Amanuensis Monday: Frank W. Lee's Travel Journal, Part 3

Entry from Frank W. Lee's 1932 Travel Journal

Sat--July 20--32

Trip to Grand Canyon.  4 of us walked down through the canyon to the Colorado River.  The prettiest site I have ever seen.  Got sick on my walk back & could hardly make it.  Saw many cactus, squirrels, deer & scorpions.  Took us 2 1/2 hrs. to walk down & 5 hrs. back.  A total of 14 miles at the least.  Arrived back in Williams at 9:30 & here I met Kaufman.














Dad talked many times about his trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon--and his trip back to the top.  After watching other people ride mules up and down the canyon, he said he was terrified to do the same.  He said the mules walked right on the edge of the narrow canyon paths, and he was afraid they were going to step off or slip.  He didn't trust them!  His 14-mile hike in the heat, he said, made him the sickest he ever felt in his life.

Come back tomorrow for Dad's photos of the Grand Canyon!

Amanuensis Monday: Frank W. Lee's Travel Journal, Part 2

(To catch up on this series, "Frank W. Lee's Great Adventure," click HERE.)

Today let me share with you three more entries from Dad's 1932 travel journal.  After leaving his grandmother's home in La Grange, Kentucky, and going to Louisville, Kentucky, Dad traveled by train from Louisville to Williams, Arizona--a trip which took three days. The images below are of the scanned pages of Dad's actual travel journal.

Wed--July 20--32

Left Louisville at 8:15 A. M. on Monon  for Chicago--Heat was terrible, over 100 degrees.  Arrived in Chicago at 5:20, bought Pulman & Canyon ticket & then walked around until time to leave, 10:45 P. M. on the Grand Canyon Limited.

Indiana & Illinois

Thurs--July21--32

On train all day although did get off for several minutes in Kansas City, Newton, & Dodge City.  Met 2 boys from Virginia & 1 from Penn.

Missouri & Kansas
Country is nothing but vast plains, no hills & but very few trees.  Large fields of corn, wheat, & potatoes.

July 22--32, Fri

On train all day.  The scenery was very pretty, plateaus(?), wastelands, & mountains.  Saw many Indians & Spaniards.  Arrived  in Williams at 9:30.  Several of us walked around & saw many  ?  sites.  
Also saw many mud or clay villages in N. Mex. where the Indians still live.
Colorado, N. Mex., & Ariz.
Very little farming.  Cattle raising as land (covered?) with sand and sage.









Though Dad was certainly a man of few words, these brief entries contain some interesting tidbits about railroad history.  In the first entry, for example, Dad writes that he went from Louisville to Chicago on the "Monon."  I had never heard of the Monon, and I really thought I was just misreading my dad's handwriting.  When I asked my husband to take a look, he suggested I google "Monon" to see what came up.  (Thank you, dear!)  Well, I discovered that Monon refers to the Monon Railway, also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railroad.  Operating as the Monon from 1853-1971, the 300 miles of this railway criss-crossed Indiana. According to monon.org, in addition to transporting countless passengers, the Monon also transported Union soldiers and supplies during the Civil War. It also pulled President Lincoln's funeral train for 90 miles.  In 1971, the Monon merged into the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and part of the old Monon line is still operated today by CSX.

Dad also writes that he traveled from Chicago to Williams, Arizona, on the Grand Canyon Limited.  Established in 1929, only three years before Dad's great adventure, the Grand Canyon Limited was part of the Atcheson, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway.  It quickly became one of the country's most popular vacation trains, providing access not only to the Grand Canyon but also many other destinations across the United States.  Evidently, Dad traveled in a Pullman Car on his trip.  Since the trip took three days, passengers could purchase tickets to ride in Pullman Cars which provided them with sleeping berths.

What a great way to see America!  Next stop, the Grand Canyon!


Sources:

www.monon.org.  Monon Railroad Historical Technical Society, Inc., 2013

www.railswest.com

Amanuensis Monday: Frank Welch Lee's 1932 Travel Journal

Phi Delta Chi Fraternity Composite
Frank Welch Lee (top row, third from left)
University of Louisville, 1934

In the summer of 1932, my dad, Frank Welch Lee, was nineteen years old and had just completed a year of pharmacy school at the University of Louisville.  A member of  Phi Delta Chi, a pharmacy fraternity, Dad was  elected to attend the fraternity's national convention in Los Angeles, California.  Thus, began my dad's Great Adventure.  For the next few weeks, I'll make use of  Amanuensis Mondays and Travel Tuesdays to share with you the travel journal and the photo album Dad kept during this time.  Those who knew my dad will understand how rare and wonderful this piece of family history is.  For Dad to have traveled is surprising enough, but for this very private man to have documented his trip is almost unbelievable.

When I say that Dad kept a travel journal, what I mean is that he wrote down a few details of his trip in a little 3" x 5" notebook he kept in his shirt pocket. Some of the things he saw and experienced, however, are just amazing. Without further ado, here's Dad's first journal entry.

Entry # 1
Frank Welch Lee's 1932 Travel Journal

Tues--July 19, --32

Left home at 1:40, arrive in Louisville at 9: P.M.  Had a very pleasant trip although was very dusty when arrived.  Spent the night with Jim.  I sure did enjoy talking over old times together.

Kentucky


"Home" in this instance was probably his grandmother's home in La Grange, Kentucky, where Dad often stayed during his breaks from college.  He would have traveled from La Grange to Louisville by train.  The railroad tracks ran through Main Street right in front of the Lee house in La Grange.  The depot was only steps away from the house as well.  "Jim," I assume, was a friend, maybe a college buddy.

At the bottom of the page, written in pencil in a different handwriting, are some numbers and the words "Rains" and "gladiola bulbs."  I think these are probably some notes written by Dad's grandmother, Georgia Lee.  More than likely, Dad borrowed her notebook to serve as his "travel journal."

Amanuensis Monday: IT'S A BOY!

Letter from Frank L. Lee to his mother, Georgia Lee,
announcing birth of his son, Frank Welch Lee
December 6, 1912

On a piece of paper from the old Sprague Drug Store, my granddad, Frank Lewis Lee wrote to tell his mother, Georgia Gill Lee, of the birth of his first and only child. At that time,  Georgia Lee was staying with her other son, Linus Virgil Lee, and his wife, Mary, in Harlan, Kentucky.  Transcribed below is that letter to Mrs. G. O. Lee, Harlan, Ky., dated December 6, 1912.

Frank Welch Jr., arrived this A. M. at 10:55 with least possible amount of trouble to every one concerned.  Frank Jr., is holding down job that he perhaps will for some time to come, namely a good healthy squall.

Should any complications arise will notify you at once.

Respectfully,

Frank

Weight  9 1/4 lbs.

Do not need you at once so if Mary needs you please stay.  Know when it suits you we want you to come. 

Elizabeth Rochester Lee with Frank Welch Lee
1913

 

 

Amanuensis Monday: Granddad's Bachelor Party, Part Two

Original transcription of George Veal's poem to Frank Lewis Lee
October 19, 1905 Bachelor Party

As promised in last Friday's post, here are the poems that were read at the conclusion of Granddad Lee's 1905 bachelor party.  First, the verse read by Mr. George Veal to Frank L. Lee, registered pharmacist.

Here's to our friend, Frank Lee,

Benedict-about-o-be

Who mixes up prescriptions, and likewise

Mixes drinks,

And knows just how to fix'em, when a

Guy says "dope," and winks.

May he live long to mix up things that'll cure

Most any cuss,

And may he and his ne'er have to take

Stuff like he's mixed for us.

May he sell gallons of paragoric, which will

Make him money right,

But may he ne'er have to chase that dose

For his kid in the dead of night.

May his nights be filled with peace and rest,

And filled with joy his day

May pleasures surround him in hurrying

Throngs, and may troubles steal away.

And may the One Great Pharmacist, who

Prescribed for us all above,

Prepare for him these great draughts of life--

Health, Happiness, and Love.

--So say we all.           (Applause)

Original transcription of Frank L. Lee's speech
October 19, 1905 Bachelor Party

After Mr. Veal's recitation, it's Granddad's turn to respond.  With a few words of thanks to all those present at the party, he reads the following poem to Mr. Veal, bachelor.

May his "form" be well locked up

In the arms of a charming wife,

And may he never know what it is

To want a "quoin"

In business, such an incident will aid him

As well as he thinks it will aid me,

But alas!  Gentlemen, on him

You will have to wait and see.

Then here's to our host, of whose cleverness

And good qualities we all can boast.

Although, in business, he professes to 

Be honest,

He will sell iron, and (steel)

For a living.

Then here's to the jolly bachelor's life,

And may he live till he taken a wife,

For he who not women, wine and song

Will be a fool his whole life long.

Lastly, here's to the about-to-be-Benedicts,

Who, the toasts have been dreading,

May we all live to be present

At their golden wedding.

May their joys be so deep as the ocean,

And their misfortunes  as slight as its foam.

(Applause and three cheers for the grooms)

Amanuensis Monday: Wedding Announcement of Frank Lewis Lee and Elizabeth Welch Rochester

Elizabeth Welch Rochester
Wedding Portrait
1905

Frank Lewis Lee
Wedding Portrait
1905

This week's posts will focus on the courtship and marriage of my grandparents, Frank Lewis Lee and Elizabeth "Bettie" Welch Rochester.  For Amanuensis Monday, here's a transcription of the article describing  their November 15, 1905 wedding as it appeared in the Stanford (KY) Interior Journal of that week.

Wedding Announcement
Elizabeth Rochester & Frank L. Lee
Stanford KY Interior Journal
November 1905

ROCHESTER-LEE.--Miss Bettie Rochester, of this place, and Mr. Frank L. Lee, of Middlesboro, were married in the parlor of the Gilcher House, Danville, at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Gilbert Glass, of this place, performing the ceremony.  Mr. Welsh Rochester, brother of the bride, and Miss Mary Pennington, a cousin, accompanied them and stood with them during the ceremony.  Mrs. Hugh  Reid and Mr. John Owsley Reid, of this place, were also present.  The bride wore a traveling suit of blue, which was exceedingly becoming.  She is a pretty brunette, of amiable disposition and lovely character and is admired by all who know her.  Mr. Lee is well-known and well-liked here where he lived several years.  He is a fine young man in every way and a christian gentleman.  His friends here include all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.  At 3 o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Lee took the train for Paris, where they will visit her sister, Mrs. G. W. Clark, and thence to La Grange to visit Mr. Lee's mother.  They will then go to Louisville for a few days, after which they will be at home to their friends at Middlesboro, where Mr. Lee has a splendid position.  That they may always be as happy as they are now is the wish of their hosts of friends including the Interior Journal.  Tuesday evening Mrs. Hugh Reid entertained most charmingly in her home the bridal party.

Amanuensis Monday: A Poem by Daisy Lee

Daisy Lee Long

My granddad's sister, Daisy Lee Long, penned the following poem in 1943 when she was about sixty years old.  In the poem, Daisy reflects on the happy times she and her brothers had growing up in rural Trimble County, Kentucky, along the Ohio River.  I believe she is writing/speaking to her brother, Virgil, throughout the piece.  What makes this poem even more meaningful is that Daisy and her three brothers, Frank, Virgil, and Orin, DID go back to Trimble County together in 1950, and they DID revisit all these places of their youth.  Luckily, they documented their visit through photos that I'll share on this blog in the coming days.


Looking Backward In 1943

Dear "Old Pete" of our by-gone days;
Do you remember our funny ways
How we drank from the DEAR OLD GOURD
That laid on the back of the CISTERN board?

Those days have gone but GOURDS have not
For I'm sending you one--the best I've got.
Drink from it often and think of me
For I have not forgotten THOSE DAYS you see!

Maybe some day in time to come
We may go together to THAT OLD HOME
And live over the days of LONG AGO
BUT--would it be fun like the days of yore?

Would the RIVER seem the same as it used to be?
Would the BARNYARD be as interesting to see?
Would the OLD WELL be there to "holler" down?
Would we be able to ride "OLD BUTTERFLY" to town?

Would YOU be able to trot down the lane
On your CORN STALK legs and return again?
Would THE PIGS be there their backs to scratch?
Would we be able to find A WATERMELON PATCH?

Would FRANK be able, on a frosty morn
To get out of bed and cut the corn?
To milk "OLD MAUD," while she ate from the pan
Who annoyed HIM greatly, when her tail she would fan?

Would FRANK go with us to the BACKHOUSE
And stand outside, as scared as a mouse
While you and I told stories of FRIGHT
The whole time HATING US with all his might????

I'm sure we would all be children AGAIN
And "tend like" it was the real thing.
LITTLE OLD ORIN would join in the fun
To keep up with US, he would have to RUN!

If MOTHER were with us--backward she'd look,
Seeing HER CHILDREN--remembering THE NERVE IT TOOK
To keep THEM all happy--carefree and well
Of many FOND STORIES, she MAYBE would tell?

SOME DAY!  SOME DAY! lets go back TOGETHER
When the WAR is OVER, and we have good weather?
In the meantime let us THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE
And ask HIM to allow us to return to the PLACE.

          A LITTLE OLD GOURD inspired these lines--
                                                               Daisy L. Long

Daisy Lee Long's Poem as she typed it in 1943

Amanuensis Monday: Eight-Year Old Frank L. Lee's Letter to His Family

In September of 1889, my granddad, Frank Lewis Lee, was eight years old and staying with his grandparents in Trimble County, Kentucky.  His parents and younger siblings were elsewhere--maybe still in Albany, Missouri, where the family had moved a few years earlier.  During this time, young Frank wrote a letter to his family.  It's obvious from  the different, more mature handwriting at the beginning and the end of the letter that he had a bit of help.  Following is my attempt at transcribing the letter.

Letter written by 8-year old Frank L. Lee, page 1
Trimble County, Kentucky, 1889

Page 2 of  Frank L. Lee letter
Trimble County, Kentucky, 1889

Sunday 1:00 (?) Sep 22d 1889

Dear Mama, Bro & Sisters  I have just got home from sun day school.  I started to school mondy  we went to sun day school in the sur rey this morning  we got a letter from you last night  we just had dinner and grand-ma has just got through the dishes  I have been up the hill to pack peaches  I will make boxes for them  we will pack peaches this week
     I'm sor ry I cant go.  I get to ticket a day  sometimes I make one ticket to keep from whispering all day and one for a head mark.  I am going to keep Aunt Effie's horse till she come back to ride to the post office  I went to the post office on bonny  (?) but I went with one of the darkey and we had lots of fun  I wish Daisie and Pete was here to play with me.
I wish you would kiss them all for me and kiss the baby six times and I want you to go to the locking glass and kiss your self for me to.
bye bye

Your Son
Frank Lee Jr.












What a gift it is to have original family documents and letters such as this!  I think it's our responsibility to preserve and share them, too. Thanks to Geneabloggers for the Amanuensis Monday and other blog prompts.  For a great explanation of amanuensis, check out this link to the blog Transylvanian Dutch.