Letters From The Past Letter from J. I. Hays to Mr. J. F. Herndon   Mr. J. F. Herndon Kenton, Tenn. Dear Cousin Your letter to hand was indeed suprised but glad to receive a letter from you as we had never written to each other.  Indeed it would be a pleasure to us to receive letters from you often. We came to Texas in Dec. 86 & located at Springtown, Parker Co. 100 miles north of this place. We struck a terrable drouth that year, made nothing so we left thare Oct '86 went to Whitney, Hill Co. Texas, lived thare 7 years. Moved from thare to Milford, Ellis Co. 1894. Have lived here ever since. So you see I have moved several times but never expect to move again as I have a little home here in one of the best countreys I ever seen. I am surrounded with all the conveniences a man could look for in way of being close to good schools & good churches. Milford is a small town with about 1200 inhabitants. It is located on a branch line of the H. K. & T. Rail Way about 50 miles from Dallas, 20 miles south of Waxahachie, the County Seat of Ellis Co. We have had three children all girls you may have seen our oldest child whose name was Edna. Our second daughter's name was Grace. The third child's name was Malissie the latter died when we first came to Texas. Edna the oldest married at 19 to a man by the name of S. L. Raborn. She only lived about one year after she married left a little baby girl 8 days olde. Grace married when she was 24 years olde. Married to W. W. Blanchard. She lived about 12 months after she married & died lieving a little girl baby 6 wks olde. We are raising our too grandchildren. We will mail thier pictures to you when we mail this letter. See thir names on back of photo. As to myself and wife we have had the very best of health since we have been in Texas. Rinthy cant write but she says tell you to come to see us that she could tell you a hole lot if she could see you. I have a crop of 50 acres this year. I have picked out 15 bales of cotton & about 6 more bales to pick made this off of 33 acres, balance in corn & oats. Make 40 bu of corn per acre. Come to Texas. We live in the Banner Co. of Texas (Ellis Co.) You ask about Burch family, they live near Wiley in Cullen [Collin?] Co. About 15 miles from us. Now I don't know of any thing' else that would interest you so will close. ans soon resp  /s/ J. I. Hays [Searchers and ResearchersVol. IX, No. 4, 1986]   Copyright © 2000-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:29:40 MDT