Letters from
the Little Tin Box
The Lillard’s of Philadelphia Tennessee and the Civil War
Copyright 2011 by Ralph Hyde
All rights reserved
This book will remain a “living document” for some time. Updates and additions may be expected.
This book exists as an electronic document and it is easily portable. I can imagine it might slowly spread to a small group of people interested in the Philadelphia Lillard’s. I am offering a CD containing high quality scans of all the original letters as well as a copy of the latest version of this book and some limited other information for $30.
If you are interested please E-mail Ralph
Hyde at: 
I dedicate this history to my mother, Margaret Callaway Hyde, who passed all of this information down to my sisters and me.
She would have loved to read this.
I would like to thank my sisters for their help. Nancy Kirkham provided information on many of the people in this book, especially the Callaway’s. Virginia Hyde also provided information and transcribed our mother’s writings about life on the Lillard farm in Philadelphia.
Cover photo
The actual Little Tin Box and Letters. The old pictures are of James M. Callaway and Lula May Callaway at their wedding on 9-10-1884. The sword was passed down from the Philadelphia Lillard’s and family tradition says it was used in the War of 1812. There is a fair chance it belonged to Colonel William T. Lillard (1753-1826).
Contents
Chapter
1 The Lillard’s Arrive in Monroe
County
Chapter
2 Before the War - Growing up in
Philadelphia
Chapter
3 A.J. Lillard and the Gold Rush
Chapter
5 After the Catastrophe
Chapter
8 The Callaway’s to the Present Day
I suppose this must be the easiest way possible to write a “book”, which is simply transcribing the words of others and adding a little research and historical context. However, transcribing these letters did present some challenges. The handwriting varies from calligraphy to scribbles, and the effects of 150 years of age have not helped. Signatures in particular are difficult. I cannot promise total accuracy but I am close.
In transcribing these letters, I have not followed any rigid rules, but generally have tried to change as little as possible. I have preserved spelling errors for the color they add. Many of the original letters consist of long run on sentences so I have added some punctuation where it contributes greatly to readability. Often commas and periods are transposed, which may have been the fashion of the day, so in some cases I have made my best guess. Inside the transcribed letters I have included some notes inside of [brackets]. Most common is [?] where I can’t read or don’t understand what is written or have made a guess.
I have leaned heavily on Ancestry.com to discover the identities and relationships of the people herein. There were many, many hours of research invested in tracking down these people. Fortunately, there are large amounts of information available on most of them and I am very sure of their places in the family tree. However, there are a few questions remaining on some of the outlying members. I have avoided presenting any relationships as fact if there is any doubt of the exact identities. I have started a list of unanswered questions to research in an appendix at the end of the book.
In the 1800’s Cal Lillard of Philadelphia, Tennessee kept her letters and her family’s important papers in a little tin box. It eventually contained just over 100 documents. Cal [Mary Caroline Lillard (1835-1922)] passed the little tin box to her niece, Hattie Lillard (1895-1959), who passed it on to her daughter, my mother, Margaret Callaway (1922-1979) and then to my sisters and me.
The little tin box contains some ordinary notes and receipts, but there are also letters with congratulations on births and condolences on deaths. There are love letters and flowery poems in beautiful handwriting. There are letters from the gold fields of California and the battlefields and POW camps of the Civil War, and much more.
I have kept this box of letters for many years without knowing what to do with it. Recently however I started a family tree on Ancestry.com and in the process I have gathered a large amount of history from the web and my family members.
Before the Civil War, there were four brothers and three sisters living on the family farm in Philadelphia, Tennessee. During the war the Lillard’s family life was affected by the same divisions that affected America. Two brothers fought for the South, one for the North, and one went to California to find gold. I thought they must have had an interesting life and the letters bear this out. So on this 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, I have started to assemble a little history on this branch of my family tree around those tumultuous times.
Colonel William Thomas Lillard (1753 - 1826) was the first Lillard in Monroe County, Tennessee. He was born and raised in Bromfield, Culpepper County Virginia where he married his wife Rachel McCoy Leath (1765-1841) on August 28th 1783. Rachael at age 18 was a widow with a 4 year old baby, James Leath (1779 – 1839). William, Rachael, and James apparently moved several times before settling in Philadelphia. The resource below indicates William is the same person as William Lillard of Cocke County, who was an early settler of Newport, TN, an Indian fighter, and the first delegate from Cocke County to the state legislature. See http://www.tngenweb.org/cocke/goodspeedshistory.htm. He then moved to Missouri in 1815 to 1817 and had a county named after him. Fame is fleeting -- the name of Lillard County, MO was changed to Lafayette County in 1825, in honor of Gen. Lafayette, who made a visit to that country in 1825. William finally moved to Philadelphia in 1824, where they purchased the family farm which was home to the Lillard’s for generations.
The reference below is from http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/TNCOCKE/2004-01/1074952471
Ref: David Lillard’s
book "LILLARD: A FAMILY OF COLONIAL VIRGINIA"
William Lillard was a Colonel in the Militia, in 1820 was a delegate to the
first constitutional convention of Missouri, was a representative from Cooper County,
Missouri. Lillard County, Missouri was
named for him. He was born in Culpeper
County, Va., the son of James and Kesiah Bradley LILLARD. Died in Monroe Co., Tn. before Oct 1826. Married Rachel McCoy whose mother was a
McAlister. During his lifetime he lived
in Virginia, moved to east Tn. settling in Cocke Co., migrated to Mo., and
later returned to Monroe Co., Tn.
The children Of Col William and Rachel are:
Jeremiah LILLARD B. 1796
Augustine LILLARD
James A. LILLARD
Nancy LILLARD B. May 7,1786
William LILLARD, Jr B. Aug 14,1798
Rachel LILLARD
John LILLARD
Louisa Margaret LILLARD married Aug 23,1838 in Monroe Co, TN to Benjamin M.
Roth
The letters and events herein are in rough chronological order, in the hope this clarifies the history. The receipt below is difficult to read and it probably does not describe the Philadelphia farm, but it is the earliest document in the Little Tin Box.
1808 Feby 27 Rcvd of the Heirs of James Sindureys [?] Aplat and Certificate of Lurcesy [?]
for 53/11 Acres ------------------------ of
land South of French broad and Holston [rivers] and Two Dollars my fees for all services
--------------------------------------
Eurlea RLo Esq [???]
The Surveyors District, “District South of the French Broad & Holston” was established in 1806. This large district south of the French Broad (now called the Tennessee) River extended from the Little Tennessee River on the west to the Pigeon River on the east. It included the areas around Lenoir City, Maryville, South Knoxville, Sevierville, and Newport in Cocke County. It did not extend far enough to the west to include Philadelphia. It seems possible this deed was for land in Cocke County near Newport, where William Lillard lived at the time. See Appendix A for details.
The short note below confirms Colonels William T. Lillard’s military service and location in 1810.
State of Tennessee
Cocke County
I
heareby resign my Commition as Lieftenant in Capt. Fowlers Company and wish you
to report it as such.
Samuel
Geagy [?]
11th
October 1810 ---
To: Col. Wm. Lillard
Colonel William T. Lillard and Rachel finally settled in Philadelphia with their large family. The letter below is a decision from 1826 indicating William was a Justice of the Peace. This is most likely Colonel William T at age 73 years but it could possibly have been his son William II at age 28 and still unmarried.
Colonel William T. Lillard and Rachel had three daughters and five sons – a total of 8 children. William II (1798-1844) was the 6th child and he is the father of the family at the core of this history. William II inherited the Philadelphia farm from his father in 1826. He married Nancy B. Routh (1807-1899) on Feb 28, 1828. They had 4 sons and 3 daughters and they lived and died through the Civil War years as a divided family.
Andrew Jackson Lillard (AJ or Jack / 1829-1922) was their first born child. Father was 31 years old and mother was 22 at the time. AJ’s siblings arrived with regularity over the next 14 years. William Washington (Wash) arrived in 1831, Louisa Jane in 1833, Mary Caroline (Cal) in 1835, Augustus Murrell in 1838, Julia Ann in 1840, and Joseph Berry in 1843.
Below is a document which is of interest only for the date, which fills a gap in the time line. William II has paid off a debt. There are more interesting documents coming.
William II died in December 18, 1844 at the young age of 46. The bill below from Dr. F K. Berry indicates that he may not have passed quickly. Multiple doctor visits started on October 5 and visits came at least once a day starting on Dec 6 and continued through January 2. The fact that doctor visits continued after Williams’s death might indicate that other members of the family were suffering from a common illness. There are references to smallpox, scarlet fever, and cholera in some of the other letters.
As an example to help with the handwriting, the second line reads:
Oct 5 to 11 To visits each day & medisan
William’s death in 1844 left Nancy a 37 year old widow responsible for running the farm and raising seven children ranging from age 1 to 15.
The 9-4-1850 US Census District 4 Monroe County
Nancy Lillard is 41 years old and head of household. She owns $1000 of real estate. Her occupation is Farmer.
Living with her are her 7 children - [Andrew] Jackson, [William] Washington, [Louisa] Jane, [Mary] Caroline [Cal], [Augustus] Murrell, Julia Ann, and Joseph
Next door neighbors include Eli Cleveland age 69, wife Polly age 65, and living with them is Roxanne Billeatin age 21. She may become Roxanne Grayson in the future.
Nancy also worked as
a seamstress to support her family as the letters below show. Note the total cost for 2 coats is $5.50. Inflation from then to now is about 30X so
this is $165 in today’s dollars.
The letter below is a penciled note to
Mrs. (Nancy) Lillard with instructions on some clothes she is making. The date of the note is likely before
12-15-1850.
Much of the note is covered with
writing practice and the date 12-15-1850 appears several times in letter
headings. This is probably Cal
practicing her letter writing. She was
15 in 1850. After the clothes were done
the note may have been considered scrap paper.
It is interesting that one of the
practice names was Mr. James Helton of Knoxville, who proposed to Cal 12 years
later. It was a small world in 1850.
Mrs. Lillard if there is enough of the ganes[?] left please line the fur
parts with the same. There is no lining
to be had for the linen as the back. I
did not know if it would be best to dampen this pants cloth or not. If you think it would be better to do it
please have it done and we will pay for it.
I want them lined in the stryde.
If you think they are too thick to line all through please make them
large for he will not weare them out this winter. Please make all of his a little large that
you make and you will much oblige your friend.
M W T C
I send this purple piece for to line the pants with if you think best
to line them. If you think they are two
thick please send it back. I got it for
dress facing and will need some of it soon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wrightville Oct 8th / 53
Cousin
Cal
As you have ever
proposed to be my friend I rely upon your energy to have my Coat & Vest
finished by next Friday night as that is the set period of which I expect to
come not only for my Coat & Vest but for your company home. You must not fail to be prepared for the
expected visit. I know your Ma will say
I do not need my coat but you urge my claim, I do need it very much. Cal you must have it finished for you know
the anxiety of those who in hopes of future happiness live. The mail will be here in a few moments hence
I must close. Cal, I would like to have
wrote a lengthy communication but must close in short.
Please present my complements to
your Ma & and also to the remainder of the family. Oh! May your path be strewed with the riches
of blessing is the wish of your devoted friend.
Jim
P. Galyan
P.S. Mitchell Raso sends his best & wishes his
coat without fail
Jim
You
must not fail to write that - B
After William Lillard’s death the two oldest boys, AJ and Wash, were probably a great help on the farm. However there was also help of a more sinister kind. The Lillard’s were slave owners.
The US Census counted slaves as well as free men. Slaves were counted on a separate “Slave Schedule” but slave names were not recorded, only age, sex, color – generally black or mulatto, and whether they were a fugitive from the state or disabled. In 1950 Nancy Lillard owned 3 slaves, a 60 year old woman and two men aged 35 and 17.
By the accounts of later generations, the Philadelphia Lillard’s freed their slaves before the Civil War and gave each family a part of the farm for their own, but as of 1852 Nancy Lillard was still buying slaves.
Transcript
State of Tennessee Philadelphia
Monroe County April
7th, 1852
Received of Nancy Lillard Six Hundred Dollars in full payment
for a negro woman this day sold and delivered to her. Aged about twenty Eight, named Amy, which
negro I warrant sound in body and mind and slave for life, and further bind
myself, heirs or assigns to defend the title to said negro woman against the
lawful claims of all person or persons whatsoever.
In testimony
whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
W
R Henley (Handwritten seal)
Lest
R. R. Cleveland
H. B. Julian
Cal (Mary Caroline Lillard) was the family scribe and the keeper of the little tin box. Most of the letters are addressed to Cal but sometimes a section of a letter would be addressed to another family member as well. Letters from before the war are generally about social affairs revolving around visits, parties, and church.
Lockie Elenor Howell (1835-xxxx) was one of the most prolific correspondents to Cal, along with her sister Mollie (Mary J. Howell 1839-1883). These distant cousins of the Lillard’s lived in Mossy Creek Tennessee, present day Jefferson City. There were 13 children born to this family. Father Patton Howell (1806-1869) was a blacksmith per the federal census of 1850 but he was a blacksmith on a very large scale. He owned an axe handle factory (See http://www.jeffcitytn.com/cityhistory.htm ). At this time he also owned $7000 worth of real estate, which would make him wealthy.
He and Mother Nancy Routh (1809-1858) must have kept very busy. This is a different Nancy Routh than Cal’s mother, and the fact that the mothers of both correspondents were maiden named Nancy Routh may lead to some confusion. The connection from the Howells to the Philadelphia Lillard’s is shown below.
|
Great Grandfather Jacob Routh (1745-1827) |
|
|
Grandfather - John Routh (1782-1841) |
Joseph L Routh (1780-1849) |
|
Mother - Nancy Routh (1809-1858) |
Nancy B. Routh (1807-1899) |
|
Lockie and Mollie Howell of Mossy Creek |
Cal and the other Philadelphia Lillard’s |
Additional information on the Howells from http://dallaspioneer.org/stories/pioneers.php?ID=423
JOHN MASHMAN HOWELL and JULIA ROUTH HOWELL
From
Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA. This 300 page hardcover book is now
available online.
John
Mashman Howell's family consisted of: his father, Patton Howell, born 1805 in
Knox County, Tennessee, died 1869 and his mother, Nancy Routh, born 1809 in
Dandridge, Tennessee, died 1858, whose parents were John Routh (born 1782, died
1841) and Elizabeth Mashman (born 1788, died 1852). Among their ten children
were: 1) Bethiah Ann born 1826, died 1894; married William J. Blackburn. 2)
Sylvanus born 1829, died 1888; married Frances Crooks. 3) Martha Elizabeth born
1831, died 1905; married Reverend W. E. Caldwell. 4) Adeline born 1834, married
William Alexander Smith. 5) Lockie Eleanor born 1836, married W. M. Massengill.
6) Mary born 1839, died 1883; married M. M. Morgan. 7) Sarah P. born 1846, died
1873; married
Samuel T. Evans. 8) Margaret born 1848. died 1927; married Daniel Bradshaw. and
9) John Mashman Howell born August 2, 1849 in New Market, Tennessee, died 1925;
married Julia Routh born 1857 in Piano, Texas, died 1948. John M. Howell was
reared in Tennessee and North Carolina and received most of his education in
Alabama. He learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it for some years. He
moved to Missouri to work for a nursery.
Cal was 16 when she got this letter from 17 year old Lockie of Mossy Creek, Tennessee. Lockie was attending school in Cleveland, but the exact school is unknown. She also has other relatives and friends near Cleveland, Tn. Philadelphia is about midway between Mossy Creek and Cleveland. Mossy Creek is about 50 miles to the Northeast and Cleveland is about 50 miles to the Southwest. This is the first of many references seen to “The Cars”. Philadelphia is on a rail line and the train was often the best way to get around. The rail line ran directly adjacent to the farm.
Cleveland. May the 26__52
Dear
Cousin Cal.
I positively
am ashamed to write to you after putting it off so long but you may attribute
it to the want of time, for I’ve been so busy since you wrote to me, that I
have’nt taken time to write to Mother near as often as I ought to. Oh how I wish you would come down so I could
tell you all the news, for I know I can not write it so as to be interesting to
you. We have’nt had any more storm
parties since you left, but we had a picknick party at which I enjoyed myself
much better than at a storm party. We
went out about 3 miles from Town, to the sulpher springs and eat our dinner,
and then went to Candies [?]
Creek fishing. The gentleman that fished
with was Mr. Brown. You know him Cousin
Cal. That slick fellow that you got your
satchel from. We did not catch any thing
but we did not fish for fish but for fun.
You know that young lady that went off to Athens as you went home with
Miss Harris. She was married about four
weeks ago to Dr. Center. You recollect
Mr. Sloan don’t you? He came and took me
to preaching up to the Methodist Church last sabbath evening. He is going to get a horse and buggy and he
and I are going to Benton to Uncle John Blackburns in about two weeks. We have singing every Friday night. And O if you were only here to go. I got that dress up at Johnsons that I was
telling you about. I gave 6 dollars for
it. We have a young lady from Polk Co.
boarding with us and going to school.
She is a great deal of company to me but not so much as you would have
been. Tell Cousin Nancy howdy for
me. We would all be very happy to see
you and Cousin Nancy down here this summer.
The school will be out in 9 weeks, and then you will see me sailing up
on the Cars as happy as me and Mr. Caliway would
have been that night going to the party “without any clothes”. Oh but I have not time to write any
more. You must write to me immediately
and tell me all the news. When you write
to me again I am going to answer it the very same day I get it.
Your
Sincerily L.E. Howell Brown
All
the school girls send their love to you.
Note the signature – the Brown added to the end is a joke since she was fishing and no doubt flirting with Mr. Brown.
__________________________________________________________________
Newton J Lillard was one of the Meigs County Lillard’s. They lived in Decatur, TN about 35 miles Southwest of Philadelphia. His connection to Cal was through his great grandfather James Lillard Sr. (1725-1804) of Virginia, who was also Cal’s great grandfather.
|
James Lillard Sr. (1725-1804) Culpepper, VA |
|
|
James II (1752-1811) Culpepper, VA |
William T. Lillard (1796-1875) Moved to Philadelphia |
|
James III (1795-1875) Moved to Decatur, TN |
William Lillard (1798-1844) Philadelphia |
|
Newton J. Lillard (1832-1905) Decatur, TN |
Cal and the other Philadelphia Lillard’s |
N.J. was a military man. He was 20 at the time of this note but he was already a veteran of the Mexican American War, where he fought for 2 years stating at only 16 years of age.
In this note he apparently is experiencing the 1852 equivalent of car trouble on a trip to visit his relatives in Philadelphia. It is unknown how this letter would be delivered in a timely manner.
Sweet Water Tennessee
August 16th 1852
To Cal
Dear Cosin,
You must
excuse me for not coming this morning as my horse is so stiff that I cannot
drive and have to lay by a day or two in consequence of it. I hope you will come down shortly and give us
a visit as you have not been down in a good while. Come to camp meeting if not sooner.
Your
Cosin Respectfully Newton J. Lillard
Two years later there is another letter
from N.J. Note that Monroe County is
suffering a cholera epidemic.
Rusitation [?] Retreat
July 25th
1854
Dear Call
I hasten to pen you a few lines not for your instruction
but to gratify your feelings & for my own edification. We have no news to write. Health of the community good. I am very sorry that your county is scouraged
with the cholera, which I hope will not rage long. Any way be of cheer untill your last hour. I will have to chide you for not doing as you
promised to do for you should do all you can or could for you know I am a very
hard case any way. My only hope is to
fell(?) some of the Monroe County Gakals(?) And I am not very sanguine of
success at present but will hold my head.
If dise hard, no use talking.
Come down camp meeting. My love
to all. More anon.
Your
Cousin
Very
respectfully your
Please correspond with him Humble
obidient servant
On ctn subject And
will obey all Commands (?)
N.
J. Lillard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Letters to the boys are less common. Here is one to AJ from a friend who is exploring the Mid-west.
Greens Fork, Wayne County Indiana
August
14th 1854
Well old friend Jack, it is
with much pleasure that I take my seat to communicate to you a few scattering
thoughts. I am now in the state of
Hoosierdom and I am enjoying as good health as could be expected. I have enjoyed moderately good health since I
left and I do cincerely hope these lines
may find you in the enjoyment of God’s greatest blessing which is unimpaired
health for health certainly is the poor mans riches and the rich mans
bliss. I have been spending most of my
time at my brothers since I have been in this state though I have been
spludgeing around considerable. I have
seen right smart of the country which I find to be most beautiful country. I think that I could pick out five thousand
acres of land here in this vicinity in one body that lies as well as any twenty
acres that you could select in one body in Sweetwater Valley but the owners of
it know how to set a price on there farms.
There was a man sold out about a half mile from here a few days since at
the pitiful sum of $60.00 pr acre. My
views at this time is to go to Illinois or Iowa this fall if I live and keep
fat. I have not worked any at my trade
since I am here more than two or three weeks, though I expect to commence work
in a day or two.
I have spent the time
moderately pleasant here considering that I am in a stranger land though it
would afford me great pleasure to walk the streets of Philadelphia and see all
my old friends if I have any there, but how soon that will be I do not
know perhaps never as life is uncertain
and death is verry certain. I must wish
you all the good luck I can hopeing that ere this time you are hapily bound in
the holy bonds of matrimony with some one of the fair ones of the highlands of
Old Tennessee to settle down and enjoy the blessings of life. I wish you to give my respects to your
mothers family, and also to the enquiring friends in Phila and especially Miss
Sophie Miss Susen Bogart Miss Sarah J Julian.
Also Jane and Lizzie in short give my love to all and accept Bountifully
for your self. I want you to be sure and
write to me as soon as this comes to hand and give me all the important news of
the neighborhood Births deaths marriages etc.
If you know of any thing of importance having transpired at Loudon since
I left tell me all about it. Write soon
be sure not to fail for it will gratify me very much to hear from you and all
others who bear any friendship for me. / no more at present but remin your
affectionate friend until dead or married.
Esau Holand
_____________________________________________________________________________
Cal would have been 19 and Newton J Lillard 22 years old when he wrote her this letter about relationships. It shows that men in 1854 didn’t understand women any better than they do today.
Decatur 20th Nov 54
Dear cousin,
I have been waiting long to hear from you but
all in vain all may still be in vain for I think so at least. Your silence indicates such but I will
forgive you for this offence if you will promise to do better in the future. I think I wrote the last communication what
is the matter that you cannot notice your ugly cousin letters though they are
far inferior to your other correspondence.
Now do not let your answer be fill up with hard misels[?] some that I could only swallow if my
throat was as large again please do not.
If you are agoing to marry do not be so selfish as to think you always
will be happy just with his company alone for I tell you know it will not be
that. And further more if you do marry
be satisfied with him though you are not.
I learned yesterday that I was agoing to get married and you may imagion
my estacy at first but was easy as low down in a few minutes as I was high when
I learned all. I was taken a girl home
& she says Nute I understand that you want to marry or are going to get
married. Well you see I thought all was
right when such as that was said, so I replied that I had thought on the
subject a good deal since I was getting old & ugly & I hoped if I did
propose such to a lady she would way the matter well before she gave me a
refusal. She said it would be right for
to do so but she always gave young men the hint if she did not want them before
its come to that. Well says I, how do
you let them know your feelings? She
said this. If she did not want them she
would talk of marring one of the young man marring and who to and when and that
she regreted it very much hoping that she stood a fair chance to get him woe[?].
But if she saw her talk affected anything she would tell him he need not
set his stakes down about her. Wel said
Madam all of this has just passed between you and I. Know tell me whether it will do or not to set
my nuigs[?] down about S---
or not? (oh oh) she says she guess it
would not as she was already engaged and if that was not the case I could not
reng[?] in know how so I
effected nothing at last.
Call write me soon. I wish that I could see you for about a
week. I could tell you a great many
things that would interest you. Give my
love to the Girls. Special love to your
mother and family. I may be up about
Christmas to see you all but not certain yet.
I am writing this when two beautiful Girls are in the store trading you
I am all in afigett about them. I must
close this letter for my paper is not agoing to last always you know.
To Call Good
Bye
Nute
In Sister Julia’s letter to Cal below the
year isn’t given but it may be deduced.
Jack is still in Philadelphia so it’s before 1858. Cal and mother Nancy are at the “SPRINGS” –
perhaps White Cliff Springs. Cal has the
blues again. Old batches are visiting
and Julia was sparking Brother Amos (Julia married William Burns in Sept 11
1867). August 17th falls on
a Friday so the year must be 1855. Julia
is 16 yrs old.
August
11th [1855?] Philadel
Darling Sister
I this day received your letter and it found
me all right and in good health.
Everything is doing fine down here.
We all are enjoying our selves fine.
Phil is taken a rise. They are
going to have another Picnic next Wednesday at the same old place Canans
barn. The one on fork Creek will come
off next Friday 17th. I do not know
whether I’ll go or not. If I have a nice
beaux perhaps I will. Miss Nan Kennedy
and her Cousin was here today. I still
have company yet. There was three old
batches here Sunday night and one Monday and that was Brother Amos. He stayed all night and next day after dinner
we sit monday night and oh, how I did spark him. If you dont hurrah and come home I will do as
you told me to do.
The next morning he and I
walk over to Mr Seigels and got as many water mellons as we could eat. I sent that doing well for new beginers. He asked me if I said any thing about him in
my letter to you. I told him I wrote to
you that he looked as sweet as a peach.
He threw a Laverine out in the yard and it is growing fine. I do not know whether I will go to the
Springs or not. I am haveing such a nice
time at home. If I do go I am going to
make Mr A go with me he was talkin about it being such a nice trip two or three
days. Mr Nelson is holding a meeting at
Sweetwater town[?] this
week. I have never been up yet. Tell Bettie I am realy glad to hear she has
got so active. Mrs Bacame has give out
going to the Spring. Mr Bacame speaks of
going as soon as he can.
Mother make your self at
home and rest with ease for ever thing is doing as well as if you were here to
see to it your self. We have got a fine
lot of apples cut and drying nicely. The
peaches are not ripe enough yet will be in a few days. I cut out a pair of pants this morning. They are the first job of work that has came
in since you left home. I taken that
peice to Mrs Hicks yesterday. She is
going to put it in the loom right off. I
got the mixed fillin at home the other day.
I will scour it out to morrow and take it to Mrs Wilson as soon as it
gets dry. There was thirty eight hanks
liken one cut. Cal, Jack says if you
dont hurrah and come home he will marry while you are gone. I am looking for Dr. Massengill every day. He went up to the country the first of this
week. Cal I am very sorrow to hear that
you have got the blues again. I was in
hopes that you would have such a nice time at the Springs you would not think
about the blues. Knock them off and go
it, and enjoy your self while you can. I
believe I have written all that I can think of now. Give my love to all the family and accept the
greater portion for your self.
Affectionately your
Sister Julia Lillard
The letter below is from Lizzie A. Routh to an unspecified cousin, probably Cal. Lizzie and her sister are in College at the Cane Hill School in Arkansas, the first college in Arkansas to admit women. See the info after the letter. It seems many of the women in this circle got a good education. Cane Hill is in the North West corner of Arkansas, so these cousins are quite a way from Philadelphia.
Lizzie is Arvazinia Elizabeth Routh (1839-xxxx). The sister who is at school with her is Margaret A. Routh (1841-1893). The youngest sister who was taken to the “Spirit Land” was Isabella Routh (1846-1855). Lizzie’s father is Benjamin Murrell Routh (1823-1873) who was born in Monroe County. Benjamin is brother to Nancy B. Routh (Lillard). So Lizzie is Cal’s first cousin. Her family’s home was in Fayetteville Arkansas at the time of this letter.
Boonsboro March 28 / 56
My
Dear Cousin,
Although we are strangers personaly
I feel as if we had an intimate acquaintance, which I have acquired by reading
your letters to Father. I have for a
great while had an anxiety to correspond with you, but have neglected to write
until now. My reasons for writing at this
time, is because, Father sent me a letter he received from you. There are only two sisters of us now, (I
suppose you have heard that our youngest was taken to the Spirit land last
fall). We are both going to school at
Cane Hill Arks. We received a letter
from home last week they were all well at that time. Father did not say anything about answering
your letter, but I suppose he will. This
has been the hardest winter I ever witnessed, about Christmas especially. I attended several parties, and I thought I
would freeze before the week was ended.
We had some good sleigh rides, something very uncommon in our
county. The spring has also been
backward. March has had but few pleasant
days. The weather is now damp, and
everything so gloomy. The farmers have
not made much progress in their buisness
this year, but I shall hope we shall have a better time. There is a debating society here, which only
on rare occations, is public. It was
made public last night. I attended and
was very much delighted. The question
was, Which was the greatest man
Washington or Lafayette. It was decided
Lafayette the greatest, but the --- [Lost in a crease] --- the best on that side. The best speech delivered on Washington’s
side was by one of our Cousins Mr. Hanks.
I do not know whether you know any relation by that name or not. There is such little interest of anything at
this time that I cannot find anything to write, and we being strangers, it is
more difficult, but you manifested in your letter to Father, a hope of visiting
us this spring, which if you do you must remember us, as we are only twenty
miles from home, you must not return without coming to see us, for we will be
in school until July. If you have the
kindness to write to me direct your letters to Boonsboro Arks. I hope to be more interesting the next time I
write. Sister joins me in sending love
to you.
I
remain your Cousin
Lizzie
A Routh
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Below excerpt from: http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2705 |
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Cane Hill (Washington County) Cane Hill, settled by Europeans in 1827, was the earliest settlement in Washington County. It was known as an educational center because the first college in Arkansas to admit women was in Cane Hill. In addition, it had the state’s first public school, library, and Sunday school. Several of the oldest houses in northwest Arkansas still stand in Cane Hill. It was also the site of an all-day skirmish in the days before the Battle of Prairie Grove (December 7, 1862). Cane Hill (also known as Boonsboro after Daniel Boone) was the site of one of the county’s first institutions of higher learning. The Cane Hill School opened its doors for students in April 1835. In 1852, it became a college for men only, but women could attend the Female Seminary. The first site of the Cane Hill Female Seminary was in Clyde, one mile south of Cane Hill. The school closed with the advent of the Civil War in 1861, and three of the four buildings were burned in 1864. The men’s dormitory that survived was used as a hospital for the wounded soldiers under the command of Union brigadier general James G. Blunt. For
additional information: “1858–1891: Cane Hill College.” University of the Ozarks. http://www.ozarks.edu/about/history/canehillcollege.asp (accessed August 22, 2006). Julanne S. Allison |
The letter below was written by another female cousin in school at the time; apparently south of Philadelphia. Written before May approaching end of school year so perhaps April? Leap year was 1856.
[Apparently Spring of 1856]
My
Dear cousin
After so long a time I
take the pleasure of answering your letter which I received a week or so
gone. Now Cal you must not think hard of
me for not answering sooner for I do not get time to do anything that I want to,
plague the school. I do sincerely wish
it was out. But I ought not to say that for then all the pretty boys would
leave and then I would wish for the school to be going on don’t you think I
would? Cal you must come down at the
examination if you posibly can. I do want
to see you so bad, and I think that you might come, now Cal I do. I just feel as if I had not saw any person
for two months or more. Call I would be
very happy to meet you at the Union meeting in May. It is close to the Railroad and you can come
very well if you will. I expect to go or
at least I wish to go. Ell has been very
sick for the last three weeks. She has
been very bad. She has a very bad cough.
She had a severe cold I assure you but she has got so she can sit up the
most of her time now. There was 24 girls
here today and so many boys that they were uncountable. I assure you that we had a great time. It looked like a procession to see them all
coming down the lane. I told two or
three of the boys that I was going to write to you this evening and they said
to give you their double and twisted love and said that they would like to see
you very much down in these parts once more.
Cousin
Crate[?] Martin has been very
sick but is getting better. Cal I do
wish you would hurry and mary and let me wait on you for I am going to get
married in a short time and I want to stand upon the floor once before I
mary. I suppose you recollect that this
is (leap Year). The girls is trying to
make good use of it to down here. Cal
this paper is so long and my pen so bad that it seems that I cant get it filled
up and you must not think hard of me for sening you a half a sheet.
Your
affectionate Cousin
Teck
(Jack Feck Zeek Tick Heck ??)
Mother
says to tell Aunt just to stick to her sewing and not think of coming to see
her. Call it is getting so dark that I
cant see how I am writing.
Teek
The letter below is from James Cannon
Routh (1835-1864), of the Whitfield GA Routh’s.
He was the son of Pleasant Miller Routh (1808-1874), Nancy B. Routh’s
brother making James another first cousin to Cal. He was born in Philadelphia but moved to
Murphy or Whitfield, GA with his family.
He would have been 21 years old at this time. During the War he fought for the South and
died at the Battle of Resaca, Gordon County, Ga. in May, 1864 - age 29. It is unknown who this was addressed to – not
Cal or Wash – perhaps AJ or Joe or another sister.
May
the 17th 1856
Pleasant
Valley. Ga
Dear Cousin
It is with pleasure for me to seat myself this evening to write to you
and to inform you that I am well at preasant hopeing that these few lines may
find you in the same health. I am at
preasant going to school 8 miles from home.
We have one of the finest teacher that is in georgia and we have some
scholars that can work a sum by the time the master gets done reading the
sum. I would be glad to see you all very
much. Give my love to all the friends
round philadelphia. Tell cousin Caroline
Clevelan to write to me and also your sister Caroline. If you or Washington comes down this summer
you must come up to our school and spend a day or two. Excuse me for this time my time being short I
must come to a close so no more at preasant good bye.
Write to as soon as possible.
Direct your letter to Pleasant Valley Ga. James
C Routh
In the letter below Lockie has taken the train from Mossy Creek to Cleveland, Tennessee for Christmas and she missed a chance to visit or deliver a letter to Cal as she went through Philadelphia.
Cleveland
Dec 30 / 56
Dear
cousin Callie,
I wrote a letter before I started
from home to give, as you said, to some one at Philadelphia, but it was dark
when we got there, and the cars stopped hardly a minute, and I did not see
anyone to give it to. I came down a week
ago to-day, and was going up to your house this evening, but Matt will not hear
to me going away before next week. When
I see you I will tell you the
reason I did not go up this evening.
Every body in town keeps sending word to me and telling me to be certain
and not go away this week. I will go up
to Philadelphia next tuesday on the day train.
I have so much to tell you just once I see you. Brother Ed says if I do not hurry I will not
get my letter mailed to-night. I am so
sorry I did not get to go up before New Year’s, for you said you were going
to have a wedding then but I did not believe it. You may just fix your self for going home
with me, for mother said for me not to let you off. What a lot I have got to tell you. All send love to you. My love to all.
Your
most affectionate cousin
L.
E. Howell
[Lockie Elenor Howell]
______________________________________________________________________
This letter is from husband and wife
Smith to AJ. W. A. Smith is William Alexander
Smith. Wife Ada A. S. Smith was Adeline
A. S. Howell (1834-xxxx), Lockie’s older sister. They were married on 8-19-1853.
Mossy Creek March 13th 57
Dear Cousin,
I recd. Your letter
& hasten to answer it. When that
gentleman comes home please know of him immediately what he will give & if
he will give me $30 per month I will do his business for him & then if he
wishes me to keep his wagon in repair & horses shod he will have to pay me
extra for that or give enough by the month to justify in doing it. How long will he need a pedling[?] & can I rent a house there at a reasonable price until I can make
other arangements. I hav’nt time to write any thing more. A.S. will write the news.
Yours
Truly W.A. Smith
(Continued on same sheet)
Dear Cousin Jack,
I am glad to have
some excus to write to you. I want to
hear from Cousin Nancy & all the family.
I think Call might write to me & you may tell her so because I’m
married you all forget me. Now tell them
all not to act so doggish [?] mean. I am highly set up with the
idea of getting down there to live but we will not always make our home in this
country that is we hav’nt that notion
now. I read what you wrote for Lock to
hers & she said you was very smart for not writing to her first. Just in fun though. Yesterday a snow fell shoe mouth deep &
all melted off to day. Lock & Mollie
were here for supper this evening & we had quite a jolly time of it. Papa (Patton Howell) is having a new house built it will be a very
nice one when done & a tolerably fine one.
Well Jack I don’t know what else to write only you must come up there is
so many girls that want to marry up here & from what you wrote those kind
of girls will just suit you. We have
plenty of Old Maids too as ugly as a mud fence. Now do come up in earnest for we all want to
see you. Our letter paper is very fine
& it shows that we are rich folks.
Write to me every time you do to Alex.
I know my letters will not be very interesting to you but You must write
to any how for the pleasure it gives me to read a letter from you. They have had Widowers Prs. [?] at Papas evry night this
week but two & Lock says two of them had a
kind of Closet talk to her & that one of them an Old Sunk Eyed
Englishman is left for Mollie & Sister
& I believe that both pull ater him. Lock is learning to play very fast on the
Piano & Mollie learns some she is takeing her first lessons. Their Piano is the largest I ever saw &
has as good tone as ever I heard. I will
have to quit it is getting so late & Saturday night too. You will write of course give my love to
every one of the family & except a portion for your self.
Your
cousin that loves you Ada A.S. Smith
This letter from Mary Adelaide Routh (1839-1927) to an unspecified Cousin (not Caroline or Washington or Aunt Nancy) is an extremely repetitious plea for visits and letters. Mary is the daughter of Pleasant Mills Routh and Clarissa Harlowe Watkins of Ruralvale Georgia. The significant news is that brother William Finley Routh married (Nancy) Margaret Cleveland on 1-15-1857, Jim (James C. Routh) went off to school, and that Mother Clarissa just got her first stove! Mary is 18 years old at the time of this letter.
Ruralvale
Geo March the 15, 1857
Dear
Cousin,
It is with great pleasure that I
seat myself to write you a few lines. I
have nothing much to write. We are all
well at this time and I hope these few lines will find you all in the same
health. Cousin I recond you think we are
all dead by us not coming to see you.
You said when you left here if we did not come you would think some of
us were dead or married. There is none
dead but one married. Will [Brother
William Finley Routh 1836-1918] was
married the 15 of January. He married
Margaret Cleveland [Nancy Margaret Cleveland 1838-1866].
Oh I wish you had of been here.
We had all the fun. If you had
of been here you would in Joyed your self so much. Cousin I have been wanting too come too see
you all till I am tired of thinking about it.
We would of come but the weather was so bad and then Will married and
Jim went off to school and you know Papa.
He won’t come. He says he coming
before long but you need not look for him till you see him coming for you know
him so well. Cousin I want you to come
and see us and bring Cousin Caroline with you.
Will says too tell you that you must come and see him and he will tell
you about his marriing. Be shore an come
and I will go home with you for Mother can do with out me better than she could
when you were here be fore. We have got
a stove and she can cook for it is so easy.
It is the greatest help in the world.
Cousin I have nothing more to write at this time. I want you to write as soon as you receive
this and then I will write you a better letter than this. Tell Cousin Washington to write too me. If he cannot come too see us he can
write. I want all of you to write. Tell Aunt that I want her to come and see
us. Cousin you must excuse me for not
writing sooner for I did not know but what we would come be fore long. Papa still says he is coming but you know him
so well. You wanted me to go home with
you when you were here. I wish that i
had of went with you but i am in hopes that I will get to come and see you all
yet. I must come to a close for i have
nothing more to write. Give my best love
to all the rest of the family except a portion for your self. So no more.
Write soon and then I will write you a better one than this. You must look over my bad writing for my pen
is so bad that I cannot write. Be shore
and write as soon as you get this. So no
more.
Mary
A Routh
This very chatty letter from Lockie to
AJ shows the easy familiarity of close friends.
She shares some confidences on her love life and warns AJ not to let
anyone know what she wrote. Lockie is 3
months away from a big surprise!
Mossy
Creek May 1857
My very dear cousin,
Do you see this paper cousin
Jack? Well I’m just going to give you
the longest letter you ever did get, except the last one your sweet heart sent
you. I did not receive your first letter
until a few days ago, as you will find out from Dr. John. He did not stop on his way up the country,
and only a few minutes, as he returned.
I just begged him to stay all night, but he would not. I like him much better than I did on my first
acquaintance with him. Now don’t say,
Lock’s fell in love with him for I did’nt do any such thing. I don’t think I’m very susceptible of
impressions of that kind. I’m not like
you. I usily believe you are in love
with half a dozen girls. Now You did not say anything about Ana F. Have you dropped her? Mollie has just gone down to practice and
says tell you she wants to see you ever so bad.
This is the evening we were to go and take our music lessons, but it is
raining so we will not go. If you and
Cal were only here right now. I do enjoy
seeing it rain when I have good company.
You could’nt help liking Mossy Creek now. We have such a beautiful view of the hills
from here on one side and the creek on the other. I know to others there is many a lovelier
place than this, but not to me. I’ve
always been happy here and why should it not be dear to me. No I’m not always happy. I sometimes take the blues, but they very
soon take wings and leave me reproaching myself for admitting such an
intruder. I had such a grand dream about
Dr. John last night. I just wish I could
tell it to you, and know he would never hear it. Who told you I was going to get married, and
who did they say it was to? Now cousin Jack,
answer me that question, for I want to know.
I’ve heard it so often when it was not the truth, that I hope it will
turn out to be a fact. I have the nicest
little beau you ever saw – rich too – plenty of darkies to wait on me and he
loves me, I know he does but I cant say he receives a particle of love in
return. – In fact I can with truth say he does not. I wish you could just read his letters. As to where he is –I shant tell you, but I
received a letter from him from New Orleans a week ago. You must heard me mention him, --in fact I
was but little acquainted with him then and never dreamed of his ever coming to
see me. And—and—and— he is a widower,
and oh dear that’s enough. Now that is a
secret! I cant be satisfied with the
ashes of no mans heart whose joys are all in memories. Though I’ll admit I’ve fell from grace For
widowers used to be my text. But “I’ll
hang my hart on the willow tree” and set my cap for a young man. Though this fellow I’ve been telling you
about is not an old widower. Have you
seen cousin Jasper lately? You and Cal
bring him up here and we will have lots of fun.
Now I’m just not going to
excuse you on any plea from coming up here soon. If you don’t come to see me before I get
married, I just shant let you know one thing about it. Every one says tell you to come.
Mary and I had invitations
to a grand wedding in Dandridge last week.
Mary Fain to Steve Cocke of Knoxville.
We did not go. Mary says tell you
she would be right glad for you to hear from her – thinks perhaps you
will. I set out with the determination
to tire you out, but I know I did that on the first page. Now cousin Jack, the very reason I did not
write to you long ago was not because of any ceremony or the want of love to
you, but then I thought you did not care anything about me, and I would not
trouble you with a letter. And then it
was partly negligence. I have not
written to Cousin Wash yet, but I must.
He has not written to me yet, but I shall not wait on that account. I owe Cal a letter too. I do want her to come and stay with me this
summer. Be certain and mention me to
Mr. Hays(?) and the Dr. and
tell Mr e I hav’nt forgotten how big a fool he was. If any body asks you what I wrote tell them I
sent my love to them. Mr. Jones and his
son came last night. They are gone some
where but I don’t know where it is. Mary
(May?) says if all your
Philadelphia boys are as handsome as the Dr. to send them up. The carpenters finished our house last week
but the painter is not done yet, but will be in a week. Do write to me soon & often.
Your
cousin in Health hope & happiness
L.
E. Howell
P.S. don’t you let any one read this, and don’t
tell Mr. e what I said, it would be too bad.
When you see cousin Jas. [?],
tell him I’ve not forgotten him. Dick
Scruggs told me he was coming up here the 18 or 19 of June, to the commencement
at the Baptist college. You and Cal come
with him. Now do come, I’m in down right
earnest. Bring the Dr. with you. Tell me all and about every body down there. I’d like to have forgotten to tell you sister
was married. [Bethiah Ann Howell Blackburn’s 2nd marriage was to George
Hoskins on 5-5-1857]. She’s got one of the best husbands in the
world, Mr. Hoskins. We will have such a
nice time going to see her when you come.
Lock.
Surprise!! Lockie has married Dr. William Porter
Massengill, a widower, and this after all her protests just 3 months ago that
she would never marry a widower.
Marriage was on July 23, 1857.
Dr. Massengill was 48 yrs old and Lockie was 22.
Here is a series of four letters from Mollie (Mary
J Howell 1839-1883) to Cal. Mollie seems
to take over scribe duties for the Howell cousins after her older sister Lockie
marries. Mollie was 18 when she wrote this.
Mossy Creek Aug 4th [1857]
Dear Cousin
It is not
my place to write to you, but we have come to the conclusion if some of us
don’t write we will never hear from you any more. I guess you have heard that Lockie was
married to Dr. Massengill a widower and it keeps her busy a huging and kissing
him so she has not time to write to any of her friends. She says she is going to write to cousin Jack
soon. I feel like a fish out of water
but I intend to visit some this fall. Perhaps I will be down that way and If I
do I should be very capt(?) to see you.
Papa got a vest yesterday and he thanks cousin Nancy for it. I did not say where it was from. It fits to a T. Mother has been very sick to day but is some
better. Now if cousin Nancy would come
up to see her I think she would get well.
The Baptist association will be at Mossy Creek in October and you must
all come up then. Tell Jack I never did
want to see evry one so much as I do him.
I will give him a sweet heart, one of the prettiest girls in Tennessee
Miss Ann E Ore but I believe she is taking on about Billie Hoskins, sister
Ann’s step son. What has become of Dr.
John. Tell him Lockie is going to Texas
and for him to be ready. He was wanting
us to go when he was up here. If I was
him I would sue her for the contract as he has it in writing. Sister Ann sends her love to all of you. Look if she was at home she and her old
man home to his sisters. Write to us
soon Jack and all of the rest. My love
to all.
Mollie
J Howell
The letter below from Mollie Howell to Cal is newsy with lots of information on the Howell sisters.
Black Oak [?]rane Mossy Creek
Sep
13th 1857
Dear
Cousin Call
I
guess you have said before this time that Mol. does not intend to write to me
any more. Well you are mistaken for once. I started to school the next week after I
wrote to you. We go from home and it is
tree(?)
miles. We have a fine time for we always
ride. Sister Adda [Adeline Howell 1834-xxxx] is going
to start to Texas next week and I have been healping her all the time I
had. I am sitting at my desk writing to
you now the girls are shaking me so I cant half write. We have such a nice teacher. She has red hair but she is so nice and
good. Sister Matt [Martha E. Howell Caldwell 1831-1908] is up
now. She went out to Mr. Caldwells [William E Caldwell 1824-1885] last week
and little Willie [Willie
Herbert Caldwell 1854-xxxx] got his
leg broke. Sis Ann [Bethiah Ann Howell 1826-1894] is
comeing out to our house to day to spend the day. Lockie is going to house keeping next week in
the house that Ada lives in. She says
she is going to write to you when she gets through healping Ada. Did you know Dr Song [?] was married. He has been married some time since but I did
not know it until last week. His wife is
very handsome Miss Mollie Strayly from Virginia. By going to school I will have to put my
visit off until Spring. Then I am going
down to Sister Matt and will stop and see you.
I anticipate a great time down there if they are all as funny as
you. We will look for some of your folks
up to the assotiation. It commences in
two weeks from today. Tell Jack [Andrew Jackson Lillard 1829-1922] he must
come any how. I do wish you could come
and stay a month. We are going to have
company this evening to hear us read compositions and rehearse. Cal Dyer the gentleman you got acquainted
with when you was up here he is coming and his sister Nancy. I tell you what I believe. I believe you and Mr Maise is going to marry
or Dr John [looks like
Jobe]. If you are do send for me, as
I am all the gal maw has now I must begin to make my debut in a limited
circle. I can hardly realize that I am
the oldest for I have always had an older sister to look up to but now it is
root pig or die. I can’t write to do any
good in the school now. We have some
very nice girls. Oh! Cal I have got one
of the nicest sweet hearts in
Jefferson. He lives in Georgia. He is every thing that any one could
wish. His name is Mr Hunter. If you could but see him. Mother has very bad health this fall. The rest are very well. I have not time to write any more as my
lessons are to get and say. Do write to
me soon and tell all the news. I have
not written any thing that will interest you in the least but just think it is
from your cousin that loves you well.
Write soon to your cousin Mollie
In the default notice below it seems
A.J. co-signed a very large $4000 loan which was defaulted upon. Could this have influenced A.J. to go to
California to get rich?
In the
letter below from Mollie, Father (Patton Howell) has remarried after the death
of his wife Nancy on Feb 7, 1858. She
had been ill for some time. There is an
interesting sudden death of an acquaintance due to disease. Mortality must have weighed on people’s
minds when sudden unexpected death was common.
Mossy Creek Feb 5th,
1859
Dear cousin Cal
I
think you have treated me very badly, but I excuse you in some degree as I
understand you are going to step off in another stage. Well I thought I would write to you to come
to see us before for I knew Will would claim all your time afterwards. Pa is married to a very good woman & she
has a daughter that you would like very much.
Sister Matt [Martha
E. Howell Caldwell 1831-1908] & brother Edward (Matt’s husband Rev. William Edward Caldwell
1824-1885) has been up to see us and Sallie went home with them. I would have gone but it has been such a
short time since I was there and I would have stoped to see you if I had. I do want to see you so much. Salburn Sneed told me he saw you when he was
down at home. The Mossy Creek boys had a
party the night before New Year and Mary Mills (that is my step sister)
went. We had a very pleasant time &
got aquainted with a good many of the students.
Hannie Peck went and took sick the next morning and died the next
Thursday. The family are very much
distressed. There is some improvements
on the Creek since you were here but I believe no one is married. I was down at the fair and saw Elliot
Holston. He told me he had been down to
see you. Well I think you had but little
to do to sit down and talk to him. I
think you had better been making your wedding night cap. Brother Edward told me that Murrel was coming
in a few weeks tell I am very glad indeed.
Now you have got to come with him.
I will listen to no excuse from you.
Pa says tell Aunt Nancy that he is married and living very happy and for
her to come up and see his delicate little wife one hundered & 9_6, but she
is better than she is little. Sis must
come with you. I do want to see you all
so much. I will tell you all I know if
you will just come up. Now do come
before you settle down to be an old woman, for you know when you have a house
full of children to take care of you will have no time (to) run
about. Well I will have to quit for I am
going to write to some one else to night.
Write to me immediately and tell me when you all will be up and we will
meet you at the depot. My Ma says tell
you all to come. My love to all.
Your
cousin Mollie
The letter below from Mollie Howell to
Cal comes with a mystery – what was the year?
Mollie is single and looking at this time. It is after 1858 because
little Nan [Nannie D. Massengill 1858-?], Lockie’s daughter, is “fat as a pig”. Julia Lillard is not married yet so this is
before 1867. This contains a wonderful
story about the train spooking Mollies horse and a “little Negro boy” on the
back falling off.
Mossy
Creek May 29 [Approx 1859]
Dear cousin Cal
I
was not wishing to do evil for evil but I neglected writing to you longer than
I had intended too but it is just treating you right. We have had company evry day for three
week. I am just bored to death. I had very pleasant company from Knoxville
this last week, and where do you recon we were when they came? Well Mother sent all over the place for us
but could not find us until she went into the garden house and there we
were. You had aught to have seen us
running. We are going to have a picnic
Satterday. Wont you come up and go with
us. A very nice Virginian comeing after
me and is going to bring his match horses and then I will cut a dash. I presume I am up with you. I have been getting some dresses too, and I
sent to the North for a bonnet. It is
trimmed in white and is very pretty. I
think last week I got a brown riding flat and trimmed it in black lace and
brown ribbon. I guess I will have to
confess it. I have had a widower for a
beaux and he was from Virginia but I have sent him a bug hunting. I am so sleepy I will have to quit and finish
tomorrow good night.
Good day,
This
has been the funniest evning perhaps.
Mary and I went up to the post office and when we started home we met
the cars, so I had a little negro boy behind me and my horse started to run
with me and the boy fel off. All the boy
came running to me and just lifted me off.
Wash say -- Miss Mary I thought
I would get off for fear your horse would throw me after he had done been
thrown off. I will tell you all when you
come up. Dr. Massengill has gone to
Texas so Lockie is a widow. She is
looking for him home next week. She
looks very bad this summer but little Nan is as fat as a pig and is so sweet.
There is nothing going on now on the that would interest a cat, but
next week the boys examination comes off.
They are going to have four days.
I do wish I could tell you something that would interest you. Tell cousin Julia that she may hang up her
fiddle about Billie Hoskins for Mary Mills has cut her out. Just let me tell you Elliot Halston came up
the other day and it was as much as I could do to treat him like a
gentleman. I do want to see you all so
much. You all seem so near to me because
you were my Mothers relations. If I go
to Cleveland this fall I will stop and see you.
If not you must come to see me.
Do not treat me badly any more for I do love to get letters from
you. Give my love all and a little to
Cal.
Your
cousin Moll Howell
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Newton appears to be a very religious man– much of the letter below to Cal is about a week long prayer meeting. His handwriting makes the many names difficult to transcribe accurately.
Feb
18th 1859
Your communication #2 has been recd
some time since. Would have answered sooner,
but our examinations was on hand last week.
This week we have had a revival meeting at the courthouse. We have had several conversions, among rehom [?] and the following person. Grandma will know them. Frank Taylor, James Sour binie [?], Sallie & Jermie, M Corlele [?], Dr. Everett, Jack Davis, Sattie Blevins,
Samantha Blevins, Sis King, Lit Lenty, Little John Lillard, John Geienue [?].
We also have amoung the mourners G. C. Sandusky, Joshua Gein [???] Frank Gein [???], David Blevins, John Taylor, Buch &
Bill Stewart. Meeting commenced a week
ago. Will not break until Sunday. You never saw a better meeting, all
denomination are ingaged in it. In my
next I will write the final results of it.
Our examination was an excellent
thing indeed. I was surprised to see
what improvement the students had made.
There was prize awarded to T. J. Kiessell for the best original speech,
to J M Quinn for the best declamation, to Sis King for the Best read
Composition, Sophronia Robeson best speech for the Little Girls.
I did heartily wish you was
here. I know you could enjoyed the
Saises [?] for it is you natural turn for something pure
& elevated. I sincerly hope you will
suceed in quelling your thirst for mirth & gaity untill you can be
satisfied of your forgivness & have you peace with our God.
I
would have been up for Grand Ma before now, but the weather has been so bad I
have not even been out of town in a month.
Dr. J. M. S. has moved to Goodfeild to try his hand in the farming
line. Uncle Jack Lillard is thought to
be some better but we have little hope of him recovering. I hope he may. He seems to want to recover so bad. Tell G Ma some of us will be up for her when
the road get so we can get along with a vehicle (?). I
would be glad she was here now. Tell her
we have letter from Bro W. C. L. He
writes that they are all well and becoming more satisfied with the Country
every month.
Now
Cal you have slandered me and mine with your comparison to one of the feathered
tribe. Also of the Biped spesei
resembling man in Pedal extremities only.
Remember 2, you must retract your comparison and uses a more pleasent
figurs. Our school commences the last
Monday in this month. Come down and go
to school for what fun there is in it. I
know you would not Learn much from the fact the ??? would have all goin
time. I must close before I stuppify you
with so much nonsense—
Now back to the Philadelphia Lillard’s. Murrell (Augustus Murrell Lillard 1838-1864) was a carpenter, and the note below is calling him to work.
Knoxville
Tenn
May
20 1859
Dear Murrel
I drop
you a line in great haste. You must be
at the Post Office on Monday and you will get another letter from me which will
tell you when to come though you will have to come Monday night. I will write you again Monday and tell you
where to stop as it may be we will do a job at Concord before we work
here. Attend the office on Monday and if
my letter happens not to come you must wait till you hear though my letter will
not fail to go straight. Be ready to
come Monday night. If you don’t hear
wait till you do hear. I have been doing
all I can to make things work right but make slow progress. I write to Joe by this mail --- to Sweet
Water.
Respectfully
yours Thos W Marshall
Another call to work. This sounds like the same job as the one above.
Knoxville
Tenn
Sunday
evening
D. Murrel
I drop you these lines in haste. I have only 15 minutes to go on. I have just got back from the country and
only have this to say, come on Monday night.
I will be at the depot in this place to meet you on Monday night.
So yourself and Joe come Monday night. If you cant come Monday night come Tuesday.
I sent you an order to Mr. Snead for money to come up
on. Give Joe enough to pay his way
up. I have been traveling and my money
is out. Tell Mr. Snead the circumstance.
Yours
Respt etc.
T
.W. Marshall
Tho. Marshall is visiting at the farm in Philadelphia with Fnip [?], Anna, and Francis. He writes this letter to Murrell and Joe with more instructions on painting a house in Knoxville. The Lillard’s have not heard from Jack or Wash yet but it is not known where they are. The date is not given - perhaps 1859 if this is the same job as the previous letter.
Sweetwater 11th July
Dear
Murrel
I will drop you a line or two to let
you know that I will not be up till thursday as I have to be in Knoxville on
thursday. I will come up wednesday night
and I wish you to tell Mr Henry that I will look for him in Knoxville on that
day and will come out with him. I mean
Esquire James Henry. Fnip [?] Anna and Francis willl stay till next
week. You can come down on Sunday if you
like. You can go on and get as much of
the plain painting done as you can so we can get off on Saturday. You can paint the porch as I told you. After you get the boxing done have the
varnishing done. Be sure to have enough
oil in it. That furniture that they want
varnished you prepare your varnish with turpentine alone. Give it a good coat and let it stand till I
come.
We all spent the day yesterday at
your house had a fine time. We will all
go to Loudon tomorrow to a party tomorrow night. You must have all things done you can so we
can get down on Saturdays train. My pen
won’t write so I must quit. Joe you must
keep things right on your part till I come up.
Look for me on Thursday evening.
Your mothers folks are all
well. They have not heard from Jack or
Wash yet. Maggie and Duck are well.
I can’t get this cursed pen to write
so I quit.
Yours
etc. etc.
Tho.
W. Marshall
__________________________________________________________________________________
The 1860 Federal Census for the Lillard’s 4th Civil District Monroe County
Nancy Lillard is 51 and a farmer. She owns $2000 of real estate and her personal estate is valued $5000. 6 children live with her. AJ is a laborer, WW is a carpenter. The rest are also listed as laborers, including Caroline, Murrell, Julia and Jos. B.
The Slave Schedule says Nancy owns 4 slaves, a 70 year old woman, a 42 year old woman, (probably Amy from the bill of sale above), and two men aged 44 and 28. There is one slave house.
The closer neighbors include Anna Grason and W.B. and Malinda Grason families, F.M. and Malissa Pennington, Danl and Eliz Ragan family, and Mary Martin family.
1860 Federal Census for the Howells - Jefferson County, Tenn.
Patton Howell is 54 and listed as a manufacturer and machinist. He owns $18,000 of real estate and his personal estate is $25,000. Inflation from then until now is about 30X so his worth is about $1,300,000 in today’s dollars. Living with him is S.R. female age 54 who must be his second wife, Ellen Goodman - age 90, Mary O Mills - age 17, Margaret J. Howell - age 21, LP Howell - age 13 - female. Also JM Howell - age 11 - male, William S Davis- age 31- a farmer, and GW Cook - male - age 27.
From US census Slave schedules, Patton Howell owns 23 slaves and step daughter Mary O Mills owns four.
______________________________________________________________________________
Mossy Creek Jan 18th 1860
Well
Cousin Murrel
I was so
glad when I received your letter. I
allowed you would think me such a bold chap you would not write to me; but you
know I am an independent scamp anyway: doing just as I please and thinking no
more about it. We are all well except
five of the darkies, down with the mumps. I tell you, we are in a bad fix aren’t
we? I have so much from this winter
Christmas week you know. I was at
sisters and I tell you I had some of the fun ever since I come home. I have just been seeing a fine time going to
singing of Saturdays and cutting up in general. I am going tomorrow. Stop over and see how we all do. It wont take you long for you can come
as fast as a dog a trotting on the cars.
Well Murrel I have got one of the prettiest sweetheart you ever
saw. He keeps fooling around me so much
I am getting tired of him. He comes down
almost every Sabbath and stays until Monday. I must describe him to you. He is about 5 ft in height and almost as
large as Ma white hair light blue eyes and I tell you is a beaty besides. His daddy says Sallie will make John a
good wife if he can get her. I
guess it will be if he can get her sure enough.
Well I am mighty tired to night as I have been baking pies and custards
to day. Aint it a wonder such a lazy
person as myself should get into the kitchen! But I don’t care as my sugar-duck
will get part of them. Lottie Watkins, Mattie, Lea, Mrs Dodson, Emily Caldwell,
Gridean [?], Samuel, Rufus
C., Lochie & Dr Massengill were all out here and spent the day last
Tuesday. Mattie, Mrs Dodson, &
Lottie staid until the next day. Murrel
if you don’t come out this spring I don’t know what I shall do with you. Well I must quit and write to my sweetheart. Give my love to all & tell them to come
up. Write when you get ready.
Your
cousin affectionately
Sallie
Howell
The Ragon (or Ragin, Ragan, or Reagan) name appears in several letters. The Ragon’s were neighbors and cousins by marriage to the Lillard’s. The letter below from Willie Ragin to Cal also contains some letter writing practice salutations and signatures. I guess Willie is in school and learning proper letter writing. It is best to not waste paper.
Decatur Tn
Jan
21st 1860
Cosin
Cal I recived your letter some time sinc and had not time to write you . We have had some parties & injoyed our
selves very much. I would like to have
had you hear Cosin James Lillard was married yesterday to Miss Martin & is
expected home to day. I wish you wer hear
and we wold gown thar and hav some fun for I can hav so much fun with you. Cosin Cal I wish you wold come down and see
us all for I cannot leav to come to see you.
Tell Jane that she is not in urnes [?] for I do like hear but Calie not make hear bleau. Tell your folks howdy from me. So write to San
Your
cosin
Willie
C. Ragin
Washington Lillard also worked as a carpenter and was apparently
successful enough to be considered a mentor for his cousin A.C. Routh from
Cleveland who wants to learn the trade.
February the 27th 1860
State of Tennessee Bradley
County
Dear Cousin I seet my self
down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time
hoping that thes few lines may find you in saying the same blessing. Wash I under stand that you are a carpinter
by trade and are folowing the buisness regular.
I want to learn the trade. I have
work at the buisness pretty well all this winter and I like the buisness very
well and if you want a hand write to me and I will come and see you. If you want to hier me by the month write to
me what you will give or if you want me to set in as a printis
[apprentice]. Write to me what you will
give and how long I will have to work.
Write to me as soon as these few lines comes to hand. So no more at presant but remain yours trule.
A.C. Routh
Washington Lilerd
Direct your letter Cleveland
The love poem below appears to be signed by Cal but it also seems to be addressed to her. It does not look like her handwriting. It comes from Florida and I don’t know of Cal ever going there, so it seems likely that this was from an admirer who did not sign it. Cal seems to be quite the heart breaker. When will she marry?
Monticello
Florida March
5 1860
To Carrie
Sweet Carrie wilt thou think of me
When music tones are round thee trilling
With a soft gushing melody
Thy gentle heart with rapture filling
O let my voice like that loved strain
Touch in thy heart the chords of feeling
Like long hushed music breathed again
By zephyrs over wind harp stealing
Sweet Carrie wilt thou think of me
When friendships flowers are around thee
wreathing
And loves delicious flatteries
Within thy ear are softly breathing
O let my friendship in the wreath
Though but a bud amid the flowers
Its sweetest fragrance round the breath
Twill serve to sooth thy weary hours
Sweet Carie wilt thou think of me
Ar should we ever by fate be parted
Wilt thou embalm my memory
The memory of the loveing hearted
Oh let our spirits then unite
Each silent eve in sweet communion
Out thoughts will mingle in their flight
And Heaven will bless the secret union
[Below in a different hand]
Farewell ye gilded follies welcome ye
silent graves
I love to wander through the fields to see
the vegetable world spring into life
To gaze upon the beauties with God hans a
[Original
hand] Miss Caroline Lillard
Philadelphia
The Taliaferro’s of Loudon Tennessee
were friends of the Lillard’s of Philadelphia.
AJ knew a Mr. Charles Taliaferro in California – he may have traveled to
California with him. AJ married Samantha
C. Taliaferro (1847-1914). There are many
references to Taliaferro’s sending their regards to the Lillard’s in the
letters. In the letter below Mark H.
Taliaferro proposes to Cal in as fine and polite and well written fashion
possible – but he never mentions love.
He is probably Samantha’s Uncle – Mark Hardin Taliaferro (1824-?? See Woodward family tree). This would make him 36 years old - Cal was 25
at the time. Cal did not marry him.
Talk about hard to get!
Hackberry Roane Cty June 6th 1860
Miss Cal;
I
have been studying some time about the subject You lectured me on and I have
come to the conclusion to take Your advice.
Now Madam, I know of no one that would fill my bill better than Your
self and I ask what You would have to say to it. I know that most young Ladies object to letters,
but I am so situated that I cannot well make my wishes known otherwise. I have made two attempts to get to your
house, but failed each time. I aimed to
be there at meeting, also last Satureday, but I was not there as you know. Cal, you will be sure to be surprised when
you get this, yet things come upon us mortals unawares at times. I do not ask you to think all of me, but to
consider my case and make whatever disposal of it you see proper or think best. I do ask it of You (and it is just) not to
let any person know anything about this letter, unles you wish the advise or
counsel of Your Mother about it. If so
it is propper to consult a paret on all occasions; but let no other one know
anything about it.
Now Madam if I did
not have all confidence in You, I am sure You would not receive this from
me. Some may dream of love stories,
build castles in the air, but alas Madam they are not the objects of this life;
be assured that there is a reality in every step we take and there is a destiny
that awaits every mortal being, and we must spend this life in some
manner. Well did the poet say- “It is
not all of life to live nor all of death to die”.
But Cal, I may be
trespassing on You feelings. You can see
the object of this letter. You know
whether it corresponds with Your feelings or not. If it does not return it to me at Hackberry
or Loudon.
Be assured that it is
prompted by the best of feelings, and it would afford me the greatest pleasure
to have You reciprocate, yet I must bow to Your will and good pleasure, in
doing so I will submit as kindly as possible and never have the least hard
feeling if I am treated as a gentleman should be, which I am sure you will
do. I am an excitable being but I have
endeavored to be as calm as possible under my present feelings and
circumstances.
Answer or return soon
so as to releave my anxiety. I am not
versed in the step I am making but You will know this when You received this.
Remains
You obedient Servant Mark
H. Taliaferro
Mark Taliaferro was not Cal’s only
suitor. The man below does not match Mark
T’s standards of letter writing, but it’s good for a contrast and a few laughs! The date is not given.
State of Tennessee Monroe Cty
Dear Miss Caroline
We now take the pleasure of informing you
that we have to acknowledge that we never knew what love was before we
fell. Sorry that we are in love so
strong and find that we are so much by ourselves we honestly and candidly and
conciencly think if you would Just tell that gim boy to not come any further
than the crosslanes. We have a bill that
we hope that we get it to pass both houses in next cession of congress to that
efect. We send those be ??? we think
more of you than any boddy else. Please
respond to this for we was as umble as we knowed how to be. If you had been here you could have seen us
down on our knees in the umble manner that we knew how but. We have a little interest in the lead mines. We don’t esteem that so high as one that can
make our cotes.
Rose is red and vilet blue shugar sweet and so are you if you love us as we love you kow knife can cut our love in two. Please Miss Caroline don’t treat these few
lines with contemp but send us a few .
Nogar. A. W
Nac. D. W
This love poem lists no date or name. It was most likely to Cal since she saved it. The handwriting is beautiful, almost calligraphy. Someone took great pains in writing his feelings down.
Tis
Midnight now; the hour is dark,
And
sad this heart of mine;
Yet
still a thought of thee, dear one,
Comes
like a spell divine.
Though
loved ones round me sometimes sing
Sweet
songs of melody,
Much
dearer is the thought that brings
Sweet
memories of thee.
I
love to think of thee, dear girl,
At
this impressive hour,
When
birds have hushed thier songs, and sleep
Beneath
the shady bower,
When
brightly shines the twinkling stars,
And
dance in merry glee;
O,
then it is in rapturous strains
I
love to think of thee.
I
ever love to think of thee,
At
morning, noon and night,
And
never would I have you stray
One
moment from my sight.
Yes,
fondly will I ever think
Of
one so dear to me;
Through
good and ill, in weal or woe,
I’ll
fondly think of thee.
O,
may sweet dreams, both pure and bright,
Attend
thy gentle sleep;
May
guardian angels round thee watch
And
holy vigils keep;
And
soft as heavenly dew descends
Upon
the sleeping flower
May
peaceful dreams impart to thee
One
thought of me this hour.
____________________________________________________________________
Letters mailed out usually do not return to the place of origin. However the two letters below from Wash to Cal and back again are one of the few exchanges found in the Little Tin Box. Wash has left home for several months to do some carpentry in the Cleveland area. Cal wants to buy a melodeon. A melodeon (also known as a cabinet organ or American organ) is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard.
June the 10th 1860
Sister
Call
As I have just returned
from the mountain or from the huckle berry pach rather, I though I would drop
you a few lines. We have had a fine bate
of berries this morning though they are not as ripe as they will be in a week
or ten days but what is ripe is very fine.
I have seen them as large as a common size cherry. They grow much larger here than they do up
their.
I was taken with a chill the Monday
morning after Jess left here and was for two weeks I could not woork or eat any
thing. I did not have but the one chill
though, think I had a slight attact of the fevor sallivated myself and had the
sorest mouth you ever seen. Could not
eat any thing but a little soup.
Call Max tells me that you want that
malodian. I want you to see mother about
it and see what she says about it and send me word. I think I can get it for less than $20
Dollars if you want it. It is about the
sise of the one that the Ballies had and the notes are all good.
We will get through here this week
and then we have about two months woork of repairing to do at John Chesnutts
before I come home. Say to mother or the
boys to save every straw of the weete and clover for it is going to be hard
times this year. Clevelands folks are
all well and the people generaly are in good health.
I have nothing more of interest to
write to you more than I want you to write to me what to do about the malodian
and how the weete and clover is.
Write soon Your brother W.
W. Lillard
Philadelphia,
Tenn
June
25th, /60
Dear
Brother,
I received your letter
more than a week ago and never attemed to answer it til now. All well up this way accept Murrell he is
mopeing about today a little. They are
just finishing the wheat this evening.
It is very thin but what there is is splendid. The heads are large and full and large
grain. The corn looks well too and is
growing fine. Jesse can tell you that
and our clover is as good as I have ever seen any where. The boys have not cut much of it yet, going
to commence again to morrow. In fact
every thing looks well.
Wash you ought to come up the fourth
of July. They are going to have the
biggest time you ever heard of. Going to
be two shows in Philadelphia that day. I
suppose it is the best show that has ever been here yet. We have been at two examinations this spring,
one at Mt harmony and Sweetwater. We had
a pleasant time at Mt harmony.
Now respecting that Melodion, I
can’t say any thing about it only I wish I had it. Mother, you know; is not willing to get it
but might be if could play on it. She
says there’s no use in spending money for that, but could you not get it
yourself on condition that I could play on it.
I know I could play some on it and if I had one a while I can old some
tell.
If you get sick or accint any thing
you must let us know. We have not had
any letter from Jack in three months and says he has not received any from
us. We heard from him two weeks since he
was well and satisfied as he could be out there. You can answer this if you wasnt to come home
as soon as you can.
Your
sister affect—ly
M.
C. Lillard
I know the first name of Zoro seems unlikely but it really looks like it. Handwriting is always a difficulty and signatures are the worst. Letters between the genders were always exceedingly polite but between the young men there are some earthier lines here and there. You may be amused by Zoro’s wish to squeeze Mag L’s titties in the second letter.
Memphis Tennessee March
17 1861
Mr Murrell Lillard
Dear
friend I take the pleasure of writing you a few lines to in form you that I am
well at present and I hope when these few lines comes to hand that they will
find you enjoying the same blessing. I
have nothing of much intrust to write.
Times ar very hard hear now money is hard to git. I will be up in a bout 6 weeks from now. This plase is to sickly for me in warm
weather. I would like to hear from you
and hear all the newse that has past since I last write . Give me a history of the girls and boys / who
has marred and who has not. There is too
meny folks hear that wants to marry. I
want you to go on and squeese the gals for you love it I now. So you aught to go down to Loudon and stay a
week or too with them. Tell I gollies to
spread him selfe for you now that it dos him lots or good. Write sone.
So no more only I remain yours very respectfully.
Zoro
B Hamrick.
Memphis Tennessee April the 13
1861
Murell
kind old friend
Dear sir I now drop you
a few lines in answer to yours of the 5 wich has been at hand for several days
. I am well fat and sasey. I hope these few lines will find you enjoying
Bat Creek in all its glorys and just give them thunder and threaten them of
me. Times ar confounded hard hear. You will bet I am going to leave hear as sune
as I git my money. I come up and healp you
squire the girls oh & I was so sorrow when I heard Sale [Sallie] and Martha had marred. I did not now what to do for they could of
don so well by takeing you and I dont you say so yes by grascius oh & how I
would love to see Mag L and squese them tittes of hers. I be with them be fore long and give them
hail colluilary [?]. I pursume that Fid and Wash are on there way
to California by this time. I wish them
grate suckseess in thei r trip. I would
like to be there to of went with them.
I have nothing of importaince to write.
I am boarding with one of your kindreds mom from Meggs county Thomas R
Rogers so nothing more only I remain your affectionate friend.
Zoro
B. Hamrick
Andrew Jackson (AJ) Lillard was the only brother from Philadelphia that missed fighting in the Civil War. He succumbed to Gold Fever and left for California with several friends in 1858. This was almost as risky as going to war. The trip to California was by 2 horse wagon through Washington D.C. and on to New York, steam ship to Cuba, then Panama. At Panama travelers went overland at the isthmus and boarded another ship on the west coast and then on to San Francisco. This letter home describes the beginning of AJ’s trip. You can share the wonder of a Tennessee farm boy off on the adventure of his life.
Direct your letter to Courthouse Hotel No.
28 New York
New
York
April
4th 1858
Dear
Mother
I seat myself this morning for the
purpose of giving you some idea of how we are getting along. We arrived here Friday morning. We got along fine except coming through Bulls
Gap where we had quite a hard time of it.
We travel all night in two horse waggon.
We prise out every few miles. I
did not sleep a bit for three days and nights but I seen so much to excite my
attention that I did not feel a bit weary.
There was a ship started for San Francisco Friday and one tomorrow but
we could not git tickets to go on either as there was all sold. We went yesterday and bought tickets on the
steamer Philadelphia but we will not start untill the 17th
Inst. We will be compell to stay here
for two weeks yet. Our bord will cost
$9.00 per week our tickets for 2nd cabbon cost $175.00. Some of our Boys tuck stearage cost
$115.00. I will go 2nd
cabbon. By the time I leave New York I
will have but little or no money. The
cause of pasage being height and hard to procure is because there is no
opposition line now running. I am
disapointed and perplext when I found we could not git off the 5th. I was verry ancious to make my trip as speedy
as possible. New York is a great place
to spend time and money. There is
everything in the world to see and to spend money for. I will have to stay without doing much of the
later as I have not got it to spend. I
will write you again before I leave the city.
Give my complement to Jo and Jane.
Except for yourself the best wishes of your son.
(Continued on the same sheet)
I
will attempt to give you a short history of my trip to New York but I cannot
give you much as I have seen more than I ever seen in all my life. If I had a week I could not tell you
all. As I have said something about
Bulls Gap I will begin at Bristol which is a small place. We past over wooded country some two hundred
miles passing the grandest scenries that nature ever produced. In going on we would pass through deep
tunnels and over height bridges some 100 feet height 1/2 miles long. Then the most beautiful valleys about ½ mile
in width then would the lofty peaks of the Allegany Mountains shoot up to the
height of 3 miles passing through the Alleganies nearly all day and got to
Linchburg at 8 Oclock P.M. Thence to
Richmond after night so I could not see much of the country. Richmond is a small City. It has Washington Statue on Horse, twise as
large as life on a monument 40 feet height.
We then came on to Washington City.
About 60 miles of our way on the Potomac River which is 6 miles
wide. Passed Mount Vernon on the
way. We was at Washington one hour and
went in the capitol which is a mammoth Bilding of marble. We came on to Baltimore it is a fine
City. We passed Phil at night and could
not see much but of all the cities New York beets all. I do not know where or how to begin to
discribe it. I mite write all day and
then could not tell half. Just imagine a
city 10 or 15 miles square with a population 6 or 8 hundred thousand with as
many hacks dray and buggies all passing too an fro. I can go on Broadway any time and see 5
thousand persons at once. It is difacult
to pass the pavment 10 feet wide on both sides while the streets just as ful of
hacks and drays you would think it inposable for them to pass. I was in Barnums Musium where there was ever
thing in the world to see from a nat to the elephant as natural as life and
also a woman that weighted 750 pounds and a living skeleton that weighted 50
lbs. The theatre was going on in there I
thought was well acted. I have been to
Christol Palace. It is a Magnifficint
building with a slender fram being mostly Glass and very large. Close to it is the great basin or water works
which surplies the hole city with water.
It is the greates place to swindle in world. I will give a little curcumstance that two of
our Boys got into. They were walking
down the street and was call on to walk in and see the greates animal in the
world half horse and half man with its tail where its head ought to be. The boys paid there quarter went in and found
old pore horse with his tail tide to the rack.
We have had quite jolfication with the Boys about it. I have not much more paper and must devote
that to something better than my sceins here for I know I will be very tired of
them before we leave.
Call you must write to me as soon as you
git this and write in time to git here before the 17th. Give my complement to all inquireing friends
and especialy the Girls. Tell them I
hope some of them will think enough of me to write when I git to
California. I guess that I will write
again before we start. Give my respects
to old sister Steav fill and Lady. Tell
Jo. If he goes to marry he must send me word.
My kindest wishes to you all.
A.J. Lillard
We have been talking of going some 10 mile
in the country to bond do not know how it will be yet.
The letter below was written by A J Lillard to his mother Nancy (Routh) Lillard and Sister Cal upon arriving in California.
May 27th 1858
You will no
dout be expecting a letter by the time this reaches you. I have not been in the country long enough to
form a correct idea of how I will be pleased.
I think when I git settle at Buisnes that I will like the country. It is the most pleasant climate in the world
I have been here 10 days. It is so cool
that I have wore my coat ever day, except when I was at work. I git $3.00 per day but cannot git work
regular. I intend to hire for a while
and then will either work at my trade or by in to a mine. The water will fail in about two months and
then there is nothing done until next winter.
Math Inlain, Lan Clark and Jes Oeans has a claim that I think is paying
from $6 to $10 per day. I am camping
with Jes Oeans it cost us $1.00 per day for eating and cook it our selves. I have met with many Tennessee Boys that I
was acquainted with Guese(?) Lee is Farming about 2 miles from here. Jim (?) Grubb is about 2 Hundred miles
distant Farming. Lichfield is here with Tilor Hesiskill minning. Dick White and others too tedious to mention
lives about 5 miles from here all mining.
Tell Mr. Crason that I have not seen anything of John. If times don’t change here I think that I
will go up to Nevada (Nevada City, Ca).
75 miles north of this wages is better and I would have better chance to
git a claim. I have had good health
since I left home. The Boys are
scattered around here all well and working a day now and then. I will not write again until I settle
myself. I will do that as soon as
possible. You must write to me by the
return mail. It is nearly twelve and I
must git dinner. Give my love to all the
family also my respects to Jo and Jane and family and except for yourself the
best wishes of a Son. A. J. Lillard
Continued
on same sheet
May 27th 1858
Dear Sister,
We have just
finished dinner. It would do you well to
see me cooking. I could do pretty well
if the dough did not stick to my hands so bad.
I git it of by sticking my hands in the flouer sack. We have bred and beef Butter Syrrup tea and
coffee and some milch by bying at 75 cts per Gal, beef 20 ct per lbs. Bacon 30
ct lb Butter 75 cts lbs. Washing is
height 23 cts a peace if nothing more than Hankerchief so I went down to the
spring yesterday and tride my hand at washing a few articles. I don’t know much
about washing. I will tell how I
done. I warm some water. Soap and rold the close about in it then
boild them 15 minnits then twisted and rung them through another water then
rench and hisor them out to dry. Call
(Cal?) I want you to tell the girls if they wish to marry a good cook jest wait until I return and they can git
one, for I can learn. I went to take the
coffee pot of the fire & the handle was hot & I let go without any body
telling me and spilt all the coffee.
Call you would like to hear something of my trip. I wrote to Mother from Havanah in Cuba. I guess she got in due time but I will begin
with my start at New York which was a fine evening the ship sailed. I let Thos. Holston have my ticket 2 cabon
for Forward, & of all the miserable food we had it. The bread was so hard it would fly between
you teeth like glass & the meat our dog in Tennessee would not eat it. The water we had was not fit for a hog to
drink. How offtimes did I wish for a
Glass of milch & a peace of corn bread and water that we have at home,
although I got along pretty well was not sea sick a minnet the hole way. We was 13 days going from New York to
Aspenwall (Aspinwall is now Colon, Panama) the night we got in Aspenwall there
was a schooner run against our ship and reck it. There was 16 in the crew all got on our ship
the schooner sunk in five minnits. We
cross the ishmust in 3 hours & got on the ship the same day about 160
(1600?) pasengers. It was so warm that I
surfed (suffered) with heat until about 3 day run of Sanfrisco then it was so
cold that I could not keep warm with all the close I had. Call I cannot write half that I would like to
tell you now, You must write to me as
soon as you git this and give me all the news,
My love etc. A. J. L.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Around 6-1858 --- Cal’s reply to AJ Lillard in California
Mother says for you to write how you are pleased and if you
are satisfied (that is, when you are there long enough) with the country no
difference what your circumstances are.
It seemed very hard for you to be doing your cooking washing and every thing
else. I wanted to be there to help you
when I read your letter. I hope you
won’t have to do that all the time, will you?
The girls all sympathise with you greatly they were all glad to receive
your compliments and with seeming pleasure return the same especially Miss Cal
Clevelangd. She says tell you if you
please, as a friend, write to her and give her a description of California and
its scenery if it has any.
There has
been several girls here since you started and oh, how I miss you. It seems if I go to church you ought to be
there or any where else. I suffered a
great deal uneasiness about you when a storm would come up thinking it was the
same where you was.
Sis says
give you her love and of course we all send love to you. Mr Ragan and Jane, send their love. Mr. Ragan says you promised to write to him
and you didn’t do it. Now Jack, I’ll
close my letter and for my sake write me all.
(Continued on the same sheet)
I know you will always retain that noble
principle you possess
“Accept these lines my Brother dear
They’re from your sister true
Though far from sight in memory dear
I oft remember you
I think of thee, at twilight hour
When all is hushed to rest
It is my wish and fond desire
That you’ll be doubly blest
I long to see you home once more
Among your friends to roam
Make haste from California’s shore
To greet your friends at home
But if we meet no more on earth
Where friendly ties are riven
Oh; let us seek that precious worth
And try to meet in heaven
Your friends are well and happy yet
And so are all at home
Your absence we can never forget
We long with you to roam
Fare thee well my Brother for a while
May pease to you be given
If n’er on earth I see you smile
Oh let us smile in heaven
There is a gap of over 2 ½ years in correspondence with AJ at this point. This letter is from AJ to his brother Wash (William Washington Lillard) about the prospects if he were to come to California. Note that AJ did follow through with his early plans to move to Nevada City, Ca as expressed in his letter of 5-27-1858
Nevada
[City] Cal
Feb
24th, 1861
You wish to know how long I intend
to stay here and what could be done here now.
I am not prepared to give a definite
answer on either. It is my intension now
if I git my business settle up to suit me that I will go home next summer or
fall but a man cannot tell when he will git off. As for telling you what you could make here I
cannot do but will tell you as near as I can the prospects and leave you to be
your own judge. If I should advise you
to come out here and you was not satisfied with the country you would blame me
with you being here. I am well pleased
with this country. It is very healthy
and the show for making money is much better than any state in the Union
thought we are crowded with men and it is often hard to git work. That was one thing I was disappointed in when
I came here. I found it hard to git work
and giting work is not all. The next
thing is his pay. I have lost three
hundred dollars since I came here.
Wages is three dollars per day but I
think will soon be down to $2.50 per day.
I am giving $3.00 but not hiring many hands. If you have the rheumatic pains yet mining
would not suit you for a man mining is out in all the bad stormy weather and
probly in the water for two feet deep.
Carpenters git $4.00 per day here but I don’t think he could git steady
imployment as I see many carpenters here that don’t follow the business. A man here to make money must be saving and
indoustrous and keep a strick gard over himself from drinking and gambleing
which is very tempting as a great many here follow both. A good and scientific fiddler gits from 5 to
8 dollars per night and some of them the year round. Grubb is cheap here to what it has been. Flower $4.00 per chot beef 12 and 15 cts per lb pork 20 cts per lb and ever thing else in
proportion. It cost me about $3.00 per
week to live and do my own cooking.
Wash you must use your own judgment
about coming out here and if you ever come you must come with the calculation
of staying ten years. Fortune is not
made here now like it use to be in one or two years and there is thousands of
men here that don’t make any thing but many of them it is there own falt not in
the country. I think if you are a good
carpenter and git regular work you could do nearly as well at home as you could
here. I never have regreted coming here
and think it was a lucky thing for me that I did come. I have made a good deal more money than I
could at home but I have had better luck than most of the boys. You may think this does not give the
information you wanted but I don’t know what else to say.
Write soon,
A.J. Lillard
Charls Taliferro says there is a good show
now at Pike Peak for a young man.
Wash apparently decided against California. Instead he joined the Confederate army but his records are confused with several others with the same name. He probably joined the 5th Regiment Tennessee Cavalry (McKenzie's), Company CI, as a 2nd lieutenant and left as a Captain.
There
is another long lapse in correspondence with AJ at this point; almost 3
years. Letter delivery from California was
probably nearly impossible during the Civil War. Look for more from AJ near the end of the
war.
Chapter 4 The Civil War
The Confederates fired the
first shots on Fort Sumter on 4-12-1861.
Margaret J. Harrison was born while the civil war raged and her future husband fought on the battlefields of a divided nation. 22 years later she married him; Joseph Berry Lillard (1843-1920), 20 years her senior, the editor’s great grandfather. Joseph fought for the North. He was a private in Co. D 11th Regt. Tenn. Cav. He luckily never faced his two brothers who fought for the Confederacy.
Here is a fine example of the division between friends and of the rising rancor between North and South. LM Blackman sounds like a union sympathizer but he is writing to his friend Murrell who is a confederate sympathizer. There are some violent incidents going on in Knoxville at this time.
Sunday
Knoxville,
Tenn. May 5th, 1861
Friend
Murrell
I
arrived in Knoxville safe. Found my
brother well and have been at his house. Ever since my arrival I have not been
to see the Monroe County volunteers but design going to morrow. I have seen
several of them strolling about the streets. Those I have seen appear to be not
a little dissatisfied with the condition they have placed themselves in. Ed Cook left here for home yesterday. I do not know that I have any news or war
items that you will not have heard before this letter reaches you. The Administration at Washington is rapidly
concentrating troops in that city. Southern troops to the number of between
fifteen hundred and two thousand have been dayly passing here since my arrival,
on their way to Richmond. The troops
rendezvoused in this city are expecting marching orders just a few days. There
is a healthy Union sentiment in this place. The secessionists are doing their
utmost to crush out the Union spirit in East Tenn. They ignore arguments altogether and hope to
attain their ends by menace and intimidation.
C. H. Crozier addressed the Knoxville Guards yesterday. He is the secession ajax of East. Tenn. He said that the Union party would be
tolerated but little longer. Johnson he
said could fill his list of appointments and then he must be silenced. He could not be allowed to again take his
seat in the Federal Congress and into appropriations in support of the Lincoln
government. He intimated that Brownlow [William Gannaway
"Parson" Brownlow] and other
leading Union men of this city would be forced into the support of their
damnable secession heresay. As matters
now stand they indicate that a deplorable state of things awaits this country’s
future. A reign of terror will be inaugurated just as soon as the secession
party acquires a permanent predominancy.
Nelson was menaced by a secessionist rabble at Concord. I did not learn this by report but saw it
with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. The moment he stepped from the
car he was assailed. with threats to hang him tar and feathers and etc. As the cars moved off I heard Nelson say
gentleman just try it if you wish. When
the train with the Alabama troops on board arrived here two of them went to
take down a Union flag which floated near the depot. They had it lowered about
half way when a young lady living near by ran and caught hold of the rope and
by the aid of her brother who came running to the spot with a loaded gun the
boys were compelled to desist and were also obliged to beg the Brother not
shoot .
I have not time to write you more at
present. I have written hurridly, excuse
blunders
Your
friend
L
M Blackman
Your friend
L.
M. Blackman
I
should probably be at home Monday week.
Tell John P. or old Johny or William Clemmer to send a horse to Phila by
Hugh on that day and I will pay them whatever is right. Be certain to send me a horse. If you cannot get me from those I have
mentioned try Henry Sheets or John Lillard.
Yours
etc.
Murrell is not at home. More news and mayhem from Knoxville.
Knoxville
June 16th Sunday [1861]
Friend
Murrill
I write you currently (?) in compliance with agreement to let you know that I have arrived in
Knoxville Safe and sound etc. I left
Johnstons Mills Friday morning got to Phila about sunrise but the Pasanger
Train failed to pass over the road that day on account of an accident which
hapened 20 miles this side of Chattanooga of which you have probably
heard. I staid at your Mothers Friday night
and came (?) up Saturday morning. Yesterday (Saturday) one of the soldiers was
shot from Smileys Leagunears(?) Gallery where Will operates by Math (Matt?)
Markham of Loudon who is also a volunteer.
The shot was fired at a man named Beard (?) whith whom Markham had had difficulty with in
Loudon not long since but hit the soldier who was with Beard. The excitement it occasioned was unparalleled
by anything I have ever witnessed. As
soon as it was ascertained from whence the shot proceeded a rush was made for
the Galery but Markham had made his escape.
A search was imediately
instituted through the city which proved successful and Markham was
lodged in Jail. Had he been caught
before he left the building I doubt not he would have been cut to pieces by the
comrades of the soldier he had shot.
The
Union convention meets at Greenville tomorrow.
Diferent conjectures are rife as to its probable action.
Andy
Johnson has gone to Washington. His
route was via Cumberland Gap through (???). I
shall probably be in readiness to start home two weeks from Monday.
Keep your nose clean and your shirt
on.
Your friend
L M Blackman
The letter
below suggests Murrell is not yet in the Confederate Army. He seems to be at White Cliff Springs for his
health. Other names associated with White Cliff Springs are Starr Mountain and Rural
Vale. After this time, there was a resort hotel at Starr
Mountain called White Cliff Springs Hotel.
Thomas Howard Callaway died in White Cliff Springs per the Callaway
association. White Cliff Springs is 25
miles south of Philadelphia. The nearest
small town is Etowah.
See:
http://www.telliquah.com/Starr.htm
http://cmdc.knoxlib.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p265301coll9&CISOPTR=74&CISOBOX=1&REC=5
http://www.southeastclimbing.com/climbing_areas/tennessee/starr_mt.htm
White
Clift Springs Tenn
August
4th 1861
Dear
Mother
Having an oppertunity of sending a
letter to Madisonville I thought drop you a few line. I came up last Friday was a week. It is a great place up here for the girls
& Boys to rip & run over the mountains.
I think I am improving some by the water. I am getting so I can eat very well which is
some since. Tell Jar Reagan that there
is not a vacant camp here that he could get.
All the camp are taken up and some are a building. We have a large crowd here now. There is about 200 persons here taking wimen
& children and now a coming, and would be a great many more if they were
camps for them to stay in. Give my love
to all the girls, tell Bro Jo that we would like to him up here, to play the
Fiddle for us.
I
liken to forgot. Some of the people here
wants to make me out a Lincoln Ite.
Write and give me all the news.
Your
Son
A.M.
Lillard
Here is another note from White Cliff Springs. Murrell has found a camp site for more relatives.
White Clift Tenn
August
16 61
Dear
Sister
In great haste I seat myself to drop
you a few lines. If you and Julia and
Bro Joe Ragan want to come up to the springs, I have procured a camp for
you. If you are coming now is the time
to come. There s a great many here and
more a coming. Mr Cole this Mon. I have been bording with Cift and I will get
some place to bord till you come up.
Write to me soon. I send this
with Mr Runrtalis? He will be with you and Friday night send me word by him
whether you are coming or not. Be sure
and come up. We have a nice house? I am in??? very much
Your
Bro
A.M.
Lillard
The letter below is from NJ Lillard to Cal from Manassas, Virginia, 25 miles southwest of Washington D.C. NJ fought in the first battle of Manassas. This letter was written between the first and second battles of Manassas.
In July 1861, the First Battle of Manassas – also known as
the First Battle of Bull Run – the first major land battle of the American Civil War, was fought near here.
The Second Battle of
Manassas (or the Second Battle of Bull
Run) was fought near here on August 28–30, 1862. At that time, Manassas
Junction was little more than a railroad crossing, but a strategic one,
with rails leading to Richmond, Virginia, Washington,
D.C., and the Shenandoah Valley. Despite these two Confederate victories, Manassas
Junction was in Union hands for most of the war.
Newton Jackson Lillard
in Uniform
Camp Walker Near
Mannassas Junction Feb 9th,
1862
Dear
Cal,
On my arrival in camp yesterday I
found your welcome letter awaiting me. I
did intend calling on you but my time was taken up with the prep[?] of business until I was taken sick. Then I could not travil, and when I made a
break for home I was quit anxious to git back.
I found all the boys in tolerable health and in pretty fair winter
quarters, and will be able to stand the winter much better than in tents. Reinlistment in our regt. is progressing with
some head way and the times indicate that some three hundred of our men will
inlist. It engages the attention of leading men. Outside of that we have no excitement
whatever every thing is quit dull & dreary.
We cannot drill much nor is it very pleasant to have pickett duty to
do. My trip home was not pleasant being
sick all the time. I was there, and I
could not enjoy my sweetheart Co[mpany?]
much being an inviled all the time. When
the war is over I shall be glad to spend many happy hours with you all. I shall try and do my duty whilst in the
service so I shall be worthy of your association.
Give my love to all. Tell them I often think of them and would be
very glad to [hear] from any
of them. I am sorry to that my woman has
married at to a preacher. At that well I
shall grieve much or more than I can help.
I have been disappointed so often that I take these matter very
easy. Let me have a long letter from
you. Write often and do not regard the
rules of etiquette in these troublesome times.
Ever
your Cousin
N. J. Lillard
Murrell has joined the Confederate army
in Bristol, Virginia and seems very happy with his new position as Sergeant of
the Guard. He must have just joined up.
Bristol
Va
April
8th / 62
Dear Mother
I drop you a few lines this evening that you
may know where I am and that I am well and very well satisfied. I got to Camp Supe [?] on Sunday evening after I left home. Found cousin Pattons [Patton Howell of
Mossy Creek] folks all well except
Mollie. She was complaining a
little. They seemed very sorrow that
some of you did not come up with me a few days.
I got optun.. to come up. I was
deluted [?] to this place for a Tower Garet, myself and
twenty others. I have command of the
Gard. We have a great time arresting men
and pressing [confiscating]
whiskey. We arrested an old man
yesterday for getting drunk and cocking a Pistol to shoot his daughter. This morning we pressed two Barrels of
whiskey and taken it to the Hospital for medical use. We burried a young man the other day under
the honors of war that was killed in the Skirmish near Kingston. The people of Bristol are very glad that we
are here to protect them & property and stop all the whiskey sellers. I have got acquainted with some very nice
Girls since I have been here and go around to see them every day. Nothing more write soon.
Your
Son
AM
Lillard Segt of The
Bristol Gard
_____________________________________________________________________________
Cal answers Murrells letter to their
mother below. Things are still going
smoothly on the home front as Mother has just bought an expensive mare.
Philadelphia, Tenn. April 15th
1862
Dear Brother
As you
have written to Mother I will take it upon myself to answer your letter. It found all well here. Mr Ragans family have all had the Scarlet
fever or something like it. Nothing of
importance astir now. They still keep
trying to run a draft in town but they postpone every Saturday evening.
Mother has bought a
fine mare of Jack Rausin, and gave one hundred and fifty dollars for her, a
part of which he took Louies note in. If
you don’t mind some of those old fellows will get your bacon if you do not take
care how you press their whiskey.
I supose we need not
look for you home soon. I will write to
Mollie when I send this. Excuse bad
paper and writing.
Affect’y
your sister
M.
C. Lillard
____________________________________________________________________________________
The letter below from NJ Lillard to his
cousin, probably Cal, came from Big Creek Gap, which is near Lafollette about
60 miles NNE of Philadelphia. See this
link http://www.tngenweb.org/campbell/hist-bogan/UnionatBigCreekGap.htm
The South had lost a skirmish here in
March but it seems that the south has not been driven out completely. The letter is damaged near the end and
impossible to make out. N.J. is
currently a Captain in the Confederate army.
Big
Creek Gap
May
15 1862
Dear Cousin
Your kind
letter per John is to hand and contract noted. I would have written (before?) this but I have been on the
pad [road?] ever
since I last wrote you and to day I have nothing with me except for a blankett
& what cloths I have on. So a light
colered shirt is out of the question. I
do not know when I can come to see you but will do so when an opertunity
offers. I would be glad to spend several
days and some over on fork Creek with Jennie gave her my respect. Say to her I have often thought of her since
out in the camps, but such a thing as courting & marring whilst this war
last is out of the question. I thank
Julie for her compliments and hope her wish will never be so. But the reverse that the termination of
single schedness [?] may soon
come and he be happily united to her who will be the many of ????? ???? ???? To
us back however I may be an??? writing too far on this subject & will
????ist, when I can get any where I will write you a long letter. Send love to
all and except for yourself the love of your aff’ct cosin.
N.J.
Lillard.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Murrell is still Sergeant of the Guard
in Bristol, Va. In June there is a storm
of arrest orders issued to Murrell by his superiors.
Your eyes may be tired from reading the
arrest orders above, so I will transcribe the last one for you. June 6th was a busy day for Murrell.
Headquarters Bristol
June 6th 1862
Sergt Lillard
Sir
You
will arrest after to day June the 6th every Soldier who has not a furlough or
leave of absense from his Commanding Officer and bring him before me.
To
do this you will order out three men consisting of two privates an a corporal
to be relieved every two hours during the day, and they to go any where within
the limits of the towns of Goodson Va & Bristol Tenn
L
R Sucar
Capt
Commanding Post
&
A. Q. M. [Adjutant/Quartermaster}
The letters below from NJ to Cal are
from Grainger County in northeast Tennessee.
Grainger County contains Blaine’s Crossroads and Bean Station, the site
of the battle of Bean Station in December 1863 – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bean's_Station
Camp
Taylor Grainger Co. (Tenn.)
July 3, 1862
Cousin Cal,
Tomorrow is the 4th of July and the anniversary of American
Independence. I would that we was as
pure in national policy as then and hope we of the south will be for our
struggle has been a noble and hard one so far.
Yes our kindred of the north. I have so too but experience has taught us
a sad lesson as to their intentions. The
fight at Richmond has been a very stubborn one on both sides. I conjecture that the loss will be very great
as the fighting was so hard. However we
have not been driven back any in four days and presume for that fact we have
whipped them badly, Nothing but a total
annihilation of our forces will effect our purpose. You from your tone of your
last letter (are) giving up
East Tenn. It may be that we will have
to fall back but I will give you my opinion that before the Yanks have full
possession of Our Switzerland Home they will have to fight as hard as they have
at Richmond and then it will be doubtful
whether they will get it or not. I
intend to stay in East Tenn. as long as a southern soldier can and hope I shall
be able to give them many a hard blow. I
have been suffering severely for four days with my throat. I hope it will soon
be well. If it gets much worse I will go to some hospital or home until it gets
well etc……….
Dear and affect. cousin
N. J. Lillard
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is another letter from NJ to
Cal. Murrell has not yet connected with
NJ. They are in the same Brigade but different regiments. NJ was promoted to Colonel in August 1862. Murrell was only a private.
NJ always writes as if he were giving a
speech, cheering the troops on.
Blains
X Roads Tenn
Aug
2nd 1862
Cousin
I again
have the privilage of Pen Ink & paper and for fear that the opertunity will
not be offered again soon I hasten to reply to yours of 17th
instance. We are as usual movable
through ET staying at no point long at a time.
In view of which direct your letter to Knoxville. They will be sent by courier direct to our
Brigade.
The fortunes of war
are uncertain. Indeed, to day we are victorious to morrow
beaten. Notwithstanding all this I have
considered well the points at issue between us have choosen and determined to
cast my lot with the South. She may have
committed errors but none equall to the Fed goverments. Past & present act & the Lord only
knows what she will do in the future. I
see a recent order of the Fed sch of war ordering negros to be employed in the
Federal army. I suppose we will have
them to fight against next. Let the
worst come the sooner the better.
The South is more united now than ever she was. She has become more daring and err long I
hope she will make a war of aggression upon the North. Let it go home to them who has been the
primary cause of all our troubles. It
may be possible that E. T. will be over run.
One settled point is that they will have hard fighting before they git
it. It is not possible that evry
southern man shall perish. Nay the
havock will be north. We can stand our
own climate better than they. We can
fight as well or better. We as a
population all are willing to fight to death or obtain success whilst north it
was popular to go the war with many it was a matter of necessity. So you can see the different levers of Power
& ready determined which is the most Potent.
Yes if our government was pure and actuated with deer observance of
the Constitution as of 1776, never would I shoulder a gun only in defense of
her rights.
Frank arrived safe in camp though a little scared. We are trying to make out army as effective
as possible. Liner [?] we must keep our
men to their past. We will go to Fork
Creek some of this day & see the galls & boys. I have no idea of this war lasting
always. You know I am gitting too old to
go in to buisness again. I must in any
event get me a wife the first thing when the war is up. So look out.
I could tell you many interesting & funny incidents that has
happened whilst I have been in E.T. and more occuring evry day.
When are you going to
get married. I should like to be posted
a letter if I am worthy of so great a confidince from you. If I was engaged I could not rest untill I
had informed you of it. (No. I would not you would not place any confidince in
it)
Give love to all and
except for your self so much as seemeth good to thee.
Ever
your Cousin
N.J.
Lillard
P.S. I have had no news from
Murrel. I suppose he is some where along
the rail road. That regiment belong to
our Brigade but has not come to us yet.
_____________________________________________________________________________
In the letter below James Helton
proposes to Cal. The penmanship is
fairly good but poor spelling makes the transcription difficult. James is certainly not up to Cal’s literary
standards. Cal’s wish to remain single
until the end of the war might be an excuse.
Knoxville September the
7th 1862
Miss Cal Lillard
I seat my selfe to drop you a few linnes after dwelling for some time
opon the subject whish I shall bring your recollection. It was this.
During my short conversation wee had together before the train cam upp
the morning I was at your hose you remarked that you did not want to mary
during the crisis of this war. I would
be sorow indeed if i new that I had to remain single untill the war was
ented. If I ever intended to marry &
then I acopted a realution to go and see you if I could git the chance that was
my object to mary you if you suited mee and I suited you and I yet intertain
the same felligs all tho I am not as well acquted with you as I want to be but
my chance is bad to call and see you for my buisness is confing indeed and
shall call on you to exspress your feelings by writing to me before I go any
further. Don’t understand mee to make a
maryedge contsed with you yet. But if we
can all ways get along as well as wee have so far that is my intention. Now Cal I want your fillings in full apon the
subject. But Cal don’t understand me to
say that am willing to postpon the ideir of marying untill the war is at an end
for if I put it off the object of maring until that time I never expect to
deivsing[?] life as litle as you thought may had sefferance to my
fellings. Iit was a dis alsieble simest
for mee to heer all tho I did not say anything at the time. But I was sorow to heer you say it for I
thought it mit deprive mee of accomplishing my wishes. So Cal I will gave you my degory typ as shoon
as a chance admits of if you are willing to exchange with mee. So I must close but my few linnes to a close
by hoping you will writ as shoon as this commes to hand. I wold reather you hand note to mee as I pass
in sum little notion that will hid it
Jams Helton.
__________________________________________________________________________
Murrell and N.J. have been moved to Vicksburg
Mississippi since the last letter about 7 months ago. This letter from Murrell to Cal tells of near
starvation and great dissatisfaction with the conditions in Mississippi, and
this is before the siege begins!
From Wikipedia -- During the American Civil War, the city finally had to
surrender during the Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863),
after which the Union Army gained control of the entire Mississippi
River. The 47-day siege was intended to starve the city into submission.
Otherwise its location atop a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River
proved impregnable to assault by federal troops. The surrender of Vicksburg by
Confederate General John C. Pemberton on July 4, 1863, together with
the defeat of General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg the day before, has historically
marked the turning point in the Civil
War.
Vicksburg, Miss
March 16th 1863
Dear Sister,
I have received yours
of the 6th Inst. which I was very glad to have from you all at home,
for I know I do want (to) hear from home as bad and as often as any body in the
world, more especially in this starving degraded state of Miss. I never have been dissatisfied since I have
been in service till I came to this place, which is enough to dissatisfy any
person to have to do as much duty on so little to eat. Our beef is so poor that I do believe that
one of our Tenn hogs would refuse to eat.
We draw corn meal and that very corse and not Sived. You wrote you heard we was about to
starve. I expect you heard nearly rite
for I have actually suffered for something to eat, although times are getting
better. I think it will not be long
before we will have an engagement from the movements of the enemy. They are moving from oppisit Vicksburg up the
Yazoo Pass and it is thought we will have a fight every day. It will raising (?) do the Yankee any good to
just try to take this place, for it is this fortified place at every turn,
although three of their gun boats passed our Batterys some time ago but we
captured them before they could do any good.
I was glad to hear from Miss Jinnie and I would give anything to have
been at home when She was there, it would a been so much more pleasure than
here in this tiresome army. I hope the
day will soon come when I can enjoy a few more days of pleasure with the Monroe
Girls. When you see Miss Jinnie tell her
she could not by no means want to see me any more than I want to see her, and
she is perfectly welcome to keep my Likeness as long as she please. (I did not
know I have but one likeness at home.
Write if it was my Likeness or not).
If it is my Likeness I hope those that Miss Callie & Miss Bettie
taken home with them will make them good Southern Girls before they returned
them. Give them my respect and that I
would like to see them all. I sent
Mother a letter by Noah Maser dated March 4th with wich I sent forty
dollars. He was going home and would get off the cars at Phila which was the
Safest way I could send it. Tell Mother
she can use it as she thinks best. Write
if she got it.
We have had some promotions in our Co. & Regt. Maj Alicand?? died and Capt Brown(?) was
promoted to Maj which we all was very glad to get shut of him as a Capt.,
Wilson will our Capt. Col. Cook has
assince and gon home. Eakin will Col and
Brown First Col.
Give all the family my love.
Write soon.
Your Brother
A.M.L (Augustus Murrell Lillard)
Private Co (B) 59th Regt Tenn Vol
This letter is from NJ to Cal. Wash is NOT with the federals. NJ says he might be drafted into the southern
army and hopes he would go to his and Murrells Brigade.
Vicksburg
Miss
March 16th
1863
Dear Cousin Cal,
Your letter of the 6th Inst. came to hand
yesterday & I hasten to answer. We
are all in pretty good health. Murrel
taken supper with me yesterday. He has
never been so sick as to be sent to Hospital.
We have a few cases of Smallpox.
Those occur among the recruits and not among the old soldiers. We try and have every body vaccinated so as
to prevent it becoming an epidemic. My
notions is that we will perhaps stay down here all summer. If so we cant expect to have so good health
as when in Tennessee. The prospect of a
fight this point is quite distant. In
fact the Federals will not fight here if they can avoid it. There is not so many of the enemy here as
three weeks ago. If the river continues
to rise they will have to look out for higher ground for an encampment. All is quiet at Port Hudson. Some skirmishing upon the Yazoo River or pass. We are all looking anxiously towards
Nashville thinking the struggle is in that direction.
Gladly would I hail a peace upon honorable terms, but
that question is narrowed down to one channel & that is Seperation
unconditional. There has been too much blood
sacrificed on both sides for us to live again together. If that was not the case, the southern people
can not consent to be brought to the level of the negros. We know they have entire regiments of them in
their army & mustering in more every day, and the last congress has made
Lincoln nothing less than a dictator.
Such insseneplory [?] voilation of the Constitution are so flagrant that
we have no assurance of our rights being protected to any extent whatever. I would
that we could all see this great subject in the same light for much
depends upon us in presenting a bold front.
I had hoped that the
conscription would not be inforced in those county in East Tennessee who had
turned out so many soldiers, but the demands for soldiers at the present is
very great and we are holding our ground pretty well this year that if we can
only keep any advances it will do much towards a peace. I hope if Wash [William
Washington Lillard] be taken he will
come to this Brigade. All was well when
last I heard from home [Decatur, TN]. Love
to all & let me have a letter from you often.
Your
Cousin Aff.
N. J.
Lillard
March 17th, 1863
We have good news from Port
Hudson (LA) having repulsed
the Enemy burning one of the Man (of)
War & Badly injuring three others.
Also we repulsed them near Grenwood (Greenwood), Miss with Small Loss to us. It makes me thankfull to God for his blessing
in triumphs over our insidious foes.
Give Jessie(?) my
regards. We will see what she thinks
when I return Home.
Nute
This Confederate rant from NJ Lillard
to Cal suggests that Joe and Wash have gone to Kentucky to avoid the
confederate draft, although moving to Kentucky puts them at risk of the Federal
draft. NJ is arguing the hard core
Confederate case to Cal who has expressed far more moderate views. She may in fact be a Union sympathizer,
although her beliefs are probably more complicated than a single label can
describe.
Vicksburg,
Miss
April
16th 1863
Dear Cal
I hasten to answer your letter of the 7th April. Of course the action that Wash and Joe has
seen proper to take does not meet my views or notions. They cannot escape going into to the war, as
the federals have a more odious Conscript Law than we have & it cannot be
possible they have chosen to fight against their Bro. relatives. As far as my knowledge extends there has not
been any division in the relationship up to this year. I shall deeply regret that we should ever
meet as foes, for god knows my heart I neither want to kill or to be killed by
a relative.
Every thing is quiet here and not much prospect a
fight. We are looking to Tennessee as
the great battle ground for the next two or three months. The health of the army is pretty good &
as far as the 3rd Regt is concerned we have better health than we had in Tenn. You say, how you wish our cause was truly
Just so all could be united. One fact
alone should convince you I think. That
one fact is this. It will in a few days
be 2 year that I have been a Confederate Soldier seeing many of the Southern
people & a fair portion of our northern foes. I have never regretted once taking the course
I have, and the fact of the Confederates maintaining an army and Civil
government for two years pressed on all sides with the northern hord &
Blockade should cause every rational mind to pause & consider why all this
is so. Again the north are taking
negroes from the south & arming them to commit Brutal acts upon their once
kind owners. The thought is horrible
that the races shall eventually be amalgamated.
There is but one solution of the question if the north whip us. (& I
pray god they may never
May have a missing page
i that the white race must
seek the level of the Affrican for in servitude as in the South elevates the
negroe more than any other County on the globe.
You know enough of history to satisfy you as to the last asertion. That the confederates have committed some
blunders I readily admit & it could not be expected otherwise when
everything was in such a chaos. I cannot
see the present oppossion. All must
expect to contribute their share in the struggle. If not they certainly cannot expect to enjoy
eaqual with those who have. I dread to
encounter the strife of arms but I dread more to loose that independence which
has been given to us by our revolutionary fathers and never will I.
I as a soldier of the government & Representative of
the Volenteer State never will consent that negroes shall be soldiers in our
government. If we fight with them, let
them hold office Civil & Military. Also
let them set at the same table & Last of all we must consent for them to
marry our Sisters & Brothers Mothers.
Horrible thought what would the realization be. When that is the case in
the southern government there Let me die.
I see the news in Ky is not so bad as first reported. We must expect some reverse or at least we
soldiers do.
Cal do not become offended
with anything I have written. They are
the outpouring of my heart. I feel that
they are my honest principles & at the same time, I allow to you &
others to have your own opinions.
Although we may differ we still are kindred and as such let us write
each other freely & fully our thoughts.
These are not times for selfishness but we should try and past
counsels[?] upon the issues before us & then act. Give my love to your Ma & Sis. I would be glad to see you all & have the
pleasure of exchanging our thoughts.
Murrel is well. Shall expect to
hear from you if you feel me worthy of corresponding with Your Cousin Ever
N.J.
Lillard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the last letter from Newton Jackson Lillard. He was a Colonel and the commander of the 3rd Tennessee Regiment at the time of the letter above. He survived the war. See this following link from the Tennessee State Library and Archives for more about Newton J Lillard.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Newton Jackson Lillard
1832 Born
in Meigs County, Tennessee the son of James III and Mary
Sandusky
Lillard
1848-1849
- Served in Mexican War in Captain
McKenzie’s Company
1858-1861
- Served as County Court Clerk of Meigs
County for one term
1861
May 2 - Enlisted in first company that
left Meigs County for the Confederate service which was part of the 3rd
Tennessee Regiment (Vaughn’s). He took
part in the first battle of Manassas. He was a captain.
1862
May - The 3rd Tennessee Regiment was
reenlisted and reorganized and he was elected Lieutenant Colonel
1862
August - became Colonel and commander of the 3rd Tennessee Regiment when Vaughn
was promoted to Brigadier General
1862-1865
-- Led his Regiment in the Kentucky
campaign, Baker’s Creek, Big Black, Vicksburg, Morristown, Greeneville, Bull’s
Gap, and in the Valley of Virginia.
1865
-- Accompanied President Davis as part of his escort to Washington, Georgia,
and on May 8 surrendered his regiment.
1865
-- Married Miss Caroline Worth of North
Carolina
1865-1890
-- Engaged in mercantile business in Meigs County
1870-1882
-- Served as Circuit Court Clerk
1890-1905
-- Resided in Ashe County, North
Carolina. Mercantile business
1882-1888
-- Clerk and Master of Circuit Court
1905 October 22 -- died in Decatur, Tennessee
In the letter below from Murrell to Cal, the date on the letter looks like 1861 but it must actually be 1863 to fit the time line. Murrell has been offered the position of drummer in the company brass band by Col Eakin. See http://www.tngenweb.org/civilwar/csainf/csa59.html for more info about Col Eakin and the 59th Tennessee infantry Regiment.
Camp near Vicksburg Miss
April
20th 1863
Dear Sister
Your letter
of March 23 has been recieved some time since with great pleasure, and was very
glad to hear from you all and hear that you was all well. I would have answered yours sooner, but
waiting untill your box of provisions came thinking every day that it be
hear. But I have not heard anything from
it yet. Some provision from home would
be very exceptable here, but not as much as would some time ago, for we draw a
heap more near than we did a few weeks ago.
Cousin Nute was telling me that Wash had gone to Kentucky. I did not think that he would do such a thing
as that. I am very sorrow that he has
taken the cours he has. I want you to
write to me all about him going.
Col Eakin has for some
time been offering me the position of Drummer.
I have at last excepted it, and as we are getting up a Brass Band it
will be worth something.
Capt Van Dyke is going to Tenn for the instruments and a
music teacher. He will go to my house
for My Drum. You will send it and a pair
of pants if you can conviently. Give my
love to all the girls. Tell Ginnie I
would give the world to see her. Write
soon and often. My love to all the
family.
Your
Brother
A.M. Lillard
Co(B) 59 Regt
Ten Vol
The Union Siege of Vicksburg was from May 18 to July 4,
1863. It had not yet started at the time
of the previous letter. However, there
are no more letters from Vicksburg in 1863, which might be because of the
siege.
Even during the war Cal was pursued by many
men. Thos. Copeland is a confederate
soldier who has heard about Cal from a friend [Ethan? Eltens?] and started a
correspondence with her. He is very
interested in continuing the correspondence although he has never met Cal in
person. Jacksboro is near LaFollette and
Big Creek Gap, where NJ was posted on May 15th 1862. Note the patriotic stationary.
Jacksborough May 13 / 63
Miss Cal after a delay of about ten or eleve months I will atemp to
respond to your kind favor whitch came to hand in due season. The cause of my delay first was on account of
the hasty manner in which the regt to I belong was moved from point to
point. Usually I had got so far away that
there was no certainty of a mail getting through to where you live. Thirdly it was because of your requireing me
to do my own writing and me feeling unable to corispond bye mail with as an
accomplished writer as you are. You
judged correctly about the letter that I sent you not being my own
composition. It was composed bye our
friend Ethens [Eltens?] and
although I mailed it and sent to you there was some thing in it that was not
consistant with my notions. One thing
was if my recollection serves me that i was consented that he should make my
choice of a companion. This is more than
I ever expect to do. I exspect to make
to make my own choice in that respect because I think it my liberty and right
and not anothers. Truly I have made up
my mind to take to myself the better half if I ever got out of this unfriendly
war alive and I was highly pleased with the discription that our friend Ethens
gave of you and his honesty and faithfulness was confirmed in your favor to
me. I was anxious when I heard of you to
become acquainted with you. I am still
more anxious since I received your favor, and fell determined if I am depaired
and it is consistant with your feelings to see you as soon as opportunity
afords. I am still in the war and
expects to be if I live till it is ended.
I wish you to write to me soon as I will impatiently wait to hear from
you. I gave you my word that no one see
your letters and will require the same of you.
This is my composition and writing and if I writ again it shal be my own.
no
more than my best
wishes
and respects
to
you
Jos M. Copeland
P.S. you will direct to Co. {E} 5 Regt Tenn Cav
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What has become of the Howells? There have been no letters from Lockie or Mollie Howell during the entire Civil War. Lockie had a younger brother John and the information below tells of hard times for him and the Howells during the Civil War. These events happen soon after June 21, 1863.
From http://dallaspioneer.org/stories/pioneers.php?ID=423
From
Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA. This 300 page hardcover book is now
available online.
As
a young boy around 12, John Mashman Howell rode alone on a crippled mule across
Newfound Gap in Tennessee through Union and Confederate lines to live with
relatives in North Carolina. His father, Patton
Howell, had borrowed money from the Union to build a dam on Mossy Creek, East
Tennessee, where he made tools, wagons and caissons for the Confederacy.
Union bushwhackers burned it down and killed everyone they found. Patton
escaped into Alabama with a price on his head, married again after the death of
his first wife, and died there.
From the book “History of the 112th Reg of Ill Vol Infantry, in the great war of the rebellion. 1862-1865” - Report written by Major Dow. http://www.archive.org/stream/112thregillinois00thomrich#page/46/mode/2up
Page 46: Howell factory burned 6-21-63 during Col. Saunders Raid of E. TN
October 20th 1863 was the date of the Battle of Philadelphia, TN. There are no references to this famous battle in the Letters from the Tin Box, which is a surprise since this is the Lillard’s home town and the battle took place on or extremely close to the farm. See http://45ohio.homestead.com/phila.html for a very thorough description of the fight in and around Philadelphia.
Eleven months have passed since the
last letter. Here is a rare letter to
Wash [William Washington Lillard – Cal’s brother] from a friend from
Kentucky. This one does not mention the
war but speaks of parties as if before the war.
Wash was 33 years old at the time of this letter. When did Wash join and leave the rebel army and which regt?
London Ky
April
4th 1864
Mr. W. W. Lillard
Dear Sir:
I
have an opportunity of sending you a few lines, by a gentleman that is
here. He says he left you about 1 month
ago and that you was all right at that time.
It was the first news I had from you since you left here.
I havent got any news to write.
Everything is going on just about as it was when you was here. Lilford has bought G. P. Browns store and he
& Will Jackson are selling goods there.
H. J. Blakely is living in Town and is selling ????. He is Post Master now. All Aikman has converted his shop in to a
Whiskey Shop. Old Capt Hays is married
& doing well. Miss Lizzie Graybeal
is to be married to a Mr. Fletcher from Tennessee. I guess you heard about Miss Nan King having
married a Mr. Leforce.
We had a dance last friday night (plenty of girls present), nobody
drunk or disorderly. I have been well
and hearty since you left only I was sick a short time. I want you to write to me and tell me what
you are doing and how you are getting along with the girls. I guess you have married before now and
settled down for life. If not I want you
to tell me so. I must close for the
gentleman is about to be off.
Good
bye
Your
friend
John
H. Faris
___________________________________________________
Clues about Sallie Ragan – she
lives in Decatur. She is Cals
niece. Cals sister Louisa Jane Lillard
married Joseph “Reagon”.
Decatur Tenn
June the 20 1864? 1884?
Miss Callie Lillard
Dear little Aunt
After so long a time I will try and write
you a few lines. I thought I would of
wrote be fore now but have not had hardly time.
How are you getting a long this warm wether I tell you I get so warm I
don’t know what to do. I was out at
cousin Jinnies she said to tell you she still had the apron yet. She has never washed it yet she calls it her
cousin Callie apron. There is a grait
deal of sickness around hear some feavar and flux. Every body nearly has got them. Joe has been very low with them. He is so he can sit up some. Addie said why in the world didn’t you come
with us down hear. Tell Aunt Maggie that
I want to see her so bad I don’t know what to do. How big is Fred. I guess he is as big as Walter by now. Tell him Walter said he was going to throw
[throne?] him when he came up there.
Addie said she wished you could come down and stay with us a week or two. She said to tell you she was as poor as
you. She said you could count her back
bones as far as you could see her. She
said if you was close enough come to see her she said if she could see you
coming up an Old gray[?] this it ??? do her more good than evry thing in the
world. Tell grand mother Addie said she
had a coat to bring to her to fix this fall.
Well I guess you are tired of reading.
Write soon and a long letter.
Your
loveing niece
Sallie
Ragan
Cousin S. Frazier has come back here to
live. They say her daughter is in bad
health.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is some unfortunate news from Murrell, who was at Vicksburg,
Mississippi at the time of his last letter.
Camp Morton Indianapolis
Indiana
June 27th
1864
Dear Sister,
I have no doubt you all would like to hear something of my
whereabouts. I am here a prisoner of war, was captured 5th June at battle of
Piedmont. My health has been very good.
I need some money and would like for mother to send me $20 or $25 (U. S.
money) and send it by express as it will not be safe otherwise. I want you to write very often as you are not
allowed to write but one page and no news as nothing of the kind. I send you and Julia two rings, I made in
prison. Have you heard anything of
brother Jack, if you have give me his address.
My love to all friends especially the Girls, and would be very glad for
any to write that will. Write me how,
the farm is doing and where the boys are, and the health of the family and
people generally.
My love to all, accept
a portion for yourself
Your brother
A. M.
Lillard, Prisoner
59th Regt.
Tenn. Cav.
Camp Morton, Indianapolis
P.S. Do
not fail to send me some money
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camp
Morton Ind.
August 2nd
1864
Dear Sister
I received twenty dollars & express envelope, expressed from W. C.
Nelson, but no Letter. I suppose the
money was from you, and I am truly thankful for the favor. You must not write anything
counterband, one page and be very particular how you address or it will not
come inside the Prison and when you send anything, send from no name but yours
and from Philadelphia as I have to tell who and where it is from or I cannot
get it. I am well and all rite and do
hope this will find you all in good health and doing well. I would give anything if I could have got
your letter so I could have heard from Cousin Sallie & Mollie Howel. Tell them to write. If I stay here long I will have to have some
clothes. I wrote you 20th July thinking
you did not get my first. Give my love
to all. Write often
Your brother
A.M. Lillard
War Prisner
Address Division No 2
Camp
Morton Ind
If you and Julia wants my rings or Brest pins let me know you want
them mund and I will make them and send them to you. My love to Jinnie Mc and would like to hear
from her very much.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
AJ is still in California. He
hasn’t had a letter from home for three long years during which his homeland
has being devastated by the war. AJ
doesn’t even know where his brothers are.
Even so there is lots of news about the war by this roundabout way.
Nevada, Ca
Aug
7th 1864
Dear Mother,
I have
been waiting some time thinking when communication was open I would hear from
home but have waited in vain as I have not rec’d any thing yet. It has been three long years since I was the
happy recipient of a letter from home and it has been a source of much pain and
anxiety to me for the well being of a kind Parent and affectionate
Sisters. For I know you have not missed
the calamities of this cival war. I hear
that our section of the county is lade wast, that the destruction of property
has been great, and people that once was wealthy are now reduce to poverty and
want.
Where is
Caroline. I have been exspecting a
letter from her as she has been very good in writing to me but it seems that
time and distance has caused her to forget a brother in California.
It was my intetion to
have gone home before this but have been prevented on account of buisness war
etc. I am well at presant and in very
tolable good health here and making a fare living but I am getting tired of a
minners life. We have had two very dry
years no rain to amount to any thing and a great many minners could not do
anything. I bought in a claim two years
ago and have not been able to take any money out since from the scarcity of
water.
Last fall a Mr
Flemings left here for home. He lived in
Knowx County. I made him promise to go
and see you and then write but he has neglected his promise.
I rec’d a letter from
Wm Greyson about one year ago. He was
then in Middle Tennessee with the army.
His letter was short and give but little news. It stated that Wash & Joseph had gone to
Kentucky and Murrel was in the Confederate army , and also spoke of several of
the nabor boys with him in the army. I
have thought it very strange if Wash and Jo. was in Kentucky that they never
wrote to me. I have just returned from
Charls Taliaferro’s. He had rec’d a
letter from his brother John. He gives a
deplorable state of afairs in Tenn. I am
doing nothing at presant minnig in general is stoped for the season. Buisness of all kinds dull. A great many gone to the new mines Reese and
Boise Rivers.
I hard from John
Stanfield not long since and wrote to him.
He was in Knowxvill Iowa. He
wrote to the Postmaster here inquiring for Thomas.
Ma you will please
excuse this short letter. I would write
more but I doubt its ever reaching you, and if it should come to hand I wish
you to write at your earliest convienance as I am very anxious to know how have
afairs stand. Whether good or bad don’t
with hold it. Tell Murrel if at home to
write as I would like very much to hear from him.
Give my compliments
to all inquiring friends and except at home the love and best wishes of a son
and Brother.
A.J. Lillard
Call be sure and write soon and give me all the news, marriegs,
deaths, and all the occurances that has happen since I heard from home.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is some
misinformation in the letter below.
Joseph Berry Lillard did fight for the Union but he did not die until
1920. It seems most probable that
Murrell has received erroneous news of his brother’s death, probably
originating from NJ Lillard.
Camp Morton Ind.
Sept 19, 1864
Dear Sister
Yours of Sept. finds me well and doing as well as could be expected
under present circumstances, but yet it gave me much sorrow to hear the
misfortunes of poor Bro. Joe, he has had a hard time, but is over now (he died
of smallpox in Union army). I would like very much to have some clothing if
they will not be two hard to get. The order is for but one Gray suit and a
change of underclothes is allowed to come in. You may send a gray dress coat
gray pants and vest made as warm as possible. The winter is very cold here and
coat--Trimed Cav. uniform. Two colored shirts woolen (if can be had) two pus
[pillow?] slips colored two pair socks one pocket hkf. & hand towel,
thread, needles, pins etc. a small
quantity of smoking and chewing tobacco. Thos. Williams sends to Mrs. Thos
Upton for some clothing & wishes them sent with mine. They will send them over. Send Box to care of Col Stevens Comd
Prison. I will make Julia a Ji??? &
send it. I have not written Bro Jack. I can not get the 10c stamps. Tell Wash to write & any that will. I will be pleased to have from any.
My love to all, your brother
A.M. Lillard.
2nd Div C M
______________________________________________
In the letter below Murrell writes from
prison to his brother AJ in California.
Murrell still believes their brother Joseph has died in a Confederate
prisoner of war camp. Wash is at home in Philadelphia.
Camp
Morton Ind
Nov
2nd 1864
Dear Bro.
This
finds me well and doing as well as could be expected under presant
circumstances. It is my lot to be a
prisner war, was captured Battle Piedmont Va 8th June / 64. Belong to a Brass Band 59th Reg’t
Tenn Cav, Gen J. C. Vaughn’s Brig. I
received a letter from Sister Cal Oct 16th. They was all well. Wash was at home. Joe poor fellow is reported
be dead, died in Richmond Prison with Small Pox. He belong to the Federal Army. Steve has left them[?]. She said she had rec’d several letters from
you. Could you express me some money. If so it will be a very great help to
me. If I ever have the oppurtunity will
replace it. There is no order
prohibiting any amount coming in. Let me
hear from you on reipt of this. Write
but one page and nothing contraband is the orders. Address Quchde prison Camp Morton Indianoplis
Ind.
Your
Brother
A.M. Lillard
___________________________________________________________
After almost 3 years here
is a long overdue letter from AJ in California.
Nevada [City] Cal
Nov 30th 1864
Dear
Sister
I received your kind letter
yesterday and I can assure you it was a sourse of much happiness to hear that
you all was doing so well in those trying times of civil war.
It
has been the cause of many gloomy thoughts in my mind to hear from my old home
the fair land of my youth being made a battlefield and my Relatives and friends
subject to all the evils attending the contending armies. But now I am far better satisfied since I
have heard you are doing well. I hope
Wash may be able to stay with you. And
if it should occur that any of you needs any money let me know how much and I
will send it.
I am well at present have enjoyed
good health since I last wrote to you.
There has been nothing occurred worthy of note since, only we are now
having a good rain, something we have not had much of for two years and we are
very glad to see it come it will make water.
I had been thinking if I could git my buisness settle by next fall I
then could go home but as you say not I will wait and see what time will bring
forth without making any further calculations.
I would like to be back there very much if it was only for one week to
see old friends and things generaly.
I have heard of several marriages
between yankee soldiers and Tenn Girls.
I do hope that I never will hear of that with you or any one else that I
think any thing off for I don’t know anything they could do that would lower
them much more in my estimation. I guess
my esteem is of little consequence to any but you and Julia.
You did not speak of Mother or Julia
in your letter. I hope they are both
well. Mr Taliferro sends his respects to
Ma.
Call if I would do as I wish to be
done by I would not stop your letter here but continue it for several
pages. For I wish you to write me a long
letter next time. Tell me how ever body
is doing and all the Girls that has married in the last 3 years and all that
want to marry.
Your affectionate Bro
A.J. Lillard
(Continued on the same sheet)
Friend
Joseph
I have not heard a word from you in
over 3 years untill yesterday. Was happy
to learn that you was at home. I will
now proceed with out ceremony to give you a few items since I last wrote. In the fall of 61 I sold my claims thinking
then the first favorable opertunity I would go home but as I seen no good show
for going I abanding the idea and in the summer of 62 I bought in some claims
with J. McReynolds & Amos Marney.
The ground has cost me about a thousand dollars and I have not got a
dollar from them yet owing to its being two very dry years and we had no
water. But it looks favorable now for a
wet winter and if it is I will git even on then this season I think. But I have not been idol have been giting
three dollars per day most of the time but a man gits so here that he don’t
like as to work for $3.00 per day. That
is some do and I must confess that I am one of them if I can do any better.
The Presidential Election is past
and we are beat in this State Lincolns majority about 17,000. Nevada is the greatest Republican hole you
ever saw. They vote about 800 to 120
Democrats and they have their tickets marks so that they can tell ever man that
puts in a Democrat ticket. For my part
they can procribe me I would not vote for them no way they could fix it.
I see some returns from Tenn in the
papers. I wish you would write me
whether you voted in this election in your section or no. and if any of the
citizens voted for Lincoln & Johnson and who they were. And if any it is a geat deal more than any
one of this stock would do here. We have
had no draft here so far but I think if the war goes on we will not escape much
longer and if ever the time comes that I have to go in the army Murrel shall
have one more of the family that will go with him. I had hoped that I would be saved the
mortification of having that any of my relatives would chuse the corse that Joe
has but I will say no more for fear your first news from him is true and if so I
should be sorrow that I said anything.
Give my complements to Sister Jane.
I would like to hear from her.
Tell Will I would like to pich at him again.
A.J.Lillard
(PS) Call if You please ask Wash why he did not
write to me while in Kentucky were the mail was open all the time.
Three months later the
saddest of news has reached AJ in California.
His brother is no more. Augustus
Murrell Lillard died at Camp Morton Indianapolis on 11-22-1864.
Nevada Cal.
Jan
28th 1865
Dear
Sister
I received your letter
dated Dec 3rd a few days since and Oh the sad news that Murrel was
no more. I can not express my feelings
when I saw that Murrel was dead.
What
a pang of anguis went to my heart. I
have tasted the bitter cup of sorrow and I have scincerly felt (Cal) that I
could weep with you over a dear departed Bro.
But he is gone and we can not help it.
We must submit to the will of Height Heaven Who rules over all things.
If he had died at home I would have
felt better satisfied. Then I would know
that he was attended too but where he was I fear he did not git the attention
the sick should have, and if he was neglected in sickness may God avenge his
wrongs.
Call you wish me to come home. I regret that I am not with you now as there
is so few at home. Buisness requires me
to stay here till next summer but if you insist I will come soonner.
Mr Bacome will ever command my
gratitude for his kindness to you all.
Tell him that Alferd is getting along about as usual - has poor health - not able to do much
work. He reced one letter from him last
summer. The other boys are well. Call I sent you and Mr Ragan a letter about
the first of Dec. and another to you the first Jan. I hope you have reced them both. The last had my Photograph in it for you.
I sent Murrel a check on Wells Fargo
for thirty dollars in gold payable at New York to his order and as no one can
draw it untill he signed it over, it will be of little use to any one but
me. I wish you would try and hear from
it and have it sent to me. I can draw
the money on it hear. I would write to
Camp Morton but dont know any one to write to.
I don’t feel like writting this
evning will close with my best wishes for you all
A.J.
Lillard
The Civil War ended April 9th 1865 with the Confederate surrender at the village of Appomattox Court House. The War changed everything in the south. Slavery was a fundamental element of the southern economy. It is estimated that slaves were the single largest category of wealth in the south; a greater value even than real estate. The largest portion of many families wealth simply disappeared on January 1, 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation.
In spite of the recent upheaval, this letter from Mollie Howell to AJ sounds like the hard times are behind them. It sounds like AJ is back from California. He mentioned the possibility of taking Emma Gass back to California, so he may be planning on returning. We shall see.
Mossy
Creek May 19th 1865
Much
loved cousin,
I received
your letter of the 7th in due time, and should have answered it
before now. You will be kind enough to
forgive me I know. Evry day for a week I
have said I was going to write to my cousin Jack, but something has always
happened to prevent me. I had company
most all week, and have been visiting some.
Monday Mr. Diden came and stayed until Wednesday. I began to think he was going to spend the
Winter, he brought his pocket of candy as usual. He says he will be back in a few days, but I
don’t care if I never see him again.
Some of Mr. Gass’s relations are there from Greenville. There is one very nice young lady Miss Nannie
Gass. I called to see them Friday. They will be to see me this evening. Miss Tina Marshall is staying with Mrs.
Colvin, so you see our town is improving.
If you would come up now you could have pick and choice of the above
mentioned ladies. I told Emma Gass what
you said about taking her to California.
She was down here when I told her.
She said when she went home and got dinner over she would be quite ready
to go. I expect she will go to
Greenville with her aunt when she goes home, then what will I do. You know she is my right hand mate.
We have three protracted meetings
going on near us, one down at sister’s at that church, and one at New Market,
the other near Talbotts Station. I have
not been to any of them. We all would
have went today but Mr. Fains ambulance was not at home. The girls are coming now. I will go and talk to them a while.
I have had a very pleasant time for an
hour or two. I do like Miss Nannie Gass
so much, and I know you would like her too.
I am going up there to night to sit a while. Em says she knows I am writing some storys to
you, but I told her it was not so. I was
at a quilting at Mrs. Colvins week before last but there were no gentlemen
there so you may know it was a dry place.
But we made our tongues run on most evry subject, as girls will you
know. I am truly glad to hear of Mr.
Graysons marriage for I know you will not tease me any more about him. I wish I could have been at the sernade, as I
am partial to the sound of old tin pans and bells. I have not heard any good music since I was
down there. At night when I am in my
room so lonely I often wish Joe and Wash were here. You can’t imagine how lonesome I do get for I
stay upstairs by myself and will as long as the Madam Haskins stays. I look for Sallie evry day, but it looks like
she was not coming. When she comes sis Lockie
is coming up and Callie & Wash must come with her. I tell evry body I see Sis and Jody are
coming up here Christmas, and you be sure to come with them as before. I wrote to sis Lockie last Thursday. Tell her I have my dress most done, and have
brain enough to finish it. I think Mr.
Cambell will bring me a letter to night from her or from Joe & Sis. I need the letter you remailed, you hoped
there was good tidings for Mollie. Yes I
suppose so. Tell Mr. Taliafaro if he is
so much pleased with being given sway in Jefferson it would be well for him to
come and see the object he has been given too.
Mr Cambell has come from the [Post] office, but no letter for me and I
do feel so disappointed. I think I ought
to get a letter evry night, but I don’t.
Tell aunt I have not got any more coats to make, and hope I won’t soon
again if ever, but if I should she may look to the troubled with me. I said when we were making Johns coat I never
would try to make another. All the girls
up here that you are acquainted with send their kind regards, an love one,
Hattie G sends her love. Mrs. Colvin
says remember her to aunt. I send my
love to all, and yourself in abonndance.
Jin may kiss Nannie evry day for me while she stays. Tell dry I want to hear from him, but
want to see more. There is enough of you
there to write to me oftener than you do.
Good night. Write soon, and tell
me evrything you know.
Your
loving cousin Mollie
This letter from Mollie to Cal tells of the changes experienced by her family after the war -- “The Negroes all left in March” which means they stayed on for more than 2 years after the Emancipation and only left just before the end of the war. Mollie is a very literate. She rarely misspells a word, she has good penmanship, and she uses punctuation better than most.
It sounds like both Wash and Joe are back home in Philadelphia. This is the first confirmation that Joe did not die in a prison camp.
Mollie spells her sisters name Lochie – or is
it just her handwriting? Lochie has a daughter Fannie –
not Nannie? Sallie is almost
certainly Sarah P. Howell (1846-????)
Philadelphia
Mossy
Creek July 5th 1865
My darling cousin
How
happy I am to think after so long a time I have heard from you. Aunt Nancy’s family are the only relations I
have in E. T. that I do realy and truly love.
Last week I rc’ed your dear letter, but I was so unwell all week I could
not write, and yesterday I received your note.
Why it was you never got the letters Sallie and I wrote is a mystery to
me. Just before she went South (which
was in Oct.) she wrote two letters to Julia, and I one to you telling you I
would come down Christmas to see you, but getting no answer from you concluded
I would not go, but if nothing happens to prevent me , will be down there in
August or Sep. I think Pa and Sallie
will be at home before long. Pa was at
home a few weeks ago but could not stay long, as he is farming in N.C. Dear cousin I do not think cousin Murrel can
be dead for pa said Sallie got a letter from him just before he came home. If he was our own brother I don’t think we could
love him more than we did. I do pray
that he is still living. Sis Lochie is
now at Knoxville, and when she is gone I have so much to do, and am so
lonesome. I have all the work to do, the
negroes all left last March. I am just
as black as one of them myself now, and weigh 102 lbs, quite a come down. The warm weather is almost killing me, and
other trouble together, Cal I am changed, but who is not? Fannie keeps teasing me to quite writing, and
go with her to the dining room to get something to eat. I most always keep her when Lochie is gone,
which is very often. Dr. wants her to
stay all the time there, but then she can’t very well do it. I expect they will go to house keeping down
there before long.
Sallie Haskins
marries next Thursday to Shane Harris. I
have not been invited yet. Sister wrote
to me about it last week. They are not
going to make a wedding. Cal I do wish
you would marry and ask me to be brides maid, wont you? But if you do not intend to change your
position we will set up shop together. I
would write you a long letter to day, but have an opportunity of sending this
to the office just now, and perhaps will have no other chance for a few
days. How is Aunty? She was sick when last I heard from her. Tell Wash and Joe I do want so much to see
them to come up now and bring you and Julia.
Love to evry one and all of you write to me. I will write again as soon as Lochie comes.
Ever
your true cousin
Mollie
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is Jack back home? Lockie thinks he is.
Knoxville Aug. 3rd / 65
My very dear cousins &
aunt,
Sister Mary [Mollie?] & myself are here. Mary is on her way to your house & I
think likely I will come with her. We
are both so anxious to see you all & talk with you once more. I shall not attempt to write you a letter,
for I think it will only be a day or two until I see you. Mary went out to Aunt Howells yesterday
evening; we came down the evening before.
She will stay out there a day or two.
Dr. Massengill is going to Atlanta, & we will accompany him as far
as your house. We will go (I guess) at
night, & will get the conductor to stop opposite your house. We will be down on wednesday, thursday, or friday night. Ask cousin Jack will you please to meet us
when you hear the [??????] as
we will have no one to go over to the house with us. If I go I will only stay a few days, until
Dr. returns from Atlanta, but Mary can stay a little longer. Mary will expect one of you to return to
Mossy Creek with her. My love to
all. Write 2 [?????]
Yours truly
Lockie Massengill [ ????????? Letter has water damage].
This letter is from Mollie to Cal and Julia. Lockie is on her way to Atlanta and won’t have time to stop in Philadelphia on her way – she adds a short note at the end. The 1860 Federal census says Dr. Massengill is a physician but the 1870 census says he is a “Dealer in Produce”. Perhaps one of these occupations takes him to Atlanta frequently.
Mossy
Creek Oct 31st 1865
My very dear cousins
I
received your very welcome letters last week and should have answered them
before now, but I have been so very busy helping sis Lochie to get off. She will start to Atlanta tomorrow, will stay
in Knoxville tomorrow night, and Thursday evening will pass your place. She intended stopping to see you but Dr. has
sent a man for her and she will have to go on.
If it is not in the night when the cars pass Phil, she says you must go
up to trains to see her. If she gets
time she will come to you tonight. I
will write this to you & Julia both this time as I will not have time to
write separate letters. You can’t
imagine how glad I was when I received your very very dear letters, Joedie
bless your heart. I know you are one of
the dearest boys, and if you do disappoint one Christmas I wont think so any
more. Every one I see I tell them Joe
and Julia are coming up Christmas and everyone is so glad. They think you will add great pleasure[?] to
our drooping spirits. We will try and do
all we can to make your visit as pleasant as we poor ignorat old maids
can. Cousin Jack can tell you that we
are all on that list. Sis you say I must
marry or have a party so you can dance.
I don’t think it will hardly be in my power to marry but I will clean
out the dining room and you shall dance just as much as you please. Emma Gasseays tell you that evry body on M.
C. will marry, and you shall be invited to all if you will come. And you think you realy did you got to make
Mr Marney a pair of pants. Well I don’t
care if you did for I think it more likely I will get to stand up with them,
what have you to say? I am looking for
Sallie evry day now, but Pa will not come for a few weeks yet. Bro Johnny was gone when I read your letters,
but I kissed him twenty times a day so one of the kisses may go for you my dear
Julia. He is as large as Joe, or very
near it. The coat Aunt cut for him fit
very well but was rather large. Aunt said
she wanted to hear from all the clothes she cut up here. What we made fits nicely, but what we hired
out is not well done. Mrs Colvin hired
Mr C. made and the shirt is gathered on just as she said it would be, but for
all that he is very well pleased. Tell
Aunt not to kill herself for we all want her to come back when his push of work
is over. Has cousin Jack absconded: it
has been some time since any one in M. C. heard from him, and Callie I suppose
has expired in the arms of her. He cl[????????]ot in such
haste, will you please excuse it and next time I will try and do better. Give my love all the family [??????]. Tell old dry to come up
this next month. Much love [????????]
Your
cousin Mollie
[Continued on same sheet]
I
have not time to write I am so hurried getting ready to go. I am so sorry I cant stop to see you
all. Jody[?] you know the night our wont
hurt you & cousin Jack[?] & cousin W. & if the girls cant come, you
come to me at P. I will write as soon as
I get to Atlanta. L.
Sallie [Sarah P. Howell (1846-????] is at college taking a curriculum which makes modern college sound like a cake walk. Where is Bethany and what college is this? She edits “The Wreath”. It is 16 miles from the nearest post office and it is the cheapest school in the South. Names here include Jodie, Johnie, Billy, and Addie a dear little child.
Bethany May 13th 1866 ---
My
own darling dearest cousins:
You
certainly will think I am the greatest liar in the world; but I can not
help it. I have written two letters to
you but as our P.O. is 16 miles off I have never had an opportunity of sending
them. I have wanted to write time and
again but knew it was no use, for I did not know when they would be sent
off. Now I have given a good reason for
remaining silent, you’ll all forgive me, won’t you?
Well
we arrived here Saturday evening after we left your house, and I was completely
worn out sick & sad besides. I’m
nearly dead with the blues now.
This is the dullest old place I was ever at. We have three gents besides Johnie &
Billy but still, I dont enjoy myself one bit. I want to see some body I love, for instance
some of you. I think about how happy I
was with you when at your house, and I wish so much that i could once again see
you. Every body is so stiff and
dignified that I dont know exactly what to do with myself. You know I cant be still for five minutes,
and I have to sit so erect and look so prim, that I have to excuse myself to get
to rest my neck. Oh! I must tell you
about our may Party. We went out to a
spring about a mile from here, and had a splendid dinner, played cards, flirted
and chatted until about sundown, when we retired from the field, and
after supper went to Mr Coffins and finished up with a dance. Ah! That was worth all the picnics in the
world. After the holiday, we resumed
our studies and have been hard at work ever since. I am studying, Dictionary, Rhetoric,
Chemistry, Botany & Mathimatics, and taking music lessons. We’ll commence Latin as soon as I can get my
books. Julia dear cousin you & Jodie
must come here and finish your education; this is the cheapest school in the
South. Now do come, for I cant live
without some of you with me. We are
publishing a paper at college called “The Wreath” and i am one of the
editors. Dont you know it will be
well done? I’ve got a new flame tell you
his some[?]. I’m taking on terribly. This is Sabbath morning and I have to prepare
for church, so please excuse this hasty written note. Give my best love to cousins Joe & Jane
& kiss those dear little children often for me. Addie in particluar. I left coy Joe’s picture in that skirt
pocket. I’m real heart sick about
it. Do send all your pictures for they
will serve to drive dull care away, and keep me from having the blues so much. Much love to Mr. & Mrs. B. and Sue. I will write to her this week I think if I
can get it sent to the office. Write
soon and tell me about your party the night after I left. My love to Mr. Pennington’s family &
every body I know. Lt Jones in
particular. ha! ha! ha! I will try
and write a more interesting letter next time.
Now all of you must write, every last one of you and that very soon or
I’ll go up a sapling”. Ever with the
truest love
Sallie
The letter
below was written by Arrondia J. McPherson to her friend Cal. Arrondia may have been the original church
lady as much of the letter concerns the local church meetings. She is wild for weddings and one must just
wonder about Joe’s acquaintance “Possom face”.
An
interesting cultural thing which has been seen several times in these letters
is illustrated in the line “Callie if you are married tell Julia to
answer this”. It seems that it is improper for
married women to write letters!
Arrondia lived in Sulpher Springs in Rhea
County, but you won’t find the town today.
Formed by the general assembly on December 3, 1807, Rhea County came out
of a portion of Roane County. Sulphur
Springs’ name was changed to Rhea Springs in 1878. It was situated on the bank of Piney River,
and was settled early in the county's existence. This resort area possessed
"healing" waters and a large hotel. The railroad bypassed the town,
and it dwindled in size. The construction of Watts Bar Dam was the final blow
as Rhea Springs was inundated in 1941.
See http://www.ajlambert.com/history/hst_rctn.pdf
Sulpher
Springs Rhea Co
May
26th 1866
Dear Callie
AJ was
writing some letters this evening. I
thought I would write to you as I would like to hear from you all once
more. I have looked for Mollie and Mr
Martin untill I have given them out.
They promised me to come over in April and have not come yet though I
have not been home in a week. I am at
Uncle Cowoods but I am going home tomorrow as this is the time of our Zion
meeting. That is a Baptists meeting
house near our own. The Baptists held a
great convention near here last week.
They are trying to unite the old Baptists and the Missionaries. They united eleven churches and they are all
going to meet and have a general association of all the Baptists Churches. We have been having great revivals all around
here both Methodists and Baptists. I
never miss going to meeting every Sunday of some kind or other. We have preaching at Sulpher every Sunday. Our forth quarterly meeting will be there the
2nd Saturday and Sunday in July.
I expect we will have good meeting then.
Carroll Long is our Elder and the people all love to hear him
preach. Our general [?] meeting in this month lasted
ten days. There was twenty prosessions
and twenty one occaisions to the church.
Every thing relating
to politicks is quiet about here at present.
My brother returned from Knoxville this week. This is his second trip. I hope it is the last, they took up several
of our citizens but nearly all of them have come back by paying out the money
they could get.
Our school is still
going on at Sulpher. We will have an
examination the last of July.
I want you to write
and tell me all the news going on up there.
I enticipate haveing a great time this fall attending weddings and
infairs. Every body is going to many but
we will dry [?] up. I
can look on and see the others off. I am
afraid I am going to be left alone.
I wrote to Lock[?] but she did not condecend to answer my letter. I hope you will do better than she did. Write soon give my respects to all the
family. Tell Joe I want to know if he
has been satisfied with Possom face yet.
Tell Julia to write. Callie if
you are married tell Julia to answer this.
What has become of Mr. Morney and Mr. Hightower. I hear Mr. Toliver is going to marry so Nute
Hoiris cut Hondy out did he and Toole Higgig off. Well, they say I am going to lose Jim and I
don’t care what becomes of the girls. I
suppose they still have some cases of smallpox at Sweet Water. We had several bad cases near us but I was
not afraid of it. I wonder if Jim and
Honlin have been to any more weddings up there.
I was at one two weeks ago. There
was no less than four widowers there. I
never saw as many as there is about here now.
Don’t you want some of them up there.
If you do I will send up a half dozen or so as I have several on hand I
would like to get shut of with as little trouble as possible. Well I must quit writing nonsense for I have
been writing nothing else. Give my
respects to Mr. Penningtons family. Tell
them howdy for me. I would like to see
Pop for a little while. I know we would
have one good laugh about old times and the new Susie Cowood and I have been
together all this week. We have been
visiting all around. She went home this
evening and I am very lonesome. We were
at Mr. Robinsins last night. We had some
fun looking over some of the late papers the boys brought home from
Knoxville. I admire the late style of
ladies dresses and hats very much.
Well Callie you must look over all mistakes bad writing. My pen is bad and the children are all around
me talking for I have been writing to their mother. She has been at Dandridge and they want her
to come home. My love to all enquiring
friends and except share for yourself.
Your
friend
Arrondia
J. McPherson
PS. I am at home again. I found all the family well. I heard some good news on the way. I am to have a new cousin shortly. Dr. Pratt [?] is going to enter the state of
matrimony shortly and I will have plenty to do for the two weeks. Well I expect to have a fine time eating cake
this summer. I fall for I am going to
all the weddings and that will be a good many.
Well I must quit writing for the mail boy is coming. I found 2 letters from Dad and Milly Honking [?] when I came home. They have been here a week. I will answer them sometime when I have more
leisure than at present.
Yours
Arrondia
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sallie Howell to Cal and other cousins in Phila. Cousin Jane has a daughter Addie. Who are these guys? “ Much love to Joe’s family” -- This would be Joseph Ragan (1833-xxxx) and Louisa Jane Lillard Ragan (1833-xxxx). Sallie feels caged and bored at college and misses her cousins.
Bethany
July 8th 1866
Dearest
cousins:
I will not
attempt to tell you how much good it did me to hear from you all. I am always like a crazy thing to get
leters from any one I love so muchas I do all of you my own dear cousins. I know I cant write any thing interesting,
for I have’nt been off the hill but once or twice since I came out here, and i
do think this is the driest place “ever I went any where to stay all
night!”. I recon we will have
something to wake us up about the 20th of this month, as we are
going to have a grand examination followed by a concert and dialogues. I have the part of an old woman to
play in one of the dialogues, and a duette to play with Eddie two young
gentlemen accompanying us with violins.
Dont you know it will be grand!
I have just finished me a new dress to wear at the concert, with trim
about ½ yard deep. It is very
pretty. Yes, I know I would have enjoyed
you round of gaities very much had I only “been down dar”.
Jodie you are real cruel to say you
believe I left that picture on purpose.
You know I did not. I was so
sorry about it, I hardly knew what to do.
Please send it to me and all of you do the same. You certainly know that I love you all very
much, and nothing would make me so happy as to have your pictures so that I
could while away many a long hour, gazing on the dear features of those I love
so fondly. Mine is a sad lot, dear
cousins, for I have nothing to turn to for happiness; and it is only by
reverting to pleasures past, that I can even for a while forget the dark
reality. O, how often do I recall the
sweet days of happiness spent in your dear little nest-like home among the
rocks & hills of my own loved East Tennessee! You cant imagine how happy I was then. But now I feel like a caged bird. I have to conform so strictly to the rules of
etiquette that I almost wish I was home again.
You know aunt Nancy I had to go out to the kitchen to rest myself while
at your house, but here I dont have the chance to do that. I just want to get out on the fence or climb
a tree and yell for about an hour. I
think it would relieve me. Well it’s
school time, and I think time to stop my chatter. Write soon all of you. Julia, darling, dont treat me with silent
contempt, but do let me read one of your real good letters.
Ever fondly & affectionately your
cousin Sallie
P.S. Tell cousin Jane to name her babe Nina and I
will give it a coat. Now out of
all I think I should have one name at least.
Kiss all the little ones for me.
I am going to claim Addie sometime, so cousin Jane may just prepare to
give her to me. Much love to all cousin
Joe’s family. [Joseph Ragan (1833-xxxx) and Louisa Jane Lillard Ragan (1833-xxxx)].
S.H.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This letter to Nancy is from Roxanna
Grayson, a friend or relation whose connection to the family is not yet
known. She has moved away from
Sweetwater and says she misses home. She
is happily married to a man that “cannot be beat the world over”. Few other details are evident.
Clues to the date – Before 1899 when
Nancy died. Soon after the war in
1865. Roxanna has moved from E Tenn. She
could be older since she writes to Mrs Lillard (Nancy). There were Grayson neighbors in Philadelphia on
the 1880 census. Ragans too. Louisa Jane Lillard Married Joseph Ragan in
1851 and they live next to (maybe on?) the farm.
Sabbath evening at home,
Mrs Lillard
You no
doubt will be surprised when you receive Mrs Routs [Routh?] letter and find a
little scroll from Rocky inclosed in it.
I thought it would be nothing wrong for me to bother you with a few
lines as it is the first time since I left old Tenn though I have nothing
interesting to write you any more then we are all well at this time. Mrs Lillard I am a poor hand to write and
give the news and times but if I was back in my old neighborhood whean I could
see you all one time more I think my tounge would tire you all out. I think I could talk about twelve months
before I would rest any & if I could I would like very much to visit you
all especially my old home and Sweetwater church. I want you and Cal to write to me and tell me
all and every thing about the place that would interest me and all about my
relations. I suppose Cal is not married
yet. I often wonder at that for I
thought Cal would have married long ago.
She is a waiting until she can get a good man like I did for I asshure
you mine cannot be beat the world over.
Cal you had better marry soon or you will get too old to do well. Marry and come out to this country and live
close to me. I would like it verry
much. Cal write to me soon and tell me
about every body there that I ever knew.
Mrs Lillard tell Cal Martin that I will answer her letter soon if I can
get time. Tell her I never have had time
to write a letter since I was robed out in time of the war. I work all the weeak and a part the day on
Sunday for good measure. I want here to
write to me often and lengthy. A short
letter does me not much good. Write soon
if you pleas all of you. So no more at
present. I remain your friend until
death shall qwell passions.
Roxanna
Grayson
Cosin Joseph Ragan will you and Jane [Joseph Reagon
1833-xxxx & Louisa Jane Lillard Reagon 1833-xxxx] pleas to favor me with a long letter. Do if you pleas. I will answer it. Tell me whether Martha Ragan is living or
not.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duck
C Pennington and Charlie are women. Julia is quite the
troublemaker. She sounds like a handful
in this letter.
Philad
Aug 2nd 1866
Dear Sister
I have
taken my seat to write you a short letter and I am going to write things just
as they come up. Well Wednesday after
you all left I pitched in and cleaned the house over from top to bottom. Then I went up stairs to my same old trade
got my quilt out Thursday, made my lounge cover fix it all for sitting, Friday
ironed scoured and fixed for matting.
Saturday went to church had company Miss Altha Chesnutt Mr Harvey
Parton, had the hardest rain Saturday evening that I ever saw fall in my life,
Sunday went to church of course. Very large crowd out, Mollie Emma Sam Dick
Taliaferro, Cousin Vernon Lillard [James S Vernon Lillard 1829-1908 Meigs Co?] and old
B, after dinner we all went back singing.
I had Dick for a beau. We sung
one lesson then taken a rest. I stept up
to Duck before C Taliaferro and ask her if she dident want some snuff. Yes; I says come on Mr T. We are going out in a regular bust of snuff
diping. He and Jack went with us and we
sent them to the creek to get brushes. I
say now girls go for her, we standing under the trees have I had enough now
girls go for her, we standing under the trees talking and Jack Pennington’s little
girl was standing by Pop. Charlie says
Mrs Cleveland is that your little daughter.
Pop says no its not mine. Charlie
I am certan whether you lived or died.
Duck and I bursted out laugfing.
We could not hold in any longer.
It like to plagued them both to death.
Pops face was as red as fire.
Charlie ask me if she never did have one. I never did have as much fun in my life.
Cousin Vernon left
Thursday. You know he has to stay a week
when he comes. The same day I had a
house full. Pop Duck Marian his wife and
child, Jane Mrs Hicks Miss Camel in the evening. Paris Shell to night two Mr McSpadens and
Dick T. I have had company every day
since last Saturday. O, I am having a
nice time house keeping. The boys are
having a gay time playing cards. I guess
you have had enough of this. Every thing
is going on very well at home. Joe has
got the turnip patch all ready. Tell
Mother the chicken are doing fine. Mrs
Hicks is ready for that jeanes now. I
will take it to her next week. There
hasent any coats came in since you all left.
I have not got that other filling at hand yet. Bettie have you had Cal to whip yet. If she needs it give it too her.
Miss Sue left for georgia on Thursday.
Brother Amus is down thar yet. I
am going down thar to see him to morrow that is to meeting and singing. Granny is here yet kicking up her heels just
like she always did.
Monday the 6th. I saw Brother
Amos yesterday. He looks sweet as a
peach. Joe went home with Mintie from
singing. I’ll tell you we are having a
nice time. Mr Ragan wants to know if
there is any room in your house for him about two week and be sure to write as
soon as you get this. He wants to go up
the last of this week or the first of next.
If there is none in your house to look around and see what the prospect
is for board other places.
I am your sister Julia
[Continued on same
sheet]
Well Cal I am able to kick up yet but do not feel very well to
day. I saw old Pus last Sunday and had a
little confab with him. You may believe
I give him some good ones. He had his
bib and Tucker on. Also had his head and
heels up. He is all perpinsquint. Keep your head and shoulders up and don’t
take the blues and court the boys and marry if you can up there, for there is
no one here to tye to.
Yours &c [etc] Duck. C.
Pennington
1-29-1867 AJ Lillard marries Samantha C. Taliaferro in Roane Co. Tn.
_______________________________________________________________________
Like many others, the Lillard family was fragmented and scattered by the war and it was not always easy for them to learn the fates of their relatives. This letter to Nancy (Routh Lillard) from Pauline (Polly) Routh Hague, Nancy’s sister, was written almost 2 years after the end of the war. The Routh girls were born in Monroe County TN but Polly had married James Hague and moved to Arkansas. This letter includes news on the fates of some of Polly’s relatives. Polly is about 62 years old.
Near
Berryville Ark.
Jan. 30th
1867
Very dear sister,
After a long time silence I will write to you
to let you know that we are in the land of the living and have not forgotten
you. I have not heard from you since
that cruel war commenced. I would like
to hear from you and Brother Pleasant Routh [1808-1874] how the war served you. All of us in this country fared badly. Murrel Routh [Benjamin Murrell Routh 1823-1873] went to Texes himself and
negros and stock. His family stayed at
home. William Routh [William Jacob Routh 1819-1899] went to
Texes. His family went to him. They are there yet. He was broke up when they got there. He went to Kinzie Routh [1811-1875]. He is very rich and has only three children
living. William and Kinzie are both good
Doctors.
We
stayed at home during the war. We were robbed of everything of stock kind and
our house was robed several times.
Towards the last we could hardly keep anything to eat. We had to bury our corn and meat in the
ground to keep it. We did not suffer for
something to eat tho a great many did. I would like to no which side you were
all on. All of the connection here were for the south. James Lillard lost one son in the army. They have three children left 2 sons 1
daughter. Mother is still living and in
very good helth. I will not write very
lengthy at this time. If you get this
please write and let me no how you are getting along and where your children
is. Mine is scatered. Murrell [Joseph Murrell Hague 1832-1919] is in California. Joseph is in Texes. Mary [Mary Jane Hague 1838-1915] is in Missouri. The rest is here. I have 1 daughter living with me. Her husband died a prisoner at
Littlerock. Louisa [Louisa E Hague 1840-1917] is the
one that is living with me. Caroline
gipson is a widow. Martha Perkins is a
widow. There men were kiled.
Please write ameately when you receive this
for we are very anxious to hear from you.
We get letters from all the rest of the connection. If you get this and answer it I will write
more. I will close for this time.
We still remain Your Brother and Sister
James and Polly Hague
To Nancy Lillard
If Nancy Lillard is not living some of her
children please to answer for I am so anxious to hear from her.
After 1867 the letters become infrequent. Cal was 32 years old and for some reason she stopped saving so many letters. The tin box was crammed full but occasional letters were added until 1910.
In the letter below it seems Wash has quite a lot of cash on hand. He seems to be cashing a check for a friend.
June
7 / 1869
WW Lillard Esqu.
Dear
Sir
Find enclosed chk for
one thousand dollars & ten 50/100 dollars cash for the 1005$ Currency
handed me this A.M. They charged ¼ pr
ct.
Very
Truly Yours
AJ
Moore
Hope you will have a pleasant & prosperous troth[?] Live to get
back & be able to saw many an “Old Rosin the bow” for Uncle Joe’s
satisfaction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per the 1880 Federal Census, Nancy Lillard is 72 years old and head of the house. Wash is 48 and living at home. Also Cal age 44 and Joe age 36. Also a black servant Mary Smith, age 45, and her daughter Cora age 5. The 3 other surviving children are living elsewhere. Nearby neighbors include John & Sarah Grayson, Caria and Elizabeth Cleveland, Archibald and Sophronia Bacome, Joseph E and Lucretia T Ragen and 6 children, Caria Rausin, and Dry Edwards, a 73 year old woman,
Decatur,
Tenn
April
22, 1882
Dear Aunt Cal-, I received your nice little letter of thanks
the 12th inst. and was so glad to hear that you were pleased with
your collar and that you all were well.
Of course Ma will accept your love and says she would like so much to
see you.
How is
Aunt Nancy getting along now. We are
going to have a Strawberry Festival the 12th of May. Wish so much you all could come. I recon we will have the festival if nothing
happens. Many thanks for your good wish
but am afraid it will never come to pass.
You will have to excuse this short letter as I have to go to the
kitchen.
Yours
lovingly
Lulu
All send love to you all.
Well I thought I would add a little more to my
letter while they are eating dinner.
Tell Addie I sent her sack Thursday and sent Annies things Friday. I will write to Addie Monday I think. Mr John Russel was buried last Tuesday (or
Wendesday) he married Jenn (Tenn?)
McKorkle. I suppose you were acquanited
with her. I do not know when I will come
back up there. Of course I would be
willing to come any time but you see how it is we can’t enjoy ourselves all the
time. I don’t expect you can read this
for I have written it in such a hurry. I
wanted to send it before the mail went out.
Now Aunt Cal wont you be sure and come down to the Festival. Tell Cousin Jacks family to come and all the
rest of you be sure to come.
Aff
Lulu
The crossed out sections below were erased and scribbled over, apparently by Cal, but they are still legible. She saved the letter so she must not have been offended but she may have thought the erased parts were too private for others who might read the letter. Cal is 48 years old and still breaking hearts.
See: http://www.undergroundozarks.com/rushom1.html for information on the Buffalo lead and zinc mines of Arkansas.
Eureka Springs Ark
Feb
22nd 1883
Miss
M. C. Lillard
Miss
Calie I got your letter yesterday. You
dont know how glad that I was to here from you.
I was the best pleas Boy that you ever saw I bet. I thought you had gone back on me Calie. I thought you had quit me for good but I
think just as mush of you as I ever did.
You want me tell you what I was dewing.
I have been getting out reglar posts and we are think of going to the
buffalo mines to work. It is about sixty
mils from Eureka and if I do I will droup you a card when I get thire. If we do go we want to start sunday or
monday. Calie tell Wash that I went
yesterday and got his pistol and I will sell or send it to him. I think that I can sell it right away. That is all I got of his. They said wasen any thing els there of
his. The wether has been so bad two or
three month that I couden harley pay my way.
Is Ma better yet. I got a letter
from Nannie day before yesterday and I have to answer it yet but I thought
be’ens that you me wanse was friends and I hope we are yet that I would answer
your letter first and then her’s. I
would like to see you all very mush. If
I was abbel to come back I think I would come.
Calie you don’t know how bad I would like to see you and Nannie. If I only culd see you wance more and talk
with you I think it would make me happy.
Tell all the Gril howdy fore me and how well that I would like to see
them. If I live I will see them. I think if I had of knowen that Wash was
going to come back you bet that I would have come back with him but you say
that he said he had wrote to me about it.
I did not get the word. If I had
I would come back to you my darling? for there is no like you. I wish you and I was to live in a house to
our selfs. I would be better
sadisfied. So I must quit for this
time. Write soon all of your true
friend.
J. H. Lewis [ possibly L.H. Lewis]
Note: One J. H. Lewis married Addie V Lillard on 3-12-1911 in Meigs County, near Decatur. It could be the same man?
William Washington Lillard died 11-16-1883. He is buried in the Old Sweetwater Cemetery with many of his family. See http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman=1&GScid=16666&GSfn=&GSln=lillard
_____________________________________________________________________________
This letter is to Aunt Nancy Lillard (Cal’s mother) from Elizabeth Caroline Hague m. Gibson later m. Thorn 1825-1905. Elizabeth is the daughter of Nancy’s sister, Polly Routh Hague 1805-1885. Elizabeth was born in Monroe County and lived in Berryville, NW Arkansas and then California. She is 62 years old and a grandmother.
Kingsburg Cal
Sept
17th 1887
Dear
Aunt I received your most welcome
letter was so glad to hear from you and hear you was able to go whare you
wanted. I am now living in
Calafornia. We come to this country last
feb. I am very well satisfied here. Brother Murel [Joseph Murrell Hague 1832-1919
???] lives here and has been living
here for several years. 2 of my girles
live here. The girls live in town and I
live one half mile from town on a small ranch 20 acres. We have been offered one hundred dollars per
acre. We gave 50 dollars per acre. They are talking of building a colage in front
of our house. Me and the 2 grand
children are living alone. They are
going to school. We have a fine school
in town. 8 months in the year it is a
free school. The children can do much
better here than they back east when they git an education. When they are out of school they can make
some money now. They have been drying
peaches and grapes. We have got over one
bushel of raisons dried. We have dried
over 10 bushels peaches and can git a good price for peaches. The grapes we dried for our own use. It is the nicest country to dry fruit you
ever seen. Thare is no rain thrugh
summer and till late in the fall we have the finest vegitales that I ever
seen. We buy all from China Man. They pass evry day. You can git any thing you want and cheaper
than you can rais them. We have to
iragate evry thing. You do not have to
wait for rain. Evry thing grows so
fine. Timber is very scarce. We pay 6 and 7 dollars a cord for fire wood
but it takes but little. We dont have to
have big fires here. It is very seldom
we have to have a fire all day in the winter and very often have none only what
we have to cook with. You said to send
this letter to uncle William. I dont no
his post office. The post Master foridowed
your letter to me. If you will write to
sister Lou Meek [Louisa Evalina Hague Meek 1840-1917] she can give you uncle william
address. She is the only one that is
living at berryville. Pa [James M
Hague 1802-1892] stays with her some
of the time and with sister Martha [Martha Ann Hague 1836-1901].
She lives at Beaver 20 miles. You
said to tell you about the conection.
Betsy Lillard is dead. She died
before we left thare. Lara [?] is
married the second time and that is all I know about her. Hugh Routh lives in Boon County Ark Harison I
hear from home evry week or 2. Pa was
not very stout. My health is better here
than it was in Ark. Lelie my Grand
daugher does all my washing and ironing.
They are a great deal of help to me.
Tell the Karns girles to write to me for I love to hear from them. I want you to write to me oftainer. I thought you was dead you waited so long.
Love to all your Niece
E C Thorn
The Karns girls are probably related thru Elizabeth’s sister Louisa Evalina Hague whose first marriage was to Vern S Karnes on 3-6-1862.
You may
remember Cal’s wish to get a Melodeon from her exchange of letters with Wash of
June 1860. 32 years later it looks like
she has finally realized her dream. The
“Mrs.” on MC Lillard is apparently an error or assumption by the MacArthur’s.
See http://www.reedsoc.org/organs/farrand.htm
for more information on the organ.
Knoxville, Tenn ., Aug
25th 1892
Mrs M.C. Lillard Philada, Tenn.
Dear Madam
As per
order so kindly given my son, I have selected and shipped you a splendid
voiced Farrand & Votey Chapelette organ. You will find this a magnificent organ for
the price and in tone and durability it cannot be excelled. When you receive instrument and find it
satisfactory, please send us check as agreed and obliged.
Yours
truly
F.W.
McArthur
------------------------------------------------------
This letter is on same McArthur Music
House letterhead, perhaps from the son.
Knoxville, Tenn. 8/26/1892
Mrs. C. Lillard
Philadelphia, Tenn.
Dear Madam,
I have not been able so far to secure the
music charts I promised you, but have sent 1 Complete Organ instructor, and 2
books in sheet form containing a large number of pieces, which I an shure you
can learn to play.
Hoping to hear from you soon as to how the
“Chappalette” suits you.
I
remain yours
W.R.
McArthur
Miss
Caroline Lillard March
12, 1897
Dear
Friend,
I have bothered you so often for
roots that I am really ashamed to send again; but I am very anxious to get a
set of box-vine in front of my parlor, and, thus far, have failed utterly. Please give me a little more.
On
last Saturday , I received a letter from Cousin Roxana Grayson. She inquired, in an especial manner, about
the Lillards.
Yours
sincerely,
C.C.
Berry
Per this receipt Cal is making
payments on a house in Philadelphia.
Certainly the main house is paid off.
It is unknown what this house is.
______________________________________________________________________________
Nancy B Routh Lillard, the matriarch of the Philadelphia farm passed away on 7-27-1899, aged 92.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Compare these two receipts to your present day property taxes. Note the district stays the same but the county changes. Monroe County had a convoluted history.
Per the 1900 Federal Census Monroe County District 4
Mary C Lillard is the head of the household. She is 67 years old and lives alone. Her home is classified as a farm and she owns it free and clear.
It sounds like a lonely life except --
Six houses in one direction lives her sister Julia Lillard Burns, with her husband and three of their children.
Two houses in the other direction lives her brother Joseph Berry Lillard, his wife and four of their children, including Hattie Lillard – more on her soon. Joseph also owns his farm free and clear.
Other friends and relations certainly live nearby.
Is it possible that Joseph Berry Lillard swapped residences with Cal? We know he built his own home but it had been assumed he eventually lived on the ancestral farm. More research is needed.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Cal is having a cash flow problem. In 1910 she is 75 years old and we don’t know
what her sources of income would be.
Philda, June 23rd, 1910
Mr. Frank A Berry
Sir,
I hate to
call on you before date but am compelled to have some money. Some things I have to pay down. Please bring or send me about 50 fifty
dollars when convenient with you and oblige your friend
M.C.
Lillard
[ On
back of sheet]
June 23, 1910
Miss Call;
I at once send you inclosed check for $25.00 and will send the balance
of the amount you request in about ten days.
Your
friend
Frank
Berry
_____________________________________________________________________
Hattie E Lillard (1895-1959) was Cal’s niece, the daughter of brother Joseph Berry Lillard. The first hand memories of her daughter below add reality and color to life at the farm in Philadelphia.
Remembrances
of Margaret Estelle Callaway Hyde
Written by Margaret Hyde
Transcribed by Virginia C. Hyde
Mother [Hattie E Lillard
(1895-1959)] lived on the farm near Philadelphia, TN all of her
young life. She told me of things and as
many of these happenings as I can I will record. She told me of how they were walking along on
the farm and their dog Watch would not let them go ahead. There was a poisonous snake there which they
didn’t see. The dog was bitten by the
snake and died. Mother also said that
when she was little she went up in the hay loft and smoked some tobacco. She got real sick, and wouldn’t tell her
parents what was wrong. So the doctor
was called and he diagnosed her case correctly.
Mother had a cat and she would slip the cat upstairs to sleep with her
when her parents weren’t looking. The
bedrooms were not heated and were quite cold.
Mother also said that Aunt Minnie [Minnie L Lillard 1890-????] kept stealing some of her supper one night so Mother grabbed a butcher
knife and whacked Minnie on the head.
They put salt in the cut and called the doctor immediately. Mother was scared to death.
Mother also said that
she used to walk across the foot log and collect hickory nuts. One time the dog was going on the foot log
too and he pushed her in the creek.
There used to be fish in the creek.
Mother said that when her Father [Joseph Berry Lillard 1843-1920] was very ill she would go down to the stream near the barn and catch
fish for him to eat. Later a tannery was
built in Sweetwater, and dumped its waste into the stream and thus killed all
the fish.
Mother and Aunt Minnie
used to have a good time. The TMI boy
would come down to visit them and bring sheet music. Then they would have a real good time playing
and singing. Mother’s Father was a great
fiddler. He would play for dances, but
would never let his own daughters dance.
He also had beautiful
handwriting and he was asked to write the diplomas and lots of formal deeds and
such. Mother said that they were
visiting some relatives a few miles away once, and there came a big
thunderstorm. The lightning struck the
barn and it was completely burned to the ground along with two horses, a shay
and a carriage and all the hay etc.
Mother’s Father did not
believe in slavery so he fought on the Union side. His brother [ A.J. and Wash Lillard] fought on the Confederate side.
He had a farm and he freed all of the colored people and gave each of
them some land. Mother’s father built his own house and all
the woodwork was heart pine from the farm.
They had to walk to school all of the time. They walked 1 or 2 miles along the railroad
track to Philadelphia. She said they
would wear long underwear and in the Spring their Mother [Margaret J
Harrison Lillard 1863-1932] would cut
their underwear legs and arms shorter and shorter as the weather got
warmer. The name of the high school
where they went was Bogart High School.
Mother said they were walking across a railroad bridge once and a train
started coming. Mother’s shoe got caught
in the tress and she had to wiggle her foot out of her shoe and get off the
bridge and the railroad tracks. Mother
and Aunt Min went out to Oklahoma to visit their brother Fred [William
Frederick Lillard 1886-1946] whom
everyone called Bub. They were late
getting to the train so the train waited till they got there.
Mother said that when
they were little an orange, banana, or tangerine was a great treat and they
would get one of them in their stockings at Xmas. They would have to go to Philadelphia to get
mail or a newspaper. Mother said when
they were young they would have lots of parties. One fad was the girls would wear boy’s
neckties. Some of the girls would take
boys’ neckties away from them. I guess
maybe their boyfriends.
Bub went to work in
Oklahoma in the oil fields and he met a girl who was a lawyer. They were married, and later on they were
divorced. Bub used to be a fastidious
dresser, and after the separation he never cared how he looked and he never was
the same.
There was a big conch
shell on the back porch which they used to call men from the fields. There was a wooden barrel at the back of the
house that they kept rain water in. That
was always used to wash hair and I think clothes in. There was an iron pot in the backyard where
clothes were washed and boiled. Also lye
soap was made in that pot. Bub wanted to
go in the services in the first World War.
He has some disability so that he couldn’t go, but Uncle Murl [Joseph Murl Lillard
1896-1976] didn’t care about going at all
and he had to go. He fought in
France. Mother said that every time her
Mother would bring bread out of the oven Mother would be there to get the real
hot end piece of bread. Mother said that
a man with an organ grinder and a monkey used to come to the farm and play
outside the window for money.
People would come by and
want to spend the night because places to stay were few and far between. Once a person came to spend the night. He was an artist and he painted a picture on
the slate which we still have and he wrote a poem on the back of it. The picture is a picture of the farm house
with snow falling. No doubt it must have
been winter.
Written in pencil on the back of the slate is the
following poem:
Nightfall in Winter
Now the winter’s day has
ended
Swiftly passed its hours
by,
And its spirit, stern,
unbended
Lingers in the clouded
sky.
Chill, the air blows o’er
the mountains,
Softly falls the driven
snow,
Silent are earths babbling
fountains
Death is keeping watch
below.
N.W. Lippencott
Nov 25-1914
Another time a person came and knocked on the
front door and when someone opened it and he ran in the front door thru the
hall and out the back door. After awhile
someone else came to the door and asked us if the person had been there. Then this fellow ran through the door and
after the other guy. They never found
out what the trouble was.
Mother said that they bought a T Model
Ford. She got out in the field and
learned to drive the car by herself. It
used to get real cold in the winter time.
The stream back by the barn would freeze over and the kids would take
straight chains and slide on the ice.
They didn’t have ice skates but that was just as much fun. Mother said she visited her Aunt Betty Jane
in Madisonville and she had a big house with a winding staircase that went three
floors. The very top floor was a
ballroom. Mother used to slide down from
the top to the bottom of the railing.
During the war Mother worked as a reporter in the Knoxville
Journal. She typed letters from the
soldiers overseas in World War I. When they
ran out of letters Mother would have to make up letters. On the main road not far from the Farm was an
aunt’s big ??? home. It was empty and
some tramp came in and set it on fire and it burned to the ground with lots of
nice furniture and everything else. Also
at Aunt Betty Jane’s she said she was at the corner of the yard and there was a
rattlesnake and it nearly bit her but she escaped just in time.
At the Lillard Farm -- Things
I Remember When I was Little-- by Margaret Callaway Hyde
Mother [Hattie] was sick with TB in Asheville so I spent my
summers at Grandmother’s [Margaret J Harrison Lillard 1863-1932] Farm mostly and Winters at Gran’s [Lula
May Harrison Callaway] house. At my Grandmother’s I used to sleep with her
in the sleigh bed. It had a wonderful
feather mattress. It was wonderful. I would sink way down in it. Grandmother used to grow popcorn. We would shell it rubbing one ear against the
other and then popping it in the fireplace.
There was a smoke house where the meat was kept. Grandmother and I would go out to cut pieces
of ham for a meal. She would always give
me little bites. Grandmother would wring
chickens’ necks to kill them. Then they
would flop around all over the place.
Grandmother would have huge breakfasts sometimes – fried chicken, fried
ham, potatoes, and biscuits and other things.
I used to play at the side of the house by the foot of a big tree. I would make highways and XXX etc. Also I played on the landing of the stairs
with paper dolls, regular dolls, and a little ironstone. Grandmother and I used to take a walk to the back of the farm to where there
was a mill and we would get meal and flour ground. We would go visit the Cooks. There was a stream down in front of their
house that I used to like to play in.
The stream was real clear with lots of pebbles in it. There were also lots of ducks there. They would make down pillows from their feathers. I used to go out and feed the chickens. We had Plymouth Rock hens. These are the black and white spotted
ones. There were also lots of baby
chicks which I liked a lot. The mother
hens would go clucking along with their chicks behind them. Once Bub took me over to visit Cousin Ida
Reagan and her family [Ida N Ragan (1871-????) Was married to Joseph C.
Ragan who was the son of Cal’s sister Louisa Jane Lillard]. We walked there. It was quite a ways, over a mile I would say. They put me up on a high mule or horse. He rose up and pushed me off but Bub caught
me. She had lots of little doll dishes. She gave me a pretty little plate with gold
trim on it. It was quite a long way to
walk. Sometimes we would go to
Sweetwater. That was a big occasion. Once Grandmother got me a little New
Testament which I was so proud of. We
would always cross the stream on the foot log which often made me wonder if I
would fall in. Sometimes when I would
sleep in the upstairs front bedroom I would be awakened by a train coming
by. It would wake me and it sounded like
it was coming right in the room and I was surely ???. Also when I would wake up Grandmother’s
rooster would crow and then I would hear another rooster answering back from
another farm, the Cannon
Farm next door. It really sounded
nice. Daddy [Joseph Harrison
Callaway 1887-1966] would come down
sometimes on the weekends and I would be looking out for him. He would come on the train or bus to
Philadelphia and then walk ???.
Grandmother would always fix real good big meals. Uncle Murl and Aunt Myra were there part of the time. Bub had two hunting dogs he kept in a
building all the time they weren’t out hunting.
There were pines in the front yard which smelled so good and make a nice
sound when the wind blew. We would have
our hot meal at Noon and enjoy the afternoon sitting out on the porch. I could put my ear to the metal rail on the
railroad and could hear a train coming miles away. It was the vibration. Once I put some little rocks on the railroad
to see what would happen. The wheels
just ground them up. Grandmother and I
would get sweet gum twigs and brush our teeth with them. Grandmother would keep food in crocks in the
basement. She used to churn and make
butter and cottage cheese. That was lots
of fun. Mother said that at Christmas
they would go to church and the tree would be lighted with candles all over
it. Mother said she didn’t know what
kept the church from catching fire. At
my Grandmother’s, there were only kerosene lamps. I remember how every day Grandmother would
clean the lamps’ chimneys with newspaper to keep them clean and shiny. There was a fenced in garden behind my
Grandmother’s home. At the back of the
garden was the outhouse which accommodated two persons. There was a path by the garden and there were
sweet violets growing there just as we entered the garden there. Mother said her Father used to bring her
rings when he came back from trips. Once
he brought her one with red, white, and blue stones in it. She lost it in her front yard and never found
it.
Reminiscences from the
Farm
Grandmother used to make
cornbread and she always kept buttermilk in an old pitcher without a handle
which we still have. One of my favorite
dishes was buttermilk and corn bread broken up into it. I would stand on the back porch and would
call out. On the bluffs back by the barn
the echo would come right back to the porch.
There was a cistern by the back porch which was real convenient to the
kitchen. There was a dirt dauber (sort
of like a wasp) nest and the insect stung me and it sure did hurt. Grandmother put soda on it which made it feel
so much better. Grandmother's parlor was
the room on the right as you came in the front door. That was a room which we did not come into
hardly anytime except for company. There
was no central heating just fireplaces in every room. There was a telephone in the back hall but
there were not enough customers so they didn't bring the telephone lines into
the house.
When Mother, Daddy, and
I would go down to the farm we would always cross on the Niles Ferry. That was lots of fun. When we would turn off the main highway to go
into the farm we would often get stuck.
The people who owned the land by the road asked way too much for the
land so that was why the Lillards didn't own it. The road was so bad right off the main
highway. Then we would cross the
railroad track and not have too much trouble the rest of the way. In the Fall just after we crossed the ferry
there would be someone making molasses using ??? the old fashioned ??? on the
right just after leaving the ferry a short way.
Notes from Virginia
Hyde
- There are several mentions of an ‘Aunt Annabell’, ‘Aunt Annie Belle’,’ Aunt Anna Belle’. I am not sure but I believe these to be the same person. This person is ‘Annie Bell Callaway’, born 10/20/1889 and died 7/30/1947 in the Callaway Family Tree on ancestry.com.
- There is mention of ‘their brother Fred whom everyone called Bub’. I again am not sure but I believe that this is the brother of our Mother’s Mother Hattie Lillard. In the Lillard Family Tree this person is shown as ‘William Fred Lillard’.
-
Our Mother’s Aunt Elizabeth had 2 husbands. The first was ‘Gustavus A. Hutcheson’,
1879-1924. They had 3 kids, James W that
our Mother always called JW, Humphrey Grey that Mom used to always call Grey,
and Elizabeth A. who was born in 1921 and died in 1922. I am guess that Elizabeth A is the person
referred to in the text ‘She had a little
girl and Aunt Elizabeth went visiting in Virginia and the little girl got a
real bad strep throat and she died of it.‘
The second husband was James Lee Cawthorn I think. She married him 3 Jan 1930.
_________________________________
Hattie Lillard married Joseph Harrison Callaway on July 2, 1921. There is only one letter in the little tin box about the Callaway’s. It was probably put there by Hattie.
________________________________________________
In the letter of condolence below, Jim is James M Callaway (1861-1920). His wife Lulu is Lula May (Harrison) Callaway (1865-1949). The writer of this letter is Lula’s father Dr. Josiah J Harrison (1834-1917). Little Jimmie was 2 weeks from his 3rd birthday.
J. J. Harrison M.D. H.M. Harrison M.D.
Drs. Harrison
Physicians and Surgeons
Loudon, Tenn, Aug 12 1896
Dear
Jim & Lula
I am so sorry to hear of the death
of little Jimmie – so sad but we must submit to the will of Him who does all
things well. Dear Lula and Jim you must
not grieve the little Jewel – he’s only gone before you ???? ???? piece again
on the other side of the river, where happiness will again be supreme.
Henry is not so well this
evening. I am afraid to leave him though
if he is all ????? I will go in the morning.
I expect in the near future to
remove all our dead from the family grave yards – to the steaky cemetery. As soon as I can get a lot there. I have long thought of this move because we
cant tell in years to come who will be the posesor of the lands.
If I fail to get there in the
morning remember my sympathy and prayers are with you.
Affectionately
Your
Papa
J.J.
Harrison
Back side of letter has unrelated writing- no date or signature.
Is
last payment on land he has bought the last six or eight years. The other half of his debt they will have to
take whatever it will pay. Its said by
some it will not pay more than fifty cent to the dollar. I have been thinking of going to visit you
shortly. If you will come to Loudon on
the first Monday of next month I will go home with you and stay several
days. Taylor come home after regain?? his
dog. He had seen two ??? Tomes? And he put out its ???nearby youre & Fork
and has got back. Willie Grant has been
???? the last two days went home this
evening. Mother is stay with me and says
she will stay with me as long as I want for I do not know what I should of done
if she left me. My cropper[?] Moved in
Monday and that will relieve me in part.
Roger H Abbott all well Frank says hes coming home
Some of the Callaway’s lived in Monroe county and they were
known to the Lillard’s as far back as the letter of May 26, 1852 when Lockie Elenor Howell
wrote to Cal “The school will be out
in 9 weeks, and then you will see me sailing up on the Cars as happy as me and
Mr. Caliway would have been that night going to the party “without any
clothes””.
However, the Callaway’s did not enter this narrative in earnest until Joseph Harrison Callaway married Hattie in 1921. Hattie and Joe Callaway moved to Maryville. Joe worked for Alcoa. They had one child, Margaret Estelle (Peggy) Callaway (1922-1979).
As seen in her writings above, Peggy practically grew up on the farm in Philadelphia because her mother suffered from tuberculosis and spent years in a sanatorium in Ashville, NC. Margaret attended the University of Tennessee and received a master’s degree in education. During World War II she worked as a secretary at Oak Ridge, TN on the Manhattan Project. She met her husband there, George Edwin Hyde, a chemist also working on the Manhattan Project developing the atomic bomb. They were married at her parents’ home on Willard Street in Maryville, as shown in the photo below.
Their first daughter, Nancy Elizabeth, was born in Maryville 8-2-1947. George returned to school to get his Doctorate in Chemistry. Soon after, George got a job with DuPont in New Jersey. They moved to Metuchen N.J. where Ralph Edwin Hyde was born on 8-3-1951. Ralph is your illustrious editor and current caretaker of the little tin box. Virginia Callaway Hyde was born 7-6-1956.
Other resources
http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofsweetwa00leno/historyofsweetwa00leno_djvu.txt Contains history of Sweetwater, lineage of the Lillard’s, hints to location of old Lillard Place within the history of the battle of Philadelphia.
This is just too lurid to leave out, even though I don’t know of any relation between these Monroe County Lillard’s and ours. Perhaps they are black sheep of the family? From the list of Chancery court cases - Link http://www.tngennet.org/monroe/chancery/chanceryn.htm
No.315) Filed 3 May
1869. James A. Lillard by his Gdn. [guardian] J.H. Worthy vs Mary A. Lillard et
al. Lillard a lunatic in Tenn. Hospital for Insane since 1859 is granted
divorce from Mary Ann whom he married Oct 1857. They have one legitimate
daughter Amanda T. Worthy, Lillard's Gdn., is granted custody of her. But Mary
Ann, while she never visited James and he has had no access to her, has given
birth to Mary J. Lillard about 1862 who is supposed to be the fruit of her
illicit intercourse with one Jacob Moser a married man with whom she at one
time eloped, and she has also given birth to Alice Lillard about 1865, the
fruit of her illicit intercourse with Joseph Brakebill a married man. Mary Ann
and James had another child who is dead. Mary J. and Alice Lillard are declared
illegimate and not heirs to estate of James. 1869: witness says Mary Ann has
lately married and gone from this country with one James Parks son of Robert
Parks.
From http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nightshade/Lunatic_Asylum.html
LILLARD, James H., age 30, male; farmer; born
in Tennessee; admitted 1859; condition caused by intemperance.
This IS the right guy. I’m pretty sure middle initial is A not H reh
1870 Fed census for Davidson Co. district 5 has James Lillard in the Tennessee Hospital for the Insane SE of Nashville.
There is also a CITY of Monroe, in Overton Co., TN
Further speculation on the earliest document – the deed to land “South of the Holston and French Broad”. From http://www.tngenweb.org/tnland/frenchbd.htm
A Map of the
District South of the French Broad & Holston
Click here for the
large version. (235k)
The
map* presented here may be the only extant early map of District South of the
French Broad & Holston Surveyor’s District. It was found in the papers of
Matthew Rhea, and is one of a number of small hand drawn maps that were the
basis of Rhea's Map of the State of Tennessee, Taken From Survey By Matthew
Rhea, 1832. We date the small District map to be circa 1830. It appears
that Matthew Rhea had some independent surveyors create maps of some East
Tennessee counties (at least) for inclusion in his 1832 map.
Because
of the probable 1830 date, this small map postdates the 1806 establishment of
the Surveyors District, District South of the French Broad & Holston, it
certainly can not be called contemporary. Still, it is the earliest map of the
District that we have found, and it indicates the larger, six by six mile
townships within the District.
Below
is a quote from our paper,
“Tennessee’s Early Surveyors’ Districts and District Boundary Documentation,
1806 - 1836.”
Located
in East Tennessee. This district was formed on the bounds of the tract mentioned
in the 1796 Tennessee State Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Section 31:
“That the people residing south of the French Broad and Holston, between the
rivers Tennessee and the Big Pigeon, are entitled to the right of pre-emption
and occupancy in that tract.” Even mentioned in the U. S. Congressional Act of
1806: “. . . the people residing in said State, south of French Broad and
Holston, and west of the Big Pigeon Rivers provided for by the Constitution of
the State of Tennessee, shall be secured in their respective rights of
occupancy and pre-emption. . .” Most of the boundary rivers, above, have gone
through name changes since 1790's. The river above Kingston but before
Knoxville that was originally called the Holston, later became the Tennessee.
The Big Pigeon became the Pigeon, and the then Tennessee is now the Little
Tennessee. The southern line of this tract would cross over and into Cherokee
lands. The dividing boundary was established in the 2 July 1791, Blount’s
Treaty, also called the Treaty of Holston. The southern area of Blount County
reached past the treaty line. It was not unusual for the county lines or even
the later Surveyors’ District lines to cross treaty lines, only later to be
open to legal settlement. In 1797, the Hawkins’ Line was surveyed. That line
ran east-southeast from Kingston to Blanket Mountain, later being extended to
“Megis’ Post” near Clingman Dome on Iron Mountain. 47 In the Treaty of Tellico,
2 Oct 1798, the Cherokees ceded more land in the southwest of Blount County,
south of the original Hawkin0146s Line. Here the boundaries were extended
southerly and also eastward to the Chilhowie Mountain area. At the conclusion
of the treaty of Tellico a tract of land in southeast Blount County still
remained in Cherokee hands.
When
it was formed in 1806, the boundary description of the French Broad and Holston
District was unspecific, according to Whitney. Here we need to return to the
Section 31 of the State Declaration of Rights. The district’s southern boundary
would simply be “Tennessee” or Little Tennessee. However, it seems that the
District did not completely adhere to the Little Tennessee as its southern
boundary. Off limits to white settlement was a tract of Cherokee land in
southeast Blount County. This tract actually was to fall into the 1819 Hiwassee
District. Calhoun’s Treaty of 1819 extinguished all Cherokee claims north of
the Hiwassee River which, of course, included any Indian lands that remained
north of the Little Tennessee, in Blount County. With the use of the 1851
Hiwassee District map, TSLA #408, we can determine the boundary between this
District south of the French Broad and Holston and the Hiwassee the District.
There
remains little of the District’s records to help us sort out boundary line or
land location. Some land grant and county records remain. One can also find an
occasional article that might prove helpful.
The District
Office was located at Sevierville. There is no extant original map of the
District south of the French Broad and Holston.
*The
original Rhea French Broad map can be found in the Tennessee State Library
& Archives in Nashville Tennessee. It is in a small collection of personal
papers of Rhea Family Papers, Box 2, (#14). Dr. Wayne Moore (TSLA) provided a
copy of the map to us.
Copyright 1999, Fred Smoot
This page was posted,
29 October 1999
Questions:
INDEX
This book exists as an electronic document and it is easily portable. I can imagine it might slowly spread to a small group of people interested in the Philadelphia Lillard’s. I am offering a CD containing high quality scans of all the original letters as well as a copy of the latest version of this book and some limited other information for $30.
If you are interested please E-mail Ralph Hyde
at:
