Josie M. Davidson, her life and work

Preface

This Autobiography aims to combine the real features of a history of my home life, my domestic life, and my travels, with the interest of the changes through it all. All these incidents are drawn from my own life. The history is founded strictly upon facts. This narrative, simple as it is, I hope will serve to give to my friends and relatives, who may read this, a true sketch of my every-day life. I have chronicled these events of my life's history with the intention of having the Autobiography printed and published.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I I

n 7

Chapter I

For some time I have had uppermost in my mind, thoughts that I would, at some future time, write and have published, a history of my life just as I have lived, without exaggeration or without a bit of fiction mingled in it, from my earliest recollection to the present time.

Near Jonesville, in Lee County, Virginia, I am told I first beheld the light of day May the 7th, 1857, my father, Park Martin, being one of a family of nine boys and only one sister. My mother's name, before her marriage to my father, was Sally Graybeal. Anything else in regard to my mother I know but very little. She had one sister who outlived her and I think perhaps she had two brothers who died early in life. My great uncle, whose name, if I mistake not, was Boyd Dickerson, he being the family physician when I was born, said my name must be Josephine, after the great and noble Empress whose life and history he greatly admired. I have always been very fond as well as proud of my name; I not only think it very pretty but

I admire it too, because I have admired her life and noble character. Of the first year of my existence in Virginia, I know comparatively nothing. My parents being dissatisfied and feeling that they might do better, especially from a financial standpoint, they emigrated to Kentucky, following an older brother of my father (named John Preston Martin), to Floyd County. I was at that time one year of age. I was the second child of my parents that was living, my sister being nearly five years my senior. My father, mother, sister and myself then constituted our entire family, locating two miles above Prestonsburg, on a farm at the mouth of Bull Creek, which empties into the Big Sandy River. The farm is situated along the river on one side and surrounded by tall mountains and the creek. As I recall it nothing very attractive with the exception of the picturesque mountains. A small knoll, just above the house, with a few graves and a chestnut tree standing upon the side of the small knoll, which never refused to bear its fruit in its season. Sister Lavina and I loved to haunt the woods, and the nooks, and crannies in our childhood glee. Now and then to the creek we found much amusement playing in the sand, where the water tinkled over the tiny pebbles, and there in the cool shadows of the trees with the water of the stream bubbling underneath our little bare feet, and the woodthrush singing over our heads, those were happy days for us.

We were living on this farm when the Civil War broke out. Trying times we had then. There were periods when food was very scarce and no way of procuring any for days. The citizens ofttimes went hungry though we never suffered very much; we had enough, but a very rough diet sometimes. One bright Spring day, I recall to my mind, our mother had gone to a nearby neighbor's for some purpose and left sister and me alone. A poor soldier came tour home and asked us if we could fix him a lunch. We caught a young frying size chicken and sister dressed it and fried it; we also gathered some vegetables and cooked him a very nice meal for two children of our size. She was always a fine cook and is at the present day although the weight of years is fast creeping up on her. He gave us a green back dollar and pulled up his sleeve, showing us his name that was tattooed on his arm, and said: "Little girls, if you ever see me again you will know me by this/' How often I have wished that I could remember his name. I really believe if I should ever see him, I should know him for his gentlemanly face was so impressed upon my childish mind. However, we both were very proud of our new dollar, and to know we made it ourselves.

During those dreadful days my father sold some cattle, which brought no small sum of money. At that time there were no banks or safe places to deposit money, consequently it had to be hidden away some place about the premises. One night, a short time after the cattle sale, a band of guerrillas broke into our home and at the point of their guns demanded the money. There was, of course, nothing else he could do but render it up or die. They were dressed in Federal uniform. Quite a number of other cases similar to that of my father's were committeed in the surrounding country.

Though a very small child how well I remember hearing the firing of guns and the booming of the cannon while the battle of Middle Creek was being fought, in which General Garfield was in command of the Federal Army and General Humphrey, Marshall, Williams and Colonel Jack May in command of the Confederate forces. I don't think either side gained much of a victory. Of course we all are aware of the fact that General Garfield, years • afterwards, became our President. He owned a i*,:.ct of land adjoining Prestonsburg on the North side, on which some of the dwellings of our town are now built. This tract of land was still in his possession at the time of his death, after which my first husband bought an interest in the same.

My father, who it seemed was a sort of "Rolling Stone," concluded to make another move, and to Johnson County went to try his luck. Johnson joins Floyd County. I shall later on have occasion to refer to Bull Creek again before this volume is finished. We made the move in the Fall of '64, which was a bad change for him and also the family, for my father at once took typhoid fever, soon after the change of home, and in December early, I think it was, he passed away into the great unknown leaving my poor mother with her three little helpless children on the mercy of the world. As my baby brother had been added to the family, he being one year of age, and about five years younger than myself, my mother struggled as best she could through that winter. That dreadful war was not quite at an end which made it doubly hard for her to pull through. The country at that time was in a terrible condition. However, the coming Spring, in April, 1865, she gave way under the heavy burden, and left the earth for a better, and happier home, ' 'where the weary are at rest." Her death was quite sudden — heart failure carried her off in a few hours. Her life work had been so pure and holy that Angels hovered around her and accompanied her immortal spirit to the home beyond. Her only sister, who was then a widow, came on from Missouri. She, however, had been with my mother a month or more before she went away and believing she could keep the little ones together, made an effort but soon discovered she was not equal to the great undertaking, and gave it up, discovering that the support of a family at that critical period required considerably more than the meager means at her disposal.

To return to my father's brother, John P. Martin, who lived in Prestonsburg, and died two years prior to the death of my father. His widow and her three children (all grown), on being notified of my mother's death, sent for us. Her daughter, at that time a widow and the oldest of her family, Mary Martin Trimble, came on to Paintsville, the County Seat of Johnson County, to look after our interest. My mother's sister said she could keep house and take care of us but I said to her that I was going home with my cousin Mary (which I did), and it was only a very short time until she made the discovery that I was right, leaving sister Lavina and brother Willie with her, thus giving her the trial at it.

Chapter II

My uncle's widow, Elizabeth Lackey Martin, her son, Alex L. Martin, and Mousie L. Martin, her eldest daughter, that I have just written about, a widow with her two boys, Malcolm and James Trimble, comprised her family at that time (I being a later addition). My cousin Mary came to Paintsville on horseback, which at that time was the best way for traveling over the rough roads. We left the town of Paintsville quite early in the morning as there was a long, tiresome trip on horseback. I being a small child and riding behind means something of a fatiguing nature. It was in the month of April, when the early wild flowers were in bloom; the forest trees putting forth their green foliage and all nature being resurrected from its long lethargy. The little ripples were tinkling with Spring sound, wayside songs of the robins, meadow larks, and the cheery song of the sparrow; here and there a chime of cow bells, all blending into the steady rime of the water as it ran down the little ravines on the hillsides over the rocks below, altogether presenting a very charming scene. I, of course, in my childish fashion, saw it and took it in with the interest and huge delight so natural to children, and the change of scenes with me was of a very exciting nature.

Many and amusing were the questions I put to my cousin on the journey, but she, good soul, did not seem to object to answering them. All my natural life, when I do not know, or realize what a thing is or what the meaning might be I make an effort to learn, even if it is to the amusement of the one questioned, or to display my ignorance to a degree, and I don't yet think it a very bad idea, for if we do not make an effort to be enlightened in things we will never know.

My cousin had an old acquaintance who lived about midway between Prestonsburg and Paintsville, who was very sick. She stopped to see her for a short time and we had a rest. I, of course, in my childish way was taking all things in that were being presented to my view, so the ride of twelve miles came to an end in the afternoon. They all gave me a kind welcome. I will here mention my uncle, John P. Martin (who was the father of those cousins) had been elected a number of times to Congress, and at one time came in a fraction of a vote of being nominated for Vice-President of the United States, on the Democratic ticket). The reception of welcome that was given me at the time of our arrival was much appreciated, especially the kind and oft recalled incident by my dearest Cousin Mousie, who in after years was more than a cousin, — she really made herself a dear and affectionate sister to me. It was the first time I had ever seen her. She kissed me affectionately and remarked, "This is the first time you ever saw your

Cousin Mousie." How my little heart swelled with real pleasure ! Just to know there was one who loved me in that new home.

The same afternoon a number of little girls came in to see me, as little girls usually do when a strange child comes into a community. I will here give the names of some of them, because they figure to an extent in my life's records. Four were nieces of my Aunt Elizabeth, Sallie, Alice, Josie, and Anna Davidson; little chum of theirs, Mollie Friend, and Anna Porter, also a number of others, I cannot remember their names at the present time to mention. These have been my lifelong friends and all are at the present time, still living but one, Anna Davidson. (However, she lived to be twice married and died rather young.) How well I remember that afternoon we all went out in the large green grassy lawn to play ! All of a sudden a feeling of loneliness came over me; the sad thought of my mother being gone and that I never again could see her this side of eternity almost crushed my heart. I began to realize that I had lost something that I never could regain. I burst into a flood of tears ; as soon as that spasm of grief was over, which tears only can relieve, I was again playing. My new found friends appeared to be very sorry for me and tried to comfort me in many little kindnesses which I have never forgotten. Naturally I was of a sunny disposition and full of pranks and fun; always planning and plotting something of a mischievous nature. But the sadness and heartaches that I have come in contact with io JOSIE M. DAVIDSON

in my later life has blotted all that out and at times a melancholy comes over me that nothing but communing with my Lord will take the gloom away.

The Fall of 1865 I entered my first school. If I remember correctly the length of the free schools lasted five months; the teacher's name was Mrs. Julia Morrisson, a widow, without children. I was much pleased with my beginning school days, all so new to me, and soon learned to love my teacher very much. Those were happy days. I soon learned to read in my primer and to spell nicely. That was much encouragement. The end of the school came and with regret, too. The teacher, at the closing of the session, made up her mind she did not wish to continue that kind of a vocation in life, became a little romantic, and got married again on a Big Sandy Steamboat, as it was running down the river, to Mr. Will Yates of Louisa, Ky. They still live there, and I occasionally saw her until last winter she, too, passed away, leaving husband and their several children.

Back to my aunt ; she too soon awoke to the fact that she must give up her plans as it was too much for her to raise two children and my sister soon followed me on to Prestonsburg and found a home with me which was a delight, to have her with me, but my little brother did not come. A gentleman and his wife, living in Paintsville, who had no children of their own, insisted on taking my baby brother and raising him just as their own. This was a sad movement or occurrence to me. I did not think it best to separate us;

HER LIFE AND WORK n

after much meditation and tears I at last made up my mind to be satisfied with the inevitable and it turned out all right in after years. They were kind to him, and to the very best of their ability raised him to be a man and in their old days they had him to lean upon for many years and the sacrifice that we had to make in living without him we were fully repaid upon seeing what a great source of pleasure and real comfort he was to them in their declining years. He grew to manhood making a fine lawyer and a splendid Christian gentleman of whom I am proud to-day. When I was eleven years of age, my cousin, Mary Trimble, was again married to a gentleman from Alabama, a lawyer, who had been a Major in the Confederate Army, James Armstrong, they going to Missouri to live. For a while I was very lonely without my little boy cousins, Malcolm and James. When I was twelve years old my sister, Lavina, married (a church wedding) Mr. Ed. Ford. This almost crushed me as I regretted so much to give her up. (Thus the home was thinning out.) They have always lived in Prestonsburg. In my early life I united with the Methodist Church South and have, ever since, lived a staunch Methodist and have, to the very best of my ability, tried to live a consistent Christian life. The shortcomings that have befallen me have been more of the "head than the heart." Anyway, the weakness of the human body is sometimes stronger than the spiritual strength. Nevertheless I have lived the very best I could and have attempted, in my weak way, to do my duty to my church, my friends and my God. To know and feel these truths is a comforting thought to me, although thoughts sometimes rush to me that I might have done more in my Master's cause but all the human family no doubt fall short.

Well, as time wore on, with nothing of much interest to think of, I attended the public schools, when I could get the time to go. I was kept busy learning to sew, cook and all else that must be done in a home. My aunt believed in making all around her learn to work and that time was not made to waste ; that it was too precious. This training has been a great benefit to me in all these years. However, I have felt the need of a broader and a more practical education. Opportunities that the young people of to-day have, I was denied.

In the meantime my Cousin, Alex L. Martin, married Miss Nannie Brown, daughter of Mr. G. N. Brown of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, a lawyer of some distinction and afterwards Circuit Judge of our District. She was fine looking, having a very handsome and attractive face, a stately figure and gracious manners with intellect and accomplishments. He was handsome, brilliant, educated; in fact his intelligence and his educational advantages were unsurpassed.

By this time I was beginning to believe I was growing to be quite a young lady. In October, 1874, my dear Cousin Mousie made up her mind that she would marry and had a very pretty home wedding with a number of invited guests. The lucky young man was

Captain J. C. Hopkins of Tazewell, Virginia. He was handsome beyond the ordinary. This was a sad occurrence for me for I much regretted to give her up. As I grew older a great desire for teaching school seized me. I thought I must qualify myself for a vocation in life; the more I thought on the subject of teaching the more anxious I became. I pressed hard in my studies, in fact put my time in that I could have away from the home work, and did, I thought, my best to be able to obtain a good certificate, which in that day and time was the important factor in obtaining a first class school. At that time the school laws were not very stringent ; it did not require any fixed age for teaching; just so the teacher was in possession of a first class first grade certificate, it made no special difference as to age. I was seventeen when I made application for examination, was examined and was given a first class first grade certificate. I sure was puffed up at my success. I really felt that I was "monarch of all I surveyed." I fell to thinking and planning for my future teaching ; the manner in which I should each day open and close the session. These and other devised intentions were all concocted for future interest and benefits for my schools. Well, these "air castles" fluttered high ! The more I thought, the more anxious I became. I believed when I was a public school teacher that then I would have reached the "height of my glory." Then, too, when the Teacher's Institute was in session how important I should feel when the roll of teachers was called to have my name on the list.

The more I pondered over the coming event the more elated I became, or a better suited term, the more "puffed up" I was. With my certificate now in my possession I was then ready to begin to climb my "Ladder of fame." A public school-teacher, indeed ! For fear I should forget to mention it I will state here that I still have in my scrap book the wonderful certificate. I have all through these years kept it as a gentle reminder "That chickens should not be counted until the eggs are hatched," or in the language of Solomon, "Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit." As a souvenir it has been one of much amusement to me. I return to my school subject again. At the time all the desirable schools that were near home had been taken before I obtained my certificate, but there happened to be one District in the County that had not yet employed a teacher and it was about thirteen miles from home and upon Johns Creek, at the mouth of a branch called Brushy Creek. One of the trustees, an old gentleman, had by some way heard of me and that I held the certificate that the law required for a first class school. The law at that time, and perhaps yet, requires three trustees for each school district. So the old gentleman came down to Prestonsburg and employed me as teacher for that school. I was overwhelmed with delight! My ambition had now reached its zenith and now I was about to realize its glory — my brain was all in a whirl. I could scarcely wait for the time to arrive for the old gentleman to bring the promised horse for me to ride up to take charge of the school, so anxious I was to begin my school duties.

On a bright Sunday morning he came, bringing with him the horse that I was to ride. Oh! what joy. I soon packed my clothes that were needful, the books, papers and then I was all ready for the long ride. I bade all good-by, mounted the horse and, by the side of the old gentleman, rode away. The farther up the creek we went the higher the mountains loomed up to my view and the valley looked very narrow. No outlet except the rough, rocky road that followed the water course which winds its way for miles, to find its exit into the Big Sandy River. This scene, I will admit, was not a very pleasing prospect for a five months' sojourn. I, of course, had no other idea than that I could stay at the least a month before thinking of returning home for a visit. We arrived in the afternoon at the home of the old gentleman where I was to board, at $1.00 per week. I found them to be nice, good and hospitable people. The gentleman was very old, but had married a young woman, apparently very much younger than himself, perhaps twenty or twenty-five years. They had three children, the oldest a pretty, bright girl of about thirteen years of age. As I remember the other two were boys, and these children were to be my scholars. The cottage, situated on the upper side of the road, consisted of four rooms, two bedrooms, a dining room and small kitchen, and all were spotlessly clean. Supper being announced I took the place assigned me. As twilight came on and the coming darkness threw a gloom over me, a loneliness crept over me.

I began then to feel that I had been elated too soon ; that it might not be as pleasant to teach a country school as I had anticipated. However, I said my prayers and retired, hoping by the dawn of day that feeling of loneliness might disappear altogether. The next morning I was up with the family and after the breakfast was served we were in a bustle getting ready for the two-mile walk to the schoolhouse. Our dinner prepared and put in a pail, then we were off, the three children, their father and myself, ready for the duties of the day. By the time the two-mile walk had ended I must confess I was about tired out. The log schoolhouse was not a very inviting structure. Thoughts something like this came into my mind: Can I walk four miles and teach all day as I had heretofore planned in my "Castle building" ? I opened school by reading the first chapter of Genesis. From observation I saw it would not be a bad idea to give these scripture readings often as it seemed to be very much needed as well as school books. The old gentleman said he was pleased with the way I had commenced. I arranged my classes which consumed the most of the morning and commenced with twenty-two or three pupils. At twelve o'clock all were ready for the noonday lunch but me. I was beginning to feel as though I could never eat another bite. A huge lump seemed to rise in my throat. A peculiar feeling ran over me that I could never describe. I felt as though I was lost in a wilderness with no one near me. Homesickness had overwhelmed me.

I never had such a despondent feeling in all my life. They insisted upon me eating, but not a mouthful could I eat. There was a man who had taught the school for several successive Falls and wanted it again. He happened to be there at the noon-day hour, I presume to see how the new teacher was getting on with the school, or perhaps some other motive may have prompted him. I overheard him say, "A woman cannot manage these rude boys/' That was sufficient to give me an opportunity to give vent to my pent up tears. I burst into a flood of weeping and told him as far as I was concerned he could have the school, with the permission of the trustees, if they only would let me off for I did not believe I could stand to stay, I was so very homesick. They tried in every persuasive manner to have me keep it. They were very kind-hearted men and let their sympathy get the better of them and through pity let me off. However, at one o'clock I again took up books and finished the day with a feeling of relief and then, that long, hot July day came to an end, and so did my high aspirations. Alas ! over went my high-blown pride. It had at length broken under me. My "Air castles" were blown to the breeze and floated from my vision into open space. That bright Sunday morning that I left home with such bright visions, the tender leaves of hope that had put forth, and early Monday morning the bloom had opened and at once commenced to fade, and at night fell the killing frost. My vain pomp and glory had fallen. After the closing of the school, we i8 JOSIE M. DAVIDSON

returned to the house. I must not forget to give the name of these good, kind people, Mr. and Mrs. Fraley. She very much regretted to have me give up the school and remarked that she did regret that she had not been able to make for me some "sweet bread and pies." I then felt that I was the loser of those good things to eat; the real fact of the matter I did not give the good woman time.

Chapter III

From the proceedings of the Teachers' Institute as printed in the paper that Fall, I clipped the roll of teachers' names, mine being in the list. I have carefully kept it in my scrap book all these years to again remind me that, "Vain glory blossoms and brings no fruit," and that I should beware of egotistical ambition not to let it get away with my better judgment. Ambition is all right if developed in the right manner and that experience sometimes is a good lesson and from it I learned that if I had any sense at all and if I had known the law those trustees could have held me to the job. They were a kind-hearted people and only through sympathy they let me off so lightly, and also another teacher there just ready to step into my place. So that experience might have proved a little detrimental to the position I was in at that time had they not been full of pity for my homesick attitude.

Well, I got off well. When I returned to my home I was twitted to the full extent about my childish freak and I justly deserved all I got. For quite a while I was very humble and silent on the school subject. In fact I desired it to be forgotten as a "Dead leaf of a forest, of a long forgotten year." As to the thought of giving publicity to my "Air Castle Building," it would have been foreign to my mind at that time. The