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Letters from Home
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Background: Joseph Leander McDowell MD, local doctor for Polk County, was born 25 Nov 1861 at Cherokee Co., NC. He died 25 May 1914 at Benton, TN. He is buried at Old Ocoee Cemetery Benton TN Hwy 314. Joseph and his wife Nancy Emmaline Abernathy b: 6 Jan 1866 had thirteen children. Louise Anabel "Belle" b: 31 Dec 1889, married William Oscar Scarbrough. In 1911-1912, they moved to Cottle County, Texas to build a homestead. Belle hated Texas, and I can understand why. The homestead is located 8 miles west of Kirkland, Texas. Kirkland really doesn't exist today except for a few homes left standing from 1900. Considering she had to walk down a hill to draw water from a well and carry buckets back to the house in the Texas heat, it was extremely difficult at best. The land in that region is very flat and no shade of any kind. They built a homestead on the only hill within many miles. You can easily see the curvature of the earth in all directions even today. There is a cemetery named Tennessee Valley Cemetery located on Texas Farm Road #1033. This cemetery is the final resting place for the Scarbrough and Wallen (spelled Wallin in Texas) who moved from Polk County to Texas in the 1890s. Belle returned to Polk county in 1915. Below are two letters her father wrote her while she was in Texas. Joseph died a year after these letters were written. Benton, TN May 11, 1913 Dear Belle and Family:
Yours of late date to hand contents noted. Replying will say we are all in common health. There is nothing new in Polk, everything moving along as usual. I have been very busy since you all left looking after small-pox. They are all dying and some now I think they will soon fizzle out as Caesar said about the prayer meeting. Alice and Granville were here for a call to-day.
Setepa and Shane moved in with us a while. I recon you are having a good time away out-in old Texas. How would you like to drink of our old spring these warm days. Write us all you can. Your mother is doing about as well as usual. I am still loosing in weight I only weigh 155# now. If I keep on loosing I will soon have to stand twice in a place to make a shadow.
As Ever Affectionally, JL McDowell June 9, 1913 Your mother said to tell you that she still had all your "old hymns" and was going to keep them for you till you get back to Arkansas. We are having lots of rain up here in Tennessee. Out stuff looks "foine" as the Irishman says, so let us here from you soon. Poor little old Setepa is very much grieved over the loss of little Velma who died yesterday morning. Was buried at four mile to sleep that sweet and unbroken slimber that knows no awakening till thy last trump shall blow. (God rest it.) It was lovely little corpse. Looked like it was a sleep and having a pleasant dream, only so pale. Your poor old mother is nearly broken down. We slept last night without lights for the first night in 3 months. I am still losing flesh and looking very thin now. Will soon peter out without change.
PS - if you need help to get away from there let us know. JLM |
