| Notes |
- W. L. Henderson Post Civil War Diary
"The following is a copy of a diary kept by W.L. Henderson, a member
of a caravan of covered wagons that departed Selma, Alabama for Texas.
Three of the wagons belonged to the James Madison Shelby family.
Monday the ninth
I left Perry Co. Ala.for Texas Smith Co. 5 wagons of us we came 8
miles and campt.
Tuesday 11
1 ½ miles fro Greensbrough Cousin D Moor came to camp
Wednesday 12
We left camp went 2 miles and missed a chair & sachel I got on parmer
(?) And went back but did not find it I searched one negro house but
it was in vane we crossed the War. (Warrior?) river and gave the dog I
had taken from John Moore to par ferrage & $1.00 we campt 2 miles from
Forkland.
Thursday 13
We came though Forkland. I bout 50 ct. of flour we cross the Tom
bigby river and campt one mile from it.
Friday 14
We pass through Livingston. I bought some cream tarter and a pocket
com we camp at Un (Uniontown) after dark came 25 miles today
Saturday 15
We did not travel today it rained a big rain and is still cloudy.
Sunday 16
It is a pretty day and how I wish I was back at my old home.
Monday 17
We came 18 miles today we are in 21 miles of Merian Miss. It is
threaten rain
Tuesday 18
It rain lass night and it is cole now. We traveled within 1 ½ miles
of Merioa. U.B., Jessy and My Self and we bought $18.30 of flour, meat
chesse crackers shot and molasses.
Wednesday 19
We pass through M traveled 16 ½ and campt on the Chunky river.
Thursday 20
We left camp I kill 2 sqrils we pass through Clinton I bought 40 ct.
gun powder and put a posal card in the P O we campt 1 ½ Newton
Friday 21
We left camp Henry and myself taken the railroad and went 2 miles and
Jim Murry, Luse and Vroos (?) Came to us and we pass through a station
and went wrong road and had to walk 5 miles to get with the wagons We
pass through Lake and we are camp 9 miles from L in the piny woods.
Saturday 22
we are 40 miles from Jackson and we stopt at dinner and we are campt
1 mile from Web Gadlock's Henry and me went squrle hunting and we
killed 4 one fox sq.
Sunday 23
Henry Wil U.B. and myself went to preaching and went to Gadlock's for
dinner I came back and roat a letter Perry Co
Monday 24
we traveled 20 miles camped in creak swamp
Tuesday 25
we came 20 miles today passed though Brandon I bought a tin cup 5 ct.
a pocket knife for Jim 50 ct and had to run 1 ½ miles to kech up with
the wagons campt 1 ½ miles of Jackson on the Perl river
Wednesday 26
We passed through J (Jackson) and went 8 miles and passed thorugh
Clinton 8 more miles and pass through Raimon ( apparently he had
little difficulty in the spelling as it was written once then
scratched out and he started over again - EPB) and campt 1 ½ miles
from it
Thursday 27
we traveled 20 miles pass throu Edward cross big black I have tooth
ache I sent to Stasion (?) And bought 2 aples it threating rain we are
13 miles from Victburg
Friday 28
We are campt 2 miles from V I saw more hills in one hour than I saw
in the rest of my life it is cole and the wind blows so hard we don't
turn our hats luse.
The diary ends abruptly right here. It is a pity he did not keep up
his entries until the end of the journey, which for him, I suppose was
what is now, and probaly then Lindale, Texas. He does not give the
month or the year - only the days of the week but this wagon train
left Perry County, Alabama in 1869, and presumably in the fall of the
year for he does not mention anything that would lead us to believe
any of the rivers crossed were at flood stage, as would be the case in
the spring, and then too, most of the group were farmers and doubtless
were anxious to make a crop the following year. Written by W.L.
Henderson."
1880 Smith, TX Census, E.D. #180, enum. 15 June 1880:
Henderson, William, age 71, b. NC; Ellen, wife, age 65, b. NC; John,
son, age 24, b. AL; William, son, age 22, b. AL;
Franklin, son, age 20, b. AL; Sallie, daughter, age 26, b. AL. (Wife
Ellen is Elenor Selina Shelby).
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1808 - 1888 (80 years)