Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-07
Maine Women End Dispute Of 60
Years

Mrs. Mae Peake and Mrs. Belle Bill
lings, twin sisters SO years of age
and natives of Maine, have just end
ed down in Clint, Texas, an argument
over the Civil War that lasted for
more than so years.
The strange part of this long
standing controversy is that the
sisters have never been separated
for more than a few days at time,
and aside from their disagreement
over the responsibility for the great
conflict between the North and South,
they have got along together as con-
tentedly as two kittens
AS might be suspected, the dispute
which began with the outbreak of the
war, was due to the fact that one of
other q Southerner.
The twins were born in Camden in
1889. went to Keokuk Iowa. in 1884
and few years later they moved to
Missouri. The family name was Tar
bell. Mae married DR.. w. Peake, a
\lrginian, and Belle at the same time
became the bride of John Billings a
Connecticut man. Naturally Virginia
and Connecticut could not see the war
in the same light and so DR. Pea<e
Joined the Confederate army and Bill
lings the Union forces, leaving the
twins at home. Then each of the sis
ters took up her husbands cause, and
the argument did not end until with
in few weeks. Only once were they
separated however, and that was
when Bellies husband was captured
by the rebels She went to a South
ern camp. and although officers there
Tried to get her to come home, she
wouldn't do it until she got her hus-
band, and she succeeded When the
war ended the two families went to
California to live. and while the wom-
en- folks continued to argue about the
war. the husbands declared they
wished there had never been one.
If it was going to cause such a long
quarrel.
But what could we do?" asked
Mae. Were from Maine, and neither
of us would give in"
During the Spanish American War
we almost had peace. but something
would always come along to start a
fuss.
"A few days ago Belle and I were
out in the yard making kettle of
lard We always worked together.
Belle | said, L believe we're get
ting Old Yes. Mae she said, Il sup
pose we are getting along. How
long ago did this here Civil War be-
GIN | asked. Belle added a minute
or two and said. 'Sixty-one years ago.
Seems to me that you and have
said about all there is to say about
that war | declared. Doesn't make
any difference if we are from New
England. LIES too short TO worry
over something that happened that
long ago. ! want to take things quiz
city from now on, and besides. the
papers say there amt going to be
any more war. If you'll stop and not
mention the war again, I'll do the
same. l think you're part right.
anyway
We'll. Belle looked at me kinda
funny and smiled, and said. WHY
Mae, I've been wanting to stop talk
ing about the blamed war all these
years, but l just hated to give in.
one side was about as right as the
other, anyway. and III quit If you'll
quit There's nothing in war. any,
way
so that's how it happened. and
were happier than we have been
since 1861, and we don't care any,
thing about the old war now, do we,
BELIEF"
Mrs. Peake has 13 children and &c
grandchildren, but her sister has no
children. The sisters come of a long
lived family. their mother being l03
when she died