Here is a letter from Rev. Gus Hall to Claiborne II.  Dated Sept. 23rd, 1961.  The transcription is below, followed by the images.

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167 Hernanay St,

Jackson, Miss., Sept. 23, 1961.

My dear Claiborne:

It is wonderful to have you to address me as “Dear Cousin,” but it would be more wonderful for you to say “Dear Gus.” Your dear letter thrilled me yesterday. I was afraid that you might have been disgusted at the long letter that I had sent you. And note the above date. I am reminded that 71 years ago today I landed in Sylverena, Smith Co., Miss. to enter H.S. and how thrilled I was to don the Sgt’s uniform. What a difference today. Prof. Walter J. Huddleston was at the head of the school and I lived in his home. His brother J. F. Huddleston was a lawyer in Williamsburg. Did I ever tell you that in April after I was born in Jan. 1874 that there became a vacancy in the Chancery and circuit clerk office (the two were combined) that was to be duly filled by the chancery judge. To fill the vacancy that occurred in office, vacated by the Hon. Judge McGowen of Westville, Simpson Co., appointed my father to the combined office. So the first 18 years of my life was spent at Williamsburg. He was in the Civil War for three years. My grandfather Dr. A.H. Hall, with his M.A. from University of Ed. and M.D. from Yale, had a nice home and farm, many slaves at Mt. Carmel, but for some cause he moved to Monticello for a few years. (my grandmother died and buried there). When my father came

home from the war, slaves owning was nothing for a young man to do. Grandfather told him to go to that house at Monticello and try to get some work elsewhere to stay with. He had soon secured some work under Sandy McDonald’s widow, had a lip-year long and carried his bride to Mt. Carmel where he farmed until appointed clerk of Covington Co. which office he held for 18 years, until 1892. Then he moved to Hattiesburg and was with the big store of Bensler Poaster, the deputy chancery clerk of the third Perry Co. Then mayor of H’burg for many years. My mother died in 1895 Dec. 15. He then went back to Covington Co. to get his 2nd wife, Elvira Willey, and they had no children. Rent married Rev. W. S. Bryan, now of Jackson, Ga. Their eldest son Wright Jr. was pastor of Columbia Pres. Ch. now y Brizard in Jackson. Amelia living in San Antonio, Texas. (Since learning of your kinship etc., I know that you have time to try to read my writing.) These are not your kin, but I relate. Just think you were born at Prentiss, Smith Co., in 1881, and in Aug. 1901 I was called to the Smith Co. Group of churches. Taught Calvary, Oak Hill and Bethel. I suspect that Dr. Patton G. was with your mother when you were born. His son Dr. W. S. Patton was there when I moved to Prentiss and I was great pals. At his request, I went back to conduct his funeral as I had his wife’s in 1926. My son Will A. Jr. was born there and Dr. W. S. Patton was with us. I lived at Prentiss from Aug. 1901 till July 1908 when I moved to Magee. I am going to Prentiss tomorrow to preach. I preach there every 4th Sunday. This same old church that I began my ministry in 60 years ago.

Glad that you told me of Cousin Mary being in the Fisherville home. I hope to see her on my way from Trenton tomorrow P.M. I’ll tell her how you got it writing etc. I began preaching at old Philadelphia Presb. Ch. in Braxton, Miss. in 1917. Held a week’s meeting there and got 8 members. My friend, Rev. Rogers is now at Brookhaven, will get his church and a copy of the minutes of that meeting. I have supplied and still preach there. I was there a few weeks ago. Philadelphia Ch. is in the McRae’s community for 11 miles, hard service and they are my friends. This is in Waggoner Co. from Waynesboro. I suspect I was going there when Cousin Claiborne lived there, not knowing that we were kin. I want us to go to Covington County together. I know every foot trail. Dry Creek Presb. Ch. was organized after Uncle Hugh McD. left there. I know the Laurin Magee place. Uncle Sam McDonald (Sandy’s son) raised his family in L. Magee lands. Cousin Walter Magee’s home friend L. Magee’s land. He married Rachel McNair, daughter of Cousin John E. McNair, and lived in Brookhaven. He moved to Brookhaven from Dry Creek. There was no marker put to my grandparents’ grave at Catherine McNair Cemetery, three miles from Mt. Olive. Now listen, when you come to see Cousin Mary, don’t go to a hotel. I have plenty of room for you and your driver. Are you the son of Ed Whaley. Whaley kin was the late Anderson Whaley who lived near New Bright. He and my father were great friends. My youngest brother was named for him and cousin Walter Magee. Walter Anderson Hall.

Anderson Whaley was a good man and raised a fine family. I visited him in his last days.

If you and Ed should get to Covington Co. before you come here to Cousin Mary, let me know. I can go to Collins by bus and meet you there. I am afraid that we have awaited too late to find much kin. I have never seen the McDonald name in any of the cemeteries in Covington Co. and there’s kind of funeral in all of them. If Emmett Magee can’t help us, I don’t know of any older person who can. He is Laurin Magee’s grandson - a fine man. If you come to Jackson in your car, I would go with you to Covington.
And you were married at Lumberton. I have known H. C. Yazoo all my life. His wife was a sister to Mrs. Huddleston with whom I boarded at Sylverena. She was there much of the time. She and my sister Mary were at Mt. L. W. together. I was to have a girl that I visited there. Mary Welch was pretty but fine. Were Mr. Harry Barner and Mrs. Barbara W. Nims there before your day? in Lumberton? They left Lumberton (near).

I know that you know brother Trisman. His wife and I are kinsmen, but I never knew them until 3 three years ago. I supplied in Howard Williams at the Petal Presb. Ch. on Sunday. The H’burg paper announced that I’d preach at Petal - Love - Mabel read about it last night and decided to drive up there and hear me.

As I entered the church Mabel met me and said, “Are you related to Dr. A.H. Hall?” “Ralph, grandson.” “Are you related to Evans?” “Ralph, a son!” She said he was my cousin, sister’s children.” My father’s mother was Mary Ann Evans. Mrs. Evans’s mother was Courtney Evans who married Francis Hampton. They had visited them a year ago next Sunday. I went to Mt. Olive, and Mrs. Graham Calhoun, Etha Fetchberry Hampton carried me to Lumberton. Mabel had all her kin from Tylertown, 18 yrs. for dinner. I spent the night with them and preached in the Meth. Ch. The H. Trismans are next. Their daughter married a Meth preacher, now pastor at Greenwood. So you see how near we have been, not to meet. My sister Lucy Hall Dunbar has lived and reared her family in Slidell since 1890. My father and mother had 13 children. 10 of us lived to be grown. Five are living. Lucy in Slidell and Nora and Willa, but widows - married brothers Cryer and Walker Cryer. Then my father and Miss Elvira had his daughter. Their mother died when they were 8 & 10, and came to my home in Magee. They do not seem as sisters but children. They and their families are fond of me as I am of them.

I thank you for the pictures and write-ups. I just hope that it is not going to be too long before I can meet them.

Love, Gus

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