take home to his mother. A loaf of bread, a potato or tomato: all were welcome contributions to the family's supper. - {Source 7}

Eventually, Josephine and her children moved into the only shelter they could find, an empty corncrib. They stuffed paper and old rags between the slats to insulate their new home as much as possible. The children were cautioned by their mother never to go off and leave the door unlocked. Bob and his brother did just that one day as they went out to hunt quail for supper and then, remembering, dashed home to find the welfare ladies leaving the premises. Their home was deemed too dangerous for habitation, as there was only one door for escape in case of fire, a likely possibility with the flammable insulation filling the cracks. When told that the children were to be removed from her care, Josephine took what money she had and purchased train tickets to take herself and her children to Carthage, Missouri. - {Source 8}

At the Carthage Station, Josephine found that she did not have enough money to pay for Bob and his brother to ride in the cab to their destination. A good runner, Bob kept pace with the cab as it moved across town and then went back and guided his brother to their new home. The children continued to perform whatever odd jobs they could find to add to the meager wages that their mother earned as a domestic. - {Source 9}

Returning to Lebanon, a life-changing event occurred to Bob Fitts. He attracted the attention of the prominent Hooker family and was "adopted" by them. What education he received was through Jane Hooker, the daughter, who taught Bob everything that she learned in school each day. It was soon discovered that Bob was a natural mechanic, a real whiz at taking things apart and putting them back together. Mr. Hooker put him too work full time in the repair shop of his automobile dealership. - {Source 10}

At first some whites resented the position of the young black man, but soon found that his genius at repair resulted in a smooth running, dependable engine. With a combination of good work and his refusal to answer back in kind to early, cruel remarks, plus the backing of Mr. Hooker, Bob successfully broke through the "color line" and labored as a respected mechanic throughout his active years of employment. - {Source 11}

When sixteen years old, Bob fell in love with thirteen-year-old Beula Case, the daughter of William Case, a minister, and the granddaughter of Edmund Case, a highly respected farmer of Camden County. The Cases had made it obvious that Beula deserved more than what Bob Fitts could provide. The young people were not to be denied. Deciding that he had a better chance of persuading Ed Case that he would be able to take care of Beula, Bob approached him with great trepidation. Bob was so unsure of his reception that he turned the car around so that it was pointing out the driveway, left the engine running and talked to Ed Case with the window down only a couple of inches. When it became apparent that Beula's grandfather admired the youngster's motivation and determination to make something of himself, Bob turned off the engine and rolled down the window. Ed Case was instrumental in convincing his son, William, that he should not stand in the couple's way. - {Source 12}

At first, Bob had in mind how handy it would be for he and Beula to live with his mother. Josephine, however, would have none of this, insisting that Bob work to become independent in his own home. Although the advice appeared harsh to a sixteen-year-old, he appreciated her stance more and more as he grew older. Josephine became a kind and caring grandmother, as she had been mother. A well-known and respected woman of Lebanon, she died on November 27, 1956. - {Source 13}

Bob and Beula shared married life for over forty-five years, raising a family of two girls and one boy.

Descendants of William Robert (Bob) Fitts - {Source 14}

1 Robert (Bob) Fitts Born: 1910
. +Beulah Case Born: Mar 10, 1913 Died: May 13, 1972 in Lebanon, MO Age at death: 59
...... 2 Velma Fitts Born: in Lebanon, MO
.......... +(Unknown) Moore
...... 2 Clara Fitts Born: in Lebanon, MO
.......... +(Unknown) Stamps
...... 2 Richard Fitts Born: in Lebanon, MO