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Diary of Elizabeth Ann Cooley [1842 February 20-1848 March 29] (annotated transcript)
Call number: Mss5:1 M1328:1
[Note: Elizabeth Ann Cooley was born July 21, 1825, in Grayson County (now Carroll County), Virginia,
and died March 29, 1848, at Independence, Missouri. Cooley started the journal when she was 17
years old. She was only 22 when the last page was written. Cooley married James McClure
on March 15, 1846. She was one of eleven children born to Jane Dickey and Benjamin Cooley. In
addition to holding elected offices, Elizabeth's father was an expert clock maker and an inventor of
an engine that made brass wheels for clocks.]
Sunday 11 o'clock Feb the 20th, 1842: I shall endeavor to tell where and what all of the family is and what they
are doing, or as near as I can. Martin I suppose to be roaming over the world to and fro I know not whither. William
is living in the Missourie Independence, Jackson City, & Nancy about 10 miles from there and Rebecca is living at
the cross roads and Jesse is a candidate for the clerkship and A J C and J D C and Julian is living here. James
went to Worrels this morning to take some linsy and all the rests at home. I have been reading some today I
have been going to school 2 weeks to E. D.
Sunday March the 13th, 5 o'clock. I have went to school all the last week. I feel tolerably smart but weary
of doing nothing. Saturday the 26th of March which is the last day of E. Davis'es school. I have been spelling
for three days. I have learnt a little grammar, but I fear it will do no good with out more.
Sunday the 24th of April. It is a beautiful day. The Lilacks is in full bloom. I feel tolerable well and I expect
never complete happiness in this troublesome world. Some two or three weeks I have been almost to busy to
write. Week fore last we sheared sheep. I have been weaving table cloths and a little cotton and a heep such things.
Sunday the 24th of July: Last Thursday I was 17 years old. I have received a letter from Parthena for the
first one that was ever directed to me. I have been spinning wool. Amanda has been weaving some jeans for
Rebecca and has got the counter panes began to weave.
Sept the 4th: For sometime I have not wrote any. During that time I have seen but little for I have not went
anywhere much--though I went to meeting last Sunday--and nobody has been here. I feel like a isolated being
living alone and neglected by all but those I live with I have been busy spinning and weaving.
Jan. 22nd, 1843: I came home last Saturday from J.P.W.'s where I had spent six of the last weeks. The time
passed rapidly on. I worked and nursed and talked or was gone somewhere. While I was gone I seen several
young men I never had seen before but loved none of them, but highly respected them for their honest and
industrious qualities.
Jan. 29th. Last Monday we received a letter from Brother Martin. He is in Charleston South Carolina
and expects to go to Missouri in the spring, and also received one from William stating that they were all
enjoying good health. I wish I was there, or had the chance togo to see some of the wide and broad world
more than I ever have seen for I live in seclusion and I reckon a moderate portion of happiness.
May the 14th 1843. For the last week we sheared sheep and Monday washed wool.We trimmed out 44
sheep and two more to shear. We was all weighed, I weighed 121.
Tuesday, June 12th. I have been needle working a handkerchief. Alford Crawford killed some hogs here
and Nathan Davis shod the horses and robbed two stands of bees. James is gone to Wytheville to get some
watch glasses and clean Mrs. Chaffin's clock.
October 22nd. Another week is passed, another Sunday passing and I am still here longing and constantly
desiring something to enlighten my contracted and perplexed mind, for what can I do? My only and best chance
is to hoard up learning sufficient to allow me to teach a school, and I lack so much it perplexes me to think of
it, to get Grammar and Arithmetic and how to govern a school etc. Last week we put away apples for
winter and I wove some and made my cotton dress, quilted, . I began my flax stockings. We dipped
Candles, 30 dozen.
July 21st. 1844. This day I am 19 years of age and weigh 117. The garden is full of flowers, the field
full of blackberries, the house full of work, my head full of romance.
March 19th. 1845. We went with James and James McClure to the love feast. We have cleaned and
burned the weeds off the garden. James Mc. commenced a 6 months school. We are all sick today.
March 31st, 1845. We have cyphered some. James went yesterday to help N. Davis raise a house.
Today we went a fishing again and caught 13 trout, and killed 2 snakes.
November 9th, 1845. Last Sunday J.W. McClure came here and it was cold and misty, but
nevertheless we went in the garden and stayed about two hours and during that time made a bargain
between us that is to last forever or during life, a confession. A bargain that is to seal our happiness
or ruin for life. Our fates hereafter will inevitably be linked as one.
November 30th. I went to school all last week. To try to study Grammar all day and marrying
all night. J.W.McClure came. We talked all our affairs over. The contemplation is for me to go to
school till I understand Grammar, then fix and get married about the 25th of February, then prepare
and go off from this country clear away, probably to Texas, leaving all that is near and dear to try
our luck in a far off and unknown region.
March 15th, 1846 Wedding is over and I am Married. I cannot give utterance to my feelings. There
is no language to describe the overflowing of my heart. The wedding day arrived, it was a cold, chilly
day but not as cold as it had been before, misted rain a little in the evening. I was busy all day fixing
the house and clothes, all was busy and active. In the evening the bridegroom and his company
--about 12 in number--came. It was all bustle and hurry then, I was not quite dressed. We got
ready, and to my notion too, and marched down stairs and stood before the priest and a house full
of my best and dearest friends and in the presence of a great and awful God. Then we went in to
supper, and I must say that I enjoyed the evening well. Mc. and I talked and said we never had felt
as we then did, to know that all our childish glee was almost past, that we were married and had
now to be our agents in all things and probably would move away to Texas and leave all those
gay young friends we loved so dear. but in the morning we concluded to buy land and stay and
enjoy ourselves in this country a few years at least...Sunday 8th we all went up to Jerry Edwards.
a serious time we had, for by this time Mc. had looked at all the land that were for sale, and tired
and weary of the pursuit concluded that we would go to Texas...
April 8th, 1846. Preparing my things to get ready to go. Next day took the wagon from Jesse's.
Grandmother and Mc. went to Hillsville. We arose early the next morning and busily prepared for
leaving. Many of our friends came there to see us start, and oh, how solemn was the scene. We
travelled slowly away from this land and come on, on, in the dark.
April 11th, 1846. Smyth County, Rivalley, waters of Holston, 55 miles from home. The 9th of
April we started towards Texas. Went to Grayson Court House purchased feathers. From John
Dickenson's we travelled to the face of the Iron Mountain. About 16 miles, there took up camp
for the first time in life, go supper, sung and prayed long, then went to bed in the wagon, slept
some, felt awful strange and contented with our lots. In the morning arranged matters and started
at 7. Climbed the mountain and then down it. Crossing the waters of Holston and have come 20
miles today and camped by a shelter, and now are in the wagon and it raining fast. But take it all
in all, I am as well contented as ever I was, for we are on Uncle Sam's land and pay for what we
eat and have showers of love.
April 13th 1846. Yesterday it rained all day. The road was torn up to a smash. We came about
20 miles. In the evening we stopped and Mc. gone to the spring, and a large wagon passed our wagon
and shivered the axle tree; got in company with some slaves and their masters. Went up the hill and
camped with them. In the morning the blacksmith came up there and banded the axle tree so it runs.
came through Abingdon, got in company with Mr. Cook and 8 black persons. Mr. McClure
bought me a checked shawl $1.12. Came about 22 miles, camped altogether--four wagons,
and a fine lively time of it we have. I love to travel.
15th, 8 o'clock P.M. Hawkins County, Tennessee--6 miles this side of Rogersville. Have come about
23 miles, camped on the waters of Holston.
19th April. 21 miles yesterday, pretty country here, the fattest hogs I ever saw--fine cattle. I think a heap
about home. We are now about 210 miles from home. Mc. greasing the wagon.
21st. Yesterday we traveled 21 miles, crossed Clinch River crossing Cumberland Mountains. We have come
clear through Knoxville and Anderson Counties. All in the burning sun.
28th. Passed through middle Tennesse, Smyth County--White, Overton, Jackson. Then to Nashville. Mc.
Very Sick crossed Harper's river in a ferry boat--40 centes. Got news of war in Texas.
May 13th. Memphis. Sold the wagon and horses for a hundred dollars. Went on the wharf boat, seen
steam boats. They loaded and unloaded til 2 o'clock. Come on board, and dirty place, but in company
with Texas folks.
Sunday 17th. Arkansas on the right, Mississippi on the left. Passed Vicksburg. Very warm indeed. The
old boat going rushing, sputtering, blowing, belching along. It is 629 miles from Memphis to Orleans.
May 19th. Now in Orleans, thousands of vessels here, grand and noble scenes here on deck. While I do
sincerely wish I had not started to Texas but gone to Missouri, but Alas!--the dye is cast for it is miserable
whichever way we go. I have a very bad cold. Mc. is sick too.
May 22nd, Saturday. We left Orleans Thursday. We proceeded slowly, and that night the water bursted the
door to the wheel house open and came rushing in on deck, and of all the screaming and hollowing I never seen,
each woman gathering their own children and running every way in wild confusion. They fastened up the hole
allright. I was dry. But it was an awful scene for a beholder. I can't hear my own voice for the nose of the
engine and perpetual crying of children!
Friday 29th May. We got to Shrevesport 25th. Went to bed in the little towing wagon. Next day traveled
10 miles. Mc. is very sick. The finest grass and largest oxen I ever saw; the sternest men, the scarest time.
I am tired out, wet and dirty. In Harrison City, Texas. A stern, heartless people, no sympathy. I want to
go away. I think we had better go to Missouri though I dread those sickly rivers with which we have to
contend, though I fear to stay here I dread the consequences. There are the most young pretty widows
here I have ever seen in one place and the fewest girls and most young men. Yesterday I washed down
at the spring. The sweat just dropped off my face. I fear to die here and my grave tramped over by
strangers. I rue the day we ever thought of Texas.
June 4th, Thursday. Yesterday morning left old cabin. Got to Shrevesport 9 o'clock. Waiting for
a boat. Will try for Missouri. The love of gold Oh! How much happier we might have been had we stayed.
A sick husband here in this old nasty ware house and nastly sickly alligator river.
June 8th. We cme on board the Yalabusky on the 5th. Again going down Red River, about 40 miles from
the mouth. My face is all over mosquito bites.
June 10th. Day before yesterday we came aboard the Maria, a large boat, 300 feet long, met some
English people. Had a splendid fight on board, fought about 5 minutes--whipped one and sent him ashore.
(Husband's handwriting) 12, Friday June 18th, 1846. Sailing out Orleans, going to Missouri. My poor little
wife. I am so sorry for her.
June 18th. Dressed in black silk. Been in St. Louis viewing its lofty houses, narrow streets.
June 22nd. Almost to Independence. Mc. sick. Passed Lexington and Camden yesterday evening. Seen
a fair wide beautiful prarie for the first one; very cool and windy today.
June 24th, Monday evening, Lexington. We got to Independence Landing, went to tavern--11o'clock, went
to bed. Tuesday morning William come down there. I was very glad to see him.
August 19th. today Mc.'s school commenced. I have been cyphering and spinning etc.
Sunday, Sept 7th, 1846. Have been teaching school two weeks. Small school, sickly children, sometimes
feel very bad, again feel well. I like teaching tolerably well indeed.
Wednesday night 9 o'clock, 23rd. In our room. Mc. gone to bed, has toothache; I have bad cold. Been
studying grammar very hard. How hard I wish I understood it better. Mc. went to my school this evening.
He dismissed his school until Monday on account of sickness. I really fear to stay here, I fear death. I want
once more to visit my native land before I die if the Lord will. I really crave to see Father!! and
Mother!! again. I fear Mr. McClure never will enjoy good health in Missouri.
Thursday 25th October, 1846. In our room by the fire writing on the box. I have the headache and feel
aguish. It is windy and smoky. Friday the fire burned the prairie all up most. it was a sight indeed.
Dec. 27, 1846. My school is out. I have been here 5 weeks. The children have all been sick and are still sick.
I have had the scarlet fever. Mc. has made up a writing school at the Lone Jack. I expect to go to the geography
school next week and then to Keeton's to keep school for 3 months.
April 9, 1847. Just one year since I left my Father's house--now in Mo. teaching school. It is Friday. I am
glad I don't have to teach any more this week. I like to teach better than I have thought I ever would. It is
fine practice, it improves my mind much. I long to see my old friends.
April 25, 1847. this day got a letter saying my Dear Father is dead. Shocking word. He died 24
March, buried 26. I am sorry for poor!! Mother and sisters. Could I relieve them.
Tuesday 21 Sept. Last week I cut out and made Mc. a coat, a shirt. Saturday we went to the
blue bottom camp meeting. Sunday was baptized and was happy. Am happy yet, feel pure and clear
from sin. Mc. is happy too.
Wed. 1st Dec. 1847. Just came from school, had 22 scholars, a heap trouble to keep school.
Dec. 24, 1847. I scarcely know how to describe my feeling. Another death to record. William is dead.
(Husband's handwriting) January 9, 1848. Sunday. Now at Lowe's by the fire dreading the time of
leaving my wife for school. Snow about 6 inches deep. Very cold. I want to teach school awhile.then
myself and wife teach and academy and live together in some country where we will not have to take
pills all the time and the health of the country depend on the skill of physicians. Now teaching school,
making some $25 per month. Mc.
Feb. 27. Last week I went to Mr. McClure's school and Friday I taught school while Mc. went to
make me a school. Got it to commence Monday week. Living at St. Clair's.
March 17, at Mr. Henderson's. got the fever bad.
March 18, 1848 (husband's handwriting) Elizabeth sick of slow typhoid fever. Took ten small
doses of calomel; operated 4 times; gave her 40 drops laudanum. Employed Dr. Gordon. I think
she is some better. God of heaven have mercy on her. Mc.
March 29, 1848. This Journal is done! The author being Elizabeth A. McClure died March
28, 1848. She happy in Christ Jesus being the only consolation left me. She was 22 years 7 months
and 12 days old.
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