Pevehouse Letters

The following two letters are from Preston Pevehouse, b. 1815, who lived in Milam Co., Texas, to his brother David, b. Dec. 31, 1811. They were sent to David through the Dresden post office. Preston and David were Republic of Texas soldiers.

January the 24 1873

Dear Brother & Sister & family,

I wright you a few lines to inform you that we are all well at this time hopeing when these lines come to hand they may find you all well. I have nothing of interest to wright you. Times is hard & money scarce. We moved from Austin County with three waggons 15 hed of horses & 6 yoke of oxens & 5 cows & calves & we have lost all of them but the little mare I brought from your house & one ox & 2 heifers. We nearly lost all we had but I trust in the Lord for help. Dear brother I haven't heard from you for some time & would be glad to see or here from you or any of the connexions. Please when you get these lines wright & let me know how you are all getting on & how all the connexions is doing. I heard that Cousin Jacob Pevehouse* had died in your settlement. Let me know the certainty of it wright when you get these lines & give me all the news about all the connexions and direct to Maysfield, Milam County. I am living 6 miles north east of Cameron Milam County on Walkers Creek on the stage road from Cameron to Calvert. I must come to a close. Give my compliments to all the connexions & take the greatest part yourself. So no more at present but remember your loveing brother until death.

Preston Pevehouse

*This Jacob Pevehouse was the half-brother of Preston and David.

September the 27 1874

Dear brother & sister & family I take this opportunity of wrighting you a few lines to let you know that myself & family is all well hopeing when these lines comes to hand they will find you all in good health. Brother I have nothing of interest to wrightg you at present. The connexions is all well & the health of the people in this neighborhood is generally good. Our crops is short owing to the drought & the cotton worm is in the cotton takeing their share. Dear brother it has been since I saw you or heard from you & would be glad to see or hear from at any time & when you get these lines please wright & let me know how you all are doing & wright all about all the connexions & how they are doing and how many is ded & how many is married & what they are all doing & how Veazey* & family is getting along & tell them to wright & I will answer at any time brother I would be glad you could come & see us if you can. There is but two of us liveing & we ought to see each other oftener than we do. I intend to come to see you as soon as I can but I cant come this fall. Our four youngest children is liveing at home yet. Malinda is married to a man by the name of Timmons & is liveing near John Keggins** in Bell County and is doing very well. They have two children, Wincy & Preston Franklin. When you get these lines wright & direct your letter to Mayesfield Milam County & any of the connexions that will wright direct the same way. Dear brother I will send my likeness to you & would like to have yours. I must close. Give my love to all the connexions & share the greatest portion yourself. So no more but remains your loveing brother until death. My family sends their love to all the connexions.

Preston Pevehouse

*This refers to David's and Preston's half-sister, Hannah Lucinda Pevehouse, and her husband, Eli Veazey or Veasey.

**Clarinda, a daughter of their brother James, married John Ross Keggans.

The following letter was sent to Malinda Pevehouse, wife of David. The author of the letter was a young woman named N. P. Pevyhouse, but it hasn't been determined exactly who she is as yet. At the end of the letter to Malinda, she wrote a note to Leo Roark, who was the widower of David's sister Mary.

Gordon Texas Dec the 27 1884

Dear Aunt,

I take thes liberty this evening to write to you. This leaves us all (well). Times is very hard hear. We are making out to live but don't know how long we can as it still stays dry. Wheat is all dead, it is cold today but we have had but little cold weather yet but I expect we will have plenty yet. We raised nothing this year but I wish to try again. This if we can have season and can get seed. I want you to send me all kind of garden seeds by Mother if you can get them for me as there is not any hear and I fear I will not be able to send on or by seed hear in the spring. I heard that you all made good garden there so I hope you have saved plenty of seed. I want you to write if you can send me any if can I would rather get seed from you than to send away off for I know yours would be good seed. So if you have them & can send them I will send you the money for them. Please let me know as soon as you can. Andy* is helping Bill Smith** gather cattle & is not at home but he would love to see you all. Give our love to all and write soon & often. I remain as ever your Neice till death.

N. P. Pevyhouse

*The only Andrew or "Andy" Pevehouse in available records was the son of Abraham Pevehouse, who lived at Kosse, Limestone Co.

**Bill Smith is the son of Squire Smith, and the nephew of Mary (Mrs. Anson) Jones.

Dear Uncle Leo,

I was glad to hear from you and that you was still alive. I would be glad to see you but I don't expect we ever will see each other this side of the grave but I hope to meet you in a better world where there is no parting. I was sorry to hear of Sam's* death but I hope he is better off. He is done with this world trials. You must write to us. I would be so glad to get a letter from you. I must close for want of room. I remain as ever your loving neice till death. N. P. P.

*Sam is the son of Mary Pevehouse Roark and Leo Roark

The following letter is from Leo Roark to his son Sam who, at the time, was living with David and Malinda Pevehouse at Cross Roads.

Leo Roark was a famous Indian fighter, who at a young age witnessed the murder of his father, Eli Roark, by Indians. That event occured

in 1836 a short distance from San Antonio.

Feb. 10 1885

Dear son I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know how I am a getting along. My health is greatly improved since I wrote to you last. I have got so I can walk about and take a right smart exercise and I hope this will find you all in good health and enjoying all of the good blessings of god's goodness. Well Sam you wanted to know about my work. There is plenty to do but the people is not able to pay for work. Well Sam, I have not heard from Hellen* since about the first of January. If I keep improveing in health I am going down to Fort Worth to stay a while with George and Nannie and it is very proberly I will come down there if I keepe well. Give my respects to Dave and Lindy** all so to all of the conections and friends.

Well Sam, if you are not busy I would like for you to come to see us if you have got the money to come on. I will pay you the money back that it takes to bring you up hear. I want to go to the Fort about the first of march.

If you come mayby you could get work at something . I have found Bailey and Tillman Sparks and Andy lives about 25 miles from hear. Baily and Tillman live about 7 miles from us. I am so blind I cant see to tell who anyone is. Tell Davy** if he wants to be enrolled on the veterans list to send a dollar and a quarter to Austin to Steward and habicht and his name will be enrolled for life. If he dont send before the first of aprile he cant get it if he writes to Steward and habicht to send him his pass card they will send it to him.

With this I will close. Write soon. I remain as ever your father Leo Roark

To S. H. Roark

*David and Malinda Pevehouse

**David Pevehouse

The following letter is from Leo Roark to his son Sam Roark.

Nov. 8, 1885 Crowley Tarrnat Co., Texas

Mr. S. H. Roark

Dear Sir,

I have just received a letter from Robert and Helen in which they sent your letter. I am living with my son-in-law. We are living near Crowley. I want you to come at once and if you havent the money to fech your, borry it from anyone you can and I will send it to them. Your best route is by dalice and from thar to Fort Worth and from thair to Crowley and then anybody can tell you whar W. N. Riddle lives. So come rite away if anything should detain you write to me and let me know whats the matter. I am as ever your father.

Leo Roark

If you write direct your letter Crowley Tarant Co., Texas. Be sure you come and see me before you go to Roberts.* Leo R.

*Refers to Leo's daughter and son-in-law Mary Helen and Robert Hight

The following letter was written to Sam Roark at Cross Roads. The author, Texanna, is the step sister to Sam Houston Roark that the letter is written to. She was the daughter of Leo Roark and his second wife Juliet Barkley. She was married to Elam Riddle who is also mentioned in the letter.
-info from Becky Mann

February 10, 1886

Dear Sam, We are all well and hope this will find you all well. I have no news to write that would interest you. Times is hard and money scarce. Elam is building a yard fence today. I would like for you to bring your little boy and come to see us. If you come, come to Sparty and from there to Jacobs Wells and enquire for doctor Riddle and you will find where we live.. With this I will close hoping to hear from you soon. Yours truly Texanna

The following letter is to Sam Roark from his sister Mary Helen Hight.

Jack County Feb the 14 1886

Mr. S. H. Roark

Dear Brother I received your kind letter this morning was glad to hear from you. We are all tolerably well only Robert is very near sick with a bad cold and Punch had croop last night. You spoke of going back to Lee Co. or down the country. I will think verfy hard of you if you dont come to see us before you go back. I dont know but I think you can make as much in Navarro or Jack County as you could in the lower country. The weather has been very cold and I did not expect you to bring Jim Frank* up but the winter is about over and will be warm enough to bring him now. You surely will not take him back and not let me see him when I have never seen him since he was a month old. And besides I want you to go to see Pa. He is sick, and I don't have any idea he will have a well day untill warm weather. Winter does not agree with him. I got a card from him a few days ago and I got a letter dated Dec. 9th from Pa. He wanted to know if you was here. Said he had wrote two letters to you and had received no answer. He said for you to come to see him. When you write to him direct your letters to Lipan Hood County. I don't know why you did not come last fall when you left Lee County. Pa had a letter wrote to you after he got mad at us and I did not know but he had wrote to you not to come to see us. But if he did I cant help it. You know Pa as well as I do. Robert took more off of Pa than you would for you know Pa did not try to get along with you and Emma** in Navarro Co. for he did not like Emma and he never did like Robert for he told the people up here that he never liked him. Robert always let Pa do and say what he pleased for he knew Pa was old and childish. And Pa always thought more of Riddle and Teck (sic?) than he does of you or me and he is there and has got plenty of money to pay them for what they do for him and I hope he will get money as long as he lives. Pa always had a home at our house money or no money. I want you to go to see him if you can. The children is all anxious to see Jim Frank and Robert is as anxious as they are. We will move next week if nothing happens, on a place of our own. We have got it all under a good fence or will have in two day more work. Have got six acres cleared and a good well of water. Well I forgot to tell you Mrs. Roggers has been very sick. She is a little better this morning. We live about three miles from her house. Well I must close so I have no news to write. Write soon as you get this. From your sister M. H. Hight

*Sam's son

**Sam's wife

Following is a letter from Sam Roark to David and Malinda Pevehouse

Feb 20th/86 Lipan Post Office Hood County, Texas

My Dear Uncle and Aunt

According to promise I avail myself of this opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I and Jim Frank arrived at Elam Riddles on Wednesday about 3 o'clock in the evening and by the will of my heavenly Father I was rejoiced to find Pa stout enough to walk 4 or 5 hundred yards and in good spirits and gaining health and strength as rapidly as could be expected of one of his age. I found Tecky and her family all in good health. She has four children, all stout and hearty and fat as pigs. Well Uncle Davie, I found this country to be a timbered valley land. The farmers all raise fine corn and cotton oats and wry that they plant. I am told they raise garden vegetables in abundance. Well I have not seen very little of the country yet, but what I have seen looks very good. Pa sent a letter to you last week which I guess you will get this week and hope how soon this one may come to hand and find you all in as good health as it leaves me. Well Uncle Davie, there was a sad affair happened here in this neighborhood last Wednesday morning. There was great sorrow expressed about it. A lady by the name of Bishop got burned to death. She was rendering out lard, she caught fire and burned to death leaving a family of little children. She caught fire and ran out of the house into the wind. All of her clothes burned off of her. She lived untill next day about 4 o clock in the evening. Sad is the fate that happens to some of the human family. Well all the farmers in this country are putting their lands in good fix for planting their crops of corn and cotton. Some have sowed their oats and others are sowing but still they are needing rain very bad. Pa says tell you that he is well and says for you to send one dollar and twenty five cents to Stewart and Habicht at Austin to have your name enrolled on the veteran list before they meet at Dallas. After that meeting all claims for pensions will be vetoed forever. Pa says he wants you to meet him there. He wants to see you once more. He says extend his regards to all of the family and to all those that desire to hear from him. Tecky and her husband send their pious regards to all of the family and I also send my Christian love to all of the kindred dear. Receive a share for yourself and my kind old Aunt. Jim Frank says he would love to see you all. He will start to school in about a week if nothing happens. Tell Lallie* and cousin Katie* to write a few lines to me. Tell Willie Frank* and Walter* to write to me. I reckon Betsie is mad with me now for ___ my trade for the horse. Well poor Betsie has bad luck. Well Uncle Davie, write soon. I would write more only for want of space. Your Nephew S. H. Roark

*Children of David and Malinda Pevehouse

Following is a letter from Sam Roark to David and Malinda Pevehouse and family.

March the 14th/86

Dear Uncle, Aunt and Cousins

i received your kind letters yesterday, which informed me that all was well at that time and I do hope and trust that when this letter comes before you all that it may still find you still enjoying your reasonable portion of good health. Pa has not been very well for 2 or 3 days. He had a slight touch of choloric morbus which weakened him down so that he fainted and Elam Riddle and myself had to carry him in to the house. There is a great deal of sickness in this country also in Erath Co. too and a good many deaths through this country. There was a young lady burried here at Lipan yesterday. I do not know her name. You wanted to know how far we live from Lipan. It is one mile and a half from Lipan to where we live. Nearly a due west course. We live in Erath County the county line is half from where we live and Lipan though the people in this neighborhood have their letters, papers and all other mail matter sent to Lipan Hood Co. You said the boys have not planted corn yet on the account of wet weather. There are lots of people up here that has not got their corn ground broke up much less planted. Some have planted corn and have their cotton ground bedded and ready to plant. Cotton, wheat and oats looks fine. Some have planted pretty largely of garden seeds and if seasonable enough they will have vegetables enough and to spare. Pa says tell you that if you and him lives to meet each other at Dallas he will go home with you. He says give his love to all of the relatives and reserve a Brothers share for yourself.

Jim Frank says for Uncle Davie to kiss Aunt Linda for him and for Aunt Linda to kiss Uncle Davie also for him. He says kiss Lallie, Cousin Katie, Willie and Frank and after kissing Frank he says for cousin Kate and Lallie to take Frank down and pull off his pants. Jim Frank says he's coming to see you all next summer if he lives. He says he would like to see you all now. He's going to school. He will not go very long for school will soon be out.

I was sorrow to hear that louis was sick. Hope he will recover soon. Well I do not know what else to write only I would like to be down there to go to prayer meeting for there is no such thing up here and I think there is most too much decension among the good baptist where to have a good meeting of any kind. I have not been to preaching since I have been up here. I do not think the people up here has any regularity about holding meetings of any kind. So I will continue to read my testament and try to live in the discharge of my duty to my maker as best I can. Give my regards to all of my relatives. Receive a share for yourself and Aunt Linda. Your nephew S. H. Roark

The next letter is from Leo Roark to David Pevehouse. Sam Roark has died, and Leo is asking David and Malinda Pevehouse to keep Sam's son, Jim, and care for him.

Jacksboro Texas Dec the 19 1886

Mr. David, I received your kind letter yesterday was glad to hear you all was well. This leaves all well and hope will find you all the same. You wanted to know what to do with Jim and the mare. I want you to keep Jim if you will and as for the mare, I did not know that you had the mare. I thought Preston* had her and the saddle. I have wrote to Preston what to do with her. Please turn her over to Preston and he will know what to do with her. I guess you have as many stock as you want to be bothered with without her and Preston has but few and can make her earn her feed untill I can send after her. You wanted to know Sams age, he was forty-five years and eight months old, joined the church in the year if Sixty Seven, Babtised by Confession (?) in the Cook tank.

Well as I don't know of anything more to write, write soon as you get this and let me know whether you will keep Jim. Use all of Sam's clothing for Jim that you can. Nothing more. Write soon. As ever. Leo Roark

*Probably the Preston who was the son of David's brother John Pevehouse and John's first wife, Martha Roberts.

The next letter is from David Pevehouse, Jr. to his father.

Jacksboro Tex Jan 8th 1888

Dear Father

I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines but almost at a loss what to write as I know nothing new or interesting to write to you. Times is about as usual here - hard enough and everything is scarce in the way of provision but everybody has done better than I expected so far. We have had such uncommon warm winter that but little feeding has been done up to this time. Stock is doing tollerable well yet but I fear we are going to have late spring and if so stock will do bad for grass is getting very sorry in places. You written to me something about the Scott horse. I would like to know where abouts on Waxahatchie Creek he is and whose stock he with. You can tell Mrs. Meadors that O. M. Melton has a fine son at his house about ten days old and they are all getting along very well. Wheat is looking fine up here. I got your patent the other day. As I am out of something to write, I will have to close by saying those few lines leaves us enjoying good health hopeing they may find you all the same. Give my love to all the connections. No more at present. Write soon. Your affectionate son. D. Pevehouse

Notes:

Submitted by Don Doyle 2/27/2003