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May God bless Prior Sutherland. I always did like him I remember him as a nice soldier boy. I see by his picture in last year's Pink Sheet he is still a noble looking old man. Oh yes I know after seeing this little squib of mine you will want my picture also so I send you one taken two years ago on decoration day. It is not a good picture, but my friends tell me that it is just as ugly as I am. I must say that if any of my old friends would like to hear something about the finest country in the world (California) write me at 1112 Sheridan Street Corona California. So goodbye to all and good luck to the Press and the Pink Sheet in particular.
Messex, Colorado January 11, 1917
I was born in Lukin Township and my father was postmaster at Raurk, better known as W. F. Corrie. I wrote last year to the Pink Press. We lived in Madison, Illinois, and I suppose if anybody remembers what I wrote about Colorado then, I will have to apologize for being here now. After living in Madison 10 years and working in public works most of the time, wife and I decided that we were on the wrong end of this game of living, consuming everything and producing nothing. So as luck would have it and looking in a church paper one day I saw the name of Rev. P. D. Griffin and remembering that he had been a good friend of mine when he preached at Claremont, I thought I would write him a letter. When he answered me, among other things, he said he had a farm of 160 acres for rent and wanted me to take it. That was what I wanted to hear and that is why we are here. The scenery, climate and statistics are among the forbidden fruit I will not write about them, but we are having a good time and lots of experiences. The two boys are keeping fat and feeling fine. It is wonderful the amount of things people can get along without and never know it until they can get them. We are roughing it pretty good. I took one trip with the "sky pilot," which is Rev. Griffin. He travels about 100 miles every Sunday (thanks to Henry Ford for making a machine that can climb these hills), as of a church on the charge, that preaches in schoolhouses and it is surprising the number of people that gathered to hear the gospel preached. I still like to read the Press and regret to hear of many of the deaths which have occurred the past year, also the loss is by far, especially they burning of Bethel Church. Well, when you come out on your vacation trip this summer, come over and see us. Sincerely, Glenn Corrie ------------- Hunter, Arkansas January 18, 1917
My maiden name was Emma Heath. I was born and raised near Westport, Illinois and when I was 18 years old, I was married to Robert Diebold. We lived near Sumner, Illinois until last July 1916, when we decide to make a change and we moved to Arkansas where my husband is in charge of one of the Arkansas Mills belonging to the Mushrush Lumber Company. We have three children. The two older ones are both in school and Floyd is a sweet little boy, three years old and is plenty of company for me while the rest are away. We are all satisfied here and have had good health since we have been down here. Hunter is mostly made up of people of Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio, and I think we shall make our future home here, for we are now building a new bungalow, which will be ready to move into in a short time. There are several people here from Lawrence County, but I will not take up time to name them. Also some from other parts of the state, but I will not name them. I will close, by hoping to see many letters in the Press from my wandering friends and relatives. When you start Arkansas, come all the way. Lots of people come down into the northern part of the state, where the railroad sometimes run through the roughest and poorest country, being disappointed at the looks of the country and turned back. When you start, make up your mind to come all the way and we promise you a genuine surprise for you and will find a beautiful country, a fertile country, plenty of rainfall and pleasant climate Yours truly Mrs. R. A. Diebold ------------- Hunter, Arkansas January 18, 1917
I was born in Petty Township and raised in the vicinity of Sumner and I lived near Chauncey, Illinois. Last July, I moved to Arkansas accompanied by my wife and three children. Came to Hunter, Arkansas, where I am now in charge of one of the Mills belonging to the Mushrush Lumber Company. I can truthfully say that we all like the new country and I can also say we are having good health down here, so you can tell all of them that Arkansas is all right and that they ought to quit knocking on it. Sawmilling has been good for the last six or eight months. We are doing nice business and we expect a much nicer business this coming year, which I feel assured we will get. Yours truly, Robert Diebold ------------- Saint Joe, Arkansas January 23, 1917
My mother is Mrs. Philo Bell, and my father lived many years in Sumner in on a farm one mile west of town. I have lived away from old Lawrence County many years. My husband, Almond W. French has been dead five years, and I live with Mrs. Daisy French Peterson in the winter months and then to go to my daughters, near Nevada, Missouri. I visited in said Sadalia last summer with my mother and sister, Effie, who married Dr. E. Staats, of Lawrence County. I always read the Pink Press and will enclose 10 cents of a copy of the next one.
I like this part of Arkansas and the H. C. of L. don't bother us much down here. Emily B. French ------------- Denton, Texas January 26, 1917 Editor Sumner Press: Through the kindness of someone, I have received a copy of your paper under date of January 4, and have read your appeal for former residents to make some report as to their whereabouts, conduct and so on, and you say you will "corral" all these "spiels” in what is to be called the "Pink Issue". I have delayed writing, because I experienced considerable trouble in finding a pink ribbon for my typewriter. I like the general "get up" of your request very much, and while I am not personally acquainted with you boys, I am now convinced that you are real live wires and bound to make the Sumner Press a great factor in building up your town and community. I carelessly grew up in old Lawrence County, on the state road, about 2 1/2 miles northeast of Sumner at the foot of the old Perkins Hill15. I am sure that was the name of the hill, for I left home for Texas one morning just after breakfast, when I was 18 years old, and as soon as I reached a good resting place in Arkansas, I wrote back to a friend of mine, giving a description of my trip all in rhyme and as one or two verses are still a matter of record, but had never appeared in pink before, I will now submit them:
And just think of it, Mr. Editor, I had taken so much pains to serve that poem up in several big chunks of the purest English which I thought was in use at that time, and labeled it "strictly confidential."Certainly so, the sample I have exhibited above is a prime prima facia evidence of that, but what did that "confidential correspondent" back at your end of the line do for me? Not a thing but turn the whole shooting match, without any reservations whatever, over to Will Carlton, who was then publisher of the Sumner Press. I don't think Mr. Carlson held any grudge against me at all, but he felt it his duty to run the article in the interest of modern literature and because of its grammatical efficiency and symmetrical construction. Talk to me about "leaks." President Wilson has nothing to worry him now as compared to my own mental embarrassment over my poetical leak in that day. I am not positive in what Township I live, but think it was Petty at any rat, I remember that one time I was mighty sweet or young lady living in the same Township by the name of Petty, and I now recall the fact that I took her home from a party one night when the roads are so muddy that we found it advisable instead of my leading the horse, for us both to get on and ride. That was during a period when one was bubbling over with poetical effusion, so he wrote up the affair in rhyme and handed it to the SumnerPress. About that same time the writer was contributing items to the Sumner Press, headed "Danville dips." That was because our jurisdiction extended far east as Uncle Dan Barnes home, just west of the old White House church. In those days one Henry Couchman was much of a "joker" and he had often made life miserable for us and as he knew very much of some of Henry’s Sunday night ramblings, we saw a chance to even up, so we gathered some facts and some near facts and put them together in verse and passed the censorship of the Sumner Press by taking the editor an extra big load of dry stove wood. I will quote but one of the verses, for I am sure Henry can supply what is lacking:
I note that your "rules for writers" who asked for us to write more about ourselves and other Lawrence County friends than about the country or the surroundings where we reside. Nevertheless I must tell you, with my family, I am living in Denton County, County seat of Denton County in the northern part of Texas. That Denton is the home of the Texas State normal the college of industrial arts a school exclusively for girls. These are two great state institutions and no town west of the Mississippi River has better public schools than Denton. This town also has a broad and deserving reputation for being a count of churches and churchgoing people. As our citizens appear to be growing more intelligent each year. I believe I can write for your next "homecoming" issue, and tell you that this County has voted bonds for building a perfect system of good roads all over the county. A few nonprogressive calamity howlers caused such a proposition to be defeated last December. My oldest daughter has a very comfortable home in Topeka, Kansas, and our baby girl is here also, attending Washburn college and right at this particular time my wife happens to be up there on a visit and it behooves me to hurry and get this letter off to you before she returns and sees it, for then it would never be mailed. True enough, Mrs. F. Is just the best old girl that ever lived, and she is full of mischief also but she gets after me often for being short on what she calls dignity. I have another daughter married and living in Waco, Texas, and my cute little sawed-off girl, who resembles her father lives with us here in Denton, and will graduate from the college of industrial arts in May. I have a bright little grand son of a gun in Waco, and my second married daughter, who lives here in Denton, has the sweetest and smartest little two-year-old girl that ever was. She also loves her granddad and called him "fogy". I have but one boy, and he is now employed by the Studebaker Company at Dallas. He has a special demonstrator of cars. My boy is the only one of my children that I really wanted to see get married, but it seems the little rascal is never going to get in the notion. I am going to insist on his going to Lawrence County, Illinois to spend his vacation this summer and see what that will do for him. My sister, Mrs. Ella Fyffe, also from Lawrence County, makes her home with us and fills a position with the college of industrial arts. I know of very few Lawrence County people living in Texas. Until within the next two years, I would often happen the pleasure of meeting up with my former friend and schoolmate Aaron Pepple, who was in business in Dallas, but Aaron is now dead and I had not heard whether his widow and daughters continue to reside in Dallas or not. Mrs. Will Maratta nee Couchman, who is the widow of my former school teacher, resides in Denton. She has three daughters at home with her. I have met them all and find them to be most estimable young ladies. I understand that Mrs. Maratta’s father, Marion Couchman, died recently at Sulfur, Oklahoma. It occurs to me that I have now written entirely too much, but I blame the generosity of your invitation for it, if I have. I interpreted the last two paragraphs of your request to mean that formally would be eliminated and that a lot of old-time "suckers" would be expected to get busy and enjoy a pen reunion and a dream of a home-coming that was worthwhile. I will be so glad to learn that all our former Lawrence County "boys and girls" who have wandered away have written good long letters for your Pink Press, and if I find that they are all happy and having as much fun as the Fyffe bunch is having out here in the Lone Star State I will be satisfied. Goodbye until the homecoming time rolls around. W. C. Fyffe Later Denton, Texas February 1, 1917
I did not state the year I left home at first, and I remember now that it was in the spring of 1878, and that might have been too early for Will Carlton to have been the editor of the Sumner Press. I remember that when I was writing my first neighborhood news item, Mock Brothers were the editors then after I left home I think A. C. Clippinger, and perhaps Dr. Z. D.French, took hold of the paper, so you see my letter might sound just a little confused to anyone who remembers those times exactly, but I hardly think there is anything very material in that. And again, I recall now that I did not write and send back that "poetical history" of my trip until I had been away almost one-year. I had made the trip on horseback, had stopped in Van Buren County, Arkansas, taught a term of school, and later went to Springfield, Missouri to locate so it was from there, almost one year after leaving home, that I wrote verses back describing my ramblings, but did not reach Texas until my 1901, then spent my first two years in San Antonio from which place one might be able to write a very interesting descriptive letter. I am only writing you this personal information, so if you saw a place where my letter needed some changing or correcting you would have data with which to patch up with. If I am allowed to live through another year, I shall write you the letter one day, and not mail it out until I think it over during the night, then correct and try hard to write you a real good one. However, I assure you my great pleasure is going to be in reading the very interesting letters which will appear coming from long-lost friends whom I might have forgotten and I shall enjoy knowing just where they have wandered and to know how they are prospering. I trust you will pardon this unexpected (unreadable) of your valuable time.
W. C. Fyffe ------------- Palestine, Illinois January 25, 1917
Wishing you and your great family that reader’s health and happiness continued prosperity, we remain, Sincerely yours, George R. and Carrie Goodman ------------- Butler, Missouri January 27, 1917
In 1907 we moved from Pleasant Hill, Petty Township to Corning, Arkansas. Having lived in Arkansas for four years, we moved to a farm near Butler, Missouri. It is here that my son James and I will live with my brother Ammon Waggoner. Ammon is married and has two little sons. My boy is growingg so fast you would scarcely recognize him. He has eight years of age and in the third grade. Wishing success to the Sumner Press, and sending greetings to all its readers, I am Nellie Waggoner Hamilton ------------- Kearney, Nebraska January 19, 1917 Editor and Readers of the Press: As one more year has passed, and it is time for us to take advantage of the opportunity the Editor of the Press has giving us, will give credit to past year as a year well spent and has been a success because we have made well of it and Providence has blessed us with health and has spared us as a family of four thus far. For which we are glad. We received the press today telling of the deaths, births and changes that are being made. Note the changes are not so many. We have had the pleasure of having my only brother, Raymond H. Kimmel here with us this winter. He is on a farm down near Poole, Nebraska, and likes this country fine. He had typhoid fever while in Oklahoma just before coming here, but has gained and added weight since here and enjoying good health. The children are well, going to school, and doing well in school work. I don't suppose this letter will appear in the Hoosier state, having the largest percentage of letters as I only noticed one in last year's issue from Nebraska, that may have the honor of being first and only one, also that it will be published on my birthday.
Mrs. Ida (Kimmel) Haines 124 30 Street Avenue B ------------- Lathrop, Missouri February 1, 1917 L. M. Wood Sons: Complying to your request, I submit a brief letter to your non-resident issue. We are located at Lathrop, Missouri, Clinton County, 40 miles from Kansas City and 300 miles from St. Louis. We have three railroads Burlington, Rock Island, and Santa Fe. Lathrop is a thriving little town, population 1600, has splendid high school, five churches, including a colored Methodist. We are in charge of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. The work moves on very encouragingly. There are quite a number of Illinois people in this section and thus we do not feel we are alone in Missouri. The land here sells them $125-$165 per acre and his black soil, very productive, level, rolling land, high altitude. Lathrop as one of the largest horse and mule markets in the world. There is constantly here from 25,000 to 40,000 head, which is a great site to witness. They ship in and out every week. The English have their headquarters established here and buy horses and mules for war purposes, shipping them to Newport News, Virginia, then to Europe. The report is the average life of these horses in the war is eight days. Our oldest son, Jasper, has been in DeKalb County, Illinois, the past year. He is taking a course in civil service as a mail clerk. Our second son, Wilbur, has been in Chicago for three years, and is now manager of a large cafe. We have had splendid winter weather, so far, no rain to speak of no sleet or snow storm. We have a splendid class of people here, and so far, we are well pleased with our western location. We get the Press weekly, thus hearing from our many friends in Illinois.
In the service of the master, W. C. Harms ------------- Mobile, Alabama January 27, 1917 Dear Friends of the Press: I am spending this year in Mobile, Alabama. I have been here five months and have been sick most of the time. The wind off the Gulf is hard on me. It is cold and very damp. Was in Jackson, Alabama last year and was well all of the time. My maiden name was Mary Magdalene Doyle. Born in Clark County, Ohio January 30, 1840. Moved to Lawrence County, Petty Township, October 1845. My stepfather bought the Conway farm, almost do north of Sumner on the Shelbyville Road Mr. Conway lived there 10 years and we lived there 10 years, then myself and father sold it to his son, David Smith, and we went to Indiana, near Logansport. Ten years of my childhood days respected Illinois. It was called a new place and the it certainly was. Very few people had over 40 acres of land financed mostly a cabin and a small patch. People did not have to raise much to live on in those days. Deer and turkey were plenty and hogs fattened on mast. There was no market and farmers had easy times. All of farmer had to do was fence in 10 or 20 acres of prairie, break it with oxen or horses, take an axe every four feet sink the axe to head, dropped three of four grains of corn put your foot on it and your work was done until gathering. Corn was cribbed in rail pens and you had from 7 to 20 pens. According to the size of your field, and your hay you just went to the prairie and cut it. Put it in doodles and hauled it home. This was a glorious country. We children lived a charmed life for six or seven years. The prairie was gorgeous some three seasons of the year with flowers, a perfect paradise. There were disadvantages to contend with. Also, we raised sheep, had to for clothing in the winner. The wolves were so destructive on the sheep they had to be penned every night to save them. At dusk you can see droves of wolves leaving the prairie for the woods. Hunters made trouble by setting the prairie on fire. We had to fight fires for days to save our homes and then our beautiful prairie grass, that waived its plumes in the wind like a sea of glory was menaced by another foe, by immigration from Coshoctes and Perry counties in Ohio. Many homes went up, farm for improved and civilization soon stamped out the virgin paradise, golden grains at the place of grass and today Lawrence County ranks among the best in southern Illinois. Directory: ~illchgs -> letters -> old files old files -> From Former Sons and Daughters of old files -> 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 Download 1.59 Mb. Share with your friends:
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