Page 58 - Crooked Letter Legends
P. 58

1830′s and named the place Dundee in honor of a town in Scotland. He later
               changed to the name to Aberdeen. It was near Pontotoc where Gordon found the

               land where he wanted to build his home. The location that he chose had been the
               land of the Choctaw Indian chief, Chinubi and once the Indians were gone from

               the area, he began building the new house.

                    After moving into the grand mansion, the Gordons would have one child, a
               son  named  James.  His  earliest  memories  of  Lochinvar  included  magnificent

               parties and his personal servant, named Ebenezer. He could not remember a
               time when Ebenezer had not been a part of his life. He taught James to hunt and

               fish,  told  him  stories,  supervised  his  manners  and  when  he  was  old  enough,

               packed his trunks and watched him leave for the University of Mississippi at
               Oxford in 1851.

                    As the years passed, the beloved slave grew older and became known by

               the respectful name of “Uncle Eb”. He remained particularly close to James
               Gordon and their relationship went far beyond master and servant.

                    In  February  of  1856,  James  married  Virginia  Wiley  and  in  December  of

               that year, their daughter Annie was born. From that time that she could walk,
               Annie was attached to Uncle Eb. She followed him everywhere and begged him

               to push her on the swings and to tell her stories. Delighted, Uncle Eb took under
               his wing a new generation of Gordons.

                    Then came the Civil War. Robert Gordon, now too old to be involved, gave

               his  support  and  advice  to  James  and  they  raised  a  company  of  Confederate
               cavalry,  the  first  from  northern  Mississippi.  Before  James  Gordon  left  for

               service,  he  called  Uncle  Eb  to  see  him.  “Take  care  of  my  family  and  the
               plantation,” he told his mentor, “My father needs your help and I need to know

               that you are here with my family. Don’t let anything happen to them and I’ll be

               back home soon.” He embraced the older man and told him goodbye. This began
               Uncle Eb’s role as the caretaker and guardian of Lochinvar.
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