All My Ancestors

This is a letter written by my great-grandfather Charles Winfield Osborne, usually known as CW, to his wife Gertrude Mobley Osborne. I believe Charles was away from home, working and looking for a place to settle his young family. The year must have been 1877 because of the info in the last paragraph. Their 2 year old son Raphael had died 1 July 1877 and so the date that is cut off is assumed to be the same year.

There were 10 children in this family, and nearly all of them were born in different places–all in central Texas–but it makes me wonder about this man. What I’ve heard is that he was always looking for good land. He did eventually settle in Lubbock and then in Pampa. And he had enough money to provide well for his family based on what I’ve heard.

The child this letter refers to was named Raphael, and he is buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Pampa, as are his parents. Raphael obviously didn’t die in Pampa, so he was evidently moved fom Grimes or Hill County to Gray County. (Which gives me another piece of information to follow up on. When was he moved and who initiated this. Or, is there just a tombstone there to indicate his existence?)

My other question has to do with the language of this letter. I never thought of my Osborne line as particularly religious. My paternal grandfather, the author’s son, had no use for organized religion, according to what I was told. So does this letter reflect a style of language used in the day when speaking of deceased children or is it heartfelt and spontaneous? I suppose it could be both, but it does make me wonder.

I am grateful to have copies of these letters, supplied by a cousin. Despite growing up in the same community as my paternal grandparents, I wouldn’t say I know a great deal about this branch of my family as far as information beyond the lines on the pedigree chart.