This edition will be printed on

I will never forget the visions of childhood. To me it was a garden of paradise, rich with beauty and delight there were songs of sweet birds, the fragrance of flowers, the warmth of the sunlight and the glory of color makes me feel like ascending the supernatural heights where the shadow of evil never falls and where the secrets of life are centered in the spirit of love.

I moved to Sumner over 22 years ago, leaving Christy Township until now. In the last 50 years the continents have been covered with a network of railroads, telegraph wires and telephones, writing in every direction. It seems to bring distant parts of the earth near together.

History tells us that at the beginning of the 19th century the great manufacturers of the world were in their infancy. It seems to me that they have jumped to perfection at a bound.

The motor cars and improved machinery have increased at a wonderful rate in this age and Lawrence County has availed itself to the opportunity at hand that it is one of the best counties in southern Illinois. We sure would be proud of it and Sumner also. We should pray for the future success and prosperity.

I expect to come back to Sumner I want to be buried there. I want to rest where I have lived the longest.

This will be my last letter that I expect to write to my many friends of the Press. I will big your farewell, hope to meet in heaven.
Yours,

Mary M. Hester

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Jacksonville, Arkansas

January 15, 1917
Editor of Pink Press:
I am gratified to have one more opportunity to write a letter that will reach so many of my relatives and friends in Lawrence County, and those who have moved to other states. I have a deep feeling for all those who live near Sumner I also feel that those who moved to some new country, seeking better things for their future welfare, are entitled to a fair consideration.

I left Lawrence County and took a position with a medical company. I moved to East St. Louis. After five years of work with that company I decided to move to Lonoke, Arkansas. Since that time I have been dealing in farmlands. My investments double every four years so I have no complaint to make either on the people or from a business standpoint.

We have good sociable people, we have good schools, good churches and good roads.

The country is a farming and stock raising country. Farmland is very cheap and location very desirable.

Little Rock is close, which offers good prices for all farm produce.

I have no desire to move back to my old home country.

We are all enjoying good health we have two children at home yet and two married. One lives in Lonoke and the other in McAlmont. We are all prospering doing fine.

My wife Patti (Burget) Hill sends her best wishes to all.

In conclusion I will send my best regards.
Yours respectfully,

William S. Hill and family

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Columbus, New Mexico

January 22, 1917
Editor Press:
Just a few lines for the Pink Edition, to let all my old friends know but I still remember them. Although it has been a long time since I called Illinois my home, yet I always think of my boyhood days, which was spent about nine miles southwest of Sumner, in eastern Richland County. In my roving around the country, my mind often goes back to the good old school days at Mulberry, and I often think of the boys and girls who were schoolmates of mine. Some have passed over to the other shore, and some are still living in the same neighborhood that we was their birthplace.

I often wonder if Simon's Stadge, Gustav Voigt, Ed and Will Yelch, John Leathers, and George, Lee, Alf, Charlie and Rolla Jones ever think of the times we used to have, and the trouble we used to cause our teachers. I have to laugh when I think of the time the shotgun was fired under the teacher's desk, also when someone cut the whips, and the time that John Leathers had to read his love letter before the whole school, and the time that “Squire” Stadge and I put the cockle bar in a certain girls hair. I wonder if Ed and Will Yelch remembers the night we went rabbit hunting and salty "ghost" and if Gustav Voigt remembers the night we invited Bill leathers to help us eat “chicken”, of course we paid for the chicken.

Those were good old days, but they are past and gone, never to return and we are getting old that was about 25 years ago, and times have changed since then. I intend to come back there next fall, in October, has my time will be out in the Army, if no new trouble starts.

This is an awful lot to live down here on the border. No one knows what it is unless they are here a while. I suppose Columbus will be a busy place for the next month, as the troops are to be brought out of Mexico, and most of them will pass through here.

Well, for fear my letter will take up too much space, I guess I will close. Just one more thing I want to say, and that is, I would be glad to hear from any of my old friends, and I will answer all letters I receive.

Just a few words to your Mulberry-Mount Olive correspondent, I always read that part of the Press first. Keep up the good work.

With regards and best wishes to the editor and readers of the Press, I remain,
Yours truly,

Rolla W. Houser

Medical Department

12th U.S. Calvary

Columbus New Mexico

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Logansport, Louisiana

January 20, 1917

I have been in several states, including Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. We had visited quite a few of the leading cities of the west and south.

I am at present about 150 miles south of Shreveport, Louisiana. I am putting up a sawmill and planner for a lumber company. I am the carpenter foreman. Have been here since October 4, 1916.

My family is living in Arkansas at present, where we have been for the past five years. We own a farm of 120 acres there, nicely located in a graded road, rural route, telephone line, only 1 1/2 miles from a graded school and four miles from Winthrop, Arkansas, located in the extreme southwest part of the state.

Well, this leaves me well at present. And about the same old stick in the mud, haven't got rich very fast so far. Have six hardy boys, all well the last I heard from them. Four of them are going to school and making good grades. My daughter is married and lives near as.

We expect to move down here in Louisiana soon, as I expect to stay here for a few years and if any of my old friends in Lawrence or Richland counties what a little hot mix from the sweet sunny south, just drop me a line and we'll try to oblige them.

I will close for this time, as this may be too late for the Pink Edition but I wish all my old friends and associates in and around Sumner and Luken all that is good in life.
Yours truly,

O. J. Huchel

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Cairo, Illinois

January 20, 1917
LM wood and Sons:
Twenty seven years ago, February 20, 1890 we moved from West Salem, Illinois to Lawrence County, first locating on a farm near Hadley. The farm life did not appeal to us so in September same year, we moved to Sumner where we had better educational advantages, as there were four of us of school age. I attended school for two years graduating in the class of 1892. I sure thought Sumner was the best place on earth.

Our crowd, the "Upper Tens”, consisted of about a dozen girls in our teens and many were the good times we had. Only a few of them live there now.

When we first moved to Sumner and were strangers, my oldest brother died, but when several years later mother was called home that was the greatest grief I know anything about.

I lived in Sumner nineteen years when I went to Dawson Springs, Kentucky, where I was bookkeeper for three years for my brother, who is in the hardware business. About five years ago, I married and moved to Cairo where I now reside.

Now some think of Cairo as the worst place on earth, it is not. Of all the places I ever lived I prefer Cairo for it is good enough for me. When we get "booze" voted out Cairo will be hard to beat.

My husband came here in 1874 and has seen Cairo grow up. He is a gunsmith and has a good business. I have been a non-resident of Lawrence County for eight years, but I still call Sumner home and try to visit there at least once a year.

I have always taken the Press. I could not do without it and always am anxious for its arrival. Many times I see sad news and my heart goes out to others who have lost loved ones, for I know what it means.

My maiden name was Kate Staninger

417 Eighth Street

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Trenton, North Dakota

January 3, 1917
To the Editor and readers of the Press:
This opportunity affords me great pleasure, not only in writing but knowing I'll get to hear from so many of my all-time friends.

The woman and kidlets are living in Trenton, in order that the children can be close to school. We have two weeks vacation. The wife and children spent their vacation with me, assisting with butchering. I'm spending the winter on the ranch feeding and milking, save the time I'm on the trail to and from Trenton. I'm truly glad the editor didn't forbid us writing about fishing. You know in the"sucker” state when we finished planting it was customary to go fishing. For four or five years, when we first came out here we didn't plant corn, consequently we didn't get to go fishing. Last year some of us suckers planted corn so we could have a massive fish. William Dishong, from Buford with a party, came down and J. W. and Henry Bowen arrived on the scene nevertheless we succeeded in landing 29 spoonbill cats or boneless fish, ranging from 15 to 50 pounds while totaling 840 pounds. We gave away all save one apiece. After they were gone we decided to have another bait. This time we met with greater success, in spite of the fact that we thought we had reached the climax the first time. Having fished until noon we decided to gather up the pieces, thinking we had enough to go around. One drag we succeeded in landing 51 of those large spoonbill. Believe me it was all a man could drag and we were all good pullers.

We had to wagon loads totaling 2870 pounds. Now this is a true fish story, but after we gave away all we could, we salted two barrels.

Now, Mr. Editor, if I have drifted from the text, please pardon me.

Will close for this time, hoping I shall receive as many or more letters from my boyhood friends.

Wishing all a happy and prosperous new year, I remain respectfully yours,

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Pollard, Arkansas

January 15, 1917

Many changes have taken place since then. One of the most important events in my life occurred on the 24th day of July, 1892, and I took them to myself as wife one of the best Little women from the country afforded-Mary E. Milligan, daughter of David G. Milligan. We were blessed with two children. First a boy, his father's joy came to stay for only a season after which God called him home to a place already prepared.

My baby girl, Hazel, who is now with us.

I am the son of William C. and Phoebe L. Ivie; was raised in Lukin Ttownship, Lawrence County Illinois; and am the oldest (and Mary says the best looking one) of a large family of three girls and seven boys, of whom only mother and two sisters reside Lawrence County, father having died eight years ago.

My father being a farmer, I naturally pickup that occupation but when my health failed, I sold our farm and chattels, except a team, wagon, and a few belongings, with which, on September 27, 1897, I and my family started southwest.

After having stopped the first night with Joseph Shearer in Wabash County we took camp life as it came. The weather being fine, we certainly enjoyed the trip overland. We crossed the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau and on October 8, 1897 we crossed the St. Francis River at St. Francis, Arkansas. After staying for a time in finding that my health was wonderfully improving, we decided to locate in St. Francis. We have all had splendid health since we came to northeast Arkansas.

We went into the mercantile business, in which we have continued during the greater part of the time we have been in Arkansas, down nearly 20 years. Recently we sold our business and purchased Highland Farms, which contains 210 acres. There are about 100 acres of fine pastureland, with plenty of spring water, while the remainder is good bottomland, which will grow anything. The farm is located three miles west of Pollard, a thriving railroad town. That we may be near the farm, we have moved to Pollard, where we will operate the Highland Theatre and do a little real estate business.

Although some 20 years have come and gone, we often talk of times Illinois, speak of friends not seen for years and then, by letter or newspaper, we note the death of others who have gone to meet their reward. And then we think again that the boys and girls of 20 years ago are men and women of today and that returning to Illinois would be like going into a strange land.

I wish you, editors and readers, a happy and prosperous year of 1917
Respectfully,

L. A. Ivie

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Pollard, Arkansas

January 15, 1917
Editor Press:
Last year I wrote you for the Pink Press from Portland, Oregon, when I was spending the winter with a part of my children.

This time I am writing from the sunny south and, where my eldest son lives.

As this is my 12th trip to this state, there isn't much new to write, but I always want to write a few lines, so all my friends will know where I am and that I am well.

I always enjoy the letters from all the readers of the Press, as I have always read it since it was started.

My late husband W. C. Ivie, was an intimate friend of the first editor so we started with the first edition and always had it follow us on our travels, as I still do. I always am so anxious for the Press.

Wishing you and all the readers of the Press a happy and prosperous year.

Mrs. W. C. Ivie

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Thomasboro, Illinois

January 15, 1917
Editor Press:
Will write a few lines to the third non-resident issue. I am still located in Champaign County, Condit Township. We live four miles west of Thomasboro and eight miles north of Champagne.

We do most of our trading in Champaign as we have a car and don't take long to go when the roads are good. We have two children, Helen age four and Merwin, age 3.

Have made this my home for seven years and think Champaign County is the place to live. I spent all my childhood days in Lawrence County, Petty Township, near Hazel Dell school and always like to visit Sumner where I have some very dear folks. Hoping to hear from many more again.
Cleora Westall Jervis

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El Dorado, Kansas

January 22, 1917

We are nicely situated in El Dorado and enjoying the best of health. My husband is employed by the Empire Gas and Fuel Company.

There is quite a number of scissorbills here from our hometown including Joe Pargin, Cap Stein, Guy Wagner and others.

Our five-month-old daughter, whom the parents are very fond of provides most of the entertainment for the home.

I was born and reared in Petty Township, my parents are Joseph and Eliza Wagner, who still reside on the old home place. My husband's home was in Petty Township also until two years ago, when we moved to Flat Rock, Illinois and from there to El Dorado about two months ago.

Our old hometown, (Sumner and neighborhood which is six miles northeast of Sumner will always be a dear place to us. It is always the greatest a pleasure to meet old friends and chat with them.

I will not take up more space so will close wishing all a prosperous year.
Yours respectfully,

Mrs. B. M. Longenecker

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Lodi, California

January 20, 1917
Editor Press:
I wrote a letter last year to the press. We look forward to the time for it to come but there are not many we know in it now. Mr. Berkshire, Mr. Whiteside, and some others. My father's name was George Lee. They are almost all gone. I look so longingly for some of their names. My husband's father was William Lytle. "Uncle Billy," they called him. How times have changed thanks.

My home was south of the slough, and Sam’s father north near Union. The reader will remember this.

We are having a cold spell here in California.

Mr. and Mrs. John Berkshire and Will James and Samuel Rodrick and ourselves came to California in 1873. That is a long time. Only Samuel Rodrick has crossed over to the beyond. If this misses the wastebasket I will be pleased.

335 East Lodi

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Storm Lake, Iowa

January 3, 1917
Dear Editor:
Although I am not an old timer, I wish to write a line or two, if only to wish you the best of success with the Pink Edition, which I consider a highly commendable effort.

I was born on what is known as the Malone farm, in Christy Township, 3 1/2 mile southeast of Sumner at that time belong to my father, William Malone.

One time when I was a little boy, “dad ”said to me,” shut the door," I said, "that's no door, that's a gate, ain’t you got no gumption?” I guess he laughed. But in a few years I started to school at Clark and a new school house with my father as teacher. I had a dog named Gip. He pulled me in a little wagon. My oldest brother Clem, now of Chicago, would lead him, and I was happy and safe as Bud Piper in his big car.

It was in the year of 1909 I bade my old school days and classmates goodbye and went to Bellflower, Illinois, to work on a large farm.

How time does fly. Two leap years have passed and now I am located in the northwest part of Iowa and I look forward to the Press as a letter from home, bringing me the news. I have seen many home papers but I haven't seen any that issued a non-resident Pink Press, so I am glad to take off my hat for our editor.

Since I came to Storm Lake, Iowa I have been employed on the Storm Lake Dairy Farm. I had an invitation to a dinner in the city and the farmboy found that Mrs. Miller and daughter, Miss Emma, could get up some meal in the city, Harley ate almost as much as he does after the Lukinite scribe gets through at a birthday dinner in old Christy. But I say the Mt. Zion women are some cooks as well, as Mr. Sutherland says.

My heart always has a warm spot for Lawrence County and friends and companions there.

Wishing the Sumner Press continuing success.

Harley O. Malone

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McLeansboro, Illinois

January 18, 1917
I thought someone younger than I ought to writing this time. This is the third time that I have written.

I was born in Brown County, Ohio January 29, 1843 so you see I am 75 years old.

My parents moved to Illinois in 1853, and settled five miles south of Sumner, and one mile west, in old Lukin Township. We came to Lawrenceville. It was not much of a town then, although an old place. Came to Bridgeport, there was one store in it. Uncle Sam Thorne kept it. That was before the trains run on the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. They ran in 1854. Wiley Edmondson kept a store where P. W. Sutherland now lives, also kept post office.

I was married to Ursula Flite? In 1876. Left there in 1881. There were me and my wife and my brother Jackson, his wife and two children. We went out to Missouri, and went through some fine country, the land was higher there than back in Illinois. Came back to Hamilton, County, Illinois. There were some folks living down there formerly from Sumner Jackson lost his wife in 1910. We live about 10 miles apart. My wife took down in the spring of 1913 with heart and kidney troubles. She was under doctors care about 30 months. On September 2, 1916, her spirit took flight to God who gave it. She was a good woman and the best to me there was in the world. I feel very sad and lonesome. No place feels like home to me. I have a family living with me. They are very good to me, still they don't make it feel like home.

I had the rheumatism all last summer. Feel stiff and sore yet, still can't get around very well.
George W. Martin

RFD No. 8

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Carlock, Illinois

January 10, 1917
Editor Press:
Through the kindness of someone, I received your Pink Paper last year. Was really surprised to see the letters from so many people I used to know that are now scattered all over the United States.

I went to school at the Beulah log school house when it was first built in the woods where the M. E. Church now stands and I still remember many who went to school there. I could write a long letter about those times.

I have lived here in Carlock, McLean County, Illinois for 30 years. I have been employed by the New York Central Railroad all these years.

Please send me the Pink Sheet as soon as is published and I will surely read through before I lay it away. Find enclosed $.10 for the same.

George McCann

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Parkersburg, Illinois

January 26, 1917
Editor Press:
I lived in Lawrence County, Lukin Township, until I was married. My name was Emma Shick. I was married to G. G. McGuire June 2, 1872. To this unit were born seven children four died in infancy, and three living, as follows: , lives at Clifton, Illinois and is section foreman; Stella Osborne lives in Lawrenceville, and Tine Maguire lives on a farm.
Very truly,

Mrs. G. G. McGuire

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Winter Haven, Florida

January 16, 1917
Editor of Sumner Press:
I am pleased to write a few lines for your paper from the land. I now dwell. Wife and I left Lawrenceville November 23, stopped off at Nashville. Arrived here November 29 ate Thanksgiving turkey with the Mavis whom we have known for 30 years. The climate here is fine. Climate is the main thing. We are doing light housekeeping enjoying the sunny south fine. I have visited St. Petersburg and the gulf. Expect to backtrack by St. Augustine and other southern towns

D. S. Moore

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Hunter, Arkansas

February 5, 1917
To Our Old Home Friends:
We are glad of this opportunity of talking to all of you at one time through this most interesting addition of the home paper. It is certainly interesting to us to read the letters from our old acquaintances, scattered all over this big country of ours, the more so in that this yearly letter is the only word we hear of many of them.

This leaves us all well as usual with Bessie teaching school three miles out in the country, Ola and Buster going to school in Hunter, and Carl helping his mother keep house for the rest of us. We are gradually building up a good lumber and warehouse business year and at Wiener.

There are many Illinois people settled in this state. Among them are Bliss Waggoner and family, located at Stuttgart, from which point Bliss travels for a large machinery company. The Petty brothers are keeping bachelor house on their nice farm near Hunter. R. E. Lieb and William Hockman are also keeping bachelor's house in their new home recently built on Bob's land, north of town. Old Bill Earnst and sons, George and James, who will be remembered by the people around Chauncey, are located in this vicinity. Bill don't look any older to me now than as I remember him 20 years ago. Frank Walters owns and lives on a good rice farm just at the edge of town. Sam Walters also lives near town.