JOHNS, Florence to Minna W. Gauss - 1961-04-20
From Gauss and his Children
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Envelope
From:
- 524 W. Elsmere Place
- San Antonio 12, Texas
To:
- 212 W. Walnut
- Brinkley. Arkansas
Body
524 W. Elsmere Place
20 April 1961
Dear Minna:
We surely have enjoyed reading the copies of the diary you sent and Annie went to a lot of trouble. I echo your sentiments about Winston and do not know why he does not do better. Sylvia and Lola said he is a fine looking man but when they went there to see him, he was in his working shorts, on his vacation but seemed very vague about everything. Sylvia was afraid to call him up before she went there because she figured she could not make him understand about her -- and she was right. He still does not know whether she is his cousin or not. Guess he was a little embarrassed. I do not believe he knows any of his relatives. I want to show Mrs. Leathers some of this literature but will not release it, however, may copy it. Seems to answer some questions about the Winstons, apparently there were other Winstons in the family besides Judge Winstons family, however, there [sic] others were by marriage unless some other way. He spoke of "are those Winstons related to our Winstons". Wonder did Mrs. Mary Rice answer his letter -- and did he stop writing the diaries about 1881 0or 1882. Do you know? Also who was the "Lou" he talks about, do you know. Mrs. Leathers has figured out that Johns Johns' father was named William Johns and he also had a son named William who would be john Johns' brother. This is the John Johns that married the "Glover". Seems to me somebody is a little mistaken about the Winston part of that. The two Williams Johns' died within a short time of one another, that is father and son. she has tax records that show this pretty plainly, seems to me. what was always so confusing was the two William Johns' and since they died within a few years of one another, the tax records were the only things to figure it on. The only way that could show father and son was the settling of the taxes and the taking over the property. They all owned quite a bit of land and I Will send them to you to look over with all the pertinent remarks she had made. She has gone to a world of trouble to find her "William Johns" who married Elizabeth Curd for whom (the family) Curdsville, Va., is named. this same William Johns even had a land grant in Texas, the eastern part but seems not to have used it, the land was sold for 45ยข for taxes after one year. Some several hundred acres. Apparently the family tried to pick it up but it was too late. Somebody grabbed it for a trifling sum. I presume he got sick or died is the reason. Mrs. Leathers has gone to a great deal of trouble to prove up her rather distant kin and has been very generous with any of her findings, however, she probably does not know too much about our side of the family.
I appreciate you sending me the clipping and copies and will get them all back to you in good shape. With hopes that you both are well,
Love,
Florence
Source
Typewritten original in the private collection of the Chambless family. Transcribed to softcopy by Susan D. Chambless,1999.
