Guthrie, Oklahoma
January 15, 1916
Editor Press:
It has been more than 45 years since I left old Lawrence County. My father
moved to Bridgeport in 1858. However he had lived in Lawrence County 20 years
before, near where old Mt. Zion now stands. In that neighborhood he married my
mother Jane Turner. He taught one term of school at a place called Spring Hill, not far
from where old Shiloh now stands. He taught school through the week and preached and
reasoned with the people, who assembled at the school house, on Sundays. He moved
out of that neighborhood, but for several years he visited and preached at that point
occasionally.
Then he went to another state for a number of years and returned on a visit in
1858 and held a very successful meeting in an old schoolhouse there were Mt. Zion now
stands and also at the White House. Those two churches then prevailed on him to come
back to old Lawrence County. With the aid of good citizens of the community they built
a home in Bridgeport, where he lived for about 10 years.
The Christian church at Bridgeport was first started under his care. For some
time, however, the organization at the White House included the Bridgeport folks, and
they held their meetings alternately at the White House and at Bridgeport in an upper
room over a business house. But as soon as the meeting house was erected they met
there. I remember my father held a meeting in the house before there was any floor in
the building. The piles of lumber lying on the ground served the congregation for seats.
This was just before the Civil War, when people were crazy on politics. Even church
members were not always sane.
In 1869 I purchased some land on Oblong Prairie in Crawford County, and in
1871 I married Mary Fyffe, whose parents, Wilson and Lucy Fyffe lived on the state
road near the White House.
In my letter last year your printer made me say I was married in 1877, probably
mistaking one of my ones for a seven. Also you made me say that we had here now 100
acres of land when I wrote 160. But the worst wreck of your devil played on me was
leaving out the words ”son of", in describing that boyish trip to the Lawrenceville depot,
I said I asked William Lanterman, son of the proprietor to go with me, (a boy about my
own age) but the printer makes me say that I made that trip with a dignified proprietor
of the town. Now I know this must have dealt a staggering blow to my reputation for
truth and veracity with my old friends, whom I remember something of those times. So
now I demand satisfaction or you must suffer the consequences. I am peaceable.
S. W. Baird
--------Danville, Indiana
January 26, 1916
The Sumner Press:
While I never made my home and Lawrence County, we always call Sumner
our home town. I was born and raised in Crawford County, Southwest Township, and
Landes having been our post office.
I left there in the spring of 1906 and came to Hendricks County, Indiana and
located in Danville, the County seat which is 20 miles west of Indianapolis, and
engaged in the medicine business.
2
(Silas Webster Baird)
Biographical Note:
Silas was born September 30,
1841 Andrew and Jane (nee
Turner) Baird. On February 27,
1872 he married Mary Adaline
Fyffe (born Feb. 1853) daughter of
John and Lucy (nee Lathrop) Fyffe,
in Lawrence county. The following
children were listed n the census
files: children: Eliza, Andrew,
Calvin, Charles , Ira. Kate, Henry,
Everette. Mary passed away
December 1, 1932 and Silas on
October 23, 1934.
Editors Note:
Mr. Baird’s 1915 letter wan not
readable due to the condition of
the newspaper however In 1917
he wrote: ” It is a pleasure and
delight to read in the Pink Press
letters from old friends, neighbors
and relatives, who like ourselves
have wandered away from the
scenes of our childhood. Few of
the writers will realize the
satisfaction they give their old
friends by telling the simple story
of their present conditions and
future prospects and of their
children who have made this
world brighter”
--------(Charles E. Baker)
Biographical Note:
Charles Baker was the son of John
Northrop
and
Alice
(nee
Wurtzbaugh)
Baker.
Born
December 17, 1879 and passed
away on September 29, 1962. He
was married to Shirley Rodrick
May 2, 1908 and Shirley died on
May 30, 1967. Charles is the grand
son of Mahalia Wurtzbaugh who
wrote the Pink Press in 1915. His
sister, Augusta Baker Smith, was a
rural correspondent for the Press
beginning in 1907 for several
years.
(con’t) The 1930 Census lists
Charles and Shirley having three
children: Pansy, Charles and
Helen.
---------
In the spring of 1908 I was married to Shirley Rodrick daughter of Rev.
Samuel Rodrick. We have a daughter six years old and a son four. We own our little
home and are getting along nicely. I have been here now 10 years and am still in the
medicine business.
Yours truly,
Charles E. Baker
--------Flagstaff, Arizona
January 28, 1916
Greetings to all my friends in Lawrence County:
I was born in Lukin Township 41 years ago. My father Isaac N. Barekman,
died when I was four years old. Three years later my mother died, leaving my sister,
Ella, my brother Isaac, and myself, neither of whom were old enough to shift for
ourselves.
Fortune favored me. I fell into the hands of the best man in Lawrence County,
J. A. Barekman. He and his good wife reared me as their own and the kind treatment
they extended me and the sacrifices they made for me shall never be forgotten.
After completing the eight years work at White Oak, attended the Sumner
public schools, the Union Christian College at Merom Indiana and the Southern State
Normal at Carbondale Illinois.
After teaching four years in Lawrence County, I was seized with a roving
disposition, which is never forsaken me.
Leaving Sumner in the early spring of 1868, I travel my way of St. Paul,
Minnesota, Victoria, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington, to San Francisco,
California. There I enlisted for five years in the US Marine Corps in sailed for the
Philippine Islands. I spent a very pleasant week in Honolulu, Hawaii while the ship was
undergoing repairs.
After three years of active service against Filipinos, I return to Boston,
Massachusetts, stopping en route to Nagasaki, Japan, San Francisco, Washington D. C.
and New York City.
After seven months service as guard a at the U.S. Naval Prison at Charleston,
Massachusetts and a few months service at Washington D.C. I was honorably
discharged from the US military service and entered the railway service.
Visited the exposition at St. Louis secured a job as motorman and held it seven
months, when I resigned to accept the position with the East St. Louis Suburban
Company. After six years of service with that company during which time I made a
couple of trips to Colorado and one to the exposition in Seattle. I resigned to take my
wife west for her health.
My wife was formerly Miss Ella Broughton of O'Fallon, Illinois. It was in 1911
that we immigrated to Mexico. After spending one year at Los Lunas, New Mexico,
where we lost all we had in an irrigation venture we came to Flagstaff, Arizona, and
entered 160 acres of government land.
In the spring of 1914, we went back to Illinois and took up our residence at
Granite City, where I was employed as conductor for the Illinois Traction System.
3
Biographical Note:
In April 1915, we again came to Arizona, raised a good crop on our
Homestead, received a patent for our land and moved to Flagstaff, where our children
have the advantage of the most excellent schools which they have here.
We have two children, Inez who is seven years old in the second grade and
John Willis eight years old who is in the fourth grade. Flagstaff is a thriving up to date
little city, among the scenic pines and snow-clad mountains, and ideal climate for lung
diseases and the center of many interesting scenic and prehistoric places, including San
Francisco Peaks, the amount of perpetual snow; Sunset Mountains and Lava beds; the
painted Desert; Bottomless pit; Ancient cave dwellings and Cliff dwellings; and
petrified forests etc.
It is also the county seat of Coconico County, the seat of the northern Arizona
State Normal School and the great trading post of the Navajo Indians.
There are thousands of acres of government prairie land within a radius of 20
miles of Flagstaff yet open for homesteading. This land is surrounded by National
Forest fuel and fencing are free and plentiful.
While we have not accumulated much of this world goods owing to our roving
dispossession and severe sickness which has overtaken us in the past that we are now
healthy and happy, free and content, and permanently settled until the spirit moves us
again.
Most respectfully,
Charles N. Barekman
---------
4
Biographical Note:
Veedersburg, Indiana
January 15, 1916
Editor Press:
It is with much pleasure I have the privilege of writing to the good old Sumner
Press and my dear old schoolmates and friends of good old Richland and Lawrence
counties. My home place was about six miles southwest of Sumner, about two miles
east and a quarter miles south of the Mt. Olive Church and three quarters of a mile east
and north of Mulberry school house, the only school I ever went to in my life, and there
remain some of the dearest friends that I could hope to meet any place.
In the spring of 1884 my father sold the old home place to George Haynes.
Now I think his son Bud owns the place. At this old home we used to have some of the
grandest times each autumn. My father ran a cane mill and it was a busy time for us
boys and most every week during the sorghum making the young people of our good
neighborhood would gather in and have a taffy pulling and play party and we played the
usual old games such as weavely wheat and skip to my lou and wading the cedar
swamps and so forth.
When my father sold his farm in the spring of 1884 he left dear old Richland
and moved to Ford County, Illinois. I being about 17 years old and rather a husky lad,
my father picked on me to take a team through to Ford County, a distance of about 200
miles. It was in the month of February. I remember too well the day I started, the snow
was falling thick and fast and I had a team of horses and a team of small wild mules, and
the last ones I told goodbye was my good old aunt, Mrs. Mitchell Berlin, who lived
quarter of a mile of our old home place, after bidding her and the children and cousins
goodbye. I put spur on the horses and started on my journey. The weather turned out
fearful cold and the snow was deep. My trip was anything but pleasant. The rest of the
folks came by railroad.
We farmed in old Ford County for two years, my brother David, being general
manager of the farm, and we did real well during the two years. The winter of 1885 we
had an awful cold winter. One cold winter day my brother David and myself each took a
load of corn and started to market with it at Melvin and after we sold the grain it was
late in the afternoon and the thermometer was registering 20 degrees below zero. On our
way home we had a stretch of raw Prairie to cross which covered with sloughs, ranging
from one foot to six feet in the depth and as they were frozen over and covered with
snow it was hard to determine where they were. Night had come on and we were
making our way home when I was driving ahead with a great surprise I heard an awful
crash and down went my team and the front wheels of the wagon and we soon
discovered I had driven on a slough about four feet in depth and my good brother and I
jumped down into the water unhitched the team and took the neck yoke and double trees
and broke the ice until he made a road to the edge of the slough where the horses could
plunge out. We then pried the front part of the wagon out and had about two miles to the
nearest house. We were all but frozen to death when we reached fire.
My father sold his farming machinery and stock and went to Bellflower,
Illinois and bought a nice little home in town. This was the last earthly home he ever
owned and he and my good mother both passed away there and they rest in sleep in the
cemetery about one mile north of Bellflower, Illinois, in McLean County. My parents
were good Christian people and belong to the M.E. Church up to their death; my
mother's maiden name was Hannah Landis. Was closely related to the Landis in and
about Sumner and the Brians.
5
Biographical Note:
Now I will give you a little more of my biography. After my father and mother
passed away as children we were left to shift for ourselves and in the summer of 1887 I
hired to Adam Forepough’s Big circus. It was a largest American circus at that time
there I had the pleasure of meeting old Sitting Bull, the notorious Indian chief and we
put on a wild west performance with each show and played the Custer massacre. I
stayed with the circus till the snow began to fall and then they went back to Philadelphia
to their winter headquarters and I stopped off in the west.
Being fond of gun and saddle I worked for a few ranchers and then dropped
back to the Ozark Mountains where I was an out and out hunter for a long time. While
hunting here in the mountains I always got my part of the game. When I was only a lad
down in the dear old Richland I used to go coon and possum hunting with the older
hunters and we would meet in the evening to make our plans and they said that we
would go in cahoots and that they knew the best market for furs and they would sell
them and give me my part of the money. I don't know if they have found the market yet
up to this date I received nothing but the cahoots. A few years ago I was in the vicinity
of Sumner and was talking to one of my cousins and she laughed and asked me if I
remember the time I ate my mother’s sugar, and I told her I had forgotten it. I didn't
want to get her to get the joke on me I say I hadn’t forgotten it for my mother took me
out in the back room and use the elastic part of her slipper on me.
I wish to say to my old chums that I never go back on my friends so I won't say
anything about us playing wild animals and chicken roosts and so forth. No I won't
mention it.
Well we have grown up to be men now. I am living in Veedersburg, Indiana. I
have four children three girls and one boy, who is the baby and he is ten years old. My
children are getting along good in their schooling and music. I employed with the New
York Central Railroad as bridge carpenter. I work between Peoria Illinois and
Indianapolis Indiana at home every Sunday.
No one loves their old schoolmates better than I, and dear friends, my wishes
are tonight, that we may all so live that when we are called to the great beyond we can
honestly and earnestly say: Over the river, the peaceful river, the Angels of death shall
carry me to that land far away mid the stars, we are told where we know not the sorrows
of time.
A. J. Berlin
--------Oilton, Oklahoma
January 21, 1916
Mr. Editor:
Oilton is quite a large town, but has no completed church or school house, and
let me say right here, if you never lived where there are no churches, you don't know
how much they are missed.
Our little daughter, Mildred, will soon be five years old and we hope to be near
some good school by the time she is old enough to attend.
My husband has steady work, drilling for J. H. Markham, Jr. since coming
here. We are all well and happy and getting along fine.
My youngest brother, Russell, came out in November and learned tool
dressing. He is now working with my husband Will. He seems perfectly satisfied and
thinks six dollars per day is pretty good wages for a boy.
We have only one neighbor, and as there is no place to go, or not much to do,
my neighbor and I visit and crochet, while the men work.
6
Biographical Note:
My sister, Carrie, lives about 2 1/2 miles from us, so we visit quite often, it's
only down one hill and up another, but they are sure long ones.
We had sleet, snow and ice the same day you folks in Sumner did, but now it's
just like spring.
I like it here very much better than at first, but believe me; I still have a warm
spot in my heart for dear old Illinois, and would be glad to hear from any of my old
friends.
If the editor had let me write about the country and oilfields, my letter would
have been more interesting.
I will close with the best wishes to all.
Mrs. Essie (Vanatter) Bodine
---------
7
3730 Westminster Place
St. Louis, Missouri
January 20, 1916
(Edna Carlisle)
Dear Mr. Editor:
My sister Anna and I are hardly non-residents, as St. Louis seems so close to
Sumner, but as we often come home and do not get to see our friends, I will take this
chance of telling them we are busy and happy.
Anna is delighted with her work as a registered nurse. Besides affording her a
means of livelihood, she has many interesting and amusing as well as pathetic
experiences. After all, human nature is about the most interesting thing in the world.
I am still with the Harvey System as stenographer for one of the
superintendents, the same position I have had for some time. Last September I had the
pleasure of taking a western trip, including Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, San
Francisco and the exposition, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena and Grand Canyon,
Arizona. Every mile of the way was a wonder to me as I had my first sight of the
mountains and the ocean, with the experience of a little trip to Catalina Islands. My
impression is that the extreme west is a wonderful country for one with a full purse, but
a working woman has just as good opportunities elsewhere.
Anna and I have fond recollections of former days in Lawrence County and
wish our friends a very happy new year.
Yours truly,
Edna Carlisle
--------Brown, California
January 24, 1916
Editor Press:
In response to your request, I will write a few lines. I so often think of my old
friends and customers of Sumner and wish I could visit the place again (which I hope to
do). I realize there have been many changes in different ways quite a few having gone to
the great beyond.
Ten years ago last December my family and I left Sumner for California. We
lived there five years, until we moved to Fruita, Colorado, for health reasons, and two
years later to Long Beach, California. We enjoy changing from one locality to another.
Most unpleasant part of it is breaking the home ties of friendship when leaving.
Since April 1915 we had been on a 320 acre ranch near Brown, Kern County,
just to improve the ranch. The valley is about all a desert with a few good ranches, but
we are surrounded by beautiful mountains. We enjoy the canyon, with the running water
in summer as our summers are very warm. The mountains are covered with snow now.
This is a good fruit country and most all kinds of grain can be raised here. We are all
enjoying the best of health here and consider this a very delightful climate. We have
many friends each place we have lived. I wish I could tell you more about California's
land of sunshine, climate and flowers. We have a married daughter near Altona, Illinois,
a married son in Fruita, Colorado, and two married daughters in Davidson, Oklahoma
and our youngest daughters at home.
We often talk with fond recollections of the good times enjoyed with our
neighbors and friends in Lawrence County.
8
Biographical Note:
Edna Dean Carlisle was born in
Lawrence County in October of
1876 to John N. and Alice (nee
Goodman)
Carlisle.
She
worked as a stenographer in St.
Louis until she retired in 1950
and returned to Sumner where
she lived until her death on
March 21, 1958. Edna is buried
in the Chauncey Cemetery next
to her parents. She was a
member of the Presbyterian
Church in St. Louis. At the
time of her death she was
survived by two sisters
Susanna Roberts and Alice
Seibert both of Sumner.
---------
(Grace Daily Cunningham)
Biographical Note:
Grace Daily was born February 13,
1891 to George E. and Dena (nee
Brausa) Daily in Lawrence County.
Her husband was a Loan Agent for
J. R. Hopkins in Little Rock
Arkansas at the time this letter
was written. Kent was the son of
Silas Newton and Laura Elizabeth
(nee Griesemer) Cunningham.
There were two sons born to this
union Silas and Jack Cunningham.
Grace died in December 1973 and
Kent on October 13 1955. Both
are buried in the Lawrenceville
City cemetery.
Editors note:
The little 9 month old son
mentioned in the letter is Dr. Silas
D. Cunningham, born April 15,
1915. He was a mason for 50 years
and a 32nd degree Mason. He was
a dental surgeon and served as a
Captain in WWII.
The Lord is wonderfully blessing us in this new country.
May the New Year surpass your expectations and hope in success and prosperity,
Yours respectfully,
Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Combs
--------Little Rock, Arkansas
January 25, 1916
Dear Friends:
I will try to write you a few lines to the Pink Press, for it is quite a relief for me
to know that I can write to all my friends in one letter, for letter writing is a hard task for
me.
My husband (Kent Cunningham) and I were residents of Lawrence County,
Lukin Township all of our lives until four years ago. We lived south of Sumner, near
Bethlehem church.
We came to Little Rock, Arkansas about four years ago and like it fine. We
have such beautiful winters there is always a cool breeze, so we do not notice it being
any hotter than up there.
My husband has been with a loan company now three years and likes his work
fine. Of course we aren’t getting rich very fast, but we have a living and have had
excellent health. We have a little son now nine months old, and from his looks, the
climate agrees with him. I have visited back Lukin Township every summer since I left
there, but from the obituaries I read from the Press and the news I receive from there I
shall be afraid to come back anymore.
I will now close, hoping to hear from you all soon,
Grace Daily Cunningham
1117 Rock Street
---------
---------
9
Casey, Illinois
January 14, 1916
L. M. Wood & Sons
Dear Sir:
To express our enjoyment in reading the (Pink Press) last year would be hard
to do. For through it we learned where many of our friends were and how they were
getting a long. It was great. My home was seven miles south of Sumner and all my
people on my father’s and mother’s side live in Sumner and Lukin Township. I married
Mary Ellen Page, whose birthplace was Olney, Illinois. We had three children, two boys
and one girl. One of our boys Leroy, died in infancy and Jesse Glen died six years ago
last August. My dear good wife died this last December so my daughter, Fannie and I
are all that's left.
My wife's only brother lives in Longmont, Colorado and his only sister Mrs.
Fannie H. Davis (better known as Fannie Page), lives at Fort Myers, Florida. Her halfsister, Mrs. Edith Olmstead, whose maiden name was Edith Hammaker, now live at
Wichita, Kansas. She has one girl, Ruth and one boy, Paul. L. C. and Ed Hammaker
when last we heard from them were in Wyoming.
I have lived here for over 31 years and if any of my old friends are near here at
any time I would be more than glad to have you come see us. Wishing all a Happy New
year, I am,
John Cunningham
11 East Monroe Street
Casey, Illinois
---------
10
(John Cunningham)
Biographic Note:
John Was born December 1861
and married Mary Ellen Page July
9, 1884. Mary Ellen was born in
April 1853.
---------
(William B. Elder)
Biographical Note:
William B. Elder was born about
1863 in Illinois. The 1870 census
lists his mother as Eliza with
George, Lewis and Flora as siblings
living in Sumner
---------
Claremont, Illinois
January 29, 1916
Editor Sumner Press:
I see in the Press your request for letters from former residents of Sumner and
Lawrence County. I thought I might write a few lines, as I was born in Sumner May
30, 1863, but left there when quite young, as both my parents died when I was but a
small child. Brother George and I went to Penna. to live with an uncle, Jones Elder,
went in 1872. Was there nearly 12 years, then came back to Illinois and made my
home in Illinois ever since in Richland County since 1889.
Have traveled a good deal in all these years, in several states, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
Brother George died in Indiana nearly 2 years ago and our half-brother Lewis
lives in southeast Missouri, our half-sister, Rosa Ridgely lives in Bridgeport, Illinois.
I expect I could write a pretty long letter, but as I don't know just what would
be interesting to my many friends in good old Lawrence County most. I will not try to
write so very much, and this is a pretty late date for the letter anyway, but I have been
sick with la grippe and wasn't able to write sooner, so if it is too late for your February
3rd print throw it in the wastebasket.
But one thing I must say yet, that I have not forgotten my many friends and
all the good people I used to know in old Lawrence County. I do not get to visit them
very often of late years, I think of them often and wish them all well.
Will now close, hoping to hear from many through the Pink Press in
February.
Best wishes for the editor and all
W. B. Elder
--------Chicago, Illinois
January 29, 1916
--------.J. M. Freese
Editors Note:
The following letter was sent to the
pink Press in 1919:
January 31, 1919
Editor Press:
Just a few lines for your Pink Sheet
and to my many friends from dear
old Sumner. I am enjoying the best
of health and am happy to say our
youngest daughter Lota is over
there doing Red Cross work.
Yours,
J. M. Freese
6354 Maryland Ave.
---------
Editor Press:
Just a line for the Pink Press. Am always glad to hear from my old friends of
dear old Sumner. I am enjoying good health and getting along all right. With best
wishes for all, I am, yours
J. M. Freese
807 East 63rd Street
--------11
Chicago Illinois
January 25, 1916
To the Sumner Press:
Having received your invitation to write something concerning myself for
your non-resident addition, I will say I was born in south Lukin Township am a son of
John Newton French, I have resided in Chicago 26 years at LaSalle Street, I have an
office for practice of law, lead quite a busy life, quite devoid of interest to your
readers, and that I am always pleased to meet residents and former residents of Sumner
and vicinity who come to this city.
Charles N. French
--------Colorado Springs, Colorado
January 18, 1916
To the readers of the Pink Press
It has been several years since I can left Lawrence County and home to fill
my own little nook in the world. As many of those who read this know, I was born
about four miles south of Sumner, the fourth child of James and Mary J. French and
my youthful days were all spent in the neighborhood of my birth. But a brief account
of the more important moves I have made since leaving Lawrence County, may be of
interest to a few of you.
Finding that teaching, as teaching goes in the rural districts, did not appeal to
me, neither did the wages. I went to Valparaiso, Indiana, in April, 1907, and spent the
spring and summer in school there, and in the autumn of that year I entered the
services of the Wabash Ry. Co. as telegraph operator and clerk. My services for this
company made frequent moves necessary and took me into a good many towns along
their line between Chicago and Detroit. Of course I came into contact with a good
many kinds of people and learned a great deal that I had never known before about
human nature and there life began to lose some of its romantic aspect and take on the
look of something sternly real. I lived in a good many homes changing about and I
think the observations I had a chance to make in this way constitute one strong reason
why I still a bachelor girl. However, I do not want this to discourage anyone feeling
matrimony inclined.
In 1909 my health broke down and I left the Wabash in the fall, to spend the
winter at home. In February, 1910, on the advice of physicians, I came to Colorado
going first to Canon City. I was practically a stranger among strangers. The Dr.
William friend and family, and Oris Harper and family, both formerly of Sumner, were
living in Canon city at that time, and I have always appreciated their kindness and
welcome to me. It means much when one is 8000 miles or more from home, in poor
health and nearly every face is a strange one. I soon entered the service of the Santa Fe
Railway Company as operator, and as the work has usually been easy, I have been able
to stay with it for which I am very grateful.
I have made a number of changes here, but wherever I have gone I have
found it easy to make friends, and while I do not wish to convince you that this is
paradise, for it is not, I must say that I like the west and I like the western people very
much. I find the people, as a rule, very broad-minded, intelligent, unselfish and full of
the joy of living. I should like to say a few words about the wonderful scenery here,
but I believe we are forbidden to do that. So I'll just say "come and see for yourself and
get a good Western welcome."
12
(Charles Newton French)
Biographical Note:
Charles French was the son of John
Newton and Sarah Ann (nee
Mackril) French. Born August 8,
1865. He married Eva M. Bunn,
Daughter of John Hazzard and Mary
(nee Sumner) Bunn on December
19, 1885. They had one son listed n
the 1910 census, Ira L. French.
--------(Ida French)
Editor Note:
In 1919 her letter add the following:
Pueblo, Colorado
January 24 1918
My sister, Ethel, came to
Colorado more than four years ago
and up until last July she and I
worked in the same office. She
enjoys the best of health here and in
order to assist her all I could in
utilizing the overflow of energy with
which she seems to be troubled, I
always let her do all the work, in
that way showing that I had her
interest at heart. You will all agree
that it was kind of me! It was also a
matter of self-defense, as otherwise
all her surplus energy might have
been directed against me. She is
quite taken with a broad shouldered
rancher near Colorado Springs and I
presume she will be looking after his
needs someday, also after those of
his cows and pigs and chickens. I
shouldn't write this, only I know it
will come to her eye and then I had
no doubt it will be necessary for me
to go up into the mountains in
hiding for a while. But I am needing
a vacation, anyway.Last July I came
to Pueblo, where I work in the union
depot office of the A, T. & S. F. and
the C. & S. Rys. I work with three
train dispatchers and occasionally
they make it very interesting for me
by all trying to use me at once, to
say nothing of other demands upon
my attention. But fortunately, this is
not the case at all times. I have lots
of leisure time on my hours of duty
as a rule. Both Ethel and I like our
work very much.
(Ida French)
Continued
Though she and I are about 38 miles
apart, we see each other often. The
lower altitude of Pueblo seems to be
better for my health and was the
altitude of Colorado Springs. I think
I am as happy as most mortals. I
have lots to be thankful for and I
count my blessings often. It helps
wonderfully. Try it.”
--------(Ezekiel Gowin)
Biographical Note:
Ezekiel Gowin
---------
I have always been able to return to Sumner for a good visit each year and I
hope I shall always be able to do so, for it is surely a pleasure to renew acquaintances
that often with the many fine people whom I know around Sumner, and at the same
time visit home. I wish I could have them all, friends and relatives, here with me.
To all my friends in Lawrence County and elsewhere, who read this, I extend
a hand of sincere greeting.
Very sincerely,
Ida French
--------Dexter, Missouri
January 11, 1916
Editor Press:
I moved from Petty Township, Lawrence County near Sumner, Illinois, the
fall of 1900. My wife was formerly Elizabeth Perkins, the daughter of William
Perkins.
We bid adieu to friends and relatives October 13 and set out with wagon and
team for Stoddard County, Missouri landing here the 21st of October, nine miles south
of Dexter and three miles northwest of Bernie, found the country comparatively new,
only 5 to 20 acres in cultivation per 40, and needing draining badly. I had the pleasure
of aiding the establishment of the first dredge ditch in Stoddard County. We now have
a well-trained and beautiful farming country, with plenty of the best of drinking water,
good roads, free rural delivery and phone lines netting the country.
Our health has been excellent during the 15 years we have lived here. Our
family consists of one boy and two girls. As I write these few lines my mind is carried
back to the country in and around old Sumner, where I was born, and am pleased to
have the opportunity to speak to them through the columns of the Press, which I have
been a constant reader of for eight years.
Ezekiel Gowin
---------
13
Norris City, Illinois
January 23, 1916
Editor Press:
As I did not take up any space in the Pink Press last year I will let the people
and friends of Lawrence County know I am still among the living which they will
remember me as being Francis E. Haines, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Haines. I
was born southeast of Chauncey, Lawrence County where I lived until the spring of
1909 when I was married to Mr. Frank Gray Boonville, Indiana and with him moved
to Norris City, White County, Illinois. We have been blessed with two dear little
children being born in our home, Beulah May age six and James Benjamin who will be
five in the commencing spring.
Since leaving here we have worked and planed and got us a nice little home
paid for. We like our home and neighbors very much. As we have been readers of the
Sumner Press ever since leaving here and enjoyed the Pink Press last year, we will try
and fill a space this year.
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. Frank Gray
--------Kearney, Nebraska
January 24, 1916
Dear Editor and Readers:
As I am a reader of the Press I will join in writing you, not that I am an old timer, but
hope to be someday. I was only seven years old (am 13 now) when I left the old home
in Claremont Township, located on County line of Richland and Lawrence counties,
but I thought I was quite a man then. I remember papa and grandpa (George Haynes)
both happen to get me and ax for Christmas when I was five years old.
I used to think Henry Brian was the best fellow there. I would play with Henry Brian,
and taking my axes, one on each shoulder I started out to cut trees down. Papa says
now don't get your taxes too hot, when one gets hot lay it down and use the other. So I
did. When I came to dinner he said you didn't cut any trees in the hog lot did you? (I
think he heard the sound). Course we can all be as good as George Washington, and I
said,” yes sir, I did. I cut down three." And I had a fine dad, he only said "you must not
cut down anymore."
I go to school everyday, have not missed or been tardy so far. We have nine-month
school.
We are a hearty bunch of youngsters (three of us). Pearl goes to high school, Irene to
Hawthorne building, and I go to Emerson building. Mamma is recovering from an
attack of la grippe.
I hope to be in high school in another year, so in a few years if you hear of Professor
Haynes out west it will likely be me.
Lee Haynes
124-30 B. Kearney, Nebraska
---------
14
(Francis Gray)
Biographical Note:
Francis (nee Haines) Gray was born
to John W. and Mary (nee Rodrick)
Haines in October 1879. She
married Frank Gray February 2,
1909. The 1920 Census lists two
children Beulah and Benjamin and
living at Indian Creek, White
County, Illinois. Frank was born
September 3, 1867 and died
January 19, 1941
---------
(John E. Heath)
Biographical Note:
John Was born September 7, 1867
to Tobias and Susan J. Heath.
September 7, 1867. He married
Minnie Gudgel March 31, 1895 in
Richland County. The 1900 census
lists one son Elmer, born in March
1896. John died July 13, 1948.
Editor Note:
Minnie wrote a letter to the Pink
Press in 1918 which is included later
in this book.
---------
Butlerville,
Lonoke County, Arkansas
January 18, 1916
Editor Press:
I too am a non-resident of Lawrence County. I was born in Lawrence County,
Christy Township, one mile north and one mile west on the state road, on the
Davenport place, east of Lafayette school house. I lived in and near Sumner 47 years.
One year ago last December 14, 1914 we loaded our goods in a boxcar and
bid Sumner and old friends goodbye and started for the sunny south. Three days later
we landed in Bebee, Arkansas. My wife, Minnie (Gudgel) Heath and I, are located on
a nice little home of our own of 47 acres, 6 1/2 miles southeast of Bebee, Arkansas.
We have had very good health here. If we keep well and prosper, we expect to make
old Arkansas our future home.
We have taken the Press for a long time and enjoy reading its columns and
could not get along with out it, as it is like a long letter from home.
If we both live, we expect to visit Sumner in the near future again, as we both
have lots of relatives and warm friends near Sumner.
There are lots of people here from Illinois, and all other states and I wish
many more would come, as I see a man with small means that wants to farm can live
here as well as anywhere.
Respectfully,
John E. Heath and wife
---------
15
Jacksonville, Arkansas
January 17, 1916
To the many readers of the Pink Press:
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I have this grand opportunity to visit my
old home, relatives and friends in and around Sumner through the columns of the Pink
Press.
Before me seems to be a duty that we justly owe our home country.
I was raised southwest of Sumner eight miles. Bethlehem church sounds good
to me. I have been wondering if, after 15 years of absence, I would feel like a stranger
at Bethlehem church.
Thirteen years ago I took a position with a medical company as a traveling
salesman. I moved from Lukin Township to O’Fallon, Illinois. I worked there three
years. I found no objection to either the people or the country there, but I decided on
changing climates, so I moved to Arkansas. I have now been here for ten years.
(William Sherman Hill)
Biographical Note:
William Hill was born in Lawrence
county in January 1871 to James
and Sarah (nee Wright) Hill. He
married Harriet Bell “Hattie” Burget
on February 4, 1891. The 1900
census lists the following children:
Vera, Martha, Sherman and Zola.
Hattie Burget was born April 1, 1872
The daughter of Daniel and Matilda
(nee Wagner) Burget. William died
on November 1, 1933 and Hattie on
January 16, 1939 in Arkansas.
It is great consolation to me to review my boyhood days, which brings me a
remembrance of many old acquaintances and relatives. I am sending my best wishes to
all and am extending an invitation to any or all of my friends to come and see me or
write to me. I live near Jacksonville, Arkansas. I am on a farm and am very well
satisfied with all conditions.
My wife will join in this letter, my maiden name was Hattie Burget, but now
is Hattie Hill I was raised south of Sumner four miles. Wesley Chapel church I will
never forget. We have four children, two are married and two at home and we have
two little granddaughters and we are all prospering and having fine health. Have a
good church and school close. I would be pleased to meet you all in around Sumner.
Best regards to all,
Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Hill
---------
16
Editors Note:
Mr. and Mrs. Hill wrote a letter to
the Press in 1917 and added:
January 15, 1917
“I am gratified to have one more
opportunity to write a letter that
will reach so many of my relatives
and friends in Lawrence County,
and those who have moved to other
states. I have a deep feeling for all
those who live near Sumner I also
feel that those who moved to some
new country, seeking better things
for their future welfare, are entitled
to a fair consideration. I have no
desire to move back to my old
home country. We are all enjoying
good health we have two children
at home yet and two married.”
---------
(C. W. Ivie)
Biographical Note:
Marquette, Kansas
January 26, 1916
Dear Editor and Readers:
I was greatly pleased with the Pink Edition last year. I am now living in
Marquette, Kansas I am a pastor of the M. E. Church. We have no reason to complain
of the progress we have made in the ministry. We have a beautiful church and
parsonage here, and a fine class the people to work with. On the 9th of December we
closed a most successful revival, which was said to be the best here for several years.
We are always glad to get the Press as it is about like getting a letter from
home.
This is a great country yet our mind often runs back to old Lawrence County,
the scenes of our childhood. By reading the Press we notice a great number have
passed over the great borderland since we left our old home, and a number have
moved away also. Business has changed so in Sumner that it hardly seems like the
same town.
I notice that you are having bad roads in Illinois. So far there has not been a
day this winner that we could not run our auto.
Thank you the editor for this opportunity of writing to friends through the
Press, and sending greetings to all, I am,
Very truly yours,
C. W. Ivie
--------Portland, Oregon
January 21, 1916
Dear Press People:
My sister Mrs. F. J. Fulton and I left Sumner October 5, 1915 and arrived at
Morrill, Kansas at our brothers Joe Lasher, October 6. From there we went to my
sister's home near Sebaha, Kansas and I made a visit there. Then she went on to Los
Angeles, California for the winter and I went on to Marquette, Kansas and spent a
month with my son Charles and his family.
On December 15 I started for Portland, Oregon.
Arrived here on the 17th. I changed at Pueblo, Colorado, Salt Lake City and
Ogden, Utah, also at Pocatello, Idaho, and arrived at Portland in the evening and went
to my son's, W. R. Ivie, 7244 5th Avenue.
We had a family Christmas dinner at son, Everett Ivie’s, at 1185 50th
Avenue, and the children were all present.
I would like to tell of my trip up the Royal Gorge and a lot of other things, but
we are to leave the scenery out, so I will just say that I am well, and I don't think
anyone ever traveled that enjoyed it hardly so much as I do. This is five times that I
have come to Portland, and I am perfectly at home.
Portland is beautiful at the holiday time and already they are beginning to
plan for the race carnival in June.
Best wishes for all of the home folks and a happy new year.
Phoebe I. Ivie
---------
17
Biographical Note:
Bellevue, New Jersey
January 28, 1916
Hello, Home Folks:
Am afraid I won't get my letter in that "Pink Press". I have been so busy
reading the special edition of the Olney Times. Well, it was not near so homey or
interesting to me as the Pink Press was, and is going to be a (not readable)
Earl has that chicken farm here in the suburbs, get sixty cents a dozen for
eggs, Ruby is one of the four who has made over 98 for an average in the New Jersey
state examinations. She is now taking the four year course in high school in three years
and is standing at the head of the class of 96 freshmen.
Mr. Jensen is still a government M. I. in Newark.
I expect to make a visit to my old hometown and you let neighbors this
summer.
(Mrs. C. R.) Clem C. Jensen
--------Champaign, Illinois
January 12, 1916
Sumner Press:
In response to our second non-resident issue, I will contribute a few lines to
my old home paper, home friends and relatives.
My maiden name was Cleora Westall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W.
Westall. I was born and spent my childhood days on a farm in Petty Township near
Hazel Dell school house until six years ago this 12th day of January when I was
married to Dan Jervis of Champaign County, Conduit Township, where I have resided
since on a farm of 280 acres which keeps us pretty busy but am always glad to get the
Press which I have always taken. We have two children, one daughter, Helen, age 3
years and one son Merwin, age 21 months.
I always try to make a visit to my old home at least once a year. Hoping to
hear from many more friends,
Yours respectfully,
Mrs. Cleora Westall Jervis
---------
18
-------(Cleora Jervis)
Editor Note:
Her 1917 Letter added the following
information:
“Will write a few lines to the third
nonresident issue. I am still located
in Champaign County, Condit
Township. We live four miles west
of Thomasboro and eight miles
north of Champagne. We do most
of our trading in Champaign as we
have a car and don't take long to go
when the roads are good. We have
two children, Helen age for and
Merwin, age 3. Have made this my
home for seven years and think
Champaign County is the place to
live. I spent all my childhood days in
Lawrence County, Petty Township,
near Hazel Dell school and always
like to visit Sumner where I have
some very dear folks. Hoping to
hear from many more again.”
--------
Parker's Landing, Pennsylvania
January 26, 1916
L. M. Wood & Sons:
On coming home after an absence of almost 4 weeks I found three copies of the
Press awaiting me. Almost the first article I saw was a calling for non-residents to come
across with fully, hoping to find a stamped envelope, my hopes were not realized.
Today I read a special notice, with "please let us hear from you," but no stamped
envelope.
Since coming home my thoughts have often wandered to Pleasant Hill. Some of
my kind friends at that place shipped me a barrel of fine apples for a Christmas gift, and
after boarding in a town where we had but few apples, I was in a position to doubly
appreciate the gift which I was going to say "Uncle" Dave Stoltz sent, but he might not
care to have his name in the Pink Press.
Last spring after a lingering illness, I was taken to a hospital and prepared for an
operation, but not operated on.
On October 27, 1915 I was admitted to the Butler County General Hospital and
the following morning was operated on for appendicitis and adhesions. My recovery was
rapid and I am enjoying better health than for a number of years.
On December 13 I took up a position of Carpenter in a car works. We built cabs
to be placed on gondola cars. They are for the French government. The cabs are all
shipped knocked down, and placed on the cars in France. We completed the first order of
400. The company sent men to France to put up the cabs. I called mother on the phone
and told her I thought of going to France. She replied "I think you will not go." I came
home but expect to return soon. We will have an order of 1500 cabs to work on which
will hold us for some time.
Sincerely yours,
Webster Kapp
---------
19
Chauncey, Illinois
January 23, 1916
Editor Press:
As I used to live in Lawrence County I am sending my contribution to
the Pink Press. My present home is in South West Township, Crawford County,
Illinois so you see I am not wandered very far from my old home.
I came with my parents from Butler County, Ohio to Petty Township,
Lawrence County, Illinois in the spring of 1850. My old home is about 10 miles
north of Sumner and about a mile and a quarter east of Chauncey. My father's
name was Richard Greer, my mothers name was Kate Greer1. There was no
Bridgeport, Sumner, or Claremont then, no B. & O. S. W. Railroad. My father
came by steamboat from Cincinnati to Vincennes and finished the journey in a
covered wagon. The country was new. There was not much to see except log
cabins and wild grass almost as high as the cabins. I was four years old we came
to Illinois but I remember how our cabin looked. It was roofed with clapboards.
The ceiling was boards laid on top of the joists. The floor was fastened down with
wooden pins instead of nails. The chimney was made of sticks and mud and the
cracks between the logs were filled with mud. The stairs to go up to the loft were
large wooden pegs driven into auger holes in the logs in the corner of the room at
the right and left hand alternately. We did not live in that cabin very long, perhaps
a year, and then father built a new hewed log house with a long wide porch on
each side. It was nicely finished and a very comfortable home it was.
Our school house in those days was a log building which answered the
purpose of church and school house in one. We sat on benches made of slabs. The
legs were wooden pegs driven into auger holes in each end of the seat. There were
two desks, one on the boy’s side of the house in one of the girl’s side. These were
wide boards laid on large pegs that had been driven into auger holes in the wall.
The door was a homemade one and so was the latch. The latch was a leather string
tied to it that was put through a hole in the door and hung outside. All we had to
do to open the door was to pull down the string latch and the door could be
pushed open.
Aunt Fanny Greer taught the first school I ever went to. It was a
subscription school. Every man paid according to the number of children he sent.
After school closed, the teacher collected her wages as best she could.
The first letters that came to us were addressed to the Petty Post Office
that was five miles from us.
In the spring of 1858 my father, Uncle William Nunns and Uncle W. H.
Brown and a few others laid out the town of Chauncey.
The new frame school house was built there. There an M. E. Church
soon followed by an M. P. Luther Watts kept the first store. Sometime in the
sixties we got a post office at Chauncey. That was a very important event.
Many changes have taken place since I was young. Perhaps the most
important was the coming of the railroad. My father took us out to see the first
train that passed over us. In early 60s came coal oil lamps instead of tallow
candles. Now we have telephones and rural routes.
1
Katherine Jane Nunns
20
For old-time social gatherings there was the peach cutting, apple cutting, the
singing school and the spelling school. We had some good spellers too. I believe I
would be safe in saying that Charles Goodman and George Daniels could spell any
word in the book. If Charles was chosen for one side George would be chosen for the
other, so they always had to spell against each other. I remember one night after all the
rest were "spelled down” George and Charles spelled against each other until the
teacher was tired of pronouncing. He gave us a short recess and set them to try it again,
but neither could spell the other down so he declared a tie, and dismissed us.
Now Mr. Editor, I believe you said we should write something about
ourselves.
In 1873 I was married to Francis Adam Keplinger, since then my home is in
Crawford County, Illinois. We had seven children. My husband died in 1888, the
second son died the same year and the second daughter ten years after. The other five
are still living and are all doing well for themselves. How am I prospering? Well,
suffice to say, I have a neat little home and the necessary things of life but with none
of the luxuries. What have I been doing? I am a housekeeper and well it would take
too long to tell what I have done. Now sisters you all know housekeeping brings plenty
of work, but it doesn't pay, at least not in dollars and cents. Had my husband lived we
might have been more prosperous. He left me with six children, the oldest 14 years of
age and the youngest one year. I did the best I could to take care of gether until they
could take care of themselves. My two daughters are married, and one son in North
Dakota, one at home and one at the University of Valparaiso. If I live till the 16th of
August I will be threescore and ten.
Kate Keplinger
Chauncey RR#1
Illinois
---------
21
Princeton, Indiana
January 26, 1916
Editor Sumner Press:
Your notice received, asking me for a letter for your Pink Press Edition,
which is to appear in the near future.
While neither myself or wife are natives of Illinois, yet there were four years
of our life (and very happy was indeed) spent in Lawrence County.
In the year 1908 I began teaching school there, taking for my first experience
in that profession a rural school southeast of your progressive little city, known and
designated Clark. There I spent two consecutive school years. At that time, some sixtyfive pupils were enrolled, and most of the time the teacher was real busy teaching and
keeping school. I shall never forget the many days spent in that vicinity, also the many
kindly acts and favors of the pupils and patrons. We had feasts on numerous occasions
which my vocabulary will not permit me to describe.
We lived in your city almost two years and during that time and since, I have
observed the keen interest and enthusiasm which your good citizens have manifested
in making your city alive, prosperous and progressive.
After leaving Sumner we moved near Bridgeport, and for two consecutive
school years I had charge of Pleasant Grove, another rural school and permit me to say
that I had never known a school board, in cooperation with patrons, to be so alert and
enthusiastic, consistent with good business principles, in the promotion of educational
facilities in comforts, as this board was, which was composed of Messrs, Crook,
Eshelman and Cooper. The many good people of that progressive school district and
the many good children, whom I learned to know and to love, always have my highest
regards and best wishes.
Later we moved to Bridgeport, where I was assistant postmaster for a short
time. After leaving that city, I again entered law school at Danville, Indiana, and
resumed the study of law, finishing my work in April, 1913. The following May we
located at the above city for the practice of my profession.
I am enjoying a good business and we content ourselves in believing this city
the best city of its size in the state. We are located at 827 North Hart Street, where any
of our Lawrence County friends are welcome to call by Mrs. Kirk, our little daughters
Juanita Lea, Wilma Louisa and myself.
With our best wishes for the editors of the Press, and friends of Lawrence
County for health, happiness and prosperity, we are,
Respectfully yours,
Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Kirk
---------
22
Jackson, Mississippi
January 26, 1916
Editor Press:
My maiden name was Barnes. I was raised on a farm about half a mile east of
White House church, in Lawrence County, Bridgeport Township.
Came to Jackson Mississippi about seven years ago for my health, and I am
still in the land of beautiful flowers. I am living with my niece and her two sons, Mrs.
Susan Miller.
There are a number of people here from the north and the greater number like
this country for mild winters. We have quite a lot of flowers in bloom in our yard at
this time.
I would like to see all my relatives, old friends and neighbors, but it's a long
way up to the old home, and as I have a pleasant home and quite a number of friends
here, I am perfectly satisfied.
We all appreciate the Sumner Press, which through the kindness of my
nephew and niece, J. L. and Dell Barnes, find its way to Jackson once each week.
Respectfully,
Lou Mayo
RFD 5
--------Dulin, Missouri
January 24, 1916
Dear Sirs:
I will write a few lines to the non-resident issue.
Old Lawrence County used to be our home.
I was the second daughter at Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Miles, living ten miles
northwest of Lawrenceville.
I married Charles McNece, son of Mr. and Mrs. George McNece, of Petty.
We moved from the J. R. King farm, three miles north and one mile west, to southeast
Missouri, near Bernie, Stoddard County, ten years ago, afterwards moving to Butler
County, fifteen miles south of Popular Bluff, on the Black River. There are six of us in
the family. We have four children, all boys.
We are readers of the Press and greatly appreciate our old home paper.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Charles McNece
---------
23
Tuscola, Illinois
January 30, 1916
Editor Press:
Enclosed find one dollar please give credit on my subscription.
We have taken the Press ever since we moved north. It is like getting a letter
from home.
We left Lawrence County in 1897 came to Douglas County and located in
Tuscola. It is the county seat of one of the best counties in the state-the garden spot of
Illinois-black, rich soil and level country. There isn't any waste land in the County.
This is a good place for a man that has energy and push to get a start.
I would say to my friends, I am in the livery business, have a good trade and
have no reason to regret leaving Lawrence County, tho I have many friends there and
enjoy very much a trip back once a year for a few days visit.
Boost the Press and give us all the news, and oblige.
R. E. Milligan
--------New Cornerstown, Ohio
January 18, 1916
Press Editor and Friends:
Will write a few lines for the special edition of the Sumner Press, hoping
some old-time friends may want to hear from me.
I was born two miles west of Landes, Crawford County, March 8, 1885.
My parents moved to West Liberty in 1890, where we lived until 1896. We
then moved back to Landes, staying one year. On November 11, 1897, we left Landes
for Coshocton County, Ohio, in a covered wagon, arriving in 13 days.
I am at present employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as assistant
foreman, having worked for this company for 13 years, in several branches of the
service.
My parents are both well and enjoying good health.
With the best wishes for the Press and all of my old-time friends, I remain
Yours truly,
Elmer W. Neighbor
---------
24
New Cornerstown, Ohio
January 18, 1916
Press Editor and Friends:
Will write a few lines for the special edition of the Sumner Press hoping some
old-time friends may read these few lines.
I formally lived in Crawford County, near Landes, also in West Liberty,
Jasper County, where most of my school days were spent. My maiden name was
Lizzie Neighbor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Neighbor, my mother's father was
Benjamin Howell, deceased. We moved from Illinois when I was 17 years of age, and
here, in 1908 I was married to Morris Parks, and have one son, Vernon, five years of
age.
My parents are both living and enjoying good health.
Would be pleased to hear from any old friends who may read these few lines.
Will certainly answer them.
With best wishes for the Sumner Press and all of its readers for a pleasant
1916. I close,
Respectfully,
Mrs. Morris Parks
---------
25
FM Perkins 1916 transcribe #1512 perkins hill also 1915 #1924
Hayti Missouri
January 17, 1917
Sumner Press:
Enclosed find check for $1.25 per subscription to the Sumner Press. Will say in regard
to your bank she issued. I certainly enjoy reading the many letters from my old home
folks.
As to myself, my home is still in southeast Missouri. Pemiscot County, the corner
County, Hayti my town. Am still in the hardware and implement business enjoying a
very nice trade.
I feel well, my family is well, have plenty to eat and where.
I go home to your town once or twice a year to visit my father and mother, northeast of
Sumner. I love to come back where I was a boy.
I have two children married. I am also grandpa. When I think of all this, it makes it
feel a little old.
26
Transcri e O E Perkins 1916 #2015
27
Carlock, Illinois
January 15, 1916
Editor Sumner Press:
I have been away from Lawrence County almost a year, and as I was born
and lived there all my life accepting this one year, I felt it my duty to write a few lines.
I thought perhaps my old friends would like to hear from me, and I surely will be glad
to hear from them.
I, John W. Peters, son of Mr. Isaac Peters and Mrs. Fannie Peters, and also
brother of Mrs. Alvira J. Corrie who departed this life April 16, 1912, also father
departing December 2, 1900. Mother resides in Lukin Township up to this present
time, which used to be my happy home.
I have three children, two being by the First Union, Mary E. Moore who
departed this life June, 1900, born and raised in Lawrence County, and one child by
the second union, Olive A. McClintock, of Woodford County Illinois, the oldest child
a girl, 14 years old, second a boy 7 years old and third a boy 2 years 10 months, and is
three feet four inches in height. I now live within five miles of Woodford County,
farming an 80 acre farm, but March the first I'll be 2 1/2 miles from Woodford County
on 160 acres. Crops were fine here last year, with plenty of rain but cool. The winter
weather gives us 14 and 16 below zero part of the time with rain, ice and snow. I
reside just two miles from the Methodist Church, which I attend. I am assistant
superintendent, also assistant teacher of young people's class. But there is no place like
home sweet home. When it comes to religion, give me old Bethlehem for the spirit.
Perhaps it's just a fancy of mine, but my wife agrees with me that they lack energy and
haven’t spirit enough at times. We feel like shouting hallelujah right loud, but if we
should Rev. Tracy, Rev. Burnell, Rev. Reich, brothers Foss, Holsen, Wright, Prout and
Moore wouldn't be here to join in on the chorus. But there are three families from
Lawrence County, Lukin Township that will be close here this year and will attend the
same church. I think my next report will be better. We will soon have our revival and
then brother L. M. Wood, listen, for I think you might hear me sing that far.
Wishing friends and readers of this paper, a happy and prosperous year is my
prayer,
Your friends,
J. W. Peters
--------Marshfield, Wisconsin
January 26, 1916
Editor Press:
As I have never written to the Press I will try to write a few lines. We still live
at Marshfield, 7 1/2 mile south. We came to this state 12 years ago next April. All
have had very good health since we came here. My maiden name was Hester L.
Kirkpatrick. My old home was in Lukin Township, on the Deacon Craig farm. I
remember the melons and all the good things of Egypt.
Hester L. Phillips
---------
28
See 1917 # 2123 also 1918 #1923
Spokane, Washington
January 17, 1916
2317 West Liberty
To the Editor and all Friends Everywhere:
Mrs. Piper joins in the New Year's greeting.
We especially thank the Press for the 52 splendid letters during the past year,
not one of which failed to reach us on time.
We have enjoyed every day of 1915 many of which were red letter days
because of new friends made and happy associations with the old ones.
On Christmas Day we celebrated homecoming, when son, daughter and
daughter-in-law were with us for that and several following days. This, with living
remembrances from friends in Illinois and elsewhere made a happy climax for the
ending of 1915 in a most encouraging beginning for 1916.
We certainly have everything to be thankful for, with a united family, so
many friends here and in Illinois, good health and plenty of employment.
Frazer and wife live at Greenacres, Washington, a suburb, employed in the
city, and are happy and prosperous.
Helen is devoted to her music in Montana Deaconess School, Helena,
Montana, where she informs us it is now 40 below zero. She comes home twice each
year. At these periods Frazier and Clara come also and do you know there is never a
time nor scarcely a day that we do not discuss Illinois happenings as we call out from
memories or from the papers.
Well, to be brief, we are all doing nicely and decidedly happy in our new
home.
I wish that I could tell you about New Year's Eve and Spokane when the
lights went out of 152 saloons, and the doors closed (we hope) forever and ten days
later when officers, with search and seizure papers, took possession of home stored
booze.
Also of the terrible accident a few days before Christmas, when two street
cars, carrying men to work, went down with the Division Street Bridge into Spokane
River, five lives lost and many injured, the city now facing nearly half a million dollar
damage suit but an editorial censor is on the job.
I will say, however, that Spokane and all other cities and towns in the state
are clean of rum and rebellion. Crime for the first half of January shows a most
wonderful decrease, as it always does under such circumstances.
With kind regards to all, we are
respectfully,
Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Piper
---------
29
Chatham, Illinois
January 17, 1916
Editor the Sumner Press,
Dear Sir and Friend:
As I greatly enjoyed reading your Pink Edition last year, it would appear
selfish not to contribute a few lines to the forthcoming non-resident number.
We left Sumner 5 1/2 years ago, after a sojourn of four years, the memories of
which are chiefly agreeable and the good people of Sumner have a warm place in our
hearts.
The Three and a half years immediately succeeding, we enjoyed the quiet of a
country charge, leaving it for our present field something more than two years ago. We
are very pleasantly located ten miles southwest of Springfield, on the I.T.S. and C. &
A. which give us convenient access to the outside world.
We are very comfortably housed in a nine room manse near the public square
and have a bunch of good neighbors about us.
I have pastoral care of two congregations, one in the village and the other five
miles out. The work has been somewhat strenuous, but the results quite satisfactory.
I have recently been enjoying (?) an enforced vacation, beginning with a
sojourn in the hospital, but am slowly recovering and hope to resume full work in a
few weeks. My people have been most generous and kindly sympathetic through it all,
and we have been remembered in this substantial way, our Christmas gifts including a
purse of yellow coin from the Chatham congregation.
We desire, through this medium, to convey all our Sumner friends the
assurance of our friendship and best wishes for their material and spiritual welfare
Joseph H. Piper
---------
30
Calhoun, Illinois
January 15, 1916
Mr. Editor:
I will try to write a few lines for the Pink Press. William W. Provines was
born in Ashland County, Ohio, August 4, 1844. He came to Lawrence County with my
parents John S and the Louisa Provines, in the fall of 1855. We came in wagons
camping at nights and having a good time.
My father was assessor several times and collector three or four times. He
took the census over the County once. He first settled on the place my brother J. A.
Provines now owns. Afterwards bought Richard Ridgely's
place, where he lived until his death, in 1865. I lived at home
with my mother and little children, tended farm and helped to
raise them.
In 1866 I was married to Miss Caroline M. Higgins,
daughter of Barney and Lucetta Higgins. To this union were
born nine children-five girls in four boys-Mrs. Minnie Payne,
Laura M. Henry-she is dead, Inez Bunn-she is also dead; T. H.
Provines, in Newell, South Dakota, Eli F. Provines, Mary
Heckler; Austin L. Provines, Willie F. Provines, Catherine Lee
Harrison, all of whom are living in Richland County.
We are now living alone as we started, I and my wife, through life 50 years
next Friday, 21st of January.
We live in the country until 1882, when we moved to Sumner. I work for
Bradenthrall and Brian’s the first year and then bought a dray and ran it for ten years,
then sold out and rented a farm one year and lived on it a while, then sold out and went
on a wild goose chase and moved to southeast Missouri. We did not like it out there, so
we came back to Illinois and bought our home back. I saw the first cars or train that
went through Sumner on the fourth day of July and had been a reader of the Press ever
since it started, and I could hardly do without it, as it always tells about the old people
of Sumner, but they have nearly all passed over the river, only a few that I know are
left.
Well, I will close, or my letter will be too long.
William W. Provines
--------Topeka Kansas
January 25, 1916
Dear Sir:
I was born in 1884 in Chauncey Illinois, Lawrence County and lived there until I was 19 years
old. At that time I came to Kansas, landed at Silver Lake, the spring of 1903. That Sumner we had an awful
flat and I thought I had all I wanted of Kansas, but I am still here. I work on a farm when I first came to
Kansas and 10 years ago I went to work for the Beatrice Creamery Company which is located in Topeka. It
is one of the largest creameries in the United States of its kind.
I have made several trips to my old home town, of which I am proud.
I have relatives in and around Chauncey.
I enjoyed my trip home a little over year ago the best of any I have made.
Hoping to see the Pink Issue soon, goodbye to all,
Respectfully yours,
J. B. Reynolds
31
Rodrick PartialOregon1916-# 2031-2032 needs transcribbed
J. F. Rosborough
1918-# 3213
L B Rosborough transcribe 1916 #1987
St. Louis Missouri
January 23, 1918
Mr. L.M. Wood, Editor, the Sumner Press:
You deserve a medal for bravery in issuing that free-for-all challenge to amateur poets,
but since you have done it, I am going to add to your misery by inflicting the enclosed
ragtime versus on you.
There are two good reasons why they won't be acceptable: first, because they are
rotten; and, second, because they are probably sent in to late; but, as I said in the
beginning you have brought it upon yourself, and I can only hope that you go to the
reading of them without any permanent ill effects.
Sincerely, L. B. Rosborough
4532 Oakland Avenue
32
3 letters check
Bloomington Illinois
January 14, 1916
To my friends and Richland and Lawrence counties:
Through the kindness of a friend I was permitted to see a recent copy of the Press, and
I note that another year has passed and it is time for the nonresident or the Pink Press.
Although I have been away from home of my boyhood only a short time I feel that I
can send a message of greeting through the columns of the nonresident issue that I
cannot send personally. As I write I am sitting in what I shall have to call my present
home-in the front room of a private boarding house-I cannot see happenings of the
street for the frozen scenery on the windows is about 15 degrees below zero, but with
that it is beautiful weather.
I am employed in the general road master's office of the Chicago and Alton Railroad
Company. Bloomington is an ideal city and I do not hesitate to recommend it to any of
my friends. It is a clean, beautiful, and I thank God a saloonless city. The saloons were
voted out two years ago, and to the man who argues that a town is "dead" after the
accident of the saloons I would like to show the recent yearly report of the city of
Bloomington, as it is in spite of the B. W. P. in the midst of prosperity.
I am looking forward to the nonresident issue, and am expecting to see messages from
many friends in the distant parts of our fairyland from whom I have not heard from for
some time.
Accident all my friends a cordial invitation to visit 811 West Washington if the
opportunity should be in yours,
I am respectfully,
George H Shafer
811 West WashingtonChicago
33
Hillemann, Arkansas
January 10, 1916
Dear Editor:
I thought I would write you a few lines in answer to your request for a letter
from non-residents. I am a subscriber to the Sumner Press. We receive the paper on
Saturdays and we are always glad to hear from the home folks.
I left Landes, Illinois, Southwest Township, the 14th day of September 1914
and moved to Hunter, Arkansas, Woodruff County and lived there until January 7,
1915, when moved to Hillemann, Arkansas, where I now live. I taught school in
Hunter last winter. Am now teaching in Hillemann, Arkansas, I taught 20 days for a
month. The scholars, as a rule are well behaved and good workers although I notice
more sickness here than in schools in Illinois mostly malaria and chills.
The people of Southwest Township that remember how sick I was when I was
up there last fall, on a visit, will be surprised when I say I have not been sick a day
since I came back. I don't mean to say that it is healthier down here than up there, but
the change in the climate seems to affect anyone going from the south to the north.
Well, I must say that I can hear the frogs croaking tonight. This has meant a
very open winter, so far, and we had a fine crop of corn and cotton, with a good price
this year.
We are the only Sumner people here, but six miles south, at Hunter,
Arkansas, Mark Mushrush of Sumner, and Robert Lieb of Landes, live.
We farmed last Sumner, but this fall we sold our horses, cattle and hogs and
moved to town, next to the school house, so I am real handy to school. We still have
two milk cows, nine sheep and one little lamb.
My wife, whose maiden name was Florence Cotterell, is enjoying good
health, only sometimes when she reads in the Sumner Press about parties and oyster
suppers in Southwest Township she has what I call the Arkansas blues- that is, wanting
to go back to Illinois. She says to tell you she got a deer hide rug, a pair of ladies
rubber boots (for they are sure the go here) one half stock of bananas and all the
oranges, candy, apples and peanuts she could eat for Christmas.
There is lots of la grippe and pneumonia in this part of Arkansas.
Well, I must close, by wishing you success and happiness in old Illinois.
From your happy Arkansas pilgrims,
Mr. and Mrs. Emery E. Shaw
---------
34
1919 #4154
Vincennes, Indiana
January 22, 1916
Editor Press:
Being born and raised in Christy Township, Lawrence County, Illinois and
now residing in Vincennes, Indiana, allow space for just a few words for the Pink
Press as I enjoyed reading the many good letters of non-residents last year. I think
those letters were great. As we get the address and hear from our old-time friends, it
brings before us our childhood days and longing for dear friends that have assisted in
times gone by.
My first school was just west of Sumner, in an old log cabin without any
floor. This was a subscription school. My father lived on the Dr. Burget farm, which
is, I believe now owned by William Piper. My next school was at Center. T. M.
Stevens, of your city, was teacher, Benjamin Umfleet, then came the old time honored
C. B. Carter as instructor and ask Burget Brian, Edward Shick, A. C. Shick, Dolph
Fiscus and many others, with myself, about marching around that old box stove for
three days to pay for eating popcorn in time of school. My next school was old
Buckhorn, managed by H. Curry, and ask A. J. Provines, Bob Martin, Joe Snider and
others if we did not pull some hickory roots that winter. I finished up my schooling at
Franklin, with Perry Watson, Henry Perkins, William Malone were teachers.
I helped build the little church just across the field-Mt. Zion and in the yard
their lies father, mother, sister and many friends and among our old friends that are
still in the neighborhood of Mt. Zion are William Simms, Christopher and Elisha Day
and Eber Putman.
I served apprenticeship for three years under the instructions of the Lukinite
man, P. W. Sutherland, to learn a trade and thanks to P.W. for the trade and many good
times we had together.
I then married one of Sumner's good-looking girls and moved to Sumner, the
best little city in the world and where, if you are right, the good people are always
ready to lend a hand. We raised a family of six children, three of them here, one in
Lawrenceville, one in Chicago, and one little girl lies in the Sumner city cemetery and
some day we will come back there to rest.
The Sumner Press has been a constant visitor every week for thirty three
years and we still think it's a great paper and with my childhood memories going back
to Lawrence County, why should I not think it the best place on earth.
I will eagerly await your Pink Press.
Yours truly,
Abner Shick
Vincennes, Indiana
1225 North 10th Street
---------
35
1918 #3231 Has info
Lebanon, Illinois
January 28, 1916
Editor Press:
At this late date I will inform you and our dear friends of Lawrence County
that we are still in Lebanon, and are enjoying a reasonable portion of health, and
sometimes our good neighbors throw enough over the fence and we have a square
meal that makes us feel encouraged.
We are still milking a few cows and dealing in Buff Rock chickens. We are
very much pleased with the Press. Always glad when Thursday comes as it most
always brings the Press, which is like getting a letter from home and makes our minds
wander back to old Lawrence County where we spend our young days.
We are very much pleased and appreciate very much the articles written from
one of your epistles way down in the state of Galilee (no not Galilee, excuse me) I
mean in the state of Lukin, where Jack Provines used to come in on us at campaign
time and furnish the largest broom I ever saw. Those are great days. Write often and
we will like it all the better.
Now in conclusion we send our best wishes and regards to all our Lawrence
County friends where ever they may have drifted.
D. L. Shick
--------Alvin, Texas
January 18, 1916
Editor Sumner Press:
I have been water bound in Texas forty-two years. I have seen it in it's many
phases, from the days of reconstruction to date.
To write personal experience in these years of progression would require
several sections of an article.
The death of my brother Peter, on the 13th has a very depressing effect on my
reminiscent mood. For this reason I beg the editor, my relatives and friends in good old
Lukin Township to remember I still hold you all in memory and the place of my birth
in reverence.
Yours truly,
F. M. Shick
---------
36
Phoenix, Arizona
January 18, 1916
Sumner Press:
Many readers of the Sumner Press, my old home paper, will no doubt be
surprised to read of me, as it has been over fifteen years since they have seen or heard
of me. On the Press records you will see that I have been about a regular subscriber
until a year ago, my father came west and brought the paper with him.
Since I lived in Sumner, I have been in southern states a great deal, but have
been in the west for seven years.
While I'll admit I haven't read the Press so regular of late or as I used to, is
because my whole time in interests are here now and I am a believer at making the
town live where you make your living.
I noticed some of your lines in regard to advertising which please me, as
truthful advertising is about the best investment a merchant can make.
I started a small lumber yard here less than three years ago on a very small
capital-$1000-and by advertising facts into good clean daily, I have over $80,000
worth of business today, and expect to do $50,000 this year by the same process. I
contract $100 a year at $.30 per column inch into dailies, use a great deal more than
that, besides advertising in several weekly and monthly editions. I find it a good policy
to be friends with and have newspaper people for friends.
It is useless for me to say I like this country. I came here seeking health and
wealth. I found the former and am very pleased with what I am getting of the latter.
There is only one more person a bachelor could ask for.
Yours with pleasure,
H. H. Shoup
---------
37
1915 #1946 has sons and info most unreadable
Kankakee, Illinois
January 31, 1916
Dear Editor:
Through your efforts we may again hear from our friends and acquaintances
of dear old Lawrence County, who like ourselves, have located elsewhere. But we all
love to hear from our friends back home and probably they like to hear from us.
We live on the East Court Street Road, about one half mile from the city
limits on a market garden of twenty acres, about four acres of which is under grass.
Last year they installed the sprinkling system, which is quite an improvement. There
are two very deep wells and water tower which, with the aid of gasoline engines,
furnished plenty of water. Gardening last year was about like farming-a failure.
We have three children-Thelma, 14 years old, in eighth grade; Alfred, eight
years old, in fifth grade; Marjorie, 21 months old, keeps us company at home. She
doesn't talk much yet, but has a way of making us understand her every wish.
Mr. Siebert parents, Mr. and Mrs. Siebert, live in Kankakee. They like it here
even better than we do. His brother, Purl, is married, has two children and lives in Gilt
Edge Montana. My mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kronmiller live in
Sumner. We have our dear little boy buried there, who would have been 12 years old
tomorrow, February 1. He died on his seventh birthday.
In conclusion, I will say we would miss the Press very much in our home and
Friday is a very long day if it fails to arrive then.
Best regards to all Press readers,
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Siebert
Rural Route 3
---------
38
1611 E. El Dorado Street
Decatur, Illinois
January 12, 1916
Kind Editor:
I will not let this opportunity pass without writing a few lines for the Pink
Press. I am a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Westall of your city but were former
residents of Hazel Dell school district of Petty Township, Four and one-half miles
north of Sumner, where I lived for 20 years. My husband is Warren A. Smith, who
were residents of Petty School district of Petty Township twenty years ago but now of
Champaign, Illinois.
Warren is a freight conductor on the Wabash Railroad running between
Decatur and Peru, Indiana for which he has been working for the past 12 years.
We have five healthy rosy-cheeked children, four boys and one girl Estol, age
8, Leonard, aged 7, Irving 5, Maurice, 4 and Geneveive 2 1/2.
Will close hoping to see many other non-resident letters in print.
Mrs. Stella Westall Smith
--------Carlock, Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
January 10, 1916
Editor Sumner Press:
And all our friends and relatives who may be interested in the Pink Sheet. I
am the second daughter of Joseph and Eliza J. Westall of Lawrence County, Petty
Township, born in Perry County, Ohio, in the fall of 1854 in that same fall in company
with Uncle Dave Hutchinson and family drove through in covered wagons to the farm
now own by my youngest brother, A. J. Westall. I was raised and lived there until my
marriage to Irving Smith, son of Samuel and Barbara Smith, Clark County, Ohio,
where he was born in the fall of 1854. He came to Illinois in the fall of 1871 living on
the farm of Uncle Peter Smith, one half mile from my father's farm. We were married
February 3, 1876, 40 years ago, February 3, 1916.
We have four boys, Frank, a machinist of Chicago, Ross a teamster of
Champagne, Warren a conductor on the Wabash Railroad Decatur, and Harry,
formally with the Wells Fargo Express Company, Detroit Michigan, and now clerk in
a grocery store at Champaign. My husband is in the transfer business. We have a
comfortable home and five houses which bring us a nice little income which we
appreciate in our old days. My first school days were spent in a log school house
where Pleasant Hill church now stands with puncheon seats and a long writing desk
along one side of which we would take so long each day for writing in our copybooks
made of foolscap writing paper. One of my teachers was William Linsy or Bill Linsy
he was called in that community and another Miss Liza Ryan of Lawrenceville. Well I
presume I had better bring my letter to a close as it may be too lengthy to keep the
editor in the right humor. So in close wishing success to the Press and all of its readers.
Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Smith
211 West Tremont Street
39
Carlock, Illinois
January 20, 1916
Mr. L. M. Wood:
I am glad to know you are going to print the Pink Press again. It is quite
interesting to read and hear from old folks far and near. My maiden name was Clem
Jones and I was born near the County line at Richland and Lawrence County's but
have made Lawrence County my home. My parents are Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Jones,
which are still living on the old farm near U. B. Church.
We are now located on a farm of 185 acres in the northern part of Illinois,
four miles from Carlock, McLean County, and had been here for over a year. This
country around here is very broken. We have saw some large hills in southern Illinois
but no such hills as we have here. I called them young mountains, close to the
Mackinaw River. But we will soon move about seven miles across the river, then we
will be six miles northwest of El Paso, Illinois on the prairie land we will work on a
farm and it will be a lovely country.
Well, about my family, five is our family, three daughters-Mabel, the oldest,
13; Opal, the second, 11: Lillie, the third, 8, they are all going to school. They have
about two miles to go. Well, I believe this is all for this time.
From
Mrs. Clem Starkman
--------Dreamright Oklahoma
January 10, 1916
Mr. Wood:
As I saw in our dear old home paper the call for nonresident letters, I will try
to write a few lines that may instruct some of your readers.
I was born and reared on a farm in Petty Township, near Pleasant Hill church,
where I have spent my life till of late.
We are now located at Dreamright Oklahoma, a town of 15,000 population,
built since the year 1912, when the first well was drilled for oil which proved to be a
good one, and is now a large field. They are erecting a fine home for the first national
bank of the city, which will be completed by January 20 and also a new building for
the drugstore.
They have good schools, three churches and to good hospital in the town.
I notice the editor has told us to state how her maiden name in our letter. My
name was Waggoner, but have changed it to a German name as many of our readers
know.
My husband is now at work for the Cortiz Oil Company at a nice little income
of $139 per month.
Our children are both robust and in good health, although the climate is so
different from that of Illinois. The wind is so strong today one can hardly walk alone.
Well, as this is my first attempt to write a letter to publish, I will close,
wishing all our readers success in the coming year.
Yours truly,
Mr. and Mrs. Stroshine
40
--------Champaign, Illinois
Lawton, Oklahoma
January 4, 1916
Sumner Press:
See you are getting about a Pink Sheet, and I am sending this letter.
My name is Henry C. Turner; my father's name was Tom Turner.
I was born December 28, 1844, three miles south of where Sumner now
stands. The first school I ever went to was an old log school house on the old Jim
French farm. I was in Sumner the day the rails were laid on the railroad through the
town, and there wasn't but three houses in the town.
Very respectively,
H. C. Turner
---------
41
Mountain Grove, Missouri
January 10, 1916
Editor Press:
I see it's time to contribute my part to help you perfect the second issue of the
Pink Press, So I take up my faithful watermen to discharge my duty, as I hope every
other wanderer will do. I was born on a farm in Petty Township and lived there until I
was more than 20 years of age. I have lived here more than three years, coming here
from Kansas City to do scientific work at the Missouri State poultry experimental
station. I have the honor of being known as the first "State Chicken Doctor." During
my time working at the experiment station, I took a fancy to a piece of land, the
highest elevation on the Frisco Railway, between Kansas City, Missouri, and
Memphis, Tennessee.
Upon the expiration of my contract I took possession of this piece of land,
which I still have. I have cleared up most of it and have one quarter acres set in
horseradish and expect to set one quarter more this winter. Am making a machine to
work it up. I set about 400 rhubarb plants last spring, and I and setting more now and
expect to have a half acres set by February 1. I have half-acre set in onions and am
setting more. In fact I put out onion sets every month in the year and I have green nine
years for sale every day in the year.
To say I appreciated the 1915 press is to put it very mildly, as I have kept it
where I can get it any time, as I often do, and read it over. It's like a visit to home
friends, as I enjoy the letters so much, especially the ones from my old schoolmate, A.
C. Pepple (now deceased). We had many jolly times at Westfield college, Westfield,
Illinois, some of which I will never forget.
I am living alone, as the girls are both married. Grace, the youngest, is living
at De Soto, Kansas on a farm and Lillian, the oldest lives at Kansas City, Missouri, as
do the boys, Oswald, the oldest, who is learning the auto business, and Raymond who
is working for a shoe company.
I am trying to get my letter to you before January 15, in fact, you would have
had it before but for the very sudden death of a neighbor, which reminds me that we
must always be ready to lend a helping hand upon the call of anyone at any time. I
believe it our business to try to spread sunshine and gladness in the lives of all about us
and try to make the world better by our living in it.
Very truly yours, Elmer E. Wagner
---------
42
(Elmer Ellsworth Wagner)
Biographical Note:
Elmer was born about 1864 the son
of Henry M. and Sarah (nee Leech)
Wagner. He married Etta Stokes in
Cook County Illinois on March 3,
1893. Etta died of cancer in January
1907 at Hammond, Indiana.
Editor Note:
Elmer wrote a letter in 1915 and
states “Petty Township was my
home till January 1, 1884 since then
I have resided in Bridgeport and
Christy Township's.
Moved away from the latter in 1901
and since then have resided at
Hammond, Indiana and Hartford
and Dowoglae, Michigan. I came to
Kansas City Missouri in 1911 and
finally settled here in 1912.”
---------
Clearwater, Florida
January 24, 1916
Sumner Press:
A few lines from the Waggoner tribe in Florida, in order to fill up, may not be
out of place as it is very interesting to hear from the "wanderers" in widely separate
sections of the country.
After having a pleasant trip to Clearwater, we had no trouble in finding
pleasant rooms in the best residential part of the city, about three blocks from the shore
of the Bay, with fine walks to the water and a nice boardwalk leading out over the
water a quarter of a mile, with a large pavilion from which there is fine fishing.
We find people hear from all the different parts of the north, in order to keep
warm without the use of wood, coal or gas and partly succeeding only, as we have had
to build fires in open fireplaces more than once. A day or two after coming here it was
colder than at home.
We find that Florida has hard times as well as Illinois and other parts of the
country. Property is held at lower prices than a year or two ago and very little being
sold, no demand for labor. The old residents however say that this state of affairs is
only temporary, but still I offer the same advice that I gave a year ago from California.
That the people of Sumner, Illinois should not be in a hurry to dispose of their
property, thinking to do better elsewhere.
I will say that Florida is rightly named as it is a land of flowers and a
beautiful country where it is improved and cultivated properly, and another thing in its
favor is the fine fishing, of which it would be needless to mention if you could have
seen the five foot string of trout that we caught in the Bay a few days ago, within a few
hundred yards of our rooms.
We have a good many people from Illinois here. Among them the Berryhills,
John and wife and Lee, living in good health and feeling fine. They are helping to keep
up the reputation of Clearwater as a tourist town by keeping a boarding house and
rooms.
Our party is composed of the writer and John J. Wagner and wife and James
I. Wagner and wife and Paul, their son, six years old, who is chaperone of the whole
party, and right well does he discharge his duties and to whom the pleasure of the trip
is justly attributed.
Yours,
H. M. Wagner
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Indianapolis ,Indiana
January 30, 1916
Editors of Sumner Press:
After closing my work with you in June 1914, I secured a position as
compositor with the Olney Times and remained there until December 1915, when I
resigned my place and came to Indianapolis, to accept the clerkship with the Wasson's
department store, one of the largest in the city.
After finding that I could better myself financially, as well as learn a good
trade, I decided to accept a position with Lilly's Pharmacy, the largest wholesale drug
house here.
I secured the position through the influence of friends and consider myself
lucky in obtaining it. I am enjoying my work here very much.
I send greetings to all my friends in Lawrence.
Edna Webb
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Silcot, Washington
January 9, 1916
To my friends and relatives, both known and unknown, who were raised in
the county of Lawrence, that was named for the man who shouted the patriotic appeal
"Don't Give up the ship."
I was born in Hadley, Illinois, June 4th, 1861. My parents were Lafayette and
Marie (nee Dunn). Was third of a family of five, all living and pretty well scattered,
from the Lone Star State, to the 49th Parallel of North Latitude. Would like to hear
from all, will try and give you a description of the country in which I am located.
I was fourteen years old before I ever wore shoes. My first was homemade,
made by Mr. Warren of Hadley.
I wonder if Bridget Counour recalls the time I hit her over the head with a
stick of molasses candy. I remember the total eclipse of the sun in 1867. A pussy man
named Gaines was pointing at the sun and said the world is coming to the end. My
playmates and I were playing train on some empty cars on a side track. I looked at the
sun which was about half obscured, and decided if I had to die I'd rather die in the
house, and beat it home about 80 rods across the meadow.
Grants campaign is the first I remember. They had the boys in blue. The
slogan was "Hurrah for Grant and “Cold Coffee Grounds", "Hurrah for See and
Blairmour"
Father ran an old sash saw mill in Hadley, was post master agent, and also
sold dry goods and groceries.
We were living in Sumner when I learned my letters. Mrs. John Beatty taught
me my alphabet both forwards and backwards. I attended my first school here, upstairs
taught by Miss Whittenger, I used to help a crippled Ruby boy upstairs. His father ran
a cooper shop. The King boys lived next to us, they were great scrappers. The Burns
boys and the Laws were about my age. I saw my first fight on the Old Wellagan mill
steps. Sterling Laws was the aggressor.
Caleb Hoopes was post master, C.C. Judy was R.R. Agent. I stood on the
steps for hours and watched the horse, on inclined tread power, pumping water for the
O. & M. R.R.
I attended school taught by Peter Shick.
Father and Sam Landis graded the first road south of Muddy. We lived on the
old Mason place opposite the Landis place. I attended school at Center, sat on a bench
made of half a log, with legs put into it, no back, and my feet lacked a foot of touching
the floor, pouring over Webster’s Blue Back speller.
Father ran a grist mill in St. Francisville where I attended school taught by
Mr. Prout and Mr. Stubbs.
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Father traded his mill for a section of land in Jefferson County, Arkansas. We
moved to Butler County, Missouri in fall of 1870, stayed there until the fall of 1872.
Moved to Conway County, Arkansas, stayed there until December 1, 1873. Moved to
Clayton, (now Clay), Here we raised cotton a number of years. Moved to Corning,
same county, in 1879. Here father ran a saw mill, a cotton gin, and also a store.
Moved to Moark (abbrivation of both states). We farmed there two years. I attended
school in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was examined for West Point Military Academy,
Stood 3rd, 43 examined. My folks moved back to Corning where my father was
murdered by John Mansico, I being away at the time. I was getting old enough to sow
my wild oats. I caught the Texas fever and landed in Grainsville, Lone Star State in
1884. Went to Carpenting. Taught my first term of School at Burden’s Gin, in the
Cross Ttimbers, Cook County, Texas.
Cliff M. Wilson, P. M.
--------Dora Wilso Transcribe 1916 #1982(Hensley twp) -#1979 have
1917
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Decatur Illinois
1916
1126 East Logan Street
To the Sumner Press:
As you have requested all nonresidents to write a letter back home, I will try
to do my best.
My maiden name was Nora Angle, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Angle. My
mother's maiden name was Sarah Bailey, of Lancaster Illinois. I was raised in Petty
Township, near Petty school house and Pleasant Hill Church. I was married to Everett
R. Woodall on January 2, 1907, at Arcola. Our home has been blessed with one little
boy, Jesse Parvin, who is the joy and pride of our home.
The year 1915 has saddened our home in old Lawrence County and got has
seen fit to take the most precious jewel of the home-mother. God with all things well
and we know our losses heavens gain.
It is with sadness that I think so often of home, friends, schoolmates in
Sunday school teachers, whose places have been taken by strange faces and those dear
to us are numbered in the city of the dead, but praise God, we have a hope of a grand
meeting someday where parting is no more. We live near Arcola, on a farm, five years;
one year near Sullivan, and have been in Decatur three years. We like it very well in
the city.
I have been away from Lawrence County most of the time for 15 years and
have always taken that those who have been away from home know that many
longings, at times, to see someone from home and the Press has always been
welcomed as that friend. We could not keep house without it.
Wishing all I prosperous and happy year.
Nora Woodall.
--------St. Louis, Missouri
January 14, 1916
Mr. Editor, Home Friends and Relatives:
We have been invited to write a letter to the paper of our old hometown in
Lawrence County. Having received so many requests I will send a few lines as to our
welfore. I will begin with the family. We have three children, Virgil is a man. He was
born in Lawrence County, we left when he was aboutt 5 years old. He became rather a
restless boy but now is a settled boy of 20, steady and hard-working and can be
depended upon. He is saving his money and not wasting it as so many others of his age
here are doing. Viola has graduated from school and expects to go to high school or
Business College; she has not yet decided which. Johnny is a small lad full of fun and
frolic, going to school.
We have a beautiful home in the southwest side of St. Louis, Missouri.
William and Virgil built it. I could not do it justice in describing it better than to say it
is a typical California bungalow. Then you have to see it to realize its beauty and it is
artistic, of William's own design, not another anywhere like it, as he is an architect and
builder of his own original designs. He has built a number of houses here, large
dwellings, flats, bungalows and small houses for different parties. Also a number for
ourselves. Five large bricks on Arlington, six flats on Terry, two frames on Edward
and our home here on Blow.
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I am a daughter of John Perrott’s and I married William Worstell, also of your
city. My father has taken the Sumner paper for a number of years, as long as I can
remember.
I will close now, wishing you a prosperous New Year for the home paper,
also wishing all my friends and relatives a happy and prosperous New Year.
I remain as ever,
Alfa Worstell
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