GIBSON COUNTY, TN - MISC DOCUMENTS - Letter from Mary Rhea Poe Lyon ============================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Wm. Derrel Lyon wlionden@airmail.net(grandson of Oscar Lyon) ============================================================================== Letter written from Mary "Mollie" R. Poe Lyon wife of James Henry Albert Lyon to her folks in Alvaton, Kentucky. Mollie Poe,father Greenberry Poe, mother Nancy"Nannie" Poe, sister Maggie,brother Amos, and sister Addie had lived near Humboldt,Tenn.in 1877 when Greenberry Poe died. Nannie then moved the family near Medina, Tenn. where they met the Lyon family. The Poes lived here until around 1879 when they moved back to Alvaton, Ky. James H.A. Lyon evidently had fallen in love with Mollie.He went to Alvaton Ky.and married her on 23 March 1879 at her uncle Fed Poe's house in Alvaton. Then James and Mollie moved to the Lyon family farm southeast of Medina. They cared for the ailing and paralyzed mother of James. She was Rebecca Lyon widow of William Turner Lyon. This letter's first several pages are missing but it was written from Medina,Tenn. to her folks back home in Ky. between Friday Mar.19,and Sat. Mar. 20, 1880. The Mr. L is Mollie's husband James Lyon who was always referred to as Mr. Lyon by family members. Mrs. L is his mother Rebecca. Letter submitted by: Wm.Derrel Lyon wlionden@airmail.net ..........but can't talk Irish. I have one hen hatching. She has 4 chickens. I am getting from 6 to 10 eggs per day. I do love to live at this place. Nannie Barnett comes to see me every day or two. I think a heap of her. She has fallen in love with Fletcher's picture. She says tell him her name as she wants a man to call her by her whole name -- Queen Theressa Julia Ann Rebecca Jane Matilda Catherine Mary Anderwood Barnett. She is funny -- we have got a part of our garden planted. Aim to plant the rest in a few days. We have had a good deal of rainy weather. Mr L's sister Lizzie (Elizabeth Rebecca Lyon West wife of Wyatt West) has got a new baby girl (Martha E. West). Mrs L is lying down. Mr F (Ferrell a farm hand ) is gone to Mr Hawks. Mr Lyon is making a cigarette to smoke. I am cutting a wisdom tooth and it is very sore. Aunt Polly came to see me the other day she said tell you she was living yet and would like to see you. A pedler was here the other day and I got me a white oilcloth, Mr L. a pair of pants, moleskin two shirt bosoms some flax thread. Bunch (Nancy) Oliver has got a right young baby named Virginia Annie.(born April 1880) Well its after supper now. Sammie(age 15) and Bobbie Barnett (age 11) and Johnie McCaslin are here. I wish you all was here. We would talk all night. wouldn't we. you asked me if I had the headache as much as I used too -- no I have better health now -- i have been regular every month since I was married -- 12 times. We have been married a year next Friday and have never spoke a cross or short word to one another or been mad the least bit and we intend always to be just that way. Isn't that right. my collar and cuffs are so pretty -- i am finishing my hexagon quilt with the pieces you sent. i am going to put Mr L's sunflower in the frames tomorrow. Mag have you forgot Dave and Jack Usserry -- Jack (age 24)was married to Sarrah J. Warren(age 16) last Thursday -- Well I believe I have done written all I can think of tonight so I will quit til tomorrow. Tuedsay -- Nannie Barnett come and helped me put in my nine diamond quilt as there was green in the sunflower and I coundn't get thread to suit. Mag I was talking about your side hurting you some to Mrs Barnett. She said if you was liver grown she said tell you how to cure it. If you will every morning when you first get up swing your weight by a pole over your head - for three mornings and miss three mornings till you swing nine mornings you will be well -- she says it will make you sore at first but keep on -- my old hen did not hatch but eight chickens -- I have got the sore throat tonight -- We have been planting our garden this evening and bedding sweet potatoes why didn't you come for dinner I had sweet potato custards for dinner. Well Mr L is going to Medina this morning so I will finish in a hurry. Mrs L (Mary's mother-in-law) is a little worse now, but she gets better and worse ever once in a while. Here is some of mine and Mr L's hair. I undertook to write an awful long letter, but I can't think what to write home. I wish you all was here then there would be no use in scribbling. I never got Aunt Ella's letter. I will answer Fletcher and Grider in a few days. I wrote to Aunt Cinda and mailed it Sunday. I don't think Elick and Sallie Edwards will marry. I recon Addie shurly thinks she has got a beauty, at least I (don't) think so what is the matter with Nannie S. Also Jane Isbell, Aunt Sinia. Give my love to Aunt Sinia and Jane and all the rest. Tell GRANDMA (GRAHAM) howdye. GRANDPA also. Tell Alice I am going to write. What has become of Eliza and Perry, has Amos Lightfoot got well -- give my love to everybody keep a portiion for yourself. Here is two pictures for ADDIE and Bro. We take the "Home and Farm" these are in every paper. Are not they sweet -- they remind me of Addie. Iam going to finish planting my garden today. I am glad the children love to go to school. ADDIE make haste and study fast and when I come you all will be ready to come home with me and you may take music lessons if you all did live here you could get along better than there everybody seems to have some money. Well we'll see about that when we come up there. Mag you said you had just as soon think of going to Texas as Uncle Bobs. I guess we will go over there together the next time we go. When was you at Pleasant Hill. Has anybody married that I know lately. It has turned off clear and looks just like spring now. I hope we will have a good crop year. I am sorry Aunt Ella is not well. Make her some moss tea I guess it would cure her. My boquet is still pretty. Everybody was surprised to think of flowers being in bloom at this time of the year. Today was a year ago we was flying around fixing up for a wedding. This time next year I guess we will be fixing up for Maggie's wedding. Mag who does go to see you. Tell me so I won't be surprised when you invite me to your wedding if I knew you would get as good a man as I have got I couldn't mind for you to marry. Has Alice got any notion of marrying soon is Ewing Hardcastle married yet or Florence Motley she wanted to marry about as bad as anybody could. Is Sysney Howel married tell me everything when you write. I wish you wouldwrite me six sheets of foolscap pages at a time. Oh goodness how I want your pictures. Why didn't you send them in the box. you know I am such a goose I forget how Mag looks everytime I get away from her. Well good by for this time as I can't think of anything more to write. A kiss for you all. Mr Lyon sends his best love to you all. Yours affectionally Mollie Lyon