Fannie Borland

Fanny "Fannie" Green Borland

Written by Bill Boggess, billboggess@webtv.net - October 2007

Once a highly celebrated poetess and 'belle-of-the-ball' during
reconstruction years, -- Fanny "Fannie" Green BORLAND was second known
born, September 1848 in "City of Roses", Little Rock, to Solon and Mary
Isabel MELBOURNE (MILBOURN/E(?)) (1824LA- 1862AR), while her father
served as Arkansas' fourth United States Senator (1848-1853), orphaned
in Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas on New Years Day 1864 by death of
her father near Houston, Texas, married in 1869 at Little Rock home of
Colonel & Mrs. O C GRAY, birthed one known son, lost husband in the 1878
Memphis yellow fever epidemic, died from yellow fever morning of 23
August 1879 in sister's home, at "Bluff City", Memphis, burial location
unknown.

Named Fanny Green (spelling in father's will), honoring father's aunt
Fanny (Green) GODWIN born 1785, who along with her husband George GODWIN
(1878VA-1866VA) raised Solon, later his first known son, Thomas, --- and
who in 1811, lived on Main Street of Suffolk, west across from Solon's
parents in Nansemond county, Virginia, which now is the 400 N Block.

"Fannie" is at Hot Springs in 1850 census, with brothers "Little Solon"
Harold, and George Godwin, with 24 y/o Dr William HAMMOND and his wife
Elizabeth. Thomas (WM) was in Alexandria Boarding School, Virginia May
1849, and in Blue Lick Springs, Nicholas county, Kentucky for 1850
census. She's then found at Princeton, Dallas county in 1860 census,
with brother George, sister Mary and mother Mary, Solon is in Memphis
city, Shelby county, Tennessee, Harold in Orange County, New York, at
USMA and Thomas died 9 January 1859 in Little Rock, buried at Mount
Holly cemetery without maker.

"Fannie" & sister "Mollie" most likely attended Princeton Female
Academy, Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas, first under James L BARRY,
then in 1860 under Virginia Davis GRAY (1824ME-1886AR) with husband
Oliver (1832ME-1905AR) starting their Arkansas teaching careers in 1860,
she for 21 years, he 45 years, till death at Arkansas School for the
Deaf.

"Fannie's" first poem, The Deserted Road, was written when just 12 years
old, likely in Princeton, published in newspapers. She learned
responsibility early following death of her beloved 16 y/o brother,
George, June 1862, her musically talented 38 y/o mother, October 1862,
when just 14 penning a couple more poems, while again living in Little
Rock, The Past and Future, published in the Arkansas State Gazette, 22
November 1862,
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/thepasta8nw.txt>
and : "Judge Not By The Outward Look", on the 29th,
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/judgenot5nw.txt>
with two year younger sister, Mollie, while their father lies sick in
bed.

After moving back to Princeton, prior to Little Rock being captured by
the Federals September 10, 1863, -- her father, after providing for
their future care and education, left from his sick bed for Texas
September 13, 1863 where on New Year's Day of 1864, he died, leaving her
an orphan.

Orphaned, Fanny 15, and younger sister Mary 13, during a civil war, with
28 y/o half-brother, Major Harold BORLAND (1835NC-192AR) held a Federal
prisoner in Boston's Fort Warren. Solon had while in Princeton before
leaving for Texas, entrusted funds of five thousand and forty-five
dollars, two female slaves, Pasty & Ann, and household furniture with
Mrs. Martha Augustina (Gee) HOLMES (1816VA-1901AR) for care of his
daughters. Martha's daughters, Lou 23 y/o (6 September 1865, married
Colonel Henry Gaston BUNN (1838NC-1908AR), later Arkansas' Supreme Court
Chief Justice (1893-1904), Lou died July1866) and Roberta (Berta) 17,
were their very closest friends, as was 29 y/o Virginia GRAY (Mrs O C
GRAY).

Half-brother, Major Harold BORLAND, who had been in Boston's Fort Warren
prison, is noted in Virginia Davis GRAY's, 1863-1865 diary, published by
Dr. Carl H. MONEYHON in Arkansas Historical Quarterly of 1983,

"...one of the persons not expected but most welcome, came. Mollie and
Fannie are in a blissful state of mind."

this in Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas, Friday morning, 30
December1864.
Said diary's December 27, 1865 entry, was:

"Our poem [undoubtedly "The Dead Confederacy"] and paper were read
tonight, with immense applause, Fannie said she sat in clover, I
[Virginia Davis GRAY] did not feel much excited."

A copy signed by Fanny of "The Dead Confederacy" is filed at Special
Collections, University of Arkansas, with pen name "Violet LEA", --
PS2235.L3 D33 1865. Father Abram J RYAN (1838-1886) is said to have
provided this and other of her poems to his friends in London and thus
was published 21 December 1871, in their "Cosmopolitan", (published from
1865 to1876) with following glowing words of its authoress' abilities,
to wit:

"...it is from the pen of a daughter of Senator Borland. It is with a
feeling of pride and sadness that we present this poem to the British
public --- where, although the subject is among the things of the past,
its beauty will find a ready appreciation. It is touching, tender,
chaste, classic, beautiful. We are glad to take this young author by the
hand and welcome her among the ranks of the poets. We regard this poem
as one of the finest rhythmic tributes that has yet been paid to the
"Lost Cause;" and its sprit of tender resignation, the heart brokenness
of its entire utterance cannot but touch the very souls of those whose
sympathies and associations induced them to look upon that cause almost
as a crime."

Fanny's talent as a poet came naturally from her father with a little
tutelage by artist, writer, friend, Virginia LaFayette (Davis) GRAY (Mrs.
O C GRAY).
I surmise her pen name, "Violet LEA" (We found used in four of ten
poems, thus far found), may (?) have come from her association with Mrs.
George Gallatin LEA, Sr. of Princeton, -- Eliz Ann "Sarah" WRIGHT
(1817VA-1888AR), an exceptional artist and friend, possibly related to
Solon's 1st wife Huldah WRIGHT(?). "Sarah's" art is thought to be better
than Grandmother Moses', --- and since summer 2005 is at Special
Collection, University of Arkansas, MC 1618, in Virginia Davis GRAY's
"Scriptural Album", numbers 109 &121(Virginia was used as model November
1863).

(WM) Fanny's four page letter to cousin Euclid Jr (1844MS-1896VA), 26
April 1866 in Virginia, written in Princeton, (WM says mailed from
Little Rock), is nearly not legible. Younger sister "Mollie's" letters
show far better penmanship! Confederate veteran, cousins Euclid, Jr and
Thomas Roscius (1845NC-1900VA) both attending University of Virginia.
(same time as did Fay HEMPSTEAD), and journeyed to Europe.

Tuesday morning, 21 April 1869 in Little Rock home of Virginia Davis and
Colonel Oliver C. GRAY, --- Fannie wed JamesC. MOORES (1834OH-1877TN) of
Memphis by First Presbyterian Church's Rev. Thomas Rice WELCH
(1834SC-1891AR).
The newspaper printed:

"The Bluff City has snatched a lovely prize from our 'City of Roses'".

Virginia's letter of 28 September 1871 notes, "Fannie's" moving to
Cincinnati, taking with them, "Mollie". Virginia was concerned over
their moving so far from Little Rock. This move (if such occurred),
after living in Memphis and giving birth to son George Borland, November
1869. 1870 census has her 22 y/o, married to James MOORES, a "saddler",
36 y/o, born Ohio, with 20 y/o "Molly" living with them and two of his
daughters, both born Ohio at 60 Monroe avenue, Memphis. Strange however,
"Mollie's" marriage license dated 22 February 1872 is in Memphis, with
JamesC. MOORES and John BEATTIE of Scotland, making bond in amount of
Twelve Hundred and Fifty Dollars for the marriage, of "John BEATTIE and
Mary M. BORLAND". John M. BEATTIE is possibly, but not likely, the same
John BEATTIE found in Virginia's diary annoted in 1864, #61, p. 75,
being from Kansas City, Missouri, where I was born, 63 years later.

Virginia Davis GRAY's (Mrs O C GRAY) transcribed, unpublished, letters
and diary of son Carl have numerous entries about "Fannie" and some of
her son, of Harold and "Mollie", visiting in Little Rock from Memphis.

Memphis' 1877 City Directory lists "Fannie" living at same address as
brother-in-law John BEATTIE, indicating John may (?) have been alive,
but she without James. This is first time her name was listed in Memphis
City Directory in the 1870's.

The Daily Arkansas Gazette news item concerning "Fannie's" death, dated,
Thursday, 28 Aug 1879, p. 4,c. 1, stating;
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/obits/m/mooresbo9ob.txt>
(AR)

"Her husband died in the epidemic of last year[1878]."

More realistically is 1877, when "Fannie" moved in with "Mollie", ---
until she is listed as; Mrs. "Fannie" B MOORES, in front page obituary
Sunday, 24 August 1879, of The Daily Memphis Avalanche. Fanny was among
177 yellow fever deaths of 677 cases in Memphis thus far in 1879 till
her death.

----------<>----------
Copy courtesy of Joan F VITALE, Memphis cohort.

-------------------
The Daily Memphis Avalanche
Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee
Sunday, August 24, 1879, front page.
~~~~~~~~~

MRS FANNIE B MOORES.

EDITOR AVALANCHE --- Will you allow a brief notice to Mrs Fannie B
Moores, daughter of the late Senator Solon Borland, of Arkansas, who
died this morning, after a short violent attack of yellow fever. Ten
years ago she was a reigning belle of Little Rock, and enjoyed, as many
will remember, considerable celebrity as a poet. General Albert Pike had
a high opinion of her talents in that line, The "Dead Confederacy,"*
republished in the London Cosmopolitan, and highly complimented by that
journal was one of the best of her productions. "Dilsey at the North,"
portraying the lament of an aged negress for her Southern home of
slavery, as contrasted with that of her new found freedom among
strangers, was also very much praised. "Born Dead," "The Baby of Lilie"*
and many more of her published pieces, were highly acceptable to the
public, and among the last of her poetical contributions was a tribute
of Walter Harvey [Colonel Harvey Washington WALTER] who died of yellow
fever a year ago, and was a member of Bluff City Gray's. She leaves
behind one child, a son.

A. A. L. ---- Memphis, August 23,1879

??? WHO WAS A. A. L. ???

* see below
~~~~~~~~

Fay HEMPSTEAD (1847AR-1934AR), named in 1908 as Poet Laureate of Free
Masonry, a post before held only by Robert BURNS, Scottish poet and
Robert MORRIS, Kentucky, wrote on page 479 in "Historical Review of
Arkansas, Vol. 1", published 1911 (page copy courtesy of Arkansas
History Commission) to wit:

"Mrs Fannie Borland Moores, of Little Rock, who was a daughter of
Senator Solon Borland, was the writer of many beautiful poems, that were
appreciated and enjoyed in the most cultured circles. Her verses were
fragmentary. Many an old scrap book has as its most cherished clipping
verses that were written by this most attractive and talented women,
which, from time to time, are reprinted in the Arkansas newspapers.
Father Abram Ryan, during one of is European journeys, gave some of
Fannie Borland Moores' verses to English literary folks. They were
published in the "London Cosmopolitan", with accompanying tribute from
the poet priest. An oft-read poem of Mrs Moores' is,"At My Father's
Feet". It was dedicated to and descriptive of her father, who was
statesman, soldier and diplomat."

Then in 1894, General John M HARRELL's article, in "Confederate
Veteran", <http://usgennet.org/usa/ga/topic/news/CV/cv1894pg2.htm> ;

"I congratulate you on republishing the "Dead Confederacy " of Fannie
Borland. How appropriate it is now[1894], and was when written [1865],
by a girl of not then twenty [17]. It reads to me like a fragment from
Keato. It glows with passion, but is crystalline in its pride, mournful
and graceful as winter and night, which it invokes. Miss Borland was a
great genius who perished too son(sic). I knew her, and saw her in 1870,
when she completed a rare quartette of gifted, beautiful girls, that
formed the family of Gen. [Albert] Pike, in Memphis [at Memphis Appeal
newspaper, 1867-68], the others being the Misses [Lillian & sister] Pike
and Miss Sallie Johnson, now Mrs. Cabell Breckinridge, each a type of
surpassing beauty. Miss Johnson was sole daughter of ex Senator R. W.
Johnson, and Miss Borland, eldest daughter of ex Minister Solon
Borland.".

Poem, The Dead Confederacy, is reportedly found in Confederate Veteran,
Volume I, No III, page380.
---------<>---------

"Fannie" was subject in a research project at Arkansas History
Commission, #76-0003, resulting in Russell P. BAKER, Archivist at
Arkansas History Commission [has added our new finds to his file,
October 2007], publishing an article in "The Pulaski County Historical
Review", Volume XXIX, No. 3, Fall 1981 titled FANNIE GREEN BORLAND
MOORES, in which is stated;

"After the war, Fannie was evidently sent to Memphis, Tennessee to
continue her education. While there, she began [before the war, ie 1860]
her career as a poet, writing under the name of Violet Lea. Her name,
wrote Arkansas Gazette in 1869,
'can be no stranger wherever true [poetry] is read and admired --
particularly in [Memphis], where the most beautiful and touching of her
lyrical compositions first saw the light -------."

Russell P. BAKER, of Arkansas History Commission, has been most helpful
to us and advised to wit;

"...pages 26-30 from a [1933] book entitled; Poets and Poetry of
Arkansas by [Fred W.] Allsopp for two published poems and a short
biography of Mrs. Moores. This is all I know that have been "compiled".
She is completely unknown and forgotten at this time."

We found this most endearing poem, "At My Father's Feet" (see below),
http://books.google.com/books?id=Yk1DUhnG_LkC... (search "Solon
Borland") which had been saved by a Mrs Francis Marion (Harrow) HANGER
(1856- 1945), sister-in-law to Fannie Ashley HANGER page 218 in
transcribed, unpublished "baby diary" of Carl GRAY, now at Special
Collections, University of Arkansas, M C 1618, Virginia Davis GRAY's
diary, first five years of Carl Raymond GRAY's life (Union Pacific
Railroad Corporation's vice-chairman at his 1939 death). The next two
years, 1872-'74, are NOT transcribed, being 845 pages, bound in three
books in files at Arkansas History Commission donated by Farrar Clinton
NEWBURRY in 1964, obtained from grandson of Virginia Davis GRAY while in
Omaha, Nebraska, which is begging to be transcribed, revealing life
during end of reconstruction, and The Brooks-Baxter War of 1874 and
possibly the 1874 fire which destroyed St Johns' College building.

AT MY FATHER'S FEET
by Fanny Green (Borland) MOORES

I often think when the leaves are brown,

And the noiseless snow comes down,

When the world is white and the trees are bare,

And a winter stillness is in the air,

Of nights when life in my veins was sweet,

And I sat, a child, at my father's feet.

He had borne in wars a valiant part,

And he told of battles that shook the heart ----

Fought hand to hand ---- and he showed us a scar,

That brightened the forehead it could not mar;

And the whole round world, from wood to street,

Grew round me there, at my father's feet.

He had been in distant lands ---- and far ---

From the Southern seas to the polar star ----

He told me of birds on rainbow wings,

Where the crescent moon of the Orient swings,

And soft on my brow blew the South wind sweet,

And palms grew tall at my father's feet.

He had sailed in ships that night and day

Through mirrored heavens out their way ----

Through waves that dashed at the trembling sky,

And grasped at the moon as they hurried by;

And lo! I looked on the white-winged fleet,

And the sea called out from my father's feet.

He told me of forests vast and dim,

With gray-mossed trees like hermits grim;

And fierce beasts hid in their treacherous shade,

And reptiles coiled in marshy glade,

'Till tigers lurked in the coal's white heat,

And I clung in fear at my father's feet.

Ah! many the winter nights I've seen,

And many the snows that lie between,
Since glad from my nurse's arms I came

To sit in the light of the dancing flame,

Knowing that Love and I should meet

There on the floor at my father's feet.

The hair was white on his honored brow;

Ah me! that brow is the whiter now,

And the years are many and thickly sown,

And into a mighty harvest grown;

The days are shorter and time more fleet,

Since I saw the world from my father's feet.

I have sown my grain. I have sown my tares;

I have sinned my sins and prayed my prayers;

I have sown in laughter, and reaped in tears,

I thank thee, Lord, that my harvest nears,

When I may pass through my garnered wheat,

To sit, a child, at my father's feet.

<>-------<>-------<>

Fannie, not unlike other early Arkansan's who sacrificed much of their
lives in performing significant deeds for Arkansas and its people while
Arkansas was developing its rich history during those early tumultuous,
pioneering years of civil war and reconstruction, --- she too was
FOREVER swept into oblivion by the state's historians and academia while
they chase the more affluent and modern political figures.

Fannie being the fourth such Arkansan we've researched since March 2003,
who has been "cast aside" with this fatal Arkansas fate.

Others were; Fannie's brother-in-law, Colonel Oliver Crosby GRAY, who
after 18 years as a highly respected professor at the University of
Arkansas, --- over 100 years ago (1906), honored his memory for his
deeds, service and contributions to man kind by building "GRAY HALL", to
his memory, but in 1966 most readily demolished, dumping his memories
with construction debris, covering both with dirt to be forever
forgotten.

Adding insult to injury, --- in 2004 the University's History Committee
of five, including Chair of History Department, Jeannie M WHAYNE and
Special Collections, Ethel C SIMPSON, refusing to place even a simple
historical marker, as had been suggest from within, at the nearly
100-year old building site of "GRAY HALL", --- ALSO showing NO
consideration of his 1st wife, Virginia LaFayette (Davis) GRAY's
significant contributions to the university, the communities and state
in which she adopted --- who was first to occupy 2nd floor 'Clock
Tower', of now "Old Main", 9 September 1875, who was the "first Chair of
what is now the Art Department", who had freely given her painting of
the then new "University Hall" (Old Main) to its Board in 1877 (now
lost), --- or of their son Carl Raymond GRAY (1867AR-1939DC). So be it,
---- this does not speak well for the State of Arkansas, nor its
academia system's people, a "cross" they must bare as they rush to
modern day political celebrities for fame and fortune.

3D-a. GEORGE BORLAND MOORES was born November 1869, orphaned, following
father's 1877/8 death, when mother Fannie died in the morning of 1879.
He's found in household of Fannie's half-brother, Harold ("Little
Solon") BORLAND, Faulkner County, Arkansas in 1880 census, but never
again by us.

<>----------<>----------<>

Fanny's known poems:

WE SOLICIT OTHER PIECES OF HER WORK

1)- First published poetic work of a 12 y/o girl born to poetry.

The Deserted Road:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/thedeser9nw.txt>

2)- "The Past and Future" written by a young grieving girl who turned 14
y/o month before her mother's death, which followed four months after
older brother's death, all while father laid sick in his bed and she's
looking after her two year younger sister.

The Past and Future:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/thepasta8nw.txt>

3)- "Judge Not By The Outward Look"
written by a young child, just turned 14 y/o, after losing her brother
in June and mother in October 1862, with a very sick father in bed,
printed on front page of The Arkansas Gazette but one week following
printing her; "The Past and Future".

Judge Not By The Outward Look:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/judgenot5nw.txt>

4)-DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE
Sunday, January 21, 1872
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/thedeadc7nw.txt>
~~~~~~~~~

"The Dead Confederacy", no doubt her most famous, written in 1865, when
she just turned 17, at Princeton under alias "Violet Lea", later
published in London's Cosmopolitan, 21 Dec 1871, with a big write up in
Arkansas Gazette 21 Jan 1872. A signed copy is at Special Collections
University of Arkansas (PS2235.L3 D33 1865). This poem was acclaimed by
Father Abram Ryan, Generals Albert Pike and John M Harrell, most likely
the work mentioned in Virginia Davis GRAY's 1863-1865 diary, published
1983, in Arkansas Historical Quarterly, annoted and edited by Carl
Moneyhon, UALR see entry of 27 Dec 1865, page 168, Part II.

The Dead Confederacy:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/thedeadc2nw.txt>

5)- A piece of poetry praised highly by General Albert Pike who starting
at the Mexican War, spent years at odds with her father.

The Baby at Lilie:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/thebabya10nw.txt>

6)- Short, sweet poem written at birth of Carl Raymond Gray
(1867AR-1939DC) later vice-chairman Union Pacific RR, in Virginia Davis
Gray's, 1867-1872, unpublished diary about her son;

Master Charlie Anti ___ Convention Davis, Harold,
George, Ferdinand and Rebel Gray's Address:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/masterch11nw.txt>

7)- The stern side of this belle-of-the-ball during reconstruction days.

A WOMEN'S PROTEST:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/awomensp12nw.txt>

8)- "At My Father's Feet", by far her most charming tribute to her
father, saved by Mrs Frances Marion (Harrow) Hanger (1856-1945) of
Little Rock. found in Fred W Allsopp's, 1933, "The Poets and Poetry of
Arkansas,"

See: History of the Arkansas Press for a Hundred Years and More, 1922,
By Frederick William Allsopp -- Page 549,
http://books.google.com/books?id=Yk1DUhnG_LkC... (search "Solon
Borland")

At My Father's Feet:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/atmyfath3nw.txt>

9)- "David O Dodd", from both Fred Allsopp's and a 1981 Pulaski County
Historical Society's publication article by Russell Baker of Arkansas
History Commission, a tribute to a young, brave hero in the eyes of
many.

David O Dodd:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/davidodo4nw.txt>

10)- "To My Son's Scrap-Book" a daunting love poem to her son George
Borland Moores, born November 1869 in Memphis whose life we could not
follow after 1880 census with step-uncle Harold & 1st wife.

To My Son's Scrap-Book:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/tomysons6nw.txt>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Known, without copies:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dilsey at the North, (?,?,?)

Born Dead, (?,?,?)

Tribute to Harvey Walter, (Memphis, 1878,?)

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