[ A big THANK YOU to Lynn Groves for transcribing this document for the webpage! ]
ROBERT SCOBEY
(Letter written by Robert Scobey to his sister, Jane Scobey Burbridge)
In Camp
August 1st 1861
Dear Sister,
I received your letter on yesterday evening which was the first time that I had heard
from home except from persons living in the ? behind. I also received one from Pa and was glad
to have the cake that you sent me but sorry to hear that you thought that we had nothing to eat
out of meat and bread. Well I'll tell you what we have had. At first we had bacon and ham but
we had not even here many days until Capt. Bradley gave us some nice beef and cabbage. A few
days more and we received two nice muttons from ? and since then we have had ? beef, bacon,
shoulders, hams, rice and dried peaches and ? and coming up here Alfred and Will Franklin hooked
a nice Shanghi and brought it to camp. It stayed with us for several days but at last strayed
off and a few days ago Doc Reaves saw it around Capt. Wallace's Camp and caught it. There were
about a dozen of his men that declared that it was their and tried to get it from but didn't
\suceed. He carried it up to camp and put it in the commissary tent for safe keeping. That
evening Tom Neal slipped it out and placed it in my care. Well we (Sim Walker and myself) had
a nice stew and dumplins for supper the Lieut Col to eat with us and he praised it very much
and yesterday Mr. Taylor sent us a nice beef and several bushels of potatoes, a nice lot of
cabbage and ? okra and several baskets of fine peaches. We couldn't ask a better fare than we
have. I miss milk very much.
On Tuesday last we moved into a regimental camp. The health of the regiment is very
good with the exception of Capt. Haislips Company. There were on yesterday 32 of them down
with the Measles. One of them died last night. They are moved out of camp as fast as they
are taken sick. Last Monday night one of Capt. Bradleys men died. Think caused by neglect.
Capt. Bradley didn't go to see him but once while he was sick and then didn't stay but a
few minutes. I am still in good health. I would like to come home once more if it were so
that I coud but we have but a few days to stay here. You said to keep my promises. I did
not make any to break. A person can be moral here as well as at home. I will write again
when we learn where we will go and when. I suspect that we will go by water. The river has
rose about 12 feet within a few days and still rising. Give me love to all. Write often
and remember your affectionate Brother.
Robt. Scobey
WHILE
LOOKING
AROUND...
By: Duval Perkins
Eagle Democrat, Warren, AR.
Thursday, September 5, 1940
(Photo courtesy of Diane Gardner.)
At the head of this column is the picture of a small, but great man. In avoirdupois,
he would tip the scales scarcely above 100 pounds. In intrinsic worth and character, he has
a mortal history of ninety years by which to be weighed. We delight to pay tribute to Mr.
Pinkney Euphratus McMurry, a youngish old gentleman of Banks, Clay Township, Bradley County,
Arkansas. Resident there for sixty one years.
Perhaps, a thoughtful cousin, well known J. W. Nichols of Blue Springs, is more
responsible than any other for this pleasant record in human experience. He sponsored the
ninetieth birthday party for his beloved kinsman. And it was an inspiring occasion in the
Sigmon Groves at Banks last Friday, August 30, 1940, when the six sons and daughter, the
grandchildren and great grandchildren of Mr. McMurry has lived through most of that era
while the History of the United States of America was being made. The Missouri Compromise
of 1850 and the names of Clay, Calhoun and Webster made news when Pinkney Euphratus McMurry
was born on August 30, 1850, in Washington County, Florida. He was the son of David and
Lizzie (Nichols) McMurry.
When he was a baby, his parents moved to Clark county, Alabama, where they lived for
four years. Next they moved to Wayne county, Mississippi, where Pinkney lived until he was
twenty-three. As a boy, he experienced the Civil War and the Tragic Era as a Mississipian.
During the next few years, he lived for a time in Choctaw county, Alabama, thence back to
Mississippi and at 26 came to Arkansas to settle near Portland in the Bayou country. From
Arkansas, he went back to Alabama. On April 1, 1873 in Butler County, Alabama, he was married
to Miss Laura Trice. Six years later, with his wife and two children he traveled by train
to Vicksburg, thence by boat to Grand Lake, and by wagon to Clay Township, Bradley County,
where he homesteaded 160 acres, which there the McMurry home has been. The Sigmon grove was
then grown up with virgin pine. The present McMurry home stands on a four acre tract, part
of the original homestead. Some of his neighbors in that early day had the familiar names of
McFarland, Rice, Whittington and Barnee.
Of the McMurry marriage, nine children lived to maturity, namely, sons, William T.;
Raymond W.; John J.; T. T.; James H.; C. C.; I. F.; and L. H.; and daughter Viola, now Mrs.
John Durman of Monticello. Sons T. T. and James H. McMurry are dead, but the six living
sons and daughter were all present Friday for the happy birthday party. There was present,
also, half brother, John L. Taylor of Warren. Mrs. McMurry died March 11, 1921. Since that
time, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse McMurry have lived with their father in the family home.
In the sixteen years I have known Mr. McMurry, seeing him frequently, I have always
observed his near and clean person, his well-cropped hair and carefully-kept patriarchial
beard, yet believe it or not, he has never sat in a barber's chair. Nor was he ever arrested.
Never has he had a quarrel with a neighbor nor a lawsuit. For fifty years, he has belonged
to the Baptist church. One other thing let me record here, and that is, no average person has
a brighter mind nor a more alert memory than has ninety year old Mr. McMurry. He can recall
and describe dates and events of fifty years ago with the same rapidity he employs in discussing
intelligently occurrences of the present. While he health is no good, his frail body is no
evidence of senility. He is as mentally and spiritually alert as anyone. It is an inspiration
to talk with him.
Turning from the honoree to the party. It goes without saying there was plenty to eat.
The program afterwards included talks by Judge Harvey Rowland, the Rev. Cone Stell, pastor of
the Banks Baptist church, the Rev. Earl Humble, young Ouachita College ministerial student,
now conducting a meeting at Banks: W. T. Armstrong; Sheriff C. W. Hickman and T. J. Bratton.
J. W. Nichols presided as Master of Ceremonies. No youngsters ever got a greater thrill at
a birthday party than did those present when the gifts were presented to Mr. McMurry. The
container for them equaled a Pandora Box. There was the birthday song before Mr. McMurry
arose to tell his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and neighbors, they had made
for him the most pleasant day in his life. In the opening program, Mr. Nichols said: "I am
reminded of a familiar song, entitled 'Because.'" And then he added, "We are here-because."
That qualifying adverb was the apt explanation for that event staged to honor a good man
whom God has spared these ninety years to set others an illustrious example for a happy,
wholesome and useful life. Surely, this distinguished patriarch is local exhibit No. 1 in
support of the blessing which flow to the one who walks in God's Way through the coarse of
human life.
A look into his gleaming eye reflects constancy and purpose. The expression of his
face conveys truth, sincerity and humility. His manner and behavior exemplify love, charity
and kindness. No wonder he has not yet been called to the glorious sleep with his people.
Thinking of this kindly gentleman whom it has been my privilege to know, I am reminded of
the words of the great Southern orator, who said: "But the grandest thing is the light of
a noble and useful life, shining in benediction upon the destiny of men and finding its
everlasting home in the bosom of an Almighty God."
In addition to the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Mr. McMurry,
there were present, among others, Mrs. Fannie Guice Richardson of Shreveport, La.; Mr. and
Mrs. S. E. Bratton and children of El Dorado; Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Oliver and Mrs. P. I.
Lipsey of El Dorado; and Dott Godwin of Little Rock.
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