March 16, 1913 - Howard Roberts

My Dear girl

                        How are you

ben standing this muddy

wether. I ben laying

close bye the fire all

the day. Now ben at

home all the  Even but

Bryan and Fletcher and

my self. I ben looking

at your picture wish

ing I could see you. I

ben staying at home

every Sunday  since you

[Page 2]

ben gone. I started to

come down there to day

but it was now close

to  easter I thought I

would wait. I want to

see you  sow bad it

seems like it been

too months since you

ben gone. bee down

at the Station Sat

even sow I can see

you as I pas. I going

dow to Boston and

come up there Sunday

even bee sure to

meet me bee sure

to come down Sat even

[Page 3]

when the train pass. Scott

come here wensday and

stad to Friday even

and Bryan tooked him

to the station he sad

he was going to Sutherlin

he said he was own

his way dow there. he

told Bryan I never saw him. I wrecken you herd

of Howard Warren ben ded

he did Sunday even but

2 o’clock . he had the

measles and the  paneumonia

in both sides. I going back

to the saw mill

_emrning. it looks sad

when I pass there. can’t

see you. Esther you is the

only girl I ever cred

any thing for but I

now you don’t think that

much of me. if you could

see me now you wont

now me fel way saw.

ben grieving sow. Esther

don’t let any one see

this for it such a mess

well I will close for

this. excuse this scribing

and all mistakes.

from yours true

frind Howard.

**sow = “so”

                                                                           did=dead
 Postmarked: Ringgold, Va
Addressed: Miss Esther Richardson
                  News Ferry, Va

This Howard is Howard Roberts of Pittsylvania County, VA.  Howard was an ardent suitor of Esther's penning many letters and postcards to her.  He often signed his letters HLR.  You can other correspondence from Howard Roberts here, here, and here.  You can also read a little more about Howard here on my main blog Are You My Cousin? .

March 13, 1913 - W. H. D.

Hello. how are you

enjoying your self?

fine I hope. How

do you like your new

home? We certainly

do miss you all up here.

Guess I will see you

Easter. Tell Scoop hello.

                     Bye. Bye.

                       23.8.4

Postmarked: Ringgold, VA
Addressed:  Miss Esther Richardson
                   News Ferry, Virginia

23.8.4. is a simple substitution code that stands for W. H. D.  The identity of WHD is not known.  Scoop is obviously a nickname for a mutual friend/relative.  Again the identity is not known.  Hopefully one day, the names of these individuals will be known.

March 12, 1913 - Nannie L. Farson

 

Dear Esther,

            I received you

card, was glad to hear from

you. How are you all getting

on? fine I hope. George is

real sick again but hope

nothing serious.

            Esther, you don’t know

how sad I do feel one of my

best friends Howard Warren

is dead guess you have

heard about it, you know he

had the measles when you all left

 and went into pneumonia

[Page 2]

and died Sunday don’t you know we

will miss him. Papa went up there

soon Sunday morning he stayed by

him untill the last breath left, papa

said he certainly did die easy. He was

buried yesterday about 1 o’clock all hiw people from

Richmond had came. It was sad but

I believe we will meet him in Heaven.

            Sumpter came Saturday & stayed

till

Sunday afternoon. And he & Mr.

Henry R----- also was in the neighborhood

on Monday after you all moved Sunday.

Mr. Yeaman came here Sunday after-

noon he just left yesterday, guess we

will be tired out with him.

I heard Howard Roberts went down

about News Ferry last Friday. He seems

to be very sad since you left. I can

sympathise with him but we can see

each other soon I hope. Howard & Bryan

Lonie[?] & Stover were pall bearers and two

other men at Howard’s buriel I wish

it could  been two other boys but George’s

nerves just give out he couldn’t

be there we think he had a chill.

            Grandma, just came home a few minutes

ago Luke brought her she got sick & had

to have the Dr. they phone to us & we

went over there on Friday she was real

sick. Say, we haven’t gotten those pictures

yet no one has gone for them yet.

I am anxious to get them, just think

three weeks ago yesterday evening we

[Page 3]

went to that sociable at Cousin Stephen’s.

I took Howard & Lucie’s pictures just a little

while before he left three weeks ago this

morning. Esther I have a lot to tell

you it is almost mail time tell

Ruben we miss him awful bad we

often look over the place where you

use to live. Tell Mrs. Richardson I say

hello. Give my best wishes to all.

Howard Milam comes out here once

in a while to get water to drink.

You know I like that name & the

boy also, but I believe some one

else has cut me out. Esther I hope

this want disgust you I have made

so many mistakes but take them for

love. Will try & do better next time

You must answer soon.

            Your old friend Nannie Lee

Postmarked: Ringgold, Va
Addressed: Miss Esther Richardson
                  News Ferry, Va

Nannie Lee [Farson] was Esther's best friend.  She was a frequent correspondent with Esther. The events of this letter tell more about the illness and funeral of Howard Milam, a friend to both Nannie Lee and Esther. The previous post written by Lucie also gives details about Howard and his death.

Nannie Lee is frequently mentioned in letters and postcards among the friends and Nannie Lee letters will be found frequently on this blog.  You can read more about Nannie Lee Farson on my main genealogy blog Are You My Cousin? .

March 12, 1913

                        Ringgold, Va

                        March 12, 1913

My dearest Esther:

            How little we know of our

blessed Masters dealings with such

when we separate with each other.

As you have now learned before now.

Dear Howard   called home

Sunday P.M. at two oclock.

He was sick only about nine days

and bore all his sufferings with

such patience.

Our hears are too sad to tell you

all about it.

Sometime I hope to be able to tell

it all.  But oh! Esther we can

feel perfectly satisfied about him.

For he was conscious until the

last breath, and hea had the sweetest

                vision, just before his last breath                                                 

he reaised both hands beaven-

ward and says “Oh Berta look

listen at that pretty music.”

[Page 2]

I feel like hi is now in that

 beautiful city of yonder await

-ing us.

I feel as if I have lost almost

a beloved brother. He was so

kind to me.

Well its almost mail time

but I felt like saying a word

if no  more.

I cant begin to tell you how

we miss you all everything

over there is sad looking.

George is real sick. I trust

it is only a short attack of

chills.

Grandma has been very sick.

She has just gotten home.

Give you mother and all my love.

Wish I could write more but dear

child I haven’t time. Write us  often

and please excuse ____, I feel as bad

this morning. Lovingly Lucie

This letter was not in an envelope.

The correct identity of Lucie is not known.  She may have been Lucie Farson (sister of Esther's friend Nannie Lee), but I think this may be another friend, cousin or possibly Esther's aunt Lucy Richardson.  

The grief is felt in Lucie's words over the death of Howard Warren of Pittsylvania County, VA. Over the next couple of letters, Howard's friends' grief is surely felt.

The identity of George and Berta are also unknown at this time.