November 1880

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November the first    all gone to the burying    I cant do any good   am not well     will Stay at home and try to have dinner for them     think may be John will bring the little children and I will be ready To give them Something To eat and warm them     Cant hardly write    left my Specks    get So lonely  I go to Simpsons  come back    all got home    Tilda and Bettie here Said Harville would be here     I looked for him till dark did not come  Charley here
[BTM] Rhoda was so down hearted over losing her daughter Anna she could not face going to her funeral, likely because she was depressed over not being able to save Anna and felt she could not do any good now that Anna was gone home to be with the Lord.   Staying home alone was not a good idea so she goes to their neighbors Marion and Laura Simpson for company.   Charley was their former boarder who was married to Mary possibly surname was Douthit/Douthet.

2 Day      John birth day 33 to day   oh but wouldn’t I like to See him To day  men all gone to the election  I am glad the day has come hope there will be Something else talked off after a while   Charley Started after Mary  or Said he was going to Start this evening..   Sick to night no body here but Tilda and Lillie   Frank come mollie at her pas sick    he went back
[BTM]  Captain & Rhoda’s son John Whitfield TOTTY moved to Arkansas the previous year and Rhoda missed him every day and was wishing she could see him.  I am sure the rest of the family would love to see him also.  Likewise Rhoda was glad to see all the campaigning by Captain Totty coming to an end with the pending election.  Charley (Doughitt?) was going after his wife Mary.  Rhoda still feeling sick even though she has her two daughters Matilda “Tilda” and Lillie with her.   Frank went back to the Springer home where his wife Mollie Springer Totty was also sick.

3 Day     Still Sick but glad the election is over be Something else talked of I recon..   Frank gone to the Burg to get medicine   Bart not come    Tilda and Mollie phaunching      I think Frank and Bart will come to night and then they will be all right
[BTM]  Frank was likely going to Forestburg to get medicine for his wife Mollie Springer Totty.    Barton Taylor, husband of  Matilda “Tilda” Jane Totty Traylor did not come home with his wife & her family, but most likely stayed to help out is newly widowed b-i-l John Harville and his small children.   John must have been  so numb after losing his wife Anna.  What did Rhoda mean by saying Tilda and Mollie were “phaunching”<sic> ?  what were they doing?

4 Day     Captain got home defeated   Bart Pea and John Come brought Annas little children   I am in the bed Sick cant take care of my self
[BTM]  Captain Totty lost his bid for County Judge.   Rhoda must have felt sorry for Capt. Totty losing the election after all his hard work, but happy to have him home again even though defeated in his bid.    John Harville brought his & Anna’s children Sidney Elijah born Oct 1, 1876, Lewis Marion born Jan 11, 1879 and the new baby son born before Ann’s death on Sept. 16th.   Anna most likely died from complication’s of child birth of her “little black headed baby boy”, although her cause of death was not stated in Rhoda’s diary.  Was Rhoda sick physically or was she depressed over losing her daughter Anna.

5 Day    Snow    Harville and Bart gone  left the children I get up do all I can for the children feel So badly this evening.
[BTM] Rhoda taking care of her grandchildren Sidney E., Lewis M. and new infant son of Anna & John Harville, and most likely the step son Walter S. Harville by John’s first wife Nancy J. (Barnes) Harville.  Even though she is still feeling ill, Rhoda is trying her best to help care for the little children left without their mother to love and care for them.

6 Day  of Nov      my birth day  56 to day   Tilda here helping me nurse Annas little baby  She is nearly Sick  I am uneasy about her   Harville and Bart Come this evening
[BTM]  Rhoda has lived through so many tragedies, and trials since she left Hickman Co., Tennessee some 27 years previously to become a Texas pioneer.   Her hope’s were so high in 1853 when they started their journey to Texas.   Capt. & Rhoda have now lost two daughter’s Susan and Anna in Texas, along with their young son before leaving Tennessee.  Not to mention losing the Captains Mother and Father, Matilda and Robert Totty, and her parents David and Susannah Spradling, and also daughter in law Matilda Walker Totty.   Was Tilda becoming sick from the Snow and cold weather?

7 Day  Sunday    Harville and Barts folks and all gone    So lonely   Lillie gone to see Ida   Pea trying to pocet<sic>  cant do much at it
[BTM]  The Traylor and Harville families all have went back home leaving Rhoda feeling all alone and sad.   Her Daughter Lillie gone to visit Ida Marshall, daughter of dec’d Joe Marshall and his widow Mary Marshall.   Can any body tell us what Pea was trying to do without much luck according to Rhoda?  The word was clearly written pocet.

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November 1880   8 Day     Frank and his pap hauling cotton Ida Come home with Lillie   I go to Bens  walked through the field   leg nearly broke by a cow kicking me this morning   go any way   want to See Louisa and I seen her   She can talk yet    Ben and old Henry hauling corn   Pea gone to work at the mill
[BTM] Ida Marshall came back home with Lillie.   Rhoda had her close call’s with animals both farm and wild ones.  A kick in the leg by a cow can be very painful, she was very “lucky” her leg was not broken while walking to see her daughter Lousia wife of Ben Gage.   Was “old Henry”, Ben’s Uncle Henry Gage? Pea working at the  Mill, was it the same Mill where Frank and Capt. Totty hauled their cotton?

9 Day     Mrs Marshall Come Wash been bit by a pole cat    She is nearly crazy    took wash up behind her and Started to hunt a mad Stone   Frank Hauling corn  Bart traded for the wagon   Lillie gone to stay with Ida
[BTM] Did Mary Marshall get bit by a rabid skunk?  Skunk’s are also called a pole cat, most generally, they will only attack a person if they are rabid.  I have personal experience with a rabid skunk.  Afew years ago I had a “run-in” with one who attacked a baby calf in our barn.  The calf was not enough so he came after me also in the day light.  Luckily, after many tries, he was killed by me with a pitchfork.  While waiting on the positive test for rabies, I got a real lesson on the skunk and their habit’s.   Although I was not bitten by the rabid shunk, I got his saliva on my hands in an open wound.   I was allergic to the rabies shots, so I had the longest wait of my life waiting to see if I had rabies.  Thank the Lord I did not get rabies from the saliva.  What a scary time in my life!  What was a mad stone, as Rhoda called it?   Lillie gone back to stay with Ida Marshall.  I wonder if Rhoda thought Lillie was in any danger being with a person she said was nearly crazy?  Son Frank was working hauling his? corn.   What did Bart Traylor trade for the wagon? Was it the corn Frank was hauling?

10 Day    get on the horses rode up to Jases    Mr Totty traded for Jases Cotton    Lillie gone back with Ida
[BTM]  Capt. Totty and Rhoda went to see their son in law and daughter, Jase and Bettie TILLMAN and traded for his cotton.  Lillie and Ida Marshall were good friends staying together a lot of the time.

11 Day     Mr Totty gone to McLanes  I went to Mr Taylors   Judge Taylor moved off to day   Lillie Come home   Frank and Mollie Staying at Marshalls to night   Mrs Taylor Spent the evening
[BTM]  McLane was likely the teacher McLane that was mentioned earlier in Rhoda’s diary.  Capt. Totty is often mentioned as going to McLanes! Was this when He helped teach school, according to family history? Sounds like Mary Marshall is sick enough from the “pole cat” bite that Frank and Mollie are staying with her.   Neighbor,  Mrs Mary Taylor, wife of George,  spending the evening.   Who was Judge Taylor?

13 Day     Still Cold     Frank and his pap Hauling Cotton     Jase and Bettie come   I See Mrs Marshall going home     Frank and Pea did not get in till dark   Stalled and had a bad time    Mollie nearly crazy   Jase come from the Burg brought Johns picture I was glad of the picture but John is not here
[BTM]  Frank and Capt. F. M. Totty likely hauling the cotton they just bought from Jase TILLMAN.  Jase was married to Elizabeth “Bettie” Totty, daughter of Rhoda and Capt. F. M. Totty.   Mrs Marshall must be getting better if she has been away from home.    Frank both were likely on their way home from the mill where the cotton was hauled.  Sounds like they had trouble with the animals, the wagon or the mill which made them late, causing Mollie to be so worried.   Wonder where the picture of John is today.  I would love to see it.  Which John was it?  John Whitfield Totty, my great grandfather, or John Harville, my great Uncle?

14 Day  Sunday     Ben and Louisa Come  Frank and Mollie gone to Bourlands   Charley and Mary come   I was glad To see mary    looked So natural    I have been feeling badly all day   not Sick either    some thing going to happen that has not Happened yet
[BTM] Rhoda’s daughter Louisa (Totty) and husband Ben Gage came for a Sunday visit, while Frank and Mollie (Springer) Totty went to visit her sister Bally (Springer) and Sam Bourland.   Charley and Mary, ex-boarders of Rhoad and Capt Totty, came by for a visit also

15 Day    all getting ready to Start to Gainsville    Dolly here   camped at the row branch    Staid all night   enjoyed it very well had a big fire not much cold
[BTM] Dolly (unk) Hunt has still not been connected to the Totty family yet.  She was always welcome at Rhoda and Capt. Totty’s home.

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Nov 16 Day   horses balked North Wind roaring cant Start   bout to freeze  get Started at last wind blows through Shawls and blanket like nothing get to the Dutchmans   me and Lillie get out get to the fire   I am might glad to Stay the rest go on    this is Franks birth day  23 to day   we are at Stutzmans   Siting by the window looking at it Snow
[BTM] Rhoda and families getting started a day late, on their way to Gainesville, after the visit from Dolly. Rhoda always mentions when one of her family has a birthday.   One of Frank and Mollie’s daughter later marries into the Stutzman family.   I can picture Rhoda and family sitting in their wagon wrapped up tightly in their shawls and blankets trying to keep the cold wind out, and we now depend on our heater’s to keep us warm while we travel in our enclosed vehicle.  Makes one look more closely at the hardships our pioneer families went through.

17 Day    tired of looking for the wagons   tired of these Dutch    tired of Smelling the Stove    Sun Shining this evening but cold as blazes    Mrs Stutzman very kind don’t like the old man much
[BTM] Rhoda looking for Capt. & family to come back from their trip to Gainesville.   Who were the Stutzman’s?, Were they from Holland, since Rhoda keeps calling them Dutch and Dutchmen.  According to census record submitted by Terry Dishman there was a Abra(m?) STUTZMAN living in Cooke Co.. TX on the 1880 Census.

18 Day    Sun Shining Wind Still looking for the wagons and reading everything at the Dutchmans or nearly So..   they are Dunkards     I read the Dunkard paper till I am tired of that     they all come from Gainsville   me and Lillie get in the wagons..  and come home  nearly froze   I have matches and and run in the House when Lo and behold here is a good fire never was so glad to See a fire   Recon Pea has been here and made it
[BTM] What are Dunkards?  Was that a denomination of a religious congregation?  Rhoda’s son Pea must have been in very good standing with them for leaving a fire in the stove.

19 Day   Joe May come Said there was a dead Cow in the Creek    Frank and Mollie got in  She is Sick..  Lillie went to Brothers   Said Dollie is blind with Sore eyes
[BTM] Most likely Dolly could have had “pink eyes”.    Most likely Mollie is having morning sickness with her first child Edith.   Lillie probably went to visit her friend Della Brothers, daughter of Robert and Hellen, found as neighbor’s on the 1880 census for Montague Co. in HH#368/369.  Joseph May was living with George and Mary Taylor in the 1880 census also.

20 Day       Ida Come Lillie went home with her   Mollie Still Sick  I am uneasy about her   feel badly my Self    Pea and Sim come to night    Charley was here Said Somebody had Stole Dutch Charlys horses   I guess Whitly is glad of it all talking to night about the Brocks coming back
[BTM] Ida Marshall came to see Lillie, Mollie still having a bout of morning sickness?  Pea and Sim Hester also came home.  Charley Doughitt bring the news of Dutch Charlys horse.   Who was Dutch Charley?   Why was (possibly Hiram?) Whitly glad of it?   The Brocks were Robert and Mary Ellen (Winingham) Brock, they are found in HH# 42/43 on the 1880 census.  Robert A. age 29, Mary E. age 27, Minnie age 3, and Birdie A. age 4 mos.

21  Day   Sunday      Pea and Sim gone courting   Bourland and Bally come    Still cold never Saw as cold a Nov in Texas   Mrs Simpson come this evening
[BTM]  Pea is 17 and thinking of the girls, along with his friend Sim Hester.   Samuel Robert Bourland and his wife Zelphia Balzora (Springer) Bourland came to visit, most likely checking up on Mollie since she has been sick of late.   Laura Simpson, wife of Marion were neighbors of Capt. & Rhoda Totty, living in HH#375/376 on the 1880 census.

22 Day  Mrs Springer and Mrs Taylor here Mollie commenced a pair of Socks  Says She don’t expect to get them done
[BTM]  Neighbor’s Elizabeth (Smith) Springer and Mary (?) Taylor visiting Elizabeth’s daughter Mollie and Rhoda Totty.   Mollie was Likely starting a pair of baby booties/socks or socks for husband Frank.   Why was she thinking she would not finish them?

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Nov 23 Day     Sam Baird come him and the Captain gone to Latties    Sallie Johnson come round  with a paper     Lillie and me subscribed for it     Pea went off this morning     Said he was going to Gainsville  all doing as we please to night..    and now I have I have a good mind to do like old Nancy Hoover
[BTM]  Lattie has not been identified in my records, must he must be a neighbor.   Sam Baird was the widower of Sarah Sandal (Totty) Baird and brother in law of Capt. F. M. Totty.    Sallie Johnson was from District 6, wife of Alex W. Johnson they are listed in HH#90/90, Alex age 67, Sallie age 45, George W., age 21, Margaret A., age 19, Charles T., age 16, Cora E., age 12, Effelee age 7, John R. age 5 and Luler E. age 2.     Rhoda mentions doing like old Nancy Hoover.  I show Nancy Hoover was married to David Ferdinand GAGE, parents of Ben Gage and mother in law of Louisa (Totty) Gage.  Wonder what old Nancy Hoover did?

24 Day  Cold   no name  misting all day  Lillie broke the last machine needle   She is nearly crazy Sewing with her fingers   Mollie in the bed..   Sam got in very cold
[BTM] I guess Rhoda and Lillie will have to go see Wagner for a new sewing machine needle.  Look how the reliance to modern machine started.  Lillie is already spoiled to the sewing machine and does not like to sew by hand the old fashion way.    Mollie is having a time of it with her pregnancy.    Sam Baird? back without Captain?

24 Day    Colder that ever    Lillie gone to Springer to finish her dress     Frank and Mollie gone there to night    Sam Sitting by the fire reading     Frank and Jase  James  Hall was here Hog hunting
[BTM] Lillie gone to visit Mollie’s family to finish her dress, Frank and Mollie also gone to her parents home.    Sam Baird still visiting with the Totty’s.     Frank Totty, Jase Tillman (Rhoda’s son in law) and James Hall out hunting together.   Was James Hall a neighbor from Cooke Co.?

26 Day   Sam counted his money had 4 hundred and 40 dollars in green back  Said he had Some gold  he went back to Fugates   Frank and Mollie at Springers  been another Cold day    I haven’t had so Shugar in 2 days  mad to night will have Some to morrow  DV if there is any in the Country  what I eat and wear is all I get for my work and I will have Shurgar to go in my Coffee
[BTM]  Rhoda’s sweet tooth taking hold of her again, she is very determined to get her sugar.    Sam Baird Going back to Nite Fugates, was he planning on buying something?   Frank and Mollie still at her parents house.

27 Day  I go to Simpsons  don’t get any Shugar   Start To Taylors    Say I will go to old Reds or have Shugar get there   they have none      Send by Dick and Frank  May to the Burg think I will get it  raining this evening   got it to night
[BTM]  Rhoda making the round’s of her neighbor because of her sugar blues.  First to Laura Simpson, next to Mary Taylor and have Dick and Frank May, son of Joseph May, go to Forestburg for her sugar.  Dick and Frank lived with George and Mary Taylor according to the 1880 census.

28 Day  Sunday     get in the wagon Start to meeting  get to Bens   I get out Stay with Louisa the rest go on  I hear Savage preaching to Bens   cold to day
[BTM] Rhoda and family on way to Church, but Rhoda stayed with daughter Louisa while the rest of the family go hear Savage preach to Ben, likely on not worshiping God at Church on Sunday, the Lord’s day.

29 Day  heard Jim Ned Fletcher had killed Bomer   Sam Baird come and Started home  Bart and Tilda come Jase and Henry   they killed hogs   Sherif Sumoned the Captain to go to Court
[BTM]  I find a B. F. BOMAR in HH#358/359 with family of Richard Freeman.   He was listed as age 28 and a farmer born in Georgia.  Could this be the “Bomer”, Rhoda spoke about?   Where were they from? Was Capt. Totty summoned by the Sheriff to court because of the killing of Bomer?

30 Day  Jase come brought Rob   Lillie gone to Jases to go to School   Hall was here with his Hounds      thundering to day    Sun Set clear beaty<sic> sight
[BTM]  Jase Tillman came and brought little 2 year old Rob, Rhoda and Capt’s grandson by Bettie and Jase.   Lillie taking her Schooling serious by not missing out on learning all she can.   James Hall coming by after hunting hogs.

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Transcribed from Original Diary by Birdie (Totty) McNutt ©2001