Postcard with picture of M. E. Church South, Marshfield, Mo, mailed from Marshfield, Mo Jul 28 1912
to Mrs. D. S. (Belle) Ferguson, Willow Spring, Mo

How are you & the "Star Boarders"? I'm so anxious to hear from the children. Dreamed of them last night. There are eleven passenger trains thru here in 24 hrs. besides all the freights. The track is just back of Maude's house, as close as our barn. Seemed like they were coming in the house the first night. If the children were here, they could be busy watching trains. Hope they mind you. Kiss them for me & write soon. Phrona

(Note: Phrona Lovan is wife of Charles Wm. Sanford Ferguson, and daughter-in-law of Mrs. D. S. "Belle" Ferguson. Maude Louisa Lovan-Franke is sister of Phrona, and is married to Clemens Bernhard Franke. The children are Teddy Rowe Ferguson, born July 24 1907: Dorys 'Louise' Ferguson, born Jul 8 1909 and Ruth 'Lorene' Ferguson, born April 20 1911. )

(Note: The next two letters were in possession of Jacquelin Hogan-Williams, descendent of James Hiram Hogan, and copies found their way to Katherine Susong-Harmon, next to A. Claude Ferguson, and thence to me.)

Letter dated May 18 1884, Greene County, Tenn

Dear Sister

I received your letter a few days ago and was glad to heair from you all and glad to hair you was all well.

Dear Sister I received the dress you sent me all rite and was very proude and thankful. I receav Mary and Lille pictures last Summar. I would love to see you all. I spinds a many a lonesome our thinking of you on earth. But hope to Strike glad hands in that brite shining world of peas and happy world wher we shal never parte.

Tell brother Jim I hope he hasent forsaking me as brother Dave has. he hasn't been at my house in a year & I havent spoke to him in a year. Sister Susan has been sick all summar, is better now. Brother Jesse was out to see me a few weeks agoe.

Hane Boles is living at pops at the olde plase yet. She sade to tell you she was scratching a round doing the best she coud. She wanted to no something about Mandy Boles. tell her to rite to her.

Times is harde heair. Corn is 14 cents a bushel. Bacon 12 1/2 a lb. Milk cows air wirth from $30 to about $50 dollars. Suckling calf from 10 to 15 dollars.

So I will close for this time hoping to heair from you. So write me all the news. The connection is well as fair I no. My health is very poor. I remain your Sister.

Mary Cochran to Elizabeth Ferguson.

(Note: Mary Hogan-Cochran is age 58 in 1884, and widow of Robert D Cochran. Mary and Robert are the parents of James H Cochran and Robert J Cochran, whose letters can be found in the Cochran set. Elizabeth Hogan-Ferguson is age 60 in 1884, and widow of William Milo Ferguson, and mother of David Sanford Ferguson.)

Letter dated November 29, 1894. State of Tennessee. Greene County

Dear Nephew. i set myself to try to answer your ____ ____ ____ that came to hand last ____. All well but Milley and ____ ____ to ____ ____ ____. Jas Luttrell ____ ____ is tolerbal bad. i dont ____ ____ ____.

Well Dave ____ ____ ____ see us this chrismus for we all would be glad to see you all. Well times is hard. money is scarce. Wheat fifty cense, corn forty cense, Hogs 4 cense, catel good 2 cense. Horses and mules no trade. Tell all the rest of the Boles and connections that I would ____ them to come and see me. Tell Brother Jas to Rite and let me her from him. Well Dave got some Locust seeds and some Elder Beres that had nearly all fell of But i don the Best i Cod.

(This paragraph apparently written for him - different writing) I have wrote all I can. My hands hurt me so I couldnt half write. I will have to close for this time. Write son and send me all of your pictures. I remain always
Your Uncle D. B. Hogan To D. S. Ferguson


(Note: David Boles Hogan died March 1895, age 66. )

Carte Postale, with picture of a Cathedral, with the name blacked out.
Postmarked U. S. Military Censored.
To Monsieur D. S. Ferguson, Willow Springs, Mo. USA

Officers Mail
Aug 31 - 1918. Feel fine. Jo
Censored by J O Ferguson
14th Inftry

Postcard, with picture of the White House and the South Lawn, dated May 26, 1924, and mailed from Washington D.C. to Mr. D. S. Ferguson, Willow Springs, Mo.

Sunday, May 25, 1924. Am here to give Cal some advise about running the Government. J. O. F. (son Jo Orval)

Letterhead: Office of Henry A Smith, Collector of the Revenues of Howell County, West Plains, Mo.
Nov 24 1903

Dear Father

You see Mr. Johnson and see what he wants for that stalk pastur and let me know. Henry Smith thinks he would buy it if he will sell it cheap enough.

Very Respy, Chas (son)

Post Card postmarked at Fayetteville, Ark, Nov 28 1908

To Mrs. Bell Ferguson, Box 218, Willow Springs, Mo

We are all well. Pa is driving a hack. My two oldest girls and I are at work in a laundry and it keeps us all busy. We are having fine weather. I'll write a letter soon. Your cousin,
Annie Dougherty

(Note, Annie is daughter of Ira Everman, who is a brother of Belle's mother, Charlotte Everman-Young.)

Postmarked June 29 1901 received at Willow Springs, Missouri from Fairhaven, Washington

June 23, 1901
To Mr. Orville Ferguson

Dear Bro Joe, Received your letter today and what you think it was the seventh letter. How would you like to write six letters besides what I write to you folks at home?

How is farming, are you having good weather? And how dose every thing look? And how about the 4th of July? Who is going to be your girl on that day and what do you think you will blow your self for?

Say did you ever get your watch fixed?

This is all the time I have. will write again this week.
Your Bro Chas

--------------------------

On the back side of the above letter:
Fairhaven, Wash
June 23 1901

Dear Mother and Father,

Received your letters a few minuts ago, that is one from all of you except Pa, guess he was busy but I allways like to get a few lines from you all.

The night shift relieve us at three this afternoon and Pitman, the Condictor that has been learning me turns me over now and after this I will get pay for whah I do. I am not going to get as much as I thought as the Supt. miss _____ a little to me.

Misc Relative Set

Letterhead:
Office of Clerk of the County Court, Howell County
West Plains, Mo., July 18th 1888

D. S. Ferguson
Willow Springs, Mo

Dear Sir, herewith find $14.00 and some stamps. You sent that much more money than was needed to settle the debts of Mr. Olelen and myself.

My folks are not very well. I feel some better than when I wrote you last. Hoping this may find you all well.

I am as ever,
R.S.Hogan

Letter dated April 2, 1920, from Jo O. Ferguson, Abstracter, Pawnee, Oklahoma
to Mr. D. S. Ferguson, Willow Springs, Mo.

Dear Father and All -

This is Good Friday and I wonder if you planted any potatoes today. I think you have said that you didnt plant your potatoes in the moon but in the ground, but I remember that several times you planted them on Good Friday. But I dont know whether the moon has anything to do with Good Friday or not. Most everybody here has potatoes planted and I heard one fellow holler because his are not up. Some gardens are way up - onions and radishes and lettuce nearly big enough to eat, but I suppose it is nearly the same way there. Had a big frost here last night and I suppose that some things got bit down. This must be a great sweet potato country. One merchant told me that he had sold one farmer 25 bushels for seed.

Seems that Wood is going to be the nominee. That is if Hoover dont get nominated on both tickets and do away with the neccessity of an election. I get the Kansas City Star and of course try to keep posted on what is going on in Missouri politics. I can get the Times here on the same day it is printed which is mighty good service.

Thought I would be home this week but Dyott or the California Sheriff or somebody fell down on the job so I wasn't needed in court.

I think I am getting along good here. Last month myself and two girls did $405. worth of work. Of course that is not as good as I hope for but it is fair considering that neither myself or the girls knew anything about the work. My expense was high because I bought two typewriters and a lot of other stuff for the office. I have four stenoghaphers now and another will commence Monday - but I may fire one that I have. Am going to move soon.

Had a letter from Eula and she is at New Wilson. But I suppose she has written to you also.

I guess the folks are all busy in the stores selling Spring stuff.

There's a big bond election on here; I'll send you one of the cards.

Love to all, Jo

Letter dated May 13, 1920 from Jo O. Ferguson, Pawnee, Oklahoma
to Mr. D. S. Ferguson, Willow Springs, Mo

Dear Father,

It has been several days since I wrote you last time but I remember that today is your birthday and of course I can't think of not writing to you today. You have had several birthdays but not as many as lots of people and I hope you have a hundred more.

Had a letter from both Chas. and Tennye this week. Guess they thought they'd catch up with some back correspondence. Was mighty glad to hear from them. They said you had not been feeling well. Was sorry of that. Now, you will never live another 67 years if you don't get to feeling better and you won't feel much better as long as you try to be house keeper and farmer both. And I think you are a better farmer than housekeeper. I believe you would feel better if you would change your boarding place. Phrona and Tennye are both anxious to have you eat there and I've found out that when a fellow gets such a chance he should not refuse. You could still run your farm and live at the house if you want to, but I sure wouldn't attempt to cook. From the report of the Board of Equalization you are a rich man; anyway you can afford to have somebody else cook for you if you want to. Chas. and Tennye both feel that they owe you a whole lot more than they can ever pay. In fact all four of us kids are in debt to you so bad we never would get square if we tried and we don't know how to try.

Sometime this summer I want you to come out here for a while. Some fairly good farming land here that I would like for you to see. Maybe Chas. will drive out. It would be about a two days trip.

I am doing fairly well so far and think I will like the work. I have three fine office rooms and they don't cost me but $10.00 a month. I rented the whole up stairs for $30.00 but sub leased the three back rooms for $20.00 so I have the 3 best rooms for $10. I hold a years' lease.

If I can find you some good sweet potatoe plants I'll send you a few of the kind they raise here.

Write when you can and I'll write again soon.

Lots of love, Jo

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This page was last updated December 7, 2000.