1919
Forward
1
Della Abernathy
Lizzie Anderson
Mary Baird
George A. Baltzell
H. H. Baltzell
Leo H. Caudle
Mary R. Cooper
Clarence Fish
W. C. Fyffe
T. S. Gerhart
Charlie J. Heath
Imogene Maffett
Vira A. McQuiston
Moffit Mills
D .S. Moore
John F. Peters
Zetta Jones Petty
C. M. Piper
Emma Raurk Rawlings
Thomas H. Seed
Mrs. A. C. Shick
Ira W. Shick
George W. Shirley
Bessie Smith
Mrs. O. O. Stamats
Myrtle Wagner
Grant Williams
Mrs. William Worstell
Index
2
Biographic Note:
Bernie, Missouri
January 15, 1919
Editor Note:
Della Abernathy also wrote a letter
to the Press in 1918.
L M Wood and Sons:
We were monished to do our Christmas shopping and our New Year's
shopping early, likewise to respond to the call of the Press for its annual non-resident
issue. It is to be hoped that no contributor is so late as to cause our editor
inconvenience, for he is surely kind to favor his patrons with the home-coming number
each year.
I can apprehend many sad reports among the letters this season. Hardly a
home or heart in the world which has remained intact from the ravages of war,
influenza or other form of trouble during 1918. It will go down in history as
representing two extremes: one of absolute anguish and one of glorious exultation to
the fulfillment of a great dream; monumental in its greatness in comparison with other
years, but furnishing full draughts from the cup of sorrow for most of us.
Last June 8, about the time the sun was in eclipse, the death Angel summoned
my best earthly friend and mother lay at rest. She sleeps beside father there in the
Sumner cemetery, which is as beautiful and well kept as any you will ever find
claimed by the city its size.
Not many days after mother's death, we received an announcement of the
birth of a second grandchild, a little girl, born to Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Frymire, of Salt
Lake City and named Kathryn Lee. Mrs. Frymire, our daughter, Kate, and the babies
have remained in the home while Lieutenant Frymire, her husband, has been in an
army camp in the east. Just now he is with them, having obtained a three-month
furlough.
Mary, our second daughter, is employed in the home school and, like the
others, has taught only intermittently. The flu ban has been in effect so much of the
time that our term is not half finished, though school opened in July.
George, our third and youngest, is not far from the largest of the family now.
He attends high school, a member of the sophomore class.
Mr. A. is home with us now having had employment near Brookland,
Arkansas, during the summer and autumn.
Uncle A. M. Fyffe’s family are well and employed same as at this time last
year, except Arthur, the youngest, who is yet in Camp Funston.
Mrs. W. F. Guess, of whom we spoke at another time, died very suddenly of
heart failure last September. Her husband was shocked to awake and find her dead in
bed. He is still in Dexter and was well as usual when we heard from there not long
since.
Other former Illinois residents near here are prosperous and in good health,
save a few who are convalescing from influenza.
With best wishes to the Press and all its readers, I remain,
Yours very truly,
Della Daniels Abernathy
---------
3
Editor Note:
Della’s mother, Anne Daniels died
June 8, 1918 and her father George
on November 20, 1904.
Biographic Note:
Monan, Indiana
February 1, 1919
Editor Note:
Lizzie Anderson also wrote a letter
to the Press in 1917 and 1918.
---------
Dear Readers of the Pink Press:
Another year has gone and here we are again. Although there are great members
who have passed into the great beyond, some of us have been spared.
We have all gone through something that one year ago we did not realize as we do
today, that is in giving up our boys for the great war. Dana, has been in camp since June 15,
1918 until January 27, 1919. Never left the states, has not arrived home yet, as he and wife
are visiting relatives at Olney.
Herbert was in the last draft, but did not have to go. Ere this is printed Herbert will
be married. He is breaking on railroad making good money.
Nina graduates from four years high school in one week on February 7.
Sorry to see so many passing away at old Sumner especially the passing of Mrs. J.
M. Brian, a good friend of mine. I loved her so much. It grieves me when I get the Press to
see my good friends had gone.
We had flu but got through all right, for which we are thankful, whole families have
died here with it.
I hope in March to visit Sumner again and I am anxious for the time to come.
Last year I sent a letter for this issue and received four letters and cards from friends
of other days, of whom I had not heard for so long. Was so glad to hear from them. Hope I
shall have as good success this time. I will close and wait anxiously for the letters.
Yours respectfully,
Mrs. Lizzie Anderson
---------
--------Editor Note:
Mary Baird also wrote delete a
letters to the Press in 1916-1919
--------Annotation: The U. S. Congress
declared war on Germany on 6 April
1917. 2.8 million men were drafted
after the passage of the Selective
Service Act. There were three
separate registrations. The first, on
June 5, 1917, was for all men
between the ages of 21 and 31.The
second, on June 5, 1918, registered
those who attained age 21 after
June 5, 1917. The third registration
was held on September 12, 1918, for
men age 18 through 45.
Guthrie, Oklahoma
January 31, 1919
Editor Press:
I have been thinking I would just let the soldiers and the rest of the non-residents fill
up the Pink Edition this year, but husband says he thinks I ought to write for others will
expect me to and it has been the means of my finding a very good friend and a cousin's
daughter living close enough that I can visit occasionally. She reminds me so much of Uncle
Levi's girls that I feel quite at home when I go there.
We didn't have any boys in the first registration, but the second one got the youngest
and the last one got all of our sons and three of our grandsons and some of them were anxious
to go, but I am thankful that the war was over before they were called to go, for surely it had
lasted long enough to leave plenty of suffering and expense for years to come. I, like all
others, have tried to do my little bit in food saving and had helped some with Red Cross
work, though I never did join the society, consequently have no Red Cross flag to display in
my window, but as I belong to the Church of Christ. I need no other society for his teaching
will thoroughly furnish us unto all good work, and if all nations were humble, obedient
Christians, nothing more and nothing less, it would do away with so much crime and
sinfulness and also the necessity for wars of any kind.
4
Biographic Note:
This country has been afflicted with the flu and there has been some deaths from it,
but the weather is very nice now and those who have it seemed to be getting better. Our
immediate family has escaped it so far, thanks be to God, the great giver of all good gifts, to
man.
Mary Baird
--------El Dorado, Kansas
January 14, 1919
L.M. Wood and Sons:
I will try to write a few lines to the Press this year, as I happen to be temporarily away
from Sumner, but we still consider it our home and are only here because of the exceptionally
good opportunities offered.
At present we are all in the best of health and have been except for a very bad spell of
the flu and pneumonia, which Elsie had during November. It looked for a time as though she
would not get well, but by skillful doctoring and good nursing, she is regaining her strength.
We are located about 6 1/2 miles north of El Dorado, on the Stone lease. I am at
present and have been for the past eight months employed by the Carter Oil Company as
gauger. We have a nice little bungalow, built for us, furnished by the company without any
charge; also free coal (we have no gas here) and electric lights. Our house is on the old
Hocking Trail, running from Texas to Montana, and directly back of it runs the beautiful
Walnut River with the Santa Fe Railroad about halfway between the house and the river. We
are about one half mile from school and Charley Baltzell, goes to school everyday. Lorena is
with her grandparents and going to school at Hadley. This is a description of our surroundings
here.
The Kansas oilfield is certainly a great field and I believe the Carter Oil Company the
best in the mid-continent field.
This is quite a change for me from one year ago and I often think of my many good
friends on Rural Route No. 3 whom I was serving at this time last year.
Should any of our friends happen out in this "neck of the woods" while we are here
we would be much pleased to have them call on us.
We certainly appreciate the Press each week, for it is like getting a long letter from
home, for some time we expect to return to our home there.
Work here has been very plentiful until recently, things are a little dull. The wells on
this lease produce from 100 to 600 barrels every 24 hours. We have a railroad station just a
half mile from us, where we have two stores and a butcher shop and can go into El Dorado
twice each day and return.
We have with us here Vernon Diebold, of Sumner, who is certainly making good in
the oilfield.
5
--------(George Baltzell)
Biographic Note:
George Alvin Baltzell was born
November 9, 1882 son of Henry
and Catherine Baltzell. He had a
sister Minnie and brother Robert.
The 1920 census his wife is Elsie
Kelsey Palmer Children Lorena (b.
abt. 1908); Charles Palmer (b. abt.
1911) George was married to
Audrey B. Wiley, Audrey died
January 29, 1973. George died
August 28, 1956; They are buried in
the Sumner Cemetery.
Alternate bio notes: George A ,
son of Henry and Catherine Baltzell
was born about 1880. He was living
in Princeton, IN with his wife Elsie K
and 2 year old daughter Lorena
when the 1910 census was taken.
At some point in time the family
returned to The Sumner area,
where he became a mail carrier
and managed a store. About 1918
they moved to Eldorado, Kansas
where George worked in the oil
fields. This apparently lasted only a
year and by 1920 they had
returned to Christy Township, in
Lawrence County, where he was
once again a mail carrier. He
died in Morgantown IN on Aug 29,
1956 and is buried next to his
second wife Audry in the Sumner
City Cemetery.
---------
Biographical Note:
Editor’s Note: The advertisement to
the right ran in the Sumner Press in
1917.
Ed and Nell Perkins live in El Dorado and come out to see us occasionally. Ed looks
20 years younger than he did when he left Sumner and they are both doing fine. Fisher and
Sergeant, who used to drill in the oilfield there, and who lived at Klondike, are both drilling
on this lease.
I will close, with best wishes to all.
Very respectfully,
George Baltzell
Kevin is the next to the bottom line
a misprint…ANSD ?
I accidently deleted your dividing
line
--------(H. H. Baltzell)
Biographical Note:
Henry was born In 1839 in Ohio and
was a Civil War Veteran having been
part of Sherman’s March to the sea.
His wife died January 2, 1914 and he
died in June 1929.
Editor’s Note: By 1914, the "Dixie
Flyer" was the nation's premier train
service from the Midwest to the
sunny Florida vacationland.
Mr. Baltzell’s letter indicated that
the population in Clearwater, FL
1919 was 4000. In 2009 Clearwater
Florida had a population of 106,081.
Clearwater, Florida
January 30, 1919
Editor Press:
As I have never written to the Pink Edition of the Press, I thought I would write a
few lines to let my old friends know where I am and what I have been doing.
Five years ago I lost my wife and broke up housekeeping and had been making my
home at Princeton, Indiana, with my son, Charley, doing nothing but run around and visiting
old friends and relatives in Kansas, Iowa, Ohio and Michigan, and two years ago I came
down here for a short time and liked it so well I thought I would come down and stay a little
longer. So I and French, one of Oliver Baltzell’s boys left Princeton, Indiana, January 6, came
down to Evansville, stayed all night, took the Dixie Flyer at 6 o'clock the next morning and
arrived in Jacksonville the next day at 3 p.m. stayed all night, took the train the next day at 11
a.m. arrived here at 9 p.m. and John Berryhill met us at the train and we are boarding with
him. He is doing a thriving business. He has 24 regular borders by the week and lots of
transients.
Annotation: The G.A. R was a Civil
War Veterans Association known as
the Grand Army of the Republic. The
John W. Watts Post was in Sumner.
Editor Note:
Henry is father of previous letter
writer, George A. Baltzell
---------
6
Biographical Note:
This is a fine city of 4000 population, situated on Clearwater Bay 20 miles north of
St. Petersburg. Dr. Murphy lives there; I got a letter from him yesterday. He says their G.A.R.
post is to celebrate Lincoln's birthday on the 12th of next month and wants me to come up. I
think I shall go. He says there are several hundred visiting comrades there and I expect they
will have a nice time. Dr. Murphy is quite poorly.
Picture of Henry Here?
There are about 600 tourists at this place. I expect to stay here till after April 1.
H. H. Baltzell
--------Augusta, Kansas
January 25, 1919
Sumner Press:
This is my first letter to the Pink Press. We enjoyed the issue of 1917-1918 very
much.
I have taken the Sumner Press for several years and still enjoy it, I, or we, as I am
married now, try to visit old Lawrence County once a year.
I was married in the year 1916, and now have a daughter to bless and cheer our little
home. We are in the oilfield of Kansas, located in the little oil town called Brownstown and
enjoying the best of health.
My parents are Clint and Lillie Caudle, five miles northeast of Sumner.
We like this state fine, but still call Lawrence County home. If we keep our health,
will try and make Lawrence County a visit this fall.
(Leo H. Caudle)
Biographical Note:
Leo Hardin Caudle)
Biographical Note:
Leo was born March 20, 1892 to
Clinton and Lilly F. (nee
Culbertson) Caudle. He married
Odessie Myrl Beard. In 1930 his
brother Emil was living with him
and, Myrl, and their two children,
Nathylee and Helen. Leo died in
June 1982 in Oklahoma. Odessie
Myrl died in Oklahoma April 1981.
---------
Leo H. Caudle
and wife and daughter
---------
------(Mary R. Cooper)
Biographical Note:
Waynetown, Indiana
February 8, 1919
Sumner Press:
I will send in a few lines for the Pink Press, as I have made but one attempt here-tofore on this line of corresponding but at your earnest solicitation, I will make a second attempt.
We moved from Lukin Prairie, Lukin Township, Lawrence County 10 years ago this
spring, and located on an 80 acre farm 3 1/2 miles southeast of Waynetown, where we have
lived ever since, and as age is creeping on us, we have retired some quiet from the hum and
buzz of active life, but still moving around enough to keep up circulation.
There are only two of us in the family now and our ages combined only lack about
two months of rounding up to 155 years. Were married at the ages of 27 and 28 and will pass
our golden landmark in this present month.
Have four children-Cora L. Price, of south of Sumner, Route No. 2; Sherman
Ellsworth Cooper, formerly a missionary in Japan 14 years and now in the Y. M. C. A. work at
Camp Grant and has been there about ever since the U.S. declared war against Germany; Clara
May our third child, married Charles E. Bell, of south Sumner, has been living in Wenatchee,
Washington, and in the west for 18 years. The youngest of the family, Albert Ivan, is located
four miles south of Bridgeport. We had 10 grandchildren living and one dead and one greatgrandchild.
7
Editor Note: Husband D. F. Cooper
wrote a letter in 1915. (See chapter
1915 for notes)
Biographic Note:
Obituary-“Aunt Mary Cooper, the
aged wife of Uncle Dave Frazee
Cooper, living in the Christian Union
Church neighborhood, south east of
Waynetown, met a tragic death
Wednesday Nov 21, 1923, shortly
after noon when she was attacked
by a vicius ram in the barn lot and
was butted to death by the enraged
animal. Aunt Mary was alone at the
time, and had gone to the mailbox
to deposit a letter.
She was
returning to the house when she
was attacked by the ram. The
discovery of the tragedy was made
by Mr. and Mrs. Cooper Gray, who
chanced to be passing the home,
and discovered the enraged ram
butting at some object on the
ground. Mr. Gray investigated and
was horrified to find that it was Aunt
Mary, who was already dead. He
drove the ram off with a club, and
the crushed and broken body of
Aunt Mary was carried into the
home. Aunt Mary as she was
endearingly known by everyone,
was the daughter of Robert and
Lucinda A. (Cotty) Ellis, and was born
in Mason county, KY, May 6, 1842,
being 81 years 6 months, and 14
days old at her death. She was a
very ardent church worker and was
a member of the Methodist church.”
---------
My father's family consisted of 12 boys and 4 girls, 16 in all. Two sisters and seven
brothers have passed over to that country from which no traveler ever returns. Two sisters,
one in her 82nd year, and five brothers, still on the probationary side of the river.
A few more Pink Press Papers and my father's family will be forgotten.
We are thankful to the Lord that the armistice has been signed and hostilities ceased
to a great extent, but the world is restless, strikes and anarchy are brewing on every hand.
Don't know what kind of a volcanic eruption will come next. The war has made us more
boastful than humble. Next comes this pestilence that is on us now, taking human lives by the
millions. Famines and earthquakes in divers places and yet amid all this the dance must go on
and let joy and pleasure be unconfined. Sunday picture shows, ballgames, excursions,
joyriding is the way to many of us are keeping the Sabbath at this age of the world.
The Lord bless the Peace Congress with divine wisdom, so that they may bring
peace out of chaos and that the kingdoms of this world may soon become the kingdom of the
Lord and his Christ. Then all this ungodliness will cease. The fountain never gets above its
source, so this reformation will need to begin in the so-called churches, yes, right in the
pulpits, for if I understand the word of God, no preacher or professed follower of the meek
and lowly Nazarene can join himself to any of these worldly orders or organizations. The
theaters and eating, drinking, reveling and abominable idolatries, as Peter has it in 1st Peter
1:4. Read 1st Cor. 6 C ch v. 14-18; Ephesians 5th ch 6-19th. After we have read let us strive
to obey, for judgment is going to begin at the house of God, and we may be surprise when the
sifting is over.
I will not worry you any longer, will close by stating that we are very sorry to hear
of so many of our neighbors dropping off.
Mary R. Cooper
-------------
Detroit, Michigan
February 3, 1919
Dear Editor:
At your request I will try to write a few lines for your Non-Resident Edition of the
Press.
--------(Clarence Fish)
Biographical Note:
Clarence John Fish was born August
27, 1884 to William H. and Elizabeth
(nee Umfleet) Fish. In the 1920
census for Detroit, Michigan, he is
living with his wife Mary E and
daughter Helen I.
We have always been residents of Lawrence County, the greater part of the time in
the vicinity of Sumner.
We have been a subscriber of the Press for several years and think it a fine paper, as
it tells us all the news of around home.
We have lived in the city of Detroit for almost 2 years, where I am employed by the
American Railway Express Company.
We find this a large and beautiful city of almost one million population.
The people here are industrious, being engaged in all kinds of industry. The
principal industries are the manufacture of automobiles and aeroplanes.
Also the discovery of thick beds of pure salt in the down river district led to the
establishment of another of Detroit’s greatest industries.
8
The Burroughs Adding Machine Company, which employs 3000 hands, makes 90
percent of the adding machines in the country and sends them all over the world.
The manufacture of overalls is a great industry here, making 60 percent of all the
overalls made in the country. Also the manufacture of aluminum castings and brass in various
forms.
The city has three hundred and eight churches of various denominations. One
hundred and thirty-six public schools, about twenty colleges and universities and one hundred
nine banks.
Having written, I believe, as much as space will permit in your paper, I will close,
wishing you success.
Yours respectfully,
Clarence Fish
-------------
1919 Ford Sedan
Denton, Texas
February 2, 1919
Dear Press and Old-Time Chums:
I was about to miss meeting with you this year for want of time to write a letter, but
have at this, the 11th hour, changed my mind, so here goes for a hurry up letter; not knowing if
it will be called a short or a long letter.
I have enjoyed all of the past homecomings. Your letters have all been interesting to
me. It seems a splendid opportunity to renew old acquaintance and share our mutual joys. But
speaking of "joys" seriously reminds me of one feature of this reunion, which I fear will show
a tinge of sadness. The past year has brought sorrow to so many homes that it is evident that
many of our dear wanderers have been affected. The great world war has been so frightful, so
many of our brave boys have been cut down, and their loved ones on this side will not be
permitted to again look into their true loyal faces. Many are coming home maimed beyond
recovery; this awful pestilence called the "flu" is abroad in all lands, and I fear that the homes
of many who contributed inspiring letters a year ago, have been brought to grief and will now
tell us of their sorrows, and some way feel too gloomy to even send in their letters. Truly, our
hearts will go out to those with love and tender sympathy.
9
Editor’s Note:
Detroit has a long history of being
associated with the production of
automobiles. But few think of it as
a City of Salt. Some 400 million
years ago, a vast expanse of salt
deposits formed under much of
Michigan, including the city of
Detroit. The existence of rock salt
in the Detroit area was discovered
in 1895. The Detroit Salt Company
completed a 1,060-foot mine shaft
in 1910. By 1914, the Detroit mine
was producing 8,000 tons of rock
salt each month, mainly for the
leather and food processing
industries. Now the company
mainly produces road deicing salt.
---------
Biographical Note:
But for we who have been blessed and spared all the heartache alluded to above, it is
our duty to write the most cheerful letter possible. If we have any knack at all of scattering
myrth and sunshine, and let's get busy.
We have a letter today from our boy, who is now in Germany, with the occupation
troops, under date of December 4. He writes that he is well and happy. Brags of having a
sweetheart in France, who has taught him to speak her language almost perfectly. He tells us
that all the fighting he was in was so strenuous that he had neither time nor inclination to get
homesick, but now he is really growing very homesick. Certainly we are thankful that our
boy, so far, has escaped all harm and that we have hope that we will soon have him in our
home again.
Our entire family is well, happy and prospering. I may be different from others
regarding that word "prospering". Three meals a day, all paid for, is prospering, as I
understand the term, especially if it is good home cooking, as I am getting. Still I don't think
that is perfect prosperity unless one is retaining all of his old friends, and continually picking
up new ones as the days go by.
I picked up my Sumner Press today and where the announcement appeared referring
to the "Fifth Annual Homecoming", I noticed a heavy blue pencil mark. Now if this had
simply been a checkmark, or a mark straight across, I would have not worried over it, but it
was a long stroke, kinder on the bias and that has led me to believe that I am expected to
furnish more poetry of the reminiscence type. Excuse me folks, I retired from my poetry
business last February. I still enjoy the other fellows verses, but I shan't attempt to reel off
any more until you folks feel like coming back close to nature and show that you appreciate
the good old style "Hog and Hominy" brand of poetry. Now if one of the good old Lawrence
County wanderers has a vision of those good boyhood days way back in the 70’s and comes
across with a bunch of verses, bubbling over with pathos, taking into account us common
people, I'm going to write him my congratulations, even if he does use the expression: "a long
persimin pole", to make a rhyme with "our dear old swimming hole", or that "Uncle Dan was
mad as all Sam Patch because we stopped to view his melon patch".
I realize there has been much drifting away from the old beaten path and that the
higher critics are now crazy about the fellow who pulls through "Yale", then finishes up at
"Oxford" and comes back with a diploma, bearing a gold seal in the left lower corner, some
purple ribbon woven through the other corner and some old English script in the center,
meaning: "young fellow you are now IT." That guy will get our goat every time, for he will
write very little about things material, but he will soon be climbing up on things etheral and
soon he'll be up where he can get a straddle of the Milky Way, and while kicking Jupiter in
the short ribs, he will be writing a lot of junk, insinuating that he caught Venus making googoo eyes at Saturn, and so on along that line.
I had a lady friend, that is, she was my friend, who went to Chicago to finish up at
the University there and came home quite a talented writer of poems. I would still speak to
her on some occasions, but later she went to Columbia University for higher degrees. On one
occasion soon after her return home, she overheard her small brother in the act of memorizing
that good old sensible poem about "Mary and Her Lamb. Its fleece was white as snow, and
everywhere that Mary went, that lamb was sure to go." Well, here's what that big sis of
Columbia postgraduate fame, did for him. She said: "here child, give me that old book and I'll
revise that lamb so it will be in keeping with modern times." And here is what brother had to
re-memorize, called "The 20th Century Lamb": "Mary was the proprietress of a diminutive
incipient sheep, who’s outer covering was as devoid of color as the congealed atmospheric
vapor and to all localities to which Mary perambulated the young Southdown was morally
sure to follow."
10
Biographical Note:
I won't punish you with any more of it now, but she simply paralyzed the whole thing.
If I write you next year, I may give you another verse of it, but I don't think it right to ask
anyone to hear it all at once.
I have felt much interested in the Pink Press issue since the very beginning. So much
interesting news from old-time friends with whom I shall always want to keep in touch. Soon
after your homecoming was published last year, received more than 40 cards and letters from
wanderers in different sections of the country and I want everyone of them to know that I
thank them very much for their happy, jolly greetings.
And now in closing, let me admonish you who are poetically inclined to not be at all
peeved, if the awarding committee cannot possibly name you all as winners. When the Pink
Press came out last year my wife expressed her astonishment that my verses even received
favorable mention, "Y!, Will,” she said, “Your efforts remind me more of a collection of
"Mother Goose rhymes." I told her that was all right, but some of those good old scout boys
from the region of Springhill School whose memories remain acute, knew I wasn't trying to
work off a lot of "Aesop's fables" on anyone. One sport of ancient days, who has not lost his
sense of humor, wrote me after last Homecoming, and pointed out where I had missed the
opportunity of my life to have run in an extra verse. Thanks Noah, for the inspiration you gave
me. If you think the Press won't have to suspend publication, let us both write next year, and
tell it all.
To you who love excitement or would play the oil game, I would invite you to come
see me, and in a few hours time we can drive to the greatest oil fields in the world, were great
gushers are being brought in and astounding fortunes are being made overnight, or in a few
minutes time.
But I just must close now: my wife is calling, saying it is time I was getting back to
my wood sawing.
However, remember we love you all, and wish you the greatest possible happiness
and don't neglect to keep those good heart-throbbing, cheerful, bubbly letters coming every
time the good old reliable Sumner Press extends the opportunity.
W. C. Fyffe
Better known as "Fogy".
---------
11
(T. S. Gerhart)
Biographical Note:
Thomas Sherman Gerhart was born
April 20, 1868 to Jacob and Margaret
Ann (nee Norris) Gerhart in Indiana.
At the age of 10 months the family
moved to Allison Township. He
attended school close to the family
farm and upon graduation, attended
Vincennes University. From there he
obtained a liberal arts degree as well as
a law degree from University of
Indiana at Bloomington. During his
coursework he taught school five
years, three in Lawrenceville, two as
assistant and one as superintendent of
the city schools. Following his
graduation, he received both his
Illinois and his Indiana licenses to
practice law and moved to Kokomo,
Indiana to begin his career. Here he
was elected City Judge as well as
serving on the City Council and on the
Board of Police Commissioners. He
moved back to Lawrence County in
1909 and located in Sumner. There he
was the city attorney, a member of
the Knights of Pythias Lodge,and
served as Deacon, trustee, elder and
clerk of the Christian church. In 1912
he ran for State’s Attorney. He was
married to Caroline Clark and had 3
sons, Francis, Charles Thomas and
Emmerson. He died May 13, 1922 in
Bloomington, Indiana.
Bloomington, Indiana
January 13, 1919
Dear Mr. Wood:
Practically one year has passed since bidding farewell to Sumner and Lawrence
County as our home. This brief time has seen many changes: the war has been fought to
victory; peace is an assured fact; national personages have passed from Earth to the "Great
Beyond"; legislatures have convened for the doing and undoing of laws: churches leave a
new vision of world betterment; schools have become more and more the bulwark of
American independence; and social order is lifted onto a higher and nobler planet.
Yet memories review of great events cannot be complete in full without mention of
friends. The world would have been a sadder world today without staunch and loyal friends
among nations. Life would be a void without friendship. And it is
of the many friends of Lawrence County that we are now thinking.
What would our brief home of nine years in Sumner have been
without true and loyal friends? It would have been most
miserable! The wife and I were just counting the number of
friends who have passed over the River of life in Sumner and we
didn't have fingers and thumbs sufficient in number to tabulate
them. We will miss them when we return to visit Lawrence
County. It was death which led to the quick change of our
residence. So death makes and unmakes thrones, positions and
powers, and sojourns.
Our new home is not entirely new, for it was the former
home of the wife and her parents. Many old friends are passed
away and new ones must take their places. Adjustment to new conditions is the order of the
day. We found a former Lawrence County boy, city clerk, by name of Cooper. It is but
natural that a close fellowship has arisen between him and me. Then we find others who
have been married by Squire Kellar, at Lawrenceville. A more metropolitan citizenship is
around us than was at Sumner. The student body of about 2000, come from all over the
United States and some from across the seas. Many of the young men are still wearing the
uniforms. The "flu" has closed and kept closed the public schools. Much criticism is heard
by some, but we do not find fault with the school authorities for careful attention for "safety
first." Church and social life are in keeping with metropolitan ways and ideas. But we
missed the church bell. Had all churches been Bell-less, we would not have had the "Little
Brown Church in the Vail." So after all it is not the metropolitan town which always
produces the lasting sweets of life.
Editor’s note: The above is a
copy of the actual advertisement in a
19??issue of the Sumner Press.
At present we are in the recorder's office as deputy. We find this work fine and
congenial, and a good place to form an extended acquaintance. Should Lawrence County
record and index all instruments filed for record as we do in Indiana, a separate office
would be required. It is an easy matter to run the records over here, compared with there.
---------
The Sumner Press is met at the door as a welcome friend before the mailman gets
it into the mailbox on the porch. The latch string is always out for its entrance. We think it
better every week. We all wish it extended prosperity and happiness. May the fruits of wellearned newspaperdom always rest as sweet laurel upon L. M. Wood and his true and
faithful family, is the least we can wish through the columns of your paper.
Fraternally your,
T. S. Gerhart and family
--------Add Geo. R Goodman letter
12
Biographical Note:
B Hunter, Arkansas
January 1, 1919
L.M. Wood:
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie J. Heath were both born in Crawford County, Illinois, but
while children, their parents moved to Lawrence County, where they were married in 1888.
For 20 years they lived and toiled in Lawrence County, near Westport and Sumner until
February 1918, when they moved to Hunter, Arkansas, where they worked for M. Mushrush
and Robert Diebold for five months, then got a job on a farm three miles from Hunter, where
Elmer Amerman gave Mr. Heath half the crop and all the corn he could use and work by the
day out of the crop.
Editor’s Note:
There have been two towns named
Westport in Lawrence County. One
was located on the Embarras River
between Birds and Chauncey, and
the other on the west side of the
Wabash across from Vincennes.
---------
When Mr. and Mrs. Heath went to Hunter they took all their savings for 30 years as
baggage on this farm and in 11 months they have accumulated one registered sow with eight
fine pigs, worth about $80: three fine gilts, one fine registered male, total value of $180 in
hogs. They milk three good cows, which makes from 4 to 6 pounds of butter week end; have
50 laying hens, six fine ducks.
I want to say to friends and neighbors in Illinois that this is the place for poor
farmers who try to raise their living.
I also have 20 acres fine oats. Expect to put out 20 acres of corn on another place.
This is a good place for stock, as they can run out all winter. The grass is as green as in
springtime. Not much fruit around here.
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie J. Heath
--------Editor’s Note: The
advertisement to the left is a
copy of one in the Sumner
Press in ____.
Add David Logan letter #4164
13
(Imogene Moffett)
Biographical Note:
Imogene Brian was born in October
1895 to Peter William and Tillie A.
(nee Baily) Brian. She was married to
Lloyd Maffett and they had three
children Marian, Pete and Billy
Charles.
Hampton, Virginia
January 26, 1919
Dear Home Friends:
Thought I would write a few lines for the Pink Press, as I am a non-resident of old
Lawrence County this year.
The editor asked us to write of ourselves. I am afraid if I should do that my letter
would be no more eloquent than interesting.
However, I will jot down a few personal remarks, so that you may identify me, for
even if I am the same, my name has changed since leaving Lawrence County.
I was born in the Southwest corner of Christy Township, oh, a long time ago, and
am the daughter at P. W. Brian.
For five years I made teaching my profession, but gave it up last spring for a better
one-that is demonstrating practical (?) domestic science in a little kitchen of my own.
We live in Hampton, a town of about 25 or 30,000 inhabitants about seven miles
from Newport News, Virginia, where my husband is an architect and draughtsman of the
emergency fleet.
There are many interesting places here. Camp Stuart and Hill and Fort Monroe are
near and we live about half a mile from Hampton Roads, an old historic waterway. It is a
nice place for boating and bathing in the summertime, and we can see all kinds of vessels
from a rowboat to a battleship.
Editor’s Note: A draftsman is a skilled
worker who draws plans of buildings
or machines. In this case Lloyd drew
plans for ships.
Lloyd Maffett, mentioned on the
National Register of Historic Places,
was an architect and engineer in
Florence. He was also involved with
the construction and design of Braly
Stadium used today by both Florence
High School and UNA
--------Kevin: Add “s to Maffet and ()
(Imogene Brian Maffett’s husband)
There is a small ship yard here. They launched their first government ship last
week. It was just a freighter, but cost something like $1 million and took about a year and a
half for its completion. Imagine then what time and money a merchant or battleship must
require.
We are about 200 miles from Washington D.C. and spent a couple days there
while on our wedding trip. It is a beautiful city, with some of the most beautiful architecture
in the United States.
We came down to our new home by way of the Potomac River and Chesapeake
Bay, landing at Old Point Comfort or Fort Monroe, which is about four miles east of here.
The people here are very proud of the fact that Hampton is the oldest permanent
English settlement in the United States. Most of the houses are old-fashioned. The town was
partly destroyed during both the Revolutionary and Civil wars.
I see my letter is drifting into a descriptive, rather than a personal one, so I will
bring it to a close.
I often think of the people back home and would love to see you all.
Yours very truly
Mrs. Imogene Maffett
523 Ivy Street
---------
14
Hadley, Pennsylvania
January 28, 1919
Editor Press:
As I have never written to my friends through the Pink Press, I will now try and
write a few lines.
I am the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Legg, living six miles northeast of
Sumner, where I was raised. I was married to John B. McQuiston in the year 1909. We have
five children-William, age 9; Mina, 7; Mary, 5; Arthur, 3, and little Amon Legg, 10 months,
William and Mina go to school. William is in the fifth grade and Mina in the second grade.
We have lived in two states since leaving Illinois. They are Oklahoma and
Pennsylvania, where we now reside. We have a farm of 110 acres here. It is a very nice place
to live and we all like it here, but my husband prefers oil work to farming, so we have rented
the farm and will make a sale sometime soon and go back to the oilfield.
(Vira M’Quiston)
Biographical Note:
Elvira Agnes Legg was born
September 4, 1891 to Henry and
Sarah (nee Mills) Legg. She married
John B M’Quiston, son of William
and Sarah (nee Gailey) M’Quiston, on
February 23, 1909. When this letter
was written they had five children,
but their family eventually grew to
eleven.
---------
It is hard to go through Illinois without stopping at Sumner, so we will visit our
friends and relatives. It has been two years since we were there.
We have had very nice weather this winter, scarcely any snow, not enough for
sleighing, which is a rare occurrence in this country. At this time last winter the snow was
about four feet deep.
We are all enjoying good health.
With best wishes for all, I will close, hoping to find many letters from my friends in
the Pink Press.
Respectfully yours,
Vira A. M’Quiston
---------
Editor’s Note:
The
advertisement at the left
shows the popularity of
photography during this
period. This ad was found
in the Summer Press, 19__.
15
(Allen Moffit Mills)
Biographical Note:
Moffit Mills was born in Ohio,
September 1866 to Henry and
Cassandra Della (nee Tilton) Mills. On
April 4, he was united in marriage to
1888 Anna Della Mushrush. To this
union seven children were born.
Moffit died on December 1, 1942 and
Anna on February 19, 1943 and are
buried in the Chauncey cemetery.
--------Editor Note:
Selma, Moffit’s daughter whom he
refers to in this letter was married to
W.K. Lytle. On Jan 10, 1919 she gave
birth to a nine lb. baby daughter,
named Methel Margaret.
Annotation:
In earlier times, when the dead were
laid out in the parlour of the family
home, people, either out of respect or
superstition, draped all the mirrors
and windows of the house with black
crepe. Often if a person was nearing
death’s door, family members would
begin purchasing black crepe in
preparation. This gave birth to the
term, "crepe hanger" as a people who
is a compulsive worrier and anxious
about things that have not yet
happened. A person who is
consistently pessimistic would be
called a crepe hanger.
---------
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
January 22, 1919
L.M. Wood and Sons, Editors of what I think is Lawrence county’s best paper. I
will try and write a letter to all my old friends at one time, as I am too busy to write many
personal letters.
I left Sumner in August, 1918, with very deep regret, starting out to start life anew
somewhere. Very naturally, I drifted to Cedar Rapids the home of my loving daughter, Mrs.
W. K. Lytle, where I have all the comforts that a loving daughter can provide for me. After
visiting with the family for two days, I realized that I must hustle out and get a position of
some kind to occupy my mind, time, draw a salary, etc. So I put the recommendations of F.
H. Correll, Dr. A. G. Mountz, O. A. Fyffe and George W. Hill in my pocket and started out.
I decided, however, to try for a position on a streetcar, so went straightaway to the
superintendent of transportation of the Cedar Rapids and Marion City Street Railway
Company, told him I was looking for work and he told me he was just at that time looking
for men past the draft age, who wanted to work, so after looking at my recommendations,
handed me a plum I was looking for, so thanks be to Providence. I have a good position,
that of streetcar conductor. Later, at odd spells, I have broke in as motorman also, so I am at
home at either end of the car and drawing a monthly salary of more than $100. So it can be
fully realized by the reader that I am somewhat independent. I like my work and have a
bunch of friends among the car men.
Cedar Rapids is a beautiful city of 45,000 inhabitants. Has more large
manufacturing plants than any city of its size in the United States. The largest cereal mill in
the world is here-that of Quaker Oats. The National Oats Company have a mill here too,
but it is an infant by the side of the Quaker.
People who travel any never should complete their journey without coming to
Cedar Rapids and allow me to say right here, if you do come, look me up and I will see that
you are entertained fully, so without further ceremony, friends call on me.
Now, I have told you about myself and the city, but allow me to say right here that
when I decide to quit street carring I am coming back to old Illinois and when I get
relocated within her borders I will roam no more, so in short, if I live a few short years I
will be back among you to stay the remainder of my life in Illinois.
So, friends, my advice to you is this: if you have a farm in Illinois, keep it; if you
haven't, get one, get one as soon as possible, for where I long to be you should be also.
But as a world hates a crepe hanger, I must change the subject and to the friends of
the family allow me to say Selma is upstairs entertaining a new daughter, born the 9th, inst.
All doing well.
Will be glad to receive a letter or a call from any of my friends.
With a fond memory of Sumner and Chauncey and all my friends, I close by
wishing the Press, the editors and my many friends a very happy, prosperous year.
Respectfully,
Moffit Mills
---------
16
Winter Haven, Florida
January 17, 1919
Mr. Wood:
I again take up my pencil to write a few lines for your home coming issue of
the press.
All who know me know I am a Lukinite. Born there in 1845. Though in the
land of oranges and all kinds of fruit there is no place quite like home.
Wife and I left home last October, meandered to Kansas City, from there to
Pleasanton, Kansas, also to Prescott, visiting relatives, and thence to Miami,
Oklahoma, where we visited other cousins. From there to Billings, Oklahoma, where
we visited our daughter, Maude and family, for a month; from there to Newellton,
Louisiana, by the way of Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, to Shreveport, Louisiana, and
on to the Tallulah, Louisiana where we visited Mrs. Robb, who is an
own cousin to father. She is in her 80th year. Had a splendid visit
with our nephews, Alva and Arthur, and their families. They were
in fine health and moving things on their large cotton plantation
much after northern style. The first afternoon we were there we
went to the field where they were sowing oats. They were running
one tractor, which was doing the work of 16 or 20 horses, and also
had five or six four-mule teams plowing and harrowing and two
drills seeding. Twenty Negro families live on the plantation and
they were still picking cotton.
Left Tallulah Tuesday, December 10 arriving at Winter
Haven, Florida, Thursday, December 12 by way of Jackson and Meridian, Mississippi,
Birmingham, Alabama to Jacksonville, Florida.
Since coming here we have had some disagreeable weather, but at present the
weather is ideal.
This seems to be the center of the citrus fruit enterprise. Two packing houses
in town send out about 10 carloads daily, with another a mile up the track and one 3
1/2 miles the other way.
We are figuring on going to the East Coast in a week or so and feel our way
back north with the spring birds by April.
This leaves us well, will be glad to hear from all the Suckers scattered on the
face of this great U. S. A.
Yours truly,
D .S. Moore
Home address: Lawrenceville, Illinois
---------
17
(D. S. Moore)
Biographical Note:
David Snyder Moore was born
September 18, 1845 to John and
Elizabeth (nee Snyder) Moore.
March 14, 1870 he was united in
marriage to Elizabeth Jane Provines.
To this union four children were
born: Franklin, Oscar, Maude and
Blanche. David was a preacher and
was the pastor of the Lawrenceville
Free Methodist church in 19011902.
---------
(John F. Peters)
Biographical Note:
John Franklin Peters was born in
Indiana on September 24, 1857 to
William R. and Elizabeth (nee
Cooper) Peters. In 1878 he was
united in marriage to Martha
Izadora Shick. Four children were
born to this union: Clemma, Effie,
Nathan (Nattie) and Mary.
Decatur, Illinois
R.F.D. No. 3
1919
Editor Press:
I like the country here, but have worked hard every day since I came.
We had a big wheat crop and best in quality ever known. Oats were medium
and corn a fair crop, not as large as usual. Pasture was good all year. We have a large
wheat acreage and it is looking fine. We never had such an open winter here as this
one has been so far.
Respectfully yours,
John F. Peters
--------Ranger, Texas
January 27, 1919
Editor Press:
As I read the news from home I wonder how many, if any, of you would be
interested in a short letter from Ranger, Texas.
--------(Zetta Petty)
Biographical Note:
Rosetta E. Jones was born in
February 1894 in Lawrence County,
daughter of Lincoln and Effie (nee
Harrell) Jones.
Annotation:
On a cable-tool drilling rig the twoman crew consisted of a "driller,"
who was in charge, and his helper,
called a "tool dresser" or "toolie.
---------
I have been here since June, but never dreamed so many people would be
here in six months. This is a little town, but full of people; so many from Oklahoma,
Illinois and other eastern states. I am so lucky as to have one brother and one sister for
neighbors. Both live real close to me. My brother, Guy Jones, dresses tools for my
husband, and my sister's husband, Sam Berry, dresses tools on the same well with his
brother, Glen.
We find this a beautiful country in the winter, not speaking of mud and roads.
We have some rain, of course, but must say we have some beautiful days. My sisterin-law, sister and I go uptown without our coats, or wraps of any kind and are plenty
warm. Keep our doors open most of the time in the day.
I cannot imagine the weather being so nice in January back in Sumner, as I
lived close there for 20 years and never did see it like this. We have had just a little
snow but never stays on only a little while. The leaves have only been dead about two
months on what these Texas people call trees. You would call it brushwood and I find
there are buds on lilacs even now.
Am sure you have heard of the big oil wells, making from 75 to 80,000
barrels per day. This is one of the most prosperous towns in the southwest. Lots of
business, best of wages, tool dressers and drillers getting from $10-$12 per day. Board
$10 per week, room from 7 to 10, but we are keeping house now and I like it much
better. We figure we will be ready to go on a farm we bought near Anderson, Missouri,
by March or April. That means we will escape the hot summer here in Texas.
Trusting I shall read a lot of good news in the Press, I am seriously awaiting
each Saturday.
Zetta Jones Petty
---------
18
Biographical Note:
Spokane, Washington
January 29, 1919
Editor Press:
Your repeated notice "hurry, hurry" appeals to me. I have yet 16 days to get
in among the bunch.
While there are many former Lawrence County folks in this great state of
Washington, it seems few respond to this generous offer of the press to let the home
folks and others know who they are, where they are and what they are doing.
I know that 30 years ago I sold many tickets to Lawrence County people to all
parts of the west, and especially to Washington. Many of them I have forgotten, but I
am now in a position to ticket them the other way should the occasion present itself.
I know my friend W. C. Fyffe, of Texas, will say I am infringing on my rights
by forcing in an ad. Not so, Uncle Sam runs the roads and we don't have to "rustle". I
mention this fact for the reason that should any of my old friends hit the trail for
Spokane they will find me just as young as I used to be, and as anxious to see them,
either going or coming.
We have just enjoyed a most happy visit with Rev. and Mrs. L. J. Hawkins,
formerly of Bridgeport, now of Conrad, Montana. We lived over again the oil boom in
that part of the country and as we had been back recently, had a store of news for
them.
We are no worse off than one year ago. It is a well known fact that a setting
hen won't grow fat, but if fed regularly doesn't lose much flesh. That is the position of
the average railroad man.
Yes, we had the flu, and am happy to say, survive, for which we are thankful,
and extremely sorry for those of our friends in Lawrence County who were not so
fortunate.
I would like to spread out and tell you something about this great Northwest,
as we have found it, but the editor has the bars up. Hence I will confine myself to
Come and see.
C. M. Piper
2317 West Liberty
--------19
Biographical Note:
Emma Ruark Rawlings wrote a
letter every year (1915-1919) for
the non-resident letter edition. At
the time of this letter when she
describes “scaling the rocks after
baby goats in the Colorado
mountains, she is 63 years of age.
(According to the US Dept of Health,
the life expectancy in 1918 for men
was 53 years and for women 54
years.)
This page is formatted differently from the others.
Grand Junction, Colorado
January 17, 1919
Here we are again, we wanderers with a greeting to old friends and a kind
thought to the editor of the Press for the privilege of again having another reunion
through the columns of their paper. Good luck to you all and prosperity for this New
Year.
We should all be much happier this year than last, to have peace declared and
our boys, so many of them coming home.
Editor’s Notes:
“Trench and Camp” was a
newspaper published by the YMCA
during WWI. It circulated in thirtytwo different camps and consisted
of 8 pages, half of which was
national army news, and the other
half, local camp news.
Here's a welcome to all who fought there. How noble and manly they are,
how true, those splendid boys who fought for me, for you. The stalwart and sturdy
who spent their manhood's best, the maimed and crippled, too, are all coming to be our
guests. Give jobs to those who left one, pay interest for their heroism, for deeds of
courage, cheer for they are surely worthy. Remember what they've gone through for
you, for me and while we greet our living heroes, we silently shed a tear and breathe a
sigh for those who lost their previous lives Over There. We can never forget them our
dead heroes left on a foreign soil. God bless and keep all mothers, wives and
sweethearts of those heroic dead. And our boys who lost their lives in the training
camps are heroes as well as the ones over there.
I have surely enjoyed reading all the soldier boys’ letters and the ones in
Sumner Press seemed to me to be extra good ones.
I suppose a great many of you get the "Trench and Camp." We have always
had them. A Chicago boy at Camp Kearney sends them to me now. We were all at the
station when the Chicago boys, 300 of them, passed through. They were a jolly goodnatured bunch. Met some of them who seemed like old friends. One of them writes to
us every week. Poor boys in Camp Kearney and all other camps, who did not get to go
over, they sure wanted to go bad enough, but they keep in good spirits even if they are
so tired of nothing to do, as they say in "Trench and Camp."
I spent last summer in the mountains, cooking at a goat ranch, 25 miles from
the Junction. Had one grand time. I do so love the mountains, but sometimes long to
see the plains again. I had a fine war garden up there and I wish you could only see
things grow in that soil! Well, I'll not say too much. You would perhaps call it a fish
story. Then I would get out and herd the baby goats (kids) and try to keep the little
things with the herd, for they were inclined to climb the mountain sides out of sight,
then Mr. Coyote had a meal of goat.
You should see me (at my age too) scale those rocks after the little critters.
Their mothers are out feeding, no dogs around, so it had to be done. And I am glad that
I could climb. There were girls herding sheep, so lots of pleasure for all, as well as
work. I heard the first whip-poor-will up there last summer at night that I have heard
since I left old Illinois, and he seemed to come to the same tree every night for my own
benefit. I would feel sad, for all loved to hear him. He made me think of days of long
ago when a girl at home. It is strange, is it not, dear friends, that old times and old
familiar faces will seem to come to us as plainly as if only yesterday?
20
Biographical Note:
DELETE DUPLICATE I spent last summer in the mountains, cooking at a goat
ranch, 25 miles from the Junction. Had one grand time. I do so love the mountains, but
sometimes long to see the plains again. I had a fine or garden up there and I wish you could
only see things grow in that soil! Well, I'll not say too much. You would perhaps call it a
fish story. Then I would get out and herd the baby goats (kids) and try to keep the little
things with the herd, for they were inclined to climb the mountain side out of sight, then Mr.
Coyote had a meal of goat.
You should see me (at my age too) scale those rocks after the little critters. Their
mothers are out feeding, no dogs around, so it had to be done. And I am glad that I could
climb. There were lots of girls herding sheep, so lots of pleasure for all, as well as work. I
heard the first whip-poor-will up there last summer at night that I have heard since I left old
Illinois, and he seemed to come to the same tree every night for my own benefit. I would
feel sad, for all love to hear him. He made me think of days of long ago when a girl at home.
It is strange, is it not, dear friends, that old times and old familiar faces will seem to come to
us as plainly as if only yesterday?
We are all growing old fast, and girls of younger days, but say, we can still keep
our hearts from growing old, after all, don't you think?
I am thinking tonight again of Belle, Molly H., Millie D., Alice M., Gilla Turner,
Lide "Bent." Lide Petty, Tiny McKenimish and lots of other dear old girls I used to know in
Sumner and Calhoun.
I sometimes think of the boys, too, but they were not always in our fun (but as a
general thing not on hand). Hello! To you Becky Sumner, Add Jones and her mother, Sister
Dell and my dear mother. May God bless you all this year, and to all old friends, may you
live long and be happy. Do not forget your western friend and wanderer.
Emma Raurk Rawlings
Daughter of Mrs. M. E. Klingler
---------
21
(Thomas Henry Seed)
Biographical Note:
Thomas Seed was born June 12,
1843 to Hugh and Sabilla (nee
Ryan). He married Emma Pope
March 31, 1871. On April 3,
1925 he died. His grandparents
were Hugh Seed and Elizabeth
Jane Seed.
---------
Mount Vernon, Illinois
January 17, 1919
Little did I think 16 years ago when I removed from Sumner to this place I would
be alive today. I was then in very poor health. This, with the fact that both my parents had
died when they were 62 years of age, caused me to feel that as I was at that time about 60
years of age, the time was near at hand for my passing over the great divide, but I am still
here and in the enjoyment of better general health than for many years, though not so
strong as I find I tire easily.
My son is still publisher of the Daily and Weekly Register. I go to the office
every day and attend to the mailing to out-of-town subscribers of both the daily and
weekly issues. This, with the tableting, keeps me quite busy. Then I being quite handy
with tools, am called on to fix anything out of order, so there is plenty to keep me busy,
but I find I cannot be on my feet and do the amount of work I formerly could, but have to
sit down, not to rest, but to work at something or other and there is always something to
do about a newspaper office. My son has two lively daughters, who visit wife and I
enough to keep us from being lonesome.
Our daughter, Rhoda, is happily married to J. R. Barclay, and is living at 39
North Emily Street, Crafton, a suburb of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Wife and I visited them
for seven weeks last July and August and no preventing providence, would like to do so
again next July and August.
Once in a while someone from Lawrence County, passing through, stops and
says howdy to us, which we greatly appreciate, for as we grow old the old time friends
seem nearer to us.
That there have been great changes in Sumner I realized when I look at a picture
taken at 1902 reunion on the wall before me, containing 25 old soldiers and one son of a
veteran, T. F. Hoopes. Of the 25, 13 that I know to have crossed the river and are resting
under the trees on the other side, as follows: Comrades Carey, Bunn, Lett, Fyffe,
Burnside, Smith, Webb, Westall, Petty, Umfleet, Clark, Travis, and McElfresh.
It is now 57 years since I, a boy of 18, enlisted in the Union Army for three
years. I fully expected we would whip the Johnnies in a year at farthest, but after two
years the end seemed farther off than ever. The government made a special appeal to the
soldiers of 61 to reenlist for three years more and thereby show the South we were in
earnest and offered, if we would do so, to give us 30 days furlough at home. That fetched
us, or at least three fourths of us, who January 1864 reenlisted for three years more. Well,
we did get them at last, though we who were in Sherman's army had to nearly wear
ourselves out running after them, but suppose we had refused to re-enlist and come home
and the south had gained their independence? We would be singing a different tune now,
for Germany would also have triumphed and we would now be bowing to our German
masters. But God did not manage it that way, for which let us give thanks.
Thomas H. Seed
---------
22
Lassus, Missouri
January 19, 1919
Editor Press:
I will endeavor to write a few lines for the Pink Press, to let my old
friends and neighbors know that we are still in the land of the living.
We left Sumner 17 years ago, going from there to East St. Louis where
we resided 12 years. In the spring of 1914 we came to this place, a little town 91
mile south of St. Louis, on the Iron Mountain Railroad. We have a nice little home
here, all enjoying the best of health since coming here. I enjoy the outdoor life and
exercise of the country and think it much better than living in the city.
Mr. Shick has been working for the railroad company for several years.
Our two oldest daughters, Pearl and Ruth, are married. Pearl lives in St.
Louis, where her husband C. L. Napper, is a buyer in the Carlton D. G. Company.
Ruth married Lawrence Hunt and lives near Farmington. Our other three children
are still in school. Hazel and Carrol are in high school and Nellie in the sixth
grade.
As nearly all our relatives live in Lawrence and Richland counties, we
are always glad to get the press and hear of them and how they are getting along,
as well as old friends and neighbors, whose letters in the Pink Press we are always
glad to read.
Hoping that this issue of the Press will be a greater success than any
before.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. A. C. Shick
Farmington, Missouri
R.R. # 6, Box 80
--------Princeton, Indiana
January 26, 1919
(Mrs. A. C. Shick)
Biographical Note:
Emma Louise Gubelman was born
November 30, 1866 to Charles Edward
and Sophia (nee Seitz) Gubelman.
Edward Gubelman was born in
Switzerland. On February 21, 1894
Emma was united in marriage to Albert
Clinton Shick. Albert was born April 28,
1859 the son of Daniel and Caroline (nee
Jones) Shick. To this union eight children
were born: Inez Pearl, Lillian Ruth, Eula
Mae, Fern, Infant Girl, Hazel Pauline,
Albert Carroll, Nellie Louise. Emma died
on December 26, 1947 in St. Louis
Missouri. Albert died July 7, 1933. They
are buried in the Sumner Cemetery.
Annotation: The Iron Mountain Railroad
ran from St. Louis, Missouri, to
Texarkana, Arkansas, as well as to
southeast Missouri. The line was initially
established to deliver iron ore from Iron
Mountain, Missouri to St. Louis, hence
its name, the Iron Mountain Railroad.
---------
Editor’s note: In 1916 the address on
her letter was De Lassus, Mo but
from all indications the family lived
at the same place. She said she found
raising vegetables and chickens very
pleasant work. Their three youngest
children were still in school, the two
oldest in 8th grade and the youngest
in the fifth.
L.M. Wood and Sons:
Your call for non-resident readers at hand and note what you say.
Am still at Princeton as automobile salesman and look forward to a big
business this year.
We are all up and going again after a fight with the flu, as practically
everybody has had. Ruth and Paul, soon seven and nine, both in school. Just got
their midwinter promotions and getting along fine, while Margaret, our little
Hoosier, soon two years old, and her mother, manage to get all the eats on the
table, three times a day that we get of this high-priced war food. But guess we
have got no kick, as we are all here after the war and flu both have reaped their
harvest.
Wishing one and all the readers a happy and prosperous year and anyone
coming our way will find us at 710 West State Street, beg to remain,
Very truly,
Ira W. Shick and Family
---------
23
--------(Ira W. Shick)
Biographical Note:
Ira Whitmer Shick was born on July 2,
1881 to Peter W. and Jennie C. (nee
Whitmer) Shick. Ira was married to
Bertha Mae Judy. Bertha was born on
March 8, 1885. Ira died July 25, 1953 and
Bertha died March 27, 1975. They are
buried in the Sumner Cemetery.
---------
(George W. Shirley)
Biographical Note:
George Shirley was born about 1854
in Illinois to Garret and Mary
Shirley. On June 2, 1878 in
Lawrence County, George married
Sarah L. Landis, daughter of John
and Hannah E. (nee Herrin) Landis.
The 1880 census shows them living
in Bonpas Township, Richland
County with a four month old
daughter Sarah E. Sarah died on
May 5. 1905
--------Editor’s Notes:
In 1858 the first public school was
built in Sumner. It was a small frame
building located on West Locust
Street. In 1868 a two-story brick
building was erected, having one
large room on each floor. In 1886 a
partition was put in each room and
four teachers employed. Four more
rooms were added on the east part
of the building in 1893 In 1905 the
old part was torn down and three
new rooms added, the upper room
being used for the high school. A
two- year high school was
established
and
the
first
commencement exercises were
held in the spring of 1888. In 1909
the school curriculum included
three years of study with an
enrollment of about 300. By 1919
the fourth year of study was added.
In 1920 a new school was built.
Chicago, Illinois
January 10, 1919
In December issue I told of some of those school days, which I will take up
again.
After leaving the log schoolhouse, east of town to a frame school house the
first to be built in Sumner, with one big room and the seats were up to date, you may
be sure it was a couple of half hamman jumps from the sidewalk where we went to
school on weekdays and to Sunday school on Sundays and to church. They didn't
move any of the furniture from the log house to the new one but the piano-that was the
switches. These were the strings to play the piano with.
There we learned everything from A. B. C. to algebra, if we were capable.
There were no grades, as now, it simply meant, learn all you can or the teacher would
strike a tune on the piano.
Then that school house got too small and out of date, then the brick
schoolhouse was built. I suppose it stands to this day, it's four rooms, two upstairs,
two down, and oh my the improvement in the furniture. It was something to be proud
of, but we still kept the piano. Seemed to need it, although the girls didn't seem to take
to it as did the boys, but I stayed there long enough to see the piano thrown out. The
teacher that said he had no use for it was L. Pugh. Well do I remember that time, for I
thought that my clothes didn't need dusting anymore for when I got them dusted at
school I got the same or little more when I got home, so you see we got it going and
coming.
Now about the cemetery east of town. There was a family by the name of
Goodman that lived in Sumner and gave the land for the repose for the dead and one of
those Goodmans plowed the ground, leveled it and laid it out and then waited to see
who would be the first and it was the same one that had prepared it and that was my
first to see that act and the disease that took him took the whole family, if my memory
is right.
Since the other letter I wrote I have received letters from schoolmates and
friends and see by the issue of January 2 there are others that I would like to get a word
from. You will still find me the same old pal.
Just tell me that you are still hitting the high spots and where I can reach you
by mail or a flying machine with a Happy New Year and many of them.
George W. Shirley
6228 South Marshfield Avenue
24
25
Thomasboro, Illinois
January 26, 1919
Editor Press:
I am writing a few lines, as I am a non-resident of Lawrence County.
Am a daughter of G. W. Westall. My home is now Champaign County. Have
lived here 13 years this February. We live seven miles north of Champaign, although
our mail route comes from a small town northeast of us. We live on my husband’s
father’s farm of 80 acres and rent 120 adjoining it.
We have been married 13 years the 21st day of February and have had seven
children to bless our home. The two oldest having gone to the great beyond, leaving
five, their names are Raymond, Dorothy, Mabel, Pauline and Willie Woodrow. Our
baby was named just before Wilson was elected president.
(Bessie Smith)
Biographical Note:
Bessie Westall was the daughter of
George Washington and Hannah
(nee Petty) Westall. She was born
January 18, 1886. She was united in
marriage to William H., son of
Samuel and Elizabeth Jane (nee
DeArsuit (sp)) Smith was born in
July 1880. His father had been
born in England.
---------
We are all well at present. All had the flu this fall and it left a very sad event,
which we will never forget. Our oldest daughter, Ann Louise, 10 years of age, dying
with pneumonia and she was laid to rest beside her little brother, who died seven years
ago, at the age of four years, interred in the beautiful cemetery at Roselawn. It is a
perpetual care cemetery just south of Champaign.
I was down to Sumner in July to attend my mother's funeral, which took place
at Pleasant Hill and we met so many of our aunts, uncles, cousins and friends that we
hadn't seen for years. We passed the old home place, but things had changed so much
it didn't look like home anymore.
Yours respectfully,
Mrs. Bessie Smith
--------Covington, Oklahoma
January 15, 1919
Editor Press and Dear Friends:
As this is our first opportunity of writing a letter for the Pink Press Edition
and Sumner has always been my hometown, Mr. Stamats spending the last 10 years of
his life in and around there, we need no introduction.
On leaving there last April we located in Augusta, Kansas, lived there until
August, coming to Covington, Oklahoma, a thriving little oil town of 1500 inhabitants.
They were building a beautiful school building, 12 rooms, with gymnasium and all
other modern improvements, when we came. Have two churches, the Baptist and M.
E., Where we have a good Sunday school with an enrollment of 90. The boys, Robert
and Maxwell, are enjoying good health in the west, but think there is no place like
Sumner and their little friends there. Although we have met lots of new people and
find them to be true blue, we have a longing to get back to old Illinois and expect to
make a visit there as soon as Robert is out of school.
We are getting along nicely and shall be glad to hear from any of our old
friends and neighbors of Sumner and Petty vicinity.
Wishing all prosperity throughout the year nineteen and nineteen.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. O. O. Stamats
---------
26
--------(Mrs. O. O. Stamats)
Biographical Note:
Margaret P. Stamats was born
December 14, 1888. She married
Oscar Stamats born May 1880 in
Ohio. He died in 1926. Margaret
died May 29, 1985. Both are buried
in the Sumner cemetery.
---------
(Myrtle Wagner)
Biographical Note:
Emma Myrtle Mushrush was born
May 30, 1875 to Lewis and Grace
(nee Greer) Mushrush. On April 15,
1897 she married David Emerson
Wagner, son of Jacob and Mary
(nee Haines) Wagner. To this union
four children were born: Virgil,
Mabel, Ralph and Grace. David died
February 4, 1969 and Myrtle on July
30, 1962. They are buried in the
Omak Memorial Cemetery in
Washington.
---------
Omak, Washington
February 3, 1919
Dear Editor and Friends:
I see in the press that you have called for letters again from former residents
of Lawrence County.
I am a wanderer from old Lawrence County and from the southwest side of
Crawford County.
I was born in Crawford and I am the second daughter of Lewis and Grace
Mushrush. My childhood days were spent in Crawford County, where I attended
school and also taught for a couple of years. My mind often goes back to those good
old days. The first days of school I attended were in an old log schoolhouse with long
benches were seats, which were all carved up by the boys’ pocketknives. Later a new
frame building replaced the old one and here was where I spent the rest of my school
days. I wonder where the rest of those boys and girls are who attended that country
school. They are all scattered here, there, and yonder. I hope to see some letters in the
non-resident issue from them.
In my 22nd year, April 15, 1897, I was married to D. E. Wagner, of Lawrence
County. We moved to our little home in Petty Township, near the town hall. Here we
were surrounded by many kind and loving neighbors, such as William Westall’s and
Albert Hutchinson’s and a number of others.
In September, 1909, my husband and brother-in-law, E. S. Petty made a trip
to Okanogan, Washington, where he had two brothers living. He was pretty much
taken up with the country (not so with E. S.) and when he came back we talked it over
and decided to move to Washington. We sold our personal property and in March,
1910, we bid our old friends and relatives goodbye and started on our journey,
accompanied by Otto Irvin and family.
We were just six days on the way, first on the railroad train, then on the boat,
and lastly on the stagecoach but the old stage route has been abandoned and the train
takes the place of it now.
Very soon after our arrival we bought us a lot and pitched our tent, where we
live that summer. We also bought an orchard tract 4 1/2 miles from Okanogan and a
mile and one half from Omak, Washington. This we set to trees at once. During the
summer we built a nice little bungalow on our lot in Okanogan, where we lived for
five years.
In June, 1915, we decided to move on our ranch near Omak, a nice little
country town, with a high school and a nice Presbyterian Church, where we attend
church and Sunday school most of the time.
After our removal we decided before settling down to real ranch work we would make
a visit to our old home. We found many changes and many of the faces we knew and
loved were gone. Among them my dear brother, who had bidden goodbye to this
earthly sanctuary and gone to heaven, where we all hope to meet some day. We spent
two pleasant months with our friends and relatives, but the time came when we must
say goodbye again. We arrived home safe and sound and settled down to real ranch
life, where we have been ever since.
27
We have a family of four children, two boys and two girls-Virgil, Mabel and
Ralph, born in the Sucker state, while Grace Pauline is a little Evergreen girl. Virgil
will be 21 in March. He works on the ranch during the summer months and during the
autumn he works at the Omak fruit growers’ packing and storage plant, where the big
red Apple is handled. The winter time he spends in doing various jobs. Mabel is 15
and a sophomore this year. Along with her schoolwork, she is taking music lessons.
She also worked at the packing house this fall, where she made a neat, little sum of
money. Ralph is 10 years old and in the fifth grade at school. In the summer time he
and his pony herd the cows, take care of the rabbits and do various chores. Grace
Pauline is four now and she helps me keep house for the rest of the family.
While we are barred
from saying much about our
country, I must say this is a
fine climate in which to live.
We have had a very pleasant
winter so far, but quite a
good deal of snow now and
some rain, but the Fords run
the year around.
Well, how thankful
we are that this great war is
ended and victory won for
the allies, while every true
American has done their bit
by buying Liberty Bonds,
supporting the Red Cross,
the Y.M. C.A. and a number
of other organizations which
were for the care and
protection of our boys, we
feel that we haven't done
very much, when we see the
boys coming home maimed
and crippled for life. And
then we think of some who
will never come back, but
have given their lives that
we might live. We also think of suffering and sorrow that has come from that awful
epidemic, the influenza.
We feel that we have been a great deal more fortunate here in the Western
states than they have been in the east. While we have had a number of deaths here
from it, it has not been so bad here as elsewhere.
I must leave room in this issue for more letters, so I will close. This leaves us
all well. My family and myself send our best wishes to all our friends and Press
readers.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Myrtle Wagner
---------
28
Editor’s Note:
The official state slogan for Illinois
since 1955 has been “Land of
Lincoln”, and before that it was
often known as the Prairie State.
However in the 19th century it was
referred to as the Sucker State.
There are three explanations for the
origin of this term. One involves a
practice that was fairly common
among travelers and inhabitants of
the prairie. When water was
needed, long, hollow reeds were
thrust down into crawfish holes,
and the water was literally sucked
up, as through a straw, thus the
term suckers.
Another explanation derives from
the fact that many of the pioneers in
the central and southern part of the
state came from tobacco-growing
states such as Kentucky, Virginia,
and Tennessee. The sprouts around
the main stem of a tobacco plant
are commonly referred to as
"suckers’ and are are regularly
stripped off and discarded. Since
most of these settlers were poor,
society looked down upon them as
eventually a burden that would sap
the economy. They were therefore
derisively called "suckers," and the
term came to refer to the entire
region of Southern Illinois, which at
the time held most of the state's
population.
The most popular explanation
involves the state's first lead mine,
which was opened in 1824 near
Galena. As word of the mine spread,
thousands of men descended on
Galena in search of work. Most of
the job-seekers, from Missouri and
southern Illinois, would come to
Galena in the spring and work
through the fall, then return home.
Because the workers traveled up
and down the Mississippi, their
migration pattern was the same as
certain fish known as "suckers" that
migrate upstream each spring, hence
the name.
(Ulysus Grant Williams)
Biographical Note:
Grant Williams was born July 16,
1870 to William and Martha (nee
Kidwell) Williams. On March 20,
1895 he married Anna Pearl Hart
daughter of Christian and Emaline
Hart. Six children were listed in the
1910 census: Nina, Jessie, Charlie,
Arthur, Harry, Ronald. Earl was
listed in the 1920 census. Grant
died January 26, 1931 and Anna in
1962. They are buried in the
Sumner City Cemetery.
Editor’s Note:
Epworth League: Methodist young
adult association for individuals
ages 18-35.
--------(Alfa Tina Worstell)
Biographical Note:
Alfa Tina Perrott was born
September 25, 1872 to John
Bateman and Anne (nee Atkins)
Perrott, both parents being born in
Ireland.
Deniphan, Missouri
January 17, 1919
L. M. Wood and Sons:
As you requested all former resident of Lawrence County to write a letter for
the Pink Press, thought I would comply with your request.
I was born in Knox County, Indiana near Vincennes. Moved to Lawrence
County about 26 years ago, where I met and married Anna Hart. We moved to Sumner
and lived there for 16 years.
We left Sumner last March, so you see we still speak of that place as home.
We are situated in Ripley County, southeast of Doniphan, on a farm of 1043
acres and like the country fine.
The family is well and always look forward to Friday, when we receive the
Press. We live within a half-mile of church. It is a live little country church. All the
children attend Sunday School and Epworth League. The three younger boys, Harry,
Ronald and Earl, go to school every day, Charlie, Arthur and I run the farm. Charlie is
in St. Louis now, but will be home for the spring work. Mrs. Williams is kept busy
with her poultry and housework. The girls both have government positions, so are not
with us very much.
Will close, hoping to see lots of letters in the Pink Press.
Yours truly,
Grant Williams
--------St. Louis, Missouri
January 7, 1919
Editors and Old Friends:
Although I have not wandered as far from the old home as some, I hate being
gone a long time and thought perhaps some of the friends would like to hear from me.
I feel very thankful to the editor for this privilege of writing to be fifth edition of the
"Pink Press" and hope to see many letters from other wanderers.
John Bateman Perrott, Alfa’s father
Alfa married William W. Worstell
October 13, 1874. To this union
three children were born: Virgil (b.
Aug 1895), Anna Viola (b. April
1898), and John (b. Feb 1901).
William was born August 26, 1872
and died in August 1962. Alfa died
August 20, 1948. Both are buried in
St. John Cemetery in St. Louis.
---------
I enjoyed reading the interesting letters in the other editions and hope enough
will write to make this the best Pink Press ever published.
Now, to tell you a little about myself and family: I was born on the Richland
and Lawrence County line, just 4 1/2 miles southwest of Sumner, where my father,
John Perrott and brother Asa, still reside. I was out to visit father during the holidays
and found him in the best of health, although nearly a century young. Dear mother left
us some nine years ago this month but we have sweet memories of her and hope to
meet her in the great beyond.
I called old Lawrence County my home until the year 1901, when, with my
husband (William Worstell) and children moved to St. Louis, Missouri. We have lived
in this city the most of the time since. At present we are located in the southwest part
of St. Louis, living in a pretty little five room bungalow which we own. Husband is a
contractor and carpenter here.
29
Our oldest child has been in Uncle Sam’s service for the past five months.
First taking training at Camp Funston, Kansas and then being transferred to Camp
Mills, New York, where he is now stationed as one of the world’s war engineers.
Our second child, a daughter, is now at College View, Nebraska, a small town
in the suburbs of Lincoln, preparing herself for a missionary.
Johnny, our youngest, is still at home with us.
As I do not wish to take up space that would be filled with letters more
interesting than this, I will close now, wishing all a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Mrs. William Worstell
4951 Blow Street
---------
30
Biographical Note:
(
31
Biographical Note:
32
Biographical Note:
33
34