History/Letters: J.A. Walker Letter July 13, 1893, Webster, LA submitted by Margie Butler Dubberly, La Date: Sep. 2003 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** === July 13, 1893 Dear Aunt Catherine, Your highly appreciated letter bearing date May 14th was received soon after written but I have delayed writing - waiting an opportunity to go out and see sister Hannah Ray. Although we live only about five miles apart we rarely ever see each other. Wife and I went out the day before yesterday but she had gone with her daughter to see the dentist to have some work done. Therefore we didn't see her but Bro. Ray said they were all well. She has three children, one girl (about grown) & two boys (young.) I wrote you about the death of Cousin Winney. She was buried at our family grave- yard beside Mr. Davis and her daughters Charity & Nancy. The first buried there was Cousin Martha McGuire who died soon after our arrival here. Father & mother, Uncle James Lewis & wife & all of each family that have died are buried there. Also Uncle Tommy Woodard & wife & son & Mr. Irvin Talton & wife & several of his family and some others. Cousin Winney had good substantial head rocks made of sand & cement, said to be durable as marble, with suitable inscriptions placed at the head of Mr. Davis and the children. Nannie died several years ago and left 3 children, 1 girl & two boys. After her death their father Henry Kinney carried them to eastern Texas. In a short time the little girl died. The two boys, James & William, are still living with him. I received a letter from each of them a few days back. Their father has married a second time. His last wife had two children and died also. I think I told you when there about Patsy Ann marrying a widower Mr. Smith who made her a kind husband up to the time of his death (which was caused by the running away of his mules with a load of lumber some two years back.) She has never had any children but is a healthy portly good looking woman & a very consistent member of the primitive Baptist church. She is now living with her uncle Sim Smith. You made inquiry about Cousin Sim's family. He has 3 sons, George the oldest is married and living in Mexia, Texas & doing well. Ben the youngest is living with his brother-in-law (Fannie's husband Tom Petty). Turner is staying at home taking care of the old folks & his two sisters, Mary & Lucy Musgrove. I believe I told you while there about Lucy's mind being somewhat unbalanced. Her health is better now & her mind seems all right. Patsy and her family get along quietly & she appears to be well satisfied. Our Connections generally are well. The health of our country is tolerable good. Fruit is plentiful. Gardens unusually fine. Vegetables of all descriptions grown here in abundance. Crops very spotted. We had so much cloudy & rainy weather in April & May that some crops were seriously damaged. Some parts now suffering with drought but good prospects for rain take my crop (?) altogether. It promises at least an average yield. I have not yet sold my last years crop of cotton. Have only planted about 1/5th of my crop in cotton. This year's old corn is plentiful at 60 cts. per bushel. Hogs in many sections have died with cholera. Business of all kinds appear exceedingly dull, caused I suppose mostly by the conditions of finance. I have never known a time (since the war) when the people were practicing more rigid economy & doing it more resignedly than at the present time. The outlook would appear a little gloomy were it not for the fact that we know the Divine Creator still reigns & has given us the blessed assurance that He who provides for the sparrow & suffers not one of them to fall without his knowledge has said that all things shall work for the good to those that love Him. Oh that all would trust & praise Him for His goodness & wonderful work to the children of sin. With kindest regards to your children, their husbands & all the grandchildren together with all relatives & inquiring friends. I will close. When you can get the spare time please write. Your letters afford us so much satisfaction in reading them. Your loving nephew, J. A. Walker ----------------------------------------------------------------- * This letter was written by the Rev. J. Andrew Walker of Webster Par., Louisiana to his aunt by marriage, Catherine Davis Kemp. J. A. Walker's parents were Neil and Nancy (Kemp) Walker, formerly of Houston County, Georgia. Nancy (Kemp) Walker and Catherine (Davis) Kemp's husband, Joseph Kemp, were brother and sister. In 1848, several families from Houston County, Ga. moved to Bienville Parish, La. in a group. They all settled in the same general area of Bienville Parish. In 1871, when Bienville, Claiborne, and Bossier Parishes were split to form Webster Par., Louisianamany of these families became residents of the new Webster Parish. * Further identification of persons mentioned in the letter. Paragraph 1: Hannah Ray - Hannah Susan (Davis) Ray, wife of George S. Ray. Hannah was 1/2 sister of Catherine (Davis) Kemp. Hannah's parents were James Thomas & Catherine (Unknown) Davis. Catherine (Unknown) was the second wife of James T. Davis. Catherine (Davis) Kemp's mother was Hannah Kinsey, 1st. wife of James Thomas Davis. There is a possibility that James Thomas Davis' first and second wife may have been closely related. Hannah's Davis Ray's children mentioned were; Calesdonia Ray, John Ray, & Henry Ray. Paragraph 2: Family Cemetery -Walker Cemetery (Fryeberg), Webster Par., Louisiana. Cousin Winney - Winifred T. (Smith) Davis, Catherine's step- mother. Catherine's father was James Thomas Davis. "Winney" was his third wife. The other two wives died in Houston County, Ga Mr. Davis - James Thomas Davis husband of Winifred. He was born in Lenoir, NC., lived in Houston County, Ga. He came to Bienville Parish, La., in 1848, with a group of family and friends. Charity - daughter of James Thomas & Winifred (Smith) Davis. he died in 1860 at age of 15. Nancy - Nancy L. "Nannie" (Davis) Kinney, daughter of James Thomas & Winfred (Smith) Davis & wife of Henry Clay Kinney. Cousin Martha McGuire - Martha R. (unknown) McGuire thought to be the wife of William McGuire. She died March 15, 1848. William died in 1850. Their two children James and Missouri are living in the James and Temperance (Kemp) Lewis household on 1850 Bienville Parish Census. Father & mother - Neil and Nancy (Kemp) Walker. Uncle James Lewis & wife - James and Temperance (Kemp) Lewis. Temperance is sister to J. A. Walker's mother, Nancy. Uncle Tommy Woodard, wife, & son - Thomas & wife Purity Stuckey Woodard and son J. M. Woodard. It is unknown how he is J. A. Walker's uncle. Mr. Irvin Talton & wife & son - 1850 Bienville Census wife was Avy with 3 sons listed; Cullen, Adolphus & James D. Henry Kinney - Henry Clay Kinney, husband of Nancy L. Davis Kinney. Parents of Annie Lizzie "little girl", James Wesley, & William Thomas Kinney. Henry & Nancy were divorced in 1881. After Nancy died in 1886, Henry took to children to live in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he resided. Patsy Ann - Patsy Ann (Davis) Smith daughter of James Thomas & "Winney" Smith Davis, 1/2 sister of Catherine (Davis) Kemp. The given name "widower" Mr. Smith is unknown. Uncle Sim - Simeon Smith, brother of Winifred (Smith) Davis. The relationship of his children & family is mentioned in the letter.