David Evander Shapard (Chapter 7) 1893-1894 Lizzie's Move, Fort Smith Arkansas

 Chapter 7

LIZZIE’S MOVE

FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS

1893-1894

 

In 1893, David was only six years old and still too young to attend primary school. He spent the days at home doing chores with his mother and playing in the neighborhood with the other kids. His older brother Edwin, Jr., at the age of thirteen, was attending middle school at Belle Point school, just a short walk from the Shapard house.

As far as David’s 18 year old brother Sumner, as of yet, there is no known record of him graduating high school. What is known is that he honorably sacrificed a great deal of his education out of the personal duty and necessity to financially support his family after the death of his father. Whatever he lacked in schooling, was more than compensated through the real-world education of experience. Sumner truly had a strong work ethic, and the charm of a confident and affable personality, making him well qualified to succeed in business and in life.

David’s sister Lizzie was enjoying married life at Sherman, Texas, when in August of 1893, a monumental event occurred. Her husband, W. B. Jaynes was approached and greeted on a street corner, by House of Representatives member, Joseph Weldon Bailey, Sr. (1862-1929), who had been a representative for that district in Texas about one year. Mr. Bailey explained that a special session of congress was expected to be called and he was in need of hiring a personal secretary. Earlier that year, President Benjamin Harrison had signed a bill allowing, for the first time, both senators and representatives to employ a private secretary, paid by the federal government, at $100 per month. Mr. Bailey recalled Mr. Jaynes’ past experience as one of the reading clerks in the state legislature, and offered him the job. Mr. Jaynes hesitantly acquiesced and he and Lizzie packed up their belongings and moved to Washington D.C., renting a small room on Capitol Hill. Interestingly, Mr. Jaynes remained employed as Joseph Bailey’s personal secretary during his years of service in the House of Representatives from 1893 to 1901. Mr. Jaynes, subsequently continued with him, in the same fashion, after Mr. Bailey’s election as a United States Senator from 1901 until 1913.

Lizzie wrote home often, telling the news and gossip of Washington D. C. political life, as well as, personal matters involving home life, sewing, apartment hunting, etc. Her letters routinely inquired of her brothers and their achievements and aspirations. More importantly, Lizzie always looked after her mother, ensuring she was in proper health and in good circumstance. Although lizzie was distant from her brothers and mother, she remained firmly relevant in their lives.

While the overall state of the Shapard family had made progress over the last few years, David’s mother still continued to struggle financially. On January 20, 1894, she finally paid off the $250 loan from December 15, 1890, whereby, she had mortgaged her house and land on lot 6, of block P, in the Fitzgerald Addition on Lexington Avenue. That same day, Mrs. Shapard remortgaged this same property for another loan, of $300, payable on a three year promissory note at eight percent interest, and ten percent interest after maturity. Once again, she used Sumner’s former employer George Lyman of Fort Smith as her loan agent. Mr. Lyman brokered the loan through an investor, Mrs. Calista M. Curtiss of Morgan County, Illinois, who was Mr. Lyman’s sister. Mrs. Shapard was able to satisfy the loan in full on February 3, 1898.

On May 21, 1894, the Shapard family of Fort Smith received the sad news of the sudden death of Rev. William Shapard of Austin, Texas. David’s beloved uncle had suffered a paralyzing stroke on Sunday morning, and he passed away at his house the following day, about 7 a. m., surrounded by his wife Emily and their children. Rev. William Shapard had spent 44 years in ministry and had been an honored resident of Austin for 16 years. His funeral service, conducted by his friend Dr. E. S. Smith, was held on May 22, at the Tenth Street Methodist Church. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas. As a widow, David’s mother was able to render great empathy and comfort to her sister Emily during this tragic and difficult time.

Circa February of 1894, The Shapard family was overjoyed with the delightful news that 22 year old Lizzie Jaynes was pregnant with her first child. Over the following months, Mrs. Shapard opened up her rent house at 417 Lexington Avenue, for Lizzie and Mr. Jaynes, in anticipation of the birth of her first grandchild. A nursery was made, birthing bed prepared, little clothes sewn and all was joyful.

In early August, as Lizzie’s due date approached, she and Mr. Jaynes arrived at Fort Smith and resided at her mother’s rent house at 417 Lexington in anticipation of the delivery. On August 10, 1894, Lizzie went into labor and Mrs. Shapard summoned Dr. E. H. Stevenson to oversee the delivery. After a lengthy labor, to the heartbreak of all, Lizzie’s baby was stillborn. In an instant, the expectant season of joy was devastated, leaving the family in excruciating emptiness and unbearable sorrow. The following day, the baby boy was laid to rest near his grandfather in the City Cemetery (Oak Cemetery). As it came to pass, Lizzie would not be able to bear any more children.