Freestone County, Texas History Dallas Morning News January 15, 1899 Page 20 The Cozy Corner SILAS WILLIAMSON, Brewer, Tex. - Mr. Big Hat and cousins: May I come in and chat awhile? I have been a reader of the Corer for quite a while and concluded that I couldn't stay away any longer. Perhaps you cousins would like to know what county I live in, and a description of it. Well, I live in Freestone county, very nearly in the center. I think it is a very pretty country. It is mostly prairie. When it snows we boys have a fine time tracking mule-eared rabbits. There are lots of rabbits on the prairie. How many of you boy cousins like to hunt? I do, for one. I think it is fine sport. I went with a crowd serenading Christmas eve night. There were eleven boys and nine girls in the crowd. We carried four musical instruments and played at all the houses we came to. We had such a good time. I will say to Cousin Wanona that John Tindell is a very bashful boy, but I don't think the cousins ought to abuse him so much. I have known him all his life and I think he is a good boy. Cousin Smith Tillett, you say you are not in favor of leeting a boy in that doesn't like the girls. I wish you would tell me of a boy that doesn't, and I would take sides with you. Cousin May Manning, come again. I don't lnow why we are not acquainted, as we only live five miles apart. ============================================================ [This is Nelson Alexander Willard b 3 Mar 1887 s/o Joseph Franklin Willard] Dallas Morning News January 22, 1899 The Cozy Corner NELSE WILLARD, Fairfield, Tex. - Mr. Big Hat: This is my first time to knock on the door of the Cozy Corner. We take the News and I read all of the letters. Some are very interesting. I am 12 years old. I am going to school. I like my teachers very well. ============================================================ Dallas Morning News Feb. 19, 1899 Page: 20 Little Men and Women LITTLE MR. BIG HAT Editor [Drawing on left] MAY MANNING, Cotton Gin, Tex. -- Mr. Big Hat: In sending my picture by request of some of the cousins, the following sketch of myself may not be amiss: I am the eldest daughter of William Manning of Florida, and Imogene Seely of Mississippi. I was born in Freestone County near Wortham, Tex., May 25, 1881, where I lived until the year 1890, when we moved [sketch] near Cotton Gin, Freestone county, where I have lived ever since. Like most of the cousins my educational advantages have been limited. I started to school at Cotton Gin when 11 years old, went two months, when I was obliged to leave school on account of my mother's death. I did not get to go school any more then until I was 14 years old, when I boarded and went to Wortham seven months. I have not been to school much more since then. My greatest ambition is to have a good education, and if studying will get one, I think I shall succeed. I joined the White Rose band in 1893. Although I have not written to the Cozy Corner very many times I have never failed to read the cousin's letters with interest, and can truly say I owe much of my improvement to the White Rose band.