Re: Plain Dealing LA Gilmers
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In reply to:
Plain Dealing LA Gilmers
Maureen Gilmer 2/09/06
I can't help with your search but thought the following excerpt from my ancestor's journal might be of interest.My ancestor Paul Haralson met James Gilmer in Montgomery, Al on his way from Stone Mountain, Ga to Texas.
"Tuesday The 21st, March 1848
At 5 o'clock we sailed for Mobile, in the beautiful and splendid Steam Montgomery- The Montgomery is a new boat & put upon the River this season in place of the old boat of the same name.She is 235 feet long with an upper & lower deck.Can carry 3000 bags of cotton & can comfortably entertain more than 250 cabin passengers, besides Deck & Stearage.On board this boat we had a splendid array of beauty,fashion,Wealth Glory and ambition with now & then an occational touch of the oposite extreme from the wise to the otherwise from the palace to the hovel & from the Mexican War-Dogs to the willing worshiper of the God of Peace.
Here I met with Leornard H. Sewell Son of the old Judge of N.C.; with a brother of Hardy Croom, with James Gilmer, who owns the Rich Cotton Plantation on the Red River below Dr. Vance with all his family etc. etc. etc.This night after the boat got under way & feeling the need of some rest, I took State Room No. 16 and in a few minutes travel passed through the land of Nod and was soon in the pleasant and happy Country of Dreamland, where without anything to distract my peace and Comfort I enjoyed myself until breakfast the next morning.
Wednesday 22nd, March
I this morning arose at the ringing of the breakfast bell.had a pleasant wash & a fine Breakfast & came out on deck & found that in a few minutes we were to be at Cahawbe, near where I supposed Em Browning lives: as the boat took in wood & freight at this place, I went on Shore & enquired for my friend-Met with Warren Holcomb who is here with negroes for "sale": found that Emlives six miles from Burton & learned that Monroe Blann was fiddling & dancing in Mobile.
returned to the boat again & spent the day pleasantly.
Thursday 23d.-
Rose and found the morning beautiful, with the promise of a pretty day.We traveled very slow, having to take in landing & freight at almost every point on the River-Today had a pleasant conversation with my friend Sewall & Gilmer on the physical resources of Georgia, as compared with those of North Carolina and Lousiana-as we passed down the river today saw an Aligator sunning himself on a log, and landed in Mobile about 5 o'clock just too late to witness the great Ball play between the Choctaw Indians who live in the neighborhoodof Mobile on the one side and a band of the remnant of Cherokees who live in Sumpter about 200 miles from this place..."