Hill Country Living
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week and we haven’t heard from patriarch D.R. Wagner in a while. I’m always amused/semi-concerned at how unaffectionate and distant D.R. comes across as a father in letters to his children. He signs his full business signature, for one. Although his many children seem to love him it’s always apparent that his favorite child was Yocona Mills.
Atlantic City, NJ
July 8, 1905
Dear George,
Well we are here and very well located. About the same as last year. We are all well and have been in Bathing twice and Eugene and Dudley are looking very red. We have the Hebron’s with us. It is a family from Leland and Greenville Miss. I think they are the principle people down there. They know the Jennings girls.
I hope you are well again. How is the rain and the crops? I lost what I made in cotton but no more. Cotton is high and I had rather be a seller than a buyer if it’s dry and everything is running nicely at the mill. Tell Charley to buy 4 B/C white and I B/C Pickings and try it. We have sold ahead at the low price and I am sure our customers would not kick our quality, that is of course, we want to give them GOOD twine and I think that will make good twine. Our business year ended very satisfactory. We are all pleased with it.
We suppose that John is off for Buffalo. How is Will and Mabel and the baby? Tell Will to write. This is the first letter I have written since I left Memphis. I hate to write so you must not look for any letters. We all send love to you and to all.
Affectionately your father,
D.R. Wagner
Elizabethville, PA
Aug 21, 1906
My dear George,
I rec’d your letter 16th and was very glad to hear from you all. I have been here 5 days and will leave for Philadelphia this PM and stay there tonight and go to Atlantic City in the afternoon.
This is a very quiet place. No one to go out with and nothing to do but sit around the house all day. Aunt Lane and Sis are back looking very well and are coming down in January.
I am getting tired now and will be ready to go home 1st week in Sept. I will be home Saturday PM. I will stay in Memphis 2 days. I am sorry that business is so dull but we must prepare to do a good business next fall. How are the crops now? They should be very good.
I am sorry that Corinne is not well and that you have a bad cold. Sorry to hear of the death of Noble Leland. I have been looking for it. I trust we will have no troubler in collecting against Mr. Mauldine. It’s just and we have certainly been good to him.
I know the baby is fine and is growing. We all send love to you and to every one of the family and regards to all in the store.
Affectionately your father,
D.R. Wagner
