Only a Few Bones: A True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy & Its Aftermath

by John Philip Colletta

Family lore claimed his ancestor was murdered in Mississippi. Newspapers and court records said the man and four other victims were killed and incinerated in his remote country store. But the case was never solved. Now, after 30 years of investigating, the great great grandson of the slain carpetbagger reveals what really happened. This is a case study for how to build historical context around an ancestral event, depicting graphically how family history and history converge.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical

436 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever you get the opportunity to listen to John Philip Colletta Lecture in person, I can tell you this volume is only slightly less riveting than listening to the author speak.

Only a Few Bones, was impossible to put down once opened. In this very concise treatise, Colletta takes an old family legend and methodically peels away facts from hearsay, collects evidence from multiple sources and keeps conjecture down to pragmatic level. His projection of thought onto the participants, where it occurs, is plausible and attached to reasonable artifact and written evidence.

I have not been this taken with the written reconstruction of an historical event, since I first read Tuchmans' "The Zimmerman Telegram".

Well done sir!

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent integration of historical context with family/genealogical history. 30 years of research based on letters, newspapers, court records, deeds etc. enabled the author to tell the compelling story of Joe Ring's family, his life in Buffalo, NY and his eventual death in the Mississippi Delta. The narrative detail is incredible and can serve as a model for those who would also like to write a family history.

[Ann Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a family historian you should read this book. It's an amazing example of how documents can help piece together the stories of the lives of our ancestors. I found it fascinating and educational and the story and lessons learned were well worth the read. Coletta writes beautifully. I loved what he did here. I loved what I learned here about what can be done. Bravo. Plus there are 80+ pages of documentation showing his paper trails. Wow.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing a presentation by Dr Colletta I bought his book. This is a wonderfully well researched and documented study of the pre and post Civil War history of the Delta area of Mississippi. Great story well told and what a terrific example of the proper documentation of your family history.

[Betty Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author John Philip Colletta meticulously documented this genealogical narrative, though the heavy documentation does not impede his eloquent prose. We learn not only the story of the gruesome deaths at Rolling Fork Landing in an 1873 fire that killed Colletta's great, great grandfather but a great deal of the history of Vicksburg, Mississippi and the Delta in the decades following the Civil War. This is the story of German immigrant brothers from Buffalo, New York who meet with both success and tragedy in post-war Mississippi. Some of my favorite chapters recount the snagging and sinking of the Jennie Howell packet on the Ohio River. In addition, the author allows us to follow his research experience and includes many photographs to enhance his narrative.

[Bill Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admirable work of scholarship and should be of interest to anyone interested in American history from c. 1820 to c. 1900.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Colletta is a very artistic writer. Imagine taking 30 years to put together the story of his ancestor's death!

[Triste · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read. I found the beginning a bit tedious (though it may be the circumstances under which I started), but soon became fascinated. I thought he added too much assumed personal details about how people would have acted as certain things happened. On the other hand, I did enjoy most of the background information about the Delta and the society there; that was completely new to me.

His reconstruction of what he thinks happened the night of the tragedy at Rolling Fork is certainly plausible. I am not, however, totally convinced that the logic he uses to dismiss the "12 theories" out of hand works; I don't think murderers are necessarily so logical, but since the case was not solved at the time, his reconstruction is as convincing as some of the theories and more convincing than the majority, at the very least.

[Carol B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just starting this book. I have just finished a one week class from the author on publishing a family narrative, which is what this book is. I love this teacher/author. He writes just as he speaks. His language is so good and his thought process is so sharp. He is able to write his family history story as a mystery which engages the reader from the very beginning.

I'm having a hard time finishing this book. I'm afraid, as much as I love the author as a teacher, his writing is difficult for me because he chose to write in the "present tense". He told us in class that he wouldn't do that again. For me, it's very hard to process, I have to keep thinking about where and when this is all happening. I want to like it!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had heard bits and pieces of this story at various genealogy conferences, and the author is one of my favorite speakers--a master story-teller, so I splurged and bought the book at my genealogy conference in Kansas City. I was disappointed in it. He spends way too much time giving back-ground information. While some it was necessary to support the various hypothesis as to what caused the fire that destroyed his ancestors store and killed five people, to me, much of it got in the way of a good story.

[Clytee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still believe I am going to write another family history, but in narrative style this time and so I read as many family histories as I can right now. This author has researched his material thoroughly, used "notes" instead of a bibliography, and told the story in a narrative form. It was set in the Mississippi Delta area, which I learned much more about my reading this, and involved a fire in which several family members died. It is a good example of research and putting family history into context.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as someone can when the subject matter is so serious and dark. I attended school in Rolling Fork, Ms all 13 years of my elementary and high school years. I have always enjoyed books with familiar locales and people more than others. I recognized many of the places and names that were important in this story and cherish the opportunity to understand the culture and history of my home place more.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine example of how family history can be interesting and entertaining. Colletta brings his characters to life and gives a vivid sense of the societies and geographies that they inhabited.

There are times when he gives unnecessary detail (as he seems to go out of his way to show the extent of his research), but it is a minor flaw. Colletta writes well, and tells a compelling story.

[Joy Chichester]

Since my great-grandparents were a Union soldier and a Mississippi belle, and my grandmother was born in 1874 in Montgomery County, MS, I am fascinated by the place and events details in this tale. Maybe "my guy" and "his guys" crossed paths in Vicksburg, etc. Just thinking about the possibilities is heady stuff for me. Need I say more?

[Lynnturner428 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for genealogists. The author discusses his ancestor's involvement in the Rolling Fork tragedy, as well as other family events. It is a light read, that helps people identify record sources to do their own family history and possibly find some interesting family stories.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good documentation, but perhaps a bit too much background information--it grew a little tedious and I had to skip through parts of it. I also thought the author made more assumptions than he should have.

[Heather Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great example of a historical and genealogical story come to life. I enjoyed following Colletta through his own journey to find out the truth behind his family's stories. I really enjoyed reading this book and will most likely read it again.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The amount of research that went into discovering the real story was incredible. John Philip Coletta has masterfully woven the facts and history of his family into a compelling narrative. This is a must-read for any genealogist who endeavours to write their own family's story.

[Susan Beyer]

Give me a clue. Never heard of it, Sue