|
DATE |
Letter |
|
Btw
1870-74 |
J.H.
Staggs shot a young man over a repeated land dispute and the young man lost
his life. |
|
1874
Dec 1 |
Batesville My
Dear Wife and Darling Little Babes, I
now seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting
along. I’m well all but having the
chills though I hope my dear this may find you all well. Oh how happy I would be if I were with you
this morning. May God speed the time
when we can be together again. My Dear, take care of your corn and pervision (provision) generally that you may have enough
to last you till I can be with you and I trust to the Almighty God that won’t
be longer than May and I want you to be there on the first day of court. Tell Brother Bill to come and see me and
write to Father and let me know how he is getting along. Tell all my friends to write to me and come
to see me. Tell Ma to write to
me. As I cannot write such things as I
want to, I will have to close. You
must write often. Good-bye for this
time hoping to hear from you soon. I
remain ever your affectionate husband till death. James H. Staggs If
the weather isn’t too cold I
want you to come and see Me
before Christmas. 1-
Brother Bill, William Staggs, b. 1849 (1870 census) 2-
Wife, Martha F. Jackson, b. 1845, m. 1868-69. |
|
1874
Jan 8 |
Dear Children, I once more seat myself to write you a
letter to let you know we are all well and doing as well as could be
expected. I think you might write, as
you know I want to hear from you bad.
I have got well. I have got a
plan to make a living on. I cannot say
I am well satisfied. Your mother is
well satisfied. I think I will be
better satisfied if I could have you all here Billy (James’ brother
William). God bless you so I want to
hear how you got in your sickness.
Times are hard. In this Country
everything plenty, but money. Tell
your Uncle Felix and John Bell I want to hear from them badly. Tell them to write. Some of you write every
mail. It would be a great pleasure, to
nice, to hear form you every week.
Direct your letters to I
have wrote to you one letter and got no answer. I think you are well. Thos Staggs |
|
1874
Jun 19 |
Dear
Brother (J.H. Staggs), Your
letter that you packed to Uncle Tom Curtis it found me all well. I hope this may find you well. I have moved up to Pa’s. I got here the month of May. I like here at ---- better than I in
Izard. Pa says he is coming to see you
as soon as he can get able. I --------
get to come before court. I will be
down then. May and John (Nicolson?) will send 34 letters with me. I
of ----- winton (dictionary defines as testimony) William
Taylor, William Cooper, William Gray Carter and Joe Davis, Joseph Fry, James
Dickens, Johnathan Taylor, James Taylor, James Wm
Dennis, A. Mcfadden, Bud Mcfadden,
Tom Parker, Tom (Tersatine?), William Bristow,
Alfred King, John King, John Waldo, (Larrs?) Pea,
Tom Bean, Bob Cherry, (Aactorm?) Oaks, Bill Waldo,
John Mathews, Marrida Maridle,
James Clark, Edd Mcallister,
----- Gallop, John Waters, Hiram Rainwater, Tom Mury,
James ----, (Samuel?) King, over all ladies claims (testimonies—dictionary)
Mary Maricle, Mary William, Vina
Taylor, Tally Taylor, Tish Taylor, Hanah Stoval, John Alice
Collier, Martha Clark, Subscriber Write Soon and often. As ever Your brother William Staggs 1- Tom Curtis – uncle (fraternal?, Maternal?) 2-
William Staggs (Billy), b. 1849 (1870 census) |
|
1874
Oct 8 |
Dear
brothers and Children, I saved myself of the opportunity of writing you a
letter. I can say to you I have been
sick ever since I got home. I got wet and
tuck sick the night I got home with the muntant
fever. I had two doctors. I never sat up none
till last night. The doctors say I am
out of danger if I take care of myself.
I found my family all well.
Times are hard and wrong. Dears
I want you to come right away as soon as you can get off and bring horse
teams all of you come that can. John I
think it would be much better to bring horses. Those rocky fords in the creeks are so bad
on oxen feet. Write as soon as you get
this letter and tell me when you will start.
Billy (refers to James brother William) don’t fail to write and all
write. I am anxious to get off cold
weather is close at hand. I want to be
close to Jim where I can hear from him.
Don’t fail to come right away.
Polly and the children is willing to move
back. God bless you all. Thos Staggs John
Bell I stayed with Tom. He is out of
danger. I want to see you all very
bad. Come & see me. T.S. Curtis |
|
1875
Feb 18 |
Dear
Wife, It
is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines to let
you know how I am getting along. Dear
wife, I am well at present and I hope and trust to God this may find you and
our little children well and doing well.
And may God bless you all.
Well, dear wife, I cannot express how bad I want to see you and talk
with you. Mr. George Dobkins brought me the letter and gloves you sent to me
and I was proud to hear from you and was sorry to hear that the thieves was
stealing your corn. Well, Martha, I
have pretty near forgot my children’s names but
trust in God for the future and I believe that God will help me out. Dear I want you to teach my little children
how to do write. Dear
wife I want you to send word to Uncle John Bell to come and see me as soon as
he can fro I have particular business and come without fail. Something more at present only write to me
soon and often and tell all the (connection?) to write often. No
More. God
bless you and the children and M--- and all the rest. I remain your husband till death. J.H. Staggs |
|
1875
Mar 7 |
Office
of Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder, Dear
Wife, I
seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know how I am getting
along. I am well at present and doing
well. I trust to God when these lines comes to hand they may find you and my little
children well and doing well. Dear
wife, I want to see you and the children very bad. Dear I want you to come and see me as soon
as you can and bring me a pair of pants.
When you come I want you to come to stay all day with me. Dear, I will tell you of an accident that
happened last Friday night. Two
thieves got out of jail and ran. Of
one of them was by the name of J.H. Staggs |
|
1875
Mar |
Dear
Wife, I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know that
I am well at present and doing as well as a man could do in such a place as
this. Thank God I hold up my head
yet. Well Dear Wife, I resaved your
kind and welcome letter which gave me great satisfaction to hear that you was well and that the children was well. I trust to god that these lines may find you
well and doing well. Dear, I want you
to come to see me before court if there is any change, bring me a shirt and
pants. Well, Dear I cannot express how
bad I want to see you and my dear little children, but I can’t see you now,
but I trust that the time won’t be long til we can
be together once more. So I will close
for this time by saying write soon and often.
God bless you and our dear babes.
Kiss my darling little children for me. Farewell dear wife and friends. JH Staggs Dear
Wife, send me some tobacco if you have it. |
|
1875
Apr 9 |
Dear
Uncle and Aunt, I
seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present
and doing as well as a man can do in my fix and I hope when these lines comes
to hand they may find you all well.
Well, uncle, I have wrote you four or five
letters and got no answer as yet. I
would be glad to see you all. Aunt Ap (Apaline), remember me in
all your prayers. So good-bye for this
time. Write soon and often. J.H. Staggs 1875Letter addressed to J.B. Staggs who married Armittie Apaline Allen, 1848 2- J.B. Staggs, John Bell
Staggs, brother of Thomas Staggs. B. |
|
1875
Apr 9 |
Dear
Brother and Sister, I
seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present
and hope when these comes to hand they may find you well. Well, brother, I received your kind letter
and was glad to hear that you was all well. Bill, I got a letter from father. He is living in Sister,
I want you to court without fail. I
want to talk with you. Well, brother,
I have twenty-one days to stay here yet before court. Then I hope that I will go home then to my
wife and little children. Sister, I
have a hard time in prison, but everything comes right every seven years so I
think I will be all right soon. Well,
brother, you don’t know anything about prison life and I trust to God that
you never will on earth. Well,
brother, I want you to go and see my wife and children and tend to help them
all you can. Well, brother, give my
respects to Sam Hall and family and all the rest of the connection. So I will have to bring my letter to a
close by saying good-bye. God
bless you all. Write soon and often. James H. Staggs 1875James Staggs’ sisters:
Mary Staggs (Hall?) b. 1852 and Martha Staggs b. 1856 2-
Brother is William Staggs |
|
1875
May 25 |
Office
of Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder, Mrs.
Martha Staggs, Please
send James his lamp and one pair of drawers by John Young. He is mail rider on the Yellville route and
stopping here. You can also send an
unsealed letter by him. James is in
good health. John C. Galvin Mrs.
Martha Staggs |
|
1875
Jun 4 |
Office
of Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder, Mrs.
Martha Staggs, James
is in good health. He got your letter
last night also the lamp and he request me to say to you the reason he wants
you to send your letters by hand is because the mail rider stops here and you
can send an open letter without paying the postage. That is the only reason he has for telling
you to send your letters by hand. You
can send him three letters a week if you want to and he can do the same. He (James) wrote to his Father last week. Galvin (from J.H. Staggs) |
|
1875
Sep 10 |
Dear
Child, I
seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well and hope when
these few lines comes to hand they may find you well. I hope God will be with you and your little
children and provide for you. Kiss the
children for me and tell them to be good little boys. I received a letter from Jimmy today and he
was well. He says he needs tobacco and
shirts and I hope you won’t let him go naked in prison. Your Pa and Billy will be there the week
before court if they live; I see a heap of trouble. You have no idea of the trouble I see about
you and the children and Jim, too. Well,
same thing if the times Good
crops here; health tolerable good and everything cheap. Times is good
here. Now a fine corn crop was raised
here this year. If
it is possible so I can I will come with Pa and Billy; give my respects to
all enquiring friends. Remember
Jim. I hope he has got some friends
yet and he says he needs tobacco and shirts and he surely has got some
friends yet and I hope he will get some help.
Mary sends here best respects but she is not very well. Many sends her best respects to you and say
she wants to see Willy and Bobby. So
no more. Write
soon and let me know you are getting along. As ever your mother, Polly Staggs to Martha
Staggs 1-
Mary Staggs (Hall?), sister, b. 1852 2-
Mandy—Amanda Staggs (Webb?), sister to James H. Staggs, b. 1862 3-
Willy, William Thomas Staggs (later Benbrooks), b. Bobby,
Robert M. Staggs, b. Dec 1872 |
|
1875
Oct 8 |
Dear
Uncle and Aunt,
John B. Staggs It
is with pleasure that I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know
that I am well and I hope this letter reaches you—it may find you all well
and doing well. Uncle, I received your
letter last night and I was glad to hear from you all. Well, uncle John, I want to see you all
very bad and I want you to come and see me if you can. I
heard from father a few days ago. They
were all well. He said that he would
come down at court. I want to see you
all at court. Got a letter from my
---- I was very sorry to hear that my family was sick. I want you to go and see them and ten to
them for I would do it myself. Uncle,
I wish that I was there to help you make your molasses. Uncle John, I have wrote you for or five letters
and I never have got but one. I want
you to write me and give my love to all my friends. Tell Aunt Apaline
that I love her as well as I ever did and I would like to eat supper with her
and talk with her but I cannot do it now, but I don’t think the time will be
long til I can come and see you all. Well, Uncle John I want you to write
often. So farewell dear uncle and
aunt. May god bless you all in my prayers. I remain
your affectionate nephew until death. James H. Staggs |
|
1876
Feb 22 |
Evening
Shade Sharp
Co. Dear
Wife, I
seat myself to answer your fine and welcome letter that I received
yesterday. I was very happy to hear
from you once more and to know that you had not forgotten me and to hear you
say that you was coming to see me soon and proud to hear that you was all well and had plenty to eat. Your letter found me in very bad
health. I am hardly able to sit up to
write to you but by the help of God I will do the best I can. It is the first time that I have heard from
you since before Christmas. I wrote
one letter to Arty (Miss?) to know of her where you was
and the reason that you did not write to me.
I got a letter from sister Martha the other day. They were all well but Father he is in bad
health. Well, dear wife, I want you to
come to see me soon as you can. The
time seems long for you to come but has been very near two years and you
haven’t come yet. I want you to
bring me your likeness if you come. So
I must close. I am getting weak and
tremble. Write soon. Your devoted husband till death. James H. Staggs 1-
Mrs. Martha F. Staggs of Pinesville, |
|
1876
Mar 4 |
Evening
Shade Sharp
Co. My
Dear Wife, It
is with pleasure that I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know
that I am well at present and I trust to my God that when this comes to your
dear hands it may find you and my darling little children well. There was a man come through town the other
day and told Mr. (Hudde esten?)
that he stayed all night with you and you all were well. I was proud to hear form you all my dear wife
I have only got two letters form you since I’ve been here. You wrote in the last one that you was
coming to see me but I have looked my eyes out for you and have gave out ever
of you coming to see me, I want you to come as soon as you get this letter. Tell Ewin
Benbrook that if he will let you have a horse to ride down here it will be
well treated while it is here. I got a
letter from Mother the other day. They
were all well. Well,
dear, (Vianer?) comes to see me and brings the
little babe to see me. Dear wife, you
don’t know how bad I want to see you and my little babes. If I had five hundred dollars I would give
it to see you as free as I ever eat.
You can ride down here in a day very easy. I have got friends here that will take care
of you and your horse while you are here if you will come. Gave
my respects to all my friends and write to me. Tell me all about my little children. So I must close. Good-bye and may God bless you all. I remain your affectionate husband till
death. James H. Staggs to Mrs.
Martha F. Staggs 1- Uen Benbrook, b. 1849, son of Henry and Elizabeth Benbrook. James
and Martha live two households away from Henry and Uen
in 1870 census and may have been related and/or worked for the Benbrooks. Green
P. Staggs, first cousin of James Staggs, married Armittia
Benbrook, 1st cousin of Uen Benbrook. |
|
1876
Mar 9 |
Evening
Shade Sharp
Co. My
Dear Wife, It
is with pleasure that I seat myself once more to drop you a few lines to let
you know that I am well at this time and I hope and trust to my God that when
this comes to your dear hands it may find you and my little children
well. Dear wife, there was a man and
woman came through town yesterday and left me a pair of sox and one twist of
tobacco and told that you and one of the children was sick. I was mighty hurt to hear that news. I was looking for you everyday. Well, dear wife, I want you to have me a
letter wrote as soon as you get this and tell me how you and the babes are
getting along. I will be in trouble till
I hear from you and my babes. I want
you to take care of the children the best and can and take care of
yourself. Well dear, if you get able I
want you to come down before court. I
want to see you very bad and talk with you.
So write soon as you get this letter and let me know how you are
getting. May God bless you and my
little children in my serious praise. I remain your affectionate husband till
death. James H. Staggs to Mrs.
Martha F. Staggs 1-
Mrs. Martha F. Staggs of Pinesville, |
|
1876
Apr 29 |
Evening
Shade Sharp
Co. Dear
Cousin (Green P. Staggs), It
is with pleasure that I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to
let you know how I am getting along. Well,
Green, I haven’t had a well day since you left here, but I feel better this
morning. I hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find you and your family enjoying
good health. Green, I am by myself
now. The man that was in with me
turned states evidence against the balance and come out. Green, I wish that I could have had my
trial at this court for I don’t think that I can live through this summer in
prison. I want you to come see me when
you can and write to me often. Well, Minty, I want to see you and your babes very bad. I hope that I will see you all after next
court. I think I will if I live
through this summer. Give my live to
(Sack?) and (Jakey?) and Bill Stone. Tell them to write to me ----- folks is all well.
So I must close hoping to hear from you soon. I will write more next time. I remain your affectionate cousin as ever. James H. Staggs 1.
Minty is Armittia
Benbrook Staggs, Green’s wife. |
|
1876
Apr 29 |
Evening
Shade Sharp
Co. My
Dear Wife, It
is with pleasure that I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to
let you know how I am getting along. I
haven’t been well since you left here.
I hope and trust to God when these lines comes
to your dear hands that they may find you and my little children well and
doing well. Dear, I am by myself
now. The man that was with me went
home and if I had my rights I would go home, too. Well, dear wife, I haven’t got any news to
write to you only I didn’t get to ask you when you was
here and I want you to come back in about three weeks and see me without fail
and bring me some more tobacco. Dear,
if you don’t come I shall always think you ought to tell Ewin
and Asenith and Tom that I haven’t forgot them yet
and I want them to write and give me all the news. I want you to write often and don’t forget
your promises that you made tell me in your letter when you will be
here. I am very lonesome by myself. Well, dear, I must close hoping to hear
from you soon and also see you as soon as possible. So farewell darling wife and babes for this
time. I remain your affectionate
husband till death. James H. Staggs 1-
Martha F. Staggs of Pineville P.O., Izzard Co., |
|
1876
May 15 |
Evening
Shade Sharp
Co., My
Dear Wife, It
is with pleasure that I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know
that I am well at this time trusting to God that when this reaches your dear
hands that it may find you and my darling little children enjoying the same
good blessing. Well, dear, I haven’t
got much news to write. I got a letter
from Father the other day. They were
all well only father he was not well.
I haven’t hear from you since you left
here. I want to hear from you mighty
bad and I want to see you and my babes very bad. I would to God that I could press you and
my babes to my heart this lonely day, but all that I can do is to pray for
you and them. May God bless you and
send you to see me. I have written you
one letter before this. I was afraid
that you had not got it. Well, dear
wife, I want you to come down as soon as possible. I want to see you on particular business
and bring some tobacco if you can after my best love to you and the babes. Give my respects to Ewin
and Acenith and Tom. Tell them to write to me. I want you my dear to write soon and give
me all the news you can so I must close by saying good-bye for this
time. I remain your affectionate
husband till death. James H. Staggs 1-
Martha F. Staggs of Pineville, Izzard Co., |
|
1877
Apr 28 |
Mrs.
Martha Staggs, By
request of your husband James Staggs I write to you. He has written several times to you but it
is more than probable that the letters never left the prison office for all
letters written by prisoners are read before they are allowed to go to the
post office and if there is anything in it that the warden does not like he
destroys them. Jim
is in tolerable health but his prison life is a sore trial to him. His
father Thomas Staggs is endeavoring to raise some money to have him released
from prison and if he is successful in getting the money required by certain
parties he will be certain to get his liberty by what means I will not
say. He wants his Uncle Ewin Benbrook and John Bell Staggs to help his father to
raise four hundred dollars. Twenty-one
years is a lifetime here and while there is a chance for his liberty let it
come whatever may it may it will be heaven to his present life of hard toil
and ----- course prison dull. The
matter is with his uncles and if they will write of visit Thomas Staggs they
will find out that such is the case.
Jim is anxious to hear from you and as all letters to him are read
before they reach him, he says for you to direct your letters to me and I will
deliver them to him. He has had some hopes
of you and his uncles getting up a petition for him but I do not think that
his release can be obtained in that way.
He
is a good man and it is a pity that he must suffer as he has to suffer. Keep this letter entirely secret. You can show it to John Bell. When
you write to Jim, direct to David Knox.
I am his guard and he works under me everyday. Write soon and believe me truly the friend
of your unfortunate husband. D. Knox |
|
1877
Jul 22 |
My
Dear Wife, I
have written to you twice since I have been here and you remain apparently
silent and unconcerned about my future welfare. Have I my dear to come to the conclusion
that I was bound to heartbreak so pure and tender as I have always ----ight it was since our first meeting and “O judgment thou
art fled -----beast that men have lost their reason seen particularly
applicable to me on this occasion. If
you have even a tender loving thought about manifest it by one letter, and
that will be a ray of hope to cheer my drooping heart. If you write to me please say to Uncle John
Bell I need a little money very badly to buy my tobacco with and I would be
glad if he would send some immediately.
Uncle Amas Curtis was pardoned and left for
his home a few days ago. I
sometimes think you have not received my letters, if so I will ask of you
again to send me yours and the children’s photograph. I would appreciate it so much to see your
loving faces once more even in a picture.
I have been sick with billous (bilious?) fever,
have fallen off considerably, but am improving now everyday. In
haste, your loving husband, James Staggs Direct your letter in care
Col. Zeb Ward 1- Uncle Amas Curtis related to James --- father of Tom Curtis, James’ cousin? 2-
Zeb Ward was the prison warden |
|
1878
Apr 3 |
Mrs.
Martha Staggs My
dear wife and babes, I once more embrace the opportunity of dropping you a
few lines to let you know that I am well, hoping and trusting to our heavenly
father that this may find you all well.
My dear wife, when I left that country, I came through Well
my dear, there is only one house in twenty miles of me only the one that I am
at. You know that this is a wild
country. But I haven’t ceased to love
you and my darling babes yet and never will forget you and them and my
friends. May god bless you , all in my prayers.
Though I may lose my life before tomorrow morning, I don’t fear death
so I must close for this time. I
remain your devoted husband till death. James H. Staggs Let
my friends read this letter that they may know that I am yet alive. |
|
1878
Apr 5 |
Sharp
Evening
Shade, Staggs,J.H., "Local News" Notes
for Andrew Jackson Hamilton, Jr: 1.
From the "Evening Shade" "It
is rumored that A.J. Hamilton, of Izard County, was waylaid and shot one day
this week by parties unknown, near Lunenburg, and it's believed from the
appearance of the place where the assassins were in ambush that one of the
attacking party was also killed - several shots having been exchanged by the
parties previous to the one which proved fatal to Hamilton. It will be
remembered that Hamilton and John Hare were the principal witnesses in the
J.H. Staggs murder case which was tried there something over a year ago and
Hare and Hamilton being together at the time of the above assault, it is
thought that Staggs, who has escaped from the penitentiary, was with the
assaulting party." |
|
1882
Jan 4 |
Mr.
G P Staggs Dear Cousin, It
is with pleasure that I seat myself to inform you that I am well, hoping this
may find you and family all well.
Green, I haven’t heard from any of my folks in two 2 years. I am very anxious to hear from you and from
Martha and from Pa and Ma and all the rest of the connection. Well, Green, I have been to Washington
Territory and Oregon and British Columbia and over all the rest of the
western world. I am living with the
Mormons now. They are the best people
that I ever saw. There is lots of young ladies here. They are pretty. They love to be hugged and I love to hug
them. Well,
Green, this is the best country that you ever saw. You can get the finest farm that you ever
saw. Green, I haven’t worked a day in
2 years and I have plenty of money and plenty of fine clothes, plenty of good
horses and plenty of everything else that heart can wish. All that I can say to you is come to
(Idaho?). Try where you can make a
living without working yourself to death.
So farewell beloved friends.
Well, Green, I want you to write and tell me all about Martha and the
children and Pa and Ma and all the rest of the family. Tell me all of the post offices where they
live and I want you to write just as soon as you get this letter, for I don’t
stay in the same place long at a time. Your
affectionate cousin, R.H. Benbrooks Direct
your letters to Montpelier Bear Lake Valley, Idaho Territory Mr.
R.H. Benbrooks 1.
G.P. Staggs, Green P. Staggs, son of Felix Staggs who married Armittia (Mitty) Benbrook. 2.
Four months later on 9 May 1882, James (now Robert) married Elizabeth Lily
Smith. 3.
James signs letter R.H. Benbrooks (same handwriting
and style) |
|
1882
May 9 |
Marriage
Certificate Robert
Henry Benbrooks to Elizabeth Lily Smith |
|
1897
May 22 |
Billings,
Montana Dear
Mother, I
suppose you think me very careless about writing of late, but you know I take
my writing by spills and as I have one of my spells I will write you a short
letter. I’m glad to tell you that I am
well. I’m enjoying fine health. This is a high healthy climate. I wish you were here. I know you would soon be healthy. You
are asking me know if I’m married or in love.
I will say that I am not. I
have quit falling in love now. I’ve
quit thinking of getting married. I
find it much easier to make money here than I did in the south. We have severe winters here but the summers
are delightful. It is so nice and
cool. We
can raise most anything here but corn and cotton. It is too far north for corn. We raise barley, oats, wheat, alphalfa (hay), potatoes, and several other things not
mentioned. This is more of a sheep and
cattle country than a farming country.
The sheep business is the principal industry. I’ve seen herds of from one to eight
thousand head grazing on the range. Well,
ma, you must not think because I can’t go to see you that I have forgotten
you. I will see you again as soon as I
get a little better fixed. What
is H.H.’s Post Office address. I want to write to him. You must feel very old now that you have
several grandchildren. If I have the
misfortune to get married, I will take my wife with me when I go to
Arkansas. I guess I will not get my
Indian girl in the Territory. We have
quit. How
large is Leroy? I wish you would send
me his picture. Are you schooling him? Tell
Pa he has my best wishes for his health and happiness. With
love for all I remain your ever loving son, W.T. I wrote to Franklin a few days ago. Tell him to write soon to Billings, MT. W.T. |
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1898
Dec 12 |
Robert
H. Benbrooks and his wife, |
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1899
Jan 24-26 |
Warranty
Deed No
1130 Sale
of Robert & Elizabeth Benbrooks’ homestead in
Big Horn county, Wyoming |
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1899
Nov 10 |
Warranty
Deed No
2133 William
T. Benbrooks purchases of store or home in Meeteetse, Big Horn County, Wyoming |
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1902
Sep 14 |
W.T.
Benbrooks (Dealer in General Merchandise) Meeteetse, Wyo. Brother
(Franklin Staggs), -----------would
meet you there but go on with you. If,
however, you want to come here and see me first, alright, but I want you to
see the old man long as he has written me that his health was bad and I would
not have you miss seeing him before he dies for nothing. He is fairly well
fixed. If
you --------------------- before I see you, don’t purchase or contract for
land or anything till you do see me as I want you to live here and I know you
will like it and can make money. I
have much money here. If you have to
have money to come on let me know the price at once. You’ve
received -------. I was a little
surprised to learn that you were in TX.
I’m glad I was mistaken because I thought your courage must have
failed you. Now, I hope this letter
will reach you before you leave. Here
is what I want you to do: Go to
Bozeman, Montana. This is about 100
miles west of Billings. The old man
lives near the Gallatin Valley 20 miles from Bozeman. His P.O. is Courts. He is getting very feeble and wants to see
you. I have written him that we would
be there the first of Sept. I will
send him your letter and write him so he can meet you at Bozeman. If you could let me know when you would
--------- Billings. Your
route will be were the M.K. & T, R.R. to K.C. Lincoln Neb. Billings,
Mont. You will come right up through
the Indian Territory. If you make up
your mind to come here first write me at once so I can meet you in Billings
and don’t fool me. I was ---- to -----
when I received your letter before that you had decided not to go. Very respectfully, W.T. Benbrooks |
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