Diary of Dr William Allen Pegues

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WILLIAM ALLEN PEGUES, entry in DeSoto Parish History, (1995, DeSoto Hist. &
Gen. Soc., w/
the DeSoto Sesquicentennial History Book Committee) submitted by Margaret R.
Fernbaugh

William Allen Pegues, medical doctor and planter, b ca 1820, Marlboro Co,
SC, d 3/1858, DeSoto Par, LA.

Dr. Pegues' Diary kept from l/1/1850-1857, is the daily account in the life
of an early settler to DeSoto Par, LA. His father was Claudius M. Pegues
the oldest son of William Pegues of Marlboro Co, SC and his 1st wife Sara
Speed of NC. Dr. Pegues' mother was Harriet Chapman, dau of Allen Chapman
who came from Westmoreland Co, VA, to Marlboro Co, SC after the American
Revolution. He was a trooper in the VA Line; in 1784/85, he was elected
Sheriff of Cheraw, SC. His 1st wife. Harriet's mother, was Rachel Powe of
VA.

Allen Chapman's will made 7/30/1821, proved 4/1823, names all of his living
ch: nine dau and two sons; also gr son William Pegues, son of Claudius
Pegues. This is the way I arrived at the birthdate 1820. The information on
Allen Chapman came from the HISTORY OF THE OLD CHERAWS by Bishop Alexander
Gregg, pub 1867; republished by The State Company, Columbia, SC, 1925, Anson Co, NC, Abstract of Wills 1750-1880, p. 99.

It is evident from his writings that Dr. Pegues was a cultured, sensitive
young man who possessed great depth of thought. He did not have a
temperament to endure the hardships and disappointments that faced the early
settlers in the deep South. His father, Claudius M„ had moved his family
from SC to Macon Co, AL, ca 1832. William was the eldest ch and perhaps had
spent much time with his studies and had never done any manual labor nor
managed his finances carefully. In no way was he qualified to estab a
homestead in a wilderness like DeSoto Par in 1850.

He wrote 1/13/1848: "To my paternal home I now bid a long, a last farewell.
I go with proud hopes, a wanderer, a professional adventurer to the distant
West, to make new acquaintances and friends, to find a new home, to estab a
name among strangers. I shall have to wage with fortune a sullen war; and feel
the potent influence of "Malignant Star." If heaven prosper my efforts, in
a few years more the bright star of my hopes will be high in ascendant, and
wealth, fame and friends be mine."

On the 13th of January 1848 1 left my father's house in Wilcox Co, AL to come
westward in search of a future home, after a long and toilsome journey of
many hundred miles and close survey of much beautiful country and rich land
west of the MS River. I reached this Par in the month of February, being pleased with the
general appearances of the country, I determined to stop.

I located in Mansfield and engaged to a limited extent in the practice of
medicine, until the following December. In the meantime I purchased the
tract of land on which I now live. In December I returned to AL and brought
my negroes, goods and chattels out. Commenced clearing on the 29th January
1849, cleared and planted 50 acres. On the 21st March 1849, I m Elizabeth A.
Guy.

At the time of my m my property consisted of 566 acres of land, 14 negroes,
among them 10 grown hands, a boy 10 years old, 3 small ones; 5 horses, 2
cows and calves and not much money.

Elizabeth had 4 negroes, two grown, a boy about 10 years old, a girl 8 years
old and 830 dollars in money - and about two hundred due her for
negro-hire. The past has been an extremely wet year, a year of sickness,
affliction and sorrow.

At this time I have about 160 acres of land opened, the brush burnt, about
20 acres of logs rolled. I have probably made corn enough to serve me.

DeSoto Par, LA 1/1/1850: In money Elizabeth had one thousand and fifty
dollars, received at one time $750, at another $100, at another $200, making
$1050.

First week in 1/1850: Hands employed, rolling and burning logs, in the
morning, killed 5 hogs in the evening.

Wednesday, Jan. 2: Richard and little Oliver cut up meat, Louisa in kitchen;
Tamar, Frank and Sam in garden, the others rolled logs. For the balance of
the week the hands were rolling and burning logs.

Miscellaneous remarks: Tuesday 1st, "Elizabeth and I returned home after a
weeks absence, we had been with my Father who was sick at Mr. Reynolds."
(his Aunt Mary Pegues was wife of Robert Reynolds)

Wednesday, 2nd: "I went to Smith Port to see Father embark for home."
Saturday 5th: "I went to Mansfield today to get salt."

Patients treated by Dr. Pegues during his "limited practice of medicine" in
Mansfield 1848: 7/15, John S. Pegues' account includes four of his slaves,
Sam, Lavinia, Oliver and Louisa; his step-son,** Augustus Guy; Charles S.
Pegues, quinine for several family members; J. W. Stephenson, for himself and a ch; Thomas
Hendricks, quinine; James Thigpen; W. G. Lewis; Col. Banneau; Batts Family;
Fairchild Family; Powell ch; Mrs. Phelps; S. Fifer and S. E. Guy. Many
suffered from malaria at that period.(** Relationship confused here- Augustus Guy was NOT his step-son-sgs)

Expenses by credit: Bought from Caruth and Persons, 1/8/1850: 1 pair boots
$6.50, pocket knife 62 l/2 cents, 1 girth 50 cents, 1/2 bushel measure 75
cents, 10 yds shirting $2.25, 2 handkerchiefs 50 cents, 2 plugs tobacco for
Cornwall 50 cents,
I plug tobacco for Oliver (slave) 20 cents, thread and buttons for shirts.
Bought from Law and Gibbs: 1 jar prunes $1; from W. Crosby a watch key, 3
yds Irish linen $4.871/2, Beaver hat for self $6.50, 1 paper needles and 2
Ibs small shot. Gave note to Cornwall for 1176 lbs meat $47 and 4/100.

Other accounts: Mrs. Graham for peas $7; Mrs. Arrington for garden seed
$1.70; Mr. S. Masingale for sack of salt $3; J. H. Quarrels for mare $80; to
J. W. Parsons, attorney, $75; to Murphy, blacksmith, $28.40; Herrings,
blacksmith, $5.44; Freight and storage bills at Grand Bayou $4.63; Alstons'
for Irish potatoes and cabbage seeds $1; Expenses to Shreveport $10; loaned
S. Jones $5; borrowed money from E. G. Betts and Mrs. Pegues (his
mother-in-law).

During the following months Richard, Frank, Oliver and Anthony (slaves) were
kept busy splitting rails, building fences, rolling logs, burning brush,
killing hogs, cutting up and salting meat, and running errands to the
boat-landings (Howards-Point and Smithport) for salt, molasses and sugar;
going to Post Office in Mansfield for newspapers.

On Jan. 23rd, Mr. Flores' son brought him a letter from Smithport and stayed
all night. Feb. 1st his brother James arrived from AL.

Church services were held in the schoolhouse on certain Sundays, some of
those preaching were; Mr. Nance, Mr. Powell and Parson Fortson.

Some of his neighbors were: Mr. Flores, Dr. Hogan who had a son Ben Rush
Hogan; Messrs Flores Lafitte, Josh and Eli Best, Buchanan, Cornwall and
Jones, who assisted in searching for two little negroes who disappeared on
May 20th and were not found for six days.

3/21/1850 Dr. Arthur Virgil Roberts b in Madison Co, AL, m Miss Lucinda
Quarles, she was b in Edgefield, SC, her father was John H. Quarles who sold
horses and mules. Dr. Pegues attends wedding.

8/12/1850 Mr. Evander Cale came to begin work on Dr. Pegues' house.

Aug. 13 Went to Spanish Town to buy oxen from Mr. Hearin,

Aug. 15 Ambrose brought oxen;

Aug. 16 Oxen working the wagon, Mr. Smith, the Assessor came,

Aug.22 Cale came with four men getting house timbers.

Aug. 25 Bur our little Babe, only lived one short month.

Sept. 25 London, long Oliver, Jake and Anthony (slaves) are at work on our
house.

Oct. 7 Richard and Frank went to get moss. (used to mix with clay for
chimneys;  also for mattresses).

Oct. 27 Cale finished house this evening. Big frost this morning.

Oct. 30 my cotton nearly all open.

Nov. 8 Hands picking cotton, London splitting rails (for fences), Louisa
sewing.

Dec. 3 People still picking cotton.

Dec. 5 cold sleet and rain.

Dec. 8 Began thawing.

Dec. 9 Hauling cotton to Eli Best's gin. (Mr. Best also had mill for grinding corn).

Second week in December 1850: Still picking cotton. Bought mules from Mr.
Terrell. Elizabeth to "Quilting" at Mrs. Nance's house.

Dec. 30th London hanging garden gate; Women pulling cotton stalks

12/31/1850: This day closes another year, also it is the last day of the 1st
half of the Nineteenth Century. My little family has this year been blessed
with health. This year God gave us a lovely babe but in one short month took
it again to Himself. We have been blessed with abundant crops, our labor has
been well rewarded, for which we express our gratitude to God.

Our Country is still free, happy and prosperous, the great and agitating
question of government is settled and our people rest from all excitements.

I was unsuccessful in raising meat this year, my hogs d. I have made plenty
of corn and 25 bales of cotton, planted about 50 acres and about 120 acres
in corn.

2/27/1851: Left on trip to New Orleans by boat from Grand Bayou.

3/3/1851: Return trip. . . "got to Grand Bayou, came on to Shreveport and
spent the night; got home to dinner March 4th." (This trip overland
from his home to Grand Bayou was a very difficult one at that time).

Visitors during 1851 included: H. H. White, horse-drover, stayed two days
and Dr. Pegues bought 2 mules; Harris Graves, Bob Carey and Josh Best
visited one evening; so did Robert and Frank Powell. Dr.Hogan d June 18;
Harriett Pegues, dau, b 9/16/1851.

11/12/1852: "Went to Mrs. West's to Sam Guy's wedding."

Visitors during 1852 included, Dr. Gibbs, Mr. and Mrs. William Crosby and
dau, Jane; Mr. Collins dug a well for us; Census of School District taken
by Mr. Yarbrough, Augustus Guy, Sam Guy, Augustus Greening. A. S. Flores,
Robert Frierson and Mr. Clancey; Visiting several times Mrs. Fair, Mrs.
Roach and Mrs. Roberts (all were doctors wives in the neighborhood).
Gentlemen visiting were: Col. Crook, Mr. Pipes, W. W. DeLoach, James Sample,
James Phillips, Robert Carey and Mr. Rich Riggs. "This year I completed my
cotton gin."

Other friends were: Rev. Mr. Courcey, Claude Pegues, Dr. Alison, Mike
Youngblood, Mr. Pipes, Pear Flores and J. W. Wilcox. Mr. Creswell spent
the night as did many travelers including Dr. Godfrey, J.R. Taylor and W. B.
Means; Dr. Wofford and W. B. Lester lived at the Lake.

Dec. 31. 1852, He wrote, "today closes the year 1852. We have this year been
blessed with Heaven's richest, best gift to man - health. We are blessed
with plenty, crops are abundant, and man fears not the king of terrors in
the form of horrid famine. Grateful should be our hearts to the great Giver
of life, and potent dispenser of good and evil. This year added to our
family circle another lovely little dau. May God bless her.

10/30/1853 Augustus Guy m Miss Mundy -ch of Mary W. Guy, widow of T. T. Guy,
who m Charles S. Pegues** in 1844, Macon Co, AL. Both of these Pegues men were
uncles of William Pegues. Coming with these families to DeSoto Par
1848 were the two sons of Mary Pegues, Samuel and Augustus Guy.
(**MY NOTE-Mary W Guy, wid of T T Guy, married JOHN PEGUES; it was her dtr Mary Frances Guy who (M) Charles S Pegues.-Sadie Sparks)

Dr. Pegues d 3/27/1858. He had written his Will 5/11/1852. All of his
property was bequeathed to his wife, Elizabeth and the ch they might have at
the time of his d. In 1862, Messrs Mundy and Smith, attorneys, made
application to the Court for Elizabeth to be granted Tutorship of four minor
ch: Harriett, Dolly, Thomas and Mary. This was done after Samuel E. Guy and
Charles S. Pegues testified to the validity of Dr. Pegues handwriting. Eli
Best and Thomas Lester were ordered to make Inventory of the Estate
4/17/1858, the total of personal and community property was $11,870.23. A
notation in the Diary "Dr. Pegues Estate was $5,000 in debt at the time of his d."

After the d of her husband, Elizabeth Ann Guy Pegues continued to manage her
plantation and attend to the family business in a most efficient manner. A
later generation spoke highly of "Cousin Betty's remarkable business abilities."

In 1869 Mrs. Pegues bought lots in Mansfield and built another home. The
oldest living ch at that time was Harriett, then 17 years old. "Hattie" m
Mr. McClanahan, they had one ch who d in infancy. After the d of her husband
she lived for many years on Crosby Street in Mansfield. Her little house was
divided into two apartments and shared with Mrs. Margaret Mundy
Scales, "Miss Mag."

Mrs. Scales was the mother of Dr. John Scales, Shreveport; Sallie who m
Charles Page, Postmaster in Shreveport for many years, and Mrs.Roy Miller of
Minden, LA.

Charles Page was a gr son of Charles S. Pegues and his wife Mary Frances Guy
Pegues, sister of Elizabeth Guy Pegues. Charles Page m Miss Sallie Scales
and they had one ch, Mary Frances Page, who m J. W. Adams and lived in
Mansfield.
Frances Page Adams received Dr. Pegues' Diary from Harriett Pegues
McClanahan. Cousin Sallie Page and Frances Page Adams preceded Mr. Adams in
d, before he d he gave this Diary to Mittie Cale Murrell who gave it to me
before her d in 1991.

Margaret R.Fernbaugh

**The following article, written by Liz Chrysler, also has some of the relatives confused-Sadie Sparks

DeSoto Plume, pps. 89-92, , Vol.II by Liz Chrysler)

DIARY OF DR. PEGUES, ANTE-BELLUM PHYSICIAN (Dr Pegues' papers)
courtesy of Mrs. Mittle Cale Murrell—


"To my paternal home I now bid a long, a last farewell. I go with proud
hopes a wanderer; a professional adventurer to the distant west—to make new
acquaintances and friends, to find a new home, to establish a name among strangers.
I shall have to wage with fortune a sullen war, and feel the potent influence
of malignant star. I am conscious of ability to do It all, I am prepared for
the contest. If heaven prosper my efforts, in a few years more the bright star
of my hopes will be high on the ascendant—and wealth and fame and friends be
mine."
[ letter itself published Vol. I]

Sound like the words of a pioneer on the Texas Trail in the early 1800's,
following a star toward a dream of wealth and fortune? These poetic words
were penned by W. A. Pegues, in Wilcox County, Alabama, January 13, 1848, as he
left his Alabama home for the wilds of DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, the very edge of
the southern frontier of that day.

From the daily diary kept by this early doctor, we take a story that reveals
typical life of early DeSoto Parish settlers, regardless of their profession. On
the first page is a January 13, 1848, entry: "Left father's home in Wilcox
County, Alabama, to come westward in search of future home, and after a long and
toilsome journey of many hundred miles, and close survey of much beautiful country
and rich land west of the Mississippi River, I reached this parish in the month
of February.- Being pleased with the general appearance of the country, I
determined to stop. I located in Mansfield and engaged to a limited extent In the
practice of medicine until the following December."

Meanwhile, Dr. Pegues purchased a tract of land for home, located northeast
of Mansfield, near the Holly community, with Bon Chasse Bayou flowing nearby.
In December he returned to Alabama and brought "Negroes, goods and chattels
west."
By January 29, 1849, he recorded clearing of land, with fifty acres ready to
plant.
On March 21, 1849, he married Elizabeth A. Guy. Apparently work progressed
well that year, because by January 1, 1850, he recorded 160 acres open, with all
brush cleared off. About 20 acres of logs were rolled that month, and he reported
"probably enough corn for his supply." By that time his wife, Elizabeth,
had saved $1,050. Throughout that January his diary reflects "log rolling" and "brush
burning," with one break for "hog killing."

Sunday quote from Dr. Pegues' diary: "Six days shalt thou labor and do all
thy work, and on the seventh rest, for it is the Sabbath of the Lord." Much
unpleasant weather and illness is recorded during that January, with his own wife
becoming ill.
He recorded a trip to Smithport to see father Augustus Guy (** this is his brother-in-law-sgs) who came back home to live with him. He brought salt back from Smithport, probably purchased from the warehouse there. Every other week he visited with a Dr. Hogan. Purpose is not recorded, but possibly they discussed medical problems of the day.

During bad weather, the Negroes are reported platting corn shucks for horse
collars. He bought potatoes from Mansfield, salted pork and hung meat that
winter.
During the month he sent his black, Richard, to Smithport again to buy sugar
and molasses. He sent Anthony to Mrs. Best to help, in illness In that family.
On the first of February he recorded planting peas and lettuce. In March
all hands were busy, planting and splitting fence rails. Sundays, preaching and
visits with friends are recorded. One visit with a Flores family at Cornwall is
recorded.

A hard freeze was recorded on the 28th of March, killing the pea». He and
"Be" as he called his wife, rode to visit the Buchanans. Preaching was done at
different times by a Mr. Powell, Brother Nance, and a Mr. Fortson.

Frank, Negro hand, was sent to Mrs. Pegues to get seed. Apparently Dr.
Pegues moved his parents to Louisiana.(** this is his mother-in-law-sgs)
In April, 1850, he broke a young sorrel filly to plow, recording her as "gentle and tractable." In May they planted corn, with four plows.

In late May that year two little Negro children. Merit and Horace, ran away
and got lost. They were found six days later by Flores Laffitte, tracted down
Bon Chasse Swamp by Dr. Pegues. On that same evening the bay mare delivered a
colt.
In early June, Pegues recorded picking blackberries; "Betty" made jelly that
afternoon.. Ell Best killed a deer, reads the diary. On June 17, 1850,
Pegues hired an overseer for $15.00 a month. By that time the cotton was beginning
to bear, he writes.

On July 17 their baby was born, and Mrs. Pegues came. She stayed through
July
In August, Pegues went to Spanishtown to buy oxen. The baby was running
fever and had diarrhea dally, he wrote. His men were sent to make a bridge at Flores,

The women hoed in the peas. A Mr. Cale came by to get a job. (This was
Evander McKIver Cale, of Frierson, who was hired, later married a daughter**.) He Is grandfather of Mrs. Mittie Cale Murrell.) They curbed the water well that month.

(**error here, Evander M. Cole (M) Sarah Ann Pegues DeSoto Par, La on Apr 20, 1851.  She was NOT a dtr of Dr. William a. Pegues-SGS

In August they buried the month old baby, who never got over the fever and
diarrhea. They began working on their house in August, and raised the house
on September 14, 1850. Drought had Injured the cotton crop and It remained
small. They started picking in September.

Dr. Pegues was thrown from his horse on way to Mansfield In October, hurtin"
his leg. In-late October he went to Mansfield to buy clothes for his Negroes,
The Baptist Associational meeting is recorded about that time at Fortson Church.

On October 27 he recorded moving into their new home, completed by Mr. Cale.

big frost is recorded on that date. Cotton picking continued to December 3. 
they hauled cotton to the mill the rest of the month. They were also
building a "fowl house" in December, and making a yard. They report riding to Best's
gin with the cotton.

Christmas fell on a Wednesday, and Dr. Pegues declared a holiday on his farm
through Sunday, the 29th. A cold December is recorded, with ice often.
Winter activities Included log rolling, with women pulling up cotton and corn
stalks, all in preparation for the spring planting.

In recording his first baby's death. Dr. Pegues wrote: "God gave us a lovely
babe, but In one short month took It again unto himself. It being given and
taken away for his own glory—" He rejoiced that "our little one Is In Heaven, and
trust we may meet it there..."

In January his wife started an early garden, and Dr. Pegues set out
strawberry plants. Reverend Flowers visited for the night of January 1. A number of
visits are recorded with Mrs. Pegues (his mother)**, and one 
loan from her is recorded.

**(sh read Mother-in-law-sgs)

The 5th week of January, 1851, he recorded a visit by horse drovers, who
spent the night. He bought two mules from them. Many visits are recorded to see
Eli Best, who apparently had the closest gin. He went to Lake Edwards with his
wagon. No reason Is given. He sent his man, Frank, to Smithport to check on some
goods he had ordered.

On February 19, he started to New Orleans, then left there for home on the
29th.
He recorded the work done in his absence, with Richard in charge. Regarding
his trip home, he reached Grand Bayou on March 3, went to Smithport for the
night, and was home for dinner on the 4th.

"0l Brandy" got into mire one night in March, and had to be pulled out the
next day, and the ground was reported wet 

In early March. Negroes broke into his smokehouse; on March 22. Jane, the mare, delivered a colt on the night of April 12,1851. He borrowed oxen from Josh Best, apparently for use in planting crops. 

In June, 1851, he recorded attending Dr. Hogan for a fortnight. That doctor
died on June 18, 1851, at 9:00 p.m., according to the diary.

One preaching at Grand Cane was attended to hear Mr. Cater. Elizabeth Is
reported visiting Mrs. Hogan a number of times after the doctor's death.

Pegues wrote that a' slave, London, ran away "without cause." He built an arbor
for preaching in the third week of July. Apparently a revival was held the
following week.

Mrs. Pegues and Augustus Guy visited during September. (Elizabeth's father
and Dr. Pegues' mother.)** ( In September he paid $20.00 to 1. A. Oldham for the oxen.
He recorded a few hunting trips that fall. On September 16, 1851, another
baby was born, and named Hattie. Mrs. Pegues and Samuel Guy came, as well as
Mrs. Hogan.

**sh read Elizabeth's mother, and Elizabeth's brother-sgs)

After three months in the woods, London returned to Dr. Pegues 

In October, 1851. Mrs. Hogan sent for Dr. Pegues to see Ben Rush.

A deer was killed by Dr. -Pegues on October 17. Pegues records his slave,
Tamar, delivering a baby boy In October. 
On November 3, he traveled to Mansfield for election. A building committee met and ate with Mrs. Sample.

Pegues went duck hunting with friends. Farmer and Buchanan, at "Lake
Canistinea."
They had some snow on November 24, with clear, cold weather the rest of the
week.
On the day of the snow they killed ten hogs, and spent the next several days
cutting and salting the meat.

Once again they were picking cotton in December. They also began working on
a gin house. He records carrying his cotton to the gin house on February 5,
1852. Gin was started on February 9, 1852.

A visit to Dr. Fair with his wife, "Betty," is recorded in the diary. In
March 100 apple trees arrived for the growing plantation. In April, 1852, he went
to the "lake at Edwards Landing." Dr. Pegues and wife also went to the
dedication of the Union Church, where a Mr. Avery preached.

Pegues went to New Orleans for a week, and his wife kept careful diary of
activities during his absence. A number of records of his going fishing with his
father are in the daily diary. His father traveled to Texas for a while, then
returned.
He recorded In January, 1853, a neighbor, Joshua Best, died. A Mr.
McElhenny came to work on his "band wheel." Other physicians mentioned in the diary
Include Dr. Fair, Dr. Wofford, and Dr. Godfrey.

W. B. Means made one trip to Smithport with him. They bought cows from a
Mr. Flores. Spring of 1853 Is recorded as unusually wet, with heavy rains
through May and into June. He loaned some of his quinine supply to Dr. Roberts and
Dr. Fair. (This would be to fight the plague of malaria, prominent in this area.)

Pegues went to Texas In October, 1853. At the end of each year he wrote In
his diary a thank you to God for the blessings of that particular year.

In January, 1854, they were killing hogs, preparing them, and ginning. He
visited Mrs. Pegues often. In April, 1854, he shipped his ginned cotton from
Edwards Landing, then bought groceries at Smithport.

In May they broke "new ground" for potatoes. A third baby was born on July
12, 1854, and Elizabeth ran fever two weeks following. Dr. Fair was sent for.
Mrs. Fair came also, and spent the day.

September found men cutting a new road under directions of Ebenezer Best.
The women (hands) were picking cotton.

On August 21, 1855, he visited Robert Frierson, to the north. On the 25th
Mr. Wemple and Dad (Pegues) visited, spending the day. Mrs. Ell Best died on September
17, 1856, and Dr. Pegues sent "Richard" to dig her grave.

On October 4, 1856, they looked at some land near Smithport with Mike Guy.
On October 16, they went to Mrs. Pegues to make titles to a small tract of land
which belonged to the estate of T. L. Guy. 

A cold day mentioned In December, 1856, found the women spinning and men
digging horse troughs. Eldridge Greening left his employ, Pegues recorded, on
January 20, 1856, headed for Florida. Dr. Pegues sent Frank with him as far as Marcel
(a conmunity on Bayou Plerre, near Hwy. 84 now).

On February18, 1856, Elizabeth lost the baby she was carrying. The
weather was fair. Dr. Pegues meticulously records, and Dr. Alison attended his wife.
On the 19th the hands were finished breaking the new ground.

On March 22, 1857, they went to church in Mansfield, dining afterward with
Lewis Phillips. They bought some land that season from Peak Flores, a quarter
section for $800.

On Sunday, April 5, he recorded: "The great day of the season for change—
sunshiny morning, followed by rain, then hail, then rain, then sunshine. A
norther blowing and very cold. End with sunshine and cold."

The previous week's weather had dally been recorded simply as "fair." On
May 18, 1857, he recorded a visit to August. Another baby was born August 4, 1857,
and they named her Mary. Mrs. Pegues came again, and remained with the younger
Pegues family several days. Diary ended in September, 1857.

Dr. W. A. Pegues was buried In the Stephenson Cemetery, off the Benson
Road, on March 27, 1858. His tombstone Inscription reads:

"Dr. W. A Pegues, son of Claudius M. & Harriet Pegues; consort of
Elizabeth A. Pegues; born Nov. 24, 1820, in Chesterfield District
of S.C.; died March 27, 1858, In DeSoto Parish, Louisiana."

His "consort," Elizabeth, ran the farm with help of Mr. Murrell. Their
daughter (Mary Pegues) ** married a Mr. McClanaghan. 

** sh be Harriett Pegues (M) Mr. McClanahan-sgs)

Elizabeth A. Pegues was buried in the Mansfield Cemetery.

At the back of his diary. Dr. Pegues recorded, under title, "Medical Rates
of Mansfield Physicians in 1848": Visit in town $2.00, at night $3.00; medical
care and prescription at office, $1.50; mileage In daylight, $1.00—at night
$2.00—
In rain, $3.00. To extract a tooth, $1.00; to lance an absess was another
$1.00;to dress the wound or absess, $1.00. With bandage, $5.00. Consultation fee:
$10.00.
Excising a turner was $8.00; dressing an Incision on the neck. an additional
$1.00.
A visit to the home was $6.00, with quinine administered at $1.00. A night
visit to a child, with medicine, totaled $26.00.

Another document found in Dr. Pegues* papers was complete specifications for
building a Methodist Episcopal Church in the northwest corner of the
northwest quarter of Section 12, Township 13, Range 14, near the Gamble Lake Road.
The specs end with "The whole building to be executed and completed In a neat and
workmanlike manner. "

Liz Chrysler