Fryer Family Letters - Leake County Contributed by: Karen Cotter ****************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************************** http://www.usgwarchives.net ******************************************************************* Contributor's note: This is a slice of history after the Civil War with genealogical data to identify the writer, my great-great aunt. The letters are in my possession and I transcribed them. Karen Cotter ******************************************************************* Elizabeth Cornelia Anne Fryer, daughter of R. H. M. Fryer (thought to be Richard Hewitt McCloud Fryer) and Nancy Unknown, born 20 August 1842, Alabama, died July 1894, Mississippi, of tuberculosis; married Benjamin Lafayette Spruill on 12 March 1867, son of Downing Spruill and Penelope Draper,born 15 September 1837, Madison County, Mississippi, died 28 June 1916, Canton, Madison County, Missippi. 1860 Yazoo County, MS Census R. H. M. Fryar, 56, Physician, VA Nancy, 41, SC John D., 20, Overseer, AL Cornelia, 17, AL Albert, 7, MS TIMELINE 1804 - VA - SC 1840 - AL 1843 - AL 1853 - MS LETTERS TO ALBERT F. FRYER FROM HIS SISTER, CORNEALIA ANNE FRYER SPRUILL Addressed to Mr. A. F. Fryer Lacey Drew Co. Ark Offahoma Leake Co Miss June 24/80 Mr. A. F. Fryer Dear Brother It is night and all the family are enjoying natures sweet return (restorer) except myself-I sit up later than usual to indite a few lines to you and Johnnie I have been due her a letter for three or four months or perhaps longer. So you see others have cause to complain as well as you of my neglect-but with all my care and responsibilities you will all have to extend a charitable hand and overlook seeming? negligence for I assure you it is not willful. How does my little namesake come on. Is she pretty-kiss her and tell she must favor her old Aunty. I would have been much pleased if you had given her my full name so there would have been another E C A Fryer but there is another Cornelia Fryer any way. You must do your best (-) you and sister Mattie to make her a good and smart woman that she may reflect credit on her (this) name. Uncle Davie's health is no better Jim Frank Fulton was alive two weeks ago so I heard but very low_ I had a letter form Vic (?) (How about Tis?) like in the second letter?) a short time ago_ No new[s] of importance said give you her love_ I know of no neighborhood news that would interest you_ I am tired and getting sleepy I will try to write a more entertaining letter next time. My love to Mattie and the little ones_ As ever your affectionate Sister E. C. A. Spruill ------------------------------------------------------ Addressed to Mr. A. F. Fryer Lacey Drew Co. Ark Home Leake Co Miss Aug 3rd/80 Mr. A. F. Fryer Dear Brother I have no plausible excuse for my long silence to offer except ill health_ I have not felt like exerting my self enough to write_ I am glad to inform you my health is now better. This leaves us all in ordinary heath [sic]. We are having some very gloomy weather a great deal of rain and this evening we have been sitting around a fire and felt quite comfortable_ Notwithstanding so much rain the crops I believe are considered quite good_ There was a large picnic at Ofahoma last Saturday A great many persons in attendance_ I did not go not being well enough. Cousin Dameron and some of the children went_ Duncan Fulton came down to attend and spent a night with us. He said they were all well at Home except Willie whose health he said was not good_ Jim Frank died of consumption He? (yes) said he heard uncle Davy was very low. I have not had a letter from them in some time. I have just written to Willie Lindsey I hope to hear from them soon. Mrs. Jones (Emma Patton used to be) died at the Greenwood place two or three weeks ago or perhaps a month ago. Tis said she died an awful death not feeling at all prepared, begged Jones her husband to kill him self and go with her What an awful thing to die unprepared I pray we may all make better use of our time, and have no fears to meet his face, at the last hour_ The wind is sighing as dismally through the trees, as if it was midwinter The family are all asleep. And the clock is my sold wakeful companion and its steady ticking warns me that it is getting late_ Write soon My love to Mattie and the children a dozen kisses for little Cornelia Ever your affectionate Sister E.C.A. Spruill ----------------------------------------------------- Home Leake Co. Miss May 23rd/81 Mr. A Fryer Dear Brother Once again I indite you another epistle which I think will be the third since hearing from you. What can be the matter with you, that you do not write. You certainly are sure that I am desirous of hearing from you. Nay very anxious indeed If you are sick and not able to write, you surely could get some one, to write, for you. It was some time last year that I received the last communication form you I think likely, in May or June since then I have written you two letters and this is the third. Now I think, you thought as much of me as I do of you would have written to me before this even had you not received my letters. Now I ask, beg of you to please write if you possibly can and ease any anxiety of mind. I thought you were likely going to pay me a visit last winter and you wished to give me a pleasant surprise, and the children would say, whenever I would mention it. Ma uncle Albert is coming out to see us, this winter, the reason he don't write; but I waited and looked in vain. We are all very well and find plenty of work to do. Bennie has no hands this year. He and the children are trying it alone. Dick is a pretty good plow boy Lula Lella and Benjy does a good deal of hoeing. It is almost impossible to hire labor in this country now_ I have a splendid garden this year, and over a hundred chickens. Uncle Davy was still living the last account I had of him, which was about three weeks ago. Still very low, I was up at Conway a short time since. Willie Fulton was very low with consumption. I do not reckon he is alive now. The same that John Ellin and Jim Frank died with. Duncan has it also but is able to be up, but not able to do any labor. They seem to be a most unfortunate family. Willie said he was prepared and had not fears of death. What a happy thing. O that we may all feel so when our time comes. I have thought some times may be you had consumption and was not able to write to me. I hope not though_ My love to Mattie and the children the same accept, with a true sisters blessing for yourself Loving by your sister E.C.A. Spruill ----------------------------------------------------- Addressed to Mr. F. A. Fryar Gilmer, TX Lock Box 220 Ofahoma Leake Co Miss June 2/92 Mr. A. F. Fryer Dear Brother Yours of recent date containing picture has been received, much to my pleasure and satisfaction we were all glad to get it_ The children as well as myself_ I think John R a handsome fine looking boy and tell him for me that his auntie hopes he is as smart and good as he is handsome. Tell him I want him to study all he can_ read everything he can, that is useful and instructive, and when he is a man I want him to come and see me if he can't come before. I feel a particular interest in your children because they are all pa's & ma's descendants that bear their name, And I want them to do it honor keep it up to its old standard You know Johnnie Freyer has long since changed her name to Phillips. I wrote you about it, but perhaps you never received the letter. She married a wealthy widower, with one child, a little girl 6 year old I think when Johnnie was married. She has two children of her own now. Two little boys And they are lovely children. I paid her a visit last summer In Sep Bennie Lella and myself. She lives on the Yazoo river 20 miles above Yazoo City. has a lovely home And every thing to make life pleasant. Her post office is Belle Prairie Yazoo Co Miss. I received a letter form her last week, She had been quite sick, but was better. Lula taught school in Yazoo County year before last near Free ???? (I couldn't read it either and couldn't find any city near Eden (where Belle Prairie was located. Found it on an old map) 8 or 10 miles from Johnnie's. And she spent a good deal of time with her. She would send for Lula about every other Friday evening and she would stay until Sunday evening. Then the measles got in her school And as she had never had it she suspended school for a month and went to Mr. Phillip's until they got through with the epidemic. I think you have changed very much since I saw you last. Your bad health has told on you seem to be thin in flesh. When you left here you had a round full face. I hope however your health is permanently restored be careful of exposing yourself for you know we are a family predisposed to consumption I know I have it Two years ago had several hemorrhages. I thought then my time on earth was short but through God's mercy I am here yet And my health is better and I feel so thankful that He saw fit to spare me yet awhile to my children The children are all anxious to see you Lula & Dick are the only ones who remember you. Dick was laughing about some of your pranks the other day I think he said you were playing hide & seek with him And hid from him on top of the smoke house. Yes send on the other pictures as soon as convenient by all means we are anxious to see them. We want to see Mattie's too. And tell me the age of your children I have forgotten. John R is 15 or 16 is he not and is he your oldest? All send love to you and family Write soon to your loving sister Cornelia F. Spruill ----------------------------------------------------- Ofahoma Leake Co Miss. May 10th/89 Mr. A.F. Fryer Dear Brother Your most welcome letter was received not long since. It is needless for me to say I was glad to hear form you and your. You certainly are the most greaterish (?) (I thought maybe quakerish) somebody I know about writing. The Wheet (Wheel) organization of which you spoke is I suppose something like the Grange and Alliance A society representing farms and farming interest. Well I wish you much success. We had the Grange here awhile And a Grange store at Ofahoma but did not last long. Now they have the Alliance You also spoke of having a post office in connection with the store I hope you will get along with that better than a couple of men in this country did. I reckon you know the Wilsons. Will and Rube. They had a store and post office just across Reddog at the Manderville place. Well they have got into quite a serious difficulty about the post office. It is said they paid a debt with stamps and then reported more stamps canceled than there had been letters mailed at their office. And then their Store was burned down with two pair of mail bags in it containing considerable money__ And they are accused of that So they were arrested by the United States Marshal last winter and had to give bond. And their trial is to be in Jackson in the United States court some time in this month. I guess they are feeling pretty badly. It is the general opinion that they will travel on to Sing Sine (Sing) the United States penitentiary. How much better it is for people to be honest in all things with a clear conscience towards God and man. Let me and mine be poor always rather than rich on ill gotten wealth. I would not be in Mrs. Willson's place much less theirs for all this world contains. Even could they manage to come clear people will alway[s] be suspicious of them. If I have but little here let me know that little is honestly mine so when I lie down to sleep I can sleep the sleep of the innocent. I guess if they were back where they started they would pursue a different course. Will Wilson is married Rube is not. Do you get a salary for attending to the store? Is it near the place you have been living or have you moved. Are any of your children going to school? And are you cultivating a crop? How is Cornelia Has she ever recovered from the effects of the fever that partially paralized her? You see I want to know it all> Your last letter was so short it was unsatisfactory. I believe I wrote you of Bennie's bad health. He is improving a little now but we heard several times this winter and spring that he was not to be with us long My health is not so good as when I wrote you last. I am suffering with a soreness in my breast. The days are getting along tolerably well with the crops. I believe but they have in too much. I am afraid they will not be able to keep up with it. Cousin Dameron is to be married the 15th of this month. (This comment was a postscript added upside down on third page of letter) [rest cut off bottom of page] Your loving sister (E. F. Spruill)