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| Editor Sumner Press:
It has just come to my attention that it is again time for the non-resident, or “Pink Issue" of the Press. The mere fact that I am called upon to write for the edition is testimonial of the fact that I am well versed in the art-that of writing to home folks. However, there are many friends in Lawrence and Richland counties who I do not have the opportunity to write to and would like very much to hear from, and with that in mind they perhaps they would like to hear from me. Some of us "wanderers" I am sure, do not like the name "non-resident," as when we are asked where our home is we invariably speak of the one place that is still home. A year go I was located at Bloomington, Illinois, in the employ of the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company but a short time ago was fortunate enough to be transferred from the superintendent's office at Bloomington to the general offices in this city, at which I am now located. As you all know this is indeed a busy city and the people at Chicago can justly be proud their great metropolis. I might go on and tell the conditions existing here of the threatened coal famine, the fight to make the map white in 1920, etc. but through the columns of your daily paper no doubt you are well informed. I look forward to the issue of the Pink Press with anticipated pleasure and expect to hear from many friends who I would not hear from otherwise. I also wish to extend a cordial invitation to any of my friends visiting Chicago to call on me at the address given below and can assure you your visit will be appreciated. With all good wishes for the coming year,
G. H. Shafer 1007 transportation building Chicago Illinois ------------- Phoenix, Arizona January 11, 1917
Charles Shoup ------------- Freewater, Montana January 18, 1917
We call Sumner home and always will, having personal friends and relatives who will reside there and we feel very much interested in its welfare. The weekly visits of the Press keep us posted in all your doings and is always a welcome caller. Three years ago next May we began residents on our 320 acre homestead. We have hopes of obtaining that much more under new homestead bill recently passed. Our lot has been that of the common homesteaders. There are days in this life worth life and worth death, worth the pangs of homesickness their memories bring. We are all the better for the remembering and the longing for the "place where we don't be." Hubert sends greetings to his little schoolmates at Franklin. He rides three miles to school and is as much at home on these windswept plains as the coyote or jackrabbit. Since I left him a dandy new saddle and in it he will spend most of his time. We have a new U. B. Church at Lovejoy about seven miles from us, with services every Sunday. It's one important factor in the Ladies Aid Society, who have cleared more than $200 with bazaars and lunch stands since they organized eight months ago. What would you a ladies think of riding horseback 11 miles to attend a meeting? We are proud of our adopted state, but don't expect to carry off the honors for we are few. It already bears the name of treasure state and who knows but what we may make it the honor treasure state when your citizens who visited us last fall, get here to lend a hand.
Mrs. W. E. Simms ------------- Freewater, Montana January 14, 1917
It has been almost 3 years since I left Sumner and vicinity. This has been a prosperous year for all of the Illinois people living out here in both grain and livestock. I raised over 1100 bushels of small grain, nine calves, two colts, plenty of potatoes, turnips and cabbages. My wife raised a good garden, chickens and turkeys. I will have in crop between 90 and 100 acres the coming season. I expect to prove up on my 320 acre homestead this spring. We have been blessed with two little girls is coming here-Louella Martawn, age 22 months weighing 28 pounds; and Anna Ermine age 2 months weighing 14 pounds. They are both healthy and fat little dry landers. We are well satisfied and will not leave the west to live in the east again.
Son of William Simms ------------- Champaign, Illinois January 16, 1917
We have been living here 21 years last October. He has been back to see his old home once since leaving here and we visit our relatives and old friends of Lawrence County pretty often and enjoy seeing their smiling faces. The old soldiers reunion is the time we go. We see almost all we ever knew for miles around. We are doing well under these prosperous times, have good health for our age and are able to eat buckwheat cakes, with honey and butter in the middle. We have four boys-all have work. Frank, of Chicago, a bridge tender, turning the bridge for boats to pass; Ross, of this place, a Teamster; Warren, of Decatur, a Wabash Railroad conductor; Harry, of this place, a clerk in a grocery store, three blocks of home. All have homes of their own but Harry. He is with us, I am happy to say. W. I., or Cap, as he is called here, still is in the transferred business and I think I keep my part up as a good wife and housekeeper, but I presume some will say "better let someone else say that," ha! Ha!, But you although we all think we are as good as anyone, if we are nothing in the eyes of others. We have eight grandchildren, six boys and two girls. I see some verses of 40 years ago. Well do I remember when my oldest sister, Mary Tobin, and I used to spin yarn for our flannel dresses, which mother used to color and we helped weave for school and meeting and knit our hose and the shoes our father used to get Mr. Houts to make us for Sunday and every day and we were better contented then than the girls and some old women are today with their silk dresses and five dollar and seven dollars shoes or more, and want to go to theaters every night, and not have enough in the house for breakfast. Oh! I am glad I was raised different. I often think how much happier people were in their log cabins, with a few acres to farm. My father and mother used to hitch to their big sled of evening after supper and go to old friends and spend the time and have supper till a late bedtime and take whole sled loads of us children and they do us likewise and sometimes I would get so sleepy I would fall across mother's bed in the living room and go to sleep and how hard it was to get up and go to bed right. Mary and I wove my first rag carpet, which we thought fine. Well, Reese is picking his geese, we children used to say, the ground is getting white this Wednesday the 17th. We moved to Kansas in September 1879; stayed three years but the hot wind came and killed our crops in 1881 and we returned in 1882, as well off as we went, but our next move was here, where we prospered exceedingly well and we feel it is best to have plenty in our old age when we don't feel able to work like when young. We visit Frank once a year and Warren once and sometimes twice. It is so far to brother Will's. We motored over last fall. Will close for this time, wishing everyone a happy year.
211 West Fremont Street Champaign, Illinois ------------- Secor, Illinois January 19, 1917 Editor Press: We are a subscriber of the Sumner Press and have taken it for several years. I get it every weekend enjoy reading it, yet each week it tells me the death of old friends and acquaintances, which makes me sad. It keeps me posted on what is transpiring in my old neighborhood. I thought perhaps my old friends would like to hear from me, and I surely will be glad to hear from them. I am a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Jones, mother departed this life December 24, 1916. Oh it is sad to say "what is home without a mother." Father resides in Richland County, which used to be my happy home. We have four children-Mabel, Opel, Lily and James Arthur, who is nearly 9 months old, and is a loving little baby. We now live within four miles of Secor, Illinois, Woodford County, but March the first will move three miles from here on a farm. Farm work is his life. We also reside just one and a half miles from the Mennonite Church which we attend regularly. But there is no place like "Home Sweet Home." I expect to visit back in Lawrence and Richland County some time next year, but it won't be just like home since our mother is not there. I will close for this time, hoping to hear from many of my old friends and wishing all a happy and prosperous year.
Mrs. Clem Starkman ------------- Cando, Sask Canada January 17, 1917
I was the daughter of James Moore, who lived and died one mile west of Flora Illinois. My two sisters, Caroline and Evaline and myself were taken after father's death to make our home with Thomas Corrie and family, his wife being father sister. A jolly good home it was all will remember whose memory can travel that far back. I attended school at the old schoolhouse “Warren's Glory.” I grew up and was married from back home to W. R. Strader of Coles County in 1870. We spent our lives in old Illinois until coming to Canada from Toledo Illinois in 1910. I am lived alone with my only child, who is a trained nurse. She makes good money here and has had the best of success in her work. They have tried since the first year of the war to get her to go to the front to nurse. My husband was snatched up by an accident October 5, 1916. After this blow it seemed we most hasten back to old Illinois, but leading people said, “no, stay here and you shall want for nothing.”We are on 160 acres in the Prairie, but are cozily situated as to ourselves in stock. Our nearest neighbor is less than a quarter-mile away. Talk of good neighbors, well you can't find any better anywhere that I have here. We had expected to sell out and return to Illinois in 1917, but now I sometimes think we will only go back to visit and make Saskatchewan our home. Life has yielded to me much happiness. I am in good health for one of my age. Would enjoy hearing from any of the old-time friends.
------------- Augusta, Kansas January 19, 1917 Sumner Press: I received a reminder today in regard to the letter from the non-residents of Lawrence County. This is my first letter to the Pink Press, although I enjoyed the issues 1915 in 1916 very much. The editor would have known how we appreciate our paper had he seen all the trouble I put the mailman to this week in looking mine up when it had been misplaced. We usually receive it on Saturday evening and every thing else is put aside until it is thoroughly digested, not as much as an advertisement escapes notice. I was formally Jesse Perkins, daughter of S. W. and Mary Perkins. My father was one of the oldest pioneer settlers of Lawrence County and a resident of Sumner for nearly 80 years. He died in 1914. My mother is still living in Sumner. Lawrence County will always be home to me. I try to make an annual visit there. I always notice changes even after one years absence yet it is still to me “the garden spot of the world". I was married 1913 to James Stroup, Bradford, Pennsylvania where we made our home until 1916, moving from there to Kansas. We are located seven miles south of Augusta, that thriving oil town in the midwest. There are a number of Lawrence County people here. We see someone from home almost every day. We like Kansas very much, and this field looks good for a number of years yet as it is only in its infancy. Wishing the press much prosperity throughout the year. I remain, Respectfully, Mrs. James Stroup, Augusta, Kansas R. R. 3
Carbondale, Illinois January 15, 1917 Editor Press: I am writing again to the Pink Issue of the Press, as I enjoy the letters very much that are written to it. I am still located at Carbondale Illinois, where I have been for the past five years, in the creamery business. I was born 8 1/2 miles southeast of Sumner near Olive branch. My father, P. W. Sutherland, still lives in the old home place, but cannot expect to be among as many more years, as old age will soon take him away if disease does not. My wife was a Wabash County girl, her father W. A. Williams, living near Orio. I am having extra good health this letter and am glad to see my entire family are all well and hearty, having three children in school and to too young to go to school. As I have spent the last 10 years away from Lawrence County, it does not seem natural to go back there now. I haven't time to write a long letter but hope to see many letters from friends in the Pink Press.
H. C. Sutherland ------------- Monte Vista, Colorado January 1917
It is surprising how many of those correspondents one remembers after so many years of separation. In the sunny, sandy San Luis Valley we find it necessary to provide some way and means to while away the long winter evenings as profitability and pleasantly as we can just the same as you do in the old Lawrence County and the Pink Press helps its share. I and my family read much, which, as brother P. W. “Ye Lukinite Scribe" in his recent kind letter to me wisely said, enables us to keep company with the wisest and best minds of all time. Additionally to this way of profitability winter evening pastime we have in our home in Colorado several first class musical instruments which we bring into lively use many evenings. Music is one of God's most pleasing gifts to mortals; It spiritually disposes to the better things and invariably forms a common sympathetic bond between all such as play up on the harp, the piano for the violin and such like instruments. I often take my violin of a quiet winter evening. Soon it's melodies recall former days and associations. All my old time “fiddler pals” of long ago not only those of Lawrence County but elsewhere I have roamed and have met them. My violin is a more efficient reminder to me of them than the Pink Press for they do not all get into the Press, but the memory of them comes to me in the splendid soul stirring harmonies of my violin. In the old times we have played together. I have always endeavored to learn several pieces from good violinist as mementos of our friendship. When I play these mementos I tell my family and friends of whom I learned them, and as proficiency and peculiarities of the one who taught it to me. And so, in the most delightful way possible I am reminded of Jim Harlan, Steve Perkins, Neil Taylor, Hen Allan, little Jim French and Billy Culter formerly of Sumner and vicinity, and besides these the Cottrell Boys and Higgines of Wabash County, all champion fiddlers of “ye olden days.” I am calling them by their pal names so we never knew each other by any other names. “Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot and days of Auld Lang Syne?” Not so long as we can draw the long bow, my fiddler pals, come out, old pals, who of you who may still be among the living come out to our Colorado home and we will hold a concert that will make the very sands of the desert sing, and all the hills rejoice. So long to you my fiddler friends and now let us bow ourselves in heart and reverently bless the good God, who stringed our souls with the harp strings of melody Could he have given us a more beautiful or consoling talent and ought we not to bless and reverence Him for the gift? True some people make a distinction of secular and sacred music, but to me all music is truly sacred Once more to his kindly providence we send 1917 New Year's greetings to you and to the Pink Press and its readers. J. R. Sutherland ------------- Maxwell, New Mexico January 18, 1917 Editor Press: Seven years ago this March, we left Sumner for the west. We stopped at Canon City, Colorado and there spent 14 months. Once leaving Canon, we journeyed southward to Raton, New Mexico which is a thriving city surrounded by coal camps. We spent one winter there. From Raton we moved to Maxwell Just 27 Miles south. Maxwell is surrounded by cattle grazing country on the east and irrigated land on the west. We live in town but spend most of my time with cattle and irrigated ranch which I bought on coming to Maxwell. Our family consists of two children, Marjorie who is taking the first year of high school and Marvin eight years old, in the fourth grade. In Maxwell we have a modern brick school, in which all the grades including first and second year of high school are taught. We employ a principal at a salary of $100 per month also four other teachers at $75 and $65 per month, respectively. There are several families from central Illinois living here, but none from Sumner. We are enjoying good health and our share of prosperity according to the way we work. Yours truly, Carl Thorne and family ------------- Fisk, Missouri January 14, 1917
I have two brothers in Missouri, one in Dexter, and one up close to Chronic. I have two sisters and a mother living in Sumner and one sister about four miles from Sumner. When I left there I weighed about 140 pounds and now I weigh about 230 pounds. I have been married about 11 years. My wife weighs about 200 pounds. We have one girl named Opal, nine years old, is in the fourth grade at school; one boy, two years old, named Clifford. They are both big, stout, rosy cheeked children. Anybody that didn't know them would think they were raised in the swamps. I work at the sawmills for about 10 years after I came here and have farm the last 10 years. I don't know any Lawrence County people around Fisk, but there are lots of them living at Dexter and Popular Bluff, on the San Francis River. The most of people here are from Illinois and a few more from Kentucky. I made a trip to California about 12 years ago, but two or three weeks done me, as no places me like old Missouri. Will close hoping to hear from my old friends and schoolmates through the Pink Press. Yours, John Umfleet ------------- Lewistown, Illinois January 26, 1917
I was born and raised in Richland County, German Township, 2 1/2 miles west of Chauncey. We came to Fulton County in 1894, and bought 128 acres of land on the brakes from Illinois River, one mile from the Great Lakes, 50 miles northwest of Peoria. Lewistown is the county seat, a fine little town to railroads, streetcar line 20 miles southwest of Canton. We have six children, four boys and two girls, all married but the youngest boy. He is at home and is 26 years old. All the children lived on farms close to us. We have six grandchildren-three girls and three boys. We live three miles southeast of Lewistown, Illinois, RFD 5, Box 12. My maiden name was Emma Wolgamott, daughter of George Wolgamott.
------------- Champaign Illinois January 17, 1917 L. M. Wood & Sons: I take the pleasure of writing a letter for the Pink Press, as I surely do enjoy reading it, to hear about some of our friends that have left Lawrence County and gone to other states, to make their homes. I left Sumner in 1901 and have taken the home paper, (as I call it) ever since. I try to visit Lawrence County once a year. My last visit was last February. My name was Dora Westall, daughter of George W. Westall, who now lives in Sumner. My old home was five miles north of Sumner. In 1904 I married Henry J. Wilson, of Champaign and we live on our farm, which consists of 150 acres of good farmland and we still rent 120 acres. We have five girls and one boy, four that are large enough to go to school. We are all enjoying good health and are waiting for our new house to get ready to move in. As I wrote last year, have not much to write, only that are building a nine room brick veneer house, all modern, on our farm, which is three miles north of Champaign. We want to get into it by April 1 if the weather stays nice. I think I have written enough, so will close, hoping to read that many letters that will be sent to the Pink Press, and wishing you success with the Pink issue. Very truly, Dora Westall Wilson ------------- Augusta, Kansas January 15, 1917
Living is awful high here but we live in hope when Woodrow makes his visit in the west he will stop at Augusta for a few meals so he can work on the high price of living here. We are always glad to receive the press each week and hope this year will bring health and happiness to the editor and family and all the readers of the grand old paper. With best regards to friends and relatives we will close for this time and hopefully Pink Press Will be a success. Respectfully yours, Charles C. Waggoner and family ------------- Glendale, California January 10, 1917 331 South Louise Street Editor Press: Some friend and sent us a copy of the Press announcing a non-resident edition of the Press. Having taken many drinks from both your public wells, stub my toe's on the old boardwalks, as well as safely glided over your stone ones. I receive mail at the hands of Caleb Hoopes, Culberson and H. B. Couchman, many times watched Henry Perkins, Forest David and John Black race down the street to meet the incoming loads of wool and poultry, having ate, slept and did business there from the spring of 1889 to the spring of 1904. I am what you call a non-resident of Sumner my mother Laura M. my sister, Miss Lily D. left therefore for California in April 1904 settling at Glendale. Mother departed this life in summer of 1914. Sister and I are still here, as given at the head of this letter, and in better health than when we came. We think of the many friends we left out there and hope sometime to see what are left of them. My sister is doing fine dressmaking and ladies tailoring on weekdays and teaches the sisterhood class of 23 to 25 in number and first M.E.S.S. on Sunday. I help people out of their troubles with their lawns, gardens, flowers, trees, leaky roofs, hydrants, caring for their places when they are away and some odd jobs of carpentry, besides our own out of door work. Am kept close in Glendale and so see little of eastern people as one would who gets around more than I. However on Christmas Day we chance to see Mrs. John Judy, on the Glendale car, going to spend the day with her son at Burbank. That is the most recent site we have had of a Sumner face but we are glad that the mail brings us more visions of friends even though expressed in ink instead of living flesh. We wish all the Sumnerites a happy prosperous year. Yours truly, William I. Wood ------------- January 12, 1917 Editor Press: I see it's time to help make Pink Press No. 3. I was born and lived on a farm in the western part of Petty Township until I was past 20 years of age. Since then I have wondered a great deal and finally settled on a little piece of land on the summit of the Ozark Mountains. The air is fine and peer and scenery grand and money making is good. Lillian and both the boys are in Kansas City. Lillians husband was president of the Structural Ironworkers Union the last I heard from them. Oswald has been working for the K. C. Gas Company, welding gas pipe at $.27 per hour, for over two years. Raymond was working for a shoe company the last I heard from him. Grace and her husband live in St. Louis now. I took a piece of virgin forest land and have it now in a high state of cultivation. I have one over two acres of growing onions, from which I began selling November 18. I have half-acre of rhubarb and I set one quarter acre of horseradish, but it did not do very well this year on account of the dry weather. Elmer E. Wagner 1918
Bernie, Missouri January 9, 1918 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. First of the acquaintances to immigrate to Southeast Missouri where the families of W. F. Guess, Willis Donley, A. M. Fyffe and Newton Crawford. Then followed by Wade Vangilder, Dan Hughes, D. B. Abernathy, F. D. McKelfresh, O. B. Fyffe, Sam Fee, Ezekiel Gowan. That was 20 or more years ago. Of these there remain only A. M. Fyffe, a part of the Crawford family, E. Gowan’s and D.B. Abernathy’s. The majority have moved to other parts and a number sleep with the dead. We have to depend, mainly, upon the Sumner Press for word from most of those who were pioneers with us. Lately the families of Ed and Lou Perkins and Charles Petty have come to make their homes in or near Bernie. Letters have appeared in the non-resident issue of your paper from some already mentioned, so I shall only speak of those unlikely to report for themselves. W. F. Guess (Uncle Fletch) and wife, after leaving Sumner, settled in Dexter, where they have resided ever since. Land and city property investments have placed them in the ranks of the wealthy, but has never spoiled them. They are lovely old people and to them the writer is indebted for a most enjoyable auto trip to Sumner and back again last August. They were in a fair state of health, considering their years, a short time since. The members of A. M. Fyffe’s family are all in the adult class. Uncle Mills and Aunt Willie (nee Thackera) have a clear title to a good home wherein to pass their declining years, surrounded by their children and many friends. The two boys are in the draft and have sent in questionnaires recently. Lloyd, the eldest is married, having a very sweet wife and baby as an impetus to love and labor. He is employed by the Bernie Lumber Company, which position he has held for several years. Hattie, the daughter, is one among the teachers of Stoddard County; Arthur, the third and youngest, is at home with the parents and engaged in farming. All are healthy and prosperous. The family of D. B. Abernathy lives in an unpretentious, but comfortable little house, a short walk from the city limits of Bernie. Each morning finds D. B., Mary, the second daughter and George, the only son, wending their way to school. The former two attend in the capacity of teachers, the boy as a freshman in the high school. The mater familias, formally daughter of George Daniels (deceased), and Anna Daniels, of Sumner, tries to keep the fire burning and the pot boiling ‘gainst the coming and going of the others. Kate, our first child, is now the wife of W. H. Frymire, a recruiting officer in the U.S. Army and living in Salt Lake City. She is the happy mother of a year old baby, whom we have not seen except in a picture. If it be a true like this he is certainly one fine grandson, whom we hope to love, someday, other than by long distance means. Best wishes to the wanderers and their friend, the Sumner Press.
------------- Monon, Indiana January 27, 1918. Dear Friends and Readers of the Pink Press: Another year has flown and here we are again invited to contribute to this most pleasant number of the year. Last year I responded and received three or four letters from old friends not heard from for several years. Was so glad to hear from them. I also enjoyed the letters from goodly number. My maiden name was Lizzie Berry. My father was John Berry, of Berryville. 18 years ago Prof. Anderson and myself and family moved to Sumner. He was in the school for three years. We enjoyed our stay in Sumner very much. Again in 1911 I moved back to have access the high school. Herbert graduated from three year course, came to Monon, took the fourth, became a drug clerk, later a linotype operator. A better job of being his desire, he is now in the signal department on Manon Railroad. Dana barbered one year, had a desire for a better position, one with more money, he went to work on railroad braking at a good salary. Nina will graduate from high school 1919. We have had many good friends here and like it here, still we long for our old friends of Sumner. I made a short visit there in November many were the old friends I met. I would have stayed longer, only I felt I must get home, as the weather was getting bad. We have had some weather since I got home, 26 below zero some of the time When I read the press of the revival meeting this year I got so homesick as I recalled the one I particularly remember held in the opera house, owing to its size and its capacity not great enough to hold the people. We are all enjoying good health now but feel as though we want to go south before another winter gets here. I never saw as much snow in my life as this winter. One drift on the railroad was 22 feet high. I am growing more anxious for the Pink Issue as the time draws near. Hoping to read a host of letters from old friends. I will close and wait. Mrs. Lizzie Anderson ------------- San Bernardino, California January 15, 1918 Dear Editor: Having received notice from a relative of your call for letters from former residents, I will write a few lines in answer I was raised on a farm in Claremont Township about six miles sSouthwest of Sumner, and lived there until I became a wanderer at the age of 21. Since then I have often wandered back to the old home place and been made happy by meeting my old friends and relatives but for the last 10 years I have been living in California, too far away to visit at the old home very often. I am engaged in business in a small way in San Bernardino. Am operating a fruit and confectionary store, doing fairly well, enjoying good health for an old bachelor and like this country fine. I think your idea of an annual non-resident addition of your paper is a great one, and I would be very glad to receive a copy containing letters from all the wanderers from there whom I used to know. Many have been called beyond and others are scattered all over this great land of ours, I know not where, so I think this an excellent way to get in touch with each other again. I believe if they had all had notice of your call they would take advantage of this opportunity to get together in spirit again. This is the first time I received notice of your call and as I never saw a copy, I hardly know what to write, but thought I would do my bit by writing a few lines, to let my friends know where I am, how I am, and what I am doing. I hope to receive a copy of the Pink Press, full of interesting letters from former residents near Sumner. George O. Atkins ------------- Guthrie, Oklahoma January 12, 1918 Editor Press: Now you say it is time for we wanderers to get busy and help you prepare the most interesting paper to me, at least, in the whole year, for I do like to read the letters from any of my old friends and relatives, who, like myself, have left the joyous scenes of childhood and youth to find a home in other lands, for I have not forgotten them, and as I look back in memory over my school days (which were but few as compared with this day and age), how many friendly faces I see at the old log schoolhouse in the Pepple district. There were the Douglass girls, the Piper girls and this Stilly girls, besides lots of others, too numerous to mention by name, that I remember well. Then there are others in other places where I attended school for a short term. Some I know have gone beyond this old or trouble Earth, but others may be living somewhere and may be readers of the Sumner Press. Through the kindness of my brother, Charlie Fyffe, of Lukin Township, I have been reading it for several years and when it comes I generally take time to look over it to see if there are any items of interest to me in it. Since I wrote for the press our son, Ira, who was then in Texas, has moved back to Wellston, Oklahoma, and is now cashier and bookkeeper for the First National Bank. He has a wife and two nice little children, Gerald and Mildred. Our son-in-law, F. G. Retherford, who was mail carrier at Meridian for some years, has moved to Guthrie now and he and two of his boys are working for a wholesale house there. Our son, Calvin, from Texas, was here to see us and took dinner with us Christmas. He wrote back after he got home and said he found his folks all well. We were over to visit our son, Charlie, at Tulsa, last week and stopped at Wellston on our way home. We found all the folks well and got back safely and found all well here and we were lucky, too, for we are snowbound now with the deepest snow I think that I have ever seen in Oklahoma since we have lived here and it will soon be 17 years since we first came to this country. In the last few years we have had to give up a dear little grandson, but we sorrow not as those without hope, for we feel confident that he is better off. Now I will tell you who I am. My father was Wilson Fyffe and my brother, Ed, lives on part of the old home place and my nephew, Fred, lives in the home where I lived when I was a girl, and I am the wife of S. W. Baird and my name is, Mary Fyffe Baird ------------- Jonesboro, Arkansas January 9, 1918 R.R. 5, Box 53
We are still living on the farm and like it better each year. It has been five years this month since we left Illinois to come here. They are several families here from that state, but only one from Lawrence County in this vicinity. All of them are doing fine here. Crops were extra good this year. We have had plenty of cold weather and snow the past month, very unusual this part of the state. We have four children, two boys and two girls. The youngest are not quite old enough to go to school. Yours Truly, Mrs. M. A. Banter (Formerly Jennie Angle) ------------- Lewistown, Illinois January, 1918
We would be very glad to hear from anyone you see our address. Wishing all the press readers success, we will close, Yours truly, F. G. Bell ------------- Indianapolis, Indiana January 7, 1918
I still have a warm spot in my heart for Lawrence County. As long as I have father and mother, brother and sister-in-law, I expect to visit Lawrence County because everybody can't pick up a card pass and go see father and mother. That is the reason the editor puts my name in the paper so often. If any of my old friends would like to visit me I still live in Indianapolis, Indiana. My maiden name was Ursula E. Morgan Yours truly, Mrs. W. E. Berninger 427 north Dearborn Street ------------- Moscow, Idaho February 1, 1918 Dear Editor and Readers: Again through the kindness of your worthy and honored citizen, Dr. W. R. Dale, I am reminded of the fourth annual non-resident edition, and with great pleasure I send a few lines to your many readers. Since writing you last year, I have the last few days changed my work from Spokane, Washington, to Moscow, Idaho. For four years I was a city pastor at Spokane and Dean of the School of Expression. I am now pastor of the First Christian Church of Moscow, Idaho, and will have special work in the Idaho University, which is located here. What pleasure it would be to have a visit in your city and talk with the friends of a few years ago. I trust each one is receiving manifold blessings and at the same time doing his or her part in successfully bringing this World War to a close and that we shall rejoice because of world peace. With best wishes to every reader of the press and that the editor will receive unlimited support in the great work which he is engaged in, I am, as ever,
J. Quincy Biggs ------------- LaHarpe, Kansas January 15, 1918
I suppose I come in that class, as I lived in Lawrence County from the spring of 1853 until August, 1862, when with a lot of others, we bid goodbye to friends and boarded the train at Sumner and started for Camp Butler, Illinois, in Captain J. W. Watts company I, 130 Illinois and I wonder how many who were in that crowd are living today. God only knows. In the spring of 1853 father moved from Indiana to Lawrence County, Illinois, in Denison Township. We lived one half mile north of Pisgah church, about four miles south and a little east of Bridgeport. Many times I live over those days again in my mind. There were six boys and two girls of my mother's children and I am the only one left. My mother died before I was five years old, 72 years this coming April. She's been in heaven a long time, but I will know her when I see her. My father died January 15, 1872, in Mercer County, Missouri. I had four brothers in the Army of Uncle Sam from 1861 until 1865, and so there were five of us in the service and no two in the same Regiment and had no two have passed away were buried in the same state. My oldest brother, Lou, was buried in Grayville, Illinois; J. M., In Slayton, Oregon; Charles W. at Long Beach, California; my youngest brother, Jim, in Hempstead, Texas, and here I am in Kansas, in my 77th year, just waiting, only waiting for the summons from afar, when we'll have a reunion over just across the bar. Perhaps some who read this are wondering how much of a family, if any. My good wife and I have three children living, one daughter and two sons, two,-a boy and girl, died in infancy. The daughter and one son live in Kansas City, Missouri, the other son lives here in LaHarpe. I also have a half sister living in Nebraska. Well, it's time I let up on this letter else I worry your patience. Tell my comrades and friends, if any, I think of them in my hours of meditation and think of the days of long ago. I forgot to mention that I had a sister, the oldest of the family, who died in San Francisco in the year 1909.
F.A. Bonner ------------- 731 Clanton Street Los Angeles, California February 1, 1918 Dear Editor and Readers of the Press: I trust I am not too late to get a few lines in your Pink Issue this year. Myself and family are always more than anxious to receive the Pink Press every year and think the only way we can show appreciation is by each one doing his or her part in making this issue a success. It will be 27 years May 11, since myself and family left Sumner and came to Los Angeles to live. But my wife (whose maiden name was Frances L. Fisher and I have made several trips back to visit our home folks since coming west and sure enjoy a visit in good old Illinois. We have all had good health and I have been in steady employment up to last April, when I had quite a sick spell and have not been able to work since. I am feeling real good at present and am improving right along, but had not fully recovered my speech. I hope that my wife and I will be able to make a visit to Sumner again sometime in the future. Now when any of our old friends and acquaintances come to Los Angeles, come and see as. Hoping this finds you all enjoying good health and prospering, I am,
David Brian -------------
January 11, 1918 The writer of this letter was born on a farm in Monroe County, Ohio, in the year 1850, and at the age of 21 I landed in Bridgeport, making my home with my brother, Eugene Webb, for over a year working for him on his farm, five miles south of Bridgeport. I very well recollect my first day in Illinois. It was the ninth day of June and harvest had just commenced. I found everybody very busy in their wheat harvest. It was the custom them for two or more farmers to change work in harvest. My brother and Levitt Hughey were working together and after dinner they sent me out with the team to hitch up to the reaper. I having never seen a reaper before placed the team to pull the reaper. I found out later it was the fashioned Rugs reaper and ran ahead of the horses. Then they had the Ha! Ha! On yours truly. The end of my first year in Illinois I went back to Ohio, vowing I never had any more use for Illinois, as I was having the ague very bad and took so much quinine. I think that was what caused me to be deaf. I remain in Ohio about two years and got straightened up. The next move was to Decatur, Illinois. I lived there two years and had good health, but concluded I would go to Texas, but would visit my friend in Lawrence County first and there I met that best girl I had been hunting for 20 years, and we hooked up and never got any nearer Texas. We bought a small farm south of Beulah, where we lived for over 25 years and where all our 14 children, 10 of whom are still living, were born. After leaving Beulah we lived several years on the Lewis Shick farm and from there to Sumner, where we lived about nine years and engaged in the Book and Bible Agency Business. January 1, 1918, we started for Los Angeles, and we located, temporarily, at 5931 South Olive Street, and only regret we had not come here years ago. We are forbidden by the editor to write about mountains, cities or peoples, I will just say if anyone wants to know anything about Los Angeles address me as above and I will answer any questions to the best of my ability. Thanking Mr. Wood and the boys for this great privilege and the Pink Press. I am, JNO. W. Brothers ------------- Graybull, Wyoming January 28, 1918 Editor Press: I am Vina Lidey, daughter of Nancy Lidey, of Petty Township, five miles north of Sumner. I am living in Graybull, Wyoming population of our town is 2700 and is center of the Wyoming oil belt. I married a bachelor who has lived in Wyoming 30 years. We have 600 acres of irrigated ranch, most all under cultivation. We had at least for five years for farming. We have four houses on it. We have also leased it for oil, which they will begin to drill May 1. We have forty six head of range horses and twenty head of cattle at the ranch. We live in town, as we have several lots and one 11 room Stone house and a saloon, and six room bungalow, which all rent well. My son, Vern, of Petty, is living in Graybull about four blocks of my place. Vernon married a western girl. They have one little girl three years old in June. Her name is June Pauline. I am proud I am grandma. Vern has a good position with the Western Oil Refinery. He has a house and lot and a Reo car. We are all in good health, for Wyoming is a fine dry climate. Goodbye to all my aunts and uncles and old schoolmates and friends who read this. Vina Lidey Bullett ------------- Oakville, Washington February 6, 1918 L.M. Wood and Sons: If I am not too late I would like to get my letter in the Pink Press. We left Sumner 26 years last October for Grays Harbor County Washington. Settle on a farm five miles from Oakville. Have lived there ever since the last fall, when I rented the farm and moved to town. I have a family of seven children, five are married and there are seven grandchildren. We are all healthy and prosperous. We are enjoying a very mild winter to speak of, had our first snow last Thursday, January 31 and it only lasted a day and now we are having a warm rain. Our home in Illinois was in Petty Township, six miles north of Sumner. I visited the old place in 1904 and found many things changed. I hope to see good old Illinois again. My youngest son has been called to the colors and may be leaving for "somewhere in France." Hoping to see my letter among the rest we are,
Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Chambers ------------- Broken Arrow, Oklahoma January 17, 1918
I have read the last two issues of the Pink Press and enjoyed it very much, as I heard through them from friends and relatives that I had almost forgotten. My name was Clara French. My father's name was William French, I was born in raised on the same far my father was born and raised on, which my grandfather French entered three years before Illinois was a state, it being in 1815. I lived at the old home till I was 20 years old. Was married to Charles Chapman, son of Lafayette Chapman. We built the house were Ed Stockley now lives, two miles northeast of my father's home. Lived there 10 years and moved to Doniphan, Missouri where we live and cleared up a farm. Came to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma which is my present home, three years ago. We have two sons of whom we are very proud, Levi, 24 is in Uncle Sam’s service. He is in training at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas. Has been there since September. Estes, aged 20, is doing his "bit" at home trying to help feed the soldiers. I have visited my old home twice in the 16 years I have been away, but still saw a great many familiar faces last year when we made our last visit. We are living in Creek Nation. The Indians are civilized and mostly educated. Are very fond of dress and plenty to eat. They have fine churches and houses and own most of the land. Now you can’t find us on the map unless it is a late one, as Broken Arrow has built up in the last 12 years, but is a town of 2000 inhabitants. We are 15 miles from Tulsa, which is quite an oil center. There is oil on every side of us. If any of my friends ever come to Broken Arrow just let us know, for we will be more than glad to meet you and bring you to our home. We have all been hale and hearty here, but no place seemed as much like home as old Lawrence County. I will close, hoping to hear from a great many people through the Pink Press.
------------- East St. Louis, Illinois January 14, 1918 To the Sumner Press: I have noticed that the Sumner Press is to give another Pink Press, and as I was formally a citizen of Chauncey, I shall take the liberty to write a letter concerning myself. I am attending high school in East St. Louis and am staying with my uncle, J. Fred Harris (a former resident of Chauncey), until I have finished my course in school, which I will do in June, when I aim to start out in life on my own accord. The course which I am taking is a two year Commercial and teaches principally stenography and typesetting, but also many other branches such as english and mathematics To those interested, I made further add that I and the grandson of L. M. Daniels and William H. Harris and that I formally made my home with the latter. Yours truly, Bonnie A. Daniels ------------- Elsinore, California January 24, 1918
The writer, son of George Day, was born in Lawrence County, northeast part of Lukin Township and lived there until about 13 years ago, when I came to Greeley, Colorado, and after spending some time there, came onto Riverside, California, where I spent the first winter and then to Bakersfield. After working in the oil fields for 12 months and finding it too hot through the summer, came back to Elsinore, California, where I now live on a 20 acre ranch, all set to trees, ten acres to apricots, seven acres to almonds and three acres to olives and peaches. With the first good rain of the season falling today, the prospect is good for a heavy fruit and nut crop. Elsinore, California, is located about 90 miles from Los Angeles, on a branch line of the Santa Fe railroad, and is noted as a health resort. Also, for its hot Sulfur Springs and its beautiful freshwater lake, which is seven miles long and three miles wide, with mountains on all sides. Now if any of my friends wish to come to the land of sunshine and flowers to live and save "coal" and "help win the war," I will be glad to hear from them.
Theodore Day ------------- Hunter, Arkansas January 27, 1918
We have had a nice fall and winter up until about three weeks ago and since that time we have had lots of snow and some ice. Although it has been very cold, have been logging some. We like the place and country fine. Our two oldest children, Leslie and Violet, are in school and the little Lloyd, four years old, and Little Leo, seven months old, make plenty of company for their mothers at home. My wife's father, Chas. Heath, is here in will bring his family from Chaffee, Missouri, very soon, and will make their future home here. They are all former residents of Sumner. Vernon Diebold, my brother, is here with us. Yours truly, Robert Diebold and family, And Vernon Diebold ------------- Oakville, Washington January 27, 1918 Sumner Press: J. T. Chambers informs me that you want short letters from all Lawrence Countyites for your Pink Edition. We are now living in Oakville, Grays Harbor, Washington. We have several children, two of them Marius and Nellie, are married; Willis has a homestead in Oregon. Mary is in Bridgeport, Illinois; the others in school, Lue Dell being in high school, graduates this term. Wife and I are not as spry as we were when we left old Lawrence County about 16 years ago. I am now serving my third term as city treasurer of Oakville. I do some gardening. My many Lawrence County friends might step over and say "Howdy" March 17, my 60th birthday. Thomas Neely lives in Oakville, C. H. Eaton, near Porter, A. D. Devonshire in Montasano. Best wishes to all my friends in old acquaintances. Respectfully, C. M. Eaton ------------- Winslow, Illinois January 22, 1918
I make no claim to being proficient in the art of newspaper writing, but when notice was served on me to write for this special edition I said to Mr. Elston, "now there is where we will squander a postage stamp and send our epistle in plenty of time for publication." The plans were somewhat changed by the snowstorm that blockaded all traffic for several days. We are kept busy and consequently are happy. Our work grows in interest each week. There are no idle or unoccupied moments at the parsonage. We have two organization started that bring us in direct touch with the children and are doing our best with these. We hope for definite results. The people are lovely to us, in fact so much so that they will soon be building a new home. With but little effort, nearly all the money now is insight and work will begin as soon as spring opens. We are trying to get back to the people for all their kindness our best efforts, weak though they may be, in any movement that promises community betterment. In the Ketch all S. H. S. of ‘13 where my name is recorded as Kate Ince. I noticed two things that strike me as being rather singular in the items, "How we amuse ourselves," it is there said that I take great delight in letter writing. How true this is, for judge ye-this edition. Then in the "Class Prophecy" the meeting of a young minister and later living in the capacity of a pastor's wife. Strange what modern prophets there be. Well, a few years works changes and although removed from the town where I spent 15 years of my life and distant from friends whose lives have influenced me in the things worthwhile, yet I think I carry all persons on my heart and through this letter wish them happiness and satisfaction in their busy life as I have found in mine. The arrival of the Press is always welcomed in our home and I do not recall that any item has been thoughtlessly set aside unread. With best wishes to all,
Mrs. V.W. Elston ------------- Liberty, Mississippi January 25, 1918
We have no desire to shovel snow again, but are glad we are south of the Mason-Dixon line, in the land of cotton and cane. Yours truly, George W. Emerick and wife ------------- Cadillac, Michigan January 22, 1918
Our former home was in Denison, six miles south of Lawrenceville. The England's were among the early settlers of Denison Township. Our great-grandfather, Thomas England, came with his family to Denison in 1819, and settled three miles southwest of Billett, on the farm now owned by Perry Vanway. This farm is near the big slough, now called the England pond, getting its name from the first settler near it. My grandfather, Matthew England, and my father, Thomas England, were lifetime residents of Denison. My father, soon after his marriage to Miss Nancy Young, bought a 50 acre tract of land in the woods near his grandfather's farm and this was the beginning of the farm now known as the Thomas England farm. At present owned by L. K. Leighty, father having sold it only a few months before his death in April, 1915. We came to Michigan in August 1915, having bought a farm eight miles Northwest of Cadillac. Mrs. England, formerly Miss Grace Corrie, was born in Lukin. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Corrie, still live in Lukin. Many of Lawrence County public school teachers will remember Miss Grace Corrie, she having taught in the County several years. Our brother, T. B. England, and family live on a farm two miles south of our home. We often talk to our friends in Lawrence County and should any of them come to northern Michigan, we shall be pleased to have them look us up. The Ann Arbor Railroad runs through our farm, with a flag station called Millersville, only a few rods from our home. We shall be pleased to receive the non-resident issue.
R. F.D. No. 3 ------------- York, Illinois January 18, 1918
I thought I would write you a letter through the press, to let you know that I am still among the living. I live at York, Illinois, in Clark County, "On the banks of the Wabash." One of the oldest towns in the state, and at one time quite a commercial center, but at present there is not much left, only memories of what once was. But, we have fishing tackle and motorboats, so come to see us next summer, and go fishing and motoring. I had been a resident of Lawrence County all my life, with the exception of two years as you all know. As we visit the various charges of Southern Illinois Conference and make new associations, I find many nice people who are very kind, yet there is no place like old Lawrence County to me. No place so dear to me as the "scenes of my childhood." Chauncey, with its surrounding community, its churches, sunday school, and social conditions, I hunger to go to my home church, where we have had so many good times especially at the midweek prayer service, where only a few would meet, but, thank the Lord, he is not confined to the many, that can be with the few that meet in His name. Two of the dear ones that met with us have gone to meet their reward, and Aunt Carrie’s health is so she cannot meet as she used to. One by one we are going. How I missed the Ladies Aid Sisters, how I would like to meet with you once more. I missed the association of my children, but there is one great thought; if we live true to God we can meet where there are no more goodbyes, heartaches or tears but where all is joy for ever. I am knitting for the "Red Cross." How I enjoyed it, just to think it was for the dear boys who have gone to the front, to fight for home and country. God bless them, and may they have a safe return. But, if some do not, may they fall with their faces Zionward, is my prayer. This is a time when we should think deeply of home, country and heaven.
------------- Dedrick, Missouri February 3, 1918 Editor Press: I am always glad to read the press, as I was born and raised near Sumner. My father was Philo Bell, who lived one mile west of town. I have lived many years in Kansas and Oklahoma, and now live 12 miles from Nevada, Missouri. My mother lives in Sedalla with my sister, Effie, who married Dr. E. F. Staats. Mother was 87 last September and does not feel like writing, so I am writing for her, as well as myself. I shall soon go to Arkansas to visit my daughter, Daisy. I have one son who lives in Los Angeles. My husband has been dead eight years. I have many old friends in Lawrence County and always like to read of them in the home paper and would welcome a card from some of them. Best wishes to you for the time and expense you take in getting out the Pink Press. Emily Bell French ------------- Pueblo, Colorado January 24 1918 Readers of the Pink Press: No doubt there will be a number of former Lawrence County people speak from Colorado in this issue of the Sumner Press and I presume I may as well be one of the number, especially as I didn't say anything last year. So "lest ye forget," I was born in Lawrence County, years and years ago, as Lena Shaw says, I will not say how many years ago. Many of you know, anyway. If I had become famous all of you would have made it a point to remember the date of my birth, but I am afraid if I'm going to create that much interest in my history I shall have to hurry. I am the daughter of James and Mary J. French, of Christy Township. Eight years ago the last day of this February I started as a health seeker to Colorado. The fact that I am still very much alive, speak something for the climate of this wonderful region. My sister, Ethel, came to Colorado more than four years ago and up until last July she and I worked in the same office. She enjoys the best of health here and in order to assist her all I could in utilizing the overflow of energy with which she seems to be troubled, I always let her do all the work, in that way showing that I had her interest at heart. You will all agree that it was kind of me! It was also a matter of self-defense, as otherwise all her surplus energy might have been directed against me. She is quite taken with a broad shouldered rancher near Colorado Springs and I presume she will be looking after his needs someday, also after those of his cows and pigs and chickens. I shouldn't write this, only I know it will come to her eye and then I had no doubt it will be necessary for me to go up into the mountains in hiding for a while. But I am needing a vacation, anyway. Last July I came to Pueblo, where I work in the union depot office of the A, T. & S. F. and the C. & S. Rys. I work with three train dispatchers and occasionally they make it very interesting for me by all trying to use me at once, to say nothing of other demands upon my attention. But fortunately, this is not the case at all times. I have lots of leisure time on my hours of duty as a rule. Both Ethel and I like our work very much. Though she and I are about 38 miles apart, we see each other often. The lower altitude of Pueblo seems to be better for my health and was the altitude of Colorado Springs. I think I am as happy as most mortals. I have lots to be thankful for and I count my blessings often. It helps wonderfully. Try it. As I did not get off for my annual vacation and visit home last fall, I hope to do so this spring. There are a great many "I’s" in this letter, but as we are forbidden writing about anything more interesting than ourselves, I am not to blame. Sincere greetings to all my friends who may have read this letter. Ida French ------------- Rabbit Hash Reminiscence By W. C. Fyffe of Texas Well, well what do you think? Here’s our "homecoming" all dressed in pink For a progressive paper, it's now my guess There’s none to equal the Sumner Press As to who I am, and where I abode I was called Billy Fyffe, of the old State Road As I grew older some called me Bill The old home stood just east of "Perkins Hill". Though I've been from there many a year Memories of the old homestead still are dear There are friends back there I'll never forget Though me and my pranks are forgotten a bit But if time could only turn back in its flight And make us kids again just for tonight I sure would enjoy those old-time boys As we woke the neighbors with pranks and poise One would propose, "it's a good night for coon" So with matches and dogs, we’d hike away soon But late in the night as our feet got sore We build a fire and vote to hunt no more I'm mighty glad we repented since then For two crept to a barn and swiped a hen It’s shocking to think of morals so loose For two others went to Palmers, and stole his goose And what a feast we enjoyed that night Until Sam and his gun put us all to flight Uncle Palmer Got even but don't ask me how There’s other things I'd rather tell you now For winter sport Lawrence County was great Think of sleigh rides and how we would skate We had so much fun, life was one great whirl For on most of the trips we took our best girl There was the oyster supper the red-hot game And the old square dance which never grew tame We take a load of girls, all dolled up neat How each couple scrambled to get the backseat Did we go to school? Sure, we went some In fact always there, while the big girls come There’d be some scrapping and a bloody spout But all evened up the day school was out We studied grammar and thought we were smart As to arithmetic, we ate up "Ray’s Third Part" Study Texas history and don't you know It lured us on ‘till we saw the old Alamo Could we drop in at old Springhill today Would we see on the board that noted array? Professor Marratta his writing being fine Had placed four names all on one line In an evil moment, they had broken a rule Directors had voted-"a lickin or all leave school" Such flinching and squirming never saw in my life Poor Culbertson, Couchman, Pepple and Fyffe When spring came we put in a crop From sun up till dark we kept on the hop After an extra hard job, we'd be told We might take a hike to the old swimming hole Some farmer said we were hard to match I knew one who guarded his melon patch Our mothers never believed us half so bad But we knew of many a licken we “orter” had That was in the good old summertime The nights lively and doing fine Apple cutting in order, Weevely Wheat the game I laugh at our kids now they play so tame In those days there was no submarine boat and no airplane to get our goat but gee! If we had a party line, our girl's dad, would have been cussin half the time But now in 40 years we've scattered wide some have crossed over the great divide but those who have moved far east or west should greet this homecoming as the very best And why shouldn't we form an alumni band making the role complete as we can so when days of greeting roll round our mail list will be easily found? I am located in Denton, a Texas town my pastor called me his monkey clown others of my family on their dignity stand while I promise to grow civil fast as I can My big jolly family keeps me quite spry three bright grandchildren, you couldn't buy youngest daughter in a Kansas college this year another in a normal, located right here My only boy is somewhere in France with others enlisted he's taking his chance but I'm believing it won't be long till they all come home with the victory song Till then we can only pray for the best trusting God and our boys to care for the rest though our hearts are heavy and sometimes sad we should make this homecoming the best we've had And now I close, I should have written less but first move a vote of thanks to the Sumner Press it's the paper of "pep" and strictly up to now we might do without it but I hardly see how I referred to myself, but let it be understood it's a good report from others that’ll do me good I trust you are prospering and happy today so now for your letters and the good things you say ------------- Austin, Arkansas January 16, 1918 Editor Press: As I have never made an attempt to write to the Pink Press before, I will try to write a few lines, as probably some of the families and friends would be glad to hear from me. It was about twenty four years ago in February, when my father moved to Sumner, on Tick Ridge and worked for Capt. Davis that year and then moved to T. L. Jones’s son’s farm, where Oscar Fyffe did live and probably does yet. I was married to Laura Nadine, of West Salem, when my father lived there, and then he moved away, but I remained there three years and then moved to what was called the John Bryan farm and later bought the Uncle Neddy Heath farm later selling it, I bought the Dave Delong place, on the county line, which I sold to Otis Klingler and moved to Olney, buying stock for A. L. Odor one year and then I purchased a farm of 160 acres of land and in Lonoke County, Arkansas, and with my family of my wife and three children, moved here in November 1911, and afterwards a girl baby was added to the family, but from some cause, a death Angel came and claimed her at the age of 1 year and 10 months old. All of the family with that exception has had good health here and like the country fine. We have a nice home here, have built a new house and a barn. One year ago I traded my Olney property for 80 acres in Lincoln County, Arkansas. I have not any claim on Illinois at all now. I farm and also work at the carpenter trade too, and have more work than I can do and never run out of a job. As this is my first attempt to write the Pink Press I will close. Sincerely, John Z. Gorbet ------------- Butlerville, Arkansas, January 25th 1918. Editor Press:
My father remarried to Malissa Ricter, his present wife, and then we moved to the pace where he now lives and moved into Lawrence County and lived there three years, then moved back where he now lives again and there I grew to womanhood. I got most of my education at old Bugaboo school. I went two terms to Uncle Charlie Carter, as he was known and most of you near Sumner remember him. He was one who didn’t believe in using the whip, but hired us to sweep the school house and learn the multiplication table. I often think of my old school days at Bugaboo, but most of my schoolmates have moved away and some have passed away from this world. In 1895 I was married to John E. Heath, son of Tobias Heath. I spent most of my married life in Lawrence County. Have one sister, Dora, in Oklahoma, and one brother living in Sumner. I expect some time in the near future to visit back there and hope we can all meet and have a happy reunion together. In the fall of 1914 we left Sumner and started for old Arkansas, our present home. Now we live six miles southeast of Beebe and 2.5 miles of Butlerville, where we get our mail. We live on the mail route and have a nice little home of our own and are prospering as well as we ever did up there, bet we would be glad to have any of our old friends come visit some from up there and make us a visit. The editor says not to tell about the climate, but I just want to tell on we have got a big snow down here. We too could go sleighriding if we didn’t hang on a stump. It is the biggest snow that has ever been here. We have taken the Press a long time and could not get along without it, as it is like the letter from home, for we hear from friends we would have never know anything about it if it wasn’t for the Press. We lay all other papers aside till we read the Press.
------------- Norris City, Illinois January 22, 1918 To the readers of the Sumner Press: I was born and raised in Lawrence County, two and three-quarter mile southeast of Chauncey, and lived there until I was married to Frank Gray. We then moved to Norris City and bought us a little home of 50 acres, which we can now call our own. It is nicely located southeast of Norris City about two miles. We have several close neighbors who are very good to as. We have lived here nine years in the spring and like it very much. Have two dear children-Beulah May, age 8 and James Benjamin, age 6, who are in the second grade at school. I have made a visit to my old home once every year since moving away. You will all remember me as Frances Haines, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Haines. We wish one and all many blessings and prosperity the next year.
Frances Gray ------------- Arcola, Illinois January 28, 1918
We are not so very far away, but still we are not in Lawrence County. We lived near Sumner until March, 1916, when we were married and came to a farm 5 1/2 miles northeast of Arcola, where we still live. We are very thankful to say we escaped the tornado last spring, but we received the full benefit of the big blizzard. Today we are getting another snow. Quite a number of roads are still blocked, but the mail carriers are able to go the entire route, after an absence of almost two weeks. We are very glad of it to as we miss the mail this stormy weather more than any other time. Makes us appreciate the mail carrier. Most everyone is doing Red Cross work in some capacity. I am knitting some at present and have quite a lot of trouble as our little daughter, Jean Carrol believes in doing what she thinks is her patriotic duty whenever she can find my knitting. We are about four miles from Gaton, where there is a U.B. Church. The pastor Rev. Spyker will be remembered by a number of people at Sumner. I intend to come home on a visit in a short time, unless we have another blizzard and it looks very much like we will have today. Well, there is not much to write, unless you would let me tell you about Douglas County. We are perfectly well and enjoying ourselves to the best of our ability this cold weather. Wishing you success with the Pink Press, we remain, Yours truly, Mrs. J. H. Green (Jean French) ------------- Cleveland, Oklahoma January 29, 1918 Editor and Readers of the Sumner Press:
In 1910 I was married to H. W. Grewe, oilman, and in 1913 we moved to Cleveland, Oklahoma, where we now reside. We have three children, Lillie, the oldest is going to school. We like Oklahoma very much, as we don't have the long winters they have farther north. I generally managed to be home for reunion at Sumner and meet a lot of friends. Have been readers of the Press for several years and can hardly wait for its weekly arrival. H. W. said if they would establish a Daily Press he surely want to subscribe for it, as he thinks it is the best paper printed in southern Illinois. There are quite a few people here who read the Press after we read it, I think it would be a very nice present to send a friend or relative. Mrs. H. W. Grewe ------------- Urbana, Illinois January 27, 1918 Readers of the Pink Press: I will write a few lines to the Pink Press for perhaps some of my old friends would like to hear from me as I have wandered from Lawrence County but not so far away but what I can go back. I am glad to call Lawrence County my old home. Was born and raised in Petty Township. Am the son of John Gudgel and wife. I left there twelve years ago, going to Calhoun, and two years ago came to Urbana, where I am now employed at the state University as herdsmen of the Experimental Dairy Barn. We have four children, three boys and one girl. The boys are in school, as that is why we came to this place, as everyone knows this is the educational center of Illinois. We have never missed a Pink Press and am looking forward for it, as I always read letters from friends that have wandered from Lawrence County. We have taken the press for nine years and don't feel that we can get along without it, as it is like getting a letter from home. Maybe I had better quit writing, as there will be so many to write. Whenever one of you Lawrence County people come to Urbana, we will welcome you here as long as you can stand it to stay with us. This is our address, 607 West Washington Boulevard, Urbana, Illinois.
Bert Gudgel ------------- Kearney, Nebraska January 19, 1918
As we are to be together only in spirit and thoughts on this day and our talking is to be silent, i.e. We are to converse through this paper, I now tell my pen all this message tells you and only wish my part were as interesting as those of years before. 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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