The Choctaw Freedmen Part 15

[Ill.u.s.tration: James McGuire and Others, 1901.]

Some were appointed elders in other churches and they think that makes them elders here. It will be a sad day to them when they learn they are not elders here, and I fear they will not then be willing to remain as members.

I have written you a long letter and it is all about the darkies; but no doubt you are expecting that.

HARD WORK AND MISERABLE LIVING

"I am not so strong, in fact feel ten years older than one year ago. I fear I cannot stand the heat this summer. I said 'heat' but do not mean that exactly. This climate is rather pleasant, if we could only provide comforts. It is the constant hard work and miserable way of living that makes it so bad.

"No white person could eat what these women prepare,--bread, always of corn, and fat pork, swimming in grease. Give them flour, they stir in a lot of soda and serve you biscuit as green as gra.s.s. They have no idea of better cooking and will not take the pains to do better. We are going to teach them to cook, scrub and wash clothes.

"Write soon and tell me whether you called on mother, when you were in Steubenville.

"Your Friend, Eliza Hartford."

Six months later when she returned from a short visit to her mother she writes:

"The weeds were so high I could scarcely see the house. I had to pay forty dollars from my own earnings on lumber hauled for the new school building, but which Elder Crittenden says, was taken by thieves. I paid it to save our credit and am glad I had it to give.

"We have now nineteen boarders. I am almost worked to death and it takes all my patience to stand it."

BETSY BOBBET

A letter dated January 6, 1888, bears the stamp, "Oak Hill Industrial Academy." A change in her a.s.sistants had taken place in November previous and she writes:

"Miss Haymaker before leaving had miserable health and I have had a hard time since my return. I think Miss Campbell will do well. The attendance now ranges from 45 to 60 and I am not able to do anything except the school work. Four of the children have had chills and fever, and I have had to rise at night to care for them.

I have been trying to do the work of three people and not complain.

Still I'd like to grumble a little, if I could find the right one to talk to. I am beginning to feel a little like Josiah Allen's wife, when she said, 'Betsy Bobbet, you're a fool, or else me.'

"Still I had rather be regarded foolish, by working hard for the good of others, than take advantage of another.

"Pray for me for I need your prayers.

"Eliza Hartford."

MISS HAYMAKER'S EVENTFUL JOURNEY.

Miss Priscilla G. Haymaker made her first journey to Oak Hill about the first of April, 1887. She pa.s.sed by way of St. Louis to Texarkana, Arkansas, 50 miles east of Clarksville, over the Iron Mountain railway.

This part of the journey was made during the night, and most of the time she was the only lady in the car. The crowd on the train was one of ruffians, who spent the time playing cards, drinking whiskey and showing their revolvers.

The conductor said to her, "Lady you have a rough crowd to ride with to night, but I will not leave you long." He was as good as his word. He sat in the seat with her when in the car and returned promptly when required to be absent.

At Clarksville she found the driver from Wheelock awaiting her arrival at the hotel. As early as four o'clock the next morning everything was in readiness for making the trip to Wheelock in a covered wagon. It soon began to rain and continued raining all day. It was 8 o'clock at night when the team arrived at Wheelock.

The cordial welcome extended by Rev. John Edwards, Superintendent, and his wife and the teachers at Wheelock Academy, was one not soon to be forgotten. It was greatly appreciated and enabled her to feel she had gotten back again to a place of civilization.

Miss Haymaker, the first a.s.sistant of Miss Hartford, April to November 1887, was a native of Newlonsburg, Pa., daughter of George R. and Priscilla Haymaker.

On October 1, 1890, she returned to Oak Hill and served as the princ.i.p.al teacher in the Academy the next six years. In the fall of 1892 she was joined by her brother Rev. E. G. Haymaker, who then became superintendent. On October 13, 1896, she became the wife of John Blair of Chambersburg, Pa., and they still reside there.

MISS CAMPBELL'S TRIP FROM CLARKSVILLE.

Miss Anna E. Campbell, the successor of Miss Haymaker arrived at Clarksville, the same day the latter pa.s.sed through that place on her way home in November, 1887.

The proprietor of the hotel called her very early the next morning and informed her he had secured a mule team driven by a negro to take her to Oak Hill. When she was leaving the hotel he solicitously inquired,

"Do you carry a gun?"

"No I haven't any weapon except a little pocket knife," she answered. He then said, "In going into Indian Territory you ought to have a gun, you may need it."

Mr. Moore, the railway agent, a man from Ohio, noticing by the check of her trunk, that she came from Pennsylvania, was very courteous and gave his name. He charged the driver to protect the lady at the risk of his own life; all of which he solemnly promised to do, by promptly answering, "Yes sah, dat I will."

The bell and two barrels of clothing for Oak Hill were put on the wagon and they made the load a pretty good one for the team. After driving northward all day it began to grow dark and they had not yet reached the ferry across Red River. The crossing was made however without accident.

When the landing had been completed the driver remarked:

"I don't reckon we will get dar, 'coz I doesn't know de way now."

Fortunately there were several houses not very far away on the bluff along the river, and after a few inquiries, a white family was found that very kindly gave Miss Campbell shelter for the night.

The woman at once offered her a sniff of snuff as a token of good will.

When the snuff was very politely declined, she laconically remarked:

"Well, some folks don't."

Miss Campbell arrived at Oak Hill, ten miles distant from the ferry, the next day, after experiencing a "stuck fast" in the mud on the way.

Miss Campbell was a native of Midway, Washington county. Pa. She became the a.s.sistant of Miss Hartford in November, 1887, two days after the departure of Miss Haymaker and remained until June 15, 1888. At that time she expected to return about the first of October following. But when her trunk had been packed for that purpose circ.u.mstances arose at home that made it necessary for her to remain and take care of her parents, both of whom were aged and infirm. On March 7, 1905, she became the wife of James H. McClusky and now lives on a well cultivated productive farm near Monongahela, Pa.

MISS HARTFORD'S NIGHT SCHOOL.

On requesting Alexander M. Reid, D. D., of Steubenville, Ohio, the early home of Eliza Hartford to obtain and send a photo of her, he reported her death at Richmond, Ohio, July 9, 1901; and stating that a photo could not be found among her relatives, sent instead the following beautiful incident, growing out of her work as a teacher of night school in that place before she came to Oak Hill.

MATTHEW FINDING HIS OPPORTUNITY

Rev. Charles C. Beatty, D. D., a former Moderator of the General a.s.sembly who had become almost totally blind, at the close of a prayer meeting held in the Second Presbyterian church, said to Miss Hartford, "Could you not name one of your boys here to lead me home?"

She replied, "Yes, here is Matthew Rutherford; he will lead you home."

On the way home Dr. Beatty asked Matthew, what he was doing: He replied, "I dig coal in the day time and go to the school of Miss Hartford at night."

When near home Dr. Beatty inquired, "Matthew, how would you like to go to school and get an education?" He said, "I would like it very much."