A Diary of a Trip “Back Home”

Diary of Alta Brooks, written in 1901

Transcribed from SCGS Journal V, 2: p.213-5

Some footnotes are in brackets supplied by the original transcriber, Lucille C. Curlee

My footnotes are in GREEN.

[BCBNOTE: this relates to the daughter of William H. Brooks, son of James Brooks (1785-1829) and Temperance Jane Tucker… William and his brother James H. Brooks left NC for Russellville, AR in Nov. 1860, leaving their mother, her new husband, Alford T. Ledbetter and a brother, John and eight step-brothers and sisters. William married Rebecca Melinda Cooper, dau. Of Caswell Cooper while in Arkansas.]

Now, on to the journal article:

In 1860, after the death of his wife, Christena Shoffner Cooper, Caswell Cooper took all his children except one son, Jethro, to Pope County, Arkansas, to settle. Rebecca Melinda Cooper was his oldest daughter. She married another native of North Carolina who had settled in Pope County, William Brooks.

In 1901, she came “back home” to Stanly County, the only time after having left in 1860. She was accompanied by her daughter, Alta Brooks, who wrote a day-by-day account of the visit. She first wrote of her mother’s trip Russellville, AR, from North Carolina in 1860 as it had been told by her mother:

“Mother left N.C. in Nov. 1860. Went to Cheraw, S.C. From there to Memphis. Took boat and went to Napoleon at confluence of Ark. And Miss. R(iver)’s. Came far as Pine Bluff. Water too low to come to Morriltown. Came by wagon to Conway Co. to Upchurches and Uncle Isaac Coopers and Jerry Lowders. Stopped at a little church where Bro. Strickland was preaching (the one who preached at Bethel Church) close to Cousin Priscilla Lowder. In the crowd were all Mother’s family, Aunt Polly Ross and her four children, Cous. Billy Hinson – Uncle Noah worked with the Randalls from N.C. Aunt Polly and three children died of typhoid (the baby died later). Uncle Jim Ross her husband was killed in War. Mother was married on Nov. 6, 1862. Her father died of congestive chills Sept. 1864.”

And now to the diary of Alta Brooks written in 1901:

June 4, 1901 Tuesday June 4 from Russ(ellville) to Little R(ock) Had to wait about an hour then to Memphis. Transferred across town to S Ry depot. Had to wait 5 hrs. Left at 8:00 o’clock traveled all night to Chattanooga – got there at 6:20 am

June 5. Made direct connection from there to Atlanta arriving about 12 N, direct from there to Gastonia via Spartanburg, staid all night in Gastonia and left there at 9:00 a.m.

June 6 passing through Charlotte which is a pretty place. On to Salisbury, from there on to Porter, a place on the road to stop. Then on to Uncle Jethro’s.

June 7 Friday Rained in the morning. In afternoon went to see Ma’s old Uncle Henry Cooper. He is in his 80^th year, his wife in her 79^th. At night Ma had a dreadful headache, said she wished she was at home. Also got my trunk.

8 – In the afternoon went to Ma’s old home and to the station and got the P D.

Sunday 9 – Went with Henry and his family to Mt. Zion church, took dinner at Jeanie’s mother’s. Ma staid at home. [Jeannie is Martha Eugenia Lowder, wife of Lewis Henry Cooper]

10 – (I washed today.) We went to Henry’s to stay all night, Jeannie’s birthday.

Tuesday afternoon 11 - Went to see a Mrs. Mauldin and she was gone.

12 - Mrs. Mauldin came to Henry’s to spend the day with Ma. Came back to Uncle Jethro’s in afternoon. Had such a good dinner today.

13 – Aunt Liz pretended to iron but didn’t get through. [Elizabeth Hudson, wife of Jethro Cooper] We intended to go to Pat’s [Martha Ella Cooper, wife of R.E. Broom and daughter of Jethro Cooper] but it rained in afternoon.

14 – Rained all day. I began to hemstitch a napkin, go it about half done.

15 – Lying in bed feeling bad. Want to finish my napkin. Uncle J[ethro] and part of the boys gone to Norwood.

17 – Well, yesterday was Sunday. We went to Silver Springs to church. Heard a sermon on the coming of the millennium by a Baptist preacher (a Mr. Black). We went into the cemetery and saw my great grandfather’s and great grandmother’s graves. [Kimbrell and Margaret Rowland Cooper]. Their tombstones are cut from the natural rock of the county, a kind of slate [BCBNOTE: William Brooks I’s tombstone is made of the same type of stone]. Uncle John Brooks [BCBNOTE: "Rabbit John" Brooks born 1828, son of James Brooks and Temperance Jane Tucker] came yesterday to see us. He is a jolly old man 72 years of age. Miss Heathcock (a distant cousin of ours) and a Mr. Lowder, a very pleasant man, came and stayed all night as it rained so hard they could not get home. Such a hard rain fell in the afternoon. We also met a Rev. Mr. Whitlock, a man who held Grandmother Cooper’s funeral service in 1860. This morning Uncle John and all the company went home and Uncle Jethro and all the boys except Josh have gone to Norwood so it seems a little lonesome. Went to Pat’s and stayed until Tuesday, nearly made a napkin.

18 – Came home. At night, Leige, Bertie [Swearingen] & I went to Henry’s and stayed all night. A Mrs. Carpenter came to see Ma.

19 – Wednesday in afternoon Bertie and I went to the Station. Got a letter from Uncle Noah [Wellington Cooper, son of Caswell.]

20 – Bertie and I washed in afternoon. Ma and Aunt Liz went to Henry’s. Lige scared me to death almost.

21 – Bertie and I ironed all day. Ma and Aunt Liz went to Pat’s. Had to come home in the rain. Rains almost every day. Mr. Hammer came over at night and brought Ma a letter from Ida Freeland.

22 – Raining again. Jeannie came and stayed all night. Also Mr. Jno Hudson came to see Ma. Had squirrel for dinner and supper.

Sunday 23 – In the morning we went to children’s day exercises at Simpson’s Church, a Protestant Methodist Church. In the afternoon went to Cedar Grove to church. Heard Mr. Shelly again from the text “Awake them that sleepest, etc.” Ma went to Wm Morton’s and spent the day. Staid at Henry’s at night.

24 – I went to Henry’s and Jeanie’s. Ma and I went to Mr. Ben Mabry’s and spent such a pleasant day. Mrs. Mabry is a lovely old lady and has such a pleasant home.

25 – Helped Jeanie wash and then came back to Uncle Jethro’s in afternoon.

26 – Rained - have forgot what I did. In the afternoon Ma and Aunt Liz went to Pat’s. Lige killed a chicken and we had it for supper.

27 – Thursday. Ma, Uncle J and I went to Sallie’s and stayed until 3 o’clock. [Sarah C., daughter of Jethro and wife of James W. Marbrey]. Came home and I helped Jeanie carry her baby home and borrowed a rub board.

28 – I washed in the morning and in afternoon went with Aunt Liz and Ma on a walk over Stanly Co. First went to the Station – got two letter from home – and took 10 doz. Eggs for which A[unt] L[iz] bo’t dishes. I bo’t a linen towel from Mr. Hammer. Then went on and walked ourselves nearly to death.

29 – Sat. Ironed all morning. In afternoon wrote two letters, went to mail them and bo’t another towel. (got a letter from Cora C. [daughter of Noah Wellington Cooper])

30 – Sunday. Ma was sick all day and we did not go anywhere.

July 1 – I have made blackberry pies, jelly, and jam today and (illegible)

2 – Tho’t I’d go to town but did not. Went with Jeanie in afternoon to the Station. Then went home with her and Bessie [Jeanie’s daughter]. Came home with me to stay all night. We rode home with Josh and Jake on a hay frame on the wagon. Night when we got here.

3 – Have cooked all afternoon to go to Rocky River Springs tomorrow, then on to Uncle John Brooks. Pat came and spent the day. Jeanie and her children came in afternoon.

4 – Thursday – a 4^th of July to be remembered as it was spent in N.C. Went to Rocky River Springs and then came to Ford to Uncle John Brooks. The rocks we traveled over crossed Long Creek, a place about like the Ill. Bayou.

5 – A pleasant cool day. Oodles of kinfolks have come to see us.

6 – In afternoon Uncle John took us to Mr. Josh Brooks, my father’s cousin [BCBNOTE: Joshua Brooks (1843 – 1913), son of William Brooks II who married H. Puah Ellen Thomas in 1865], such a nice family. Stayed from Saturday to Tuesday morning. Sunday we went to Philadelphia to S.S. In afternoon two Mr. Morgan’s came to call on us. Monday spent the morning on Rocky River. Ma, Lessie, Maude, and I went fishing but caught no fish. Then Maude and I went to the Island and waded out in the water and paddled around so long that we got caught in the rain. Monday Eve. L. M. and I picked ½ gal. Blackberries.

Tuesday, 9 – Came to Uncle Calvin Ledbetter’s and the place but not the house where my father was born. After dinner we visited the old spring, my grandmother’s house. The graveyard where whe is buried – her tombstone is just a natural rock containing the words “In memory of Tempie Ledbetter Born 1804 Died June 2, 1896 aged 92 years”. Then we went to Aunt Caroline Brooks [BCBNOTE: this through me for a few.. it’s Tempie Caroline Ledbetter, half sister to William H. Brooks.. she married Alexander W. Brooks, son of David Brooks of Stanly Co, NC], a half sister of my father.

10 – We came back to Uncle John’s. Ma, Ida (Charley’s wife), and I went in the afternoon to the river (R.R.) to see it. The waters are up past fording and the footlog is covered.

11 – Did nothing much today. Just after dinner Uncle John went with us up to see a Mr. Cagle – his wife a relative of ours [BCBNOTE: this might be a reference to Alexander Cagle and his wife Mary Ann Brooks… she was the daughter of King David Brooks, son of David Brooks of Stanly Co, NC… and so, indeed was a relative]. Have been greatly impressed and disgusted with the manner of some people’s living.

12 – At noon today we went to see Bill Brooks [BCBNOTE: might be William R. Brooks and wife Nancy Emeline Nance.. he was another son of David Brooks of Stanly Co, NC] and his wife and then on down to the river but couldn’t get courage enough to walk across on the footlog.

13 – Rained on some nearly all day. In afternoon went with some girls to the river and I made a sketch of Uncle John’s [Brooks] mill and the footlog. In the eve. Quite a number came to sing. Bill & his wife staid all night. Uncle John and Adam Hathcock bro’t us up to Uncle Jethro’s and we told Uncle John goodbye for the last time in life I expect.

22 – Dear me, a week gone and not a word put down here. Monday & Tuesday we got our Ma and Jeanie went on Thrusday to Norwood to visit and came Friday morning. I staid at Mrs. Lowder’s until Saturday visiting relatives through the kindness of Mr. Crawford Lowder who so kindly took me all around. On Friday morning we spent most of the day with Cousin Jim Hathcock, a mighty nice and pleasant man. That night I spent with another cousin, Miss Lina Hathcock. Mr. Jim and Mr. Lawrence Blalock, another cousin, going there and taking supper with us. Sat. came home in afternoon. I ironed. On Sunday, 21, I went to Silver Springs with Bertie and Elijah to church. Mr. Albert Lowder came about 17 miles that morning to see me, so he went back with me and we ate dinner at Jeanie’s cousin Jim Hathcock and Lina came and spent the day also. Had quite a pleasant day.

23 – I went to Pat’s and staid until after 12 o’clock, then came back to Uncle Jethro’s and washed. At night I went back to Pat’s to sit up as the baby is sick and staid all day Tuesday and Tuesday night.

24 – Wednesday morning came back to Uncle Jethro’s by five o’clock, ate breakfast, went to bed and slept about 2 hours, then ironed a little before noon. Got ready and came to Norwood to visit Dr. Tom Hathcock – and such a hot day. The hottest we felt – about 100 degrees in the shade.

Thursday, 25 – We are yet at Cousin Tom’s. In afternoon went with Cousin Tom to see Cousin Mollie Smith. Spent a pleasant evening talking to Cousin Tom.

Friday, 26 – In afternoon Uncle J. , Aunt Liz, Ma, Bertie, and I took a walk over the fields and then Bertie & I went to the Station. At night we went to Pat’s for a while.

27 – I did not do much – put a few things in my trunk at night. Ma, Marian, and I went to Henry’s and staid all night. And yes, this morning Uncle Jethro, Aunt Liz and I went to St. Martin’s where Grandmother Cooper is buried. Her tombstone has the inscription “Christena Cooper born Mar. 15, 1812, died Mar. 15, 1860”.

28, Sunday – We staid at home all day looking for William Morton and his family but they didn’t come.

29 – Josh and I went to Albemarle in the morning and to Norwood in the afternoon.

30 – Left for home this morning at sunrise. Got up at 3 o’clock. Came from Porter to Salisbury on the freight train. From Salisbury to Charlotte and was met there by George and Maude Freeland. Visited with them until 10 at night. Came to Gastonia and spent the night with Mrs. Bradley, Minnie’s cousin.

Wednesday, 31 – Left Gastonia at 9:00 a.m., changed at Spartanburg & Asheville. Got a glimpse of Vanderbilt Mansion. From Asheville came on to Chattanooga arriving at 11:00 p.m. Had to lie over in Chattanooga rest of night. Staid at Reed House. I was 30 years old today.

August 1 – Left Chattanooga at 8:00 a.m., traveled all day, arriving in Memphis at 7:00 p.m. Direct from there to L[ittle] R[ock] arriving 2 a.m. Staid there until 8 a.m. Friday.

August 2 – Let L R Friday arriving home 1 o’clock.

List of people to write:

Miss Lalla Thompson NCI Asheville, NC

Miss Lessie Brooks Morgan’s Mill

Mr. Calvin Ledbetter Big Lick

Uncle John Brooks Ford

Mrs. Ben Mabry Porters

Mrs. Martha Lowder Norwood

Mrs. T.A. Hathcock

Brooks came originally from Va. Then to Headwaters of Yadkin River, N.C., thence to Chatham Co. Thence (my great grandfather) to Stanly Co. on Rocky River.

Diary in possession of Mrs. Lloyd Stowers, 530 S. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR

Contributed by Lucille C. Curlee, 1211 Heritage Dr., Albemarle, NC