This is 1870 Reuben not the 50s!

“This is 1870 Reuben, not the 50s” Sarah was trying to show her husband that she was a modern woman. And a modern woman can drive herself to town.

“Ain’t fit for a woman to seen in town unescorted. No wife of mine is goin be thought a Jezebel” Reuben gently reminded his wife.

“Oh Reuben!”

Sarah stormed out of the barn. Reuben had turned to the side so she didn’t see the grin on his face. He so loved the high spirit Sarah was blessed with even thought she hasn’t tempered it yet. Of course her big heart and seeing good in everyone kept her temper from appearing most of the time….But when it did :.)


Sarah talked herself down while making the biscuits for supper.
“Guess it don’t matter anyway” It really doesn’t sense we are surrounded by family so always somebody to ride with a woman.

The Lindsay house was a small one bedroom old farm house on her father R Beasley’s land.

They moved in it when they married nearly 7 years ago. Reuben had returned from the war right after his brother had died while serving. Reuben was barely alive when his father Larkin went to collect him in Asheville that Feb 1862. The fever had taken a lot out of Reuben and took his ma Rachel and Sarah most of a year to get his strength back to normal.

Reuben worked hard on his father in law farm while farming their own section of land and raise livestock to feed their young family. Wasn’t much money anywhere after the war but they were always fed. That made them blessed when so many had lost so much.

Sarah was the happy homemaker with their own home but surrounded by family and friends. The good Lord blessed them first with a daughter Harriet in 1864. Then 1867 with twins James and Mary. By 3 James was slim but tall for his age while his sister was short and tiny. “ No One would ever think they were twins ifin they they didn’t know.

The baby was one years old now and starting to pull up , ready to take off. Double stockings were used to keep her feet ready for walking. and thick cloth diapers cushioned her bottom if she landed on that part.

Sarah’s younger sister Leticia was a close friend in those days. Leticia was a sturdy hard working girl in her teens. All the farming wives were the same in that respect. Toting big bushels of seed or loading and unloading bales of hay was never given a second thought as during the war women had to do her share and more and no time to figure out how not to. You just did it and got it done.

On Saturday morning The Lindsays loaded in the wagon with Sarah’s special dishes. The Masons had suffered the loss of their barn from a fire the week before. In those days, no insurance was needed. Your neighbors has a barn raising. That was an occasion for neighbors to gather. Build the barn , men socialized, women cooked and discussed life and the children played and had a good time. A happy time by all. What good eating too.

This day was no differ, Plenty of rabbits and squirrels were stewed with potatoes, onions and beans. Finishing off the meals were some of the best breads and pies ever baked.
The barn raising was also a good way for the teenagers to keep in contact. Wasn’t too long ago that one of the neighborhood gatherings was a scene for Sarah and Reuben’s courting or seemed more like “fireworks”





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1870 Census







R A Lindsay
Birth Year:
abt 1843
Age in 1870:
27
Birthplace:
North Carolina
Home in 1870:
Cowee, Macon, North Carolina
Race:
White
Gender:
Male
Value of real estate:
View image
Post Office:
Franklin




R A Lindsay
27
Sarah A Lindsay
27
Harriett A Lindsay
6
James A Lindsay
3
Minetta Lindsay
3
Isabella J Lindsay
1








Reuben Beasley
Birth Year:
abt 1813
Age in 1870:
57
Birthplace:
South Carolina
Home in 1870:
Cowee, Macon, North Carolina
Race:
White
Gender:
Male
Value of real estate:
View image
Post Office:
Franklin








Reuben Beasley
57
Jone Beasley
55
Luvada Beasley
34
Letta C Beasley (Leticia)
14
Tolap Hibbard (Jane's Mother Julia Hubbard)
92
T M Beasley
16