Preface from the translator /great, grandson:
This document is my attempt to translate and bring to
light a manuscript written by my great, grandfather William NEWMAN
(1869-1921). William spent his whole life in the Big Springs
Community, in Southeast Rutherford County, TN. These writings reveal
an industrious, reverent man, active in his community, who made his living
as a writing teacher and farmer.
I must first mention that Big Springs, Tennessee lies
approximately 10 miles southeast of Murfreesboro, the geographical center
of the state. Off Highway 41, on Big Springs Road at Cobb Road, a historic
plaque near the springs reads:
"BIG SPRING SETTLED IN EARLY 1800’S. VILLAGE GREW
AND PROSPERED AROUND SPRING AND STAGE DEPOT. POST OFFICE KNOWN AS CARLOCKSVILLE
FROM 1848-1904. INDUSTRY AND POPULATION PEAKED IN 1878- BUT CHANGED AS
ECOMOMY CHANGED. NOW ONLY THE SPRING REMAINS A FOCAL POINT OF A BUSY COMMUNITY
"
My family knew very little about the NEWMAN
branch of our family tree until March 2001. That was when a distant TODD
cousin loaned me a tattered old textbook, full of my great grandfather’s
writings. The sturdy book had become his "daily diary" where he wrote his
entries on top of the printed page.
According to my math, William NEWMAN was 35 years old
when he received this textbook in March 1904 and he recorded everyday events
in and around his household starting on July 10, 1904.
For three months he adds to it daily, leaving us a telling glimpse
into his life and times. For others researching family histories in Rutherford
County, this document may also be helpful.
The main characters in this story are Willie and his
wife Cassie NEWMAN (1881-1915), then 23 years old. Before
marriage, she was Cassie Manley FRIZZELL, the fifth daughter (of six) born
to Lee Andrew FRIZZELL also of Big Springs. In fact, Cassie’s younger
sister Ella, would go on to marry James Frank NEWMAN, William’s
brother.
In 1904, when this journal began, William and Cassie
had a two year old daughter named Eula (1902-1913) who would
live to age 11, and an infant son named Buford (1904- ? ).
Later would come a third child Bula (1908–1978) – my grandmother.
Oft mentioned are William’s brothers: Andy NEWMAN
, James Frank NEWMAN, his sister: Cassie Howland TRUSSELL,
and their parents, Ma & Pa ( J. Tom and Ellen
TODD NEWMAN ).
Also mentioned many times are members of the various
related families: SUMMERS, McCRARY, TODD, MANKIN, HOOVER, KELTON, LOWE,
HOWLAND, etc…
Cassie’s older, unmarried, sister Gertrude (
Trudy) FRIZZELL (1875–1962) lived a short distance away. As
Cassie got sicker, Trudy would help care for her and still later raise her
children after her death.
For some reason, William takes a 10 year break
in his journaling. At the turn of a page, it is now 1915. William
is 45 and Cassie 33 years old, they’ve lost their daughter, Eula and William’s
father J. Tom. Cassie has given birth to another daughter, Bula
(my grandmother), contracted "the consumption" (tuberculosis) and is dying.
After Cassie’s death, William’s journal entries become
more sporadic.
*** additional notes to reader:
As an amateur translator, I typed the words exactly
as I found them.
My own comments are enclosed with parenthesis ( ).
If a word or name could not be deciphered, I typed what
I could read, then followed with a (?).
Common misspellings noted: bot = bought Ant = Aunt
…
Common abbreviations: bus = bushel ct = cents da=days
…
For those interested in Middle Tennessee history
and those researching Rutherford County Tennessee Genealogy, see
the website:
http://www.tngenweb.org/rutherford/
It is also worth mentioning that a Mrs. Cassie NEWMAN
of Big Springs, TN is mentioned near the end of the story of Thankful
TAYLOR as published on the
www.tngenweb.org website. The dates mentioned in this story do not tie
together with the Mrs. Cassie NEWMAN in the text below. She’s probably
an aunt of William’s. Nevertheless, read this fascinating story at:
http://www.tngenweb.org/rutherford/thankful.htm
I welcome your feedback. Contact me by e-mail at:
pmass @
bellsouth.net .
Happy reading- James Paul MARTIN (1963- ),
Translator and great grandson
April 25, 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(front cover title of the thick 8" x 10" textbook)
REPORT OF PROGRESS OF STREAM MEASUREMENTS FOR
THE CALENDAR YEAR 1900 BY F.H. NEWELL
(inside front cover - written with a quill pen in beautiful
script)
Wm Newman's Mar.31, 1904
Received this book through the kindness of James D. Richardson
M.C. of U.S.
(next page)
Marriages during 1915, Page 350
Deaths " 1915. Page 400
Births " 1915 " 300
(next page)
Events of July 10, 1904
1-We began a Sunday school those present were 18
2- Crops look as fine as I ever saw them. Corn on front
land looks fine.
3- Wheat is good and worth $1.00 per bus.
4- Andy is running 2 threshers. One is at Tye Hoovers and
the other one is at Babe O'Neil's
The thresher here has made so far $48.17 and the one at
town about $45.00
5- Newt Mankin + Sam Brown are running a thresher with
a crew of hands. 8ct. a bushel and have threshed out 1600 bus. and is now
at Snell's
6- Little Eula went to Sunday School
7- Bud Lowe was here and said he would begin school in
the morning at Travis' Mill
8-We have 79 chickens + 12 Turkeys.
(next page)
Events of July 11, 1904. Monday.
1-I tore off the ceiling off of the school house.
Bud Todd helped 1/2 day. Monroe Todd hauled 2 loads
for 50 ct.
2- Pa + Frank carried this thresher to Lee Jacobs after
finishing J. O'Neals wheat 51 bus. Dick Harrell + Newt Worick are the
feeders.
3 - Andy, Tom Harrell, Bob Harrell and Nick Ezzell went
to the threshers at Tye Hoovers.
4- Martin Eckles + Bertha are visiting Bill Winfrey
5- Cassie shot at a fox
6- Emma Sissom is at John Todd's
7- Necot (?) Kelton + Emason(?) Brown hoed in Carlocks
lot in pop corn
8- Summers + Robinson bought between 300+400.$ worth of
dry goods.
(next page)
Events of July 12, 1904 Wm. Newman
1- Andy Todd, Bud Mankin + Monroe Todd + I worked on the
school house tearing it down we took off the top and siding and some flooring.
2- Big rain fell about 1 o'clock this morning
3- Mattie Todd + Mat Bullock had a quarrell to-night
July 12, 1904 Wednesday
1- Andy Todd + I worked at the school house 1/2 day. I
thinned corn after 12 o'clock and carried feed to my hogs.
2- Pa and Frank are at Honey Bill Hoover's with their thresher
3- I wrote a letter to Keith Simmons + Co for 26 sections(?)
and 2 guards for Buck eye mowers and spirit level
4-Hot day ground too wet to plow. Threshing was delayed
a while to-day, too wet.
(next page)
Events for, July 14, 1904. Thursday.
1- I sowed peas this side of fence north of house and plowed
corn in front of house and south of pond and the young corn in N.W. corner
of field
2- Andy is at Bill Marlin's threshing oats.
Mankin + Brown's thresher is at P.A.Lyon's
3- We have 80 chickens
4- " " 20 nice pigs about a month old, they are
eating boilt corn.
5- Sam Pearson's wife (Jennie) died after several months
of lingering.
(next page)
Events for July 15, 1904.
1- Sale of Mrs. Jemima Broils personal property 600.
Administrator Ephrim Broils
2- I plowed corn. hot day.
Pa + Frank were at Lee Grand Hoovers their thresher.
July 16, 1904
1- I plowed corn Andy went to Tom Lee's with his thresher.
Pa + Frank are at Jim Drake's
2- Very hot day. Rained nearly all around.
3- Summers + Robinson got in $420.00 worth of dry goods.
4- Each of the threshers have threshed about $100.00 worth
of threshing
July 17, 1904
1- Very hot day.
2- We had a nice Sunday School.
Numbers about 25 or 30.
(next page)
Events of July 18, 1904, Monday.
1- I went and fired the engine at Tom Lee + Aubry Lee's
2 - We threshed 676 bus. of wheat and rye. Frank + Pa
threshed 65 bus wheat for John Wess(?) Elott.
3- I fired the engine. Bob + Tom Harrell feed. Nick
Enrell(?) hauled water
4- Andy went to Murfreesboro.
July 18, 1904.
1- We moved thresher to Tom Lee's. Andy got back to thresher
about 9 o'clock and I came home and thinned some corn.
2- Very hot day ground hard.20, 1904.
1- Monroe Todd+ moved 3 loads of school house
2- Rained a little shower
3- Mrs. Columbus Cambell died in Nashville.
(next page)
Events of July 21, 1904
1- Rained a good little rain after 12 P.M.
2- And Todd + I laid the foundations of the side room to
the school house at Big Springs.
3- Sam Brown + Hershel Mankin threshed Pope Mankin's wheat
298 bus. Frank + Pa are at Dolly Har's with their threshers. Frank, John
O'neal + Dick Harrell are at home on account of rain.
July 22, 1904
1- Andy Todd & I worked on school house
2- Wheat is worth $1.00 per bus.
July 23, 1904
1- Andy Todd + I worked on school house.
2- Andy threshed 3118 bus wheat, rye + oats
Frank & Pa .. 2395... ...Which was about $200.00
cleared.
(next page)
Events of July 24, 1904.
Sunday - Pretty sun shiny day. Eula + I went to Sunday
School
July 25, 1904
1- Andy Todd + I framed the portch at the school house
A.D. Breeden (?) was ok.
July 26, 1904
1- I put on weather boarding on school house. Uncle Jake
Harrell helped a little and ate dinner with us.
2- John Rackles(?) is in from Texas.
July 27, 1904
1- Wednesday - I put on siding
2- Big rain just before night
3- Andy made threshing wheat Monday, Tuesday + Wednesday
$77.00 and Frank made $
(next page)
Events of July 28, 1904.
1- I fixed up fence before dinner and put on siding after
dinner.
2- Pa + Frank finished threshing at Billy Fox's except
for oats.
They have threshed since they started out (blank)
bus + amt. to $248.00.
3- Andy's threshing at Alley's in Bedford.
4- Big sanctification meeting at Douglas's school house
on just below it
5- Fox caught 6 chickens last night + to-day.
July 29
1- I put on siding. Hot day.
2- Bill Bullock's baby (Joseph Lee) died about 2 o'clock
at Tom Pitt's on (??) Lyon's farm.
3- Bob Alexander + I caught two foxes. Wet day.
(next page)
Events of July 30, 1904. Saturday
1- I put siding on school house.
2- Frank and Pa threshed some oats at the farm. This being
the last threshing of the year.
3- Andy has made with his thresher up to July 30, $344.00
and now lacks one day being done threshing.
4- Will Bullock 's baby buries at the old grave yard.
July 31, 1904
1- Hot day. Rained about 10 o'clock
2- Mrs. Pameroy preached to the nigers at 3p.m.
3 - We had green peach pie + roasting ears for dinner
(next page)
Events of August 1, 1904. Monday.
1- I worked on school house.
2- A big washing rain fell about 2 o'clock
3- Andy rolled his thresher in the shed,
4- John Barkler(?) started back to Texas and carried back
General Barkler. (?)
5- Bob Howland out for constable.
Aug. 2, 1904 Tuesday
1- Nice day hot before 12.
2- I worked on school house. I gabled and put boxing in
south end of room
Jim Brown + Bud Todd helped a little.
3- Joe Hoover is canvasing for Tax Assessor. Frank + Newt
Kelton are hewing fast.
(next page)
Aug. 3, 1904.
1- I put on boxing and ceiled 8 ft. front on porch at school
house.
2- Newt Mankin went to Monteagle
3- Andy went to finish threshing wheat.
4- Old Mack [colored], and Izear Blair are building a rock
fence for Uncle John Todd in front of Jim Morgan's house on right hand side
of creek going up the creek.
(next page)
Aug. 4, 1904
Thursday, election day.
1- I never worked to-day.
2- 86 votes were polled at the polls.
3- The candidates were as follows,
J.W. Prim for sheriff, Carlton for Trustee
Weston for sheriff, C.E. Nobmson(?) for trustee
11
Constable{Bob Howland, Oscar Earp, Charlie Spray
School director {Dave Lowe, Joesff Eaton, Elifurgh
Keel, Babe O'neal, Andrew Newman, W.S. Brown
Tax Acessor { J.P.J. Hoover, C.T. Lowe
Democratic Executive { T.J. Orren elected, Elam Manrlin
elected, Harvy Hoover beat
4- Old Ant. Nervi Todd came to mama's this morning
(next Page)
Aug.5, 1904
1- Began covering school house
2- Bob Alexander carried a petitian around against Colonel
Todd teaching school.
3- Andy rolled his Brussell Engine under shed to saw
4- Hiskel Mankin brought in his thrasher
Saturday, Aug. 6, 1904
1- I covered school house portch
2- Andy + Bill Kelton went to Murfreesboro
3- Pa + Frank began grinding corn, this the first day after
harvest
4- Meeks of Grundy Co., was elected sheriff he received
720. Bill LickHart got 100 votes for sheriff
(next page)
Aug. 7, 1904
1- a shower just before day.
2- Pa ate dinner with us.
3- One of the John Mules the off one died at Frank's place
4- Parson Bill Beason is preaching at the Old Baptist.
5- Lawrence + Sivader got 772 votes for sherriff.
Aug. 8, 1904 Monday
1- I put on shingles after dinner
2- Frank split rails to fix the fence between Asa + uncle
Dick Howland
3- Luther Hayer(?) was elected Aug.4 for constable for
district no. 23 he is a republican.
4- Cassie set a hen on 19 eggs.
5- Cassie, Ella, Andrew + Frank are gone to church at the
Old Baptist.
(next page)
Aug 9., 1904 Tuesday
1- I put on shingles
2- Rained. Lots of wet weather
3- Pa went to the Mountain. Andy carried hog to tan yard.
Aug. 10, 1904 Wednesday
1- I put on shingles
Newt Todd helped 1/2 day
James " " 3/4 "
Bud " " 1 day
Monroe " " 1/2 day
Frank " " some
2- Andy + Bob Harrell are building a thresher shed, they
sawed the joist to-day.
(next page)
Aug 11, 1904 Thursday
1- I put on shingles
2- Bud Todd, helped Ida.
3- Bill Lowe is overseer on the road from, Old Baptist
church to the pike. and began to work it to-day
3 Andrew Brown brought Esquire Summers over to-day.
4- It is a pretty night lots of people have gone to the
Old Baptist to-night
Aug 12, Friday
1- I worked on school house. I put up part of black board.
2- Andy sawed some for Sam Brown's barn
Aug 13, 1904 Sat.
1- I put up black board and laid the porch floor at the
school house
2- I brought 6 pigs (?) home. Pa came from Monteagle
(next page)
Aug. 14, 1904
1- Sunday - a very hot day.
2- I went to Sunday School 13 of us in number
3- Frank + Ella ate dinner with us. We had a banty rooster
for dinner.
4- John Allen Summers is at Pa's
(next page)
Aug. 15, 1904 Monday.
1- I made a fox cage for Oscar Summers and covered some
on the school house.
2- Nice pleasant day.
3- Frank cut millet.
4- Andy went to find a mill seat at Couch's
5- Oscar Summers caught a fox in a trap, last night.
6- I began to make up a writing school to commence Aug
22, 1904.
Aug. 16 Tuesday.
1- I worked on school house
2- Hot day
Aug 17, Wednesday.
1- I worked on school house
2- Hot dry weather
3- Phillip Mankin died.
(next page)
Aug. 18, Thursday
1- I worked on school house
2- Hot dry weather
Friday Aug, 1904.
1- I worked on school house Bud Mankin helped
Saturday Aug. 20, 1904
1- Frank, Andy + I worked on school house
Andy ceiled the portch over head.
2- The missionary on the pike baptized 20 to-day + 11 last
week. 48 joined the church.
Sam Brown, Wick Brown, Earnest Winfrey, Bill Bullock, Mat
Bullock joined the church
(next page)
Aug 20, Sat. continued
3- Pa went to the mountain after a load of lumber.
4- Gertrude Frizzell, Spencer Leipears(?) + wife came down
for a bridle visit.
4- Finished road work.
5- Doss Fox rented the Bud Lowe farm for $56.00 rent paid.
6- Andy Todd + Bud have their wheat land turned. they have
had it turned about a week or 10 days.
Aug. 21, 1904.
1- Sunday.- Nice day.
Aug. 22, 1904 Monday.
1- I began a writing school at Big Spring.
I had 36 pupils to start on.
(next page)
Aug 23, 24, 25, 26 1904
1- I've taught writing school all the week we had 46 in
rolled.
Aug. 27, 1904
1- I went to town and bought 5 pairs of shoes
2- Andy paid J.B. Brown 100.00 on a pair of mules that
cost $225.00
Aug 28, 1904 Sunday.
1- We had Sunday School to-day.
Aug 30, 31 and Sept 1+ 2d
I finished up my writing school to-day. I made about $30.00
in the 10 days.
(next page)
Sept 3, 1904 Saturday
1- Sammie Kelton + Elbert + Thurman Bawkings + I gathered
Navy beans + trimmed cedars
2- It rained a big rain to-day.
3- Frank + Pa carried a load of lumber to Tye Hoover and
Andy went to town.
4- Robert Howland made his bond for constable.
He got on it Asa Todd, Sr. J.W. Lowe Sr., J.W. Lowe Jr.,
Sam Lowe Andy Newman and Esq. Aaron Todd.
Sept 4. 1904 Sunday.
1- We had a nice Sunday school. 30 in all.
2- Andy carried Pa near Manchester, he went to Monteagle,
Tenn.
3- Joe Hb(?) Mankin left poke last night with Ger. Firod(?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
( … ten years passes … )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(next page)
1914.
Buford + Bula have the whooping cough.
Mrs. Bertha Haley was taken to Nashville last of Feburary
to have an operation for the removal of gall stones.
Will Tom Kelton took his wife to Nashville for an operation
Mar 1 Andrew Newman and Wiley Robinson are selling goods
at Big Spring.
Frank is trying to run a saw mill at Hoover's Gap
Ike Insey + daughter are teaching school here.
Wess Messick bot the Old Dallas Jacobs farm from Jimm Miller
for the sum of $15,000.00 during the last of 1913.
Jim Rhodes is sherriff of Rutherford county.
1914 Bill McNabb is Policeman at Murfreesboro.
1914 Mar.
Prof. Parker moved back to his old hill farm paid 4800-,
it sold for 1800.- 20 years ago.
(next page)
1914 Wiley Robinson bot the Old Jimmie Kelton farm from
Loni Webb paying $3600.00.
1914 Sam Brown bot the Benton Mankin place from Wess Messick
for $800.00
1914 March Corn is worth 4 to 5 dollars a barrell
Mar.
Willimas Kelton, Gene P (?), Eddy Bra(?)+ McJernigon are
building a telephone line to the Big Spring
I trimmed my apple trees, built a Pickinton (?) fence in
front of house
March 18-1914.
Old Ant Elizabeth Mankin died in Nashville Mar 17 and was
buried in Man graveyard to-day.
Her funeral preached by (?) Dallas Smith her age was 82
years.
Andy went to Nashville and bot some goods.
We have snow to-day 2-3 inches deep.
Old Uncle Jess Daughtes(?) is very low.
March 20
Corn is $4.50 and $5.00 a barrell
March 15-1914
Marvin Bowman and Icy Bowman were married to-day
(?)eston Bowman + Mary L Summers were married by C.T. Lowe
(next page)
March 16, Independent Democrat (?) Ben W. Hoovfras(?) for
8th term for Govenor of Tennessee he being the 1st Republican govenor in
30 years.
President Wilson wanted the (?) and (?) to unite in Tennessee
Mar 20 Cassie, children + I ate snow cream to-day
Jessie Messick son of Bob Messick lost his mind and was
taken to the asylum
(next page)
Mar. 20, 1914 People who live in Big Springs:
Joe Haleyand family of 5,
Ma + sister Cassie,
Andrew Newman + wife and 1 daughter
Frank Newman + wife and 2 children
Wiley Robinson , wife and three children
Mrs Margret Robinson,
Wick Haithcock and wife and 2 children
Old Man William black smith and two sons, daughter and
son-in-law
Apr
No corn planted up to April 18
April 15 Hickory tree leaved out
Wheat looks well. Clover is small.
We bot a 2d bottle of Germince(?) for Cassie
We have not planted our garden
Bob Alexander is building a kitching to his house
Cassie Trussell came from Tracy City last week Apr 13
April 26 - Cassie, and the children and I went to Sunday
School and went to Frank's and took dinner. Cassie Howland went home at
Tracy City today.
I planted the orchard in corn at Ma's on dark of moon Apr
25,26
(next page)
April 26 Frank started to building fence at John McKee's
last week.
Wiley Robinson bot a new buggy April 25.
Wiley Robinson + Andy Newman are selling goods at Big Springs
I planted 24 rows of corn next to Newt Todd's field on
3rd day of new moon on 27th of April.
I sold 2 sows to Elvis Lowe for $16.50
April 27, Jim Morgan and Luther Morgan were arrested by
Tom Arnold on a warrant sworn out by Sam Brown.
Mrs. Hugley was buried June 11 , 1914
Mrs. Betty Winfrey was buried on 10th of June
I planted sorghum seed in June on Friday 12th day
Much wheat is ruined by s(?)
(next page)
Cassie + I went to Monteagle June 27-1914 for Cassie's
health. I came back June 30.
Andy began threshing the wheat June 25, 1914
Andy has threshed about 2700 bus. in four days
Verdi G(?) was operated on for apendicitis June 20-
We had a rain July 1 for first time in about 3 wks.
Our turkeys are looking fine we have 49 about the size
of lyon hens
Old Bill has a heifer calf June about 20th of June
County road hands are working on the Lowe road near Alf
Lowe house July 2, 1914
(next page)
July 5, Cassie has been at Monteagle 1 week and part of
1 da.
She wrote July 2 she was as(?)nal but couldn’t get enough
sleep.
Buford and I went to town July 4, 1914. Buford bot a blue
cap.
July 4, we need rain
July 18 - Went to Host(?) to meet Cassie but she failed
to come from Monteagle.
I ate dinner at Esq. Powell's
10th to 16th Rainy stormy, more thunder and lightning than
we ever had (?) (?) the years, all (?) to (?)..
July 19 The children Trudy and I went to Sunday School
to-day.
Ma and Ant (?) Mankin here for a while
July 19 The wind is cool and out of the North. and was
yesterday. I am to go for Cassie at Christiana Tuesday. She is to come
home from Monteagle having been gone 24 days.
(next page)
Bob Alexander and Alvin started to Nashville July 18 on
their was to Paradise Ridge to sell fruit trees and returned Aug 1st.
Wheat is only 75 cts a bushel.
Aug 6, We are painting the church house at Big Springs.
Charlie Spray and T.G. Arnold are running for Constable
. was elected.
Aug 7. Janes Pearson died in Mexico and was brought to
Murfreesboro and was buried in Murfreesboro on Wednesday at 11a.m. Aug 12,
1914
Aug. Clabe Earp is in from Nashville Tenn.
Aug 6 Thomas G. Arnold was elected constable. He got 95
votes vs. Charlie Spray who got 35 votes.
T.G. Arnold sold his farm to D(?) Donnell + Billie Jacobs
$1500.00.
(next page)
Aug 8, 1914 I plowed my sorghum in the Rawlings Lot.
Oct 11, 1914 Dr. Moon came to see Cassie
Bro. Gev W. Graves made a table at our house
Nov 8, Second Sunday in Nov. He preached at the church
to-day and it came up a cold rain from the North so much that it (?) two
of the (?)
Guy Todd & Pearl were here to-day.
I got done making Molasses Nov 5, 1914
I made about 240 gal they are worth about 26 ct whole sale.
(next page)
Nov. 8 Sunday 1914. Cassie has been confined to the bed
more than a month. She is very weak, she coughs lots, She has tried many
lung medicines but none did her any good.
Nov. 4, 1914
Thomas C. Rye, democrat, was elected Govenor by 20,000
over Gov. Ben W. Hooper, Republican.
Andrew L. Todd was elected Representative.
corn in the ear is 2.50
Mules are very low.
No sale for colts
Cotton is about 2ct a pound
Money is scarce and hard to borrow.
(next page)
I am building a barn at the Northwest side of my yard.
Nov 1-1914
30 ft x 35 ft
Less Prater is in Wisconson selling stoves
Aug 23 to Sept 5 J.D. Northcut preached for us. only one
addition that Mrs Sallie Earp.
Sun Brothers show came to Murfreesboro Nov. 3, 1914
John E. Brickhardsonsis circuit court judge
Barkley B(?) circuit court clerk.
Oscar Man is our sheriff Paul Kerr is our Trustee
Will Woods deputy trustee Andrew Todd is our deputy sherriff.
(next page)
Cousin Jim Newman is crazy and very low Nov 6, 1914
We have 45 turkeys -1914
Uncle Asa Todd bot a new sorghum mill outfit from Chattanooga
Plow Company
Nov 12, 1914
To-day my birth-day
I am 45 years old.
I got de(?) gathering corn to-day
Cassie seems some better to-day
Nov 14, I went to town with Bony Mankin
Nov 15 Cassie is not so well as she was yesterday.
To-day is a cool, rainy day.
Nov 14 Turkeys are worth 12 ct a #.
Dec 4, 1914 Jim Frank Mankin + Guy Todd + chartered a car
and moved to Texas. Their families went afterward.
(next page)
Edgar Bowman moved to Poke Mankin house bot from Jim Frank
Mankin for $3200.00
Dec 4, 1914 Bob Prim was shot by Haunt Pitts, died about
20 minutes afterward.
The war across the Ocean is still raging, costing 40,000,000
dollars a day.
Oscar Summers + Ester Vassar married Dec 6, 1914. Oscar
married Mertice McCrary the 1st time.
(next page)
Old Sto Oper Dec 6, 1914.
Dec 1 1914, Nute Kelton bot a house + lot from Andrew Newman
in Big Springs paid 300 for it.
Calvin McCrary died Dec 13-1914 in Murfreesboro. He belonged
to Christiana church
It snowed last night Dec 13 and is wet and slopy to-day.
Cassie is no better than she has been for about 3 weeks
Andy and Quenton Todd went to Nashville Dec 14, 1914.
Frank rented a wood yard in town and went to-night Dec
13, 1914
Quiet Dec 26, 1914
I killed 2 hogs Friday Dec 11, Jim Durham, Billie Oneal
and Nute Kelton helped
Tom Arnold began selling goods at Gum Dec 7, 1914 Bot out
Delbridge
(next page)
Xmas Dec 25,1914 was a very rainy day. Cold rain Cassie
was bad. Mollie Kelton and Mattie May Lowe were the only persons here to-day.
Jack Drake's wife died Dec 26, 1914
John McKee's wife died Dec 20, 1914
Turkeys sold for 10to 13 cts this Fall 1914
We sold 43 for $78.65 Trudy got $35.00 of it for staying
with Cassie.
Mrs Allice Mankin + Josie Alexander took dinner with us
Dec 26, 1914
Jim M(?) was here to-day.
Buford went to Sunday School by himself to-day. Dec 27,
1914
(next page)
Quenton Todd + Pearl Bush were married Jan 2, 1915 by Edgar
Bowman, Baptist preacher
County court met to-day. Jan 4, 1915
Judge Ramson was elected Judge 3rd time
J.D. Jacobs was elected County Superintendent of Education
Bob Bell was elected County Assessor to fill Calvin McCrary's
unexpired time.
We finished working the road to-day. Jan 4, 1915
I was Overseer Wm. Newman
(next page)
Jan 4, Monday, Eggs 30 ct doz.
Corn 65 ct bushel 1-4-1915
Old Man Tom Kelton is Road Commisioner
Wess Messick bot Andy Gipsons farm of 153 acres cost $5300.
Wess owns $20,300 land
We have 6 turkey hens and a fine gobbler.
Prof. M. Parker began School at Big Spring to-day 1-4-1915.
Cassie is very bad she took a resting tablit to-night.
Tom Wess is sick.
Lee Sain and Bob Williamson are running shops here.
Work is scarce and times are hard.
(next page)
Tom Wess Summers died Sunday Morning at 3 o'clock Jan 17,
1915.
Rainy cold day 1915
Frank lost his mule "old Luke" Jan 15 by feeding too muck
oats
Jan 30, Saturday Morning
Snow on the ground and has been on ground 6 days.
Bill Lowe, Quenton Summers, Andrew Newman, Mrs. Ann Mankin,
and Mrs Ellen Prater were here last night to sit up with Cassie. Cassie
has been bad all the week but said she feels much better this morning.
I sold Ralph Earp 77 3/4 gal. of molasses at 28 ct = $21.77
on yesterday Jan 29, 1915
Cassie has been confined to her bed since 1st of Oct 1914.
(next page)
Drue(?) Banks moved back to his Hill Home during Jan.
Jim Durham moved from Bill Lowe house to Christiana to
work at pencil mill Jan 25
Tom Howland moved to Ed Brown's
Ollie Howland said to have consumption
All of December and Jan have been cold and rainy + snowy.
Prof M Parker + daughter are teaching school at Big Spring
Feb 1 1915 Clear wet day + rained at night. Monday Cassie
is low. Mollie Kelton here. John Frizzell + wife were here.
Feb 2 1915 Rainy day and snowed some.
Trudy, Mollie, Frank, Jim Todd, Jim Harrell and Cortel
Lowe were here to sit up at night. Cassie is no better.
Feb 4 1915. Tom Arnold's little girl age 3 years caught
afire and her clothes was burnt off her and she died in an hour or so after
she got burnt.
(next page)
Feb 7 Sunday. Cassie is about like she has been for a week
or more.
She coughed more last night than she has for several
nights.
Feb 7 - Sunday wind in North clear+ cold.
Feb 6 Charlie Spray was appointed deputy sherriff to-day.
by Oscar Mann, the high sherriff
Feb 6 Flour is selling at $8.00 Corn 75 ct. Cotton 8 ct.
I partly covered my smokehouse with chestnut shingles
Feb 12, 1915 Cassie's birth day and she has a smothering
spell to-day and very nearly died. Nice clear pretty day.
Feb 13, clear and windy + dry
People are turning land.
All this last week have been nice pleasant weather.
Prof. Parker is sick and gave up his school. J.W. Lowe
Jr. will teach Monday Miss Bessie Cartwright Feb 15, 1915
(next page)
Feb 17 Nice clear day
Feb 14, 1915 Calvin Summers + Ant Babe Mankin were married
Feb 18 Nice clear day, little wind in North. Cassie very
bad.
Feb 14- 1914 H.W. (?) went to Nashville (?) for pendicitis
Tom Wess Summers dies 1915
(next page)
Cassie M. Newman died Feb 20, 1915, age 34 years -8 da.
Consumption was cause of her death. She was confined to
her bed nearly 5 months, from 1st of October to the 20th of Feb. She was
unable to do any work all of the year1914, except washing dishes or churning
a little in the Spring of 1914. She began loasing flesh 1st of 1914 and
lost flesh until she became nearly a skeleton. She coughed lots + lots every
day and shut up lots of (?).
She tried many remedies but found nothing that would help
her in the least.
She used Lung Vital, Cod Liver Oil, Peruna and many others.
(next page)
Cassie was buried in Sunday evening about 4 o'clock. She
died on Sat evening. about 10 minutes till 10 o'clock.
Dr. Tom Dunn preached her funeral. It was a nice day except
cloudy and sprinkled rain a little before got to the church house. The South
wind blew cold + hard.
Uncle Asa Todd buried Cassie in a raised lid walnut coffin
and a walnut case. She was fitted in a cream colored robe.
Mrs. Allice Mankin and Mrs. Margret Webb washed Cassie.
(next page)
Cassie Howland Trussell came from Monteagle, Tenn Mon 15,1915
We have 8 turkey eggs. 3-21-1915,
Bro Geo W. Graves preached for us Mar 14, 1915
Sunday cloudy, little snow 3-21-1915
Buford is 11 years old to-day 3.21. I made him a present
of a 22 Winchester rifle for birth present.
Thos Reed died Mar 25, 1915 death caused by consumption
Old Uncle Lawyer Dick Messick died Mar 25, 1915
Ant Sarrah Rummels(?) died Mar 1915
I sowed oats in orchard Mar 25, 1915
(next page)
Mar. 25, We have 12 T(urkey) eggs.
We planted Burmuda grass in front of house and all round
the house last week Mar 22, 1915
Eggs are worth 15 ct a dozen.
(next page)
Andrew Newman's sawmill + corn mill were burnt May 20,
1917on Sunday morning
US had all young men between the ages of 21 and 31 register
for war service in the European war vs Germany + Austria + Hungary
(next page)
Apr 18- 1920 - Clear, warm day. Some clouds to be sun
We had Sunday School to-day and I agreed to leave off the
literature and read the bible only for our lessons at Big Spring
Apr 25, 1920 First chapter of 1st John is to be lesson
Apr 25.
Becca Aylor came from Monteagle Tenn yesterday Apr 17,
1920
Apr. 18, 1920 People are late preparing their land for
crops this year.
Very little corn planted
Corn + meal are worth 2.00 bu. Meat hog around 20ct. Sugar
25, Coffee 50. Eggs 36 ct. dozen
(next page)
Apr 18, 1920 Apple trees are in full bloom to-day. We
had lots of hale Apr 16, nearly covered the ground.
Apr 13, 1920 I had my eye teeth pulled by Dr. Harris, Murfreesboro,
cost $2.00
Mrs. Lissa Morgan went to Nashville to-day Apr 18 to get
a set of false teeth
Luther Morgan is cultivating his fathers land this year.
1st year of his married life.
(next page)
W.S. Brown was born May 28- 1865.
(page 115)
(found a lock of blond hair ( Cassie's ? ) )
(page 350)
Marriages during 1915
Quenton Todd + Pearl Bush were married Jan.15 -by Edgar
Bowman
Calvin Summers + Babe Mankin married Feb. 1915
(page 400)
Deaths during 1915
Cassie Mandley Newman died Feb 20, 1915 of Lung consumption
Jim Newman + his Son William died Feb 28, 1915 - 8 hrs
apart.
(inside back cover)
Says of Poor Richard
A word to the wise is sufficient and many words won't fill
a bushel.
God helps those that help themselves.
Sloth like rust consumes faster than labor wears while
the used key is always bright.
But dost thou love life ? then do not squander time for
thats the stuff life is made of.
The sleeping fox catches no poultry.
There will be sleeping enough in the grave.
Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all things
easy.
He that riseth late must trot all (day) and shall scarce
overtake his business at night while laziness travels so slowly that poverty
soon overtakes him.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy,
wise.
Footnotes / Observations from the translator /great, grandson:
I was thrilled to read that my great, grandfather William
NEWMAN made mention of my other great, grandfather Oscar SUMMERS (1886-1964)
three times. They were friends and neighbors. Their children would later
marry. Oscar led a long, full life. He held me when I was a baby, but
died shortly after in a car wreck.
Oscar’s brother was the only person mentioned in this
journal that I ever actually "knew". I dearly loved my great, great uncle
Quenton Hoover SUMMERS (1889-1984). The youngest of his siblings,
he and Oscar would inherit the family farm from their father Abner Felix
SUMMERS (1850-1909). Older brother, Oscar chose the "home place" and
the north facing half of the "Pilot Knob", while Quenton took south facing
half and built his home there.
The "Pilot" is a tall, prominent, hill that overlooks
Big Springs. It is the second highest point in all of Rutherford County.
It was used as a lookout point during the Civil War. They grew corn all
the way to the top of this steep hill. Plowing with a mule and harvesting
on a "drag slide" – as wagons were impractical.
Some of my earliest memories are from the mid 1960’s
when an entire neighborhood would gather for the large SUMMERS family
reunion at Uncle Quenton’s place. As a boy, I sat at his knee hearing
many colorful stories of times past. He too lived a long, full life.
After reading this document, one realizes that Big Springs
was a busy place. A visit there today, 100 years later, one only finds a
historical marker, a few old houses, lots of pastureland, and of course -
the Big Springs.
The little, 2 room, tar paper, frame house beside the
Big Spring was the home of Gertrude FRIZZELL, Cassie’s sister. It
is in ruins. After Cassie and William NEWMAN died, Aunt Trudy raised
Bula there. Trudy was the telephone switchboard operator for the community.
Bula would go on to marry her neighbor, Willie Paul SUMMERS –
Oscar’s son. Paul studied business at MTSU in the 1920’s and became a butcher.
They moved to Tullahoma and operated Summers Bi-Rite Food Store together
for many years. Years later, when Trudy was old and sick, they took her
into their home until her death in 1964. Trudy is buried in Big Springs
in the KELTON Family Cemetery on Cobb Road. Paul SUMMERS died in
1978 and Bula Newman SUMMERS in 1979.
The first mention of "Summers + Robinson" selling dry
goods in Big Springs was another "joint family venture" in 1904 consisting
of Abner Felix SUMMERS, Oscar’s father, and a ROBINSON relative.
By 1914, Andy NEWMAN was operating the store there in Big Springs. My grandfather
Paul SUMMERS must have learned his trade from his grandfather. The ROBINSON’s
later took their grocery business to Murfreesboro, where it remains today,
100+ years later. We see some ROBINSON descendants at the annual Summers
Reunion.
My cousin, Charles Doran TODD, who started all this
by loaning me the old manuscript, also has a couple of ledger books from
this store dating back to the mid 1800’s. Perhaps, in time, with time, I
can translate them as well. Doran also possesses the original limestone
step from this store that carries this hand carved inscription: "NO CREDIT
AT THIS BAR". He bought it many years ago when the store property was auctioned.
Doran also holds another interesting family relic, a ceramic milk pitcher,
used as a store premium, with the underside inscription: " FROM THE STORE
THAT APPRECIATES YOUR TRADE ANDREW NEWMAN, CARLOCKSVILLE, TENN"
I found it strange that William NEWMAN did not write
more about his own children. My grandmother Bula, is mentioned only
once. This was a different day and time. Children were thought of and dealt
with much differently than they are today.
The people in this "yarn" were certainly no strangers
to toil, pain, suffering, mental illness and death - things that have become
sanitized and foreign to most of us living today.
Doing tombstone research, I found it to be an odd coincidence
that all three NEWMAN brothers: William, Andrew, and James Frank all
died at the age of 52.
I also found it interesting to read about the varied
tasks / occupations that my people undertook to survive and thrive. Teaching
school, raising: crops, chickens, turkeys, operating stores, sawmills, threshers,
roadwork, etc …
The Keith SIMMONS Company was still doing business in
Nashville 100+ years later. And chestnut shingles are a thing of the past.
