My Dear Father and Mother: The Personal Letters of Livingston N. Clinard

Reminiscing Books latest publication, My Dear Father and Mother, is a compilation of over 250 vintage letters written by family, friends and business associates of Livingston N. Clinard of Salem, North Carolina. The letters document the personal experiences of a close-knit 19th century family and contain detailed eyewitness accounts of early business and social activities. "After reading these letters I knew they were destined to be shared, so that others could learn from them and enjoy them as much as I did," said co-compiler Karen Clinard, after receiving copies of the nearly forgotten letters. "I found myself visualizing the clothing, the people and the sights of the era." Frank Clinard, son of L. N. Clinard and author of many of the letters, left Salem in 1873 to become a store clerk in the small town of Hickory, North Carolina. The letters follow his personal growth from a young man whose attention and interests were focused on learning the "fancy dances," to a mature and dedicated husband, father and businessman. "I have found out one thing, & that is, if a man expects to make any money or a name for himself, he must go in business & not work on a salary...I must look ahead. I have some children that I expect to try & give good educations." Throughout the letters fear of disease is a major concern. In 1876, "Diptheria is raging here at an alarming extent...Every body is burning tar, & every old log & chips...Every cellar & filthy place in town has been cleaned up. Even in church today they had a bucket of tar burning...I have been carrying a disinfective in my pocket till I smell like an old Carbolic soap box...The grave yard looks bad, got new graves all over it." And later in 1879, "Our baby is very sick, has not slept for two days & nights & Dr. says if she does not soon sleep, she can't last much longer," states a distraught Frank, "I hardly think she will live 24 hours." The growth of Hickory is detailed as it was becoming a thriving hub for local and mountain farmers to sell and trade their produce and other goods. "It seems that nothing will stop these mountain wagons from coming in here...We have shipped about 800,000 lbs dried fruit and berries, think we will reach 1,000,000 lbs.," said Frank in 1877. In another letter he comments, "Hickory is on the upward tide, several families have moved here recently & more coming. There are several Tobacco Factories to be opened here shortly. There are six or eight new houses being built at present." Other letters discuss politics of the era, concerts and entertainment, local fairs, balls, temperance meetings, the railroad, tobacco, the marriage of Frank Clinard and the birth of several of his children. Also the hotel business in Athens, GA, descriptions of the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and correspondence about medications from World s Dispensary Medical Association used by Mrs. Livingston Clinard.