The “Aunt & Uncle” series of biographical sketches are Aritficial Intellence) AI compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research.
The Life of Sarah Jane (Previtte) McCall (1871-1945)
Early Life and Family Background
Sarah Jane Previtte was born on May 20, 1871, near the Zoar United Methodist Church in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She was the daughter of John Washington Previtte (1824-1913) and Elizabeth "Bette" Davis Previtte (1841-1900). Sarah Jane, who was also known as "Sallie," grew up in a large farming family during the challenging Reconstruction era following the Civil War.
The 1880 census shows nine-year-old Sarah living with her parents and several siblings on the family farm. Her father John was listed as a farmer, working to rebuild and sustain the family during the economically difficult post-war years. Sarah's siblings included William, Martha, James, John, Clara, and Emma, making for a bustling household where everyone likely had responsibilities to help keep the farm running.
Marriage and Family Life
Around 1889, at approximately 18 years old, Sarah Jane married James Francis "Jack" McCall (1867-1943) in Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. This union would last 54 years until James's death in 1943, just two years before Sarah's own passing.
Together, Sarah Jane and James Francis "Jack" raised five children:
Willie May McCall (1892-1982)
Mary Elizabeth McCall (1894-1979)
John Alexander McCall (1896-1972)
Nancy Ross McCall (1900-1993)
James Howard McCall (1906-1943)
Tragically, their youngest son James Howard died in 1943, the same year as his father, which must have been devastating for Sarah Jane in her final years.
Life as a Tinner's Wife
James Francis McCall worked as a "tinner," operating his own tinner shop in Cheraw. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, tinners were essential craftsmen who worked with tin-plated iron and other metals to create and repair household items. On a daily basis, James would have crafted kitchen utensils, pots, pans, buckets, gutters, downspouts, and roofing materials. Tinners also repaired these items, as families couldn't afford to replace things easily during those times. The work involved cutting, shaping, soldering, and finishing metal pieces—skilled labor that required steady hands and years of experience.
The tinner's trade was physically demanding, involving work with fire, sharp tools, and heavy materials. James would have started early each morning, heating his forge, preparing his tools, and working on custom orders or repairs brought in by local families and businesses.
Sarah Jane's Role in Supporting the Family Business
As the wife of a tinner and mother to sons who likely learned the trade, Sarah Jane played a crucial supporting role in the family business. She would have managed the household to allow James to focus on his craft, but her support likely extended far beyond domestic duties. Sarah Jane probably helped with the business by keeping accounts, managing customer payments, and maintaining inventory of materials and finished goods.
During busy periods, she may have assisted in the shop itself—cleaning finished pieces, organizing tools, or helping with simpler tasks like sorting metal scraps for reuse. When customers came to the shop, Sarah Jane would have greeted them, discussed their needs, and scheduled work. Her role was essential in maintaining the relationships that kept steady business coming through the door.
As their sons grew older, Sarah Jane would have coordinated their training in the shop, ensuring they learned not just the technical skills but also the business practices that would serve them throughout their lives. She understood that the success of the tinner shop meant security for her entire family.
Life Through Changing Times (1871-1945)
Sarah Jane lived through remarkable changes in American history. Born during Reconstruction, she witnessed the end of the frontier era, the Spanish-American War, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and the early years of World War II.
The census records show the family's stability in Chesterfield County throughout these decades. From 1900 to 1940, Sarah Jane and James remained in the Cheraw area, raising their children and maintaining their business through economic ups and downs. The consistency of their location suggests James's tinner shop was successful enough to support the large family through various economic challenges.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, when Sarah Jane was in her 60s, the skills of a tinner would have been especially valuable. People needed to repair rather than replace items, and James's ability to fix pots, pans, and household implements would have been in high demand.
Later Years and Legacy
Sarah Jane spent her final years in Cheraw, where she had built her life and raised her family. After James's death in 1943, she lived as a widow for nearly two years. The loss of both her husband and youngest son in the same year must have been incredibly difficult for her.
Sarah Jane Previtte McCall passed away on February 22, 1945, at the age of 73. She was buried the next day at Old Saint Davids Episcopal Church Cemetery in Cheraw, joining her husband and continuing her connection to the community that had been her home for over 50 years.
Historical Context
Sarah Jane's life spanned from the end of the Civil War through World War II—a period of tremendous change in the American South. She lived through the challenges of Reconstruction, the rise of Jim Crow laws, the transformation from an agricultural to an industrial economy, and two world wars. As a woman in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, she managed a household and supported a business during times when women's roles were largely domestic but often extended far beyond the home by necessity.
Her story represents the experiences of countless women who supported their families and communities through their quiet strength, business acumen, and dedication to family during one of the most transformative periods in American history.
Through her five children, Sarah Jane's legacy continued well into the 20th century, with her descendants carrying forward the values of hard work, family loyalty, and community connection that she and James had instilled in their family.
Sarah Jane (Previtte) McCall is my Great Grandaunt.
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Endnotes 22 August 2025
1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 June 2012); Memorial page for Sara Jane Previtt McCall; (20 May 1871–22 February 1945); Find a Grave memorial # 66228149, Citing Old Saint Davids Episcopal Church Cemetery; Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.
2. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #5, Page: 326B, Line 43,, Dwelling 291, Family 291, Household of John PRIVOTT; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archive Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.
3. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #18, Page 57A, Line 25, Dwelling 194, Family 205, Household of James McCALL; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 5 November 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1523.
4. 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #0033, Page 49, Line 25, Dwelling 25, Family 25, Household of James McCALL; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 5 November 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T624_1455.
5. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #36, Page 75A, Line 15, Dwelling 276, Family 281, Household of James McCALL; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 5 November 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_1690.
6. 1930 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #7, Page 200A, Line 30, Dwelling 75, Family 82, Household of James F. McCALL; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 5 November 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_2192.
7. 1940 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 13-7, Page 94B/1B; Line 42, Household #308;, Household of James F. McCALL; digital images, 1940 CENSUS (http://Ancestry.com : viewed 1 July 2012); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 3799.
8. Sarah J. Mccall, death certificate 006962 (22 February 1945), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina
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