A Letter from Mary E. Humphrey to Rebecca Felton.

Note: This is in part of an article written by Virginia Smith for The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 1975, in "East Alabama Today". Article states that Mary Ernest Jarrell Blanton, granddaughter of Mrs. Humphrey was in possession of the unfinished letter.

To Mrs. Rebecca Felton:

In regard to the letter of September 28, it brought back many memories of bygone days. I can heartily endorse every word. The trials and privations we passed through during the dark days of the 1860s seem almost like a reassured dream. Now through the infirmities of old age we can look back and feel justly proud of our record.

How brave we were; those were trying times. The hum of the spinning wheel and noise of the loom could be heard from early morn to dewy eve for all the clothing must be made at home. Well I do remember my best church dress was made of blue homespun with a small black silk puff around the skirt. The silk was procured from an old waist that had seen use in better days. The hat to wear with this dress was made of wahoo bark dyed black with a band of black velvet piped with white bleaching. Old veils were corded up with bits of red flannel and spun into thread. With this we bordered our shawls which were knit on large wooden needles. We used gourd covered buttons covered with cloth. Often times, thorns were used for pins.

There were no stores to go to, nor a sewing machine or cooking stove to be had. Our coffee was of various brands such as wheat, rye, potato, okra seed or beans. My father (Ornan Whatley) owned a large flock of sheep which were very valuable, for many were the boxes of good woolen clothes that were sent to our soldier boys in the army.

Mrs. Felton, I wish all the old ladies would write a piece about those who went through the war and tell their experiences. Perhaps it would be interesting to many for they are fast passing away……(End of letter, undated, and evidently never mailed.)

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1850 Troup County, (Dist. 800) GA Census:

#H588

A. Whatley 40M Farmer R$1,260 Born GA

Matilda Whatley 30F Born GA

Gipson F. Whatley 17M Farmer Born GA

Tamsey M. Whatley 15F Born GA

Vachael D. Whatley 12M Born GA

Walton B. Whatley 10M Born GA

Rebecca A. Whatley 7F Born GA

MARY E. WHATLEY 5F Born GA

Emiline Whatley 3F Born GA

A. W. Tivey 21M Mechanic Born GA

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1860 Troup County, (Antioch) GA Census:

#H1161

Ornan Watley 50M Farmer R$3,300 P$12,000 Born GA

Matilda Watley 42F Born GA

V. D. Watley 22M Born GA

W. B. Watley 20M Born GA

R. Ann Watley 16F Born GA

MARY E. WATLEY 14F Born GA

Evaline Watley 12F Born GA

Lidiann Watley 9F Born GA

Archy Watley 5M Born GA

Ormond (Ornan) Watley 3M Born GA

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1880 Chambers County, (Hickory Flat) Chambers County, AL Census:

#H4

Geo. Humphrey 32M Farming Born GA

MARY HUMPHREY 33F Wife Keeping House Born GA

Charlie Humphrey 12M Son Born GA

Ida Humphrey 10F Daughter Born GA

Florence Humphrey 7F Daughter Born GA

Georgia Humphrey 4F Daughter Born GA

Willie Humphrey 1M Son Born GA

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1900 Troup County, (Antioch) GA Census:

#H105

George M Humphrey 52M Farmer Born May 1848 in GA

MARY E. HUMPHREY 54F Wife Born Dec. 1845 in GA (Married 33 years. Mother of 6 children; 6 living)

Georgia Humphrey 23F Daughter Born Nov. 1877 in GA

Moses Humphrey 19M Son Farmer Born Dec. 1881 in GA

Eula M. Humphrey 15F Daughter Born Feb. 1885 in GA

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1910 Chambers County, (Lanett) AL Census:

#H386

C. O. Humphrey 35M Salesman-Retail Store Born GA

Taddie Humphrey 34F Wife Born AL (Married 12 years. Mother of 2 children; 1 living)

George Humphrey 7M Son Born AL

MARY HUMPHREY 62F Mother Born GA (Widow. Mother of 6 children; 5 living)

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1920 Chambers County, (Wise) AL Census:

#H59

Sebron A. Jarrell 57M Farmer Born AL

Georgia B. Jarrell 43F Wife Born GA

George H. Jarrell 14M Son Farm Laborer Born AL

Sebron A. Jarrell 13M Son Farm Laborer Born AL

Mary E. Jarrell 9F Daughter Born AL

Leila B. Jarrell 6F Daughter Born AL

Malisa B. Jarrell 3 10/12F Daughter Born AL

Georgia Jarrell 1/12F Daughter Born AL

MARY E. HUMPHREY 74F Mother-in-law Born GA

Ada C. Jarrell 41F Sister Born AL

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