[Labeled 'A' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] _______________________ Author: William Franklin Shepherd, Sr. Transcribed by: Lucretia Ann Goodson Harrison [email protected] Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Sr,. & dated December 20, 1871 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. _______________________ Butter Ga December the 20th 1871 Dear Children I will rite you a few lines this blessed Sabbath morning to let you know that I rec'd your very kind and welcom letter which came to hand yesterday and was glad to hear that you [Labeled ' I ' by Richardson] got home Safe and was well but sorow to hear of the old mans feeble health but he may be destond to good health an to the comfort of his family I have no news that would interest you at this time we are all gust like you left us nethe dead nor a live Well I would like to See you to day but I cant and while I am riting I am thinking of all my absent children and their is none that I can pay a visit to day well loo you have often left home to return agan but now to come no more well I hope you will be Satisfied well Jordan I suppose the move is made to allabamma I hope for the best I would like to go with you but my wife has rather declined for presant and I think it best for I could not Sel for the money at this time money is Scerse and the most of peopil in det but I want to go Some where but I cant this year [page 2] well I am heales ove head as the masons do Saley garet & Billy wilson is married certinty well I rote all the new and I must close for presant hoping to hear from you often tel jimey I did not forgit him that Rainey day for I no he suffered I would bin glad that he had bin with me well I will tel you what good luck I had with my ties I got one hundred and eleven and all receivd well loo you said that one of your dress was mising it is not hear Some one Slept it out of the pack on the top of the trunk So I will close the family all send love & respects and they all wants to See you no more this time but remaining your father as ever W. F. Shepherd to Jorden lavender & luises Lavender ------------------------------------------------
THE SHEPHERD LETTERS Written from TAYLOR & BURKE COUNTIES, GEORGIA, the SHEPHERD Letters, are a treasure trove for researchers. WILLIAM FRANKLIN SHEPHERD SR, his son & other SHEPHERDS pen a picture of two families struggling to make their way in the emerging post Civil War South. Names of neighbors & acquaintances, GARRETT, OGLETREE, WATERS, PEACOCK & BUGLE & others appear in the letters. They give us a glimpse into the quality of life & the economy in the towns where they lived & worked. Management on the railroad & rightaways, farming conditions, births, deaths & even local scandals are among the topics they write about, Since I have access to background information that is not contained in the letters below I offer below a brief background on the writers & recipients of these often meandering thoughts, never intended for publication. The background date is derived from available records & oral tradition. Perhaps, these insights will help the reader better understand the times & lives of these families & as well as, the communities & times in which they lived. It is particularly fortuitous that the bulk of the letters were written by a father & his son. Through their silence on the subject of each for the other, we have insight into the complexity of their father-son relationship as well as the difference between their parenting styles. The SHEPHERD men & their families could well be a modern clan so, we learn that the more things change, the more human nature stays the same. I am humbled by the experience of having come to know these interesting & resourceful ancestors through their letters. As well, I am in awe of all our ancestors who survived those turbulent times. It is worth remembering that 'warts & all' these people are the stock from which we come. For the greater part, their lives are a heroic saga. Because I am deeply indebted to so many helpful people in the genealogical community for the generosity & patience they have shown me, I am delighted to share these letters written by my great great grandfather, my great grandfather & others in my SHEPHERD Line. Please feel free to copy the letters & other information here. The only requirement to copy or otherwise use the contents here is that it will not be reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes.. Additionally, I will gladly share other data on these & other ancestors. Sincerely, Lu Harrison ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSSr 72-02-18 orig.doc Labeled 'B' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] _______________________ Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Sr,. & dated February 18, 1872 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. Siby's letter is on [pg 2] ________________________ Butter Ga February the 18th 72 My Dear Children after some delay I will answer your very kind letter which came to hand in dieu time and was glad to hear that you was well but Sorow to hear of the old mans feeble health wll loo I have no chering news to rite that would interest you times are about the Same Siby is not well to day will loo I wish I could See you to day you cant tel how glad I would be I got a letter from Puss last weeke [Labeled II by Richardson] they was well & Satisfied with their new home well I rote you that my hogs was dying with colery I have but 14 out of 35 Some of them are naked and I fear will dy it is a very hard winter hear & it raines most all the time it is raining now and quite cold well loo tol danel Stole margele and is gone Ilan Danel went with them I cant tell you where they are gon but it dont matter they can be Spared Mr Dervies is nearly franatic about his child they take it with them I have not Seen Billy garet Since I received your letter and I cant give you any satisfaction at this time but will in my next Some one told it to him out their I dont think that he made it that is the way he has told it hear or it is the way I have learned it Mis Sizer medder is out hear but I have not Seen her but She has been bin ast about it but She Sees She has never heard of it there loo So I close for it is cold & rainey Rite Soon & often your father in love of his absent children loo & Jourdan lavinder W. F. Shepherd (pg 2) Well Jordan I have do no field work yet but will if it ever gits warm enough that I can get to the field my land is all gon and I cant find it I think that I will look after it this fall it gone Some where or else it turned to mud and water my feete is So frost bit that I cant hardley walk I hant had a shoo on one foot in four days I prit it on this morning because it is Sunday I thaut that would git to go a broad but it hurts to bad and I think I will have to take it off I Recon that you are nearly redy to plant well make all that you can and I will come down their next fall and look Round if I can get six dollars or a free ticket I Shal plant me a cotton crop this year well loo I wish you could See John the worst boy you ever Saw Siby is on a palet before the fire and John is _ug in to til he can talk very plain he tries to go with me every where I go give my love to aunt Rachel & uncle gim & garet freeman & martha and all inqiring friends. well I can say that times is quite dul at this time theire is no money hear but I am out of det a gan but nothing left but git in det a gan I am going to quit the ties for it will cill me I was halling some this weeke and it like to get my liver out of my boddy I have rote all and I will quit for I have done a hard Sabbath dys work and it is now evening & I close fair well ----[his initials ar illegible] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSSr 72-03-31 unedited.doc [Labeled 'C' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] Williams Shepherd & dated March 31, 1872 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. Siby's letter starts line #24. __________________________ Butter March the 31st 72 Dear children once more I am permited to Rite you a few lines in answer to your very kind letter which came to hand in time and was glad to hear that you was well and I trust doing well this leavs the family in good health I have no news of interest to Rite we have had the coldest winter and a plenty of rain farm work is nearly gon up hear but I lill done yet I have a littl planted but cant tel when I will git any more but hope the wether may open fine for the next month times is hard hear with many peapel as well as my Self well I got out of det agan & nothing left but 13 dollars I got me a fine over coat with a cape to it but it is too warm to war it well loo I have lost all my hogs but ten 23 is ded you must not think hard of my not riting sooner I cant Rite much my hand trimbles and Shal have to close for this time dont wait for me to answer every letter that you Rite let them comes as often as you pleas for I would like to hear from you every day your father as ever W F Shepherd to his absent children loo & Jordan Lavender (pg 2) Siby Rites Dear loo I will rite you a few lines which leavs me well and hope this may reach you in dieu time and find you well as for news I have none I would like to See you I could tel you a heap that I cant rite This Settlement is coming out finely the elet family has located in our midst Some at the Bugles place & some at the marth peacock house well loo I have made me two counterpins of plain divinety they are nice loo me & faney has made over one hundred yards of cloth Since you was maried well loo I must tell you what dd has done She has made the other gal it is near 3 weeks old loo I hear that their is a bad tale on pen & mary can you Send me a x mark I close for lack of Something to Rite your mother as ever Rite soon often S E Shepherd give my respects Jordan the children all Sends love & respect cant you come & See the new neighbors File Name: WFSSr 72-10-11 unedited.doc [Labeled 'D' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] Author: William Franklin Shepherd, Sr. & dated October 11, 1872 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. ------------------------------ Butter Oct the 11th 72 Mr. Jordan & loo lavinder Dear Children I drop you a few lines to let you no that I received letter in dieu time was glad to hear from you and that you was all well I cant Say that for I don't think their is any of us well but all keeps up Siby & the children are very ill I hope they will git better Soon I have a pain in my Side for two weeks it is gitting better their is no news worth riting at this time well Jourdan I don't no what to Say nor what do you Said for me to Sell my land & help by frank waters land I can't Sell my land for money their is Six hundred dollars redy for franks plce any day I Supose that you can't rais that much I have not Seen him EB Waters is waiting on you a few days their is other land hear for Sale for the money I have a hundred acers in Soak if you would like it is joining me well loo it is the aunt Betsy place it is as good land as you can git hear & you can git more if you want joining it I can git it for 100 & 50 it last you tell you can do better it is as good as any that I have their is a hous on it & perhaps a thousand railes Split but no cleared land (*pg2) their other lands for Sail with improvements & hard cases for the money I don't want to by land unless you could See for your Self. I don't want you to be dissatisfide So I will close as Mr Bynum is going out their I will git him to tell you all the plces he will be their the 3rd Sunday go down & See him & Rite me Soon well I won't to no what faney [Labeled III by Richardson] is doing She neve rites a word well I recon She has forgot us you can send her home with Mr. Bynum if she wants to come I want to no Soon as you git this what you can doo in the way of money if you could like this 100 acres it woul Suit me for I have Some bad neighbors living their & it is my Stock Range well loo I forgot that Marth ogletree is ded Dr Smiths ded Sone is ded no more news at this time your father as ever W F Shepherd to Jordan & loo lavinder ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSSr 73-12-14 unedited.doc [Labeled 'E' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] __________________________ William F. Shepherd, Sr & dated December 14, 1873 & December 20, 1873 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. _______________________ Butter ga December the 14th 73 Mr Jordan & Loo lavender Dear children I will rite you this mornin to let you no that I have not forgot you all tho I have nothing of interest to rite time is dull hear we are all in common helth at this time my helth is good I have Some cold well loo I received your letter in dieu time you rote the babys name was eli hansford & how would I like it you could not please me better I want you to come & fetch it So I can See it I want to See you all well loo I would of went with Bynum but I could not leave home Satisfied Siby keeps up yet but Some of these times She will bring me in a basket of boys So I will hush my nonsense well jord cant you come & help me git Some ties I nead help I git five a day & eat potater & beef & bear well fanny I kild Star She was a fine beef I had no money to by bacon come all of you & fetch your dinner So I will quit [pg 2] December the 20th as I have to mail this in time & will rite Some more but I have no news to rite I have bin quite bisey this week gitting in my ties I am going to town this evening we are all up at this time but cant tell how Soon Some may fall well loo granma Sends her love & wants you to come & fetch that boy well fanny I wish you was hear for I need you but I hope you have got a better home & I will git a long the best I can if I had the money I would send for you so close your father W F Shepherd to Jordan & loo well jimys gal is _san (or son) Scraps of the children dre?s. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSSr 74-01-18 unedited.doc [Labeled 'F' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] _____________________________ Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Sr & dated January 18, 1874 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. ________________________ Butter Jan the 18th 74 Mr Jordan & Loo Lavander Dear children I will rite you a few to day which will inform you that your letter was delayed & never came to hand tel last thursday I was glad to hear from you but sorow to hear of the afflicton of the family I have no news of interest to rite we are all in comon helth I cant well John had a bad Spell of croup this week but is better I am Suffering Some with my Side but keepe up my helth has bin very good well we have another boy Bornd the 4th [Labeled IV by Richardson] we call his James Batman he is 2 weeks old to nite Siby is getting a long fine you cant how bad I want to See you I fear that you wont come times is very hard hear in the way of money if I git some money I want to go out their the last of febuary but I have to git ties for meat & every thing else but I have got Bread plenty I had no hogs to kill I have 14 yung pigs So I have rote all the news excus my short letter for it is very cold wether well I will Say that Bill layfield is gon to Some unnone parts he caried his family with him well Jordan I want you to git well & come & See me you are yung & may git well I no what pleurisey is for I suffer all the time I want you to Rite me the county in alabam that your people is living for I have fogot their is gitting Some excitement up their is Some going their well loo jo apperson is gon to north ala lime Stone county So I close faney I want you to Rite where you are going to locate & what is the prospect for a home you Said that you could git a good home well I am not displeassd at you living with loo if they are willing & if not you can come home as I told you when you left I dont want you to come but I dont want you to be sholing [or stroling] So I close your father WF Shpherd To Jordan & loo lavender tup is maried to Mr hartsfield ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSSr 74-05-03 unedited.doc [Labeled 'G' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] _______________________________ Author: William Franklin Shepherd, Sr. Transcribed by: Lucretia Ann Goodson Harrison Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Sr & dated May 03, 1874 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. _______________________ Butter May the 3rd 1874 Mr Jordan & loo lavender I will drop you a few lines which will inform you that all is not well Siby is quite feeble yet She dont improov but little She is confind to the house has not bin out in ten days the doctor has bin 2 times & will come again to day my helth is better than when I rote before but I have a cough yet I have a bad time in gitting my crop Started I finished planting the 22nd & my cotton is cild by the frost corn is bit we have a heap of rain the land is very wet well I have no news times is hard hear & I Supos you no for you are aquainde with him wll loo mis wilson is ded She died Sudden the old man lock was found ded in the road So I have give you all the news I want to See you the worst i ever did I am hear as one a lone wihout any relations no relative to comfort me in distress [pg 2] well loo you Brag on your boy come & See mine he is a fine chap well loo Siby Ses She is Sorow that you did not come for She is all most diolate their is no one hear that cares for me Bynum & oley is gone & Susey is gone & hear we are alone gran moh Sends love to you all John Ses tell you he has got a chunk of breead & butter So I will close rite often I got a letter from bud yesterday they was well jim & Saley is gon to guinet county to the ure line Road come dont forgit to come well loo Siby is nearly in the fix that mis miller [or milles] was so I close your father as ever WF Shepherd to Jordan & loo lavender ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSSr 74-06-21 unedited.doc [Labeled 'G' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] Author: William Franklin Shepherd, Sr. Transcribed by: Lucretia Ann Goodson Harrison Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Sr & dated June 21, 1874 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. _______________________ [written upside down at top of pg. 1: loo Siby ses She would be so glad if you would come & see her Butter June the 21st 74 Mr Jordan & loo lavender Dear children I will write a few lines to let you no that all is not well yet cant tell how long this affliction will last Siby is yet confined Sometimes better then worse a gan has not bin out to the Kitchen Since the 4th Sunday in april She had the new ralgy pain in hed & face last week it lasted four days She is not Suffering any pain at this time She is got very low with weekness She can Set up Some you must think I have a hard time & so I have I hurt my nee & I have bin a criple for too weeks dragin one foot be hind my ne is Stiff & my Rite arm is nearly give out with pain in my elbo joint my helth is good I can eat any thing but I havnt got but little it is a hard time I cant work to get money I want to See you So bad come & fetch your dinner Mary zeke loyd was hear to day [pg 2] well Jordan a few lines for you & I close my nee is hurting me So bad I cant Set Still you was So bad in the grass that you did not rite me a word in loos letter well mine is not the bunch grass it is the Strait Stem I can brag on it as being a thrifty kind we have good Seasons for too weeks corn is growing fine abut the Smallest I ever Saw for the time of year I am bad in the grass & behind with the plow So I close well loo mealy Sends you a peace her dre?s & jimes (or gimes) this is the 23 rd June gjmie is got the Sick beley runing off charley hays is ded biley Streatman is ded Robert gee & Sary Brooks is to mary to morow nite no more your father W F Shepherd to Jord & loo laavender ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSSr 74-09-01 unedited.doc [Numbered (I) by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments] _______________________ Author: William Franklin Shepherd, Sr. Transcribed by: Lucretia Ann Goodson Harrison Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Sr & dated September 01, 1874 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. __________________________ Butler Sep the 1st 1874 Mr Jourdan & loo lavender Dear children I drop you a few but I have no news worth riting that constant visiter is here every day he will ruin me I Supos you have him too well less kill him this leavs us all well Siby is better than when I rote last She has got one bed in the kitchen She Stais in their all day She has not had her foot on the ground Since the fourth Sunday in april dear children how glad I would be to See you but their hant bin one of you that has visited me in my distress well gurd I have just finisht my fodder the next is picking pees without a basket to hold them my crop is not So good as last year I lost my hass the first of august I want you to come & fetch Some flower & Some bacon Syrup & come or stay where you are [pg 2] well I have give all the news but I will doo like you I will brag a little on my baby I wish you could See Jimey he has too teeth will Soon be walking well we a good rain last Saturday & I sowd turnips we had five weeks drouth cotton ruined I will maill this to you & you must send James to her & you must rite & you See that my hand trimbles I have got a bucket of taters for Supper & I will try & git up Steam & go off this all Stup_____ I thaut I would git to your hous this winter but I think it dutful for I cant leave my family well loo I hant bin visiting this year I hant eat but three times from home & that I workt for So I close remaining your father WF Shepherd to Jordan & loo Lavender Toombsboro Ga ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSJr 83-04-01 unedited.doc [Labeled 'K' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] Author: William Franklin Shepherd, Jr. Transcribed by: Lucretia Ann Goodson Harrison Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Jr & dated April 1, 1883 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. _______________________ Greens Cut Burk Co Ga April the 1st 1883 Mr Mrs J & Lou Lavender Dear Relatives I will writ you a few lines in ancer to your card recivd the 28 was glad to here from you and that you was all well & glad that you have succeded in geting away from where you was so dissatisfied I no it is no place for a maril man that wants to live rite iam sorry for nan She has no chanc no more than a negro in Slavory times I want [Labeled V by Lois Richardson] to see nan but as for the rest I don't care but little about dave caused me truble in his permisios ways I hope god will for give him and change him to a newness of Life I have neve had the pleasure of going to church an being with Brethrin Sense I left graham as I did when I was there but iam not trubled with a set of bothers as I was there but at the same time I have as little use pg 2 for the people at this place as I had at [Labeled VI by Lois Richardson] graham they car nothin for one if he is not rich they do not visit us nether dos we visit them you no my nature is not put my self in way of any one or run after no one we are all frendly when we meat each othe my whole family was down sick when I cam here and non of them came near as my wife lay 3 weaks with tyfoid feavor that she did not no day light from dark bot none them came near us but two and then I sint for them and they came nomore now they sent to us for favors but they can go I have no use for them they send to me to get my children to to Sabbath School but I dont want any of there training I dont let them go I will keepe them at home and teach them my self I think I can teach them as well as they can the men of this place cares for nothing but to drink whisky and frolick with negros they are not alloed to sell it here but they send off after it this leavs us all well at this time hope it will find you and family pg 3 well give my love to Sister Brown and inquiring frend Jorden you said you had wrot me severil letters but have not recivd them I have recivd one letter from you since I came here anancer to one I wrot you and the card I recive two days ago you said in your letter you was going to hunt and other place and I did not no where to direct to tell I recivd your card well you can have the pleasur of hiring Brother siks freach Jerden I have oftan thought nights what we have sat upe to gether and talke how is your feallings now you had lurned som what when I left there I have on one to talk two now at this place you could get abut as much since out of a parcel of billy goats as you can the people here Jerdan if you can get me a nice buck skin that will make good Shoe Strings send me one and I will pay you for it rit me how dave and the [Labeled VII by Lois Richardson] boys is geting along if dave has changed his way of living or not it no use for me to writ to nan she would not ancer pg 4 it nether would any of the rest of them Loo bab says tell you she is not don sheding teethe yeit and Lular is thinking about [Labeled V by Lois Richardson] marying she is as larg as her mother in size and her sweet hart redheaded and as speceld as a guinne egg in the face and so lazy he has to hang his head on something breath or talk he is realy a good looking man from the tope of head & upe Loo you can go & see tiny Bruce She is aloving woman and agood nighbor I would to meat with her forit bruce and fanly you have good negbors the children all send love you rite me all the news so will close for this time I remain Yours as ever WF Shepherd ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSJr 83-05-06 unedited.doc [Labeled 'J' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] Author: William Franklin Shepherd, Jr. Transcribed by: Lucretia Ann Goodson Harrison Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Jr & Mamie Shepherd (pg 4) & dated May 6, 1883 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. _______________________ Greens Cut May the 6 1883 (?) Mr & Mrs ___ Lavender dear Brother and sister I will tri to writ you afew lines In reply to yours recivd som time ago was glad to hear from you and that you was all well & more than all so well satisfid we are all well at presant we can __ more than any one family ____ __ out of ____ we have afine garden we have got about 18 hundred cabbig from 4 inches to 20 inches_____ we sow irish potatoes union beets radishs our beans and peas has just commen baring we have had aheape of (?)rain this spring iam behind with my work som I have got 3 miles track raised Jordan my shanty is 6 miles from (this or the) rhd end of section and down graid all the way to the end & 2 1/2 frar shanty to lower end and down graid all the way excepe 1/2 mile and nearly all cures there is one curve 1 1/2 mile long through chiefe cut and mcbeas swamp that E (or F)l__ co pg 2 I cant _____ ______ in more than 5 car lenths I have come near getin run in to by tran there severil times & one cut 1 1/2 miles long apart of it is sharpe curve the other part strait I would it upe withe timber 1 1/4 mile both sides from one foot upe to 4 feet hy I have but little strait track it is all curve through deepe cuts from 1 foot to 50 feet deep and some bank 50 feet deep &hi curvs the entire right away Jerdan iam under different sort of officers here to what i was on the M&B they are men that knows [Labeled IX by Lois Richardson] there buiness and they no what a man is they have never said across word to me yet I have worked for them on the section and in the yard near 12 months I have don a heape of work sense I have bin at work for the CRR as you no evry thing had to git around when I was on the M&B Jerdan if I Stay here an other year iam going to tri a garden farm there is money in it if it is properly mancedg and I have got the promis of mill that that pay 50 to $100 per month but it is sickly there this is good farming land here but people pg 3 dont pay attention they ought two to farms I shal fail to interest you well babe went to Augusta last friday was aweek and boughe Som good and sold 20 dollars worth last weak she gets about all the sewing she can doo her and the children Jerdan what was it so grevous between you and dave I want to come down in that country next fall to the assosation if I can give my love to sister brown & family tell her I simpathise withe her in her distres I will writ her in afew days give my love to all inquiring frend you said your letter that you wanted talk withe me two days and nights doo you think you would be satisfid then I hardly think I would I dont have any one to convers withe at all I want to see all my frend around chammly Lular is [Labeled X by Lois Richarson] playing the organ & singing She plays well can play amost any pice Loo what are you dooing choping coton mind how you pick upe chips in the dark dont get of another viper I will close my love to all the family yours as ever WF Shepherd pg 4 For Rilatives i Seat my Self to write Some as papa is working mama (?eac) Auntie and papa is Silling on the porch And the kittens keeps so much racket & a Squaling till I am all mose a fraid in here well Auntie has had a child to day & Aunt loo I got so frighten & howled till I could not be Still with the dogs & they are all ways frightening u lillie (or billie) u me well my hand is tiard tell Hansford & the rest of them howdy for me tell penny that I wish I could see her & the rest of them is penny as sweet as she use to be tell Judge howdy too well I will close lula wants to write [Labled XI by Lois Richardson] some it is night your, neice untill Death Mamie Shepherd ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: WFSJr 83-09-16 unedited.doc [Labeled 'L' by Lois Richardson for reference in her comments.] Author: William Franklin Shepherd, Jr. Transcribed by: Lucretia Ann Goodson Harrison Transcribed as it was hand written by William F. Shepherd, Jr & dated September 16, 1883 to Jordan & Loo Lavender. _______________________ [Written upside down at top of page 1] Posteg will be cheape after this montth 2 cts for aletter you can rit little oftaner well I soldd my thing and it bed time enough no where to Sleepe bad nite Greens Cut Ga Sunday Sept 16 1883 mr Jerdan Lavender & family dear Brother & sister & children I recivd your very kind letter yesterday was glad to here from you all agane loo I was sorry to her you had the head ache & pain in your eye but if that is all you can make out with that much I am well & all alone by my Self & evry thing packed upe to mov agane will have to load my thing to night as I will leave here to morro morning at 4.30. iam going to tak charg of the augusta yard babe & the children pg 2 W.I. Shepherd is gon to her fathers has bin gon 3 week last friday but will return this weak some times. Jerdan iam glad to here you are getting along so well you are dooing better than iam an you can go to churche & be your own master it pleases me to here you ar so well though of by your land lady there is never no truble in getting along together when bothe partys is willing to doo what is right I hope by all mean that you will continue to hold out so Jerdan I was to have bin at #12 to day but I recivd let fron Silas that was Discouregin to me I promess him to com & take asection pg 3 under him but he rot me that would not hold his place long than the 15 of sept & that CRR Co wouldn't let me leave them they give me augusta yard whir I can school my children to church well I must go out to meat the train well it is gon by & fany was on the train goin up in wickdom they was all sick I dont want go back on the old M&B any more I dont no what I may do yet but dont think I ever will to work I have enough of Ohio yankee or any othe Yankee I would lik to go down ther & see you all but the probbility is at this time will not go pg 4 Soon & Probly never Jerdan I will say to you as long as you can stay in ahelthy place & mak enough to live on you doo it & keepe of RR for we have to take such places as we can get & often verry Sickly places or non at (?)anyayit it takes all we can mak to liv on any way Son you are in abet con- dition than a RR man if I was not a cripple I would not stay on RR _______ & will close hope to here from you soon Respt yors WF Shepher Direct W.F. Shepherd Section master Augta Ga [Labeled XII by Lois Richardson] in care CRR office tell sister Brown I will ancer her in a short time give my love to inquring frind ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Name: Raulerson Comments Author: Beulah Lois Richardson Raulerson Collected by: Lucretia Ann Goodson Harrison Subject: Lois Raulerson's comments on letters written by: WILLIAM FRANKLIN SHEPHERD, SR & JR, SIBY WILLIAMS & MAMIE SHEPHERD. Notes about the author: Lois was the great granddaughter of WILLIAM FRANKLIN SR. through WILLIAM JR's daughter MAMIE 'SHEPHERD' RICHARDSON & the stepdaughter of SIBY WILLIAMS. The child MAMIE who was about 11 years old when she wrote is her mother. At sometime during the late 1960's or early 1970's Lois sent copies of the letters to several cousins & included with them, her typewritten comments on the contents. It is worth mentioning that in some cases dates on the letters as they are posted do not agree with dates in her comments. With exception of capitalizing names, her comments are copied just as she typed them. Any clarifications are noted with *. Moreover, no comments are attached unless the failure to do so would mislead the reader/researcher. Lighted magnification was used while transcribing the letters she comments on so, it is believed that those dates are correct. Also, it seems clear that Lois believed all of the letters were written by SR. The last three where written by JR. ________________________________________________ Here are some comments on the letters that I have read. First part of letter a, dated 12-26-71. I wonder if mail camexx on Christmas? He said the letter came yesterday. He was cutting crossties at age 64: (*Transcription dated 12-20-71) II Letter B, dated 2-18-72. PUSS is AUNT MISSOURI HERRICKS-WELCH. Back of this letter is C, dated 3-31-72 is one from SIBBY. In his letter he mentions that his son JOHN can talk. III Letter D, dated 10-11-72. Is this word NANCY? There was a daughter, NANCY C.* (Transcriber reads the name as FANNY} IV Letter F, Dated 1-18-74. A boy, JAMES BATMAN, born 1-4-74 . He was 67 years old. Letter K, dated 4-1-83 should be before letter J dated 1-4-83. V Letter K, dated 4-18-83. NAN must be his daughter. She must have displeased him for marrying whom she did. It must be she that he has mentioned several times. *{All evidence indicates this is incorrect. Lois seems to think this letter was written by WM. SR. when in fact, it was written by his son. WM. Jr's daughter NANCY died young & without marrying. It's more likely JR writes about his, sister NANCY C.} VI The family must have lived at Graham at one time. It seems that UNCLE RALPH, my mother's brother, remembered living there. *{MATTHEW RALPH SHEPHERD} VII This name must be DAVE, whom NANCY married. VII LULAR must be a daughter but which one? My mother had a sister LULA (LUCRETIA). Such a description of her swain: It could not have been my mother's sister for she died with typhoid fever as a young teenager. *{This is likely a member of the family of his wife, MARTHA ANN LUCRETIA BRUCE.} IX What railroad could the TB have been? I read the letters as TB. *{The letters are 'M&B', Macon & Brunswick.} X What place is this? XI Who is MAMIE SHEPHERD? He had a daughter, MARY. My mother's name was MARY and she was called MAMIE. She was born in 1872 and would have been 11 years old. *{Again she confuses the authors. WM. JR writes & this is indeed her mother, MAMIE.} XII Letter L, dated 9-16-83. This gives his address when he went to Augusta yard as a section foreman. He was 77 years old then. Our Bible gives his birth date as 1907. I wonder if he died in Augusta. *{1907 is obviously a typo. She refers to WM. Sr. who was born in 1807 but, he isn't the author of this letter. It was WM. JR. who wrote this letter.} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ABOUT THE SHEPHERDS & THEIR LETTERS THE SHEPHERD LETTERS: The SHEPHERD LETTERS are a collection of 12 separate mailings to FRANCES LOUISA SHEPHERD, aka LOO & her husband JORDAN LAVENDER, aka JORD (JOURD). They were transcribed from copies provided by the late, BEULAH LOIS RAULERSON, daughter of MAMIE SHEPHERD & EARL RICHARDSON formerly of High Springs, Florida (Gilchrist County) & Alachua County, Florida. I have no idea how she came by the originals. Nine letters in the collection were written by LOO'S father,WILLIAM FRANKLIN SHEPHERD, SR. between the years of 1871-1874. Also included is a page written by SIBY WILLIAMS, LOO's stepmother & WILLIAM SR's second wife. WILLIAM & SIBY were living in BUTLER, (TAYLOR COUNTY) when they wrote but, there is no indication where the newly weds lived. He was a farmer who supplements his income by cutting & selling railroad ties. Since the letters cover an extended period, we are given valuable insight in the lives & struggles in the community of BUTLER during the post Civil War era. WILLIAM JR's letters written in 1883 from GREENS CUT, Burke County are of particular interest because he describes in some detail the typography of a railroad right away & comments on the mismanagement of farms in the area. Unfortunately, he wasn't happy there & he wasn't happy working on the railroads. Still, he gives rather detailed reasons for his discontent; thus, we are given insights into the community of GREENS CUT. He gives an account of the hardships suffered by railroad families who in pursuit of minimal sustenance are forced to live somewhat as vagabonds. We learn about the management of the CRR & Co (possibly Central Railroad Co), as well as the "Ohio Yankees" who supervised him on the M & B, (Macon & Brunswick Railroad). FRANCES LOUISA SHEPHERD Aka LOO, she is the youngest daughter of WILLIAM SR. & NANCY & is the wife of JORDAN LAVENDER. There is no indication of where she & her husband were living from the time of their marriage in 1871 until 1884 when her brother wrote the last of the letters to her in Toombsboro, Georgia. Since there are no replies from her among the Letters we only know LOO through the letters written by her father & brother. It is believed that she may have had a son named JIMMY. In late1873 her father wrote that she couldn't have pleased him more with the name ELI HANSFORD. From the letter we conclude that she must have just given birth to a son & that she named the child after a relative. Given the estrangement between her father & his older children, it is reasonable to conclude that she was probably the diplomat in the family. She seemed to have a warm relationship with her father, stepmother & older brother. JORDAN LAVENDER JORDAN LAVENDER was born in Georgia & at least for a time during the 1870's he was a farmer. It is believed that his family was the Wilkinson County LAVENDERS so, it is likely that LOO's line, the SHEPHERD, DAVIS & POTTS clans would have had contact with them while living in that country. In both the tone & content of their letters one concludes that both Williams were fond of Jordan & considered him a friend as well as an in law. SIBY E. WILLIAMS Very little is known about SIBY. We do know she was much younger than her husband WILLIAM Sr & she bore him two sons JOHN & JAMES BATMAN. In her letter SIBY tells us about her chores, ie. making cloth & divinity. As well she mentions the 'elites' who have moved into the community. It is believed that her reference to the 'elites' may be to one of WILLIAM & NANCY'S children, possibly even WILLIAM JR. who was estranged from his father from the time he married SIBY until shortly before WILLIAM SR died. MARY ELIZABETH BEULAH SHEPHERD Aka MAMIE, the daughter of WILLIAM, JR. & MARTHA ANN LUCRETIA BRUCE, included a note in her father's letter to her AUNT LOO. MAMIE wasn't as attentive to details about the participants in the event as researches would like; nevertheless, this 11 years old girl gives us a hilarious account of her behavior while an aunt was giving birth in their home. WILLIAM FRANKLIN SHEPHERD, SR. As of now, his parents names are unknown as is their whereabouts after they immigrated from Scotland, possibly Dundee & prior to their settling in Wilkinson County. It is known that in 1807, WILLIAM SR. was born the son of this wealthy Wilkinson County planter & plantation owner & that they were slave holders. WILLIAM SR's siblings were BEARNY, ELIZABETH, JOHN & WILEY. It is also believed that Laban [Sheperd/Shepherd] may be his older brother & as well, there may have been a sister known as Fannie, possibly a nickname for Frances. While living in Wilkinson County, WILLIAM, SR. married NANCY DAVIS, also of that county & of a similar background. Her parents, HENRY DAVIS & NANCY POTTS were from England, possibly of Welch origin. They too owned a plantation, were wealthy & were slave holders. WM. SR & NANCY lived on his fathers plantation where no doubt they were near to or part of the aristocracy of the Old South. Their children were WILEY JUDSON, MARY, NANCY C., WILLIAM FRANKLIN, Jr., MISSOURI E., LOUISA ELIZABETH, & FRANCES LOUISA. aka LOO to whom these letters are written. We don't know why or when WILLIAM. left Wilkinson County but it is possible that it had something to do with settling his father's estate. The family is first found in Taylor County in the 1860 Census. NANCY DAVIS died between 1855 & 1860 & on March 15, 1860 he married SIBY E WILLIAMS. According to oral tradition he "married too quickly for decency" & this lead to considerable strife between he & his older children. It also appears that when the family left Wilkinson County their fortunes changed considerably. Given land values at the time of the 1860 Census, it is estimated that he purchased about 140 to 200 acres of farm land. Taylor County did not exist until 1852 so, if he moved directly to that land which became known as Butler, Taylor County, GMD #757, it is probable that prior to that date he will be found in one of the counties that ceded land to TAYLOR. Unfortunately at this time nothing more is known about WILLIAM SR, his wife SIBY or their sons. It is believed that both he & his wife died in Taylor County. In any era, but more especially in his era, WILLIAM, SR was a remarkable man. At 64 years of age he farmed & cut railroad ties without benefit of help. He began a second family & then, when his wife was bedridden, he cared for her, their children & the farm. Additionally, he worked as a day laborer. His letters give us a picture of a loving family, involved father & mischievous children. There is evidence of declining health & financial hardship, troublesome weather & loneliness for 'absent children'. We come to know a man who was immersed in hardship but wasn't at all given to bitterness. It is indeed a boon to know that I descend from a man of such indomitable spirit. I wish that I knew more about him. Through his letters, I know that Grandpa was the kind of man would have taken me on his lap where I would have rested comfortable & secure while he joked away our troubles lurking just beyond our door. WILLIAM FRANKLIN SHEPHERD, JR. The remaining three letters were written by WILLIAM FRANKLIN SHEPHERD, JR. From the time of his birth in 1842 in Wilkinson County we have no record of him until he is recorded living in his father's household in Butler County is 1860. His letters leave no doubt that he is far more complex than his father. If we have knowledge of his experiences we can better understand him & his times. Additionally, much can be learned about him from the subtle contradictions evident in his letters From the time his father married SIBY in 1860, WM.& his father were estranged. That situation prevailed when he left for war & would last for decades. From all accounts this was his choice & was not his father's or step mother's choice. By the time each of the Williams wrote life in the South had been turned upside down. In the over all of life, more so than was true of his father, WM. Jr's experiences were those of tumultuous changes filled with loss, adversity, uncertainty, probably feelings of abandonment & a fair amount of plain old fashioned fear. Given the tone & content of letters, one senses that WILLIM Sr. is uncomplicated, straightforward & entirely lovable; whereas, on first reading compared to his father, WM. Jr. is far more complicated & may seem unapproachable. Additionally, there are signs that the younger WILLIAM was exceedingly implacable & possibly even capable of pettiness. WILLIAM JR. seems lacking in spontaneity, warmth & good humor. In his public persona he seems every inch the proper Victorian male, distant & stern, always holding others at arms length. Yet, with as little as one sentence he gives indication that this isn't at all the case. Additionally, where SR. is outgoing & prone to levity, JR. seems much more reserved & disinclined to 'look on the bright side.' His father referred to his TAYLOR County neighbors by name & from that others, not in the SHEPHERD Line, are blessed with insight into their ancestor. Conversely, it is a mixed blessing that WILLIAM, Jr. isn't prone to aid researchers by naming names. Otherwise, I fear that publication of these letters could cause the modern equivalent of a 'Hatfield's & McCoys' rumble with the sides being the SHEPHERD's vs at least half of those who descend from his neighbors in Burke County. With more careful reading & giving attention to what isn't said but rather is revealed, subtleties are grasp which present another side of WILLIAM JR. We discover that he was capable deep loyalty & affection for his family & neighbors. He was a deeply religious, responsible family man concerned for the welfare of his family including their formal & religious education. As well, he is occupied with thoughts of their learning right from wrong & that they develop a sense of justice. One must consider the events that took place in his life from aged 18 until his time in Greens Cut when he was 42. The 27th GA. VOL. INF was organized at Camp Stephens near Griffin GA in Sep 1861. On September 9, 1961 he enlisted as a Private in the CO. "F". "Taylor Guards". We know he was one of the first into the Army & one of the last out. No doubt, staying alive was foremost in his mind as he served with & saw his neighbors, cousins & boyhood friends die. The 27th GA. VOL. INF, a part of Colquitt's Brigade after their engagement at Cold Harbor, were also at the battles of Clark's Mountain, Seven Days, South Mountain, Antietam & Chancellorsville. After the battle of Bentonsville & the South's defeat, he & his unit surrendered in Greensboro, North Carolina in April 1865. It is sobering to realize that for four years, WM. was in peril & that all who came after him were just one Yankee musket ball away from nonexistence. It saddens one to know that devastation & Reconstruction under his former foe was all he had to look forward to as he made his way back to the rubble that was Georgia in 1865. In September 1865, in TAYLOR COUNTY, he swore allegiance to the Constitution of the US & thus to the Union. At that time he gave his home county as Macon. In one letter WILLIAM. referred to himself as "a cripple". From letters written by WILLIS HERRICKS, his brother in law, also in the 27th GA, we believe that WILLIAM. JR. was wounded while serving around Danville, Virginia. After the WAR in MACON COUNTY, he married MARTHA ANN LUCRETIA BRUCE. While working as a section foreman for the railroad, he & his family moved often. It is known that the family was in Jasper for a time. He also mentions living in Chambley. Also, they were in GRAHAM where it appears he stayed some amount of time. His daughter MAMIE was born there as was my grandfather, MATTHEW RALPH. It seems that despite his dissatisfaction with the "Yankee" boss on the Macon & Brunswick, he was happiest there. By 1884 when he wrote to his sister, LOO, he was in GREENS CUT, BURKE COUNTY & a lot had happened in his personal life. He had buried his young daughter who died with typhoid & within a three day period his son was born & buried. Here he was happy with management on CRR & Co (possibly an acronym for the Central Railroad Co.). Yet, he makes clear that he wasn't happy working on the railroads or living in the places he was assigned to, especially Greens Cut where he felt isolated from his neighbors. He was concerned that his children couldn't go to school as they had done in Graham. He had only one son living the rest of the children were girls. It seems he was lacking in the usual chauvinism so prevalent in the era. He was a man ahead of his time, a real liberal for the day for he wanted all the children to receive an education. He worried that the family could not go to church. He had been reared in a strong religious background, Primitive Baptist. Despite the hardships he never lost his faith; yet, it was pettiness that induced him to keep the children out of the local 'Sabath School.' He shows other signs of unrelenting stubbornness. Obviously he was a man attentive to detail, for he describes at length the typography of the section where he was responsible for laying track. Likewise, he is prone to being critical. He makes note that the local folk are not as attentive to their farms as they should be; therefore, the farms are not as profitable as is possible with good management. Unlike his father, he didn't speak often about his children & never by name. Still, without comment he did allow MAMIE demonstrate her abilities as she wrote her entertaining note. He speaks with obvious, if reserved, pride about MARTHA, whom he calls BABE & the children going to town & earning $20.00. From Greens Cut in September 1883 he writes the last of the letters. Still working with the CRR & CO, he is pack & ready to move to AUGUSTA the next morning. The family is visiting with BABE's father. By 1887 WM. was in Florida where his daughter, SUSAN ELDORA LILLIAN, aka LILLIE was married. When she died in childbirth or shortly after in 1890 he buried the third of his five children & his only grandchild. BABE died in 1902. In 1907 he applied for CSA pension of $5.00 per month. In 1908 he died & was buried in Obrien, Florida. Like many other Southerners who lived in his time & fought to live through the Civil War & survive Reconstruction, WM's life is a litany of rapid change, personal loss & frustration. Despite that scenario he was deeply religious & was a self sacrificing, dependable family man. I have the utmost respect for him & deeply admire his perseverance.