When Great-grandpa Dave Ferguson was around 76 years old, and widowed for 15 years, he apparently let it be known he was interested in marrying again.

 
Envelope postmarked Talihina, Okla Feb 19, 1929
 
Feb the 19, 1929
At home
 
Mr. Dave Fergerson,
 
you will be some what suprised to here from a Okla widow but I am not a Piker as I met a man from your home town and he gave me your name and adress.
 
Just for Past time would love to corspond if I get your Concent.  I have Been a widow 2 years the 4 day of this month.  My Husban was a Frisco Firman.  I am going to make this short untill I see if I get a answer.
 
We are sure are Havey some Bad Wether, Snowing.
 
Oh boy - I am going to look for a areturn letter from you of som kind.
 
From a unkown Friend.
 
Mrs. James Woolverton, Talihina, Okla.
 

 
Ferguson, Mo (Postmarked St Louis, Mo)  May 6, 1929
 
Mr. David Ferguson
 
I have heard Mrs. Shyrock speak highly of you and if you would like to correspond with me, I will send you my picture and references.
 
I am a widow by death and lonely.  Am 63 years old but have lived many years on a farm and long to live on one again.  I am 5 ft and weigh 118, Blond type, a Christian, American Protestant.
 
Would be happy to hear from you.
 
Most Respectfully
 
Mrs. Allice Dillman
R-16 Box 220
Ferguson, Mo

May 14, 1929      Fergson, Mo,  R.16 B222
 
Mr. Fergson
 
Kind friend will drop you few lines in regard to this old lady that is up here  She is a nice old lady and she need a good home so I felt sorrow for her & told her about you so she said she would write you so I suspose she did.
 
Well wheat do you think Uncle Dave.  Do you think she will be all O.K. are not.  Say, she is a Christian woman so I thought that would suit you to.  She is a nice house keeper and clean and Tidy about her close & no she will just suit you.
 
Now Uncle Dave if I did not think she would I never would of said any thing to her about you & shore did tell her all I new about you & told her I had new you for about 24 years & never hered anything about you that was no good.
 
Say man I have spoke well of you Uncle Dave.  Listen here is some more, I told her if I was a little older and my children was all growed up why I shore would be writing now, that is how much (I) speak of you and all so think of you, so now that is speaking a lot about someone you no.
 
Well we will be down there first of June so we will see you & will get around so I can get you to gether and let you talk. ha ha
 
Now you ans. my letter and (tell) me how every things is at Willow and you do not need to tell any one about me a riting you any thing about this.  Let me here from you next week please.
 
As I remain your friend.  Pleas ans. this.   Nellie Shryock

 
Ferguson, Mo May 9th
 
Dear Mr Ferguson
 
I certainly was pleased to get your answer to my letter and am sending my picture taken this last Jan.  Really I don't look that Serious in my every day looks in life.
 
Your age is no objection whatever, its your disposition that interest me and you will also have a good chance to find mine out.  I was in Willow Springs in March.  I went to Church with Mrs. Shyrock, to the Pentecostal.  She said you was there but said she didn't think to introduce you to me.  I will be in Willow Springs again the lst week in June with Mrs. Shyrock to her Sons trial. 
 
If (you) should like me, I would sure do my part in helping you raise chickens.
 
Hoping we will meet soon and so proud to know you have a little place of your own.
 
Lovingly, Allice Dillman

 
May 16, 1929
 
My Dear Friend Mr. Ferguson,
 
I can't explain on paper how pleased I was to get your letter and picture, "that country Scene looks better to me than one taken in New York would'.  from what you told me of your Smooth-get by in life is a wonderful record.
 
I have two children living, a son and a daughter.  I have been living and keeping house for the past 10 years with my son-in-law, raising his little girl.  Her mother (my daughter) died when the little girl was quite small.  Her Father is now going out a great deal and I believe would like to get married again, so I now feel at liberty to look out for my own future.
 
Either of my children would like for me to come live with them, but really they don't need me and I could be of more importance to Someone else and I truly hope that someone will be You for I do so long for country life again, and a companion.
 
Our children ought to realize that you and I long for Companion Ship as much as they do and the happy Satisfaction of our own home.
 
Mrs. Shyrocks trial is 4th of June.  We will leave here on Sunday the 2nd.  I am certainly looking forward with pleasure to the trip with fond hope for you and I.
 
Lovingly, Allice Dillman
R 16 Box 220, Ferguson, Mo
 
Answer Soon.

Saturday May 25 (Postmarked St Louis, Mo)
 
Dear Mr. Ferguson
 
Was as usual glad to get your letter and will be in Willow Springs soon.
 
We are going to leave here Sunday June 2 - or perhaps we might leave Saturday.  Will get word to you just where we are.  Maybe we can all make quite a pleasant time, along with Business.
 
No More, untill we meet.
 
Allice Dillman

Monday June 10 1929, Ferguson, Mo
 
Dear Mr. Ferguson,
 
We are back home and my children are uring me to go to Richmond, Ind on a trip for the Summer.  Would like so much to hear from you and know how your Son is before leaving.
 
Also wish you could come up for a visit and I was sorry we had such a short acquaintance, but I certainly realize that when we are distressed over one of the childrens illness, "naught else" matters.
 
I am wondering if you think I belong to the Penticostal Church.  No, not me.  I belong to the Church of God, and as a Christian - feel that you are one too.
 
Well Mr. Ferguson, you don't like to write letters, but I am asking for an answer to this telling me just how you feel in regard to my and your future, as we have told each other how we feel out of a home of (our) own.
 
I am not setting any time to start on my Summer trip until after I hear from you.
 
As ever
Very Truly Yorus,
Mrs. Allice Dillman
 
R 16, Box 220, Ferguson, Mo

Postmarked Ferguson, Mo June 17, 1929
 
Dear Mr. Ferguson
 
I was just awfully glad to get your kind & welcome letter.
 
I have changed my plans - am going to St Claire Mo visiting my relatives there - think will go next week.  Was born and raised there.
 
Mr trip to Indiana was to be a visit to friends that have been beging me since before Xmas to come up there and make my home with them.  I don't think would enjoy living in Indiana.
 
Will send you the said picture little later on.  Will be glad to.
 
You can wait to answer this untill I write again.  Will give my other address then.  I am hoping not to come back here to live.
 
You are certainly very honorable to marry for love alone.  Thats why I am still single to.  Have plenty of places to make my home, but thats not like having a real home with someone to love and to be loved.  "its Love that rules the world and love that rules the home.  I wouldn't take anyone for just merely a place to live.
 
Hoping for your Sons speedy recovery, I am as Ever, Your lovingly
 
Allice Dillman
 
Now, if you are to ans this soon, I could get it here - will not leave for St Claiare untill Sunday.
 
Ferguson, Mo R 16 Box 220
 
I am going to ad my Post Script to this and tell you I thought you very very nice indeed.  I most certainly could love and respect you with all my heart.  A...D...

Ferguson, Mo  Tuesday, July 2 1929
 
Mr. Dave Ferguson,
 
Dear Friend, Just a few lines this morning in ans to your Welcome Letter recd couple weeks ago.  Was glad to here from you.
 
Hope you are well, this leaves me well, only tired from a little trip out in the country.  Was just gone little over week but had a pretty nice time.
 
Alright Ill have some pictures made soon and will send you one.  Yes, I wish we could have talked more too, but didnt get to.  I wish I could go to Willow again too.  I like (it) out there so well but dont know of any one going out that way.  I think Willow is a Beautiful Place.
 
Well, yes, I can love any one that would make me a good home and treats me right and I think I would make a good wife even if I am old.
 
How is your Son.  Hope he's Well.
 
I would like for you to come out here & Visit me as you would be welcome out here & with some more Ozark people too.
 
Well I dont know hardly how to write as I havnt never corresponded with a man only you since I've been a widow & thats been 15 years, so you will have to excuse me on that account.
 
Write soon and let me know if it could be possible that you could come up & visit and Ill close now as I am tired.  So be good & write soon.
 
Lots of Love
Mrs. Alice Dillman
R. 16 Box 222
Ferguson, Mo

Ferguson Mo
July 8 1929
 
Mr. Dave Ferguson
Dear Friend
 
Just a few lines today in ans to your welcome letter recd last week.  Was glad to here from you again.
 
This leaves me pretty well, hope you are O.K. yet.  Sure glad your son is better.
 
No I didn't have any fellow at St Clair to go see.  I have several relations out there but spent most the time at one cousins place cause she lived on a farm & close to the creek.  I enjoyed going to the creek and seeing those rocks so much.
 
No I really never have corsponded with any one yet only you & I met you in Church that nite & thought you was a nice looking fellow and wish I could see you again.  Yes, one can talk so much better than writing.
 
Yes I see where you are right about marring any one you didnt love.  Of course I wouldnt either because Love is what we want, it isnt money at all.  I want a home of my own & some one to love & care for.
 
See you ask if I had a good time the 4th.  Yes I ate dinner with my friends.  Mr & Mrs Norris folks from the Ozarks, have lived here for 5 years this Summer & Mrs Norris is Mrs Shyrocks youngest sister, so we had a real time.  Made ice cream & drank Lemonnade & I picked Blackberries & she made us a good Blackberry Cobbler & we did enjoy our dinner.
 
Say I sure wish I could be at the big Reunion.  Ill bet that will be fine to have so many Relations together at once.
 
You ask if Mrs. Shyrock was coming down there soon.  No I dont think so, if she was I would like to go to but really as I've been there once, I dont think I should go every time.  You see people would be saying I was runing after you, but would love to see you and think you maby could come up here couldnt you.
 
Any time you write & let me know when you will be at the Union station Ill meet you down there & we can talk are else if you have time, you can come clear on out here & visit a while.  Sure would like for to talk to you longer.
 
So you think you will go to Okla soon.  Well I sure like to travel to that way & enjoy the different scenerys.  Hope you have a good time.
 
And say, I visited Mrs. Alice Meger nearly all time I was at Willow.  You can talk to her & see what she thought of me.  Mabe will help you out but you let me know if you think you can come, it would look much better for you to come here, dont you think.  And if we thought we cared for each other enough, why that would be all right & if not, why guess there wouldnt be much use writing any longer uness we could meet again & see how we really liked one another.
 
So Ill close now and you ans soon and tell me all the news.
 
Lots of Love,
Mrs. Alice Dillman

All of the letters from Alice Dillman were tied together with a ribbon. Grandpa Dave ended up marrying a local widow.

We wondered what happened to Alice.  I tried to find her in a census, but at the time our library didn't have any of the right year.   Something I didn't mention that seemed significant, he had numbered the letters, and tied them with ribbon.  2 thru 5 are very neatly written and signed Allice (two "l").  Letters 6 and 7 look like different hand writing and signed with Alice, one "l".  

First 5 letters are in ink, the last two in pencil. We've wondered if Mrs. Shyrock was helping her. There is a letter his younger son wrote him (that did the obit) also about Grandpa wanting to move away from his older son's place, and back to his own farm.  I suppose at his age, they thought he should live with them in the big house - and one of the upstairs bedrooms was called Grandpa's Room.  I could kick myself that I didn't get some interviews, and ask more questions, 30 years ago when I started genealogy.

I find it amusing that the Oklahoma widow signed with her husband's name.  Of course, that was the way in those days.

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This page was last updated December 1, 2000.