Auburn, Kentucky
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Auburn, Kentucky
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J. Henry Burnett was the son of Rev. J. H. Burnett (Professor & Preacher). J. Henry lived in Auburn until the 1930s when he went to Atlanta, Georgia. His love of Auburn prompted him to write to the Auburn Times about the many people he knew and admired so well. He named his writings "Auburn in the Long Ago." The articles he wrote are listed as follows: Miss Alleyne Baker, Elocution and Sunday School Teacher Mr. Church H. Blakey, Agriculturist and Statesman. Rev. J. H. Burnett, Preacher Mr. Dave Childress, The Town Groceryman Mr. Jim Childress, The Nurseryman Mr. O. M. Crewdson, Druggist and Hotel Man Miss Mary Darby, Milliner Doctors - McDavitt & Holcomb, Auburn's Two Doctors Mr. Fax Edmondson, Carpenter Mr. Lucius A. Freeman, Farmer & Agriculturist Mr. Alec J. Gooch, Traveling Salesman Mr. Jack Gordon, The Miller Mr. C. L. Huckelberry, L & N Agent Mr. Ab. Key, Pumper Mr. Aaron McCarley, Dry Goods Merchant Rev, J. W. McCormick, Preacher Mr. Alex C. Ritchey, Premier Salesman Mr. Jim Smith - Honest Jim Mr. Harry Woodward, Postmaster
This stream is, and has always been very important to Auburn. It is like Tennyson’s book - - it flows on and on, forever. To my certain knowledge, it has flowed on for over 60 years, for as a boy I waded in it, I went fishing on its banks, I went swimming in it, I was baptized in it. Many enterprises, financial and social, were found upon the banks of this mighty creek. It seemed good-sized 60 years ago, almost in the river class, but of course it has shrunk up some, at least it looks so. The tan-yard (with the Friday evening beef club) was located on “the creek.” The pumping station, operated by Mr. Ab Key and owned by L&N Railroad Co., to supply water for their engines, was located on one bank of “the creek,” and all the water pumped came from this great stream, clear as crystal until a rain came, and then red with mud. The old swimming hole was located in the middle of “the creek,” and was an afternoon rendezvous for the town boys. The baptismal pool for white and colored was right in the heart of “the creek,” and was frequently used. I recall three brick kilns and worked in all of them, for they were operated in three different years, but at the same place, which was real near “the creek,” for brick may be made without straw, but not without water. The colored washwomen could be seen on washdays on the banks of “the creek,” for water was always there and handy. The stock and horses slacked their thirst at “the creek.” In dry seasons, those who ran short of water would hitch up the wagon, put one or more barrels in it and drive down to “the creek.” Standing on the wagon tongue the drivers with buckets would fill up the barrels and take water home for drinking and other uses, or in season to the field where wheat was being threshed, so the engine could be steamed up to run the thresher. Here’s to “the creek,” the wonderful and ever useful Black Lick. It has meant so much to Auburn all the years. Yours sincerely, J. HENRY BURNETT Macon, GA
Mr. Church H. Blakey, Agriculturist and Statesman.
Auburn In The Long Ago.
Auburn Times, Mar 3, 1939 Mr. and Mrs. Church Blakey were lovely people and they reared a family good in size and in quality - six sons and two daughters. The sons, Church, Tom, Theodore, Hubert, Clayton and George; the daughters were: Nellie and Lou. All of them were educated at Auburn College and father considered Mr. Church Blakey one of his dearest friends and best patrons. Nellie married Dr. T. O. Helm, who survives her, and lives in Bowling Green. Lou has never married; she lives In Louisville and is the only one of the family now living. Theodore, a lawyer, died-recently at his home in Beattyville, KY. Church and George never married, but died as young men. -Tom was a doctor and lived in Hopkinsville, where he had a wonderful, practice. Hubert operated the farm, which was only a few miles north of Auburn. Clayton was a lawyer and spent most of his life in Louisville. George was about my age and we were good friends. Mr. Church Blakey was in the Legislature and rendered fine service, so everyone honored him by calling him Col. Blakey and he wore the title as a true Kentucky Colonel. He was large of mind, body and heart and Mrs. Blakey was a true gentlewoman. It was always a great pleasure to visit in their home or to go to a party there. I was indeed fortunate to grow up in Auburn, where we had outstanding Christian men and women, such as Col. and Mrs. Blakey. Of course, I can never forget them and I delight to pay tribute to their memory. Col. Blakey was a statesman, rather than a politician. Would that we had more of his type today. Yours truly, J. HENRY BURNETT. Macon, Ga.
Mrs. Burnett lives in Macon, Ga., and I get home as often as possible. For 20 years I have been recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention. George, Jr., is two and one-half years younger than I. After completing his college course at Bethel College, Russellville, Ky., he went to teaching and most of his life has been spent in the schoolroom. He is an exceptionally fine teacher. George married Miss Laura Yates. He was president of Liberty College, Glasgow, Ky., for many years and I joined him in schoolwork there. After about a year and a half, we took charge of Tennessee College, Murfreesboro, Tenn. I remained ten years. He has four lively daughters and a most talented wife. She has taught voice, art and expression and excelled in all. She prefers art and is a portrait painter and gets top prices for her portraits. Three of the daughters have finished college and received art degrees and are married. The youngest daughter is a Junior in College this year. George’s oldest daughter, Ellen, lives in Texas and has one son. The next daughter lives in Memphis, the third daughter, Frances, also lives in Texas, and the youngest daughter, Florence, lives in Boiling Springs, S.C., with George and his wife and attends college in Goffney, S.C. George is at present president of Boiling Springs Junior College, in North Carolina, and is doing splendid work. Nellie, is the next of the children, she married Rev. Poleman E. Lowe. They lived in Missouri, but he only lived a short while and after a few years she married her present husband, W. Day Dickson, merchant, Glasgow, Ky. They have no children. In the last years of their lives, mother and father made their home with Nellie and Day. I have never known a more thoughtful and gracious son-in-law and brother-in-law than Day Dickinson – he is a prince. Nellie has never had any children, her hobby is ancestors, and she is hot on their trail. Duff is the next child; he finished his college work at Bethel, then studied medicine in Louisville. Since then he has practiced near Louisville (at Anchorage, Ky.) He married a Louisville girl, Miss Mattie Richardson. They have two sons. One (Joe) graduated from the University of Alabama and medical College, Louisville. He is married and has a son and is now practicing in Anchorage and surrounding territory. The other son, Lawrence is a junior in Center College, at Danville, KY. Martha is the next in line of succession. She married H. E. Davidson, merchant, Glasgow, Ky. They had two children; a daughter she slipped away from them some years ago and son Burnett Davidson, an A. B., of Furman University, S.C., unmarried and lives in Glasgow. He is in the wholesale grocery business. The came Mary Belle who, after finishing college and studying in Boston, went to Missouri to teach where she was taken suddenly ill and passed away in 1907. A sister, Amby Broadus, only lived nine months. Permelia (known in girlhood as Addie) married H. E. Klass, a civil engineer. He is with L&N Railroad Co., and has been for many years. They lived in Louisville. They have two grown daughters, Eloise and Nell, both A. B. graduates of Blue Mountain College. Miss Eloise is teaching in Glasgow, Kentucky. Alice Eaton, the youngest child, got her A. B. at Tennessee College, then got her M.A. at Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Mass., coordinated with Harvard University. She married Rev. C. E. Sterns, pastor Clifton Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. He is still there. During the flu epidemic in 1918, she was taken ill and the Lord took her home to glory. During 38 years, one or more of us were in school and not a one of we eight ever went to a public school in our lives. Nellie attended Hollin’s College in Virginia and Boscobel College in Tennessee. Martha, Mary Belle and Permelia attended Liberty College; Glasgow, Ky. George was for three years President of the Tennessee Baptist State Convention and one year as vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Yours sincerely, J. HENRY BURNETT Macon, Ga.
Rev. J. H. Burnett, Preacher. After having spent about 18 years as teacher and president of the Auburn College, Prof. Burnett felt the call to preach. The Auburn Baptist Church, of which he was a member, ordained him to the ministry. He continued to teach for a short while and then gave up the school and devoted his entire time to preaching. He was reared by a mother who was and remained a Primitive Baptist (Hardshell) and his twin sister was of the same faith as their mother. These loved ones never quite became reconciled to the fact that the son and brother was such an ardent missionary Baptist preacher. He preached and practiced missions and his churches were intensely missionary. He was pastor of his home church for quite awhile. Most of his preaching and pastoral work was done in and around Auburn, among people whom he had known nearly all his life. He was a native of Logan County, Kentucky, and mother was a native-of Logan County, Illinois. She had made an ideal teacher's wife and now she entered upon a new career and made an equally ideal preacher's wife. In the early years of his ministry, father was called to the pastorate of the Orlinda Baptist Church, Tennessee, and before a great while that fine country church was supporting a missionary (Rev. Tatum) in China, at a cost of $600,00 a year. Father was pastor at Orlinda for a number of years. His only full-time pastorate was in Springfield, Tenn., where he served five years. This was about as far as he ever got from Auburn in his pastoral work with one or two exceptions. He was for a while pastor at Scottsville, KY. He did a splendid work in all his churches and was greatly beloved by all. In another pastorate in Robertson County, Tenn., at Oak Grove church he had the honor and pleasure of baptizing Mr. Jesse H. Jones, head of the RFC and when in Houston, Tex., a few years ago, he was royally entertained by “Bro. Jesse”, as he called him and upon bidding him farewell "Bro. Jesse" presented him with five crisp, twenty-dollar gold certificates, a lovely thing and greatly appreciated. He was also pastor for quite awhile in Adairville and there were some other churches over which he presided as pastor, but I will not list them all. He was essentially a country preacher and loved the country folks and they loved him. He was a real preacher and studied as long as he was a pastor. At 82 years he was a great student of Greek. I was exposed to Greek, but it "never took". His last pastorate was at Dripping Springs Church, Logan County, KY. He was living in Glasgow with my oldest sister and her husband, (Mr. and Mrs. W. Day Dickinson): and went down to his church twice a month. Having reached the age of 82, his children thought he should retire. Mother had passed on to Glory several years before, but after they had celebrated their Golden Wedding. Father lived about two years after giving up his pastorate: the church made him pastor emeritus and they were two carefree, happy years for him. He led a full, busy, rich and useful life. He was known far and wide as the "marrying parson." I shall never forget his first marriage ceremony. He was in his buggy on the way to a church in the "coon range" north of Auburn. A man, no hat, no coat and on a mule bareback, greeted him by saying, "Do you marry folks?" Father told him he never had, but he could (for he had received the right from the State), so the preacher followed the man to a very modest home and the man put on, a coat and he and the simple country girl were married.
Mr. Dave Childress. The Town Groceryman.
One of the outstanding men in Auburn in days gone by was Mr. Dave Childress, known to everyone as Deacon Childress. He was the leading deacon in the Baptist Church and as nearly an ideal deacon as any man have ever known. Never shall I forget shortly after I was converted and joined the Baptist Church, Deacon Childress was leading prayer meeting and to my surprise and consternation, he called on me to pray. I could not refuse him, so right there began my public prayer life, which continued for over 53 years. I loved Deacon Childress as did everyone who knew him. They tell me that before I was 3 years old, father had told me when I went to Mr. Childress' store not to ask for candy. So in order to obey and, still get the coveted candy, I would walk up and down the store saying to myself, "I love candy, I love candy," and the good deacon would come to my rescue and present me candy. When I grew up to considerable size, he used me in his store, as errand boy I guess, for surely I couldn't do much selling. Later, when I had finished the course at Auburn College (presided over by my father) at the age of 17 and taught a country school for a term, the good deacon went with me to Louisville and got me a job with W. B. Belknap & Co., now the Belknap Hardware Co. I got the enormous sum of $15.00 per month. Deacon Childress and my father were very close friends. He had only one child, Jessie, who died not many months ago. She was by his first wife, who was a Miss Baker. I knew her, but she died when I was quite young. Bro. Childress married the second time in Mayfield, KY. I knew his second wife well and have never known a finer, more Godly woman. His home was on the Bowling Green road beyond the creek and I understand has been disposed of since the death of Miss Jessie. Auburn never had a finer citizen and a more devout and consistent Christian man. For many, many years he was the leading grocer of the town. Guess I carried to our home from his store enough groceries to feed a regiment. I was delivery boy to supplement the wagon. His two nephews, Jim Ackerman (deceased) and Wheeler Jamison (now living in Asheville, N. C.) were employed in the store for many years. They were half-brothers. The boys all called Wheeler Jamison "Gouger." I have known just why. D. Childress' grocery was located on the corner of Pearl and Main; with the front door on Main Street and a side door in back part of the store on Pearl Street. I want pay tribute to one of the truest, best friends I have ever had. Somehow he seemed to believe in me and it is a great thing for us to have a friend who really believes in us. Yours truly,
J. HENRY BURNETT,
Mr. O. M. Crewdson, Druggist, and Hotel Man. Mr. O. M. Crewdson ran the drug store and the hotel. He and Mrs. Crewdson specialized on sons. They had four, Sam, Will, Minor (or Bud), and Charlie. That was a dandy quartet and all made good in school, in baseball and in business. Minor (or Bud) is living there in Auburn. His wife was about the most popular girl in Auburn, when she was Myrtie Knox and I guess she is the same popular, fine-spirited Myrtie now grown older. If I am not mistaken, Sam was a lawyer and Will a doctor. Charlie was and is now in the advertising business and has made quite a success. Few if any young men in Southern or Western Kentucky ranked higher as a baseball player than "Bud" Crewdson. Mrs. Crewdson Sr., was for a time my Sunday School teacher; How well I remember her. Being in the hotel business, I imagine Mr. Crewdson knew more people over the state than any man in Auburn. J. Henry Burnett, Note: Orson M. Crewdson married Miss Myrtie M. Knox on November 24, 1887. Mrs. O. M. Crewdson, 1865-1945 Buried in Auburn, Ky. There is a headstone beside the above with the name Gertrude, probably Crewdson, no date.
Miss Mary Darby, Milliner. Auburn Long Ago. Auburn Times April 1939 Back in those days, the milliner was one of the most important and sought-after persons in town. Miss Mary Darby had her millinery store across from the brick row. She brought on some hats already trimmed and then she had a good stock of hats, which she would trim to suit the taste of the women who looked to her for the latest style. The women and girls wore real hats with lots of trimmings in those days using feathers galore. The hats of “halos” they wear now are mere “shadow” hats in comparison. Miss Mary was so busy keeping up with the styles and helping other women, to "doll up" and catch beaus and hold 'em that she did not ever marry. Uncle Johnny Darby was an old man and Mrs. Darby not much younger. They had three daughters, Mrs. Jack Gordon, Mrs. Lockett and Miss Mary. Miss Mary lived to a ripe old age and was not much short of 100 when she died a few years ago. Miss Irene Neal lived with her and she left her home there in Auburn to Irene, who lives there now. Miss Mary was a rear character and popular. She built up quite a business in hats and ribbons and -some novelties. Those were the “good old days" when the women wore lots of clothes and lots on their hats: It was always a treat for me when I had to go to Miss Mary’s Millinery Shop. Macon, Ga.
Dr. McDavitt and Dr. Holcomb - - Auburn’s Two Doctors. Auburn In The Long Ago. Auburn Times – 1938 One thing I remember, Dr. Holcomb gave big doses of bad medicine. Dr. McDavitt was just as successful and more considerate. Dr. Holcomb had two sons, Alfred, who never married, and was the butt of good-natured fun by the boys, and John, who joined the Army, deserted and left for parts unknown. He changed his name, but last I heard of him he was in Texas, but I am not sure that he is now living. “Cousin Sallie,” the mother, the doctor and Alfred have been dead many years. One night during a meeting at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Alfred was present and sat on the back seat where there were some mischievous boys. Alfred had eaten green persimmons and his mouth was all puckered up. One of the boys whistled and Br. McCormick reprimanded Alfred as he saw his lips in whistling shape. This happened two or three times, when finally replied, “Whistle, hell, I speck I’se pizened,” and it came near breaking up the meeting. Dr. and Mrs. McDavitt, with their attractive and considerable-sized family, even for Auburn, lived about a mile from town on the Bowling Green pike, this place was afterwards owned by Whitsett Hall. I recall, Will, Jim, Carl, Edgar and Lattie, and I feel sure I have left out one or more. Jim was about my age and we were often together. Their home was an attractive place with a big woodland in front of the residence. The place contained a good-sized farm and Dr. McDavitt with the boys doing a good part of the work rated as a farmer as well as a doctor. Auburn was indeed fortunate to have these fine men and good doctors to visit their homes and care for their sick. Yours sincerely, J. HENRY BURNETT
Auburn Long Ago. Auburn Times, November 18, 1938
J. Henry Burnett,
Mr. Lucius A. Freeman, Agriculturist. Auburn In The Long Ago Auburn Times – February 3 1939 One of my delights as a boy was to get out to Freeman’s farm and home and spend the night. He had a large family and the boys my age and I were fine friends. Mr. Freeman was a staunch Republican and in those days in and around Auburn that was not a very popular political party, but everyone highly respected Mr. Freeman. Mrs. Freeman was a wonderful mother and she too, was an untiring worker. They had 6 sons and 4 daughters. Arthur, now a retired L&N engineer living in Louisville, was oldest; John , Irvin, Rowland, Percy, Hurston (killed by a horse when he was young), Ella, Ida, Daisy and Julia. When my father opened his school, Auburn College, Mr. Freeman brought 6 children and put them in school and said, “If I like your school, I will bring the rest,” and he did. He and father were great friends and father often said Mr. Freeman was his best and most loyal patron. John Freeman and I were converted in the same meeting and we two and Wheeler Jamison were baptized at the same time in Black Lick Creek down near the pumping station of the L&N Railroad Co. Mr. Freeman finally moved to town so the transportation of his children to and from school would not be such a task and so expensive. They lived just across the street from our home and were wonderfully fine neighbors and the children dandy playmates. The Freeman boys were great baseball players. For years John was an L&N engineer, and he now lives (and has for years) in Montgomery, Alabama. This was one of the largest and finest families in Auburn in my boyhood days. Several are dead (the parents have been dead for years) and I am not familiar with the present homes of those now living, except Arthur and John, as stated above. Yours truly,
J. HENRY BURNETT
Mr. Alex J. Gooch, Traveling Man. Mr. Gooch was not one of the old residents, but moved to Auburn to make his home and give his three children school advantages. His family consisted of Mrs. Gooch, two sons, Owen and Norman, one daughter, Mattie. Owen was very energetic and had considerable ingenuity. I recall one occasion when his mother and father left him and Norman at our home to board, while they took a trip. Guess Mattie must have gone with his parents. School was in session, so the Gooch boys and the Burnett boys were kept pretty busy. Anyway, Owen conceived the idea of organizing a band of several pieces, so when his parents returned, he and his band could meet them at the train. How he bought the instruments and how the band was taught, are hazy memories, but the band and the meeting of his parents is vivid. It was a real event in the boy life of Auburn and I am sure there are some who will recall Owen Gooch and his brass band. I was correspondent for the country paper at Russellville and gathered the local news. I put this one in the paper about Owen. Someone came into the dry goods store where he was clerking, maybe during vacation, and asked for a spool of thread and in his pompous way, Owen said, “When calling for thread, always give color and number, it facilitates matters so.” He wanted to whip me for it, too. I don’t know where any of the children are living now. I saw Norman in Atlanta several years ago. He was living there at that time. There was plenty of action when the Gooch children were around - - especially Owen. Mr. Gooch came to an untimely death, the details of which I will not relate. The old-timers will recall it. Yours truly,
J. HENRY BURNETT
Auburn In The Long Ago Auburn Times - October 28, 1938 The Auburn Flour Mill has been quite a factor in Auburn and the surrounding country. The farmers found a ready market for wheat and the housewives found mighty good flour for their biscuits. My mother made many thousands of biscuits from the flour milled in Auburn, to-say nothing of the million or more tea-cakes or cookies, as we called them, also cakes and pies, and they were A No. 1. I remember Mr. Jack Gordon, tall and strong, as the miller. He and his wife, who was a Miss Darby, (sister of Miss Mary Darby, the milliner), had three children, Charlie, Jessie and Flora. Charlie and I were classmates and desk-mates at Auburn College and I recall that we were great rivals in algebra. As soon as the bell rang for “books,” the boys would see which could reach Prof. Burnett first and ask to go and bring water from the well or spring, not far away. I can see Jessie now rushing up to Prof. Burnett and saying, “Can I and Charlie go after water?” So, they took the two buckets, one for water for the boys and the other for water for the girls and in a few minutes would return with two bucks of water. Then there was another rush for the privilege of passing the water to the students, one going to the boys and another to the girls. Every boy drank from the same bucket and same dipper and every girl drank from the same bucket and same dipper. WE had never heard of germs or microbes and some of us are still living in spite of such unsanitary proceedings in the long ago. Jessie never married. Flora married and lived in Denver until a few years ago, when her husband, a doctor died. Charlie has married twice, has two daughters by his first wife, both of whom are married. He has no children by his second wife. They all four live in Columbia, S.C., where until recently Charlie had charge of the Imperial Hotel there and Jessie was and still is an engineer. Flora makes her home there. When the children were in their teens, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon moved to Bowling Green. This family was not as large as some, but as fine as any – being one of the most substantial in Auburn. Mr. Griffith afterwards became the miller.
Auburn In the Long Ago Auburn Times – 1938 One of the most picturesque and unusual personalities in or around Auburn in my boyhood was Uncle Winkfield Hall. He was a farmer and a good one. He had two fine outstanding, upright sons, Monroe and Scott. “Uncle Wink,” could not read or write, but was a good businessman and very prosperous. He grew up under the old dispensation and was always too busy to be bothered. He was a Christian man, but formed a habit of using cuss words in boyhood and they could just slip out. He never in his heart or mind was profane. He was a golden-hearted man. I worked on his farm (his and son Scott’s) for three summers and learned to know, appreciate and love him. He rode “Dan,” his horse everywhere he went. One day I was hoeing weeds in the garden, he spied me and came out. We had a heart-to-heart talk. He was a man of sterling character, and his word was his bond. During that talk he said, “Henry, folks say I cuss. Anyone who says that tells a damn lie,” and he went on telling about something else, never for an instance realizing what he had said. “Miss Nan,” his second wife, I knew well and she was a fine woman. I never knew his first wife, who was the mother of three sons. They tell this story on “Uncle Wink”: When he was courting Miss Nam, she remarked to him, “Mr. Hall, you are no spring chicken.” To which he replied as only he could or would, “I God, madam, you ain’t no filly.” Anyway, he won her, and they were congenial and happy. Monroe Hall married a sister of Col. Church Blakey, and they had three sons, Whitsett, Scott and Church. Whitsett and Scott are now living near Auburn and are prosperous farmers and own some of the finest land in Logan County. Church has been dead many years. Their home was on the Bowling Green pike, about one-half mile from town. Scott, Sr., the youngest of “Uncle Wink’s” sons, lived with his father, about three or four miles out. He had a fine wife and his children were daughters. He and his wife were mighty nice to me. I worked on the farm during three summers and look back on it as one of the outstanding experiences of my boyhood. Mr. Scott Hall was musical and so was his wife. She played the organ at the Baptist Sunday School and Church and he led the singing and played the cornet. He also conducted the Auburn Band, which was a real band and Auburn was proud of her band. Mr. Scott was a philosopher as well as a farmer. I said one day to him, “Mr. Hall, it is a shame for these Negro men (he employed several) to work so hard all week and then spend their money riding the train on Sunday excursions.” He said “Henry, it is a real blessing, for if they did not spend it, they would not hit a lick of work the next week.” Mr. Scott Hall worked right along with his hired men and took the lead. He could get more work done in a day than anyone I have ever seen on a farm. I gave him the best I had and learned much from him. This farmer and two sons were prosperous farmers and splendid Christian men.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. C. L. Huckelberry, L&N Agent Auburn In The Long Ago Auburn Times – October 21, 1938 With the tan-yard and tobacco barns, which prized tobacco (that is, put it in hogsheads) for shipment by rail to market in Louisville and other industries and farm and farm produce raised around Auburn, the L&N Railroad Company did a thriving business with outgoing as well as incoming freight. Mr. Huckelberry was freight and passenger agent, also agent for the Express Company. His work was very important and he was a busy man. He lived near the depot across the track from the station and only two doors from us. He and Mrs. Huckelberry had two children, Minnie, who married Mr. Haynes, and Ed. Who is still living, being a train dispatcher (and a good one) at Paris, Tennessee. He has been with the L&N Railroad practically all his life. I recall when Ed. And I would load the hogsheads of tobacco in the freight cars and his father would pay us so much a hogshead. They were heavy, but rolled easily. Mr. Huckelberry only had one arm, but he did more work than most men who had two. Living so near to the depot, we had many visitors who would catch the trains from our home, and after father began preaching he used the trains quite a bit. I was the ticket buyer, they would give me the money and I would go over and buy from Mr. Huckelberry. So I suspect back in those days I bought more tickets from him than anyone. Just think of a restless boy buying so many tickets and not getting to use a one of them! Well, I am making up for it now, for I travel practically all the time. I know how to buy tickets, when someone furnishes the money. I remember very well the day when the rails were changed on the Memphis branch, so as to make the roadbed standard gauge (as it is today) instead of narrow gauge. The day was set and the whole thing was done in a day from Memphis Junction to Memphis – which was a some big day’s work. Much wheat was loaded at Auburn and the tan-yards shipped quite a bit of leather, too. I also recall when a fruit-peddling car was run through Auburn. It was hooked on the local freight and did a good business in bananas and other fruits. If I am not mistaken, they had an ice-peddling car, too. The news-butch on the train was an important boy in those days, for people got their daily papers from him and he handled oranges, which were not sold in stores except at Christmas time or some outstanding occasion. Hollie Johnson, an Auburn boy was a news-butch and all the boys were envious of him because he wore a uniform and go to ride on the train all the time. The railroad station was an important place for freight, passengers, express and mail came and went from it. Mr. Huckelberry was agent at Auburn for many years and stood well with the L&N. He also represented Western Union. J.
HENRY BURNETT,
Mr. Ab Key, Pumper Auburn In The Long Ago Auburn Times – January 27, 1937 For many years Mr. Ab Key lived in Auburn just across from the depot, with Mr. Huckelberry, the railroad agent on his right and the Burnett family on his left. So he and his family, which consisted of his wife and two sons, Fred and Malvern, were good neighbors and Mrs. Key and mother were good friends. Mr. Key was physically a large powerful man. He had charge of the railroad pumping station in Auburn. It was down on Black Lick Creek about 200 or 300 yards from the depot, and he also had charge of the pumping station at Ferguson, 18 miles south of Auburn. He was a faithful, efficient employee of the L&N. Father was born and reared near Ferguson and had many relatives in that section. Mr. Key kept him in touch with them and their doings for many years. One of the interesting sights at train time was to see the children in our home and the other homes nearby lined up on the front fence to see the train. That was an old Burnett custom, I know. I do not know where Malvern is now. Fred is living in St. Louis. I saw him when I was there 3 or 4 years ago and he drove me out to his wonderful plant in East St. Louis. We went all through it and how proud I was of Fred. The Lord has endowed him with wonderful mechanical skill and inventive genius. This plant, which covers about 12 acres, is simply wonderful and runs night and day. He had a great many inventions, which are patented, and the products produced in his factory are shipped all over the world. They have to do mostly with engines and oil refineries. He has a large office building and 30 or more men are employed in it. Notwithstanding his unusual success, I found Fred the same gracious, thoughtful boy of our boyhood days together. He spoke very tenderly of his father and of my father. He got his education, as did all boys and girls in Auburn back in those early days, at Auburn College and Prof. Burnett. I dare say, that Auburn has not turned out a son who ranks higher in the mechanical and financial affairs than Fred, but it has simply made him a bigger man, and not a man with a “bigger head.” His father knew something of Fred’s success before he died. I wish his devoted mother could have known, too. Fred is still working on inventions and showed me his private office, where he had 8 or 10 in process then. That was a most gratifying experience for me and Fred and I got in some good talk about boyhood days in Auburn.
Mr. Aaron McCarley, Dry Goods Merchant.
One of the most important persons in any community is the dry goods merchant. Back in my boyhood Mr. Aaron McCarley was not only the dry goods, but; the clothing merchant as well, with a large and growing family such as ours. He was intimately known to all of us. I guess father was one of his best customers. I can recall what an event it was when I was taken to McCarley's Store to buy my first red-top boots, then my first suit with long pants, and so on. He was a very pleasant man and I was always made, even as a small boy, to feel at home in, his store and in his presence. Being the oldest child, I was the logical errand boy for the family and was sent to his store on errands to get a spool of thread and various articles for mother and the home folks. He married the daughter of Dr. Holland, a handsome woman and I think she still lives in Auburn. I never knew Dr. Holland so well, for he had about retired from practice before my day, but he was a splendid doctor, as many testified. Mr. and Mrs. McCarley had several children whose names I do not recall. In late years, he sold out his business and went in the bank with Mr. G. W. Davidson. He was a fine Christian. and had a host of friends. Auburn had no more highly respected citizen than Aaron McCarley. He and his family lived across from the Methodist Church.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. J. W. McCormick, Preacher Auburn In The Long Ago Auburn Times - 1939 For many years, Bro. McCormick was the beloved pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Auburn. There were four churches. Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Christian and Methodist. Each had preaching once a month, but each had Sunday School every Sunday. Bro. McCormick was very popular and usually had his church full on his day to preach. He had one son, Hershel, who after finishing Auburn College, worked in the bank. He married Mary Sloss. I recall an interesting incident, which took place. It was Bro. McCormick’s preaching day and after the sermon he announced baptizing. Upon reaching home, George Blakey excitedly to his father (a Baptist) that Bro. McCormick (and they lived across the street from the McCormick’s) “After announcing he would baptize some folks, did not baptize them at all but just sprinkled some water on their heads.” His father said, “Son, that is what Bro. McCormick calls baptizing.” George replied, “Well, somebody ought to tell him better.” The preacher greatly enjoyed the story when he heard it. Bro. McCormick built up a large and loyal church in Auburn. Although he only had one child to send to college, he was a loyal supporter of the college.
Yours sincerely,
Auburn In The Long Ago Auburn Times – July 14,1939 Back in my boyhood days, traveling men sustained the reputation of being good fellows, great jokesters and “tall-story” tellers. The State, and perhaps the world champion, was Joe Mulhatton, called the “biggest liar” by all who knew him, and they were legion. On one occasion, Joe advertised that on a certain date he would be at a certain town in Southern Kentucky, and buy a carload of cats – imagine A CARLOAD OF CATS. Of course, on the day set, he was far away, but the cats came from all directions, or rather were brought. Some were brought in bags over the shoulders of children, who walked, some were brought on horse or mule-back, others in buggies and wagons, but there never was such an array of cats of all sorts, sexes, sizes, colors, etc. The poor owners were doomed to disappointment and the freight agent had to return an empty car, instead of one loaded with cats. Years afterward, I was telling of this unusual happening to a bunch of college boys in the college where I was business manager. After a few weeks, there appeared in the Sunday paper an advertisement, “Wanted – Cats -- Apply to Prof. -------- Science Hall, ------ College Campus.” You never saw the like of cats that were brought on Monday. The boys had pulled this one on a very much-disliked professor, and it went over big. They never learned who did it. I learned a year or two later that innocently I had furnished the idea by telling the boys the Joe Mulhatton cat story. Two bright students had put the whole thing over. J. HENRY BURNETT
Mr. J. A. Peak - J.A.P. – The One and Only. Auburn In the Long Ago Auburn Times - - Jan 6, 1939 Everyone who lived in or near Auburn in my boyhood days knew J.A.P. He was unique and peculiar. His name was J. A. Peak and in his writings, whether for the county paper or articles for other papers, he always signed himself “J.A.P.” He was the town printer and the world’s champion red cedar breaker.” He was a bachelor and lived with his mother on the bank of Black Lick Creek across the railroad track from the pumping station. He made the round trip from his home to his office twice a day, each time he would pass the depot. He carried a basket, which would hold about half a bushel, and going to his office each trip he would stop by where coal was being unloaded from the freight cars and pick off the group a basket of coal, which he emptied in the box in his office, and as he went home each trip he would carry a basketful home. Quite shifty – and thus his coal bill was no problem financially. I recall asking my father if every town had a “J.A.P.” I thought he was such an institution that every town should have one – and no more. His printing (job work) did not take much time, his writing only a bit more, so he busied himself breaking red cedar sticks. You could trace him around town by the cedar chips he broke, as he looked at various points in the stores in bad weather, and in front of them in good weather. He would spend some spare time gathering and preparing these cedar sticks. He cut them about six inches long and half an inch wide and very thin so they would break easily. He tied them in round bundles of 200 or more sticks and stacked them on shelves in his office to season and dry out. He was an interesting writer and the money he got for his weekly “gossip” to the county paper at Russellville and for his job printing, furnished the means upon which he and his mother lived frugally. His office was on Pearl Street and I was in it many times. He had a sort of sniffle, which was his very own. We lived neighbors to he and his mother for many years, so knew them better than “common” as folks sometimes say. He was a kindly spirit, quiet and interesting and everyone liked him. He had a very good education and was above the average in intelligence. He was not a great man, but a most unique and interesting one and a good citizen.
Mr. Alex C. Ritchey, Premier Traveling Salesman One of the finest men, best men, and outstanding citizens of Auburn in my boyhood days was Mr. Alex C. Ritchey, a native of Allen County, Ky., and awfully proud of his native county. He lived in Auburn but traveled in Texas for a St., Louis Hat Company, and was tremendously successful. He was one of the best mixers I have ever seen. Everyone who knew him loved him and his trade thought there was no one like Alex Ritchey. His sideline and great joy was securing positions for worthy young men and there was almost a steady stream of Auburn boys, Logan County and Allen County boys who went to St. Louis and upon the word of Mr. Ritchey were given positions. He and my father were very close personal friends and I have often wondered why father did not ask him to place me in St. Louis, but I went to Louisville instead. Mr. Ritchey had a lovely and lovable wife and she carried on and reared the children in their splendid home while he was on the road. His home coming two of three times a year was an event in the town as well as in his home. They had a large and attractive home and a very large, shady yard. Every summer they would have visitors who came to visit them. The ones I recall mostly were girls and among those there are a few that stand out in my memory. Delia Ritter and Pulliam girls, Annie and Mary, were great favorites with us boys. Mr. Ritchey had considerable farmland and I remember very well working in the tobacco patch on his place. Then, too, my brother George and I gathered blackberries and Mrs. Ritchey and Mrs. Ritchey was our best customer. Mr. and Mrs. Ritchey had five children who lived to be grown and three or four who died in infancy. John was the only son who lived to be grown and he is now (and has been for years) living in St. Louis. He is in the insurance business. The four girls were: May, who married Mr. Payne of St. Louis, who died a few years ago and left her a widow with one child, a grown son; then Blanche, who lived in Auburn, then in St. Louis and went home to Heaven from St. Louis. She was very popular, but never married. The youngest daughter Lena died before the family moved to St. Louis years ago. No, Katie or Katherine was the youngest and she is living in St. Louis with her sister, May (Mrs. Payne). Catherine has never married. John has no children. I was in St. Louis two years ago and saw John, May and Catherine. It was a great joy to see them again. The Ritchey home in Auburn was an ideal place for parties and we had many there and in the summer with Japanese lantern strung in the yard, the place looked like a veritable fairyland. Then Mrs. Ritchey, John and the girls were such gracious host and hostesses. The three Burnett boys would be looked for at the Ritchey home when they were missed at home, so they tell me, and I confess it. I think we showed fine taste for three attractive girls about our ages all in one home, was most unusual. The entire family of children got their education at the Auburn College and my father counted the Mr. Ritchey as one of his very best patrons. Mr. Ritchey was one of the most consecrated Christian men of Auburn and then of the Third Baptist Church of St. Louis after the family moved there. John is a deacon in that church now and the Ritcheys stand high in that wonderful church. No finer family ever lived in Auburn than the Ritchey family and that goes for father, mother and all five children.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Jim Smith (Honest Jim) The Auburn twins were daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Smith. They were lovely girls and very few could tell Annie from Carrie. They were in the same teen-age group that I grew up with. Mr. Smith was a very unusual man and highly deserved the name “Honest Jim.” Notwithstanding he was a good businessman, he made the fourth venture before he fit perfectly – a square man in a square position. In turn, he invested in the grocery, dry goods and farming business and finally when past middle age, he secured a position to travel for a wholesale dry goods company in St. Louis, in Western territory and he made a wonderful success from the very first. Honest man that he was, he brought all his savings above personal and family expenses back to Auburn and paid 100 cents on the dollar to every one with whom he had made legal settlement for less. There was a real man. He was my Sunday school teacher and I only recall one thing he taught me in the class: “Repentance is Godly sorrow for sin and a determination to turn away from it.” That is the best definition for repentance I have ever heard. But the lesson in sterling integrity he taught me by paying 100 cents on the dollar after legal settlement had been made has had a lasting influence on my life. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were: George, Will Carson, Annie, Carrie (the twins) Maggie and Bessie. Sorry I do not know how many of them are living and where. Mr. Smith and father were warm friends and he was a fine patron of Auburn College. How I rejoice to recall to my own mind these outstanding men of my boyhood and pay tribute to them. “No man liveth to himself,” and we all have influence. May we ever exert it for good as these men did in the long ago. Sincerely yours,
J. Henry Burnett
Mr.
Harry Woodward, Postmaster Yours sincerely,
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