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The Autobiography of William Jessie McMullan


Contents

Chapter 1: "William Jessie McMullan"

Chapter 2: "School Days"

Chapter 3: "Church Activities"

Chapter 4: "An Organized Farmer"

Chapter 5: "Girl Associates"

Chapter 6: "Sarah Jackson Freeman"

Chapter 7: "Sallie Freeman"

Chapter 8: "Letters from Sallie"

Chapter 9: "Golden Wedding"


 

Version 2, Chapter 5:  “Girl Associates”

                At six and a half years in school in August 1865 I was claiming Ellen Bailiff for my girl.  She was a young ladie, nearly grown.  They went to Texas.  She married and quit her husband.  Then I claimed another, a little girl larger than myself.  Her name was Sallie Wells.  They went to Texas.  Then in 1868 in school near home a girl named Matt Wash claimed me for her sweetheart.  She gave some embaresment.  She was to old for me.  Later another girl claimed me on general principles.  She wrote me an affectionate letter.  I never let anyone know that I ever got it.  It was embarising to me.  Later in 1872 I was 14 years old attending school at Newton I claimed another girl named Ida Dansby.  She thought well of me.  All spring I carried her magnolia blooms.  Some of the other girls envied her with me because I gave her the beautiful magnolia blooms.  And she appreciated me.  At that time I had my mother name my baby sister Ida for her.

                The next one seemingly (at 16 years) that was my girl was at Midway school in the years 1875, 1876, 1877.  We were classmates and was allowed to sitt togather in school in our arithmetic class which lasted all the af­ternoon.  We did think well of each other.  Everyone said so and afterwards we to thought so.  Her name was Nora Ashmore.  They moved away at the end of the year 1877.  In 1879 her brother Ellry Ashmore taught school at Riser school house and they had home for the summer near my home.  I visited her a few times here.  Another boy Will Gibbs kept her company continually.  I visited her the last Sunday they were in the Community.  When I left to go home I asked if I might call Monday night.  She insisted saying do come.  Monday morning I started to school at Newton to Judge Campbell.  I told my father I was going to Ashmores Monday night.  He told me I had better get my lesson for next day, and that ended that.  The next time I saw her in 1883 she was married to Dr Ox­ner and not long afterwards they went to a foreign field as missionaries.  Some time later they both died on mision field.  The last time I saw her she with her husband was attending a meeting at Midway church.  She was a fine looking girl and fine lady.  We did really like each other.  Then the Freemans came to Midway, bought the Ashmore farm.  The girls Finnie 16- Georgia 14 years old, and Sallie then 10 years.  I kept company some, not very much with Finnie.  She was a fast girl, had lots of beaus.  I kept company some with Georgia for companys sake.  I thought she would marry Frank Barette, but I kept her company and had a good time.  She appreciated my company.  She married Frank Barette Nov 16, 1882 age 17 years.  Finnie married Fred Russell December 10th 1880 at 20 years old. 

                In about 1880 I met the Chapman girls at my aunt Sarah Ann Wells home.  I often visited my cousins Tilda and Edd Chapman and the Chapman girls would often be there and we would all walk to church at Bethel church.  Prettie soon Miss Mollie and I were thrown togather and were fast friends as I thought.  We would meet at the Patrons Union, and be there together for a good time.  She visited in my home with our cousin Tilda Chapman several times.  I nev in her home but twice.  She and her sister and Matilda Chapman and Jim Hardy was at our home on Christmas.  When they were leaving I went with them to Uncle Ben Normans and with them to a party at Mr Mint Walkers.  Staid all night at Normans.  I told Mollie that day as we rode along to Normans that little Sal­lie Freeman was my little girl.  She and her cousin Jennie Smith had just come to my home as we were leaving for Normans.  So next morning I went back home because Miss Sallie was there and when she was ready to go home I had her horse saddled ready for her.  I told her I was going home with her.  When we got to her home I went in with them for awhile.  I thought she appreciated my company.  1882 at a later time cousin Matilda told me that Mollie said Mollie told her to tell me it was time we were getting married.  I told her to tell Mollie I did not want to marry, if she wanted to marry she would have to get someone else. 

                In December cousin Tilda and Jim Hardy got married.  Had Miss Mollie Chapman and I for waiters and we really had a fine time.  We accompanied the Bride and Groom to Hardyvill.  Miss Mollie had discarded her sweetheart, a nice man namely Edd Utisler.  He disappeared at once.  When Matilda told Molly that she would have to get someone else if she wanted to marry.  Said she ran to anoth room for a while and when she came back showed to have been crying, then said she was going to set Blucher Mason a widower with 1 boy.  They married prettie soon and raised a fine set of children, 2 girls and 4 boys all fine looking.  I dont think she ever got fully over her affection for me.  I saw her last time when she was on her bed some time before her death.  We talked.  I wanted to be of interest to her.  She said we had alway been friend.  Alway been friend nothing more.  I did not say anything more.  I knew diferent.  She was blue eyed red hair blond.  Verry fair about 5 feet 10 inches, about 140 pounds, 18 years old.  Real fine looking.  Was left a widow for years.  Had her family to rear, educate and start in business.  Her father a representative man for years.  She was an albino, white eyes, white brow & lashes.

                In 1882 began to meet Sallie Freeman then 14 years old.  She was verry bashful, and shy.  We met at so­ciable parties and soon had agreeable social meetings.  Miss Sallie was blue eyed, white hair turned dark promi­nent nose smooth face slender build 5’6’’ 120 # weight.  Married at 21 years old Jan. 17th 1889, died at 79, March 1947.  Gave birth to 5 boys and 4 girls, all lived to be grown.  All high school graduates.  All college graduates ex­cept Jack.  All taught school as profession except Jack and Miley (are good farmers).  Medline married a Rail Road man, Mildred a Doctor.  Irene died a spinster.  Sallie Freeman baptised by her father A J Freeman in Turkey Creek into Midway Baptist church August 28th 1887.  Lived a consecrated life ever afterwards.  Was a leader in church and Sunday School activities untill death.

Version 1, Chapter 5:  “Girl Associates”

                At six and a half years, in school in August 1865 I was claiming Ellen Bailiff for my girl.  She was a young ladie, nearly grown.  They went to Texas and she married and quit her husband.  Not long afterwards, I claimed another a little girl larger than myself.  Her name was Sallie Wells.  They went to Texas.  Then in 1868 in school near home, a girl named Matt Wash claimed me for her sweetheart and she gave me some embarisment.  She was to old for me.  Later another girl claimed me on general principles.  She wrote me an affectionate letter.  I never let any one know that I ever got it.  It was embarising to me.  Later in 1872, I was 14 years old, was attend­ing school at Newton.  I claimed another girl named Ida Dansby.  She thought well of me, all during spring I car­ried her magnolia blooms.  Some other girls envied her with me because I gave her the beautiful magnolia blooms, and she appreciated me.  At that time, I had my mother name my baby sister for her, Ida.  Then the next one seemingly that was my girl, was at Midway school in the years 1875-1876, & 1877.  We were classmates and was allowed to sit together in school in our arithmetic class, which lasted all the afternoons, and we did think well of each other, at least everyone said so, and afterwards we to thought so.  Her name was Norah Ashmore.  They moved away at the end of the year 1877.

                In 1879 her brother Ellry Ashmore taught school at Riser school, and they had home for the summer near my home.  I visited her a few times here.  Another boy Will Gibbs kept her company continually.  I visited her the last Sunday they were in the community.  When I left her to go home I asked her if I might call the next night, Monday, and she insisted saying do come.  Monday morning I started to school at Newton to Judge Campbell.  I told my father I was going over Monday night to Ashmores.  Then he told me I had better get my lesson for next day, and that ended that.  The next time I saw her in 1883 she was married to a Dr Oxner.  And not long after they went to a foreign filed as missionaries, sometime after they both died in the mission field.  The last time I saw her she with her husband was attending a meeting at Midway church.  She was a fine looking girl, and fine ladie.  We did really like each other.  Afterwards the Freemans came to Midway, bought the Ashmore farm.  The girls Finnie 16, Georgia, 14 years old, and Sallie then ten years old.  I kept company with them some not verry much with Finney.  She was a real fast girl, and had lots of boughs.  I kept company some with Georgia for company’s sake.  I knew that she would mary Frank Barrette but I kept her company, and had a fine time.  She appreciated my company.  She married Frank Barrette Nov 16th 1882 age 17.  Finnie Married Fred Russel December 2 1880.  She was 20 years old. 

                In about 1880 I met the Chapman girls at my aunt Sarah Ann Wells home.  I often visited my cousins Tilda and Edd, and my aunt.  And the Chapman girls would often be there, and we would all walk to church at Bethel church and pretty soon Miss Mollie and I were throne togather, and were fast friends as I thought.  We would meet at the Patron’s Union, and be there togather there for a good time.  She visited in our home with our cousin Tilda several times.  I was never in her home but twice.  She and her sister Em. Matilda Chapman, and Jim Hardy was at our home one Christmast 1882.  When they were leaving I went with them to Uncle Ben Normans, and with them to a partie at Mr Mint Walkers.  Stayed all night at Normans.  I told Mollie that day as we rode to Normans that little Sallie Freeman, was my little girl.  She and her cousin Jennie Smith had just come to my home as we were leaving for Normans.  So the next morning I went back home because Miss Sallie was there, and when she was ready to go home I caught, and saddled her horse, and my mule also.  Told her I was going home with them to keep the buggers from catching them.  When we got to her home I went in with them for a while.  I thought she appreciated my company.  Xmas 1882.  At a later time cousin Matilda told me that Mollie C. told her to tell me it was time we were getting married.  I told her to tell her Mollie I did not want to marry.  If she wanted to marry, she would have to get someone else.

                In December cousin Matilda and Jim L Hardy were married and they had Miss Mollie Chapman & I for their best escorts and we really had a fine time.  We accompanied the Bride and groom to Hardyvill.  Miss Mollie had discarded her sweetheart, a nice man namely Ed Utesler.  I dont know what became of him, but he disap­peared at once.  When Matilda told her that I sent her the word that I did not want to marry, said that she ran of to another room for sometime, and when she came back she showed to have been crying and then said that she was going to sett Blucher Mason.  Mason was a widower with one child, a boy named George.  They married prettie soon and they reared four sons and two daughters.  All were large, fine looking men and wimen.  I dont think she ever got fully over her affection for me.  I saw her the last time, when she was on her death bed.  We talked.  I wanted to be of interest to her.  She said we had always been friends nothing more.  I did not say anything more, but I knew diferent.  She was blue eyed, red hair blond, verry fair about 5 ft 10 inches, about 140 pounds, about 18 years old, and real fine looking.  Was left a widow for years.  Had her family to rear, educate, and start in business.  Her father Hon. D T Chapman, was a representative man for years.

 

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