Submitted by pj Thompson

      11
Jan 10 93  (1893)

Jim I rite a few lines to you   I am in Bad health & not abel to dooe Evey thing you say you doing  well that is the way to do soe you Right & when you doe that youwill feal Rite Jim  I wont you to goe and see Tommey & see what he is doing  I sent him thirty dolars  Sant tuis(?this) draft & see if he got hit  I wont you to rite to me all Bout what he is geting done  I have rote toe your unkel Bud the same  Joe you Rite to me  Jim I wont to Noe if you even give me your Note for the money that you have had from me if you did I have lost hit & I have forgot what hit was But I think hit was a Bout one hundred Eighty dolars or $200~ (end of page 1)two hundred But I dont Noe how muth hit was  I wont to fix my Bisenes up Rite if I can soe Rite to Me all about hit  Jim I got a good home hear for you if you will com & live on hit  the place I Bilt for you But if you are Sads fied (satisfied) of corse I wold feal Beter if I had some of the Boyes where I cald Bee with them  Naw I loan on this Sujelt (subject)  Jim you sed you had plenty to Eate well I was glad to hear that and you sed you had little money & out of  deb that the way for a man to live Naw dive that way & you wont Bee afrad ofens appears soe man at pres  I still remains your sicker frend & Pa           Allen McClain
I wot you to Kis Luse for mee & tel her I wot see her Bad

NOTE:  I have typed this letter exactly like it was written......and he was an educated man!
Allen McClain died June 2, 1893 at his home in Weakley County, Tn.  The house is still standing and very livable.....see his picture on the Ancesters page......Allen was born February 14, 1826, son of John and Lydia McClain, one of the original 4 McClain settlers to Weakley County.

NOTE:  The envelope is addressed to Mr. J  A McClain, Cave City Ark with a postmark from Fulton, Ky Jan 3 1921.......as the others....this is typed exactly like it was written....This letter is from Lucy Caroline McClain Jones (my Mama Jones) to her niece and namesake, Lucy McClain, daughter of James Allen McClain....pj

Dear Brother and family will write a few lines again this morning to tell you that John is Dead  he died last night at 11 clock that was Monday night and he will be buried tomorrow at Mountmarough at 11 clock  I don't see how I can go down there to day as it is a raining so hard I do hope it will quit be fore to morrow it sure is a bad day to day how is Loudie and all of the rest  we are all ok but Theron is still rite puny still had some feavor this morning so I will close  write soon and let me here from all
                                                                                     Lucy

NOTE:  This letter is postmarked Fulton, Ky  Jan 25 1921 to Mr. J A McClain, Cave City, Ark......John that is mentioned is Lucy and Jim's oldest brother, Dr. John Davis McClain born July 9, 1848, died January 24, 1921 in Weakley County.....Now the distance between Mt. Moriah Cemetery and the home of Lucy Jones was less than a half of mile.....Theron was the 5th son and 7th child of William Lee and Lucy Carolina McClain Jones.....Loudie was the wife of James Allen Jones.  Again the letter was typed as written.....pj
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                                                                                  Fulton  Ky
                                                                                    Jan 31 1921

Dear Brother and family  I received you letter saturedy  was glad to here from you all but sorrow to  here that leoudie was not feeling so well as she was when you was here hope she is some better now  Hermon got here Friday he has took a rite bad cole he is feeling rite bad he is a lying down now  I thanks he will be all right in a few days tell Leoudie not worrie a bout him he will be all right and we will take care of him and when he gets better of hims coal we are going a bout  soon and I am going to try to go see mirry Dreck with him if I come I would like to go to see all of them any way and we are going to Lydia in a few days would a went yesterday but it was to bad day it rained the botom out sat night and it has turned cool well I guess you have got my last letter that I rote a telling you that John was dead it rained all day that day and night and the next morning it went to snowing and snowed tell a bout the time they come with him to birry him Charity was not able to come to the buring she has gone home with Gracie to stay this winter  John looked a little more natlerl than he did while he was sick  I did not get to see him any more after you went home till he died.  Well Theron said tell you that he would  not haft to drink pidas milk long we got a little calf so I will close rite soon  we are all well and I hope you are well as comon    Lucy

NOTE:  This letter is postmarked Fulton, Ky. Jan 31 1921 to Mr. J. A. McClain, Cave City, Ark.  Loudie as you know was the wife of James (Jim) McClain.  Herman was the son of Jim and Loudie and the brother of Lucy McClain Satterwhite.  I have no idea at all who mirry Dreck was?  Lydia was the sister of Lucy McClain Jones and James (Jim) Allen Jones, she was born November 2, 1869, died July 9, 1939.  She was the wife of William Labon Hendrix.Of course John is oldest child of 13 of Allen and Delilah Jane Johnson McClain.  Charity was the wife of Dr. John Davis McClain.  Gracie is one of their children.  Again Theron was the son of William Lee and Lucy Caroline McClain Jones of Weakley County.......Letter typed as written........pj

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                                                                                     Sep 4 47  (1947)
Dear Jim
got your card yest- was proud to hear but sorry you not feeling so good we doing verly  well  I am Just a bout like I was when you were here but Lee a lot better and is grinning all of the time  he got so he can walk down to the lost and has walked as fore as Dean Terrill twice but he still has to wear his harnest all of the time cant control his water yet but it getting some better than it was when you were here well I go your other card but was so busy canning and doing ever things else I just didn take time to ans and I done Estes the same way  I was a shame of it  well my white face cow finly come in the calf is 2 weaks old you arrglet to see me get her and it to the house it took me a bout 2 hours I went and drove her up but I couldin get him in the lot by my self so I just shut her in the botton where they cut hay by her self  I am still selling milk  Carlos got the record of halling milk he go $ 6 25  for 2 weaks they said it was more than they ever paid any of them  that was pretty good  Montez got well and May a bout over his operation he cutint tobaco yest and to day  Theron will cut next weak  My late corn patch has come in  you better come over  but it was not plowed but once so you know it not much a count  he planted a late potatoes patch and never did tetch it  it didn come up rite good but would been a rite smart of potatoes if he worked them out and sprayed them  what did you get for your berries  you done well  I got 2 qt  caned and some jellie but that a bout all I wanted any way  I got 38 qts peaches and a lot of other thing you said you haden had a rian in a long time we had some in Aug and good one  we was dry a long time and the early corn hrvst mity bad ours was late and it diden suffer so much  is going to pretty well I think it pas rostnears  I guess it would of been better if it rained sooner  well I just haft to tell you I had a big mess of poke sallet the 19 of Aug  I found some that hadden bloom out and I got a mess it was still good  well I close for this time so write I made up for last time this time so by with Love Lucy

NOTE:  This letter is postmarked Fulton, Ky. Sep 4 1947 to Mr. J A McClain, Cave City Ark.....Well let me see if I can tell you who all the folks are.....Mama Jones was right newz in this long letter to her brother......Lee is William Lee Jones, husband of Lucy Caroline McClain Jones..... Dean Terrill lived the next farm down on the same side of the road ....remember Miss Allie from my stories....this was her husband..... The "harnest" was called a Cunnimgham Clamp.....Papa, Lee Jones had kidney problems....he spent a long time in the Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tn. during 1947 in the same room with Ben and Dean Herron's father.....My mother, Beauton Howard and my daddy, Paul Howard met during this time in Memphis....Lee Jones died in July 1948.....Estes was Lee and Lucy's oldest son and child....oldest of 9 born September 15, 1895....Carlos was the husband of Montez, 2nd daughter, 6th child of Lee and Lucy....Carlos hauled milk for years and years for Pet Milk Company out of Martin....Now I bet you are wondering who "MAY" is....he is Marion Jones, 6th son, 8th child of Lee and Lucy....the family has always called him May as I do today .....Theron you have met several times already, the 5th son, 7th child of Lee and Lucy ...whoever heard tell of "good poke sallet" in August......pj

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                                                                                      Dec 30 47  (1947)
Dear Jim and Lucy
Just a few lines to see if we can hear from you all and to let you hear from us   we doing very well Lee still not able to do any thing but is up all of the time  I hope finds you both well and injoyin you selfs  we been going some where every day this weak for a nice dinner  we had our Chrismas day  if we keep this up we get fat  after while as sick one ha ha  how did santy surve you both he was mity good to us  Lee got a pair of gloves and 11 pair socks and a handchief and I got a lot of things 2 pairs Lymon hoes 4 prencis slips and a sweeter and to five dollars bills and Lee got 1 five well Jim I don't think I ever wrote you that we made over the place to Beauton and her man to take care of us and put us a way when time come to do that and they here with us  I couldin do what was here to do and lee didn seam like he ever going to get so he could do any thing we neaded some body here with us  Theron still here but he bought him a place and is going to move as soon as the man get out of his house and to the baby got the measels rite now and coulden move for a few day if the house was empty any way well I hope every body is all rite and had a nice exmas and have a good new year so I will close  write and tell me how you are so good luck to you all by with lost of Love you sis
PS harry is here  he ok

NOTE:  Letter postmarked Fulton, Ky Dec 31, 1947 Mr. J A McClain, Cave City, Ark......
Well who do we have this time.......You know Lee by now......Beauton was the 3rd daughter, 9th and last child of Lee and Lucy (she was my Mama)......I laugh every time I read this letter, Mama Jones never called my daddy nothing but "her man"....her man was Paul Howard, my daddy.....And you have to know Theron by now......the baby that Mama Jones is speaking about is Theron and Cena Mae Foster Jones's oldest child, Garry Lynn Jones ....Harry was dear old Harry Wilson......he lived with them and later with us off and on....I often asked if he was kin to us but was always told, no just a friend of the family.....pj

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Dear Jim and Lucy
I will write you a few lines to hear from you we are doing very well and hope you are well  I wonder what you all are doing this time  they are reworking the house and we all tore up while they working but it will look better when it done  Jim when did you hear from H and is he at the same place  Estes has sold out at Detroit and has bought a place back here and coming rite a way  write me and let me hear from you all so I close write soon  Love to all Lucy

NOTE:  This is a postcard, postmarked at Fulton, Ky May 12, 1948....it also has a Cave City, Ark postmark of May 13, 1948....I am impressed that it got there that fast.....My Mama and Daddy "reworked" the house in the spring of 1948.....but no plumbing yet....that didn't come until the fall of 1957 when the house was "reworked" again....H is Herman son of James McClain....that is a long story within it's self about where Herman was......Estes of couse was the oldest child of Lee and Lucy.....he didn't stay "back here" very long.....he went back to Detorit and lived out his life there dying in 1957...he is the only one of the 9 children that is or will be buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Weakley County......he is buried in Graves County, Kentucky at Water Valley.....Lee Jones died the summer of 1948 in July......Lucy lived until 1964 and was the best friend I ever had in my life......my dear Mama Jones.....pj

Submitted by
Paula (pj) Howard Thompson

Dear Kizzie and Madge:

What are you all doing I am playing I have a little kitten his name is Tommy I play with him all the time nearly he is all yellow I wish I could see you all? Be sure and write to me.
By By
Estelee Ford

Kind Sister,

Will try and answer your letter we got last Wednesday night was glad to here from you all feeling well as for us some days I am better I can't hardly wait for the time to come only 23 more days. Earl is sick was on bed yesterday was cold and nasisazie, He moved out in the sick house a weak ago to day so when we got your letter last Wednesday He went over to McConnell on Thursday morning and worked hard all day and did not get through and had to go back  Friday and finish packing for shiping said tell you he got all that was left there was some things gone the stuff come in on local to day and he has done got it in his shop he wont make the tire retter till spring he is doing fine so far ever body says he done the right thing of course it is the dark part of the year .If we can just make it 3 more months we will be all right.  Mrs Crocker has had Dr. Mitchell treating her head . Well I moved her bed from up stairs. and Earl did not put it in any sooner and part of the stove is in there so you may no there is not enough room in ther to turn around  wish you was here night we had rabbit for thanksgiving and I had a nice diner sent me hope you all are done picking cotton by now I wont to cook me 2 cakes next week for Christmas I am afraid if I don't I will be down and can't. I am going to put them in a lard stand they tell me they will keep for a month that way I will have enough eggs by then to cook. Two of my white pullets is laying eggs in 60 ct a dozen. Got 8 little chickens 3 weeks old Earl said he went up to your House to see if every thing was all right and said it look all right . Hope Cheap got him a good place and you all will do well and make a big crop next year and hope you and Ruth can have lots of chickens and eggs. Well, I dot no anything else to write now will write you when to come and will send you the money then to come on I got me a wash woman ant last it was fine raining all day hope it will be cold in the morning so write when you feal like it.

Maggie, Earl and Children

*Special note Aunt Maggie died on Dec. 1, 1920 the 23 day's she was talking about was the birth of the baby. She and her baby were buried together in Highland Cemetery.

Submitted by Sharon A. CROCKER THURMAN....the letter is from one of my Gr-Gr Aunts, probably one of her last.  I found her daughter, Katie, still living (89yrs in 2001).  I sent her a copy, she cried and cried, could not thank me enough she was so young when her mamma died. 

Winnie, her new husband Westley Gray, and her children were in Dorena MO where they worked in cotton and picked up pecans for a living. Remember, the Great Depression was on and everyone had it tough.

Bradford, Tenn R1  8-23-33

Wel Winnie il state you a  letter i got your letter & i am so nerveless i cant hardly rite and i never feel wel  i hope irmer (Irma, her daughter-RM) is wel by now   Winnie i left Mayfield 16 months ago to day and it seams like 5 years  iv not enjoyed myself one our since i ben in tenn i wish i had wint to the co house (Poor House-RM) the day i left thare i got a letter from Katy(another daughter-married to Roy Hendrix, Vernon's brother, both buried at Oak Grove-RM) last week but i dident rite eny its bin 2 or 3 weeks since i herd from Bettie(my dear Grandmother-RM) Winnie the rain damaged lots of corn  & cotton but tha is lots of good corn & cotton yet  Tollie (his son, with whom he lived-RM) has got some very good corn and cotton Tollie got 4 very good shotes to kill . Winnie if you can finde out eny way where Tellies( I dont know who this is-RM) address is do so and let me no in your nextletter be sure too if something dont turn up so i can go to mayfield mabe i can go and stay with tellie some Winnie you no its a hell of a life to live and haft to stay where you no you are not welcom and not wanted and i no im not welcom or not wanted hear id be willing to go enywhere i could feel welcom for im nearly naked and bairfooted and no chance to get enything and winter nearly hear dont no what il do iv ben hear 13 months sunday the 27th and i drothur be in mayfield jail as to  be hear  tha are having a big meeting at the baptist church this week  you bet we are havin some dam primping hear this week it makes me sick
....(Better left out!!-RM)   Winnie did u no that Burt Harden(Burt Hardin, a neighbor of theirs in the 5th dist of Weakley Co-RM) was ded  is crops good over thare  what watts family is that over thare do tha no me what is tha names  i just got a letter from bettie tha wasent very wel wel this is sunday morning the 27 im up but im so nerveless i cant hardly rite i got the blues so bad the hoal world looks blue winnie i ben hear 13 months today i drother be in mayfield jail all this time as to ben hear.... (again, better left out!! -RM) iv not eat a good biscuit nor had a cup of coffee fit to since i left betties(she was a good cook!!-RM) ...well winnie the tent meeting is over(Mt. Pleasant Baptist at Skullbone-RM) and im glad of it we sure did have some dam primpin hear i sure wish i had some one to patch my cloths that would last longer  i soe them up  but tha soon split again ... il finish this in the morning this is old blue monday im at the mail box wev all got mighty bad coles  and im so blue the hoal world is blue  so rite when you can god by

Jeff McClure

My note-Jeff died on September 22, 1933 of a perforated duodinal ulcer. He was buried the next day at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in an unmarked grave-and he finally had a new suit of clothes. He was a big man, and according to my mother, could "throw" his voice, which amused them greatly.  What a legacy we have from the suffering of others- pioneers, soldiers, nomads through wars and depressions!! To GOD be the glory!!

Submitted By Ron Mason
 

Dear Mamma and Family

After so long a time will try to write a few lines hope all are well we are gettin along fine. Got moved last Monday was a week ago old hands been run to death. Pick cotton 2 days and geather corn 11/2 days. Went to a see a sick one and trying to wash today had a time wind blowing and dashing rain seems like it might turn cold if it does guess we kill our hog Jim Bob has one here to kill.There has been a few lost there killing hogs they didn't show any
sign of being sick out and died. Thursday now we sure did look for you all  Saturday and Sunday we went to Otis Cooks Sunday evening then went back Sunday night to a singing all of Cooks are well Bug got moved. Well momma I haven't got your sheet and Pillow cases layed off yet for I have had so much to do got all of kids cloths made they haven't been school yet. For we been running from one thing to another so much I dont think I will catch up with my work. I wont to quilt some if I get time. OK I got a letter from Jack
yesterday and I have been so nervous for I am afraid something happen will send it to you. Will you all come Saterday. For sure you like were we are at now. We have so much better house with windows and doors well I have 2 dress to wash out and it getting late.Dudley talk like they might come to night tell Ed (Dycus) if he means to come this winter and befer the weather get bad you better come on for we be shut up for so long when it does come if you
all go to Jacks (Zelma) Friday and they come with you all up here. and let me tell you if you do try going Greenfield and then get on highway. that come to Sadge switch the one that you cross come up here there sign has Greenfield, Dredsen and some more names.It is only 26 mile from Sadge to Dresden next time we go to Jack we going that way or try it so write me if you think you get come Saterday.
Your loving children
Ruth Cook

Dear Mama and Family:

Will ans. your most kind and welcome letter received the other day was sure glad to hear from you all. Sorry Kizzie and Madge are having the chills they soon get the best of everyone. This leaves all well at present my eyes bother me some wild hairs I think I set up all night last night and they feel terrible today. Aunt Bettie Clemmers is mighty sick. She has leakage of the heart and Mama Mrs. Lizzie Woodrough has paralyses they are going all over her. Her mind hasn't been right for some time it is a pity for any one to suffer so and don't think Mr. Wyatt can live over 30 days he has tumor and Mr. and Mrs. Parham are getting to be mighty no count. We were down there Sunday Wayne and Billie was there you know they are living  right at the edge of Martin. Carlis Parham and wife are at Wayne Place. Well, we are doing a little farming it rains so much though until anyone cant hardly do any thing we are though planting corn and cotton have 800 sweets potatoes slips set out haven't any tobacco set yet Hubert planted ? Didn't do any good nor anyone else plants are sure scarce I reckon it a good thing. We got through striping about to weeks ago haven't carried it off yet.  We have 73 little baby chicks they are small yet but mighty pert we have had one to sicken and die the old hens peck several and they would die. Beauton has 16 white Guinnes eggs sitting. Mrs. Liddei Smith gave them to her. Yes, mamma we got the little ring it was to large I filed it into and made it smaller she takes spells of wearing it.  Well, I think you are doing fine picking berries better than I could do you know I never was fast hand picking berries. Ruth could pick them but I could not is there a lot of fruit down there if nothing happens there will be right up here this time our cherries are getting ripe now but the birds are getting there share. Well, I have wrote about all I know will write Eessie some so all
of you be good and write and come.

With Love and best Wishes From,
Zelma Gatewood

Ps. Ruth, Beauton said tell you all she has 3 little baby kittens 2 weeks old tomorrow and a little white dog.

Submitted by
Sharon McNair-Thurman

507 Bushey Ave.
Caruthersville, MO.

Dear Essie:

I am writing to you to find out what has become of Walter and Mary Bradberry. I wrote Mary two letters since I have left there but she never answered either of them her health was so bad when I left there. I am uneasy about her. I wish you would write and tell me something about them and did you ever get work at the shirt factory there is nothing here for any body to do did the Midwest Ice Cream bus. move there factory away from Martin If Mary is
still there ask her if Mrs. Lesly Griffin or Mrs. McDanials. Wants a housekeeper and Essie did Marry get to work in the shirt factory or does she still keep boarders. I am sending this letter in care of Bennie Ford because I do not know your house number. Now Essie answer my letter and tell me all the news you know and if Mary still lives there tell her to write me a nice long letter I now she dont care very much for me but she is the only sister I have living and I wish she would write to me sometimes she cannot write but Walter can Will close with best regards to every body.

Ellen Klinginsmith

Please let me know if you all know any of these people mentioned.
Thanks
Sharon

Submitted by
Sharon McNair-Thurman