The John F. Purswell Letter

The following is the text of a hand written letter by J.F. Purswell.

                                                                                                                                                Hightower Texas
                                                                                                                                                January 1931

Mr. J. F. Purswell Age 77

        I am the oldest one living by this name and I will undertake to show according to my ability from the begining of the name until now. For the sake of my children and grandchildren to show my relation.

        My great (another great struck through) grandfather was a Scottish sailor and his name was Henry (Henry inserted) Purs and when he stopped sailing he stoped in America and he married a woman by the name of Well and they put their names together that gave us our name Purswell.

        They then had one son and he married and had one son and he married a Stinner (Stivender inserted), which was (great struck through) grand mother and they had two girls, two boys. My father William Purswell was the oldest boy. He married a (Condra struck through, Condry inserted), his brother married a Vinson, his oldest sister Jane married a Wise.

        His youngest sister Mellisie married a Etheridge and they had two boys, Daniel and Olenzo. her husband died and she married a Runnels. They had two sisters and one married a Hicks and the other married a Zorne. She had two brothers dead and two living in Florida.

        My Grandmother Purswell had two sisters. Fannie married a Hollman. Sennie married a Creel. The name of my relation are: Stinner, Hollman, Purswell, Creel, Condray, Hicks, Zorne, Underwood, Price, Thomas, and are gone to east Florida. I don't know who they married. There is one large family in South Florida and East Florida Creel (he sometimes spells it Crell), Purswell, Hicks, Zorne, Condry all originated from South Carolina in Early days and settled in Barba (crossed out and Barbra inserted, crossed out and Barbour inserted) and Heny (crossed out and Henry inserted) co. Alabama. Some of these younger ones went to east Florida.

        My own children, I have seven children living, four dead. My oldest child Mollie married Tom Metts, she had five children, 3 girls, two boys, two living 3 dead. Frank Metts is the oldest boys name and married Leota Simmons and they have two boys living and one girl dead. Annie Bell Metts 2nd child married Frank Jahos (or Johos). They had two children both boys. May Metts, the fourth child married Frazier Loyd. They had one child, a girl. Edgar Metts youngest married Bessie Jordan, they have two boys one living and one dead.

        My 2nd child Mellisie Purswell married T. J. Walker and they had ten children, nine living & one dead. The oldest girl Lizzie Walker married a Hubert Garrison. and they have five children four living one dead. The second child Albert Walker married Grace Money. They had 3 children all living. William Walker the third married Fannie Money and they have one boy living, Fannie his wife is dead.

        Maudie Walker the fourth child married Edward Stanfield and they have four children living. Ora Walker fifth child married Harry Fenley they have three children 2 dead one living.

        Ada Purswell 3rd child married Ben W. Goss, they have five children 3 dead, 2 living.

        Lula Purswell fourth child married Marrcan (sp?) Ott and they had 3 children, 2 dead, 1 living. Julia Ott married Charlie Taylor & they have 3 children.

        Lee Anna Purswell 5th child married Ed J. Hale, and they have four children 3 living & 1 dead.

        Ella Purswell 6th child married Jobe Stegval & they have 3 children, 2 living & 1 dead. She then seperated & married Jessie Goss & they have four children living.

        W. A. (Allie inserted) Purswell 7th child married Mussouri Walker. They have 6 boys 2 girls - 1 baby dead.

        Clarence Purswell the oldest married Dora Eavens & they have 1 girl. He seperated & then married Mattie Reaves & they have 1 child. Clara Purswell 2nd child married Stanley Mizell (or Mizeel). They have 2 boys, one girl, one girl one boy & girl dead.

        T. J. Purswell 8th child married Cassie Walker & they have 10 children all living - 6 boys & four girls - Lucian Purswell their oldest married Ola Mae Buckner - they have 1 child a girl.

        I was born Barbour co. Ala, twelve miles South of Eufaula Ala and lived there until 13 yrs of age & then moved into lower of Dale co. Ala and when 19 yrs of age then married A. E. Dean then moved to Texas in 1873 - 1905 my wife died was buried in the County line Church in San Jacinto co. In 1917 I married Amelia (Millie inserted) Singleton and maiden was Atwell and in 1929 she died, and was buried in Davis Cemetery in Jasper co. And the 13th day of last June I was 77 yrs old. I am now alone waiting for my time to come, which won't be long, and a member of Premitive Baptist Church at Couty line

John F. Purswell