After 83 years, a collection of letters has been returned to the Kannon Family. The letters, dated 1936-1938, from Jewett, Texas were addressed to Dorothy Kannon in Baton Rouge, LA. They were found many years ago in a house being demolished in Buffalo by Glen Speed. These letters were written by Dorothy’s mother, brothers, and sister.
The letters were then given to Shelba Black, a well-known and beloved Freestone County historian, probably about 40 years ago. She archived them in her personal files until recently when she shared them with local Ag teacher, Daniel Phillips because they contained much historical information about the early school agriculture program.
Daniel Phillips then shared them with Linda Mullen of the Freestone County Historical Museum. Through her genealogical research skills, Mrs. Mullen was then able to track down, Eva Hunnicutt, Dorothy’s daughter, in New Braunfels; as well as the Laurance Kannon family of Sumter, SC. Mr. Kannon, writer of several of the letters, had recently passed away during the summer of 2018 at the age of 97; however, his son by the same name was still living nearby.
The Kannon/Nolen family came to live in Jewett during the mid 1930s, as their mother, Emily Kannon Nolen (wife of Will Nolen) was the music teacher at the Jewett school. From the letters we learn that she taught piano, a rhythm band, and a xylophone band. Her students competed in amateur programs in area contests such as nearby Concord, with cash prizes being given. Out of eight schools, her pupils won prizes for both group and individual classes. She also planned to carry her students to the state competition at the Huntsville Music Festival.
Of interest in the letters is the story a 14 year old Laurance tells of life living on the farm during the depression years. He was taking agriculture classes and had three projects: “a gilt for brood sow, an acre or two of corn…, and chickens.” Young Laurance wrote, “I have to make $25 off of them or fail. Next year I’ll have to make $50, next $100.” “During this cold weather my little chicks froze, they were good size and had feathers on them”. Another summer he mentioned how hot it was and that if you were barefooted it would scorch your feet. “My corn is all most burning up and if we don’t have a rain pretty soon it won’t make a thing more than the nubbings that are on them.” “I just about ruined myself a good mule and did ruin a planter besides spilling $1.00 worth of peas out of the planter.”
Times were hard during the 1930s and 40s. Mrs. Nolen mentions in one of the letters that a neighbor girl had lost both her mother and little brother about the time the girl graduated from high school. The brother was six and died from diphtheria. Sadly family research revealed that Mrs. Nolen also passed away shortly after these letters were written from a spider bite. Laurance then must have gone to live in the Presbyterian orphanage, which his obituary states he lived at for 5 years. While living there he taught gardening and animal husbandry.
Laurance was an overcomer. He went on to attend LSU where his sister Dorothy had attended. He served in WW II as a radio operator on a B-24, bombing Nazi munitions. He later taught school at New Orleans and earned a Masters in Religious Education from the New Orleans Baptist Seminary, becoming a fierce soldier for Christ. Laurance Kannon leaves behind quite a legacy; as did his sister Dorothy, to whom he wrote. She also served her country during the great war by working at the Red River Ordnance Depot, an ammunition plant, and at the Todd-Houston shipyards; returning to college at the end of the war. She attended three years at L.S.U. and earned her Bachelor of Music degree at North Texas University at Denton, Texas. She completed her Masters degree in Musical education at Sam Houston University. While Dorothy was at college at North Texas State at Denton, Texas she was a member of the famous acapella choir.
Dorothy returned to this area after many years and taught Music at Fairfield Elementary school and later she became a Resource Teacher. She also taught private piano lessons. Many may remember her as Dorothy Lewis or Dorothy Parks, married to the owner of Parks Cleaners, which was located on the square in Fairfield until it burned. She was remembered fondly by co-worker Marci White as a very happy, fun-loving and good natured person. Her students remember her affectionately as well. Leslie Freeman stated that he loved Mrs. Parks and that she was a very, very talented lady and deserved the best.
“How wonderful to reunite a family with these historical family heirlooms, written so very long ago. I am very proud to be included in this endeavor, and gives one such a wonderful feeling to do a kind deed for another.” said Linda Mullen. “It is such an amazing and remarkable story how the letters have been well preserved through these many years. Shelba Black is to be highly commended!”
