Malcolm Alexander McRae
1896

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Letter written in 1896 reprinted for Historical Interest

(The following letter was first printed in Bonham, Tex. newspaper in 1896) The writer was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Lucy Hogue of Tupelo. The letter contains much historical interest) Elwood, Fannin County, Tex., April 2, 1896
Editor Journal;
     It is said multiply and replenish the earth. I was born on the 15th day of May 1810. I was at one dance at about 17 years of age, my first and my last. I have never gambled in my life. I commenced farming in the year 1830 and quit when I was three score and ten. I am now living a retired life, except working my garden.
     I was married on the 22nd day of February, 1832. I have raised four sons and five daughters, all living to the age of maturity, and all learning to read and write. No free schools then. I have 44 grandchildren, 75 great grand children and one great-great-grandchild. In the time of raising my family I made three long moves, first from Georgia to Southern Missouri, I made one crap and after gathering it I started to Texas on the 18th day of Novemeber, 1843. I cam on foot and was gone 70 days with my gun and knapsack. I was in Dallas during my first trip to Texas. There was but one house between Bonham and Dallas.
     When I got back to Missouri, I rested two weeks, and found that I weighted 212 pounds. While I stayed in Newton, County, MO., I found 25 bee trees, killed 60 deer and 69 turkeys, made rails and fenced 40 acres of land and made two crops. On Nov 12, 1844, I started back to Georgia, arriving at my old home on the 8th of January, 1845, having been gone three years and one month.
     It is strange to say, the number of years I have been a farmer, and the long moves that I have made, I have never put gears and harness on a pair of horses or mules and hitched them to a wagon and drove them this fashion.
     ON the 4th of October, 1849, I started to Texas from Georgia in company with 97 persons, but on account of sickness was compelled to stop in Pike County, Arkansas. In 1851 I bought a farm on the main road leading from Little Rock, Ark., to Texas. After remaining until 1856 I resumed my trip to Texas,and stopped in Fannin County, Tex., where I have made my home until the present.
     In my travel since coming to Texas, I have visited Ft. Smith., Ark., Ft Towsend near Red River in Choctaw Nation. Ft Graham on the Brazos River, within a few miles of Ft. Arbuckle in the Chickasaw Nation. Ft.Riley in the north part of Kansas, Ft McCullough, Ft Washita, Ft. McDonald in Kansas. I have crossed the northwest plains in two places, one at the mouth of the A. and R. Ry tummel at the timber line on the Rocky Mountains in a snow storm. I was in St. Louis on the 18th of December and found snow about six inches deep. After returning home I traveled but little. I will be glad to hear from anyone who can beat my record.
   M.A. McRae