Memories of Mamie Lee Beasley Harkins, Bowie County, TX ***************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ***************************************************************** Submitted by Jo Autrey The following article was written by Mamie Lee Beasley Harkins, born in 1888, daughter of Malone Beasley. This has been typed for easier reading, but no corrections of any type have been attempted in order to retain the personality and warmth of the original letter handwritten by Mamie Lee Harkins. This article was written to her daughter Mamie Elnora Harkins Knight, and the original letter is in the possession of Mrs. Knight's children. Mamie Lee Harkins lived to be 91 years of age. GRANDMA HARKINS.1 THIS IS ALL I KNOW A BOUT MY Fathers Family. They the Beasleys are Holland Dutch, and German. They come to the U.S.A. and settled in Verginia I dont know my Grate grand Parents names only Beasley. But there were 7 boys and 3 girls. And my Dad Father come to this part of Missouri when he was a very young man, he was a Brick mason his father was too. And he got a job Building Brick houses at Old West Port Landing. Later called River Front, then latter Kansas City his name is john Clark Beasley. This I don't know for sure but I believe his mothers name was Elizabeth Clark before she married Beasley. But Pas Pa John Clark Beasley met, and corted and Married a Mrs. Nancie Elizabeth Malone and she was born and raised here at West Port, now K.C. Mo. And they home steded ® section of land just a cross the river from West port Landing and Built them a home there I have heard my father tell a bout that lots of times but I cant remember so much a bout it now I was only 11 y 11 month old when he Died. But Uncle Ranse Paw Malone and Aunt Sarah were Born there. And the Sivel War be gin. And GrandPa joined the Union and went to War a ganst the South and wasn't in very long tell he was taken Prisnor. And the Bush whackers stole Every thing they had. And burned their house Barn and all out buildings Grand Mother took Aunt Sarah just a baby got a man in a wagon to take them to Jefferson City and stayed there untellthe war was over and Grandpa com. Then he settled things up and they went to Arkansas and Home steded a section of land there near Waldo Arkansas. And lived there his 7 Brothers were all Killed fighting for the South and his Father was Dead, leaving his Mother and the 3 Girls a lone so Grandpa sent for them and they come to Arkansas, and lived with Grandpa. Grandmother Died when Pa was 16, which would be in 1866 some time for Pas was Born the 23rd of April 1850 and some time in 1867 Pa married, a Nancy Cox his couson he was 17; and she was 16 and she is your Aunt Betties mother. Your aunt Bettie name is Nancy Elezabeth Beasley and she was born the 11th day of March 1873, and Elezebeth Beasley and she was born the 11 day of March 1873, and when she was 2 years old her mother had twens and they Died and she did too. Pa had bought him a farm so he took Bettie to his Fathers, who had married a gane and rite here I want to say he sure got a good woman. And the best cook I ever ate. Cooling from. She could Bake the best Peach cobbler Pye I Ever ate, and I have ate some Pretty good ones in my time and she stayed with Grandpa Beasley untell Pa and Ma was married and that was some time in March of 1879 in little Rock Arkansas, in the Baptis Church, and Joseph Stanfier was best Man. And Sarah Bishop were made of onher at ther wedding and then in a bout 2 weeks they were the same for them and as long as they lived in Arkansas they were real Dear friends. Well they were tell they Died, as for that. But they lived close to gather be fore they were Married. And after tell Pa and Ma solde out and went to west Texas. They got Bettie and went to Pa farm where he had lived and Batched all those 4 years, and Lossie was Borned the 15th of Febuary 1880. Then Alice was Born the 4th of October 1882. Then in summer of 1884 solde his farm . and went to Burnet Co. Texas and Mother took Bettie Lossie and Alice and stayed with her sister Aunt Etta Daniels. Her Husband Uncle Tom had T.B. and his Father James Daniels M.D. were living with them. And just as soon as Pa got a job and a place for them all to stay he sent for them to come, he got a job with a Mr. Wesley Davis 27 miles west of Burnet town on the Colorado River: Building fince and making cedar posts and he had a big double 2 story house made of seadar logs hewen out it was the Pretyes ole Placwe had the Prettyes fire Places I ever saw and when the sun shone on those chemlys Early morning and late evening they looke like golde. They were made out of the native rock. There on the side of Gray Mountan. And there was a big spring of the best watter so colde it would make one thank they were Dranking ice water. And there was a Branch run from the spring down the mounten side and several Bubbling Brooks. And water cress grew in so many places on it. I have gathered it lots of times and I sure do like it. Best greens I ever ate. Well, I'm a hed of my story. They left Ark. And was 2 weeks going from Waldo Ark. To Lampasas Tex. On the Cotton Belt Rail road. And Pa and Mr. Daves met them at Lam pases with Wagons and they had to go 30 miles in wagon the R.R. only went to Lampasas and Blufton on the Colorado in Burnet County was 30 miles west of l P. and they got there some time in Sep and Pa Kept working for Mr. DavisUncle Tom wasn't able to do any thing but Mr. Daniels took care of him and his family and Uncle Tom had some money but they had 6 children. Pearl Bell Della, Marry, Monroe, and Edward and they all lived in this big log house to gather Pa and Ma in one sid and Aunt Etta Uncle Tom in the other, as well as I remember there were 10 room in all. A big all the way through and Porches on each end. 5 rooms on Each side 2 up stares and 3 down. And Dr. Danels Delivered me on the 26th day of February at 12 oc noon 1885; and they lived on there to gether and Uncle Tom Died the first of Febuary, 1886. Mother said after I was born he had to see me every day then when he got to where he couldn't sit up, they would take me to his bed and he learned me how to crow like a rooster. And Mother and Aunt Etta both tolde me just 2 hower be fore he Died, he wanted them to Bring me to him and Pa didn't want them to I wuld bother him and he tolde Pa he wanted to see me for one more time. And Dr. Danels said it wouldnt hurt him and he took me in his arms and talked to me and sad crow for me Lee and I threw my hed back and crowed and he pated me and shut his Eyes and be come unconches and just lived 2 hours. Then in March the 8th his last childe was born 1886 they named hi Gustos Gray Daniels I was just a year and 10 days older than he. And Pa had Promised he would see that Aunt Etta and the children were taken care of. So after uncle Tom Died his father dr. Daniels went bck to Ark. And Aunt Etta stayed on for a while, but there wasnt anything out there she could do to make a living so she, Desided to go back to Uncle Lumbs. His wife had Died and left him with 4 small children his her and Mothers Brother. So she come back to Redwatter, there is wher he lived but Pa and Ma tryed to git her to stay out there. Pa tolde her he had Promised uncle Tom to see that she and the children wer taken care of but she wouldnt but she tolde them if they would they could keep Guss untell She could take care of him. So she left her baby with Mother, and never saw him a gane he Died and is burred at Neruna Texas Uncle Tom is Buereyed at Towvalley, on the Coloradian River. Aunt Etta was a wonderful Woman a good Christon Woman hard working and so sweet and Kinde to Everyone but in those day a widow woan sure had a hard time ther wasnt any thing a woman could do only house work and in the fields. And where there was children they couldnt get house work to do. So she stayed at uncle Lumbs a while and took care of her 5 and his 4 children. Then she Married his first wifes. Brother. And it wasn't long after they were married tell he run all of her children off Perl got married when she was 15 y old and Bell got married when she was 14 Uncle Lumb got married a gane and took Della, Marry Monro and Edd and Aunt Dara rased his 4 children and Aunt Ettas 4. She was a good Woman too. Untell we come back to Bowie County we went to Uncle Lumbs first and there was Aunt Dara working her self to Death and having a terble time I was nearley 11 y then and I remember how those children would fite all older than me. So Pa tolde Uncle Lumb it wasn't wright that Aunt Ettas children should be home with her. So he and Mother went to see Aunt Etta and Uncle Bill. And Aunt Etta had had typhoid fever and they had 3 children of their own. And his sister "Uncle Bills" Vea and her tiney Baby was staying with them, taking care of Aunt Etta and doing all the work her husband had Died be froe her Baby was Born. So Pa tolde Uncle Bill he should let those children come home. He needed them and he said he couldn't help them and Paw tolde him he woulnt have to Keep them they were all able and olde Enough to work they could keep their selves and him and Aunt Etta too. He said well they were just living there in that little house rent free and he couldnt rent a farm be cause he didnt have any thing to Farm with. So Pa come back and talked to uncle Lumb and they went to see Mr. MCCurtas at Redwatter. He owned a grocery story are Rather a general merchandise store a saw mill and a farme that was for rent. So they tolde him a bout Uncle Bill. And he siad if he had the emplements to farm it with he could have it and if Della would come stay with them they would give her a home. For her to help his wife. So Uncle Lumb gave them beding Plowes and things like that to work with Pal gave then a wagon team harness and a cow Aunt Dara gave them some chickens. And uncle Lumb gave them a sow with 10 little pigs and Marry and Monro and Eddie went Home they moved them to the farm. And they made a good crop that year, that was 1896. Mrs. McCurtor gave Aunt Etta and her 3 children a lot of close and all most keep them in groceres. Vea went to live with her sister, and she her sister had 6 children and Vea had the one. And her sister had something wrong with her and they sent for Ma and Pa one day and they left us children Lossie, Alice, me,Hattie Jim Johnie and Charley, he was just a year old and that was the first of August. And they stayed 2 days and nights. That we never saw are heard from them it was 4 miles. All they said when they left was this lady is bad sick we dont know how long we will be gone you children know what to do. Do just like we were here and we Did. Well, she Died and they come home brought Vea her baby and this lades 6 children and her Baby was 18 months and the oldest a girl was 12. And they didn't have hardely any close so Ma Aunt Dara got busy and made all of them close. Vea Alice the 12 year old gir. You know to save my life I cant remember their names and we did the work and Mother from 4 30 a.m. tell in the night to git the children close to wair to the funeral. And after the funeral the neighbarbs all went in and cleaned the House the children and Vea stayd at our house tell that was over their father got his sister to come stay with him, and Vea went back to Aunt Ettas. Then in the last of August Della was Exposed to Measlees and was going home but the Dr. tolde Ma and Pa Aunt Etta was pregnet and not strong if she got the Measles she woyuld never git over them so Della come to our house and had the measles than when she was over them Vea was exposed and Marry so they come to our House and Hattie Jim Johnie Charley and Veas baby all had them We just got through with the measles and school started. And Pa was on the School Board so he was going with us to school the first day it was Oct. The first and in them day they never started school tel Oct be cause the children had to pick the cotten and it be gen to open in August and the Most of it was Picked by Oct. And we was about half way to the school house, when Wharles Ross Mettels over took us and tolde Pa uncle Bill was Dieing and Aunt Etta wanted him and Ma to come quick. Well Pa said children go on to school and come home to nite and take care of Every thing just like I do we will take the 3 little boys and go to school Every day and be good children and I will come home as soon as I can. So we did and it was Thursday night be fore he came home. Mother stayed. He uncle Bill Died. Some time I cant remember the houer, Thursday. Well, Friday we never went to school. Well it come out that Uncle Bill had a sister in Texarkana that had married a rich Jew. And she wouldn't have nothing to do with him when he was a live but now that he was Dead they cone out there and took over got him the nicest close and caket and gave Aunt Etta the nices Black dress. And close to all the children. I know Pa said if they had of helped him a little while he was a live he might of lived if he could of had the rite care. Bu what I remember about them most they all dressed so so. And they had twin boys 14 years old and they teased me and I took it far a while then I got ad and I realy tolde them I never forgot that I said you ant Nothing but Dirty old Juse and do you know you wont Ever go to Heavon be cause you Killed Jesus and you are going to Hell and burn in a lake of fire. Pa hapen to here that part so he took care of me. We were out on the front parch. Just be fore the funeral. Well, after the funeral we all come back to Aunt Ettas and they. Said to me lee you may be rite about us Jews you know they said when he was crusefide. His Blood be on our heads and Every Jew has a red spot on ther hed Well they showed me their heds and sure enough a blood red spot on each of their heds as Big as the Palm of my hand - Now I dont no if it is on all jews but their Dad had one on his head too. Now that is a fact. But their Dad Helped Aunt Etta and her children a lot after that. So I will end that. t So That part you can leave it out. I just remembered this and it was a part of my life at that time. Well, Mame this is just what I can remember as far back as I can remember but first I better tell you a bout Mother. She was Born in Arkansas near little Rock. The 9th day of November 1861. Her name is Charles Elizabeth Tarants. Her Fathers name was Charles Tarrants. Her Mothers Nancy Baldree. And her Father ouned a Big Plantation and a lot of Negras. And Uncle Lumb was 5 years older than Aunt Etta and Aunt Etta was 5 years older than Mother I don't know the date of their bearths, but Mothers Father was shot in the war and Died just 2 weeks before Mother was Born. He wrote grand Ma a letter and I saw that letter when I was 11 years old. And He tolde Grandmother if the Baby was a boy name it Charles if a girl -Elezebeth. So that is the reason she is Charles Elezebeth. We when Ma was 4 years old grand Ma got Marred a gon. The slaves had stayed with her and took care of everything. And did as long as she lived. When Ma was 6 grand Ma had twins a boy they called john and his Fathers name was Standifer and a Girl. They named her Nellie I saw them both when I was 12 y o then when Ma was 9 she had a nother childe and it and she both died. She had Dropsey, and after She Died her Husband run Uncle Lumb Aunt Etta and Ma all 3 off they went to Grand Pa Balderees and rite a way all the slaves left him and. And the Place went from Bad to worse. Tell he finely lost it. The ones that should of had it never saw it a gane - he married a gane and when he Died his wife sent Uncle Lumb 3 bit nice fither beds and 6 pillows and 3 nice Bed Spreds and 3 nice woal Blankets that Grand Mother Tarnts and the negra woman had made one a peace for her 3 children and those letters that Grand Pa had wrote to her and when we come back to East Texas Uncle Lumb and Aunt Dara gave Mother hers and she still had them when she Died the Prettyes Bed spred all white looked like Home come the weave and long Pretty frenge - she gave me the fether bed and it had lost so many fethers you may remember I made about 12 pillows out of it and I have that Bolster yet. The fethers in it are way over a 100 years old. Well Pa Died the 7th day of Feb. 1897. Sister Hattie Died the 5th of Feb. 1897 at 10 oclock P.M. that was Friday ad Pa at 7 oc am Sunday. Then Mother was a widow with 7 children and Your Uncle Lossie Did the best he could to make a living for us. Mother was sick all of her life and couldnt do much. Lossie was 17, the 15th of Feb. After Pa Died and I was 12 the 26 - and I tell you that was the hardest thang to Bear I ever had to go through be cause I was olde enough to understand some things but not olde enough to understand why God would take a man as good as my Father was to his Family a way from his family when we Needed him so much. Later Mother figuered it out this way that she and we all just idalized him and God dont want us to have idels Even our Parents. Well I was sorta like Paul is now I didn't beleave a just God would let a good man suffer like that. So I felt that way tell I was 16, and then the Lord Good took me to task and I was converted, and Every sence then I have tryed to live for him. And tho I have made some aufell mistakes a long the way when I see my misstakes I repent and ask a Merseful Heavenly Father to forgive me and he does. Prayse His Dear name. Well, Mother lived a widow 21 years and Died the 1st day of Sept 1917 in Sonora Sutton Co. Texas at your Aunt Betties and they shipped her back and Buerryed her be side Pa at Red Springs Texas rite near Redwatter, the semetery is in the redriver arsenel now. Pa and Hattie were buerryed Feb. 8 1897 Johnie was buered the 8 of August I believe maby it was later you have that 1898 Clara in August 1900. Mother the 3rd of Sep 1917. And that ends that chapter.