Corned Beef, Cabbage and Green Beer.

Corned Beef, Cabbage and Green Beer.... and so the story goes....

My Great Grand Daddy Thomas Samual came here with his Family in 1917, an Irish Immigrant, and settled in Kentucky. Unfortunately, a Tuberculoses epidemic took the lives of his Kin, leaving only he and his brother. Thomas Samuel was adopted by some kindly family who allowed him to keep his birth name and his History.

Thomas Samual grew but that free spirit of the Irish flowed throughout his Bones,. When he became a Man, Thomas Samual hopped a Southern Pacific Railroad box car and head North landing him in the Wonderful Windy City that is Chicago, taking employment with the Pullman Company as supervisor of its Pullman Porters.

(Historical Fact: The Pullman Company is also remembered for its porters. The company hired African Americans for this position. While still a menial job in many respects, it offered better pay and security than most jobs open to African Americans at the time, in addition to a chance for travel, and was a well regarded job in the African-American community of the time. Pullman porters were unionized in the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters under A. Philip Randolph. It should also be noted that the Pullman Company was the largest employer of African Americans in the U.S.)

Thomas Samual took a wife of African and Native American (coming soon) decent, My Great Grandma, and so the ethnic mixture of my American History.

Thomas Samual worked the Railroad for some years until his retirement.
Funny story told me by the historian of my family... My Great Aunt LaVeta Colbert. She told of the time she and her brother...Thomas, were sent to fetch Thomas Samuel from the Train Station on his return home to retire. LaVeta had no clue what Thomas Samual looked like, but she figured it would not be to hard task.
People departed the trains and the station as she stood looking for him. Soon the station was empty leaving them and one “little old white man”.

LaVeta and her brother looked at each other in question and walk over to the Man to inquired of his name. His reply... I am Thomas Samuel Brown. Giggle I love this story.

Now when Thomas Samuel arrived at the Pullman Headquarters to accept his retirement package, the Proud man he was, he took with him his Family with him, wife and children. Upon entering the room where they sat, the Pullman employers in dismay exclaimed to Thomas “Niggers are not allowed in here”. Thomas in surprise... “Niggers? This is my FAMILY!

A Tribute to My Great Grand Daddy.... enjoy.


http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/tyminski_dan/bio.jhtml Grammy Award winner Dan Tyminski.