Walker County AlArchives History .....Lucinda Blackwell King - Assorted Letters Between 1920 & 1938 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley Mellon Dewberry dewberry@cableone.net July 28, 2010, 1:17 pm LUCINDA BLACKWELL KING - ASSORTED LETTERS Source: ______ Journal Louisville, Kentucky Date: Sunday Morning, April 18, 1920 Jeffersonville Has First "Dry" Launching Miss Annie Hendon, daughter of E. T. Hendon, Mayor of Cordova, Ala., who performed the first "dry" christening at a launching yesterday at Howard's shipyard. Source: 2nd Newspaper Clipping Date: Probably April 1920 COINCIDENCE AT LAUNCHING Mayor of Cordova, Ala. And Sister, Brother There, Unknown To Each Other The launching of the first of three steel towboats at Howards shipyard or the government Saturday was attended by Mayor E. T. Hendon of Cordova, Ala. and by sister Mrs. J. L. King of Jasper, Ala., but neither knew the other was present. The mayor had come with a delegation to attend the launching of the boat which is to be used on the Warrior River Ala. to haul ore barges. He was accompanied also by his daughter Miss Annie Hendon who christened the boat "Cordova" as it slid down the ways into the Ohio river. Mrs. King was visiting her daughter Mrs. Harland D. Sanders in Jeffersonville and is on her way to Palo Alto, Cal. where she will locate with her son John King. She went to witness the launching from the bank and did not know her brother was there until after he had left and he was unaware it is believed that his niece lived here or that his sister was visiting in Jeffersonville. ********************************************* Source: Letter Date: May 10th, 1938 My Dearest Daughter & family. I just got your sweet card and letter. Baby I am so sorry I have so long about writing and thanking you for the sweet things you sent for my birthday. I can always use stockings. They are always good. The slip is lovely Francile sent. Sent me 2 pairs of pretty pants. Josephine sent a pair of pants and a lovely silk nite gown. John and Sylvia gave me some money & have a pretty spring coat and hat and 2 new dresses. I made them of the material you sent me. I have 2 to make and then I won't have cool summer dresses about coming. I am sure I will come later in the summer. As I think Jimmy (Jim Clyde) will be married some time this summer. The girl is a teacher. Hear she is very nice. He haven't said so but from all I see we think he will and I do hope he does. She is very sensible then you see my obligation will be over. He will have some one to look out for him about now. Bedspread it is almost finished. I don't know just how to send it. It is heavy and bulky. Shall I send it COD or wait and bring it. Everyone says it is beautiful. I have worked on it 13 months and I am tired of looking at it. I will find out from the post office if I can send it by mail in the summer time. Send me a dollar and so I almost never have that much. I had a letter from Gay. She said H.D. (Harland David Sanders), Margaret, Mildred and their husbands had been in Florida. Was with them several days. She did not say why Josie was not with them. She said they said she was coming out here. She won't come. I haven't heard from her. I am writing her today. I am so glad T.C. (Thomas Carl Poole Sr.) is better. He has been very fortunate all these years. Make him have all his teeth fixed or out. Carson has a dental plate and parcal (partial) just recently. Bad teeth are the cause of most all our illnesses. Sylvia just home home from Palo Alto. She was gone 3 weeks. I want to go to San Francisco to Shugs (William Gladstone Ray from Jasper, Alabama) for a while fairly soon. I love Francisco. I am very anxious to see your new home and new things. That is so very much better than paying rent. You own it pretty soon. Your money has not been thrown away. The flowers here as wonderful. Our yard is a paradise of shrubs and flowers. I think I have told you all I know. Yes Josie sent me a card and hanky. Fred sent a telegram from the family. Gave me a large box of candy. We had a nice day. June baked us a cake. She makes good cake. A young King from Ala (Alabama) found us. Do you remember Maryon King of Townley? He is Maryon's brother Rufus grandson and was that kid glad to find us. He has a good job. Manager for Wathim (?) Company & see Jesse Sartin. ___ is no more than 100 miles from us. They are visiting ___. She will find us yet. Well I must close now. Mail this before dinner time. Love to all of you from your _____(?) Mother (Lucinda Blackwell King) ******************************** Source: Letter Date: June 23, 1938 From: Lucinda King Blackwell 219 S. Marage (Mirage) Lindsay, California To: Mrs. T.C. Poole (Grace King Poole) 624 Leighton Ave Anniston, Alabama My Dearest Daughter Why haven't I heard from you. I am worried T.C. was sick in April when you wrote last & said your Read ? ___ is all down & will send it when you send money for stamps & never have enough for that and if all is well. With you I would like very much to get a package from you with some thin material for a dress dark blue and black with white dots on. You sent one ? years ago. I love it so I have it on now and it is in rags. My best dresses are the ones you sent for my birthday and xmas last year. I love them. I haven't given up hope of coming some time this summer or fall. Jim (Jim Clyde King) has a good job and will be able to help me out. Things are not so good here. Oranges haven't brought a penny for 2 years. Business is very poor this summer. How you and Josephine (Josephine King Sanders)? She is very dependent. That darn man is about finished her. I would like to put him where he belongs. She said her back is killing her. Poor girl. I wish I could do something about it. I am not well myself. My blood pressure is low. My pulse is to high. My heart is bad. The Dr. says I must get out of the heat so I am going to Shugs in San Francisco first of July for a while till I get to feeling better. They want me to stay all the summer. All you need in the way of clothing is one silk and wool dress and a heavy coat for summer in San Francisco. I have that. Sylvia (King) is up dragging around. I don't see how she does it with a tumer (tumor) in her belly. She limps. Her leg is afflicted. Old June ) is working like a slave. She does her work well. She is the exact replica of Josie (Josephine King Sanders) in every way only larger. I ___ minus more ___ ____ is dead. Harry Supria was kild (killed). His wife had only him dead 3 weeks. This is all I know baby. Write me as soon as you can and if I am gone, it will be sent on to me and I will send you one when I come home. I may not go as soon as I think. John (John Preston King) is going up on a trial which he thinks will be set around the first. I will go with him. Look at the grease on my paper. Sylvia brought me a piece of fryed (fried) chicken. It is hot so see what it did. (LETTER SPOTTED WITH GREASE) Lots of love to the girls, daddy and the young man. (Lucille, Joyce, T.C. & Buck) Lots for your sweet self. Mother (Lucinda Blackwell King) ******************************** Source: The Mountain Eagle Jasper, Walker County, Alabama Date: July 21, 1938 MRS. JESSE KING DIES IN SAN FRANCISCO (Lucinda Blackwell King) Mrs. Jesse King, widow of the late Jesse King, of Jasper, died at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone Ray, in San Francisco, July 15, while on a visit at the Ray home. The ashes of the deceased will be brought to the undertaking establishment of A. B. Legg and Sons the latter part of this week; funeral arrangements will be announced by Legg. Surviving are several sons and daughters, Carson King, of West Palm Beach, Florida; Clyde King and John King of Lindsey, California; Fred King; Mrs. Grace Poole, of Anniston; Mrs. Josie Sanders, of Indiana. ******************************** Source: Letter Date: July 27th, 1938 Lindsay, California From: John Preston King To: Mrs. T. C. Poole 624 Leighton Ave Anniston, Alabama Dear Grace: As you know Ma died July 15th, 1938, at the hour of 11:30 P. M. In San Francisco, California. She was at 318 - - 21st Avenue. Ma was visiting Gladstone Ray and his wife. She loved them very much; and also loved their little girl Betty. She had not been previously ill or suffered at all. The end came quitely from her heart. Coronary Thrombosis caused her death. They had two good doctors, and a trained nurse with her. I followed Ma's wishes in having her cremated. She specifically requested cremation. She did not worry and didn't wish to worry any one else. Ma looked beautiful in her casket. It was silver grey, with silver handles, etc. lined with white silk. She was wearing her glasses. She looked just as if she was sleeping. She looked like she did when she was about forty years old. I miss her, and grieve more for her, than any one else because she has been my constant companion for twenty years. I located her ashes yesterday in Monte Vista Colo. And had them sent last nite on to Jasper. I know this has caused suffering; however, Ma has had her funeral, she has gone, and a little more delay concerning her ashes will not hurt us. Grace, Ma loved you very much; she was always talking about you and the children. I will have the dress goods, etc returned to you shortly. The ones that you sent. I received them about the time of her death. I find that it will be impossible for me to be in Jasper, or to come east for some time, but the first chance I have, I will come back to see you. Rufus Hendon was at Ma's funeral; he came up from San Diego. Poor Rufe, his heart is bad too. It is with great difficulty that I write this letter, but will explain more fully when I have had a change to recover my nerves. Let me know the total cost of every thing, Ma had few effects, but you can have what you would like. Will send you list later. I have Ma's wedding ring, and if you wish it let me know, Love John P.S. Why don't you come out here? ************************* Source: The Mountain Eagle Jasper, Walker County, Alabama Date: Thursday, July 28, 1938 ASHES FOR MRS. KING LOST IN TRANSIT The ashes of Mrs. Jesse King, formerly of Jasper, who died in San Francisco July 15, were shipped to Jasper from San Francisco and lost enroute for several days. They were finally located at Jasper, Colorado, to which place they were missent. They will be sent to Jasper for interment. ********************** Source: Letter Date: August 2, 1938 Mailed from: Lindsay, California Aug 2, 1938 Dear Grace: Am enclosing a piece of material - which you sent your Mother, & in which she had on at the last. Also a flower which was on the casket. I thought you would like it. I know that she wore the dress which you had sent her. We chose it for that reason. I don't know whether I'm going to feel just like tell you all about it now. But will try. Two weeks, before she went she had been told by her D. (doctor) here that she had what is known as 'old age heart'. It was so hot here that he thought a change would do her good. She had been very well up till that time. Wouldn't allow me to do a thing. She did all the washing, ironing, cooking & keeping of the kitchen. I was just as strong as she could be. Well, she had been after John to take her up to V--ica ever since Dr. said to get somewhere cool. John finally had me take her as it was pretty hard for him to get off. The trip up, I shall always remember. She was so happy to get to go to Shugs' & Lucille's and we went over the new Bay Bridge & she was thrilled to see it. We got there Sat. morn. & the following Fri. she was gone. Grace, It's pretty hard on John & I and I am trying my best to hold up. Someone has to. John has gone to pieces. As you know, she has been with us for almost 16 years. I was with my own Mother & Dad 16 years when I married John. So I had come to love her as much as if she were my own Mother. It's so hard to write all this. I can't go on. Please write to John cause you are the only one of the family that he has now. So you just must. I'll try & write again when I'm feeling better. Do try & write me too. Soon we will have her things ready & will try & get them to you. The material and money you sent I will send back. Am sure you would rather have it that way & the bedspread that she made you is yours. She put a lot of love & work in that spread while she was making it. Some day soon I'll send them. But right now, it's pretty hard to have to go thru her things. Thank God she didn't have to suffer. She just went to sleep. My love to you & yours, Sylvia King ****************************** Source: The Mountain Eagle Jasper, Walker County, Alabama Date: August 4, 1938 Funeral Services For Cremated Body Funeral services for Mrs. Jesse King, who died in San Francisco, July 15, were held at Legg's funeral home Saturday at 10:00 a.m. The services were conducted by Rev. L. E. Barton, pastor of the First Baptist church, and interment was in Oak Hill cemetery. A. B. Legg and Sons directing. The funeral was attended by several relatives and friends. The funeral of Mrs. King was perhaps the first one in Walker County held over the ashes of a cremated body. The body was cremated and the ashes were enclosed in a small box. There were no pallbearers. The firm of A. B. Legg and sons has buried more than 6,000 persons and this was the first time that they ever buried the ashes of a cremated body. ******************************* Source: Letter (Regarding Lucinda Blackwell King's death) Date: August 13, 1938 From: Jim King (James Clyde King) The SA. Gerrard Co. Box 126 Reedley, Calif. To: Mrs. T. C. Poole 624 Leighton Ave Anniston, Alabama Dear Grace, TC & All - It was very nice of you all to send money out for Mother. I guess she loved you Grace more than any one else . She talked about you so much & the children. But I guess she just had to go as we all do. As you know she was in San Francisco visiting Sug (Shug - William Gladstone Ray) & Lucile when it happened. I was in Reedley working & didn't know until the next day when John called me. I jumped the next train & was there before morning. Rufus Hendon came in early the next morning & we stayed around all day Sunday & Monday. At 11:30 we had the funeral. John felt very badly about sending Mother back the way we did but Grace that was the only way & she said she wanted it that way. I would have taken a picture of her but she said she didn't want us to think of her that way. The casket was beautiful & the flowers were wonderful & the service very simple & nice. Mother died very happy & joked & laffed (laughed) up until the very hour she passed away. Sug was holding her up in bed & he said that the attack came on & she said she couldn't get her breath very easy & the next thing she died. Mother looked very happy when I saw her & smiling. Her hair was so soft & gray & she was good looking & felt good up until the last two weeks. & she just felt bad at times then. I only hope that we all can go as easily as she did. Well Grace I'm doing fine. I am working for the S.A. Gerrard Co & I am assistant to the western division sales manager. We have the sales office in a little town about 55 miles north of Lindsay. The Vice President told me to take it easy & I will go places. Anyway I have two teletype machines & talk all over the US & Canada every day. We pack & sell car load lots of fruits & vegetables. I like it very much. This winter I may get a vacation around Christmas & would like to come east & see you all & see Dad's & Mother's resting place again. Mother did so want to come back & see you all again before she died. Grace, Mother wanted you to have some of the things. She was saving in her trunk & I will send them to you when ever I get a chance. Well I will have to close for now as I have a lot of work to do & I will see you & tell you lots of things this winter (I hope). Write me soon Grace & tell me about everything. Love, Your Brother Jim Clyde ******************************* Source: 1966 Letter Date: September 12, 1966 Re: Lucinda Blackwell King's Family for Grace King Poole's DAR Application From: Mrs. Lucille Kitchens Swann 1401 Sixth Ave Jasper, Alabama 35501 To: Mrs. T. C. Poole 624 Leighton Avenue Anniston, Alabama Dear Grace: I went with Mr. and Mrs. John Guttery out to the Townley area yesterday to see what I could learn about your Grandfather Blackwell. I talked to Mr. Oscar Hendon and got an idea about who is father was -rather his father's name. He was kinder hazy about it but said he believed that his name was Davis or Davidson, and suggested that we talk to the widow of Monroe Blackwell who lived in Townley. We drove on over there and found her sitting on her front porch. She is in her early eighties and lives along; her husband died about five years ago. She said she remembered your mother "Cindy" as she called her and your father and she said your mother was reared near Gamble Mines, and said we should find her father's grave in the Scott Cemetery which is between Saragosa and Holly Grove - there is a church house there - Ebenezer Church. We didn't drive on over to the cemetery as Mr. Guttery is rather frail and was beginning to look very tired - you know he has emphysema. When I got home I got out my cemetery record and found under Scott Cemetery records: John P. Blackwell - Born March 2, 1837 died August 11, 1875 near him were buried Sophia Blackwell 1807- March 21, 1880 Davidson Blackwell, Oct 7, 1809 June 22, 1887 W. R. Blackwell Dec 20 1845 Aug 4 1916 Mary Ann F. Blackwell Dec 29, 1852 - May 25, 1928 You know I did not know until you were up here Wednesday that his name was John Preston Blackwell and I had been looking for John Blackwell and of course I expected to find him buried by his wife. Your mother was a little girl when her father died; did you ever hear her talk about her father dieing (dying) when she was so young? She would hardly have remembered him. You said you had a list of her father's brothers, I would like to have their names. Was your mother the only Blackwell child? If we knew she was the oldest or only child we could figure on the marriage date. I am sending a copy of this letter on to your niece in Lexington so that she may have this birth date and death date of John P. Blackwell for her DAR paper. Sincerely, Lucille (Lucille Swann) Additional Comments: Name: Lucinda Blackwell King Born: April 10, 1868 Holly Grove, Walker County, AL Died: July 15, 1938 San Francisco, California (Native of Walker Co., AL) Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Jasper, Walker Co., AL Father: Jonathan Preston Blackwell (John) Mother: Margaret Morris Hendon Blackwell Spouse: Jesse Lafayette King File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/walker/history/other/lucindab348gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 19.5 Kb