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While visiting at the home of Warren Gibney, I had the pleasure of reading the Sumner Press and talking of old times. I think it was about 1870, my father Samuel McNeely, moved to Sumner. I attended school in an old frame schoolhouse. First teacher was Thomas Stevens, later Miss Whitmore, Sallie Keene. I have a copy of the Sumner Weekly Democrat volume 1 number 1. Father is dead, mother living near Topeka. Since leaving Sumner have lived in several other counties in Illinois into Colorado, Texas and now Kansas. I often think of old Illinois as the best state in the union. Frank McNeely 517 Lime Street ------------- Seymour, Indiana January 15, 1915
We left Sumner 12 years ago next August, having lived there 18 years, with the exception of our year spent in Olney, in the employ of S. J. Eckenrode. While living in Sumner, I was employed in the mercantile store of Marion May & Sons and I. H. Bunn. Mr. May and Mr. Bunn, excellent men, both have since gone to their reward. I accepted a position with the Buckskin Breeches Company of Evansville, and moved to Seymour, Indiana and traveled for them exclusively in Indiana territory, for 10 1/2 years, until the dissolution of that firm. I've been connected with the Bray, Robinson Curry Woolen Mills of Louisville, Kentucky with whom I hold a lucrative position. We are truly thankful for the good things of life and prosperity, but have suffered a great loss in the death of one of our dear children, Helen, who died in San Antonio, Texas four years ago this next May, where my family spent the winter months. I also lost my good father a short time before, at the age of 85 years. To know him was to love him. My mother is living in Olney with my sister, Mrs. Jno. C. Page. She is 86 years old and enjoying very good health. She spends the summer months at Maple Shade farm near Mt. Carmel with my oldest sister Mrs. O. H. Wood Her every need is looked after my sisters, Mrs. Page and Mrs. VanAusdel. She will enjoy reading your non-resident issue so I will send her a copy. Dora, our oldest daughter, who spent her childhood days in Sumner is still home with her mother. Ray is married and is prospering as proprietor of the Seymour Cleaning and Pressing Club. He was with me one year on the road with the Buckskin Breeches Company. Albert, our youngest is 16, and a junior in high school. Seymour is a very progressive city of 8000, noted for its beautiful paved and shady streets, well-kept lawns and houses, excellent school buildings and ward schools, good churches and also a fine farmers club building, given to the farmers of Jackson County, for their exclusive use, by the Blish estate, in memory of Moody Shields Blish, the first farmer of Jackson County, and is kept up by the estate. Seymour is 59 miles south of Indianapolis, 55 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky, 87 miles west of Cincinnati, and 100 miles east of Vincennes Indiana. We have three railroads; also one of the best interurban roads in the state runs through here. Thinking it would be wise to leave some space for more able writers, wish to say in conclusion, that Mrs. Milburn and family join me in very best wishes to all readers and friends far away, but not forgotten. Our number is 516 North Ewing Street Seymour, Indiana telephone 792R. The doorbell is broken that when in the city knock and enter.
C. S. Milburn ------------- St. Louis, Missouri January 14, 1915
I am in the employee Swift & company, St. Louis, Missouri, as bookkeeper, since 1902, work four years for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway previous to this, which was my first position after leaving school. 17 years of straight work out of my 38 years of life. My wife and I paid a visit to my old hometown two years ago, stopping at my cousin's house, Fred Correll. I left Chauncey in 1884, and was only back twice since then in 1889 and 1912. I lived in Sumner with my aunt and uncle, S. S. Henderson and wife for almost one year. Think that was in 1885. Uncle Henderson died at Chicago in 1909 and since then my grandfather and grandmother coder have passed away and having a family, working all the time, I do not get to make many visits to Lawrence County. Uncle Morris C. Coder, as lots of the readers know, is now stopping with me here in St. Louis. Respectfully, Clarence A. Newman 2769 Chonteau Avenue ------------- Dallas, Texas January 13, 1915 Publisher Press: I noticed in your newspaper that you want everybody that has “strayed away" or run away, either night or day to write a letter to the Sumner Press. Of course when you write a letter to the Sumner Press is just the same as writing to all the home folks. You say for us to tell you where we lived. I lived up in Petty Township, on the banks of Muddy Creek near Spring Hill College. I left Illinois about 25 years ago. Of course, I was very young then I had been traveling for the Art Metal Construction Company, of Jamestown, New York will be 25 years the fifth day of this coming April. They have paid my expenses and, of course, I have eaten three times a day, and I am still on the payroll, still eating three times a day. Have traveled throughout 29 of 30 states but has spent the most of my time in Texas, and I am now almost a native Texan. Married a Texas girl and we have four little Texans, all-girls, and of course the finest girls in the world. Now five native Texans make one "Illinois sucker" stepson. Mrs. Pepple and our girls are thinking of making a visit to Illinois’s that is providing I can borrow the money to pay the railroad fare, as you know these railroads have a habit of taking the money in advance. I have been telling my Texas girls that I kept School at Buckhorn and Petty colleges several years. They are anxious to see the place where they would allow me to try to teach school, but I was there just the same, and those were good old days down in Lukin and up in Petty. Lots of good old spareribs and backbones and everything else good to eat and just as free as the water to Muddy Creek when there was water. You can travel all over the world but you can't find any better people than they have in good old Lawrence County. They claim that the south is noted for his hospitality, but I tell you that can't beat the people of Lawrence County. Lots of good people down here in Texas and they have certainly treated be fine, and I haven't any complaint to make. The Sumner Press has visited me every week for the past 25 years that means letter every week from home folks. I read it through and through and adjust his anxious to get it as when I first left home, and if I owe the Press anything send me a bill and I will remit it to your next payday. Wishing all the good people in Lawrence County and the Sumner Press, all the good things there are in store for 1915 in ever more, I am, Yours very truly Aaron C. Pepple "Everyday is the Best Day" ------------- Former location, Claremont Township, Richland County Illinois Present location 124 30 St. B Ave. Bonestel, South Dakota January 1, 1915 To the Sumner Press: Although I was a reader of the press in my father's home four miles Southwest of Sumner, near Beulah Church, where he still resides, in the days when that paper was edited by J. A. Igler, circumstances did not permit me to be a continuous reader or subscriber but since I have been able I have been glad to read it with interest, especially news of my old friends and most of my near relatives who still live there. I spent many years roaming about since 1882. I lived in a number of places near central Illinois, in St. Louis and southern Missouri at a few different places in South Dakota, including from Bonestel to North Dakota line, also in North Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska and a short stay in Oklahoma. I also work at different occupations, including carpenter work, mason work, almost all kinds of labor, mail carrier, and at last came back to the farm. I have been speculating on Earvy, Ohio Potatoes. I received first premium and extras at our County fair for the past two years. I have a home here now and plenty to eat anywhere since I have made my home and Bonestel, about 15 years ago. I have not been Sumner since the first part of the year 1902. This is the best winter since I lived here. I wonder how many readers of the press remember the old camp meeting held at John Kneppers Grove, west of the old Beulah log schoolhouse, when the men made platforms of wood covered with earth to build Hickory bark fires on for lights to light the Grove during the meeting. I was one of the boys who helped gather the bark. Well, younger people have better places of worship out. We did not sing with organs in. We used one horse to plow corn then. School was short-term. We plowed in stumps and instead of the short term of school many were compelled to take an ax and clear so the younger ones could have a better time. How many think to thank those other ones who made longer terms of school possible and also gave younger folks a chance to go to school full-time, also use modern machinery instead of stump plow with aching ribs, a grain cradle and grass scythe, they have the binder more and cultivator, all fixed up to ride upon. This is passed with the thrasher and wild turkey and the old Hagley Road through the woods to Sumner or to Andy Milligan's mill, east of town with cordwood as high as a man could reach to use.
------------- Grand Junction, Colorado January 20, 1915 Editor Press: In answer to your special edition, I will write a few lines, as I was born in old Lawrence County and still have many warm friends and love for my dear old home and country back there. I was born and raised a mile south of Lawrenceville. My name is Isabel Henderson. I lived in Lawrence County until 1910, and then came to Delta, Colorado with my daughter, Miss Bessie Lake, for her health, but came too late and she passed to the great beyond. Then I remained here. I married Robert Petersen, Delta, Colorado, where we had a beautiful little home and many friends. Last February we came to Grand Junction, Colorado, as Mr. Petersens business called him here. We have made many friends here, and had met a few from Lawrence County, which are our friends there. I will say I love the beautiful sunshine & climate of Colorado and wish all Lawrence County friends’ happiness and success. As ever, Mrs. Isabel Petersen ------------- West Liberty, Illinois January 23, 1915
The Country was wild deer, wild hogs, wild turkeys, catammounts7, foxes, lynxs, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and minks were more numerous than the rabbit is there today. Pheasants were as numerous as prairie chickens are today and there were wild pigeons without number. I have captured my share of all these animals, in fact I captured seven wild hogs one day and two lynx one night. Now I must tell you about my school days. Mr. John McCarthy taught the first school I attended. It was not a public school, but a subscription school, that is, each student paid the teacher $2.25 every three months. The school house was log, 16 feet wide and 20 feet long with one window on each side. It had a puncheon8 door, with wooden hinges and a wooden latch, a puncheon floor, clapboard ceiling, clapboard roof, puncheon seats without backs, wooden pins were placed in the holes, that were bored near the windows, and a board laid on these served as a writing desk. Two could write at a time. Now don't you think we had a glorious time. In June, 1862, I enlisted as a volunteer in the Civil War at Sumner. I was in Company K, Illinois Regiment number 70. Then came the second glorious time. I have been married twice. My first wife's maiden name was Margaret Ellen Hillis9. To this union six children were born, three living and three dead. My second wife's maiden name was Lucy Ann Fenis To this union seven children were born, three living and four dead. At the present, the number of living children are as follows: six children, 21 grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. My present home is in St. Marie Township, Jasper County, Illinois. I am 71 years young, a farmer, hale and hearty, working every day. I own eight hundred twenty-four acres of land, a host of town property, and some money on interest. I have taken many a good old fox chase and coon hunt, and I still enjoy coon hunting as much as ever. Yours respectfully, T. E. Piper ------------- Jonesboro, Arkansas January 15, 1915
I can hardly wait for the wanderers edition of the Press, to see how many of the voluntary exiles from old Lawrence County have availed themselves to our editors kindly privilege. Our Lot has been only that of average people and our paths far from a rose strewn one, in the eight years since we left old Beulah neighborhood to make our home for ourselves, verily strangers in a strange land, in northeastern Arkansas. Like most farmers, we have had lean years as well as fat ones, calamities (or seeming ones) as well as successes, but through it all, we have had splendid health, and although we have many times suffered from attacks of plain homesickness for the dear friends and scenes of other days yet we are much more in love with our Arkansas home. Six years ago we added a little Arkansan to our family, making seven husky youngsters over whom we alternately worry and rejoice after the age-old manner of parents. In speaking of the good health we have had since coming here, Except accidents for they are liable to happen anywhere. One of my twin sons, Clark Allen was terribly injured in a timber accident near Manila, Arkansas last August. A flying limb crushed from an immense tree in falling struck him in such a manner as to leave nine fractures and dislocations. For over a fortnight the balance hung poised between life and death, but we feel that the Heavenly Father has indeed been merciful towards us, for the brave young faith that smile back address from the hospital pillows, one our visits there during that weary weeks that followed, now last down at us from a height of six foot two, as he makes his way slowly through the familiar rooms, as we were allowed to bring him home January 5, nearly 5 months after the accident. Financial conditions here are much depressed, as reports seem to indicate them elsewhere. Perhaps they are worse here only the panic caused by the depreciation of prices on cotton, the staple and in many instances the only crop raised by southern planter. But few residents of the north can comprehend how financial matters in the south are dependent on the cotton crop as it is taking years of residents here to even get an inkling of it. It only affects us personally in marketing other crops for this is the greatest section on earth for diversified farming and we grow very little cotton. Mrs. S. M. Corrells card of thanks in a late edition of the Press brought back a rush of memories, centering around old Chauncey, for aunt Sarah as we always love to call her, was our Sunday school teacher for several years, and it may gratify her to know that her laborers have borne fruit and that another generation is receiving the benefit of the truth she labored so hard to instill. To her and to all the other friends of those days and since, whether in Illinois or far away, we send kind greetings and as a parting word, the course of our state song: Come and see us neighbor, come along, We’ll be there to greet you one and all Tis the finest country found, And we'll show you all around, At our happy little home in Arkansas. Mrs. Amy Weaver Richey ------------- Hardinville, Illinois January 23, 1915 Editor of Sumner Press: As you want to hear from Lawrence County people, I will say that I was a resident of Lawrence County 3 1/2 years. I lived on the J. F. Rosborough farm, one half miles south of Chauncey. I spent my early married life there. I will say that I had the best neighbors there I ever had in my life. I want to say that David Watts was like a father to me and brother J. N. Carlisle. I shall never forget his good advice, which he gave me, for I was a boy 20 years old then and needed good advice. It was at Chauncey Christian church where I gave my heart to Christ 20 years ago. All I have to regret is that I did not enlist earlier in life. I wish I could meet with the people of Chauncey and worship with them. I want to tell them all where I live, Hardinville, Illinois. I run a livery barn and farm some. I keep five horses and an automobile. I live in my own property. I have five children, four boys and one girl. I have a pair of Twins four years old last August. The girl can play the piano. She can play 15 or 20 pieces by ear. She can go to church and hear a song and income right home and play it. I will say to all of my old friends and neighbors that I would like to see them and talk of days gone by. I will close by saying I hope this issue will be a success and that the editor has my best wishes for success.
W. H. Rosborough ------------- Cincinnati, Ohio January 15, 1915
I was reared in Lukin Township, five miles south of your town, on the Sumner and Lancaster Road, brought up on the farm, and natural clod-hopper, which I think due credit should be allowed to anybody that has had the opportunity and experience of an outdoor farm life. I was appointed to the government in November 1905, and I realize the fact that Uncle Sam has a mighty safe payroll to sign during this somewhat uneventful state of conditions. We came to Norwood seven years ago, and have since lived here. Norwood is a beautiful suburb of Cincinnati, a 30,000 population, has her own municipal water, electric and gas plants, and especially noted for her artesian water, which is recommended by doctors for anybody that has ailments. I have a very interesting family, a wife, of course, a boy and a girl, especially interesting, when it comes to fitting them up financially, as the girl, just past six, has already asked me when am I going to get her an automobile that she preferred a Ford. You are entitled to much credit for getting up an edition of this kind, and the life that is being put in the old town. Wishing you a prosperous year, I am,
Ralph O. Shick10 Norwood Station ------------- Merom, Indiana January 25, 1915 L. M. Wood: Since leaving Lawrence County, I attended the Central Normal College, Danville Indiana. After graduating from the Teacher's Commercial, Scientific and Law Courses I begin teaching in Crawford County. After teaching there two years, I was called to teach at Union Christian College, Merom Indiana. After teaching about two months I was elected Secretary of the Faculty, which position I still hold. Mrs. Sanford has had charge of the Shorthand and Typing Department for the past four years. The Union Christian College was founded in 1859. It is situated in the south part of Merom, and 27 acre campus, surrounded by a nice hedge fence. It contains the college building, ladies dormitory, presidents home, baseball and football grounds, lawn tennis courts and many beautiful shade trees. Merom is quite a little college town, situated on the banks of the Wabash, where the great Merom Bluff Chautauqua is held every year. Besides the College and Chautauqua town is quite a business place for its size, owing to the fertile agricultural territory which surrounds it. Some of this latest improvements: 1st, the Merom State Bank, in which the writer is a director, second the construction of the Tishomingo Tie and Stone Companies plant which will cost between $80,000 and $100,000 when completed. The company hopes to have the plant completed and manufacturing its products in the next few months. I have been a reader of the Sumner Press for about the past 10 years and look forward to its visits each week. It is like receiving a letter from a friend who tells all the news from the territory. I appreciate hearing from.
W. S. Sanford ------------- Ludlow, California January 10, 1915
Vegetables and water are the scarce commodities. Of the first, greasewood is our all, with exceptions of a few months in the spring when we get abundance of wild flowers of a variety which requires very little moisture, but nevertheless beautiful. Our nearest water is 1900 feet, straight down; this is composed largely of salt and unsuited for any purpose. Our water supply being hauled here in solid trains of tank cars, each having capacity of over 10,000 gallons. Distributed through a city water system, as $.65 per thousand gallons. This little town is the outlet for the Death Valley country. Death Valley proper, with its vast deposits of borax, salt, etc. has become easily accessible to all by the building of a railroad directly into the Valley. This road was completed November 15, 1914. The road was built for the purpose of handling the borax mined by the original 20 Mule Team Borax Company, every housekeeper being acquainted with the said 20 Mule Team Borax. The mines produce an average of 1500 tons of borax monthly, shipped to Bayonne, New Jersey, where the product is refined. The question asked by everyone upon first arriving here, is how do you live, what do you do, how can anyone stay in such places? We live on the best that California produces, which is the best in the world. Our transportation factories are of the best. 12 hours from the best markets in the world. Everyone here has work or business. Plenty of work and our businessmen are all prosperous. Transportation and mining include the occupation and business of all. With no exceptions, in proven in instances, anyone spending as many as two years on the desert, finds no place that fills their life as does the land of sand, mountains and heat. (Yes and fleas too.) 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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