The following collection of letters were written to various members of the David Dutcher Forest family from 1884 through 1893. They were found in the personal affects of Malinda Jane Forest and were eventually given to Malinda's granddaughter Lois Wyndle Sheehan (1912-2000). They have been transcribed exactly as they were written with no corrections to spelling or punctuation.


These letter are full of the life and times in Ozark County during the late 1800s.

1884

This is the earliest letter that was found in the collection. It was written to Malinda Jane Forest d/o David Dutcher and Mary Elizabeth
(Hoodenpyle) Forest. Malinda was born 2 May 1863 in Rolla, MO.

Webb City, Franklin Co Ark
August 10 1885
Miss M J Forest
dear friend I seat my self to drop you a few lines I am well and I hope that when these few lines come to hand they will find you well I went to a picnic on Mill Creek last weak I wish you could have been there I will send you my picture be fore long May dont get uneasy for I be true to you as long as life last Yours untill death

W H Cleoklen


1888
By 1888 Malinda Jane Forest was divorced from her first husband, George Andrew Coiner, and was living near Fort Smith, Arkansas. Her first cousin, Charles E. Hale, son of James Washigton and Sarah (Forest) Hale, wrote the following letter. He and his wife Mahalia lived near Malinda's father David and his second wife Martha. Charles includes news of Malinda's brothers John and James and her sister Sarah Maranda "Sally" Forest Denney. John Snow, son of Philander Snow half brother of David Forest.

Thornfield, Ozark Co, Mo
Nov the 7 1888

dear cousin I seat my self to answer your kind letter which I received yesterday and we was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well we are all well at present and I hope this may find you all well and doing well Well Linda the reason I havent written before now we have been so busy This sommer and fall that we havent took time to rite We have not made much this year We had some very dry weather here this summer and the chinch bugs ruined our corn crops in the country We will make a bale and half of cotton but we wont make enough to do us I dont know whether yur pa will make corn to do him or not he will make one bale of cotton he is trying to sell out again he sold his plase on the creek last Spring and bought a plase out on the Ridge about half a mile west of old man Ingrams and he trying to sell again I think he will move down in that country some where he told me to rite to you and tell you that he was coming shure and I think I will come with him I think from what I have heard that is a better country than this I dont want to stay here for this is a hard country to live in and thare is no schools here to a mount to any thing for the children to go to So I want you to write to me as soon as you get this letter and tell me all about that country and what kind of schools they have thare and how long they last each year and tell how much a man can make a day thare with a team and what a man can make to work and tell me what people raises on the farm besides cotton and tell the prices of every thing thare flour pork corn cows and calves horses and mules Well linda Johnny your brother has left home and we dont know where he is he has been gon about 3 week he went off a while back and came home a gain but we havent heard from him this time he went to Snows before your pah think he has gone down in about where John Snow lives and if you know where John lives you rite to John and try and find out and if he is down
thare you try to get him to come to you and stay till his pah comes after him he may be gone up about Springfield where Sally lives She lives in North Springfield and Jim left here about 6 weeks ago to go to where Sally lives but we havent heard from him yet Well lin I would like to see you tell your feller that I would like to see him and be aquainted with him me and your pah may come before Christmas but I dont know for sertain We will come as soon as we can So you must rite soon as you get this letter Yours truly Charles E Hale to Miss M J Forest
rite soon


A letter from Malinda's father David includes a short note from her cousin Charles E. Hale. David is planning to visit Malinda in preparation of his move from Ozark County, Missouri. He writes about her sister Ruth, her stepmother Martha and he and Martha's son Eli Steadman "Sted" born 19 April 1885 which is the same year Malinda's son James was born.


Thornfield Ozark Co Mo
Nov the 11 1888
Dear daughter I seat my self to aswer your letter which we received a few days ago and was so glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well this leaves us all well at presant and I hope this will find you the same Well Lindia I want to know just where you live how fare from fort smith and in what direction rite just how I can find you I am coming down thare this Winter some time but i dont know what time i can get off tell me in your next letter what kind of a county that is down there Well linda you wanted to know whether we got that picture or not yes we got it Well Lin we have hard times here this year the crops is not good and money is scarce here We have lots of wet wather lately but it is a pretty day to day and we are at Charley Hales to day Well we are trying to get our cotton picked I am going to Springfield to see Sally She lives in Springfield Well lindia Johnny has left home and I dont know where he is he may go to Springfield and he may come down thare some where about where John Snow lives or where you live if he comes down thare take to whre you live and keep him till I come Well Linda our baby is dead he died October the thirteenth he was 14 months old when he died the children would like to see you mighty well they talk a right smart about you Well linda every thing low here except hogs they are a very good price if thare was any in country but they are scarce here Jo s folks is all well and ruth is well She is staying at old man Pleases So I will close for this time
So rite again soon
Yours truly DD Forest to Linda Forest

Well linda I well rite you a few lines I wrote to you a few days ago We are all well today and your pah and Martha and Sted come to see us today We live about 5 miles apart I think I will come down thare with Uncle Dave when he comes I dont know whether we will come before Christmas not we havent got our cotton out yet So no moon at present yours truly Charles E Hale to Linda Forest


Rutha was around 16 years old when she wrote the following to Malinda. Jimmey is Malinda's son James who had just turned three years old in October. August (Weindle) is about to become Malinda's second husband in January of 1889.

From Rutha Forest, sister of Malinda
Nov the 26 1888
Thonfield MO

I have rote you 3 letters and Jimmey one and have got no answer from you you rote to them all but me I think you must have forgot me the reason you dont write you rot to Lydia some thing a bout me coming down there and you would send me to school 6 months all you have got to do just send me money to come down and when I get down there I will pay you back dier sister please commodate me that much and I will trust you Well in return I am crazy to come to you I will do your work for you If you will send me money I will be there in one week from the time get the money I am redy to come at any time I now got me a new dres to make to war on downthere it is a moe (?) one paw said he would take me to the railroad as soon as you sent me the money to come an I cant rite much to nite for I am sleepy tho air all gone to bed but me I am staying at Pleases now dier sister send me the money as soon as you get this and I will come I wanto see Jim and you and August to kiss them for me


Lydia Forest VanMeter writes the following to her sister Malinda. Lydia is married to Joe VanMeter. She writes about their brothers William "Billey", Johnny and Jim and their sister Sarah "Sally" first child Nancy Elizabeth Denney and her own son, Willie VanMeter. All of David's children from his marriage to Mary Elizabeth have now left home.

November the 27 1888
Isabella (Ozark County, Missouri
dear sister i seat my self to write you afew lines to let you no that weair well exsept the baby i resieved your letter the other day & was glad to here from you Well linday brother Johnny has left home paw and marthey is gone to Springfield (Missouri) to take the cotten off brother Jim came home about 1 one month ago and stade 3 days and then went to sister salley in Springfield. paw said that he would bring salley home with him if she would come She has got one child 7 monthy olde his name is nancy lisedbeth deney look on the other sid (referring to page 2) olindey I want to see you and Jimey sew bad Willey can walk he is 14 months olde i think we will hav a dull Christmas here times is harde here corn is 50 cts her pur bushel i want you to let us no how much a man can make thair with a team and his self by the day or if a woman can make everything at worke Martheys baby is ded thair is none ofthe children at home now billey and marthes youngens paw and her gets along all right soimust close for this time excuse this short letter
Malinday forest
LL Vanmeter

1889
Once again Rutha is writing to Malinda asking for money. She is staying with their sister Sarah "Salley". In her letter she mentions an estate. To date there is no ---information on any estate she may have received.

February the 3 1889
dier sister
I seet my self to let you know that I am in springfield with Salley and I am seeing but little pleasure hear and I want you to send me som money and I will come to you and i will pay you as soon as i can get it if i cannot work out money enough When i get my esstate I will pay you then dier sister i think that you might help me that muc for I know that you if you write to me I will send my picture in the next letter kiss Jimmie for me and tell him that I want to see him the best in the wourld Well sister I want to know why you dont answer my letters that I wrot to you Well I will close for this time by saying write if you ever want to hear from me again
Good By
From Rutha
your sister
to address North Springfield


The following letter is not dated, but was probably written in early 1889 to Malinda and her 2nd husband August. Lydia refers to her daughter Lena Dell VanMeter as "leaney".

Mrs. Lydia Vanmeter
Springfield Mo.
dier brother and sister i seat my self drop you afew lines to let you no that we air all well ex sept leaney She is not well at present Paw is gon to ozark co Marion Haskins mother died here last Sunday and he took her down home to bery her Sister Salley lives heare in Springfield yet she is looking to be confirmed Well linday I went to seiy on sew bad I dont no what to do Paw getse $1.75 cts per day her working in the rolk cuora We will come down thair the first of august if we live to pick cotton this is a sickly place here Sister ruthey lives with brother Jim brother John caries the mail I & paw tride to get rutha to go to you when she got her money for that land but she sed she would ot rite & tell urse how times is down thair When I get aletter from you I will rite of all of the news that I no you may look for Urse for We will be thair just as soon as we can get the money to come down Willey is my baby yet thair is not prospicks of any other baby yet Willey will son be 3 years old I want you to rite just as soon as you get this letter
I want to no where paw no rite & tell me put the number of our house & the streete We liv on and then our letter will be brought to urse put this on the letter North Springfield Mo
Boone St 1218
Mrs Lydia Vanmeter
Sew I will close for this time hoping to here from you soon fail not the children ses tha want to see little Jim
from lydia L vanmeter
to Mrs MJ Windley
from Paw linday rite and we will come shore as we liv


Fort Smith Ark
March 11 89
Miss Rutha Forest,
Dear Sister
Your letter of the 14 did not come to hand till Friday last. I should have answered sooner but have not had the time.
I will send you the money in this letter hope you will get it all O. K. come at once we will meet you at the depot Saturday next come this out delay if it is concinent with you pleasr send dispatch.
This have us all well at the present and hope it will; fing you in good spirit and ready to start at your earliest oppurtunity.
The weather is now favorable and I think you will you will be pleased with Arkansas.
We do not fear but you will pay us back. You need not weary about it for iw will be all right. We are ancious to see you come.
Best Wishes from all from you Brother
August Windel

Thornfield Ozark Co Mo
May the 23 1889
Dear daughter I take this opertunity of riting to you to let you know that we are all well at present and I hope that these few lines will find you wel and doing well. Well Lin I havet got much to rite only times ir dull here and ever thing is scarce crops looks very poorley here Well lindia we have got a new girl at our house it is one month old yesterday We havent named it yet I want you to rite as soon as you get this letter and let me know how times is out there and how your crops is and tell me if there is any range in that country or not I am coming out there just
as soon as I can get off and I want to hear from you before I start I have sold everything that I aim to sell but some cows and a little house plunder Well Lin thare is nothing new here everthing dull and money is scarce rite and tell me if you hear from Rutha or not I was at Joes and Lidias yesterday and they was all well and Jo is making crop on Ralph Haskins place and I haven;t seen Jim since about the 9th of April I saw him in gainesville Jim is married he married Lerwizia Turley and he is makeing a crop over close to the Big North folk with a man by the name of Cobb Well Lindia Johnny is redeing the mail for dollars a month he hasent stayed at home none since last fall I havent put in any cind of crop I did aum to go to oaklahoma but I will not try to get out thare before fall now I will bring 2 teams and I want you and August to rite and tell me if he thinks I can get in any job that I can make any thing at or not till fall So I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon yours truly D.D. Forest

a few words from Charlie Hale dear Lindia we are all well at present and we have got a fine boy at our house her was 3 weeks old day before yesterday and we havent named him yet Well Lin tell august that I have got a rite smart sise crop for one herd but my crop dent look very well we want you and august to rite to us and tell us all the news. We dont aim to stay here longer than fall So I will close by sauing rite soon Charles E Hale


David is making final plans to leave Ozark County, Missouri. He mentions the death of his wife's mother who died 27 May 1889. A letter from Charles E Hale is also included.

Thorfield Ozark Co Mo
June the 24 1889
Dear daughter I seat my self to answer your kind letter that we received a few days ago We was glad to hear from you this leave is all well at present and I hope this will find you all well to Well Lindia we will start sometime in July or as soon as oats comes in to feed.
get feed on the road till after harvest as corn is very scarce Well Lindia John is at Joes but I dont know how long he will stay thare Well we havent heard from Rutha since last Spring only what was sent in your letter to us. I want to rite her and tell her that we are a going to move down thare Crops looks bad in this country it has been rightly wet and cold all Spring and Summer thare has not been but about aweek hot wether here yet and cotton looks like it wont make anything atall well Lindia tell august that I could tell him moor when I get to see him in a few minuits than I could rite in aweek.
Well Lin Marthas mother is dead She died the 27 of last month.
So I will bring my letter to a close for this time by saying rite soon and direct to me or Charley Hale and if we get off before the letter comes Charley will get it.
So nothing more at present yours truly
DD Forest
and family to lindia windel and August Windel

June the 24 1889
Thornfield Ozark Mo
A few lines from Charley Hale
Well Lindia and august we are all well at present and I hope this will find find you all well and doing well I have nothing of importance to rite only times hard hre and money is scarce and corn is scarce and high our crops looks very sorry we are done cutting wheat our wheat was light it will make 7 or 8 bushel to the acre Well Lindia your pah and Martha come up to see us today you must rite to us as soon as you get this letter and let us know
how you are all getting along and how your crops is out thare so nothing moor at present yours truly Charles E Hale to Lindia and August Windel


It is November of 1889 and David Forest and his 2nd wife Martha and their children have left Ozark County, Missouri. In the following letter from Lydia Forest VanMeter she includes a message to Malindas son James. This seems to indicate that David and family are living close to or with Malinda and August near Fort Smith, Arkansas.

November the 20 1889
Theodosia

Dear father
Is with greatest of pleasure that I seat my self to drop you a few lines to let you np that we air all well
paw I want you to write to us We hav bought John Walkers place We got a hundred dollars for the mairs
We will get pursession the first of Feb ruthey livs with me and Jo Well paw corn is plenty here but is
from 20 25 cts per bushell cows sell for 10 to 12 dollars head Jo is on the hoodenpile farm picking coten he is making one dollar and half perday I and ruthey is picing at home I wan to no whether you like that country or not tho sent that furgson warren to the pen for 5 years wit out even proof bill havent put his trile off and his family and his mother has gone to Winslow Jim herd has put up a new house and is selling goods againg In guber marion haskins has got a stream and mill and cotton ginn in guber Johnny is caring the mail from Gainsvile to ana Jim lives in the house with nace turley from
LL Vanmeter to DD Forest

Well marthey you said you would rite to me but you hant and I will rite to you I would love to see you all and be with you Bob Jones has come back and luise is going to liv with him hannah was here the other day for me to make her adress Jimo taber has come back to sinthry marthey I think ruthey and marion haskins will marry We sent Will Wallace after her She has him back 20 months or more dutch hurd and cooney mc culor is marrid this country had grood 2 steam ingines sens you left here from Lydia

Well Jimo I would lov to se you the best in the world the children talks about you all the time lena sed she wants sted to come back here tell linday to rite to me So I will close for this time rite to me son and often from Lydia Vanmeter to J taber ruth ses she would lik to see you Charley told me where you was

Well paw rube haskins sese please rite to him and tell him how you like that place down there

1890
It is now the summer of 1890 and David Forest and his family have moved to Choctaw Territory. This area is just across the Arkansas state line from Ft Smith. David is writing to Malinda's husband August.

Bokosha PO Indian Territory
June the 15th 1890
Mr August Winnel dier son and daughter I seat my self to drop you a few lines to let you no that we are all well and doing well and hope when this few lines carries too your hands this will find you the same Well august I wold like to bee there and help you out your wheat crop is and how all rest of the crops is down there I have got many good crops for the Spring I have 15 acres in coton and a bout 8 acres of corn our hourses is all fat and we have worked them off the grass and tha is not no ticks here there is as good grass here as we seen Well august we have got 4 cows and calves When you want to come up here comy by pages fary an parta (/) and come to Bokosha PO and every body can tell you wher I live it is about a days drive from wher you live if you could come strate threw so I will close for this time I want you to rite soon as you get this leter sana more at present yours truly from DD to Mr august winnel and family
from Martha to linda Well linda I wold like to see you the best in the world well I have got one of the prettiest babies in the world She has 5 teeth well linda we will look for you by this fall and I want you to come so bad I would like to see kate the best in the world Well linda I wald like to see tell Jim that I wald like to see him Well linda we have just got back from church today well linda I wald like to see august the best in the world well linda I want you to com up this fall shure well linda tell jim that we have got him knife here we fond it in the coton seed that ? spart thar well linda I havnt got much to sa I will close for this time rite son and often sa no more yours truly from Martha forest to Miss MJ Winnel
Joseph VanMeter writes to Augus and Malinda inquiring about jobs in thieir area and giving them the family news. Lydia writes a note at the end of the letter.

July the 9 1890
North Springfield MO
deare Sister and brother
I seat my self to drop a few lines to let you no that we ar resieved your kind and welcome letter just now and was glad to here from you. Well august I went back to Ozark co and got rutha and on our way here shy caught the measels She has bin sick for 2 weeks She is on the mend now She will come with us down thair Lydia nor the children hont had the measels yet but tho will hav now We have all been sick this summer till I havent mady enney thing yet. I rented my place for dollars and come up here to make som money but we han been sick sew much that I cont do eny thing much I am working for the electric street car company for one 150 ct per day and I will be shore to come down thair just as soon as I can make money enough to bore down thair I will rite to you whent to meeat usat the deepo rite and tell me whether I can do any good down thair or not before I come down thair. Dont no how I could get along down thair tell I here what you have to say about the crops is thair times is pretty hard here I can pick 300 pounds a day in the mountain I think I could pick 400 hundred pounds down thair If cotton is good Sew will close for this time hoping to here from you soon from Joseph S Vanmeter & family to August Windle & family
Well linday I hant got much to say I hont well I will tak with you when I come Well linday I dont like Salley at all She dont beave like a sister to me paw sis she is not like linday and rutha good by



1893

This is the final letter in the collection. It is three years later and Lydia is writing from Arkansas. In this letter she is telling Malinda that they are eligible to join the Cherokee Nation. Unfortunately she does not mention which ancestor gives them their eligibility.  To date we have been unable to locate any application for membership by any of Davids children.  There is a family oral history the relates the story that one day around 1919, Lydia, Malinda and Ruth went to apply.  They were gone all day and returned late that night having had to travel from Arkansas to Oklahoma and back.  Before they departed there was much talk of them joining the Cherokee Nation, but on their return nothing was ever said again about this.  Since no application was found it is believed that they may have learned they will ineligible for membership. 

Vanburen Ar
June the 8 1893
Malinda Wyndel
Dear sister
I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you no that I am well and I hope you the same. I was so sorry to here of the babies death but dear sister thair is a better world for all this is only atroublesome Earth. Would love to see you all. Just got back from pas tha air all well and I am so worried I dont feel like riting I am here at a hotel by my self Mr and Mrs Taylor is gone to Muldron and Mrs Sprinkel is gone to graphic and I will have to be here 8 or 10 days by myself and all I have to do is write. Most all the time I have so much riting to do. When Mrs Taylor is gon thair is lotts of people here at the hotell but tha air no company for me And I wish you would come and see me. Well linda I have got our right proved but I don’t think we will draw any money duren this council but will next. Did not get our claim through in time but you have got just as good right in the cherokee nation as anyone if you will go to it you can have all the land you want and send you children to school Sister excuse bad writing today You ask august if he is in a good humor. With me yet I would love to see him anyway kiss Jimmie for me Lena talks of him and sweet little Katie so often. Answer this just as soon as you get it si I will close for this time your truly sister LLV
Tell ader and Jane to come with you to the Nation.