[Edited transcription of letter from William Willard, Ward Prairie, Freestone 
County, Texas, to his son, Matthew Willard, Auburntown, Tennessee, August 4, 
1883. William was 72 years old. ]

                                       August the 4, 1883
Mr  Math Willard1 and family
                                             Dear Son and Daughter

I take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines to let you know how we are getting 
along. This leaves us all well as common. Your Mother and Senie2 are not very 
well today. I hope when these few lines reaches you they may find you all well. I 
have no news to write [3 illegible words] crops are good and we have had plenty 
rain so far and fruit plenty, about as much as I had last year. You and Patsy3 had 
better come to see us again and help us to eat our good preaches. I have some as 
nice peaches as you ever saw. I have sold some this year. All I have to do is gather 
my peaches and sit myself in my buggy and peddle. That is all I am fit for now, 
Math. I have some bad luck since I wrote to you last. I have lost 3 head of cattle 
with the blackleg and I tell you I hate it mighty bad. I lost a heap of money. Would 
not have taken less than 25 dollars for one of them if it had of lived. [p. 2] 

Nelse4 told me he got a letter from Tennessee a few days ago and there was good 
many deaths in it. I was sorry to hear of such a misfortune that happened to Ann 
D[avenport]5 but I think Dug D[avenport]6 is to blame for he never tried to give his 
children no chance, always stuck up there in that old hollow where [they] know 
nothing nor know what respected people was. Wont they hurt him for whipping 
her. Look like to me they could.

Drew[‘s]7 little baby has had fever for 50 days. I dont know what is the matter with 
[it] nor the doctor dont. They have been looking for it to die a long time. Frank’s8 
folk are all well. All of my family and myself went to a basket dinner and a 
tournament day before yesterday. Ben9 was one of the knights. They all looked 
mighty pretty riding. I enjoyed it fine. I would like the best in the world to see you 
all. Press Willard10 has been to Ellis Co. this summer to see Bill.11 He said they 
was all well and doing well. Will dont like Ellis [County] much. Well I will close 
for this time. Write soon as you get this. Your father, as ever
                                       Wm Willard
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       Notes
                                       
      1. Matthew Willard was the second son of William Willard and Tilitha 
Summers (William’s second wife). Over the years, Matthew made 13 trips on 
horseback from Tennessee to Texas to visit his folks.
      2. Senie Willard was a sister to Matthew, the tenth child of William and 
Tilitha. She married John Stephen Seale, a brother of our grandmother, Annie 
Elizabeth Seale Willard. Senie was about 18 when this letter was written.
      3. Patsy Willard Ready was William’s sister and Matthew’s aunt.
      4. Nelse was William and Tilitha’s first son, an older brother to Matthew.
      5. Ann Davenport was William’s granddaughter, whose mother was 
William’s daughter, Diby Lucinda Willard,  by his first wife, Lovey Duggin.
      6. Dug Davenport was William’s son-in-law.
      7. “Drew” (Lovey Drucilla) was William and Tilitha’s daughter and 
Matthew’s sister. She married C. Tom Orand. Tragedy stalked this couple. Six of 
their children lived only a few months. The babies are buried in the Day Cemetery 
north of Fairfield.
      8. Franklin (another brother to Matthew) was William and Tilitha’s sixth 
child. He married Ann Summers.
      9. Ben Willard, a brother to Matthew, was William and Tilitha’s 7th child. 
He was 13 years old in 1870 when the family moved from Tennessee to Texas. 
The trip took seven weeks. They came through Dallas which had only one store. 
Ben married Lizzie Yates, a first cousin to Annie Elizabeth Seale Willard. Ben and 
Lizzie were parents of Aunt Laura Bonner.
      10. Press Willard (John Presley Willard), William’s third son by his first 
wife, Lovey Duggin, and a half-brother to Matthew. 
      11. Bill (William B.) was William’s fourth son by Lovey Duggin, a full 
brother to “Press” and half-brother to Matthew. He settled in Ellis County, Texas.