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Letter 91
At Home Feb 24th,1886
Mrs Mag Overstreet (1)
California
Dear Aunt Mag
I received your highly appreciated letter yesterday and you dont know how
much I appreciate a letter from you. I was sorry to hear that Boon (2) had
left. Aunt Mag I wish you would write and tell me all about Boon. I know
he must be wild but I wish you would tell me if he drinks. We are all just
tolerable well but I dont think I ever heard of as much sickness as there
is now. Uncle Sams (3) children are
all very well except for Ella (4) ,
you know she is insane and is at the Asylum at St Joe (5) .
I suppose Amazon (6) has told you all
the particulars and "Marie" (7) the
youngest sister the doctors are afraid she is going into consumption. Jennie
(8)
lives
here in town, she has one child, a little girl (9)
. Fred (10) is married
and lives down in the country by Mollie Lobbs. Aunt I guess I will tell you
a little about our family. Sophia (11) lives
here in town and has got one of the meanest men under the sun for a husband.
She ought to have killed
him long time ago. She has two very sweet children, a girl and a boy, the
girls name is Beulah and the boys Hays (12) .
Fannie (13) lives in St Charles Co, she has a good kind husband, are well
fixed and have four children (14) . Linville (15) is in Fort Worth Texas railroading, and next comes myself
called the scrub of the family although I weigh 148 pounds & has a white
head, I will send you a lock of my hair. Aunt Mag I dont expect you can read
this letter but you must excuse it this time for I have been to a dance four
night and now I am so tired and nervous I can scarcely hold the pen. Well
I must close for I am so sleepy. Write soon and often. Love for all and lots
for yourself
Lovingly
Anna H. (16)
Letter 92
Mr Joe Whiteside(17)
Lemoore (18) feb 2 [about 1887]
Dear Sir i take the pleasure of writing to you(19) and cosin Jimmie (2o) find
out how all the folks are and if they are all well. i did not get to come down
to see you all as i would have don if i had have time, i started very sudenly.
Well Joe i found old Farther (21) verry poorly but he is mutch beter and can
set up som. Cosin Jimmie would not know this country, the streets are laid of
clare out to the old place and in the spring thire will be a street care road
bilt out to the old waldo place and the Fare grouns will be out thire. land out
thire is worth one thousand Dollars an acher, all the old folks have left the
country and new ones come in all strangers to me. i have had a fine time sence
i come home, i went a slay riding the other day and i only got home with the
tung out of the slay (22) , that was prety good. Well Jo are you agoing to run
the place over to huron (23) next spring, i would like to get a job with you
if you do i will start back to that country the first of next month. Well Jo
i have got two of the finest Girls i ever seen, i do not know but what i might
have to leve the country before i think of it if i keep doing as i have bin,
the best boy sence i come home, i go to church ever time thire is eney. I also
went to Kansas City the other day, i was a hundred and thirty, come home well
pleased. Jo give all my regard and Uncel Bill and Aunt Mag my best regards, i
hope you will answer this letter soon, let me know here about sheep sobering
(24) if you are going to run the place,
i would like to work for you. All the
folks are well but Jim Hays (25) he got his leg broke but is geting along all
right, i will close hoping to from you and Cousin Jennie soon, i remain yours
as ever
Boon Hays (26)
Eada Buckhaming and Aunt Marry Cunningham sends thire regards to Elfleda and
Jenney and Aunt Mag, you must write to me with out fale. Annie (27) got married,
i supose you herd that.
Letter
93
Westport, Mo.
Dec the 21,1887
Mrs Magg Overstreet
Dear Sister
I will try and write
you a few lines this morning. We are all well at present, we are having some
very cold weather now, we had a very hard snow storm last tues. Mr Jesse Thomas
died very sudden on the 12 Inst, he went to bed as usual & was dead by 8
0 clock. Mr Hays (28) saw
Henry Harper (29) yesterday,
he has that note of Stapletons, said he would give Mr Hays a copy of the note,
there has been eight hundred dollars
drawed on the note. Did you ever get anything on the note. George Bryant (30) said
a copy woudent do you any good. Says he recolects of seeing the note with Sams
papers. We think you had better come. Henry dont want Sams Children to know
anything about it, he has kept the note untill he thinks it worthless but there
is nothing like trying. I would be so glad to have you visit us. Dave & Ad
Self went to Cal soon after we got back, was gone two months. Said they would
of gone to seen you & Alfred (31) if
they had of known where you lived. Mr Hays went to Chicago last week to see Guss
Bysum (32) ,
had a very nice visit.
Guss
gave him a nice silver watch & chain, wanted to give him a gold one but he
woudent except it. Said a silver one was good enough for him. Guss gave him some
nice pictures, one the picture of his house. He is said to bee worth two million & a
half. I will close for this time hoping to see you soon. Much love to you all
anquiring friends. I remain your Sister, write Soon
Laurinda W. Hays (33)
Mr Hays said that money was drawn on the note in 1862,
write as soon as you get this.
Westport Mo
Letter 94
Jan 9th 1888
Dearest Dear Aunt Mag & Uncle Will (34) ,
It has been so long since I have seen any of you, I hardly would know how
to write at all but Pa has talked so much about you all since he was there.
It has renewed old thoughts & memories tell it seems but yesterday since
I saw you and oh how I long to see you all once more. Pa's health is better
now than it has been for five years, he weighs one hundred and seventy Ibs,
more than he has weighed in a long time. Aunt Mag I weigh one hundred seventy
five Ibs and Pa (35) says he thinks I will go two hundred before I stop.
Ana is real well & hapy. She has all the work she can possible do. Eda
is still with us though is very much in love with a man and if he dont object
they will marry. My babies are better now though have been quite sick for
two weeks. Uncle Linville's family are all well. Brother Jimmie (36) is with
us tonight for supper and also his seventeen year old boy (37)
. Aunt Marium (38) is living
here in W.P. (39) & Jim Rout (40) & Jennie Asburrys
little girl (41) lives with her. Jennies girl boards there & goes to
school & Jim makes that his home. Cousin Ag (42) is keeping boarders
in Kansas City and doing very well. Cousin Ag is like myself. She gets an
awful strong notion sometimes of going to California. When my children get
larger I am sure to come too. Sister Fannie (43) has a good husband, a nice
home and four children, her oldest boy is twelve yrs old. Annie (44) has
a very good husband and she will soon be a mother. Aunt Mag, Pa had his & Ma's
(45) picture taken for you and will send them by express to morrow, the ones
that are framed are for you, then I mark the ones for Aunt Nan (46) and Aunt
Annie (47) . We will send them all to you, then you please send them to the
others as we think that is the safest way. Aunt Mag do you remember Dr Parker,
he is our nearest neighbor and his wife used as much whisky & morphine
as ever but sill quite pretty. We had a letter today from Aunt Bettie Berry.
She wrote us Uncle Frank Chick (48) was [rest of letter lost]
Letter 95
Westport, Mo.
Feb. 19,1888
Mrs. Mag Overstreet
Dear Sister (49)
I will try and write you a few lines this morning. I received your letter in
due time and was so glad to hear from you all. I could have written sooner but
was trying to hear something more about the note. The Judge would not give up
the note unless Sams Children would sign their names. Mr H. (50) got
a copy of the note, took it to Am (51) and he thought
the Children would sign
it. He sent
it to them but they would not sign it. Mr H. told Amazon to write you about it.
He may have done so before now. Polly was right sick yesterday. Mr H. has gone
to church this morning, had a good rain last night and is still raining some
this morning. Jim and Tempie (52) are going to move
soon on the other side of old Majors (53) farm and
I will feel quite lonely for
a while. I would be so
glad to have you visit us. Mr H. still talks of going to Calif, but I dont think
we will go any ways soon as he seems to be making preparations to stay here.
Van (54) has gone back to Texas, started last monday
week. We got a letter from him yesterday, he got throug all safe. Mag Mc had
quit keeping boarding house.
I fear she dident make much. Marium (55) is still
living at her home in Westport. Jim Rout (56) lives
with her, he buys all of
their groceies and she boards Aggie
Asbury (57) , she gets her board clear so I think
she is doing very well this winter. I have never been content with my house since
I came back from Calif.
I tell Mr H. I have caught that from him. I think of you all so much and would
like so much to see you all again - it seems more like old times to me when I
think of being in Calif, with you all. I enjoyed myself so much while there,
if I was sick some. You said that Christmas was the sadest time with you. Never
can I forget the Christmas eve before the war we all past at your house, every
Xmas that pleasant time passes through my mind. I often think how our Children
enjoyed themselves that night.
Jan the 20,1888
A beautiful sunshiney morning, all well as usual. Polly is better. They have
brought Ella (58) home
to die. She may be dead by
this time. She has consumption (59) ,
seems to be
at herself now, poor girl,
what a sad, sad life her married
life has been. Foster Asbury (60) still has them spells,
Jennie says he has them
about once a week but they are getting lighter. John & Willie Davis went
to Calif, this winter, have they called on you. I am looking for Mag Mc out this
week. Tell Claud (61) to look out for Farm & Fireside paper (62) soon.
I
will close as I cant think of anything else to write. Write soon & often.
Much love to you all and all enguiring friends from your ever loving Sister
Laurenda W. Hays
Letter
96
Westport 2-26-1888
Dearest Aunt (63)
We received your very welcome letter several days ago but I have been real busy & Ma
(64) has been sick for two weeks, part of the time not able to sit up but is
very much better today. Pa (65) for several days has been quite poorly, but no
wonder, the weather has been dreadful. It has blowed & snowed all day. My
babies (66) are real well for the first time this winter.
Tempie was in yesterday. Eve & I went home with her. They are all very well
except colds. Aunt Rinda (67) & Jimmie (68) wants to come to Cal again but
Uncle Lin is out of the notion. Cousin Ag (69) stayed two or three days with
us last week. She has given up her boarders. I dont know what she next will do,
Jim Rout (70) bought a lot off of Aunt Mariums (71)
lot & built him a nice
little Cotage that brings him fifteen dollars per month. Brother Jim is living
in Westport, he has three nice boys, his oldest is seventeen, the second is fourteen & the
baby is three (72) .
I hear from Aunt Bettie regular. Uncle Ike (73) is living with her & keeping
Butcher Shop. He weighs over two hundred Lbs. I or rather Ma had a letter from
Aunt Annies (74) little Lemma (75) last week. I enjoy getting letters from any
relations more than anyone I know, but I am so negligent about ans. I know they
think I dont care to hear. Aunt Mag Pa will send you some buisness papers in
my letter. Be sure & write soon & tell the girls I would like very much
to hear from any of them. I have not forgotten our good old times neither have
I our near relationship and Aunt I never can thank you enough for your kindness
to dear old Pa while he was out with you. There is scarcely a day but he can
tell of something you all did for him. Love to all, kiss brother Boon (76) & Uncle
Will for me, all join me in love to all, write soon & often.
Lovingly your Neice
Soph (77)
Letter 97
Colton, California (78) June 8, 1888
Mr. Robert M. Berry (79)
Dear Papa,
I seat myself this Morning to answer your leter and would have answered before
but waiting to receive the Morse (paper damaged) –arrd but didn’t
get it until this Morning. James (80) went down this morning and got it and
we also received Your Telegrame last Night and was so glad to here that you
was well. We are all well except Mamma (81) she has her spells every once
in A while. We have got the chills stoped, the Dr. says she is getting along
alright and she would have those weak spells anyhow. Mama sais she is glad
you are having A prospect of selling our things and hope you will soon be
home. She sais she is getting ancious to tell you the time seems long to
her. You must write often. How is Aunt Ida (82) folks tell her she must write
to us. Mitchel (83) come in the other evening and said when is Papa coming
down. I will come to a close, they all join me in much love to (you).
Your loving daughter
Annie B. Berry (84)
Colton, California June 8th 1888
Mr. R. M. Berry
Dear Papa
We have been waiting and waiting for a letter from you Until Mama got nervous
about you and she got me to write to see that we could hear from you. We
are all well and Mama has been having the chills but the Dr. has about got
them stoped on her. She can sit up of a morning. We received your Telegram
but it had been in the office all day and night before we got it and was
Thankful to hear that you got there safe. Mama fears that you are sick the
reason you didn’t write
There is no reason(?) to write but that.
Aunt Martha got a letter from Aunt Ollers they were all well. I will come to
a close by asking you to write soon as we can hear from you. They all join me
in much love to.
From your loving daughter
Bell Berry (85)
Letter 98
Cass Co. Belton Mo. Feb 20/90
Mrs Mag J. Overstreet
Lemoore Tulare Co.Cal.
Dear Sister (86)
After some delay we will try to drop you a fiew lines in answer to you very kind & welcome
letter of Dec the 18 last which was duely received and read with interest but
owing to sicknefs and other hinderances has not ben answered until now. We were
very much disappointed at not seeing you any more after you & Cousin Laurinda
(87) left here
but such is life you know, we are destined to meet many disappointments We were
glad to hear that you had gotten home safely
and that you found your
Family well.
We have had a very mild soft winter here, and lots of sicknefs, there was more
sicknefs here during the month of January than I ever saw or heard of in the
same length of time since we have known the country. The principal trouble was
what is called La Grippe or influenza; it comes on with cold & generally
with a chill. Jennie (88) was taken down the 1st of
January and has not been
out of the house since but has been up & around in the house for several
days & I was poorly for about three weeks in the time myself. We are both
in about usual health now for which we are very thankfull.
I saw Willie Bane (89) yesterday and he told me that
they were all well as common & that
his Papa & Mama (90) were having better health
this winter than usual, at least for several winters past. You remember that
Cousin Lizie Berry (91) was
in Arkensas when you were here? She regretted not being here to see you very
much and requested me to give you her love when writting you. She, Cousin Lizie,
has been sick this winter but she is about as well as usual now. William Yocum (92) and his little family are in about usual health.
Will was just ready to
come up to see you when you were here but one of his daughters – Bertha (93) I
believe was taken sick and he (Will) could not leave home. Will was terribly
disappointed for he thinks a great deal of his Aunt Mag.
Well Mag you will remember that when you were here that young John Lamar (94) was
paying his addrefs to a widow Lady in Harrisonville (95) by
the name of Greenleaf? (96) Well he maried her and
brought her home last tuesday
and yesterday they
had quite a jubilee at old Uncle Johnie Lamar's (97) ,
the Old Gentleman & Old
Lady were cellebrating the 50th aniversary of their mariage while at the same
time & place they was cellebrating the first aniversary of their son John's
mariage. Ed West & Matie (98) & Family, Lucinda Muir (99) and
Family
are well, Chap Briant & Sue (100) & all the Friends are well so fare
as we know. There is no news of local interest affloat here except there is considerable
talk of another Rail-Road west of Belton, they have been surveying nearly all
winter, I believe they call it the Monette Branch of the Frisco or Kansas City,
Nevada & Ft Smith Road.
Have you seen Duke Lipscomb (101) since you got home?
If so how is he & Family?
this leaves us in about usual health and hoping it may find yours well, prosperous
and happy. We must hasten to a close as it is growing late & my eye is about
to give out. Jennie joins me in sending lots of love to you and all of your Family.
Write soon and often, we remain as ever youre affectionate Brother and Sister
Wm N. & J. Young (102)
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Franklin - Email: Watts Hays Letters