Letter from Mattie Mooring Hooker to her niece Ross Mooring Hall
(C. Avis Catalog entry #486)
[Mattie was daugther of Llewelyn Staton Mooring and Sarah Wilkinson. Her brother, Charles Gray Little Mooring, had daughters Ross, Margaret and Alberta]
5-10-02 Prairie Plains
My Dear Ross,
I was very much surprised when I opened your letter, & found the signature of My Dear little Ross, whom I had not heard from in such a long, long time. I do not suppose the information that I can give you will be of much importance. Papa & Mama came to Texas in '42, from Mobile Ala., but SC was their Birth State, resided in Ala. but a few years. Mama's Mother was a Mary Little, her Mother Thigpen, Grandmother T's Mother was a Bettie Rock. Grandmother Mooring's Mother was a Sue Statin, her Mother was a Lewellyn, the Lewellyns were from VA, to SC. I do not know anything of either of my grandfather's parents. Mama has a brother in Tarboro, S.C., Uncle Frank Wilkins, who would prove an interesting correspondent for you. He was principle of a small College there for a [?] of years. Papa has one Brother in Mobile, Ala Uncle Grey Mooring, he also has some nephews in Covington, Tenn. Zack Taylor is a very prominent lawyer there, was US States Senator at one time, but Papa was never proud of him, because he was a republican. Cousin Guildford Mooring was Sheriff of Pitt Co., S.C. Greenville, his Postoffice, will doubtless remember you, as he was in Tex. when you were a baby. We have a fine prospect for a crop. Leslie has 40 acres in cotton. The same in Corn, has been through chopping cotton for more than a week, which is quite early, & I have a splendid garden. I would like so much to see you, & your Boy, you never did send me a picture of him. I have a picture of all Maggie's children, & would like so much to have yours. I had a letter from your Mama last week, also one from Aunt Jennie. She is coming home in June. Be sure to write again.
Your loving Aunt Mattie