Letter from Francis Postelle to Ora Smith October 24, 1959

Dear Cousin Ora

Your kindness in sending the information from your family Bible has been appreciated by me for a long time now.  Please forgive me for waiting almost two months to thank you and let you know that it has arrived.

Mother surely did enjoy your visit with her and other members of the family.  It was one of the big events in her life.  She had not been back to WEaldron Arkansas since she was a small girl if I am not mistaken.  Anyeay, your visit was the finest tonic she could have had.

I have had very little susccess in locating any additional information concerning your grandmother or grandfather Jones.  The prime problem is that I cant locate them.  My mother thinks that your father (and her mother) were born at Thomasville, Missouri.  Do you know where your father was born?  I know it was in Missouri but dont know where there.  It appears to me that your father and his sister (my mothers mother) were raised by their uncle William B Knowles.  Here is the entry from the 1880 census, Kaufman Co. Texas

Knowles, William B    32 M   Farmer  Born Tenn   Dad born Va   Mother  NC
Knowles, Sarah J        30 F      Wife              MO                    Va                KY
Knowles, Othela V       5  F     Daughter        MO                    Tenn             Mo
Knowles, Albert F        4  M    Son                MO                    Tenn             Mo
Knowles, Enoch H        2 M     Son                MO                    Tenn            Mo
Knowles, Gilbert E  2/12  M     Son               Texas                  Tenn             Mo
Jones, William H         17 M     Nephew         MO                    Unknown      Tenn
Jones, Mary E             16 F      Niece             MO                    Unknown      Tenn
Knowles, Mary E        60 F      Mother           Tenn                   NC               NC

So William B Knowles came to Texas after his son Enoch H was born in Missouri in 1878 and before his son Gilbert E Knowles was born in Texas in 1880.  If I could find where in Missouri that any of the children of William B Knowles was born it would be a big help.  By any chance are any of the 3 Othelia V, Enoch H or Albert T Knowles - still living?  If not, they might have a child living who would know where in Missouri that they were born.  I think this would give me the lead I need to find the name of your grandfather Jones and the name of the father of William B Knowles.  It is evident that William B Knowles was the brother of your grandmother, Eleanor Francis Knowles Cook Jones.

Both you and mother speak of the Williams family, but I can't figure where they tie into the famil.  Were they related to your father?  Must have been since your mothers name wa Lula Jane Capers.

And have you eveer heard anything of a half-sister of your father whose mane was Sarah?  Mother seems to think that there was one.  Another point that makes me curious as what happened to Richard H Cook who probably was the first child of your grandmother.  Mother seems to think also that your grandmother Jones died while your father was small.  Do you have any date or knowledge of where she was buried?

With the very warmest personal regards, Your cousin,
Francis B. Postelle