[NOTE:  THIS IS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT BY DEBBIE TRAVIS BLAKLEY OF A LETTER
BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY BOYD TRAVIS SR. WHO WAS LIVING IN
WHITEWRIGHT, TEXAS.   BOYD SR.,  WAS THE SON OF JOSEPH AND ELLEN (BUTLER)
TRAVIS.  THE LETTER IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN TO  BOYD’S  SISTER,
OPAL(TRAVIS) TAYLOR OF WAPANUCKA, OKLAHOMA. THANKS TO  OPAL'S DAUGHTER
DOROTHY FOR SHARING HER MOTHER’S LETTER’S WITH US. ]
 

Letter dated Sept. 16, 1923
Whitewright, TX.

Dear Brother and Siss

    I will write  you a few lines to let you no  that we was all well and doing good   But B. have ____.    It
shore has been raining down here  but it is pretty to day.  We got _______ yesterday as ______ ago and I got all my land put up but five acres  and I guess I will get it put up next week if it don’t rain.    Dad hasn’t got moved yet and  don’t know when he will get to move Him and Alvis is going to move in the ____   house this next year but doant hafto  go without [wood?] like we did when you was down here.    I have got a way to run  me about to [__Marthas?].     You all will have to excuse  this writing for Hester is building a fire and I have to watch the baby and he won’t let me write.   Opal our Junior is still as fat as ever and twist and mean.   What is old Santa going to bring you?  I don’t think he will  come down here a
tall.     Hester said  hello to all and for you all to write to us very week.
    Well I guess that I had better close as I have wrote all I  no to write.  So answer real soon.
 From B & H T
You all send our mail % Jim Brown,  Rt. 3,  Whitewright, TX.

*****************NOTE*   B & H T > likely means,  Boyd & Hester Travis
Boyd “Buster” TRAVIS Sr., b.1903  some where in Texas  and d. 1948 at Lindsay,  Garvin Co., Oklahoma.  Boyd’s parents, Joseph & Ellen (BUTLER)TRAVIS were originally from Hamblen Co., TN. and moved to the N.E. Texas area betwwen 1895- 1900.  Before 1907,  the Joe & Ellen TRAVIS family moved to Wapanucka, OK.  After the death of Ellen TRAVIS in 1919, the children seemed to move back and forth to many locations between Oklahoma and Texas, trying to survive, make a living and raise their own families.  From the letter's
I believe that they followed the cotton crop harvest.

Boyd married Hester KILE, abt. 1922,  at Wapanucka, Johnston Co., Oklahoma.  Hester was b. 1904 in  Holdenville, Okla. and d. 1991 in Lindsay, Garvin Co., OK.   Hester is the daughter of  John Frances KILE  and his wife Rachel Melvinia  MILLER.  Boyd and Hester TRAVIS had 6 children together.

Whitewright, TX.

Dear Bro. Sis & Family,
    How is you all and the kids getting along this cold weather?   I hope
that the baby has not had the croup yet--  (haha)
    We are just as fat as ever and like our new home just fine.
    Opal you just miss the fun by not being here to sit and hold Junior for
me.  He is some spoiled baby.   Last week he stood alone twice and just
wants someone to let him walk all the time.
   You know xmas is here and I have been a very bad girl, so I guess old
Santa will fill my stocking with sticks and ashes.
    Is Wapa  as dull as ever? When have you seen Lucile and Louise?
    Tell Grandma and Annie & Mammie  Hello for me.  Would like to see all
of them.
   Guess, I had better close and go cook my ribs (I mean hogs ribs).  So
answer real soon With lots of news.
Your Sis Hester
   Excuse the writing for my pencil is not longer than a tooth pick.  Write
soon.

NOTE*   The letter has no date written on here but Hester mentions Boyd Jr.
who was b. May 1923.    Hester also mentions xmas so I would therefore
deduct that this letter was written about Dec. 1923.
  Hester also mentions Lucile and Louise...
Lucile is actually Sarah "Lucile" BOYLE-TRAVIS  who was the  wife of Eugene
Powell TRAVIS (called "Gene").   Boyd Sr., Gene, and Opal are "TRAVIS"
siblings. Louise is actually  Virginia "Louise" TRAVIS,  first-born daughter of  Gene
and Lucile TRAVIS.   Gene and Lucile were married in 1922 in Wapanucka,
Johnston Co., OK. and  were still living there at the time of this writing.
   Wapa= Wapanucka.
  In this letter Hester also mentions, Grandma, Annie & Mammie.   I am
unclear who these folks are?   Annie may possibly be the mother-in-law of
Opal. She was America Ann TAYLOR.  Grandma, may be America Ann's
mother-in-law, Mary Elizabeth (WELCH) TAYLOR.  I do not know who Mammie
might be though? If anyone knows for certain please let me know.

TRAVIS FAMILY OLD LETTER COLLECTION

[NOTE:  THIS IS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT BY DEBBIE TRAVIS-BLAKLEY OF A LETTER
WRITTEN BY  GEORGE PIERCE OF WHITEWRIGHT, TX. WHO WAS (CALLED "BUD" BY
FAMILY AND FRIENDS).    THE LETTER  WAS WRITTEN TO "BUD'S" BROTHER, ROBERT
L. PIERCE, WHO IS THE HUSBAND OF HATTIE BELLE(BUTLER) PIERCE.    I BELIEVE
BOB & HATTIE PIERCE, LIVED AT ROUNDTIMBER, TX.    HATTIE (BUTLER) PIERCE
WAS THE SISTER TO ELLEN A. BUTLER WHO MARRIED TO JOSEPH N. TRAVIS.  ELLEN
TRAVIS, WAS DESCEASED AT THIS WRITTING.  THE PIERCE SURNAME COMES INTO PLAY EARLIER AS WELL,  AS THE MOTHER OF JOSEPH N. TRAVIS WAS NANCY ADALINE
PIERCE WHO MARRIED DAVID TATE TRAVIS IN HAMBLEN CO., TN.  (YES, THEY WERE ALL DISTANTLY RELATED FAMILY!)
*  THANKS TO DOROTHYAND FRANK PIERCE OF OKLAHOMA FOR  SHARING  THIS FAMILY LETTER WITH OUR TRAVIS/BUTLER FAMILIES.

Whitewright, TX.
1-13-24

   Mr. R.L. Pierce

Dear Bro. It has been some time since I herd from you I don't know who
rote last  this leaves all well hope you all the same Bob we aire
having some real winter now cold and clear I killed my hogs 2 weeks
ago had got 2 Shoats for next year Bob one of Charlie's  girls was
hear to day John has the T.B going to Sanantonio to the Sanatarium
for treatment  tha all tore up  Schelley has come back from Clay co.
and is on that uppie place  I know tha will hav truble before the year is out
for tha don't like each other no way  Bob things aire Dull hear since the
cotton played out nothing  doing. I was out of work 2 or 3 weeks  I
am working at the Flouring Mill now don't know how long the job will
last all winter I hop I hav  4 acars rented for cotton hav 1 acar of my
own so you see I am going to farm this year    Made $51.00 off my patch
last year     Bob,  Joe Travis is out hear at Orngesvill  Working on the halves
he has 100 acars of good land has 2 boys grown one girl 13 years old
he sed he made 3 complet failures in OK. he is the same old Jo oneley
he has quite a lot of gold in his mouth  I see Bill Booher every few
days at the Mill  he is in business at  [Ornyesvill?  Probably means
Orangeville?] I ask him about Jo  he said Jo was a good worker  uncil Dave
Booher is about blind  cant get around  but still loves the dollar
Bob we haven't herd from Julia in some time  Poore old Frank  I
would wright to him if I new his P.O. I think I'll go to see him some
time this year if I can  will I'll close for this time    Write Soon

As ever Your Bro.
 Bud

NOTE*    The Charlie mentioned above was most likely Charlie WILLIAMS who
was married to Addie Mae Bell PIERCE.    I believe that they lived around
Randolph, TX.

Working on the halves = Share cropping or tenent farmer.
**  The Julia mentioned here is most likely Julia Estelle POTTER who is
said to have married William B. TRAVIS (not of the Alamo fame).  This William
was the son of  William Henry TRAVIS  of  TN.    Family lore has it that he
shot a Carpet Bagger and spent most of his life in a TN. prison.  William B.
TRAVIS,  is said to have died in prison just a few days before his
scheduled release date. This is so far unproven by me though.  William and Julia
TRAVIS,   had one daughter.   Her name was Mabel TRAVIS.  Mabel married
Franklin Cheatham  PIERCE in Hamblen Co., TN.   Frank is most likely the
Frank mentioned above. Frank and Mabel  wound up in Oklahoma and had
brought Julia with them. These folks are buried in the Mustang Cemetery,
Mustang, Oklahoma. If you have any information to share, please contact
me.   Thanks!