J. M. GADDEY’S REMINISCENCES

January 18, 1917

I came to this country in the month of May, in the year of our Lord, 1849, and when I landed I believe it was the fourth day of May-anyway it was oat sowing time, and I like oats to this day. I hadn't so much as a suit of clothes to my back and was barefooted, besides, could not speak the English language, and was at quite a loss to know just what was best for me to do, but I soon learned to notice things, and hear others talking until I was not very long in learning to jabber and I was not long in making my wants known.

Recollections soon came into use, and I was sent to school; and I never shall forget the little log schoolhouse on the hillside of the woods, not an acre of ground cleared around the schoolhouse.

The schoolhouse was made of logs, trees cut down and scored and scalp on either side and build in a pen probably 16X16 or 18 feet square. The floor was made of puncheons, split out of logs, and smooth down on one side and laid or notched down with an ax. The seats we sat on were black oak saplings cut down with an ax and cut off 8, 10 or 12 feet long and split open with maul and wedge and surfaced on one side with and an ax and each had two holes bored in for pins or legs. The fireplace was cut in one end of the house and probably was six or eight feet wide. The chimney was built of split lath, laid upon each other and danbed with mud and straw. Our writing desk consisted of a white slab of lumber, split out and surfaced down, and two, two-inch holes bored in the wall on one side of the house. We took our dinner to school in a piggon or a handmade split basket and often consisted of cornbread, fried or boiled eggs, milk, butter, and great slices of fat meat. Often five or six boys and girls ate from the same basket.

Our clothes were mostly or all homespun and our mothers cut and made our garments, knit our socks and mittens, made our caps. Our shoes were coarse and home made.

In a community or a school district you could not see from one house to another. Our roads were mostly crooked, over hills and up hollows. Very often our parents would blaze saplings through the woods to the schoolhouse, to guide us along our way. The country was new. Our teachers were mostly men who had obtained an education farther east. Some of the books we used in school were Ray’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd part arithmetic. We use Webster's Blue Back elementary speller and McGuffey’s readers. Later on we used Goodrich High School sixth readers and McNally's Geography.

On our way to school, we often saw droves of wild turkeys and sometimes a deer, coons, otters, mink and opossums were plentiful along the Creeks. Now and then could be seen a prairie wolf. Sometimes they would infest our hogs and carry off the young.

Thanks to our Creator, we lived through it all and are here today and you all who read this sketch may live to see better days and finally meet in a fairer and better clime than this where parting will be no more and we will need no sun to give us light by day, nor moon by night, for God will be our light, and in him is no darkness at all.

J. M. Gaddey

Dear Friends:

Many of you remember the old log house, pictured above, in which we spent many pleasant hours together around the open fireplace. Was there the grown-ups gathered, told stories and talk of the more serious things of life. Was there the young folks gathered and chatted freely of things which concerned them. And there, too, the children gathered and played the games which all children enjoy, while all help themselves to the basket of apples nearby.

In this house all of my brothers and sisters, as well as myself, were born.

On this farm, five miles south and one half mile west of Sumner, I have always lived, for feeling no other place was quite so good. I brought my bride, formerly Miss Catherine Gaddey here.

Our children were all born in this same house. 10 children, all of whom are living, the youngest, a son, 36 years of age. All but one-John, of Pesotum, Illinois, live in Lukin.
Although the old house has been replaced by another, the memories that are connected with the other endear our hearts to the former.

My wife and I were permitted to enjoy life together for 56 years. One New Year's Eve was her coronation day, for she was called home.

January 3, 1917, being my 80th birthday, a number of my children gathered to help celebrate it.

I have always been hale and hearty, a doctor having never been called to see me but once-that time I was hurt, and one trip was all that was needed to repair a "hearty" man.

In 1860 I cast my first vote for president. Since then I have never missed a county, state or national election, always voting the straight Democratic ticket, and I assure you that I was glad to cast another vote for Woodrow Wilson and M. D. Foster.

Those of you who have gone west seeking health may wish to come back after reading this record. Very well, the same "boy" will greet you and as he bids you welcome will bid you to be young again.

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Monan Indiana

January 18, 1917

I hope the reading of this issue gives to every one the pleasure it gives me, for through its columns we hear from friends who otherwise we never would hear from again. This certainly is a pleasure to read how well they are doing and all about their children whom we knew when small.

We are now located at Monan, Indiana, 97 miles southeast from Chicago. There are various reasons why we like it here, lots of work all the year, and money always ready when work is done.

Dana is working at round house, will in time be promoted to bring on road. He gets good money and gets paid for every hour he works overtime. Herbert is a drug clerk in a large store, with soda fountain- a good business. Gets good salary. Nina is in the second year high school and is doing well. We have a good school and building. They teach domestic sciences in connection with all the other studies. During vacation she clerks in the leading grocery. Last but not least is what I am doing. I have a two-story house and am keeping borders and roomers. We have one family light housekeeping. I am very busy, with my various affairs to look after. There is only one drawback and that is the high cost of living, for there is plenty of work here for all W. W. (Willing workers).

My name was Lizzie E. Berry. My father was John Berry I was raised 11 miles southwest of Sumner at Berryville. Have lived in Sumner twice. Once when my husband was in school at that place. Last time I moved to Sumner to school my children. It will be remembered by some that Herbert graduated from there in 1915.

We trust to know we have many friends who read this issue. I shall be anxious until it reaches us. I would be glad to get individual letters from old friends and will gladly answer same. I do not think it possible for me to forget Sumner friends if I live to be very old.

Mrs. Lizzie E. Anderson¹²

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Guthrie Oklahoma

January 15, 1917
Mr. Editor:
I received your notice that you wanted a letter for the Pink Press and as you do not want us to write about the crops, I will just give some reminiscences of the past.

Forty-six years ago I was Miss Mary Fyffe but on February 26, 1871 I was married to S. W. Baird and we moved from Lawrence to Crawford County, Illinois. We had then just two forty acres of land, about four miles apart, with some goods, a few farming implements and about $1200. Bought a farm and of course, went in debt again, lived there for seven years, then sold out again and bought this place of 160 acres, with two good houses on it about nine years ago, and I am happy to say we have it all paid for and are out of debt again.

Now about the children: our eldest, a daughter, Mrs. F. G. Retherford, is living in Meridian, about three miles from here, and they now have six boys and two girls. One of the girls was teaching school, one of the boys has a good position with a farmer near town and the rest are still at home. Our first son is here, running the farm for us, because we were not able to make the work go like we used to and then he has four boys and three girls to help him and ours all gone but one, and he is going to school. Our second son is in Katy, Texas, working for another lumber company and two of our boys are gone from the earth, along with the perishing flowers. Our other daughter lives near Guthrie and her husband, J. A. Baty, is also in the mail service. We had 25 grandchildren, but some of them are so far away that we cannot see them very often, so most of them are nearer. One of Charlie's little boys was here from Thanksgiving until about two weeks ago, when his mother took him home and left the other one to stay till next spring, if they don't send for him to come home sooner. I think it is very nice to haves some of them here most of the time, for they are so much company for me.

My brother, C. H. Fyffe, and wife were out to visit us about Christmas and I was truly glad to see them.

Mary Baird

R. R. No. 8

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Celina

Mercer County, Ohio,

By one of these letters we learn of a relative living in the neighboring town, whose acquaintance we would have probably never have formed but for the Pink Press.

As my wife has told of the whereabouts of our children, I will only add that , is general manager and one of the partners in a hardware and lumber business in Katy, Texas, is general manager in a store for a big lumber company in Benford, Texas. They have many hundreds acres of heavily timbered land and a number of sawmills. He has three clerks under him and he tells me in his last letter that their sales for the month of December amounted to over $6000 worth so it is easy to see that there is business done in Texas.

Good wishes for a happy and prosperous year to all the friends who read this.

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Danville, Indiana

January 25, 1917

As I am a reader of the Press will try to write a short letter for your February issue.

My home was at Landes southwest township of Crawford County. I now live at Danville, Indiana have a small farm at the south side of town. Have a erected a nine room home all modern like having in town and country both. We have a flowing well also and everlasting spring which is piped through the house have a two-story garage building.

We used to think that Crawford County Illinois was the only place but find that Indiana is far ahead on account of the good roads as the autos can run the year-round.

I am engaged in the auto business doing fine.

We are always glad to get the Sumner Press. Will close with best wishes to all,

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Jonesboro, Arkansas

Rural Route 5 Box 53

January 21, 1917
Editor Press:
We are looking forward with much pleasure to the non-resident issue and congratulate you on your success in the past with the non-resident issue.

As I have not written in the past, but not let this opportunity pass without writing a few lines this time.

I am the daughter of Stephen and Alice Angle of Petty Township where I have spent most of my life with the exception of three years in Cole's County, Illinois, and the last four years here in Arkansas, which we think is a fine country and like it fine here. School and two churches within half-mile of us. We are five miles west of Jonesboro, living on a farm which we own. We have four as good-looking and healthy children as you see anywhere, two boys and two girls-Raymond Francis, John William, Mary Alice and Georgia Kathleen.

I'm expecting to visit Lawrence County next fall if I am spared until then.

I extend to all my friends a cordial invitation to visit here in our Arkansas home.
Respectfully,

Mrs. M. A. Banter¹⁴Formerly Miss Jennie Angle

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Mt. Carmel, Illinois

January 22, 1917
While in a reminiscent mood I will give a short biography of myself for the benefit of the many readers of the Pink Edition.

My father, Isaac Newton Barekman, and mother, Martha Gaddey, were married September 4, 1870.

To this unit were born five children, three of whom are living, two dying in infancy. Of the living, Mary Ellen is the eldest, now living at Bone Gap, Illinois; Charles Newton living at Flagstaff, Arizona, was next, then came myself; however not until my father had passed to the great beyond, his death preceding my birth by 26 days which occurred on February 16, 1879, I been born on March 14, 1879. Hence a pitiful family was left in Lukin Township, near White Oak school house.

July 3, 1882, mother died, thus leaving three more orphans to the mercy of the people.

Charles was taken in by Uncle J. A. Barekman and giving a good and permanent home, being cared for as a son, also given good schooling. Ellen was not so fortunate. However she was cared for a long time by Uncle William Osborne with a good home, but not quite so much educational advantages. However both feel very grateful for their beneficiaries. Yet the writer of this article was less fortunate, at least in the beginning. I suppose I must have been a very very bad boy, as I was taken on trial by several families, and pronounced bad and returned each time to one of my uncles, who seem to be very lucky in his efforts to induce someone else to give me a trial. At last, at the tender age of five, I was accepted by Uncle Julius Storckman, with his family I remained until I had attained the age of 17, where I had a good home, (considering my being so mean), but very little schooling had fallen to my lot.

Here I started out for myself, going to Indiana, where I worked on a farm and made the acquaintances of my bride-to-be, with whom I afterwards corresponded for some time.

In April 1898, I joined I company 4th Illinois National Guard at Olney Illinois for service in the Spanish-American war, with which I served more than a year, during which time I saw three months "camp service" in Cuba.

On July 17, 1899, I enlisted at Evansville Indiana in the regulars and was at once sent to the Presido, California. Embarked there August 10, 1899 for the Philippine Islands on the transport Morgan City, which the Vessel went on a rock and was totally lost September 2, 1899, in the inland Sea of Japan. No lives were lost, but the entire cargo of Army supplies and about 800 bags of mail were lost.

We were compelled to lay on the beach in Inoshima island six days and nights with little food and no shelter, our food being partially donated by Russian battleships and the Japanese cruiser. Some was obtained by bartering whatever possessions we had to the natives. I traded my underclothes,"well soiled," for cookies.

On September 8, we were taken aboard the Tata Gama Marn, a Japanese collier and carried to Nagasaki, Japan, where we were given seven days use of a large Japanese barracks. Our American consul leased a large bathhouse where we were given the much-needed free baths, after which I began seeing my first sites at close range of the old world.

We were again taken on board this time the USS transport "Ohio" and again our journey started. Arriving in Manila Bay about September 20. The Ohio drop anchor within three miles of Cavite, where my brother, Charles, was in station, but we did not get to see each other.

I served three years in the islands mostly on the Sulu group. With the Moros, who were Mohammedans.

Returning to the states 1902, I labored at various occupations until February 1904 when I was married to a girl at West Salem, who later proved to be a harlot, with the result that I obtained a divorce 1908. Going into Memphis, Tennessee, for a few years and on returning just one day to be loafing in Grayville, waiting for a train in there met my long time friend from Indiana, whereupon courtship began at once, on December 20, 1909 there was recorded in Belleville papers the results.

My wife, who was Rosa Williams, and I are now living at 1218 Chestnut Street Mt. Carmel, Illinois.

I could mention interesting experiences of my life, but owing to the wars causing paper to be a very costly commodity, I will not ask too much of the famous Pink Edition.

In conclusion, I want to most heartily thank all who in any capacity, however small aided me along in this world, of which I have been but very little, but am glad to be here and see and read about what others have.

Of Lukin Township

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Vincennes, Indiana

June 15, 1917
Almost ever since I can remember I have read the Sumner Press and have especially enjoyed the annual non-resident historical edition. I have decided this year to contribute my story.

On the 16th day of September 1863 in a little log cabin in the wilds of Lukin Township, I first saw the light of day. That was the year of the big frost in August. My parents were "Uncle Jim" and "Aunt Sally" Beesley, pioneers of that part of Lawrence County.

My early life was spent on the farm. I attended school in a little log school house in the edge of Wabash County. The school was known by the name of Shanghai. It was afterwards replaced by a frame building and now called White Pine.

Among my early teachers I recall the names of James and John Corrie George Prout, George French, and David Siebert. After finishing my education that Shanghai, I attended McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois for several terms and then taught in Wabash and Lawrence County for six years. I then moved to Vincennes and took a commercial course at Vincennes University under Robert Aley, now president of the University of Maine. After completing my course here, I went to Dixon Business College, where I graduated in 1891 and the next fall I obtained a position as principal of the business department of Vincennes University, which position I held for four years. I resigned my position with the University in June 1895 and in September of the same year, I embarked in the retail grocery business. I have added to my business until I now have a general store and meat market combined.

Now I word about my family. I was married on the first day of November 1885 to Mary C. Brosa, the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. F. (Squire) Brosa of Lukin Township. “Uncle Aaron” Schrader officiated in the presence of about seventy-five invited guests.

We have three boys, two of whom are also "Lukinites,” the youngest is a Hoosier. The oldest is a bookkeeper for the Vincennes lumberyard. And by the way, they have one child, our only grandchild and grandpa Brosa’s only great-grandchild, so of course we think she is about it. Our second son, Everett I. Beesley, is a civil engineer is married and lives in Muskegon Heights, Michigan. He is now employed by the Shan Electric Crane company as estimator. The youngest Oscar V. Beesley still enjoy single blessedness and is with me in the store.

Religiously we are all Presbyterians. I was Commissioner to the General assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which med at Fresno California, and by our vote consummated the union of Cumberland Presbyterian and the Presbyterian Church USA.

I have many pleasant memories of my childhood and early manhood in old Lawrence County.

With best wishes to all of all my old friends and associates and with the hopes that the Sumner Press may long live to bring the news of "home”, I remain
Very respectfully

W. P. Beesley

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Sedalia, Missouri

January 16, 1917
Mr. Wood:
Please find enclosed money order for the press another year. I don't want to do without it, but my eyes are so poor I can hardly read. I want the Pink Edition, but am two shaky and blind to write anything for it.

As ever your friends and well-wishers.

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Cates, Indiana

January 11, 1917

I was born and raised about six miles northwest of Sumner, near Mulberry school house, where I attended school most of my boyhood days. Later I purchased 80 acres of land about five miles southwest of there, where I lived for several years. Having failing health there, I moved up to McLean County, afterwards I moved to Veedersburg, Fountain County, Indiana, where I ran a market garden for several years and worked at various kinds of employment. Having accumulated some means I purchased a farm of 40 acres near Cates, Indiana, where I now live. This is well improved with buildings and silo, which makes us a comfortable home. We raised five children of whom four are living one girl and three boys, Flora, the oldest girl passed away about 13 years ago. Going back to our old homestead brings back sweet memories of our childhood, though after a lapse of about 35 years, alas and where are those we once knew? Death has claimed most of the older ones while the plump and rosy cheek boys and girls we once knew are scattered many miles away and strange faces have filled their places. What few are left present are aged, wrinkled and careworn brow. The roads have been changed the old buildings have been torn away and new ones erected, the woodlands have been cleared and are now cultivated fields and thus it seems to us a strange land, though through your Pink Sheet we are made to reunite. Hoping to hear from all and wishing them all and the Press a happy and prosperous new year, I remain,

John Jacob Berlin

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1020 East 5th Street

Indianapolis, Indiana

January 7, 1917

As you ask all to write a line or two, I haven't much to say, only that I used to live in old Lawrence County and I still have a warm spot in my heart for it.

We moved to Indianapolis in 1906. My boy was just four years old, and now he is 14 and past. He will graduate in common school in three weeks.

Since coming here I have learned to love old Indiana. My man can say what a lot of men can't. He has worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad ever since we lived here. It is 11 years the 14th day of February.

Since living in Indianapolis the Lord has blessed us by sending us a little daughter, which brought happiness into our family. For fear people don't know me, my maiden name was Ursula E. Morgan now it is,
Mrs. William E. Berniger

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Los Angeles, California