WPA Early Settlers Personal History - John Wesley Martin, Cherryhill, Arkansas

1. John Wesley Martin
2. Cherryhill, Arkansas
3. Retired
4. Farmer
5. 7-9-1860
6. Farmersville, La. Union Parrish.
7. Yes. Miss Pollyann Miller, 1882, Mt. Ida, Arkansas.
10. 72 years this past Nov. 20, 1940
11. Ox-cart, covered wagons
12. An orphan, reared by an uncle, Jack McCuller
13. Log Cabins, kitchens separate, fire place in each room, size of fireplace three to five feet, the chimney’s were made of mud and straw, split wood or trimmed branches. Some chimney’s were made of stone held together with mud.
14. Candles poured at home.
15. No electricity.
16. Wood because it was plentiful
17. The farmers produced their own food, wild game was plentiful- bear, deer, turkeys, possum, coons, squirrels, beaver hides were sold for a dollar each.
18. Cotton, wool, the cotton and yarn were carded and spun into thread and then woven into material for clothing.
20. Eggs sold at the stores at from 3 cents a dozen in the spring to say 10 cents at Christmas. Hams and bacon was 6 cents to 7 cents a pound; pork- hogs around- 3 to 4 cents a pound; sorghum- usually pronounced sorghum- 3 gallons for a dollar; sweet and Irish potatoes- 3 bushels for a dollar hens- one dollar a dozen; spring chickens- 50- cents to 75 cents a dozen; butter 10 to 15 cents a pound and buttermilk if any charge was made, 5 cents a gallon. Black Walnuts- in the shucks $1 a wagon load, say 12 to 15 bushels.
21. In time of distress they shared their food or time and money as needed.
22. Corn, potatoes, oats, wheat, cotton, sorghum and pumpkins.
23. All early farm implements were homemade.
25. Huckleberries, blackberries, paw-paws, polk-salad, sassafras roots, spicewood tea, sweet gum resin was used for chewing gum.
26. On Sunday ever member of the family went to church, in the summer they would attend revivals under brush arbors- the seats were made of split logs. They enjoyed all of the social events listed under item 26.
27. The natives burned the forest so the grass could grow.
28. Fourche Mountains, Blowout Mts., Middle Mts.
29.
30. Can only recall one school.
31. 3 miles east of Mt. Ida, on Mr. Jack McCuller’s farm.
32. Miss Lou Jackson, Miss Tilda Jackson.
33. Tuition $1.00 per scholar cash.
34. Blueback speller, McGuffey reader.