From Former Sons and Daughters of

(continued)

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."

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".

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.

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 well-earned 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

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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 C. (b. abt. 1903); Charles P. (b. abt. 1907); Emmerson (b. abt. 1909). He died May 13, 1922 in Bloomington, Indiana.

The above is a copy of the actual advertisement in the 1917 edition of the Sumner Press for T. S. Gerhart.

George Robert Goodman was born November 10, 1874. He was the stepson of Thomas Smith who married his mother Orrell A. Goodman November 22, 1877 in Lawrence County George married Carrie A. Birkshire June 25, 1896 and began his career as Methodist Minister. He served churches all over Southern Illinois. He died in 1960 following his wife's death in 1946. Both are buried in Lawrenceville Cemetery. They were the parents of five children: