Source: Letter from Betty Wilcox to Billy Hale

Description:

Hello Billy & Pauline [Hale]

It was nice to hear from someone who is related to me, even so distantly. Of course I knew about George [Hale] and his sisters because I did get my fathers [John N. Hale] war records. I know dad talked about his other family, but I was too young to be interested then. He couldn't read or write so he had no way of keeping in touch with them.

When we were growing up in the orphanage I often wondered why we were the only children who never had a relative of any kind. We never had an aunt, uncle, cousin or even a grandparent. I often wondered when I grew up, why none of his family ever tried to see him. Your great Grandfather [John N. Hale] was a remarkable man in many ways. There are a few people here who remember him. He was liked and respected by everyone. He worked hard in farming with the most primative equipment. He was going strong in his 80's and was mentally alert until the day he died.

Dad was proud of his Indian heritage, and I have tried to trace his family but I don't get any help. The records don't give any information.

I wish I had been older or wiser before he died. People here tell me he was a great storyteller about the civil war. His stories were all first hand, because he couldn't read, he had to be there.

I Hope you can read this. I am partially blind and it's hard for me to write.

Thank you for your interest. You are the only relative on either side who ever contacted us. My mothers family was just as absent as dad's.

Type: Letter

Date: 1989-04-20

URL: http://www.etherton.net/S276 - 1989bettwilc.png

Pages that use this source:

Betty Anna Hale

George Henry Hale

John N. Hale

Pauline Evelyn Moutell


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