Navarro County Texas Archives History - Letters .....Hightower, Lydia Ltrs From Lula Brigman 1881-1925 ************************************************ 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 17, 2009, 3:29 pm July 3, 1881 Waxahachie Ellis Co Texas Dear Lydia Hightower, My dear friend, I take pleasure in answering your kind letter that was received a few days since. Was glad to hear from you. We are tolerably well. All that is at home that is, Ma and I and Willie and family. Brother George has been gone 3 weeks to the Wells in Robinson Co. near Bremond. He was getting worse when he left but received a letter from him, he was improving. Lydia, you don't know how anxious I am about him, but I do hope he will soon get well. [Wooten Wells - health sulphur waters] There was a letter came from him from Rollie*, but I suppose Rollie wrote one to you at the same time for he said he would write to you as soon as he stopped. He said he was well and doing. He did not know when he would come back. You asked me if Mr. Henry Cox went with him. He did not. Mr. Cox lived near here for awhile after he left and now he is down where brother George is. I attended a Barbeque evening yesterday. Had a nice time. I would like to attend the meeting you spoke of. I hope you'll go and enjoy it. Lydia, I know no news that will interest you. I am teaching school close to home. Will teach three months. I have taught a week. I think I will have a very good school. Lydia, write me soon and a long letter. Excuse this letter for I am writing in a hurry, so I will close for the present. Write soon. I remain your true friend, L.L. Brigman *Rollie, brother 25 years old at this time; 4 years older than Lydia. Lydia was 21 during this correspondence. ============================ Waxahachie Ellis Co Texas Aug 31st 81 Miss Lydia Hightower Dear Friend, After a long delay I will now attempt to answer your very welcome letter I received sometime since. Lydia, pardon me for my negligence. I have been so busy and have been real sick for the past week. I am some better. I hope I will soon be well. We are all able to be up but not well. Brother York has been sick, but his fever is broken and I think he will soon be well. Brother George was improving when he was at home. He is travelling for his health. You know I am glad to see him getting better. It is very dry here. Water very scarce. Stockmen are bothered to get water for their stock. People are very busy picking cotton. They won't be but very little cotton made here. All of it is about open now. I never saw as much cotton going into market in Aug in my life. We did not raise any cotton atall. The worms destroyed all of ours. Lydia, if you have not heard from Rollie, I know you want to hear from him. He was here and started East with brother Willie. He was carrying ponies. They have been gone three weeks. Heard from them two weeks ago. They were both well. We are looking for them home every day. I will try to get him to write to you as soon as he comes home if he has not wote to you since he left. He was in fine health when he came from the West. I never saw him look as well. I often talk to him about you all and about going home, but you know no one can do anything to get one to stay at home after they take a notion to leave, but I know a Sister's anxiety about a brother's welfare. I have been teaching school this summer, but I closed a week or so ago. I have been sick every since. Ma and Maszn (Mary?) has been drying and canning peaches, but peaches are about gone. I want to try and get well now. George said if he could when he came home he would bring me down and I am sure I want to come. I will commence school again in two months to teach nine months and that is a long time, so I want to come before I commence school. I will be very busy as we are going to move this fall. Lydia, you don't know how bad I hate to leave this place. It seesm so much like home, but then I will be away and the boys think it best to move. Lydia, write me all the news. Lyd, I regretted to hear of your Sister* and family having such bad health, also the death of your little nephew. I am sure you must have had a sad time. I will close by asking you not to delay writing. Write a long letter, give my kindest regards to your Mother's family accept the best wishes of your true and loving schoolmate, L.L. Brigman *Sister Sallie,27 years old at this time; 6 years older than Lydia. ============ Waxahachie, Texas Nov. 21, 1881 Miss Lydia Hightower Dear Friend, I could not imagine why you did not write to me but having received a letter from Mattie Way* yester evening and it was with the deepest regret that I learned for your Sister Sallie's death+ Lydia, I know you are very sad this eve and I will not wait for you to write but maybe it will be some pleasure to you to you to receive a letter from your true friend. Lyd, I truly sympathize with you for I have felt the loss of my oldest and dearly loved Sister.[Permelia Ann?] We must part with our dearest relatives and friends but Lydia, God knows best. He in his wisdom takes them away for some purpose, Lydia, if the roads had not been so bad, George and I would have drove down to see you a week or more ago, but he not being well would not try to come, so I will not get to come before next summer,-(or I must go to school next week. Oh! I do wish you would come and go to school. We would enjoy it so much. I think we will have a fine school. Lydia, I am rather sad today, for I will have but one more week to spend at home. I don't suppose I will be here next Sunday. George got a letter from Rollie not a great while ago. He was well and he was at his Cousin Frances Hightower^. I will send your letter to him when George answers his letter. He was gone when I received your letter. Lydia, I have no news that will interest you. Only all of the young people are about to marry and most of all Lydia, my old sweet heart married about two weeks ago—one who had come to see me for about five years. That was hard, I was not it, but there is plenty more just as good. Lydia, I would be so glad for you to come to see me. With my kindest regard to your Mother's family, accept the best wishes of your true friend, Lula Brigman. P.S. Lydia, direct your next letter to Auburn, Ellis Co., Texas *Mattie Way is another classmate of theirs in Frost/Dresden/Cross Roads - Navarro Co. + Sister Sallie was the mother of Lola (Holloman) and died Nov. 3, 1881 at the age of 27. Lola and her brother, David and Ernest came to live with grandparents, Rome and Jane. Lola was 16 years younger than Lydia. ^ One of daughters of John Bryon Hightower. She was born in 1864,so would have been 17 at this time. =============================== Auburn, Ellis Co., Texas Jan 1, 1882 Dear Lydia, I now resume my seat to write you a letter. I was so glad to get a letter from you. I would have liked to have spent Christmas with you if we all had been well, but I regret to say I found Ma and Brother George both quite sick when I came home. Ma is better, brother a little better when he left last Tuesday for Sons Lake. Willie went with him. Lydia, it seemed more than I could bear to see him start so far away, but if it will help him. i have spent my holidays helping to pack for they have been moving. I have been very busy all the week. I am at Wfflie's today, but must go to my boarding house this evening. I don't excet I will come home anymore until shcool is out. When I go to our new home I will be nearer to you than I am now. We've had such pretty weather this week. There was a Christmas tree at Auburn, but I left before night so I don't know much about it. I think there will be four weddings befroe long here, but you don't know them. I was at a wedding supper the other night. Had a nice time. Tell me how you like your new home. I do sympathize with you in the loss of your Sister. It is so hard to part with those we love so dearly, but we cannot help it and of course, it is for the best. Jan 6, 1882 Lydia, pardon me for not writing sooner. I will try to do better in future. We have one hundred scholars on roll now. I wish you was among them. I received about ten presents under the Christmas tree. You must send me a Christmas present. I wish I could see you. I have not heard from Jennie in a long time. I have written to her, but she did not answer my letter. Write soon, my love to all the family. Lula Brigman P.S. I have not heard from Rollie in a long time. Tell me where he is and how he is getting along. Your true friend, Lula Auburn, Ellis Co. Texas Feb 24, 1882 Dear Schoolmate, I take pleasure in giving you an early response. I am not very well at present. There is a good deal of sickness around here. I have no news that will interest you. Lydia, tell me who told you I was going to marry. Who did, did not know anything about it. I may be, but the time is a long way off, if ever, but if I should, you will be sure to have an invitation. Yes, I will be sure to tell you all about it, if you are not married. All I ask of you to do the same by me. I have not been home since Christmas, the last time I heard from home, they were all tolerably well. You can imagine how bad I want to see them, but I don't know when I will go home. The last letter from Brother George he was improving. I do feel so thankful for he has been so low. He is in Sa. I can hardly bear to be away from him. I know it was hard to give the little babe up, but better now than when it gets older. Ma moved to Hill Co. It is nearer to you than now. She has not gone yet. She is at brother Willie's. Lydia, I must close for it is Friday morning almost schooltime. We have a good school, 136 scholars. Oh! I wish you was here. We would have such a good time together. I will write a longer letter next time. Don't wait so long but write me a long letter just tell me all the news. Lydia, if you will come to see me, I will give you a real pretty sweetheart. Now you must come, so I must say goodbye, give my love to all the family, Accept the love of your devoted Schoolmate, Lula Brigman Auburn Ellis Co. Texas March 15th 1882 Miss Lydia Hightower Highly esteemed Friend, Your letter came duely to hand. I was so proud to recieve a letter from you Lydia, I do love to read your letters, but I would like to see you Oh! What a good time together we would have. Do you recon' we will see each other again. I hope so. if you come up I will be sure to go home with you, if I am not in school. We still have a fine school. I like teaching real well. I have not been well, but I hope I will get stout again. I regret to hear of the babe's sickness, but hope it is well by this time. I received a letter from Jennie when I received yours. She said her babe was very sick. She has three children. She named the youngest Brigman. His office is in Sandusky, Grayson, Co. Texas. Lydia write her a long letter. She would be so glad to get a letter from you. She has a hard time for they have no home. I am so sorry, I have not seen her for nearly two years, longer than we was every separated before. I want to see her you know, but then we can't always be together so we must do best we can. I have not been home since Christmas, is not that a long time to be from Mama. Sometimes I get homesick, but that don't do any good. I don't know when I will go home. The last time I heard from them, they were all well. I have not heard from Brother George in more than a month. He was improving the last time I heard from him. I do hope he will soon be well. He said he thought he would be home in the spring. Well, spring is here. Oh! you don't know how anxious I am about him. Well, I have no news, only we have so much rain that people are very late about their crops. Lydia, it almost school time and I must go. I wish I could be with you. The girls are most all married up here. Write to me soon and a long letter. Tell Billie I said I thought he might bring you and his wife to see me. I remain as every your true and loving friend, Lula ============== Auburn Ellis Co Texas April 20th, 1882 Miss Lydia Hightower, Long rememered Schoolmate. If thre is any one I love to write to it is you. Yes, when I received your letters, I thought of times we had been together and Lidia I am glad we have been ____ to each other for so long, It would be a great pleasure to be in your company I would love to help you quilt. Oh! I know we would have such a nice time together, but I do love to get letters from you. But tell me what are you quilting so much about. Now Lid, you must not play off on me when you marry for you know you mut have me at your weeding if you don't how can I ever forgive you. I got a very sweet letter from Mattie the other day. I love her. She said she was with you the nigt before sitting up with a corpse. Said she and you spoke of me, I am glad you think of me Sometimes I have no heard from Rollie in a long time, he said when he went away he would write to me and he wrote me one letter. I answered it and I have not received a word from him since. I can't imagine why he don't write. I have not been home in a long time. They were all tolerable well. Bro Geo has improved some. He has come home but I have not been with him more than an hour. Oh! I wish to be with him so bad, but I don't expect I will teach much longer then I will go home. I have no news to write. When I go home I will write you a long leter. They play croquet here most every evening but I don't play often. I would have liked to have attened your sister's funeral. [Nov 1881] How is the babe [Rolly Clay] getting along. Lydia, write me a long letter tell me all the news. I will close for the present. write soon to your true friend, Lula Brigman. P.S. Lydia, Jennie would be so glad to hear from you for she loves you. She often writes about you. She says she can't write much with the children. his office is Sandusky, Grayson Co. Texas. Lydia, write to her. She will be glad to hear from you. I have not heard from her lately. She was getting a long very well. Give my love to all your Mother's family. Tell your Ma I would love to see her ask her if she woul dlike for me to come and go to another exhibition I never will forget that trip. We had such a nice time. Write to Your Schoolmate ====== Auburn Ellis Co. Texas June the 5th 1882 Miss Lydia Long remembered Schoolmate, Doubtless you think strange of my not writing sooner. Lydia, do pardon me this once. I have been so busy and I have not been well. I have thought so often well I'll write tomorrow but you know how a person will putt off writing even to the best friend I have no news of interest you. As you are not acquainted with my friends here so nothing concerning them will beof interst. The weather is very _ this time of year. They are having a splendid meeting here been going on almost a week preaching tonight Oh! I do wish you was here to go with me tonight. I never will forget the pleasant hours we've spent together. You spoke of us nevermeeting again. I do hope we may meet once more on earth and I think we will, but if we do not my dear Schoolmate I would ask you to rememer me in your prayers for Oh Lydia I am so cold hearted, it seems I never [a side of this page is missing] formed any ___ since we came here in Ellis Co.... you have heard from Rollie...not heard a word. I regret...of your father's ill health... he has recovered. I have been .... this Willie's once since I ....to you he was gone West...came back with Mothere was going to our new home. Bro George is still improving was when I saw him last. He took me to Wilile's Our school will close Friday (Just this week) but the Patsons want me to teach two months longer and I expect I will say ut I do want to go home so bad it seems like it has been a long, long time since I was at home six months and when I go I will be at a new home among strangers. It does seem like we only make friends to part with them. I do love my friends but we must part seems like have more but I will soon leave these friends. I hope I may met other friends. I had not heard of Miss Mattie's wedding until you wrote. I received a letter from her not long ago. She seems like perfectly happy. I am so glad she is. Oh that she may ever be happy glad she has a good husband for Lydia so many I not get ones that deserve them. Mattie is a good girl and deserves a good companion. She has broke the triplett and I guess you will be the next, Lydia as I have notion of marrying until I have an opportunity, would you? I will close as I have several letters to write, Lidia write soon and a long letter and don't wait so long but write for I have notneglected I writing on purpose but I could not well avoid not writing. I know you certanly forgive me my love to all the family accept a love of your true and loving friend, L.L Brigman ====== Abbot, Hill Co Oct the 3rd '82 Mrs Lydia Grimes My dear friend, After a long silence I respond to you kind missive. I hope you will pardon me fo r waiting so long. I kep putting off writing day after day until the present. But Lydia my silence by no means indicated any unkind feeling toward you. I was in school when I recieved it thought I would wait until came home and there has been someone sick every time. We;ve all been sick so much this year but there has been a great deal of sickness all over the state. I am sick today have not been sick very much myself but kep busy waiting on the rest. Brother Mart has been very sick for the past few days. Sister Jennie is here, she looks very badly. she and all her family have been sick. I like my new home splendidly but it is so hard to part with warm friends and Schoolmates none the less the best of friends must part. I hope I may soon have warm friends here. There is a great deal more open country than in Ellis Co. but you don't know how badly penned up Ellis Co is. now the whole country is taken up in farms and pastures very little land not fenced. This is a splendid place for stock, the finest grass I ever saw. It is very lonely here and I think you might come and visit me. Well, Lydia you did get tiref of single life I was not surprised to hear of your wedding [June 1882] Doubless you have made a good choice , not flattering at all Lydia, but I know you deserve a good husband and I am truly glad you are united. May you ever be as happy as now. May pleasures unclaimed by sorrow On Thy heart unclaimed shine May joys await each each coming hours A richesy happiness be thine. May peace attend your future hours And love between you both will flower And may you ever have a friend True as the one these lines are penned. Many thanks for your kind invitation. I would enjoy visiting you so much if I could it is only twenty miles. I was thinking of visiting you last Sunday, but the boys are so busy. They have sold some cattle and are gathering them. I intend on going to Waco next Saturday for the purpose of entering school on Monday. I think I will enjoy being a student again although they will all be strangers to me but if I learn to love them as quick as the girls in Navarro won't mind it. I often think of you everyone. You and Mattie have both married and left me. I would say to you to love your husbands, but save a little affection for your lady friends. What has become of Mattie. She did not answer my last letter. Write me with my kindest regards to you and your husband, I remain as ever your True Friend. L.L. Brigman. ========== Janes, Mexico June 21st 1888 Mrs. Lydia Grimes My own dear friend, You can't imagine how very glad I was to hear from you once again and make hast to respond. Sister Jennie sent me your letter. Now Lydia, I expect you will be surprised to find me away down here in Old Mexico. Yes I am out of the United States once in my life. I am visiting Bro Geroge here at Carretts Ranch. He has been here I believe 2 years. Am also visiting Capt Doak's family. Ihave been here over three months and have enjoyed it just hugely. I did not know one could have so much fun on a ranch. Lydia tis so nice to get on a real pretty pony and go to round up. I attended one all last week. This is the finest Stock country I ever saw. The cattle look so well. The boys have been so busy. They branded over 1200 head cavles last week. They are still on the Round-up about 80 miles away. Lydia this is rather a wild country. I have not seen but one American lady since I've been in Mexico except Capt Doak's family. Sometimes you travel 80 miles without seeing anyone or seeing a house of any kind. You never see any kind of house here but Adobes. 'tis strange to go t a Mexican town and see no other kind of houses. We are oging to Janes tomorrow. Just Mr. & Mrs. Templeton & myself. It is about 50-60 miles only one house a little ranch house between here and there. That is our Post office . I hope to get some letters then. I am so glad to hear from you. I am sorry to hear of Mr. Grimes bad health but hope he will soon recover. I would like so much to see your little boy. What is his name? I know you are proud of him [Earl born 1885] Lydia I do wish you would come and visit me. Won't you all come and spend a fw weeks with me. How I would appreciate a visit from you. I still live at Abbott with Mama. Sister Mollie is living with us her little children are so sweet. None of my brothers are married except Bro. Willie. Lydia, do write me real soon. Write me at Abbott for I think I will return home soon. With much love to you & yours I am as ever your loving friend, Lula Brigman === Abbott, Hill Co. Texas 7th Aug 1'88 (not sure of last numeral - might be 5) Mrs. Grimes, Dear Lydia, After waiting a long long time for a letter from you but perhaps you never received my last letter and today I am writing to so many of my old schoolmates that I must write to you. Lydia, we have been corresponding so long, that it seems I can't get a long without your dear letters. You certainly are not going to do like so many of my old friends, as soon as they marry seem to forget their former associates. But Lydia I know you are too true to your friends for that. Commencement week past very pleasantly. I enjoyed my school days at Mosium?Morium? real well. Learned to love my teachers and so many of the students. There were some real sweet girls there that i learned to love dearly. But now i am enjoying the many pleasures of home. Have spent a very pleasant vacation so far. Had a goo many meetings near here. I did not attend but little. I intend to attend a camp meeting near Hillsboro next week. I met Parson Badget over at Liberty. He seems the same as he used to while in Navarro County. He said he would come out to see us soon. Do you have good meetings in your community nowadays? Some sickness in this community. Mama has been quite sick since I came home. As soon as she was able she and brother Mart went to the Wooten Wells. [In 1878, Francis Marion Wootan dug a well three miles west of Bremond and noticed that the water turned his dishes yellow. He had it analyzed and when he found it's high mineral content he started bottling it. Other wells were dug and Wooten Wells fast became a resort.] Her health improved some and I think she will soon be well again. I have been sick for a few days, but feel much better this morning. The boys are real busy putting up day. Brother George has been west for several weeks. We are looking for him home every day. The boys have bought a ranch west of Colorado City. I expect we will move this fall as they will move the cattle on account of the range being fenced and you know Mama and I would not be satisfied to remain here while the boys are away. We have not sold our land here. I have no news that will interest you. We are needing rain, Lydia. I think you might visit me this summer. We don't live very far apart. Your brother Willie and Janie I think treated me real bad by not coming and spendig the night with us when they were so near. But they passed on by. Mart took dinner with them. I suppose I will try to excuse them this time as the children were sick. I hope they hav recovered by this time. Lydia, send me you and your husband's picture. I have never had the pleasure of meeting your husband but have great faith in your taste and judgment. If I don't get an answer real soon I will know you don't care to hear from me. My kindest regards to your Father's and brother's family. You and husband accept best wishes of your sincere friend, Lula Brigman ==== Sherman, Texas Aug 19, 1906 My dear Lydia, I have intended writing many times but neglected to do so. I often live over my happy visit with you and family. I enjoyed every moment I was with you. I wrote Sister Jennie and gave her a glowing desceiption of my visit and told her about you and all the family. She wrote me how she too would enjoy being with you all dearly and sent so many messages. Said she was glad to be remembered by you and sent her love to you and be sure and give her love to Aunt Janie and your Papa. I shall never forget the morning I told you goodbye at the train. I felt a little homesick all day. I felt I had tolad a relative goodby. But I look forward to seeing you again someday. The wolrd is not so large but that we may meet again "some sweet day". I had splendid success with my business. I never wrote Miss Nelson. You remember the sweet little girl who came to train to see me. Well, I arranged it all right myself and did not trouble her with it. I have had success until two weeks ago today. I was spending Sunday with an old friend in Waxahachie. We went driving and in some way getting out of the buggy I hut my ankle. And I have not been able to rise my foot since. I am now with my niece, Mrs. Ballard. She is Brother Will's daughter. She has a lovely home and has a cook this summer and has a nice surrey & horse and when I am able to drive she takes me out and does all she can to make it pleasnt for me. I regret so much my accident but hope to soon recover. I begin teaching the 3rd of September. Well I looked for Erle and I inquired for him but they told me he was laying off that day. I was so sorry not to see him. I fell in love with the children and you must not let them forget "Aunt Lou". Some day when you and Mr. Grimes find me that Bachelor and I have a little home you shall be among the first of my firends that I shall claim a visit from. I met one of my old friends and pupiles in Ennis who made it so pleasant for me. I had a pleasant stay in Corsicana and employed the first person I called on. I suspect you are now getting the children ready for school You will be lonely when they go to school. Lydia I shall never forget your lovely surroundings, your home, fine pasture and stock, those pretty cattle. I am so fond of fine stock and those beautiful chickens. I think I shall have to start a chicken ranch "sure enough". Could I see you this evening and have you talk to me would be much more pleasant than writing. And then tell Mr. Grimes while my voice is as weak as ever, no doubt you and I goether could talk atain until the "wee small hours" and no doubt disturb his slumber. Well Lydia write me a long letter and tell the children to write to me for this is to all. Give my love to Ellen [Hightower] and your mother and father and all the relatives. I shall always love your mother dearly. With much love for own dear self and family, I am as ever your old friend, Lula Brigman 1007 Grand Ave Sherman, Texas ===== Wichita Falls, Texas Route 2 Box 15 Dec 24, 1921 Mrs. Lydia Grimes Blooming Grove Dear Lydia, Again it is Christmas Eve and my mind goes back to the long ago when we were very happy girls and you & Bille were visiting us in Ellis Co and the glad time we had together. Yes, we very young & happen then & life was brighter. Time passes on and no doubt each of us have had many experiences as we have journeyed on, some very pleasant, & some sad ones. But tonight I'm thiking of my old & true friends and you are one of the dearest ones of youth ad I wish that this may be a most joyous Christams for you. I have been in Dallas since leaving the school until a few days ago when I came over to spend Xmas with Sister Jennie Berry. You remember her. She said tell you she remembered you so well and wish she could see you again. I have relatives in Dallas and I may make my home in Dallas. I am not fully decided yet. Lydia, I surely appreciate your kind invitation. It is so sweet of you and I appreciate your kind invitation, but I've been so busy and Jennie would not hear of my visiting anyone until I came to see her. I've not been to sse but little for the past four years. We intended to go to Paducah to spend Xmas with Calude & Hattie Jennie's oldes son & family but oh so cold today we decided too cold for a 75 mile drive in a car. More comfortable by a good fire today & I think will be tomorrow -- surely cold here. I wonder what you are doing tonight. Brother Will is spending Christmas with us and he told me to be sure to ask for Rollie's address. He is anxious to hear from Rollie. He as well as the rest of us thought so much of Rollie. I think you told me where he lived. Where does Billie live? None of them live near you do they? I suspect your children are with you for the holidays and hope you may have a very happy time. Lydia, when you go to Hillsboro be sure and go and see Mart. He will be very glad to see you. You are one of our old time friends and we are all glad to mee our old friends. Maybe some time we may meet at Hillsboro, and have a little visit. Lydia, write me a long letter real soon. Write to me at Wichita Falls Texas Route 2 Box 15. Hope old Santa will be real good to you and that you and Mr. Grimes are real well. With much love, your old friend, Lula Brigman === Wichita Falls, Tex Thursday morning (no date) [November 1924 ?] My Dear Lydia, I am ashamed that I have not answered your dear welcome letter. I was so glad to get it so quick. You had a fast trip home and no doubt you was glad to be at home. Sure is nice to have so many nice eggs at home. I am so glad you have good people with you. Of course you'll get lonely at times, but I believe loneliness in peace is better than some other things that exist sometimes. We talk of your visit so often. Both enjoyed so much and oh, how I wise we lived close together. We still have fine weather. Nothing killed yet, the flowers are so pretty. I wish you could see and have some of them. Josh went to Seymour for the election and has never come home. I had a letter from him. He wrote that he was getting along very well and had a nice place to stay. Said he had some trades on and would stay a few days longer. I expect him anytime. I had a nice letter from Lola and thought I would write her but I have had so much to do that I haven't done it. Well, Thanksgiving will soon be here. Guess you will have turkey for a lot of people. I don't guess we will know any difference from any other day. The good book says not to esteem one day above another and that is easy for poor folks [to] do. We are as well as susual and hope our precious friend is real well. With much love, Yours, Jane Wichita Falls, Texas Feb 25, 1925 RFD 2 Box 15 Mrs. Lydia Grimes Dear Friend I guess that you have lost hopes of hearing from us anymore and getting those Grape cuttings. I am about through pruning my vines and I am sending you about 356 cuttings. I have wrote the names of them on a slip of paper and put in each bundle also a slip at one end saying put this end down when planting them out. Well, our brother, Josh Brigman is dead. Died last Sunday eve at 4 o'clock and was carried to Abbot for burree [burial] on yesterday. He died here and Jane has been very busy or she would have written to you before now. We are very sorry that we have not written to you sooner. Mollie is here and feeble. Le us hear from you again and we will not neglect you so long. Put those cutting out where you can keep them watered just put them in deep enough just so you leave one end out of the ground. Hope you will make them grow. PA Berry No charges whatever just a bundle of love and respects and remembrances from old friends. Jane has not lost any more money but may when she collects enough together again. PAB ca Feb 1925 Wichita Fall Wednesday evening My dear good friend, I can't write much this time but felt like I must have a word or two with you. I know you know what you was saying when you told me you felt sorry for me. I was in such a strain ever since 18th Dec. That was the time Josh has been so bad. He had a carbuncle on the back of his head that caused him to get down so weak. Oh he suffered so much. He went back to Seymour for the election and got worse. Was away 4 weeks and the carbuncle come while he was there and just as soon as he could be brought here he come. I am glad I could be with him and care for him, but I was worn out bad. Had such a cold for so long. Sister came about a week before he died and Will and Mart had both been to see him, but neither of them was here when the end came. Will left on Saturday before he died and got here Sunday night at 11:30. Millie is not well. Joe and Charlei went to the burying and have not got back yet. We are looking for them all time. With lots of love, I am your true friend, Jane. ============== ========== 1860 United States Federal Census > Texas > Cherokee > Beat 5 image 9 Rusk 904 Bergman, R.C. 37 minister Meth 1000 500 SC Sarah A. 35 GA Permelia A. 13 Al did she die? Rebecca E 12 AL Mary 11 AL Joshua 9 TX George H. 7 TX Jane 5 TX m. P.A. Berry? William 4 TX Martin 2 TX Larina 5/12 **Lula C.C. 20 AL [believe he is R.C.'s brother] ======== 1870 United States Federal Census > Texas > Cherokee > Beat 2 242 Brigham, Sarah 45 600 350 GA Mary 20 AL ?"Mollie"? Joshua 18 TX George H 17 TX Sarah J 15 TX William 13 TX Martin 11 TX Levina 9 **Lula File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/navarro/history/letters/hightowe57gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/txfiles/ File size: 34.3 Kb