HISTORICAL NEWSLETTER
By Pauline Hines
The special interest now of the Newton county Historical Commission is the up-coming dedication a Historical Marker for the town of Bon Wier. The Historical Newsletter will present the history of Bon Wier in this issue and later issues. Bon Wier has several phases of its history. Each newsletter will tell about one period. The first will be about the very earliest settlement which could be called the “River Period”.
History of Bon Wier, Texas
Site of successive Sawmills
Bon Wier is located in the timberland of Southeast Texas, on the banks of the Sabine River. It has been the site of numerous sawmill operations and can truly be called “a sawmill town”. Its history is somewhat different from that of the “big” sawmill towns, sometimes called “company” towns, which existed just as long as there was timber to cut. Some of those towns would contract for a certain number of years and would manage to cut all the timber within those years. Bon Wier has always been a small town, but its history is of sawmilling----both in vocations and avocations. Even its name comes from the names of two lumber company officials. It was named after B. F. Bonner and R. W. Wier, officials of the Kirby Lumber Company-thus BON WIER.
The area has not always been called Bon Wier. Its history dates back to the time the first settlers were permitted to come into the Texas territory. Even before that Indians were living there. Near the town are several Big Indian Mounds that are still intact. It may have had its beginning when W. H. (William Hawley) Stark and his wife, Elizabeth Zachary and their son rode horse-back from Ohio to Texas. Note by Ruby Boyett Burkett: We know that William Hawley Stark did not come from Ohio to Texas. Instead he came from New York. In early 1816, he along with his parents, Daniel R. and Nancy Hawley Stark and sister and younger brother came to Louisiana, probably by boat and settled in West Baton Rouge Parish. The family settled on the West bank of the Mississippi River in a community called Port Allen. Around 1830, he was married to Elizabeth Zachary and they became the parents of Daniel L. in 1833 and Samuel Hawley in 1836. They then moved on to Texas. He established his new home by erecting a log house, a log barn and clearing a small section of land for farming. He became owner of the land later when a League of Land was granted to him by the government. Evidently there were other widely scattered families in the area. He built a small ferry for his own use in crossing the river and it became a well known crossing, known as Stark’s Ferry and later, when steamboats plied the river, as Stark’s Landing. It was a major port of call. He built a large warehouse and this landing became a busy place as a shipping point as people came to send products down the river and to purchase the merchandise which came up the river on the boats. This type of life was one of great seclusion. Stark found crude earthen furnaces the Indians had used for smelting silver ore. At another time, an Indian brought him a piece of ore and told him that it was nearby but about 700 feet underground. One story says there is a lost silver mine near Starks place. A neighbor once came to the field where Stark was plowing and showed him a large piece of ore strained through with silver, but refused to tell Stark any more than it was found near his farm. Many rumors have arisen about how the farmers kept their money and have given rise to a lot of “buried treasure” stories. The speculation continues as time goes on.
Bon Wier has also been considered, a “river town”. Vast amounts of timber have been sent down the Sabine River by rafts, often the owner going along and walking the entire return trip from Orange. It was a landing for steamboats, a point from which logging by rafts went down the river, a ferry crossing and today (1940) there is much traffic by boat up and down the river as well as many fishing and recreational sites built on the banks of the river, one being Sabine Sands. Some river towns vanished with the decline of the river traffic, but some like Bon Wier received new impetus with the coming of the railroads and sawmills which cut and hauled away the virgin forests of east Texas.
On July 4, 1931, on the banks of the Sabine River, some 15,000 people gathered for a big barbecue and celebration of the Bon Wier bridge opening. Such notables as Governor Sterling of Texas and O. K. Allen, of the Louisiana Highway Commission were there. Most of Bon Wier was present and the boy scouts of the area assisted in making the program one of the most successful in the history of Texas. The bridge was a big superstructure and served for some 50 years until a new low-sided bridge replaced it in 1981 with an opening ceremony on June 10, 1981.
historical News letteR
Newton County News Oct. 20, 1994
What a wonderful Saturday, October 8, 1994 was. If you were not at the Dedication Ceremony for the Texas Historical Marker for Bon Wier last Saturday, you missed one of the most delightful occasions of the year. The emotions one felt was the pride, friendliness and love the Bon Wier people showed about having the marker placed in their town. Thanks Bon Wier!
The NCHC wished to thank all who came to the dedication on the day of October 8, 1994, early in the morning, in spite of the heavy rain that reached this area. The Baptist Church served as a place of refuge and hospitality and the day was an enjoyable affair.
The Texas Historical Commission authenticated the marker, the NCHC researched and sponsored the dedication, the Piney Woods Foundation of Lufkin provided the funding for the Marker , the Bon Wier people furnished the hospitality as well as help in all other phases of the marker process.
Bonnie Smith, Chairman of NCHC, served as Master of Ceremonies of the program which included piano music by Joyce Hall , vocal music by the Pentecostal Church, Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, address by Edward P. Hughes, speeches by residents, unveiling of the marker by Lena Hughes, acceptance of the marker by County Judge, Lon Sharver, invocation by Rev. Harold Glen Burks, benediction by James Hughes and reception by Baptist ladies- Joyce Hall, Connie Hughes, Ruby Inman, Mary Johnson, Bell Mize, Robbie Roy, Ozelle Thomas and Lena Hughes.
Interesting things happen during the process of dedicating a marker. The program, which was printed by Bobby Miller NCHC member, was a picture of the front porch of the Hughes Store with a man standing on the porch. The man standing there was present at the dedication and recognized himself. He was S. F. Hughes. He also said the store opened on October 8th which was his birthday.
None of this was known when the dedication was planned for October 8th. How much luckier can we get? Notation by Ruby Boyett Burkett: After speaking with Maxine Rashall Hughes, widow of S. F. Hughes, I learned that it was Mrs. Susie Newton Hughes, wife of Preston Hughes whose birthday was on October 8th the day the Hughes store opened----still an unusual happenstance.
memories of bon wier, Texas
1920’s-1930s and early 1940s
By Ruby Ray Boyett (Burkett)
I was born in Fawil and lived most of the first twenty years of my life in Bon Wier. Ironically, no one bothered to tell me that one of the first inhabitants of Bon Wier and the founder of Belgrade was my GG-grandfather William Hawley Stark. Why did I not know this important part of my ancestry---I will never know. There is no one left to ask. There are only two of us left, my younger sister Minnie Merle and I so at eighty three years, I am the oldest in the George Boyett family and there is one male in the Johnny Boyett family who is eighty five with three younger siblings.
I am the only one of the older generation of Boyetts left to leave any of the Boyett family history so I am desperately trying to remember as much as I can to leave in genealogy and story form for my family and those who come after me. Floyd, son of Eugene, along with his wife Bobee have worked diligently with me in the last three or four years and the three of us have amassed a wealth of information which he will continue to pass on to relatives who don’t have the information and to future generations as well. Floyd keeps telling me to write everything I can remember and that is a tall order but I’m trying.
My life in Bon Wier began soon after I was born in Fawil on January 7, 1922, the second child of George Peavy Boyett and Arcadia Imelda Dougharty Boyett. They already had a son Eugene Peavy who was eight years old. My first memories were of living in the Kirby Camp where my daddy was employed as a log cutter for the John Henry Kirby Lumber Co. Sawing logs was a hard job but that was one of the principle ways of earning a living in those early days. Cross cut saws and axes were the tools of trade and while some of the men knew how to keep those tools in tip-top condition, my daddy became an expert saw filer and men would come from miles around to have him file their saws. They had learned that a cross cut saw, filed by George Boyett made their work much easier. Now in the year 2005, Earl Jackson Boyett Jr. has one of George Boyett’s cross cut saws and my son David has his saw filing tools which are in a special leather carrying case made by a shoe repair man who had a shop in Newton. Up to the time I was married and left home, my dad had a saw-filing rack in a grove of trees at our house on the Newton highway on the out shirts of Bon Wier,where he continued to ply his trade.
While we lived in the Kirby Camp things were going well for our little family of four. We were the proud owners of a Model T Ford touring car and my mother was the principle driver—she loved her car and used it to transport friends and neighbors to church services. It also came in good play for visits to Fawil to help care for Grand-mother Maud Lewis Dougharty.
Grand-mother had for years been plagued by a kidney ailment and some form of rheumatic disease. Early on in mothers and dads marriage they had taken her to their home hoping to get medical help for her and at times she seemed to have improved, but the problems always recurred. At this time in 1926, it seemed that there would be no cure---she was totally disabled and spent most of her time in bed.
I remember her lying on a cot in the hallway between the main rooms of their home while she embroidered ducks on checked gingham dresses Mother had sewn for me. While she embroidered, I rubbed her legs which were always badly swollen because of fluid retention. Later on in the course of her illness her condition became so severe that she couldn’t lie down so had to sit in a chair most of the time and the skin on her legs actually split and they had to keep them wrapped because of the leaking fluid. Although I was only four years old, I knew something was dreadfully wrong with her and when we were there, the atmosphere was not cheerful---there was instead a prevailing feeling of sadness.
While my Mother was so faithfully helping to care for her Mother she was also preparing for the birth of her third child. I was unaware of this at the time---being only four years old I was too young to understand what was going to happen.
On March 16, 1926 Earl Jackson Boyett joined our family. Our family of four was now five. There were times when other members of Mothers family came to live with us. At one time it was her sister Sarah Ella Herford and her two children Robert Lee and Edith Rae, at other times her brothers. Our house was small so it was really crowded but somehow Mother made room for them. I can look back on those difficult times and see what a remarkable woman my Mother was.
I’m sure it was my Mother who planned a party for Grand-mothers last birthday on March 12, 1926. Her lady friends were invited and a picture was taken and I am so thankful for that one picture we have of her with the old rail fence visible in the background. Atop that fence is where I mastered the yo-yo when, after her death, we moved in to live with Grand-father.
On November 10, 1926 Maud Lewis Dougharty passed from her life of suffering here on earth and went to a place where there would be no pain, suffering or heart ache. She was fifty two years old. She was buried in the Davis Cemetery in Fawil.
I never realized how much my Mother missed her until recently, when I began reading letters written by Mother to a pen-pal in Kentucky, letters given to me by the pen-pal, Tola Wheeler after my Mothers death. An excerpt from a letter reads: Dec. 9, 1927
Mother has been dead one year the 10th of last month and I must say this has been the longest year of my life. It seems I miss her worse. When I get her off my mind then suddenly, think, of her being gone, I am almost breathless. Of course, I don’t shed tears for her now because I know I must brace up and make the best of it I can. The best I can express it, I just smother down. Of course no one knows it but me. How sad that I was too young to know my Mother needed someone she could confide in during her time of grief. How could I have possibly known---I was only four.
Our little family of four had changed and this was just the beginning. From that time on the changes came very quickly. The depression hit our nation and East Texas and the timber industry was really hit hard. We lost our car, family members moved in with us when there was barely room for our own family, then, Kirby began letting men go. My dad was one of those who lost his job. From that time it was down-hill all the way. We lost our car but somehow ended up with an open truck which would come in handy for the move we would soon be making as soon as Daddy could find work in another logging area. Several other families were relocating and it happened that two of those along with our family would be moving to the same small community in Jasper County, we being the first. Next was the Bob and Ruth Jones family with daughters, Zelma and Marie, my special friends. Then the Miller family came with children Dorothy and Charles. Our houses were side by side. Our sojourn in Beech Grove was short and we soon found our way back to Bon Wier. While there our baby sister Minnie Merle was born on July 21, 1928.
Very soon we would find it necessary to move to Fawil to live with Grand-father Dougharty and his three sons and young daughter, Christene who was six years older than I. What a large family my Mother had to take care of! Only God knows how she was able to do it. While there, I entered the first grade in the little two room school. My teacher was Miss Clara Williams from Newton and I thought she was the most beautiful young lady I had ever seen. She was wonderful—so sweet and caring. She had a way of making we country kids feel like we were special. God knows, we needed that! Others also came to live with us while we were living at Grandpas house. Only those who lived through the “Great Depression” know what hardships we endured in those difficult years. Grand-father Dougharty decided to sell his home to his brother, William Patrick “Bee” Dougharty and so back to Bon Wier we went. Now that he had no home, it meant he would be dividing his time between his married children and of course there were still two unmarried sons and the young daughter---not a good situation. It seemed that most of the time they were at our house since mother was the eldest daughter although there were times when they went to Jasper County to spend time with Aunt Clara and Uncle Benton Morgan. Later he did get another little place at Fawil where he settled down for awhile.
There was still not a chance of our owning a home although my mother dreamed of, one day, building one. I watched her draw plans for that home, unfortunately it never materialized. We lived here and there in substandard rental housing down through the years---the “Old Preston Hughes store” called “the barrel house”, the “Old Jenkins store”, “mill houses”, along with others who were suffering through the depression, just as we were. Actually, we lived in several different apartments in the Hughes store during life in Bon Wier and I associate different events with the times we were in specific apartments.
The front apartment was the larger one so that was the one most coveted. It faced the Santa Fe Railroad tracks, had a large front porch and was a bit more private so when we were able to move into it we felt we were privileged. While we were living in that one, Daddy and Gene both had jobs and we were faring a little better. Dad’s niece, Jimmie Singletary was working in Finke’s store in Elizabeth, Louisiana. She could buy groceries at better prices there so Mother would send a money order and list by mail and in a day or two our groceries would be at the depot right close to our house. All of our neighbors were in the same position we were, just living from day to day so as soon as our groceries were brought from the depot, we knew what to expect. Here they came with their cups, bowls and other containers tucked under their aprons. My Mother never said no---so we shared. Daddy had built a pantry in the corner of the kitchen and that’s where the groceries and other items were kept. My mother bought green coffee beans and roasted them in the oven of her wood-burning stove. I can almost smell that wonderful aroma as it wafted over the neighborhood. Oooh, it smelled so good because she knew exactly how to do it just right. Some of the neighbors over-roasted theirs and the coffee was terrible---had a scorched taste. The odors coming from their kitchens were not good.
There were no locks on the doors--- we knew everyone and many were our kinfolk.
One night, I was awakened by a noise which I knew was coming from the kitchen. I was panic stricken and debated what to do and finally decided to wake Mother and tell her I was cold. Why I decided that, was a stupid thing to do because it was in the middle of summer and with no electric fans, it was hot—besides, we were sleeping under mosquito bars which made it hotter. Mother knew I wasn’t cold and told me to go back to sleep, which I finally managed to do, but was awakened again when whomever it was in the pantry made a horrible noise getting out of the house. Daddy jumped out of bed but the culprit had jumped off the high porch and made his getaway. All he left were his tracks. Poor guy didn’t get any food for all his trouble. We never knew who it was.
Our Own Three Little Pigs Story
Another story I associate with that apartment was that Gene came into possession of “three little pigs”. These little pigs didn’t build houses for themselves made of straw, wood and brick and there was no wolf to huff and puff and blow their houses down ---they lived in a pen which Gene built for them. He was trying to decide what their names would be when he came upon the idea to name them for the three Love sisters, Sallie, Minnie and Ida.
Later, Sallie would become our aunt by marriage to Mother’s brother, Charlie Dougharty. I’m not sure whether the women ever knew the pigs bore their names. The “three little pigs” grew to be the “three big pigs” and they tore their house down so Gene could no longer keep them in the pen. I’m not sure, but think he sold Sallie and Ida (probably to buy food) so Minnie was the only one left. She, like the other livestock in the neighborhood ran loose and would come up the steps onto the porch and even into the house but, of course she wasn’t allowed to remain in the house. Mother and I saw to that. One day Minnie had crossed the track, which she had done many times before. This time was her last! People who witnessed what happened said it seemed she tried to outrun the train to get across and back home. It knocked her off the track but she was so determined to get home she got up and tried again. This time she was fatally injured. So, that was the end of “the three little or big pigs”. We children were sad and for a while, we cried about Minnie’s demise.
Going To School in Bon Wier
I entered the second grade at the Bon Wier School. It had four rooms and an auditorium with two little ante-rooms on either side of the stage. I t was a brick building—a big improvement over the Fawil School. Mr. and Mrs. Nations were there at the time, he also being the principal. They were such wonderful people, an older couple who loved the teaching profession. I believe they had taught at the old school and were probably instrumental in the building of the new school.
One day during lunch or recess, Mr. Nations and I were engaged in a discussion outside when Ada Thompson joined us. I’ll never forget her statement to Mr. Nations. These were her exact words, “Mr. Nations, I knew my lesson yesterday, today and tomorrow, to which he replied, “well Ada that’s good”. For Ada that would have been very good.
Most of the teachers were from Newton but there would be one Bon Wier native
along with the wife whom he had met while he was away at college who would come back home to live and the two of them would be an important addition to the Bon Wier school faculty as well as influential residents of the community for the remainder of their lives. They were Burton and Faye Hughes. She was among one of the best teachers I ever had, although every one of my teachers were very good and I appreciate every thing they taught me. What I learned from them has helped to make me the person I am today. Some of them were Willie Mae Daniels, Verda Adams, Lyda Wilson, along with Mr. Burton and Miss Faye. I can’t omit Mr. Hardy Powell who at first intimidated not only me but other students also. He is the one who forced me to do my first public speaking before the Bon Wier P.T.A., the subject, The Women’s Suffrage Movement.
The Exodus from Texas to New Mexico
When the depression was at its worst and there was no work to be had in Bon Wier, several families including some who lived in the “old store” had heard there were jobs out west in New Mexico. I’ll never forget the day they loaded as many of their earthly belongings as they could get into the back of a truck then they piled in and left Bon Wier behind. It was a sad day to watch our friends and neighbors leaving their homes, looking for greener pastures. Many of us cried as they drove out of sight. Unfortunately most of them had to return to Bon Wier because the stories they had heard were false. There was no work in New Mexico. One of the men, after getting his wife and children back home, decided to go farther west so left them, never to return. Many years later, after giving up on learning what happened to him, they finally were informed that he had gone to the far northwestern states and had been killed in a logging accident and was buried there. His son Raymond Fairley, finally found his gravesite.
The Santa Fe Depot Goes Down In Flames
One night we were sleeping soundly, when Daddy awakened us saying, “Melder you and the kids wake up, the depot is on fire. We jumped out of bed and watched a well known Bon Wier landmark, the Santa Fe Depot go down in flames. We had a front row seat right from our front porch. It had been an important part of Bon Wier for so many years and we would miss it but it was soon replaced with a railroad box-car which served the purpose but Bon Wier would never be the same. I can still see the familiar cart which graced all depots in those days. It was that cart onto which all freight was loaded as it was taken off the train, to be taken into the depot or from which people retrieved anything they had ordered from Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Ward or other mail order catalogues. When my brother Gene married Pauline Burkett, they ordered their first bedroom suite from a mail order house and I remember going to the depot with her almost every day until it finally arrived. She thought it would never come but it finally did and she was so happy. Floyd and his wife Bobee now have the suite in their country home on the old Silsbee-Kountze Highway. It is now seventy years old.
Country Children Become Actors and Actresses
Another of the important aspects of having gone to school in Bon Wier was the interest the teachers had in drama. It began in Elementary School and continued on through High School and when the High School students had to transfer to Newton High School, they still stressed drama. We country kids didn’t have a lot of self-confidence and I think the teachers recognized that drama was just what we needed to boost something that we sadly lacked.
As long as I attended school there, I participated in some very good plays all the way through Elementary and Junior High and I loved every minute of it. Mrs. Faye Hughes produced some of the best dramas I’ve ever seen---and I’ve seen some good ones on the college level.
One which I will never forget was an Elementary School one. Miss Willie Mae Daniels and another teacher (I think Mrs. Childers) came to our house with material for the dress I would wear in the play. My Mother sewed all our clothes, even so my dresses were not fancy. The material, as I remember it, was pale blue voile and I couldn’t believe I was going to be the proud wearer of such a beautiful dress. They told her how they wanted the dress to be done. It was to be an a-line skirt, covered with small ruffles, from waist to hem. They even brought ribbon for a sash—it was pink or rose shade. Oh, it was beautiful and I felt like a little “Princess”. How I wish I still had that dress!
I had been cast as a little girl, lost in a forest and an elf was going to find and awaken me where I slept on a bed of moss. I think I was supposed to have been the star but that is not what happened. In trying to get around trees to get to me, Jesse Cochran (the elf), stole the show when he very loudly exclaimed, “Well, how in the world am I going to get around”! The audience broke into laughter and of course I laughed too and Jesse had suddenly become the star. So much for that one!
Again in Junior High, I was at first cast in a lead but for some reason it was decided I should play another character and that was fine with me. I was cast as a “little vamp” who was trying to snare the leading man. When it was evident I was having no luck, I turned my attentions to a “seedy little guy” who was a photographer. His suit happened to be too small for him, his pants were too short and so were his coat sleeves and he really looked the part. When I saw I was having no luck with him, I flew into a “crying, screaming tantrum, threatening to sue him for breach of promise” and without realizing what I was doing, stole the show. No one who knew me, and they all did, couldn’t believe I had played the part, that well, nor could I. Well sometimes you lose---sometimes you win.
The Bon Wier Post Office and Miss Myrtie
For as long as I can remember, Mrs. Myrtie Gilchreist was the Post Mistress. Her husband John carried the out-going mail to the depot on horseback and when the train came in, he was there to pick up the mail which he delivered back to his wife. She then separated it and placed it in little bins. I’m not sure whether the bins had names on them but she must have had some system. I would always stop by the Post Office on my way home from school---it was in a small room on the end of their front porch so she could go ahead with her daily household chores and still take care of the office. At times she would be sitting in the “dog trot” churning butter-
milk. When I began to open the gate, she would, without missing a beat, say “no mail for you today Ruby Lee”. My name wasn’t Ruby Lee, it was Ruby Ray but to her I was Ruby Lee. At least, she had saved me from having to climb the high steps onto the porch. She was a wonderful Christian lady---a tiny little thing but always busy and the first to go to the aid of those in the neighborhood who fell ill. When one of the children became the victim of any of the childhood illness, we could be assured that Miss Myrtie would be bringing buttermilk and berry juice. That was her special ministry. I was the recipient of her good deeds many times and will always remember seeing her trudging down those sandy and dusty roads in Bon Wier, delivering the good works of her tiny little hands. The“Good Samaritan”, I would say, because that is exactly what Miss Myrtie was! Finally Mr. Robert Hext became the Post Master and the office was located next to the T. A. Campbell General Store.
The Rashall Family and the Ribbon Cane Syrup Mill
I’ll never forget the Rashall syrup mill—it was a big attraction in the fall of the year. Being the only one right in the community of Bon Wier, although there were others in the out-lying areas, it was the most visited one. I, remember well, telling my Mother, “I’ll be late coming home from school this afternoon. I’m going to the Rashalls. Bertha Mae, one of the Rashalls daughters was one of my best friends, so some of the other girls and I would walk home with Bertha and watch the syrup making procedure and perhaps get a swig of the cane juice, worm juice and all, and maybe a taste of the finished product. Then we’d head for home, ready to do our home work and get ready for another school day.
Chills and Fever—Grove’s Chill Tonic and Three Sixes—Uhgg!
Forever etched in my memory are the times when so many of the children in Bon Wier suffered through those dreaded illnesses. We were so sick and the only treatment available was Groves Chill Tonic and Three Sixes. I hope I never see a bottle of either medication and I probably won’t---maybe an empty bottle, I could manage to look at and I understand bottle collectors may still have some. I remember that dark green liquid which was the Grove’s Tonic, which, when shaken up was full of white particles, as bitter as gall. Three Sixes was really no better but perhaps went down a little easier because it was a thinner liquid. I’m still not sure of the medicinal value of either but maybe it did help some. Our parents thought so anyway. I remember going to school one day and staying home the next with chills and a high fever—somehow we’d drag ourselves out of bed and go to school the next day even if we had to use our coat to make a pallet on the ground and lie down during recess. We had to go to school! Oh, well---just memories and we did live through it! I’m still here at eighty three.
The Sabine River Comes to Bon Wier
It had never occurred to me that the Old Sabine would ever over-flow it’s banks and make it’s way into Bon Wier—but it surely did! We’d had a lot of rain but thought nothing of it. When the water began to rise, the creeks began to over-flow and the water was coming on toward Bon Wier, most folks still weren’t concerned. Some of the women, my mother included, decided to take their kids and go down to see the rising water. We played along the way with not a care in the world. None of us had seen anything like this before and it was exciting. We made it as far as Uncle Bill Reed’s little gas station and that’s where our fun ended. He came out, waving his arms and said, “You women get out of here and get those kids back to Bon Wier as fast as you can, that river can come up so fast and wash every one of you right off this highway”. Sure enough, before we got back to Bon Wier, the water was rushing swiftly across the road and water was everywhere. When I think of it now I can hardly believe our mothers let us play in that contaminated and germ filled water. It’s a wonder we didn’t all die. That was the only time such a thing happened while I lived there but in later years, I understand it did happen at other times.
Sawmills and Log Trucks
There was always a saw-mill in Bon Wier in the depression years and for many years after. The owners were many and there is no way I could identify all of them
But some of the ones I remember best are the Williams Family from Newton, Mr. Satterwhite, husband of one of the Williams daughters, the elderly Mr. Channing from Orange and at different times, some of the Hughes family. I may mention others later. At the time those mentioned were operating the mill, my brother Gene
was an employee, having had to leave school to help support our family. At times daddy also worked at the mills but not as often as Gene did. Somehow Gene had learned the art of block-setting and there were not many who were able to perform that function. That was to his advantage but also not good when the orders for lumber were so pressing and he was the only one who could keep the mill running. I, well remember the time when he had to work so many successive shifts with no one to relieve him, that when he finally had a chance to come home, he made it as far as the front porch where he promptly fell asleep. He hadn’t gotten anything to eat so dad tried and tried to awaken him so he could eat something but finally had to pick him up and carry him to the bed. He slept until the next morning.
I think he was about seventeen when that incident happened, maybe eighteen. He was a special son and brother---he put food on the table, when otherwise we wouldn’t have had any. Gene also drove log trucks and on one occasion he was driving a truck, loaded with logs and several men, including our dad were passengers. As he drove onto the Davis Creek Bridge, it began to tilt to one side. The truck had no cab so the men began to jump from the truck on the high side. As the truck went over, Gene made his escape as the others had done. There were no injuries to any of the men.
The Caughrons Come to Bon Wier
There had been a tiny little Pentecostal Church in Bon Wier for years, with just a few faithful members—down by the swimming hole on Caney Creek. I went to Sunday school there, and in the summer our Card Class was held outside, being taught by Sister Etta Stark. The congregation was small and I don’t remember a regular pastor unless Brother Mason Stark was. The Rashall family was members and I’m sure Sister Hester Stark. There must have been others but I just can’t recall who they were. My mother was a Pentecostal but circumstances were such that she was unable to attend regularly. One Sunday, I was going to take my baby sister Minnie Merle to Sunday school. We got dressed, each in our one good outfit. To take the short-cut I would have to carry her across a narrow board walk across a pond. Big mistake! About half-way across, I lost my footing and into the pond we went. I was so disappointed and embarrassed! I cried and cried. Years later a building was constructed near the old Jenkins store. It was still a small church but things changed when Brother Earl W. Caughron , his wife Johnnie Ruth and daughters Agnes Ruth and Billie Joyce drove into town. That was one of the best things that ever happened to Bon Wier. Their presence revolutionized the Pentecostal Church in Bon Wier and it became well known in the area. The building was enlarged, new members were added. Under the Caughrons, and despite the depression, the church flourished for many years and when the time came for them to leave Bon Wier, the whole community was devastated. Preston Hughes made the statement that their final service was the “first live funeral he had ever attended” he further stated that “he didn’t care much for their little preaching, but that they were just good citizens”.
Elderly Lady Missionary and Young Man from India Come to Town
Pastor Caughron and Sister Caughron had been out of town for the day, when unexpected visitors arrived. It was late afternoon and the girls were home---they didn’t know what to do so, ran to our house which was near the parsonage. They were desperate for help and asked mother if I could go and prepare something for the visitors to eat. I went immediately, not realizing what a tall order I was to fulfill---another depression dilemma—but I was accustomed to those. I searched the pantry for something I could put together in a hurry but like at our house, not much to be found.
First things first---I had to get a fire going in the wood-burning stove—no easy feat. That done I prepared biscuits, serving them with the brown gravy I had made and syrup. It was no feast but they ate as if they enjoyed it and complimented me when they had finished their meal. I have often wondered if cooking for them was the thing that got me the honor of being the girl they called to model the Sari in their first service in the church. I wrote to the man’s sister in India and she answered but that was as far as our correspondence went. I still have that one letter, which I will treasure as long as I live.
Preston Hughes Pays a Visit to the Church
Mr. Preston didn’t go to church often but occasionally might drop in at either the Pentecostal or Baptist Church. This time he graced us with his presence but unfortunately, he was about “three sheets in the wind’. The evangelist was a fine lady, Zula Mott. She was well into her sermon when Mr. Hughes decided he wanted to participate in the service—he got up from the pew and did a “little jig” in the center aisle. He sat down and all was well---or so we thought. When he continued, his son-in-law stepped down from the rostrum, his mother jumped up to stop him and Sister Mott said, “I can take care of Mr. Hughes”. She came down and stood behind the altar and motioned for Mr. Hughes to come forward. He complied and after a few quiet words, he turned, walked down the aisle and out of the building without one word. Perhaps this is an example of the scripture, “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver”. No more dancing for Mr. Hughes that night.
Sunday Afternoons— Young Folks Walk to the River
There was little to do for the young folks of Bon Wier. No one had a car, at least none of my friends did until Howard Woody had a car at his disposal and he drove us around for awhile. We didn’t mind walking so those of us from the church sometimes walked to the river, went across the bridge and walked down the stretch of road on the Louisiana side which had been dubbed “lover’s lane”. There was a row of willow trees on each side of the road which made a canopy over the road. It was really picturesque! Our evenings were nothing exciting--- just something to keep from being bored. If we had enough money for a roll of film, we might take pictures with mother’s old Kodak box camera. I think we may have been one of the few families who owned one—took good pictures even if it wasn’t fancy. Later in the 30’s Alricks Burkett who has been my husband for sixty three years, did have access to an old truck which his family owned and he drove me to Newton where we saw a play at the high school where I was a student. At other times we might walk up the Newton highway to the lookout tower and take pictures there. Sadly, the willow trees are no longer beside the road on the Louisiana side of the river so there’s no more “lover’s lane”. There are only memories of those long ago times.
Mr. Hughes Visits the Baptist Church
Although I wasn’t present at the time this incident happened, I’m sure this is a true account. A new pastor had come to the Baptist Church and in trying to help some of the members, had suggested that they dig ponds and raise bull-frogs. I’m sure he felt it would be a successful money making venture. It wasn’t and so was a disappointment to all involved. One night Mr. Hughes decided to attend the service, unfortunately he was in the same condition as when he did his little dance at the Pentecostal church. He waited until the minister was into his message then jumped up and said, “what about the frogs”. I never heard how many times he did it but I always hoped it was handled as tactfully as the incident at the Pentecostal church.
One thing for certain---there was only one Preston Hughes. There is one thing I will always remember about Mr. Hughes. During the depression, he would let people buy groceries and charge them, “put them on the books”, as it was called. God only knows how much money he lost during the depression.
New Family Comes to Bon Wier
In 1933, a new family moved to Bon Wier from Holly Springs in Jasper County. Simon Henry Burkett and his wife Devillie, had two daughters Hattie Pauline and Panzy Berneice. There were three sons, Cecil Charlton, Alricks Henry and Dallas Thurston. Almost immediately, even before the home they were building was finished, the Bon Wier boys began to vie for the attention of the two daughters. Charlton was the eldest son but I don’t recall any of the Bon Wier girls who tried to attract him. Alricks and Dallas were younger and were not interested in girls. Not then anyway. In the end, Aubrey Rashall was married to Berneice and they have been married seventy years—she is 87 and he is 91. Gene and Pauline’s marriage ended when he died at the age of 42. Charlton and Calla D Davis married and had a long life together until his death in 1988. It took me a while to learn that Alricks had thought he loved me when were just kids but of course was to timid to let anyone know and I always really liked him and thought he was a very nice boy but I was also on the timid side---and believe it or not---was never boy crazy. Well, we finally married in January of 1942 and have just celebrated our 63rd. wedding anniversary. What would we have done if the Burketts hadn’t come to town?
We might have married some of our cousins which happened many times in the early days because there was no one else available in the area where they lived.
Even I dated a distant cousin for a short time. That cousin was Grady Rashall, a relative on the Stark side of the family. He’d walk me home from Church and we would have sat on the porch and talked awhile but what can a couple talk about when the girl’s Grand-pa is sitting there listening to every word? Not much!
Big Excitement in Bon Wier-Airplane Lands on Highway
We were living in one of the mill houses, it was late in the evening and everything was as usual. Dull! Not for long, suddenly out of the sky, down came an airplane and people ran from every direction. No plane had ever landed in Bon Wier and no other ever did. The plane had run out of fuel, I think, and made a forced landing---right in the road in front of the Hughes store. Gene Gilchriest came to the rescue of the pilot and breezed up to the landing site in his car and carried the pilot to Newton. My mother was ill and in bed but I didn’t let that stop me from running to the place of the excitement. It was just too good for a girl to miss.
Mulberry Hill (actual name Landry Hill) A good Place for Picnics
The hill was on the right side of the highway going toward Newton and it was a nice shady place---perfect for a picnic and for anyone who liked mulberries that was the place to go. Personally I didn’t like them but mother did. We went there for
an, Easter picnic with the Burkett family and during the course of the day, Alricks , being a boy who loved to explore, found a rabbit nest and brought a baby rabbit to show me. He was teased about that for awhile. We must have been about the ages of fourteen and twelve at the time. There are no more mulberry trees on the hill now, in fact, nothing in Bon Wier is as it was back then. Very few of the old folks are left and so many new people now reside there, I hardly know anyone.
At the last Bon Wier School Reunion, I was the second oldest there---D. C. Inman being the oldest. It sure causes one to do some serious thinking!
Signing off for now--- will add more as I remember incidents. Ruby Boyett Burkett
The Sabine River camping trip and “the big cat-fish
My mother’s brothers were camping on the river, as I recall, all three of them Charlie, Willie and Huber. Their catches had been good so daddy decided he wanted to get in on the “good fishing”. It was decided that it would be a family affair so we got our things together and down to the river we went---daddy, mother, Earl, Minnie Merle and I. We camped in an abandoned house and I remember the house being in such disrepair that there was an actual hill in the middle of the floor. Since we were sleeping on pallets it was quite uncomfortable and very hard. Never the less, we were sleeping when daddy awakened us with, Melder you and the kids get up and come down to the river and see the big fish we just caught. You can bet, we got down to the river real fast---and there it was, a seventy five pound fish! The largest I had ever seen. The next day, other family and friends came down from Bon Wier and we had a big fish fry and picnic. We didn’t eat the “big fish”-- there were enough smaller ones to feed the crowd. Some of those who came for the fish fry were the Burkett family, including their son Alricks, who would, many years later become my husband.
Old Dad Rolls Into bon Wier
He came in a cart, pulled by a donkey, all his earthly belongings and a little dog in that small cart. Where did he come from and why did he choose Bon Wier as the place to live out the remaining days of his life?
I’m not sure anyone did know but if anyone did, it would have been Phillip Burr and his Dad for they were the ones who befriended him and took him into their little house beside the highway down toward the Sabine River bridge. I don’t know how he managed as far as finances were concerned but he traded at Mr. T. A. Campbells General Store and his little dog accompanied him wherever he went. The dog waited outside the store while Dad transacted his business. The years went by but I have no idea how many had passed before the little old man sickened and died. I do, however, have vivid memories of the day he was buried in the yard beside the house which had been his home with the Burrs.
My mother and I had walked down the highway to pay our respects to the little man we knew so little about. We were not the only ones who were there although the crowd was small. I remember Mrs. Minnie Campbell and my mother discussing what a sad situation it was and Mrs. Minnie expressed that it seemed even the chickens walking around the area appeared to be sad. I was just a child but I agreed with her as it seemed to me that the soft clucking sounds coming from the hens were, indeed sad. It was for those of us who were there, a sad day. If I remember correctly, the little dog would go to Mr. Campbells store and lie on the porch, waiting for his master to come out. Phillip would take him back home but he continued to grieve for the man he loved and finally died. I believe he was buried beside his master.
YOUR LETTER FROM Bon Wier Texas HOME
P. O. Box 661
Nederland, Texas
April 1945
Dear Fellows and Folks:
Well this starts the fourth year that I am writing to you. It has not seemed that long to me. However, I’m sure the time has not passed so rapidly for many of the others of you. We believe we have been at this job longer than we are going to be, as we are hoping you will all be home before three more years, to get and make the news yourselves. You are doing a swell job wherever you are and we’re all proud of you.
As this starts off another year, we are going to start off in a little different manner. We have been allowing all or letters to accumulate until the last few days and then “hop” in and take about two and sometimes three days to get this main letter written and in the envelopes and mailed. Now we are starting a new system and hope it meets with your approval. We are going to give you the news in the form of a diary. Or, in other words, as the folks send in their news we are going to write it up at once, answer the letter and it will all be done .The old way, we had to write a lot of letters personally as well as this main letter and that took a lot of time .We had to read all the letters over the second time to get the news. With the new plan, we’ll read the letters once, get the news and won’t have to handle them again. We are glad to write this LETTER but there are times when it seems we can’t get it finished. We’ll try this plan and see how it works.
First, today, I had a letter from Sister Fay Hughes and good husband, Burton. I told you in the last LETTER that she was visiting us on the day we were writing the letter. In that visit I told Sister Fay that I was going to try to get enough money together to build a good big room up there somewhere in Bon Wier so that whenever I wanted to come up there and spend a week fishing, visiting and preaching I would have a place to stay and would not have to bother anyone. Well, she went home and told Burton and right away he offers me a site on his place, anywhere I want to build a house. Wasn’t that swell? I do appreciate the love and thoughtfulness on their part and I’m glad to know there is some place to put it up if I get the money for the lumber. With a girl in school and all the other things that have to be bought, along with a scarcity of lumber, I guess I’d better wait until things “Cool off” a little and we get somewhat back to normal again. Miss Fay was down here to see a Dr. about her asthma. He tested her for everything that could give her asthma and then regulated her diet to where they have taken her off so many things, that Burton says she is going to be a cheap “boarder”. Well we trust that she gets well from that annoying and troublesome disease.
The river is on a rampage and is getting higher all the time. I read in the paper where it said: At Gladewater a 44 foot crest is expected in 24 hours and a 22 foot rise at Bon Wier was expected in the next three days. That would be Thursday of this week. I’ll report on that later.
April 3: Another letter came today from E. P. Hughes Jr’s wife. She has word that he is wounded again. This time he got a machine gun slug in his elbow. Inasmuch as he writes, she thinks it must be in his left one. He didn’t give any details, just said he was in a different hospital and had undergone his second operation. We hope he’ll be okay and come back home soon.
Their baby is getting sweeter every day and I know E. P. is rarin’ to see her.
April 3: Mrs. Frank Carroll reports on the condition of her husband in Camp Robinson up in Arkansas. He stepped on a mine while in training and got his knee knocked out of place. He has been in a hospital five months there. She also reported on a hard wind they has there Easter Sunday morning. It blew right sharply around Mr. Preston Windham’s home. I’m sorry to tell you fellows but it blew down the old “simmon tre”. Remember, the one there in the garden next to the house with persimmons the size of apples on it? Well that’s gone and we’ll have to get some of the small ‘possum simmons back of the house, down there in the woods pasture.
April 4: Word comes from down on the river in the vicinity of Bill Inman’s place. Bill is rarin’ to go and the Mumps-Mumps is holding him dow. The water is coming over their field in the bottom but the fish are biting like a house afire in the backwater. Maybe I could catch one there now. Eh? Bill was in the bed for about two weeks. That stopped the carpenter work on the house as well as the farming, but the blue cats snapping at the bait. Sylva Wayne says it looks as though the fishing business would be better than the farming Well, with a market, I don’t doubt it. Fish is selling for 75 cents a pound in the stores here. We wish them success both on the farm and with the fish.
April 6: We were delighted to have a fine letter from Dallas Burkett. He said he wasn’t writing to get his name in the letter but he did want to tell us how he appreciates the LETTER FROM HOME. We are glad to know that someone is modest but we don’t believe anyone writes for the reason mentioned above. The purpose of this letter is to keep all the fellows in touch with each other and the only way we have of doing it is by their writing and giving us their location and as much of what they are doing , as possible. (Which isn’t much).Dallas is in France and making it all right. He enjoys hearing from his buddies O. D., D. C., Dock, Wilton, Curtis and all the others. We are glad to send him what news we have on them.
April 6: Hubert Stanley from the South Pacific, Seaman 1st. Class, says he has been getting the letters fairly regularly but that I had the wrong address. May I again remind the parents that if they want their boys to get these letters, it is necessary that they send me their boys change of address the first day they get it. Many boys have had to be dropped from the list because I do not have their addresses .The mail comes back to me and I am helpless. So when your boy gets a new address, drop a card and tell me. If you don’t hear from me in ten days, write again. Hubert says he guesses that spring is just about there at old Bon Wier now. It certainly is and everything is beautiful except the vacant places left by all the boys being away. It won’t be long now, I don’t suppose, until we will all be together again. (Our thanks to the lady for these kind words.)
.
April 9: A wonderful letter from J. P. Windham’s wife, today, telling how her husband enjoys the News Letter every month. She says in part,” I think it is a wonderful idea sending out all those Home News Letters to the boys from your vicinity. If there’s anything
that gives a touch of joy to the fellows far away it’s to know where the kid next door is and what he is doing and you are giving them the answers in those wonderful letters of yours which takes a little corner of home all over the world where they go. I see that, in the replies from your boys and in P. P.’s face when it lightens up as he reads the familiar names.
April 10: From Germany comes word from Collis Rashall. He admits that he is “fine and fat”. Says he is doing very well and is enjoying the news from all the rest of you fellows.
Collis is in an Engineering Outfit and is helping to do a swell job over there. He just got the January letter. I’m sorry it takes so long, but it is gratifying to know that they finally get there. His letter was written the 29th of March, so the rest of you take heart if you haven’t received a letter lately for I am sure it will catch up with you.
April 13: Our good friend Luther Davis comes to life again. He has been in the Panama Zone for a long time. Recently, however he had twenty days at home and he says that some of the youngsters have grown up beyond recognition but he had a wonderful time right on. Three years he was away and that is a long while. Lots of changes take place in that time. He says in part: I have been in both Los Angeles and San Francisco since coming back out here to the West Coast, but I would much rather be back on the good old Sabine River. I am now located about 120 miles North of San Francisco. It is surely out in the woods, or mountains, I would say. I am only about a mile from the ocean. The weather is pretty cool now, and they say it is that way the year round. There are some deer around here but I have not been able to get out hunting yet. The season is open in another month or two. I think some of the boys went sea-fishing today. I do not care much for that kind of fishing. I would rather stick to the old cane or pole fishing. Luther is at Gualala, Calif.
April 13: Comes a letter from our “Dough-nut Eating Friend”, Dock Hughes. Dock seems to think that he is “sewed up” somewhere in the South Pacific and it looks now as if he won’t even get in for watermelon time. Well we’ll have to take this up with Congress or whoever sees to getting these fellows back home once a year or so. Dock says he is getting his share of longshoremen work right now. He had a swell time a few weeks ago. He got ashore and into the mud about ankle deep. That was a treat to what he had been having.
Now, dock says to tell you all hello and would like to have a line from you. He says he may be close to some of you where he is or where he has been or where he will be. In other words, Dock gets about. Some of you Buddies that have time drop him a few lines. It will cheer his heart.( Dock N. Hughes, Shepherd Steamship Co., S. S. James B. Eads, Post-master, New Orleans, La.)
April 16: Took a little trip over to Orange to see Thurman and Ozell. Everything there was O. K.. Ozell had her foot up under the desk at the place where she works and a mouse bit her on one of her toes. No, she wasn’t barefooted. She had on a pair of those open-toed slippers. Her boss said that she was the biggest piece of “cheese” that mouse ever bit into.
April 18: Sylva Wayne and Bill are still down on the river. Nearly in it, for the water has come up to where it is over half of their chicken yard. Bill has his boat tied to the fence out in front of the house and it looks like a river there in the field. The river is still rising. Ben Hughes, Hoot and George Wilson have had to move out. While Sylva Wayne didn’t say, I imagine J. D. Jones has had to move also. Luther Herrin is at home for a while. Bill is busy planting corn, fencing and fishing. Brother DuBose is back in the Baptist Church again. He was transferred to Silsbee some months ago and had to give up the church for a while but he is back again and they have started up their prayer meetings.
April 19: Earl Boyett says it is rather cool where he is but they are still in the right frame of mind to give it to the Japs for all they are worth. His ship has been credited with a number of planes knocked out of the skies, and every little bit helps, I would say. He says the Japs know they are licked but haven’t sense enough to quit. In a case like that we’ll just have to keep on until they are all wiped off the earth. Well that’s the spirit that’s doing the wiping off out there in the Pacific. More power to you Earl and to your fellows as you do your job.
April 21: Alricks Burkett’s wife writes from New London that he is getting along swell in t training over there He has made several trips under water and likes it. She doesn’t think it’s so hot but like a lot of the rest of us, has to be satisfied with things as they are. She wants all of you to know that she is thinking of you and that Juana and she say hello. It would be well to drop her a line as she is over there among strangers. ( Mrs. Alricks H. Burkett, 33 Starr St., New London Conn.)
April: 24 From Beckville, Texas comes a letter from the Slatters saying they are all well and do enjoy reading the Letter each month. Airal who has been in a hospital for several months has been discharged from the Army on a Medical. He is in business for himself, has a little radio shop in Beckville. Quinton is in the Navy. If any of you fellows are out around San Diego, have the time, you might look him up. He is at the Naval Training Center.
April 25: I suppose I had better report in after the past few months. I am getting along fine. Still helping to carry on this Philippine “Rough House”. Have been very busy the past few months keeping the snipers combed out of my hair, not mentioning the pill boxes and other places they might hide. Have been in a few hot spots down here but have been lucky so far. I’m sure all the boys who have seen action have been in the same rut as I. Looks as if we are getting the enemy cornered on all fronts now. Now we can let them know what it is like to tear their own home-land apart. I think we should give them the works. Eh, fellows! ***
Send all the boys my best regards, wishing them lots of luck. I know they need it. You can tell Ed Broxon I think he is as determined to see Berlin as I am Tokyo. He has certainly stayed with the fight.
April 27: Well boys between carpentering, painting and plumbing and preaching and visiting, I’m just about out of time when it comes to this letter. I truly have been very busy this week but this letter has to go out so something else can wait. This just about winds up the news, unless some more mail comes in today or tomorrow. I should like to get this mailed Monday or Tuesday. From all reports, you fellows certainly are doing a good job. We hope the work at the Peace Conference is as well done as what you all are doing. Some days ago, I read a story which, I’m sure may have been duplicated a number of times, especially on the islands in the Pacific, but this time it happened in Europe A boy by the name of Bill Edwards, after having lost one leg and having a shell fragment strike the other, was discovered the next night by German patrols. They proceeded to work, rigging Private Edwards as a booby trap. When they went away, they left him lying on an explosive charge and too weak to move. Hours later, his comrades came along, found him, cut the wires and got him to safety. This boy had been “wired for death”. Some folks who read this will say, “That is almost too horrible to think about”, and all will say you are glad it wasn’t you, but did it ever occur to that this is a perfect picture of every son of Adam. We are by nature“ Wired for death”, loaded with the elements of our own destruction, filled with the forces of our eternal undoing, and like Private Edwards, “too weak to move”. And unless the word of the Cross, “sharper than any two-edged sword”, cuts us free, we shall never escape to safety. But “if the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”. (John 8-36)
April 28: Another letter comes from Sylva Wayne giving us more news of what’s going on at home. She says Mr. Inman received a letter from D. C. who is in a hospital in the Philippines. He said he would only be there two or three days as he was there for a “rest up”. Elmer and Mutt have moved back to Bon Wier. So has Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Hughes. Chester Downing is making preparation to start him a shanty also. Then she says, “Gee, if all the boys and families in the service come back to bon Wier to settle, it will be a big place, won’t it?” Are you telling me, and don’t forget that the preacher wants to build a little house up there also. Sylva Wayne said the improvements on their house, has stopped as Bill had to get out and take care of the crops, and he is busy. The last word they had from “Buck ( Ike) he was in Brisbane, Australia. The river is going down again and so everything will be O. K.
April 30: This is the last day of the month and as no letters were received today, I suppose we had just as well close the letter. BUT WAIT! A birth announcement, which is as important as any letter.
The announcement could not be reproduced here: It was to announce the birth of Barbara Leigh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Windham on April 23, 1945, Brooklyn, New York.
This News Letter was retyped by:
Ruby Ray (Boyett) Burkett
October 15, 2004
YOUR’ER LETTER FROM Bon Wier, Texas HOME
May 1945
Dear Fellows and Friends:
Another month has come and we are starting another letter. Yesterday, April 30, we got the letter in the mail and on its way. We trust you fellows will get it in good time.
May1: Bill Stark who has been in a few “mix-ups” writes from out in the Pacific that he is doing well. He has been on Iwo Jima and on some of the Tokyo skirmishes and gives us encouragement that some of these days that some of that bunch is going to be cleaned out. He says, “Tell everybody hello for me, back home and tell the fellows hello and to keep up the good work and I wish them all the luck in the world”.
May 4: James Stark says he has to take a lot of “razzing” about Texas but still the fellows all want to read his Texas Letter whether they know anything about the folks over here or not. Some of the fellows who trained here, say, “Deliver me from Texas”. Well it’s just too bad they can’t all live in Texas. If they could get around over the state, they would find just about anything they wished to have. That is more than you can find in the average state. James sends his love to all on the home front. We are glad to have this letter and glad James is from Texas.
May 5: Comes word from E. P. Hughes who is in a hospital in England, or somewhere with a “busted” pinion. One of Jerry’s machine gun slugs slapped him in the elbow. He says he likes the News Letter and wants to know when his subscription expires. I’ll tell you and him both, that friends have paid your subscriptions for the duration. All you have to do is read it. Simple Eh? It is if it reaches you. E. P. is bothered about the fishing weather around here. Well, I’m sure the weather is O. K. but I don’t know about the creeks and rivers. They may be a little high yet. He said that Ted going into the service deprives him of “long tales regarding the BIG ones that got away”. That has always bothered me, why those large ones can’t be caught. E. P. was rejoicing that the blackout had been lifted in England and the place was beginning to look like someone lived there at night again. He ends his letter thus: “Give my kindest to all and may God be with you all as he has been with me”. Pretty nice I would say. It’s swell to know the Lord and to realize and know His presence. In these days we should really know Him, rather than merely know about Him.
May 8: Good NEWS : In addition from getting two letters from Dock Hughes I heard the shooting had stopped in Germany. Well, that’s something. Maybe some of you fellows who are not detained there in the Army of Occupation will get a chance to come home. That will be swell. Dock says things get rather monotonous, over there in his corner of the globe but the fellows try to be as gay as possible. Some of them are leaving their beards grow and haven’t cut their hair or shaved since they left the States. That must be one of the greatest assortments of plain and fancy Rip Van Winkles since the days of Washington Irving. No, Dock hasn’t gone antique but he does have a delightful full grown mustache. He is bothered about the fish up here in these little creeks. Dock says he is glad the home folks can’t see all the damage that war does to once beautiful cities, but, he adds, maybe it would do a lot of us good, if we could see it. He may have something there. He went to see Herman’s grave (Moore) but there were too many there and he couldn’t find it, in the time he had to spare. He hopes he gets home in time to fish. He wants to catch that BIG ONE that always gets away. Well, that ain’t a bad ambition.
May 8: Arthur T. Simmons, “Titus” to you all, says he was happy to get the LETTER and to know where some of the boys are located. He was especially glad to know of the whereabouts of D.C. (Titus and D.C. were first cousins, their mothers, sisters). Titus says “Hello to all the boys in the service”. He is in Corpus Christi, working on the upkeep of planes. And by-the-way, he sent his picture and is it a “dilly”? Typical Gob. Really it is swell. I’m glad to have it.
May 8: From 1009 Yandell Street in El Paso, Texas, comes a letter from Vester and Verna Cofty and the baby. They say he is nearly big enough to hold a fishing pole. Isn’t that something? Vester finished his fourth year the 30th of April and he wants to move. I hope he gets a transfer, as four years seems a long time to stay in a place like Bliss.
May 9: O’Neil Terry writes that he is certainly happy to receive the LETTER FROM HOME, each month as it certainly does give him a lift. He had a letter from Alvie Inman some time ago and was glad to get it. He wants to send his best regards to all the fellows from Bon Wier.
May 9: Announcing the arrival of “Charlet” Mr. and Mrs. A.V. Slatter, at Kahn’s Memorial Hospital, May 2nd., weight 6pounds 4 ounces. Beckville, Texas. Congratulations to Airel and his wife.
May 15: Earl J. Boyett says that he has been in quite a bit of action since the first of January. We are glad he is still in one piece and that one piece is longing for the fishing and hunting of East Texas. We hope there is enough game and fish left for all the boys when they return. We couldn’t think of anything worse that it all gone. I’m sure there will be plenty for all but hurry home anyway.
May 18: Miss Leona writes today that everything is going well in her part of the country. She heard from Ed and it seems he is going to stay awhile over there. At least his Division will stay. Ed may be fortunate enough to get home. We don’t know, but we believe he needs a little rest after all the “fight” he has made over there. Her brother, also, is in a New Guinea Hospital, awaiting transportation back to the States. His school will be out the 22nd. That will be next Tuesday, from where I am sitting and that is the day my Baby is coming home from Bob Jones College. Haven’t seen her in nine months and believe me, I’m getting anxious to see what the Red-Head looks like.
May 19: A good letter from Ruby and Curtis tells us that they are planning on spending a few days in Bon Wier and Orange. They also report that J. D. came by their house Thursday afternoon May 17th. and Curtis helped him get dressed up as a civilian. Ruby said J. D. really was a happy person. We hope he soon gets adjusted to civilian life again and can get back into the routine.
May 22: One of our “Sweet young friends”, Myrece, writes the news she thinks might be interesting to you. She graduated from High School last Friday night
(May 18th) along with a lot of others. There were three more from Bon Wier, Wilda Birdsong, Bobby Hext and Jewell Cochran. We congratulate these and wish
for them every success in life.
Henry Franks was home on a thirty day furlough. He is now in a Camp in Washington. He was in good health and looking fine. Myrece was unfortunate enough to have to make a trip to Jasper to have her appendix removed. It would be interesting to know what those things are for aside from paying a doctor a big fee to cut them out. O. D. Davis was home for awhile also. “Speck” Gibson and Ted Hughes have been in for a while also. We are hoping a lot of the other fellows get back also and back to stay.
May 22:Floyd Moore tells us that he is still on the job over in the Philippines. He
Hasn’t seen D. C. as yet but is still looking. He also said he had a part in liberating some of my friends at Los Banos in the Jap prison Camp there. It may be interesting to all of you to know that I talked to them last Saturday night over the phone. They are at Hooker, Oklahoma about 150 miles north of Amarillo, Texas.
May 24: Sister J. D. Jones writes that the water has gone down from their place and when it went down, it took the garden with it. They are replanting the garden again.
She says everything is going swell around the place. James left for the service and J. D. has been discharged through the point system. Says J. D. is a little nervous but looks swell. She says there are several of the boys coming along from time to time and they all look fine. No other one so far has been discharged from the Army from Bon Wier on the point system.
May 24: The T. H. Inman’s and Ethel dropped us a few lines to let us know that it is raining up that way. Wilton writes from India that the monsoons had set in and that makes the ground a little soft for travel as many of you know. Ike was in Australia two weeks ago. Sister Inman had just picked up a bucket full of plums from those trees there in the yard. Remember them? Won’t be long till the pear trees, will be“putting out” there also. Ethel is with the folks at present but she plans on going to work somewhere soon.
April24: Mrs. George Boyett tells us that everyone is about the same as usual at home. Ruby will be coming in soon, as I suppose her husband will be shipping out in Submarine Service. Uncle John Rutherford was buried last Sunday, May 20th. Blewett Thomas, Thurman’s brother, was killed on Luzon. As you remember, I told you Earl had spent some time with him on convoy duty. (Note by Ruby Boyett Burkett: Earl was serving on an LST and Blewett was one of a group of service men which the boat deposited on Luzon. Blewett gave Earl his wrist watch before he left the boat, telling him he probably wouldn’t need it anymore.(This has been added as I retype this letter in October of 2004).
May 29: Alvie Inman writes from some where in Europe, that everything is moving along O.K. Says he would not mind being at home about this time of the year where he could give the fish a round up there in the creek. He writes he is just pining to feed those fish. The fryers are giving him a little trouble also. He just about dreams of those birds, walking around there in the yard back of the house, and his yearning for them excels that of the preachers in the community.
May30: Our Old Friend, Dock Hughes writes from some where out there in the Pacific that he is heading this way and hopes to be in about the time this letter reaches us. Well, we’ll be looking for him. We have flour in the bin and a little shortening in spite of the fact that the red points have been raised on it, and a will to make donuts, so I guess we’ll have a good time. Also, we have a few cups of coffee left, that might interest him. So come on Buddy. And all the rest of you, likewise. We might have an egg for breakfast. No bacon. Haven’t seen a strip of that in months, but we are still eating.
May 30: Another short letter comes from Ruby that’s Curtis’ wife). Says they didn’t get to go to bon Wier as Curtis” pass was cancelled, but he has a furlough coming up soon, and then they plan on coming to see us too. Hot-Diggity, ain’t we got fun! Well be here to receive them on just a day or so’s advance notice.
Well, boys this is not much this time but it’s what they sent me. The month has just naturally run out and there ain’t no more news. So all I can say is, we’ll hope for a little more gab from the folks next month, and until that time, remember that we are praying for every one of you, that one day you may again be at home with your loved ones. May god help us to do our best that He may be glorified.
Sincerely your friend,
The Preacher