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William
Franklin Collins
Donated
by Norman & Rita Dickey
Provided by William “Bill” Collins of Col
June 2009
Written by William Franklin Collins
(age 71) 26 Dec 1938
Sims, IL
To Ida Catherine Cravens
Grand Valley, Col
Dear Sister,
I received your xmas card a few days ago and sure was glad to
hear from you. I am almost ashamed to write after so long a time
but I guess we all neglect to write when we should, as we get
older.
Well yesterday was nice and warm but it has been raining today,
not hard, but at it most of the time, still warm. All of
our children are married. Just Eva and I are alone. Only two
near enough to see very often. Pearl lives ½ mile west of
Dickeyville church, she married Audrey Dickey, a grandson of
Taylor Dickey. She has 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls.
We expected them down yesterday but they did not come. Eva
got dinner for them and waited till nearly 1 o’clock, before we
ate our dinner. We had plenty for us. Frank
come just before we ate, he had his dinner, but he set
down with us and a little. He married Leroy Miller’s
girl, probly you will remember her mother better Ruth Miller.
They live in Wayne City. Have four girls. The oldest
is married and lives where Henry Johnson lived when you left
here.
Our oldest girl Florence lives on farm in McLean County, ILL.,
Edward in Rachelle, Ill., Myrtle north of Pearie, Ill., Edna in
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Myrtle married Evert Green.
Edna, Monroe Butler, Edward has three girls, Florence has 3
boys, Fred, Myrtle, and Edna has no children.
Well, Ida we are still living where we were when you left
here, but we rent it now. I got in debt so much I could not pay
out, so a year ago last July, sold out our interest, got enough
to pay all my debts., and a little left. We sold to Claciy
Robbins. There was another oil boom was starting, and it
is booming, but the closest it got here is south of Boydston.
Got 30 or 40 wells down 3 miles west of Fairfield and some
scattered over the east part of the county. There are 70
producing in our county and I don’t know how many dry holes
about 40 or 50 I guess. There has been 2 s of
Wayne City, but no good. They are putting 1 down on the
other farm 2 mile NE of the Berry town hall. The old Smith
farm where you folks used to live. There was 1 drilled
there several years ago and it was dry. There was 1 drilled
about the same time north of Wayne City and it was dry too.
So I thought I had better sell and get out of dept while I
could, and let the other guy do the gambling. For that is
about all this oil game is, so I don’t try to farm much, I have
about 12 or 15 ackers where the buildings for cash rent, and
someone else runs the balance. We keep one horse, 2 or 3
cows , and some chickens, and some hogs. I get $13 per
month old age assistance, we get along very well.
I thought I was going to get to go out to se you last fall, but
it all went blue. Johnie has talked of going for the past
two or three falls. We had about all the arrangements
made. One of his girls was going to taking their car, but
they could not be gone two weeks, that did not suit Johnie and I
wanted to go on to Cal. If we went. Don’t know
whether try it next fall or not. I expect not though.
Well the wind has got in the NW and it is getting colder. The
wearther man said this morn it would. Edna and Monroe sent
us a radio nearly two years ago. It is lots of company for us,
and we get the news and werther forcasts, but it is sorty
costly, but I guess just as well spend money for that as any
thing else. Trueman. Well the weather man guessed it
right this time, it is pretty cold, and the wind is out of the
NW but it is clear.
Well I guess I had better close. We are all well as can be
expected for one of our age. Eva has some kind of stomach
trouble, cant get anything that does much good. The Drs
says that my nerves broke down. I take medison most of the
time. Cant do any hard work, I guess I am just wore out. Ha
Hope that you are in good health. Write when you can
W.F. Collins
Sims Ill
Wishing you a Happy New Year
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