The last named child just above - William Fletcher Stith, Jr., is now 79 years of age. Uncle Fletcher and Aunt Hettie Hubbard Stith celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on March 2, 1926. My husband and I were in Los Angeles, California, at the time and attended the grand fete in Long Beach on the day designated. They have four daughters all married. One son who was killed about 30 years ago left them without a male heir, which brings me to my closing thought. My younger brother John Paxton Stith, passed away May 18, 1926. Hardly a week after attending the anniversary in Long Beach, I was called to the bedside of my brother in Seattle, Washington. He left besides his immediate family, a widow and two children - a daughter 10 years of age and a son John Richard Stith, aged 7 years. This nephew of mine is the only male child left to perpetuate the Stith name in my father's direct line. I have been in communication with parties in Ekron, Kentucky, recently, only to learn that Rader Stith son of Mathias Y. Stith (No. 2 above) died without issue. Matthias Y. Stith died three years after marriage leaving the one child Rader. My father was the second son of W. F. Stith Sr., and his wife, and my father had two sons and two daughters - but my older brother has no children of his own. John Purcell Stith , the third son of my grandfather died when he was four years of age. The fourth and last son of my grandfather was my Uncle Fletcher who, as previously stated lost his only son about 30 years ago. Thus, you understand, that upon the loss of my younger brother eight years ago I decided some day I would dedicate my spare hours collecting the data for a history of my father's line to be handed down to the coming generations. I lost my own father early in life and I did not want my little nephew going through life likewise without a father and know so little about his people. He is growing into a fine looking young man and inherits so many of the Stith traits.

I have been given the information from West Point, Kentucky, that Mr. Allen Stith of Hardinsburg, Kentucky, is also well informed on the facts relative to the Stith people. It is quite probable that a letter similar to this one, will be forwarded to Mr. Allen Stith shortly.

May I apologize for the length of this letter, but to satisfactorily explain everything it seems impossible to condense it more. Hope I have not bored you.

In closing I express the hope I may hear from you and in that event your reply will be quickly relayed to Southern California where my aunt and uncle resied. They are very much enthused over the Stith history.

Cordially and sincerely,

Estie S. Crabbe