1.    Mary Ann Sinclair

2.    414 South Denver

3.     Retired

4.     House wife

5.       March 11, 1848

6.       Wayne County, Tennessee near Florence

7.       Erskine Boyce Falls

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10.   84 years

11.   From Napoleon by boat and then to Pottsville, Ark. by wagon.

12.   Just going West.

13.   A two story house, with a hall and two large rooms on each side of hall, kitchen out from house. We had kitchen of f from the house as if one caught fire, the other wouldn’t be apt to catch fire. We had a well near front gate, and coaches and travelers always stopped for water. The chimney was made of brick and rock.

14.   Early days pine knots were used, then later, we moulded candles at home.

15.   At Pottsville, Arkansas in 1920.

16.   Wood

17.   Beef, Mutton, Hogs and Vegetables- We had lots of squirrels. Fish was not depended on for supply. Game was plentiful.

18.   We carded and spun all our clothes, were made of Linsey and Cotton. I carded many a dress. They were made, as we called them, the Infant Waist with a band at waist line and a full skirt and were real long.

19.   "Shiverees” were frequent. They always got in trouble. I recall a widower, who married. They went in the house and got him out of bed and rode him on a rail.

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21.   We always shared food in time of common need.

22.   The early cultivated crops were: cotton, corn and wheat. The animals were: horses, cows, sheep and hogs. Never heard of tomatoes being called “Love Apples”.

23.   Early farm implements were made at home. The stock harrow, hoe and rake. The pins of harrow were also home made.

24.   Farming.

25.   Mullein, sassafras root, sumac berries and poke salad were used. Also, sunflower seed. We parched rye and used for coffee.

26.   We went to dances during the war, and the Federal officers came for my sister and me and took us to the dances. We didn’t even know them, but we rode back of them on the horses, and they always treated us better than the Union girls.  Our games were Weiverly Wheat and Drop the Handkerchief.

27.   We would get brush and fight fires out.

28.   Hills and Galla Creek at Pottsville.

29.   Stage Coach passed our house until the railroad was completed in 1873. Towns had been prominent during the stage coach days, and steamboat began to disappear.  The coaches would take all the passengers they could and also carry mail. They had four to six horses. They would always let you know they were coming by blowing a whistle.

30.   This was a large house with big fire place and rock chimney. When it wasn’t raining, we would go outside to study. I was 7 years old.

31.   In the Hills, Rocky Point School House.

32.   John Ferguson.

33.   Father paid tuition. After the War, we had free school.

34.   Elementary Blue Back Speller, First, Second and Third Readers, Arithmetic and Geography.

35.   Newspapers.

36.   At Pottsville, Ark. 1875.

37.   We had wagon team, then rode horse back and in later years horse and carriage.

38.   First automobile seen at Pottsville, Ark.

39.   First train was seen at Pottsville, Ark., when it was first built in 1873.

40.   First airplane seen at Pottsville, Ark. about 1919.

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42.   Went to circus when a child.

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48.There was a bank robbery at Pottsville, Ark. Dec. 18, 1926 and was called ‘Santa Clause Holdup’, as the robbers wore a Santa Clause false face. They took all the money they could find and escaped. They were later captured in Oklahoma. My son, Roy Falls, was cashier of the bank.

49.  Civil War Days and Bush Whackers - I have many stories to tell of the past Civil War days but hesitate to do so, because I do not believe in waving a bloody shirt again.  My father brought a young mule and a horse with him from Tennessee, and in 1865, the second day after the Dardanelles surrendered to the Federal Troops, a squad of soldiers came and took all of our horses and mules, told the negroes they were free and ordered a young negro named Jim to take the mule my father had brought from Tennessee and go with them.   

 

We had night robbers nine times, and they took the shovel and put coals of fire on the floor and tried to make my father step on them , and if it hadn’t been for my sister, they would have, but she kept sweeping the coals away.  At one time my sister, Margret and myself hid $500.00 in gold in a glass jar. This was a total loss, as we presume someone saw us bury the money.

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51.  Jay Hawkers came and took all they could find and were worse than the Yankees. More night robbers came, went upstairs, broke in a chest and took all linen table cloths and other things they could find.

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53.  I was a member of Ladies’ Aid Society of the Associate Reform Presbyterian Church of Pottsville, Ark. for 40 yrs. Later, I was a member of Missionary Society.

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57.   13

58.   A. N. Falls, Wynne, Ark., Roy Falls, Russellville, Ark.

59.   Grandchildren: Marvin Falls and Grace Falls, Ft. Smith, Ark., - Erma, Elta, Erskin and Harold Falls, Wynne, Ark., - Janice Falls, Russellville, Ark., Wilson Falls, Little Rock.   

Great Grandchildren: Gregory and Betty Falls, Ft. Smith, Ark., - Nadine Falls, Little Rock, Ark.

60.   I wrote a History of The Falls Family, also The Sinclair Family.