Hertford County, NC - Solon Borland's Children ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Solon Borland & FAMILY" "Chapter 3: Solon's Children" (Revised 05-18-06) Solon Borland reportedly had seven children. Thomas & Harold ("Little Solon") with first wife Huldah, possibly one with second wife Elizabeth which died, rumored to have had one by creole lady friend, then three, George Godwin, Fanny Green & Mary Melbourne with third and last wife Mary, We find documentation that the four known children, Harold ("Little Solon"), Gerge Godwin, Fanny Green, Mary Milbourne of Solon plus his two granddaughters Grace M and Mary Borland Beattie, lived lives any parent should be most proud about. We were unable to trace his son Thomas or his four grandsons, Russell, Charles, Godwin Borland, or George M, --- hopefully they too led equally good lives. The College of William & Mary 75 (their limit) documents received 13 April 2006 are prefixed (WM). 3A. THOMAS BORLAND: (183?-18??) Our intial search found only in Huldah's obituary and Fay Hempstead's 1890 book addressing what appears as first born child Thomas, Search as we did, nothing appeared to document Thomas as a child raised by Solon. Conclusion was; Huldah had brought this child into the marriage, thus upon her death, he was raised by his father's family, possiblly (?) named Wright. Upon reviewing documents from The College of William & Mary, we found Thomas did indeed exist within the Borland family, --- but, confusingly little information was found except documention from 1837 through 1851. He is NOT mentioned in Solon's December 1863 will! Thomas is listed first before "Little Solon" (Harold) by Fay Hempstead, and in two letters. If he be a son by Solon, I then assume he was born 1833, for the first two Borland generations, one exception of seventeen known births, seemed to plan child birth with two years seperation. Census of 1840 does not provide names! Under George Godwin's Virginia housedhold there is an unknown male 5 to 10, which I believe to be Thomas because the William & Mary documents, had two receipts for his schooling for year 1846, paid by George and a letter dated 1849, written to George, --- likewise, Augustus Moore's household (where son-in-law Euclid Borland lived) has unknown 5 to 10 likely "Little Solon", and Solon's 1840 Tennessee census (spelling, "Borlon"), has a male 15 to 20, (born 1820 to 1825). If Huldah's, she was 11 to 16 at his birth, --- possible but ???. Therefore, I now accept a Thomas raised in Solon's family! Still unkown if Solon was the father, but based upon the following plus obituary of Huldah: First, Thomas' name is in Fay Hempstead's 1890 book, Second; Thomas mentioned in (WM) 30 May 1837 letter of uncle Euclid from Holly Springs, Mississippi to his uncle George Godwin at Suffolk, following arrivial in Mississippi after his 1000 mile journey, stating that Solon and family had visited them from Memphis, where Solon moved in the fall of1836. Third; mentioned in (WM) 16 April 1838 in letter of uncle Euclid to his uncle George. Fourth; mentioned in (WM) 20 April 1845 in letter by Solon's aunt Fanny to his brother Roscius Cicero, that Solon had taken Thomas west. It was 27 May that "Gen" Solon Borland married Mary Isabel Melbourne in Little Rock, his third and last wife. Fifth; is in (WM) letter which they say is by Solon's Thomas, of 26 May 1849 to his uncle George Godwin from Alexandria Boarding School, Virginia in which he writes he was most proud of the high grades & deportment he had earned. Closing letter with: "Give my love to GrandMa. Cousin Fanny & James, Uncle John's family, Mr McGrimes, Mrs Pinness [Pinner's(?)] & to little FannyAnnie, Tommy [?Thomas Roscius] and all the family and recieve the same from your ever affectionate Nephew, //signed Thomas Borland", also note: "My love to Joe McGuire, Joe Pinner & G Kilby." Sixth & last, a (WM) letter, 12 October 1851 of Euclid's from Solon's Hot Springs, Arkansas home to uncle George Godwin writing of Thomas in Kentucky with a Colonel Morgan, building a new road, whom he did not have time to visit on his trip to Hot Springs, to pick up his motherless sons, Phocion A & Euclid, Jr and brother Roscius' ophaned daughter Harriott Godwin (little bother, Thomas Roscius with George & Fanny Godwin, see afore letter), they having been staying with Solon following Euclid's wife Elizabeth's January 1850death. We have seen NOTHING in any other materials concerning Solon's Thomas, finding NO birth nor death dates, or burial location, further more, he is NOT in Solon's 1863 will. Total frustration, --- to say the least, compounding the problem is; Dick Johnson's "printer's-ink" political war against Solon in editorial of The True Democrat, 11 December 1855, saying Solon had arranged an office for his sons over age 15 at Washington City, HOWEVER WE FIND ---- Euclid's letter of 12 October 1851 has him working on a new road in Kentucky, --- I believe Euclid! 3B. HAROLD BORLAND ("Little Solon")(1835NC-1921AR): Harold was born to Solon and first wife Huldah, 18 September 1835 in North Carolina, raised a while by uncle Euclid in Mississippi, attended United States Military Academy, married twice, had two sons, died 20 July 1921 at Confederate Home, Sweet Home, Pulaski county, Arkansas, buried in Confederate section at Little Rock National Cemetery, #1001. Families name for Harold was "Little Solon" in early years. (WM) 30 May 1837 letter from Euclid in Holly Springs to uncle George Godwin at Suffolk, mentions Solon, Huldah, Thomas (who looked delicate) and Solon (little) had visited him. It would appear from (WM) letters, following mother Huldah's death, 25 August 1837, Harold and brother Thomas were both with uncle Euclid in Augustus Moore's household at Mississippi for awhile, Harold staying, Thomas to George Godwin's. (WM) 16 May 1838 letter from Euclid, near Holly Springs, to George Godwin said no sign of Solon since January wrote Solon's Thomas is in fine health, "Little Solon", looked delicate. 1840 census, appears Thomas was raised by Solon's uncle George and aunt Fanny (Green) Godwin in Nansemond County, Virginia, listed; 1 male 5 and under10, with Harold at uncle Euclid's in Mississippi also with unkown male 5 and under 10. (WM) 20 April 1845 letter from aunt Fanny Godwin in Suffolk to Solon's brother, Roscius Cicero Borland, Murfreesboro, North Carolina tells of Solon taking "her Thomas" and was in Philadelphia, on the 1st, Pittsburgh the 5th, Louisville the 10th. Solon married his third wife, Mary Isabel, on the 27th of May at Little Rock where he had moved from Louisville, Kentucky in 1843 (1st to Hot Springs 1842). Harold, 14 y/o, is in Hot Springs, Arkansas for the 1850 census, then at 18, 1 July 1854, is documented at the United States Military Academy with records showing he enrolled while Robert E. Lee was Superintendent (1852-1855). Blue eyed Harold gained nickname of "Ginger", because of his hair color, . Cadets from the South tended to lag behind Northerners at this time. There were a lot more prep schools in the North where students could learn French and advanced math, the two subjects that tripped up the most cadets, according to historian, Bruce S Allardice, author of "More Generals in Gray" and other works. Harold was the 1887th graduate on 1 July 1860, at age 24, ranking 41st in class with 41 cadets.. Also consider, if you would, General UlyssesS. Grant (1822-1885), 21st in his class of 39, but became president, and General George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876) graduated in Class of 1861, General Joseph Wheeler (1838-1906) in Class of 1859. Harold was commissioned a Brevet Second Lieutenant of Infantry, stationed at Newport Barracks, Kentucky until resigning the 5th Army Infantry 31 March 1861 to enlist with Jefferson Davis at age 25, who appointed him a Major in the Confederate Army, serving in Engineer and Quartermaster Departments and for a spell was Adjutant General on staff of General Slaughter. West Point records show Major Borland; "...was, August 16 1863, captured aboard the "Alice Vivian" which was endeavoring to run the blockade from Mobile to Havana with 550 bales of cotton. He was held prisoner at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor [see photo], until exchanged October 1 1864." General Notes: "The Militar Academy was divided when southern states seceded from the Union. Northern cadets joined southern ones, as officers did throughout the Army, in sentimental farewells. Yet only 25 percent of the officers who had graduated from West Point resigned to join the Confederacy, although 37 percent of the prewar officer corps came from the South." --- "294 graduates served as generals for the Union and 151 for the Confederacy. One hundred and five graduates, more than 10 percent of those who served, were killed in action, and 141 (about 15 percent) were wounded, while 19 won the Medal of Honor (which was created during the war." (1848-1865) Bruce S Allardice and B Holt's research revealed Harold married 16/17 y/o Katie Davis, 21 April 1871 in Johnson county, Arkansas, with 1880 census having half-sister Fanny's orphaned son George Borland Moores at Cadron, Faulkner county Arkansas. Later he married Janie Frith, 26 April 1891 in Prairie county, Arkansas, who died ca 1901, most likely mother of the two known sons. Bruce found he was a civil engineer at Clarksville, Johnson county, Arkansas later a bookkeeper in Faulkner county. United States Military Academy records say Harold taught school for a while and then worked for United States Revenue Service. We have provided USMA documented corrections concerning Solon Borland for which they say will be incorporated in their files. a)- Harold Borland's 22 July 1921, obituary in The Arkansas Gazette, p.7,c.3, states he was captured by the Fed's and imprisoned at Fortress Monroe, Virginia exchanged prior to war ending, promoted to rank of major near end of war. b)- West Point records show Major Borland rejoined his group serving until end of war, then with General Slaughter went to Matamoris, Mexico, c)- HOWEVER, --- Major Harold Borland is noted in Virginia Davis Gray's (Mrs O C Gray), 1863-1865 diary, published by Dr. Carl H. Moneyhon in Arkansas Historical Quarterly of 1983, --- "...one of the persons not expected but most welcome, came. Mollie and Fannie are in a blissful state of mind." this in Princeton, Arkansas, Friday morning, 30 December 1864. He was mentioned five times during ensuing eight months, moving in and out ofPrinceton, lastly, Dr. Meador of Little Rock and Colonel Kyle of Arkadelphia, in diary entry 18 August 1865, reporting he had; "... gone to Mexico." Arkansas' Hempstead County Probate Court appointed Harold Borland administrator for his father's, Senator Solon Borland, M D, estate, 21 April 1865, for will signed 31 December 1863 near Houston, Texas, --- court papers "fictitiously" established Solon's death date as 15 December 1864, when in fact it unquestionably occurred nearly one year earlier, as recorded in afore said published diary's entry of 4 March 1864 --- nine and one half months before the date established by Hempstead county, to wit: "...near Houston, Texas, --- the first day of 64." Solon's estate was probated in Pulaski county, 24 July 1866, signed by 31 y/o son, Harold Borland, merchant, Sterling H. Tucker, and 34 y/o Augustus Hill Garland (married Hempstead's County Clerk Simon T. Sanders oldest daughter in 1853, then in 1885 to '89 appointed United States Attorney General), --- leaving entire estate to daughters, Poetess Fanny Green Borland, then age 18 & Mary Melbourne Borland, age 16, for their education etc., with explanation for not including Harold. Major Harold Borland assisted Virginia Davis Gray and her new born son, Carl, in November 1868 on an overnight stage coach trip to Little Rock from Princeton, where Colonel Gray was newly employed at St Johns' College. He broke in the door the evening of arrival, to gain entry from the cold evening air. Colonel Gray came home about nine. Strangely and questioningly, Solon's will was entered in probate court of Shelby county, Tennessee, 23 June 1876. Both daughters were then at home in Memphis. Harold resided in Confederate Veterans' Home at Sweet Home, Pulaski county, Arkansas starting 3 January 1908 where he died Wednesday, 20 July1921. He is buried in Confederate section of Little Rock National Cemetery, #1001, with a white marble headstone, questioningly, as "LIEUT" (his U.S. Army rank) inscribed, when he's documented as a Confederate Major, with "ARK. INF.C. S. A." inscribed on lower half. (see photo) His obituary stated, "wife died about 20 years ago." Its unclear to us who mothered his two known surviving sons but reasoned it was his 2nd wife. USMA says both sons served in World War I, one Navy, other a machine gunner, from 18 July to 11 November 1918 on France's Western Front. 3B-a. RUSSELL BORLAND of Little Rock and 3B-b. CHARLES BORLAND, Harold's, brother, Thomas, sons and nephews history and where-abouts are unknown to us. 3C. GEORGE GODWIN BORLAND (1846AR-1862TX): George was born Wednesday, 11 March 1846, prior to the Mexican-American War, while his father was Adjutant General of Arkansas (NOT miltary) in Little Rock, as first child of Solon's third marriage with Mary Isabel, named for Solon's uncle, George Godwin, of Nansemond county, Virginia who with wife Fanny Green, may have raised Solon for a period of time around 1820 (see 1820 census & school receipt). George, single, died 24 June 1862 in Clarksville, Red River county,Texas, burial location unknown, possibly (?) at Hot Springs, Arkansas where I think (?) his mother and maternal grandmother might be buried. George was in the 1850 Hot Springs and 1860 Princeton census with mother and sister Fanny, then, at age 15, served as private in Woodruff's Artillery, April 1861, under his father, when Solon raided Ft Smith. At age 16, with mother's reluctant consent, served in Indian Country under General Pike, so says obituary, but due to poor health, was discharged, dying Tuesday, 24 June 1862 in Clarksville, Red River county, Texas, at a friend's home while on his way home to Little Rock so says his obit. Burial site is unknown! 3D. FANNY (Fannie) GREEN BORLAND, (1848AR-1879TN): Once a highly celebrated poetess. Fanny (Fannie) Green Borland was second born, September 1848 in "City of Roses", Little Rock, to Solon and Mary, while her father served as a United States Senator, orphaned in Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas on New Years Day 1864 by death of her father near Houston, Texas, married in 1869 at Little Rock home of Mr & Mrs O C Gray, birthed one son, died of yellow fever the morning of 23 August 1879 at "Bluff City", Memphis, burial location unknown. Named Fanny Green (spelling in Solon's will), honoring Solon's aunt Fanny (Green) Godwin who along with her husband George Godwin (see portraits), appear to have, in part, raised Solon, then later his son Thomas, in Nansemond County, Virginia, --- and who in 1811, lived on Main Street, west across from Solon's parents in Suffolk, Nansemond county, Virginia, what now is the 400 N Block. Fannie is at Hot Springs in 1850 census, with brothers "Little Solon" Harold, and George Godwin, Thomas (WM) was in Alexandria Boarding School, Virginia May 1849, possibly again in 1850(?) otherwise unknown to us, then she's at Princeton, Dallas County in 1860 census, with brother George, sister Mary and mother Mary (Solon is in Shelby County, Tennessee, & Harold in Orange County, New York, at USMA). with Thomas (WM) 1851 reportedly in Kentucky. Fannie & sister Mollie were, most likely. students at Princeton Female Academy where Virginia Davis Gray with husband Oliver Gray started their Arkansas teaching careers in 1860, she for 21 years, he 45 years, till death. Fannie's first published poem was 1860, in The Arkansas Gazette, when just 12 years old. She learned responsibility early following death of her beloved brother, June 1862, her musically talented mother October 1862, when just 14. She penned two poems published in the Arkansas State Gazette, "The Past and Future" 22 November 1862, and : "Judge Not By The Outward Look", on the 29th, while her famous father was sick in bed. After moving back to Princeton, her father left September 1863 for Texas where he died New Year's Day, of January 1864, making orphans of Fanny and Mollie. Fanny, just 15, and younger sister Mary, 13, orphaned 1864, during civil war years while her half-brother, Harold, was a Federal prisoner in Boston's Fort Warren and other half-brother, Thomas, whose where abouts, if alive, is unknown to us and he's NOT mentioned in Solon's December 1863 will, so may (?) already have died. After September 1863, the girls were provided for by widow Mrs. Martha Augustina (Gee) Holmes (1816VA-1901AR), whom Solon entrusted funds of five thousand and forty-five dollars, two slaves, Pasty & Ann, and household furniture with Mrs Holmes. Martha's daughters, Lou 23 y/o (6 September 1865, married Colonel Henry G Bunn, later Arkansas' Supreme Court Chief Justice) and Roberta (Berta) 17, were their very closest friends, as was 29 y/o Virginia Gray (Mrs O C Gray). HOWEVER, --- Major Harold Borland is noted in Virginia Davis Gray's (Mrs O C Gray), 1863-1865 diary, published by Dr. Carl H. Moneyhon in Arkansas Historical Quarterly of 1983, --- "...one of the persons not expected but most welcome, came. Mollie and Fannie are in a blissful state of mind." this in Princeton, Arkansas, Friday morning, 30 December 1864. Said diary's entry for December 27, 1865 was: "Our poem [undoubtedly "The Dead Confederacy"] and paper were read tonight, with immense applause, Fannie said she sat in clover, I [Virginia Davis Gray] did not feel much excited." A signed copy by Fanny of "The Dead Confederacy" is filed at Special Collections, University of Arkansas, with pen name "Violet Lea" [PS2235.L3 D33 1865]. Father Abram J Ryan (1838-1886) provided this poem to his friends in London and was published 21 December 1871, in their "Cosmopolitan", published from 1865 to1876) with following glowing words of its authoress' abilities, to wit: "...it is from the pen of a daughter of Senator Borland. It is with a feeling of pride and sadness that we present this poemto the British public --- where, although the subject is among the things of the past, its beauty will find a ready appreciation. It is touching, tender, chasie, classic, beautiful. We are glad to take this young author by the hand and welcome her among the ranks of the poets. We regard this poem as one of the finest rhythmic tributes that has yet been paid to the "Lost Cause;" and its sprit of tender resignation, the heart brokenness of its entire utterance cannot but touch the very souls of those whose sympathies and associations induced them to look upon that cause almost as a crime." (1872 news) Fanny's talent as a poet came naturally from her father and tutelage of artist, writer, friend, Virginia LaFayette (Davis) Gray (Mrs O C Gray). We surmise name, "Violet Lea", I found used only once, came (?) from her association with Mrs. George Gallatin Lea, Sr. of Princeton, -- Eliz Ann "Sarah" Wright (1817VA-1888AR) an exceptionally talented artist and friend, possibly her parents related to Solon's 1st wife Huldah Wright(?). "Sarah's" art is thought better than Grandmother Moses, found at Special Collection, University of Arkansas, MC 1618, in Virginia Davis Gray's "Scriptural Album", numbers 109 & 121. (W#M) Fanny's four page letter to Euclid Jr, 26 April 1866, written in Princeton, (WM says mailed from Little Rock), is bearly ledgible. Mollie has far better penmanship! Euclid, Jr and Thomas Roscius both attended University of Virginia. (same years as did Fay Hempstead), and journeyed to Europe. Tuesday morning, 21 April 1869 in Little Rock home of Virginia Davis and Colonel Oliver C. Gray, --- Fannie was wed to JamesC. Moores of Memphis by First Presbyterian Church's Rev. Thomas Rice Welch. The newspaper said: "The Bluff City has snatched a lovely prize from our 'City of Roses'". Virginia's letter of 28 September 1871 notes, Fannie's moving to Cincinnati taking with them, Mollie. Virginia was concerned over their moving so far from Little Rock. This move (if such occurred), after living in Memphis, giving birth to son George Borland, November 1869. 1870 census has her 22, married to James Moores, a "saddler", 36 y/o, born Ohio, with 20 y/o Molly living with them and two of his daughters, both born Ohio at 60 Monroe avenue, Memphis. Strange however, Mollie's marriage license dated 22 February 1872 is in Memphis, with JamesC. Moores and John Beattie of Scotland, making bond in amount of Twelve Hundred and Fifty Dollars for the marriage, of John Beattie and Mary M. Borland. John M. Beattie is possibly, but not likely, the same John Beattie found in Virginia's diary annoted in 1864, #61, p. 75, being from Kansas City, Missouri, where I was born, 63 years later. Virginia Davis Gray's (Mrs O C Gray) unpublished letters and unpublised diary of son Carl have numerius entries of Fannie and some of her son, of Harold and Mllie, visiting in Little Rock from Memphis. Memphis' 1877 City Directory lists Fannie living at same address as John Beattie, indicating John may (?) have been alive, but she without James. This is first time her name was listed in Memphis City Directory in the 1870's. The Daily Arkansas Gazette news item concerning Fannie's death, dated, Thursday, 28 Aug 1879, p. 4,c. 1, stating; (AR) "Her husband died in the epidemic of last year[1878]." more realistically is 1877, when Fannie moved in with Mollie, --- until she is listed as; Mrs. Fannie B Moores, in front page obituary Sunday, 24 August 1879, of The Daily Memphis Avalanche. Fanny was among 177 yellow fever deaths of 677 cases in Memphis thus far in 1879 till her death. ----------<>---------- Copy courtesy of Joan F Vitale, Memphis ------------------- The Daily Memphis Avalanche Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee Sunday, August 24, 1879 Page 1 ~~~~~~~~~ MRS FANNIE B MOORES. EDITOR AVALANCHE --- Will you allow a brief notice to Mrs Fannie B Moores, daughter of the late Senator Solon Borland, of Arkansas, who died this morning, after a short violent attack of yellow fever. Ten years ago she was a reigning belle of Little Rock, and enjoyed, as many will remember, considerable celebrity as a poet. General Albert Pike had a high opinion of her talents in that line, The "Dead Confederacy," republished in the London Cosmopolitan, and highly complimented by that journal was one of the best of her productions. "Dilsey at the North," portraying the lament of an aged negress for her Southern home of slavery, as contrasted with that of her new found freedom among strangers, was also very much praised. "Born Dead," "The Baby of Lillie," and many more of her published pieces, were highly acceptable to the public, and among the last of her poetical contributions was a tribute of Walter Harvey [Colonel Harvey Washington WALTER] who died of yellow fever a year ago, and was a member of Bluff City Gray's. She leaves behind one child, a son. A. A. L. Memphis, August 23,1879 ((WHO WAS A A L ???)) ~~~~~~~~ Fay Hempstead, named in 1908, Poet Laureate of Free Masonary, a post before held only by Robert Burns, Scottish poet and Robert Morris, Kentucky, wrote on page 479 in "Historical Review of Arkansas, Vol. 1", published 1911 (page copy courtesy of Arkansas History Commission) to wit: "Mrs Fannie Borland Moores, of Little Rock, who was a daughter of Senator Solon Borland, was the writer of many beautiful poems, that were appreciated and enjoyed in the most cultured circles. Her verses were fragmentary. Many an old scrap book has as its most cherished clipping verses that were written by this most attractive and talented women, which, from time to time, are reprinted in the Arkansas newspapers. Father Abram Ryan, during one of is European journeys, gave some of Fannie Borland Moores' verses to English literary folks. They were published in the "London Cosmopolitan", with accompanying tribute from the poet priest. An oft-read poem of Mrs Moores' is,"At My Father's Feet". It was dedicated to and descriptive of her father, who was statesman, soldier and diplomat." Then in 1894, General John M Harrell's article, in "Confederate Veteran", ; "I congratulate you on republishing the "Dead Confederacy " of Fannie Borland. How appropriate it is now[1894], and was when written [1865], by a girl of not then twenty [17]. It reads to me like a fragment from Keato. It glows with passion, but is crystalline in its pride, mournful and graceful as winter and night, which it invokes. Miss Borland was a great genius who perished too son(sic) [1879]. I knew her, and saw her in 1870, when she completed a rare quartette of gifted, beautiful girls, that formed the family of Gen. [Albert] Pike, in Memphis [at Memphis Appeal newspaper, 1867-68], the others being the Misses [Lillian & sister] Pike and Miss Sallie Johnson, now Mrs. Cabell Breckinridge, each a type of surpassing beauty. Miss Johnson was sole daughter of exSenator R. W. Johnson, and Miss Borland, eldest daughter of ex Minister Solon Borland.". Poem reportedly found in Confederate Veteran, Volume I, No III, page380. ---------<>--------- Fannie was subject of a research project at Arkansas History Commission #78-0003 resulting in Russell P. Baker, Archivist at Arkansas History Commission, publishing an article in "The Pulaski County Historical Review", Vol XXIX, No. 3, Fall 1981 titled FANNIE GREEN BORLAND MOORES, in which is stated; "After the war, Fannie was evidently sent to Memphis, Tennessee to continue her education. While there, she began [before the war, 1860] her career as a poet, writing under the name of Violet Lea. Her name, wrote Arkansas Gazette in 1869, 'can be no stranger wherever true [poetry] is read and admired -- particularly in [Memphis], where the most beautiful and touching of her lyrical compositions first saw the light -------." Russell P. Baker, of Arkansas History Commission, has been most helpful to us and advised to wit; "...pages 26-30 from a [1933] book entitled; Poets and Poetry of Arkansas by [Fred W.] Allsopp for two published poems and a short biography of Mrs. Moores. This is all I know that have been "compiled". She is completely unknown and forgotten at this time." We found the endearing poem "At My Father's Feet" (see below), which had been saved by a Mrs Francis Marion (Harrow) Hanger (1856-1945), sister-in-law to Fannie Ashley Hanger page 218 in unpublished "baby diary" of Carl Gray, now at Special Collections, University of Arkansas, M C 1618, Virginia Davis Gray's diary, first five years of Carl Raymond Gray's life (Union Pacific Railroad Corporation's vice-chairman at his 1939 death). The next two years, 1872-'74, are NOT transcribed, being 845 pages, bound in three books in files at Arkansas History Commission donated by Farrar Clinton Newburry in 1964, obtained from grandson of Virginia Davis Gray while in Omaha, Nebraska, which is awaiting to be transcribed, revealing life during end of reconstruction, and The Brooks-Baxter War of 1874. AT MY FATHER'S FEET by Fanny Green (Borland) MOORES I often think when the leaves are brown, And the noiseless snow comes down, When the world is white and the trees are bare, And a winter stillness is in the air, Of nights when life in my veins was sweet, And I sat, a child, at my fathers's feet. He had borne in wars a valiant part, And he told of battles that shook the heart ---- Fought hand to hand ---- and he showed us a scar, That brightened the forehead it could not mar; And the whole round world, from wood to street, Grew round me there, at my father's feet. He had been in distant lands ---- and far ---- From the Southern seas to the polar star ---- He told me of birds on rainbow wings, Where the crescent moon of the Orient swings, And soft on my brow blew the South wind sweet, And palms grew tall at my father's feet. He had sailed in ships that night and day Through mirrored heavens out their way ---- Through waves that dashed at the trembling sky, And grasped at the moon as they hurried by; And lo! I looked on the white-winged fleet, And the sea called out from my father's feet. He told me of forests vast and dim, With gray-mossed trees like hermits grim; And fierce beasts hid in their treacherous shade, And reptiles coiled in marshy glade, 'Till tigers lurked in the coal's white heat, And I clung in fear at my father's feet. Ah! many the winter nights I've seen, And many the snows that lie between, Since glad from my nurse's arms I came To sit in the light of the dancing flame, Knowing that Love and I should meet There on the floor at my father's feet. The hair was white on his honored brow; Ah me! that brow is the whiter now, And the years are many and thickly sown, And into a mighty harvest grown; The days are shorter and time more fleet, Since I saw the world from my father's feet. I have sown my grain. I have sown my tares; I have sinned my sins and prayed my prayers; I have sown in laughter, and reaped in tears, I thank thee, Lord,that my harvest nears, When I may pass through my garnered wheat, To sit, a child, at my father's feet. <>-------<>-------<> It seems Fannie, not unlike other early Arkansan's who sacrificed much in performing significant deeds for Arkansas and its people during Arkansas' developement of its rich history, in those tumultuous pioneering early years of civil war and reconstruction, --- was also simply swept into oblivion by the state's historians and academia forever, while they chase the more affluent modern figures. Fannie being the fourth such Arkansan we've researched since March 2003, who has been "cast aside" with this fatal Arkansas fate. Others were; Fannie's brother-in-law, Colonel Oliver Crosby Gray (1832ME-1905AR), (who the University of Arkansas, 100 years ago, in 1906, honored his memory for his service and living contributions to man kind by naming a building GRAY HALL, but in 1966 most readily demolished the building with all his memories dumped with its trash and covered over with dirt to be forgotten. Then in 2004 the University's history committee of five, including Chair of History Department, Jeannie M Whayne and Special Collections, Ethel C Simpson, refusing to place even a simple historical marker at the old building site of GRAY HALL,, --- they, without even considering his 1st wife's, Virginia LaFayette (Davis) Gray (1834ME-1886AR), significant contributions to the university, and community, who was first to occupy 2nd floor 'Clock Tower', of now "Old Main", 9 September 1875, was the "first Chair of what is now the Art Department", having given her painting of the then new "University Hall" (Old Main) to its Board in 1877 now lost, and their son Carl Raymond Gray (1867AR-1939DC). So be it, ---- this does not speak well for the State of Arkansas, nor its academia system's people, a "cross" they must bare as they rush to modern day celebrities for fame and fortune. 3D-a. GEORGE BORLAND MOORES was born November 1869, orphaned, after father's 1878 death, when Fannie died the morning of 1879. He's found in household of Fannie's half-brother, Harold ("Little Solon") Borland, Faulkner County, Arkansas in 1880 census, but never again by us. 3E. MARY (Mollie) MELBOURNE BORLAND (1850AR-1938MO): Mary, known as Mollie, at least during her younger years, named after her gifted and talented mother, Mary Melbourne, was born Friday, 28 June 1850 in Hot Springs following conclusion of the Mexican War, when her father was seated in Washington City as a United States Senator. First married in Memphis having three children, widowed, June 1889 became second wife of widower Colonel Oliver Crosby Gray, dying in Kansas City 17 February 1938, after a lengthily illness, buried (unmarked) next to Oliver C Gray, Evergreen Cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Let it be noted here, Mollie with her daughters Grace & Mary, were, for some gracious and unknown reason, dedicated to Deaf-Mute Schools. She too was active during civil war days in Princeton, very close to her older sister Fannie, found through out Virginia Davis Gray's (Mrs O C Gray) 1863-1865 published diary and within her unpublished letters and son Carl's unpublished 'baby diary'. When 19 y/o, still single, she left Arkansas with Fannie and her newly wed husband, James C. Moores, for the Memphis. (WM) Mollie's letters of May & November 1867 (the year before Carl Raymond Gray was born, 28 September 1868, to Virginia Davis Gray, later to become Mollie's step-son), from Princeton to cousin Euclid, Jr back east, reveal; she thought herself at ages 16 & 17, unattractive, overweight and was bored with the town of Princeton, Arkansas which had only three stores and three churches, with preachers visiting but once monthly. She loved her boarding house lady, Mrs Martha Holmes (1816VA-1901AR) because she was a southern lady from Virginia. Mollie's penmanship was far superior to that of sister, the Poetess, Fannie. Mary, 21 y/o, married John M. Beattie, born in Scotland, at Memphis, Tennessee, bond (see attached) obtained Thursday, 22 February 1872, with Fannie's husband, James Moores jointly making Twelve Hundred and Fifty Dollar bond. Its unclear and doubtful this be same John Beattie/Beatty mentioned in Virginia's published diary, footnote #61, a private with Twelfth Missouri Calvary Regiment, from Kansas City, Jackson County, MO. This union produced three children before his death. John, seemingly, was caught up in the Memphis yellow fever epidemic and without records, most likely died 1878, give or take a year as did some 5,000 others, including Fannie's husband James C Moores and Fannie in 1879! Widow Mollie, listed "Marg", in Shelby County 1880 census, appears to be operating a boarding house but is less 7 y/o daughter Grace M.(Melbourne(?)). A check was made to determine if by chance Grace was inflicted with a hearing impairment, checks from 1879-82 at Little Rock's Deaf-Mute Institute were negative, as was 1910 census. Mollie was Matron at said school for many years, starting after 1880, for sure by 1883, ending by 2nd marriage in 1889. Mary (Mollie) M. (Borland) Beattie is listed living at 712 E 6th St., Little Rock in 1883, and Matron, when visited, by her friend, Virgina Davis Gray, the first Mrs O C Gray, mother of his children. This visit is noted in letter of 26 November 1883 written at Virginia's Fayetteville home, a: "rambling English cottege type, olive green in color, with charming ornmental woodwork at the porch and vines and shrubbery in just the right places," on West Dickson street at Gregg avenue, were after 9-months illness, she died of cancer, 1:30 pm, Tuesday, 17 August 1886. The 1883 Little Rock City Directory lists Mary Beattie as a Matron at Deaf School, as does the 1886 Directory. Monday, 17 June 1889 widow Mary Melbourne (Borland) Beattie married widower Colonel Oliver Crosby Gray (1832ME-1905AR), in Little Rock, both with teenage children setting up house in Fayetteville, in his home on West Dickson Street, next to historic Frisco depot for which Oliver provided eastern most portion of his homestead's land, purchased 10 July 1877 for $1000 from Judge LaFayette and Mary A. Gregg, whose historic home is west, across street, at 339 North Gregg Avenue (a Union Colonel, credited with getting the university into Fayetteville). Oliver was Chairman of the Mathematic's Department at Arkansas Industrial University since 1888 after serving as first superintendent of Washington School, which he helped get as Fayetteville's first school house in 1885 when with neighbor, LaFayette Gregg, was on school board, then Mayor of Fayetteville until returning to the university remaining till May 1895. After serving 21 years at A.I.U & Fayetteville, he was appointed superintendent at Arkansas School for the Blind (see photo#1) where, 26 years earlier, in 1869, ASB named their 1st brick building (see photo#2) in honor of "Colonel Gray", built where Senator William Savin Fulton's, Arkansas' Territorial Governor, "Rosewood" home was at 18th and Spring streets on land once owned by Roswell Bebee. All school buildings were demolished in 1948 along with all honors, --- using some 300,000 of old school's bricks in the new Governors Mansion now at 18th & Center Street. Mary had became Matron in 1896 and 1898. Oliver died at the Blind School, Saturday, 9 December 1905 after 45 years of unselfishly serving his adopted Arkansas, defending it with his life, in war & peace, teaching thousands of its youth. one such student, the Honorable George B. Rose Esquire gave a glowing tribute to his former teacher at funeral, published in paper which also had a nice Editorial as well as his picture and obituary. Other papers, in and out of Little Rock and the state, also published glowing obituaries of her husband. The crowd of over 100 friends, many in high positions, with past students, reported attending services, as printed on front page of The Arkansas Democrat, 11 Dec 1905 (see attached), at the Presbyterian Church with Masonic honors. Mary, the second Mrs. O. C. Gray, passed away in Kansas City, Thursday, 17 February 1938, after years of poor health. Her ashes were; "...buried beside Col.Gray.", see her obituary in Northwest Arkansas Times, 18 February, 1938, witnessed by daughter Mary Borland (Beattie) Bell, wife of Dr. John C. Bell, Belzoni, Mississippi and step-son Carl Raymond Gray, President (actually vice-chairman), Union Pacific Railroad, Omaha, Nebraska, --- grave (see photo) in Historic Masonic Evergreen Cemetery at Fayetteville, Arkansas, east across cemetery road from her father's friend and famous Arkansan, Governor (Colonel) Archibald Yell's grave (see photo). We learned 3 Apr 2004, that under supervision of the University, a project is under way of installing a 6-foot high chain link fence with locked gates at entrances, then correcting the vandalized gravestones, such as you see of Colonel Gray's toppled onto the ground, which we sought his masonic brothers, the Masonic Order to correct, but ended up correcting it ourselves the spring of2004. We called about the lack of Mary's name on graveyard listing, and it supposedly is being added, for there is NO gravestone. Hattie E. Williams' May 1958 published article in Flashback of Washington County (AR) Historical Society about her neighbors the GRAYS, mentions her high thoughts towards the 2nd Mrs Gray, Mary (Mollie) Melbourne (Borland Beattie GRAY. 3E-a. GRACE M(Melbourne?), was born in Memphis, Tennessee, December 1873, but missing in 1880 census, never married, buried 1954 at sister's in Belzoni, Mississippi Grace, a true old maid school teacher, first found in 2003 for us by Brian Robertson, of Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, in Little Rock's 1893-94 City Directory, as teaching and living at the Deaf-Mute Institute (unknown are number of years), where her mother had been a Matron since, at least 1883 to about1889. The 1900 census of Flint, Michigan finds her teaching at the Michigan School for the Blind & Deaf, with sister Mary moving there in1900. Grace is found in Colorado Springs' 1902 City Directory, according to search for us by Colorado Springs Public Library, has Grace teaching at Colorado School for the Blind & Deaf, where she remained until 1944, not listed employed in 1945, remaining in Colorado Springs last recorded in1948, no City Directories again until 1951, when she is missing. We assume she moved to her sister's in Belzoni, Mississippi where Grace and sister's husband, Dr. John C. Bell died 1954, Mary in 1962, all buried in Belzoni, Mississippi cemetery. My cousin, Harriette Flora (Hopkins) Anglea born 1921 in St Louis, Missouri while father was a medical student, then of Pueblo, Colorado, now California (celebrating their sixty-third wedding anniversary come June 2006), told me in mid-2003, she remembered 'Aunt Grace' attending Sunday dinners in Colorado Springs at grandmother Maude (Wallick) Flora's (1870IN-1940CO), Grace's step-sister-in-law (widow of step-brother Carl Raymond Gray's wife Harriette Flora's younger brother Dr. William Walter Flora's (1871KS-1922CO)). Bob Knutson, M.D., whose wife, Eleanor Gray Knutson, granddaughter of Carl R. Gray, submitted the 1863-1865 diary of Virginia Davis Gray for publication, recalls Grace in Maine visiting her step-brother Carl at "Gray Rocks" (first known as "Friendship Cottage") on Pleasant Point, Cushing, Knox county, Maine most every summer during vacation time. (see Grace & Mary's ca 1930 picture on Harbour Island, Maine, furnished by Knutson) 3E-b. MARY BORLAND, was born 2 April 1875 in Memphis, Tennessee, graduated "with distinction" in Class of 1896 (see photo), at Arkansas Industrial University, first class to wear cap and gowns. Taught in Deaf schools, married, unknown if any children, died in 1962, buried at Belzoni, Mississippi. Her classmate John Martineau became Arkansas' Governor, receiving his Honorary LL D degree in 1929, awarded earlier, at University of Arkansas, same year Carl Raymond Gray (1867AR-1939WASH), president Union Pacific RR, step-son of 2nd Mrs. O.C. Gray received his LL D degree and where in 1874, Carl's mother, Virginia Lafayette (Davis) Gray developed as its first Chair, their Drawing and painting, now Art Department, while Mary's step-father, Carl's father, the Colonel, started its Engineering School. University of Arkansas built & dedicated GRAY HALL in 1906 in his honor (see photo), which they demolished in 1966, hauling off his honors with other unwanted debris to the trash dump, replaced with Mullins Library. Prior to starting the engineering school in 1874, Oliver served as president of prestigious, Masonic St. Johns' College in Little Rock (see photo), where while president in 1871-74, he started their Law School, soliciting faculty members, U. M. Rose, whose statute is in the National Statuary Hall, Washington, DC, Augustus H. Garland, later Governor, United States Senator. appointed United States Attorney General. Before Oliver's time at St John;s was 17 y/o DavidO. Dodd, hung by the Fed's, 8 January 1864.(see article & Fannie's poem). Mary Borland Beattie is noted in the Sixteenth Biennial Report of Arkansas Deaf-Mute Institute, pages 5 & 24 (see attachment), to wit: "Miss Mary Beattie, almost brought up in the Institution, and for several years our successful Art teacher, was, during the session of 1900, transferred to a manual class, in which she did excellent work. At close of this session she resigned, much to our regret, and is now a teacher in the Michigan School for the Deaf." 1900 census finds sister Grace and as #12, Mary, on the Twelfth Census of The United States, teaching at the "Deaf Mute Institute" later married Dr. John C. Bell, moving to Belzoni, MS. See Mary Borland Beattie's Arkansas Industrial University's school picture, and picture with her sister Grace on Harbor Island, Maine preparing lobsters while visiting step-brother Carl Gray, ca.1930's, The Class of 1896 group photo, was oddly found in book by Ethel C. Simpson of University of Arkansas, the supervisor who, very coldly, refused to reply to our earliest request for information of the Grays when beginning our research, May 2003. Included in picture is Oliver's Presbyterian minister's daughter, Lila Chunn Davies, whose father, Rev. S.W.Davies, gave their Benediction. Mary died 8 February 1962 and is buried with husband John and sister Grace, in Belzoni, Mississippi cemetery, but it is unknown if she had children. 3E-c. GODWIN M. son born 1877 in Memphis Tennessee, is noted in an article by Hattie E. Williams, as her same age, published May 1958 in Flashback, the Washington County Historical Society's newsletter,, "OUR NEIGHBORS -- THE GRAYS", otherwise not found before nor after his step-father's, Colonel O. C. Gray, 1905 obituaries. ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by William S. Boggess - bog417@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________________