LETTER FROM JO C KARNER TO MRS B G MCLESKEY, 1888, Smith County, TX

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This letter was bought on Ebay and has been given to the Smith County
Historical Society.
Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net

Written on stationary
Office of Parker & Karner, Wholesale and Retail Grocers, and Dealer in
Grain, Hides, Wool, Eggs and Produce
J B Parker and Jo C Karner
Tyler, Texas
The letter is addressed to Mrs B G McLeskey, Brownsville, Tenn.

Mar 23 1888

Mrs McLeskey

I have been thinking of writing to you for some time & now as I have a 
few minutes spare time will do so.  I know very little if any thing of 
interest to you as I have been attending very close to business of late 
& havn't seen or heard from any of your Tehuacana friends in some time, 
except John Fender had a letter from him a few days ago, but I suppose 
you hear from him as often as I do.

Pa is in Mexia, went over last Sunday, we rec'd a letter from John 
yesterday said Pa was giving one of Bancrofts men notes for Texas 
history.  I was real glad to hear of pa consenting to make known his 
knowledge of Texas & more because he would be occupied for a few days 
anyway, although we do every thing we can to make things pleasant for 
him he seems never to forget for a moment our Mother.

Phil has just recovered from the mumps & Fanny has taken them.  I stop 
at the gate & have Louitta place her in a room & lock the door every 
time I go to my meals.  We sent Phil to Coursin Lou's when he had them. 
Aunt Barbara (Pa's oldest sister) died in Buffalo last Saturday.  Do 
you ever hear from "Miss Brook."  Now would like so much to hear from 
her.  I heard that Miss Maggie was married, hope she married a real 
nice man, I suppose yo would hardly know me now am not qute so tall as 
"Sara June Wade" but fully as fleshy as Capt.  I have gained eighty lbs 
since the spell of Typhoid fever I had last summer.  You can't imagine 
what a nice time I had, only seventy five days that my temperature ran 
not less than 105.  Will send you my photo taken a few weeks after I 
got out of bed, have been improving ever since.  Jim is over here 
working for us & I think will make a real good business man

We have splendid society in Tyler.  The larger & most influential 
portion of the people are old Texas & from the older states.  We are
having a C P church built & it will be very pretty when finished ---

I suppose Miss Minnie is at home with you & I hope real well & happy.  
I would like so much to hear from her, but don't know that she would 
care to write & for as to my writing, I shall comply with your request 
although it was the hardest one ever exacted of me, but not knowing but 
which it was agreeable with her & knowing that it was your desire that 
I should never write to her again.  I have never made an effort since, 
although my interest in Miss M. has increased.  Please pardon me for 
the words just written.  They were unintentional.  I was about to 
forget as all of my troubles seem to come back to me sometime.

I rec'd a long nice letter from Aunt T. the other day she reminds me 
so much of my dear old mother.  O how I loved that mother & how I am 
now striving to live up to the teachings she gave .  Mrs McLeskey I 
was nothing more than a child when I __to visit your house but 
impressions made there will be everlasting with me.  There I became a 
true friend of yours & more than a friend of Minnie & although the 
lapse of a few months (seemingly years) have drifted us far apart I 
shall never forget you & yours.  I have no assurance that I will ever 
see or hear from you again but it matters not for I shall always be 
what I have expressed.  Hoping to hear from you & also that I have not 
digressed on your time or otherwise I am,

Your true friend
Jo C Karner