Notes:  The 1860 election is interesting.  The
Republicans nominated Lincoln on the third ballot over
front runner William Seward.  The Democrats were divided
over the slavery/states rights issues and nominated
Stephen A. Douglas.  Southern Democrats who called
themselves Union Democrats nominated John C.
Breckenridge.  And yet another group who called
themselves Constitutional Union Party nominated John
Bell. The Republicans united behind Lincolm and they
Democrats were splintered into three factions,
representing three geograpic regions.  

This map will give you an idea of how the voting went
http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/elections/maps/1860.gif.

We know the outcome.  Suffice it to say that had the
Democrats been united it would have been a very different
race.

French - Hiram French, Pond Town from 1853 to 1858 when
he bcame the first clerk of Superior Court of Schley Co.

Brown - see previous letter

Schley Cty Geo  March 23 1861 Brother David Yours and Lucinda's letter was received on last Saturday which I was glad to receive. It takes letters three weeks after they are mailed to come or go if not delayed.  We do not get the news until three weeks after it has transpired therefore we should write weekly. We have the privilige of the U.S. postage yet a while but it will not be long before we will have to pay ten cents postage.  The reason why I have not written to you sooner is that I have been busily engaged planting corn for this last week and as I am planting on the level system this year it required my immediate attention to keep the rows on a level.  I have got about one hundred and twenty acres of planted and about twenty acres more to plant yet.  I broke our corn land and half of our cotton land with scooters square pointed twelve inches long.  I have got about 20 acres of cotton land to bed, it has been broken with scooters well.  The other which was broken with scooters is bedded.  We will not plant but about seventy acres of cotton this year.  I want to make a plenty of corn which I think we will.  The land is well prepared and I think we will also make more cotton than we ever have because I have prepared the land better than ever before.  I feel like I am going to make a good crop this year.  There is something that prompts me on and seems to tell me to push forward which encourages me.  I cannot tell how it will terminate.  I have much confidence in it that I do not mind making an effort towards it.  Good many farmers are using guano only experimenting with I came very near getting some.  If it proves well this year next I get some and use it scientifically. I have got to be a little scientific in farming. Last if it had not have been for the hail I think we should have twice the cotton we did make we only made fourteen bales averaging five hundred pounds.  I do not think cotton could be injured by hail any worse than that was.  I have got some manure to put on our cotton land and I am going to lay off the rows with a scooter then in that furrow with a shovel so as to get the namure where it will not be worked out. You would like from some other topic I reckon but I am better posted on farming and politics than anything and do not know much about them.  I saw in the paper not long since that Owen Willis was dead.  I cannot tell you much about Monroe(county?) as I have no correspondent in that direction.  You hear most of the news through William Murphey .   The war excitement was almost died out but soon after Lincoln's inauguration there was great excitment it was considered a declaration of war but since then the proceedings of U.S. Congress wears a peaceful appearance.  It is not too late yet for war. I understood that the Buena Vista company was ordered to Pensacola (Fort Pickens) but I think it a false report.  Mrs. Carters eyes are very bad.  I think they will go out she suffers a great deal.  I do not think she cannot stand it much longer. Billie Kelly's leg at times pains him very much.  We thought it was going to rise at his knee for a while but it is better now. All the rest of the family are well.  Pa keeps up finely for old age. Tell Lucinda that Amanda is having a carpet wove which I think looks very well for a domestics carpet--she has torn up all the rags.  I accidently set some of them on fire this morning. Tell all the children howdy and I think of them often.                                                                                 Yours indeed                                                                                         Charlie

Schley Cty. Geo. Apr 12th 1861   Brother David I believe I wrote to you last but as it takes a letter so long to go I will write without waiting for an answer.  The reason why I have not written sooner was that the latter part of last week Warren Battle's mill dam broke and I was a seining.  We caught more fish than I ever saw at one sight before.  The first day I got a trout that weighed eight pounds and a half and so many pirch(perch) as the negroes could not eat at three meals.  The second day I got a trout that weighed about eight pounds and as many pirch(perch) as the day before. I expect there was two thousand pounds (of) fish caught since the dam has broken.  Warren Battle is building one of the finest mills in South Western Georgia.  He will have it ready to grind by the middle of May or first of June.  I have got one of the best fish ponds in Georgia.  I put 400 or 500 fish in it out of Battle's pond but I think most of them are dead though i can see a few live ones. Wheat crops never looked more promising than they do now, from all parts of Georgia the same tale comes that the wheat crop is excellent.   The war excitement is still prevailing.  We are listing (listening) every day to hear that the war has commenced at Pensacola. There was fifteen companies passed through Macon enroute to Pensacola. There is now 218 companies in Georgia which could whip half of the north and they are still making up more companies. If the north does not intend to fight---she is acting very strange by not withdrawing the troops from Forts Sumter and Pickens(Pensacola). I believe the withdrawing the troops from Fort Sumter is all a farce. The Federal Government has been withdrawing the troops from Fort Sumter for the last month and there is no more probability of their withdrawal than there was then. I beleive by acting so  they thought they would get the South off of her watch then they would come down upon her.  All that helps the North from fighting is the Southern bordering states she knows well enough that when the fight begins there those bordering states the most of them will brake lose(loose) the fetters that now bind them to the Federal Government and join with the Conferate States.  Then it will be the greatest nation upon the globe and then we will dare the North to attempt to fight us.  We can then stand our hand with any of them so long as we have cotton on our side. In your last letter you stated that you thought I was a stronger secessionist than you were.  Well I am just this much of a secessionist--that I saw that there was no other remedy for the South but to disrupt the ties that bound her to the Union and assume her independance at all hazards.  If there had been a compromise made or the constitution had been amended so as to satisfied(satisfy) the South, why the North violated the constitution once and she would do it again.  There was no confidence to be placed in her under no consideration.  The North was determined that if she remained in the Union she the North ahving the majority in congress would vote the South out of all her rights.  Indeed there has been no Union between the North and South before the secession movement went into effect. When I get to writing about politics I do not (know) where to stop.   I have just began planting cotton.  I was afraid to begin any sooner for fear of frost--due some of our corn has been bit by frost and the rest of it looks well to the age of it.  I put a new enclosure around it and broke it up well.  We have got a good many vegetables planted.  I planted two bushels of Irish potatoes and Amanda has got the finest English peas I ever saw.  A good garden will pay very well.  This year Mr. Kelly is teaching school near Friendship and has a poor school.  Amanda is very anxious for Billie to go to school to him but Mr. Powell and sister were down there not long ago and said that he his(has) kitchen and smoke house in the same house he lived in.  You know what sort of a man he is. All the family are well.  I will have to close as I have no further time to write.                                             Yours ______                                           Charles Womack

Lumpkin  Stewart County Ga
June No 21  1861

__ D.M. Phillips       At home

Dear friend,

I avail my self at dropin ___ a few lines to let you no (know)
that me & family is well.  Hopin that they may find you enjoyin
the same belesin (blessing).  I received your letter the 15th
of May an (and) was glad to hear hear from you.  All of
Granna(?) family is well.  She sends her best respts (respects)
to you & wife & children.  She sed (said) wantt (want) to see
you all very badly.  We have som(some) sickness hear (here) &
some fever deaths.  Times hear (here) is hard.  Know but it
will be worse next year for we have not had no rain rain in 5
weekes (weeks).  Not a nape(?) to runoff of the eve (eave) of
the house & my corn is a dien (dying) by ___ want a rain.  Corn
is worth $1.50 (smudged), meat 22 cents, flour $12 per bbl. and
coffee 35 cents per lb & I think times is a gettin to be very
hard.  We have _ company in this county.  Peas is worth $2.25
per bushel.  Dave, you must excuse me for not (writing) you
before know (now).  I would have donit (done it) but I hav (!
have) not had no money.  I want yo to send me a way bill in
your next letter.  If I can get of (off) next winter I shall
move out there & I wan(t) you to write to me soon and send me a
pay bill & James M. ses he will come with me.  Dave, I have a
fine boy.  He likes 8 days of 3 months old.  He waise(weighs)
16 1/2 pound & his name is Gorge Washington Morris & if he were
old a nufe (enough) he should go to the war.  James Morris olds
(oldest) boy is gon(e).  He is at Pencicola (Pensacola).  I
received a letter from him last night & he was well & enjoyin
his self some, has plenty to eat.  They have had one fight and
expect a nother in a few days.  I gets a letter from him evry
(every) 2 weeks.  Well, I must come to a clouse (close).  Dave
write to me soon as you get this.  I am yours until death.

John A. Morris

D.M. Phillips

Notes:
This letter by John A. Morris of Stewart county is written to
David Marion Phillips who by this time is thought to be in
Louisiana.  He had lived in Monroe and Marion counties prior to
this time. I had very little success researching this letter.
It would seem that there should be more available as there are
some excellent leads in the letter.  The only Morris'  in
Stewart Co. CSA units all enlisted after the date of this
letter, so I presume James Morris' oldest boy must have
enlisted in another county.  Does anyone know anything on
George Washington Morris?  I did find John A. Morris on the
1850 Stewart census.  Any help appreciated Harris Hill
[email protected]

1850 Stewart Co. census Panhandle district 18 Aug 1850 page 42
47/47  John A. Morris 28 m farmer 1000 SC
          Georgia 17 f GA

Friendship at this time was in Schley Co. in the extreme SW portion of the county. Because of the constantly shifting lines due to county formatations, etc. it was back in Sumter Co. by 1883 and is yet today.

The Billie mentioned would be Wm. Kelley, age 7, shown in the census below and Mr. Kelley, the school teacher was his father. William F. Kelley married Charles' sister Caroline December 19, 1850 in Marion Co. Since Caroline is absent on the 1860 census, one might presume she has died. I have thus far been unable to find a cemetery record. I welcome information on this aspect.

The Amanda that is mentioned is Charles Jr.'s older sister.

That brings us to trying to identifying the addressee of this letter. Charles had other siblings that are not listed in these two censuses, but none of them are named David. So who's Brother David? I believe and will strive to prove that "Brother David" is actually Charles' brother-in-law David Marion Phillips who married Charles' sister Lucinda who married David Phillips August 18, 1840 in Monroe Co. Ga. They moved to Lousiana in about 1860 and are found on the 1870 Lousiana Census index in Claiborne Parish. The family who donated the letters to the Univesity is from Claiborne Parish, La. I welcome any information about this connection.

I would like to thank Roger Womack who provided additional information about the family of Charles Womack. Much of the information shown in the notes above was based on this data. Thank you Roger.

1850 Marion County Census shows the folowing Womack children at home.
Nancy age 32
Amanda age 24
Caroline age 19
Martha age 16
Charles Jr. age 14
Elizabeth(Ann E on 1860) age 11
also in the HH is 
William F. Kelly age 22(school teacher)
William Bailey age 19 student
Henry Bailey age 24 student
 

From the Marion County Patriot dated February 16, 1900

Death of Mr. Womack

Ruth Gray [email protected]
 
Hi Harris:

I shall try to give you some of the info we have
which may in part answer some of the questions
arising in your scrutiny of those letters.

My late husband was a descendant of Charles Womack,
b. 1787-8, and Casandry Benton.  Their daughter,
Lucinda Womack (b. 1821, d. 1896) married David
Marion Phillips (b.1821 in Wilkes Co. GA, married
1840 in Monroe Co, d. 1901 in Claiborne Parish, La).
Both Charles and his son, Charles, wrote letters to
David Phillips.

While trying to research the family of my husband, I
contacted Ruben C. Phillips, then in Haughton, LA.
He sent me copies of some letters received by David
Phillips from Georgia in the 1855 to 1891 period.
He said he had 37 letters which he donated to LA
Tech where his wife (deceased) had taught. The
letters were written in ink, pencil or dye if ink
was not available, and the copies were made rather
carelessly.  I hope I have matched the pages
correctly.

After Civil War service, Charles returned home and
married Elizabeth Murphy in1869.

I tried to learn about the family of William
Phillips and Lucy Johnson who married in 1819 in
Wilkes County, but had little success.  They were
the parents of the David Phillips who married
Lucinda Womack and lived in Claiborne Parish.
William's parents were David Marion Phillips and
Mary Davis who married in Virginia and migrated to
Georgia.  Mary's parents were Jonathan Davis and
Lucy Gibbs.

To help identify names in the letters, daughters of
David and Mary married Thomas Baber, Jesse Wooten,
Edmond Shackleford and Elisha Henderson  and
produced cousins for Charles.        William and
Lucy Phillips are said to have had 6 boys and 5
girls and moved to Monroe Co., then Indian Territory
with little record-keeping, after the death of his
father in 1820.  

Their children of whom I am reasonably certain were:
        David M. m. Lucinda Womack
        Martha Ann m. Joseph Mallory White
        Mary Frances m. James M. White, who worked for Wm. Murphy
        Lucinda m. Wm. R. Murphy, a wealthy planter
        Frankie m. John A. Morris

Children of Charles Womack,( b.1787-8, d. before
1880, he was 83 in 1870) and Casandry Benton as
given to me:

Nancy b. c1818, m. a Powell
Lucinda b. 13 May 1821, m. in 1840 to David M. Phillips
Amanda b. c1826, m. in 1876 to a Little ?  
Caroline b. c1831, m. 1850 to William F. Kelly, a teacher, and died by 1860.Her children, Jimmy, Asa and William, were raised by Charles, Sr.

Martha b. c1834, m. William Parker

Charles b. c1836, m. Elizabeth Murphy in 1869.  He
died in 1900 at home near William's Mill and was
buried at the Hopewell Church cemetery. Seven
Confederate Company comrades bore the remains to the
cemetery. (Source: Marion County Patriot dated Feb.
16, 1900)

Elizabeth (Ann) b. c1839.  The 1900 census shows her living with her  
                        nephew, Wm. Kelly.

We have been trying to ascertain the parents of
Charles Womack, b. 1787-8, and believe he is the son
of Abraham Womack ( who died in Monroe Co at 91 yrs
in 1834) and Judith Minter.  Abraham married a
second time in 1825 to Lucy Moody.

From p.212 of 1805 INFORMATION ON SOME GEORGIA
PIONEERS by Joseph Maddox, 1982:  Abraham Womack,
Franklin Cty, RS, moved to Jones Cty.  s/o Dherwood.
Is this the same Abraham?

Any help with the Womacks would be appreciated!  We
have info on Mordecai Benton and Priscilla Pratt,
the parents of Casandry.  If I can contribute in any
way, please tell me.

Ruth Gray  [email protected]
 
 
Friendship Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Bobby Ware , [email protected]

Survey made 27 September, 2000

Phillips, Charles          4/6/1851     12/13/1934                             
Phillips, David            1864         1949                                   
Phillips, David M.         9/23/1821    11/25/1901                             
Phillips, Evie             1872         1966                                   
Phillips, Hattie Inez      6/28/1898    1/28/1903                              
Phillips, Joseph Coy       4/17/1903    9/17/1905                              
Phillips, Lucinda Womack   5/13/1821    11/17/1896    w/o D.M. Phillips        
Phillips, Mattie           7/6/1854     1/6/1921      w/o Charles Phillips     
Phillips, Nettie           9/17/1872    2/13/1972                              
Phillips, Ola Webb         1898         1978                                   
Phillips, Robert "Bob"     4/30/1855    11/11/1919                             
Phillips, Ruben Carlos     1892                                                
Phillips, William "Billy"  11/11/1848   9/5/1908                               
Phillips, Charles M.       3/14/1892    2/5/1893      s/o Chas.& Mattie Phillips

The deceased was born in Hampton, N. Y. December 2d, 1818. and was in the 57th year of his age at the time of his death. We never thought for a moment that he would have ever taken his own life, as he was a man uniformly cheerful in disposition and not given to melancholy moods. He was a man of fine address, universally popular and highly esteemed. He had been a citizen of Americus since the war, and on two occasions was elected Mayor of the city. He left Americus two or three weeks ago, to accept a position under Col. Jack Brown, in the Revenue office, which position he held at the time of this death. Before his removal to Americus, he served as Clerk of the Superior Court of Schley county until the breaking out of the war, when he resigned and entered the Confederate army as Captain of the "Schley Guards." He also represented Schley county in the Legislature, and was a member of the secession convention.
His remains reached this place on the Sunday noon train from Macon, and conveyed to Ellaville, where they were interred with Masonic honors, a large concourse of friends following the remains to the tomb.
Of his many virtues we have not room to speak. Let his faults rest in his grave.

From an article on the suicide Captain French was a man of rather fine personal appearance. He was at the time of his death about fifty-two years of age, weighed perhaps one hundred and forty-five pounds, had rather a light grayish beard, and light grayish hair. His complexion is fair.

Ida married Jack Eason and she died in Worth county aft 1907. Jack died March 29, 1882. They had no children. Jack and Ida married 8/14/1862, I don't know if it was in Schley county as that is the date on her pension papers I received recently.

---

At home,  March 22nd 1858
Mr. David M. Phillips
 
Dear Sir & friend
 
I have concluded to give you a short epistle by way of
consuming  at least some few of our idle moments in reading
the same.  Well as I have not much to write, as you have
been so recently with us, I commence by saying that we are
all in moderate health, thank the great.  I am and at last
entertain a hope that you and yours are in the enjoyment of
necessary blessings both temporal and spiritual.  I was at
James' Thursday night, found them moderately well.  James
complaining as usual.  He came very near having a hard
spell from going home in the snow from my house, kept him
in bed some little, he is about done planting corn.  Mr.
F.H. Reeves is now very low with Pneumonia, I understand
but little hope for his recovery.  Mrs. Nathan Jones (near
Culloden) died last Thursday, not much sickness that I hear
of--I saw Owen J. Willis, when I was coming home from
James' we were speaking about yours and his trading, and in
the course of conversation, he said that he wanted very
much to have seen you, to apprized you that your grey mare
was not safe for a lady to drive, for said he, if she was
to see an umbrella behind her to a buggy she would be
certain to run away or break something in trying, he also
said that she would not breed, as the man from whom he
traded for her, had tried her again and again, having a
Jack of his own, he also said she was fifteen years old,
these things I only mention for your instruction, and not
for you to speak of again, so as, to jeopardize my name in
any way, no doubt you could have sold your Jack at Culloden
if I had known as much as I now know, to Dr. Timberlake and
perhaps Woodward.  Are you getting mares?  How do you like
your bay mare?  Hamlen I think is well pleased.  I have
traded some six or eight time since you left, but can't yet
trade with James.  I have only planted about thirty acres
of corn.  People generally are planting.  I saw Mr. Merritt
in town he had just returned from your country, he said our
small grain looked much better than in your country, and
that you were not planting so much as we.  Money is yet
scarce, how is it in your country?  Ambrose traded off the
bay mare for a pair of black horses.  I have a bay mare now
of fine size, that I wish you had in place of your young
mule to raise mules from.  She is eight years old, fine
size, good color, a good walker, and plow animal.  If it
was not quite so far I would ride over some evening and
swap with you.  No particular news.  You must write me and
give me a recipe of the ingredients to make the poultice
for felon or whitlow, as I forgot to ask you when out of
the company of the females, supposing from what Lucinda
said there was something not very nice in it.

Give our respects to your family and relatives, also to
inquiring friends if such you meet and receive to yourself
a liberal portion of my best wishes for your prosperity and
happiness in life, your support and comfort in death, and
your final and everlasting salvation in heaven through the
Redeemer.

Very Truly

William R. Murphey

Notes:  relayed by Ruth Gray.  Wm. R. Murphy married Mary
Frances Phillips, who was a sister to David M. Phillips,
who married Charles Womack's sister Lucinda.  The letters
were all donated to Louisiana Tech. Univ. by the Phillips
family.  Copies have graciously been provided to us for
transcription and study by Ruth Gray, whose husband was a
descendant of Charles Womack.

"William Murphy husband of Lucinda Phillips was a wealthy
planter and businessman.  They had 10 children.  Before the
war he had 30 slaves.  He supported the War effort with
supplies and money.  His house was used as a hospital and a
way station for people visiting wounded soldiers.  His sons
were all involved in the battles in Tennessee.  Three of
his sons were wounded, some severely.  His house was
ransacked by the Union soldiers and everything of value was
taken.  He had 175 bales of cotton burned by the soldiers.
He loaned the confederate government 80,000 dollars.  He
was injured very badly when he was speeding in his buggy
and it upset.  He spent several hours alone before someone
came and helped him.  From than on he was crippled and had
to use crutches which he called his sticks.  He was heavily
in debt at the end of the war, but was working to pay off
the debt.  He sold most of his land, except for 350 acres.
He was doing around $100,000 a year selling produce,
fertilizer, buying and selling cotton."

Notes: relayed by Ruth Gray. Wm. R. Murphy married Mary Frances Phillips, who was a sister to David M. Phillips, who married Charles Womack's sister Lucinda. The letters were all donated to Louisiana Tech. Univ. by the Phillips family. Copies have graciously been provided to us for transcription and study by Ruth Gray, whose husband was a descendant of Charles Womack.

"William Murphy husband of Lucinda Phillips was a wealthy planter and businessman. They had 10 children. Before the war he had 30 slaves. He supported the War effort with supplies and money. His house was used as a hospital and a way station for people visiting wounded soldiers. His sons were all involved in the battles in Tennessee. Three of his sons were wounded, some severely. His house was ransacked by the Union soldiers and everything of value was taken. He had 175 bales of cotton burned by the soldiers. He loaned the confederate government 80,000 dollars. He was injured very badly when he was speeding in his buggy and it upset. He spent several hours alone before someone came and helped him. From than on he was crippled and had to use crutches which he called his sticks. He was heavily in debt at the end of the war, but was working to pay off the debt. He sold most of his land, except for 350 acres. He was doing around $100,000 a year selling produce, fertilizer, buying and selling cotton."

---

Georgia Schley County  12th March 1868 Dear Children As I cannot write with pen and ink, I have concluded I would try a pencil.  Our family is in moderate health at present with all friends and acquaintances as far as I know.  Hoping this will find you and yours enjoying a similar blessing. Billy, Asa, and Johnnie Kelly are going to school to a very competent (I think) teacher by the name of Thornton Peacock- -making a very good progress in their studies and Asa the most rapid being much more apt than Billy.   Mr. Powell and Nancy was here Saturday and Sunday, as well as usual.  Mr. {Powell} has lost the sight of his right eye for some two years or more and has had an operation performed upon it by inserting some instrument in the ball of the eye to remove the cataract from it and he has hopes that it may be restored to sight again.   We made a very poor crop last year and the year before and are now buying corn at one dollar and a half a bushel and we have a family of 12 negroes to furnish with bacon and corn.  There are 7 able to work in the field, we furnishing the land and they finding themselves food and give them half they make, paying us for supplies out of their part of the crop. Amanda and Bess are still single and living with me and doing all the cooking and sewing, but hiring the washing, ironing and milking.  Charles is still with {me} and is going to Americus tomorrow if no providential occurance does not prevent {it} and will carry some ( _____ forty hens) as they are woth 50 cents apiece and have some 801 eighty. Amanda says and think{s} 30 or 40 enough for us.  We made last from 3/8 of acre planted in sugar {cane?},  75 gallons of excellent syrup and saved enough to plant half an acre this year an sold 618 stalks at a dollar and ______ a stalk. There is earthly pleasure, would be so gratifying as to see {you} and children once more before I die but my infirmities forbids the hope of doing so as I am not able to go to see you and I cannot expect you and your children to visit us. I entered (81st) year on the 5th day of September last consequently but a short {time?} to live.   Write upon the receipt of this and more often as you have been doing as in all probability this is the last I shall ever write you. Tell Billy and they must {write} to me as be great pleasure to get from them.  And wishing both in this world and that which is {to} come. I remain your affectionate father. D.M. & L Phillips                                 Charles Here is another Womack family letter.  This one is quite sad.  It appears it was written by Charles Womack Sr. to his daughter Lucinda Womack Phillips and her husband David Marion Phillips.  I do not have Charles Sr.'s birth date or death date.  I would bet money he is buried in Marion county near the Schley line but so far the graves have never been located.  Mr. Powell I believe is James I. Powell, huband to Nancy Womack Powell.  If anyone has anything on the people mentioned here, we would like to include it.  Harris.

Schley Cty Geo March 21st 1869 Dear Brother We received Lucinda's letter several days ago and I would have answered it earlier but ____ circumstances were of such nature that I have neglected it until tonight and have a good chance to send it to Americus tomorrow by Mr. Powell & sister.  I have been very busy in preparing for planting.  I am putting both corn and cotton land in excellent order.  I am going to use Peruvian(?) guano and cheap Chesapeke(?) planter(?).  I have not made much money since the war but I am going to make a great effort this year to make some money.  It is getting time I was making something above a living. I am not satisfied at a mere living and I want to make something before I marry for I think itis time I was married _____ ______.  I almost got my consent(?) to marry whenever I find a young lady I think will make a good wife and she will say "yes."  I have received in all several letters from Lizzie Murphey.  She writes a very good letter.  I received a letter not long since from her eight ! pages long.  Her father is merchandising in Barnesville.  Bess and myself expect to visit William Murpheys about the first of April.  Bess will remain up there for a while.  My visit will be short as I cannot remain long from home as my attention will be required at home.  There has been as much bad written that most of (the) farmers are back __ ____.  We have not commenced planting corn yet but will begin tomorrow.  There has been several deaths since Christmas amongst our acquaintances.  Mr. Carter died soon after Christmas and Mrs. Maj. Black about a month ago.  Good many negroes have left this county and it has made labor very scarce.  Some farmers have gotten hands who have large plantations and there will be a good deal of land idle this year.  Farmers are using a great deal of commercial manure(?) to make up the deficiency for labor.  Some are making as much as two bales of cotton per acre in Georgia.  What do you think of that?  The jury law of Georgia has been chang! ed.  They now expect competent and intelligent jury men for the jury & good many are thrown out.  They draw the Ggand jury & Petit jury men from the name list.  There will be a factory at Americus.  The company speaks of buying land of Mr. Powell to build the factory on thirty acres at thirty dollars per acre.  Americus has become to be right smart of a little city and is still improving.  Maj. Black has traded the Joe (?) White place to one of the Crittendens.  He got two acres for one.  I was sorry to hear of Billie's misfortune, hope he has actively recovered before this.  Jimmie is doing very well.  Billie, Asa and Jimmie send their love to Billie ___ _____ ____ and all the children.  It seems that you and Lucinda retaliate by not writing when we delay.  All join in sending their love to all the family.  I expect this dull scrawl will try your patience.  Do not forget to write soon.  We are always gald to hear from any of you. Truly your brother Chas. Womack   This letter is from Charles Womack to David M. Phillips in Louisiana.  Several interesting items are mentioned here.  The first one is Charles' desire to marry.  He mentions Lizzie Murphey in this respect.  I can find no evidence that Charles ever married Elizabeth Murphey as was once actually reported in the presentation of these letters.   One of the prior letters of Wm. Murphey (5 April 1869)speaks of a visit from Charles and Elizabeth Womack.  I believe this to be Anne Elizabeth Womack, Charles' sister who is a couple times referred to as Bess.  I think that is the visit spoken of in this letter. Elizabeth Murphey (b. 16 May 1846 d. 16 Dec. 1884) did marry James L. Hunt.  She is buried in the Murphey family cemetery and her stone is inscribed as the wife of James L. Hunt.  A Murphey family history indictes that she and James Hunt had three children:  Reid, Comye, and J. Lawrence.  Although not impossible I think it unlikely she married Chas. Womack.   Equally frustrating is the fact that I cannot find who Chas. Womack married.   Schley census records indicate his wife was Lucy F.(age 33 in 1880).  The obit of their daughter Sallie refers to her as Mrs. Fannie Womack.  I have been able to find no marriage record in Schley county for these two.  Help appreciated. Charles and Lucy F.'s children were:  Sallie C., James Luther, Rebecca, Charles Jr. David Phillips and Lucinda Womack's children:  William, Charlie, James, Robert, Lucy Johnson, Frances Amanda, Martha C., and David Marion. Does anyone know of a cheap crop called Chesapeke, or something similar? Lest anyone think I have done all of this research myself, I would like to set the record straight.  I have not.  I've done a little and many of the conclusions are mine, but the bulk of the research has come from Ruth Grey and Freddy Crump who are descendants of the people represented in these letters and much, much new material was contributed by Shanna English, director of the OLD JAIL MUSEUM & ARCHIVES, in Barnesville, Ga.  I thank you all.

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