JOHN C. SHOKES kept a journal while working on the SC
Railroad between 1859 and 1861 (that we know of), which is
now kept at the Citadel Archives & Museum, Charleston, SC;
and perhaps there were other journals. This one was kept for
two years  from Jan. 1859 to Jan. 1861

The journal lists names of family members such as Susan
Maria, Maria, Arabella, and the place where the family lived
during the Civil War - Williston located between Santee and
Orangeburg SC. Susan Maria also wrote about "Jaky", Jacob
her brother, and mentions her mother several times.

The men that engineered the trains were listed, along with
the amount of fuel used each trip. The journal mentions the
trips taken to Hamburg and eventually Columbia, usually
every 3 days or so; and the incidents along the way such as
engine breakdowns, and hitting cows, goats, and sheep. They
went months without incident, then one day hit 3 goats and 7
cows.

I was surprised that the first entry was in reference to an
engine getting "blowed up" and the engineer was a
(yet-to-be) distant relative, Thomas Kingdon.

There are a few entries made during the Civil War with a
shaky hand listing items of furniture "lent" to the  SHOKES
family. An "Unckle Henry" was noted during this time.

There is mention of an earthquake and tremor in 1860. An
entry was written for the beginning of the Civil War, giving
the time and date of the first battle at Fort Sumter; and a
time and date of the last battle. An account was given of
the number of shots and shells after the battles at the
forts surrounding Charleston during the Civil War. Grocery
lists; accounting for payments made on his home; letters
from his daughter Susan Maria; the markings of a child
copying their father's script, practicing their names; and a
drawing of a woman in a pettycoat and skirt hoop holding
flowers on the cover.

It appears that the old journal was used while a new one was
being made. Susan Maria made drafts of letters and gently
scribbled through them with circular motions. I have
transcribed most of the contents of the two letters.

John C SHOKES died 27 May 1870 while living at 13 Hampden
Ct, Charleston, SC.

John's wife Susannah H. WELCH  had a sister Mary P. WELCH
that married John's brother Henry C SHOKES.

Will send transcribed letters when I have completed them.

Janet Nielson Jilote

Please, do not publish any of the contents of this journal
without the agreed consent of the Citadel.



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