Have been meaning to share the following Sloan/Harrison letters (AL, TN, AR) with you all. Hope you find them helpful and interesting, Denell Burks The following letters were written in 1931 by Estelle Lindsay Claridge. She was a cousin to James Samuel Sloan who settled in White County in the 1880's. He came west from Alabama with his family and settled here. He was father to the Sloan's in the Garner area. Some of his children inclued Dr. J.R. Sloan, Milton Jerome (Mutt) Sloan, and Rose Sloan Gowen. I am not aware of the idenity of the individual that received the letters. The letters were among the papers of the late Dr. Sloan and were given to me several years ago by Mrs. Bess Sloan. The letters tell some about the early ancestors of the family back in Alabama. The Aunt Jane in the letters is Jane Harrison Sloan, mother of James Samuel Sloan. Two of the family members that Mrs. Claridge said she had seen are Dr. Dewey Sloan from Beebe and Mack Sloan from Garner, both now deceased. The letters provide a small amount of insight into the people of that generation. New Port, Arkansas January 9, 1931 Received your letter this morning. You have hit the nail on the head—we are related. Your grandmother, Jane Sloan, was my Mother’s sister. I remember well the face of Aunt Jane. She carried the map of Ireland on it. She was a wonderful woman reared 12 children to be frown. John, Jim, Dawson, Tom, Bud, and Charlie, Mary Ann, Missouri, Alabama, Indiana, can’t think of the other two. Uncle Alfred was a good old man, tho not very prosperous. I came here in 1880 taught the first public school of New Port. Have been here 51 years. I love the place and people. Went home once a year as long as my parents lived. Was there 18 years ago last October. Years ago I spent the day with Bam. They seemed to be prosperous, had everthing that could be raised on the farm. A smoke house full of hams, shoulders and bacon, chickens, galore, money in the bank. I drove by to see her in October. Her husband had died, things seemed changed,I did not get out of the car only saw her a few minutes. She was old and feeble, insisted that I should spend the night, my time was limited. Drove by to see her son Tom, he was not there—at home. Saw his wife and some of the children. Did you here of the man sho had car trouble, wento to a negro house and asked the woman if she had a monkey wrench,(the yard had a number of pichanines in it), “no sir boss this aint no monkey ranch, dese is my chillins”. You would think that Tom had a children ranch. They came puring from every direction. When I asked how many she told me 12. Some were very pretty. My time was so short I could not study their faces, I thout, what a family for a poor man. I had a letter from my brother, who told me Ban died with the flu. He went to the funeral. My oldest brother, who lives at Bellemina went to see her the next Sunday not knowing she was dead. He usually went once a year. This is about all I know about the ones out there. Have seen two of your Uncle Jim's family, Mack and Dewey. Mack was working for the Rail Road. His boss came to see if I would take him in to board, told me he was a very fine boy. He had been here some time before I asked him about his family people found who he was. Two years ago I was driving to Little Rock, stopped at Garner to speak to Jim, they told me he had been dead for years. I am a widow, no children, have reared about 20 you can "believe it or now" send a stamped envelope for reply, not Ripley. Have some fine ones to my credit, three with me now, a boy 18 two girls, one 18 one 14 am wild about the boy. I have some good friends in Little Rock, R. F. Drummand and wife Boyer Drummand. They are R. F. Drumman undertaking on Main St. When convenient would be glad for you to call at heir place of business, they can tell you about me and mine. Hope you will write me and tell me about your self and family (if you have one) about your business and everything, want to see you and know you. After you know me you may be glad or sorry. Am an old grey headed woman more than 70 years, am very stout, would feel as young as any one if was not so heavy with a touch of rheumatism, which makes my speed difficult. Think you would enjoy a day or two with me when you can conveniently come. You can drive up some Sunday and spend the day if you can't stay longer. You can let me know when you can come and I will write to Dr. Sloan at Beebe to come too. Don't think you will be sorry. I have three married nieces and two nephews living here. They are your relatives too. Have a sister living in Camden, one in South Carolina, some nieces in Shreveport. Dr. Saxon on Little Rock is a friend also my sisters brother in law. He is worth knowing. Dr. Fuller, Christian preacher is a relative of mine by marriage he is an elegant man. Now son write me at your earliest convenience and tell me all about yourself and family. Your cousin, Estelle (Lindsay) Claridge Carl’s grandmothers mother and father were cousins, descendants of President Harrison, both were named Harrison. A cousin wrote a biography of the Harrison family. Rev. Joshua Phelps wrote is since has died. Am unable to find where he had them published. Carl’s great grandfather was a fine old man. He had high aspirations for his children, was not pleased with some of their marriages. The following about your grandmother’s marriage may be of interest to you. Uncle Alfred Sloan was forbidden in the Harrison home. Aunt Jane was deeply in love with him. They managed to run away to get married. Grandpa followed them and brought her back. He kept tab on her during the day, locked her in a room at night. Where lock smith fails, love prevails. One morning he unlocked the door she was gone. Had removed some of the flooring, crawled under the house, ran away and married. There was nothing he could do. When I think of the poor old soul, rearing all her children with many ups and downs. It was after the civil war when the whole country was left in a devastated condition. Would like to know how many descendants she has, several hundred I think. It certainly is a prolific family. You must not expect to see the most up to date people when you see some of them if you ever see them. If they had progressed as they should, the blood is in them. They are like so many people in the southern states, just exist and let the rest of the world go by. I have three brothers in Alabama. My oldest lives at Bella Mina, has a wonderful plantation, makes worlds of cotton. Last year during the extended drought he had rain when no one else did. Made a record breaking crop. He has a nice bungalow at Bella Mina. Only one daughter whose husband is a doctor. Most interesting family. My brothers wife is grand daughter of Gov. Biff, first governor of Alabama. My brother will be 78 his next birthday. He is a big fat sweet old man if you can call them sweet. He went to see Aunt Bam as often as he could. My next brother Jerome lives at Athens at our home place. Aunt Mary Ann Stanley lived out there too. She was Aunt Jane’s oldest child and a fine woman. I have lost the where abouts of all of them. Have 49 windows in my house besides french doors and front doors. I am old but not in ways. Know I don’t have so many more years to live. I love to live and help others as I live on and on. Have reared all these children I felt that— Out of this life I shall never take, Things of silver and gold I make All that I cherish and hoard away. Though I have tailed for a painting rare, To hang on my wall I must leave it there. I call it my own and boast of its worth I must give it up when I quit this earth, All I have gathered and all I keep I must leave behind when I go to sleep. Often wonder what I shall own In the other live when I pass alone. What shall they find and what shall they see In the soul that answers the call for me. Shall the great judges learn when my task is done that my spirit had gathered some riches too. Or shall at the last it be mine to find that all I had worked for had been left behind? I am praying that my works will live after I am gone. I know they will. I am writing a story of my life, if it is any good I will let you read it when you come. Am trying to write a life story for a magazine. Do not know that it will be accepted. Isn’t it ridiculous for a woman 73 years to ever think she can write a story. Guess I am in my second childhood. Your cousin, Estelle Claridge Newport, Ark. February 20, 1931