From Former Sons and Daughters of

Moffit Mills was born in Ohio, September 1866 to Henry and Cassandra Della (nee Tilton) Mills. On April 4, he was united in marriage to 1888 Anna Della Mushrush. To this union seven children were born. Moffit died on December 1, 1942 and Anna on February 19, 1943 and are buried in the Chauncey cemetery.

Selma, Moffit’s daughter whom he refers to in this letter was married to W.K. Lytle. On Jan 10, 1919 she gave birth to a nine lb. baby daughter, named Methel Margaret.

In earlier times, when the dead were laid out in the parlour of the family home, people, either out of respect or superstition, draped all the mirrors and windows of the house with black crepe. Often if a person was nearing death’s door, family members would begin purchasing black crepe in preparation. This gave birth to the term, "crepe hanger" as a people who is a compulsive worrier and anxious about things that have not yet happened. A person who is consistently pessimistic would be called a crepe hanger

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January 22, 1919

L.M. Wood and Sons, Editors of what I think is Lawrence county’s best paper. I will try and write a letter to all my old friends at one time, as I am too busy to write many personal letters.

I left Sumner in August, 1918, with very deep regret, starting out to start life anew somewhere. Very naturally, I drifted to Cedar Rapids the home of my loving daughter, Mrs. W. K. Lytle, where I have all the comforts that a loving daughter can provide for me. After visiting with the family for two days, I realized that I must hustle out and get a position of some kind to occupy my mind, time, draw a salary, etc. So I put the recommendations of F. H. Correll, Dr. A. G. Mountz, O. A. Fyffe and George W. Hill in my pocket and started out.

I decided, however, to try for a position on a streetcar, so went straightaway to the superintendent of transportation of the Cedar Rapids and Marion City Street Railway Company, told him I was looking for work and he told me he was just at that time looking for men past the draft age, who wanted to work, so after looking at my recommendations, handed me a plum I was looking for, so thanks be to Providence. I have a good position, that of streetcar conductor. Later, at odd spells, I have broke in as motorman also, so I am at home at either end of the car and drawing a monthly salary of more than $100. So it can be fully realized by the reader that I am somewhat independent. I like my work and have a bunch of friends among the car men.

Cedar Rapids is a beautiful city of 45,000 inhabitants. Has more large manufacturing plants than any city of its size in the United States. The largest cereal mill in the world is here-that of Quaker Oats. The National Oats Company have a mill here too, but it is an infant by the side of the Quaker.

People who travel any never should complete their journey without coming to Cedar Rapids and allow me to say right here, if you do come, look me up and I will see that you are entertained fully, so without further ceremony, friends call on me.

Now, I have told you about myself and the city, but allow me to say right here that when I decide to quit street carring I am coming back to old Illinois and when I get relocated within her borders I will roam no more, so in short, if I live a few short years I will be back among you to stay the remainder of my life in Illinois.

So, friends, my advice to you is this: if you have a farm in Illinois, keep it; if you haven't, get one, get one as soon as possible, for where I long to be you should be also.

But as a world hates a crepe hanger, I must change the subject and to the friends of the family allow me to say Selma is upstairs entertaining a new daughter, born the 9th, inst. All doing well.

Will be glad to receive a letter or a call from any of my friends.

With a fond memory of Sumner and Chauncey and all my friends, I close by wishing the Press, the editors and my many friends a very happy, prosperous year.

Respectfully,

Moffit Mills

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January 17, 1919

Mr. Wood:

I again take up my pencil to write a few lines for your home coming issue of the press.

All who know me know I am a Lukinite. Born there in 1845. Though in the land of oranges and all kinds of fruit there is no place quite like home.

Wife and I left home last October, meandered to Kansas City, from there to Pleasanton, Kansas, also to Prescott, visiting relatives, and thence to Miami, Oklahoma, where we visited other cousins. From there to Billings, Oklahoma, where we visited our daughter, Maude and family, for a month; from there to Newellton, Louisiana, by the way of Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, to Shreveport, Louisiana, and on to the Tallulah, Louisiana where we visited Mrs. Robb, who is an own cousin to father. She is in her 80th year. Had a splendid visit with our nephews, Alva and Arthur, and their families. They were in fine health and moving things on their large cotton plantation much after northern style. The first afternoon we were there we went to the field where they were sowing oats. They were running one tractor, which was doing the work of 16 or 20 horses, and also had five or six four mule teams plowing and harrowing and two drills seeding. Twenty Negro families live on the plantation and they were still picking cotton.

Left Tallulah Tuesday, December 10 arriving at Winter Haven, Florida, Thursday, December 12 by way of Jackson and Meridian, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama to Jacksonville, Florida.

Since coming here we have had some disagreeable weather, but at present the weather is ideal.

This seems to be the center of the citrus fruit enterprise. Two packing houses in town send out about 10 carloads daily, with another a mile up the track and one 3 1/2 miles the other way.

We are figuring on going to the East Coast in a week or so and feel our way back north with the spring birds by April.

This leaves us well, will be glad to hear from all the suckers scattered on the face of this great U. S. A.

Yours truly,

D .S. Moore

Home address: Lawrenceville, Illinois

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David Snyder Moore was born September 18, 1845 to John and Elizabeth (nee Snyder) Moore. March 14, 1870 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Jane Provines. To this union four children were born: Franklin, Oscar, Maude and Blanche. David was a preacher and was the pastor of the Lawrenceville Free Methodist church in 1901-1902.