--------- (Mrs. H. E. Ince)

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Earl also wrote a letter in 1915 for the Press, which is included in that section. In 1918 he wrote again from his ranch saying that he hauled hay and coal in the fall and that he was able to dig his own coal in the hills. When he first moved there he said he thought he would go back to Sumner when eh proved his claim, but now he doesn’t think about it as much. He mentioned a band of full-blooded Indians that he had met as there was an Indian reservation east and west of him. Former Suckers, Willie Whitesides and John McCausland, now of Pattonhill Mont. had visited him.

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Lorenzo Asher Ivie was born December 19, 1868 in Illinois to William Curtis and Phebe (nee Goslin) Ivie. He was united in marriage on July 24, 1892 to Mary Eliza Milligan, daughter of David G. and Elvira (nee Grout) Milligan.

Census records show a daughter born to this union, Hazel Maud (b. Oct. 1894). A tombstone in Bethel Cemetery shows a son Burl R. born and died in 1893. Lorenzo died June 30, 1927 and Mary died December 29, 1949. Lorenzo, Mary, and Hazel as well as Burl, are buried in the Bethel Cemetery in Lawrence County.

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

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

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

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

Earl Irwin

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Pollard, Arkansas

January 15, 1917

Dear Editor and Readers of the Press:

After a vacation of 30 or more years, I will chronicle a few more lines for the Press. This takes me back to my boyhood days in Lukin Township, when I used to scrap around for news for the Press.

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

Next came our baby girl, Hazel, who is now with us. I am the son of William C and Phebe L. Ivie; was raised in Lukin Township, Lawrence County Illinois; and am the oldest (and Mary says the best looking one) of a large family of three girls and seven boys, of whom only mother and two sisters reside Lawrence County, father having died eight years ago.

My father being a farmer, I naturally took up that occupation but when my health failed, I sold our farm and chattels, except a team, wagon, and a few belongings, with which, on September 27, 1897, I and my family started southwest. After having stopped the first night with Joseph Shearer in Wabash County we took camp life as it came. The weather being fine, we certainly enjoyed the trip overland.

We crossed the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau and on October 8, 1897 we crossed the St. Francis River at St. Francis, Arkansas. After staying for a time and finding that my health was wonderfully improving, we decided to locate in St. Francis. We have all had splendid health since we came to northeast Arkansas.

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

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

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

Respectfully,

L. A. Ivie

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El Dorado, Kansas

January 22, 1917

Dear Editor:

Will respond to your invitation to write a letter for the Pink Press.

We are nicely situated in El Dorado and enjoying the best of health. My husband is employed by the Empire Gas and Fuel Company. There is quite a number of scissorbills here from our hometown including Joe Pargin, Cap Stein, Guy Waggoner and others. Our five-month-old daughter, whom the parents are very fond of, provides most of the entertainment for the home.

I was born and reared in Petty Township, my parents are Joseph and Eliza Waggoner who still reside on the old home place. My husband's home was in Petty Township also until two years ago, when we moved to Flat Rock, Illinois and from there to El Dorado about two months ago. Our old hometown, (Sumner and neighborhood which is six miles northeast of Sumner will always be a dear place to us. It is always the greatest a pleasure to meet old friends and chat with them.

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

Yours respectfully,

Mrs. B. M. Longenecker

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Lodi, California

January 20, 1917

Editor Press:

I wrote a letter last year to the Press. We look forward to the time for it to come but there are not many we know in it now. Mr. Berkshire, Mr. Whiteside, and some others. My father's name was George Lee. They are almost all gone. I look so longingly for some of their names. My husband's father was William Lytle. "Uncle Billy," they called him. How times have changed things. My home was south of the slough, and Sam’s father north near Union. The reader will remember this. We are having a cold spell here in California.

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

Mrs. Samuel Lytle

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