Wayne County, NC - Letters File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Dorothy Price Holt These letters were written by Herschall Vaughn Rose, Johnston County, to Hettie Rose Pipkin who lived in the Grantham area of Wayne County. They were first cousins. Herschall was the son of William Nicholas Rose, Jr, called Squire Bill, and Hettie the daughter of John Wright Rose, brother to William Nicholas Rose, Jr. John Wright brought his family to Wayne County, Grantham township around 1900. Hettie, Sudie and Johnnie were sisters. Ernest was Hettie's husband. ------ Smithfield, N.C. Oct 9, 1955 Dear Cousin Hettie: I was down at Christies this afternoon and she told me of the death of Sudie. I am sorry to learn of the bad event, but in these days of Grace I am prepared to hear such news any time respecting anyone of those who came along about the time you & I did. One day in the past spring a very nice young gentleman came in and told me he had been reared by Johnnie. We had quite a deal of backing about "the older days." He told one of your sons had entered the ministry and was at that time in the Seminary. I know this must be Consoling to you. It certainly pleases me. I see to many fine men of promise who yield to the Vice of drink or some other excess, that when I see a man take a stand for better things it certainly does warm my heart. So often this summer I have had it mind to run down to see you and Sudie. How her death comes as another reminder that procastination is a theif of time you are left in the land of the living and one of these fine Sunday aftenoons of this fall I shall in part redeem my last opportunity by visiting you. I also want to visit Johnnie some of these days. I can leave home buy day and within one hour I can be at your front door. And that I do not go - you may definitely expect me one (next page missing) ------ Smithfield, N.C. Dec. 28, 1956 Dear Cousin Hettie, I deeply appreciate your expressions of sympathy in our loss of Alice. You can have some conception of how I miss her when I tell you that I lived with her and her children some 10 years as tho children were growing up. But she had lived a good life and reached 75 years, and while we miss her very much there is not so much of sadness in her passing. I'm looking forward to some day when the winter days grow longer - then Edith (the Mrs.) and I shall go over to see you. So look for us. With every good wish for you health, happiness and prosperity for the New Year. I am, Very sincerlly yours H V Rose ------ The above letters were handwritten. The following letters from Herschall had a Johnston County letterhead and were typed. Letterhead shows he was Clerk Superior Court, Johnston County, Smithfield, NC. Also on the letterhead are the following names and positions Mrs. Nora P. Southerland, Bookkepper Miss Jean Massengill, Clerk James Pittman, Clerk Recorder's Court Mrs. Helen Herring, Stenographer Mrs. Sarah Baxter, Filing Clerk ------ July 14, 1957 Dear Hettie: Here is the sketch of the Rose family which I mentioned whilst at your house the other Sunday. It is not very enlightening, but I believe it is sufficiently clear that you can connect what you know about our tribe to kind of give you a working knowledge of how the present generation of Roses came from the list as shown in the booklet. I have added a few pencil lines to kind of confirm what you and I remember about the generations that have gone on. I hope you will find this account interesting and of value. Show it to Johhnie. Do you remember a solitary story your father ever told you children about the Civil War ? I have one good little story he used to tell us children, and if ever I write up my notes on The Battle of Bentonville, as certainly I hope to do, I shall enter his story as part of my book. If you remember any story he ever told you children about his experience with the Yankees or the Rebels kindly take time out to write me about it. Both Edith and I had a most enjoyable visit with you and your fine family of children. I was glad so many of them could be there. I should like to see all of them. We found our way to Mount Olive all right and had a nice visit with Edith's sister, Mrs. Herring. Be sure to tell me the story or stories Uncle John used to tell you children about the Civil War, and come to see us some time. I know you will enjoy a trip bak into Johnston County. And we shall be glad to have you come. With love to all, Yours as of yore, His signature Herschall Hvr-Hvr. ------ January 20, 1959 Dear Cousin Hettie: I am writing you first to find out if I know your address sufficiently well to correspond with you. I have recently run off several records of the Rose family, fashioned after the work that (Wilkie-crossed out) Wickliffe Rose did several years ago when he came to Johnston County. I believe that you will enjoy looking over and possessing one of these family records and I am desireous of sending you one. When you receive it I want you and Ernest to look it over as you will find that there is almost as much information bearing upon the Roses of Wayne County as you will find relating to those of Johnston County. When you have looked over this and will have come across names that you are in doubt about, if you will write me I believe I can give you a pretty good line as to who these forebears of yours and mine are. So write me and let me know if you get this letter and as soon as I receive your reply I will send you one of the Rose family records. With best wishes to you and all of the children, I am Very truly yours, His signature H.V. Rose ------ January 29, 1959 Dear Cousin Hettie: I have received your letter giving me your rural delivery route out from Mount Olive. I will not forget it again. In another envelope I am sending you a copy of the Rose Family History of North Carolina. If you will look on page 1 under the name of Benjamin Rose and on page 3 under the name of Benjamin Bryan Rose you will get a line-up of your ancient ancestors who came to and established themselves here in North Carolina, and Johnston County. The first Benjamin on page 1 settled just over the hill from the spring at Old Mill Creek Church. He and his brother James both settled somewhere in the vicinity. Of course, you know where old Grandfather Rose's homestead is. It is where Uncle Charles Rose use to live. I am sure Ernest will find some of the Rose line of Wayne County interesting as the Roses and Pipkins intermarried long before you ever saw Ernest. I believe Ernest told Albert and me that he was directly kin to the Roses as well as somewhat intermarried into the family. We are all well except me. I have had a mean cold ever since the first day of December and try as I may, I can't quite run and leave it. I am now taking cod liver oil and if it does the cold no good, it does keep me feeling strong and active and that is a good factor in a man's like in this day and time. Edith and I will certainly be most glad to see you again as soon as we can, maybe about peach time, if the frost will behave about blossom time. With best wishes, I am Very truly yours, His signature Herschell __________________________________________________________________________ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. __________________________________________________________________________