1900 Letter from Wilton to his Mama

In July 1900 young Wilton Booksh boarded the Texas & Pacific Railroad in New Orleans to visit his Booksh relatives in Grosse Tete, Louisiana. On July 16 he wrote his mother this letter:

Letter in pencil from Wilton Tisdale Booksh to his mother Belle Tisdale Booksh with child's railroad ticket #646 Texas & Pacific Railway, written July 16,1900, and envelope stamped New Orleans July 15, 1900.

Transcription:

                                                                                                Bookshville La

                                                                                                July 16 1900

Dear Mama,

        I arrived here safe and sound, uncle Fred met me and I took dinner at uncle Freds house and then went down to uncle Georges and told them all helo and now I am at uncle Cabe's. Many says thanks for buying his autoharp. On the way up the conducter didnt take my ticket and you will find it in this letter. Tell Frank and all the rest of the boys that

[Page 2] I am going on a fish fry Friday and come back the next day. I caught three perc h today with my little line and a turtle bit the hook off. Manny told me to tell you that he has learned two peaces. This evening Manny and I are going away down the creek fishing. As I came up the Morgan and the T and P had a race and the frunt of her engine came about twenty five yds. from our back platform of the sleeper. Cousin Carrie says pleas send a patent

[Page 3] over that keeps people from working.

                                                                                            byby

                                                                                            from Wilton

P.S. Send some stamps. The freight agent punched two holes in my ticket when I checked my valise.

The people listed in Wilton's letter are:

    Uncle Fred - Frederick Scott Booksh (1858-1914), brother of Wilton's father

    Uncle George - George Washington Booksh (1851-1928), brother of Wilton's father

    Uncle Cabe /Clabe - Thomas Claiborne Booksh (1846-1902), brother of Wilton's father

    Cousin Manny - George Emanuel Booksh (1887-1967), son of Claiborrne Booksh

    Cousin Carrie - Carrie Belle Booksh (1873-1949), daughter of Claiborne Booksh

In the 1900 U.S. Census there are five Booksh families listed in the Grosse Tete area:

Charles Edouard (1838-1911) – Living with second wife Presidia Meyer in Belle Place, Iberia Parish. They were married 30 Oct 1888 in New Orleans. He had eight children with his first wife Mary Adelaide Crain.

Joseph Edgard (1842-1913) – Living with wife Zepharine Daigre and three daughters in Grosse Tete. He had seven children with his first wife, Elizabeth Adelaide Crain.

Thomas Claiborne (1846-1908) – Living with wife Erefile Joffrion and five of their seven children in Grosse Tete.

George Washington (1851-1928) – Living with wife Francis Effie Brooks and nine of their children in Grosse Tete.

Frederick Scott Booksh (1858-1914) – Living with wife Mary Emma Wallace and her daughter Kinta Duffel in Grosse Tete..

It's no wonder Wilton referred to the village as Bookshville.