Susan Dowell Shacklett story
Diary including the move from Kentucky to Texas
Susan Dowell Shacklett Obituary
Burial Notice
Burnice Brown Shacklett Obituary
The following excerpts from a diary kept by Mrs. Susan Shacklett, who died here last week at the age of 90 years, should prove especially interesting to those early settlers who passed through similar experiences:
I, Susan J. Shacklett, was born in Meade county, Kentucky, July12,1830. Spent a happy childhood and girlhood. Was the eleventh child, having five brothers and five sisters older than myself and one brother younger. I attended a camp meeting on Buff Creek, Kentucky. It was while there God forgave my sins when I was fifteen years old. Have been trying ever since to serve the Lord to the best of my ability. But have fallen short in many instances. But I always found Him ready to forgive and ready to help in every time of need. My mother was a Christian and a member of the Baptist church. I didn't leave home until I married four years later, on the first day of March, 1848. I married Burnis B. Shacklett. He had just returned from the Mexican was where he served two years under General Scott. We lived a happy life in Kentucky for ten years; had four children born to us--- B.C., Barbary, J.T., and Nannie H. Shacklett.
She was two years old when we left Kentucky to come to Texas. We left our native land in April, 1860. Took a boat, The" Montgomery", and went down the Ohio river from Rock Haven. Had a storm near Paducah, laid over there until they could repair the boat. We then went in to New Orleans, stopping there two days and nights; crossing the river and took the train to the Bay; there we boarded the ship for Port Lavaca. Was on the ship two days and nights; landed a while in Galveston; stopped in the Port Lavaca several days waiting for our goods to be unloaded. Then we hitched to our wagons and started out by land for El Paso, eight hundred miles, via San Antonio. Camped there a week on account of hot weather and mosquitoes.We went on three hundred miles west on Turkey creek. Camped a month waiting for a train of wagons, as we could travel no furture alone for fear of danger from Indians. We had a hard time traveling over the plains. We traveled most of the time at night, for the Indians were so hostile and water was scarce. And it was a long distance between watering places. Forty miles from one watering place to another. We took water for the family but the mules had to do without.We stopped at the watering places to rest and cook something to eat until another stop
We arrived in El Paso August 15, or near that time. We lived on a ranch one year. Had Mexicans to herd and milk thirty-five cows. I made fifteen pounds of butter per week, the first made in that country, and sold it for one dollar per pound. The Indians came around our house at night. We could not see them but could see their tracks.
At last they killed the man who took the milk and butter to town, so we thought it time for us to leave. We went to El Paso, rented a hotel until the war came on. The northern troops came in on the north and cut our soldiers off from supplies and they had to retreat and came south and came out with them as far as San Antonio. Then we came to Sherman. We lived in town until my brother, James Dowell, died in July 1863. My husband went in the army in the winter of 1863. Served on the Rio Grande river, near Brownsville, until the war closed in the spring of 1865. He left me with six children to care for, the oldest--B.C. Shacklett---ten years of age. I had a hard time for two years, weaving and spinning all day and sewing and knitting at night until 12 o'clock.
My husband came home broken in health and for two years was unable to work. We bought a farm four miles east of Sherman, lived there 25 years. We sold the farm and moved to Gainsville in the winter of 1881. On the 6th day of November 1888 my husband died leaving me all alone. I have been living around first one place and another ever since. Sometime in Dallas and Denison and in Missouri, Kentucky, and in Oklahoma. I came back to Gainsville on June 12, 1910. Have lived with my son, B.C. Shacklett, ever since. God has blessed me with health and strength to perform the duties enjoined upon me and am now 85 years old the 12th day of July,1915.
Susan Jane (Dowell) Shacklett -- Obituary
Mrs.Susan Shacklett age 90 years,died at home this morning
Mrs. Susan J. Shacklett, one of the pioneer citizens of Gainsville,died at 12:30 o'clock this morning at the home of her son,B.C. Shacklett, on east Broadway.Mrs.Shacklett, born in Brandenburg, Ky., July 12,1830, was past ninety years of age and during that long and useful she had seen. The country grow from a wilderness to its present modern accomplishments. For many years past she had kept a daily diary of her life and the important happenings of the community,which is said to be a most interesting record. Deceased was a devout Christian women and had done much in her career that was of usefulness to mankind and her Master.She reared a large family most of the children being alive Accompanied by her husband,B.B. Shacklett, and three, moved to Texas in 1859. Forty years ago they moved to Gainesville, where she has since resided the declining years of her life being spent at the home of her son,Cad.
Surviving are the following children, all but one of whom is expected to be present at the funeral:
Mrs. Barbary Dudley. Dundee, Texas, Mrs. Nannie Brown of Missouri; Mrs. Sallie McGlathery and Mrs. E.C. Darnell of Dallas; Mrs.Mattie Hicks of Durant,Okla. and Cad Shacklett of Gainesville.
The funeral will start from the late residence on East Broadway tomorrow afternoon about 2 o'clock, after which the remains will be taken to Redmon Cemetery, three miles southeast of Gainesville for interment. Rev. Wesson of the Grand Avenue Baptist church will officiate, with services at the grave. Undertaker Gibon will have charge of the arrangements.
Remains of Pioneer Woman are buried this Afternoon
The Remains of Mrs. Susan J. Shacklett, who died yesterday morning at the home of her son,Cad Shacklett on East Broadway, were taken this afternoon to Redmon graveyard several miles southeast of Gainesville, for interment. The services were conducted by Rev E.A. Wesson of the Grand Avenue Baptist church. A number of relatives and friends accompanied the remains to their last resting place and the following acted as pall-bearers: John Maupin, Bud Midkiff, J.J. Sawyer, J.F. Paul, F.M. Savage, H.O. McCain..
Burnis Brown Shacklett Obituary
B.B. Shacklett, an old and well known citizen of Gainesville died Monday night after an illness of about two weeks, at the advanced age of 62 years. His funeral will take place from his late residence, in East Gainsville, at 9 o'clock this (Wednesday) morning. Rev. A.J.Harris officiating..