(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
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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.
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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Then that school house got too small and out of date, then the brick schoolhouse was built.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, its 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
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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.
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
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Champaign, Illinois
January 14, 1919
Editor, Friends and Relatives:
We are still among the living and think as much of our city has ever. Twenty-three years last October since we landed here. We are as well as most old people of our age, but we sure feel it is good to lay up for old age as we can't work now like we used in years back. We don't think there is a better place in the USA than here. Our children four boys, Frank B. Smith, of Chicago his occupation is bridge tender; Ross, of this city, car inspector of Illinois Central railroad at roundhouse here; Warren, of Decatur, a Wabash railroad conductor; Harry V., of France, or somewhere else as his last letter of December 7, he was waiting for the train to leave hospital and start for USA but the trains were scarce and he might be delayed. He thought he wouldn't have to go back with his company, but come as a casual. We received that letter January 6th looking now anytime for one that he is in United States. He hadn't as yet, received any of our mail since October. He wrote to all the main P. O. in France and did no good. We read there was eight carloads of mail over there, never delivered. In one of his letters in the Press last week, you should have said the frogs were going wild instead of the boys. Oh, we are so anxiously and patiently waiting for his return as thousands are and some will never see their dear ones, but we will worry till he gets home. Will be a year the 28th of this month since he left for Camp Dodge, Iowa. Was there until April 4, left for Camp Gordon, Georgia, there about a week been transferred to Camp Upton, Long Island, New York, wrote us at Philadelphia, on his way. April 18th, 21st and 22nd at Upton and left there in three days for England.
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(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 was born in England.
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