Senatobia, Mississippi
Dear Sister,
July 4, 1868If apologies would, or could, justify me in my negligence in not writing sooner, I would make several, but as I feel my culpability, all that I shall say is that I acknowledge my sin and crave your pardon. I will, however, say that I would have written you on receipt of your last letter but that you requested me to see Delia and tell her to write to you oftener, and I waited some time hoping that I would have an opportunity of going over to the Drs., but the opportunity never presented itself and whilst waiting, the weeks saw into months. How true it is, the longer we postpone a duty, the less we feel disposed to perform it. The citizens had a picnic at Senatobia yesterday. I met the Dr. there and asked him when they had heard from you, he told me a few days ago. I also saw Delia, but found no opportunity of speaking with her, she was with "Backy Girls" all the time. Seeing her in such company made me feel sad. She is indeed experiencing the loss and the need of a mother. If her dear mother was alive she would have mingled with the first and best of the party, but alas, she was not, and the poor child looked as blank and desolate as if she had no part in the gay throng and the festive scenes being enacted around her. And Drew, the dear, bright, and joyous little heart was not there. What the father has in store for the dear children, I am unable to say. I am fully convinced that a sainted mother will watch over the sweet children, if pure spirits are permitted to exercise guardian care over their dear ones on earth. But socially, I fear they will be brought down to the vulgar level of those whom they now have to associate. If they were boys their case would be quite different, then they could work for and select their associates. Little Sidney if he lives can paddle his own canoe. My sweet pet Jess[ie? ica?] will grow up knowing nothing of anything better than she finds around her. Drew, although having tasted good society, will in time be weaned from its influences for she was quite young, but, with the bright and flashing intellect which she always displayed for a child of her years, she might, when she becomes a woman shine a brilliant ornament in the best society, if she could but have proper training and ??? in the mean time. But for Delia, she has tasted of the pleasures and enjoyed some of the advantages of good society, for her to be dragged down to a dead level with the "backwoods gals" - backwoods in everything, mentally, morally and socially, it is heartrending.
In regard to the Dr. having bankrupted on you, you have but one recourse, and that is to fall on his securities as guardian. Now I do not know who his securities are, but it has been my impression that Steve Williams and Mr. Spivy are the parties. If they are of course you know it and you ought to give the case into the hands of an able lawyer and I believe you can make your money or a portion of it for Steve Williams is entirely solvent. About Spivy I do not know so well, but I rather think that he owns nothing in law and therefore could not be reached. I wrote to Billy two or three months ago but have not yet heard from him, however, I could wait 150 or 200 years as I have a great deal of patience although I would like very well to hear from him, yet I wait his convenience.
I received a letter from Andy Moore some time ago in which he set forth in (his) glowing terms the extreme felicity and comfort of hymeneal life, all of which I fully and cheerfully endorsed. He further remarked that, "a man was nobody until he married", and tendered me the following morsel of (unasked) advice by way of a stomachic, "My advice to you is to marry, be a man and don't be a dog any longer." I appreciated the advice very much but I could not help thinking that he had been a dog a long time before he became a man. By the way, the classic known as "Dog Latin" must have originated with him - no laughing Lee. I have not responded to him and I do not know that I will. The fact is, I think I shall let his letter go by default, for he never interests, but always disgusts me. He is always full of egotistical expressions, senseless twaddle or else a rehash of some former letter, and I am not at all partial to that sort of dish unless it is more highly flavored. I heard from Jim (?) Moore a short time since, he was getting along (in Memphis) badly, gets very little work, finds it difficult to get board because he owes everybody therefore (Poor Callie). Whilst writing of the Dr. awhile ago, I forgot to mention that he and this Mr. Spivy are certainly going to Texas next Fall and want me to go with them, but I honestly think I will not. The Dr. is looking for Mrs. Spivy out here next week. Let me know if you ever hear from Pastey's(?) wife and how she writes.
I saw Miss Roxie at the picnic yesterday and had a long conversation with her principally about you. Spoke of having a received a letter from you and your inquiries concerning me. Why were you so astonished at my having joined the church? But let this pass for a little while. You ask me in your letter how Miss Roxie and I were making it. I answer, not at all. The truth is I have treated the Carlock family badly since I have been on this side of the railroad. Notwithstanding, I have been repeatedly invited to visit them by every member of the family. Miss Roxie's sister Miss Sallie is staying with them now. I do not think she is so good looking as Miss Roxie was. Speaking of marrying reminds me of ladies Oh! I have the cart before the horse. Well, please change them about. I wish to say that so far as the writer is concerned, he does not think, at the present writing that to use a hopeless expression "he will ever marry in this country" if you know that the woman he marries, he must love her next only to his God and better than himself, and he does not feel that depth of affection for any angel sojourning in this part of the vineyard. This reminds me again that when I was soldiering in that portion of Ky in which you now reside I frequently saw, and was favorably impressed with the appearance of the girls of that country, and I therefore request that you will select me a sweetheart among your newly formed acquaintances. You know the style of one that would suit me as well, or better than I do myself and I hereby and herein firmly obligate myself by those present to abide by your choice and to come after her within four calendar months from this instant provided, of course, the fair one is willing and further, I do hereby authorize and give you full power of attorney, in my absence, to do my courting for me. Tell her all my faults, what a bad boy I am, etc., and if you find that you are likely to get through telling them before the expiration of the four months, stop, and leave a little of the courting for me to do myself, for you know I like it where I feel a heart interest.
Now in regard to my profession of religion. Why did you express such astonishment in Miss Roxie's letter? You are aware that the greatest sinners sometimes turn suddenly from their evil courses and look back with horror and with loathing on their past lives, and forward into a dread future in which is dimly seen a faintly glimmering ray of hope, which say, if perceived, glows and burns brighter and brighter until the wanderer finds himself enveloped in a blaze of holy light and finds that peace "which the world cannot give nor take away." Well such was my feeling and experience. I did not shout. I made no noise. How was it brought about? I will tell you by first prefacing my story with a few remarks. You are aware that fear forms a very small, if any, portion of my composition and if the fear of hell, or of the devil was the only thing to deter me from sin, I am afraid I would always be a sinner. I hope I have still less ingratitude than fear. Now to my narrative. As a teacher I have always felt that a moral obligation rested on me. I do not know that I ever recognized any spiritual obligation to impress a moral lesson occasionally on the mind of my students, so one day I asked them, each in turn, if they ever prayed, commending those who did, and reproving those who replied negatively. When I had finished catechizing, one of the litter girls, a member of Carolina Church and a sweet child, turned on me with, "Mr. Shanahan do you ever pray?" I could not say yes, and I would not say no, so I said nothing but a five year old child might have read no in my always expressive face. The child's question set me to thinking and Oh! how small and contemptible I felt and how I loathed myself for my base ingratitude to a merciful Father. ____ all my life in _____, as I have been, on any ____ _________had been so dearly merciful and kind to me, and to a dear and loving Savior who died that I base ingrate that I was, might live.
Would you believe it? Get out your brushes and pallet and paint a rough, war worn, battle scarred reb crying, aye absolutely "blubbering like a baby", as if his heart would break. Think not that this is written in a spirit of levity, far from it. It is because I endeavor to show _____ humor into everything. Religion with me is not, by any means, a dismal somber affair, but an enlivening, pleasure inspiring possession which makes me always feel glad and thankful. Well, while in the above condition I resolved, in the midst of tears and prayers, that if there was any favor in heaven for me, I would, with divine assistance, find it, and I did find it, prostrate in spirit at the foot of the cross. You have my story.
What church should I join? The church of those with whom I had lived in the relations of close intimacy for several years and whom I always found loving and shining lights and whose heart glowed with fervent love for the Masters name and cause and to whom I am, and always shall be indebted for good moral and spiritual lessons and for innumerable motherly and sisterly attentions and kindnesses. I joined Carolina Church and was baptized on the 17th last May.
Again I ask your forgiveness for my long silence and sincerely desire that our correspondence shall last as long as life. Write to me soon and don't postpone because I did. Remember that two wrongs do not make one right.
I ________ punctual in future.
Present my respects to Mrs. Hardy and Miss Dink. My fraternal regards to Lee and although you kiss the baby enough to nearly smother her, yet give her just a thousand for me.
And believe me,
Your Brother,
M. Wm. ShanahanP.S. It is 1 o.c. A.M. so I will prepare to retire. I thought I would ______ (not offer???) apologys for this long and I fear uninteresting letter, but I will.
MWS
Notes:
Originally this letter was thought to be addressed to Margaret "Maggie" Anne Shanahan, daughter of Thomas Henry Shanahan and Bridget Luby, Michael William Shanahan's only known sister. However, after many years of research and positive identification of many of the names mentioned in this letter, it is now apparent that the letter was written to Sophonia "Sophie or Sophia" A. Ham. Sophie is the daughter of Susan S. Moore and her first husband Mr. Ham. Little is known of Sophie's father Mr. Ham; apparently he died and her mother re-married for a second time to Andrew Jackson Howard and this is where Michael's connection to Sophie comes into play. Upon first arriving in DeSoto County, Michael lived in Andrew Jackson Howard's household (Andrew Jackson Howard was a Physician and also ran a Store in Senatobia; Michael was employed by him as a salesman in his merchantile establishment). Sophie and Michael were of an age, he being born in 1841 and she being born in 1845 and apparently during the time they spent living together in the household of her step father Andrew J. Howard they became as close as brother and sister.
Michael's descendants have long known of this Sophie as she is mentioned in a letter written by Michael's daughter Sallie Moina Shanahan Freeze. In her letter Sallie describes Sophia as being a "dear little lady, who helped take care of Papa when he was wounded." and that she was taught to call her "Aunt Sophie". Also in this letter Sallie speaks of Robert A. McCarthy (Michael's 1st Lt. and life-long friend) that she was taught to call "Uncle Bob". For a long while it was my assumption that "Uncle Bob" and "Aunt Sophie" were married to one another; however, this was a totally wrong assumption on my part as apparently Sophie A. Ham married Leander "Lee" Slaughter on 30 Jan 1867 in DeSoto County, MS and they (and other members of the Slaughter family) migrated first to Kentucky and later to Texas. Michael apparently maintained his close friendship with Sophie his entire life and she on her part (as any sister would) also kept in touch with the family after Michael died.
It's pretty clear that Delia is a child of the "sainted mother" who has recently passed away and it is apparent from the way in which Michael talks about this recently departed mother, that she was a close mutual acquaintance of both Michael and his "sister" Sophie A. Ham. NEW INFO: This "sainted mother" has been tentatively identified as Susan S. Moore Ham Howard. See notes under for more info on her. I believe that "Delia" is a nickname and that it actually refers to the Susan A. Howard (b. c1852 in MS) the first born child of Andrew J. Howard and Susan S. Ham. I see no clues as to why someone with the name Susan would be called "Delia" but perhaps this nickname was adopted for some other reason (i.e. to differentiate her from her mother who was also a Susan?) AHA! Finally found the info I need. Her given name is Susan Adelia Howard...thus the "Delia" nickname! Also her mother's maiden name is MOORE and I believe that a little further legwork will show that Susan S. MOORE Ham's parents were William and Harriet Moore who are found in the 1850 Hardeman Co TN census records. At any rate, Susan S. Moore Ham Howard, the mother of "Delia" must have been well known to Michael for his first home in DeSoto was with her and her 2nd husband Andrew J. Howard. It must have been a strange experience traveling at such a young age to America and then to find one self living without any close relatives in the small country town of Senatobia. Perhaps Susan welcomed him and "mothered" him a bit and Michael felt very grateful for her kind attention.
Believed to be Andrew J. Howard (b. c1830 AL). Andrew J. Howard is listed in the 1860 census for DeSoto Co MS as being a Merchant and Michael was employed by him as a Salesman as well as lived in Andrew's home with him. Andrew J. HOWARD's first wife was Susan S. Ham (b. 1827 TN). Andrew and Susan married on Jul 1850 in Hardeman Co TN and can be found in the 1850 Hardeman Co TN census records living in the house of William A. Moore. Susan S. Ham apparently had been married once before she wed Andrew as there are children in the 1850 Census living with her who were born prior to 1850 and who bear the surname HAM (see notes elsewhere in the document for info on Sophie HAM who married Leander "Lee" Slaughter). By 1870 Andrew's occupation has changed from "Merchant" to PHYSICIAN. and I believe his 1st wife Susan S. Ham has died for he is now married to a gal named Jane Garrett. Jane and Andrew married on 5 Feb 1868 in DeSoto Co MS. Andrew has many children, some with his 1st wife Susan Ham and some with his second wife Jane. By 1880 he migrates to Coryell Co TX and is found living there with his 2nd wife Jane and their offspring.
As this letter was written July 4, 1868, it is assumed that Senatobia celebrated Independence Day on July 3 because Mike states that he saw Miss Roxie at the picnic "yesterday".
This term is explained more fully later in the letter as "Backwoods Gals"; I assume Michael must have identified or belonged to a certain "class" of "society" in Senatobia which looked askance at rural non-city dwellers, but as yet have not found an adequate explanation for the use of the term "Backy Girls".
"Drew" is thought to be a nickname for the sister of "Delia" and is now believed to be either Mary A. Howard or Martha E. Howard both daughters of Andrew J. Howard and Susan S. Ham. Mary A. Howard was born c1858 and Martha E. Howard was born c1860 in MS the 2nd and 3rd daughters of Andrew and Susan. They are both younger than "Delia" but older than Laura J[essie?] Howard. Again see my notes on "Jessie" under . It is not clear to me why the nickname "Drew" would be applied to either of these girls but it must be one of them as they are the only other siblings of "Delia" and "Jessie" and "Sidney".
Believed to be Albert S. Howard, son of Andrew J. Howard and Susan S. Ham. Albert S. Howard was born c1866-c1867 in MS and his mother Susan may have died giving birth to him or shortly thereafter. I have not positively confirmed that his middle initial of "S" stands for Sidney but since Albert Sidney Johnston was a great confederate war hero for whom many children were named I feel that this is a pretty safe "bet". Readers will be glad to know that little "Sidney" did in fact live! I suppose he had a rough start in life with his mother dying [during childbirth?] but Albert Sidney did indeed grow up and is found living with his father Andrew and Step Mother Jane Garrett in 1880 in Texas!
Believed to be Laura J. Howard, daughter of Andrew J. Howard and Susan S. Ham. Again I have not yet verified that her middle initial of "J" stands for Jessie or Jessica but my "gut" says I'm on the right track here. Laura J. Howard also survived childhood and is also to be found in her father's household in 1880 in TX. NEW INFO: Have positively ascertained that Laura's middle name is JESSICA. Further info on all of the Howard family can be found by visiting visiting: Myron Howard's Genealogy Site.
There is no Steve Williams listed in the 1870 Senatobia Co. MS Census; however 1 does appear in 1870 in Panola Co. There are also at least 2 Stephen Williams listed in 1850 and 1860 in DeSoto.
I have located a Spivey family in the 1860 DeSoto Co MS records. The head of the family is John H. Spivey (b. c1821 AL) and his wife Martha A. (b. c1825 AL). He has lots of children and although I do find that this family removes to Hampton Township in Monroe Co AR in 1870 and to Moro Township in Lee Co AR in 1880; I have not determined if any of his children perhaps migrated to TX? If this is the Mr. Spivey referred to in this letter perhaps his plans for going to TX changed or he only went as far as AR before stopping, but it is known that Andrew J. Howard the "Dr." mentioned in this letter did in fact eventually migrate to Coryell County TX in 1880.
This person has not been identified as of 12 April 2000.
An Andy Moore shows up on the Shelby Co., TN Voters List of 1891 and two other possibles have been located in Memphis in 1860.
A commonly prepared tincture from the bark of Poplar Trees used to stimulate the appetite or digestion.
Medieval Latin, often considered "degraded," or "dog Latin" by classical scholars.
The meaning or derivation of this term has not been defined.
Miss Roxie Carlock. 1880 Census data reveals that there is a single male named William Carlock (relationship brother-in-law) living in the household of William C. Potter and his wife Sarah, so this would mean that William Potter's wife Sarah's maiden name is also Carlock and a marriage record for a Sarah P. Carlock and W. C. Potter for the date of 21 Feb. 1877 has been located to verify this. I'm assuming here that Sarah P. Carlock's nickname is "Sallie" and that her and the Roxie Carlock mentioned in this letter may be siblings. The 1880 Census indicates that Sarah (b. 1859) and her brother William (b. 1864) were both born in AL as were both their parents, so I will endeavor to find the Carlocks in 1860 in AL. UPDATE: Possible parents of Sarah/Sallie P. Carlock have been located. Thomas V. and Frances CARLOCK appear on the 1860 census for Lawrence Co., AL (see http://www.rootsweb.com/~allawren/census/1860/1thur54. htm) and they have a 1 year old daughter named Sallie CARLOCK b. AL. in their household. This seems to "fit" as we know that the Sarah/Sallie P. Carlock who married W. C. Potter was born c1859 in AL. However, it should be noted that when Michael mentions the sister of Roxie Carlock and says "I do not think she is so good looking as Miss Roxie was" that he is speaking of her as though she were an young adult and this does not "fit" as the Sarah P. Carlock (dau of Thomas V. and Frances Carlock) and future wife of W. C. Potter would have only been around 9 years of age when this letter was written in 1868. In conclusion I would have to say that my assumption that Sarah/Sallie P. Carlock (the wife of William C. Potter) is NOT the same Sallie Carlock (sister of Roxie Carlock) who is mentioned in this letter. So the search for the Carlock Sisters and their family still needs to be explored.
Michael's expectation of never marrying was way off the mark, for he met an married Sallie Margaret Potter just 4 months after jokingly requesting his "sister" Sophie to play "matchmaker".
The only place that Micahel's unit served in KY was in Hart Co. where the battle of Munfordville took place. Several of the referenced individuals in this letter have now been identified as living in Hart Co KY (Mrs. Hardy, Miss Dink, Lee and Sophie A. Slaughter).
Per J. L. Freeze, the Carolina Church is no longer standing, but the cemetery still exists. Four Potter graves have been located in this cemetery, that of Daniel Potter (father of Sallie Margaret Potter) and 3 young Potter children who died soon after the family moved from Pontotoc County to DeSoto County. It is believed that this Church must have been where Michael and Sallie Potter met. Directions to the Old Carolina Cemetery: From Memphis, TN Take I-240 S towards Jackson, MS. Take I-55 S Exit #25A towards Jackson, MS. Take the MS-4 Exit #265 toward Senatobia/Holly Springs. Turn Left on MS-4. Go 3.9 miles to Carolina Grove Subdivision. I now have photos of all of the tombstones at this small cemetery. Not all have been published online yet but there are a few which you can view at the following links:
F. M. Evans, s/o Eli and Mary Evans
Eli Evans, h/o Mary Evans
Mary Evans, w/o Eli Evans
John Evans, h/o Elizabeth Replogle
Mary C. Evans, d/o John Evans and Elizabeth Replogle
Potter graves and a view of the entrance to the housing subdivision now at the site
Daniel D. Potter, h/o Mary Rebecca Smith
John R. Potter, s/o Daniel D. Potter and Mary Rebecca Smith
Little Sister Potter, d/o Daniel D. Potter and Mary Rebecca Smith
Mollie E. Potter, d/o Daniel D. Potter and Mary Rebecca Smith.
Other surnames in this cemetery are GIBSON, DAVY, WILLIAMS, CURRANT, LEWALLEN, HORN and TERRY. These photos will be posted soon (or you can email me for a copy of them).Believed to be Theoclis SLAUGHTER born c1842-43 in MS, the daughter of John and Isabella [maiden unknown]. Theoclis SLAUGHTER appears in the household of her parents John and Isabella SLAUGHTER in 1850 and in the household of her father John SLAUGHTER in the 1860 DeSoto Co MS census records. Theoclis marries J. G. Hardy and in 1870 is found living with her husband in Precinct 8 - Rowletts Station, Hart Co KY. Theoclis SLAUGHTER's brother Stephen SLAUGHTER born c1848-49 in MS is also living with Theoclis and her husband J. G. HARDY.
Believed to be Cyndasilla "Dink" SLAUGHTER born c1843-44 in MS, the daughter of John and Isabella [maiden unknown]. Cyndasilla "Dink" SLAUGHTER appears in the household of her parents John and Isabella SLAUGHTER in 1850 and in the household of her father John SLAUGHTER in the 1860 DeSoto Co MS census records. In 1870 Miss Dink is listed as a schoolteacher living in the household of her brother Lee SLAUGHTER and his wife Sophie (Ham) SLAUGHTER in Caverna, Hart Co KY.
It is thought that Cyndasilla "Dink" SLAUGHTER later marries T. RICHARDSON based on the 1880 Horse Cave, Hart Co, KY census record that lists a Dink RICHARDSON - relationship: Wife (b. 1847 MS) with 1 male child James H. RICHARDSON; but this Dink's birth date is a little off and thus far the marriage record for this couple has not been found. Dink (Slaughter) RICHARDSON is also found in the 1900 Census records (again in Horse Cave, Hart Co, KY) listed as a mother-in-law in the house of Howard Smith (Howard's wife Annie L. (Richardson) Smith and dau. Mary B. Smith).
Additional notes: Next door to Dink in 1900 is Benjamin F. Richardson. Is Benjamin F. RICHARDSON perhaps Dink's bro-in-law?
See Gedcom belonging to Joyce Turel for information on Benjamin Franklin RICHARDSON. Per the 1880 census Dink Slaughter's husband's name is given as Thu[sic] RICHARDSON born c1842 in KY. Benjamin Franklin Richardson (according to Joyce Turel's gedcom) does not have a brother whose name begins with the initial "T" but he does have a brother named Daniel who was born c1842 in KY. Ques: Is Daniel RICHARDSON the correct spouse of Cyndasilla "Dink" SLAUGHTER?
Believed to be Leander "Lee" SLAUGHTER, born c1840 in MS, the son of John and Isabella [maiden unknown]. Leander "Lee" SLAUGHTER appears in the household of his parents John and Isabella SLAUGHTER in 1850 and in the household of his father John SLAUGHTER in the 1860 DeSoto Co MS census records. Leander "Lee" SLAUGHTER marries Sophie HAM on 30 Jan 1867 in DeSoto Co MS and is found living with his wife in 1870 in Hart Co KY.
Sophie HAM born c1845 in TN and wife of Leander "Lee" SLAUGHTER's is found in the 1860 DeSoto Co MS census in the household of A. J. Howard, a merchant. Michael William Shanahan is also listed as living in this household with his occupation listed as 'Salesman'; apparently this is where Michael and Sophie (Ham) SLAUGHTER first met. Sophie HAM is also found living in the household of William A. Moore in 1850 in Hardeman Co TN (where A. J. Howard, Susan Howard, and William Ham are also to be found). Sophie's name is given as Sophonia Ham in this record.
Leander "Lee" SLAUGHTER served with the 33 MS Inf. Co A. In the letter Michael says "My fraternal regards to Lee" and his usage of the term 'fraternal' is thought to indicate that he considered Lee SLAUGHTER his 'brother-in-arms' for although Michael did not serve in the same unit as Lee, he did serve with the 9 MS Inf. Co B.
Leander "Lee" SLAUGHTER and his family migrate to Waco, Mclennan Texas in 1880. In 1900 Leander "Lee" SLAUGHTER is found in Justice Precinct 1, McLennan Co, Texas with the only other person listed in his house being his grandson Frank L. Paller [sic]. Lee's son Arthur SLAUGHTER is found living just next door. Since Lee's wife Sophie (Ham) SLAUGHTER does not appear in this 1900 census record it is assumed that she died between 1880 - 1900 in McClennan Co, TX.
Daisey Slaughter, daughter of Leander "Lee" Slaughter and Sophie A. Ham, born c1868 in KY per the 1870 Hart Co., KY Census.
Not positively identified but believed to be William 'Billy' A. Ham, brother of Sophie A. Ham. Michael lived with William 'Billy' A. Ham in 1860 in DeSoto Co MS when 'Billy' and his sister Sophie were in the household of their step-father Andrew Jackson Howard and his 2nd wife (Billy and Sophie's mother) Susan S. Moore Ham Howard.
Transcribed 2 Feb 2000 by K. L. Rhodes from a bad photocopy of the original letter.
Return to Shanahan Genealogy Home Page
