L. M. Wood and Sons: In response to the general invitation extended to former residents of Lawrence County, I proceed to write briefly, if possible concerning the few "wanderers," in this section

Leonard Bach Rosborough was born October 17, 1888 in Chauncey. Illinois to Joseph Rane and Mary Ellen (nee Bach) Rosborough. On June 28, 1916 he was united in marriage to Ethel Olive Stephens, daughter of Ed and Mary Stephens. Ethel was born September 17, 1893 in Missouri.

Leonard was a member of the Mystery Writers of America and wrote :
The Curse of Huitzil’, Uncanny Tales Sep 1943

Kilroy Was Here!, Mammoth Detective Feb 1947

Never Crowd a Mouse, Mammoth Mystery Jun 1946

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Mammoth Detective Aug 1944

Three for Tea, Mammoth Detective Mar 1943
Leonard died November 22, 1959 and Ethel died April 5, 1963, in Chicago.

Editor Note:

Uncanny Tales was a Canadian science fiction pulp magazine that ran from November 1940 to September 1943 in response to the War time reduction of American pulp magazines.

(Pulp comes from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed)

January 23, 1918

Mr. L.M. Wood, Editor, the Sumner Press:

You deserve a medal for bravery in issuing that free-for-all challenge to amateur poets, but since you have done it, I am going to add to your misery by inflicting the enclosed ragtime versus on you.

There are two good reasons why they won't be acceptable: first, because they are rotten; and, second, because they are probably sent in to late; but, as I said in the beginning you have brought it upon yourself, and I can only hope that you go to the reading of them without any permanent ill effects.

Sincerely, L. B. Rosborough

4532 Oakland Avenue

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January 24, 1918

Editor Press:

I will tell you of myself. Maybe someone would like to hear from me. I was born in Gibson County, Indiana, March 24, 1844, went to school at Knowles schoolhouse, one half mile south of Antioch church, until I was about 17 years old, my two brothers older than I being in the Army.

On August 27, 1862, I enlisted in company F, 80 Indiana, and in a week or so went into camp at Princeton, Indiana. September 8 went to Indianapolis, thence to Cincinnati and Covington, back to Cincinnati, thence to Louisville and marched a few days to Perryville, Kentucky. On October 8 went into a half days battle, just one month after leaving Princeton. We were in probably 50 hard-fought battles and skirmishes before the war closed.

The war closed and I got home July 10, 1865, went to work with my father on his farm, one half mile south of Chauncey, Illinois, he having moved there in the spring of 1865. Work for him that summer and the next, then began farming for myself and continued to the present.

I and glad to tell you I united with the Christian Church at Prairie Hall on November 4, 1866. Several years later organized at Chauncey and I was a charter member.

Afterwards I concluded I wanted a cook. I got her, too, a good one, in the person of Miss R. J. Baker. We were married on the seventh day of November, 1867. We have 5 children-all living, 25 grandchildren-all living, 7 great-grandchildren-all living, 37 descendents without a death.

I and tired writing all about self it sounds too egotistical. I understand that it is according to the rules.

I must say something about Uncle Sam's boys who are going to fight against the devil and his savages. Oh, excuse me, Mr. Satan, I mean that kaiser without a capital. All honor to the boys that follow Old Glory. I hope they show to the world that they are good brave boys and are not afraid to die for the right cause. I hope peace will soon be restored to our country.

I forgot to tell you that I immigrated from Lawrence County to Crawford County between Christmas and New Year's in 1868. We have 106 acres of land.

Yours truly,

Thomas A. Rosborough

Denver, Colorado

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Thomas Alexander Rosborough was born on March 24, 1844 in Gibson County, Indiana to Greene Berry and Elizabeth Manesa (nee Carter) Rosborough. On November 7, 1867 he was united in marriage to Rachel Jean Baker Daughter of Edward and Sarah Marie (nee Paddock) Baker, Rachel was born on September 11, 1848. To this union the following children were born: Sarah (. Jun. 1869); William Henry (b. Jul. 1871); Francis Marion (b. Jan. 1876); Jessie Louisa (b. Jun. 1888);

Chester Emery(b. Sept. 1886). Rachel Died June 27, 1926 and Thomas died on June 19, 1929. They are buried in the Waggoner cemetery near Chauncey.

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Orville Herman Ruby was born June 11, 1893 to James M. and Emily (nee Malone) Ruby. Orville died on April 15, 1967, he lived at Jacksonville, Illinois at the time of his death.

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Greeting Editors, Friends and Wanderers:

I will try to write a few lines for the wanderers addition of the Pink Press.

I was born and raised on a farm in Christy Township, Lawrence County, four miles southeast of Sumner. I am the oldest of three children of James M. and Emily Ruby.

My mind goes back to the schoolmates that I went to school with at Old Franklin and Clark schools; and those I knew later at B. T. H. S. are not forgotten. Memories of the past and conditions of the present remind and tell us that the happiest days of our lives have gone.

For the last three years I have been traveling about, working here and there. Two years were spent in Iowa, the great farming state. The first half of this year I work for the Frisco Railroad Company in St. Louis, Missouri. I came to Denver about July 10, 1917. I am employed by the Golden Eagle Dry Goods Company as assistant shipping clerk.

My father, and sister, Nellie, live in Bridgeport, Illinois, and my brother Everett, is in Chicago employed as a mail clerk.

We have been having fine weather out here, compared to weather conditions in the east.

I would be glad to receive a letter from any of my friends, wherever they may be, and if any of you are ever out this way, would be glad to have you call and see me.

Yours respectfully,

O. H. Ruby

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New Metropolitan Hotel

Rochester, New York

January 16, 1918

Editor Press:

My good friend, Dr. Date, has been kind enough to send me a copy of your paper containing the announcement of your annual non-resident issue next month.

My interest in this announcement is impersonal, though I was born in Lawrence County, on the old Frank Warner farm in the environs of Bridgeport, a location which will no doubt be familiar to the Lanterman's and the Gillespie's, if any of those once famous tribes survive. Also I may say that I spent the first 14 years of my life in Lawrenceville. Beyond this statement, I fancy, no one in Lawrence County will be further interested.

As this issue of the Press will likely have a wider circulation than is customary, I hope you will take measures to impress upon the minds of your readers the importance of the impending celebration of the admission of Illinois into the American Federation of States. The importance of this event lays upon every native of the state a duty which I hope you will be able to impress upon him, or her. Search among their old trunks for letters and papers and other documents bearing upon the early history of the County, or State. Nothing of this character should be considered worthless and destroy. Old newspapers are especially valuable. Some men and women may have been found to have diaries or other notebooks. These should be gone over with care, for sometimes an accidental reference to an incident, the mere mention of the name, may throw like in connection with some other persons incidental note-upon some important fact of history.

Mr. Sutherland articles have shown the paucity of early data which need to throw light on Lawrence County settlement. The information needed may repose unknown in an old and forgotten trunk, belonging to one of the old familiar. An historical society has been organized in the county, but an historical society is a little good unless the descendents of the early settlers come forward with documents to give it some excuse for being. Let us hope that someday this society may boast of a home say in that county courthouse. When it does, there should be a museum attached to it, containing some examples of the primitive household utensils of Lawrence counties infancy.

Sincerely,

Howard S. Ruddy

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Howard Shaw Ruddy was born August 22, 1856 in Bridgeport, Illinois. He was the son of Mathew and Elizabeth Ann (nee Wheat) Ruddy. His family moved to Vincennes, Indiana in 1870 and he later became City Editor of the Vincennes Sun from 1878 until 1888. He moved to New York in 1889 and was an Editor at the Rochester Herald; He edited the "Book Lovers Verse" in 1899. Mr. Ruddy suggested a novel to Bobbs-Merrill Company from “Law's History of Vincennes". Maurice Thompson was contracted to write the book and in recognition of Howard Ruddys services the heroine was named for his wife in the book "Alice of Old Vincennes". His wife, Alice Gosnell was the daughter of Allen C. and Mary I. Gosnell of Lawrence County. Howard died in 1922. Alice was living with her only daughter, Alice Haak, in 1930.

Maurice Thompson was the author of the best-selling romance novel of 1900, "Alice of Old Vincennes". Set in Vincennes at the time of the American Revolution, the novel tells the story of Alice, a spunky French orphan girl who falls in love with one of George Rogers Clark’s men. The novel created a sensation when it was published. There was also a hit Broadway play that toured the nation.

The nickname for Vincennes became “Alicetown.” At one time, there were two different places claiming to be the site of her home, even though she was a fictional character. There was an Alice Hotel, an Alice Park, an Alice movie theater, an Alice Restaurant and an Alice Soda Shop. Finally, the Vincennes Lincoln High School named their sports teams the Vincennes Alices, a name that they still proudly bear.

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Eva Foster was born in June 10, 1888 to Corban and Angeline Foster. She was united in marriage to Paul Raymond Shafer, son of James Finley and Zada (nee Stokes) Shafer. Corban was born on April 28, 1886. The following children were listed in census files: Paul (b. abt. 1909); James C. (b. abt. 1918); Byron (b. abt. 1927). Paul died in January 1965 and Eva in October 1968 in Indiana.

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Mrs. J. E. Sloan

Biographical Note:

Estella Williams was born in August 13, 1875. She was united n marriage to Jesse Eugene Sloan on December 20, 1900 in Lawrence, County. Jesse was born February 6, 1869 the son of Francis Marion and Almeda Elizabeth (nee Fisher) Sloan. To this union the following children were born; Beulah (b. abt. 1903); Winifred (b. abt. 1905); Marie (b. abt. 1921). Stella died July 11, 1944 and Jesse died February 15, 1952 and are buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery Volga, Clayton County, Iowa,

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Editor Press:

As I have never written to the Pink Press and in view of the fact that it has been sometime since I have been a resident of the vicinity of Sumner, and thinking my old friends and associates would be glad to know of our whereabouts, I write these lines.

My maiden name was Eva Foster, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Corban Foster. I was reared on the farm near Hadley, on the county line just south of the B. & O., this being a very dear place to me. I went to Hadley school and to Antioch sunday school, having served as organist at Antioch from the age of 12 until I was married.

We have been living in Terre Haute, Indiana, for the past eight years, and I think Terre Haute the best town in Indiana, especially since my husband is Judge and everybody has to be good. We have two boys, Paul, nine years old, who is in the fourth grade in school and enjoys his school work very much; James Corban, who is just one year old, and like his grandfather's, believes in rising early in the morning and making things move.

We are getting along very nicely, and shall be pleased to hear from any of my old friends through the Pink Press columns.

With best wishes to all, I am,

Very sincerely yours,

Mrs. Paul R. Shafer

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Tipton, Iowa

January 27, 1918

Editor Sumner Press:

Hearing of your special issue of the press through our aunt, Mrs. L. H. Morgan, will try to write some.

We are living five miles from Tipton farming 240 acres of land. We have been on this place four years. Have been in Iowa, near Tipton, for 11 years. We like this country fine.

We have two children-Beulah, aged 15, a freshman in the Tipton high school; Leroy, aged 13, going to country school in the seventh grade.

There are no other Lawrence County people around here and would be glad to see or hear from any of our Lawrence County friends at any time.

I was born and spent most of my life until 26 years old in and near Sumner. My maiden name was Stella Williams. Was married December 20, 1900, to Jesse E. Sloan in Sumner.

We left Sumner April 11, 1902. Lived in Kankakee, Champaign County, Illinois until 1907, when we came to Iowa.

With best regards to all our Lawrence County friends, we remain.

Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Sloan

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January 14, 1918

Publisher Sumner Press:

Through the thoughtfulness of my brother, I am in receipt of your appeal for letters from the former residents of Lawrence County and the eastside of Richland, for your fourth annual non-resident addition of the "Pink Press". From the standpoint of the editor and publisher of the Sumner Press, I know I should be a regular reader of that paper, but there is another side. There is a limit to one's financial ability to subscribe for good papers, and this is especially true concerning a minister of the gospel. Laborers may combine to raise wages, school teachers may get legislation to increase salaries, lawyers may arbitrarily fix fees, and editors and publishers may raise the subscription price other publications to inflate their depleted coffers, but not so with the preacher. He is dependent upon the generosity of his often none too generous contribution or for the fixing and paying of his salary. I am registering no complaint, neither am I bemoaning the fact that I am a minister, but simply saying why I am not a regular reader of the Press.

The author of this communication was born on a 40 acre farm in Bond town, Lawrence County, the old home (and I can see it now) being about nine miles northwest of Lawrenceville, and just two miles and one quarter southeast from that historic site on the banks of the Ambraw far away, known as Westport.

I left the old homestead Christmas Day, 1895, the day I was married. The fall of 1900 I removed from the County, going to Edgar County, near Paris, where I was Pastor of two country churches for four years. In September, 1904, were removed to Adrian Michigan, where I matriculated as a student of the Adrian College, graduating from that institution in June, 1909, after five years of the most strenuous work in my life. I say strenuous because when we landed in that beautiful city we had $250 in the bank on which to support our family of three. During the five years of my college life I made pictures "real pictures with a camera", worked with my hands carpentering and far more, and pastor for two years a congregational church in Tipton, Michigan, supplied three churches for six months near Jackson, Michigan, and purchased a church building and organized Methodist Protestant church in Britton, Michigan, which church I pastored until September after my graduation. The two years I was Pastor in Tipton we lived in the parsonage adjoining the church and I drove during the good weather can miles to Adrian, driving in all over 6000 miles in the two college years and carried 20 hours of recitation work in the college and preached every Sunday.

On January 10, 1907, we removed and accepted the supply pastorate near Jackson, and would leave my home Saturday morning of each week, travel on the train and with a horse and buggy 150 miles, preached three times on Sunday, getting home Monday afternoon and do five days of college work in four. The Britton work was not so difficult, this city being only 12 miles from Adrian and easy access via the Wabash Railroad. This work I did because I was determined to have a college education, and while getting it to keep myself as much out of debt as possible and do some service in my work in the ministry. The result of the whole may be summed up in these words: on June 17, 1909, I received my diploma from "Old Adrian," graduating with the largest class in the history of the college, of which class I was president and in which I was tied with another for first honors; had led into the kingdom a large number of men and women; and had supplemented my $250 to the extent that I had only involve myself in debt to the amount of $350.

E. Leroy Steffey was born in Lawrence County December 5, 1874 to Mahlon Hall and Nancy Ellen (nee Irvin) Steffey. He was united in marriage to Minnie Owen on December 25, 1895, to this union one son, Owen Leroy Steffey was born. Minnie died January 8, 1941. Leroy then married Daisy Travis on December 29, 1941. Leroy died December 11, 1947 in Jasper County. The pastors of the Newton churches were the casket bearers at his funeral. Leroy, Minnie and Owen are all buried in the Lawrenceville Cemetery. Leroy taught school at Island, Pleasant Ridge and Petty Schools. His first charge was at Sugar Grove in Vermillion county and it was planned for him to preach his fiftieth anniversary sermon there.

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(Mrs. L. H. Strain)

Biographical Note:

Rachel C. Carmony was born April 22, 1853 in Ohio to William and Nancy (nee Williams) Carmony. Rachel was married to John W. Jones September 11, 1870 in Lawrence county. She married Lucien Horn Strain, son of John Quinton and Ellen B. (nee French), on September 10, 1913. Lucien was born on April 20, 1866 in Illinois and died May 9, 1954 in California. Rachel died September 14, 1928 in Portland, Oregon.

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Our boy, our only child, born 3 miles east in one mile south of Chauncey, April 16, 1900, is in his junior year in the high school and is a larger man, physically, than was his father in 1900. Of course he is not nearly so big as his father felt that eventful day, April 16. On that day I felt like the fellow whose best girl had accepted his proposal of marriage and when he said, stretching himself up to his fullest height, "I hain't got nothing against nobody." Well, we are still proud of our boy. He is a clean, honest industrious, Christian young man, and making good in his work and life.

This letter is getting too lengthy but I'm a preacher! If any of your readers call to mind the farmer-schoolteacher of Lawrence County of the years 1894-1900 who taught at Rich Valley, Island, Bond and Petty, and the "wanderer" preacher whose name is attached and care to address him at 804 Lafayette Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas, he with his family will be glad to have them do so, and affix here I promise to make a reply.

Sincerely yours

E. Leroy Steffey D. D.

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Portland, Oregon

January 16, 1918

Editor Press:

My maiden name was Rachel C. Carmony, married J. W. Jones, September 10, 1870. He died 1895 and on September 10, 1913, married L. H. Strain. The number of our street is 966 East 15 Street, North.

We are having a nice time reading your paper, through the kindness of my twin sister, Mrs. John H. Lancaster, she sending it to me for the year.

We are having a beautiful winter, quite a rainfall, but no snow nor freezing weather. We are having new roses and nice lawns. People are mowing their lawns now and wearing their overcoats.

We are getting along fine and think there is no place like Oregon, and may God bless all my many friends who may read these few lines, and many thanks for this opportunity.

Respectfully yours,

Mrs. L. H. Strain

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January 23, 1918

The Sumner Press:

I will try and write a few lines for the nonresident edition of the Sumner Press, having wrote the two years before.

Being a Lukinite, I was born one half mile south of Olive Branch Church and one mile north of the Prairie school house. I am the oldest son living of P. W. Sutherland. "The Lukinite man", who has took up residence in Lawrenceville, after many years of residents in the old Homestead.

I am now a man of family, still I feel like one of the boys but have four girls and one boy to call me daddy. The boy being the youngest, 2 1/2 years old, we think he is about the grandest one of all. Having gone across into Wabash County to get my wife, I try to claim an interest in both Lawrence and Wabash counties.

Recalling boyhood days, it seems that the grandest spot on earth is old Lukin Prairie, but being away most all the time for the last 15 years, all the young folk chums have grown to man and woman. Home is not like it used to be.

I can only recall a few that are not married and gone yonder in different walks of life. There is Hal Snyder, yet single, but don't tell Hal he is anything but a boy. There are a few of us married and separated, such as myself. Charlie Laws, Virl Sims, Roscoe Cunningham, Charlie Vandament, Bert Milburn, and any of us could tell things, such as boys, will do that we would not like in the non-resident issue of the Sumner Press.

I would like to see a letter from each of these boyhood chums, the. This issue of the Press, for some of them I haven't seen for a Coons age, as we used to say.

I am still in the creamery business at Carbondale, where we have the southern Illinois normal school, one of the best schools in the state, a good, clean town and a welcome is extended to all Lawrence County children to attend.

Of course we are all at war now, fighting Kaiser Bill, and will have hardships until we get that done, which we hope will not be long, and before we write another letter for the non-resident issue of the Press, we too, may be in the trenches fighting.

I believe I have about said my say, so anyone wishing to write me, I will be glad to hear from them.

Wishing all a prosperous year, I am sincerely,

H. C. Sutherland

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