/ 

TO  MY  GRANDCHIIDREN 

---.. --

I  heard  a  noted man  say  the  other  day  to  lmow  how  to  raise  a 

child you  should  start ten years  betore  your  grandmother  was  born,  so  as 
I  liBnt  you  to  be  efficient along  this  line,  I  am  coing  to  tell you  some(cid:173)
thing about  your  ancestors  on  your  grandmother's  side;  as  far back  as  your 
fourth  grandmothero 

She  was  a  Niss  l','rieht  of Nansemond  County,  Virginia,  a  woman  or 

sterling qualities.  with  wonder.tul  exeoutive  ability. 

Your  third grandmother was  her equal,  but  passed  away  early  in 
her married  11fe,  and  left four  children,  the  oldest,  who  was  your  ereat(cid:173)
grandmother,  who  mothered  these  three  little brothers,  which  took  all ot 
her  time,  and  .s there  was  no  school  nesr end  she  could  not  be  spared  from 
home,  she  never  even  learned  to  read  end  write,  but  she  did  learn a  great 
deal.  about  11re,  and how  to  use  all the  talents  that  had  been  given her, 
and  with that  the  responsibility  of  doing  her  very  best  for  these  little 
motherless  brothers,  instilling in them  the  purpose  and  possibilities  ot 
life  and  giving  them  every  opportunity  or  improving  their advantages,  which 
were  very  rew  COMpared  with  what  you  have,  but they  appreciated  what  little 
they  bad  and  made  the  very  best  of  their  tine,  ;.:nd  each  one  erew  to be  men 
or  ability  and  lesders  in the  community  in lhich  they  lived,  not  only  in 
business  but  in their daily  Christian walk,  and  Bll  felt  that  the  world  was 
a  little better because  they  had  lived  in it.  This  was  a  J:1I.rt  of  your  grand(cid:173)
mother's  reward  tor the  sacrifice  she  had  made  in  giving  up  her  opportunities 
to  help  her brothersJ  so  when  your  grandfather wanted  a  real help-mate,  she 
was  the  kind  ot woman  he  was  looking  for 0 

your  grandfather  was  of Scotch  descent.  The  tour brothers  came 

'bo  America,  one  settled in Connecticut,  one  in Georgia  and  two  came  to 
Virginia,  your  great-great-grsndfather was  a  sensible  l:lQn  and  knew  that the 
greatest blessing  that can  come  to  a  man,  except  hie  soul's  salvation,  is 
a  good  wite,  so  following  out  the  inclination  ot  8  eood  and  wise  conSCience, 
took unto  hi:nselt a  wife.  The  other brother lived  an  unfruitful old bach(cid:173)
elor,  with  no  one  to  love  snd no  one  to  love  him,  and  passed  out  of  this  ex(cid:173)
istenceJ  eo  ended  his  career in this  world;  but  how  different  your  great ... 
grandfatherJ  you  will  see  why  !:Ie  many  rise  up  Bnd  csll him  blessed,  because 
he  did what  all good,  healthy  Men  ought  to  do;  got  him  a  wife  and  made  him 
a  ho '8,  for  that  is Go<il8  plan  to  populate  his  Creation,  and  every  man  who 
neglects  to  do  so  has  failed in hie  real  purpose  in 11fe.  Y074~ great-grand ... 
father  decided  when  quite  a  young  man  to make  the  best  ot 1i;"('e,  and  as  there 
were  no  schools  in the  community  in which  he  lived,  he  learned  a  tradeJ  in 
those  days  they  were  called 'Wheel-Hrights,  ae  all parts  of the  wheel  were 
made  by  hend,  with  very  efficient  tools,  80  it meant  patient,  ha:rd  work,  but 
was  preparing  him  for  a  great  wrk,  as  I  have  said  before,  he  decided  when 
quite  a  young  J!l8Il  to build  him  a  home 0 

- 2  -

Those  were  pioneer  days,  with  norailroade,  no  County  roads,  just woods(cid:173)
paths,  no  saw mills  to  cut the  lumber  to  build  houses,  but  that  did  not 
discourage  him)  he  bought  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  well  set in timber, 
in Eastem  Tidewater,  Virginia,  sixteen  miles  from  where  two  states,  three 
rivers  and  four  counties  join.  How  would you  like  II  location  like  that? 
He  decided  to  put  his  lop;  house  in the  center  of  his  tract  of  land J  then 
began  work  in all the  eamestness  of  his  soul  to  cut  down  the  trees,  pile 
then  and  bum  themo  People  ware  very  neighborly  and  helped  each  other when 
they  had  heavy  work  to  do  that  required  more  than  one  or  tl«>  !'len's  strength 
to oarry  it throurft,  they  were  called  in tho sa  day s  of  log  heaping. 
I  know 
you  will  stop  and  wonder  at "our  great-grandfather's  extravagance  and  poor 
judgment,  and  exclaim,  "l'.'hat  a  shame  to bum  811  of that  nice  timber".  But, 
you  must  rel'l8mber  there  was  no  narket  for  it,  that  this  was  the  way  to  begin 
preparing  the  land,  the  next  thing  was  to  dig  up  the  stumps  with  a  heavy 
grub-hoe.  So  grandfather  did  not  need  physical  culture  or  anything  for 
despepsiaJ  in fact  I  never  heard  the  word  despepsia  until  I  was  a  grown  firlo 
He  went  on  with  his  telling  of trees  and  digging  up  stumps  until  he  had  quite 
a  little  field  ready  for  cultivation;  then  he  ref:lized  that he  ~l\13t  have  more 
l"OOII8 than  were  in  his  little log  house  with  only  one o  He  had  bought  him  one 
colored  "lan  and  he  was  his  helper  in all his  work,  so  they  went  to  the  forest 
with cross-cut  saws,  one  tock  hold  of one  handle  and  one  the  other,  in that 
way  they  sawed  the  timber  to  build  a  four  room  house.  There  were  no  long 
nails  or  screws  to  put  the  timber  together  like  you  have  now,  but  each  piece 
had  to be  cut  out  and  fi ttan  to  a  perfect  solid  joint,  because  the  timbers 
were  vary  large  and  heavy.  That  old  house  was  remodeled  this  past  year  and 
the  joints  were  tinn  and  strong and  the  ti!'";bers  sound  after  having  stoed  the 
atorms  for  ''lore  than  a  hundred  years. 
I  will  have  to  draw  your  illlagiI18tion 
as  to  how  your  crandf'ather  nust  have  felt  when  his  house  was  cO!'lpletedo 
I 
oen  see  him  walld.ng  around  it and  looking  at it from  all sides,  and  saying 
to  hin.self,  111-'hat  a  beauty,  how  comfort;able  and  so  strong  and  substantial." 
The  winds  may  blow and  the  storms  may  com.e  but  the  house  will  stand,  for  it 
is  built.  on  a  fim  foundation. 
To  appreciate  enything  we  have  to  Imow  the  value  of  it.  Dontt  you  think  he 
knew  the  worth  of  the  tiLle  and  hard  labor he  had  put  into  it to be  gratetul 
tor it?  Gratitude  is the  foundation  upon  which  to build  permanent  noble 
characters,  and  without  that  trait no  one  will be  happy,  'for  it is  the  very 
secret  of  joyful,  cheerful  lite.  I  think  this  would  be  a  good  beginning  for 
each  day.  Think  ot the  many  blessings  that have  been  yours  thrOUGh  the  night 
and  ask  the  Lord  to help  you  see  the'll  as  they  come  to  you  one  by  one  through 
the  day  and  be  gratetul  for  each  one  and  cultivate  this  spirit  of  gratitude 
and  there  will  be  no  power  on  earth  that  can keep  you  from  being  happy  as 
wall as  useful. 

I  ImOll  every  piece  of  timber  and  joint  in  ito 

After  your  grandfather had  viewed  his  palace  from  all points  and 
felt  so  well  satisfied at  what  he  had  accomplished,  and  sat  under  the  shade 
ot the  trees,  and  listened  to  the  sweet  notes  of  the  birds  and  the  cooing  of 
the  doves,  and  the  lowing  of  the  cows  and  the  bleating  of  the  lambs,  that  he 
was  lone~ and  wanted  a  companion,  a  queen  to reign  and  rule  over his  home J 
so he  went  to  look  for  her and  wen  her,  and  unto  them  were  born  four  children; 
three  daughters  and  one  son,  and  the  mother  passed  away  and  he  married your 
great-grandmother.  She  was  bom  in 1812  and  her  fllther  was  in that  war  of 
1812,  she  remembered  well  the  day  of Nat  Turner's  Insurrectiono 
you  about  him  BO  you  will  understand  what  it rrJeanto 

I  will  tell 
T~!e  love  of  naney,  which 

has  always  been a  curse  to  all humanity,  got  into the  hearts  of  some  Northem 
peop181 _ they  brought  these  colored  people  fran Africa  and  brought  them  South 
and  sold  them,  beCause  they  could not  live in a  cold  climate,  and  like  every 
other  tad every  Southem man  that  could  raise  money  enough  bought  him  a 
a~ve and  as  mal\V  as  he  could  at the  exclusion  of his  own  and his  m.tels 
convenience  and  his  children's  education  tor usefUlness  and  development  tor 
the  real purpose  of  liteo  This  infiow  kept  up  until  the  SoUth  lila  run of 
th8ll.  The  1!8sters.  as  owners,  .l'9 ~PQnsib1e for  their keepingo  Sane 
ot the  masters  were  very  ld.nd  and  some  _re noto 
I  expect  this  Nat  Turner 
who  started  the  tight  was  not  kindly  treated.,  He  organized  a  band  and 
attempted  to  1d.ll  aU the white  peopleS  they were  kUling  all trom  the  little 
babies  to the very  old,  lmtil  they  came  to a  place  where  there  was  brand;y  and 
they  all got  drunk  and were  taken prisoners.  Your  grent  grandmother's  tather 
was  one  ot the  men  who  helped  to  SUPPl'88S  them,  80  sitSI' that  children lived 
in aw.f\il  te~ for  tear that they  vould  do  what  was  called  in  those  days, 
nrise  again".,  A  friend  and  I  ware  speaking  of those  unhappy  cond1ticms  a 
tev  days  back,  how we  would  tremble  with  tear at the  barking  ot a  dog,  or  the 
cn.old.ng  or  a  twigo 
aN,  treeo 

I  am  tnankf'ul  that you  live  in an  age  when  all people 

Your  great-grandmother  com';enced  her married  life with  the  care  ot 

tour  little orphansJ  what  a  responsibility,  you  say,  vell,  it was  but who 
was  better fitted  tor  it than  she,  who  had  the  experience  and  mother low  tor 
ha;r  own  little brothers?  If one  should ask me  the  definition  of "Mother"  I 
mean  a  true mother,  I  would  say  seltaeacrifice;  it is  putting  self aside 
trcIm  the  first unt.il  you  have  put  oft this  mortal  body,  but  it brings  untold 
pleasure,  more  than  any  other lite possibly  can~  Unto  your grandmother was 
bom a  daughter  and  five  soDs,  then came  the  climaX,  two  little babies"  a  son 
and  a  daughter,  and you  may  know  that they  were  not  ver.v  welcor:e  by  the  other 
ch11dl'8D.,  tor you  must  remember  that there  were  already  nine  betore  we  made 
our arrival..  There  were  neither names  nor  raiment  provided  for two~  l~other 
nourished  me  and  our  colored  mammy  nourished  my  brother ..  rOli  my  ratlier bad 
increased his  slaves  until he  had  qUite  a  family  of'  themo  ~ome of  them  were 
very  good  and  useful  and  some  ot them  ware  very  sorry.  Atter our birth, 
theN wre  two  other sons  bom,  which  made  fourteen  chUdren,  tour  by  the 
fhoat w1f'e  and  ten by  the  second,  eight boys  and  two  girls,  all lived  to be 
gl'OIG.  except.  the  third brother who  died at  the  age' of  twelve. 
tJtl.nk  IDI  father ever lost one  ot his  colored  peopleo 

I  do  not 

In  those  da1s  there  wre no  Drug  Stores  and  no  Patent Medicines 0 

There were  tew  doctors,  and  whan  he  was  called the 'neighborhood was  nlarmed 
tor  someone  must  be  seriously  U1 to  have  a  doctoro 
In my  father's  large 
tamiq  ot both colored  and  white  the  doctor's  tee ws  small,  and  my  mother 
in the  spring  gave  us  sassafras  tea  to  drink  in the  place  ot coffee  or  green 
tea,  and  always  a  plent7 ot good  butter.-milk,  ,mieb  I  think  in  my  experience, 
has  81wa18  proved  wholesome 0  A  little castor oil with  the  tea  filled the 
place  ot the  present  system  of Drug  Stores  and  the  tDIlstant  services  ot ~Ihe . 
phys~cianao  Father and mother  and  all the  cbil4ren  were  very  healthy  and 
grew  up  to be  strol1g  men  and  womeno  Thera  was  no  tobacco  n~r mtoxicant 
d.rinlcs  ot any  ld.nd  used J  and  as  tor the  cold  drinks  and  Coco...cola,  that  peo(cid:173)
ple  indulge  in so  much  now,  ~t had  not  been  conceived  of by  men,  so  when 
the  testing  time  came,  and ~ and women  had  to  show  their  fortitude  and 
courage  they vere  equal  to bear  their share  of'  the burden that  teU so 
heavily  upon  them. 

..  4-

Your  grandmother was  nine  years  old when  war  was  declared between 

the  States,  am  what  suffering  sorrow  and  heart--e.che  it brought.  You  who 
are  living  in an  age  of  luxuries  can't conceive  of the  destitution  of  the 
South  for  those  four  years  and  the  next  few  after.  The  South  has  no factories, 
she  ra,ised  the  material  sold it to  the  Northel'll  factories,  they  shIpped  the 
manufactured  goods  back  to  us  to buy,  and  when  all connection  between  the 
North  and  South  was  severed,  we  had  to return  to  the  primitive  Method  of making 
our  clothes,  of which  I  will  tell you  later on. 

When  war  was  finally  declared  and  volunteers  called  for  two  of my 

brothers  were  old  enough  to  join the  army,  and  the  next  who  lacked  a  year  of 
being  old  enoueh,  said he  was  full  grown and  must  go  with  his  brothera.  He 
was  as  tine  a  looking  rnBn  as  was  ever raised in the  community.  My  father  and 
mother never  eaw  him  a.gain,  but  the  image  of  that  fine  form  in his  new  suit ot 
gray  with  the  bright buttons  remained  with  them  ttll the  cltee  ot  lite.  \4han 
Norfolk  was  left in control  of the  Federal army,  they  marched  to  Riohmond.  and. 
a  part  of  the  way  in  doubleeoquick  time.  He  was  too  YOUl'lg  for  that  tax or  his 
r!e  did not  lenov  of 
strength,  so  died  of exhaustion  soon  after getting  there. 
his  death  for  some  weeks  end  never  did know  where  his body  was  laid.  The 
other two  brothers  spent  the  four  long  years  in  the  midst  of  the  heat  and 
l'he  youngest  of the  tloJO  was  tajjl1n  a  prisoner and  was  not exchanged 
battle. 
for  some  months  after Lee D s  surrender. 
I  remember  well  the  moming  he  came 
horne.  We  were  not  expecting him  for we  did  not  lmow  where  he  was,  but  some 
at  the  family  saw  a  ragged,  poor,  pi t1ful,  weak  human  being  caning  down  the 
avenue.  and  as  he  came  nearer  loJ8  saw  that  it was  our  own  dear brother that we 
had not  seen  for  four  long  yearsJ  we  all wept  for  the very  joy.  but  think  of 
the  sorrow  and  heartache  of my  father and  mother  for  the  other beautiful son 
who  had  gone  out  with  this  one,  and  they  could  never  see  him  again  in  this 
life.  and  mver  know  where  the  body  rested  in the  mother  earth.  The  next  old(cid:173)
est brother  lett home  when  they  called  for  the  seventeen  year old boys  and 
that  was  almost  more  than  r.T:f  father  could bearo 
was  stronger than  his. 
~08e were  days  full  of sorrow  and  anxiety  trcm  m.orning  'til night  and  through 
the  night  the  heavy  roaring  of  cannon  like  thunder,  and  the  whole  earth  full 
of  smoke,  and  eve~'thing in an  unaettled  condition,  one  did  not  feel  like work, 
and  as  we  were  located  we  could  not  raise  a  oroP.  as we  were  on  the  border l:1.ne. 
Longstreet's  Brigade  was  camped  on  rrt1  lather's  tam.  and  the  lama,  sick,  halt 
and  maimed.  and  811  those  who  did not want  to  go  to the  front  were  there  and 
they  were  not  very  desirable  neighbors"  no  hungr,y  people  are.  Pig  after pig 
disappeared  until there  were  none  left and  the  same  with  the  chickens.  tur(cid:173)
keys,  calvee  am  lambs  and last of all the  bee  hiVes.  Peas  and  81I8et  potatoes 
were  our main  support.  How  would  you  like  to  have  nothing but a  sweet  potato 
for your  breakfast  and dried  peas  for  your  dinner,  with  a  very  little season(cid:173)
ing.  Your  grandmother  was  thankful  tor that.  Now  if you  leI1t  good  dinners 
and  other nice  things,  you  stand  tor peace,  and  do all in  your  power  to  put 
down  war  and  create  peace.  After this amy  was  removed,  we  were  lett without  ' 
&.rr/  protection  ani  we  lived  in awful  terror  of the  Federals.  They  went  aU 
through  the  country  and  took  their pick  of  what  was  left,  so  my  tather kept 
his  horses  back  in  the  forest  and  other valuables  concealed  in the  most  UD(cid:173)
heard  of places,  many  homes  were  bumed by  them. 

I  think most  women  can bear  trouble  better than  men. 

r.~y  mother's  power  of  endurance 

I  must  tell you  of  the  first  tiJ1l9  the  Federal  gun-boats  came  up  the 

river  and  bombarded  our  little tomo 
for the  shells  to  fall all around  our  house.  Your  grl1ndmother  and  four  ot the 
brothers  were  in bed  with  the  measles,  we  were  peppered  with  it as  thick as 
could  beJ  we  were  very  sick.  If you  have  ever ,had  measles  you  know  how bad 

'\le  live  just  tar enough  from  the  town 

~ 

- s ... 

it makes  you  feel,  you  think you  are  gOing  to die  right  away.  but  when  those 
shel18 began  to  tall around  that  house  there  _s some  jumping  out  or  bed  and 
running.  It was  a  cold  frosty  morning  and  the  grass  in the  fields  which  we 
had to  pass  ... nearq  as  taU as  our  heads,  but we  never let Up  until we 
reached a  neighbor's  plaoe;  near~ two  miles  distantJ  one  ot my  brothers  has 
never ~ NCOWred.  !l'OIIl  that upoeure,  he  wnt  into pnewnon1a  end was  va17 
sick, but the  rest ot 118  have  always  been  quite  weU aDd  strcmg,  and  telt DO 
bad ettectll  from  our earl1  out1ng  in  the  torest.  That  was  ODe  of  the  m&DJ' 
In thia  same  trip up  the  river your  great-gnnd(cid:173)
d1sagrwable  happenings. 
mother's  brother was  kU1edo  He  heard  the  guns  and  he  and  a  neighbor went 
down  to  investigate  and  he  ues  shot  through  the  back  and was  instantly  ldlled, 
tie ne1ghbo1'8  sen"t  his  ~dfe word  of his  death,  but were  too  frightened  to  go 
171th  her after the  body,  his  wite  and  son twelve  years  old  had  to  go  alone  and 
look  tor the bod;1  and  carry  it home.  Think  what  your  great-grandmother must 
have  sutt81'8d but  she  never waivered  Dor  ceased  in her  faithful  service  tor 
her  f~, and  Dl!lver  forgot  the  needy,  hungry,  cold  soldiers  but  toUed  late 
and  earl1  tor their reliet.  All the  clothes  for  the  Southem  soldiers  waN 
macle  at home,  and  their  socks  we" knit by  our  Southern wmen. 
I  liI18  taught 
to knit wen  a  very  small  girl end  could  knit a  sock  in one  day 0 
I  1ika  it 
and  it is "1"1  pleasant  and  fasCinating  work. 
I  think  since  people  complain 
so  much  of Del'9'ouaness,  the  doctora  recODrnend  it as  being  soothing  end  helpfUl 
to that  class  ot people 0  You  have  heard  that necessity was  the  mother  ot in(cid:173)
vEIIltim,  and  it was  80  in  our  time.  We  made  candles  when  we  had  the  tallow, 
but  the  suPP17  was  soon exhaustedo  They  were  made  in this  way:  . By  making  the 
wick  of thread  doubled  and  twlsted,  looped  over  a  cross  bar at  the  top,  and 
carried  through  the  opening  in  the  mould  at the  other  end,  with  a  knot  large 
enough  to  keep  the  melted  tallow  from  l08in.g  out 0  These  moulds  were  set in 
cold water  in which  the  liquid  tallow  was  poured  and  filled  to  the  tapo  After 
the1  were  hard  and  firm the  knot  was  cut  off and  the  small  ends  of the  moulds 
vere  dipped  1n warm  water  to mIlke  them  slip out. 
holders,  with  a  pair of  snuf'te1'8  that  cut  like  sCissors,  inclosed  in 8  small 
case  to hold  than,  the  wicko  were  trimmed.  and  this  had  to  be  done  as  orten  as 
the  tallow melted  and  left  the  wick  standing  without  e.rt$  support.  Luxury  in 
the  way  of Ughta  -.s soon  a  thing  of  the  past,  far  our supply  of tallow  was 
gone,  there  were  no  beeves  to  ldll.  they  had  all been  eateno  You  will say  how 
did you  do  thenJ  how  did  you  make  out  without  even  a  candle?  1'i'e  had  some  bees 
wax  that  had been  saved.  Mother was  very  economical  and  saved  everythine 0 
You  have  heard  this  adage  I  8.'1\  sure,  that  ever,ything  saved  is  of  vital import(cid:173)
ance  in seven  years.  In  this  instance  it was  very  trueo  She  might  have  had 
seven  or  twice  sevan  but  surely  it she  had  not  saved  it she  cou1d  not  have  had 
any  now,  tor  as  I  have  told you  the  1e.at  bee-hive  had  been carried  off by  the 
hungry  soldiers.  She  took  this  1IBX  and  mixed  it with  a  little oil and  made  a 
very  heavy  wick  and  saturated  it in  this  solution,  end  T-lOlmd  this  around  a 
standard,  and  as  it bumed  dom  she  l-1Ould  unwind  and  set uP.  and  that  with  the 
fat  pine  knots  furnished  our  lights!)  That  was  one  of the  many  inconveniences 
and  disadvantages  and  hardShips  or  war  times,  so  you  can  see  why  grandmother 
was  so  opposed  to  the  liiBro  It is  no  respector  of  persona  when  it comes  to  in ... 
n1cting hardships  on  the  people,  it takes  in all from  the  tiny  babies  to  the 
old ageo  When  you  tum your  buttcm  and.  the  beautiful  soft  light  fiashes  all 
through  the  house  wi. th no  effort or thought  on  your  part,  stop  and  ask  youraelt. 
"Do  I  el.l.1oy  this  luxury,  because  I  am  living  in time  of  peace  and  in a  country 
mere  Christianity end  Civilization  reign?"  This  is  one  of  the  :nany  eood  things 
tlJat  come  with  peace.  What  can  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  His  wonderful  works 
I  will  S8Y  first  to  be  truly  thankful  and  lo,ya1 
and  manifold  blessings  to  me? 
to the  King  of  Kings  who  CBl!1e  to bring  peace  and  good  will to  all manldndo 

rle  then  placed  them  in candle 

-6-

A.t'ter  the  close  of the  war  we  had  kerosene  lamps  and  we  were  so 
proud  and  thanktul.  tor them,  but  so  many  ,;ere  afraid ot them  as  there  bad 
been  a  tev explosions,  but  they  soon  came  into  universal  use  and were  con-

8idered a8  a  luxu17  as  well  as  a  great  convenience,  and  they _1'8  improved 

until they were  very  pretty  and  omamental. 

How  we  made  our  cloth  for  our olotheu  The  cottcm  seed were 

planted.  When  the  little tender plants  tint peep  out  of  the  eround,  theJ 
are  ver,v  tender and  delicate  and  have  to be  cultivated very  carefUllJ'  untU 
they  Cet a  good  start,  after which  they  grow very  rapidly,  and  ootton  is  one 
ot the  very  beat  and  most  beautiful  Cl'Ope  we  have.  To  see  a  large  field  ot 
good  g'l'OWth  in run bloom  ot red,  white  and  pink blossoms  i8  a  beautiM 
scene,  one  to  make  the  heart  glad and  nake  the  soul rejoioe.  It takes  six 
1I1ODtha  trom  planting  time  to rraturity  lil8ll  the  bolls  open.  It then  looks  sa 
it MotbaJ'  Earth  tad a  fUll  dressing  with  snow  with  all the  bolls  open  and  the 
beaut1.fUl.  white  fluff) cotton hanging  out.  It is  natural  for  the  pickers 
hearts  to  feel  light and  give  expression  to  happy  songs  with  such  pure,  beaut-
1M and  inspiring  SU1"1'Oundings.  One  oould  not  help  from  praising  the  great 
and  good  Giver  I/Jt  all things  but  in that four  years  ot suttering  and  toU _ 
bad no  gill  to  pick  C)lUI  cotton  so  ,. had  to  pick  out  the  seed  with  our  fingerso 
Th1Dk  ot what  a  tedious  task we  had,  then  it was  carded  into  little long  rolls, 
twelve  inches  long. '  The  cards 'that  we  used  were  two  flat  pieces  of wood  with 
round pieces  fitted'in  for  handles.  The  inside  of  these  pieces  of  wood  were 
thickl;v  set with  f'1ne  wire  doubled. 
\ole  put  the  cotton betlolael'l  and  drew  the 
carda  back  and  torth  ttU it was  perfectly  smooth  and  brought  out  in ,~ 
pretty,  white,  8I'Ilooth  roll.  It was  very  pretty  work  and  pleasing  to  the  eye, 
really  ft17  artistiC,  it was  then  ready  for  what  we  called  spinning,  you  turn 
the  wheel  with  your  right  hand  end  draw  these  pretty  rolls  out  with the  left 
to a  smooth  thread,  tine  ot  coUl"tle  as  you  like,  still holding  your  thread 1d th 
your  lett hand  and  turn1.nf,  the  wheel  with your  rieht you  wind  this  thread  on 

the bobb1Jl..  It _8  beautiM work  and  clean  and  nice,  and  such  Beod  exercise. 

There  was  a  charm  in drawing  out  the  lo~ threads  and  listening  to the  'music 
ot the  hum  of  the  Wheel.  and  you  could  move  your  Wheel  to  any  desirable  place 
and  one  would  card  and  the  other spin.  How  different  from  the  tactories  when 
the7  have  hundreds  of these  buu1ng  spindles with  the  dust  and  noise  and  the 
conatant  ab<t~ of the  floor  where  they  are  standingJ  it is  enough  to  wreck 
.Atter the  COtto$8S  been  spun  it had to be  made  into skeins. 
one's nerves. 
Tb1a  .. 8  done  by  putting  on  w1nding  bladeso  It was  then  ready  for  dyeing, 
aM that was  done  by  using  the  barks  from  the  trees  snd  plants  that  were  raised 
tor that purpose.  The3e  "latins  were  wound  into  halls  always  usinr;  a  little 
bloak  ot wood  or com  cobs.  It was  then  ready  tor  the  l$rping  bars,  which  was 
a  square  trame  1d th  wooden  pins  in the  top  bar end  little hoxes  in the  bottom 
tor  the  little balls  to  rest  in.  In  these  'boxes  you  designed  the  pe. ttem of 
the  cloth bJ arrang1ng  the  color ot your, balls,  then you  collected  all your 
threads  and  looped  the  libole  over  these  pins  at the  top  ot the  frame.  It was 
then  l'elldy  tor the  100m,  mere  it 1188  wrapped  around  a  large  round  beam,  then 
thl'Ollgh.  mat  is  called  a  Sl aa,  made  of  reads  end  then  all wound  eround  another 
beam  8ld  it was  held  in place  by  a  stra1eht bar  of  sharp,  long  tacks.  This  ws 
the wal'P  and  DOW  for the  rUling.  The  thread  was  aIled  on  bobbins  with  the 
wheel  and  placed  in the  shuttle,  and  the  weaving  begun  by  sending  th1a  shuttle 
thl"Ollgh  one  side  and  then  back  ageint  one  thread at a  time.  Now  you  may  know 
that this was  slow  work,  for  one  or  two  yards  was  all that a  !l8rson  could  .. leave 

-1-

steady  tor  ten  or  twelve  hourso  For  the  tour  years  of the  war  eve17  piace 
or oloth  that " ...  used was  made "in  that ~. The  thread  used  to  knit  all 
the  sooks  vas  spun  in this  way  as  I  have  described,  and  two  threads  put  to(cid:173)
gether and  twisted  on  the  meel.  Do  YOIl  think that  you  would  have  ma~ 
dre .... it you  had  to make  them  in  this  way?  And,  what  about  taking oare 
ot them?  When  the  oloth  for  making  them  was  prepared  the  maldng  or  the 
gament vas  the  next  process,  ever.v  piece  _s made  with  the  needle  by  your 
t1D{;el'B,  tor  there we"  no  sewing  machines.  The  woolen  cloth  tor  the  men's 
olothes  t-:as  msde  in the  sane  way  the  cotton  was,  and  my  father  raised  flax 
and  my  r.lOtber  bed  linen  tor the  sWllJller  clothes  and  the  table  clothes.,  The 
f'lax  meels ware  little \)eauties.  You  sat  down  to  spin  on  tha~e.  There 
_s much  J'I1U81c  in making  cloth  in those  days  that was  pleasing  to  the  ear in 
c:ard1nI,  spinn1ng  and  the  weaving. 

Our  shoes  ware  I118de  at home  and  by  one  !ltBD  who  sat  on  his  bench 

and hammered  and  stitched  trom  early  moming  'tU late  at nir,ht.  The  hides 
_re tanned  and  dressed at home  and  any  you  could  r.et  ware  used.  from  the  cow 
to  the  dog,  and  one  pair or  shoes  would  last  for more  than  a  year.  They  were 
not very  pretty  compared  with  the  shoes  you  have  now,  but  they  were  oomfortable 
and  durable.  Our  shoes  were  like  our  clothes,  it took  a  long  time  to  make  them, 
but we  had  something  substantial lhen  we  did  get them  and  there  lieN  no  words 
in the  4lglish  language  Bufficient  to express  our  cratitude  and  appreciation 
tor a  new  dress  or a  new  pair of  shoes)  or a  new  pair  ot  hose,  gloves  or  sus(cid:173)
penders.  Your  grandmother  oould  knit  either ot the  last three  artioleso 
learned  to weave  and  spin  when  quite  small.  It must  have  been  productive  to 
growth  tor  I  grew  to be  large  and  strone  and  have  never  mown  what  it is  to 
be  nervous  or have  indigestion,  as  so many  complain  ot now. 

I 

The  hats  for  sUDllll8r  were  made  ot  ,,!heat  and  oat  straw plaited and 

saved  together • 

. Tba  laundering was  done  by  hand,  for  there  were  no  washboards  as 

you  have  now  and  the washing  machines  had  not been  invented. 

I  JllU8t  tell you  ot the  first  time  I  was  aver  \0.1911  dressed. 

I  have 

Dever  telt u.t I  was  as  fine  or elegantly  gowned  8.8  I  was  the  first  time  I 
put  on  that new  spring  suit tor church~  I  have  had  silks  ond  beautitul,  nice 
clothes  and  lovely  hats  and  bonnets  and  pretty  nice  shoes  since,  but  none 
oould  ever be  cOII1pe.red  with  that  lovely,  besutifUl  costume. 
I  tell you  1 t 
was  beautifUl and  a  thing  of  re.re  beauty  and  taste  combined.  The  shoes  wt'e 
made  ot dog  sldn  that nJ1  brot;hers  had  gotten trom  aone  place,  I  do  not  knoW' 
whether  it was  a  hound  or  some  nioe  bird dog  or  a  yellOW'  cur~  One  thing  I  do 
know  is that they  were  the  easiest and  nicest  shoes  to  the  feet  and  so  soft 
and  comfortable,  and  when  you  .uked one  could not  hear you,  the  step was  so 
l1ght  and  eaSJ',  and  that  was  the  one  joy  of IQ'  heart  to  hsve  one  pair of  shoes 
that made  DO  noiae,  because  it was  considered very  rude  to  walk  heavy. 
never  torget  those  shoes,  they  were  to me  beautiful. 
dJ:."es8  that would  come  as  near  to your  idea  of perfection,  jUst  the  dreBs  you 
had been  dreaming  ot and  wishing  for,  but  never  expeoted  that it could be  pos(cid:173)
a1ble  tor )'ou  to  really possess  it; that would  be  too  good  to  be  true.  Well, 
this  was  JI\Y  dreSSe. 
picking  ot the  ootton all the  loJ81  through,  for there  li88  juat  one  dress  plan(cid:173)
ned  in the  weBvinc  ot tl1e  cloth,  it t1&B  a  blue  and  small black  check,  taat 
good  colors,  the  cloth  was  Vel7  smooth  and  pretty,  mother  bad  taken  so  much 

I  watched  and  helped  1n  the  process  of maldng  from  the 

I  shall 
I  wish  you  could  have  one 

- 8  -

I  think  all girls 

t1ma  and  thought  to  make  it the ver'1  beat  and  prettiest  of  all the  cloth 
I  am  sure  that  that  was  one  or the  reasons  I  appreciated 
she  ever made. 
it 80  much.  It was  made  very  much  like  they  make  dresses  now,  mth  close 
fitting  sleeves  and  shirtwaist  with  belt.  Mother  found  in her scrap bag 
same  blaok  alpaca  she  had  before  the  war  in ~ich she  trimmed  the  sleeves 
and  al"OUlld  the  neck  with  lm1.fe  pleating  about  an  inch  wide.  The  skirt "''89 
made  plain.  Now  comes  the  hat  "bieh  I  was  most  proud  of. 
ot my  age  appreciate  pretty  bats,  and  think  of  the  cost  ot mine,  FIFTEEN 
DOLrJlRS  for  the  hat  'Iodthout  any  trimmings.  It was  made  of wheat  straw; 
d1ed  black  and  a  very  stylish  shape,  L\omewhat  like  a  man's  b'~aver,  trltmll:ld 
with black  silk  four  :inches  \-lide  with  the  edge  chain  stitched with  red  silko 
This  "T8S  the  ribbon.  But  the  one  ornament,  the  most  beautiful  of  all was  to 
come. 
'~Tere you  ever  the  owner  of  a  pretty  plume?  If you  have  not  possessed 
one  you  know  hem  pretty  they  are,  you  have  sean  them  in u'r.her  people IS  hats, 
SOI1le  white,  so  soft and  nu.ffyo  The  blue,  the  brc»m  and  the  gray  all fall(cid:173)
ing so  gl'8Cefully  around  the  hat  and  face,  andarery  girl  feels  "1hen  abe  gets 
the black  picture  hat all covered in l>l.ack  plumes ,  that  her "Jarcirobe  was  near 
completion. 
\-:e11,  all of these  did  not  compare  with  my  plwne.  You  m.Il  never 
guess  "Jhat  mine  was  made  of.  One  thing  about  it, the  sun  or  the  rain would 
not  apoU  lt,  the  moat  substantial  of  plumes  was  !I1.:ine ..  made  of  corn  shucks, 
so  pretty  and  stylish and  fitted  that  stylish black  straw with  all the  grace 
that  a  gil'l'a  heart  could  desire.  That  we s  the  best  that  tre  could  make  out 
~le  used  it.  It served  the  purpose o  It not  only 
of the  materials  we  had. 
gave  the  J:8rfect  satlsfaction b'Q.t  it was  a  joy  and  a  pleasure  to  the  girl 
that  lJOre  It.  She  has  never  worn  one  Since  that  uss  aa  near  pretty  or  sty(cid:173)
lish and  that  she  appreciated halt as  much  as  she did  this  one.  It was  really 
very  prettyo  That  was  one  of  the  costu!oos  ot 1863.  ~Jhen yOu  get  tired ot all 
the  pret.ty  things  that  are  made  by  others  and  you  haven I t  the  l.eaat  idea  of 
bow  they  rmre  made  or by  whom,  and  you  want  something  a  little out  or the 
ordinary,s  real novelty,  think  of  this  outfit,  from  the  dog  skin  shoes  to  the 
oorn  sh'lck  plume  and  put  your  creative  powers  into  actf.,on  and  see  what  you  can 
do  with  what  you  have  1n your  scrap  bag  and  pac1d.ng  room~ 

We  bad  no  cook  stoves,  there  were  lar 'e,  open  fireplaces  that would 
take  ~'l a  log  t1ve  feet  10Dg,  there  were  racks  with  hooks  to  hang  the  vessela 
to boll in end  deep,  large  round  ovens  with  l1ds,  tor baldng  and  roasting, 
ahallow  ovens  for  bread  and  biscuit ..  and  othel"8  with  long  handle  tor tryirigJ 
tOr  extra  occasions,  pigs  and  turkeys  were  suspended  by  strong  thread  in 
front  ot the  tire,  with  a  vessel  underneath  to  cateh  the  drippings,  and  some. 
one  sat by  and kept  them basted' with  this  end  turned  them  so  all  sides  Y10uld 
I  wish  you  could  have  eaten soma  pig  or  turkey  cooked  this  "'1E£Y J  you 
brown. 
would  think that you  had  never had  any  that  was  as  good  before,  and  you  do 
not  mow  what  good  biscuits  are.  If you  could  get some  like  our  black  ntamllIy 
cooked  in her  spider,  and  her egg Bread  _s so  good  that  it makes  me  hungry 
to  think  ot 1 t  now 0 

Our school  advantages  during  the  tour  years  of the  -war  were  pract(cid:173)
icall1  none,  so  tour  of the  most  important  years  of'  a  child's  school  life was 
a  perfect blank,  but  we  were  learning many  other things,  which  have  been  of 
untold value  to us.,  One  was  self-denial,  as well  as  self reliance,  and  the 
value  ot  t1ma  was  as  much  as  the  worth  ot things,  and  the  heart-telt  sympathy 
tar  III suftering and  sorrow  that came  trom  actual  experience  of  four  years 
teat,  and  one  ot  the  greatest  and  most  helpful  passing  ot that  time  was  looking 

the  present  opportunities  to  find  something  to  do  with,  am  than usinr,  it 
to  the  best advantage,  tor both  means  and  opportunities  were  very  limited. 
Thia  condition  drew  us  very  near  to  each  other.  Our  sources  ot amusement 
1181'8  tew,  we  were  dependent  upon  each  other for  our _social  life.  SQ  rne.ny 
crude  toys  and  pla,ythings  were  invented which  gave  zest  to  the  work  and 
pleasure  in their use.  Our  grandmother  had  no  sister ot  her age  tor  a 
companion  so  she  associated  with  her brothers,  we  romped  and  played  games, 
hunted  the  woods  for  honeysuckles  and  huckleberries  and  turkey  nests o 
l-S 
were  very  congt!lll1al  and  very  fond  or  each  other,  Bnd  one's  interest was  the 
others,  and  that  same  love  and  interest in each  other has  been  one  ot the 
predominating  traits  in the  family  up  to  the  present  time. 
I  have  thought 
and  said many  times  that  I  had.  the  best brothers  any  girl ever  had  and  I 
oan't  remember  ot any  ot them  ever speaking  an  unkind word  to  me.  They 
1181'8  always  gentle  and  thoughtful.  and  wanted  to  give  me  every  advantage  and 
pleasure  that  they  possibly  could. 
moat  charming  and  attractive  girls  that brothers  could  find  and  have  homes 
the  maet  interesting  and  lovable  of all places,  and  my  grandsons  never let 
their  sisters be  without an  escort.  Their  sisters  comfort  and.  pleasure 
should be  their  first consideration.  It mskes  lI\V  heart  sad  to  see  the 
negleoted girls  in this  age  and  the  indifference  of  some  young  men. 

I  hope  I'I\Y  granddaughters  will be  the 

tell the  struggles  of  the  war  continued  to  rage  till the  South 
... f8Jlline  stricken.  The  material  for  making  clothes  was  all gone,  the 
wolf was  at the  door  of all those  who  had been  independehtl.y  wealthy  and 
are reduced  to the  utmost  poverty.  There  has  been  no  crops  raised  for 
tour  years  in the  large  part  of  the  country.  The  fences  had  been burned, 
the  houses  had  been  destroyed  and  mules  taken  from  the  farms  and  many  ot 
the  beautiful  houses  lett in asheso  It was  a  discouraged,  heartbroken 
people  and  many  thousands  telt that  life was  not  worth  living  and  gave  up 
in daspairo  Our  good  and  brave  General  Lee  with  his  great  loving  Bnd  sym(cid:173)
pathetiC  heart,  could  not  bear  to  see  his  people  suffer  Brt1  longer,  he  knew 
that  no  people  on  earth  had  ever IIIBde  a  braver  tight  or  a  greater  sacrifice 
than  our  people  hado 

So,  on  the  9th ot April  General  Lee  agreed  to  meet  General  Grant 

at Appamattox  Court House  at  the home  of Mr.  McLean..  After  reaching  a 
basis  ot agreement  General  Grant  put  his  terms  in writing.  Officers  and 
men  were  to be  given  paroles  and  not  to  take  up  arms  again  during  the  war, 
while  propeJWty  exchanged  and  were  allowed  to  return  to  their homes,  not  to 
be  disturbed by  United States  authority  so long  as  their paroles  were  ob(cid:173)
served.  General  Lee  9uggested  that the  horaes  ridden by  his  cavalry  men 
were  :in  meet  cases  their private  property  and  they  would  be  greatly  needed 
tor  the  spring  plowing"  General  Grant  :~l~ttructed his  officers  to  let eve~~-y 
cont .... rat&  who  claimed  to  own  a  horse  take  the  animal  with  him.  For this 
General  Lee  expressed  his  gratification and  remarked  that  it would  have  a 
happy  'ettect.  Arter  all was  completed .Lee  turned  to  Grant  and  remarked  that 
h1s  men  1181'8  very  hungry,  as  they  had  been  living  for  some  days  on  parched 
com and  he  would  have  to ask  for  ration  (food)  and  twenty-eight  thousand 
halt starved men  were  fedo  On  the  following  day  the  great  Confederate  Com(cid:173)
mander  took  affectionate  parting  of his  battle  soldiers  who  bad  so  long  8ftd 
80  devotedly  followed  him.  With  a  look  of  sadness  on  his  face  he  addres sed 
thalin a  simple  and  unaffected  manner  saying,  ''Men  we  have  fought  through 
the  war  together and  I  have  done  the  best  I  could  for  you." 
.And  they  wept 

- 10  ~ 

J';  3:- 1.:1.' •. ~  children. 

\-!hen  they  had  to  leave  this  dear,  good  ~n C~odnesa 

t  '. 
(.nd  \Ineoltish  kindness  predominated  this  '18n' 8  actions.  He  uas  never  too 
t11"8d  nor  too  busy,  mnke  no  difference  how  urgent  the  demand  on  his  time  and 
strength,  he  was  ahi6YS  courteous  and  kind,  upecia1l1  to  those  'Who  were  MOl'9 
untortunD.te  than he  _so  1  hope,  dear  children,  you  will try to  follow  his 
exaillple  aloJll!  this  line and  cultivate  a  spirit of  ldndness  and  cood  cheer,  it 
payao 

.All  of my  father's  colored  people  re(cid:173)

1<!e  love  them snd  they  love  us  snd  we  try  to  help  each  other 

After  the  surrender nrs  father  called hie  colored  people  arolUld  him 
and  told  them  that  they  were  all free  and  that  they  must  act  for  themselves 
and  they  could  look  for  homes  with  anyone  they  chose,  or it they  wanted  to 
stay  with  him  they  were  welcome  tD  do  eo 0  They  could  agree  on  a  price  and  he 
would  pay  them  wageso  But  if they  pre fe~d they  could  cultivate  the  land  on 
shares.  Some  went  snd  80me  remained. 
mained  l'Tith  him  thl'Oueh  the  four  years  of the  war,  but  a  la.rge  number  had  gone 
&CrOss  the  line  to.  the  Northern Artrr3,  but  ours  did  not  i,ro.nt  to  leave  their  old 
home  and  their  old  II1B8ter  end  mistress,  tor they  were  very  fond  ot thsn.  and 
S CIIIS  never  lett us  and  have  been  in the  fsmily  up  to  the  present  snd  I  am  sure 
that  love  or t amily  end  interest has  been  the  means  ot keeping  our  colored 
tr1ends  with us. 
and  when  one  passes  away  I  feel  that I  have  lost snother  of my  earthly  friends, 
one  whom  I  could  depend  on  to  be  a  friend  in time  of  need. 
cOJldng  home  from  Florida  E.nd  "ten  ~ son  lI18t  r:te  and  said,  ''f-1other,  Patrick  is 
very  sick  and  he  1s  very  anxious  to see  you".  So  we  drove  over  to his  house 
before  eVQD  coming  home.  When  I  went  in he  wept  for  real gladness  to see  me 
again.  ADd  you  ms.y  mow  that  I  wept  to  see  such  good  unselfish  service  aU ot 
hi. life end  had  had  so  rew  ot the  Comflorts  of  this  life in  return  for  lmat  he 
gave  others.  His  wife  was  a  kind  of  B  professional  nuree  and  was  from  home 
a  great  deal.  So  he  was  not  very  well  nourished  so  whenever  he  came  to  work 
I  would  tell  the  cook we  must  have  a  good  dinner  for  Patrick  lovas  to  eato  His 
wite  -.s  a  woman  ot  strong  constitution. 
I  think  she  was  the  mother  of  eicht ... 
teen  or  twenty  children,  she  was  full  of humoro  She  was  dOllD  town  one  dey 
with  some  other  friends  on  the  street lind  someone  aske d  wo  she  was  and  the 
men  "plied in a  very  sarcastic  tCXle  and  said  it was  .'01.ll"ning  C.  She  said, 
"Yes,  I  am  Mrs.  Patt'1ck  C. 
I  am  not  the  first bell cow  but  I  belone  in the 
flock  and  1  am  always  ;dth  themo" 

I  remember  one 

~';'hen  the  Grippe  made  its  f1rst  appearame  your  grandmother  did  not 
let it pass  by,  she  had.  rheumatism  Bnd  Elll  sorts  of  cornplainta  until  she  was 
cOIIlpletely  under  a  cloud.  There  was  not  a  re.y  of  light  anywhere~  she  had 
lost her hold  on  the  promises  or  God.  One  Sunday  afternoon  t~ournina came  to 
see  her.  All  the  r&mi~ had  gone  outo 
I  asked  her to Sing  for  me.  She  bad 
a  rich.  deep,  mallow  voice  Bnd  seng  with  her whole  soulo  She  took  a  chair 
end  threw her head  back  and  seng  that  dear  old  tune  "How  Firm  a  Li'oundation 
Ye  SQints  of  the  Lord". 
deavor  to  shake  thee,  I'll never,  no  never  forsa.ke  thee." 
took  a  new bold  on  the  precious  promise  ot God,  and  the  music  closed and  I 
was  soon  wello  When  t~ley  trusted  God  it was  with  their whole  heert  E.nd  th87 
could  help you  to  have  such  hi tho 
and  compassion  ot  them,  they  like  us  and  need  all the  encouragement  and  help 
trom  those with  whom  they  are  associated  that they  cm  geto 
I  hope  that you 
will  t17  in every  way  that you  can  to be  patient  Bnd  helptul  with  them.  Did 
you  ever  think  what  it laS  to  be  tree yet bound,  utterly  incapable  to  use  your 
freedom  to  any  advantage?  This  _s the  p1t1f'ulcondition  of  the  colored 

\,'hen  she  sang  the  last versa  "Though  Hell  should  en(cid:173)
I  then  snd  there 

I  love  them  and  love  the  greatest  sympathy 

-11~ 

people.  They  did  not  know  mat  to  do,  they  were  like  little  children who 
never hed  to  think where  their clothes  or shoes  ceme  trom  or anything  else 
that  they  need.  Everything  had been  provided  without  any  thour.ht  or res(cid:173)
ponsibility  OD  their part.  Their  masters  had  plarmed  tor  all their  needs 
and  they  were  a  free,  happy-go-lucky.  singing  trom  morning  to  night.  Now 
when  the  serious  problem  of  8aming their  living  was  laid upon  them  it was 
pitiful and  pathetic  to  see  how  helpless  they were  and  ~ of them  would 
not  leave  their  old  homes  8,nd  geed  lIBster  who  had been  their  life  long 
They  did  not went  the  responsibility  of  hav:1ng  to  make  their own 
Mends 0 
living  and  it was  hard  work  in this poverty  stricken southland.  Well,  men 
the  war  was  aver  and  the  poor  tarnished  soldiers  were  told  that  they  hed  to 
go  home  it took  then  scme  weeks  to  realize  that  there  were  no  more  camp  fires 
to sit by,  no  longer  any  beating  ot the  drwu  or  blowing  bugle  for  the  rQU 
oall,  DO  bard-tack  to  eat nor  heavy  knapsacks  to be  carried  upon  their backs 
tor mUes  and  mUes  over  rour,h  roads  and  with  blistered  teet. 
I  imagine  they 
oou1d  ask  themselves,  CeD  this  condition  1'8  true.  Does  all this  hard 118)'  ot 
living belollg  to  the  past?  Is  it rea~ and  trully  aU  over?  Am  I  to  be 
home  with  nw  tather and  mother,  wite  end  Children?  After  the  dreaming  was 
over  and  the  joy  ot re-union  was  aver theY  gave  themselves  a  good  shaldng  to 
see  if they were  awake.  They  then  commenced  to  look  around  and  see  what  they 
muSt  and  could  do  with  the  little that was  left but  it was  hard  to settle 
down  to work  attar tour years  ot  unsettled  lite in an  excited and  anxious 
condition,  it toek  some  time  to  make  the  hands  do  their duty  they  had  not been 
in the  habit  ot labor  so  long.  But when  they  did  get  them  under  oontrol  they 
vent  to  work  with  a  ~ that brought  good  results  and  they  were  ready  to  11.8-
ten  to  the  voice  ot their Heavenly  Fether.  who  saith,  "Be  ye  my  people,  saith 
our  }I'ather  speak  you  cClllt'ortably  to  Jerusalem  and  cry  unto  her  that  her war(cid:173)
tares  are accomplishedJ  that  her  iniquity  is  pardoned  tor  she  hath  received 
ot the  Lord' s  hand.  double  tor all her  sins he  shall  teed his  nock  like  a 
shepard". 
nations  and  shall rebuke  many  people  and  they  shall beat  tbf3ir  spears  into 
pruning  hooks  and  ne tion  shall not  lift up  sword  against  nation,  neither  shall 
they  have  war any  more,  but  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Brotherhood  ot Man 
shall be  acknowledged,  for  the  Lord  did  comfort  his  people.  He  made  the 
v1lderDI88  l:1ka  Eden  and  the  desert  like  a  garden. 
Joy  and  gladness  and 
thanksgiVing  went  up  trom  his  people  and  he  felt  that his  prophesy'  was  'being 
fblfilled  tor they  bad  bo~d down  their heads  and  spread  saokcloth  am  ashes 
unc:1.er  them and  had  chosen  to'loose  the  hands  or wickedness  to  undo  th~ heavy 
burdeDS  and  to  let the  oppressed  go  free  and  the  yoke  of  the  burden  bearer 
,.. broken and  the  Lord  shall r,uide  them  continually  and  satia!),  the  soul 
1n  drougbto 

lIe  shall  gather  the  lambs  in his  bosom  and  he  shall  judee  among  the 

Preaoh  peatt&  boy""  wanan ..  children,  presch  peace,  the  word  was  80 

dear to all,  tor did  we  not,1CDow  what  tt was  to be  quiet  once  more  arid  appre(cid:173)
c1ate  how  precious  that dear  word  was  to  \18.  We  bad  been  living  under  the 
bonded  fear  and  the  greatest  annet)'  tar  tour years  while  there  were  sad  and 
heavy  years  over  the  vacant  Beata  that would  never be  filled qy  the  loved 
one;  that had  eone  to  the  front  and  WOuld  never more  retum,  yet  joy  did  pre(cid:173)
dominateand  the  people  went  to work  with a  determination  to make  the  best  ot 
present opportun1tieso  Everything  that could  pull  a  plow  from  a  1TIUle  to an 
ox was  put  into  service  and  every  foot  was  cultivated  that  could beo 

- 12  "" 

I  r'lust  tell you  of  the  ,conditions  of the  schools  in 186,5  and  ld66 

and  for  several  years  after"  As  I  told you  we  had  no  school advantages 
whatever  for  four  years,  so  one  of  our  good  neighbors  l .. ho  had  served  five 
years  in  the  midst  of  the  conflict,  Col.  Edwards,  felt  sorry  for  the  boys 
in the  cornrmmity  and  he  opened  a  school  in  one  of  the  little houses  occupied 
~ the  colored  people  when  they  we~ slaves,  it sat way  back  in  an  orchard  and 
to  the  right  was  a  large  plum  orchard,  the  most  delicio1l9  plums  you  ever  ate. 

I  could  mention  a  good  many  influential business  men  that  never 

lore  had  no  tables  nor  lead  pencils  but  used  slates  and  slate  pencils, 

\'/e11,  we  had  that  little house  full  of boys  right  !1'lB.!Iy  of  them  almost 
young  meno  There  were  four  little girls  in  the  neighborhood,  their mothers 
were  so  anxious  for  them  to be  in school,  they  persua.ded  Col.  ~dwards to  tBke 
them.  Tlu'8e  of them  were  his  naices  am  the  other was  OUi'  grandmothero 
I  am 
sure  that  better results  never  grew  out  of  a  little school  than  did  out  of 
this  little one. 
had  any  other  school  advant,ages  except  what  they  got  there"  He  was  a  fine 
teacher  and  knew  how  to  get  the  best  there  wns  in his  pupilso  tIl respected 
him,  obeyed  and  loved  him.  The  system  of teaching  Cl.t  that  day  w-as  different 
from  yours. 
'We  were  expected  to  prepare  tl':tree  lessons  at home  and  1<:OOV1  them  perfectly .. 
All  our  lessons  except  ari th.metic  and  spelling '\"Tare  recited  in  the  morning, 
when  we  entered  the  school  room  in  the  afternoon  we  took  oUX'  slates  and  arith= 
metico  There  was  no  class,  each  one  did  all  the  work  he  could.  So  there  was 
no  ho1dine  back  the  bright  scholars  for  the  dull  a~d J~zy On9S o  Many  of  OU~ 
industrious  boys  'WOuld  finish  ari thnetic  in  half  of  one  session  and  a  very  few 
took  longer  than  one  term  to  comple  th3  best  arithmetica  that  were  used o 
like  that  system  bette x'  than  the  preserJ.to  Spelling  was  the  last  lesson  before 
school  was  dismissed  in  the  sfternoon~  We  all formed  a  circle around  the 
room  and  the  one  that  spelled  the  most,  words  wi.thout  missing  stood  ahead  of  the 
whole  school..  If the  one  standing  missed  it was  passed  on"  Sometimes  it would 
go  on  to  the  last  one  at  the  foot,  it might  be  the  sTl'..9.11es  t  boy  or  girl in the 
school  that  could  spell  it and  make  up  ahe~.d  of  the  c18.93 0  Your  grandmother 
was  a  very  poor  speller.  ~-ny  une  of  rrrJ  younger  brot}-,srs  always  3tood  ahead  of 
me  which  was  very  humi1iatirJg o  You  may  be  sure  of  one  thing,  that  the  'itray  of 
calling  upon  each  one  appealed  to  the  honor  and  pride  of  all G:ud  m.."de  each  one 
give  their  earnest  attention..  It  cultivated  the  habit  of  listening  correctly 
I  sometimes  think  there  is  as  much  in 
ldlich  is  a  great  tsset  in  one's  lifeo 
listening  attentively  and  hearing  what  a  speaker  has  to  sa.y  in  the  right  way 
as  there  is  in the  speaker. 
attention  to any  speaker he  Or  she  mny  hear,  if he  is  worth  going  to  hearo  He 
deserves  your  best  and  closest  thoughtso  This  is  not  only  done  to  public 
speakers  but  in general  conversation..  Be  sure  and  hear  't"hat  is  said  and  you 
will  not  give  foolish  answers  which  makes  one  appear  idiotic o 
If l-re  did  not 
not  give  attention  and  heal"  our  teacher  the  word  was  passed  and  wnt  on  to  the 
I  shall  never  cease  to  thank  him  foJ"  m~king me  a  good  hear(cid:173)
foot  of  the  c1ass o 
er,  it was  an  invaluable  training  that  has  brought  me  good  results.. 
I  tear 
sometimes  that  I  haven't  the  patience  that  a  Christian  should  have.  When  I 
go  to  a  lecture  and  see  people  chewing  gum  and  I  have  been  in chu:.rches  wmen 
everyone  was  chewing  gum  so  vigorously  that  if you  closed your  eyes  yO"ll  lo1ould 
not  have  known  whether  you  were  in  a  sheep  pan  or  a  goat  peno  }-ien  v.-ere  not 
given  a  cud  to  chew  like  a.nimals,  but  the  mind  and  pm-ter  to  concentrate  it on 
any  subject,  so  he  could  make  the  speakers  thought  his  ovm Q  Our  teacher 
moved  from  the  little house  in the  orcha~d to  Ol~  n  little larger  at his  fl~nt 

I  hope  all my  grandchildren  \d11  pay  strict 

I 

gate  and  that  was  full  to  overnow1.ng.  It is  stand:l.ng  there  y~lto  Tlw  sweet 
memories  of  that  dear  old  school  and  the  privileges  ·lihat  ·mr8  opened  to n\E)o 
I  had  teachers  afterwards  but.  never  appreciated  any  and  fa  t  90  g  steM to 
any  of  them  as  I  did to  Colo  Ed ~ards 0  He  was  a  fuithful  fl-iend  in a  time  of 
need 0  There  were  several  schools  open  in the  little  tOwTl  near  where  we  lived 
Two  of rrrs  little brothers 
and  one  in the  country  nearly  two  miles  from  hOl1\e 0 
and  I  wallced  to  that  one  every  morning  end  back  in  the  afternoon  Our  parents 
had  to  pay  the  teachers  for  this.  Since  money  't-188  scarcE)  and  hard  to  get  we 
could  not  afford  to  miss  a  lesson  or  a  dJJy  from  schoolo  If I  could  have  had 
the  opportunitios  the  children  have  nOH  I  think  I  could  have  been  more  useful .. 
As  I  have  told  you  hator  ldnd  9lld  good  my  brothers  l·rore  after  t.~e  two  oldest 
came  home  from  the  war  they  ·went  to  wo~k to  do  What  th~1 could  for  the  younger 
children 0  They  sent me  to  a  boarding  school  and  the  younger  brothers  to  the 
best  school  near  and  one  to  the  University  of  Virginia..  That  opportunity 
opened  to  us  a  broader  and  fuller  lifej  and  I  have  wished  so  often  that  it had 
been  possible  for  me  to  have  shO':ID  the  how  grateful  and  thankful  I  1-133  for 
this  unselfish  and  self'sacrificing-=-to give  us  tb:ts  privilege  ,·Jhioh  ha~ given 
I  do  hope  you  1dll try  to  improve  the  opportuni t:f.es  that 
us  so  much  pleasureo 
you  MVOo  Noth1~ is  :.30  elevating  and  inBph'ing  il  a  community  as  a.  1-Iholesone 
atmosphere.  one  partakes  of  it and  is  helped  even  1'1i thou":,  an  effort  on  their 
part 0 
that  goes  with  our  everyday  lif'e  t.houv)lt  it would  be  evoI'  so  humble  and  ObSCUI'e 
and  everything  that  we  do  or  say  carries  with  it WElight  of influence,  that  we  are 
unconscious  of  whether we  make  people  happier  and  "bett.er  OI'  make  them  misarable& 

'Y/clnt  rrr:I  grandchildren  to  lmow  that  the re  is  a  greet  responsibility 

I 

I  hope  you  ml1 endeavor  to  throw your  influence  on  the  side  of  peace J 

righteousness  and  happiness o 

I  must  now  tell yeu  something  of  the  growth  of  t.he  little  tOt-111  of 

lhere  your  fl  at=gl'  ndfathe  first  built  his  log 

Franklin 0  One  mile  from 
cabin  he  end  your  great  gl"8ndmcther  have  told  l.W  man)!  £lcc:i.denta  th!l.t  the  Sea= 
board  Air  Line  Hailway  had  uith  theil- l"01ld  "'hen  it ,,'se  first  bu.:Ut"  The  depot 
at that  time  was  on  the  Isle  of Wiehtside  and  I  expect.  the  to'tv!1  of  F'rm1klin 
would  have  been  in that  COUl'.Ltry  but  for  t.he  courtem:!s  spirit  of the  men  v/flO 
owned  the  land  on  the  Southhamptom  side  SUl-1  their  cpportunJ.ty  and  ai the 1·  ~ave 
the  right  or  sold  it very  reasona!lle  so  t lJat  the  depot  am  \-;'8rehouse  was  soon 
erected  and  the  foundation  of  one  of  t.he  prettie8t  and  most  attractiv~ ~iOwn5 
I  hope  you  will  see  "That  this  m~n lost by  his 
in Eastern  Virginia  was  lEid. 
love  of  money I  more  than  he  did  the  geod  of  the  CCi!L'11tmity  and  net  being  }n.ll= 
ina  to  give  full  value  for  l-,hat  he  receivod,  to  extorticn  and  to:":e  advantage 
of a  pressing neeS  is  the  lolOrst  kind  of robbingo  So  Franklin started  lor.i.th  a 
depot,  a  wrehouse,  then  a  country  store  ,mere  they  exchanged  dr,y""goods  and 
grocerie  and  black-eyed  peas  and  fulied  apples D  These  were  the  two  leading 
products  of this  farming  district at  this  time.  The  little  town  cO:'1lenced 
to  gro.1  and  in 1860  there  Here  some  ri ght  pretty  homes  and  several  stor(js 
cnd  one  res1dlng  physioiano  Dut  the  destruction  of  five  years  of  "tolar  life 
was  teITibleo  There  were  only  s1.xteen  people  living  in  the  tOlffi  in 1[165  but 
when  the  panio  of  the  four  bombshell  yaara  was  CNer  they  came  back  with  a  new 
lease  on  life and  with  them  came  others  to  build  and  make " one  of  the  moot 
beautiful  little towns  in Tidewater,  Virginia.  It grew  by  leaps  and  bou.1'ltiso 

Dro  G.  SS'H  t hat  it was  a  F:ood  location  for  a  physician  so  returning  from 
the  army  he  settled  here  in 1065  and  to  him  and  his  good  wife  the  people 
owed  more  for  the  civic  improvements  of  the  tOlm  than  anyone  else 0  They 
were  artistic  in  their  taste  and  loved  all natlon9a  So  they  chose  the  oak 
grove  with  the  birds  and  the  shade,  to  build  their  home,  which  was  the  second 
built  on  the  hill  snd  it was  set  in a  spacs  for  other home-makers  in surround(cid:173)
ing  it with  our  dear  Henvenly  Father' s  eood  girts  of beautiful  n~lers llnd  in 
utilizing  every  inch  of  space  in producing  sonet,hing  good  snd  useful.  They 
were  always  glad  to advise  and  help  all wo  wanted  to  improve  their hO!Tles 
and  many  will  thank  them  for  turnil1g  their  thoughts  in the  way  of beauty  and 
joy"  Dr"  G.  was  in  the  public  good  in many  other ways,  especially  in educa ... 
tiono  He  l~S one  of  the  first  trustees  of  the  Public  Schools 0 

Union  13erviccs  and  Sur.day  school  wal"e  held  mtil 1B74  when  the 
bret.her,:.;n  thought  :tt  bast  to  aeparat,e  to  t.he  Baptist  Chur~h built  on  Main 
Street., 

.1\11  was  moving  along  nicely  U-l'ltU  one  Saturday  in 1880  when  all 
of  the  business  part  of  the  town  was  swept  away  by  fire.  M8ny  homes  went 
with  ito 

The  present  bank  of Vaughan  &  Company  was  opened  in 18135  and  it 

has  been  under  the  s.cune  management  until  the  present  time.  High  Street was 
opened  in 1871 .. 

The  town  was  p,-r0lo:O_l1g  so  fast  that  the  people  began  to  look  for  a  place 

to bury  their  depa:-tGd  loved  ones  s')  they  ch03e  our  dear  Poplar  Springs 
where  your  gr~nd1'10t,heI'  and  her  brot.hc2'3  ahTay~ stopp,:'!d  to  quench  their thirst 
and  cool  under  the  she. de  of'  tha  branci1es  of that  dear  old  pop1aro  It made  me 
sad  to  th5_nk  toot,  I  could  no  longer  drink  from  that  pure  sparkling  fountain  of 
cool  "yatero  But  the  departed  must  h~~ve  a  rast.ing  place  and  this was  the  most 
beautiful 8.nd  approprlateo  So  in  1884  the  first  love  was  laid  there  in the 
mother  earth  to  ~!.'t-;nit  the  Ressurrection. 

In  IB8'~ the  town  claimed  their  privilege  of'  a  public  school. 

}Jhi le  it was  not.  as  good  as  any  of  today  it was  not  simply  the  demand  of  our 
grow.tng  populatj,ono  Our  people  were  aggressive,  public  spirited,  wide  awake 
s nd  nothing  satisfied them  but  ths  best  ot  everything  so  they  must  have  a 
better educational  advantages  for  their ch1ldl"€n. 
So  a  stock  compa~ was 
formed  to  build  an  academy"  The  stock  sold  foX'  twenty-five  dollars  a  share 
and  all mo  realized  the  vital importance  of  their children'S  education  took 
stocko  Some  poor  mothers  took  in sewing  to buy  one  share,  others  took 
boarders 0  All  were  interested  8Ild  were  will1rlf,  to  work  and  cast  in their 
little mite  to  raise  the  necessary  fundso 
In  1889  the  school  was  opened 
to  our  boys  giving  t.hem  the  needed  preparation  for  college  and  the  Univer(cid:173)
sity  of  Virginia.  ''lake  Forest  and  V.Melo  and  other  schools  of  good  standing 
and  those  wo were  not  fortunate  enough  to  have  the  college  and  University 
training  had  a  eood  foundation  made  to build  on  at homeQ 

The  next  great  need  felt was  a  seminary  where  the  girls  could have 
the  same  advantages  that  'Were  given  their brothers  so  the  same  pClb11c  spirit(cid:173)
ed  mothers  and  fathers  assembled  themselveo  together  to  form  plans  for  a  good 
school  for  their  d.mghters 0 
and  purpose  in view  you  may  know  that.  there  wil~ soon  come  forth  results.  So 
the  sit.e  WCl.ts  secur  d  pnd  the  nice  school buildi.ng  soon  erected.  In  1894  it 'tllLS 
opened  to  the  public  uith  the  huj.1dine  filled  ~\7).th  enthusiastic  pupils  snd  a. 
c~pablEl,  f~'  L..t ful  and  conc·ienti01.w  faculty (l 

"!henever  good  people  are  united  with  one  aim