From Former Sons and Daughters of

Carl David Thorn was born in Illinois on December 4, 1873 to Clinton Amos and Susan E. (nee Haines) Thorn. On September 13, 1898 he was united in marriage to Ella Maude Dobbins, daughter of Vincent J. and Catherine (nee Leech) Dobbins. To this union the following children were born: Marjorie (b. abt. 1902); Marvin (b. abt. 1908). Carl died in Colorado on September 17, 1926 and Maude died in 1948 and they are buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Rocky Ford, Otero County, Colorado.

Clinton and Susan (Haines) Thorn

Carl’s Parents

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John Henry Umfleet was born in Sumner August 8, 1876 to Jarvis Jackson and Emeline (nee Eckiss) Umfleet. John was united in marriage on September 6, 1906 to Lucy Mae Berry, daughter of J. J. and Mary Ellen (nee Carsnor) Berry. To this union the following children were born: Opal (b. abt. 1908); Clifford David (b. abt. 1915); Sylvia D. (b. abt. 1917); Alice E. (b. abt. 1925). John died June 21, 1936 in Stoddard County Missouri and is buried in the Rock Hill cemetery. Lucy died ion March 29, 1966.

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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

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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 Thorn and family

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Fisk, Missouri

January 14, 1917

Editor Press:

I was born in Lukin township moved to the town of Sumner with my parents when I was about 10 years old and lived there until I was 19 years old, when I came to Fisk, Missouri and have been right here ever since and think it is just a fine place to live. And 40 now, so you see it has been a good while since I lived in Illinois.

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 worked at the saw mills 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,

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Augusta, Kansas

January 15, 1917

Editor of Sumner Press:

In answer to your request for all non-residents to write a letter for the Pink Press, I will try to drop you and friend readers a few lines. We are all well at this time, in joining Kansas’s best health and some of the high winds which visit some of this state. We are in Augusta oilfields, which I suppose is the busiest place on the map. We have a fine winter here. So far about all the bad luck we have had was had by my wife. She was just hanging the last piece of her washing on the line when along came the wind and down went all the clothes in the dirt so I did not look at her much that evening but she is beginning to forget it now.

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

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