A letter from Reverend Angus Johnson
to
Mrs. Harriet McNeill McKay
of Philadelphus, Robeson County, NC
Avalon, Texas Feb 10th 1897
My dear Cousin Harriet McKay
You are the only McNeill relative I know any thing of. I remember when your
Father & Mother
["Wild
Archie" McNeill and Elizabeth McNeill McNeill] were courting. I entered
my 88th year 26 of last August. It is now near 11 years since I came to Texas.
I married my 2nd wife a Miss [Suejette] Thomas. She is in her 58 year. We
have no children. My first wife was a Miss Means of Concord N.C. We were
married in 1839. We had 8 children 2 died young one son preached 5 years
and is burried in Concord N.C. One grown daughter at the head of Tampa Bay
Fla 2 children at Water Valley Mississippi and my oldest daughter & wife
are burried at Germantown Tenn. I have a married daughter with 5 children
in Oxford Mississippi and one in Grand Junction Tenn with 4 children and
an unmarried daughter that lives with them. I have one living half sister
Mrs Mary McDuffie at Johnson's Station Ga, but have not heard from her in
a year. I first learned the tailor's trade then turned to preaching in 1836
preached 2 years near Wilmington N.C. then 7 years near Charlotte, N.C. then
27 years in Mississippi then 10 years in Tenn 4 Fla 11 in Texas = 61. I am
now on the invalid list, though my hearing, my sight, my actions are remarkably
good for my age We live in our own home a neat cottage, have a horse and
buggy and one acre in our lot, I preach every Sabbath I have organized 3
chuches out of this one so we have 4 in the field, they are small. May God
abundantly bless you both temporall & spiritually.
I will write to your son in Weatherford [Judge William David Torrey
McKay].
Your loving cousin, I hope to meet you in heaven
Angus Johnson |
