This page contains extracts from letters, submitted by researchers.
Letter Contributed by Researchers
These letters are written by Mariah Louisa Stanley Moore Cook Jones. They were to her daughter, Ellen Josephine Moore Hughes, wife of William Frank Hughes. She was married to Levi Moore, Tobias Cook, and William J Jones. They discuss her daily life and the search for the killer of her son. The verbiage, punctuation and spelling have not been changed. These letters were found in the family bible and were together, but it does seem to be two separate letters.
Contributed by: Shirley Hughes Hickman.
Marion S Hughes>William Frank Hughes>James Dempsey Hughes> Grady Frank Hughes> Shirley Hughes.
september the sixt
desdimonia po b
eastland Co.
Dear son and daughter
I will this lonsome day
try to write you a few
lines this leaves all
well romillder Moore
is Maried (1896)his name
is hugh nollen now
betty has got john
faribell bulley an
demsey frunill an
murcel the baby they
call him bud they
hav got bob jentry
under a too thousin
bond i dont see how
they will keep him
from haning they
air giting plain proof
that he kild
bome with out
any caus
The united state has
taken it in hand
they sent here and
taken jim cook to
fort smith he had a
bill found the trial
will come off in
nov- december there will about foore go down
ther from here gess Mickey is yet in the
nation he is dooing
all he can he has
found one man that
saw him shoot bome
bob jentry is a meen
man and the people
is afraid of him
john has rented a plase in three miles of me for next year
well ellen I was
glad to git the
childrens picturs
netti is tall as me
ira is nearly grone
Dillan is nine the
twenty third of last
january they air
all fine looking
perry is slender
bilt he is a good
boy just as good to
mind me as he can
bee and good to work
he is agoing to make
a fine looking man
we hav bin having
aheap of bad colde
weather
ellen if I live to
git free from home
I will come
to see you again
i hope i will see that
time again on this
earth Levi don't go to
see aney of the girls he
is just like som olde
maried man he is
not able to worke
hard but he has to
worke well write
when you can I
doo hope you all
hav maid plenty
to doo you I will
close for this time
I remain your
Mother until
death
M L Jones
to ellen hughs
Ellen I will tell
you my dear childe
I never expect to
git well aney
moore I am in
bad health just
abel to git around
about the plase the
docters sais I hav
got the hart troubl
sometimes I smother
so bad that I half
to sit up in the bed
from midnite
untill day write
to me don't git mad
at me for I can not
write I am sick so
much farewell to all
M L Jones to all
Well ellen there
is a drouth on us
there wont bee much
cotton maid but little
corn the people will
see hard times untill
they make another
crop loo has joind the
christen church there
is too metings going on
but I don't git to go
to non of them for
Mother is so I canot
take her aney where
she is as much
troubel as a little
childe and acts as
simpel as one at times
you may no that I
hav a hard time and
a lonsom time here
alone with her she
is no compney to me.
EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF W. Y. ALLEN, 1838-1839
The entries from October 1 to 14, 1839, are in the issues for January 26, June 29, and December 14, 1883. Printed in the Presbyterian
Tuesday, Oct. 1st, 1839. Got off at 1:30 for Austin, the new Capital, on a small Mexican mare, for which I had given $100.00, Texas money. I soon began to regret my trade for such a beast. Rode to Dr. H's., twenty-four miles, rather poor fare, dirty beds, but paid enough, $3.75.
Wednesday, Oct. 2nd. Rode to San Felipe de Austin, twenty-seven miles. Stopped at Kingsburry's, wretched fare, great noise in a billiard room adjoining, slept but little, but no charge.
Thursday, Oct. 3rd. Went to Dottery's, twenty-five miles. But little timber, rolling prairie. Some very agreeable prospects. Some Dutch settlers. Good fare for $3.00. Met with Backus, from Montgomery, Alabama.
Friday, Oct. 4th. Rode to Rutersville with Backus. Stopped at Reid's. Walked to campmeeting. Heard Bro. Sullivan preach.
Saturday, Oct. 5th. Rained while Dr. Hanie was preaching. An uncomfortable day. I preached at 3 p. m. from Is. 53:5. Snead preached at night.
Sabbath, Oct. 6th. Communion at 3 p. m. at campmeeting. I went to La Grange, and preached at night at the house of Mr. Fitzgerald, from Is. 41:21. A good congregation. Loughridge and Dr. Barnet with me.
Monday, Oct. 7th. Returned to campmeeting. Bro. Hill holding forth at 11 a. m. At 3 p. m. made a missionary address, Clark also, a good result. I preached at night from Phil. 1:27. Great excitement afterwards but little seriousness.
Tuesday, Oct. 8th. Campmeeting closed. Curious tactics of Dr. Hanie, for effect, at parting. Set off for Bastrop. Rain. Stopped at Hill's, twenty miles. Met with Judge Webb's family.
Wednesday, Oct. 9th. Got to Bastrop, twenty miles. River very high. Preached at Henderson's. Stayed at Brown's.
Thursday, Oct. 10th. Spent the day at Bastrop. Found several Presbyterians. Saw a coat with a small hole in the front, made by a poisoned Indian arrow, from which the wearer had died in great agony very soon.
Friday, Oct. 11th. Set of at 12 m. Got to Glascock's. Waters had been high but had abated. A lonesome road, had been recently infected by the Indians. Whithurst and I alone, neither of us armed. Slender fare for $4.00. Passed a house where Mrs. Coleman and her son had been recently murdered by Indians.
Saturday, Oct. 12th, 1839. Arrived at Austin, 15 miles, at 12 m., safe and sound, but tired. A few men just setting off to bury the bones of thirteen men recently murdered by Indians, on Brushy Creek, twenty miles from Austin. They soon returned, reporting that Indians had been within ten miles of the city, and had shot two men the day before. There was great encitement, but more talk than action. Guards were posted around the town. Slept very well at Bullock's the principal hotel, a large number of boarders, met a number of acquaintances.
Sabbath, Oct. 13th. Attended Sabbath School, at 10 a. m., twenty-two scholars. Preaching at 11. After preaching, organized the Presbyterian Church of Austin, consisting of six members. Brethren Bullock and Burke were chosen Elders. At 4 p. m. administered the communion of the Lord's Supper to eight persons; the first time that ordinance had ever been celebrated so far southwest, by Protestants, in North America. But few spectators present; could not have preaching at night, owing to the excitement about the Indians. General Burleson arrived about dark, with seventy men, to go after the Indians. May the Head of the Church make this small germ then and there planted a great tree, whose branches shall overshadow the nation. O Lord, behold and see and visit this vine and make it to flourish. Slept on the floor in Bullock's large room with General Burleson's army.
Austin had been located in June. Now there were some seven hundred people there, in cabins and shanties and tents. The government offices were in log cabins, on the main Ave., fronting the river. “Beautiful for situation” is Austin, with its seven hills.
Monday, Oct. 14th. Spent the day visiting friends and making acquaintances. Supped on Buffalo meat, and hot coffee in a tin cup, with Bro. Woodruff, in his camp. The Bullock Hotel was a curious structure. A substantial frame first story, on this two log rooms on either end, with a commodious room between, all enclosed. (After nineteen years I was there again. It was then Smith's Hotel, the same frame and log rooms.)
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REYNOLDS LETTERS
From Great-Aunt Mary Sherman Reynolds Petty to Libbie Bernice Reynolds Paris 1931 She talks about Matt - he was the youngest of Martha and Sherman Reynolds of Bastrop (the patriarch of the Bastrop Reynolds). She mentions Allie who was Martha and Sherman's first born Albert...it took me over a year to figure out that Allie was not an Allison...many thanks to Mary's letters, referring to Uncle Allie in one of them. JUDY SABO
Mary to Libby 1 - Mary to Libby 2 - Mary to Libby 3 - Mary to Libby 4 - Mary Sherman to girls 1 - Mary Sherman to girls 2 - Letter from Aunt Mary - Letter from Aunt Mary 2
