Read the Letters
1880-01-04
To Aunt Beck [Rebecca Brooking Spencer] from Laura Alvord. Laura Alvord is the daughter of Mary Throckmorton Brooking. She writes that her aunt is bad at corresponding and hopes that she will write her back. She tells her about her life, where she has traveled, and who she has seen. Laura went to Kentucky for the summer and wrote about the family members that she saw there, and reports on the health of Rebecca’s sisters and their children.
1880-05-02
To Henrietta from her servant, Eliza Ellis. Henrietta is in Missouri visiting Brooking and family. Eliza sends news about the things that she has done in the house and about the family there. She asks about Fannie and Louly, the grandchildren, and wants Fannie’s picture.
1880-08-30
To cousin Princy [Henrietta] from J.S. Frank. It took a great deal of research to find out the relationship of J.S. Frank to Henrietta. He is James Simpson Frank who was married to Evaline Peak Craig, the sister of Dudley Peak Craig, who was the husband of John Anthony and Henrietta’s daughter, Mariam. Evaline was also the niece of Albert Gallatin Craig, the husband of Henrietta’s sister, Virginia. Evaline’s father, Walton, and Albert Gallatin were brothers. James is writing about his trip to Missouri and he is considering a move to Maryville if he can sell his Kentucky property.
1880-10-15
To Henrietta from Brooking. He is writing to her about the delivery of their fourth child. He says that Bettie had a difficult time and suffered from the birth. They already have a son and this is their third daughter whom they named after Brooking’s sister, Mariam who died in January. Although Bettie had a rough delivery, with number four, it doesn’t dissuade her from having eight more children making the final number, 12!
1881-05-01
To Henrietta from Brooking. She has sent him some things from Kentucky, including pineapple cheese! He tells her about the farm, and what he is planting and thanks her for the things that she sent to him. He tells her that Bettie and the children have gone to visit his cousin, Anderson Craig. At this point, there are four children, Louise [Lou], John Anthony, Francis [Fan], and Mariam! Four children after six years of marriage, with eight yet to go!
1882-01-15
To [Bud] Louis from his mother, Henrietta. He has moved [reason unknown] to Franklin, Indiana. She tells him about the Ohio River and how it is flooding their fields and gives him news about the family. Although there is no record, it is plausible that Louis was attending Franklin College, which was originally founded in 1834 as the Indiana Baptist Manual-Labor Institute. In 1844, its name was changed to Franklin College.
1882-02-25
To Henrietta from her son, Louis. He is in Franklin, Indiana, and is responding to her last letter which she wrote to him about the flooded Ohio River. He mentions that he has been vaccinated for the smallpox.
1883-07-31
To Henrietta from Bay D Matthews. I do not know who she is or how she is related. She has been to visit but then went to Louisville, Memphis, and Independence, and is now back in Camden. I am not sure where Camden is either, as there is a Camden in Tennessee and there is an area near Louisville named Camden. I assume that she is writing from Kentucky. She knows the family well as she refers to Henrietta’s granddaughter, Loulie, and those living in “Maryville.”
1884-01-07
To Henrietta from the mother of Bay Matthews. She is writing to Henrietta after receiving her condolence letter due to the death of Bay. I do not know who the Matthews are or how they are related to the family. This letter follows a letter sent six months prior that Bay had written to Henrietta where she wrote that she was very ill.
1884-08-29
To John Anthony from James Simpson Frank. The letterhead of this letter, J.S. & W.C. Frank Real Estate and Loan Brokers, refers to J.S. Frank, who was James Simpson Frank and W. C. was James’s son, Walton Craig Frank. James is writing to John Anthony as “his cousin” about a proposed trip that his wife and daughter are going to make to them in Kentucky, plus news about the mutual friend “Barbee” who has died and the news of her family. Although he refers to her as his “sister,” they were only related in marriage via his wife, Evaline Peak Craig, nor is John Anthony actually his “cousin.”
1885-12-10
To Henrietta from James Simpson Frank. He is a family friend and relative by marriage. He lives in Maryville and gives her news about his family and also about her son, Brooking. His brother-in-law, Dudley Craig, was married to Mariam, her daughter.
1886-01-03
To Henrietta from her daughter-in-law, Brooking’s wife, Bettie. She apologizes for not writing sooner and thanks Henrietta for the box of gifts that she has sent them. She also mentions their sadness due to the loss of their 2-year-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who died in November.
1886-02-14
To Henrietta from her sister, Rebecca. Rebecca is telling her the news about her family and their health. She no longer lives in Kentucky; they have moved to Kansas. Rebecca laments that she no longer has slaves to do her work and to hang out her laundry and curses “the Yankees for freeing them.”
1887-06-05
To John Anthony from Brooking. He is telling his father about his crops and his livestock.
KAREN GEX ASFOUR 