Coryell County Texas Archives History - Letters .....Love To Grimes Letters 1889 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Virginia Crilley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000642 January 2, 2008, 10:05 am June 12, 1889 Pidcock Ranch, Texas Mrs. Lydia Grimes 1 My Dear Friend, Your letter came to hand last week, we were so glad to hear from you and to hear Earl [Grimes born 1885] has got well. The children had spoken of him so often and wished you would write so they could hear from him. I had come to the conclusion you had forgotten us or perhaps you were sick and couldn't write. I was sorry to hear you have been so unwell, but such sickness must needs be, I truly hope you will be all right when I hear from you again. Mollie [b. 1869] was right sick with a cold for three weeks after you left. I guess you will hear from her before this reaches you as she wrote me last week that she had finished your trimming, she is attending the Normal School at Gatesville. You have no idea how much I miss her. Mr. Love's health is some better than it was when you were here. He has been right sick with colic for two days. I hope it will wear off in a day or tow. Tell Earl [that] Gana [born 1876] has had some chills since he left. I guess he eat too much popcorn. My sister Fannie has a new girl. .was sick about two days but did not have a very bad time. Mrs. Baird is still on foot. Cole has been very sick but is well now. I have not been there since you were here. ["Fannie" - Frances Lane b. Aug 25, 1852 m. Dec 25, 1871 Gatesville to H.S. "Tip" Perryman. Died Sept 5, 1906 Pidcoke] We are so busy now with our farm work. I don't have time to go anywhere. We had our grain harvested last week and are so busy trying to get our cotton worked out. I have been helping Katie and Gana hoe. We have 25 acres in and it will take us some time to get it worked out. We had quite a drougth about ten weeks. It caused us to plant late so we have our hands fall. The corn crop was almost ruined but since the rain, it has come out and will I think make very good corn. I have a poor garden, have plenty potatoes and peaches. My chickens are just large enough to fry. I have only twenty three goslings. I picked the oldest ones Monday. We were so lonesome after you left. Dolly couldn't hardly stand it. She want to go to Mrs. Waddills every day to play with the children. [Kate married Gip Waddill] We will be so glad to have Earl's picture. Tell him the children all thinks and speaks of him often and wishes they could see him. Tell Mr. Grimes, I think his visit helped Mr. Love ever so much. Hope he will come again. You must all come to see us. Katie says she has a new crochet pattern she will send you when she gets through hoeing cotton. We are having a good deal of rain and plenty of black mud. Well, I will close as I know you will be tired reading this. Wish I could be with you tonight. I know we would have a good time. Give our respects to Mr. Grimes. Kiss Earl and accept the best wishes of your friend, write soon. V.K. Love Nov. 5, 1889 Pidcock Ranch Mr. and Mrs. Grimes Dear friends, It has been quite a little while since we heard from you. Will write to know how you are getting along. We are all well at present, but have just gon through quite a seige. Pa was in the bed for abour four or six weeks and Ma had a bonefellon on her finger. It was lanced five times, but the worst of it was we were boarding nineteen bridge hands and I had all of the cooking to do, "as Kate had to pick cotton". I tell you, Mrs. Grimes, I had to "June around". Oh! was so tired every night. I did not know wht to do. The county has had three bridges built on Cowhouse this fall. One is here at the ford between the Ranch and our house. Crops are good in thi section, especially cotton. We will make something over nine bales of cotton. We have eight out now (bales, I mean), but no telling when the other will be gathered as it is very cold and raining. We had several Camp meetings here last summer. Pa and Kate joined the Methodist Church.[Virginia and son Will were early members of Pidcoke Methodist Church] Ninna McCown joined also. Mrs. Baird has a little girl baby with jet black hair, but is not a pretty as Mary or Carl either. Mrs. Garrett has a little girl four or five days old. Mrs. Osborne has a bouncing boy one day old. We attended the County Fair last Wednesday. It was tolerable good for the first trial. Rosa Watkins baby was given up to be the best looking but was too old to get the premium. I will take up school the 18th of this month. I am very proud of the scarps you sent and will try and send you some in return. I have added about 200 more to my odd fellow's quilt. I guess you thought I was not going to send your trimming to you. Kate is very proud of her mats. She thinks they are very pretty. Ma said she would have written to you long ago, but she has not had time. Well, I guess you will be tired of reading this endless epistle long before you reach this part of this letter, so I will close. All send love to your family. Write soon and a long letter. Come to see us next summer. Sincerely your friend, Mollie B. Love Dollie sends kisses to Earl and Carle and I will send you a crochet pattern if I can make it. [Letter with 1st page missing] Billy and Nina are living with us. They are well Tell Earl, Dollie often talks about him and brother. She has had some pictures — taken. Will send you one. Our cattle have done splendid in the pasture. They are all fat and the grass is fine. We are going to Lampasas river fishing in August. Mr. Love says you and Mr. Grimes must come out and go with us. You know he things you are the best woman he ever saw and we anould be glad to see you all and I know a trip out here would be a benefit to your health. Come if you can. Kiss all the children for me. Much love to you and Mr. Grimes. Write soon. Your Friend, V.K. Love Pidcock Ranch, Texas Nov. 5, 1890 Mrs. Grimes Dear Friend, Your letter was quite a pleasnat surprise. I thought you had forgotten us. First, our fishing trip we arrived at Mr. Crawford's all right. There were folks camped all around his house all waiting to start. We camped in Burnet County on Lampasas River. There were only thirty three in the crowd. What a jolly time we had. We had a boat and a buckboard and a guille horse. There were five young girls and three boys. We girls went horseback riding bareback and I rode a horse that I could not hold so we went in a lope all the time. There was a hole of water a mile long for us to boat ride on. I learned to row the boat. Enjoyed the trip so much. Cotton is all the style here. We have picked eleven bales and got nearly a half a bale to pick yet. I picked 151 pounds in one day. You can't guess where I am at. .right in the middle of the bed where I usually am. Sweet home still lives and is fattening. He is just as cute as ever. When we get off we will come to see you on our bridle tour. The owls caught two of ma's white chickens and the other three are fine. John Baird has gone to Brownwood to school. Don't you know Sises heart is gone. Mrs. Rosa Watkins has a divorce. How she tries to go with the boys. She has got a new fifteen dollar dress. I guess she will strut now. I will start to school, Monday week. The teacher is boarding with us. He is a young man. His name is Prof Cummings. He is goodlooking and as nice as can be. I am so tired, I can hardly sit up. We all went to Stanfried to church not long ago. Haven't gathered many pecans yet. I have still got the little black fan but it is to cool to use it. Will perserve it till next summer. I don't suppose Earl ever will forget me. I was so mean to him. Kiss him for me. I have no news to write. Will write more next time. Excuse his badly written letter. All join me with love to you. Kiss Carl for me. Write soon and a long letter too. Your old friend, Katie Love Nov. 7, 1890 I haven't had an opportunity to send your letter to the office. Will write some more. Sis and myself are both sick today. We went to the Fair the 23rd of Oct. had a jolly time. The freckles................................ How is your complection? Oh yes, I forgot to tell you. Sweet Home has a new gold watch. Oh how he looms up. I will hush my nonsense, if you was a girl it would do, but i know you are tired of it. Love to all and kiss Carle for me. As ever, Kate Pidcoke Ranch Texas July 12, 1891 Mrs. Lydia Grimes My Dear Friend, I suppose you think we are all dead or have run away by the way we have treated you, but hope you will excuse us for not writing sooner. I have had so many things to do. I have almost forgotten how to write. Mollie was married the 24th of May to Newt Harman and lives in Bell County-near Holland. Has been home once since she married. Katie is with her now, will be home next Saturday. My sister Fannie came to the wedding and stayed one month with us. She has gone to her new home in Crockett County. I am afraid it will be a long time before we see her again. Mr. Love and I went to Gatesville yesterday [July 11, 1891] to the Ex-Confederate Reunion. Gen Cabel delivered the address. We met many of our old friends and enjoyed ourselves muchly. There were four or five thousand people there. Tell Mr. Grimes, Powell and Leeper have tried all the courts from United States down and will hang soon. The time has not been set yet, but will be. The present court, unless they get away. We are having quite a dry spell now. Corn and cotton are needing rain badly. Corn will be tolerably good without any more rain but would be better with a good rain. May garden is drying up. We have a few vegetables. Haven't any ripe tomatoes yet. My chickens are nearly grown. I have four white ones and three dark ones from the eggs you went me. I have raised very few this year. The crows and hawks caught nearly all I have. I am so proud of the white ones. I have 50 gees with the gosling. I don't think I will have any feathers to spare this year as I gave Billy and Mollie a bed apiece and Kate says she won't let me sell her bed any more, but my Aunt Mrs. J.R. Powell who lives near Gatesville has two feather beds to sell. I know she will send you all you want if you will write to her. You She has good feathers. I am sorry I can't let you have them myself. Mrs. Baird and the Dr. traveled all the spring to find them a new home and came back the satisfied people you ever saw. Said they never found any place any better than this. The man he sold his place to backed out and did not take the place. The Drs. health is much improved. Mrs. Belcher has not been very well for wome time. Aunt Burns has been on a visit to Pidcock Ranch Texas, May 22, 1892 Mrs. Lydia Grimes My Dear Friend, After a long while I will try to anser kind letters which came to hand in due time. It is needless to say we were very glad to hear from you . Nothing give me more pleasure than to hear from my friends. I has been so long since I wrote you last that I hardly know where to begin to tell you all that has happned since. I wonder sometimes how I got through with so much last year. All three of the oldes children married within eight months. Katie and Gip [Waddill]were married in Nov. They are keeping house near us. Gip built the house before they were married. Billy and Ninna live with us. Ninna had a little boy in Feb. He only lived two days. She was sick before her time. Mollie and Newt are here. Mollie is expecting to be down every day. She is getting very impatient. I will be glad when it is over as I dread it so much. We have a new Dr. Brown, is his name. He is from Tenn. Mr. Meek has sold out and gone to southern Tex. A Mr. Baily bought him out. Everyone likes him and his family. I think they are nice people. Have met them at Sunday School We have Sunday School every Sunday and preaching three times a month. I am just feasting on beans, irish potatoes, lettuce and other early vegetables. Have the best garden I have had for years. The corn is fine and early cotton also, but the worms are eating the late planting up. We had the heaviest rain two weeks ago that has fell in ten years. A great deal of cotton was washed up and had to be planted over. We have but ten acres this year and I am glad of it. Last year we planted 43 acres in cotton and I never did get so tired of anything in my life. I did not get a day's rest the wole year, even on Sunday I had to cook for hired hands. We have some peaches but the plums were all killed. We had quite a storm when we had the big rain. Bro. Baines' kitchen and corn crib was blown away. Duffie Cooper's house was blown away. His wife and two more people were in it. They were not seriously hurt. They lost all their furniture and a fine organ. Several houses were blown over. Callie McCown is married. A Mr. Howard-she lives at the [Copperas] Cove. Winnie is at Waco at the Convent. Fannie is still struggling along with her house full of children. She has a good garden. Tell Earl that Gana has a fine patch of popcorn so he must come out and eat popcorn with him. Dollie is not going to school now. She is growing fast. She and __ have one to Fannies. They are trying to raise some goslings but are having bad luck. Seven died last night. Dollie has a little Mocking Bird. It sings so sweet. I have a good many chickens. Was well pleased with the Leghorns. Have lots of eggs. I feel _______ may obligations to you for your kindness in giving me the start of them. Maybe some day I can return the favor, I hope so at least. Mr. Loves' sister paid us a visit this spring and stayed a month. She lives in Taylor. Mr. Love's health is very good now. .has a bad spell once in a while. I know you are proud of your little daughter [Mary Grimes]. You must give her a pretty name. I know she will be a great comfort to you. I missed my girls so much after they were gone. Would be glad if Mollie lived near me. Her home is 50 miles from here. We want to take a trip to Crocket County this summer to see my sister,[probably Mattie who married Joseph Friend] if we can get off. Would be delighted to have you and Mr. Grimes go with us. Tell him our yearlings__ fine. They are fat now. If Mr. Grimes want to buy any yearlings there are lots of them in this county. There has been no buyers out here this spring. I milk nine cows and make so much butter, the grass is fine. I wish you would see Kate keeping house, she is a real good house keeper. Has a good many chickens and a good garden. Sells a good deal of butter. I never saw such a change in a girl. Mrs. Waddill is well. Her little girl has grown so much. Rose and Milton are not married yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did marry soon. Aunt Burns is at the Junction with her daughter. Dr. Baird lives at Junction City. His health is very good now. Mrs. Grimes, my dear old Grandmother is dead. She died in Jan. was nearly 92 years old. Her mind never failed until about one year before she died. She lived to a good old age and I never knew a woman who was pure in all her actions and dealing than my Grandmother, but our 'dear ones are gathering home'. May we live so we will meet them in heaven. You must come to see us this summer and go out West. [Charlotte Temple "Lottie" Lane Powell born June 20, 1800 died Jan 1892. She was mother of Eliza Winifred Powell who married W.D. Coates.] Write soon and I will try and do better in the future than in the past. Kiss all the children for me. They have forgotten me I expect. With much love to you all, I will close. Your friend, V.K. Love ======== July 21, 1899 Letter from F.M. Grimes to wife, Lydia, who is staying in Pidcoke with the Love family. Dear Lydia, I got home last night. I found things as might have been expected. Nothing bad has occurred since we left. I got your letter today. Was more than glad to know that all were well. I have just got the check on our cattle. They brought two thousand and nine dollars. It is more than I was looking for. We will be all right after this. I will ship the others as soon as I can. As I came back I stopped at John Days. Elmira said, "Tell you that her chickens are all roosters but one and said that she wants you to let her have our Doyes Pullets. I told her that I would write to you and ask you about it adn if you said so, I would express them to her. I want you to write me what to do. I am trying to sell the land here. Had an offer for two hundred acres. If I can sell that much more I will sell, and we will never live here again. It has not rained since we left, but things look well, Crops are very fine. I think this is the time to leave here. Give my love to Mr. and Mrs. Love and children. Kiss the Babes for me. Yours, F.M. Grimes P.S. You will find check for fifty dollars made payable to Mr. Love. You can get him to have it cashed for he may have to go to Gateville himself or get some reliable person to carry it for him. Yours, FMG {Grimes Children: Earl, 14; Carl, 10; Mary 7; Fred 6; Imogene 4. Ellis A. Bean and wife, Sarah Catherine, F.M. Grimes' sister, also lived at Pidcoke. Additional Comments: ========== Wesley E. Love son of Wade Love (b. S.C.) born 1835. Died at 92 around 1927 in Duncan Oklahoma. Married Virginia Katherine (Toodie) Coates, Nov 27, 1861, Coryell County. She was born 12-19-1843, the daughter of William Duval Coates and Eliza Winifred Powell. She died June 9, 1922 in Comanche, Stephens County, Oklahoma. Lived north of the Cowhouse Creek on the north side of Pidcoke. The first hill north of the Cowhouse is named Love Hill for this family. 1)William Wade "Billy" born 1868 ??? did he marry Ninna McCowan? no children. lived most of adult live in Oklahoma 2)Mollie B. born 1869 married Calvin Newton Harman May 24, 1891 lived in Bell County (son of F.M. and Mary Jane Perryman) died 1950 3)Kate Stella Aug 30, 1872-Sept 5, 1941 married George Gentry Gipson Waddill, Jr. (Oct 14, 1870 - Dec 6, 1951) Lived near Pidcoke. 4) Wirt (Wesley) Gano Love born 1876 Career in Army married Bert ? 5)Dollie born 1880. moved with parents to Oklahoma married J.P. Bartley, M.D. ======== 1920 United States Federal Census > Oklahoma > Stephens > Comanche > District 246 Love, Wesley E. 85 Virginia K 76 ======= 1880 census Coats, William 33 Martha 24 Walter 12 Wesley 11 Ora 8 Fannie 6 Mary 3 Lela A 1 NOTES:Amelia Forrest Bogard abogard@htcomp.net THE DUNCAN BANNER, 12 August 1927, Duncan, OK. "Father of Mrs. J.P. Bartley is to be Buried at Comanche (OK)" "from Sunday's Daily" "Wesley E. Love, 92 years old, died peacefully at 12:15 o'clock Saturday morning at the home of Dr. and Mrs. J.P. Bartley, 115 S. 15th St. Mrs. Bartley is his daughter. / Death came without pain and as Mr. Love lay composed and resting. It was attributed to old age, Love missing his 93rd birthday anniversary by only a few days. He had no disease and the death certificate was signed simply 'old age.' / The funeral service will be held at the Bartley home at 4 o'clock this afternoon and burial will be at the Comanche Cemetery at 5 o'clock. The Rev. J.E. McConnell, pastor of th Methodist Church here, is coming back from his vacation, just started, to officiate at the ceremony. The Beeson Grantham Funeral Home made the arrangements. / Mr. Love had lived in Stephens County for the last 22 years, much of that time having been spent at Comanche. The last five years, however, have been with his daughter and her husband in Duncan. / Five children survive. In addition to Mrs. Bartley, they are: Mrs. G.G. Waddill of Gatesville, Tex., Mrs. M.C. Harman of Holland, Tex., W.W. Love of Quail, Tex., and W.G. Love of Brownsville, Tex. W.G. Love and Mrs. Harman will be unable to be here for the funeral. / Love was married in 1861 and joined the other young men in enlisting in the Civil War. His application was rejected because he had been a recent sufferer of pneumonia. He was, however, assigned to border duty to protect inhabitants from Indian marauders. / He was married in 1861 in Gatesville, Tex., and went in business there, attaining quite a prominent position in civic affairs before leaving Gatesville. / He had been a member of the Methodist Church since boyhood, probably for about 80 years." [Fairlawn (old) Cemetery, Comanche, Stephens Co., OK] Jan. 1997 Leslie B. Chambers, g-g-gs of Wesley Easley Love, of Amsterdam MO, wrote: "There was a reunion held annually at Crystobal, TX, which I went to once about 1947. It was put on by the Friends-Coats Assn. Descendents of Wm. Duval Coates. I think this Assn may still exist there in TX. They may have some info about LOVE. Also, when Toodie died, my grandmother, Dollie, took care of W.E. and kept all their papers, etc, when W.E. died. My mother, took care of Dollie in her later years and kept all HER papers which included a lot of stuff from Toodie's & W.E.'s, which I have gone through but found little of genealogical interest. /There was one letter dated Apr 22, 1929, from Toodie's younger brother Wince to Dollie stating he stopped to visit the Loves at Sierra Blanca. He says Tom and wife Mallie have a hotel and Tom has a ranch nearby and is getting back into cattle. Wince also had collected a lot of family data on the Coates, Parkers, Powells, and Lanes, but all he had on LOVE started with W.E. (Wes), so that's not much help." If Wesley Easley's brother Leonard R. Love lived in Ft. Davis area, the above mentioned Tom could have been Leonard's son Thomas. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/coryell/history/letters/lovetogr46gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/txfiles/ File size: 18.5 Kb