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

Sarah Beasley's Life is put on hold...June 20, 1861

George Lindsay had enjoyed working on the Hubbard farm for the past year but duty calls and as a man he has to answer. The Hubbards hated seeing George leave but hoped he would be back soon.

George walked into his parent's kitchen, His Mom Rachel was completing her task at hand on the wood stove. The normally robust woman was eerily quiet.

The 44 year year old woman had a happy life but lots of work and life had taken a toll on the once raven haired beauty.Tomorrow was adding 20 more years to her.

Finally she spoke "George ring the bell"

Within moments Larkin and his son Reuben were washing on the back porch for the noon meal. Larkin was a good man but ruled the farm with stern rules and his wife Rachel ruled the house the same way. But don't be mistaken the love flowed.
The table was packed with the large Lindsay family joining together. Rachel was heavy with child that day but her concern was over her older boys.
Rachel looked at George, William and Reuben. At 23,22 and 19 they still had the childhood enthusiasm but thought they were grown. None married but Reuben sure is taken with that Beasley girl. Of course none of that would matter after tomorrow.

The Lindsay household, were early risers and this morning was not any different in that respect. The girls' normal chores were feeding, milking and gathering eggs then finished off with house chores. The field work was tackled by the male folks until harvesting then the women joined in. That changes today!
After the chores,the boys were met at the front door with the whole family.Saying good bye to 3 sons heading to join the war was hard. Larkin and Rachel had to face difficult times before but nothing like this.

The family prayer that day was for the safe return of all 3.Larkin knew with the boys serving together in the same unit that they could help each other and gave them a good chance of returning.
George her first born was the last to let go of his mom's embrace. Reuben was saying good bye to Sally (Sarah) Beasley while William was listening to his father's words of advice. The 3 brothers smiled at each other and jumped on the back of the wagon already loaded with other young men. The wagon was headed for Franklin in Macon County NC. The enlisting post was there on this day...June 20th, 1861....The day that the young boys were leaving their innocence, love ones and their only known existence. They were just farmers but in a few hours they would be soldiers. Time of war every body's life changed!
The last day of the year was a day Rachel would never forget. She was nursing her new born daughter when Larkin gave her the news their son George would not be returning. The whole community grieved but were proud of George Lindsay!


*********************************************************************************
Name: R A Lindsay
Residence: Macon County, North Carolina
Occupation: Farmer
Age at Enlistment: 19
Enlistment Date: 20 Jun 1861
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Macon County, NC
State Served: North Carolina
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company H, North Carolina 16th Infantry Regiment on 20 Jun 1861.
Mustered out on 06 Feb 1862.

Birth Date: abt 1842
Sources: North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster

George Lindsay
Residence: Macon County, North Carolina
Occupation: Farmer
Enlistment Date: 20 Jun 1861
Enlistment Place: Macon County, North Carolina
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: North Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 20 June 1861 at the age of 20.
Enlisted in Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 20 Jun 1861.
Died Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 16 Dec 1861 at Staunton, VA.







Name: William Lindsay
Residence: Macon County, North Carolina
Occupation: Farmer
Enlistment Date: 20 Jun 1861
Enlistment Place: Macon County, North Carolina
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: North Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 20 June 1861 at the age of 22.
Enlisted in Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 20 Jun 1861

Let it snow, Let it snow ,alright that is enough

Our snow has totaled 18+" this weekend It was forecasted to start Friday night but we woke that Friday morning to 6 inches of snow, so running to the store was not possible. So it is always better to be prepared for life's little or big surprises

This isn't the steep drive , this is the flat land

It is nice to look at but having to join in the real world is not nice. We are located atop of a nice size hill in the western NC mountains. Our half mile drive is a dirt and gravel passing on the side of the hill. (If you go off the side you will know it)

This is the beginning of our steep "side of the mountain" 1/2 mile driveway

Power was out for 40 hours Which translates into no heat pumps, electricity, water (well pumps need power) normal cooking methods, internet, television.charging cellphones etc.



We had it pretty easy by being prepared with a generator, 20 gallons gas, fireplace, loads of wood, 20 gallons of drinking water , 55 gallons of non drinking water, plenty of food and life experiences.



What did we forget? new batteries for battery operating radio, snack foods, snow shovel (who borrowed the shovel?) more snow salt.

Living in area that can isolate you from the normal world does take some planning, lots of prep work, and thinking of the worse case scenerio. But living in the city has situations too. My daughters and I will share some blogs covering some important life saving lessons , home saving lessons and I hope readers will comments with some of their tips and life learned lessons that they have had to learn through the hard knock experiences of your life.

Please be patient with us as this is our first blog. Please give us time to improve and any tips are greatly appreciate. Thanks

Please Keep coming back to our little neck of the internet web so we all can be one of the housewives/women that makes surviving the hard lessons in life (weather, financial, social, marriage, child rearing or just real life) look like a breeze.