Aunt Floye's Letter

Preface

In 1985 my sister Cindy Jones wrote a letter to our father's first cousin Floye Pitts, asking for some personal recollections of our grandmother, Ora Hill Anderson. At the time, Aunt Floye was 90 years old and living in Indiana with her third husband, Russell Pitts. (Russell was quite a storyteller. I remember his last visit to Memphis in the early 1970's with Floye. While visiting with cousin Allie Mae Black--in a house I later bought from her as a matter of fact--Russell told us about seeing Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show when he was a little boy. I asked him if he remembered Annie Oakley, and he replied that he did enjoy her sharpshooting demonstration, but that as a child he thought "Colonel Cody's long blonde curls were much more impressive." Floye and Russell remained active well into old age. I remember how they'd go to a local shopping mall with a wheelchair; Floye would push Russell for a while, and then they'd switch places and he'd push her.)

Writing was difficult for Floye at the age of 90, but she graciously responded to Cindy's request with a fourteen page letter. Some of the letter is difficult to read--Floye even re-wrote one page to make it more legible--so for the benefit of all my relatives who may find the letter interesting, I have prepared this typewritten copy. I've done as little editing as possible, but I have combined some duplicate paragraphs and I've added a few words here and there to help the sentences flow. I was impressed with Floye's talent for poetic description. The letter left me wanting more....

Based on Floye's comments, I have concluded that most of the events described in this letter took place around 1902 or 1903. I have tried to identify the relatives named in the letter. They are (I think):

Grandpa Rich Hill (1st wife Elizabeth Griffin Hill was mother to Ora, Nettie,
Johanna, Frankie, Leonard & Fred)
Mama Johanna (Hill) Palmer, Rich's Daughter & Ora's Sister
Papa Jeff Palmer
Deering Palmer Floye's Little Brother
"Sis" Ora Hill My Grandmother
Mary Alice Ora's Daughter & My Aunt
Nettie Hill Ora's Sister
Fred Hill Ora's Brother
Leonard Hill Ora's Brother (the "Brother" about whom we know little...)
Miss Fannie Williams Rich Hill's second wife
Bertha Williams One of Miss Fannie's Daughters

I'll send this around to various members of the family. I wish Aunt Floye could know how much I've enjoyed reading it. I hope you enjoy it too.

Bill Anderson
New Hope, Alabama, January 7, 1997



September 10, 1985

Cindy dear:

The enclosed is the best I can do at this late date--time was, I wrote clearly, etc. Now it's a chore to try to write.

Because I feel it's important that you "grands" have a good picture of your grandmother, I've tried to give you a picture, as I knew her. To me, she was always special.

Thank you, dear, for asking for this "picture." I'm sorry it is blotchy -- but it's my best at this point. I tried to copy over some of it and couldn't work out the sequences of the pages--without losing a point I wanted you to have.

Love always,
Cousin Floye


September 9, 1985

Cindy dear:

Remember me? Sorry, I've been so "trifling" of late. I enjoyed hearing from you and loved mentally going over memories of Sis Ora. She was always special to me. And I felt complimented when folks remarked that I resembled her. I reckon it was the family resemblance, as people have said I looked like Mama and Papa in later years (white hair, etc.) that I was like Nettie, so---

My earliest recollection of Sis Ora was her singing. Every summer Mama took my brother and me to Grandpa's farm near Friendship, Tenn.

Deering and I loved the 65 mi. trip to Halls (Papa's sister Aunt Ella Witt lived there) and we'd stop there for a short visit with her and her husband, Uncle Bulus Witt and their three daughters, Clarkie, Georgia and Louise.

Uncle Bulus had a "mercantile" store--yard goods, farm supplies and candy! In the afternoons he could be found lying on the counter, taking a nap, his head resting on the roll of wrapping paper.

Grandpa Hill used to meet us in Halls with his wagon and team of horses. In those days, families traveled with a trunk for clothes. I've often wondered, what became of that trunk with three trays!

The top tray was for hats, shoes, hair ribbons, hose, hankies, etc. The second tray was for Deering's clothes and the third for mine. Petticoats, etc. I reckon Mama's clothes were in the large bottom area. Mama's and my ruffled undergarments were fluted by the "washerwoman" who took our clothes home and brought them back clean and ready to wear.

Deering and I enjoyed the 10 or 12 miles trip to from Halls to Grandpa's farm. Mama sat with Grandpa up on the spring board seat visiting. She was his oldest child. We sat on another spring board seat back of them or played in the hay the horses had lunched on with their bucket of grain.

Cindy, you would have adored our grandfather. I did, and I reckon the other "grands" did too. He was a tall, slender man, "the strongest in the world," I thought. He was so kind. Some in our family have said your Dad came nearest to being like Grandpa of his "grands." I agree. He'd come to our house in Memphis and stomp around in the house to waken us at 3 or 4:00 a.m.! He was accustomed to arising at that hour to have breakfast, feed the team, and get out in the fields before the hot sun took over for the day.

When visiting us he'd be ready to "get out and go"-- he called me "daughter" and depended on me to direct or take him to places of interest. One time at a theater, the dancing I feared might offend his Christian dignity. So I asked if he wanted to leave the theater. "No," he replied, "I've seen more of this before you were born. Let's stay."

On one of the trips from Halls to Friendship (in our earliest travels) we came to a house located far back from the road. A bright orange flag on a staff was attached to the gate post. Grandpa explained that smallpox was there and sometimes patients were taken to the "pesthouse" where other patients were housed. Many people died in those days. We were greatly impressed by this and Deering and I held our breaths fearing we'd take the smallpox!! We weren't told to, but decided on our own that we might catch the horrible disease if we didn't hold our breaths. Those were magic days of youth. Everything was exciting! Those were magical days for us.

The road wound through acres of farms, over huge bridges that crossed the rivers--one was a huge iron bridge at Chestnut Bluff where Mama's schoolmate "Aunt" Laura and husband "Uncle" Tom lived with their six children! (5 girls and 1 son). All the children's names commenced with "L," Leona, Lorene, Lucille, Leah, Laura and Linton. We had delightful visits there. Such fun times with all those children. Aunt Laura took care of Linton, and the girls took care of each other. Each daughter had her own drawer in a large chest of drawers. They would line up and unbutton each other and help the little ones up and to bed; next morning they'd button up and then they would comb each other's hair. Everyone looked after another well, and looked well cared for. Our pretty mothers chatted, Uncle Tom joining them in their talk and laughter. I loved the talk of their girlfriends and beaux. I was fascinated as I listened while Deering tumbled about with the children.

In spite of all us children, all was serene--such fun times! They owned a large ice cream freezer. "Uncle Tom" turned the crank and all of us had a lick off the big paddle removed when the contents were frozen. One time they had an ice cream supper at the church; everyone had taken their creamy ice cream, and ours was mixed with others, and we were served from the thin watery ice cream.

Finally we'd reach Friendship, a small town with a street of stores, wooden sidewalks, and postoffice, and Ground's drug store. Once it had rained and the horses needed to walk in knee deep (it seemed to me) mud. Did you ever watch the front feet of the horses--they would rise out of the mud as the hind ones rose to step into the tracks left by the front feet?

Great trees were on each side of the road after we left Friendship --beautiful.. Grandpa's and Mama's voices made a murmuring background for the scene.

Usually it was late in the evening when the tired team approached the farm. Grandpa had driven to Halls in the a.m.; had "dinner" at noon with Aunt Ella and fed the horses. After a good feed and rest the horses were ready for their return trip. Deering and I loved every moment! At the foot of the last low hill, we could see Grandpa's orchard. On the right was a dense wood, with giant (to me) trees.

As we approached that last hill, we could hear a lovely voice coming from the thick stand of trees. I thought of fairies, elves, etc., and asked Grandpa, "What is it?" He said, "I reckon that's Ora. She goes to the woods to sing often."

Her song wasn't a happy one, but beautiful--I'll always remember it. We were eager to get up the hill and turn off the road to the farm house.

Nettie and Fred welcomed us and Grandpa's new wife "Miss Fannie." I'll always remember all this and I'm 90 years old! I must have been about seven or eight, as I was six when my sister two years my senior passed away.

Our family didn't see Miss Fannie in step-mother action. But Nettie and Sis Ora told us...or rather Mama. I forgot to tell you that Grandpa had brought his new wife's family in to Halls that a.m. from the farm--son, wife and three children. They had their dinner with them and ate at the depot. I imagine poor Grandpa having had one family of visitors a week or so, then we arrived. They were from Florida.

It seems Miss Fannie had two daughters and a son. Bertha, Hattie, and I forget the son's name. Pretty Bertha was Sis Ora's age. Grandpa was strict with his children. Miss Fannie was not. So the Hill children had a hard time. The Williamses made life rather difficult for Sis Ora, Brother Leonard, Nettie and Fred. Fred was only five years old. "Brother" left home while my sister Myrtie was very ill and died of pneumonia.. I'll always remember how handsome he was.

In our thoughts there was no place like Grandpa's. We loved it! Gentle Mama never had any difficulty with Miss Fannie who was a pretty woman with a nervous twitch of the forehead. My little brother Deering once remarked in a loud voice at the table, "Watch, Mama, she's going to do it again!"

Miss Fannie did the milking and tried to teach me to milk. A black man and his young wife lived in a small house about a city block beyond the barn. One day I stopped by about her dinner time and she invited me to eat with her. She was cooking cabbage in her iron tea kettle! She set the kettle on the porch floor and we ate from the kettle with our forks. I never ate tastier cabbage and corn dodgers!

We heard from Sis Ora or Nettie that Miss Fannie allowed her Bertha to attend a party--Sis Ora and Nettie weren't permitted--so Sis Ora went to Aunt Frankie's home in Memphis. In time Sis Ora had a job as a clerk in Bry's Department Store, glove department. She gave me my first wine colored kid gloves! I was so proud of them.

It's late and I'm leaving a page or so to be put into place. I had to copy page four (I think!) I'm too weary to straighten this out!!

Sept. 10th

Sis Ora had lovely hair and I used to comb it and "fix" it up, so I thought. She had excellent taste and wore becoming clothes and hats. Her friend and clerk at her counter was Miss Josie (Buxbaum?) blonde and small. They were friends as long as I remember.

At home, Sis Ora and Nettie had their beaux and Bertha preyed on Sis Ora's it seems. Dear Grandpa loved peace in the family, so he didn't enter the "fray."

Years passed and both Grandpa and Miss Fannie had pneumonia and asked Sis Ora to come and help them. She gave up her job and took on the work at home, nursing, cooking, etc.!

There had been many step-mother episodes, too many to list. Sis Ora had a beautiful silk plaid shirt waist and had gone home on a visit. She had her photo made in her handsome black voile skirt over a taffeta petticoat worn with the plaid waist. Sis Ora went to the kitchen to start the stove fire for supper. There in the fire box ashes were the remnants of her lovely "waist," and her picture had the eyes punched out with a pin!

Anyway, dear Sis Ora took over the responsibility of two deathly ill patients and all the housework! Bless her heart! Miss Fannie came to realize Sis Ora's help and complimented as being a real "wheel horse" (whatever that is).

Miss Fannie passed away--Grandpa went again to Florida next winter. He came to see us enroute. He tried to locate Brother and finally did in Louisiana. Evidently, he wasn't pleased; and never told us anything.

A pond was needed at the farm, so Grandpa came home from Florida in January or February to assist in the pond digging. He came down with pneumonia and passed away. Brother returned and Uncle Johnny, Grandpa's brother, gave him a home. Brother also passed away with pneumonia.

I was sixteen years old the last time I saw him. He was still so handsome--coal black hair and blue eyes! I thought he was fascinating, of course.

The years have passed, but Grandpa and his world will always remain dear to my heart. Sis Ora the same--she was wonderful to her children. I remember hearing her say to Mary Alice when M.A. was leaving on a date -- "Make us proud, Mary Alice," and I reckon she has. She, Sis Ora, and Mama used to sing to their children:

I remember in the evening
The fire was burning bright
She called me to her side and said to me:
"Be brave my child and truthful
And never be ashamed
Of the lessons that you've
Learned at mother's knee."

Love always,
Floye P. Pitts (Cousin)

Hugs to Eric, Elizabeth Ora, Al, Cindy and Laura Hill Jones