Letter to Julia MALLORY
in possession of Jennifer DICKINSON
I (Jennifer Dickinson) found portions of 2 letters written to Julia (MALLORY) FAULKNER. A letter received from Miss Willie W. WELCH positively identifies this Letter as being written by James Welch MALLORY who moved from Alabama to Texas. With the help of Miss Willie W. WELCH and Dick TALIAFERRO I was able to identify many of the relations mentioned. The "=" signs were part of the writers style. (NOTE: Selwood is a plantation owned by James Mallory, one of Julia's brothers, near Talladega, Alabama)
Mt. Sylvan. Smith Co. Texas; April 30, 1875
Sister Julia,
For your kind and interesting letter of April 3 receive
my thanks. Several
reasons why I have not answered it before. Among them about the time I got
it I had Lost my fine specks that I used to read and write with. I have
now
gotten another pair. Not answering so well however, I have quit work this
afternoon to write to you and to brother James (MALLORY). Heard from him
about the time your letter came. All well up there, but brother rat (Nathan
MALLORY) his disease is dropsy of the heart and his death at any moment
will
surprise no one. Betty Uallace [Daughter of Dr. Robert WALLACE and Ann
MALLORY, who was adopted and raised by Nathan MALLORY and Jane ?1 who had
been badly burned Lingered for sometime and died. [NOTE: According to
Willie WELCH she was burned after sitting in front of open fire. I am glad
to hear that you are all over your bad cold and well again. You are right
when you say it is a bad disese, I thought so when I had it, we art pretty
well took a turn at it. It has not quit our country yet. We are all in
pretty fair health judging by the way all hands take to rations. Lucy's
health, although not really bad is not really good. She manages to get
through her domestic duties helped by Lizzy (Lissy), William (MALLORY'S)
wife. They are Living with us this year. William (MALLORYs) running part
of my farm. He has a fine corn crop, has ploughed and heed it out and out
over and expect to get into it again next week, some of his cotton Looks
well, some not so good. ______ can just fairly coming up= Lucy had Lots
of
213
Continued 5th Generation
chickens last winter. She sold all her turkies and quit.
Won't raise any
more of them. Charles and Lilly go to school this year. On Saturday
Charles helps me and Lilly, her mother Lilly, has written to Mittle several
times, her last nor long since. Frank has been railroading for a Long
time. He is now in the employ of the Great Northern and International Road
and runs from Longview Texas to Texarkana, Arkansas. He is doing well
George and his wife keep house in Marshall, where he is still in business,
doing well · have this year rented out my farm, reserving for myself
say 3
acres which I have put cotton, potatoes and pear. This with the melon
patches, orchard, garden and general jobbing of the farm, I take as my
share. And a good share it is too. We do not go into the Rice arrangement
out here bur have tend that I know would suit it well- We have had a
terrible cold winter, some heavy snow for this country, little rain, but
dreadful Northerns. you must feel a Texas Northern to know what one is.
This is one of the objections I have to Texas= our spring has been rather
dry but at times very cold, not cool= The severe winter has killed a Large
quantity of the peach trees of this section and the late frost injured the
fruit Someuhate slite. I think there is sufficient Left for us. Corn, wheat
and oats as a general thing are Looking fine. The wheat heads looking Long
and plump- Corn getting from knee to thigh high Cotton of the first planting
not as good as stand, neither looking.
Below is the bottom half of a Letter I found which could
or couldn't be the
remainder of the above. It also contains interesting facts of the times
and
wish to include it.
Bottom half of front of page:
her Last and is Looking for a Letter from her. Charles
is at school. On
Sunday last we went to Garden Valley to meeting and heard a most excellent
sermon from the Dr. He serves three churches, preaching at one of them
twice in the month. I think he improves yet in preaching. He certainly
does in looks for some two years agao he Looked badly. Mary looks Like a
nice old Lady, just what she is and a good one at that. Beck is with them.
this constitutes their household. ?_____ Love is running the Dr's place.
I
saw them on Sunday, art well. Hannah is breaking very fast has three Living
children. Powell and Lucy Live on part of the Dr's Land. Lucy has 1 Living
child have not seen them for some time. David stilL at Hascomb? Texas in
the employ of the
Bottom half of back of same page:
greater one. We some of us even regretted leaving Alabama
but did deeply
feel the necessity that forced us to sever the ties of kindred and
friendship. In all other respects we have bettered our condition. Tis true
we are all poor but this is truly poor mans country. The immigration to
Texas ever since my time here has been immense. And that of the very best
class of people. So you see, that was a Loss to the old.
214
5th Generation
Letter from her Unidentified Niece To Julia (Mallory) Faulkner
in possession of Jennifer DICKINSON
I also have a Letter written to her from an unidentified niece. Fortunately
it is a genealogical gold mine as it includes many names and relations.
An interesting note concerning this Letter which 1 transcribed in 1986.
Because
it mentioned Habersham Co. Georgia I took a chance and Looked up that surname
in the Atlanta Georgia phone book. Much to my surprise there was a Dickenson
TALIAFERRO listed. I promptly mailed him a copy of the Letter. In April
1987,
I received the most surprising Letter. Not only could he identify some of
the names in this letter but he was a direct descendent of Rebekkah MALLORY's
husband, John Frances Taliaferro. He sent much historical data and references.
Which I have included after thi·s Letter.
To help you better understand relationships, see the family biography of John F:ancis TALIAFERRO and Rebekka MALLORY. Briefly John and Rebekkah married and they have issue: 1. Bettie TALIAFERRO, 2. Louisa TALIAFERRO, 3. Mary TALIAFERRO, 4. John TALIAFERRO, 5. James TALIAFERRO, Jimmy, 6. Philip TALIAFERRO.
Selwood, January 16. 1872
My Dear Aunt Julia,
When your Last Letter reached me I did not think many days should
pass till
you had along Letter from me, but so it has been two months have
gone and I am just commencing to talk a Little with you. The day after your
letter came, I believe, Lou TALIAFERRO, Aunt Rebekkahs second daughter,
reached Selwood for a visit and since then we have had most of the
time when we were not visiting ourselves. She is very pretty much liked
and
something like Hannah. Lou was quite intelligent. Lou is a loving woman
I
Like. And a charitable concerned christian girl, and I know I shall miss
her when she Leaves us. She sends much Love to you and wishes she could
see
you. She since devoted to the memory of her dear mother. She says no
children ever had a better. You know that Bettie the oldest daughter
married a Mr. Cooper soon after the _______ closed. She married in
objection of her father, but Mr. Cooper is a good man, Lou says, and he
is
doing well now and makes Bettie a devoted husband. Of course John (the
father) has become perfectly reconciled. Mary the third daughter is grown
also and quite an attractive girl I hear. She is spending the winter in
Alexandria with one of her friends. Uncle John (the father) has a school
of
young men at home, and John and Jimmy tend the farm. They are both highly
loved, cultivated young men and _____ to their parents. Lou was teaching
school in Habersham Co. Georgia near Clarkesville and came down to spend
her
vacation with us. She returns there about the first of March and will be
there til about July. I believe when she goes to Virginia for the summer.
She and I spent a part of Last week at Uncle Nats' [Nathaniel MALLORY,
brother to Rebekkah MALLORY Taliaferro] we had a delightful visit as they
always do. All they came to make all our time pass. (Missing bottom line
of
page here.) that they raised you ___ cousin Roberts [NOTE: Dr. Robert
WALLACE married Ann MALLORY and had issue: 1. Bettie WALLACE, 2. Ann
WALLACE. Both parents died and these orphaned girls were raised by Uncle
215
5th Ceneration
Nat MALLORY] second daughter was married Last spring to Julius Walthall
of
They seem to be happily matched. Bettie went to live with them (Aunt
Jane), when cousin William WALLORr died. She is there now and is a pretty
bright girl, much like cousin Robert. Aunt Jane has Wileys? Little girl
too. -You knew he Lost his second wife about five years ago, Leaving 1 child
which Aunt Jane [NOTE: Mary Jane WALLACE Mallory, wife of Nathan MALLORY]
took to care for him. She and Uncle Nat is devoted to her as she is
certainly one of the prettiest and smartest and best children I ever saw.
And Sarah Shoalen is living with Wiley, but Aunt Jane had the child before
she:came and Wiley will not take her _____. If he had _____Aunt Jane that
she should keep her (line missing from bottom of page) (top of line missing
from this page) to our part of the country (Texas). He is very sad now on
account of the death of his first son. He was a remarkably intelligent young
man and in prospering business but he had an attack of typhoid feaver which
somewhat depressed _____ at times. In one of these attacks he shot himself
and-so a useful man fell, and brought sadness to a happy home. I had a
delightful visit to sis. I ____ in an ALice? last spring in VA. Lizzie is
happily married and has every comfort. He has 2 boys and one girl. The
little girl is only a few weeks old Oh! ___ Don't know how to (can't read
because crease has erased it) all the children for I never knew sweeter
or
as interesting ones and they were so much attracted to their Aunt Celia?
You-knew that her Wallace was dead. I wrote you that I believe. Old Wr.
Scott- still lives, he is now over 95 years of age and retains his mind
perfectly. 1 suppose you have heard of the death of cousin Walker and
cousin Mary Mallory. Cousin Walker died a year ago this month. Cousin Mary
died last May. We miss them both so much. Cousin Walkers'place can nevver
be filled for he was one of the best and most charitable of men. Cousin
Hannah seemed glad to know that you remembered her family and she sends
much love, and says she would be so glad if you would (last Line of page
missing) (top of page missing) christian fortitude under her sad
afflictions and shares more and more of her great worth to her church, her
family, her friends. Lizzie and her little girl Live with her. Pink is
married too and she has no one but Mamie? who has just finished school and
little Mamie at home with her now. Mallory, her only son, is off at school
Mittie Mallory is with them now but I don't know that she will make it her
home. Pink, cousin Mary's youngest daughter who is now grown Lives with
Gippie and Dr. n._____ They are still at the old homeplace. L has 4
children . She is a good woman but Dr. ______ is a dissatisfied man which
is
a missfortune in any family. Cousin Mary had never been well since Uncle
Williams (MALLORY) death. She gave up when he was taken and never recovered
her strength or cheerfulness again. You could hardy believe it was cousin
Mary,to be with her. Uncle OLiver (WELCH) still keeps up has had some cold
this winter, but is out at church on Saturday and Sabbath. He always seems
so glad to hear from you all. We have had us a new church built at Alpines
which was dedicated on last Sabbath by Mr. Henderson. He has been our
preacher now nearly 3 years. We certainly have a great treasure I having
such a Shephard over our Little flock for I heard he is one of the best
men
that ever Lived and_______ the finest __Ministry????. He Lives in fact well
now but (Last pages missing)