Letters To Home - These letters were written to the families of John "Frank" Rigney; William Henry Rigney and Archie Joe Rigney, Sr. They were sent from all over the country to the folks back home. - Personal - http://maxpages.com/generations/Letters_To

These letters were written to the families of John "Frank" Rigney; William Henry Rigney and Archie Joe Rigney, Sr. They were sent from all over the country to the folks back home.

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LETTER #1

NOTE: As of 02-27-2001 I believe Viola Donelson to be the daughter of Josiah "Joe" Rigney, son of George T. Rigney and Mahala Jones. George T. is believed to be the son of Joab Rigney, Sr.

From Mrs. Wm Donelson
Hannibal, MO

June-4-1919
Dear Cousins Uncle & Aunt
Was sure glad to get your letter hope you all are well. We are. It is still raining here guess this is the six week must of rain some where Easter Sunday and old saying it will frain for six weeks. Will has in 35 acres of corn has planted between showers. The wheat was down but it is raising up again. Oats meadow look fine. The first he planted will half be replanted. The moles are bad in Missouria then so much rain. Guess Archies school is out, hope he passed. Lucille passed with an average of 90 think that is very good. This has been a hard year school has bin in to so much. Tell Ella would be mitty glad to see her wish you all could come. I know how hard it is to leave some at home. Ha ha. I have a good garden have had onions, asparagues, lettuce, radish, beets, turnips, peas and carrots. Will can peas next week. Have 170 little chicks. I want to set a few late ones. I got 41 cts to day for eggs 36 is the lowest they have been. They will come down when the weather gets hot. Lucille run the car to town to day is the first time we ever went alone. She often runs it when Daddy(?) sitting by her. So guess we will get to go to missionary meeting to morrow it is at one of the neighbors. We took ma & pa up to Palmyra to the High School play the "midsummer Night Dream" it was fine. Nellie did look so sweet thats Laura's daughter. We new a good many of them. My girl will be ready for high school next year. I'm good in a way I'm glad, in another I am sorrow. She has grown up so quick. All of the folk are well. We spent the day at Laura sunday. Went home with them from church, and she had such a good dinner. I am glad you all have a car now, you will get lot of pleasure out of it. Stanford will seem so close. You all have such good roads. They survayed are road three weeks ago. guess we will have a nice wide road some sweet day. Tell Ella, Archie we have a few watermelon hills this time. Hope can raise some them were so good you all had. I have lots of flowers in bloom
We sold five cows last year but are still milking eleven, butter fat is 59 cts a lb has been as high as 74 cts. I will have more chearies than I care to put up they sold to the grocer store at 50 gal. to day I want to sell enough to buy 100 lbs of sugar. They are selling strawberries out at 80 cts gal. They have been so high. 30 cts box strait. ours nearly died last year it was so dry. If nothing don't happen we will have some peaches. Know your place is pretty and green now. We will be wanting some of this rain about August.
Was in hope we would have a "dry" July can't tell just what they are going to do. I am going to send are pictures to you all. They are not verry good but how could a fellow expect them to be verry good. Well I will close for this time.
With love to one and all
answer when you have time
Yours truely
Viola Donelson

LETTER #2

NOTE: This letter was written to Ella Rigney, Sister to Archie Joe Rigney, Sr., daughter of William Henry Rigney, Grandaughter of John "Frank" Rigney.

Dec. 21st, 1920
Des Moines, Iowa

Dear Ella,
Sure have wondered what has happened that I never hear anything more from you. I trust you do think kindly of me sometimes anyway. Surely you got my last letter. I trust so anyway. Just the same I am thinking of you and of all my good friends down there especially as Christmas draws near. On Christmas morning take another plate from the package & think of me once more. Write me for I have something to tell you.
Love to all, Lillian

(this is signed on the front: Ever Sincerely, Polly)

LETTER #3

NOTE: This letter was written to Mariah Underwood Rigney, Wife of William Henry Rigney. As of 02-27-2001 Mariah Underwood's parents and family are unknown to me.

Sept. 13, 1923
Mapleton, Minn
From Mrs. J.L. Sloan (Lucy)

My Dearest Auntie,
I sure was surprised to get a letter from my dear old Auntie seems so good to know you still think of me so far away. I sure do think of you often. I wrote Auntie Mattie good many times but she never ans my letters so it been a time since I wrote her but I love her just the same. We plan to drive back home this fall but Lit has been sick for weeks got so thin could not eat so now he is some little better but so far he hard(?) heird with our work. We just can't come this year. I wanted to hear from Papa so bad and I wanted to come and see him once more if he can only live one more year. I sure am coming home but oh Auntie when I come I will lossed - no Ma or no Mother all the rest are just here and there so it will be a sad visit for me. I don't see just how I can ever stand to come back will never be the same. Neppie(?) is living at Lexington but she wishes she had stayed with Pa poor child. I suppose you have canned a lot, oh I have canned so much there was so much to can here. We had apples to eat. Well I have a big house of eleven rooms so I rented three rooms to a man and his wife and too small children for too months. They pay me 300 (?) just for the rooms a week. Well the children are in bed you said you supposed they were quite big yes they are. Libbie is as large or larger than me, Gracie is as tall but not so heavy, Robert is just a man in size, Lula Mae is a big girl, she is in fourth grade at school. Grace and Robert will finnish the eaight grade this year. So glad Ella got a nice good man. So nice for them to teach togeather give her my love. I did not know she was married until Mrs. Speed told me. Tell Archie hello for me I can just remember them as little not grown. Tell Ella to send me a picture of herself and husband also Archie. I have planned all summer to get a full picture to send to all the Aunts and Uncle also Sisters and Bro but keep putting it off never(?) ready I supose. I have told you all I know and that little for I don't go very much and hardly ever hear from anyone but Myrlle/Myrtle(?) and Neppie(?) do you stay well now do wish you could come to see me. Oh I just be so glad to have you. I get so lonesome to see you all if you ever go to Lancaster go out to see our dear ones and lay if only a sprig of grass on my dear Mother's grave. Oh it so hard to know I have no one to go to now but God knows best and does everything for the best so we must do our share and He will do His. You ask me if I had very many chickens I hatched over 600 but the rats has took lots for me I want to keep too hundred for layers an other year. Well the crops are good this year had a dandy corn crop an our oats were good we had 2000 bushels of small grain but it only worth 28 cents now so we won't get rich on that. Now write again soon Auntie I sure was glad to hear from you give Uncle Will my love also Mrs. Rigney and keep a big share for yourself.
Your loving niece,
Lucy

LETTER #4

NOTE: As of 02-27-2001 it is unknown who this letter is written to.

Dec 13-1923
Dear Cousin:
Am sending you a package of pecans by parcel post & want you to give Uncle Luthan a few of them for me. Wish I could see all of you & eat some good, old Kentucky eating. I hope to get back some time & bring my boys & husband. One of my boys is in his second year Law at Vanderbilt(iex)? University & now(?) a freshman then; my baby boy is a Junior in High School. We all ______ & wishing you a Merry X-mas & Happy New Year.
Lovingly
Nellie G. Young

LETTER #5

NOTE: This letter was written by Josiah "Joe" Rigney to William Henry Rigney, son of John "Frank" Rigney who was is believed to be the son of George T. Rigney. Josiah was the brother of John "Frank" Rigney.

(Addressed to W.H.Rigney, Moreland, KY)

Hannibal, MO. Feb. 14, 1924
Dear Nephew and Family
I will try to ancer your letter just recieved. was very glad to hear from you all. It was surly a supprise to get a letter from you as well as a pleasure and hope these few lines will find you all well. We are well as could be expect for old people, your Uncle Joe had a very bad sick spell a bout a mounth ago. he had 5 hand chills but is bout as whel now. I wish you all could come to see ous you are young and get in your car and come out. We sure will be glad too see you all we have sure had some some cold weather but it is nice to day. Your uncle George and Virgil and Dona has made ous two nice visits we sure enjoyed them to. Yes our children are scarted a round. Our oldest boys lives in Idaho, and one here and there. But such is life. So you all come if you can and don't for get to ancer.
Love to all
Josiah & wife Rigney

LETTER #6

NOTE: I believe this letter was written by Susan Underwood Hammond to her sister Mariah Underwood Rigney, Wife of William Henry Rigney, but as of 02-27-2001 I have no proof as Mariah Underwood Rigney's family is unknown.

Feb. 20, 1926
Indianapolis, IN

Dear Mariah,
Your good letter came sometime ago and we were glad to hear from you. I didn't mean to wait so long to answer but have neglected it having to write some business letters then as Mrs. Gooch says "just one thing and another" one of the neighbors has been staying here at night as her husband has been away on business. Then we just get through with the morning work in time for the morning worship over the radio which they have in Cincinnatti every morning except Saturday & Sunday. We have some good surnames and fine music. I wish you could run in and enjoy it with us. Florrie and one of our neigh-girls about her age are going to entertain their Sunday School class tomorrow afternoon. They have forty or fifty in the class. Two of them furnish the refreshments and one entertains or furnishs the home. So we have been right busy cleaning up to get ready for them. They are all married folks about Florries age and their teachers is expected too. Mrs. Ashbys class, of which I am a member, had 144 present last Sunday week and I belive it was 96 last Sunday. They have a room with each class. There were between nine hundred and a thousand in Sunday School last Sunday and I guess eleven hundred in Church. I never saw such friendly people. We have a good Preacher about forty or forty five years old who came from Des Moines, Iowa. He had been there ten years. After he accepted the call here, the officers of the church there wrote and wanted the officers of the church here to release him that they didn't want to give him up. They wrote back and told them if they wanted to give him up they wouldn't want him. He is full of pep and so plain and friendly with everyone and has something interesting to tell us every time. They gave him and his family a reception at the church. Next Friday night they are to ahve another reception for him and invite the ministers of the other churches especially those of the other Christian Church in Indianapolis. I think we have twenty three and they mean to invite the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and others anyway near around. There are three and four hundred at Prayer Meeting according to the weather. We go most every Thursday night.
Mrs. Yeoman, Forrie and Bonnie have gone up stairs to bed, Robert is listen over the radio. He has an eight tube Superhelrodinger(?) Radiola. Few minutes ago we heard some fine music broadcast from Los Angeles, California. now we are hearing a musical program from Atlanta, GA. One night we heard a "barn dance" in New York. We can sit anywhere in the room and hear it plainly. This radio has a loud speaker. I suppose Bro. Baughs radio has a loud speaker too.
Last Saturday night we attended a Valentines Party given by the Mystic Tie (Masons). They had a good little play first by some of the Mason's wives. Next on the second floor they had a picture show "Harold(?) Lloyd" for the children and we enjoyed it too. While this was going on quite a number were dancing on the third floor. We went up and watched them awhile. It was "awful" to me to see them hugging so, but nothing new here.
Robert belongs to the Mystic Tie so of course he and family were invited. Florrie said she wanted me to get an insight of city life. But I must not tire you much(?), I never know when to quit when I begin writing to you. We just heard an annoucement over radio from New Orleans, LA they had first gotten a message from Texas that a storm was raging there and would reach the West and Northwest late to night on Thursday. It is wonderful how you can get things so plainly just as if we were there in the room where they are broadcasting Robert hasn't any outside airial. We can hear the music upstairs. They are now giving a concert called the "Cotton Picking Twins" in New Orleasn, playing Dixie now. They are going to have old Black Joe and several old songs, that kind, the speaker said.
Bonnie Jean and I sleep in the same room. We have twin beds. She wants to pull her bed up by the side of mine she likes to play and romp every night before she goes to sleep. She is taking music. They gave a recital at the conservatory last night we were invited and went. It is a very large building and no telling how many teachers they have. That is I have no idea. Write and tell me all the news of the neighborhood and about your children and grandson. Much love from all of us to both of you.
Susie H.

LETTER #7

NOTE: Another letter from Susan Hammond to Mariah Underwood Rigney.

Oct. 27, 1926
(written Sept. 12, 1926)
Indianapolis, IN

Dear Mariah,
After I visted at Hustonville and vicinity I went to Danville and attended the Stanford Fair one day, spent a few days with T.B. Hammond's widow and a few days with Maggie and family then from there to Dunville, Russell Springs and Columbia. Robert, Florrie and Bonnie Jean met me at the station here and all seemed happy to have me back home and I am glad to be back. I had a pleasant day with you and family and thought I would get back there again but it seemed almost impossible as there were so many places to go.
Did you ever get to Lancaster to hear Bro. Bourland preach? May be if I come to KY next year there will be better pikes. They were washed so it made them very rough on which to travel.
Florrie got beans for a dollar per bushel and fine freestone peaches for $7.90/$1.90 per bushel. She put up some before I came home and we have put up some since I came so we are about through putting up fruit and vegetables. We have canned tomatoes too. Guess you are through with your canning too. We went to church and Sunday school this morning.

Oct. 26th
I have just found this letter which I thought I sent a month ago and have often wondered why you didn't write. Mrs. Speed(?) I believe it was, wrote me that you were talking about going to Ella's sometime ago but guess you have been there and have come home.
We are all well as usual. I have often thought of that pleasant day I spent with you and family and hope you and Willie can come to see us sometime.
I get more news from the Interiar(?) Journal than from the neighbors as they don't write often. Clara Nuneby/Nuveby(?) is here at the Indiana School of Music and Fine Arts, so we went by her boarding house and took her with us to Sunday School and Church, brought her home with us and she staid until we went to church that night. She said she liked our Preacher better than the Baptist Preacher where she attends church. I wish you and Billie Could hear our preacher. You have a good one if you can just keep him and I hope you can.
I feel real disappointed that I didn't send this on. Florrie thinks I wrote another and mailed it about the time I wrote this one. But I have forgotten, know I meant to write you soon after I came home. I certainly hope you will not wait so long as I have.
Much love for both of you and the children, from all of us devotedly.
Susie Hammond

LETTER #8

NOTE: Letter from Josiah Rigney to Family in KY.

Dec. 28, 1927
Hannibal, MO

Was glad to hear from you all to hear agan we are as well as comman(?) wish you a happy New Year.
Josiah Rigney
Hannibal, MO
Rt 1 box 69(?) E9
love to all

LETTER #9

NOTE: As of 02-27-2001 it is unknown who this is written to. Considering John Frank Rigney and Amanda Stroud Bolar Rigney had already passed on, it would have been written to either William Henry Rigney or Mariah Underwood Rigney or it could have been written to Archie Joe Rigney, Sr or Lucy Marie Weaver Rigney.

July 28, 1928
New Florence, MO

Dearest Cousin
Have wanted to write to you every since I got your nice sympathy letter. Oh my dear I have thought I have had sorrow and a hard time when loosing Mother, Father, Sisters & Brothers but the loos of Chrley is the greatest sorrow I have ever had. Finding him out in the snow and going so sudden. Just seems I never can get over it. He ate a harty breakfast that morning and went to fix some fence where hogs had been getting out. He passed away with an axe between his knees and wire pliers in his pocket. He always said business before pleasure. Dr. Said he never made a struggle. The three boys & I carried him to the house. So thankful the Lord give us strength to do it. Yes I have nine children to live for which am thankful but not one of them can take their papa's place. Gertrude only single daughter is with me. She came home then and has been hear evry since. She is worth her weight in gold to me now. Maria we are going to have the Gardner (?) reunion the first Sunday in August. the 5 (?) Why can't some of you come out. Just any of you or as many as can. Am going to ask you to let them all know about it. Jim is going to write to Cousin Jim Wilmot. The reunion will be at Lizzie Edwards. I just couldn't have it at my house this year. If you come get off at Montgomery. Will be glad to have any of you. Let us know we will meet you. is about mail time. Hoping to see you soon. Write soon with Love
Sallie Shelton

wvmystica@aol.com

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