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Version 2, Chapter 6:  “Sarah Jackson Freeman”

                Sarah Jackson Freeman born January 7th 1868 in the Bailey Freeman Colonial mansion 2 miles of Monticello Georgia on the Bethel church road near Oakmulga river in Jasper county Georgia, the daughter of An­drew Jackson Freeman and Sarah Jane Phillips, daughter of Judge Wiley Phillips.  Sallie was 7 years old when there home burned April 17th 1875.  Her mother told her to go get Uncle John Phillips a quarter of mile away.  She ran so hard when she got to Uncle John and being excited she could not speak.  Uncle John asked what she wanted, still she could not speak to him.  He looked and saw their home on fire.  He ran to their burning home.  He was plowing in his garden.  He left his horse standing in the garden.  Sallies going to school was with her sister Finnie for company to Bethel school (church) 3 miles away.  One day Dr-- came along in a new buggy.  They rode with him to school.  Sallie told of a number of things she saw, and did while she was small.  Told of the big poplar tree that stood in the midle of the big road near their home, of its being hollow at the ground, and a billy goat staying in the hollow.  One day brother pulled the goat out .  When he turned him loose he ran right back into the hollow tree.  There were several graves in their garden.  They were Freeman graves.  They had marble slabs over them.  She used to play on these marble slabs.  There was an apple tree, late apples, inside the gate.  One day she found an apple had fallen in the weeds and brush.  It was a real treat to her.  She told how she had to fill baskets with cotton to feed the gin one day, and how the strenous work made her sick.  Next day they put her to drive the team to the gin.  Sallie always had to work and do her part as soon as large enough to work.

                Sallies early playmate was her cousin Monroe Phillips.  They thrashed their wheet.  Had the straw in high piles. These children turned bad. (ed. “turned bad” is very difficult to make out and I may have misread it)  They tunneled under through this straw and crawled through this tunnel.  Had a little negro boy to go through first, then Monroe went next, then Sallie went through next and Willie went thorugh last.

                Sally told of the family going to Bethel church all one day and sending Georgia and Sallie to neighbor Wilsons to stay while they were gon to church.  They carried their dinner with them.  They had cake for dinner.  Sallie showed her cake to the Wilson children.  The Wilsons were poor, but nice people.  They had a number of girls.  One of the girls married a wealthy man in Monticello Ga.  There were several graves near Wilson yard fence.  One of her first times to church was with her mother to Bethel church.  She saw her sister Kate and a Mr Piper setting on a front seat singing I can tarry but a night, and how they did make the song ring.  Sallie new Uncle John Phillip home and family.  Monroe was her first playmate.  Uncle John had a fine cherrie orchard across the road in front of their home.  Sallie knew Grandpa Judge Wily Phillip, a widower for years.  He had a negro cook and housekeeper.  He kept his victuals and dishes in his desk drawer, and how glad she was to have him to open the desk.  It did smell good to her.  Sallie could tell all about their home the yard the garden and of their fields and the branches and about their home burning and of the large two room cook house.  Mother and girls slept in the cook house and the men sleeping in a negro house untill the new house was ready to go into.  They put up 2 story house with three brick chimneys to it.  They left this place in December 1886, came to Decatur Mississippi.  They sent Georgia and Sallie home with Uncle Green Phillips, was visiting them a few days before the family started to Mississippi. 

                Said Uncle Greens wife was a big fat woman ate lots of meat, butter and fat things.  Would butter her bread to eat with meet untill the butter would run down on her fingers.  She went to church Sunday with Uncle Green, a big old church building, not many people then to church.  She went with negro to the field after.  Ones they cowsed (ed. caused? crossed? ) a big branch in the field.  They stayed at Uncle Greens untill the wagons came.  Starting to Mississippi  they had their goods in mule wagon.  Kate Finnie Georgia & Father in doubl seated 2 horse hack.  They all went to Griffin Georgia for the night, the wimmin to hotel and men to the wagon yard.  Next morning the wagons started on road to Mississippi.  Mrs Freeman Sallie & Willie to the depot for the train.  Uncle Green with them.  Uncle Green went in the car with them, told them goodby.  And that was the last they saw of their Georgia kin.  They had to change cars in Atlanta, had to run to catch their train. 

                They got to Hickory Mississippi Saturday night.  Mrs Freeman asked the agent where she could get lodgin for the night.  The agent sent her to Mrs Meltons for the night.  Sunday morning Mrs Freeman asked Mrs Melton about Mr George Todd.  Mrs Freeman knew the Todds.  Mrs Melton sent her daughter with Sallie 9 years old and Willie to Mr Todd 2 miles away.  Mr Todd saddled 2 horses going after Miss Freeman an Sallie riding behind Mr Todd.  He told Sallie you can tell you ride (ed. rode?) with Mr George Todd 1st in Mississippi.  From here Mrs Freeman wanted conveyance to A J Smiths.  There was a waggon going to Decatur court Monday morning.  They got this wagon to Decatur.  When they got in Decatur Mrs Freeman saw her brother in law and called to brother Flem Huddleston.  He asked them to go to his house from Decatur.  They got conveyance to A J Smith and sister Em.  They staid here untill the wagons came.  They were 16 days on the road, then trip to Meridian to get house furnish­ings.  Then moved into Patsy Jones home 2 story house 2 miles east of Decatur for year 1877.

                Then Sallie went to school to bro. Snediker at Chapel Hill, a good school, 2 miles away.  Her chums at school were Jennie Smith, Sallie Harris.  Sallie told how Ollie Giles would scare a boy Ed herrington into fits.  Would bow his head over, have his long hair to hang over his face, shak his head at the boy.  He did look scarry.  She told of a boy reading Ponto jumped into the water.  He would say Ponto jumped I into the water.  Never would read it correct.  Whiped him, still he would say Ponto jumped I into the water.  Sallie attended this school in the spring & summer of 1877.  They lived off the public road this year 1877.  There was a branch near their home.  Georgia & Sallie damed this branch up untill it would float a tub.  Sallie got in the tub to take a boat ride.  Georgia turned the tub over, wetting Sallie all over.  Then Sallie stood in the sunshine, trying to dry her dress.  Was afraid to let her mother know of being wett.  They got word to come go to Uncle Jack Smith, then she had a chance to get dry clothes.  Sallie had to hlep to pick cotton crop of 1877.  Her father and Georgia worked at cane mill, got sev­eral barrals of syrup to their part of work.  The family gathered the crop.  Kate was sick with fevor. 

                They moved to the Ashmore place at Midway Jan 1st 1878.  Their 1st night in their new home Uncle Flem Huddleston stoped to spend the night.  They were out of coffee.  They sent Georgia & Sallie to neighbor Cookies to borrow coffee.  Georgia made sallie ask for the coffee and how she did hate to have to ask for the coffee the first time to see ther neighbors.  Sallies now 10 years old Jan 7th 1878.  She helped to clean up trash on the land, ready for the plow.  Droped corn & cotton seed, hoed and thined corn, choped and hoed cotton, and did other farm work.  Sallie and Willie had to tear a beaver dam out of the creek once.  Sallie attended school at Midway 4 month in the years in 1878, 1879-1880-1881-1882 & 1883.  In March 1883 sent to Finnie Russel to go to Cross­roads school.  Untill in June.  Sallie was 15 years old.  Sallies first years in Midway school she was leader in her class and leader in their sports.  The boys all claimed her for their girl.  She was a fine student.  Everybody loved little Sallie Freeman.  She attended school 4 months Dec Nov and Jan Feb 1883 & 1884 to F N McMullan.            While going to Crossroads school a number of of boys and young men was wanting to visit her and her teacher was one of that number to be wanting to make love to her.  I was acknowledged to be her sweetheart when she left home to go to Crossroads school.  The teacher and a student had a man fight in the school house.  The stu­dent whiped the teacher.  The teacher asked Miss Sallie to treat the boys nice.  The fight was caused by jealesy over Miss Sallie.  She never knew that the fight was about her.

                It was said Willie went to see Sallie on Sunday and Frank went one Sunday, and it was said Frank tryed to have Sallie to discard Willie.  She dident do it, went to her mother with his proposition.  Her mother told her never never do it.  Willie kept visiting her regularly.  Shes now sixteen years old.  She went to school at Midway, 4 months Nov Dec & Jan Feb 83 & 84 to Frank McMullan.  Don’t know if they kept company any of this time.  I called in to see her.  Just stoped as I was passing on Jan 6th, her birthday.  I did not appreciate my reception.  Did not stay long.  Did not see her again untill May 18.  May 17th sent compliments asking her permission to call Sunday.  She accepted my call, greeted me kindly.  In our talk she asked what would you have done if I had ex­cepted your call.  Don’t know what I said in answer to her question.  I did not stay long.  In 2 weeks I sent 2nd note.  She accepted my company Sunday eve June 1st.  2 weeks later accepted my company for June 15th 1884 Sallie Freeman.  After this visit did not see her again untill in August in Midway church.  During the Presbyterian meeeting on Sunday we were setting facing each other in church.  Had not met in 2 months.  During the service our eyes met.  We recognized we were caught looking direct at each other.  The look she gave out of them blue eyes and the expression on her face I never can forget.  I recognized to be the look of love.  So it really was.  I don’t know how I looked to her.  I never doubted her again. 

                Early afternoon I went to her home.  She met me kindly.  We had a pleasant evening.  I asked if I might walk with her to church tonight.  As we returned from church I asked if I might come Tuesday morning and we would go to picknick at the Walker bridge.  It was agreeable.  Thursday morning I drove over to get her for the picknick.  This the 1st time I was out in my buggy.  I thought she looked downcast, worse than I ever saw her.  She had on nice dress, an unbecoming hat.  We had a pleasant day & trip.  A number of boys and girls out to picknick from Newton.  As we came home I asked if I could go with her to church tonight.  Her in answer she said I have company, looked at me and said you had not asked me.  I then asked if I could come and we would go to Wall Bridge picknick Thursday.  We had a pleasant day and jolly time at this picknick.  As we returned home I asked if I could carry her to his sister Kate fish fry Saturday.  As we returned from Normans I asked if I could go with her to the Decatur August meeting Sunday.  Sunday I drove near the gate.  She came out to go.  I helped her put on and button her duster.  Untied my mule, turned to get in the buggy.  I looked to the house.  Mrs Freeman was standing in the door watching us get off.  I wandered if the thought this will be another son in law.  Miss Sallie staid at De­catur for the meeting, I came home.  Meeting to begin at Midway next Sunday.  We would meet at church not spe­cially togather. 

                We attended a partie togather.  We were now better friends than ever befor.  We caught the measzles at this partie.  I was visiting her regularly.  I sent her a Christmas present.  This ends visits for 1885, 25 visits.  1884, 17 visits.  August 29th with Miss Sallie to Fred Russells and Crossroads to church for the week.  Mack Russell and I swaped girls, Mac with Miss Sallie, I with Maud Russell Wednesday.  Mc though he would go with Sallie Thurs­day.  Miss Sallie ran to my buggy got in and told me she would not go with Mc Russsell again.  Came home Fri­day, visited in Freeman home Sept 16th.  Miss Sallie told me she would ride with Monday, coming back from as­sociatoin at Harpervill.  We got home Tuesday noon.  Taken dinner with her .  September 16th excused gone to Georgia to stay over week, am to start in the morning.  She asked to be excused.  I have promised sister Kate to go there tomorrow, preaching at school house then Sunday.  Put flower in this note.  Sallie Freeman.  Oct 25 1885.

                In November 22nd 1885 we contracted to marry.  We had been keeping company since Christmas 1882, nearly 3 years.  We kept company regularly 3 years and 2 months.  She attended school at Decatur in 1886.  Her last school was to Miss Lida Pucket winter of 1886 & 1887.  She taught a subscription school at her house school Midway in 1887, and again at Midway in summer of 1888.  We married January 17th Thursday 1889 at 11 oclock, went to fathers home for the night.  Taken honey moon a few days.  Went to our new home Monday morning January 21 1889.  Rev N L Clark the noted preacher of Newton county and South East Mississippi.  Miss Annie McDowell and W N Wilson were our waiters.  Miss Sallies dress was best material.  Shade blue made in the verry best of stile of that time.  My suit was Prince Albert the verry best material to be had in Meridian at Marks Rothen­burg, the best store in East Mississippi.  I was 30 years less 13 days old, and Miss Sallie 21 and 10 days old.                  We went home in our new house I had built for her.  I led her up the front on the porch and told her this is your house, I built it for you.  Take charge of the house, I will run the outside.  We went to work, each one in his particular work.  We agreed which side of the fire place we would set.  I got up made fire and fire in the stove, went fed the horse, came back and had breakfast.  Miss Sallie milked the cow.  I tended the stock and got the wood.  I had buggy, and good young mule.  We went visiting often to see Miss Sallies Aunt Em, and cousin Jennie and her cousins Smith boys.  And to see my aunts 4 of them, and 2 uncles, Miss Sallies 3 married sisters and brother, and my married sister.  To see her parents and my parents nearly every week.  Sometimes visited our par­ents a night during the week.  Not long after marriage Miss Salliewent  her mother to sister Finnie to a quilting.  They went in a wagon expecting to return in eve.  Had a partie that night.  They staid for the partie & Miss Sallie could not come home.  Next morning when they back Miss Sallie ran on home, came out where I was plowing, told me why she could not come home alone.  She cried becaus she had failed to come back, it being the first either of us had failed to be faithful to each other.  We had a good living.  Started with a good porker, good milk cow, a bar­rell of flour, lard, sugar, rice and coffee.  Had a good early garden, plenty of vegatables.  We did our work will­ingly, did it on time.  Miss Sallie tended the garden.  I cleaned up some new land, worked corn and cotten crop, made 2 bales cotton, corn to supply our needs for our bread, feed the mule and fatten hogs to make our meet.  We did our own work.  No trouble to get a days work when needed.  Good hands at 50 cents, wimen & children for less for day.  We had reasenable health.  We grew potatoes, goobers, peas, watermelons to supply our needs.  Also oats for the mule, and sugarcane.  Made our syrup.
 

Version 1, Chapter 6:  “Sarah Jackson Freeman”

(ed. found on loose paper in the back of the Version 1 Notebook)

                Sarah Jackson Freeman born January 7th 1868 in the Baily Freeman mansion 2 miles of Monticello Georgia on the Bethel church road, near Okmulga river Jasper county Georgia, the daughter of Andrew Jackson Freeman and Sarah Jane Philipps.  Was 7 years old when their home burned April 17th 1875.  She was told to go after Uncle John Phillips.  She ran so hard going the quarter mile, she could not speek when she got to Uncle John, and being excited she coul not speak, Uncle John asked what she want.  She still could not speak.  Uncle John looked and saw their home on fire.  He was plowing in his garden.  He left the horse and ran to their home.  Sallies first school with sister Finnie for company 3 miles to Bethel church.  One day Dr-- came along in a new buggy and they rode with him to school.  She told of a number of things she saw and did whil she was small.  Told of the big poplar tree that stood in the midle of the big road near their home, of its being hollow at the ground, and a billy goat staying in the hollow.  One day brother pulled the goat out, when turned him loose he ran right back in the hollow tree.  There were several graves in their garden.  They were Freeman graves.  They had marble slabs over them.  She used to play on the slabs.  There was a late apple tree stood near the garden gate.  One day she found an apple had fallen in the weeds and brush.  It was out of season, was a real treat to her. 

                She told how she had to fill baskets with cotton to feed the gin one day and how the streanous work made her sick.  Next day they put her to drive the team to the leaver to run the gin.  Sallie always had to work and do her part as soon as large enogh to work.  Sallies early playmate was her cousin Monroe Phillipps.  They thrashed their wheat, had the straw piled in large high piles.  They, children, tuneled through under this pile of straw and crawled through this tunnel.  Had a little negro boy.  Made him go through first, then Monroe went next, then Sallie went through and Willie went through last.  She told of the family going to Bethel church all day once, and sending, but sent Sallie and Georgia to near by  Mr Wilsons today untill they came back.  They had their dinner with them.  They had cake for dinner.  She showed her cake to the Wilson children.  The Wilsons were poor relations.  They had a number of girls.  They were nice folks.  One of the girls married a wealthy man in Monticello.  There were several graves near the Wilson yard fence. 

                One of her first times to go to church was with her mother to Bethel.  She saw her sister Kate and a Mister Piper setting on a front seat togather singing I can tarry but a night and how they did make it (the song) ring.  Sal­lie new Uncle Johns family and home.  Will Monroe was her playmate.  Uncle John had a fine cherry orchard across the road from her home.  She knew Grandpa Judge Wiley Phillips a widower for years.  Had negro cook and housekeeper.  Kept his vitual and dishes in his desk, and how glad she was to have him open the desk.  It did smell good to her.  She could tell all about their home, the yard, the garden and of their fields and the branches, and about home burning and of the large two roomed cook house, and the men sleeping in negro house untill the new house was up.  They put up 2 story house, 3 chimneys to it.  They left this place in Dec 1876, came to Decatur Miss.  They sent Georgia and Sallie home with Uncle Green Philips.  He was visiting them a few days before the family started to Mississippi. 

                Said Uncle Greens wife was a big fat woman.  She ate lots of meet, butter and fat thing.  Would butter her bread untill the butter would run on her fingers to eat with her meat.  She went to church Sunday with Uncle Green.  An old church building, not many there.  She went with negro after the cows across a big branch in the field.  She staid at Uncl Greens untill the wagons came starting to Mississippi.  They had their good in mule wagon.  Kate, Finnie, Georgia and father in two seated two horse hack.  They all went to Griffin Georgia, the wimen to hotel, men to wagon yard.  Next morning the wagon started on road to Mississippi.  Mrs Freeman, Sallie & Willie to the depot for the train.  Uncle Green with them.  Uncle Green went in car with them, told them goodby and thats the last they saw of their Georgia kin.  They had to change cars in Atlanta, had to run to catch their train.  They got to Hickory, Miss, Saturday night.  Mrs Freeman asked the agent where she could get loging.  He sent her to Mr Meltons.  Next day she asked about Mr George Todd.  Mrs Melton sent her daughter with Sallie 9 years old & Willie to Mr Todd, who saddled 2 horses, and to get Mrs Freeman, Sallie riding behind Mr Todd, who told Sallie you can tell that you rode first in Mississippi with Mr George Todd.  From here Mrs Freeman wanted conveyance to A J Smiths.  There a waggon going to Decatur Monday to court.  So they got this wagon to Decatur.  When they got in Decatur Mrs Freeman saw her brother in law and called to bro. Flem Huddlston from Decatur.  They got conveyance to A J Smiths.  There untill the wagon came to trip to Meridian.  Got house furnishings, then moved to Patsy Jones place for 1877.  East of Decatur. 

                Then Sallie went to Chapel Hill to school to prof. Snediken, 2 miles away.  This a good school.  Sallie told how Ollie Giles would scare a boy Ed Herington into fits.  He would bow his head over , have his long hair fall over his face, shake his head at the boy and he did look scarry.  She told of a roten (ed. or Roten) boy trying to read the sentence Ponto jumped into the water.  He would read Ponto jumped I into the water.  The teacher never could get him to read it correct.  He whiped him, still he would say Ponto jumped I into the water.  Her chum at this school was Jennie Smith and Sallie Harris.  She attended this school spring and fall of 1877.  They lived off the public road this year.  There was a branch near their home.  Georgia & Sallie damed this water up untill it would float a tub.  Sallie got in the tub to tak a boat ride.  Georgia turned to tub over wetting Sallie all over.  Then she tried to dry her dress by standing in the sunshine.  Was afraid to let her mother know of her being wet.  They got word to come and go to Uncle Jack Smith.  Then she had chance to put on dry clothes.  Sallie had to help pick cot­ton crop of 1877.  Her father & Georgia worked at cane mill.  Got several barrells of syrup to their part the work.  The family gathered the crop.  Kate was sick with fevor.  They moved to the Ashmores place at Midway January 1st 1878.  Their first night in their new home Uncle Flem Huddlston stoped to spend the night.  They wer out of coffee.  They sent Sallie to neighbor...(ed. illegible) to borrow some coffee and how she did hate to go to borrow coffee the first day in the community.  Sallie then 10 years old Jan 7 1878.  She helped to clean up land, to plow, droped corn and cotton seed, hoed, and thined corn, choped and hoed cotton & other farm work.  Once she and Willie had to take a beaver dam out of the creek.  She attended school at Midway 4 months a year, 2 in winter and 2 in summer.

                Sallie was 15 years old when going to Crossroads.  The teacher Franklin McMullan just from State Uni­versity.  Miss Sallie was a leading student.  A number of the young men trying to keep her company, and her teacher was one of that number to be making love to her.  She was shy of most of them.  Her teacher asked her to treat them nice.  I was acknowledged to be her sweetheart when she left home to go to Crossroads school.  The teacher and a studant had  a mans fight in the schoolhouse, caused from jealousy of Sallie.  The boy whiped the teacher.  Sallie never knew that the fight was about her.  It was said that I, Willie, went to see her one Sunday & Frank went one Sunday and it was said Frank tried to have her discard Willie.  She did not do it.  Willie kept visit­ing her regularly.  She’ now 16 years old.  She had offered to ware my ring for me for 3 years for me.  Volunteer offer.  I went to Christmas tree at Crossroads because Miss Sallie would be there.  I put a fancy box of stationary on the tree for Miss Sallie.  It was the nicest present on the tree.  She was shy of me in the hollidays.  At least I thought so.  I called to see her on Sunday Jan 6 her birthday 16 years.  I dident appreciate my reception.  Did not stay long.  Did not see her again untill May 18th 1884.  She went to school to Frank Mc during winter Nov Dec 1883 & Jan & Feb 1884 at Midway.  Dont know if they kept company during any of this time.  May 17 I sent  card asking her permission to call.  She accepted my visit.  It was pleasnt visit.  She asked me wat I would have done if she had exceped my visit.  Did not stay to long.  Compliment 2 weeks later was will accept of your company Sun­day eve & 2 weeks later will accept you company Sunday June 15 1884 Sallie F.

                After the June visits did not meet untill August, when we were in church at Midway, setting facing each other, when our eyes met across the church.  The look she gave me out of them blue eyes, and the expression on her face I never can forget.  I recognised it to be the look of love.  I dont know how I looked to her.  I visited her early in the afternoon, to church in eve.  To picknick Tuesday, and picknick Thursday.  Fish fry Saturday, an to Decatur church on Sunday.  We were now better friends than ever before.  We attended a partie, hand fine time to­gather.  We caught the measels at this partie.  I was visiting her regularly, sent her Christmas present.  This ends 1884.  Visits for 1883, 25 times, for 1884, 17 times.  1885 I went to Conehatta school, came home once a month to see Miss Sallie.  Came home from school to stay.  Visiting Miss Sallie regularly every two weeks.  Shes now 17 years.  August 29th with Miss Sallie to Fred Russells and to Crossroads to church day and night untill Thursday.  I and Mack Russell swaped girls Wednesday to church, Mack with Miss Sallie.  Thursday when went to go Miss Sallie ran and got in my buggy & told me she would not go with Mack again.  We came home Friday, visiting in the Freeman home.  Sept 16 Miss Sallie volenteered to tell me she would ride with me coming back from the asso­ciation at Harpervill Monday, got home Tuesday noon.  I taken dinner with her.  Sept 17 Sunday excused, gone to Georgias.