Westmoreland Diary continues -

Here is another installment of the Westmoreland Diary or Journal. It is a record kept by a member of the Westmoreland family about happenings in the Blackwell community area of Marietta, which is the area that Bells Ferry and Canton Roads loosely border, which ends just beyond the Cherokee County line.

In this installment, my great uncle Arthur Hunter is mentioned several times, as he has been in previous installments – he was married to Gwen Westmoreland and they moved to Cordele, Georgia, and Gwen visited often. My great grandfather William Hunter’s death is recorded and so is Anna’s great grandmother, Mrs. Jim Prance.

As I have done previously, I show each page I transcribed along with the original page of the diary I transcribed from – as you can see, some of the handwriting is difficult to interpret. You will have to click on the original to be able to read it.





1919

Bonnie went to Marietta June 3 and had an operation on her nose and head, had a bone taken out of her nose. She staid at the sanitarium still the 4th.
Her side hurt so much and got worse Sunday night June 29. Dr. Benson came see her the next night. Meax (?) carried her to Dr. Benson Sanitarium Thur morn July 1 and she was operated on and they removed the appendix and one ovary and just left a mall piece of the other one. She was so sick for two days and ??? so much but is doing fine the Dr and nurse says.

Bonnie came home from the sanitarium Thur July 17. They brought her in a car, she lay in the back seat, took the trip tolerable well.

Gwen and children came July 18. Olin, Clara, Leonard, and Calvin Chance went to Atlanta in Mr. Chance’s cart to meet her. They went home Aug. 1. Olin and Lois went with them to Atlanta. Calvin carried them.

Guyrine Hunter died Aug 6, 1919, and was buried at Bascomb Cemetery Aug 8. Six girls acted as pallbearers. They were Tade Tyson and Elina Dobbs, Ida Poor, and Mary Len Tate, Idell, and Jacie Hunter.

Mary Presley was carried to Dr Benson’s Sanitarium Aug 18, and operated on her appendicitis, took off the appendix and a spot on one ovary.

Page 13





Manda McCleskey died Thursday Sept 9, 1919. Was buried at the Dawson Cemetery on the 10th.

Bonnie went to the Sanitarium Thur – Sept 18 and had her tonsils taken out and she staid down there till Sunday.

Nellie King and * Poor married Sunday Oct 26, 1919.

Bonnie had her under teeth pulled Nov 3, 1919.

James and Luella moved back from S. Ga. Nov 6, 1919.

Aden King was operated on Nov 8, 1919.

Aunt Sis Benson died Nov 26, 1919.

Willard Benson died Jan 7, 1920.

This is March the 12th. There has been so many deaths the last week of February and 1st week of March. Most of them caused by flu and phenomena

Mary Dobbs, as used to be (?), Mr. Tol Bird, sister and two nephews, Claud Barns, and Bro Eugene, Mr. Norton, Mr. Charley Robert, Ed Cook, Emma Dobbs little boy, Joe Chance’s little girl, Joe Calahan, Clara Beavers Reece, Mrs Arwood, and so many others have died.

I had a wen cut out of my hip May 4, 1920.

Ben, Olin, Leonard, James, and myself went to Cordele to see Gwen and family, July 7 and came back the 9th. We had a nice trip. Went in our car, had no trouble, and enjoyed ourselves fine.

page 14





January 8, 1921

Our family is so small only Ben, Lirs (Lois?) and myself at home. Bonnie was not satisfied, she wanted to get out and work for herself and make her own money, but she will never know it hurt me for her to leave home. She has been working at the Marietta Sanitarium nearly two months. I will be so glad when she gets tired of it and comes back home to stay. I feel like home is the place for Bonnie and this will always be her home. The children keep leaving one at a time till they are gone but Lirs (Lois?). I hope she will love Papa, Mama, and home well enough to stay with us in our old age. But this is still home to everyone of them.

1921

Cousin Dock Fowler died Monday, May 16, and was buried at Gresham May 17. There was a large crowd there. Rev George Crew and White conducted the funeral services.

Gwen, William, Minnie Lou, Martha, and Elizabeth came July 29, 1921, on Friday and the next Thursday, August 4, James and family came. All in our family was here except Arthur (Hunter). We made a table out under the mulberry trees Thurs and ate dinner out there, made a freezer full of chocolate ice cream. All of us except Papa and Lirs (Lois?) went to Austell and Powder Springs. Did not get home until after dark. Had the freezer full of peach cream for supper. There was 17 of us.

James and family went home Monday and Gwen went home Aug 8.

page 15





1921

We all met at Jessie’s Sept 2 and celebrated Pa’s 88th birthday. We carried dinner and had a long table out under the oak tree in the yard. Had the table just full of good things and had a bunch of bananas and several gallons of nectar.. At lunch there was Pa, Kate (?), Claburn, Nannie, Lucile, Margaret, Daisy, Linda, Matte, Bonnie, Lois, Olin, Clara, Leonard, Will, Gre (?), Mattie Jane, Cecil, Arch, Jessie, Nelle, Ray, Hal, Earl, Martha, Fred, Gladys, Jessie Ruth, Aunt George Mathis, Cousin Mollie Delay, Mr. John Tate, and Mr. John Goodwin there for dinner and Mrs. Brooks came in the eve. There carloads of us went down in the pasture and bottoms that eve. Earl and I waded in the creek. It was a day long to be remembered by xxx?xxxx.

Frank Burtz died Dec. 22, 1921.
Tip Benson died Dec. 23, 1921.
Fred Gresham was killed Dec. 30, 1921.

Vernia Durham died Feb. 1, 1922.
Mrs. Jim Robertson died May 9, 1922.
Mr. Whit Chastain died May 20, 1922
Mr. Jim Robertson died Aug 8, 1922

Bonnie and Lucile left here Sun July 23, 1922, for Woodruff, S.C. Lucille stayed two weeks, Bonnie staid five weeks., got home the 29th of Aug. Mitt, Minnie, Mattie, and Lottie came home with her and staid five days.

We celebrated Pa’s 89th birthday Sept 2, 1922, at Jessie’s. All the children, most of the grandchildren, and several friends were there. Uncle Thurman, Pa’s only brother was there.

page 16




1922

Lois went to Gwen’s Oct 2. She went to Atlanta and spent the night and went to Gwen’s on the 3rd.

I hurt my hand on the 4th.

Mrs. Johnnie Benson died Oct 12, 1922, at the St. Joseph’s Inf in Atlanta.

1923

Pa was taken sick ??? Dec 29, 1922, and died Jan 3, 1923, was buried at Gresham Cemetery Thur the 4th.

Cousin George Fowler was buried Sat Feb 3, 1923.

Had a sale, and sold Pa’s car, household, and kitchen furniture Sat Feb 3, 1923.

1923 – 1924

Mr. M.E. Knight died June 25, 1923.

Emma A. Gilbert died Jan 13, 1924.

Bonnie was ?????? Jan 16, 1924.

Sallie Benson died Feb 4, 1924.

Allie Haney died Jan 1924.

Mr. George Whitlock died Mar 18, 1924.

Cecil Alley and Clarence Jones married Mar 22, 1924.

Mrs. Whitlock and Mr. Etowah Gring married Mar 26, 1924.

Fred and Lelaura baby Durham baby born Aug 10, 1924.

Harold McCleskey died Aug 12, 1924.

Mr. Wes Brown died Aug 14, 1924.

page 17




1924

Catherine Brooks died Sept 7, 1924.

1925

Johnnie McNeely was carried to Battle Hill Jan 23 1925.

Grir Benson and Kate Durham married Feb 19, 1925.

Lottie Westmoreland died June 1, 1925.

Gwen and children all except William came Sun July 19, 1925. went home Aug 2. Staid two weeks.

Mr. John Tate died August 17, 1925.

1926

Jessie McCleskey got her foot broke and ankle sprained Mar 30, 1926.

Old Mrs Rataford died Apr 21, 1926.

Mr. William Wood died Apr 21, 1926.

Max Durham and Jean Dickerson married June 17, 1926.

Gwen and all her children came Aug 1, 1926.
Uncle Charley Brown came Aug 6 and we had a reunion at Jessie’s the 7th.
Lillian Mathis (or used to be) and two of her girls and her sister Lena was there.

Olin carried Gwen, James, William, and myself to Atlanta that eve and William left at 9:40 for Cordele. We got home at 12:00 that night.

page 18






1926

Johnny McNeeley died Sept 1926.

Lucile Edwards died Oct 2, 1926.

Miss Angie Carried died Oct 4, 1926.

John Sargent died Oct 24, 1926.

William Dyer died Oct 25, 1926.

Mrs. Ettawah King died Oct 29, 1926.

Mrs. Jim Prance died Jan. 20, 1927.

Mr. Crowder died Jun 3, 1927.

Mrs. B. F. Wessner died of Dirt Farm Valley died July 5, 1927.

Nell Hale and Dr. Celbry Cramer married Oct 12, 1927.

Mr. Caleb Burton died Oct 14, 1927.

1928

Mr. Willis McAfee died Jan 19, 1928.

Rickie Tate died Jan. 20, 1928.

Dr. Warren E. Benson died April 21, 1928.

Thad York died May 28, 1928, and was buried the 31.

Mr. Jim Rich died May 31, 1928.

Ben and I went to Fla(?) XXX 21, 1928, and got home on Dec. 1.

Mr. William Hunter and Mr. Buck Medford died in the Fall of 1928.

page 19

Westmoreland Journal continued -

Back on August 16, 2007, I blogged the first 7 pages of the Westmoreland Journal.

Here is another dose.

After transcribing these pages I am about to change my mind on wrote the journal. Now I think it might have been Mr. Westmoreland. Beside the fact some of the names are kin by blood or related to me I enjoy reading the journal, it is like looking at a little community in the olden days.

Along with the transcribed page is a picture of the original page. Click on any of the orginal pages to be able to read them if you want.

Here are pages 8 through 12:

Page 8:

Bonnie and Lois gave an Easter Egg hunt to their S school class Sat April 7. They hid 135 eggs. There were 27 that came. The children had a big time hunting the eggs and then ate the eggs and a basket of tea cakes and popcorn balls.

Ma and I went to Marietta with Mr. Overcash to Marietta April 20, 1917 and Ma staid down to visit Will and others.


Mr. Will Latimer family left Woodstock May 1, 1917. Mrs. Irene, George, and the children left for Tenn. May 2.

Pearlie High (?) came May 1 1917 and staid till the 10th.

Albert Dobbs was shot May 14, 1917.

Big fire in Atlanta May 21, 1917.

Mr. Marion Goover’s son Willie was killed May 22, 1917.

Bonnie went to Roswell June 3rd, and staid a week.


We had a fish fry in our pasture July 4, 1917. (many details of who came and brought what covered dish)

Olen, James, Mr. Gene, and Willard went seining(?) that morn Lucy and her three boys, Clara, Louella, Christine, and the three little York girls came over in the wagon. Slate (?), Lucille, and Margaret came. Bonnie, Lois, and myself went with them down to the spring in our pasture, had all the fish we could eat. We carried fried chicken, potato salad, biscuits, table mustard, custards, and cakes. Carried meal and baked cakes of cornbread, made a kettle of coffee, and had a big time. Ben went there before dinner.




Page 9:

Olen, Clara, James, Louella, Christine, Grate, Lucille, Millard Booth, Bonnie, and Lois went to Roswell July 12th on a fishing trip and came back the 13th. They had a nice time but didn’t catch many fish.

Mary, Robert, Ethel, Mattie Joe, and Cecil came and spent the day July the 22nd . The first time Robert had been here in a year. Margaret came home with Bonnie From S.S.

Arthur and Gwen moved to the Johnston house Aug. 2, 1917.

Mett, Pollie, Minnie, Milear (?), Sam, and Walter came Aug 16, 1917, and left Aug the 22nd.

Miss Clarissa Kendrick came Aug 22 and left the 25th, 1917.

Mr. Bob Carlyle died Aug 24, 1917.

Aunt Mitt Gresham died Sept 8, 1917.

James went to Dublin Sept the 16th to hunt him a home but came back without renting.

Luther Johnston died Sept 20, 1917 and was buried the 23.

Pa sold his home to Arch McCleskey Oct 9, 1917, and moved in with Mr. Hunter (William A.) in Woodstock. Arch sold his home Sept 3 1917 and will move into Pa’s house.

We sold our home to Hanan Goodson Nov 7, 1917.




Page 10:

Mr. Coker and Mr. Wring were crossing the R.R. crossing near Acworth at the Mill Nov 6, 1817, in an auto – the train struck the auto – killing Mr. Coker instantly and Mr. Wring died the next morning on the 7th.

Arthur left Woodstock for Cordele Nov 19, 1917. Gwen and children came down here that eve. James carried his things up to Woodstock that day to send to Cordele. He is gathering the crop (?). Louella and Christine are staying at the Yorks and James stayed there at night.

James and Louella left here Sunday eve, Dec 2, 1917, was going to spend the night in Atlanta with Bertha, Gwen and children left Monday morn the 3rd. James was to meet her at the car barn and they were all to go to Cordele to live another year.

Olin sprained his ankle Nov 17, 1917.

We moved into James’ house Nov 16, 1917. bought his part of his and Olin’s place.

Homer Knight Dec 7 1917 and was buried at Gresham Dec. 8.

Swapped Bill and Grit (?) for state Dec 15, 1917.

Uncle Thurman Durham came Dec 23, 1917. The first time he had been back here in 27 years. He staid till Feb 2, 1918.

Cousin Mark Paden died Dec 27, 1917. He would have been 93 years old first of Jan. 1918.

Mrs. George Roberts (Aunt Joe) died Dec 28, 1917.




Page 11:

May York got shot in the eye by a sparkler Christmas night. They carried her to Atlanta and they took her eye out ???? blood poison set in.

Barlah Chance was carried to Dr. Nolans Son (?) Sunday Dec 30 and operated for appendicitis.

John and Anna Alexander came to Pa’s Jan 1, 1918. Came to see us Sat the 5th and staid Monday. Ben carried them to Kennesaw Mountain the 7th.

Clara Westmoreland broke out with measles Jan 8, 1918 and Olin had them nearly three weeks after she took them. He first had grippe then toothache. Then measles with his tooth abscessed.

Clay Cook and Lita moved over here Feb 18, 1918.

Dr. W.S. Hendrick died Feb 25, 1918.

Bonnie went to Cordele March 11, 1918. and came back 29.

Calvin Chance has pleurisy was taken sick Mach 31, 1918.

Mattie Durham took her bed the 2 or 3 or April. The dr said she would have to stay in bed one month. She has heart trouble.

It snowed nearly all the morning April the 11th. The tape of the houses were one inch in snow. Then there was a big frost April the 12.




Page 12:

Luella came July 13, 1918. James came July 24, they went back August 24, 1918.

Ma was taken sick Aug 1, had the flux, and was real sick. The Dr came to see her twice a day for several days. She got some better, then worse, and died Aug 28 and buried Aug the 30th.

Dasie and Linda started to Texas Sept 23, 1918, came home Oct 13 and brought Matt with them.

Gerdie Stennett died Sept 7, 1918.

Bro Donahoo, Ben, Bennie, and Lois went to Chattanooga Oct 16, and came back 17.

We moved into our new room Nov 30, 1918.

Sam Westmoreland came Dec 30, 1918.

Cousin Bud Fowler died Dec 20, 1918.

Brother E.M. Dyer was walking on the R.R. tracks at the Mill near Woodstock Feb. 19, 1919, when a freight train came up behind him and knocked him off the track. They carried him to Marietta to Dr. Perkinson’s office and did what they could for him but he died in about three hours after he was hurt. His arm was broken all to pieces and his skull broke.

Dr W.H. Perkinson’s little daughter Jane died Feb 17, 1919.

Nell York and Frank Poor married March 1919.

Bob Bentley was killed by a live wire May 14, 1919.

Lillian Goodson’s little girl died the night before.

The Westmoreland Diary

This book is what I call the Westmoreland Diary.

It is a diary or journal of the community and the Westmoreland family. The weather is recorded, who bought what calf from whom, who married, who died, who had an accident.

It was kept by a member of the Westmoreland family who, I think self-appointed herself to keep journalistic records of the area.. By some of the mournful outlooks I think it was written by Minnie Westmoreland, wife of Ben Westmoreland and mother of Bonnie and Gwen Westmoreland.

I am interested in the contents, not only for the day to day living described, but there are bits about my Hunter family and Anna’s Prance family. They all lived in the same community, which centered mostly around Noonday Baptist Church.

The Westmoreland lived at the corner of Bells Ferry and Booth Road. At the time of the writings, from the early 1900s to the middle 1900s that particular area was a small community, everybody knew one another and many times related to each other.

My great grandfather William Hunter is mentioned several times here and there and also some of his sons, but most of all, William’s son Arthur Hunter is mentioned many times. Why? Because he married Gwen Westmoreland.

Arthur and Gwen Westmoreland Hunter moved to Cordele, Georgia, not long after they were married, but apparently, kept the road in between both points hot – or at least dust flying.

Also, the members of the Prance and Wright family are mentioned here and there – which would be Anna’s kinfolks.

Of course the Hunters, Prances, and Wrights had no idea they would be in-laws, after they were dead.

Only by chance did I end up with these pages copied. My mother-in-law asked me to scan them for a church project on the history of Noonday Church that she is doing. So, ahem!, I ended up with a copy of each page.

There are 70 pages. I have so far transcribed 7 pages, which is 10% of the entire volume, so I thought I would show those now, and possibly show increments as I transcribe more pages. It may take a while to get all of them finished… I juggle several projects all the time.

A few mechanics of it: The diary was recorded on an old ledger book. Well, I guess when she started off it wasn’t old, but it increased in age the same as its author. At first, the writing is perk… near the end the writings appear to be shaky.

Also some of the dates are sometimes confusing, in the wrong place in the book, not in chronological order… but those are few and rare.

The Westmoreland diary:

Page 1:

We left our old home in Chattooga Co., Ga., Jan 12, 1903.

Moved to the Posey Reed place Dec 22, 1903.

We moved into Jarmer’s house November 26 1917.

George Latimer died May 30, Wed. Buried May 31, 1973.
George was 83.

W.L. Durham telephone number West 1865j.
Brooks on Russer Street 1704j.

Mrs. Johnny Brown died Tuesday, May 29, 1973. Buried May 30, 1973.
Mrs. Brown was 70 years old.






Page 2:

Jelly made in 1910. Apricot 20 glasses.
Apple 12 “.





Page 3:

Deaths

Harry Latimer died Feb 23 1915, and Jim Role died Oct 16, 1915. Two brothers died in less than eight months. Both had consumption.

Old Mr. Russell died Oct 23 1915. Buried at Dawson Cemetery.

Anna May Latimer died Jan 13, 1917.




Page 4:

Jack Poor was killed in Birmingham, Ala., Oct 16, 1915. He and three others were killed by an explosion. Jack was buried at Bascomb (Methodist Church) Monday.

John and Len Booth’s son Gland died Nov 6 1915.

Arthur Hunter (William Hunter’s son) left Woodstock Sunday, Oct. 31, 1915 and went to Cordele, Ga. Gwen and the children came down here Nov 4 and staid until Dec. 10. They left here this morn and was going by Mr. Prances’ (Anna’s relative) then on by the boys. Ben and Olin were going on to Marietta and carry cotton. James and Luella are going on to Atlanta with Gwen. They will go to Will’s tonight and to Cordele tomorrow.

We bought our new stove Dec 18, 1915.

Mr. Mack Dobbs dropped dead at his home at Blackwell Nov. 29, 1915, was buried at Dawson Cemetery Nov 31, 1915.

Cousin George Griffith died last week in Nov. 1915.

George Coggins’ barn was burned Saturday night Dec. 4, 1915, and two other barns and two dwellings burned Sunday night Dec 5, 1915.

Pearl Prance died Thursday night at 8 o’clock Dec 9, 1915. Bro. Dyer preached her funeral at their home at 2 o’clock and buried at the grave yard at 4 o’clock.

Robert moved to Mr. Hunter’s (William Hunter) Friday, Dec 17, 1915.

Blanch Beavers and Willard Rich was married Dec 25, 1915.

Mr. M.R. Lyons of Marietta was buried January 31, 1916.




Page 5:

Bonnie went home with Will and Lou Jan 2 1916. Staid there a week came to Smyrna Monday eve and spent the night with Ludie Paris and staid til Thursday. Lois went with her papa (she and Mary Lou Tate) to Marietta Thurs the 13th and Bonnie came up with her papa, Lois, and Mary Lou staid. It turned so cold they had to stay until the next Wednesday.

Mrs. Jane Tate died suddenly Feb 10, 1916. She had been sick a few days. She was buried Sat the 12, at the Gresham Cemetery.

Mr. Willis Pear died Feb 11, 1916.

Miss Malinda Newton died Feb 12, 1916.

Cousin Ollive McGriff of Atlanta spent the night with us Feb 12, 1916,

Emma Durham came the 17th of Feb and she and Lois went to Mrs. Stennent’s Sun the 20th and staid there ????. Emma left here the 26th for home.

We sat out 100 cabbage plants Thursday the 24th of Feb. We had the garden turned that day.

Lois got Midget from Mr. ?, Sat Feb 26, 1916. She was 7 weeks old when Lois got her.

Bonnie took her bed with the griffe (?), Sat, Feb 26, 1916.

Lois took her bed Sun Mar the 5th and I went bed Mon the 6th but did not stay in bed but for 2 or 3 days. Bonnie was in bed a week. Lois and I were not sick as long.


March the 22nd 1916 was the windiest I think I ever saw, There was big fires that day in Augusta, Ga., and Nashville, Tenn.

Mrs. Cynthia McHan was taken sick Monday Apr 24, 1916 and died Sat morn at 2:15 Apr 29. Was buried at the Gresham Cemetery Sunday morn Apr 30. Brother Dyer preached the funeral. There was a large crowd there. We will miss her. She was 81 years old Oct 1915.




Page 6:

Gwen and children came July 14 and Arthur came the 20th. They left here and went to Wooster (?) July 26, went to Atlanta the 28, got home the 29th.



Bonnie sold her calf July 14 1915, to Mr. Austin for $100. Lois sold her heifer to Max Durham July 18, 1916, for $15.

They commenced working on the McHan Bridge Aug 16, 1916.

Aunt Amelia Durham came to Pa’s on Aug 16, 1916. She, Pa, and Ma spent yesterday the 18th with Aunt Ella came to Pa’s ???. I have not seen her yet.

Mary Nelson came October the 9 and Lizzy D????? October 16.

Cousin William Cooper, Cousin Laura, Rex, Ralph, and Mildred came from Fountain Barn (?), S.C., Aug 22, 1916, and made the trip in one day.

Howard Durham and Mr. Culverson came Wednesday night and staid here til morn.

Sold Zeppa to Homer Rick Sept 21, 1916, for $30.00

There was a ???? earth quake shock this ??? 4:30 o’clock. It was raining and the wind blowing hard but we felt the shock very plain.

Ren Ligen and Annie Downs Kilgore married Oct 24, 1916.

Gwen and children came Nov 16, 1916 – Moved back from Cordele.




Page 7:

Cousin Nathan Fowler died Fri Dec. 8, 1916.

Cousin Sue Reed died Thurs Dec. 21, 1916.

Bonnie went down to Willis Dec 24, 1916. She went to the hospital sometime that week and was operated on Jan 1st, 1917. Bonnie came home sick Jan 7, and broke out with measles. She was in bed five weeks. She went into the kitchen and ate dinner for the first time Feb 15, 1917.

Anna May Latimer died Jan 13th, 1917.

William Allen Hunter got his leg broke Sun morn, Jan 28, 1917. They carried him to the sanitarium the 31st.


Charlie Hunter had his sale Jan 31, 1917, and moved in with his father.

Mr. Henry Petree died Feb 8, 1917.

Rev. E.M. Dyer’s house burned Feb 9, 1917,

Gwen and children came Feb 20 the first time they have been here this year. William is getting along very well, he can’t walk yet.

Mr. Eugene Booth was ordained to the ministry at Noonday Church Sat., March 31, 1917.
Dr. ????, Dr. Jamerson, and Rev E.M.. Dyer was there had dinner on the ground and spent the day.

Lucile Wilson’s husband Mr. Chaney was killed Mar 31, 1917.

Miss Sallie Latimer and Mr. Lern Bennett married Apr 14, 1917.