ALANSON WOOD MOORE DIARIES, Franklin Parish Louisiana Submitted by: Barbara Tuttle Nov. 1999 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Diary beginning Sept.8, 1897 through Feb. 21, 1898 And finally, last born of Creation, man appears upon the scene in his several races and varieties, The sublime arch of animal being at length receives its keystone; and the finished work stand completed from foundation to pinnacle, at once an admirably adjusted occupant of space, and a wonderful monument of divine arrangement and classification as it exists in time. "Species" defined by Mr. Buffon to be " a constant succession of individuals similar to and capable of reproducing similar to and capable of reproducing each other". Mr. Cuvier defines it "is a succession of individuals which reproduces and perpetuates itself". 8th September, 1897 Wednesday In company with John M. King, I left home at 3 o'clock P.M. to go to John P. Ross at Boeuf Prairie to attend the wedding of his daughter, Miss Rosalie Ross, and Richard L. Turner, arriving there about one hour before sundown. Very dry and dusty the road was. Abundant supper was spread. All passed off quietly except the groom and his groomsman, John Brown, were drunk. About 3 o'clock A.M., we went together with his wife and daughter, Cora King, went to W.T. Moore's and to bed for the rest of the night. 9th September, 1897,Thursday After breakfast, came home. Mamie Brashear gave birth to her first daughter. Amy King dined at our house today. Phillip Kenton, who had been in Miss. about one year, came in today. Protracted meeting carried on here by the Baptist church. Rev. J.A. Snyder, pastor, assisted by Rev. Jameson of Homer. Rev. Mr. Burke came in today. 10th September, Friday Learned today that C.H. Gill of Gilbert, passed through last Tuesday, the 7th, on his way to Ruston to keep boarding house for the Industrial school. Wm. M. Guice, Jr. moved to town yesterday. Nothing of importance transpired today. 11th September, 1897, Saturday Phillip Kenton came into my office and gave me a lecture on sanctification and how to construe the scriptures on that subject. Hope he will live a consistent Christian life and end his days in peace, but at present he has more zeal than knowledge. 12th September, 1897, Sunday Baptist meeting closed. A very windy and dusty day. A little rain about 5 o'clock P.M. Miss Eunice commenced board at my house. Cap't. Power went to Natchez. 13th September, 1897, Monday Winnsboro high school opened. Prof. Landis, Principal. Miss Sallie Adams, first assistant. Enrollment of 75 pupils first day. 14th September, 1897, Tuesday Amy King started to Ruston to attend the Industrial school at that place. 15th September, 1897, Wednesday Some of the citizens of Winnsboro met at the Courthouse at 4 o'clock P.M. to consider the profitability of establishing a quarantine against Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Edward and other places in Miss. affected with yellow fever: and against New Orleans and other places similarly affected. Today a big horse race at Delhi, it is reported that one of the racers quit the track, ran through the crowd of lookers-on and ran over and killed a boy a boy about twelve years old and hurt several other persons. The participation of anything of immoral or evil nature is never productive of good, but often of bad results. It is said the boy lived only about 20 minutes after the horse struck him. 16th September, 1897, Thursday Police Jury met in called session today to pass quarantine ordinances. The passenger train on the N.O. & N. W.R.R. made its last trip yesterday till the yellow fever scare gets over. 17th September, 1897, Friday I went to Mac King's today to sell a beef to Tom Hendry; but couldn't find one of the right size and he got one from Mac. 8th September, 1897, Saturday It is reported here today that there is one case of yellow fever in Floyd, West Carroll Parish: three at Goshen and a supposed one at Delhi. Considerable excitement about the fever. This is certainly good weather to spread and feed the disease. Very hot and dry and constant east wind. Later the news came contradicting the above. 19th September, 1897, Sunday I went to the Prairie church and to J.C. Potter's for the night. There I met John Kincaid who had been a resident of Franklin Parish for 40 years or more, but for 8 or 10 years had been living in Ouachita Parish. He looks well and is very active for a man of 72 years old. Was once a slave to tobacco but has quit the use of it. 20th September, 1897, Monday Came home by E.M. King's for dinner. About 5 o'clock P.M. the railroad trestle over Turkey Creek caught fire and burned up eight bents-128 feet. The freight train had just passed over going north. 21st September, 1897, Tuesday The trestle was repaired and train went over about 10 o'clock P.M. 22nd September, 1897, Wednesday Railroad bridge on Lafourche Bayou burned. The engine and two box cars, one loaded with flour and the other with bacon and beer, went down and were lost with their contents. 23rd September, 1897, Thursday It is reported that Fort Ellis, son of J.F. Ellis of Harrisonburg, came up from New Orleans about a week ago and died today with the yellow fever. 26thSeptember, 1897,Sunday Nolan, on his pony, and I, on Jewel, rode out to Mac King's. Mr. and Mrs. Russell also spent the day there. Mr. R. said he is 76 years old and can cut and split 200 rails a day. In his younger days could cut, split and "tote" and put on the fence 300 rails a day. He has no gray hairs in his head and but few in his beard. He uses tobacco but has never used coffee. Mrs. R. uses coffee, but not tobacco. 27th September, 1897, Monday How dull the times are: Nothing doing in any department of business. 28th September, 1897, Tuesday Carried my wood saw to John Osborne to sharpen. He was not at home. Left the saw there. His wife was picking cotton. 29th September, 1897, Wednesday The contemplated horse race between L.A. Thompson's "Jim" and T.B. Gilbert's "Prince" did not come off today. "Prince" was sick and Gilbert the forfeit $50.00. N.A. Wiggers went to the race track and I remained all day in the store for him. A large crowd of people whereat at the race ground. How things of an evil nature will draw the people to them! The day would have been too hot and the roads to dusty to have gone that far, three or four miles, to attend a lecture on any moral or scientific subject. 1st October, 1897, Friday School board met in regular session. Pay me for T.G. Spann $15.00 balance due him for teaching three months public school in Ward I. It seems that he held a third Grade certificate; and, under the laws, such grade teachers are allowed $15.00 per mo. but in drawing up his contract with the board, they promised to pay $20.00. And in paying his monthly salary, the secretary paid $15.00 and $15.00 paid me today was the balance due him per contract. I sent him $10.00, by letter, to Peck. 3th October, 1897, Sunday Went to Ogden school house, my regular monthly appointment. Spent night at Newt Williams'. At church there, H.F. Smullins came for Dr. Poindexter to go to see Mrs. Henry Buie, who was confined. The Dr., not being able to go on horseback, they got Wm. King's buggy and two horses. He was there at church with his wife and two children. 4th October, 1897, Monday On my way home, my horse seemed lame in the right hind foot. Upon examining, found a nail, 8d, sticking in the foot and about one half of it bent down. So tight was it that I could not extricate it with my fingers. Came on to Steele and Johnson's sawmill and by the assistance of Pat Johnson, who held the foot, I removed the nail with a pair of tongs. It was about 1 1/2 inches deep and the place bled pretty freely when it was pulled out; it had evidently been there several days; the part of the head next to the ground was worn off smooth. When I got home learned that Mrs. Julia Hilliard, wife of J.R. Hilliard, was dead. And word left for me to attend the funeral tomorrow at the "Hendry Graveyard". From all that I know and could hear of her life, while, for a worldly standpoint, it was a hard one, she was fully prepared to meet the issue, and, with her, it is a glad and glorious exchange of worlds. 5th October, 1897, Tuesday Attended the funeral. Quite a large gathering of people. The services were solemn and impressive. After this went to E.M. King's for dinner. George King was there to get two beeves of his pa's and drive them to the prairie. After running for two hours, one of them got away from us, the other was found at E.M. King's, but jumped the fence and made his escape. 6th October, 1897, Wednesday Thos. G. Handy, assisted by Jno. Osborne, put up a house for his "beef market". 9th October, 1897, Saturday Started to Columbia and went to J.F. Mason's 10th October, 1897, Sunday Preached at an arbor between the Boeuf and Ouachita rivers and spent the night at Aaron Ryan's. He is 63 years old, has 3 children, by a second marriage, aged from 2 to 16 years. 11th October, 1897, Monday Went into Columbia and met the P.E. of the Alexandria district and the P.C. of the Columbia district. I was favorably impressed with both these preachers. Dined at the Parsonage. Put my horse in livery stable. The Ouachita river is fordable at the ferry crossing, not more than breast deep to an ordinary sized horse. Spent the night with Dr. J.A. Biggs. A lady came there that night who seemed to be suffering considerably with a carbuncle in her left temple. 12th October, 1879 Tuesday Back to Columbia, put my horse in a livery stable. Wrote a letter to Mr. Asa. M. Meredith submitting to him propositions to compromise the claims of heirs of Rev. Thos. Meredith against him for taking unauthorized possession of the succession property and refusing to make settlement with them. Dined at Mr. Brinton's restaurant and about 3 o'clock P.M. crossed the river for home. And on to Mr. Amos Duff's for the night. The country is very dry and cisterns are failing. 13th October, 1897, Wednesday On my way home, stopped a few minutes at J.F. Mason's and also at J.M. King's getting home about 1 o'clock. Saw a good crowd of people collected at the railroad near Mr. H.S. Davis' where the cars were switching; and learned the excitement was caused by a brakeman on top of one of the box cars accidentally fell between the boxes and was run over and terribly mutilated and mangled. His head, shoulder, one arm and one leg were mashed to mummy(?). Death was instantaneous. The negro was named November, formerly in the employ of Aaron Landauer. By order of the railroad authorities, his remains were sent to Delhi by private conveyance. 15th October, 1897, Friday Lucy and Mrs. Sarah Wylie and Flossie and Nolan went to E.M. King's. I borrowed H.J. Lea's buggy for them to make the trip. Lura and I remained at home. 16th October, 1897 Saturday They continued their trip to Jas. M. King's. Got 500 lbs. cotton seed of Steele and Johnson. 17th October, 1897 Sunday I went to the Prairie church, but few people attended, that day, church. A frolic at Clarence Turner's on night of 15th. Hence not much disposition to attend church. Dined at Jim King's and all came home that night. Lucy and Nolan were both sick from their trip. 18th October, 1897, Monday Returned Mr. Lea's buggy. Cloudy this morning. 20th October, 1897, Wednesday Rev. Beasley, claiming to be a Free Methodist evangelist, came up to town and put up his tent, as he calls it "his tabernacle" and proposes to hold a series of religious services, preaching the second blessing or sanctification doctrine, assisted by a Mr. Farmer and Phillip Kenton. 22nd October, 1897, Friday Mrs. Byrne, wife of Wm. Byrne of the Holly Grove neighborhood, died this morning between daylight and sunup. It seems that she called her husband about daylight to make a fire in the stove. He got up and made the fire and upon returning to the room to tell her the fire was made, found her dead. Alex. Carroll and a Mr. Beach came up to get the coffin. I learn that about three weeks ago, she gave birth to twins, but one of the children died and one is living. 26th October, 1897, Tuesday At 10 o'clock P.M. today Mr. J.E. Abell departed this life. Aged over 80 years, his exact age not known to me. He had been a resident of Winnsboro and the vicinity thereof something over 52 years. It is said he was never confined to his bed, as much as two days at one time, from sickness of any kind during his whole life. Had a remarkably good constitution. For the last year has been failing physically, and his life finally went out, as though the physical machinery was worn out and no longer able to contain it. Did not appear to have any disease more than a breaking down under the weight of years. 28th October, 1897, Thursday Rain enough today to lay the dust and for the water to drip off the eaves of the houses. The first since the 19th of August except a little shower the 13th of September; not so much as today. The remains of Mr. J.E. Abell were buried today, after the funeral services at his late residence. Quite a gathering together of the people assembled to witness the services and the burial. The crowd of people would, perhaps, have been larger but for the rain at the time. Water, for outside stock, is scarcer all over this country than ever known before. 29th October, 1897, Friday Cloudy, foggy and a little cool. Much appearance of a spell of bad weather, the first of the kind this Fall. About 12 o'clock M. the clouds broke away, the sun shone out brightly; turned warmer. 30th October, 1897, Saturday Cloudy in the evening, commenced raining sometime during the night. 31st October, 1897, Sunday Rained gently, pretty much all day. No church nor Sunday school today. Cold, fire is comfortable all day. Enough water fell today to fill the ditches along roadsides and the holes but not sufficient to put water in the sloughs. It is a great relief to the stock. 1st November, 1897, Monday Still cloudy and cold all day and rained a little. Rev. Beasley's mule died and his tabernacle was either thrown or blown down. 2nd November, 1897, Tuesday Clear and pleasant day, though a little muddy underfoot. I went to John Munn's sawmill in company with Jas. M. King, who went and got a load of lumber. 3rd November, 1897, Wednesday Big frost, the first this season. 4th November, 1897, Thursday Rev. Beasley resumed service at his tabernacle tonight. Mrs. J.D. Neilson gave birth to a child which died soon afterward. Ed Barker and Miss Tommie Owen were married this evening. Rev. I.L. Bronson officiating. I commenced planting onions. 5th November, 1897, Friday Cloudy and rained a little this morning. Cleared off about 10 o'clock and the balance of the day was very pleasant. Finished planting onions and sowed a small bed of turnips. 6th November, 1897, Saturday Clear early this morning but pretty soon clouded up and turned a little cooler. C.P. Hampton and the barber, Ben Phillips, col'd., got into a little altercation. The former was under the influence of liquor and, to quiet him, was taken in charge by the sheriff. There is considerable liquor drinking these days and mostly by the boys and young men. There can be no bright future for the country where such is the case. I spent the night at Dr. T.B. Poindexter's. 7th November, 1897, Sunday Preached at Ogden School house, good congregation, good dinner at Dr. Poindexter's and several others. Had a nice dinner and a well dressed turkey graced the table. Preached again at night. Good spiritual time at both services. Back to the Dr.'s for the night. 8th November, 1897, Monday To I. Newt. Williams'; had prayer in his family. Thence to H.H. Buie's. Pretty good rain today, remained there that night. 9th November, 1897, Tuesday Came home, found Mrs. W.E. King there, who spent the day with us. Husband, W.E. King went to the Baskin platform and got a cotton press, which he had sold to Ross Ragan, and took back again. He and his wife took supper at my house about 5 o'clock P.M. and then they started home. 11th November, 1897, Thursday George L. Robinson, son of John D. Robinson, and Miss Sallie Rhodes, granddaughter of Mrs. Mary Ann Brannin, were married at the latter's home about 3 o'clock P.M. Quite a large gathering of the people were in attendance to witness the marriage. No dinner nor supper prepared. The day was warm, clear and pleasant. 12th November, 1897, Friday A very pretty, clear and pleasant day. Like springtime. Mrs. Jane F.H. Hampton and her husband, Preston Hampton, came to town and made a deed to N.A. Wiggers of 120 acres of land, for the consideration of the cancellation of a judgment in favor of N.A. Wiggers and Co. against Preston Hampton, which with interest added, amounted to $550.40. Joe Arduenyo took down and moved off Rev. Beasley's tabernacle, which had been here 23 days. Was first up the 20th October and taken down the 12th of November. He preached several times while he was here, but no one was seriously impressed with all the importance of his sanctification. 13th November, 1897, Saturday Miss Nellie came to my house, before breakfast, on her way to the "Industrial School" at Ruston, La. Her pa, H.H. Buie, came to town with her, but not to my house. He and Nellie ate dinner at my house. Quite a crowd of people in town today. It is a very spring like day. W.E. King was considerably inebriated and rather turbulent; so much so that E.M. King and L.H. Slaughter put him in his buggy by force, and by force, held him and carried him home. 14th November, 1897, Sunday My 59th birthday. Preached at Oak Grove to a large congregation and with good effect on the subject of prayer. Dinner at Mr. J.A. Sullivan's. Lucy, Nolan and Mamie went to E.M. King's using for the trip, Mr. H.H. Buie's horse and buggy. Discovered, when harnessing the horse to come home, that his withers were swollen and tender to the touch, indicating fistula. 15th November, 1897, Monday The horse seems to be better this morning. H.H. Buie came in from Rayville, got his horse and buggy and went home. Very warm and pleasant, need no fire. 16th November, 1897, Tuesday Rained a good rain early this morning and turned cold. In the eve, cleared off. D.W. Ensminger came from Holly Grove. 17th November, 1897, Wednesday Cold morning, pretty big frost. Got 1026 lbs. hulls from Steele and Johnson. Thos. G. Hendry told me this morning that he lost a $50.00 dollar bill last eve, and he thinks he knows who got it. A party consisting of Will Guice, Will Tucker, Sam Brashear and others went on a hunting and fishing trip to Big Lake, east of Bayou Macon. Filed suit today on N.O. &N.W. R.R. Co. for N.A.Wiggers for damages for killing an ox and a cow, valued at $35.00 and $20.00, equal $55.00. 18th November, 1897, Thursday Went to Gilbert to have a talk with Revs. B.F. White and T.H. McClendon, but B.F. White had gone, did not see him. Took dinner at Mr. W.G. McCoy's, I there met Mrs. Clark, daughter of Mrs. Curry of Sicily Island, whom I had not seen for several years before. Came back home. 19th November, 1897, Friday Started to Columbia, intending to stay at W.E. King's tonight and go with him in his buggy the next morning, but one of his buggy horses cut his breast and shoulder pretty bad on a barbed wire fence and he could not go; hence, I went on to Amos Duff's between Boeuf and Ouachita rivers getting there about sundown. 20th November, 1897, Saturday In company with Mr. Amos Duff, went on to Columbia. He showed me a nearer route than the big road. Leaving the road just before getting to the Humble place in the swamp, going through the Mayo old field and coming to the Ouachita river at the "Belle Vue" place, got to Columbia about 11 o'clock and put my horse in a livery stable. The Masons had a meeting at night, conferred 5 degrees, 2 E.A., 1 F.C. and 2 M.M. A nice and abundant supper was served, got through and adjourned about 2 o'clock A.M. I spent the balance of the night at Mr. John R. Brown's. A very enjoyable time spent at the Lodge meeting. 21st November, 1897 Sunday In company with the preacher in charge of the Columbia circuit, Rev. A.W. Turner, I went to the Methodist church and preached there at 11 A.M. to a small congregation and at 3 o'clock we went to an appointment up the river about three miles and there I preached to a small congregation but very attentive hearers. Here I met Mrs. Faulkner the first time, having known her husband, Cap't. A.W. Faulkner, for more than twenty years. Back to town and I again preached at 6:30 P.M. to a much larger congregation than at the morning services. The day was spent pleasantly to me and I do not regret at all my trip over there. The preacher, Rev. A.W. Turner's wife, was at Olla, sick. About 8 o'clock P.M. the train came along and he went down to see his wife. I remained at the parsonage. 22nd November, 1897, Monday After dinner, I left for home and came to Jas. M. King's for the night. 23rd November, 1897, Tuesday Came home. W.E. King and his wife came to town today, and he got drunk and acted badly, considering his wife was with him. A runner came from John V. Munn's after a doctor saying he had fallen speechless and was thought to be dying. 24th November, 1897, Wednesday Mrs. Poindexter came in and took her children, Ida and Ferdinand, home. The Parish Democratic Committee met today. E.M. King hauled to my house a barrel of flour from N.A. Wiggers store and he also gave Lucy a turkey hen. Tom Parker abused Alvin Hendry. 25th November, 1897, Thursday National Thanksgiving day. Quite a crowd met at the Methodist church in commemoration of the occasion. While at the church, news came of the death of Allen McKinsey, aged about 58 years, which was caused about as follows: he was sitting in the front part of a wagon loaded with seed cotton driving toward the gin of Steele and Johnson; at the crossing of the railroad and dirt road in Mrs. Ramage's turned to the right and was going parallel to the railroad; his son-in-law, a Mr. Humphries, threw a shotgun in the wagon on the cotton and in getting up on the wagon himself, either his foot or knee hit the hammer and caused the gun to fire; the entire load taking effect in McKinsey's back and death ensued in avery few minutes. Mr. Humphries ran for Dr. Guice, a distance of about 400 yards and when he got to the wagon, life was extinct. Mr. P. Hampton who was near, heard the report of the gun; saw the wagon standing, ran to it, McKinsey asked him to do something for him, that Humphries had accidentally shot him. The first since the 15th September, sixty-nine days without a passenger train. 26th November, 1897, Friday T.A. Harris came to town this morning and reported that Joseph Killian had died this morning before daylight and the family requested that he be buried according to the custom and usages of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Sophronia West, wife of Henry West, took dinner at my house and seemed to be in trouble, her husband and family moved to Natchez about two weeks ago and failing to find any work to make a living, came back yesterday morning and yesterday evening West got on the train and went off, she knows not where; she has no money and nowhere to go and her clothing and bedding are in the depot and she can't get them. She is to be pitied in her present condition. 27th November, 1897, Saturday The members of Winnsboro Lodge No. 246 F.&A.M. met at Joseph's last residence, performed the Masonic funeral services at the house and then proceeded to the grave at the "Hall Place"; finished the services and then laid him away with the "Grand Honors" of our order; a very large concourse of people attended the obsequies. Returned to the Lodge Room at 7 o'clock P.M. and closed in due form. 28th November, 1897, Sunday A very cloudy morning and cold. I went to my appointment at "Lone Cedar". Only six persons present, two had gone before I got there. Had prayer and made a little talk. Dismissed and went to J. Chris Neilson's for dinner. Commenced to rain about 1 o'clockP.M. and rained till night. Jesse Hilliard and myself left there in the rain. He went to Will McVey's and I came home. Flossie and Eunice Fife went to Mrs. Wylie's. Eunice came back to town and stayed at Mrs. Whitney's. Flossie did not leave Mrs. Wylie's. 29th November, 1897, Monday Cleared off and was a pretty day, but a little cold. In the afternoon, went to J.L. Ross' in the Prairie getting there an hour after dark. 30th November, 1897, Tuesday Spent most of the day at Mrs. S.Y. Bonner's and it was pleasantly spent. She and her daughter, Sallie, live there alone and they are both good company. Left there about 4 o'clock P.M. and came to E.M. King's getting there a little after dark. Found his wife with a little fever. There was a big frost and a good deal of ice this morning. 1st December, 1897, Wednesday Very cloudy and rather cold. E.M. King and I came to town together. He is working on the bridge on the Turkey Creek levee. I got and set out 6 peach trees and one ever bearing mulberry tree from the "Paragon Nursery at Nashville, Tennessee". Preston Hampton took dinner at my house. Rained a little in the evening. John V. Munn sent me 4 sills 6x8x24 and 400 feet of cypress lumber. J.J. Smiley, Evangelist, commenced a series of services at the Methodist church. 2nd December, 1897, Thursday Cold and cloudy and a little rainy all day. I have a bad cold and remained indoors all day. 3rd December, 1897, Friday Rained all day and sometimes pretty hard. Sleeted and hailed in the evening. I am sick with cold and remained indoors all day. 4th December, 1897, Saturday The coldest morning and the thickest ice of the season to date. Clouds broke away in the eve and the sun shone out brightly, but it's cold. Populists held convention and nominated J.S. Murphy for the State Constitutional Convention. 5th December, 1897 Sunday The biggest frost and the hardest freeze up today, but a pretty day overhead. I am still unwell and remain indoors. Pleasant in the evening. Tonight as the passenger train was going South, it was derailed between here and the river. 6th December, 1897, Monday Passenger train did not get up here till 4:30 P.M. J.H. Thomas sent me 10 bbls. corn. 7th December, 1897, Tuesday Weather boarded shed at crib for stable. Willis Wylie brought 10 bbls. corn from Dutch Mock's. Between sundown and dark, Willis H. McVey fell dead at the stable door of C.L. Berry's in Winnsboro. Had complained during the day of pains in the region of his heart, otherwise appeared in good health and was in his usual cheerful mood. How true is the scriptural expression: "At such day or hour as we think not, the Son of Man cometh", in the midst of life we are in death, of whom should we look for succor but of Thee, Oh Lord, who art for our sins justly displeased." "Be ye also ready". He had been a resident in this Parish for 35 years or more past. Was a very industrious, energetic man. Rather irritable indisposition. True to a friend, bold and outspoken to his opposers. In his religious opinions was Methodist at one time united with that church, but did not stay with it, or in it long, was never a drunkard or gambler. Politically was a Republican and all the year, to get the appointment of the uncropromising fealty stuck to his party at all times and under all circumstances. For his uncompromising fealty to his party, his enemies respected and admired him. In his case in this respect is seen the force of the expression, "Constancy, thou art a jewel". He had made strenuous efforts, all the year, to get the appointment of the U.S. Marshall for the western district of La. Had made one trip to Washington city. And had just returned from N.O. trying to secure the position. He may have succeeded, but for the sudden clipping the thread of life and leaving the mortal casket to mingle again with the dust of the ground. I went to R.H. Meredith's about 8 P.M. to celebrate a marriage between Rafe Colvin and Ollie Williams, Col'd. They failed to get there and I came home about 10 o'clock. About 1 A.M., they came to my house. It was a steal and runaway match. 8th December, 1897, Wednesday W.H. McVey was buried about 4 o'clock P.M. Jas. M. King and wife in town. 9th December, 1897, Thursday Went to Munn's sawmill this P.M. He sent me a load of lumber. About 500 feet. Dr. W.M. Guice went to Jackson. 10th December, 1897, Friday Rained pretty much all the morning. Passed deed to land from H. Block to L.S. and Rob't. Jackson. Cleared off and was pleasant evening. H.J. Lea at home, sick, not out any today. 11th December, 1897, Saturday Clear but pretty cold. A good many people in town. 12th December, 1897, Sunday Cold and a little cloudy. Preached at Oak Grove, a much better congregation in attendance than I had expected. Subject of discourse was "The Sabbath day to be kept Holy". At 5 o'clock A.M. Mrs. Kate Ensminger gave birth to a daughter. I dined today at I.F. Parker's who lives on part of Mrs. M.A. Branin's place. 13th December, 1897, Monday Pleasant day. The Masonic Lodge met today and elected officers for the coming year viz. R.M. Ward, W.M., A.D.O. Moore, S.W.,L.A. Thompson, J.W., T.A. Scott, Treas., C.L. Moore, Secty., J.W. Womble, S.D., A.M. Scott, J.D., H.A. Wiggers, File, the day was pleasant. Wm.A. Cox left his will in the oleographic form with me. 15th December, 1897, Wednesday Rather cloudy. Gus Sullivan was to have put new sills under my house today, but he did not come. 16th December, 1897, Thursday He came today and put three new sills under my house. 17th December, 1897, Friday Rained all day. Dr. Poindexter and wife at my house. Hired a hack and horse to take his wife and children home. 18th December, 1897, Saturday Rained, hailed and sleeted all day. Very cold. 19th December, 1897, Sunday Cloudy and cold all day. Did not go to my appointment at Ogden School house. 20th December, 1897, Monday Rainy and cloudy all day. 21st December, 1897, Tuesday Rainy, cloudy and cold all day. 22nd December, 1897, Wednesday Rainy and cloudy, no sunshine. 23rd December, 1897, Thursday Rainy and cloudy all day, no sunshine. 24th December, 1897, Friday Cloudy all day. Quite a stir in town and drunkenness. Christmas tree in the lower story of the Masonic Temple. Badly conducted on account of drunken boys. Also a Christmas tree at the residence of R. Bagens three miles north of town. Everything was conducted orderly and properly. I attended this and had a pleasant time and received two silk handkerchiefs. The water pretty deep in the road around C.L. Ranger;s field and also Ed Burn's field. I spent the night at Mr. Bagens. 25th December, 1897, Saturday Christmas dinner at home. No one but home folks present. Cloudy all day. 26th December, 1897, Sunday Remained at home. Cloudy and cold all day. 27th December, 1897, Monday Installation of the newly elected officers of the Winnsboro Lodge, No. 246 F. and A.M. I, as the past master, officiated as installing officer. about 12 o'clock M. The clouds broke away and the sun shone out brightly for the first time in the past 12 days. 28th December, 1897, Tuesday Went out to E.M. King's to hunt hogs. Late in the eve, found a part of three bunches. Together, among them, I had four meaters. Succeeded in getting 2 to the pen. 29th December, 1897, Wednesday Renewed the hunt, but failed to find the other two. I stayed all night at Gus Sullivan's. 30th December, 1897, Thursday Renewed the hunt, but failed to find the two meaters. Drew up some sows and pigs. Marked two pigs for me and for Mack. Brought mine home. Sent about a peck of salt to Mack to the other two if he could find them. 31st December, 1897, Friday W.M. Guice, Jr. his wife, my daughter and their children, Lucy, Lura, Nolan and myself all took dinner at Robert H. Moore's, my son,the occasion of the dinner was the celebration of the birthday of Freddie, Bob's son, and Nolan, my son, the former is eight and the latter is seven years old. A very bright sun shining this morning but a little cold. So this ends the year of A.D. 1897.