BOZEMAN-L Archives

From: Henry Teer <>
Subject: [BOZEMAN] pages 11-12
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 13:48:21 -0500

11

New ground was cleared by "deadening" (152), then felling. trees.
Underbrush was usually burned. The logs were rolled" .
Surveying provided a useful and pleasant break in the routine of the
plantation. James mentions two surveying trips during 1857. The first
was to the Terre Noire with D. H. Ross and Marsh , and occupied one
afternoons time. (153) The second trip involved Michael and. James who
spend several days surveying in the "Little Hills".(154)
The social life on this plantation centered around activities of Mt.
Bethel Church. The Bozemans and their female slaves (156) attended
regular services, conferences (156) and "protracted" meetings.
Occasionally the family would drive into Arkadelphia to hear a particular
preacher. Michael was actively involved with the Red River Baptist
Association and
traveled to its various meetings throughout the state. Some of the"
gayest social events were weddings which often necessitated an overnight
stay away from home. During 1857 -- three weddings, those of "Mr.
Thomas", D. F. Ross and Miss Mattie McDaniel (157) were recorded.
"Just visiting" or going for a drive provided a break in the routine,
particularly for the women.
The Debating Society, the Clark County Agricultural Society. and Oakland
Academy programs provided an occasion to get away from the plantation.
(158)
The Bozemans occasionally entertained overnight guests. and gave dinners.
James mentions "Ma give me a dinner (159) Christmas Friday of 1857 and
"Ma dined with me"(160)
one Sunday. While commercial entertainment appears non-existant for the
Bozemans at this time. social life was decidedly varied; perhaps even
more than James Francis Bozeman took the trouble to record.
The author of this unusual account of plantation life, James Francis
Bozeman,. remained in Arkansas for several years after writing the
Journal of 1857. Whether he served during
this time as his father's overseer is not known. The birth of his and
Sally's second child, Lucy, occurred in 1859 in South Carolina. Their
third daughter, Jenny, was also born in South Carolina, in 1861. Their
next three children Henrietta(1863), Nathan(1865) and Diademia(1868) were
born in Arkansas, indicating a return to Arkansas after the Civil War had
begun. James is believed to have served in the Confederate Army.

...The old whip saw. ..is still retained
by me, as is one piece of the pick saw, which
was made into a sabre and wielded by my late
brother-in-law Judge J. F. Bozeman, Mitchel
Co. Tex in the late unpleasantness between
the states. (161)

The decade of the 18601s had begun quietly enough for Michael Bozeman.
He busied himself with his church duties, serving as Mt. Bethel's
delegate to the Red River Baptist
Association in 1860 and 1861.(162) He also served on the building
committee of 1859 which contracted H. J. Allen to build the new Mt.
Bethel Church (163, 164) The building is described in the contract as
follows:

General dementions and specifications for Mt Bethel Church house
to be built on the East half of the North East 1/4 of Section
thirty-three
in Twonship Seven South of Range Twenty in County of Clarke and
the state of Arkansas. The sise of foundation sixty by forty feet Sills

to be ten by ten inches of good hart white or post oake Two center
12

gearders through the building lengthwise equi distance to suport the
sleepers. Two crosswise equi distance to bind the building together.
Sleepers to be two by two inches two feet apart from center to center
Foundation set on stone pillars five under each sill preportion in sise
to the building which is twenty pillars two feet high, Height of story
sixteen feet between joints with the studing three by fore two feet
from center to center Door and windo post fore by six roof to be a self
surporting roof all the timbers suitable to the Dropt Joice for overhead
ten by two inches pro- jecting over the wall two feet to forme the
cornice
wall to be five inches thick Six Panel doors to be nine feet high and
fore
feet wide Eight windoes eight feet eight inches high fore feet six inches

wide Bot frames wuitable for weights with parting strips for each windoe
Shuters for doors to be fore panels beveled railes and stiles two inches
thich with good fastnings inside except one which shall hav a good Lock
Sash twelve lights sixteen by twenty fore inches Glass french crown (?)
The blinds to be pivote blinds From 10 to 12 inches base running round
the botom Flore one and a forth inch thick tounged and groved " Shiped
joint Inside Base twelve inches wide one inch and half thick outside ten

inches wide two inches thick corners anties two feet wide Freeze tow feet

wide cornice to project two feet with nine inch crown Wetherbording to
show five inches Braking cornice on the Gable end Sheeting don in usual
manner Shingles to show five inches to the weather The seats to hav
sollid
backs 18 inches deep with sollid frounts solid ends and two inches
(rimed?)
round on the top of the backs and end of the bench the hole of the
building
sealed as high as the backs of seats with sufficient projection to recd
(recieve)
the plastering The nomber of seats to be according and arranged by the
direction of the Building Commitia and made stationary and in accordance
with the Draft of the building The Pulpit to be built in a neat plain
stile
Doors and wondoes all compleat inside to receive the plastering also two
coats of white lead and oile all of outside exposed to weather is to be
of hart
timber.

Mt. Bethel agreed to pay H. J. Allen $1,475.00 for the construction of
the building. It was completed in June, 1860, and Michael Bozeman was
given the key and appointed sexton. His slave, Mary, was to be paid an
unspecified amount to .keep the church clean and in neat order". (165)
Michael Bozeman's other-church duties during 1860 were preparing Mt.
Bethels letter to the district (166) and committee work to examine the
church books and write for letters. (167) He served during 1861 as church
treasurer, clerk, moderator and deacon. (168)
In June, 1861, the Arkansas Gazette filled its columns with lists of men
going off to war. Although he sympathized strongly with the Confederacy,
Michael did not go off to war. He was 52 years old when the war began,
and had his wife and daughters at home to consider. It is believed that
he "welcorned Confederate soldiers into his home, feeding and caring
for those who had need". (169, 170) ~
There are many undocumented stories of the misfortunes of war on the
Bozeman house. One account has Union soldiers about to burn it when the
cornmanding officer saw Michael Bozeman1s Masonic books on the hall table
and ordered the men to stop. Another story of how
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• [BOZEMAN] pages 11-12 by Henry Teer <>