Tishomingo County MsArchives History .....THE JOURNAL OF GRACE WELCH COKER, HER SENIOR YEAR September 1927 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/ms/msfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lanelle Hanke lhbham@yahoo.com July 20, 2006, 1:57 pm Book Title: THE JOURNAL OF GRACE WELCH COKER, HER SENIOR YEAR - transcribed 2005 Grace E. Welch Skinner Senior Year In I.H.S. (Iuka High School, Tishomingo Co, MS 1927-28 Beginning Sep. 5 Closing May 17- Graduation 18- Recital 16-12th grade 15- play 14- Dress rehearsal of play 13- Commencement Sunday 12- Practice for Sunday 11- Senior party 4- Junior-Senior party 1927 Sep. 5 Hot School starts this morning. I am nearly ready to leave home. I want to get there by 8:30. I hate to start to school because I have had such a good time this summer. It rained this afternoon. Mae & Bob are gone to Sheffield to visit Mrs. Freeman. Esther & Lena and I drove all over Iuka in Lena’s Ford this afternoon hunting books for Richard. I am spending the night with Esther. Sep. 6 Hot Went to school today. There are 15 new people in school. Mollie South, Willie Mae Embrey, Robert Murray Wood, John Thomas, Bill Laminack, Earl Woods, Robbie Flake, (V?)adie Gray, Gladys McDaniels, Irene Roberts, Mary Ellen Counts, Irene Blakney, Francis Chalmers, Mattie Quay Rutledge, & Connie Coker. There are no new ones in our class. Only one is out, it is Ruby W. There are 9 of us in Commercial Geography. They are James Lyle Dean, Melville Adams, Thomas Ligon, Helene Barnett, Lena Broughton, Lena Morrison, Esther Lee Welch, Eunice Patterson & I. If we fail the first two months we will have to drop it. There are just two in French, Eunice & I. All have to take Literature & History. Some take Latin, some Algebra. I don’t. This is our schedule: Com. Geo. Mrs. Payne, Algebra Mr. Howard, Recess & Chapel. French Mrs. Payne, Literature Mrs. Howard, Noon, Second Period History Mrs. Howard. Get out at 2:15. This is a Senior’s privilege. In chapel the Srs. sit on Mrs. Howard’s recitation seats. Esther plays the piano this week. Mrs. Howard always goes home at chapel period to rest & Mrs. Payne keeps the hall while ‘Fessor holds chapel. (Mrs. Coker said, ‘Fessor was nickname for Mr. Howard, short for Professor’) Mrs. Payne’s room has been repainted from green to a light orange. The woodwork & all seats and laboratory equipment also are painted. It looks lots better. The whole house has been gone over and four drinking fountains installed. Two in each hall. There is no music teacher this year. I haven’t bought new books yet. I have the French book I had last year. Robert (Bob) Hamilton visited some of this morning. He has moved to Pennsylvania. He graduated here last year after coming from Port Gibson Military Academy and going to school here the last two & a half months. Mae came home on train 35 today. I had gone over to Mrs.Williams'. Mae & Dorothy Jane & I went over to see Annie Reid tonight after supper. Mrs. Kate Hafford was over there. Pauline Blackard Danigan left last Friday for her home in Blytheville Ark. She had been visiting her parents about three weeks. Rolland talked of going with her but didn’t go. I saw him at town Monday. Sep. 7 Hot Another new girl in school today. Don’t know her name yet but she seems to be nice. We had Literature class in the office this morning, so ‘Fessor couldn’t have 10th Algebra class in the hall. Clifford Brannum came and stayed a few minutes at school and talked. He is Mary Barnes brother & is a telegraph operator somewhere. He finished school here a few years ago. Francis came home and left for college today to take a year’s course in Journalism. Papa came by this after noon & left 50¢ for me and some picture films to be developed. I think they will be pretty. We made them last Sunday. Some are made in the front yard at home and some in the gravel pit. There is a gravel pit opened up down across the creek from home. There is an average of about 20 trucks hauling gravel by the house to put on the Doskie road from Cross Roads to Burnsville. Last night after supper I met Mr. Freeman & Mr. Selby who board here & work for Bob. I shall be vaccinated for small pox. There are 15 confirmed [cases] in Alcorn County. Dr. Haney & Mrs. McDaniels will examine us tomorrow in school. I went to Gladys’ tonight. Sep. 8 Hot Saw Mr. Carrol Blackard, Mr. Willie Gray, & Mr. Ross Tucker in town this morning. The new girl was Reba Jourdan, Lucy’s cousin. James Lyle quit Commercial Geography today. Everybody takes Algebra but Eunice, George & I. This morning before books I talked to Mollie South a while and to Mrs. Howard a while. Mrs. H. asked me about the summer. She said I didn’t need beaux. I bought an old Commercial Geog. from Ada Mae Nagle for 50¢ and bought a new Literature & Life at the drugstore for $2.00. Dr. Haney didn’t come to examine us today. Mae and D.J. are gone over to Annie Reid’s now. I think we will go to the show tonight to see Gloria Swanson and Eugene O’Brien in “Fine Manners.” I had a good time at noon practicing 11th French (the second lessons) with Birdie Erwin, Billie Brinkley, Elizabeth Brown, and Lela Francis Broughton. I was their teacher. It is about 6:30 now and the men have come in from work and Bob has gone after Mae. I have put supper on the table and am sitting on the porch. I will have to turn on the porch light in a minute. Dorothy Jane has come home. She brought me three roses from Mrs. Reid’s. Sep. 9 Hot Mae & I went to the show last night. When we started home the car would not crank & Mr. Luther Beard had to push it down the hill. Melville quit Commercial Geo. today. That leaves seven in the class. I got the pictures back today. They are all good. I sent the negative for mine back to have five more made. We got out of school at 1:30 today. Zola Graham came & stayed a few minutes with Mae. Mama brought five reed baskets and a tray up to Mrs. Whitten’s store. Mrs. Whitten bought the tray for $3.00 as soon as she saw it. She wants mama to make a lot more. * When we came home we stopped where they are building the new Central Schoolhouse. They were mixing concrete. They have quit hauling gravel from here now, for they ran out of money to pay the hands with. Mr. Johnie Blackard is back here from Arkansas. His wife has been here all summer at her mother’s. The Youth’s Companion has changed from a weekly to a monthly paper. We got the first monthly issue this week. * Mrs. Welch made beautiful pictue trays using milkweed silk, dried flowers and dried butterflies sealed under glass. There is still, in 2005, a medicine cabinet door at the farm made from one of her arrangements- almost 70 years later!. Sep. 10 Hot, cloudy I ironed this afternoon. Esther & the rest tried to catch butterflies. Papa & Mama worked on the chicken house. Grace Bonds has been at Grandma’s this week. She and Esther & Ana & Russell are down here tonight. Aunt Annis & the rest & Bro. Rollen are at Grandma’s. Bro. Rollen will preach at the new Baptist Church at Bethel tonight and tomorrow. Sep. 11 Hot Esther & William & I went to church this morning. Mrs. Addie Marlar and I led in singing, they had no organ. They had a church conference and in it they named the church Bethel Baptist Church. Elsie, Gladys & Odell Bullard are at home from Tish. for the weekend. I saw Odell at church this morning. Aunt Annis’ folks were at church and went home from there. Herman Cresap and Andy Cole were at church this morning. I think Mr. Carrol Blackard’s folks are at Miss Matt Robertson’s today. Vadie Kay was baptized over at Marlar’s pond this afternoon. I had to lead the singing. Papa, Mama, & William are gone over to Mr. Charlie Cresap’s now. Sep. 12 Very Hot Ruth came with Papa to bring us to school today. They went back to the quarterly conference at Harmony. Eunice and & didn’t have a French lesson this morning. Mrs. Payne had Eunice to help her fill out an order for some lab material. Mae & I have been making some dish towels for Annie Reid. She is going to move out soon. Dorothy Jane is out at Flora’s today. Annie Reid and Houston came over for supper. We, Annie & I, wanted some ice cream so we went down town and got it while the rest ate supper. We got back in time for the last course because we had it with us. They left as soon as supper was over and Mae & Bob went to the Rebecca meeting. So I washed dishes and Mr. Freeman and Dorothy Jane went to sleep in a chair on the front porch. It took me an hour to wash up all the dishes and I have just put Dorothy Jane to bed now with her dress on to keep from waking her up for I know she would cry. Mr. Selby left last Saturday night and now we just have one boarder. Sep. 13 Very hot We ran short periods this afternoon and got out at 1:30. Flora and Eunice both were here a while this afternoon. I got a letter from Olen yesterday. It came Sat. but I was gone home. Houston and Annie came over for a while after supper. Annie had the blues. Houston wanted me to find out what was the matter with her but I couldn’t. She showed me all of her baby’s things and told me about it. It was named George David and died when about a day old. After they left Mae & I & Bob & Mr. Freeman went to town and got some cream coca cola, and as the 9 o’clock train ran, we came back but didn’t stop at the house and went out on the county wide highway & across to the other one and back home. I have just finished writing my theme on the Battle of Crecy for tomorrow and on the North American Indian for Friday. I washed my hair today. Sep. 14 Hot Wednesday This morning as I went to school Annie & Houston were down at their house and I stopped and looked at it. They haven’t finished repapering it yet. When I got home from school, Mae & Flora & Mrs. Bronson went to town to vote. I ironed when they were gone and Mae ironed after she got back until supper. I went out to Flora’s and got some corn for dinner time. Raymond Flynt ate supper here and stayed to hear from the election. Mr. Rob Grisham defeated Mr. John Smith for Supervisor by 133 votes. They tied before. Mr. Freeman went home on the train tonight. His parents & other relatives have come home in Sheffield. Sep. 15 Hot hot hot Mr. Freeman came back today. We still get out of school on 30 min. periods on account of the intense heat. Some schools have closed down for a while. Several [people] in the cities have died from the heat. It is the hottest September on record in and around Memphis. (Sept. 15 cont.) We all went to the show tonight. It was the first appearance on the screen of Paramont’s youthful actors who have just graduated from the first class of actors to be taught. All are young and very handsome boys and very pretty girls. Really good actors, too. There were a lot of the older actors shown when these enterprising youngsters trying to advertise Ward’s Mountain donut(?) which Teddy Ward the hero was proprietor – invited them to attend an ice boat race at the inn. These included Lila Lee, Thomas Meighan, Richard Dix, Lota Wilson and others. The Mountain Inn pictures were very beautiful, also the sledding, skiing & ice boat race. I don’t remember the names of the young actors. There were about twelve of them. Sep. 16 Still hot. Annie & Houston have been married a year today. Mae was gone to town when I came home. I drove all the way from just this side of Mr. Zeb Akers to the bridge at the store. I held it in the road perfectly all the way. Sep. 17 Hot. Esther cut my hair today. I stayed in the bed most all day with indigestion. We cooked a bit this afternoon. We are going to have a family reunion tomorrow at Grandma’s. It is Uncle Sam’s birthday and Monday is Grandma’s. We haven’t let Grandma know about it. Tomorrow is Bro. Craddock’s preaching day at Bethel. Sep. 18 Hot, rained We had the big surprise for Grandma today. There were 40 there. All kinfolks but Milton Bonds, Kennie Herin, Bro. & George Craddock. They were Barret & family, Aunt Annis & family, Uncle Will, Aunt Dana, Willis, Ruby, Uncle Harvey, Roy & Talmadge and all of us. A lot of us went to preaching and Bro. Craddock & George came to Grandma’s. We had the dinner out under the old hickory nut tree. Lots of good things. I tried everything. After dinner we played the victrola a while then Bro. C. & G. went to Harmony. The young folks all gathered in the parlor and had a big time, and the old folks out on the porch. About five o’clock Uncle Will, Aunt Dana Barret & Aunt Lillian went home. It had been raining a little for some time, so the rest who were in a truck stayed until about eight o’clock that night. It rained later a little while. We came home about six o’clock. Sep. 19 Monday Cold There is a new 9th grade boy in school today. His name is Bill Gamble. Papa went to Corinth and brought Mae two sacks of flour as he came by. He read the paper here. Blanche Moser & Elena Helton were up here this afternoon. Right late Mae, D.J. & I walked over to Esther’s and got my scarf. Sep. 20 Colder We had a test in Com. Geo. this morning – all made low grades. Annie told me to visit at her house and she would be back to bring me home when she got Mrs. Reid, but she had to wait for Miss Pearl to dress and I got tired waiting and came on home. Mae & I went to see Mrs. Dan Dugger and stayed late. We got our reading report books today. Sep. 21 Cooler Annie came over and brought me her white sweater to wear. There is a new girl in the ninth grade today. Maxine Paden. She is a cousin to Gerard and to Mary Lee Philips. I paid Ada Mae 50¢ for the book today. Sep. 22 Cold Mae & I went to Mrs. Mosley’s this afternoon and I went to Esther’s. Richard carried us to Mrs. W S. Williamson’s to take some butter. When I started home I met Mae and we stopped a while at Eula Hubbard Wiley’s. Mae, D.J., & I went to the show and Bob & Mr. Freeman went to Clay Thorne’s to hear the Dempsey-Tunney fight over the radio for the heavyweight championship. Tunny beat Dempsey last year. Also tonight. After the show, Mae and I went up to Clay’s with A.R. & Houston and listened to the fight a while. Then Annie brought us home. Tunney beat Jack 11-10. Gene is a good fighter. Sep. 23 Friday Warmer Mama came with Papa after us and brought a basket for Mrs. Blanche Brown. Sep. 24 Warm Mama & Esther & I made tray bottoms full of milkweed and butterflies & grass & glass. Papa went fishing & caught four trouts. Sep. 25 Sunday We got dinner, chicken and green peas, done by eleven o’clock and went to hunt chestnuts, but couldn’t find any. So we went and got some muscadines on the creek bank. The creek is lower than I’ve ever seen it. We came back by where Mrs. Athalee Robertson used to live. We got home about one o’clock & ate dinner. Mr. Connie Marlar’s folks were at Pauline’s in their truck. Papa, Wm. & Leon went back with them to church in the arbor at the government mailbox, and the rest of us went in the car. After church Esther & I came back with Mrs. Roberts and were going back to church that night with them. But Mae & Bob had been to Dewey Locke’s and came by and ate supper with us and brought us back up here. Annie Reid came over a little while after we got back and Esther spent the night with me. Sep. 26 Warm Mr. F. came back on the six o’clock train this morning. Our Commercial Geography maps came today. Esther came home with me from school and I clipped her hair. Mae & I walked up to Annie’s house. They had the front bedroom, living room, kitchen, and dining room furniture mostly put up. It is all very pretty. Bob went with us and we went up to the house Talmadge Reid is building. It is very pretty, small house. He showed us all about it. We came back to Annie’s and got in the car & went to the park & got a drink & saw Ygondine & his baby and talked to them a while. Sep. 27 Almost hot. Dr. Haney & Mrs. McDaniels came up to school and examined us. I am 5 feet 5 & weight 106 lbs. Good lungs, heart, eyes, hearing, and had typhoid shots this summer. Should weigh 124. Mrs. Payne got Eunice and me to stay and grade 11th French test papers for her. We left school at three instead of 2:15. I have a big Geography now. Thomas L. gave it to me to use until school is out. We worked on the maps this morning. Eunice & I came by the Dr.’s office and took the small pox vaccination. There are anywhere between 40 & 70 cases just over in Alcorn County. My side has been hurting for four days. I guess I have appendicitis any way. I stopped at Mrs. Whitten’s with Eunice and got home about 5 o’clock. Mae and I went down town after Everett with Bob. Mae tried to cut my hair tonight. I wish it would curl pretty. Think I will use water wave combs in it. Sep. 28 Wednesday Cool, rained today. I wore Mrs. Payne’s sweater home from school today because I have been vaccinated & it might have rained before I got home, but didn’t. I went to Eunice’s tonight and studied Com. Geo. for a test tomorrow. Mae & Bob went to Annie’s but she had gone to the show. They went back home but let me stay at Mrs. Whitten’s until Bob came to meet the train. He was looking for a man to lay the tile at Mr. Gaines’ but he didn’t come. Sep. 29 Thursday. The man came this morning on the early train, but he wouldn’t eat breakfast. We worked on our History maps today. Talked to ‘Fessor this morning before school. He was asking what I was going to do next year. He wants me to go to Columbus. Finished my first Commercial Geography map today. We all went to the show tonight. Mae & I went in the show, but the others didn’t. They are out on the porch now. I talked to Ora Belle at the show. We had to sit at the back for we were late. We saw Marian Davis & Matt Moore in “Tilly The Toiler.” A cute show. We have gone every Thursday night so far. Mae went to town today & left D.J. With me. She got a black satin dress, a pair of slippers, and brought up three hats to pick one from. They are all very pretty. My arm itches a lot. I think it is taking now. I hope it is so I won’t have to take it again. Sep. 30 Warm. Esther didn’t come home today for Mr. Wms has gone to Nashville, I think, to the salesmen’s banquet. I went to church at the Arbor tonight with Mr. & Mrs. Roberts. I didn’t go in for he drove up to the edge. I didn’t even speak to anybody by Hilda and Liller. Oct. 1 Saturday Warm. Papa & Mama went to Corinth today and the rest went to Grandma’s to pick cotton. I cleaned up, churned & took Pauline some milk & butter. Pauline came down about 11 o’clock and we cooked a chicken, two cakes & I ironed some. Mrs. Roberts came down & Pauline cut her hair. They left about four o‘clock. Just as I was ready to go to church Papa & Mama came home & brought Esther home. So Esther & I both went with them to church tonight. Two joined the church. Mama sold a tray to Mrs. Simon Ruble & one to Mr. E. F. Wants(?), one to Mrs. R. R. Hill & two to Mrs. J.J. Whitten, & two to Mrs. Wms. Oct. 2 Sunday Warm. I stayed in bed all day today on account of my arm. Esther stayed at home with me & the rest took their dinner & went to Tishomingo, Barton, Oldham, the Bear Creek bridge at the asphalt mine. Some more joined the Christian Church today. Milton Arnold was baptized too. They had preaching at the new church today and I think tonight. Oct. 3 Warm & cool too. I came back to Mae’s today but didn’t go to school. Mrs. Virgie Locke & baby & Mr. Locke spent the day here. I went down to the Dr.’s office this afternoon and got Mrs. McDaniels to dress my arm. It surely is sore now. Annie Reid has moved everything down to her house now, and is doing her cooking too. Oct. 4 Tuesday Clear. I went to school today. Mrs. McDaniels said I would have had a bad case of smallpox. My arm is all stuck to the bandage and so sore I can hardly move it. There is a new girl in school. I don’t know her name but 10th grade. Oct. 5 Wed. Warm. Seldon Hanks broke both bones in his wrist at school this morning. He and George were carrying a pole and it fell on his arm. I saw Col. Charles A. Lindbergh go over in his plane The Spirit of St. Louis, this morning. He was in Memphis yesterday and has gone to Birmingham today. I wrote to Olin today. I came by the office to have my arm dressed but the nurse was not in. I went to bed as soon as I got home. I feel so hot. Flora & Mae made chicken salad sandwiches to carry to the Rebecca Lodge. Mae & Bob went to the lodge but Flora didn’t go. D.J. went to bed with me. They took Pete Jackson into the lodge. Oct. 6 Thurs. Hot. I didn’t go to school today. I didn’t feel like it. I can hardly move my arm. I got up about 10 o’clock. Mae & D.J. went to Corinth with Annie. I went to town with them & had my arm dressed. It feels a lot better for it was stuck up so bad it made me sick, but I came back home. I have just drunk two glasses of iced tea. I don’t think I have told it in here yet, but Mr. Freeman went home to stay last Saturday night. Now I can work all the cross word puzzles. Oct. 7 Rained. Esther came & spent the night with me last night. I didn’t’ go to school today, but my arm is better. I stayed in bed all morning. Papa didn’t come after us tonight, so Mae & I went to the show & Bob to lodge. We saw Lew Cody and Renee’ Adoree’ in “On Ze Boulevard.” Oct. 8 Saturday Papa came after us this morning, got home about 10 o’clock. Mama is making Esther a dress. There are 4 trucks now hauling gravel. Papa works in the pit and checks out trucks. Elsie, Odell, Gladys came home for the weekend. Oct. 9 Cool Ruth & I went to church at the Baptist Church. They planned for a S.S. I am teaching & treasurer. The rest took their dinner & went over to the old place and hunted chestnuts & got some walnuts. Ruth went to Mrs. Maude King’s with Grandma & Uncle Jiddy. Esther & I went up to Pauline’s tonight and stayed till 9:30. Oct. 10 Cooler We came back to school with Mr. Elmer Locke so Papa could work. Maxine Paden & the other new girl have quit school. They just went a few days. Mary Burns (Brannum) comes home with me now as far as Mrs. Emma Brown’s. She lives there. Oct. 11 Tuesday Cold early, hot late Mae went to Annie’s. Oct. 12 Wednesday (rained) I had my arm dressed for the last time today. They will not have the fair this year, for there is no place for it. I got my new hat today, black felt & white. Oct. 13 Thursday This morning it was cold, so we had our French class out at the east steps in the sunshine. I have the neuralgia in my arm left over from a cold in my head. Went to the Y.W.C.A. meeting at Nannie Lee Adams’ after school today. There were 8 of us, all school girls but Nannie Lee and Lois Lyle Dogger Cutshaul. Nannie Lee served a course of tomato sandwich, pear salad, and hot tea – very good. Ruth Elder flew yesterday for Paris and landed safe today, the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airship. She had to land in the ocean at the Azores 800 mi. from where she started and was picked up by a tanker. Oct. 14 Friday Seniors got out of school at noon on account of a 9th exam & play tonight. Didn’t want to go to the play and Papa didn’t come after us. Mr. Wms. & Mrs. Wms. carried Esther home tonight & stayed a while. Oct. 15 Papa came as we were at table so ate dinner there. We came home. Miss Minnie Roberts was there. Mama canned some pickle relish, Esther & I made a cake and potato pies. The road is graveled nearly to Mr. Locke’s. Oct. 16 Sunday Went to church this morning. Bro. Craddock came home with us for dinner. We had apple pie. It was our last dinner for him. At two Bubba Payne came & took him to Harmony. This afternoon Papa, Ruth, William & I went over to the old place and picked up the walnuts. Then we went down the old rail fence rail down the side of the hill in front of the yard, and through the old persimmon tree and rail-fence-bordered lane to the corner at Mr. Reynold’s, and then back through to where an old pasture used [to be] and where a spring branch had crossed it. We followed this up into the pine forest to the part where it came out from under the roots of a big tree into a hole. But around up there the pines were all small, for it was a hill when Papa was a boy. He showed us the tree where he had climbed up and found a hummingbird’s nest. We then went back down to the road and followed it again until we came to a low place in the fence where a big persimmon tree stood just over in the field. We crossed over and ate some persimmons, then followed the old path that led back to the old house which we could see nestled in the trees about a half mile away. We came out behind the barn and Papa showed us the place where a muscadine vine grew that had the fruit in clusters. Then we went into the barn & Papa showed us the path where he used to hold a tow sack over the end of it and run rats out into the sack and catch them. We went on to the old smoke house in the back yard, and Daddy showed us the log in it that had a knothole with lead shot all over it that was put there when the logs were on the ground ready to build the smokehouse. Daddy had a length he had never fired. He shot the knothole with it. He still uses the gun now. We came back home and George & Pauline came down tonight and stayed a while. Dewey and Lucille Locke have a new boy. Oct. 17 Papa was working so Esther & I brought the car up here. Mae is in bed. Mrs. Payne, Eunice & I got a French lesson (for? from?) Mary Leslie McCrae who is in Grenada College. We translated 2 French poems, Mrs. Howard made it into a story and we put it back into French. Oct. 18 Tuesday I came by Mary Burns (Brannum’s) after school. I got two books for Mae & I to read - St. Elmo & The River’s End. Margie Smith Davis was here until late tonight. Mae is still in bed & I cooked supper. Started to reading St. Elmo. Oct. 19 Wednesday Mrs. Payne has gone to the ball in Memphis. Eunice taught in her place. It made us mad. Mae is worse. I cooked breakfast this morning & supper tonight. Oct. 20 Mae is worse. Bessie stays here every day, & I cook supper & breakfast. Started reading The River’s End by Zane Grey. Had an exam in Literature. Oct. 21 Friday Esther went home but I stayed up here. Mae is better. We had an exam in History. Oct. 22 Papa & the kids all went to town & I came home with them. Papa bought some oysters & we had them for supper. Oct. 23 Sunday After dinner Papa, Mama, & William went over to Mr. Charlie’s & the rest of us took the car & went to Cross Roads & turned around and went up to the old place & got a lot of walnuts. Oct. 24 Esther & I brought the car again. I made a 98 on the History & 90 on the Literature exams. This evening I went to the store to get D.J. some dresses and had on an outing gown. Mr. Bullard & Mr. Swimford came to the store & I had to hold up my gown tail to wait on them. They thought it was Mama’s dress I guess. (I hope they did.) Came home from school & stopped at Annabell’s & we put the custom on the door & Mae hemmed the ones for the windows. We went to town & hunted everywhere for lavender rayon to make the window draperies with. We brought Ruby Mae back & she stayed a while. We also tried to uncrate the new wing chair & fixed up the china closet. Oct. 25 I washed my hair this afternoon. Eunice & I stayed after school & graded French papers for Mrs. Payne. Elsie B. (Bullard) is elected football queen for Tishomingo. Oct. 26 Wednesday Mrs. Howard told of an inscription up here in the cemetery that impressed her when she was 15 years old. I still remember it too. I think it reads: “As you are now, so once was I; as I am now, so you shall be.” Esther, Lena & I came down the fire escape at noon and played hooky, stopped in town & got my hair cut “wind blown bob.” Came by Mrs. Wms & Esther & I came on by & got D.J. & went out home. Mama had made a big flour basket. We went to Bethel to see what kind of books the kids needed for school. As we came back to town, we stopped down at the gravel pit. They will finish up down there today. They put up a monument to good roads made out of soapstone and a small one for a mile post “10 miles to Iuka.” As we came up the Pickens Branch hill we noticed we had a flat, and Ben Arnold came along & fixed it for us. We were so glad. Oct. 27 Thursday Everybody liked my haircut. Mrs. Payne is crazy about it. Went to the Y.W.A. this afternoon at Lila Francis Broughton’s. Mrs. Mary Massey was the leader. Nanny Lee & Lois Lyle didn’t get to come. Next meeting will be a business meeting and the next one we all have to report on something pertaining to the Jews. I have the Zionist movement. Flora came & Mae made her a box for the box supper at Rocky Springs next Sat. night. She is teaching in the new consolidated school which started last Mon. Mollie came after her & stayed a few minutes. Mae & I went with Bob out to Mrs. Webster Price’s tonight. Mrs. P. showed us an old sampler which Mr. P’s mother made in 1807, also a carved ivory Christ’s head which his grandmother brought from England when she visited his father who was the American Consul over there. The date on it was 1807. Also some old Eng. hunting scenes which were old ivory, valuable, in a museum or art building, and an old tea set of black with inlaid trimmings, and some old cut glass. Oct. 28 They just asked us where we went yesterday. Oct. 29 Saturday Esther & I came home yesterday afternoon. Mama went to Mrs. Cresap’s this afternoon. Oct. 30 Sunday Annie Reid & Houston (Reid) & Mae & Bob & D.J. (Flynt) all came down for dinner today. I went to Pauline (Daniel’s) to take some milk & stayed a while tonight. Dovie(?) Marlar is very sick. Oct. 31 Robert Smith came up to school today. Also Rufus Gober & Martha Lee M. Nov. 1 Tuesday A man came up to school today & made a lot of pictures to share tomorrow night. A. R. & H., Pansie & Clifton, Mr. Reid, J.D. McCrae went to White Sulphur to fish. Lynn is staying over here. Nov. 2 Wednesday Rained & turned Cold. Mae & I went to the show tonight. We saw a Monday Comedy, the pictures of the school & town made yesterday & Tom Mix in “The Trail of the West.” Mrs. D(?) Woodruff Marler died about 8 o’clock this morning. Nov. 3 Thursday Annie Reid and all of them came home today. Houston caught a trout. Lynn didn’t much want to go home. Nov. 4 Friday As we came home, we stopped at Central School. They had a program. Mama was over there. When nearly everybody had gone, George C. (Craddock) brought Mr. and Mrs. Howard out there. They missed the program. So did we, but we all went and looked at the [school]house. We stopped at the gravel pit. Mr. Carrol B. was there. We stayed until Carl Medley came with Mr. Ross’ truck & we watched them load. I got the sweetest letter from Gladys today. Nov. 5 Saturday We ironed & cooked. Maye made Leon a coat from Esther’s old one. I embroidered a set of pillow slips for Mrs. (Moss?). Mr. John Barnes brought Daddy an opossum tonight. Nov. 6 Sunday I called Mrs. Ballard and asked if Gladys was coming by her on the way back to school, but she couldn’t hear me. I wish they would come by here though. We all went down to the gravel pit and stayed a while, then walked up the bottom & stopped & ate a lot of huckleberries. Then we went on up to Salem and went over the graveyard, then came back by an old grave yard up on the hill in Mr. Cresap’s pasture & down a very steep hill & out by his house & on home. We left here at 10 o’clock & got home at 5 o’clock. Nov. 7 Monday Papa carried Esther & I to Corinth today & got our coats. They surely are pretty. Mine is tan with a ripple fold in front, and black fur collar & cuffs. The front laps over & fastens with a little ornament. It was just awfully cold this morning but rained tonight. Nov. 8 Raining I didn’t feel like going to school today. I want to go to Tishomingo Sat. night week to a play, but I won’t get to go. Mae carried her flowers out to Mrs. Branson’s pet today. ?? We have had a music teacher for three weeks, Miss Martha Candler of Corinth. I went to town with Mae about five o’clock. I got her a cute little handkerchief. Nov. 9 Wednesday Went to school tonight & rode with Thomas Ligon & Ester Nagle as far as Edyth Nagle’s. Nov. 10 Thursday Went to the Y.W.C. this afternoon at Mrs. Mary Massey’s. We are going to sell flavoring and jello to make money. We have bought collection plates for Baptist Church and will send a box to the orphans next week. Continued in Book No. II. From Nov. 11 (However, we have yet to find 'Book II.') Additional Comments: Notes about Mrs. Coker’s journal, told to me on August 9, 2005, in Iuka: Mrs. Payne was the French teacher and started off with seven. At the end, Mrs. Coker was the only one left. Ygondine was pronounced ‘egonda’ and it was a man. Eunice Bullard was Football Queen. Mrs. Coker’s friend Eunice boarded at the Whitten’s. (But I don’t know if it was Eunice Patterson or Eunice Bullard. The Whittens had a store in Iuka, then later in Corinth. Everett was a worker for Bob Flynt. Mae Adams married Bob Flynt, a carpenter. She was sister to Annie Ried Adams who married Houston Reid. D. J., or Dorothy Jane, was daughter of Mae and Bob Flynt. D.J. was probably 5 or 6 at the time of this journal. Annie Reid Adams Reid – was always called ‘Annie Reid.’ Mrs. Coker’s sister Maye spelled her name differently, so you know when Mrs. C. is talking about her instead of Mae Adams. Mary Burns Brannum or Brown? was called ‘Mary Burns’ almost always. Her brother Clifford Brannum was a telegraph operator. James Lyle Dean called ‘James Lyle.’ Olin Flynt (Olen?) The Rebecca Lodge was a social thing. Mr. Williams was a salesman. He came out to Mrs. C’s dad’s store, and they became family friends. Esther, Mrs. C.’s sister, boarded with the Williams. Pauline Daniel. Seldon Craddock. ‘Fessor was short for Professor, and referred to Mr. Howard, the Principal. Thursday night was a special movie night. Pansy(?) and Clifton Reid - Carrol Blackard - Gladys Bullard - Flora Branson - Mr. Freeman and Mr. Selby were boarders with Mae and Bob Flynt, where Mrs. C. stayed during the week, while attending High School in town. Mae was Mrs. C.’s cousin, as was Annie Reid. (I think their mother was sister to Mrs. Coker’s father, a Welch) Sam Skinner was grandma’s brother. Mrs. Coker’s mother (Mama) made baskets out of honeysuckle vine. She boiled it and it turned very light color. She shaped them into baskets to hold things, like flour and stuff. She also took silk from milkweed pods, layered it on a board for a background, then placed dried butterflies and flowers in different designs on the background and covered it with glass. These made bottoms of trays, or pictures in frames…whatever she wanted it to be. (My note: I found the materials she left behind and refurbished some of the old pictures and trays at the farmhouse. The butterflies had disintegrated, so I replaced them and put new milkweed silk where it was needed.) Houston Reid had a clothing store in Corinth. Pauline Dunagin - J. D. McCrae - Olin ?Martin? - Mary Burns Brown George and Pauline ?Craddock? lived in Mrs. Coker’s father’s rent house. Mrs. C. was always taking her some butter and milk. Mr. and Mrs. C. also lived there while the farmhouse was being built. (She bought it from her father. It’s the place talked about in her journal when they went walking. The barn, the smokehouse, the persimmon trees, etc) Elsie, Odell, and Gladys Bullard --------------------------------------------------------- Grace Elizabeth Welch, b 8 Aug 1910, was the second daughter of William Lee Welch and Roxy A. Skinner. Her four sisters were Esther Welch, Ruth Welch, Leon Welch, and Mae Welch. Her only brother was William Welch, the youngest child. Esther married Paul Adams, lived in Tennessee Grace married James Alton Coker and had four children: James Lee, Grace Elizabeth 'Betty,' Patricia Welch 'Patsy,' and William Leon Coker. Ruth married William Kidd, lived in Amory MS Leon married (?) Dempsey, lived in Kingston TN Mae married J. E. Robertson, lived in North Crossroads MS William married Lucy Locke, lived in Aberdeen MS File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ms/tishomingo/history/other/journalo7gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/msfiles/ File size: 38.1 Kb