A few years ago, my mom gave me a shoebox full of old papers that her grandfather had saved. Some of them were yellowed receipts and such, but there were also quite a few letters from various family members. I scanned and transcribed them when Mom gave me the box, and then I didn’t do anything else with them other than think, “There could be a book here.”

Maybe some day I’ll get started on that. Until then, though, I’ll share the letters here. This one — to my great-great-grandfather from his brother — is the oldest.

January the 19: 1914

Dear Brother,

It is with much pleasure that I [illegible] a few lions to let you know that we are all well at this time. Hoping these few lions will go safe to your hands safe an find you all well. Well Tom I have been thinked I would [illegible] been putting it off you musent think hard of me. Well Tom I have been wanting to come over there for some time an have had no chance. I cant leave Eller an the children by their self an there is no one to stay with them. The old lady is gone back to the county home. Well Tom you must come over an see us. Eller and all the children has had a chance for measels. Their time to take them is next Sunday an I would bee glad if you would come an stay with me a few days. I will have no one to stay with me for every body has got the measels around here. Well I hope you had a good Cristmas an enjoyed your self. I had a mighty good time through Cristmas. We rabbit hunted some. They was one day that we killed 11 rabbits. We killed in all 25 an 3 patteridges.
I would like to see you all but I don’t know when I can get to come now. It will bee some time before we will get through with measels. Tell all of the folks howdy for my. Tell Jasper that all I no to [illegible] He hah just [lyed?].

Well Tom times is fairly good here. I want you to come if you posible can. I will be lonesom here by my self when Eller an the children gets down. You come an we will eat fresh meat till we cant see. I just killed on of my hogs to day that I had when you was here. It mad a good one to. You let me no whether you can come an stay a few days or not by return mail an if you can I will rite you when thay take them. So I will close by saying rite soon.

From your brother George McCall to T.R. McCall