Letters to Jesse James Bench Colorado County , Texas Submitted 22 Aug 2000 by Nathan Haley ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** [July, 2000 Note: The following two letters are by Cynthia (Jones) Lawson and Minnie Jones written to their cousin, (assumed to be) Jesse James Bench before he and his brother, John, left Rock Island March 3rd to return home to Missouri. [Refer to Jesse Bench diary.] The source of what I write is a photocopy of two separate, handwritten letters, one from Minnie and the other from Cynthia. Minnie & Cynthia are the two daughters of Jesse Bench's maternal "Aunt Mandy" (Amanda Melvina (Reynolds) Jones), the next older sister of Jesse's mother, Sarah (Reynolds) Bench. All are mentioned frequently in Jesse Bench's diary especially from the Rock Island, TX, days.] ------------------------------------------------ For get me not. Rock Island, Texas Mar.1, 1906 Dear Cousin - I wish you health, I wish you wealth, I wish you gold in store, I wish you heaven after death, O h what could I wish you more. 2. When you get old, And you no more I see, Just take a pen and paper, And write a line to me, Your Cousin Minnie Jones [July, 2000 Note: At the bottom of this photocopy, there are some upside-down scribblings by Minnie (in same handwriting) but too hard to make out. It appears to say: "and dont Forget[?] - Your Friend and my [looks like "Invid" or "Fav'd"???] ---------------------------------------------- Rock Island, Texas Feb, 27, 1906. Dear Cousin,- When in my grave, my head doth lay, beneath the cold and silent clay, read these lines and think of me. Your Cousin Cynthia Jones "Remember me" 1.Leaves may whither, flowers may die, friends may for-get you, but never will I. 2.When you get old, and can not see, put on your spects and think of me. --------------------------------------------