transcribed by Tami Ramsey

The Golden Age
March 19, 1919

IN FRANCE February 7, 1919

Misses Ostie and Minnie TAYLOR, Livingston, Tn.

My Dear Aunts;

I will write you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which I received today. Was glad to hear from you and know you as well.

I am well and feeling fine. Sure am glad Cato is at home. I had a letter from “home” last night, the first I came across, was sure glad to hear from home. I have met some of my friends over here, was sorry to hear of Comer SELLS death.

I was paid off last night, I have all kinds of money now ha ha.

I don’t think I will be here but a few days, as I was down on the deck yesterday and saw my name on the sailing list. So don’t worry about me as I am fine and hope to see you soon.

Your Loving Nephew, Pvt. Alonzo C. TAYLOR

Mr. Alex L. SELLS, R.F.D. 2, Livingston, Tenn.

Dear Mr. SELLS;

Owing to circumstances which we had no control in consequence of the abnormal conditions due to the epidemic of influenza during the past few months, we are very sorry not to have been able to write you earlier regarding the death of your son, Pvt. Dillard C. SELLS. He was admitted into the Belmont Road Hospitol Liverpool, suffering from brocho pneumonia, and died there on October 27^th, 1918 at 9:10 P.M. We can assure you that your son received the best possible treatment from the doctors and nurses, who preformed very heroic service at that trying time.

He was buried in the Everton cemetery, Liverpool, on November 4^th. There were present at the funeral myself, as representing the Homs Communication Service of the American Red Cross, and two ladies, representing the local care committeeof the American Red Cross. A triumph wreath consisting of green eyus leaves, creram chrysanthemoms and maiden hair fern, together with a small stars and stripes flag was placed on the grave by one of the ladies. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. J.F.X. Walsh (US Army Chaplain) of New Orleans, La. Your son was accorded full military honors.

The number of the grave is 218 section N. in the U.S. division of the cemetery.

We feel that it must be very hard indeed for you to have your son die so far away from home under such conditions, and we extend to you the sincerest sympathy of the American Red Cross in your sore bereavament. We trust you will find consulation in this thought that he has sacrafised his life for his country, and in the interests of the great cause for which we have been fighting—that of the Righteousness and Liberty and his sacrafice has not been in vain. Yours Respectfully Davis W. Roberts, Captain, American Red Cross Home Communication Service

RICKMAN NEWS

Leslie CANTRELL, of this place died of influenza February 19, 1919

Charlie COOPER has bought the LEDFORD farm near here

J.N. CANNON is some better

Ab POSTON bought the ROBBINS farm near here and will occupy the same soon

Josh MOORE sold his grist mill to D. MAYNORD and Burr WEST, of Netherland

Lester DISHMAN, one of our boys from France, is home on furlough. He has been in France over two years.

Dr. Elmo SMITH and wife are here from Brush Creek to see her sister, Mrs. B.H. HUNT, who is quite sick. She is reported better today though.

Archie QUALLS was up from Windle Sunday to hear Evangalist Waters. We had lost track of Archie but he tells us he has bought an interest in Lakin CRAWFORD’s store at Windle and is now in charge

Rev. an Mrs. SANDERS have returned from visiting their homefolks at Dickson and Smithville

We heard of a new girl at the home of Will WINDLE after our paper was out last week. And at the same time we heard of a new boy in the home of Albert WINDLE in Texas.

OAKLEY NEWS

The infant child of Floyd SMITH died Tuesday and was buried Wednesday at the Martin graveyard

Mr. and Mrs. C.B. MAYNORD are the proud parents of an eight pound girl.

HILHAM NEWS

The following people have died recently;

John CARR, an aged man

Jimmie DAVIS, son of Col. DAVIS

Both were buried at the Campground cemetery

Quite a number of people are on the sick list, Polly CARWILLE is the worst off.

At this present time Georgia HAWKINS and daughter are corpses and they are expecting another death tonight. Georgia and daughter will be buried at the Maxwell cemetery tomorrow

The following land deals have been made;

George SWAN and Benton BRADY have sold their farms to Tom LANGFORD

J.D. JOHNSON has sold his farm to Irvin ALLRED and bought James JOHNSON’d farm near Brown’s store.

James JOHNSON bought the Jay PHILLIPS farm on Roaring river

J.C. PENDERGRASS has gone home, his visit was appreciated. He lives in Arkansas.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

On Thursday evening, February 27^th, 1919, the angel of death visited the home of T. GILLENTINE and took from him his precious son Hascal, who had been confined to his bed but a few days. What he suffered is unknown but he bore it without a murmer. He was 13 years an 11 months old and leaves a father, four brothers, two sisters and a host of relatives and friends who will miss him sadly. Hascal was a bright eyed kind hearted boy and its hard to realize he’s not with us anymore, but God knows best. Lets build our hopes that he is happy with the angels. His remains were laid to rest at Monroe cemetery, funeral services were conducted by Rev. Thomas FERRILL in the presence of a large number of friends.

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The Golden Age
March 26, 1919

Beavment France, January 27, 1919

Dear Father and Mother

I will write you a few lines as I haven’t heard from you in some time. This leaves me well at present, hope when these few lines reach you will find you the same.

I am having a nice time here now but I sure am proud that the war is over. I sure have smelt powder. It isn’t funny to face those big cannon balls and machine gun fire but I have stood up to duty and done my part. I am glad I am from the good old State of Tennessee and an Overton County Boy.

I have thought numbers of times we boys were shot all to pieces when those big five and nine inch cannons were falling around us, although some of us have come here to fight for our country that will never return. I have seen some of my best friends shot down beside me but I was not allowed to touch them, that looks hard but we had it to do.

When we came back from the Hindenburg lines it sure was a gloomy looking time, there wasn’t any of the Livingston Boys with me but Pvt. Corbit SMITH, Corp. WRIGHT and two of the KYLE boys but were more than proud when we heard they were just slightly wounded and in a hospital nearby, but we are all back together now except a few and they are back in the States I understand. That is where I am longing to be some time real soon.

As I haven’t much to write I will hush for this time.

Your Son, Mack COLE

 

Carl COPELAND has returned from Oklahoma

Miss Allie WHITE, a student in the T.P.I., Cookeville, was home over Sunday

Lieut. MITCHELL, of Cookeville, was here last week visiting friends.

Fonzo QUALLS and sister, Miss Rassie, were here from Crawford to visit relatives

Mack SMITH is here from the Camp Hospital at Atlanta, Ga. on thirty days furlough

 

Lannie BILBREY, a farmer in Hartsoe Cove, was here on business yesterday.

Ernest ESTES and Bird BOHANNAN have come from the oversea service having received their discharge

Charlie PARRIS and John LACY, of Byrdstown, were here last night on their way to Nashville

Mrs. M.H. HANKINS was here from Happy Hollow Tuesday shopping

Mrs. C.A. ROBERTS has returned from a visit with relatives at New Middleton

Miss Rilda BROOKS is suffering with rheumatism the past few days.

W.H. SPECK and wife were here from Crawford this week to see their son, who is in school. They also took in the meeting.

G.W. and Elbert McCORMACK and W.S. CHATWELL went to Nashville today for medical treatment

For sale: a pair of work mules, Albert BROWN, Hilham, R-1

Esq. G.V. COOPER was up from Rickman yesterday

Mrs. Eva ROBBINS, whose home is in Arkansas, went to Nashville last week and underwent an operation. Her brother in law, Dr. ZACHRY, accompanied her and reports her doing nicely. Mrs. ROBBINS has been in poor health for some time and came here last fall to be under the care of a doctor.

Miss Stella REAGAN of Allons visited here last week

S.A. WINNINGHAM and Herman FLOWERS left for Ohio last Friday

Floyd HOLEMAN has returned from Ohio

Effie, wife of Jim ROAM, died March 12, 1919 and was buried at the old Bethel graveyard

Alford ALLRED and T.H. HOLT are at home on a visit from Cravens

John KENNEDY is on the sick list

P.L. CALOCK was over from Oakley Sunday

WINDLE NEWS

John Henry WILSON has bought the Jim ADAMS farm from W.C. CRAWFORD

John Henry WILSON and family visited his father Mr. Overton WILSON of Putnam County last Sunday

Frank SMITH has bought from Dr. BREEDING the six acre plat of land adjoining his home in East Livingston. This gives Mr. SMITH some 20 acres and is an ideal suburban farm

 

Somewhere in Germany – American Ex. Forces

Co. C 4^th Ammunition Train January 19, 1919

Dear Bro. Ruben;

Just a few lines this afternoon. How are you all? As for me I am OK. I can imagine how you feel since you got your discharge and at home again. Just wait until I am home with an honorable discharge, you will surely see a glad boy. You ought to have my round old boy. I guess you got disgusted being in Camp Pike under quaranteen.

Those shells had a home sickening whistle to them, believe me, and along with them times we did not have to line up every Saturday for inspection like we did back in the States. But now we are taking it back up again. Believe me we have got to be real soldiers in Germany, and we should be. And we should be proud of ourselves and our great victory.

The stars and stripes are waving in Germany and we are right here with her. And God is with us.

I don’t know how long we are going to be in this country. We haven’t had a very bad winter so far, not half as bad as I expected.

Well Ruben, I am not with any of the home boys at all. We were all busted up at Pontlevoy France. I suppose some of them are at home at this time, are they not? I will be glad when I can return home.

I must hush and go to guard mount, you know what I mean. Ans. soon

I am as ever your brother, John REESER

 

Miss Alma ZACHRY, a student at the Dormitory has been suffering several weeks with rheumatism. She is reported some better. Her home is at Byrdstown and her sister is here with her

SUBSCRIPTION HONOR ROLL

Mrs. J.M. MORAN, Settle, KY.

Hobart DISHMAN, New Orleans, La.

Miss Emily DICKENS, Elmwood

E.C. NORROD, Rickman, R-1

W.H. DILLON, Livingston

Miss Mary WALTHAL, Monroe

Miss Willie SPARKMAN, Crawford

A.V. LEDBETTER, Jamestown

Mrs. W.S. WINDLE, Livingston

E. LACY, Oklahoma City, Ok.

Jas. LACY, Spurrier

Mrs. Tina MAYNORD, Monroe, B-2