I afterwards twice saved the bank from having to close its doors. I saved the schoolgirls home farm (the one who loan the books) from Sheriff sale, 120 acres, and she afterwards sold it for $225 per acre, $27,000. The man who signed the notes was pleased with his neighbors use of credit notes, and the wealthy man who loaned money to me made piles of money out of cattle I shipped in and sold to him. He died, his farm was worth one and one and a half millions.
The man up likes to help the man down-up. I also know what most help given and becomes such a load, that material prosperity is too big for most people, and to help them only lowers them or nails them down because of the use that is made as a help. That to help is a dangerous game, both to the helper and to helpee, if success is the purpose of help. I have helped a few to fortunes, a lot of people to homes, and plenty money and means to do with.
Much of my effort to help has resulted to the bad. But those who succeeded it is evident the credit all belongs to the helpee and not to me, the would be helper.
Most things, most propositions are all right if you can get on the right side of it and stay right. Most people get under help and stay under wanting to be helped.
The Judys of Sumner and elsewhere in the United States are originally from Switzerland. See Encyclopedia ("Tusda"), but Judy's-not who were our dads but who are we, is the important joke we play on ourselves and on other people. However, heredity is something, and we had something in Switzerland-we might build something here.
We did well in Switzerland, we ought to do well here, and we will do well in that other "There." I know we get a weak start in life, we just must grow-the something.
"Our ingress into this world is naked and bare
Our progress is trouble and care
Egress out of it is-we know not where
But if we do well here, we will do well there."
What is "doing well?" I think doing well means dividing self among three purposes and pushing those purposes all together: the material-(things). People, books, (the intellectual). I am almost 2/3 failure. In this rich country I started poor-and I went to seed almost on dollar chasing the grabbing and neglected high-class cultivation and my fitness for cultivated people and the intellectual acquirements.
Yet I did not wholly fail. Perhaps sometimes yet, I may know more. While I have been able to help friends and folks-sometimes, I have made more mistakes than any person I ever knew, because I have tried often and often tried wrong. I have great energy that sprouted about Sumner, took on big growth in translating to rich, Northern Illinois Prairie, whether Prairie extends into Indiana, I live close to the line.
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I have lots of energy. I meet some men with more brains, some who do not use their big hammer (much brains) as well as I use my little hammer (little brains). But I did not divide right, so what follows is not boasting. A lot of it is only deplorably true, because of what I have missed-like so often I hear people tell what they lost. That we never had. I guess I am here in that, impractical. Like the fellow who said "he loved and lost." Not true-if you loved, he had it. I have the biggest and best farm in Indiana. Railroad from Russellville Illinois to center of it my farm and town-Judyville. No one owns land within one fourth of a mile of my town but me.
I sell everything a farmer uses. $500,000 automobiles, two years ago, $400 on time. I never sell, trade or put up a note as collateral. I keep the notes until paid. Had sale days every Wednesday and Friday for 30 years. Keep 100 to 200 horses, make all harnesses and a lot of other things in shops; land nearly three by four miles, worth $200-$300 per acre, tax over $20 per day; two dollars per hour, ouch! Have notes and mortgages more than 12 feet high (six suitcases full). Never take a note. I do not give the payer a chance to pay; one month or 20 years. I have been on every railroad in North America except in Alaska-to be my next trip, and never have been away 30 days. My diversion is thinking and traveling. I write some for fun. Will send printed matter to anyone who wants it free for asking. This is not an advertisement. I can write an ad in 10 minutes, without further personal attention, that will bring 8000 people to my office door wanting to see me. Only wrote one in 1917.
I do not want business; I have it, yes, too much. I want to go on living, working, loving and learning. I have decided to work myself to death as the slowest way to quit the mortal act. Yet working and more in love with life than ever before, for here and for-the beyond.
JNO F. Judy
A sketch of Judyville in the late 19th century.
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Biographical Note:
(Francis Marion Lathrop)
Biographical Note:
Francis Marion Lathrop was born in November 1854 to Levi and Louisa (nee Draper) Lathrop. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Mary Prather, born February 17, 1859. The census lists the following children: Nora F. (b. Mar. 1884); Cora B. (b. Jan. 1887); Evalina L. (b. Mar. 1893); Thomas Henry (b. abt. 1896); Ivey E. (b. abt. 1900); Francis died on October 9, 1926.
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Gentry, Arkansas
January 16, 1918
Editor Press:
It is with great pleasure that I once more respond to my countries call for a letter to the Pink Press. If you should see northwest Arkansas just now, you would surely think we were having Illinois weather here. We have a 15 inch snow on the level, the deepest snow that has fallen since my first winter here some 35 years ago.
We are living on a fruit farm at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. We have six children, four girls and two boys. One girl, Mrs. Etta Deatherage lives in Wellston Oklahoma; Mrs. Nora Perkins, in Decatur Arkansas, four miles north of us. Our oldest boy, Thomas Henry, has been with the colors since August 12, 1917. He is now in Camp Beauregard Louisiana. Battery the, 142nd Field artillery, preparatory to going to France one a few hours notice. We have two girls and one boy at home with mother and I.
I was born and raised on the old Levi Lathrop farm, Lawrence County, Sumner Illinois. I have one brother (George Lathrop), living in Sumner. He has furnished me the Press for some years. It would be useless to say how very glad I am to get it each week.
I am hoping this letter will escape the wastebasket, so my Illinois friends may know I am still alive.
Yours very truly,
Francis Marion Lathrop.
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Patton Hill, Montana
January 26, 1918
Editor Press:
We send greetings to all good friends,
Far and near
We Illinois people are well and happy up here.
And anxiously wait from you to hear.
You editors of our home paper cannot understand.
How wanderers appreciate the press,
When in a faraway land.
Especially the good letters from the homecoming band.
How glad the dear soldier boys,
At home and over the sea,
That are sacrificing their lives, that we may be free.
A copy of the Sumner Pink Press,
With letters from home to see.
We non-residents are from Petty Township, Illinois
And exchange County letters with our two boys.
In that way we get all the news,
From our old home, Illinois
Many fond remembrances of old friends we have,
In and near Sumner, and our old home, Chauncey
That we hope sometime soon
To go back and see.
But many have passed away
in the last four years.
Which makes our hearts sad and brings a tear;
For we love our old friends,
They were near and dear.
What a homecoming and reunion that will be.
If all our old friends and loved ones we could see;
And I can imagine what our heaven will be.
We wish each one a happy and prosperous new year.
And hope the dark war clouds will soon disappear.
And a soldier boys be reunited
With their loved ones so dear.
Mrs. Maggie (Castle) Lytle
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(Maggie Lytle)
Biographical Note:;
Sarah Margaret Castle was born in April of 1851 in Ohio. Her Mother's name was Barbara and was later married a Bristow. Maggie married William Lytle, born on June 2, 1848 son of William and Elenor (nee Saunter) Lytle on March 16, 1871 in Crawford County. William's Parents were both born in Ireland. To this union census indicates the following children were born: George (b. Sept. 1881); Roy (b. Feb. 1885); Carl (b. May 1887); William (b. Aug. 1889), George was born in Illinois, Roy, Carl and William were born in Kansas. William and Sarah were both living in McCone, Montana in 1920. William died October 24, 1940 in Petty Township in Lawrence County and is buried in the Waggoner cemetery north of Chauncey.
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(Joseph A. Miller)
Biographical Note:
Joseph A. Miller was the son of John and Lamira (nee Johnson) Miller. John Miller was born in Germany. Joseph was united in marriage to Sarah J. Bower in Richland county on September 30, 1880. Joseph died January 5, 1920.
In 1915 Joseph wrote the Press:” My neighbors in my boyhood days were Grandfather G. W. Johnson, Henry Bopp, Ned Heath, Mr. Collings, Thomas Turner, Briant Sumner, James French, Chauncey French, Mr. A. Bailey, all of whom have since died. The first corn plow we bought of Mr. T. L. Jones. The store where George Morgan’s hotel now stands. “
In 1916 Joseph wrote the press” I attended school at Old Center School house and Beulah school in the old log house. I lived there (Sumner) until 1880 and then moved to Richland County where I stayed until the fall of 1887 and moved back to the Sam Gould farm.”
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Olney, Illinois
January 14, 1918
L. M. Wood and Sons:
It is with pleasure that I once more try to write for the Pink Press.
I was born in Lawrence County, Christy Township, March 9, 1855, 2 1/2 mile south of Sumner. Lived on the same farm till the fall of 1883, then moved to Olney, worked at whatever I could get to do till the spring of 1886, then entered the service of the O. & M. Railroad (now the B. & O.) and am still with them. Have worked long enough to get an annual pass over all lines.
I am serving my fifth term as coroner of my County and as I look over my old school days I see only two of my teachers left-T.M. Stevens, of Sumner, and James Eaton, of Bridgeport.
Great changes have come to pass in the short years from the old blue dye pot on the hearth and the spinning wheel in the corner in the old loom in the shed has come the automobile and the flying machine and the good Lord knows what next.
Joseph A. Miller
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15015 Detroit Avenue
Cleveland Ohio
Mr. Editor
Your request for a report of my activities since leaving old Lawrence County was duly received.
Will open by stating that my birthplaces in the northwest part of Petty Township, near Chauncey.
At the age of six years, I entered the Chauncey school and at this moment recall vividly the name of my first teacher, the late deceased, Mrs. L. A. Stout, as she came down the aisle, to enroll my name.
From there I entered the State Normal at Carbondale, spending two years, and graduating from Dixon College in 1896. In the autumn of that year I engaged in teaching at Harpers Business School, in Saginaw Michigan, later going to the Highland Park College, in Des Moines, Iowa, to take charge of the Commercial Department. In October 1899, I received a request report at school headquarters in Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland to supervise the teaching of penmanship and drawing at a marked increase in salary.
About 10 years before, in company with another Petty Township boy, George Brehm, now deceased, I went to see the famous Niagara and on our return trip stopped off for a day in Cleveland. I was charmed with the Forest City and remarked to George, if I could ever abide in a city, I hope it might be Cleveland. 10 years later fate favored me and I am here, where I found a most estimable lady who has shared my life's pleasure during the past 13 years as a helpmate. We have one son, who is to be educated to become a greater and better man than his father, so his father hopes.
I have been honored as president of the National Association of Penmanship at Chicago in 1906: also by having a place on the program of the National Education Association at Detroit Michigan.
The Masonic fraternity has permitted me to become one of its great brotherhood and I have been the secretary of Cunningham chapter number 187, R.A.M., since it's Constitution. Lakewood Lodge number 729 Knights of Pythias, permitted me to sit as its delegate for 10 successive years in the grand Lodge conclaves. I have seen Lakewood grow from 3000 to 30,000 inhabitants and Cleveland advance from 180,000 to 700,000 in population.
We live about one half mile back from the shore of old Lake Erie and if you miles east from the spot that Commodore Perry made famous.
Since a natural gas boom has struck our town. I have even been elected a director in an oil and gas corporation. The Wells range from 3 to 10,000,000 cubic feet of flow and more than $3 million have already been sunk in holes, about 90 percent being productive.
You requested that my letter should relate to me and my dealings and I sincerely trust I had not overstepped the bounds of decency in trying to comply.
Sincerely,
Frank F. Mushrush
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Chauncey Public School 1895
Biographical Note:;
H. H. Peters
Biographical Note:
Harry Howard Peters was born July 9, 1871 in Lawrence county to Robert Henry and Loretta (nee Sapp) Peters. On November 5, 1892 he was united in marriage to Minnie Evaline Rigg, daughter of John McCleary and Mary Jane (nee Ballard) Rigg. Minnie being born December 5, 1873 in Wabash county. The following children were born: Mary Loretta (b. Jun. 1894);Ruth Jane (b. Aug. 1896). Howard died on May 5, 1934 and Minnie died in November 1966. They are interred at Park Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum
A Huckster wagon is used by peddlers to carry their goods to sell door to door.
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Bloomington, Illinois
February 4, 1918
L.M. Wood:
I understand you are preparing for a special edition of the Sumner Press for February 14. As a former citizen of Lawrence County, I would like to take the opportunity of speaking to some of my boyhood friends and acquaintances.
My father's people have always lived in Lukin Township, Lawrence County. I lived there until I was 10 years of age. The Hopewell Methodist Church was where I attended Sunday school and other religious services. There was a time when almost the entire Township of Lukin was related, either by ties of flesh or marriage. I presume many changes have come in recent years and yet from reports that reach me from relatives, many of the old families are still represented by their children and grandchildren.
The tendency for me in this letter is to make it long. I can think of so many things of interest to me that I might tell you about, then I am reminded that it would be of interest to very few of your readers and so I must abstain from this pleasure.
My father used to run a huckster for Marion May’s store in Sumner. I have accompanied him on many occasions as he brought his produce and took back a load of goods. On one occasion my father told Mr. May to let me eat all the sugar I wanted and he would pay the bill. I ate until it began to taste sour and then I quit. I don't know how large the bill was, but if it was in proportion to the amount I ate, it knocked a large hole in father’s purse. I don't think I have never had as much fun in my whole life as I used to have riding across the country on the huckster wagon. In the busiest days of my life I long for the scenes of those days.
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There is another matter that I think I ought to mention. I suppose Lukin Township still votes the Democratic ticket. I used to be almost unanimous and not very "still" either. As a boy I can remember how Lawrence County would always be in anxious expectation awaiting the returns from "Lukin." If any of your readers feel that I have unwisely injected politics into this letter I know you will pardon one who hails from Lukin.
The best wishes for all the good people of Lawrence County and with warm personal regards for you and your family, I am,
Very sincerely H. H. Peters
State Secretary,
Illinois Christian Missionary Society
H. H. Peters
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Biographical Note:
Harry’s parents, Robert and Loretta (Sapp) Peters lived in Lukin Township, Lawrence County for several years before moving to Evansville, Indiana. Robert peters drove the Huckster Wagon for Marion May.
Parents of H. H. Peters
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(B. M. Petty)
Biographical Note:
Albert M. Petty was born January 21, 1888 to Francis Marion and Rosetta (nee West) Petty. He was united in marriage to Fay L.(nee ?) Petty. Fay was born January 14, 1888. To this union the following children were born: Cecil E. (b. abt. 1917); Ellen L. (b. abt. 1918); Mason (b. abt. 1921). Fay died November 11, 1955 and Bert died January 30, 1964 and they are buried in Amity Cemetery in Richland County.
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Liberty Center, Indiana
January 12, 1918
Dear Editor and Readers of the Press:
We feel we need no introduction to the people of Lawrence County, since we left Chauncey only last September. We drove through in the Ford and upon our arrival we found a people who welcomed us heartily and with whom we find it a pleasure to labor.
The circuit here is composed of two churches. One is located here in Liberty Center, Liberty Center a town of about 500 inhabitants, is located on the main line of the Cloverleaf Railroad from Toledo to St. Louis. Our other church is located three miles out in the country and with direct interurban connection with our town.
Our people did not forget us at Christmas time. They presented as a beautiful fur auto robe, besides a donation of provisions which accounted to about $40. In addition to this, our hearts were made glad by so many of our friends at Chauncey remembering us with a Christmas and New Year postcard shower. It seemed good to be remembered by so many people back home.
When we left Chauncey, we felt we were coming a long way from home, but no sooner were we located in our new home and Frank Baird and family, who were visiting relatives in this part of Indiana, called to see us. Later Miss Carrie Westall spent a couple of days with us and in November my brother, Ray, and family, accompanied by my mother and sister, Mabel, drove through in their car, making the entire distance 265 miles in one day. At Thanksgiving time Miss Velma Greer, who is teaching at Rockford, Ohio, spent her vacation with us. It is needless to say we were glad to see all these people and we shall be just as glad to see anyone who may come this far in the future. If you want to drive through in your car you will have good roads all the way after crossing the state line. We have seen only one mile of dirt road since we have been in this town.
We are now engaged in our first revival for this conference here. Although greatly hindered by the cold, snowy weather, the crowds are increasing and the interest growing. By the time you read this letter we hope to have seen many souls converted.
We are watching the Press each week for good reports from the Sumner meeting.
As ever your friends
B. M. Petty and wife
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Manning, Iowa
January 28, 1918
Dear Editor:
As we have never had an opportunity of writing a letter for the Pink Press and as Sumner is our home place thought we had better write a few lines.
My wife and son and I are enjoying the best of health. We have had real winter weather; the coldest was 33 degrees below zero, but we have had zero weather for about six weeks. There has been snow on the ground for about six weeks. Have had fine sleighing all the time and it has been snowing for the past 48 hours.
I will try to tell you what kind of place Manning is. Its population is about 1700, and it is sure a fine town for its size. We like it fine. It was pretty hard to get used to working at night and sleeping in daytime, but after you get used to it, it isn't so bad. We have a 75-bbl. mill and run steady day and night most of the time. Since the government took things in hands we haven't been running so steady.
After February 1 we will run for 60 days and nights. Sundays included, as the government granted us six carloads of wheat and we have only a certain length of time to mill it. The mill has a record of doing the most business of any mill in Iowa for its size.
I have written all I know of any interest, so we wish you good luck with the Pink Press, and hope to hear from many of our friends in good old Illinois.
