Next: The Memory Record Up: Hammonds of West Tennessee Previous: Orson Ward Hammond Contents Index
These are excerpts from a series of fifteen letters by Orson Ward Hammond to Mary Eliza Jameson, written while he was in Texas, in 1882-83. The fifteen letters were in the possession of his daughter, Miss Emma Mai Hammond, and were transcribed in 1974. Text in italics are comments added by the author of this book.
It has been nine years since I left the house of my boyhood and my youthful associations. Yet in my memory I see and think of you as the same little 14 year old girl with brown hair and eyes.
I belong to the gang that builds depots and section houses, and our Superintendent's name is Tom Prickett.
At present we are working on the Missouri Pacific R. R.
O. W. remembers her from when she was in school ``as you used to sit with Emma Chapman.'' He asks about the ``pupils in his last school'' -- he had taught school in Hanover.
The return address was: Care, Jones Cowen & Co., Pricketts Gang,
Ft. Worth, Texas.
I like people to be strait forward and plain. Don't you? I inherited that trait from my mother, who gave me birth on the 6th of June 1846.
We have a round house and two depots to build here.
I hold my membership with the Little Fossil class, M.E. Church, South, near Ft. Worth. Are you a Christian, Mary? I will be glad when I can locate and become an active member in religious matters.
O.W. expresses a growing interest in the sheep business.
Mary Eliza was a Sunday School leader. O. W. tells of teaching Sunday School in Plano, Texas to 15 boys, and speaks of faith in God. He mention Sam (possibly Uncle Sam, brother of Mary ?) as ``an efficient member of the M.E. Church.'' O.W. visited Austin, Texas, and public building there (only 36 miles distant.) He mentions his sister, Sallie.
O.W. expressed that he had worked in thirty counties in Texas and hoped to visit the coast.
This was a short letter -- he was awaiting a reply to his last letter. It was mailed from Temple, Texas, on the 26th of August, with a reply address of Belton, Bell Co., Texas.
I have not heard from any of my relatives in Hanover for a long time. Can't you inform me with regard to Bro. Charles and family?
Bro. Charles (Charles N. Hammond) was in Illinois in 1882. He later came to Madison Co., Tennessee. He had probably gone to Tenn. in 1877, but retained business interests in Illinois. O.W. expects to visit Illinois ``sometime next year.'' The reply address was Wichita Falls, Texas.
O.W. had been working south of Ft. Worth, between there and Taylor, Texas.
He was in good health. His average weight was about 160 lbs -- in other summers he had averaged only 145 lbs. He had visited Lampassas, a health resort.
O.W. makes reference to nearly ten years since he set out from home. He was thinking of definitely settling in Texas, somewhere west of the Colorado River, perhaps in San Saba and McCulloch Counties.
This letter was written on stationery of ``Office of Jones and Cowen,
Railroad Contractors''. The reply address was Wichita Falls, Texas.
O.W. has not purchased land in Texas, but has $400 on 12% interest.
He has been earning $2.75 per ten hour day during last year. Working for Jones and Cowen, to ``raise an iron bridge'' at Henrietta on the morrow. He speaks of the ``Mechanic crew'' in other letters.
O.W. was dreaming of raising sheep, goats and honey bees in Texas.
The engagement proposal letter -- copy existent.
O.W. implies that he has been with railroad work the past two years only ``for profit, not for any liking that I have of the business.''
He writes of their engagement to be married ``next September'', and speaks of settling in Texas, but further south than Big Springs, which at that time of the year was cold.
O.W. had just returned from ``aiding and straightening up a wrecked train about 150 miles east of this place.''
He mentions that he left his ``old home on the hillside'' just ten years ago next Sunday -- he left home in Hanover, Ill. on March 1873.
O.W. mentions a letter from Sister Edna (wife of Charles N.), and also an
Irwin family with pupils in his ``first school in the Edgerton
District.'' Charles and Edna were in Hanover in 1883.
I do not enjoy that depth of zealous Christian love that I did when I left home. The cause of the Redeemer languishes in many places that I have been, then I have been so unsettled myself that it has hurt my religious enjoyment.
He refers to the engagement -- and of letters. The reply address was
Colorado, Texas.
O.W. writes about the expenses he has -- only about $6.00 a week while his
income is about $16 a week. Colorado, Texas was cattle country.
I want the world to be better for my having lived in it.
I am a regular subscriber to the Colorado Clipper, Texas Wool Grower, Texas Christian Advocate, and the Missionary Advocate. I have lately bought the Life and Letters of Bishop Andrews and am now perusing it at my leisure.
O.W. replies to Mary's letter of July 7th telling of the recent death of her mother (Matilda Craig Jameson died July, 1883.) He refers to his mother, Sophronia Hammond who died 10 years previously (Sophronia Hale Hammond died 1873), and that now both O.W. and Mary are ``orphans''--parents deceased.
He quotes ``Blest Be the Tie that Binds'', and plans to see her in September.
Mother Sophronia Hale Hammond still living -- O.W. lives with them. Sue lives in ``sunny Georgia'' (her husband, Royal C., died in 1870). Fred (S.D.), Julia's husband, is sickly. Sue has children; one is named Rollie and she knows Orson W. (Ortie).