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January 26, 1917 Editor Press: Samuel M. Berry was born in Ashland County Ohio, March 1832, moved with my parents to Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois in September of the same year. Parents Peter and Rachel Berry. There were six children namely: Mary Elizabeth, Joseph Bales, Sarah Jane, Susan, Leander and myself. After we came to Illinois four more were born namely: Jacob, Hillary, Lucinda, and William Friend. Those that have passed to the other world our father, mother, Elizabeth, Susan, Sarah Jane, Leander. Joseph and Jacob are still living in Ohio. William and Henry are living in Illinois. Lucinda is in St. Louis Missouri. The last summer I was in Illinois, I worked for James Irish. I was married to my present wife November 20, 1879. Her maiden name was Louisa Freyman. We moved to Monitau County in 1881. Live seven years there and 10 years in Kansas City, Missouri, then move back to Ohio one year, from there to California. This is the garden spot of the world. We have fresh vegetables the year around and sunshine and flowers all the time. Would like to hear from any of my friends that read this.
Samuel M. Berry 8809 South Main Street ------------- Los Angeles, California January 23, 1917 731 Clanton Street
We all enjoy reading the Pink Issue and am sure it will be read with much pleasure again. I am the son of John M. Brian and Leigh (Landis) Brian and was born the December 14, 1854, 3 1/2 miles south of Sumner, where I spent my boyhood days. Brother J. M. Brian, still living at Sumner and Elizabeth Quinby of Wellington, Kansas are the only ones left of the family. My wife (whose maiden name was Frances L. Fisher) and family and I left Sumner May 11, 1891, came direct to Los Angeles and have lived here ever since. I am still with the Hotel Clark, being employed as chief engineer. We are all enjoying pretty good health and trust these few lines will find old friends and acquaintances well and prospering. With best regards, Yours respectfully, D. Brian
------------- Nelson, Missouri January 5, 1917
I am one. I was born and raised in Sumner and although my old home was broken up, as my dear mother was taken from us. I will always call Sumner my home. I have a brother there and one in Chicago. I have been away from Sumner 12 years, but the Press comes to my home every week and I do enjoy reading it. We were living at El Dorado Springs for 10 years, until about four weeks ago we moved to Nelson, Missouri, which is a nice little country town. We are all pleased with our new home. We have two children, a little girl, 11 years old, and a boy, 8. They are both out of school at the present time on account of their health. I will close now and not take up much too much space. My maiden name was Lena Freese, but now
------------- St. Paul, Arkansas January 16, 1917 Editor Press: As we have always read with pleasure the letters in the Pink Press, we thought someone might be pleased to hear from us. We are now living in northwestern Arkansas. By finding Fayetteseville on the map and looking for a little town of St. Paul, which is 35 miles south, you will find our nearest town. We are living on a small mountain farm which is six miles from St. Paul. Perhaps those that know me at all remember that I am the second daughter of J. N. and Alice Carlisle. Was born in Lawrence County near Chauncey, Township five , range 13 W., and spent most of my life there until my marriage to Evert Burt in 1894. My husband was the third son of John and Nancy Burt, who came to Chauncey in 1882, and made their home there for a number of years. His father died in 1908 and his sister, Irene in July of the same year. Three brothers are still living-W. C. Burt, a newspaperman of Asheville, North Carolina, Elzie D., who is a mail clerk at Robinson, Illinois and Ray G. Who is who is a telegraph operator at Bertha, Minnesota. Their mother is living with Elzie at Robinson. We have four children one son and three daughters Lizzie M. is 20 years old and Nina Doris 18, Winnifred 15 and William 11. One little daughter Pearl died in infancy. All of our children are home with us at present excepting Doris, who is in St. Louis. We came here almost 4 years ago from Nebraska, where we spent 13 years and where three of our children were born. This is not a farming country and is very rough and the people very un-progressive especially here in the mountains. I will close, as perhaps this is more than will be of any interest to your readers.
------------- USS Wainwright Port-au-Prince Haiti January 26, 1917
I was born and raised in Christy Township, 2 1/2 miles southwest of Sumner, present home in Sumner, my father, Joseph Buzzard, having moved to the city about three years ago. In February 1911, I listed in the U.S. Navy at Indianapolis, Indiana did my apprentice training at Norfolk, Virginia. After six months of learning the first qualifications of Man- O- Wars- Man, I was sent to San Francisco, to serve aboard the USS South Dakota. During my time aboard the ship I cruise over 80,000 miles, visiting many foreign countries, among the most interesting were Japan, China and Australia. I was discharged February, 1915, at Seattle, Washington and straightway set sail for home, and I honestly believe of all the places that I have seen Sumner looked the best of all, “just then." After a stay of four months with home folks, I reenlisted as St. Louis, Missouri, and went to the electrical school at Brooklyn, New York. After a course of instructions lasting eight months, graduated electrician (radio), and was detailed to the USS Wainwright on which I am at present doing duty. We sailed from Hampton Roads, Virginia January 10 in a company with the Atlantic Fleet. After a trip of six days arrived in Culebra, leaving the 18th for Guantánamo, Cuba, where we refueled and sailed for Santiago, Cuba, where all hands were given an opportunity to see the places of historic interest. After a stay of three days we took aboard the assistant secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and set sail for Port-Au-Prince Haiti where we arrived this morning, amidst the booming of saluting Canon. Lying in the beautiful harbor are 56 war craft, with a score or more aeroplane circling above, making one of the most impressive scenes that I have ever witnessed, and the best part of it all, is the Stars & Stripes float from them all. Will close with pleasant memories of the many happy years spent in Lawrence County, and I take this opportunity instating my appreciation to the Sumner Press publishers for the best home paper of them all. Respectfully, Ralph Buzzard ------------- The Last Letter from Rev. N. A. Cavens The editor of the Press knowing the peculiar genius of Rev. N. A. Cavens, formerly of this city, later of Salem, Mo., but now in that innumerable company who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb, to write most interestingly, we had asked for a letter for the Pink Press. Brother Cravens although confined to his bed with his fatal illness, responded by the hand of another as follows: Salem, Missouri January 18, 1917 Mr. L.M. Wood Sumner Illinois
My Dear Friend, I am very sick and it is impossible for me to write the letter so kindly asked for by you, have been engaged in Union revival meetings for some days; there has been great interest and large crowds. Spirit fine. Presume I overworked. Will write more when I am able. My people here are splendid; they have employed a trained nurse to care for me and she will be out this afternoon from St. Louis. Please tell Mr. Wood a friend is writing this for me. With very kindest regards, Rev. N. A. Cavens Although very disappointed in not being able to get a letter from Brother Cavens for the Pink Press yet we obtained, through Rev. Sam Roper, of Steeleville, Mo., Who preached Rev. Cavens funeral, at Salem, the following "Eleven Rules of My Life" taken from Brother Cavens Ledger, by Mr. Roper. 1. Saved to serve 2. I want to be right in the right. 3. I make many mistakes-I am sorry for the fellow who don't. 4. Do right, do your best and look for good results. 5. I have never been sorry for standing out for the right. 6. Right won't hurt anyone; you may be killed for being right, but to die is gain 7. No one is ashamed tells the truth. I would rather die with the truth on my lips than a lie in my heart. 8. Love for everyone is my desire. 9. I think much of the Golden rule. 10. To say “he died shouting" is nothing, but to say he lived a useful life counts for much. 11. I may be a poor stick, but I need to be a good sticker.
------------- Ingraham, Illinois January 16, 1917 Press Editor and Friends: I thought I would write a few lines for the Pink Press this time. I am one of the “Angle" girls and passed most all my childhood days in the muddy bottoms, where we used to have lots of fun when we were children. I spent my school days in Petty School House and always went to Sunday school at Pleasant Hill. In December 1903, I was married to John Chrisman, of Ingraham Illinois, at which place we've always made our home, with the exception of one year in Douglas County. We have two children, Winnie, age 12 and a Gilvie, age 8 years. They both go to school everyday, as we live right by the school house. I always enjoy reading the letters from those I used to know and also those that I've never knew. And I know that I will enjoy this issue, for I am hoping more of the wanderers from Pleasant Hill neighborhood will write this year. I've taken the Press for about 16 years and would be sure lonesome without it. I will close, wishing you, one and all, a prosperous and happy new year.
------------- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma January 14, 1917 Editor Press: In accepting your kind invitation to write for the Pink Press, I will endeavor to tell you something of our wonderful city, believing that it will be of interest to some of our old friends who still reside in and near Sumner also to those, like ourselves, have removed to other states. We, myself, wife and daughter (old home near Beulah Church, in November 1898, for Tupelo, Mississippi, where we lived for two years, having going south for our daughter's health. We left Tupelo in January 1901, arrived in the city January 9, 1901, which place has since been our home. We bought near our present home in the spring of 1905 and were lucky in getting located close to the business center, as at that time the population was only 10,000, and our census taken a short time ago gives us something over 92,000, a wonderful development. Our city is a beautiful little city has the buildings are comparatively new, since it will only be 28 years April since this country was open to settlement. Most of the business houses are fireproof, being made of brick, stone and reinforced concrete ranging in height from 3 to 10, 12 and 14 story buildings-quite a number of the higher ones. Our streets are paved with asphalt and swept and washed day and night. We have one of the best terminal stations for street railways in the west, into which every car, both city and interurban runs. Our interurban lines extend some 30 miles north south and west. The auto is in great use here, both as private and public conveyances. Horses are an exception as means of travel. This being Sunday, I was just looking in our church directory and if you were here you could worship at any one of 42 different places of worship. Some of our churches are very grand costing more than $100,000 with pipe organs as much as $10,000. Our school facilities are also fine. Looking in the telephone directory, I see 38 different schools and colleges listed. A public high school building, erected a few years ago, at a cost of half million dollars is inadequate as there is something like two thousands enrolled at the present, our school board has just decided to call an election to vote for $650,000 to build for junior highs, to relieve the overflow. About 14 banks, I noticed the oldest established one had on deposit at the close of the year 1916 over $8 million. You asked for something about our families. My wife, who was miss Mary Lackey, daughter of Andrew Lackey (deceased), is traveling life highway by my side. She was raised three miles southeast of Sumner on her father's farm, now the Mortz place. My only living child, daughter, Vinnie, is married and has one child, Mary Wilfred, 3 1/2 years of age. Her husband J. S. Armstrong, is vice president and manager of the Armstrong wholesale music house. And just to give you some idea of the business done by the firm, which is composed of the three Armstrong brothers, will tell you that their writing expenses for the year 1916 exceeded $60,000, so you see we are music loving people in the west, as there are two other large stores, besides a number of smaller dealers in the city. We five live together and have many happy times and any time our old friends come this way we would be pleased to have him call on us.
Mort W. Coffman 403 West Noble Street ------------- Madison, Illinois January 23, 1917 Editor Press: Having lived in your unity when I was a boy. I am deeply interested in its people and the Pink Sheet. I am the youngest son of William F. Corrie, who lives about six miles northwest of Sumner on what is known as the old Staats farm. I was born in 1891, in Lawrence County, about 12 miles southeast of Sumner on the old Moffett farm near the old Moffett graveyard and Bethel church. My parents were members of this church and I attended the Frogeye School. My mother's maiden name was Elva Maguire. She passed away when I was two years old, leaving four children, three boys-Elmer, Glenn and myself and one girl Alma,. Elmer is married and living in Madison and Glenn is also married and recently moved to Messix, Colorado, Alma is now Mrs. Curtis Lathrop of Claremont. Almost 3 years after my mother's death my father married Mrs. Charles Bailey, her maiden name was Emma Fisher. She had one son six months older than myself. It kept our stepmother busy watching us. The creek, which ran below the house, was our delight and if we were caught with our hair wet it was a sure sign of a hard whipping. One day we decided that we would play a trick, so we went down to the creek and wet our hair. When we came back to the house our stepmother met us and told us to line up against the wall and went for the whip, but will we explain the joke she let us go. We thought we had things except right and we could go swimming whenever we wanted and always tell her the same thing, but she soon got wise to this end the trick didn't work any longer. I think of the old home many times and wish I could see it. The last time I visited it was in December 1905, when Roy, Glenn and I spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thompson near Bethel. We attended a Christmas entertainment at Bethel, that being the only time I had been in the church since we left there in 1900. Some of my schoolmates were Charlie, John, Victor, Evert and Earl Joy, Austin Hebber, Agnes and Victor Bryan, Herman, Ethel and Orville Wright, Mary, Dell, Joe, Jim and Guy Schrader. Among my first school teachers were Mr. McCann, Miss Mary Wright., and Charlie Moore. In 1898 my father ran a small country store and at the same time had charge of the Ruark Post office. In 1899 we moved from the Moffett place to the Moore farm, northwest of Frogeye School, and lived there until 1900. Finley moved to Richland County, about five miles west of Sumner. We lived in this County until about two years ago, when the folks bought the farm they are now living on. In the spring of 1909, I left home and went to Tuscola, Illinois, and went to work on a farm. I had a cousin living there at that time but on account of sickness I was compelled to return home again, where I stayed about three weeks and then left again for Madison, and have been here ever since. The first three years I was here I was employed by the American Car and Foundry Company here. It helped build freight cars. I quit this company in accepted a position with the Kettle River company. I begin as treating engineer helper. After six months I was transferred to the night run, where I had charge of the treating department. I have been with this company for about five years, but have resigned my position with this company to take effect February 1 and have accepted another position with another company at Granite City, Illinois. The plant is now being constructed. I will have charged at the treating department. Madison has a population of about 10,000 and has 48 or 50 solutions, which Friday at night, 365 days in the year, but I am very glad to say that none of them bothered me. Just after we moved to Richland County in 1900, I was given the nickname of “Happy Jack," and I was no by many people around home only as "Happy Jack." Christmas, to me, is one of the happiest days of the year in I always planned to attend it with my folks. I had a fine time at home this Christmas. Those who have had experience in being away from their folks know what a pleasure it is to spend at least one day of the year there. I hope to hear from many of my friends who the Pink Press.
Everett Corrie ------------- Jeanette, Pennsylvania January 17, 1917
I received the Sumner Press on Friday of every week, receiving my last copy on Christmas Day as a Christmas present from my parents. Now located in Augusta, Kansas I enjoy the contents immensely and don't mind the advertisements and notice many changes in the business district. While residing in Sumner I was employed mostly in the racket store formerly owned by C. H. Gordon. I see by his dad in the Press he is interested in real estate. He is a most lively one. (This is for Mr. Gordon's special benefit). Many of my former acquaintances have left your little town but I will probably learn their whereabouts in your February 8 edition. Wishing you every success in your letter riding contest and extending best regards to my former friends I remain,
Mrs. Raymond Costello, (Formerly Miss Ruella Fry) ------------- Corona, California January 16, 1917 Editor Press: At your urgent request for all the Subscribers to the Press, and especially old settlers, to write you a letter for the Pink Press, I will send you a few lines, for I can only send you a faint outline of what I know of the earlier days of Lawrence County and of Lukin Township and the old settlers thereof. It would take all the space in your Pink Sheet unless it was as large as our California secret ballot. I was born on a farm in Clark Township, Brown County, Ohio, on December 10, 1836. My father's name was Silas. My mother’s maiden name was Martha Ann Wrestler. I have five brothers, of whom two are still living- B. L. and J. C. of your town. In 1852 we moved to Lukin Township, Lawrence County, Illinois, from our old home in Ohio and settled on what was then called the old Snyder farm, one half mile from the Richland County line, adjoining the George Moore tanyard place, later bought and run for several years by Caleb Hoopes, and still later the farm was sold to Fred Brian, but the tanyard discontinued years before. In 1857 I was married to Mary T. Lovell. We moved to an 80 acre place of land adjoining my father's farm. There we built a house and chopped and grubbed a little farm of 40 acres, a part of which belongs to my brother J. C., The other 40 I sold to Fred Brian. Here are born seven of our children and here one, the eldest died and was buried in the Bell or Wright cemetery. Here our children attended school at old Buckhorn school house which stood on the northeast of my father's farm. In 1864 my wife and I were converted enjoying the M. E. Church at Wesley Chapel. On the same night November 4, 1864 the following named persons were converted and joined the church with us, I. E. Hill and wife, Eli Dunn and wife, and James Webber and wife. Of the eight who started at that time only four remain. Eli Dunn and wife, I. E. Hill and myself. All the others have gone on to heaven where I expect to meet them soon, to part no more forever. Oh it was the best thing I ever did in my life when I gave my heart to God. Praise his holy name for keeping me all these years. In the fall of 1873 we moved to Neosho County, Kansas, driving through in a wagon. We settled on a quarter section of land six miles northwest of Walnut, in Grant Township. We had our church letter with us and put it in the first opportunity we had. We were always careful about our obligations to God and the church. We lived on this farm for 25 years, through grasshoppers, droughts and cyclones, but out of it all, the good Lord brought us safely. In 1898 we moved to Riverside California settling in Corona, our present location. Here my dear wife died on October 21, 1902. Here seven of our children are living. Three are living in Kansas and one in Colorado and one in Arizona. So this brings me down to date in my eighty first year still pretty strong for one of my age. I can walk up with anyone I start with. Can't run so fast or jump so high as I could when I was younger, but still I can climb mountains—little ones, if they're not too steep. My general health is good. My eyesight is good; that is with the aid of my glasses I can read fine print. Now my hearing is rather poor just now but I think when summer comes I will be all right again. I was well acquainted with all the old settlers in Lukin and vicinity. Can remember when there was no Sumner nor Bridgeport nor Hadley for there was no railroad nearer than Vincennes. It used to be our nearest mill where we can get wheat ground was Lawrenceville. Sometimes my father would go to Rochester, at the rapids on the Wabash near Mt. Carmel to mill. On such occasions we always had to stay overnight, and sometimes two nights. We had a little corn down on Bonpas and saw a mill run by Henry King, later bought and run by August Starkman, could run but part of a year, as it was a wet weather mill, but it sure helped us out many times. I would be glad if I could speak of all the old settlers by names and tell you the good things I know about them, but I cannot at this time. Perhaps we tell you about them later. I know this letter is already too long for your Pink Sheet but I will tell you how to manage it. You know everyone knows how to run a newspaper better than the editor does so I will tell you how to do. Divide it up and run it as a serial story alongside of some of the Lukinite man's chicken dinner stories. 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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