Jane McIntyre oral history interview, 2017 October 31

Description

Jane McIntyre, the descendent of Archibald Frew who built Rosedale Plantation in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1815, describes her family history. [All times approximate] [00:00] Introductions and a brief description of Ms. McIntyre's family connection to Rosedale as the descendant of the original owner, Archibald Frew. Ms. McIntyre notes her family connection to John McKnitt Alexander, her family background in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and how she learned about her family's connection to Rosedale. [07:07] Ms. McIntyre discusses Archibald Frew, and the Frew descendants, her aunt Jane Cobb London who did extensive genealogical research and speculates about Archibald Frew's problems as a tax collector and his death in 1823. [16:35] Ms. McIntyre relays stories of her grandmother, Agnes Alexander Fewell London, her great grandmother Emma Dora Frew, and the relationship between them. In particular, she relays a story about Emma Dora's ring and how Agnes saw her mother-in-law as being lazy, where it was more likely that Agnes was unusually productive. [20:40] Discussion of Ms. McIntyre's family tree and descendants of Michael Frew and Sara Ann Keesler. Details about Grandmother Keesler Agnes and her 1910 batiste silk wedding dress, which Ms. McIntyre also wore at her wedding. Description of Agnes' house in Rock Hill and how she would not marry until the house was built. [24:41] Ms. McIntyre relays stories about her grandmother Agnes to illustrate how she was unconventional for her time. She describes how Agnes founded the York County Tuberculosis Association in Rock Hill in conjunction with a local African American doctor, having found no other doctors to join her in the venture. She notes how Agnes cussed and that no one challenged her. She also relays how Agnes organized her washing duties using a rumble machine to launder not just for her own household, but also for her church and her boarders. [28:50] Ms. McIntyre describes how her grandfather and a Frew cousin co-founded People's National Bank and Trust in the early 1900's. She tells a story about her grandmother Agnes parking her car outside the bank behind another car that was parked in her designated bay and how Agnes responded bluntly to a policeman who gave her a ticket. Ms. McIntyre also describes how her grandmother would generously dress the dead bodies of her friends for funerals. [33:35] Ms. McIntyre comments about a local craftsman in Rock Hill called Mr. Fergusson who built furniture for her grandmother. She talks about her grandmother preparing and delivering food to friends and family members. [38:34] Ms. McIntyre talks about her grandfather John, who she describes as a charming man, and how he died of a heart condition. She describes her grandparent's house on Marion Street in Rock Hill, how the family had gravitated to Rock Hill, and how her grandmother had her dining room table extended to seat 13 people. [52:52] Ms. McIntyre talks about her African American grandchildren who were both adopted. She refers to her grandmother's telling the family about the African American origins of the popular song, "The Yellow Rose of Texas". [57:35] Ms. McIntyre describes how her grandmother would put flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers on Memorial Day in the Ebenezer community. She relays her own high school experience at Rock Hill High School where she graduated in 1964 and how the school was not integrated although there were students who attended from the Catawba Indian Nation. She describes her own discomfort with segregation and her efforts to challenge the status quo. [1:04:00] Ms. McIntyre describes her own career path starting at 15 despite her parent's objections, and relays how she successfully ran for the vestry at St. John's Episcopal Church and for the Charlotte School Board. She summarizes her longer work history, starting as a schoolteacher, moving into work at the Charlotte Apparel Mart, a wholesale clothing company, and then getting her MBA at Queens University of Charlotte. [1:11:50] Ms. McIntyre continues describing her career, including her role leading the Charlotte YWCA, followed by her role leading the United Way of Charlotte. [1:14:47] Conversation about other Frew descendants and other ancestors, including Violet and William Bain Alexander, and Craighead, Nash, and Keesler ancestors. [1:25:15] Story about Emma Dora Frew and her first-hand account of her colorful journey to South Carolina. [1:36:17] Discussion of William Michael Frew and a family mercantile business called Frew Brothers in Rock Hill that was located on Main Street. Discussion of a family house called High Point in Rock Hill. [1:40:03] Discussion of older Frew history, including Archibald Frew Davidson, the son of Senator William Davidson and Sarah Frew and the brother of Harriet Caldwell, who was the first official mayor of Charlotte.