February 1881

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First Day   my dead babes birth day it would have been 35 to day   I yet think So often of his death     there is 3 of my children gone now..   I dreamed of Seeing Anna last night   She looked beautiful and happy    I thought I Said to Louisa and the other girls   I know   as She died and was buried  but I know She is here  they said She is not flesh and blood   I Said it is her anyway     we Seemed to not want her to know   She had been dead forever   She would not be back    I thought I begged Harvill to let her Stay   all night..  we would take care of the children   She wanted to Stay and he was going to let her Stay    I Said if the Lord called her back I hoped he would call me with her    So I woke up and behold it was a dream  but I seen her like so plain and She looked So happy    I have thought of her all day or nearly So..
BTM]  Rhoda and Capt.’s son Robert H. TOTTY was born Feb. 1, 1846 and died in Totty’s Bend, Hickman Co., TN on March 10, 1846 before his parents made their journey to Texas.  Susan Tinnier TOTTY 5th daughter was born Jan. 27, 1860 and died on Jan. 5, 1870;  Nancy “Anna” Caroline TOTTY was also born in Totty’s Bend, Hickman Co., TN and died on Oct. 31, 1880, she is buried in Perryman Cemetery, in Montague Co., TX.  With Anna’s death so recent, her loss is still hard on Rhoda.

2 Day    Frank and Pea Started to Montague   Captain mounted Joe  Said he was going to Sam Bairds   Mrs Springer  Spent the day   I started to write a letter to John   my hand So Sore  I cant hardly hold the pen
BTM]  Son's Frank and Pea going to Montague to get the Stove as mentioned below.  Capt. going to visit Sam Baird, his widowed bro-in-law.   Mollie's mother visited with Rhoda while the family was away.  Rhoda was trying to write their son John Whitfield TOTTY and his family who moved to Sebastian Co., Ar. in Sept. 1879.

3 Day  Frank and Pea got back with the Stove    Mollie and Lillie washed  I cooked and washed dishes beginning to feel better   Johnny Jack Staying all night talking some about horses and mules    don’t know which is the most interested him or his dear unkle   I puting in the time writing to John
BTM]  Frank and Pea, both sons of Capt. & Rhoda, brought a new Stove.   Johnny Jack was most likely John E. and Elizabeth Caroline (Smith) TOTTY’s son John Y(oung?) TOTTY.  Elizabeth Caroline (Smith) TOTTY was the d/o John Young SMITH and Mary Erwin (Anderson) SMITH.  Rhoda taking the time to write to her son John Whitfield TOTTY who is living in Sebastian Co., AR at this time.

4 Day    Pea come in the night brought a letter from John     I was asleep when he come     I got up this morning and read it before  I put on my dress     Frank and Mollie moved home     Lillie been busy all day  seting things to right…    She has got done and commensed to pucker her dress  I finished my letter and backed it feel almost like they had it
BTM]  Rhoda always seemed to sound so excited when she got a letter from her son John.  Frank and Mollie got to move into their new home.  Lillie rearranging the rooms after Frank and Mollie moved out their belonging’s and made more room to get around. Rhoda and her son John seemed to always be on the same wave link, ie Rhoda write’s John and then get’s a letter from him almost at same time.    I believe that “pucker” was also the same as to “gather” her dress.

5  Day    rain   a big rain
6 Day   Sunday got on ball forded Denton  went to Bens and to Franks   Sam Baird come we eat dinner at Franks
BTM] Ben Gage was Rhoda’s son in law, married to dau Sarah Lousia, the sis of Frank.  Sam Baird was Capt. and Rhoda’s bro in law, he was married to Sarah Sandal (Totty) Baird who died in Grayson Co., TX on Feb 21, 1877 and is buried in Georgetown Cemetery in Pottsboro.

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Feb
7 Day  W M Freeman Seting by the fire   him and the Captain talking Some about Land and So forth..    Pea went off with Sam Spencer   Charley Douthit wanted cotton Seed    Frank got the breast yoke to go to Pella    Springer wanted to buy us out
BTM] This would be William M. Freeman, who married to Emily Jane Grimes. The family is found in the 1880 Montague CNS in HH#357/358.  William age 46 IN; Jane 26 TX; Jackson 20; Thomas 15; Laura 13; Talemanis 13; William 10; Florence 5; Nettie 6 mos. All children born TX.   His son Richard lived in HH#358/359 age 24 TX; wife Valentine 22 AR; Maggie 2 TX and in living is hh was B. F. BOMAR 28 GA.   Pea went off with Sam Spencer, who is likely Samuel born 1857,s/o Edmond Griffin and Matilda “Tilda” (Spencer) SPENCER, cousin’s of Rhoda.  Tilda Spencer was d/o Charles (1819 TN) and Elizabeth (Cantwell) SPENCER (1822 TN), s/o Charles E. (1774 NC) and Sarah SPENCER (1775 SC) of Cooke Co., TX.  OR Sam SPENCER could also likely be Samuel (1869 TX) s/o John W. and Isabella (Spencer) SPENCER.  J. W. SPENCER (1826 GA) was brother to Edmond Griffin SPENCER.  Isabella (Spencer) SPENCER(1835 AR) was the daughter of James (1810 TN) s/o Charles E. & Sarah SPENCER listed previously.   Charley Douthit as former neighbor of Capt. & Rhoda.

8 Day  Sun Shining this morning   Ben and Louisa come this evening   Frank and Mollie come after their chickens..   Pea not come back   feel bad about him wont do what he says he will
BTM] Rhoda always seemed to enjoy visit’s from her children.  Frank and Mollie still getting things moved to their new home.   Pea was disappointing him mother by not being dependable with his word.

9 Day  Pulyum come to get his yearling  did not get it  much   old man got a note from Combs to go do Some surveying  to well  will not go to day   Frank hauling corn   Lillie finishing her dress   She had ear ache lat night   I been quilting till my fingers is tired   thinking of going to the Burg in the morning
BTM]  Pulyum was most likely the same as Alonzo Pulliam found in the 1880 cns hh #240/261 age 32 listed in hh of his bro in law Wade Adkins 32 and his family; wife Mollie 24; Harvey 13 son; Etolia 11dau; Annie 4dau; Alma 3dau; Nancy 61 mo. Wid.; and Appie Pulliam listed as sister 21.   Combs was most likely Lewis Henry COMBS (30 TX) neighbor of Wade Adkins and husband of (Minerva) Jane (Ross) COMBS (22 AL). Jane’s family has a ROSS family plot found in the TOTTY/Bean Cemetery in Montague Co. on original land patent of John Whitfield TOTTY.

10 Day   rain   Lillie gone home with Frank cold to nigh   Sam Baird Come Staying all night   glad he is here   got my quilt out
BTM] Sam Baird widower of  Capt. TOTTY’s sister Sarah Sandal, came by visiting his inlaw’s, and which Rhoda seemed to always welcome into her home.

11 Day  Snow flying   wind roaring  Hynes Baird and Frank took dinner  all talked Some   Sam got old dom went home

12 Day    Frank   Ben   Jase and Pea all going to the Burg    North wind Still roaring   Cold as balzes    Bomar come to See about the Land
BTM]  Bomar was likely the same as B. F. BOMAR found in the hh of Richard FREEMAN - see above day 7.  Rhoda and Capt.’s sons and sons in law all going to Forestburg in the cold weather together. Since it was Saturday it was most likely to do some trading.

13 Day  Sunday    Sun shineing   Frank and Mollie  Come brought the wagon   Luttie come..   See about the Land   took the cats off   glad of that    Lillie Duck and Gus have a fine time Sewing in the room
BTM] Luttie was likely W. H. Lutte 45 found in HH 132/138 on the Montague Co., 1880 cns.  He took off the cats which Rhoda sounded like she did not care for them being around her home.  Frank and  Mollie must be finished with moving their property to their new home and no longer need the waggon.  Julia “Duck” Springer, Augusta “Gus” Gage and Lillie all friends and kin.  Gus was the d/o Ben and Lousia (Totty) GAGE, Duck was the sister of Mollie Springer and Lillie was the d/o Rhoda and Capt. TOTTY.

14 Day    got up at 1 oclock  went to Coffees  Come home got breakfast..   Captain gone to survey for Freeman  high cold wind from South    I went to Taylors  enjoyed y Self talking with Mrs Taylor and Mrs Long   I love these good women   I think the world would better if filled with Such women.   Captain come home   Sick and then there was a Storm in an other direction     went to bed but not to Sleep     wind blew up from North  Cold Snow again
BTM] Capt. TOTTY gone to survey for Wm H. FREEMAN.  The Coffee family has not been identified as yet, except for the given name of Dick,  nor has the reason been found for her visit, but likely as mid wife or doctoring she she was gone over night.   Mary Taylor was the neighbor of W.H. Freeman who the Capt. was surveying for.   She was the wife of “possibly Uncle” George Taylor.  There are several LONG families, but not sure which Mrs. LONG Rhoda spoke so highly of in this diary.   Rhoda likely referred to Capt. being the other storm from another direction, since he was since and most likely not in the best of moods.  No wonder Rhoda could not sleep.

Feb the  15th       Cold    no name this morning     old man in bed     Ezell come to rent Land...   thinking this evening of Anna blessed are the dead that die in the Lord   for henceforth they rest from their labor and there works do follow them
BTM] Ezell has not been identified yet.  Anybody know anything about him other than he wanted to rent land from the TOTTY family.   Rhoda sounds a little blue from no sleep the night before and thinking of her daughter Anna who died so recently.

16 Day    Pea hitched up and commensed knocking cotton stalks..   him and his daddy Hauling wood this evening   Cold and cloudy  looks like Snow

17 Day    rainy and dark cloudy all day  Pea gone to Franks to night  (17 Feb a day I often think of)  I have been reading Jeremiah
BTM] Rhoda did not explain why this day was important enough for her to always think of.  Son Pea off to stay with bro Frank and Mollie for the night.  Rhoda finding peace in reading her bible.

18 Day    Lillie and I washed..   Captain went to the Creek     Pea come at dark  Said him and Frank had been making rails   cold high wind from North  be hard freeze to night
19 Day    Sun Shineing   beautiful this morning got in the wagon went to Jases   Bettie Come home with us   Billie Baird and Ed and George Ross Staying all night   Lillie gone home with Ida Marshal
BTM]  Rhoda went to visit dau Bettie and her husband Jase TILLMAN and brought Bettie home with her.   William Campbell “Billie” Baird was the s/o Sam and Sarah Sandal (Totty) BAIRD.  George ROSS was the bro of Minerva Jane (Ross) COMBS and Margaret (Ross) Wainscott, widow of Cash Wainscott as noted in 1880 cns record of Montage Co., TX.  Not sure who Ed Ross was, but likely kin somehow to Rebecca ROSS and her children, some of which are found in the ROSS cemetery plot on the old John Whitfield TOTTY original land patent that was later sold to the BEAN family.

20 Day   Sunday    Frank and Mollie Come we all enjoyed our Selves very well   all gone this evening   Sun Shineing

21  Day     Captain gone to the Burg to Survey for Combs     I get on ball go to Bens talk with Louisa  till after dinner then go to Franks  Mollie in bed   I am sewing for her  and Frank both    Come home     been another Sun Shiney day    glad to See it
BTM]  COMBS was most likely Lewis Henry COMBS as noted on Day 7 of this month. Rhoda went to visit her oldest dau Louisa, wife of Benjamin A. Gage and family, then on to visit and do some sewing for son Frank and Mollie in their new home.

22 Day     fixing to go to Gainsville again  don’t know whether we will get off or not     well we did get off and went to Settels   was glad to see Becca had not seen her in about 5 years  She was Mrs Smith then   Staid all night
BTM]  Do not know the ID of Rebecca “Becca” ______ Smith Settles, does anybody know if she is related to Rhoda in any way?  Or have the census record of 1880 for Gainesville, Cooke Co., TX to do a look up.

23 Day    went on     beautiful day did not enjoy my Self much though    got to the Citty drove round to black Smith Shop    left the wagon and looked round at the goods    went to the wagon yard    2 more Ladys Come  Mrs Parr and Mrs Frazier   we made coffee on the Stove  and all talked Some    but Mrs Parr done the most of that
BTM]  Could Mrs Parr be the same as found in the 1880 cns for Montague Co.?

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Feb 24 Day    Captain went off in town all the rest left      I begin to almost get on nettles  he came back     we went to Hudson office    he left me there and went to the Court House   I Set by the Stove tell he come back    we went then and done our tradeing and Started home we got back to Settleses     I was very tired     Staid all night  Becca begged me to Stay a week with her..   it does me good to See her   She Seems to enjoy her Self Says She has got a good man and I believe it
BTM] Cute saying “almost get on nettles”, must have been a bad case of nerves waiting for Capt. TOTTY.   Again we find Rhoda visiting Becca Settles while on their way home from Gainsville, they must be long time friends, or kin of some kind.

25 Day     Started   come to Mathieses  Stoped with Sarah Jane and Hellen a little while come on to Hineses     Stoped  taken dinner think they are clever nice folks   got home Captain Sick  think he is takeing Roseola  Dolly come
BTM] The Mathis family ie Sarah Jane (Totty) Mathis was the dau of William C. TOTTY as was her sister Hellen TOTTY.   Have not identified which Hines family Rhoda visited.

26 Day     warm    Pea hitched up and commenced plowing   I cut out and made an apron  Captain Sick breaking out    been Sleeping   took opium   Dick Coffee took diner  him and Pea  gone to high point to meeting to night  got back  Said brother Savage preached   wind from North
BTM] Roseola a rose colored rash, is somewhat like measles, only not as serious.   Dick Coffee may be the same as Coffee mentioned on Day 14 of this months diary.

27 Day     Sunday Captain better     Pea and Dick gone back to meeting     I feel Sorry that I cant get to be there but maybe my time will come sometime     I will wait patiently as I can..   Captain sleeping    I think now he will get well     I feel lonely but think Some of the Children will be here as Soon as meeting closes and then I will get dinner for them   I have a lot of pies baked and some good pickles and they had better come if they want any of them     Frank and Mollie come   Staid all night  (Ida baptized to day)
BTM] Rhoda was lonely on this day and wanted her children to visit.  Made some good pie’s and had pickles to share with them in anticipation of their visit.   Frank and Mollie sharing in the bounty of food she prepared when they came to visit.

28 Day     Pea and his pap Sowing oats     Mollie gone to her mas     I got a letter from John yesterday     Lillie not come home yet     I have been busy all day makeing pillow ticks and cases and Sewing generally     this is the last day of February and it is a beautiful day    Pea Said he saw a martin     I told him I did not See it and did not much believe he did   So we had a right Smart tiff about it   all in fun     he has done a big days plowing     his pap says he has plowed the horses to hard     I am feeling remarkable well to day am So glad of that  Captain getting well again
BTM] Rhoda was feeling chipper today, especially since she was in a playful mood with Pea about the Martins flying about. Could it be because the Capt. was feeling better? Or just because the weather was so nice? Or likeyl because she got a letter from son John Whitfield TOTTY.  OH how I wish that more of his letters had been saved and or shared with us.

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Transcribed from Original Diary by Birdie (Totty) McNutt ©2000