Young Lady, Off the Shoulder Evening Dress by Thuss

This lovely young woman is unknown to us.  The photograph was taken at Thuss Studios, 230 Cherry Street, in Nashville, Tennessee. I liked her so much I've included a closeup of her lovely face.

Ida Morehead Moran 1898, Boston Mass., by Elmer Chickering

We know from correspondence with her brother Brud Moran, that Ida took a trip to Boston in the first part of 1898.   Most likely she was visiting some of the Gunn relatives.  Lyman Taft Gunn, her grandfather, was from Massachusetts but had moved to Tennessee about 1840.  His first wife, Caroline Matilda Morehead died in Nashville in 1855.  His second wife, Mary Anne Hall, was born in Germany but her family migrated to Boston.  Lyman Taft Gunn died at the original Moran home in Dresden in 1890 and  Mary Anne moved back to Boston a few years after his death.  We have some correspondence from Mary Anne which tells us she and the Moran's kept in touch.  I think it's safe to assume Ida spent time and perhaps even stayed with Mary Anne during the visit.

The photograph was taken by Boston's premier photographer of the Gilded Age, Elmer Chickering.

Ida married William G. Timberlake in 1902, they lived in Jackson, Tennessee.  They had one daughter, Louise, who died at the young age of 4 in  1910.  Ida died of lumbar pneumonia with contributing factors being multiple sclerosis in 1936.

Tintype Unidentified Group of 6 Women

Most of the tintypes we have were found loose without a case.  This one is caseless and has sustained some damage over time.  The image on the left is the original scan.  The one on the left I've tinkered with to remove some of the scratches and discolorations. 

I'm wondering if the seated girl may be blind since she has, what appears to me, to be a walking stick.

The West Tennessee Democrat, May 12 1876

The West Tennessee Democrat
May 12, 1876 - Editor T.H. Baker

Considering its age this newspaper is in fantastic condition.  At first I thought it had been saved because of the large advertisement for J.W. Moran's store which I posted yesterday.  But then I noticed a name had been written on the front page, Mrs. Allie Edwards.

Mrs. Allie Edwards

Prof. Hunter weds Blanche Edwards.

What connection, if any, did Allie Edwards have to the Moran family?  After reading some of the newspaper I found an article that mentions Blanche Edwards of Gardner Station and a Prof. Hunter. My logical conclusion is that Blanche and Allie are related but so far I haven't found anything about an Allie Edwards but I did find marriage information regarding Blanche and W.W. Hunter. They were married on May 1 1876 in Weakley County.

"Something Wrong"  The last number of the Fulton Times contains a notice of the marriage of Prof. Hunter, one of its editors, to Miss Blanche Edwards, of Gardner Station.  The same number of the paper contains Prof. Hunter's "valedictory."

There is something wrong here.  We have often heard of men getting "into business" by marrying and most new married couples anticipate "squalls"--after awhile--but this indicates that a man may get "out" of business by the same process, and haven't the "squalls"....   

Unfortunately that last line of the article is forever lost but even without that last thought it seems to me the article is not very complimentary to Prof. Hunter.  Anyway, the Moran tree has several folks with the surname Edwards in it, usually in connection to Bondurants and Gardners and since Blanche Edwards was from Gardner Station there's a good chance she's a distant Moran relation.  The other curiosity is Prof. W.W. Hunter.  Agnes Hunter Cowardin, another Moran relative, married John Almus Gardner.  I wonder if W.W. Hunter is a relation via Agnes?  More research is necessary on this line.

I thought it would be fun to share what people in Weakley County were talking about and reading in 1876.

On the political front:

For Trustee: Smyth--We are authorized to announce the name of J.M. Smyth, of the eleventh district, as a candidate for Trustee.  Election in August next.

For the Senate: Martin--We are authorized to announce the name of George W. Martin, as a candidate to represent this Senatorial District in the next General Assembly--election in November.

For the Legislature:  Finch--We are authorized to announce C.F. Finch, of the Tenth District, as a candidate for the Lower House of the Legislature at the ensuing November election, subject to the will of the people.

For Sheriff:  Irvine--We are authorized to announce R.N. Irvine as a candidate for Sheriff, at the ensuing August election.

For Constable:  Parham--We are authorized to announce W.W. Parham as a candidate for Constable for the 5th Civil District of Weakley County, at the ensuing August election.

Dresden, Tenn., April 6, 1876--Remembering with gratitude the support so generously given me in the past, I come again to ask your votes for official promotion.  By your votes I have twice been chosen as one of the two constables which it is the privilege of the qualified voters of this District to elect.  How I have executed the varied, and sometimes painful and delicate duties of that office, is well known to you all.  If an active, vigilant and impartial attention to the interests of those who entrusted their business to my care during the two terms to which you elected me is ony (sic) recommendation, I certainly feel that my past official life entitles me to  future preferment Thanking you for past honors, and assuring those who support me in my present need will be enshrined in my heart of hearts, I am, most respectfully,

         W.W. Parham

Women, education and the Bluestocking.

"Education of Women"--Keep as much as possible in the grand and common road of life.  Depend upon it men set more value on the cultivated minds than on the accomplishments of women, which they are rarely able to appreciate.  It is a common error that literature unfits women for the every day business of life.  It gives women a real and proper weight in society, but they must use it with discretion.  If the stocking is blue the petticoat must be long; the want of this has furnished food for ridicule in all ages.

Drug Addiction in 1876

"Morphia Disease" -- Terrible Consequences of the Abuse of narcotics in Modern Society.

The vast abuse of narcotics in modern society is becoming, the London Lancet remarks, a serious evil. There is no denying the fact that in countries where no administrative control of chemist's shops exists, as in England and America, the public has too easy access to such drugs.  The report of the medical officer to the Privy Council on the use of laudanum in the industrial districts of England for the purpose of keeping infants quiet startled its readers some years ago.  It is not long since a political weekly contemporary boldly contended that chloral was to be found int he work-boxes and baskets of nearly every lady in the West End, "to calm her nerves."

Women and Fashion

"Miscellaneous Items"--Entire costumes for evening are now often modeled after fashions which prevailed in revolutionary days, as for instance, the lengthened court train, with satin petticoat, deep pointed corsage and Lady Washington sleeves.

The prevailing style in parasols is the canopied top, with crochet rings, to which are attached small bows of ribbons.

Cream-colored cashmere over-dresses are among the special fancies of the season.

The rough and ready straw hats are being covered with full puffings of white tyarlatan, and trimmed with scarlet poppies and green leaves.

Postillion reappears at the back of basques.

Bias folds, with narrow Tom Thumb fringe, are again seen on skirts of rich silk dresses.

Little girls' frocks are now made in what is called the English Style.  The bodice is prolonged to below the hips, where the skirt is put on in plaits at the back and plain in front.

And let's not forget the men!

"Southern Men and Manners"--Olive Logan, writing to the Chicago Times from Washington, gives her views of southern men from a social standpoint:

Men of this decidedly southern cast of thought and breeding are amazingly agreeable to women.  I forstall retort here, by at once asserting that I do not speak of the as lover or sweetheart (in which capacity I have no use for them), but as the mere cavaliere savante of society, the carpet knight of the drawing-room.  In this respect they are immeasurably superior to our pre-occupied, busy and thoughtless northern men.  Their form of address is in itself more respectful.  A remark to a lady is almost invariably prefaced by the word "madame."  A seat in a street care is instantly relinquished in favor of a woman by these courtly men.  To meet a lady in the street and walk with her, and not relieve her of such parcels as she may be carrying, would be considered very rude conduct.  This particular item in their code of etiquette is directly at variance with that prevailing among New York men, who, copying the European custom, hold that a lady may carry a small bundle with propriety, ladies being constant purchasers of odds and ends, but no gentleman carries a parcel, that being a distinctive badge of a counter-jumper or errand man.  I know that I shall evoke a responsive "yes" from the lips of hundreds and hundreds of my lady readers when I ask if it is not their custom to carry their own shawls, umbrellas, bundles and even bags, instead of stowing the same in the arms of hubby, pa or brother.

George P. Rowell & Co. American
Newspaper Directory, 1873

The West Tennessee Democrat wasn't around for very long and at the time it was in circulation it was the only paper being published in Weakley County. The editor & publisher was T.H. Baker, who had previously published the Carroll County Democrat.  In 1876 The West Tennessee Democrat was renamed the Dresden Democrat. In 1881, the Dresden Democrat had this to say about its former editor: "T.H. Baker, Former editor of the Dresden Democrat, and later of the Paris Post, has made another flop.  He flopped into the Republican Party at this time."

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 6 "Weakley & the Tennessee Centennial"

This is the sixth in a multi-part series featuring the April 24 1896 edition of the Dresden Enterprise.  If you missed the previous posts you can find them here: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five.

Today's post covers page 3.  The top half of the page is an advertisement for something called the "Cash Racket Store" and the bottom section is dedicated to the Tennessee Centennial.

Transcription of the Tennessee Centennial article:

Beckersteth in his beautiful poem, "Yesterday, Today and Forever," speaks of anniversaries as white stones in the journey of life.  They are set up to comemmorate what i past, and to give strength and inspiration for the further journey.  They mark both a burial and a birth.

Tennessee is completing the circle of years that marks her stone one hundred.

All the hands that placed the first stone have mouldered back to dust.  The men and women of the old heroic days belong now to history.  In camp, in forts, in the humble home, in legislative hall, in foreign courts, anywhere and everywhere, the men who fought our battles and laid the foundation of our state and plead for her recognition were such as posterity delights to honor.  Their praises have been sung in poetry and written in books and inscribed on stone.  It is eminently proper, then, that the state should herself celebrate her Yesterday by a Today that will make her famous forevermore.  This notable event should be a great gathering in which every county, every citizen, every woman, every child is suitable represented.  The mother, venerable in years and usefulness, deserves a token from all who claim her care--who share her protection.  A long absent son writing from a foreign field said, "Mother, I cannot be with you, but I send my love and my offering."  There are ninety-six counties in Tennessee ? is able to send love and an offering worthy of the occasion.  some of the counties--through the county court--have devised liberal things. When the courts refuse an appropriation more remains to be done by individual action.

Weakley, so rich in resources, will surely send some gift for the birthday of the state.  Right here in Dresden we have one of the best mills in West Tennessee.  It runs regularly, working from ten to fifteen hands, with a capacity of 100 barrels of flour, fifty barrels of meal and fifty barrels of chopped feed.  It is owned and operated by home men--S.P. Scott and B.D. Irvine, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars.  In tobacco the showing is just as creditable, while the growth of small fruits and tomatoes yields a heavy income for the money and labor invested.  All in all, Weakley County is a good county and one that has honored the state in nearly every deppartment. (sic)  Why should not Weakley take some part in the erection of that white stone to mark the Mother's birthday into a fuller and more glorious future.  I know that there are difficulties in the way of the Woman's Board.  It is a hard matter for the wives, mothers and children to do anything or to go anywhere without help from the husbands, the fathers and the brothers--yes and the old bachelors, for on these Rome used to put a double tax for all public enterprises.  however, despite discouragements, the members of the Woman's State and County boards appeal to one and to all for help in securing suitable means for a creditable county exhibit.  They earnestly desire that the exhibit of woman's work from Weakley shall not be a whit behind the chiefest.  To this end, they urge upon sub-committees throughout the county, or in each civil district, and upon all women to put forth their best efforts to secure specimens of handiwork of every kind, fine needle work, painting, embroidery, crocheting, knitting, leather work, dairy products--anything from the home or from a farm or garden managed by women.  Then we must have money or the exhibit cannot be transported and mounted.

Now, in some neighboring counties the farmers are helping by donation of hams, flour, corn, cotton, tobacco, meal and the women donate the money from a pound or more of butter, the sale of so many dozen eggs.  The hams are cooked and made into dainty lunches by the women and sold for the Centennial fund.  The articles donated all go to the treasury.

Who will be the first to help our county board with such things as he or she can spare from the farm and from the dairy and the orchard?  Will not each help to make the mother's birthday an occasion of great rejoicing?
           Mrs. S. F. Mooney
-------
Why suffer with Coughs, Colds and LaGrippe when Laxative Bromo Quinine will cure you in one day.  Does not produce the ringing int he head like sulphate of quinine.  Put up in tablets convenient for taking.  Guaranteed to cure, or money refunded.  Price, 25 cents.  For sale by G.I. Baxter.

The complete list of links in this multi-part series:
part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two, part twenty-three.

The Ladies Vanity Set, A Symbol of Women's Virtue, ca 1912

Search for Ladies Vanity Items at Amazon!

During the Victorian and Edwardian periods ladies and men's vanity sets were commonplace.  In an age where indoor plumbing was not very common, grooming items were kept in the privacy of your bedroom.  You would most likely have a washstand in the corner or a nook specially built into the bedroom for the washstand.  Tub baths were not taken everyday and were a luxury.  You had to make do with spot washing with the washstands till it was bath day.  Ladies had dressing tables where they kept the necessities of grooming close at hand.

In addition, women's hair had then and to this day a lot of symbolism going on.  With the exception of young girls who were not yet of an age to marry, women (respectable women) kept their hair pinned up. Wearing your hair up was a sign of maturity, hence availability for marriage. A virtuous woman only let her hair down in the confines of her own bedroom.  How you wore your hair proclaimed you as a virtuous or a loose woman. Even today many people think of updo hair or short hair as a sign of professionalism and maturity.

Most vanity sets included a brush, comb and mirror.  This one belonged to Virginia Shumate Moran and includes a brush, comb, mirror, small tray, toothbrush holder and powder box.  In addition she had a handpainted porcelain tray from Japan where she would place some of her grooming items.  The small pink box is made of marble and might have been used to hold jewelry and might have been added later to the set.  The mirror, brush and powder box are engraved with her initials in black.  The comb has a smaller engraving which isn't visible in the pictures. The comb is also very heavy as is the mirror.  These are not made of plastic!

Vanity sets could be simple or ornate in design, material, or the number of pieces included in the set.  One thing is certain, the vanity set might have been used for everyday practical things but the symbolism contained therein went beyond cleaniliness of the body.  It symbolized cleaniliness of virtue and of course cleaniliness was next to godliness.

Here's the before image.  Notice the safety pins and
fingernail file impressions left on the tray, surrounded by grime.

And here's the after picture.  They cleaned up rather well.
The brush, mirror, and powder box are engraved VSM,
Virginia Shumate Moran.