In 1974, sisters Mrs. Dwight Burney and Mrs. Irvin Anderson, edited a centennial celebration for the town of Polk Nebraska titled Polk Memoirs: Where Corn is King, 1874-1974. In this manuscript they and other townsfolks provide a look at the people and businesses that made up Polk in both the past and present. Genealogists should pay special attention to the families section.
Edward Hunt’s “Weymouth ways and Weymouth people: Reminiscences” takes the reader back in Weymouth Massachusetts past to the 1830s through the 1880s as he provides glimpses into the people of the community. These reminiscences were mostly printed in the Weymouth Gazette and provide a fair example of early New England village life as it occurred in the mid 1800s. Of specific interest to the genealogist will be the Hunt material scattered throughout, but most specifically 286-295, and of course, those lucky enough to have had somebody “remembered” by Edward.
Willis Williams, interviewed in Conway, South Carolina, recounts his experiences from slavery to freedom. He reflects on his childhood, the arrival of Union soldiers during the Civil War, and the harsh realities of life as a freedman. Williams describes his former owner, John A. Williams, and his interactions with Yankees, including receiving $35 after the war. He shares memories of working with cattle and the transition to freedom, highlighting the struggles faced afterward. He also touches on his relationships and personal hardships, revealing the complexities of his life.
