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American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940
{Begin handwritten} Field {End handwritten} {Begin handwritten} {End handwritten} {Begin handwritten} Folkstuff Life Histories {End handwritten}
Robertson, Mrs. Wyndam
December {Begin handwritten} 16th {End handwritten} 1936 {Begin handwritten} 1341W {End handwritten}
Lubbock County
District 17
250
Pg.1
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Mrs. Wm. W. Green {Begin inserted text} Interview with Mrs. Mary Green {End inserted text}
The other day I was visiting with {Begin inserted text} {Begin handwritten} Mrs. [?] N. Green {End handwritten} {End inserted text} "Aunt Mary" Green as she to affectionately known to many.
{Begin inserted text} {Begin handwritten} {End handwritten} {End inserted text} dear little green cottage which overlooks the canyon, north of the city, {Begin deleted text} stnds {End deleted text} {Begin inserted text} stands {End inserted text} in a garden, which in the spring and summer {Begin deleted text} is {End deleted text} {Begin inserted text} {Begin handwritten} forms {End handwritten} {End inserted text} a charming background for the [house?] which shelters Mr. Mrs. Green. Protected by a fence, a brick walk of irregular pattern leads to the front door.
Upon entering the little gate, I was surprised to see that the lilac bushed had sprouted a profusion of new buds, and when I [expressed?] my astonishment, Mrs. Green smiled and remarked that it was not unusual for the lilac bushes to be loaded with beautiful blossoms in December or January.
Upon entering the little house, one is aware of an air of peacefulness and happiness. The neatness and comfort of the house indicates that even att this time of her life, Mrs. Green believes in doing a thing well. The odor of fresh [soapsuds?] prevailed still. She ushered [me?] to the most comfortable chair, {Begin deleted text} and {End deleted text} {Begin inserted text} {Begin handwritten} an {End handwritten} {End inserted text} ancient rocker, well provided with quilted cushions. I noticed an old print depicting Mt. Vernon, and it was this picture which started us to talking, going back over the years, the civil war, the trek west, the new home on the "Staked Plains", the hardships and pleasures, life and death.
As "Uncle Green", who is hard of hearing, said in his gentle voice, mellowed with age, 'We've had a full life and [we?] don't regret any of it"
He went on to tell how he was born in Overton county, Tennessee on the 31st day of August 1847. and how he grew up there. How at the tender age of 15 years, hearing the call of the leaders, such as [Albert?] sidney Johnson and Stonewall Jackson, and believing that they were right, he enlisted in the "Eight Tennessee Cavalry" under
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Interview with Mrs. Mary Green
the leadership of General George Dibrell in April 1863, remaining in the service till 1865, and merged from the conflict safe and sound. In 1870, owing to conditions in the old Southern states, he immigrated with his father and brothers and some friends, to Texas, locating in Johnson county, near Alvaredo. Later they moved over to Parker county, settling on Bear Creek,where Mr. Green met a fairhaired, blue eyed girl,who was also born in Tennessee, where the home of the S. P. [?] had been in Warren county.
The first years of her life the romped with her sisters and brothers along the banks of Rocky River, where wild grape vines grew so rank, their vines being strong enough for swinging and where beautiful trees gave pleasant shade. There she learned to love the [beauties?] of nature. A large spring gushed from the rocks in the hills feeding the stream with pure, sparkling water, providing also a place for wading swimming and fishing.
Her home was a large log house, plastered inside with white lime, and its comforts and conveniences were everything desired at that time, when conveniences such as we know today were unheard of. The rooms were high and wide. The heating arrangements were a " stacked chimney", built of rock and this was located between two rooms, with a grate or fire place on either side, and " dog-irons", also called "andirons" upon which were laid the logs of wood. These firplaces afforded such convenience and pleasure, since all the cooking for the family was done here. Tall "pot racks" held pots and kettles made of iron, copper and brass, which were used for boiling foods, and a built-in oven with coals of fire heaped upon it, was used for the baking of many delicious morsel.
The wide hearth was always warm and cozy for warming one's feet.
A large compartment was used for stacking the wood supply, and it was situated right behind the chimney. The fire was never allowed to die down.
When father Lowry heard the call of Texas frontiers, seeing the [advantages?] of this great state where land [was?] cheap. he loaded [his?] family and household goods and started to Texas in 1872, and settled in Parker [county?], about 15 miles west of Ft. Worth, on the banks of Bear Creek, where the surrounding territory reminded them of their Tennessee
This was then a frontier county and neighbours were few and far between.
Game was [plentiful?],and the land was fertile. They [prepared?] from the first and remained there till all of the children were grown up. It was here where Mr. Wm.[W?]. Green met Mary Lowry, and they were married in June 1885. The wedding took place at home, with only relatives and close friends in attendance,and they were very happy.
[Being?] true descendants of a pioneer people, they felt that they must start their new life by going elsewhere. They went to Hood county building their new home at [Therp?] Springs, which was an attractive and [appealing?] place to them.
The blood of adventure flowing in their veins, and the purple shadows calling from the/ {Begin inserted text} north {End inserted text} west, induced them to start again to a land of better opportunities, and so they with some of their friends, a party of 41 people,started on their new move, reaching Lubbock on Thanksgiving day and eating their first dinner at the Nicelette Hotel, which [was?] at that time located [in?] old north town.
There were only a handful of people here then, but they gave the newcomers a warm [welcome?]. The Green's built their home on a section of land lying between the present townsite and the canyon, the house being where the underpass on Avenue H is now located.
Mrs Green says that Indians were seen here only once, and that they were camped at a point where Avenue H intersects [18th?] street. An Indian buck, his two squaws and their papoose were just passing through,and the settlers {Begin inserted text} {Begin handwritten} {End handwritten} {End inserted text} saw very little of them, but were impressed by the man's laziness and the [subserviance?] of the women.
[Wolves?] were plentiful and at one time one came to the backdoor of the Green's home, [devouring?] the breakfast scraps.
Antelope too, were [plentiful?] and [?], [?] they did much damage to the little [graden?] patches, which the [housewives?] had planted, until they [contrived?] a way of frightening the antelope off, by tying strips of cloth at [intervals?] along the fence and the breeze would blow them and [thus?] {Begin inserted text} {Begin handwritten} [alarm?] {End handwritten} {End inserted text} the animals.
Buffalo still wandered across the prairies, occasionally, but kept to the canyon [sentence illegible?]
feeding ground for the Buffalo, as there they had some [protection?] from the elements [?] as well as from the hunters.
The first Christmas in their new home came and the only place where they could hold a public celebration, was a Blacksmith shop,which boatsed a dirt floor. Yet, embued with a true christmas spirit, the [?] families provided for themselves a merry holiday. Geo. M. Hunt acted as the Santa Claus, C. F. Stubbs declaimed, Miss Sylvia Hunt, A. J. Clark, Fly Anderson and Mrs. Green furnished the entertainment, filling [their?] places with heartiness. Christmas hymns were sung by Mrs. Wm. N. Green, alto; A. J. Clark,bass; and Miss Sylvia Hunt provided the accompaniment.
Almost all of the gifts were created by the nimble fingers of the women.
There were few children to be remembered, however ginger cookies, home made dollies and other toys were provided. The old family {Begin inserted text} {Begin handwritten} {End handwritten} {End inserted text} trunk gave up,many [hoarded?] treasures.
Mr. Green has been in the {Begin deleted text} [?] {End deleted text} {Begin inserted text} {Begin handwritten} [moving and transfer?] {End handwritten} {End inserted text} business {Begin deleted text} [?] {End deleted text} for many years {Begin deleted text} [?] {End deleted text} he was one of the men who hauled the lumber for the first [Courthouse?] of Lubbock county, from Colorado City.
A visit to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Green gladdens one's heart. The home itself seems like a quaint bit of a time {Begin inserted text} that is {End inserted text} passed, never to return. Aunt Mary Green as she is still called by many, conveys an atmosphere of peace, making one feel glad. Her cheerfulness is contagious. She says that she knew whem the reached Lubbock that she had come to the end of the road in actuality as well as spiritually and that here she would settle for life, and she did.
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