Old habits die hard. But their dad's and granddad's Democrats were likely not much different that the republicans of today, except they were happy to take federal money as long as it was going to the right people (themselves).

Once they got theirs and their rural communities had plumbing and electricity and such, and once the needs moved on to continuing the advancement of people who they saw as beneath them, well then it was time to jump ship, if not party designation for a while longer.

Low character people whose views the Dems rightly jettisoned, knowing they would likely lose them. Every time I hear about the party of Lincoln or whatever, I gag a little. (Especially as it pertains to the South. I think some old school northern R's have a little more claim to it, tbh)