Dean-Hey Heritage

These three letters sent to me by John Reeves, great grandson of John Rufus Reeves, and great, great grandson of Samuel and Melvina Reeves.

Melvina's short letter to son Rufus, date and place unknown, evidently 1st of the three letters.

Samuel Newell Reeves' two page letter to his son Rufus in 1891.

Melvina Hodges Reeves' three page letter to son John Rufus Reeves (John Reeves great grandfather). Melvina's husband had recently died, and she was staying in Alvord, Wise County with another of her sons, Newell A. Reeves.

(Explanation by John A. Reeves regarding the year of Samuel's letter, 1891, the year of Melvina's letter, 1883, and the fact that she refers to Samuel as having recently died.) "You will realize right away that there is something wrong with the dates. This letter appears to have the date of May 24, 1891, but Melvina's letter was dated 1883, and in it she said that her husband had passed away. Samuel mentions in his letter that he is writing on the Sabbath. I checked, and May 24, 1891 was a Sunday so the 1891 date is correct. I think Melvina was old enough that she was losing track of the years, and just accidentally wrote 1883 when the year was 1893."

Melvina Reeves' Short Letter
(to son Rufus appears to be in response to his concern that his parents weren't getting along well financially)

Translation: Dear sone I spoke off being tite own Money but I would tell you what we had We have one horse and wagon two good cows and a bugey a hundred and 25 dolar one we paid one hundred It is a new one we bought last Aprile One off our horses died with blind stagers and we could not gow any where plenty farming tools thirty eight hives off a good stock and do not owe but little I pay our way with butter eggs and chickens and so on Your par is ready to start so I will close Nothing more but remain your affecat mother till death Melvina Reeves

Samuel Reeves Family
Samuel & Melvina's Letters
Samuel & Melvina's Census


Dean-Hey Heritage homepage

Samuel Reeves' Letter, 1891
(Translation)

Samuel Reeves' Letter, Page 1
from Alvord, Texas
to son Rufus in Red River County

Samuel Reeves' Letter, Page 2
from Alvord, Texas
to son Rufus in Red River County

Melvina Reeves' Letter, Page 1
from Alvord, Texas, to son John Rufus
(Click for all three pages of Melvina's letter.)
(Translation)