NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TX (KTRE) -
Eight generations of Caddell's
gathered in Nacogdoches to reunite as a family and remember Anthony and Helen
Caddell. Whose humble beginnings paved the way for the family today.
"Our family ancestry started here
in East Texas, our great, great, great, great- grandmother was a slave on the
Devereux plantation," said Henry Hammons, Caddell Family Reunion.
"It was a fairly good situation
at that particular plantation not a lot of harshness," said Jeri Mills,
Coordinator, Caddell Family Reunion
Helen grew up and worked on a
plantation just outside of Mt. Enterprise,
When she was freed, she married
Anthony in 1869, and they raised nine children in Rusk County.
"Nine different family sets are
here today under Anthony and Helen," said Mills.
A heritage table displayed pieces of
the family's life, with quilts and aprons from lifetimes ago.
Caddell family artifacts are also
included in the Stone Fort Museum at SFA.
"Its really exciting to know that
our family history is being preserved and being recognized even by the
university," said Hammons.
Henry Hammons says seeing family
completes the experience and adding a layer of history gives them the chance to
glimpse into the past and create a better future.
"We made a lot of progress and a
lot of times younger people especially don't realize the suffering that has
gone in to the making of that progress," said Hammons.
The family hopes the tradition of
coming together will help future generations remember sacrifices of the past.
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