(Numbers in parentheses denote footnotes at end of file) These letters were written to Eliza Lavina Vinsant Callaway Dowling who had moved with her family from Monroe County, TN to Indian Territory around 1895. In most cases, they are in response to letters seeking information about the people left behind in Tennessee and not heard from in many years. Sweetwater, Tennessee (no date - but probably 1897-98) Miss Elizza (1) Kind friend I know you will be surprised to get a letter from me but here it is all the same. How is the west by now? You know how it is here, or was when you left, well it is no better yet. I believe it is worse that it was when you all were here. Well I am working at the Flouring Mill now. I am getting five dollars per week. I am rolling trucks. Will Sheets & myself are keeping the flour cleaned out of the Mill. Suppose you heard about Seiss being married. You know what he got. She is mighty powerful sleepy looking (to much for me). I was at the wedding by a large majority, me and that sour Pickel (2) were there and took the thing in all o.k. I am having a picnic with that Pickel. Albert & miself Maggie and Emma went out to uncle Ebbs last Saturday was a week ago and stayed till Sunday evening & what we done was an excellent sufficiency. We went to old John Brakebills Sunday and came home by Hiwassee College. (rest missing) Philadelphia, Tenn Sep 9, 1928 My Dear Friend Elisa: Although many years have come and gone since those golden days when free and happy we played our games and learned our lessons at the old Lancing and Tologahler School, I recall distinctly every face and form of the happy throng and especially the glowing intelligent face of dear Eliza Vincent - slim, straight and full of energy - always saying some funny thing or witty remark. Those were glorious days and never to be forgotten. I was so pleased to hear from you. I have thought of you all many times and wondered how you were getting on. You were all brave to take the step into a new country - with things different from here - in a way it must have seemed an adventure. I am glad to hear the good things about you all. Say "hello" to Jake and Nora - to Belle and Ollie, Huse and George.(3) Hope you will all make a visit this way sometime when we can talk over the good old times instead of writing. I was glad to get the Kodak picture and think you all look well - indeed I think you all look young and fine. I fear you will be disappointed with the ones I send. We are having an unusually cloudy rainy summer with skies overcast almost every day and uncertain sunshine and my Kodak is not extra good - and I lack a "longways" of being an expert photographer. I have no pictures of myself at present except some rather old ones and will try and try to get up courage sufficient to allow myself to be "snapped" one of these days, and will forward one to Stillwater in the event. It was mighty good in you to write me so fully about all the others. I fell sure you enjoy living in a town where there is a college - so much of interest going on it is beneficial and makes a place wide awake and important. I will endeavor to write you of the friends you mentioned in your letter. Mollie Blackman Rousin (4) lives near Philadelphia. Milt is still living - he is up and around although we do not see them often. Mollie is looking well. Her oldest boy Luther lives about 4 miles on the Sweetwater road. I think he has 2 children. Felix Rousin her other son is not married - her daughter Sydney has one child. Will Blackman (5) married a lovely girl and she is making him a splendid wife. She was Ruth McLendon.(6) They have 2 children Margaret and Billy - both girls. Ruth's mother lives with them part of the time and part of the time with her other children. Lou Tipton (7) lives at Freudsville. They have visited Wills once and awhile. Lou sure looks well and happy - they have a sweet little girl. I think Callie (8) lives at or near Lenoir City. I have not seen her in a long time - about 3 or 4 years. She was not in very good health then. Mr. Dick Parks (9) still lives in his little house near your old place. He is getting along in years and has been very ill - some days he was not expected to live. I see Annie (10) once and awhile some years ago she married a Mr. Hau-----t-- of Greenback but later they separated. Her oldest boy works pretty hard and makes the living for the family. Jennie is not able to get about. Patterson (Annie's boy) is good looking and well thought of by everyone. Gib Blankenship and Bettee live in Loudon. They sold their farm. Gib is helpless, one arm and practically one whole side paralyzed, is not able to walk - sits in invalid chair. His son Gilbert's first wife died - they had two children. His last wife was Miss Addie Robinson of Loudon. Nannie Kittrell is lookin the same as she ever did - she lives at the old place. Sam Kittrell is an M.D. in Kingston. I saw him about a year ago. He don't seem a day older than he was in the long ages ago - He used to "say his speech" so funny - ha ha ha. There are none of the Robinson family left in this valley. Bob & his family went west - Texas - I think. Charley moved to Harriman also Billy - who married Callie Matlock and I know nothing of them. Dora Robinson Boyd - who married Jeff Boyd lived at Lenoir City. She died about two months ago under an operation for removal of a tumor I think. Belle Robinson Service lives in Texas. Also Ellen Ballard. Tom Robinson lives at Philadelphia, His daughter Pearl married Walter Edwards - a fine man - they live in Philadelphia. Eula Robinson married a Mr. Lowery - he died about a year ago with cancer of stomach. Miss Fannie Hargrove has never married. Billy, Ed, Charley (Addison) Oscar and Jennie are all at home. Only Ed married Margaret Simpson - who died a few years ago. David Simpson and wife Loula are both dead. The Simpson home sold. The Davis family all gone except Charley (11). He is a fine man and has a splendid wife and nice children. They have a new house - the old one burned sometime ago. Jim Davis lives in Texas. Joe is at some theological school. He is a Baptist preacher. Grady & Walter are both Lutheran preachers and have fine churches in (Walter in Charleston S.C. I think and Grady in Indianapolis. Ida Davis McKinney (12) and her husband separated. I think he married again. Stella the youngest girl of the Davis family lives in N. C. somewhere. I don't know anything of the Kinser family except Philip is living in Etowale and has a fine wife and a lovely daughter. He has a drug store there. Solon Mayo died with pneumonia about a year ago. Two or three years prior to his death he married a widow with 5 children. Inez May Hawkins (13) has a government position in Washington D. C. She has a son and daughter. Gertruce Mayo Cornfortte (14) lives in Knoxville. Her husband is a newspaper man. Bertie Jenkins (15) lives at Madisonville. Roscoe (16) is in Okla or Missouri. Black Mayo (17) died two years ago or over. My sister Cora Miller (18) lives in Lakeland Fla. They have been visiting in Ohio some of their sons. Prof. Miller has pretty good health although he is getting along in years. He has two churches in Florida and keeps up with the times. They have 4 boys and two girls living. Cora visits us about every summer. She certainly loves to talk over the old times. Rochella lives at Lenoir City. She has been in bad health this last year and has been several weeks in Chattanoga hospital. Charles Fowler, my brother is still an old batch and is living in Jacksonville Florida. He spends a lot of time trying to do good and has trained several classes of small boys since he has been living there. Josephine Simpson lives in Chattanoga. Her husband has a railroad or express position. They have one son. He is a graduate of the university and took _____?______ degrees. They were all up here on a visit last week. Our brother Will died over a year ago. He had been in failing health for years. His death was very sad and we all miss him so much as he was the leader in our community and was always so willing to help us know or decide in our various comings & goings and daily doings. He leaves his wife and 3 daughters & two sons. His oldest girl - Sara, is teaching school in Almagardo New Mexico. Our sister Annie Ballard lives in Sweetwater. They have one daughter. Annie is in very bad health and my youngest Myrtle is now with Annie. Sam Henley & Emma Anderson Henley live in Sweetwater. She would be delighted to hear from you. I have not seen her in sometime. Her sister Addie and brother Joe live with her. My husband died in 1916 - we lived in Florida for several years. My oldest son Monte is living there now in Jacksonville. My second son Roy is married and lives near us. The youngest son Ernest and I live just across the creek from the old home place. Ernest has a small produce store and I help him with it - so this dear old time friend is about all that I can think to write this time and I fear you will be very tired reading to the end of it. Hoping you will excuse my delay in answering your good letter with love and best wishes. Sincerely your friend Bessie Gerding P. S. Since you all knew my brother Will so well - your brother George and he used to have some great times in their debating society - I'll add this little bit to my letter. For many years Will owned and ran the store here - he had a generous nature and a blessed good heart and willingly credited many who later were never able or perhaps willing to pay - Father and mother in their old days were helpless and dependent for the most part on Will - the whole family all depended upon him - he had large expenses with his own family to clothe feed and educate - so the expenses grew and grew larger and larger until he became heavily involved in debt - the farm was mortgaged and finally the store burned down at 2 o'clock one Sunday night - a complete loss of several thousand dollars stock of goods - This financial trouble and a chronic stomach trouble of several years standing caused his last illness. He had borrowed heavily believing he could at some time be able to repay with interest, but things seemed to go wrong and with bodily ills and mental anguish combined he passed away - His death grieved and troubled us all terribly - it left his wife just heart broken. So the farm was bought in by Rachells husband, Mr. Boggs; but is soon to be sold in lots - at auction. We, Ernest (19) & I, are renting the house Will and family lived in near the store. Wills famiy live in the house that father & mother lived in. They will lose this place also. His girls are all three teaching. We are unsettled and undecided about remaining here and may go back to Jacksonville Fla this winter. My son Monte is Civil Engineer and employed by the City Engineer Dept of Jacksonville. My brother Joe lives at the Beautiful old home place where the Anderson family lived when you lived here. He has two girls and one boy - Bess. Philadelphia, Tenn Nov 16, 1928 My Dear Friend Eliza I trust you will pardon my delay in answering your good letter. I have intended everyday to write but various happenings have prevented. The long and serious illness of my sister Annie and also other members of our family makes me anxious and worried and unable to write a letter that is readable. One of my nieces - Cora Millers youngest daughter - who married Mr. Waldorf of Dade City Florida has been and still is very low. Sister Rochella has recovered from her illness. She was in the Chattanooga hospital for a long time. She seems to have entirely recovered and is so happy and grateful to be about her house duties again. Myrtle is still with Annie and may be with her all this winter. We are still thinking of going back to Florida for the winter or longer. Although it is not definitely settled. The farm here is for sale and may be sold at anytime. So you see with matters indefinite and unsettled one is not exactly at ease. So I trust you will excuse a poor letter. We are having fine weather now in Tennessee - beautiful Indian Summer days and pleasant nights. Just hope the fine weather will last through Thanksgiving. We all enjoyed your fine letters - I passed them around among my relatives - They recalled vividly the old, happy school days, and are all glad to hear good news from you and your family. I see some of your relatives often. Spent a few hours at Will Blackmans yesterday: he has a lovely wife and two sweet little girls. Mr. Dick Parks was at our store on the 6th November - Election day - He was not feeling well. One of his eyes gives him trouble and he is rather frail and feeble. One of Mollie Rausins boys - Luther - conducts the singing of the choir at the Presbyterian Church at your old home place. The Board of the Presbyterian church are talking of building a Presbyterian school there also, the place is so changed, it does not seem at all as it once did when the happy band of the Vincent family came and went up and down the roads to old Tulogahler. We were sorry to hear of the death of one of your relatives, Mr. George Vincent (20) of Golden City, MO. I often think of Nora, Minnie, and Cora, and what a happy little family they were. My sister Cora Miller always thought so much of the family, and little Cora Vincent was named for her. Cora Miller is one of the best women I ever knew. She has had many sorrows and trials and yet she bears up and is brave and full of courage. She has been a tower of strength to her husband and a blessed mother to her large family - I think it fine in you to have thought so well of her and that she was a beautiful girl. - I too, saw how lovely and good she was and how she looked after and cared for us younger set when mother was ailing and feeble. They are living in Lakeland Fla. and are both now with their daughter Dorothy in Dade City - Dorothy has two small children - a boy about one year old and a girl of three. They fear Dorothy will not recover - the care of the little children would devolve upon Cora, and she is no longer strong. A preachers wife always has a lot to do. Cora has been a great worker in the church - both Lutheran and Methodist wherever they have lived. She was head of their missionary and Pastors Aid Societies and always attended all their services while they lived in Tennessee, and has the same work in Fla. She has four sons (married) who are living in Columbus Ohio and one daughter living at Greenville Tennessee. I see the Hargrove family often. Fannie is not strong and sometimes not able to get about. Jennie is the most deserving girl I know. She carries on most of the Church work at Cumberland Stand. They have a lovely home now and always have beautiful flowers - such fine roses and chrisanthemums. By the way, do you remember how we used to dig up any and all kinds of flowers and bushes and set them out here and there all over our yards - and go from each others houses packing loads of rose bushes, "butter & eggs" old flags, honeysuckle and anything. The grandest days of our school day life was to go home with one another and spend the night - play "Authors" and take dinner the next day to school. Those customs and doings have passed away - but the memories will live forever. Just hoping that you will not think I have forgotten to write and that all are well and things going on o.k. with you. With love, very best wishes, lovingly yours Bess Aug 1 1933 (21) My dearest cousin I have made two or three attempts to write you a letter. My hand gives out before I can finish. We have had rain for 5 or 6 weeks. Everything is rotting. People tell me that is why I have so much trouble with it. It is so sore and stiff I cant use it to do any good. I was to Wills last week. Went to Miss Jennie Hargroves funeral. She had been sick a long time. There are only three of the family left Ben Edd and Oscar. Edd and Oscar keep house. Mrs. Maggie Fowler was there. Came near being one of our old set. I told her they were all gone. I never felt so lonesome in my life. Of course, there were a very few of the younger ones there. Well we have discussed my going out there this winter about come to the conclusion not to try. The trains are so crowed [sic]. Sidney said she would go as far as Memphis with me and put me on a Pullman. They are asked to not use their passes. So I have decided not to try it for a while. If you should get sick (I hope not) I would come and do for you. Maybe this old war will be over soon. Then we can plan. (22) The way it is we dont know what to do. I am sending you a picture of Will and I. Will is getting old too, not able to do much. I do hope Ida is getting along with her arm better than I am. Hope Huse still keeps well. How I would like to see you all. If I keep my health I hope to in the near future. Give my love to all the folks and lots & lots for you & Irene (23). (not signed but in the same hand as the next letter from Mollie Rausin) Mon My dearest cousin Just got your letter. It is such an effort for me to write I have been putting it off from day to day. My hand is so stiff yet. I can use my forefinger and thumb a little, otherwise I am o.k. Never had better health. I was so glad to hear from you & Irene. Do hope Ida is getting along with her broken arm better than I am. Sidney saw Bernice in town one day. She said she was coming to see me but something happened. She didn't come. I think had been out of town for some time and is going away soon. Sidney likes her but had not returned her call. Bernice to her. She was afraid she didn't make a good impression as she hadn't seen or heard from her. Seems Sidney is so busy Grant coming in and going out. Milda working & Mary in school it takes her time. So she never visits very much. I am so sorry to hear about Allices (24) condition. Wish I had gone on out there this spring. Maybe this wouldn't happened to me. I must tell you as bad as I hate to Felix got his left hand cut off up to the knuckles on Tues after I got my arm broke. It was getting along very well. He took blood poisin had to go to hospital. They liked not saved him. Of course I was gone but they let me know about it. That accident hurt me worse than mine. I was so nervous I'd most jump out of bed ever time I'd think of it. I wouldn't let any of them mention it to me. I stayed with Sidney three months came home last Fri. She tried to keep me longer but I was so home sick I couldn't. I will have to back there when it gets cooler. It is so hot in the city I can hardly stand it. So much cooler here on my back porch. I cook once a day not much. I do get my breakfast consisting of one fried egg some kind of cereal, jelly, butter. I bake my bread, cook one vegetable while stove is hot - bake cornbread for dinner and supper. Have plenty milk when I want a cold drink that is pretty often I go to the spring after it. That gives me exercise you know. I have been thinking it might be dangerous for me to stay here alone so many outlaws in our country. Some one might be passing by, I do hate to leave but it might be best. Eunice and baby are ginning along fine. It is so pretty one of the best babys I ever saw. I am so foolish about it. So are all the family. While you have had so much rain we are burning up. Crops look bad what they got out allmost looks like starvation. We had a shower yesterday but you cant tell it now. I was so glad to hear of Mollie Robinson bless her heart. I did enjoy being with her one more time. Hope it will not be the last. I have done about all I can this time. Take good care of yourself. Don't work too hard. I will try to write again some day. Give my love to all our people as you see them. Lots love to you and Irene. Cousin Mollie 1Eliza Lavina Vincent had married in1899 A. M. Callaway, an attorney in Claremore, Indian Territory. Left a widow three years later, she then married John F. Dowling. In the 1920's they moved to Stillwater, OK where Eliza ran a boarding house for students at Oklahoma A. &. M. College. 2There was a family named Pickle living in the area north of Madisonville. Which Pickle this refers to is not specified. It must be either Maggie or Emma referred to in the next sentence. Eliza used to speak of a girl they called the "sour Pickle." 3 These were all brothers and sisters of Eliza Vincent. All were born in Monroe County. 4Mary Jane Blackman b. 1868 daughter of Luther Blackman b. 14 Feb 1834 d. 11 Jul 1918 and Margaret Jane Cook b. 3 Mar 1840 d. 11 Mar 1908. Mary Jane Blackman married M. H. Rausin. 5Wilber D. Blackman b. 9 Sep 1874 d. 21 Aug 1949. 6Ruth McLendon b. 23 Oct 1895 d. 7 Feb 1976 7Lou Emma Blackman b. August 1878, d. 1947. Married J. S. Tipton. 8Caroline F. Blackman b. Oct 1880 m. Lee Leslie. 9William H. Parks b. 12 Oct 1848, d. 17 June 1837, married Hester Ann Cook (dau of Jacob Cook) b. 3 Mar 1849, d. 29 May 1911. 10Sydney Ann Parks b. 14 Feb 1884, d. 7 Feb 1960. 11The several members of the Davis family mentioned in this section were children of William Henry Davis b. 8 July 1850 d. 31 Dec 1902 and Margaret Dorothy Shaffer b. 21 Sep 1850 d. 16 Aug 1916. Their children were: 1. Ida Bell Davis b. 29 July 1873 d. 20 Nov 1952 m. 1)Thomas Sylva McKinney 2)Edmond Houston Vincent (brother of Eliza) 2. Laura Elsie Davis b. 29 July 1873 d. 11 Sep 1880 3. James Oliver Davis b. 14 May 1874 d. 3 Aug 1967 m. Annie Lenora Rousseau 4. Luther Ernest Davis b. 3 Dec 1875 d. 9 Apr 1887 5. Mary Josephine Davis b. 1 July 1877 d. 20 July 1897 6. Charles Rush Davis b. 8 Apr 1879 d. 24 Apr 1940 m. 1)Nora Isabelle Summit 2) Minnie E. Summit 7. Joseph Francis Davis b. 6 Jan 1881 d. 6 Jun 1933 m. Ella Jane Harrison 8. Walter Cleveland Davis b. 21 Jul 1884 d. 3 Jan 1964 m. Fanny Edna Ghormley 9. Henry Grady Davis b. 5 Jun 1890 m. Madge Gladys Mitchell 10. Stella Blanche Davis b. 21 Sep 1894 d. 22 Nov 1929 12Shortly after this she married Edmond Houston Vincent. 13Inez E. Mayo who m. Richard L. Hawkins 14Gertruce K. Mayo who married Charles Cornforth 15Bertie Mayo who married Albert Jenkins 16Roscoe C. Mayo 17Blackmore Hughes Mayo, Jr. who was the father of the above mentioned Bertie, Inez, Gertruce and Roscoe. 18The writer of the letter was Bessie Fowler Gerding. Her sisters and brothers mentioned in this letter are Cora Miller, Annie Ballard, Rochella, Charles and William J. Fowler. William married Mary Josephine Kelso. 19George Ernest Gerding b. 27 Nov 1899 d. 7 Apr 1971 m. Elizabeth Arnita Davis b. 7 Nov 1911 dau of Charles Rush Davis & Minnie Eugenia Davis. 20This George Vincent was a cousin of Eliza's and the son of Houston Vincent and Julia Ann Clemmer. 21This date is probably supposed to be 1943 as she makes reference to the war. 22She did make a trip to Oklahoma for a family reunion when the war ended. 23Irene Callaway, daughter of Eliza Vincent Callaway Dowling. 24 Alice Caroline Cook Cline daughter of James H. Cook and Nancy Jane Lowry. She married Tom Cline and they moved to Oklahoma. Their son Myrle Cline was a long time educator in Claremore, OK. Submitted by Janelle Swearingen, Bixby, OK