September 5, 1908

This has been an interesting week. I've receiving great help from two readers, Kay and Nancy. Kay has sent me census records showing Bessie and her parents in Missouri in 1910 and then later did some digging to find them in Washington in 1920. Nancy found Bessie and Clinton's burial location in Loomis, Washington. I so appreciate these acts of generosity from you two. This was my first week back to work at school and to be honest I haven't had much energy to do extra research.

I notice in the 1920 census records that Clinton and Bessie are 37 and 36 respectively and they had no children. It makes me wonder if they ever had a family of their own.

There is a pretty good gap between these last two letters. In the April, 1908 letter Clint writes of trying to get his corn in the ground fighting rain and wet fields, while in this Sept. 1908 letter he write about it being time to cut the corn and his surprise at how well it did despite the lack of rain. It must have been an interesting summer, but there aren't any letters that survived to tell us about it. Darn! Also in this letter it becomes clearer that Bessie is indeed planning on becoming a teacher. Clint is happy she has not taken a position further south, which I surmise would have taken her further from him than he would have liked.

Again, if you have questions or comments don't hesitate to email me at oktwigsATgmailDOTcom.

Hematite, Mo.
Sept. 5, 1908
after Sab.

Miss Bessie Barnhart
Osceola, Mo.

Dear Sister,

The Sabbath being past I gladly reply to your ever welcome letter which I received Friday morning. I am always glad to write to you and receive an early reply.

May the Lord guide you in deciding your school affairs, and use you to his glory, is my sincere desire.

I will be more anxious about you if you leave home, more so than I would if you remained at home, because I know your folks will care for you better than outsiders. But if you do leave home I know God will care for you. "if in all our ways you acknowledge him." Prov. 3:6

Yes, Bessie I do know you have a reason for not going south to teach and I rejoice that God has permitted you to be so minded toward me, but do as you think the Lord would have you do, he will bring everything around for the best although we may not see his purpose clearly.

If I am not mistaken, I told you in the same letter in which I said mother had gone to St. Louis, that she returned and my sister had gone home. See if I did, for I may only imagine tht I told you.

My sister left her 9 year old boy with us so that if mother had to go to St. Louis he could stay with my brother when I was away.

My brother had intended going to St. Louis last Wednesday but he was so ill that he could not go. He feels pretty good one day and very ill the next day.

He is that way about religion. Sometimes he is of a mind to give up all for Jesus and again he is more or less rebellious but I feel certain that he is growing more and more sincere as time passes.

How often I have wished I could make everything so plain that he would not waver from the Lord.

He has set his mind on going the 8th but just now (a minute ago) said that if he feels then, like does now he will not go.

Of late he lies down considerable during the day.

Grandma is a bit weaker than she was, but about the same otherwise.

I will finish this in the morning before I go to town. Good night.

It is now 7:00 O'c the 6th and a beautiful morning.

I will soon have corn cutting to do. I am surprised at how well the corn has done that your father gave me, when I consider the small amount of rain it received. I find the yellow a week or two earlier in matureing than the white.

Thinking of nothing of interest to write I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon and that Lord will bless you in every respect.

I remain your true and affectionate friend in Christ Jesus.

C.E. Rowe

"Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless." "and account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation" +++++ beware less ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." 2 Pet. 3:14, 15, & 17.