JOHNS, Florence to Minna W. Gauss - 1961-11-05
From Gauss and his Children
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Letter
Address
Please remember that at any time we do not wish you to have to bear any expense in regard to getting these records or having them copied. However since I am so busy now we will have to discuss it later if OK by you.
524 W. Elsmere Place San Antonio 12 Texas Sunday, 5 November 1961
Dear Minna:
We have been digging a little into the little book you sent us telling of Grandpa's trip to Texas. I will not be able to attempt to copy it right away as I do not have much time off right now but will as soon as possible. I hope you do not mind if I have to keep it awhile. We saw that he mentioned seeing in Austin, Texas when he stopped to see Claude johns and family seeing also a Major Johns whom he described as being a 3d cousin, saying his grandfather and Major John's grandfather were brothers. Do you know anything about that? Glover said that when he lived in Austin after he retired from the Army that someone had mentioned Major Johns to him. I would like to find out more about him and unless you know I will write to Austin I guess. By the way, the Colonel Glover S. Johns who is now in Germany was called "Major" when he was growing up, sort of nick-name I guess. Also, when you get through with the clipping I sent about him, showing the picture by Rembrandt I would like to have it back as it is the only one I have, no hurry, just so I can keep it for a reason.
I understand that you now have all of the books of the diaries or are there still some of them still missing. I intend to write Winston again if so. I so not know that Bonnie has anything except tat I sent her but someone may have some papers. In fact, she did not answer my letter even to acknowledge the excerpts I sent her from the stuff you sent me in regard to her mother's family. She may be sick or away, I do not know know, she has always been very prompt. I did mention to her the action of Glover S. Johns, Sr., in regard to the information Papa offered to him such as "That does not buy me anything at the bank". That could not have made her angry I am sure. I have also tried to find out when the monument to Peter Francisco was erected and when the article about it was published and in which magazine but have had no luck. I know some people who have relatives in Greensboro, N.C. where the monument is and will try to get them on the trail. The Chamber of Commerce in Greensboro did not answer me.
It has been quite a task for you to take care of those books and I think they should be copied but whether it is better to send them down here (not now, however) or to have someone up there do it. I will see what kind of arrangements I can make with the family in the latter case to pay someone. For two weeks I have hardly had time to breath but it should not be so bad now but still not much spare time for several months to look forward to.
We are having a little cool weather here now and I hate to see the winter start for one thing when I am not busy I do not like to stay inside any more than I can help but in winter it is not always possible to do so.
We received a very discouraging letter from Emma about Jack. she says that the Doctor says he will be all right but he is very dull and it worries her so much. she is such a nice person too. No one of any age at all should just stop keeping going unless it is not possible to do so -- that is what he has done and his body has become all mixed up. Jack used to be so active and aggressive and there was no reason for him to quit but just because he wanted to. Fact is, he is collecting a lot of Social Security money which he could do without. Better not do that than be sick. We do not understand it all. Sometimes you just cannot figure people out.
I was hoping that Grandpa Johns would give more information about our mother but he did say some nice things. Information in regard to her father's family is hard to come by and while I have paid out some money and got nothing I will still have to do some more because the only way we can prove that any man was his father was to see the name, James Warren Tutt, mentioned as his son. Census records do not give that. I have worlds of them. I believe his father's name was James Minor Tutt but have not proved it yet. We have some information about her mother's family who was a Chiles. All of the people were in Kentucky and there, records are complete, it is just one is up against hiring a genealogist and I am particular because they hand you anything they think hitches up together. They earn $2.00 an hour and expenses. Well this is enough for now. Thanks again for helping and will see that you get a copy of the memories of visit to Texas when I get It typed.
Hope you both are well.
Love, Florence
Source
Typewritten original in the private collection of the Chambless family. Transcribed to softcopy by Susan D. Chambless, January 9, 2000.
