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 **********************************************   23rd February, 1909, Tuesday Clouds looking much like rain today; warm, don't need fire. All the ----- now up to Monday evening the 9th of March, the weather has been pleasant weather for farm work and the farmers have availed themselves of it. On Monday, March 8th a high wind came from the south, came up and blew a fearful gale, for one or two hours, not much harm was done. There are no more entries until the following if recorded. 28th October, 1910, Friday About 12 o'clock M., the Methodist church bell rang long and loud to give notice that there was a fire at some house in town. It was found to be at A.D.O. Moore's house; it originated on the top at the south side, if it had been on the north side, the house could not have been saved; for a right brisk wind was blowing from the north. The shingles, on the house, are old and very dry and burnt rapidly. The men and boys of town soon responded promptly and did effective work and soon extinguished the fire. But a hole in the roof of about 10 x 10 feet. The Winnsboro bucket brigade is hard to beat by any fire department. 23rd September, 1911, Saturday Several months since the last entry! On this morning about 8 o'clock, a gentleman halted at my gate and called me out. On going out I found it was Bro. Spain with his buggy loaded with garden vegetables. He told me I had done him a favor at one time when I officiated at the burial of his little daughter some years ago. And he wanted to give me some turnips and peas for table use, which I accepted thankfully. This lesson was impressed on my mind, "kind deeds are seldom, if ever, forgotten". I had forgotten the burial of the child, but this brought it to mind. I now recall it was a serious and solemn service. 24th September, 1911, Sunday Went to my engagement at Lone Pine, not very many people were in attendance. I failed to go to my appointment one month ago; it is not good to miss an appointment. There is nothing like punctuality in religious services. After preaching, to Jos. Morse's for dinner. Mr. Siski and Mr. A. Anderson dined there. Sunday school at 3 P.M. A very good turnout. The lesson was "Daniel in the lion's den-6th chapter Daniel". I gave a talk on the lesson which was well received and profitable. To Walton McCoy's for the night. 2nd October, 1911, Monday Went to Mangham to collect of note of J.V. Hemler & Co. Found the roads very, very dusty and Big creek very low, not knee deep to my horse. Everything very quiet at Baskin where I stopped for horse to rest, about one hour. Went to Mangham, put my horse in stable, to hotel for dinner. The hotel is kept by Mr. Williams, whose mother was Miss Chapman, daughter of W.T. Chapman at whose house, during his life, I have often stopped, either for dinner or for the night. A family of better people I did not think was in the country anywhere. She had a brother, Don T. Chapman, whom I thought was a model Christian young man. When I knew the family in 1860, there were three sisters and two brothers, all the family are dead, except the youngest sister, Willie, who is now the wife of Col. A.B. Cooper. At Mangham, I met Mr. J.T. Hardesty, whom I knew in 1860. Also Mr. Cob Vickers, whom I have known an equal length of time. It is pleasant to meet friends of long years standing. On my way home, I stopped again at Baskin an hour or so, getting home about dark. It was a day pleasantly spent, dust and hot weather not withstanding. 18th October, 1911, Wednesday Took the freight train at 12 M. and went to Rayville. On the train was C.W. Word bound for Delhi. Arriving at Rayville about 2:30 P.M. At Mangham, Mr. Jno. Fergerson, assessor of Richland Parish, came on the train. To a restaurant for a lunch, then to the court house to get some papers. Court was in session and a case was on trial, the Parish suing Joe Sims for failing to do some work on a public road according to contract. There met some acquaintances of other days viz. W.T. Cook, Jno. T. -----, R.H. Norris, C. Nobles & Co. To the "Bradley House" from the "Carter House", Jno. M. Mulholland from Natchez. Rayville had made considerable improvement in building and population since I last saw it. The railroad is in good condition and the trains make good time. The crops, along the road, are pretty good, both corn and cotton and the people are busy gathering in the fruits of their year's labor. Big creek is very low, the nights and mornings getting quite cool, fire is pleasant. Leaving Rayville at 5:30 A.M. on the 19th, getting home at 6:35 A.M. To home for breakfast and found all well. It is reported here this A.M. that one negro, Henry Green, was killed near Crowville last night and another one got his arm broken. No particulars given. 30th October, 1911, Monday Went to Mr. R.A. Smith's, 3 miles from Baskin, on the Delhi road. Spent night there very pleasantly. The old gentleman is quite feeble; he is in his 80th year. Mrs. Smith is also feeble, don't know her age. These two old people and one daughter, about 18 years old, comprises the family. They retire early at night and are up early in the morning. They do their own housework and they live very well. The old gentleman is an intelligent man and good company. Very accommodating about their house and try to make everyone feel comfortable. Rained a little at night. 31st October, 1911, Tuesday After breakfast, went to Mr. E.B. Robert's; a friend of mine of 40 years standing. He is 81 years of age, works in the field and makes a crop every year. His health is reasonably good for one of his age, but he is nearly blind and very hard of hearing, but jovial and good company. He was very glad I called to see him. After remaining an hour or so, I went to Mrs. Helen Hendricks'; getting there about 1 P.M. She is an industrious woman and a good manager on her farm. Has 4 families on the place, she, her brother and her children cultivated 22 acres, 5 acres in cotton and 17 in corn, made and gathered 2 b/c (bales of cotton?) and about 180 bbls. corn. From the renters and share hands, she'll get about 9 b/c. Left her house about 3:30 P.M., 25 miles from home and got home about 8:30 P.M. The weather was pleasant, the road dry and dusty and the moon shining brightly. The people are done picking cotton. I can't call to mind a prettier fall for gathering crops than this one.