Letters received by WILLIAM YOUNG - Father-in-law of David Ferguson.   In the spring of 1873, William Young, his wife, Charlotte Ellen (Everman) Young, and 3 daughters, Susannah 'Jane' Young, Martha Isabella "Belle" Young and Sarah E M E Young, came by wagon from Christian County, Illinois to Howell County, Missouri.   Charlotte died in 1879.  Sarah died in 1882.  Jane married Dave W Hogan (see Tacoma Hogans Set) and Belle married Dave S Ferguson (see Dave's Story).  William died in 1902, and his letters and photographs were then stored with Dave Ferguson - in Grandpa's Desk.  
 
Also included are some letters to Great-Grandma Belle (Young) Ferguson, wife of Great-Grandpa Dave Ferguson.

 
Letter dated Sept 5 1896 in Nevada, Vernon Co, Mo from nephew, William George Young, son of John Calvin and Matilda (Hearn) Young, to William Young at Willow Springs, Howell Co, Mo.
 
Dear Uncle,
 
it is with pleasure that I seat my self once more to rite you a few lines to let you know that we are all tolerble well at present.  Hopeing when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all well & doing well.
 
Well times is hard here now.  Money is scarce & hard to get hold off.  Everything is cheap though.  Corn is about 2 cts per bushel, hogs is 4.50 to 3 dollars a hundred lbs.  Crops are not so good as last year.  First to wet & then to dry for corn.
 
Well Paps & Johny folks far as I know are all well.  Pap is tolerble feeble.  He is about 74 years old now  I seen him last Sunday.  He lives 6 miles south of me & I dont see him very often.
 
He said he got a letter from you last May.  He never answer it yet.  He said you wanted to know if he could tell you anything about your grandfather name.  He said he didn't know for shure.  He believed it was Adam & your grandmother name was Ann.  Wasn't shure thought he said he was aninglishman though.  I expect they are the ones, if the truth was nown.  The date suits all wright.  Pap said your grandfather had some land in S Carlina & sold it to some negro slaves.  Of course the record will show all about it back there if looked up. 
 
Well uncle will dont you think it be best to see farther in to the matter some way if we can.  I do.  Might be the truth.  Have you lost track of the man you seen.  Where does he live at.  When you rite you tell about it & I will tell father,  He can't rite to do any good.
 
Well I have got 6 children living, 2 boys, 4 girls.  Johny has five living, 4 boys & 1 girl.  Pap & Johny live close togeather about 1 qurter of mile apart.  I live 3 miles from Nevada southwest.  Johny lives 8 miles south.
 
Well uncle is every body down in you country crazy over free silver.  Lots of them are here.  I hope you aint.  I am for McKinley & sound money.  Pap & Johny they are for Bryan & free silver.  I think McKinley is all wright for our next president. 
 
So I will close for this time hoping to here from you soon.  Tell the children howday for me & to rite.
 
from effectionate nephew, W G Young

  
Letter dated Mar 1 1897 from Illiapolis, Illinois
 
Dear Brother, Your letter of 21 of February come to hand a few days ago.  I was glad to hear form you and that you and the folks ws well.  We are well as comon.  Charley Young is at Peach Orchard Ark or was the 19th of last month.  Ann and Clint live in Illiapolis and so does Dick and his folks.
 
Tom is staying at the old lady Ryans 1 1/4 miles west of me.  He stayed there last summer a year ago and raised a crop for her and I think he intends to stay there this summer.  There is only the old lady and Anna and they have to have someone with them to make a crop.  The old lady is getting old and feebel.
 
Will Young worked southwest of Mount Auburn last summer with old Mr Spores his father in law and the year before for W P Elliott and is going to work for W P Elliott this summer.  He will be likely to move this week.  He has been married nearly 2 years and have 1 baby girl.
 
Luther and Arthur and Elmer and Lutsell are at home.  Luther and Arthur will work out if they can hire.  Luther hasn't hire yet but Arthur has.  Elmer and Lutsell will go to school.  Lawrence lives at the same place.  His girl Dianna is married and has 2 children, girl and boy.  They have lived with Lawrence since they was married but I believe they have had some trouble and are going to move some place else, that is Lawrence and Diannas man.  His name is Silas Dowdell. Lawrence boy is at home sometimes and away sometimes.
 
I haven't had any leters from Hughs folks for a long time.  Lawrences boy got a letter from them a few day ago.  He lives at Red Oak, Ellis County, Texas.  As to John, I never have got a letter from him since he moved to Missouri.  I got two or 3 from little John and a few from Will but none from any of them lately.
 
This country has changed so much that you wouldn't hardly recognize it.  There has been a heap of the brush land cleared up and put in cultivation and fences changed that it doesn't look the same.  The corn crop was good last year and most of the wheat but the wheat that wasn't thrashed early was badly damaged by the rains.  The oats was a very poor crop and the same the year before.  then neither crop payed except corn, has been very low, 14 and 15 cents per bushel but is worth about 18 more.   wheat is worth, some 45 or 80 high about 3 cents a pound.  everything low and money hard to get hold of but when we get a dollar we know it is a dollar and not a fifty cent dollar.
 
The winter has been open and mild with the except of 2 or 3 cold snaps that lasted only a few days several small snows but no big ones and right smart rains.  Quite a lot of sickness with some deaths.  If the new administration that comes in power now in a few days doesn't do anything only keep our money good it will be better than to risk a party that is in favor of cheap money.
 
You have our best wishes from all to all.  Write soon.
 
Robert Young and family to William Young and family.

 
Letter to William Young dated Aug 28 1898 from Illiopolis, Ill
 
Dear Brother
 
I take this opportunity to write you a few lines.  I am only in tollerable health.  Hae been having something like dam ague but am better.  Elmer  has been having the chills.  The rest of the folks is well as common, only Wills wife.  She has been complaining for some time.  The doctor thought she had something like Billious fever and might turn to typhoid.  They live southeast of me about 5 miles, close to old William Oats on the Crofard lane.
 
Tom is married.  He married Anna Ryans.  They live 1 1/4 mile west of me.  Charley is in Missouri.  He is married and lives at Peeleysville, Missouri, or that is his P.O.  Clint and Ana lives in Illiopolis and Dicks folks lives in Illiopolis.  Lawrence lives at the same place that he use to.  His son-in-law, Silas Dowdell lives with him.  His boy Henry is married.  He married John Dunns girl and works for a man named Smith, northwest the hill on the Costen place.
 
The crops is poor, not over half corn crop.  We had a wet winter and wet spring, a heap of the ground wasn't planted and a heap not planted till the midel and last of June, then the dry weather set in for 6 or 7 weeks without rain, cut the corn crop short.
 
We have had some good showers of rain the last 2 or 3 weeks that has helped the corn.  Oats is making from 15 to 30 bushels per acre and wheat from 4 to 10 bushels per acre, a fair crop of potatoes and hay and small fruit and fair crop peaches but very few appels.
 
Corn is worth 27 or 28 and wheat from 55 to 65.  The wheat and oats are both light and of a poor quality.  I judge there isn't but little difference in the prices of groceries and other articles that we buy here and the same exactly you buy.
 
There isn't much to do here and won't be this fall or winter on account of poor crops.  The money is good and when we get a dollar we know that it is worth 100 cents. 
 
The war with Spain is over and the people is rejoicing.  The majority of the people believed it was a just cause.  We had to go to war with Spain. Yet there was a few that thought different.
 
I got your letter a long time ago but kept putting off answering till now.  I can't write anymore like I use to.  It seems a hard task for to sit down and write a letter now.   I use to be so I could write a letter in a few minutes.  I hope this will find all of your folks well.  I haven't heard from Johns or Hughs for a long time.  We send our Best Respects to all.
 
Your Brother, till death.   Robert Young to Will Young

  
Letter Sept 29 (no envelope and no year on letter)
 
My Dear Brother,
 
I will endever to pen you a few lines in ans. to your kind and welcome letter we received some time ago.  We are all well except Emma.  She has a fine little girl.  She was married last winter to Mr James Gardiner, a very fine young man.  They haven't got to keeping house yet but will as soon as she gets well.  He is picking cotton for us.
 
Mr crop come out rather thin this year.  It has been so dry here this year.  We did not get any rain for 3 months.  My corn will make about 15 bushels per acre.  I will have about 4 bails of cotton.  I have 20 head of as fine hogs as you ever saw, 2 as good milk cows as is in the country and 2 as fine heifer calfs as you ever saw, 10 head of geese, about 100 chickens.  I have a mare worth a hundred dollars and a colt as good as is in the country.
 
We are getting along as well as could be expected.  I do wish you could come to Texas and make us a visit. Now do come.  We are both getting old and may not live many more years.  Why not enjoy a little of life while here on earth. 
 
Tell the girls I would love to see them and their familys.  Tell them to rite to me. Our love to you all.  Goodby from
 
Evaline and Hugh Young

 
A. W. McCormick & Sons,
Attorneys at Law and Claim Agents
Military Claim Agency
Cincinnati, O. Mar 31 1899
Mr. Wm Young,
Dear Sir,
 
The Surgeons, when they examined you in March 98, found rheumatism, neuralgia and disease of heart for which you had never claimed pension.
 
So we have made up a declaration under the new law to include these.  Please give time & place where you contracted each disability.  Fill in the blanks & return it to us.  We have also claimed for effects of age.  Also give time you enlisted in Mexican War & date you mustered out.  How long did you serve in it?  There may be Veteran Bounty due you from the last srvice for having served in the Mexican War.  Let me hear from you soon.
 
At any time you are ready to take up your old law claim, we will help you with it.
 
Yours Truly
A. W. McCormick & Sons

 
Pension Certificate No 839138 dated Twenty-Seventh day of May 1902 for William Young.
 
Payable Quarterly by the U S Pension Agent at Topeka, Kansas
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
 
It is hereby certified that in conformity with the laws of the United States, William Young who was a Sergeant Co "A" 115 Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry is entitled to a pension under the provisions of the Act of June 17, 1890, at the rate of Twelve dollars per month to commence on the thirteenth day of November one thousand nine hundred and one.  This pension being for "Inability to earn a support by manual labor".
 
(William Young died November 27 1902)

 
 Letter dated Nov 11, 1905 from Mt Auburn, Ill from E. E. Young to cousin at Willow Springs, Mo - Belle (Young) Ferguson, wife of David Ferguson.
 
Dear Cousin and family:
 
I will now try to write you a few lines in reply to your most kind and welcome letter which came to hand a few days ago.  I was very glad to hear from you and glad to hear that you were all well.  This leaves us all as well as common excepting father who has not been in very good health this fall.
 
I am teaching school about three and one-half miles from Niantic and about nine miles from home and I drive it every morning and night.  There is no one at home only father and myself.  I have only one brother now that is not married.
 
I have one brother near Pollock, Missouri, that married some time last summer and I have one living in Mt Auburn that is a carpenter by trade and I have three brothers that live on the farm.  One lives about a mile and the other two and three-fourths of a mile from the old home place.  My single brother is husking corn about one-half a mile from home at the present ime.  One of my brothers Charles and his family came back here from Arkansas last June. He had been gone almost nine years from here.  He says he is going back to Arkansas sometime this winter or next spring as he does not like it here.
 
Anna and her folks live at  Buffalo, Ill.  Her husband is working on the interurban section.  They were all well the last time we hear from them. Dick's folks live at Buffalo too.  Dick had an attack of dropsy last spring and it was thought for a while that he could not live, but he finally pulled thru and is in very good health now.
 
I don't think that Uncle Lawrence's eyes are much better than they were.  He still works and has been helping his son-in-law husk corn.  Yes, Dinah still lives with him.
 
I haven't seen Nettie Bartlett for quite a long time.  The girl you spoke of is Nettie Ashcraft.  She is about 18 now I think.
 
Uncle John Everman still lives in Mt Auburn. He has one boy living in Mt Auburn and two boys living on a farm near town.  They are all married.  They have only one girl living now. Her name is Kate McGinnis.  They live abut four miles west of Mt Auburn.
 
Most of the farmers are thru husking their corn for not a very large crop was raised here.  Most of our corn was blown down, a large acreage being almost flat.  Corn huskers are getting from 2 cents to 3 1/2 cents per bushel for husking.  Corn is worth about 38 to 40 cents a bushel.
 
Well I must close as I am at school and it is almost 4 o'clock, my quitting time.  Hoping to receive a long letter in reply.  I am
 
Your affectionate cousin, E. E. Young
R R #2, Mt Auburn, Ill

 
Postcard, with picture of Christian Church, Fayetteville, Ark, and mailed from Fayetteville, Ark Nov 28 1908, to Mrs Bell Ferguson, Box 128, 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 keep us all busy.  We are having fine weather.  I'll write a letter soon.
 
Your Cousin, Annie Dougherty
(Annie's father is Ira Everman, who is a brother of Belle's mother, Charlotte Ellen (Everman) Young.

 
Postcard, with picture of Grace M. E. Church, Decatur, Ill dated Nov 6 1911, and mailed from Mount Auburn, Ill to Mrs. Belle Ferguson, Willow Springs, Mo
 
Dear Cousin, We were glad you got home all O.K.  Victor is sick today.  He is cutting teeth.  Say you ought to hear him hollow "Dad" and "Bob".  Uncle Lawrence spent last Sun. with us.  He got that picture you sent but doesn't know who it is unless it is your father.  Wanted me to ask you.  We have lost 12 hogs and more will die.   (cont'd Mon. Morn.)  Victor is no better.  Saw Ida's folks Sat.  Will try to be more prompt in writing next time.  Love to all, Lizzie

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This page was last updated December 4, 2000.