Grayson County Texas Archives History - Letters .....Russell, Aletha Thompson To Lydia Hightower Grimes Ltrs 1908-1939 ************************************************ 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 December 21, 2008, 11:44 am Aletha Thompson Russell (daughter of Cariel & Susn Paden Thompson) 9-28-1856 - 29 Oct 1939 Whitewright )Grayson Co) Burial: New Pilot Point Cemetery Whitewright Texas [Grayson Co] May 1, 1908 Mr. R. Hightower With pleasure I thought as I got your picture in the Dallas News and your wife looks so much like an Aunt of min, I want to know who you married. If it was Thompson, she favors my Father. Would like to hear from you sson, as ever a friend or maybe a niece as ever Aletha Russell Whitewright, Texas June 10, 1908 Dear Aunt, For I know you are in reason the ery one that I was named for. Pa [Cariel Thmpson] and Uncle Dave came to Texas the fall of 1869. Stopped in Red River Co a while. Pa & Ma lost their Babe there at Pa's sister, Litte Worthen [Lydia Thompson Wortham]. Uncle Tom is deal also and it has been quite a while since I heard anything of Aunt. Uncle died from a mad dog bite. Pa married Susan Paden in Chicasaw Co Miss. Had 11 children. I am the 6 and always thought that I was name for Pa & Ma -- his youngest sister, the Aletha part of my name and the other was for my other grandma. Pa and Ma are both dea. Ma died February, 1891 [Feb 4-Oakwood Cemetery, Honey Grove] and Pa died Oct 1895.[Oct 7 -Honey Grove] They are both buried at Honery Grove. Uncle Guid is all the one that is a living that I know of. He lives in Abilene or somewhere near there. I hear from him once in a while through my younger sister. My youngest brother has a girl going there to school. He lives near Anson, Jones Co. He married Mr. Gosham Hightower's girl.Her mama was Tresy Ellice. I guess that Uncle Rollie can remember that they are both dead. Both died in Fanning Co. near Bonham. Well I am the daughter of Cariel Thompson. I married Henry Russell in Dec 1874 and we have 11 children. All are living ...4 girls and 7 boys. The 3 oldest girls are married but none of the boys, but our oldest boy is in Ochiltree Co, Tx. I wish that I could see you and then I could tell you more than I can write. I received your letter the next day after you wrote. We have some fearful winds through here. Had a wind yesterday and another one this morning and a right smart of rain with it. Can't work in the fields for a day or two, but some think that high land oats can be cut tomorrow if it don't rain any more. Crops are in a bad fix. Some corn looks fine while other is sorry and but littel cotton chopped out yet we have had a site of rain, but nothing to compare with Dallas. There is by 5 of the family living. 3 boys and 2 girls. Sister is in Arizona alone of ___ no one but herself. Been married 2 times and now a widow. There is 4 of the Hightower girls out there. Three makes that their home and the other is a old maid teaching school. She makes her home in Paris, Lamar Co. Would love to hear from you soon and all about your family and how you was getting along. Much love to you all, as ever Aletha Russell. Aletha's daughter, Kate Wright Whitwright, Texas Jan 11, 1937 [Grayson Co] Well, Aunt Lydia [Grimes] and how glad we were to hear from you again. I had thought of writing but I think I had written twice and I thought maby you had gone from Frost and maby you didn't get my letter. Anyway here hoping this New Year has found you feeling fine, and will continue though the year. Well as to all the family I believe everyone's health is fairly well. The Mr. Wright's is just lots better. I don't remember just when I wrote you last, but he takened rheumatism nearly 2 years ago and poor old boy he had quite a time, but he is so much better. I am just so thankful and Mother and Daddy seem very well. They were here 2 weeks ago today and spent the day. [Parents:Henry Russell died Mar 23, 1937; Aletha died 29 Oc 1939] Arther [Arthur] and his wife brought them. Wheeler and Dick are still at home with them. I hate for Mamma to be worried with keeping house but I don't suppose she would be satisfied anywhere else. The oldest boy, Rogger [Rogers H. Mar 1880] and family were at home last summer. Bob [Robert E.L. Jun 1898] and his wife are out near Post, Texas [Garza Co]. They don't come very often. Well his wife and 2 of the boys were here last April. His wife's father died and they came home. Her father lived at Pilot Grove. Minnie, the old [oldest] girl was at home Christmas. She lives near Durant, Okla and Billie, the next to the oldest boy lives up there too and he was home at Xmas. He and his old girl. He and wife have 2 girls one is old enough to be teachingin school and the other one is eleven years old. I guess surely I have written you since Doad's death. She died last Jan 25. [1936]. Will soon be 1 year and it was 4 years last Tues that we put Aunt Belle [Pyron?] away and oh how we do miss our dear ones when they are gone. But poor Doad, she had suffered so much and I said God had been so good to our family that after all we had so much to be thankful for. Doad's children were all married except 1 boy and he and his Dad live alone. They live in Okl. near Minnie and Billie and all the rest of us. Tom and family, Mollie and family and Arthur and family live here close by. Well, I am a little farther off than the others but we can only get home every week or 2. However it don't look like now we would get there soon for we sure have had some sleet and snow. It began last Fri and we haven't been out since it sure does look wintry. Mollie's oldest boy is married and lives just close to her and Fay, her girl is till teaching school and she is at home in the summer. The youngest boy is at home. Well, Fay teaches in about 25 miles of here and she comes home most every week. Well, Aunt Lydie I can't think about you living alone. It just seems like it would be a little lonesome. Well, I mite be afraid. I wish you could come and visit with Mother and Dad. Aunty Lydia when I think of what Mother and Dadd have gone trhough with in rearin we children. Oh, I said how did they do it, but times are different noe to what they were then and children are different too or it seems to me they are. Oh yes, of course time brings on these changes. I hadn't told you Cardelia, that's Tom's girl, she stayed with us 7 or 8 years and finished school and takened a little business course and she has been at Jacksonville Texas now nearly 3 years. She has a very good job as bookkeeper in a store there. Say, I met a man here by the name of George that said he knew your boy, Freddie. [F.M.Grimes III] There isn't any telling who we will run on these days. Well, I had better just ring off. You mit get tired trying to read this. Sure hope this finds you and yours well and Mother, Dad and all were glad to hear from you. Bye with love from all, Kate Wright Whitewright, Texas [Grayson Co] May 6, 1937 Well how is Aunt Lydia? I hope you are just fine. But I haft to write you some sad sad news. Daddie passed away 6 weeks ago this morning at 8:15 o'clock. (March 23, it was) Poor old Dadd he did hate to give up. He had been failing but would stay up & about most of the time just lay down & rest awhile to get up to go about. On Sun he seemed to get worse. They called us about noon so there he was just sitting & talking. He said now Katie I am not sick (But don't know) he would have the boys to help him walk & would say now that helps me. (But I don't know) he would say that so often. So Monday he didn't get any better seemed to weaken of course, & about 5 Monday afternoon the children from (Okla) came in he talked to them some asked who came but didn't talk very much more & about 9 that night he went off to sleep. He never did wak any more. At 12 that night they turned him in bed & it seemed he just slept good. At 7:35 o'clock next morning. We thought we would come home to see about our things. I went to the bed & rubbed his head and Arthur, the youngest boy was setting by the bed & he said now Kate just go on home if you want to for I believe Daddy is just resting good & will be able to be up after while. So we came home & Arthur was still setting there at 8:15 and he said he just quite breathing. Arthur said Well if he had to go it ws so nice that he just slipped away not a struggle. The Dr. said it was hardening artery of the hear that caused his death. Now Aunt Lydia its very sad indeed to give Daddy up and Oh how we do miss him but still we have lots to e thankful for he had been spared to see us all grown up girls & boys. He & Mother had been married 62 years last Dec 6. [1874] Quite a long life together and I fear old Mother it seems like she just can't understand. I think death is hard to understand, but I guess if man had never sinned we would not of had to die. We could of hadheave right here on earth, but how sad it is that there is so much sin going on now. We kept Daddie's body with us till on Thursday afternoon. Had to for (Rogger) the oldest boy to get in. Bob, the other boy that is in the West got in Tuesday afternoon. I said I was a little glad to get to keep him & then it rained all day Tues & Wed was so windy & by Thur it was dray. We buired him at Pilot Grove that about 2 miles west of home. Mamma wasn't able to be up very much for 2 or 3 weeks so someone had to stay with she & the boys. She came home with me & stayed 2 weeks, but she had to go home Sund but she went home with Arthur & wife to stay a while. I don't know just how we are to do. Of course Mamma wants to stay at home with the boys but she isn't able to do anything so dont' know just what will be best. The rest of the folks are all well & the Mr. Right seems to be doing fine. Hope this finds you & yours all well. the folks are all glad to hear from Aunt Lydia. Everybody was so nice to us when Daddy went away. They said they were just paying back things that we had been doing for others all these years. You know Daddy & Mother had been living at the same place 42 years. There had been lots of folks to come & go during those years, but Oh life is so shot after all & we get to do such alittle. Hope you are feeling good. Bye, Kate. Whitewright Texas Dec 26, 1937 Well Aunt Lydia how are you & how as Christmas with you. I am sure it was fine & happy or at least I hope it was. I have to say it was very different with us. Mother is up in Okla with Minnie [daughter]. She has been u pthere for 5 or 6 weeks and Minnie would write & say she wanted to come home but that she wanted to keep her just as long as she could. I wrote them last week for them to bring Mother home & spend Christmas with us, but yesterday wasn't a very pretty day & it has rained quite a bit today & I haven't heard anything of them. Poor Mother she says she would rather be at home but it seems like she just can't stay there with out someone with her & the 2 boys haft to be out at work. I want to get someone to stay with her but she doesn't seem to think she needs anyone. Arthur the youngest boy & his wife & children (they have 3 boys & 1 girl) came up & had dinner with us yesterday (Christmas Day) They live over at Pilot Grove about 2 or 3 miles from home. Wheeler & Dick the 2 boys at home they just batch. I tell them I believe I would get busy & see if I couldn't get some old girl to love me. Oh I feel the sadness of Daddie being gone & I am sure we will always miss him but still we were wonderfully blessed in having him with us so long & yet to think of a life it isn't long even though one lives to be what folks call old. As some said about Aunt Belle. She lived a long life. I just couldn't feel Aunt Belle was old & she wasn't I think yesterday was the first Christmas we had missed taking our dinner & going home to eat it with Mother & Daddie since we have married & that will soon be 18 years. I think of what a friend said to me when Daddie went away. She said I would haft to do like she did, live in memories of the past. She had gave up her Dadd when she was a young girl. Well, Mollie's girl, Fay & her husband have been to see us this afternoon. They live in Royace City. I believe I wrote you about their marriage. They married in Sept. Mollie's youngest boy is still at ome. The other boy married & has 2 children but they live right there by Mollie. Tom & his family still live at the same place & all very well. Cordelia, the oldes girl [Tom's] & the one we kept for 6 or 7 years, she works in Jacksonville Texas She is bookkeeper for the Davenport stores. She was here last week She worked at the store in W W ? Aunt Lydia I think lots of the little visit you made us & you & Aunt Belle & mother going to Petty. The folks are all gone from Petty.[Belle was a nurse for some people living in Petty] Ira lives at Honey Grove. Well my paper has gave out so ring off & get me some & write more next time. Hope you are well. Kate Happy New Years Whitewright Texas Dec 18, 1939 Well Aunt Lyda I just wonder if you are stillliving all alone. I have been thiking of you so much & would think every day I would write. But its sad news again. We had to give our Mother up on Oct the 20. She had been here with Wright & I most of the time for the last year & she was able to be up & about most all the time. Her kidneys bothered her & I had to be up with her real often some nights & sometimes we would just get along fine. I slep right in bed with her & me waking up was just like magic. Wright would say well how can you wake up? But I didn't know I just woke. I am so glad we had Mother here with us & got to do for here in her last days. Wish you could of ben with us & seen Mother. She looked so resful & sweet everybody said. Oh she looks so young. Some that hadn't known her asked how old was she about 65-70. I said yes, she was 83 the 28th of Sept. Aunt Lyda. I feel like the lOrd has been real good to we children in sparing Daddie & Mother until we are all grown up boys & girls. Yet its sad so sad to haft to give them up & Oh I sure have missed Mother, but yet there is something alittle sweet about her going. She didn't seem just right on Sat. morning. Just 2 weeks from the daw we put her away & when I would talk to her she seemed to know but din't talk & she just seemed to get a little more stupid. I tld the other children there was a change in her some way & I wrote to Minnie the older girl so she came & stayed with us the last week. I was so glad for her to be here. Mother would get up every morning. I nearly always had to eithe dress her or help her some so on Thur morning she didn't want up & Thur afternoon she went off in a coma & didn't seem to ever realize anything any more & passed away at 8:25 Fri morning. It was such a beautiful morning & was still pretty the day we put her away. 6 of we children were by her bed when she passed so peacefully away. The other 4 boys came. 10 children. You will remember Dora the oldest hild passed away 1 year before Daddie did. How soon this life is over even though we live to ripe old age. I like to thik of when you, Aunt Belle & Mamma visited here with us. All so happy. Such is life. It is just grand even though we have some ups and downs also sadness & sorrows. Hope this finds you & your children all well & let me wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Years. Bye with lots of love from, Kate Kate (Russell)Wright Additional Comments: 1900 United States Federal Census > Texas > Grayson > Justice Precinct 3 > District 104 image 5 Russell, Henry G. Jul 1850 49 mr46yr MS AL SC Aletha F. Sept 1856 43 mr26 11-11 MS AL MS Rogers H. son Mar 1880 20 TX MS MS Willie C. Aug 1881 18 Mollie C. June 1883 16 Katherine Lou Feb 1885 15 [married Henry G. Russell] John T. Jul 1888 11 Robert E.L. Jun 1898 9 Joseph B. Mar 1892 8 [Wheeler] Richard H. Nov 1893 6 [Dick} Arthur F. Sept 1896 3 1930 United States Federal Census > Texas > Grayson > Precinct 3 > District 39 Gibson H Russell 79 mrag23 MS AL NC Aletha T Russell 73 mrage18 MS AL AL Joe W Russell 38 TX MS MS (Wheeler) Richard H Russell 36 TX MS MS (Dick) 1930 United States Federal Census > Texas > Grayson > Whitewright > District 35 372 Wright, John M 62 [1868]mrage 52 VA VA VA Retail Merchants Drugs Kate L 45 mrage 35 TX MS MS Russell, Cornelia (Cordelia) Roomer 18 TX TX TX (Tom Russell's daughter) [Kate was d/o Henry and Aletha Thompson Russell] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/grayson/history/letters/russella54gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/txfiles/ File size: 16.8 Kb