Robert Oliver Cannon

1881-1959

The picture to the right, taken about 1910, is of Robert and his wife Ada Martin-Cannon and the first 4 of their 10 children. Bertha, Horace, Dewitt and Eva.

Robert and Ada raised their family in Louisiana, where they were farmers during the Great Depression. It was not easy during those times, and the Federal Government stepped in during the later part of the decade to help out in Northeastern Louisiana. In 1939, the government bought a 10,725 acre plantation at Transylvania from its owners who lived in Tennessee, for about $5 dollars an acre and they began subdividing it into 160 units, each on the average of 40 acres. It was said that each 40 acre farm, had a house, a barn, and a chicken house, all for about $4,000. Families from all over north Louisiana came there to the total of about 200 families. The government eventually gave up an association idea, and the people were allowed to purchase the land. Robert and Ada had a very large garden and raised all kinds of animals for slaughter. Truly hard working people. It was good that they had so many children, as I am sure there was lots of work to be done.