1. Taylor family letter (page 92 of
Rachel Hardin's book)
2. Poem by Hannah Shacklette Taylor (page 93 of
Rachel Hardin's book)
3. Song by Hannah Shacklette Taylor (page 94 of
Rachel Hardin's book)
4. Obituary of Hannah Shacklette Taylor
Taylor Family Letter
From material originally compiled from notes of Frances Shacklette Fast by Rachel Hardin for a Shacklette family reunion and passed to Harriet Fast Scott and then to Jessie Virginia Scott Williams in July 1991. Transcribed by Alan Richard Scott, June 1999.
Part of a letter from Aunt Eunice Taylor Harl, Colusa, CAL to her niece Viola Williams Shacklett, May 12, 1907 (Viola died in July, 1907)
Dear Viola:
Your letter came....and whilst I was (as always) delighted to get it I was extremely sorry to hear of your affliction and felt that it was very painful for you to write. I’m so anxious about you and hope if you cannot write you will have some of the children write for you. I was delighted to hear you and Dick had moved back to old Meade and to my old playground, the grand old hills of Brandenburg. How well I all the old landmarks and running down one hill and up the other to the school....
Many times I went round by the place where you live....and there was a brick cottage stood at the end of that street and nearby a clear deep pond where Mollie Brown....and the other girls used to fish and when we caught the little perch I never would take them off the hook. Oh! The happy joyous days of girlhood. Would that I could have just one hour of the free merry days spent in dear old Brandonburg.
And I hope your children will enjoy being there as I did. Tell your girls when visiting the old mill below town and spring that flows a few steps on the other side of the road and furnishes the power that runs the mill to remember that is one of the brightest and dearest of memories to me. How often Brother Dan and I have taken our books and gone there, and whilst listening to the rippling stream would read to each other and forget all troubles and vexations. We many times went there with friends, but I like to think of our quiet hours. You know Brother Dan was always dignified and well behaved. I was more rollicking in those days it was hard for me to keep still. Viola, the love and affection I had for my three younger brothers {Dan Mahlon and John .. ed} and the care I grew to assume for them, it seems it all rebounded upon me with deep sorrow. Brother Dan’s death was the first real trouble I ever had and after that one and another in quick secession until now out of all our large family only two of us are left - if Mahlon still lives. I have only heard once from the girls since Bettie died, and Eva wrote that her Uncle Aleck died a week after her mother. That leaves Dick and Billie in that family. "Flitting- flitting away all that we cherish most dear There is nothing on earth that will stay Roses must die with the year."
....Mr. Harl says he should like to be there to join Bud and Dick in their tobacco crop. How nice it is that you all live so closely together and can be together when something strikes you that you want to talk about with some one that knows. That is what I miss most....That makes up more of life than is possible for you to understand for wherever you have gone Dick and you knew the same people.
I am glad Mary got a position in the school when she graduated, speaks well for her and you did right to leave Irby there with her. They are among friends and nice people and it will give them self reliance which is important to a successful teacher...
...I could write on like "Tennyson’s Brook" forever but want Nana to mail this at noon. I sincerely hope to hear your breast has healed....My love to Lina and family, Enfield & Bud and the children that are in there going to school. Remember me to all friends and to yourself and family the love and best wishes of
Your Aunt Eunice
"typed from original K- " Composed by Hannah Shacklett
Taylor about her son who was a minister of the Gospel
John & Betsy Shacklett
HANNAH TAYLOR'S SON
Away from his home and the friends of his youth,
He hasted, the herald of mercy and truth;
For the love of his Lord, and to seek for the lost,
Soon, alas was his fall-but he died at his post.
The stranger's eye wept that in life's brightest bloom,
One gifted so highly should sink to the toom;
For in ardor he led in the van of the posts,
And he fell like a soldier-he died at his post.
He wept not himself that his warfare was done,
The battle was was fought and the victory won;
But he whispered of those which his heart clung to most,
"Tell my brethren for me that I died at my post."
He asked not a stone to be sculptured with verse,
He asked not that fame should his merits rehearse:
But he asked as a boon, when he gave up the ghost,
That his brethren might know that he died at his post.
Victorious his fall-for he rose as he fell,
With Jesus his Master, in glory to dwell;
He has passed over the stream and has reached the bright coast,
For he died like a martyr-he died at his post.
/s/ Hanna Taylor
And can we the words of his exit forget?
Oh no, they are fresh in my memory yet;
An example so brilliant shall never be lost,
We will fall in the work-we will die at our post.
/s/ Sarah Jones
"Typed from original K--"
Poem was composed by Hannah Shacklett Taylor. Handwritten by daughter, Sarah Taylor Jones
SONG BALLAD
Oh I have roamed through many lands
A stranger to delight
No friendship hopes nor love's sweet smiles
Could make my pathway bright
Till on the sky a star arose
And let night's sable down,
Oh steer my bark by that sweet star
For Eden is my home.
Oh Eden is my place of rest
I long to reach its shore
To shake the trouble from my breast
And weep and sigh no more.
To that fair land my spirit flies
And angels bid me come
Oh steer my bark over Jordan's waves
For Eden is my home.
Oh take me from this world of woe
To my sweet home above
Where tears of sorrow never flo
And all the air is love.
My sister spirits wait for me
And Jesus bids me come
Oh steer my bark to that bright land
For Eden is my home.
(Hannah Taylor b. 31 Oct. 1802 d. 11/13 June 1877) (J. D. Jones -- grandfather Jim)
DEATH OF MRS. HANNAH TAYLOR.
J. D. Jones has sent the following notice of his grandmother's death for
publication. It will be read with interest, as she had a large number of relatives
in the county.
Hannah Taylor, daughter of John and Rachel Shacklett, was born in
Pennsylvania, October 31, 1802; moved to that portion of Hardin County now known as Meade,
State of Kentucky, about 8 years old at time of removal. Married John H. Taylor,
March 9, 1819. Professed religion about 14 years after her marriage. On
account of the opposition of her husband she deferred her union with the church about two
years at which time she united with the Hill Grove Church and was baptized by Rev. David
Thurman. The patient manner in which she bore the opposition of her husband was made
the means of his conversion. At the time of the split or division in the church, she
sided with the Regular Baptists, became a member of the Sinking Creek Baptist Church in
which she remained until about 1865. She then came back to Hill Grove about 1870.
She was always in favor of missions, believing that God used instrumental means to
accomplish his purposes. Our mother in Israel died in the full triumphs of faith, in
which she had lived for over forty years, June 18, 1877, surrounded by some of her
children and grandchildren. Through her own counsel and strong energetic action she
lived to see one of her sons a minister, preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Sister Taylor was a remarkable woman. She had a very strong mind well stored
with truth which she faithfully used against error. Of fine memory, she could
rehearse many things accurately that would have been consigned to oblivion, but for her.
One by one the old pillars are removed. But our loss is her gain.
G. S. STERRITT.