For the past two weeks, I have shared with you letters my great-grandmother Dona had written to New Orleans in search of the Boullemet family. The first week, she inquired with the New Orleans Post Office as to their whereabouts. The second week, the post office responded and so did a Boullemet.
This week, I will share what I assume was a draft letter of what she had mailed to Mrs. Bartels, the daughter of Stephen Boullemet and Elizabeth Williams.
Letter 04 from Dona Higginbotham to Mrs. Bartel
Transcribed:
Higginbothams
Merchants
Texarkana, Ark.
Mrs. Bartel.
Dear Madam,
Your address, 3506 Camp Street; was given me by Mrs. N.B. Boullemet to whom I wrote for information concerning the family of Mr. Stephen Boullemet; and while she did not state positively that you were his daughter, at the same time she left that impression.
If you are his daughter, will you kindly advise me so that I may write you more freely about my father F.H. Williams, who is very old and feeble and whose life is nearing it’s close?
If I am mistaken in assuming that you are the Mrs. Bartel referred to please pardon me, and if possible you would tell me any believe [note: this is scratched through on original document]
Hoping to hear from you at an early date I am
Very Truly Yours –
Then I believe she received a reply from Mrs. Bartels.
Letter 05 to Dona from Mrs. A A Bartels
Transcribed:
New Orleans
Nov’ 22nd 1917
Mrs. R. F. Higginbotham
Dear Madam,
A few days since I received thro’ the widow of a relative, a letter written by you inquiring about the children of our Stephen Boullemet as his eldest daughter I am writing you. My three brothers have passed away, leaving but my sister and myself both widows. There is some mistake as regards names, my mother was Miss Watkins, not Williams, she had but one brother reaching manhood, whom she never saw after the civil war, he married secretly, a young woman employed and trusted by my parents; as his life had brought little but sorrow to his family there was little grief at his loss.
This is about all I can tell you, there is evidently some confusion.
Respectfully,
(Mrs.) A.A. Bartels.
So, there you have it.
Mrs. Bartels writes back and deny’s that F.H. Williams is any kin. But, this doesn’t sit well with Dona, and she responds! Check back next Monday for the final two letters! These final letters, you will NOT want to miss! I bet I get my moxie from Dona!
