From Former Sons and Daughters of

Vina O. Lidey was born in Lawrence county in February 8, 1878 to Daniel and Nancy E. (nee Petty) Lidey. Daniel Lidey died on October, 14 1877. Several months before his daughter’s birth. In 1922 Vina married Thomas Lee in Big Horn, Wyoming. Vina then married Mr. Freyermuth. Vina died on April 14, 1956 at Tulare California. She is buried in the Pomona Cemetery, Pomona, California in her uncle Moses Petty’s family plot

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January 28, 1918

Editor Press:

I am Vina Lidey, daughter of Nancy Lidey, of Petty Township, five miles north of Sumner.

I am living in Graybull, Wyoming population of our town is 2700 and is center of the Wyoming oil belt.

I married a bachelor who has lived in Wyoming 30 years.

We have 600 acres of irrigated ranch, most all under cultivation. We had at least for five years for farming. We have four houses on it.

We have also leased it for oil, which they will begin to drill May 1.

We have forty six head of range horses and twenty head of cattle at the ranch.

We live in town, as we have several lots and one 11 room Stone house and a saloon, and six room bungalow, which all rent well.

My son, Vern, of Petty, is living in Graybull about four blocks of my place. Vernon married a western girl. They have one little girl three years old in June. Her name is June Pauline. I am proud I am grandma.

Vern has a good position with the Western Oil Refinery. He has a house and lot and a Reo car.

We are all in good health, for Wyoming is a fine dry climate.

Goodbye to all my aunts and uncles and old schoolmates and friends who read this.

Vina Lidey Bullett

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February 6, 1918

L.M. Wood and Sons:

If I am not too late I would like to get my letter in the Pink Press.

We left Sumner 26 years last October for Grays Harbor County Washington. Settled on a farm five miles from Oakville. Have lived there ever since the last fall, when I rented the farm and moved to town.

I have a family of seven children, five are married and there are seven grandchildren.

We are all healthy and prosperous. We are enjoying a very mild winter to speak of, had our first snow last Thursday, January 31 and it only lasted a day and now we are having a warm rain.

Our home in Illinois was in Petty Township, six miles north of Sumner. I visited the old place in 1904 and found many things changed. I hope to see good old Illinois again.

My youngest son has been called to the colors and may be leaving for "somewhere in France."

Hoping to see my letter among the rest we are,

Your friends,

Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Chambers

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Mary Jane Cessna was born in July 1852 to Jonathan and Susan (nee Martin) Cessna. She married Jethro Tabor Chambers on December 29, 1872 in Lawrence County. Five children were born in Illinois: Hiram, George, Flora, Amanda and Iva; two were born in Washington, Fannie and Raleigh. The family moved to Oakville in late 1891 or early 1892.

Hiram Martin, an uncle of Jane’s was living with them in 1900 in Washington. In 1852 Hiram Martin immigrated to Lawrence County and was one of the oldest settlers in the County being born in Juanita County, Pennsylvania February 8, 1822 to Robert and Jane (nee Hoopes) Martin.

Editor’s Note:

On February 3, 1919 the family wrote another letter to the Press and adds” Dear friends and relatives:

I am glad of this opportunity to let you know that I am still among the living and escaped the flu, which was very bad here. How thankful we ought to be that our boys have come back safe, for so many of the western boys of the 91st were in the last great battle and so many are coming back wounded and gassed. Had a pleasant visit with Moses Petty, of California, last fall. Hope to hear from all my old friends through the Press.

Mrs. Jane Chambers

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Clara French was born in January 1871 to William W. and Zerelda A. (nee McNutt) French. On June 11, 1891 she was united in marriage to John Charles Chapman, son of Henry Lafayette and Elizabeth (nee Garrison) Chapman, Charles was born in December 1857.

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Bonnie A Daniels was born about 1902 to Clarence and Maude (nee Harris) Daniels.

January 17, 1918

Editor Sumner Press:

Through the kindness of some friend, I received a copy of your paper, requesting the non-residents to write.

I have read the last two issues of the Pink Press and enjoyed it very much, as I heard through them from friends and relatives that I had almost forgotten.

My name was Clara French. My father's name was William French, I was born in raised on the same far my father was born and raised on, which my grandfather French entered three years before Illinois was a state, it being in 1815.

I lived at the old home till I was 20 years old. Was married to Charles Chapman, son of Lafayette Chapman. We built the house were Ed Stockley now lives, two miles northeast of my father's home. Lived there 10 years and moved to Doniphan, Missouri where we live and cleared up a farm. Came to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma which is my present home, three years ago.

We have two sons of whom we are very proud, Levi, 24 is in Uncle Sam’s service. He is in training at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas. Has been there since September. Estes, aged 20, is doing his "bit" at home trying to help feed the soldiers.

I have visited my old home twice in the 16 years I have been away, but still saw a great many familiar faces last year when we made our last visit.

We are living in Creek Nation. The Indians are civilized and mostly educated. Are very fond of dress and plenty to eat. They have fine churches and houses and own most of the land.

Now you can’t find us on the map unless it is a late one, as Broken Arrow has built up in the last 12 years, but is a town of 2000 inhabitants. We are 15 miles from Tulsa, which is quite an oil center. There is oil on every side of us. If any of my friends ever come to Broken Arrow just let us know, for we will be more than glad to meet you and bring you to our home. We have all been hale and hearty here, but no place seemed as much like home as old Lawrence County. I will close, hoping to hear from a great many people through the Pink Press.

Clara French Chapman

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East St. Louis, Illinois

January 14, 1918

To the Sumner Press:

I have noticed that the Sumner Press is to give another Pink Press, and as I was formally a citizen of Chauncey, I shall take the liberty to write a letter concerning myself. I am attending high school in East St. Louis and am staying with my uncle, J. Fred Harris (a former resident of Chauncey), until I have finished my course in school, which I will do in June, when I aim to start out in life on my own accord. The course which I am taking is a two year Commercial and teaches principally stenography and typesetting, but also many other branches such as English and MathematicsTo those interested, I made further add that I and the grandson of L. M. Daniels and William H. Harris and that I formally made my home with the latter.

Yours truly,

Bonnie A. Daniels

January 24, 1918

Sumner Press:

In answer to your request that all non-residents of Lawrence County write a letter to be published in the Pink Sheet, I am writing a few lines to help out.

The writer, son of George Day, was born in Lawrence County, northeast part of Lukin Township and lived there until about 13 years ago, when I came to Greeley, Colorado, and after spending some time there, came onto Riverside, California, where I spent the first winter and then to Bakersfield. After working in the oil fields for 12 months and finding it too hot through the summer, came back to Elsinore, California, where I now live on a 20 acre ranch, all set to trees, ten acres to apricots, seven acres to almonds and three acres to olives and peaches.

With the first good rain of the season falling today, the prospect is good for a heavy fruit and nut crop.

Elsinore, California, is located about 90 miles from Los Angeles, on a branch line of the Santa Fe railroad, and is noted as a health resort. Also, for its hot Sulfur Springs and its beautiful freshwater lake, which is seven miles long and three miles wide, with mountains on all sides.

Now if any of my friends wish to come to the land of sunshine and flowers to live and save "coal" and "help win the war," I will be glad to hear from them.

Yours truly,

Theodore Day

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Oakville, Washington

January 27, 1918

Sumner Press:

J. T. Chambers informs me that you want short letters from all Lawrence Countyites for your Pink Edition.

We are now living in Oakville, Grays Harbor, Washington. We have several children, two of them Marius and Nellie, are married; Willis has a homestead in Oregon. Mary is in Bridgeport, Illinois; the others in school, Lue Dell being in high school, graduates this term.

Wife and I are not as spry as we were when we left old Lawrence County about 16 years ago.

I am now serving my third term as city treasurer of Oakville. I do some gardening. My many Lawrence County friends might step over and say "Howdy" March 17, my 60th birthday.

Thomas Neely lives in Oakville, C. H. Eaton, near Porter, A. D. Devonshire in Montasano.

Best wishes to all my friends in old acquaintances.

Respectfully,

Eaton C. M. Eaton

Theodore Day was born on November 28, 1878 to George and Cynthia (nee King) Day. He was married to Lottie M. Day.

(Caius Marius Eaton)

Biographical Note:

Caius M. Eaton was born in March 17, 1858 to James and Cynthia Emily (nee Lewis) Eaton. On September 1, 1886 Caius was united in marriage to Emily Perkins. To this union seven children were born: James W. (b. Jun. 1887); Caius Marius (b. Oct. 1890); Nellie B. (b. Jan. 1892); Mary B. (b. Oct. 1897); Ludella (b. abt. 1901); Harley (b. abt. 1905); Henry (b. abt. 1908). Caius died April 14, 1943 in Grays Harbor Washington. They are buried in the Oakville Pioneer Cemetery in Grays Harbor county, Washington.