There was a letter that my Mom and Dad found at my Grandma Duffin's house all 4 pages are pictured at the left. My Grandma Duffin was the daughter of Jessie Eberly Burns, James Holcomb Burn's brother. This is part of a letter that James Holcomb Burns wrote to his mother, Tabitha Agnes McKinney Burns. The letter was found in a box of old letters at the home of my Grandma, Lillian Mae Burns Duffin. Lillian was James's niece and Tabitha's Granddaughter. I tried to keep the writing the same way it is in the original letter. The text of the letter is as follows:
Page 1
"St. John, Wash. 11, 7, 09 (meaning 1909)
Mrs T.A. Burns
Arroyo Grand Cal
Dear Mother,
as it has been some tyme since I Rote to you and Bert (meaning Bertha) I will Rite some we are all well, that is me and the boyes they are big boys Name Arl is 1 in taller than I am and ways 160 lbs and Virgil is almost grown and Matt is a great big boy too we live on a farm and batch. I have got to be a Moose of Cook I made some bisket to day for Dinner Matt said three of them would sink a ship
Page 2
but Mother I have seen some of the hard side of life since Ellie died it is pretty hard for a man to take care of a family + make a living for them too but we have Plenty to Eat + more + have sent the boyes to school all the tyme. but Nettie is in Mo. lives with Mr Northern in Bolivar and goes to school there. that is the hardest thing I half to do is to live away from her well Mother I guess you thought I was lost for good but I am not after all the trubble I have had
Page 3
I dont look a day older than when you saw me last I havent a gray hare on my head. I had a letter from Waldo he said Jess was Married till him to rite to me + I will do so I dont know his P.O. adress Waldo said Doc McKinney talked of Comeing out there ___ a Visit if I can find out when he is there I will come out at the same tyme as I have ____ planing a trip there for the last year or so. well Birt you do the best you can for your self + Mother + when I come I will show you
Page 4
what a good Brother you ought to have if you haven't got One. When Ellie died that broke me flat for she was sick so long four years and a half 3 years in bed and then 3 year more I did not try to make any thing. but for the last 2 years I have don Pretty well. well(?) I will close for this tyme if I here from you I will rite and let you know how we are getting a long
your son till Death
J.H. Burns
St John Whitman Co
Wash.
There was a letter that my Mom and Dad found at my Grandma Duffin's house all 4 pages are pictured at the left. My Grandma Duffin was the daughter of Jessie Eberly Burns, James Holcomb Burn's brother. This is part of a letter that James Holcomb Burns wrote to his mother, Tabitha Agnes McKinney Burns. The letter was found in a box of old letters at the home of my Grandma, Lillian Mae Burns Duffin. Lillian was James's niece and Tabitha's Granddaughter. I tried to keep the writing the same way it is in the original letter. The text of the letter is as follows:
Page 1
"St. John, Wash. 11, 7, 09 (meaning 1909)
Mrs T.A. Burns
Arroyo Grand Cal
Dear Mother,
as it has been some tyme since I Rote to you and Bert (meaning Bertha) I will Rite some we are all well, that is me and the boyes they are big boys Name Arl is 1 in taller than I am and ways 160 lbs and Virgil is almost grown and Matt is a great big boy too we live on a farm and batch. I have got to be a Moose of Cook I made some bisket to day for Dinner Matt said three of them would sink a ship
Page 2
but Mother I have seen some of the hard side of life since Ellie died it is pretty hard for a man to take care of a family + make a living for them too but we have Plenty to Eat + more + have sent the boyes to school all the tyme. but Nettie is in Mo. lives with Mr Northern in Bolivar and goes to school there. that is the hardest thing I half to do is to live away from her well Mother I guess you thought I was lost for good but I am not after all the trubble I have had
Page 3
I dont look a day older than when you saw me last I havent a gray hare on my head. I had a letter from Waldo he said Jess was Married till him to rite to me + I will do so I dont know his P.O. adress Waldo said Doc McKinney talked of Comeing out there ___ a Visit if I can find out when he is there I will come out at the same tyme as I have ____ planing a trip there for the last year or so. well Birt you do the best you can for your self + Mother + when I come I will show you
Page 4
what a good Brother you ought to have if you haven't got One. When Ellie died that broke me flat for she was sick so long four years and a half 3 years in bed and then 3 year more I did not try to make any thing. but for the last 2 years I have don Pretty well. well(?) I will close for this tyme if I here from you I will rite and let you know how we are getting a long
your son till Death
J.H. Burns
St John Whitman Co
Wash.
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