Thomas Wright's Diary

Spring

Spring 1869, The small community has a Church, and Blacksmith, General Store, Tack and Saddle shop, School. Out of two hundred Families, one hundred ninety remain. The first two full years have been hard, attacks on the people, burning of barns, lynchings. Rape and verbal attacks. Still they managed to move on, the farms working together. They've managed to survive and make do.

4, April 1869

My, who woulda thought, have two children all ready, William a be two end a May, Grace just a baby, but lan sakes named her Grace after Tuey's Ma, thought it only fittin so did Beth. Theo is workin with Baxter has the makins of a fine Lawyer. Theo his son just at year old now. All Slaves are free people now, the Coloreds took on a new Family one that moved north out a Tennessee, sold thum one the empty farms, they payback an 1/8 for three years of they crop, the land they own after three years. The community gets that money divided amon thum.

Uncle Thom been ridin guard with me, ta protect those farms. Till now, he finally got the need ta roam. He say he headed west, don't know where just goin ta follow the sun is all. Frank say he take on the job a Village Marshal, so I could take a break from it. Twenty cent a day, two meals a day, an small room behind the General Store. Told him me an Beth kick in Sunday supper an a extra ten cents a week. The Baltimore an Ohio put a depot in, just east the new place, an south the old Main House a Rivers Edge, riverboats still use the docks at Rivers Edge. Joe an Tuey gonna make the Main House an Inn. Rather like that idea, be nice ta have a place ta visit have little fun. Ma is back at the new place, she happy all that matter.

6, April 1869

Leonard sent a letter, he be havin one his get together, May 22 second. Of course we a goin wouldn't miss it at all, he say Philotis is comin. Seen him in New Richmond, his son own a Saloon in town. We been ta at least one ever since we came home. Why my plantin about done, they all broke up inta team's ta get it done.
Goodness me about beat, hard work is good fer ya. Just those long days a kick, but hard. Children are a sleepin think I best sleep myself.

27, April 1869

Sad day, very sad, Frank was shot durin his nightly ride. We found him this mornin. Near dead, gut shot looks like maybe four five people involved by the horse tracks, an the blood in three different spots. Frank say he saw three got two of thum. One that got him, he say sounded like it was Bowman. He couldn't tell who they was, wore flour sacks over they heads. All I know is had ta been five Bowman couldn't a put two on horse back.

Well, Frank passed just few minutes ago, Beth did what she could Doctor refused ta come out, help us! My thinkin that Doctor busy patchin up those, Frank got. Think I get Theo ta work on gettin us Doctor out here. Beth can only do so much. Tuey fightin mad, wants ta go after Bowman. Tell him we have ta go an tell Joe in the mornin. Ta late ta head that way. We need ta truly know who done this, ta get thum.

28, April 1869

Told Joe, he cried an me an Tuey cried with him. Joe he has had it rough, his wife passed last year. Ma an him been seein each other couple months now. Still Frank died doin his job, one I should a stayed on! Maybe at least helped him with it. I feel like I killed him. Death follows me, like it has the back a my shirt; walkin behind me. Jeb made a nice casket ta put Frank in. Told Joe we would take him home ta bury, I would pay fer the funeral. Joe say Frank thought this was his home, we bury him here. We buried him at the Church, first none colored ta be buried at the cemetery.

These night riders gotta stop! These folks can't have this a happenin. Hell they could come fer me, not only thum I needs help. Hell the whole community needs it, they took ta callin it Wright's Ville, don't much care fer it. Theo was sent fer, he telegraphed couple fellas from I Company they on the way now ta help out.

1, May 1869

Four Fellas I Company arrived, taday all four ready an armed. They say, long they gots a place ta sleep, food may be a beer or a whisky they good. They don't farm day labor, so they have time ta work here, an help out. Tell thum the families here abouts make sure they fed, stay at my place cabin in the back. Two on patrol at all times. Tell thum it mean twelve hour shifts, I'll give thum dollar a week. Didn't care about money just missed the action thought maybe this make up fer it. Theo brought thum out said, he would stay out here fer my time away with Leonard end of the month.

Bout every two weeks, those night riders scare folk an threaten ta burn down they house or barn. That's why few families left. They have managed ta burn a couple barns down one house, they took ta burnin a cross in the front of they house.

24, May 1869

We had ourselves a great time, at Leonard's place danced laughed my felt good. Did mention ta Leonard an Philotis about what was goin on. Told thum About Mathews, Barton, Mason an Roberts are out helpin. They probably only stay till winter. Philotis say they good men Thom. Ya need me just send word, I can still shoot! Leonard say the same. Then added Philotis think they good, I'll hold off till ya send word. Little rain we had, crops startin ta show.
Guess I best sleep.

That I think covers it for now.

So is it Bowman out to get revenge?

The Next Chapter will move on to 1870

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