W-1868FB-Ltr.DOC

1894 Letter from Francis in OK to Julia in NB

Julia's mother died when she was a baby and she was raised by “Aunt Ella”. Julia taught school near Sutherland Nebr. Drove covered wagon from Nebr when son Ray was a baby to join Francis in OK where he had been with his brother Willis. They ran a general store in a boom town that went bust when an adjacent town became county seat. They came north to Oberlin Ks where Willis had started farming south of town.

"Sunday Aug 5th 1894

Dear Julia:

As I can't pass the day with you I will do the next best thing and write you a good long letter. How I long to have you and our little one with me. While I am hard at work of course I don't think so much about it, but when night comes and on Sunday I feel so homesick that it just seems like the time for us to see each other never will come: but Julia I must not complain for I have a patient loving little wife that is almost heart broken who has not uttered one word of complaint but has tried to be cheerful and not discourage anyone by complaining. Am I not right? And Julia if I did not see the evidence of your loving kindness and consideration I would be one of the most miserable of men for Julia you are the same to me as your was when we were married except you are a great deal dearer to me now than then. I have often thought after finishing a letter and sending it to you that you would think it cold or that I wanted to see little Ray more than you, but you understood me didn't you. I guess you would not feel jealous of me for loving our little boy. I know I have made very many mistakes and have been a poor manager but Julia if a mans strong love can atone for such mistakes you surely have the atonement. I see no pleasure here without wishing your here to share it with me. I feel sorry for you having to pack and get ready to move and come down here alone and how I would like to be there to come along with you, I believe you would enjoy the trip.

(I hope you don't think I'm silly for writing this way to you if you do I will curb my feelings after this. This part is for Mama & Ray the other you can show to the folks. A kiss & lots of love from Papa to Mama & Ray.)

I went to a meeting one night last week about 3 miles from here. They had been holding meetings for a few nights, there was a house full, it was the M.E.church.

Well Julia I will try to tell you what I have been doing. I have not finished the well that I began as I have been delayed by different things. I had to blast about two out of 7 feet of slate and when I got though that struck solid rock and then we had to find a drill and while looking for one we saw an outfit in the field putting up the hay that we was to have. We went to see about it and found that Thornton had put them in there to make the hay for him and Frost ordered then to quit and they quit, had the hay almost all down, Frost and Thornton had trouble over it almost a fight and shooting scrape. Frost would have seen it through had it not have been that he had no written contract with Thorton in regard to letting a man come on the place to put in fall wheat and if he pinched him, Thorton, about the hay he would get contrary and not let us come on the place to put in wheat, so Thornton said if I would settle with the men for putting the hay up we could have it and I did so. They finished putting it up for $1.00 a ton. There will be 15 ton or more.

It is so dry that I can't do any plowing until it rains. We had a rain the 19th that raised Mingo 4 feet but it is too dry to plow. I will go to work at making the crossing below the railroad next week.

Julia I would pack our cloths bedding and dishes just what we have to have to get along with this winter ready to ship and the rest of the things we may have to leave until I get money to pay freight on them unless they load a car. Tell Will not to forget any of my harness. Uncle Frank & Denn Mayes are here looking for a place.

You must write and tell me if there is anything you want to know about moving. Will you have money enough to pay pasturing on the horses and bring you down here?

Walter Webb was fired from his job in Tulsa and left without paying the money he owed Will and also left a board bill of $7.00. Don't know where he went.

Tell aunt Lucy to write and tell me how much land they can handle and I will try and find a place. Write and tell me what arrangements Will is going to make about moving so that I can answer before you start.

You asked if you could go up to Trents & Pilnows visiting. Of course you can go if you have time. You know that I like to have you enjoy yourself all you can. Do you suppose poor old Rover could stand the trip down here? He would be lots of help to you. Where is his leg taken off and what do you suppose did it?

F "

[The above letter from Francis age 26 was post marked Tulsa Oklahoma, and sent to Julia address Sutherland Nebr. postage 2 cents.

Will is his brother Willis R age 34. Frank is probably his fathers sister Terresa's husband Frank Haynes age 56. Denn Mays is related via his fathers sister Malissa, Mrs George Mays. Aunt Lucy is Julia's Fathers sister age 46 married to John Gummere farming near Sutherland Nebr (20 mi west of North Platte).]

Francis farmed near Sand Springs OK (the NW edge of Tulsa) where Ila was born. Due to contaminated oily drinking water the family moved west to Walthal, no longer on a map, near Ringwood (20 mi west of Enid) where Earl & Hazel were born. Francis continued to farm until he suffered an injury while plowing. He then operated a general store which included women's and men's wear with living quarters and a hotel upstairs. After making the decision to move to Oberlin they held a sale & the left-over merchandise was shipped to Dresden Ks and sold to Lance Alexander. Margaret was born in Oberlin.

After living in a rented house for a short time Francis & Julia purchased the house at 709 W Hall next to a Chautauqua Park. Later Francis built a house at 705 W Hall which was the family home till Julia passed away. Francis also built the Chris Mines home NW of Oberlin. It was while working there that Ila remembers talking over the phone for the first time, an exciting memory for her. The spring of 1906 was a cold and damp one and after Francis completed their new home he developed a bad cold which the Drs could not control. He was taken to Christs hospital in Topeka where he died Feb 3, 1906. Ila recalled; "my father was a natural musician. He owned and played many different instruments. One precious memory I have is when he played the old pedal organ while one of us kids stood behind him holding his harp in his mouth - a regular orchestra! This is a special memory because he said, 'Ila can hold it the best!' The Old Base Drum was given to the Oberlin Band."

Julia was left with five kids to support, which she did by sewing and ironing in her home to help with expenses. The family had a cow for milk, raised their own chickens, had their own garden .... There was a well in back for water and an out house for normal use and thunder-mugs for winter nights. In later years each of her kids their spouses and kids lived at Grandma's house for a brief time to get started. The grandchildren took their turns and cleaning the chicken house, hoeing weeds, etc. The stepsons worked together to add on a back porch & install electric lights. The Barclay boys knew their directions seated on the outhouse throne but lost orientation when outside. Heating was with a central stove and in winter mornings families knew the togetherness of rekindling the fire and warming front and aft sides of the anatomy from its radiant heat. There was a pendulum was clock on the living room wall that audibly ticked away time in the silence of the night. Julia had long flowing hair carried as was typical of her times rolled on top of her head. We grandkids knew her as a kind and gentle lady, it was not a surprise to find that she had been a school teacher before they were married. Grandmas room was off base to us grandkids. On occasion we were permitted to see the large picture of Granddad on one wall, he was a nice looking man; black hair and blue eyes. Julia and her kids always referred to him as Papa. Thirty years later Julia's wish to "join Papa" was granted.