Letter About David Painter

The following is from www.spiddyskids.com, specifically the following page:

http://www.spiddyskids.com/getperson.php?personID=I1175&tree=en...

(thanks to William Painter, Jr. for passing along the link)

Letter of William T. Painter
dated 3 January 1941

I can well remember Zeke Painter and was present when he was buried. I well remember my Grandparents on both sides. Grandfather Hudson fought in an Ind. Regiment (He was a Teamster), drove 4 mules for commissary all through Civil War. Died 1887 - 60 years of age was 6 ft. 6 in. high wore14 shoe, lanky and strong, liked to play cards, worked hard. Lottie has a letter he wrote home in Nov. 1863 just before battle of Look-out Mountain. Grandma saved it.

I remember one of the Painters, as Dad told it was a great man for fine horses. Lived in Penn. Kept Race Horses, Great for Sports. One went to Virginia, got his name in Who's Who as an Educator, One of my other relatives known as Uncle John Martin, was a noted builder and contractor in Indianapolis, Ind. and mother worked at his home some while she was a young lady. He did most building in Indianapolis for about 40 years,1840 to 1880 (guess). Zeke Painter moved from Franklin Co., Ind. in the fall of 1857, settled near Williamsburg, Mo. Quite q story to move in a wagon train. No bridge on Mississippi at that time.

The Painters in Ind. were widely known for their hard work, really hustling, good farmers. Uncle Isaac (Pa's brother) was 5 yrs. younger than my dad. His first wife's name was Lizzie. I remember when she died she was the first corpse I ever saw. Uncle Ike went back to Ind. Spencer Co. I believe and married Aunt Nicey and her name was Painter before she was married. Some cousin, I don't know how near but do know she was a good woman, always sweet, patient, kind. She just died lately over 80yrs. of age. Gold star mother.

Everett Painter, oldest son of Uncle Ike is just a little younger than I and we lived near neighbors in old Mo. Just a few years before Maim was born. Boys together for about 3 yrs, '87 to '90. Edna Balky is a daughter of Everett Painter, very nice. They live near N. Kansas City,Mo. R.5. She can tell a lot about Painters. There is a lot of Uncle Isaac's descendants in and around K. City, even to Great Grand Children.

Never knew a Painter to get hung or sent to states prison or go to the poor house.

Dave McCaferty married Nancy Carr. Nancy Carr was sister to Ellender Carr. Ellender Carr married Geo. Hudson. My mother's own aunt Nancy Carr was wife of Dad's own Uncle Dave McCaferty. So Dave Cafertie's children were first cousins to Zeke Painter's children through Grandma Painter and Dave McCafertie's children were first cousin's to Geo.Hudson's children through Grandma Hudson. Grandma Hudson's name: They called her Nellie, some say Ellender, we called her Grandma. Extra good at all needle work, good cook, quick temper, - many hardships, Grandma Hudson with family of small children to support while Grandfather served in war, 3 years. Jimmie, Ellen, Will, Rosie, Samp - Monroe and Emma born after the war. I played with the two youngest in old Montgomery in the early '80s that would take a lot of time and energy to diagram that family. Mary Lucket if still living is my Uncle Jim Hudson's daughter(F.D.: she died last summer) and exceptionally good woman and has known that it was to be left with a family to support. She sure did a good job of it. Educated her children well and there is a great bunch, even of Uncle Jim's, if she is there and in good health she may help quite a lot.Ike McCaferty lives in Montgomery yet so I have been told he is one of Uncle Dave McCafertie's sons. Don't think he would take much interest and he is getting old but one could talk with him. John McCaferty was a big strong man. Went to Alaska in the Gold Rush 1898, most likely died on the Chillcoot Pass (where many failed to get over the terrible mountain) never heard from. Some McCaferties live on farm near Montgomery. Uncle Dave McCaferty did not stay in Callaway Co. He settled on a creek called Elkhorn, just no. of Montgomery, and lived in Montgomery for years.

Alice McCaferty was a pal of my mother's for years, early 80's I remember, Alice took care of our mother June 1883 when Clinton was born.Alice married Jim Cole, and their Descendants are living in and near old Montgomery. Mary Lucket possibly could tell. Jim Cole Jr. so I have heard was a truck driver, having a number of big trucks of his own. I believe he is in Audrian Co. No. of Montgomery. Pa's brother Will Painter was born in Ind. 1837, ten years older than Pa. exceptionally strong man, I believe we could find old timers to this day that could testify as to his super strength. He never married. Died in Memphis,Tenn. hospital after much exposure and being wounded in Civil War. Aunt Louise Pa's half sister about 18 years older that Pa [corrected to 8years older] married Nicholson. It seems there were other Nicholsons of his relatives who had been to Minn. in early days and returned to Ind.and persuaded Wm., Aunt Louise's man, to go to Minn. They left Ind. at the same time Zeke Painter did, with the same wagon train. They parted in Ill., Nicholson went up near Winona first, later went to Lacquparelco., then Dawson. Dawson was not though of until the R.R. went thru. Pa often told me he so dearly loved Louise and how grieved they were to part. Louise had been married 1 yr., had her baby Geo. in her arms. He never saw Louise again or even saw her grave. She was a strong woman, faithful worker, kind and sweet. I was present in the fall of 1887 when Geo. Nicholson came to our home in old Pulaski, and my dad said Howdy Geo. How you have changed. Dad - 40 Geo. 30 at that time. Geo. was big man weighed about 200, looked much like Zeke Painter. Geo. worked in Pulaski Co., Mo. about 1 yr. and returned to Minn. I was in Dawson in1913 and had a visit with Aunt Louise. She had experienced many hardships. Her husband Wm. Nicholson
was a Farmer, also mechanic. He worked far, run an all around shop(Blacksmith, harness maker, wagon maker) and Aunt Louise ran a restaurant with light gro. for about 30 yrs. in Dawson. Steady and faithful, strictly honest. There were 3 children Geo., John, and Mattie. I know John and Geo. are dead. Mattie married a Montana Lumber man named Donaldson. Mattie had a great record as a school teacher. I believe plenty people around Dawson who well remember the Nicholsons - Wm,Louise, and John are buried in Dawson Cemetery and have Monuments, with Dates as usual, I saw them - as best I know no living descendants.Grandfather Hudson is buried in Montgomery Cemetery with Monument.

David Painter, our Dad, served in the State Militia (like National Guards) in time of the Civil War. He was on active Duty in spring of 1865,headquarters at Fulton. There was terrible times in that part of Mo. in those days the people were so much divided as to the north and south, and many outlaws took advantage of the situation, to murder and rob. Danville the Co. seat of Montgomery Co. at that time and the largest town between St. Louis and Kansas City in early days during the Civil War the Rebels raided Danville, killed all men they could, took all property they could carry off, and burned about all the buildings. The Militia was orgainized to protect the citizens, and their property. Grandad Painter was strong for the Union and some Rebels come to his home in Callaway and knocked him on head with hatchet and left him for dead but he came out of it and lived about 20 years. dad ranged from Fulton to Mexico, Mo, was on duty at Danville part time. Never Rec'd half the pay he was promised,and no pension. Dad served as an apprentice under Dave McCaferty for three years to learn the carpenter trade, and in those days it was so different to be a good carpenter. Many timbers were hewn out of logs by hand especially for framing. The foot adz was a much used tool in those days, now almost forgotten and nails were much more expensive and held as of inferior stuff. Frame work was morticed and held with special wooden pins and then sanded off smooth on good jobs, but poor folks had ground floor or rough floors. In the summer of 1886 David Painter contracted to build a large barn just a little N.E. of Montgomery. I was out there many times, yet I worked at Tobacco factory steady then. Dad Hewed out Timbers and built that barn, and I saw it in Nov. 1930 44 yrs later and it still plumb true, not lop sided as so many old buildings and they had just put a new roof on it so it may be o.k. for yrs. Now where Andre's family is in Callaway Co. is not so very far from where the old Painter home was in 1857. I was there in 1930 and the old pile of rocks where the fire place was and well walled with rocks and a very few pieced of timber still remained, I cut a small piece from what I calculated had been a plate over the door and I believe Lottie has it. The old timers still call it the old Painter place. I was on that place in the fall of1885 and my dad showed me the knots on trees by the road side where he and other boys had thrown rocks at and shot at years before. And Henriettie, Aunt Fannie, and Dick and I believe, Margret, were born there, but none died there. Will Painter, in war, died in Memphis Hospital while others lived there. Margret was not born until after the war. I remember when she died. It was just a short time before Grandpa died. I believe it was blood poison, not sure. I am sure Aunt Henrieta had a daughter married to a farmer. Best I recall he was Thomas and I had dinner with Mrs. Thomas. She was very nice and I saw her daughter a young lady at that time 1930, was just planning her wedding. Now Aunt Henriettie never writes, very little schooling she had except hard work.She was born 1860 so you see if still living she is past 80 yrs. If you would write to her and send enclose a letter to her daughter I believe some of them would answer. I was told the Granddaughter married a banker. Aunt Henriettie has lived within a few miles of the old Painter house in Callaway also the one in Montgomery Co. for all these years and never been to see them, never traveled, just lived in Americus right near the church. She was noted for Good garden and chickens, good cook and housekeeper, no gossip, no rows. Never had a ride on a train and very little was ever in a car.

Ages of our gang:
Lottee - Sept. 26, 1873
W.T. - Nov. 23, 1874
Emerettie - April 11, 1876
Rose Azalia - Oct. 2, 1879
David Clinton - June 16, 1883
Ollie Ellender - Dec. 25, 1886
Mary Frances - Jan. 11, 1890
Andrew and Vanda: Howard Andrew and Hattie Vandalie July 30, 1892
David Painter born Dec. 15, 1847 - Died Dec. 16, 1928
Mary Ellen Hudson May 25, 1854 - Died Oct. 25, 1922
I believe Aunt Fannies birthday was Dec. 15th or 16, 1863. One of Andrews sons (William) was born Feb. 29, 1924. Best of my knowledge Zeke Painter born 1803 or about. Geo. R. Hudson born 1828 - Died 1887.Grandma Hudson born 1832 - Died 1906 in Ind. Aunt Louise born - Died1914.

There is an old Painter cemetery on the old Painter Place in MontgomeryCo. I could enjoy strolling over the old place and relating incidents that were impressed on my mind when I was a boy. The cemetery is marked by large flat stones No inscriptions. Aunt Fannie knows where each one lays and she is the only living one who does know. I saw some of them buried and have been told where each one was but never drew any plan and after years I could not be sure. Many of the old logs that Dad helped to hew out that were in the old Painter Home have been used in other buildings on the farm, and a frame house takes the place. Seem very nice folks. They held Painter Reunions for years but I never attended one and Dad never attended one and I fear that they will not have any more.

Some Painter lived in Mpls. years ago. They had business on Hennepin, I think Job Printing. I saw in a Cemetery west of Mpls. a large monument to Painter. One W.R. Painter was Lieutenant Gov. of Mo. about 26 yrs.ago.

7 come 11 Important date 7 month 11th day 1872 David P. and Mollie as he called her were married in Ind. 11 of April Emerettie '76 11 Jan. 1890Maim. 11 Jan, 1909 Maim married in Wells.