Phillips County Historical Quarterly

PHILLIPS COUNTY
HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

Published by
The Phillips County Historical Society

The Phillips County Historical Society supplies the Quarterly to its members. Membership is open to anyone interested in Phillips County history. Annual membership dues are $3.50 for a regular membership and $5.00 for a sustaining membership. Single copies of the Quarterly are $1.00. Quarterlies are mailed to members.

Neither the Editors nor the Phillips County Historical Society assume any responsibility for statements made by contributors.

Dues are payable to Miss Bessie McRee, Membership Chairman, P. O. Box 629, Helena, Arkansas 72342.

Meetings are held in September, January, and May, on the fourth Sunday in the month, at 3:00 P.M., at the Phillips County Museum.

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PHILLIPS COUNTY
HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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HELENA WORLD, June 21, 1968

Letters To The Editor

Thanks To A Lady. Did you recently receive a bill? One that should have reminded you to say "thank you" to a lady? This bill would be from the Maple Hill Cemetery Association for the care and upkeep of the last resting place of those you love. The lady to whom you owe the thanks is Mrs. James H. Pillow, President of Maple Hill Cemetery Association. (Note: and also an Associate Editor of the Phillips County Historical Quarterly.)

Do you remember some years back when the Johnson grass, weeds, and undergrowth were growing around and over the graves in Maple Hill Cemetery because there was no money available for upkeep? Our historic old cemetery was a disgrace to the City of Helena and Phillips County. Of course, some families did go out and work in their own lots, but a big cemetery such as Maple Hill cannot be kept clean and lovely in this manner, as everyone found out.

The job of President of Maple Hill Cemetery Association was a thankless one, since it first involved a financial reassessment, resulting in these bills all of us receive. Mrs. Pillow accepted the job and has spent a great deal of her time and energy in revitalizing the Association in the face of much abuse and rudeness. People can be very rude when money is concerned, and practically no one says "thank you" for a bill.

If you have a loved one, or loved ones, at Maple Hill, have you really considered the difference in their last resting place as it was and as it is now? If you have no loved ones there, have you considered the asset this historic, lovely and well-kept cemetery is to the community now?

Only a person dedicated to a task as a labor of love, one vitally concerned with the community as a whole, could have taken on the job Mrs. Pillow did. She has spent her time and energy well and the community owes her a debt of gratitude. Thank you Mrs. Pillow.

From all of us who love the old cemetery and who are grateful for its improvement.

Thelma T. Spinks, Wayne and Roseann Huff, Marion S. Hickey, Patty B. Mathis, James S. King, Dorothy James, C. L. Moore, Bessie McRee, James R. Nicholls, Masie Moore, Mary Virginia Wood and David Ewart.

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ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION AT FORT CURTIS, HELENA, ARKANSAS

by

Burney McClurkan
Survey Archeologist
Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Archeological and historical investigation was undertaken to determine the exact location and dimensions of Fort Curtis, a Civil War military installation. Normal investigative techniques were employed but did not provide the desired information. Data obtained from local residents furnished the basic answers to the historic and archeological questions posed.

Fort Curtis was named for General Samuel Ryan Curtis, Commander of Union forces in Helena, Arkansas, during the Civil War. The fort was constructed by Union Army personnel between July, 1862, when Helena was occupied, and July, 1863, when the battle of Helena was fought.

The property in question, called the Russwurm lot, belongs to the First Baptist Church of Helena. Plans have been made to lower the present ground level 4 feet to the level of the lot on which the church stands, and make the area into a parking lot. Prior to the initiation of this work the Phillips County Historical contacted the Arkansas Archeological Survey to arrange some program of investigation to determine if this had been the actual location of Fort Curtis. Arrangements were made by the Survey with the First Baptist Church to conduct this investigation.

The archeological investigation had as its purpose the solution of three basic problems: 1) establishing the true location of Fort Curtis, 2) determining, if possible, the actual dimensions and any remaining detectable features of the fort, and 3) collection of any artifacts which could be assumed to be related to the occupation of the fort.

The term "fort" is something of a misnomer since it normally implies an administrative center for military operations. Fort Curtis proper was not an administrative center, but merely an earth-

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walled redoubt with no above surface structures of any sort except the entranceway to one of the two powder magazines. There were two totally subsurface structures -- the other powder magazine and a well. The fort was a somewhat irregular rectangular structure erected on what was then the western edge of the township of Helena, delineated at the time by Columbia Street.

Initial research consisted of studying the maps made by the Army Engineer at Fort Curtis. The following data on the structural details of the fort have been derived from three maps, photostats of which were obtained from the National Archives in Washington, D. C. They can be described as follows:

Map 1. A map of the Helena area containing a township plat and some of the more prominent geographical features such as major roads and watercourses. This map shows the location of Fort Curtis in relationship to the town, and also a number of other military emplacements; all emplacements are indicated as being extant at the time the map was made. The date on this map indicates that it was made prior to 1863. The cartographer is identified as F. Sommer, 1st Lt. The map is relatively crude and undetailed workmanship.

Map 2. This item is of the same area as is Map 1, but is finely detailed in all respects. The hills are shown in topographic lines which apparently were drawn with considerable care, using a plane table. The relative fineness of detail is apparent in many ways, and is in marked contrast to the work done on Map 1. This map was drawn by Fred Sommer, Capt., and is marked as having been received in New Orleans on January 2, 1864, some six months after the Battle of Helena.

Map 3. This is a detailed ground plan of Fort Curtis, plus a cross-sectional elevation, and details of the sliding bridge. There is no indication on this particular document as to who made it, but it is assumed that this is also the work of F. Sommer.

Maps 1 and 2 indicate that Fort Curtis occupied the entire block bordered by Perry Street on the north, Franklin Street on the east, Porter Street on the south, and Columbia Street on the west. The dimensions given on Map 3 show the overall size of the fort to be much smaller than is indicated on the larger maps. A survey

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made on June 6, 1901, shows the dimensions of the block in question to be 363 feet from the center of Columbia Street to the center of Franklin Street, and 396 feet from the center of Perry Street to the center of Porter Street. (It should be noted that there has been no drastic alteration of the configuration of the streets from the time Map 1 and 2 were drawn to the present.) The dimensions of the fort as shown in Map 3 are length 170 feet north and south, and width from 112 feet along the north wall to 125 feet along the south wall. The nature of the maps, including the gross discrepancy in the fort's dimensions, necessitated that some assumptions be made during the present investigation. It was decided that Map 1 done by F. Sommer, 1st Lt., was not a true depiction of what was then extant, but rather a projection of planned military defenses for the city of Helena. Map 2, then, finely detailed and well executed, was indeed a true account of extant military installations, done by Fred Sommer, Capt. and showing as completed those installations, some of which, particularly the Battery D artillery emplacement southwest of town, can be seen to the present day. Other installations which were drawn on Map 1 are depicted on Map 2 as "commenced but never completed" (written on the map by Capt. Sommer).

Map 3, the ground plan, then caused some perplexity. Map 2, which was assumed to be accurate to a great degree, showed the fort occupying the entire block. The dimensions shown on the ground plan were much too small for this to have been true. It was assumed that the dimensions shown on Map 3 were the actual dimensions of the fort structure, and the depiction shown on Map 2 was merely a nonscale indication that the fort was located at that place, or that the entire block was surrounded by some sort of wall, and the earthen redoubt actually occupied only a portion of the entire area. There is at present no evidence to support one hypothesis over the other.

The maps show that the fort was oriented, as stated above, with the long dimension approximately north-south. Each corner of the fort was equipped to hold a 24 pound Barbette gun mounted on a 360° swivel track. Two more of these weapons were presumably mounted on 180° swivel tracks on the west wall, and another on a 180° track on the south wall. Whether any or all of these weapons were actually mounted is not known, but surely the four corner mounts were utilized. The east wall of the structure followed the line of a natural ridge which was cut down slightly to

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a uniform height and thickness. The other three walls were of basic earthen construction reinforced with logs. The walls rose some 20 to 25 feet above the level of the interior floor of the fort and were sloped both inside and out, from a maximum thickness of some 20 feet at the base to slightly less than 10 feet at the top. Map 3 shows a moat or ditch on the north, west and south sides of the fort. Due to the elevation of the fort above the normal water level, there is little liklihood that the ditch was ever used as a true moat. A cross section of the fort shows the interior floor to be smooth but uneven and sloping, and therefore obviously not intended for anything so formal as a parade ground.

Three subsurface structures were located within the fort: a large powder magazine just inside the north wall, with an above surface, earth-covered entranceway, which acted as a sort of baffle for the gateway cut through the center of the north wall, a smaller powder magazine located within the east wall just north of the juncture of this wall with the south wall, and a well located in the northwest quarter of the fort. This well reached a depth of 64 feet below the surface of the parade ground, the upper 50 feet being reinforced with timber shoring, the lower 14 feet with masonry, indicating that the well was a seep well excavated from the ground surface to below the existing water table thus allowing fresh water to seep into the masonry basin.

An entranceway was cut through the center of the north wall, but instead of a movable gate there was a sliding bridge spanning the moat which circled the fort's walls.

Records in some of the county offices were investigated in order to obtain some accurate history of the block of land under study. Examination of the records at the office of the Phillips County Clerk showed that the block consists of lots 382 and 326, each lot extending the full north-south length of the block, and the two being separated by a narrow alley. Lot 382 is the west lot containing the Russwurm house and assumed to have been the location of Fort Curtis; lot 326 is the east lot on which the First Baptist Church is now located.

The County Abstract Office was visited in the hope of seeing plats of the city which would indicate any alterations which might have taken place on the lots. No such plats were present. The record of title transfer showed only that no transactions of any sort took place in regard to these lots from 1859 to 1877. This, of course, spans the critical time, the war years and the beginning

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of the reconstruction.

It was hoped that a check of the City Engineer's records would produce information about such activities as street paving, widening, curbing, sidewalks, and other such work which might materially affect the dimensions or over-all configuration of the lots. No such records were found.

A transparent overlay was made of the block to the same scale as the ground plan of the fort (Map 3). It was seen that the entire structure of Fort Curtis would fit into the northern portion of lot 382. A further examination of the ground surface was made which showed a small rise in the ground about 30 feet east of the northeast corner of the Russwurm house which corresponded closely with the location of the well on the ground plan. There was also some irregularity of ground surface at the northeast corner of the lot which could, on the strength of the overlay, be interpreted as the location of the corner gun emplacement, or possibly a remnant thereof.

It was possible then, on the basis of this information, that a large portion of the fort could still be in existence. Initial excavation was undertaken on the basis of this assumption.

A small exploratory trench was begun at the edge of the small rise in the yard, near the northeast corner of the house. A few fragments of what may have been flagstones were recovered, also some pieces of broken chinaware and some small fragments of slate. This work was interrupted by the arrival of a backhoe which had been requested for purposes of rapid trenching. The initial backhoe trench was dug east to west across the north end of lot 382, parallel to and just south of the sidewalk. The trench measured approximately 2 feet in width and some 40 feet in length, and was dug to a depth which varied from 1 1/2 feet to 2 feet. A second backhoe trench was dug parallel to and some 4 feet south of the first. Both of these trenches and the small exploratory trench showed the soil to be darkly stained to a depth varying from 4 to 6 inches below the surface as a result of organic decay. Below this humus stain the soil appeared to be completely undisturbed. No indication of any feature relating to the fort was discovered. It was assumed that if any remnant of the entranceway were left it would be plainly visible as a distinct and abrupt difference in soil color and texture, denoting the wall and the fill placed in the gateway. No indication of this type of feature was found. It was at approximately this time that John C. King, Jr.,

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raised the question of why a military commander would place his key installation on low ground when high ground was immediately adjacent. Charles Moore was brought to the site by John Lueken, Jr. Mr. Moore's family had resided for some time in a house immediately across Perry Street. Mr. Moore is in possession of photographs taken prior to 1890 from the front porch of his family home, in a southerly direction, which showed the lot (#382) as being some 12 to 15 feet higher in elevation than at present. Mr. Moore reported that shortly before the turn of the century the earth from this spot had been removed to provide fill, probably for the creek which flowed through town about a block to the east. It was evident in these photographs that the northern portion of lot 382, that area directly across from the Moore home, was the highest point of land in the township as it existed then, and Mr. Moore said it was commonly known when he was a boy that this particular spot had been the site of the fort -- not, as depicted on Maps 1 and 2, the entire block.

In summary, the investigative techniques employed were valid and the assumptions made on the basis of information gained by them were essentially correct. The information gained from Mr. Moore, however, was much more to the point, with the final result that the archeologist was 80 years and 15 feet too late. The interests of history have been served, though. Knowledge of the impending drastic alteration of the property in question prompted action by interested persons which resulted in a relatively quick amassing of data pertinent to Fort Curtis and its ultimate fate. The fact that the investigations were not fruitful from the standpoint of recovered material is compensated for by the fact that the probable true site of the fort has been pinpointed, its subsequent fate suggested and perhaps even more important, by the idea that, with desire for knowledge, action of this sort can be undertaken for the benefit of all. The work done at Fort Curtis stands as a valid effort in concerted work by concerned citizens, desirous of investigating and preserving their cultural heritage, and by professional workers concerned with a scientific approach to that investigation and preservation.

The Arkansas Archeological Survey would like to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. John C. King, Jr., Rev. Don Dilday, Mr. John Lueken, Jr., Mr. Charles Moore, and Mrs. C.M.T. Kirkman, all of Helena, Arkansas, the Phillips County Historical Society, and to give to the people of Helena special thanks for their hospitality and graciousness.

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ADMIRAL BENJAMIN TAPPAN

by

Dale P. Kirkman

A sketch of Admiral Benjamin Tappan appeared in the Phillips County Historical Quarterly of March, 1965, written by Mrs. C.M. Young. Since that time, more information about him has been found in clippings and other papers preserved by the late Sam W. Tappan.

Admiral Tappan was truly Helena's hero of an earlier day, and he was liked and admired by all who knew him here. His visits were a source of great enjoyment to all the local children whom he encountered, as he made much of them and they of him. The fact that he was stone-deaf, perhaps a result of exposure to naval bombardment during the Spanish-American War, did not affect his relations with the younger set. Apparently he enjoyed his trips to Helena as much as his friends did, and his vacations were spent at the home of his mother, Mrs. O. H. Oates, of 807 Poplar Street. (This house was next to the old Brame or Alldredge home, and the site is now the 1000 block of Poplar Street). His uncle, General James C. Tappan, lived very near this address, and his half brother, Judge R. W. Nicholls, and his half sister, Mrs. Olive Oates Washington, also resided in Helena.

He was a young boy when he left New Orleans and came to Helena to live, following the Civil War and the death of his father during that war. He was fifteen years old when he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1871, secured through the efforts of Honorable James M. Hanks, member of Congress from Arkansas. His career was launched from Helena and the townspeople were justly proud of his later success, claiming him as their personal hero. Their admiration reached a high point following his exploits in the Philippines in the Spanish-American War, and in 1900, he was invited to return to Helena to publicly receive a sword which had been specially designed for him.

The presentation of the sword by the city of Helena was held at the Grand Opera House in May, 1900, with Colonel Edward S. Ready in charge of the event, and with Mrs. Ready arranging the musical program of four soloists and the Y.M.C.A. band. The sword itself was a thing of wonder, and was made by Tiffany & Co. of New York.

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The gold hilt of the sword carried the head of a dolphin, and another dolphin graced the tip of the scabbard. At the top of the hilt was a ball, signifying the earth, with a golden eagle standing on it. The hilt was inscribed with the initials "B. T." The steel blade was engraved with the legend, "Presented To Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Tappan By His Fellow Townsmen of Helena, Arkansas, In Recognition Of His Splendid Services At Manila."

The scabbard for the sword was of black leather, embellished at the top with the coats-of-arms of the United States and of the state of Arkansas. The names Olympia and Raleigh were engraved in gold on either side of the scabbard, a reminder of the flagship and cruiser on which he fought in the Battle of Manila Bay.

The black silk belt was striped with gold thread, and the hooks for attaching the sword to the belt were small anchors. The case in which the whole set came was of oak, with a brass plate on top reading:

Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Tappan
United States Navy
From The Friends Of His Boyhood And Young Manhood

Major Greenfield Quarles of the 1st Arkansas (Confederate) made the speech of presentation, handing the sword to Commander Tappan. Wild shouting, clapping, and enthusiastic responses followed the presentation. The Helena World stated that the Opera House was filled that night as it had never been filled, and there was standing room only.

In the early part of his career, Admiral Tappan had been with the United States Navy in the Asiatic Squadron, before participating in the Battle of Manila Bay, May 1, 1898, as fourth in command of the Raleigh. The Spanish fleet was blasted at Manila Bay, but Admiral Dewey waited for reinforcements before taking Manila itself. In the meantime, the little Spanish gunboat Callao was captured, and Tappan was placed in command of it.

This gunboat was said in newspaper accounts to have mounted more guns proportionately than any other ship in the United States Navy -- one, two, and three pounders and some machineguns. When General Wesley Merritt closed in on Manila and finally captured it in August of 1898, Tappan used this gunboat to cover General Merritt's advance, moving along close to the shore as the troops

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went forward, and firing on the Spaniards. He received commendations for this work, for the capture of a Spanish battery during the fight, and for the services of the Callao in the Filipino insurrection which started in December of that year.

Other commands which Admiral Tappan held after that of the Callao were the Petrel in the Pacific Fleet, the Newport and the Tacoma in the North Atlantic Fleet, followed by the Kearsarge, the Kentucky, and the Indiana. He was commandant of naval stations in the Philippines from 1913-1915, and was recalled to be commandant of the Philadelphia Naval Yard from 1916 to 1918, when this country was engaged in the first World War. In 1918, Admiral Tappan was married in Virginia to Mrs. Tyssowski. He died 18 December, 1919, and he and his wife are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He sent many mementoes of his naval days to Helena, including the figurehead of the Callao, and they are in the Museum here. One wonders where the sword is, a handsome symbol of the high regard in which he was held in Helena.

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COLONEL R. A. DUNCAN

by

Robert Alexander Duncan, III
Williamsburg, Virginia

"Robert Alexander Duncan was born on the South Ann River, Hanover County, Virginia on the 2nd day of September AD 1822, his father's name being Edmund Bacon Duncan and His mother's being Harriett Muncus. They moved to the west and settled in Memphis, Tennessee. His mother died in said place sometime in the early part of the year 1828. His father then visited his brother in the town of Fayette, Washington County, Mississippi where he remained but a short time with his two children Robert A. and Mary Ann when he resolved to return to Louisa County, Virginia where he was raised and whilst awaiting a steamer at the town of Petit Gulf on the River Mississippi contracted the yellow fever of which he died when aboard of the steamer before she reached the mouth of the Yazoo River where he was buried with others who died of the same disease. His son and daughter were taken charge of by the passengers of the boat who appointed Captain of the vessel as their guardian placing all of his worldly effects then with him consisting of money and valuable papers in his possession. A passenger who was a Judge swearing him. The son was taken to Louisville, Kentucky and from there to St. Joseph near Bardstown, Kentucky and from there to St. Marys, Kentucky where he received the rudiments of education. He then was taken to Louisville and then to New Albany, Indiana thence back to Louisville then 12 miles south of Louisville in Jefferson County where he remained until he was seventeen years old. He then went to the territory of the Northwest (now Iowa and Minnesota) thence to Florida and then back to Louisville where he remained several years near its vicinity. Finally he came to Arkansas in the Autumn of 1848 and in August 1851 he married Miss Thyrza Ann Casteel of St. Francis County by whom he had two children - viz: Edmund Bacon and William Burton, the latter died in July 1857. When the Rebellion as it is called broke out in 1861 he volunteered in Capt. Tappan's Company and went to Harrisburg in Poinsett County, Arkansas where a regiment was formed of the 8 and 10 companies there collected and, which chose Capt. J. C. Tappan as its Colonel and R. A. Duncan was promoted and 2 Lieut. was present and participated in the Battle of Belmont, Shiloh Richmond Perryville

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Murfreesboro and several other affairs and heavy (engagements?) was wounded in the right leg at Shiloh and again at Murfreesboro was promoted as Lieut. Colonel and placed in command of his Regiment 13th Arkansas Volunteer consolidated with the 15th Arkansas Volunteer the latter being the regiment originally commanded by Maj. Gen. P. R. Cleburn as its Major."

The above was copied from Colonel Duncan's family Bible as recorded in his handwriting; while that which follows was obtained from Arkansas History Commission, Department of Archives and History and Legislative Reference Library in Little Rock.

"Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry - Field and Staff: James C. Tappan, Colonel; A. D. Grayson, Lieutenant-Colonel; J. A. McNeely, Major. Company "A" Captain Robert Lambert; Company "B" Captain B. C. Crump; Company "C" Captain Benjamin Harris; Company "D" Captain Balfour; Company "E" Captain J. M. Pollard; Company "F" Captain Dunn; Company "G" Captain Shelton; Company "H" Captain Johnson; Company "I" (names unknown); Company "K" George Hunt. Strength of regiment, at organization, about 1000 men.

It was in the battles of Belmont, November 7, 1861, and Shiloh, April 6th and 7th, 1862, after which it was reorganized, and was in those of Perryville, Kentucky, October 7, 1862; Murfreesboro, December 21, 1862; January 2nd, 1863; Chicamauga, September 19th and 20th, 1863; Missionary Ridge, November 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 1863; Ringgold Gap, November 26th, 1863; and all the battles under Cleburne. Colonel Tappan was promoted to Brigadier-General, and transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, where he commanded a brigade, composed of Colonel Shaler's Regiment; Colonel Shaver's Regiment; the Seventh Arkansas Infantry; Colonel R. L. Dawson's Regiment, the Sixteenth Arkansas; and Colonel Grimstead's Regiment, taking part in the operations around Little Rock, September 10th, 1863, and in the battles of Jenkin's Ferry, April 30, 1864; and Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 9, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel Grayson, of this regiment, was killed at Shiloh, and Major J. A. McNeeley became Lieutenant-Colonel, and on the promotion of Colonel Tappan became Colonel, R. A. Duncan becoming Major."

Further, the Arkansas History Commission certified many years ago, "....Colonel Tappan's regiment was otherwise known as the 13th, and Colonel Cleburne's was the 15th. Our records

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show that R. A. Duncan served in the 13th...."

In Cleburne and His Command by Captain Irving A. Buck, C. S. A., who served as an active member of Cleburne's staff in the Army of Tennessee, first published in 1908, and later in 1958 by Thomas Robson Hay, Editor, as Pat Cleburne, Stonewall Jackson of the West, it is mentioned on Page 106 that in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Arkansas Regiments under command of Colonel Lucius E. Polk were detached to the support of the One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Tennessee Regiment of Smith's Brigade.

Also, the same source recites that in the battle of Murfreesboro: "In Polk's brigade, Majors (C.H.) Carlton and (R. A.) Duncan, Fifteenth and Thirteenth Arkansas were wounded."

Colonel Duncan's descendants are not aware of any other written military record, but there exists in the family the tradition that when he was seventeen years old, he discovered that his guardian was educating him for the Roman Catholic priesthood, and he ran away from school in Jefferson County, Kentucky and enlisted in the United States Army. This would have been about 1839-40. His having been in the Territory of the Northwest and in Florida seems to support this belief, as it was not until 1842 that the Seminole Indians were completely subdued in Florida and trouble with the western tribes still existed at this time in Iowa and Minnesota.

There also exists a report that his having been ordered to black the boots of an officer, he refused and deserted the United States Army, although tradition often is substituted for fact and we cannot be sure of this.

No record exists of the name of his guardian. There is in his papers a lad grant dated May 14, 1821 to Chauncy Muncell to "320" acres, the north half of Section Twenty eight of Township one South in Range four East in Tract appropriated (by Acts aforesaid) for Military Bounties in the Territory of Arkansas." He served in "Hamilton's of the Sixth Regiment of Infantry." There are no Muncells in the Duncan family, so probably this was the name of the captain of the vessel on which his father died, who was his guardian.

Sometime before his marriage to Thyrza Ann Casteel in 1851, he visited his kin in Virginia and became very much enamoured

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of his first cousin in Louisa County, Sallie Bacon Farrar, a daughter of Colonel Stephen Farrar and Susan Pearson Duncan Farrar. Susan Duncan was a sister of his father, Edmund Bacon Duncan. It is told that they went for a stroll and crossed a soft spot by the side of a creek where her footprints were left in the soil. He fenced one of these with twigs to protect it until he could return. She protested that the first freshet would wash it away. True, when he returned to live in Virginia, he had been twice married and was the father of fourteen children!

During the War Between the States and the blockade of Mississippi ports, including Helena, Colonel Duncan had evidently met the lady who was to become his second wife, Miranda Elizabeth Harris, the daughter of Stephen R. Harris, born 1812 in North Carolina and his wife, Mary Jane Burrus, born 1815 in Kentucky, possibly through his association with Captain Benjamin Harris of Company "C", Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry. The census of 1860 states that Mary (Jane) Harris, aged 45 of St. Francis Township, Post Office Helena, Arkansas, was the head of a household, and that Miranda was 18 years old and Benjamin was 15 years of age. This could hardly have been Captain Benjamin T., but possibly some kin. In any event, Colonel Duncan had met and known Miranda as the following letter in his effects reveals:

Mr. Alexander's House, (illegible) County, Mississippi, February 13, 1864.

Dear Friend "Miranda"

I avail myself of writing you a few lines to be conveyed to you by some member of W. Alexander's family who I understand will be in your town in a few days. You can imagine how agreeably surprised I was tonight upon learning at the house that Bud had partially recovered from his wounds received at "Chicamauga" and that he has stopped here on his return to the "loved ones at home." I had learned that your mother had returned from Marietta, Georgia where she had gone to see him and that she stopped at the town of Meridian, Mississippi at the Ragsdale House and inquired for Major Ed Moore and by her being unaccompanied by Benjamin, I had concluded that he died and oh how glad I was when I learned from this kind family that he was alive and had actually stopped

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here with them on his way home. You no doubt ask yourself what I am doing here and wonder whether I ever intend to come to H. or in its vicinity and I will just here say that it is my intention to see the "loved ones at home" and One in particular with this proviso that there be no danger of falling into the hands of "Mr. Buford." I saw Puss for a few minutes on the Alabama Road in company with her brother and Capt. Hoshal (?) last October but he had but little to say owing to my great disappointment in not meeting with "her" of whom all others of her sex I wished most to see and partly because Hoshal monopolized her time during the time I was in their company. I then expected to return immediately upon reporting to Genl. Kirby Smith but was sent on special service across the Mississippi with letters to Generals Jos. Johnston and Bragg. I am now on my return to Shreveport, Louisiana (by the shortest route via Helena and vicinity) in hopes of being fortunate enough this time in seeing "M" somewhere, somehow and in some manner. Would that I could venture into Helena or that I could hear of her visiting some of her country friends in S' Francis County.

You no doubt wonder to yourself if I have changed either in hart or person and lest you should be led to believe that you would find me the same as when you last saw me I will here inform you that I am not only older in years but also in looks. I would make quite a respectable looking Squire or I perhaps should have said Venerable for I am quite gray headed and my only fear is that "M" will come to the conclusion when she sees me that I am too much so but I can assure her that his heart is the same that no "change has come over the spirit of my dreams," that I have loved on and expect to love ever and if it be my ill fortune to be unrequited then all I have to say is may God help me, but away with melancholy thoughts.

Tell him we are not subdued yet nor likely to be and such fighting as will be in this coming campaign the world has never seen. Bragg's Old Army now commanded by Joe Johnston is in better

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plight than ever and the men are re-enlisting for the war by regiments and brigades -- and is the case in Lee's Brigade and Polk's armies. Give my love to him and the rest of your Mother's family. I don't mean all of it for I wish you to retain a goodly portion yourself and when next you play for Federal Officers "When this evil war is over," don't forget one who never ceases to think of Miranda. May God bless you is the sincere prayer of your more than Friend.

R. A. Duncan

Three months later, they were married. The following is the marriage certificate:

Helena, Arkansas
Tuesday Eve May 17th/64

This is to certify that I, W. H. Barksdale of the City of Helena, Arkansas, did solemnize the rites of Matrimony between Robert Alexander Duncan, age 41, and Miss Miranda Elizabeth Harris, age 22, at the residence of her mother in the City of Helena on the above date. Given under my hand this the 17th of May/64.

W. H. Barksdale
Pastor of The Baptist Church
Helena, Arkansas

Strangely, the officiating minister failed to file the certificate of Marriage until January 1, 1866, as witness:

State of Arkansas County of Phillips

This is to certify that I, an ordained minister of the gospel did on the ____ day of ____________ solemnize the rites of matrimony between Robert Alexander Duncan, age 41, to Miss Miranda Harris, aged 22, in Helena, Arkansas.

W. H. Barksdale

State of Arkansas County of Phillips

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I, A. B. Schroder, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Recorder for Phillips County do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the original certificate of marriage filed in my office January 1, 1866.

A. B. Schroder, Clerk
By R. Maloney, Deputy Clerk

Apparently, the non-recording was an omission of the cleric (probably by his death) or the clerk. In any event, the certificate in Mr. Barksdale's handwriting still exists.

While the son, Edmund Bacon Duncan, of his marriage to Thyrza Ann Casteel lived to be about 21 years of age, he never married and left no descendants, and Colonel Duncan's sister, Mary Ann (Molly), who married William Burton, planter of Casco County, Arkansas, who removed to Texas, also left no progeny. The children of Robert Alexander Duncan and Miranda Elizabeth Harris Duncan are the only descendants of this branch of the Duncans.

To the union of Robert and Miranda were born twelve children between the years 1864 and 1884:

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Of these children, only Robert Harris, who never married; George Alexander; Angus Angereau; and Mabel Ruth lived to maturity.

In Colonel Duncan's papers there is a funeral notice: "Daisy, daughter of R. A. and M. E. Duncan, departed this life on the 7th day of April A. D. 1870 of measles and pneumonia aged one year three months and twenty-six days."

Also, dated March 26, 1872, notice of the funeral of Benjamin A. Harris held from his mother's residence on Rightor Street with services by Rev. W. D. Mayfield. He was Miranda Duncan's brother referred to by Colonel Duncan in his letter to Miranda above.

After the war, it is thought he served as bookkeeper for a Mississippi steamship line as there recurs records such as: Memphis and White River Trip No. 1, September 21, 1869; Taxes on Cotton, December 30, 1869; Cash Account Steamer Mason, 1869; January 6, 1870, Accounts with Captain Scales and J. K. Mulkey, George O. Dixon and L. Collins, Carpenters; Captain Pates whiskey bill 8.00, Captain Pates grocery bill 3.48; also reference to Steamer Maltese of Maltese Line.

In 1883 upon the death of his bachelor uncle for whom his father had named him, Robert Alexander Duncan, he became an heir to this estate and decided to return to Virginia. He and his family settled in the old Duncan home in Louisa County, Virginia, which is one of the oldest in the county. There he and Miranda lived with their family until because of the infirmation of old age, he sold the farm and went to live with his son, George Alexander Duncan, in Norfolk, Virginia, where he died on May 29, 1905.

He was buried with his ancestors in the family cemetery on the Duncan plantation in Louisa County. Thus ended the saga of a great Scots descended southern gentleman.

Miranda Harris Duncan died in 1918 at the home of her son, George, in Bedford County, Virginia, and was buried in Blundford Cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia.

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SACRED HEART ACADEMY

by

Betty Faust

In August, 1879, the Sisters of Charity from Nazareth, Kentucky, began Sacred Heart Academy. It was opened in the building known as St. Catherine Convent and Academy, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1858. The building was the former residence of Colonel Henry L. Biscoe.

The first superior for the St. Catherine Convent and Academy is listed in the Catholic Almanac (the present Catholic Directory) as Mrs. (sic) Mary Paul Lombard. The Almanac for 1861 states that: "A new addition has been erected during the past summer which will enable the Sisters to receive 150 boarders." The Academy was discontinued in 1868. (See "An Irish Catholic's Mission to Arkansas," September, 1966 Quarterly.)

The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth arrived from Nazareth, Kentucky, in August, 1879. They were: Sister Estelle, superior from 1879-1887, Sister Dominica, Sister Nina, Sister Etienne, Sister Emerita, Sister Symphorosa. The Annals of the Sisters of Charity state that they occupied an eight-room building, once the home of a well-to-do southern family (not named), afterwards the home and school of Sisters of Mercy who were forced to abandon their post. In 1880, six sisters are mentioned as living at St. Mary's Convent and conducting a school with 98 pupils enrolled.

In the catalogue for Sacred Heart Academy in 1879-1880, the site is described as "delightfully situated in the city of HELENA, ARK. on the grand MISSISSIPPI RIVER. The site is pleasant, beautiful and healthy. The buildings are spacious, and erected in handsome style, and well arranged for the purpose of a boarding school for young ladies. The yard and grounds for recreation are neat and spacious, and pleasantly shaded with large cedar and magnolia trees." The Prospectus states that "no solicitation is used to change the RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES or CREED of the pupils. The SISTERS OF CHARITY OF NAZARETH have been a teaching Community ever since the year 1814, during which time they had an extensive patronage from the Southern States, and from several of the Western States. The experience of the many years teaching has increased the qualifications and abili-

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ties of the directresses, teachers and tutoresses."

In the catalogue of 1879-1880, the Academic year is divided into two sessions of five months each, the first commencing on the first Monday in September and ending the last of January; the second commencing on the first of February and ending the last Thursday in June. Board and Tuition in the Common Branches, vix., Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, English, Grammar, Geography, Plain Sewing, Marking and Needle-Work was $75.00 per Session. Board and Tuition in the Higher Branches, viz., Philosophy, Rhetoric, Botany, Algebra, Composition, History, Astronomy, Chemistry, Optics, etc., was $85.00. The Day Scholars fees were $15.00 for the Senior Class, $10.00 for the Intermediate Class, $7.50 for the Junior Class and $5.00 for the Primary Department. Extra charges were made for lessons in French, German and Latin. Lessons on the piano, harp and guitar were offered, too, for extra charges, as well as drawing, painting in water colors, ornamental needlework, oil painting, Grecian landscape painting and Mezzotinto and Polish watercolors.

One of the regulations listed in the Sacred Heart Academy catalogue was that letters written and received by the pupils were subject to inspection except correspondence with parents. Pupils were required to have a Sunday uniform for winter, one dress of mazarine blue merino, and for summer, one dress of buff-colored French percale. Pupils could not wear jewelry. The regular day for visitors was Saturday, and no visitors were received or entertained on Sundays. Young ladies were received as boarders and day scholars. A limited number of small boys were received as day scholars.

Pupils listed in the catalogue of 1879-1880 were as follows: Minnie and Ada Bender, Helena; Pearl Blantz, Helena; Lizzie and Lulie Burke, Helena; Hermine Brunner, Concordia, Miss.; Maggie Carpenter, Helena; Mannie Chinn, Helena; Lizzie Clarke, Helena; Eva Coolidge, Helena; Mary Davidson, Helena; Mittie Diamond, Helena; Carrie Ewan, Clarendon; Maggie Ford, Helena; Mary Fitzhugh, Helena; Mattie Gill, LaGrange; Ella Hawkins, Helena; Tinnie Hickman, LaGrange; Blanche Hindman, Helena; Lizzie Hoelle, Helena; Jessie Jackson, Helena; Lizzie Jackson, Jonestown, Miss.; Emma King, Helena; Carrie Lohmann, Helena; Katie and Ada Longinetti, Helena; Lula McCabe, Helena; Vergie Maxson, Helena; Katie Moore, Helena; Linda Muretto, Helena;

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Norah Nagle, Memphis, Tenn.; Hattie Palmer, Palmer, Ark.; Sudie and Anna Polk, Helena; Blanche Ramsey, Helena; Lizzie Renfro, Poplar Grove; Lilian and Tillie Roberts, Helena; Dora Seemann, Trenton; Feda Schwanz, Helena; Ada Sparrow, Helena; Nellie Stephens, Helena; Clara Straub, Helena; Edna, Nellie and May Summers, Helena; Laura Taylor, LaGrange; Cornelia Upshaw, Helena; Louise Willemann, Helena; Louise Williams, Old Town, Ark. The following boys were also listed: Eugene Book, John Diamond, Charlie and Willie Coolidge, Frank Lohmann, Thomas and Willie McCabe, John McGuire, Nick Quinlan, John Stephens, Willie Straub, Willie Tinney, Eddie Turner, all from Helena, and Elliot Palmer from Palmer, Arkansas.

Between 1879 and 1887 two classrooms and two large dormitories for boarders were added. In 1887, "very picturesque and useful colonnades joining the various outlying buildings with the main one" were erected. Between 1888 and 1895, a kitchen, laundry, dairy, etc. were added.

A puzzling paragraph from the Annals of the Sisters of Charity after the death of Father Boetzkes reads; "No doubt the interment of his body led to the removal of many bodies which were buried in the Sisters' garden. Tradition has it that this was also the cemetery hallowed with the dust of Arkansas' first bishop, Rt. Rev. Andrew Byrne who died in 1862." There are no Sisters of Charity of Nazareth buried in Helena.

Sister Columba Fox was superior from 1910 to 1914. She had a telephone installed; replaced oil and gas fixtures by electric ones; painted and decorated the chapel; had tennis and basketball plots made. Sister Columba planned to grade the ground fronting on Arkansas Street and divide it into city lots which could be sold for $30,000. Then the erection of new buildings could be undertaken with the money. The plan was not approved immediately. Finally, in the spring of 1914, the grading was done (city lots were in great demand), but building was not started until 1917. Six lots were sold in 1917; one in 1921; the last in 1925 to Mr. Hugh Krein.

The Knights of Columbus and the "ever faithful friend of Sacred Heart Academy, J. L. Solomon," assisted with funds for the new building.

Fine cooperation of the local public school was in evidence

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when the principal delayed making his schedule until the music classes at Sacred Heart Academy were set.

In 1912, a concrete sidewalk was laid on Arkansas Street the whole length of the Sacred Heart Academy property. The Academy made an annual contribution of $200 which was its quota for paving Arkansas Street with stone.

In 1922, Elton Winfield was the first boy to receive a high school diploma from Sacred Heart Academy.

(The above information was received from Sister Agnes Geraldine, Secretary General, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Nazareth, Kentucky, March 22, 1968.)

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WHAT PRICE PROGRESS?

by

Carolyn Cunningham

Passing out of existence this month, April, 1968, is Camp Ground Cemetery, thought by many to be the oldest public cemetery in Phillips County. The little knoll, covered with cedar trees and honeysuckle adding to its peaceful serenity, has had to give way to progress. The bulldozers and tractors have been busy pushing the markers away. Now they are in a pile, broken to bits, against the side of a ditch. Among these markers is much of the early history of our county.

Located in what has been termed a dangerous curve at Wycamp, twice the Arkansas State Highway Department has built a road around it, only for it to be sacrificed now to a few rows of cotton or soybeans. As recently as three years ago, the Highway Department once again built their road around the old landmark. A four-lane highway was being built into the Twin Cities, and though the road was straightened somewhat, the graveyard was not disturbed. There was never any question of it, the engineers simply drew their plans around it.

Camp Ground Cemetery got its name from the services which were held there. Long before the Civil War, families came from many miles away to hold two and three day meetings. They sang, ate, and visited during the day, and had preaching at night. Eventually a little church was built there, but I have not found anyone who remembers its existence. The cemetery was begun as a private one, but more and more families sought permission to bury their dead there, and so it grew, and the names to be found on the markers read like a page from a history book of Phillips County.

Mrs. W. E. Hicks went there with me. She has gone there to see her own kin buried. Bankston Waters' grandparents are buried there, as well as others whose names many will remember. The oldest marker in existence in July, 1941, was 1842, but many had been destroyed already at that time. Mrs. Charles Lederman, Jr., the former Mary Nelson, found her great-great grandfather's stone, broken, but not too badly to read -- John Koonce, Died November 25, 1849, aged 40 years, 9 months. Around his grave were four strong, deeply imbedded posts, and surely these will be the last

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to go, because they will be very difficult to move.

Several years ago a farmer began demolishing the cemetery. He was brought into court by John Gregory, represented by Roscopf and Raff, attorneys-at-law. A few peaceful years went by for the remaining graves, and Chris Griffin copied those names down, but about the first of April, another anxious farmer came along and pushed every remaining marker aside. He tore out the vines and shrubs and all but two or three trees. What had at one time been a beautiful resting place for the dead was left as an ugly bald knob of dirt. The sheriff's office was notified and went out at once, but too late, the last marker was gone.

A letter has been written to Mr. Henderson Smith, Jr., of Southland, requesting that he stop his work on the old cemetery grounds in hopes that the stones can be replaced. It is hoped by some members of the Historical Society that the markers can be put back in some kind of order, although it would be impossible to place them in their proper places, and even this may be impossible. If we are able to go and work on it, it will seem a bit like working on a large stone jigsaw puzzle, because the markers were so badly broken; but if we do not realize the importance of our heritage, and our history, then our future is likely to suffer. In this case, we may be too late to save Camp Ground Cemetery, but perhaps this will open our eyes to other destructions, in time. Genealogical societies often depend on information found on tombstones, and to destroy one is not only a state, but a federal offense, and is a felony.

The cemetery is located on the north side of Highway 49, about eight miles west of Helena beside the M. & N. A. Railroad. This area is known as Wycamp, but is in the vicinity of a community, now long gone, called Hyde Park. Now as one drives past the barren spot one might echo the words of an interested onlooker who said, "what price progress?"

The following invaluable information is from the genealogical notebook of Mrs. Jesse Boomer Daggett of Marianna. Realizing that such information could easily be destroyed and recognizing its importance, she came to the cemetery in July 1941, and copied all of the data still available at that time. Mrs. Daggett is the former Lyda Jackson, sister of the late Judge Jimason Jackson. She is the granddaughter of John P. Moore, early Phillips County resident. Some of the people buried here were kinsmen of hers.

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It is with much gratitude to her that we list the following names.

James Marriott. Shot by Pat Cleburne in 1856.

John Koonce. Died November 25, 1849, aged 40 years, 9 months.

Robert W. Koonce, son of T. H. and E. A. Koonce. Died April 5, 1856, aged 8 years.

Elizabeth Ann Waters, wife of G. W. Waters. Born 1880, died 1861.

Eliza A. Long, daughter of J. P. and G. A. Long. Born 1880, died 1880.

J. P. Long. Born 1846, died 1881.

F. T. Moody. Died July 22, 1856, aged 52 years.

Eleanor J. Beaty, daughter of William T. and Eleanor Beaty. Died 1850, aged 1 year, 10 months.

Eleanor Beaty, wife of William T. Beaty. Died July, 1848.

William O. Beaty. Died May 23, 1858, aged 62 years.

James Lindsey, daughter of R. T. and J. L. Shrinder. Died August 16, 1847.

William J. Kidd. Died January 9, 1851, aged 43 years.

Robert E. Walker. Born 1825, died 1842.

Catherine Walker, wife of William Walker. Died 1853.

William Walker, Sr. Born 1777, died 1857.

Frances R. Carter, daughter of Matthew and Rebecca Carter. Died August 20, 1846, aged 2 years.

Motley D. Flourney. Born 1832, died 1856.

Benjamine Whitwort, son of J. C. Whitwort. Died 1855, aged 5 years.

Edmond Whitwort, sone of J. C. and F. Whitwort. Born 1849, died 1852.

Mary J. Mitchell, wife of S. W. Mitchell. Born 1819, died 1860.

Mary Ann Turner, wife of Edmond Turner. Died July 19, 1858, aged 63 years.

Edmond Turner. Died August 6, 1858, aged 56 years.

Hannah Woody Pool, wife of Asa Pool. Born 1802, died 1854.

William Patton, born Moringo County, Alabama. Born 1816, died 1846.

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Joseph Erwin, son of William and Olive Erwin. Born 1844, died 185—.

Sam L. Grimes. Born 1798, died 1849.

Sallie Stewart. Died 1917.

Archibald Ervin Patton, born Green County, Miss. Born 1813, died 1842 (or 1847).

Louisiana V. Patton, wife of J. Patton. Born 1821, died 1850.

John Sniezer, son of Alfred and Kate Sniezer. Born 1855, died 1857.

Robert E. Rice, son of W. D. and Amelia E. Rice. Born 185—.

Children of F. N. and F. M. Rice: Neverson, born 1852, died 1853: Maggie H., born 1859, died 1859.

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THE COTTEN CORRESPONDENCE: PART II

Norfleet Hill Cotten was in Arkansas, near Indian Bay, trying to get the family plantation re-established so he could bring his family back to their home. He found things to be in a very difficult situation, his former slave, Clayton, living in the family home and ready to give orders to his old Master. During his brief stay, he wrote many lengthy letters to his wife at LaGrange, Tennessee, and she to him.

Sunday 27th 1870

My Dear Fanny

Yours of 20th just received. It affords me so much pleasure to hear from you all, & to know that you are well, & getting on as well as you are, in my absence. I have improved every day, since coming over, have a good apetite, & work hard every day. Last week, I had four wells dug on our place, had a new one dug, by the side of the old one at our house, the old one was fast giving out. I made the curbs. Reuben Everett & Clayton helped me. The mill is not running now, or I would have begun my buildings before this. I already have the greater portion of the lumber on the ground, where I intend putting up three new houses, two single rooms, & one double for Clayton, as his family is large, & intend having a 6 foot hall in it. They are going to be real nice, shingle roofs, & built by a nice carpenter. My Dear, what I am now doing ought to have been done before, where all of our land would have been worked, & brought us something worth speaking of, & been more sought for as, since hands here see that I am going to build nice houses, they seem anxious to get some of my land to work. I dont think there will be any doubt about the whole place being worked next year. I have found no one to put in our house. I dont intend hands shall ocupy it again, tis nearly ruined, will take two weeks to scour & clean up the house for us to live in again.

I see nothing left for us to do than return to our place, unless I can make diferent arrangements, than at first, with Scott. These hands that owe me, as cotton is so low, cant pay me more than four hundred dollars. As to the Whites, not one have paid me a cent yet. It is provoking, but cant be helped. I dont want to live among such people. But rather than our place

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should come to ruin, for want of an occupant, I know my Dear One, You are one of the last ones who would urge an objection to a return. Do you think a soul here has helped, or offered the least assistance, in my work, except Reuben Everett. He is a noble young man, I shall never forget their kindness. I worked until after sun down last evening, slept harder last night, & feel more tired this lovely Sabbath morning, than since leaving you. I have often thought, & remarked dear one, of this being the longest separation since our marriage. I could not endure it but for being so busily engaged every day.

I staid all night at Jims Monday last. They were glad to see me, & Jim said he wished he was situated as I was. They are not pleased with the way they live, every thing in confusion, & most of the labor devolves on Bet. They dont intend staying there but one year more. Willie & Lawrence talk of taking their families out of the state. Kate is on the bed sick all the time. Evan & Oran do the cooking. Beside they have a crop of their own to save. I so often wanted to talk with you Fanny, for there is no one in this cold world that I feel free to express myself to. People seem colder than ever, & one is working against the other.

If you will see Hohn yourself, he will get you eggs, butter, or any thing you need, & do for my sake, write me what you need that I may get it on my return. It may be the 2nd week in Decr, before I can leave here. I hope the mill will be running this week, when my bill will be sawed, being the first put in. I must see that all lumber needed is hauled home before I can leave here. I have made arrangements with Mrs. Swanfield to board them, the carpenters.

I do wish every day that you had some of the great abundance of nice venison, kirshaw, pumpkin, etc. there is to be had here every day. This is a land of plenty compared to Tenn, but few appreciate the blessings bestowed upon them. More improvements are going on than ever before. Every one that that has money invests it in that way, & you cant borrow a dollar. Tell me what you think best for us to do, & what you prefer. I will endeavor to do what you think best, if able. I think I can get some money in Memphis. If not, I cant do a thing towards paying for Scotts place.

Let us be cheerful, & look forward to better times. We

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have looked backward too long. My love to all, a kiss to you & the dear children. This is my 5th letter. God bless & take care of you, & bring me back safe to my little family, is the nightly prayer of your affectionate Husband,

N. H. Cotton

No rheumatism about me yet.

I received yours 23rd Monday 28. Write in answer. I have written Scott that it is impossible to take his place. Cant get money due me, and am bound to support my Wife & Children, & have secured every thing I have to you, & them. Tis a duty I owe you. As necesity forces, we will have to return bitter as the pill may be. I see no help for it. I dont believe anyone here ever intends paying us a cent. There is no use sueing for that would only incur an additional offense.

Our home dont look like we left it in the spring, but with you dear ones there we would have it looking right in a little while. Cant you get on without me until 15th Decr. You are prudent, can make means go a long ways. I want to get a house for Clayton, & move him out of ours before I return, & if you can sell any thing or ingage it, that we cant move, do so. I would like to have the mare, cow & calf sent over if you think best. When we come let us bring all we can, & get ballance we need in Memphis. We wont need much. If i dont stay here, I wont get any thing done.

Mrs Gay died Saturday last of pneumonia. Evans looks dreadful. We will be prudent, & live here perhaps as long as we would any where else. Ask Daughter if she will be willing to stay in Tenn, & go to school, until she is 12 or 14 years old. If she will, she shall come home every Christmas & take music lessons, & I will then buy her a nice piano.

Fannie, I wont say pack up & come now. I have no house for Clayton. If I had, I would come for you this week. Had we not better bring every thing we can with us. Come to Memphis the day before taking boat, & get every thing needed to begin life in earnest & anew. All of your acquaintances are well. Rosa says if she were you, she would never return to your old home again, it is so out of the way. Good night, write long letters, & frequent ones. Love to all, & kiss each one of the

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children, & make them kiss you a dozen times for your home sick Husband

N. H. Cotten

**********

At Jim Mayo's Jany 7th 1871

Get Morton to measure the corn. Get Morton to buy you a cow & calf, & get George to do your milking, you boarding him. We have plenty cow feed tops & hay.

My Dear Fanny,

According to promise, I wrote you a short note from Memphis, & am in hopes you used your own prudent judgement with regard to getting supplies. I am now of the opinion that it is cheaper to buy as we need, than have so much on hand at one time. I got to the Bay safe 1/2 past 11 Oclock Wednesday night. Went out to Sam's & the next night attended a large party at Hilliard's, the 5th one of the Christmas, & by the way, a most pleasant one. Miss Avent was at the Landing when I arrived awaiting the coming of the Walt. to go to Memphis. The Boat met with an accident that detained her up the River, so Hilliard proposed she should go to his house, remain until Saturday, when he with his Daughters would go with her to Mem. Miss K. did so, & we had a most delightful time, danced until 12 Oclock, had a nice supper, & every one enjoyed them selves very much.

I found nothing serious the matter at home, only that the hands say, if they had stoped to gin, they would have lost all this good weather for picking. They have gathered cotton very well since I left. I will start my gin Tuesday. I saw Apperson after writing you, did not introduce myself, nor do I think he knew me. He told me his rule was not to let any thing go on time, so I dont want to have any thing to do with him. There is so much talk in the room, that I cannot write to you as I want. Every one here does their cooking, & the fields are white with cotton.

I staid at Mr Lawrence Mayo's last night. They are dear good people. Tom Swift, Lady, & Mathews were there. Every one is well over here. Miss Fanny Lambert cooks for 5 work-

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men, gives them breakfast by candle light. They are getting on finely with their building, the mill has just started. I wish my houses were up. I could get hands easy, & work the entire place. I am going out Monday to get wagons to haul for me, & will try to have them up in a month.

All look badly at Neds. I called there a short while yesterday. They live in the old houses. Mrs. S. is fast killing herself taking morphine. Many nice presents were exchanged at their Christmas tree here. Edgar has been on a bust for some time. Gila & Matty, sweet girls were out the other night, asked particularly after you. Miss Kate invited me to see them when I visited the City, & desired when I wrote to you, to give you her best love. She already felt as though she knew you, & loved you & me dearly.

I hope you let Jerry do everything for you towards unpacking. Dont do any heavy work, nor hesitate to call on Morton for any thing you need. He promised me faithfully the morning I left, he would see you often, & do any thing he could for you, so call on him, as I left better satisfied after he told me this. Jerome did the same. You must write, & give me all the news about every thing attending your move to the new home, & how you like it. Give my love to Ma. Caution the children about going on the Rail Road, not forget PaPa. Good by dear, write soon. I have a dreadful cold. My regards to our Lady friends, Mrs. Wilkinson etc. May you keep well is my prayer

Your loving Husband

N. H. Cotten

Jim came home as I did.

**********

LaGrange Tenn Jan 17th 1871

My dear Husband

I received your letter yesterday written at Jimmie's. I was feeling low spirited and thinking so much of you. I told Eddie to run down to the office and may be he would get a letter from you. It was very cold and raining a little, but he was ready and willing to go. After a short time he came running in with the much wished for letter. I felt so much better. I told the children we should all be thankfull that you had a safe trip, and found things so different from what I feared you would, and that you were well, and had been enjoying yourself. I am glad

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you had the pleasure of seeing Miss Avent again, and am half inclined to believe you are a little smitten. I must confess I have some anxiety to see her. (Cant you bring me a photograph) I am much abliged to her for her love and send mine in return. I know I should love her if she is anything like Rosa and Miss Fannie.

You say I must write you all about my move. I wrote you this day one week ago and gave you the particulars. Our cow and calf are in Dr Wilkinson's lot eating cotton, Eonas says doing (illegible). I shall have them driven home tomorrow if I can get any one to bring me a load of hay and tops. I did not take George to board. He said he could not milk and his eating would cost more than his help would be worth as I burn coal, and there is so little wood to cut the children can do it. Besides they need employment. I am doing very well without milk. I think we had best not get another cow, as ours will soon be giving milk.

My dear how long do you think you will be gone. Will you keep Clayton on your place this year. Do you regret leaving your family here or do you think it best. I hope it will prove best in the end that you may get your entire place worked and Clayton will do better than he did last year. Tell him I am depending on him he must not forget the promises he made me about working all of our place and taking good care of everything. Give my love to Martha I wish her good luck in all things and hope we will be spared to meet again. Ma is improving she is better than she has been since recovering from Eresypelas. My dear, Miss Mattie White wishes me to write to you in regard to getting a school either at the Bay or the church. Do what you can for her she promises to give satisfaction. She is very anxious to get a situation.

What do you think best for me to do in regard to getting meat if it is your intention to get green meat. I think it best not to put it off too late it will not take salt well before warm weather. The children are all well and wish so often you were at home. Some one of them ask me every day if I think Papa will like this home better than the Houston place. They think you ought, you can see the cars so good. I am very particular about them going on the track. They all run in the yard when they hear the cars except John. I have given him one or two

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whippings about his willfulness.

Dr Wilkerson from all I can hear is just as unsettled as ever. I have not seen Mrs. Wilkerson. Her children have been to see Ida several times. I hope my darling you will get this letter though it is badly written, and blotted. I left it to attend to some business in the dining room, and mischevious Lena tried to write to you. I shall write to you every week, while you are gone. It is my daily prayer that you may keep well get on expeditiously with your work and soon be at home. I earnestly pray you will have (illegible). Give my love to all my acquaintances. The children all send love to Papa and I send you much love and kisses. When I am writing to you I feel that the greates happines this earth could afford would be to see you and have you allways near me. When I am at work I cant think so much and for that reason I would not hire a cook. I can bear you absence so much more patiently when I have plenty of work to do. Farewell my darling husband write soon, and as often as you can to your

loving wife Fannie

**********

Sunday 22nd 1871

My Dear Wife Fanny

I am writing from Bing Jackson's this lovely Sabbath morning, in a new house he built, and is living all alone, near the old place. You know the land was divided last year. Bing went over to Mrs. Beasleys last night, we slept together & I walked over home with him this morning, as I had not visited him before. I called at Edgars but did not go in as he told me the beds had not been made up. Gila and Matty are living with them. Ed. has built a new two story box house, 4 rooms, hall, & two galleries, no chimneys yet, and they still live in the double log cabins. Joels house nearly done. Hope to begin my cabins next week. I have found it dificult to get any hauling done at all. I wrote you in my last that I had hired a man to make rails & felt that I would soon have enough to rebuild my fence. I put him at our near Neighbors & she an ugly, hypocritical, old scamp talked about my affairs in such a way that he left without saying anything to me, the day after I left him there cutting down three small trees, & 7 rail cuts.

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There is much cotton in the fields yet, & I fear it will be impossible almost to get rails made, unless I get hands elsewhere. I started my gin myself Friday evening, at 1/2 past one Oclock, & stood at the gin until nearly night, in consequence suffered with violent pain in my feet. Stayed that night at Neds. Mrs. S. cross, worried all the while, tis not pleasant to me to be there. Every thing, & every one cross, except Ned, he takes things easy. Eddy is with his Ma, Seb too, & one of the most unpleasant fellows I ever was in company with, such a temper, but you know him of old. Robby & Miss Wall married on last Wednesday, the only one that has taken place, that I know of.

Now for something about you dear ones far, far away. How did you get to your little home the morning I left you. Rode in the wagon, I hope. Morton & the Hunter Boys seemed kindly disposed, & I hope did all they could for you. How do the children come on, do they give you trouble. Tell John & Eddy, be good, smart boys, I have not forgotten my promise to bring each one a knife, but wont do so unless they are smart boys, & mind you in all things. To my Daughters, ask them what I must get for them. My Dear Wife, if you need any thing on earth, please let me know it, or get it your own precious self. I am up, but far from being well. Cant stand much exercise, am very weak, feel all the while depressed. Oh that I had some light employment, that would better enable me to support my family, for hard labor, I cannot perform.

This weather looks like gardening ought to begin. You better get some of the eschalots out of Mortons garden & have them put in ours. Speak to Mr. Hannon at Miss Bets to work your garden or I had rather Jerry would, if he can be had. Have onion setts put out, at the right time. I dont intend leaving here until I get my cotton money, have my houses begun, & pay for the lumber, etc., if I can. Taxes on the land was $89.10, most outrageous, & to think how little of it is making any thing for us. I dont see how we are to make any thing at that, after I get the houses up, then if I fail to get it worked. I think sometimes twould be best to sell, & buy another place.

Clayton is anxious for me to take the buggy back. To gratify him, I promised to ask you about it, & abide your decision. Of course I would not take it, after they have used it,

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unless he pays me for it, which he is unwilling to, and is altogether the most bigoted contrary hand in the county of my acquaintance. I regret ever putting them in our house, they keep it so filthy, & if you could get your own free consent to return & live here until we could fix our place right, we could, if spared, & had the ability, return.

I spent the night at Capt Mayo's. Mrs. M & Mrs. Boyce are large & fat, will cave soon. Mrs. M. says this is no country for a man to bring his family to, & bury alive, as she feels. I got your darling old shall, & brought it over to Sams, where I look at it. I feel sad, because it reminds me so much of you, & former, & happier times than the present.

Hands are not so much disposed to rent land now. I offered mine, that is not under good fence, to any one, for one year that would build a good & lawful fence around the field, I giving them a house to live in, they cleaning up, cultivating the land, & having what they made on it. No offer as yet. They all dread making rails, if I can get them made, there will be no trouble about getting rid of the land, otherwise tis doubtful.

I have seen Bet but once, that was when I wrote you from there. I dont like horse back riding, & never go farther than I can help. Money matters still tight. The personal property of C. M. Tate dec's, sells on 25th & the farm is to be rented out. If I could, I would like to rent the land, but such business does not suit my health now. If I can manage to attend to my small farm, & improve it, I will do well. Ask Clarence to see Mumph Harris, & if he dont want to come here & rent land, I will rent to him cheap, & he can make more here one year, than there in two. Or send any good man that wants to come, & bring labor with him.

I have written a long letter, but not an interesting one like yours, which are filled with good cheer. Is any one staying with you. If I could only drop in your midst unexpectedly this evening. Tell Alice very politely when you see her of my loss, & that it will be impossible to pay her. I feel ruined as to money matters. Good bye dear ones, kisses for all. I hope to return, & find all of you happy, well, & prosperous as circumstances will allow. Tis too bad that I have to be away so

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long, but the hands wont do right in my absence. Clayton has sold off 9 bales cotton that I got none of, before I came. I ought to make him leave the place after he gets cotton out, dont you think so. L. Mayo advises it. I know tis best for us, for twill be the means of getting others, & better hands than they have proven themselves.

Your loving Husband

N. H. Cotten

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HELENA (DAILY) WORLD
April 11, 1887

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HELENA WORLD, April 6, 1898

Mail Wagon Runs Down A Boy On Cherry Street

This morning about nine o'clock while Ike Jamison (colored) was driving Uncle Sam's mail wagon down Cherry Street to meet the steamer Kate Adams at the elevator, his horse knocked down a small colored boy, the wheels of the wagon passing over his body.

The boy was not hurt and recovered in a few moments after the occurrence. Jamison, seeing that he had run over the boy, slackened up his horse and called back to the boy that he should not have tried to cross the street and resumed his way to the elevator, without expressing any desire to ascertain if the boy was hurt, and if so the extent of his injuries.

The place referred to where the boy crossed the street was at the intersection of Elm Street at the Nonpareil Hotel. Messrs. Henry McCabe, clerk of the Nonpareil, and George Sawyer, of Sawyer & McCoy, both saw Jamison when he ran over the boy, and claim he was driving at a very fast rate of speed. He saw the boy and called to him to get out of the way, but did not slow up his horse. These gentlemen express the opinion that it was a pure case of reckless driving, and think a lesson should be taught Jamison by the city authorities.

Patrolman Ferrell happened along shortly after the occurrence and made the proper arrangements for Jamison's trial, if one is deemed necessary.

Uncle Sam's wagon may have the right to traverse our thoroughfares at a break-neck speed, as some claim, but it appears very odd to think that such a total disregard for human life should be tolerated as was the case in this morning's incident.

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