Box 414 - Delleker, Calif.

May 26, 1937.

Mrs. L.N. .Whitfield
1519 - Blue Grass Ave.,
Louisville, Kentucky.

My dear Mrs. Whitfield:

     Through the courtesy and kindness of Miss Mary E. Moorman of Yangchow China, I obtained year address, and the information that your father Mr. Griffith Stith might be able to give me a few highlights on the Stith Family. While many of my letters during the past five years have been forwarded to Louisville and many other parts of your State, still, you probably never heard of the work I have been engaged in. Let me properly introduce myself, then proceed. 

     My maiden name - Estie M. Stith. I was born near Carthage, Missouri. March 12, 1887, the third of four children of James Richard Stith & Ophelia Haynes Stith. My mother was known as Missie Haynes before her marriage to my father in 1881. She was born in Breckenridge County, Kentucky, January 17, 1866, a daughter of William Washington Haynes & Elizabeth Woolfolk Haynes. Mother still survives and resides in Seattle, Washington. My father was born in Jasper County, Missouri, June 11, 1847, a son of William Fletcher Stith, Sr., & Malinda Purcell Stith. Father died in Carthage on January 10, 1892, when I was a small child. 

      For the past five years I have been assembling the data preparatory to writing the history and genealogy of my mother's and father's people - Haynes and Stith respectively.  A questionnaire is enclosed for your convenience.   Before asking one particular question of your father, let me carry the generations back a little further on my father's side of the House. My paternal grandfather William Fletcher Stith, Sr., was a son of Richard L. Stith and the first wife Elizabeth Ann Jordan Stith. Richard L. Stith was known more familiarly as "Little Dickie" Stith to distinguish him from his uncle Richard Stith, Jr.  From here let me give you the family record of the early Meade County, Kentucky, Stith Family, from which I am descended and undoubtedly your father also.

Richard Stith, Senior, born 1727, m. Lucy Hall in 1756. Issue:

1. Ann, b. Nov. 12, 1767.
2. JOSEPH, b. Sept. 6, 1759. Captain & Ensign in Revolution. (My gr.-gr. grandfather. He m. Nancy Cooke.)
3. Lucy, b. March 12, l761. M. William Jordan. (Parents of Elizabeth Ann Jordan who m. my gr.grandfather Richard L. Stith.) In other words I am descended from two of the children of Richard Stith, Senior, and his wife Lucy Hall.
4. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 25, 1762.
5. Mary, b. Nov. 12, 1764.
6. Benjamin, b. Aug. 25, 1766.
7. Thomas, b. Oct. 8, 1768.
8. John, b. Dec. 27, 1770.
9. Katherine, b. May 28, 1773.
10. Martha, b. May 8, 1775.
11. William, b. Oct. 8, 1777.
12. Richard, Jr., b. Dec. 9, 1778.

      If you will refer for a moment to questionnaire, you will note that my great-grandfather Richard L. Stith was born in 1786. At the bottom of preceding page you will observe that Richard Stith, Jr., was born in 1778.  It is conceded in our line that my great-grandfather Richard L. Stith (son of Joseph & Nancy Cooke Stith) was named for this uncle who was only eight years older than the nephew.

       But to continue.  The eighth child of Richard Stith, Senior, as you will also note was John Stith, born Dec . 27, 1770. Not long ago I received the verification from Washington, D.C. of the Revolutionary War record of my great-great-grandfather Captain Joseph Stith. This came from the Veterans' Administration Bureau. They had on record the names of Joseph's children, and one of these was named John Stith, born January 21, 1790.  Some months later I received a copy of the Hardaway Family Tree from Texas, and noted that Lucy Ann Hardaway (dau. of  Drury Hardaway & Ann Stith Hardaway) married Rev. Jack Stith.  Previously, I had received a long record from Mrs. Frances Fast of New York City stating John Stith son of Richard Stith Senior was the minister who performed so many marriages uniting so many Stith cousins. Apparently, from the Hardaway Family Tree, the John Stith, son of Joseph & Nancy Cooke Stith, was the ''marrying parson."  Can you give me any particulars on this subject?

       To make matters a little more complicated, I have on record a Dr. John Stith of Big Spring, Kentucky.  According to the record sent me months ago by Mrs. Carrie Tarpley of Vine Grove, Kentucky, this Dr. John Stith married Susan Hightower of Lexington, Kentucky. Their daughter Jane Stith married "Little" Henry Haynes, son of Millner Haynes & Nancy Pate Haynes. Said Millner Haynes is the youngest brother my Haynes' history deals. Many times throughout both my histories the Haynes' and Stith' Families cross through marriage.

     When Miss Moorman wrote me of your father, I looked through my records to find that name of Griffith. I found instead the name of Griffin Stith and wondered if he were a descendant of this man.  Miss Mary Moorman is a descendant of Mary Haynes b. 1808, sister to my grandfather William Washington Haynes.  Mary Haynes (called Polly) married William White Moorman in 1826.  A son James Moorman was the father of Miss Mary.

     I close my letter with the hope I may hear from you or your father, and sincerely trust he will be able to give me the identification of John Stith, minister.

Cordially and Sincerely yours,

signed,

Estie S. Crabbe

QUESTIONNAIRE

      It is important that each head of a family writing for this history give full name of father and maiden name of mother. Full names of both paternal and maternal grandparents are desired; dates of birth, marriage and death if possible.  Place of birth, marriage and death (town or city - county -State of each) would save children of future generations much time and effort tracing their ancestry. (The writer specks from experience.)
1. Any children married? If so, give fu11 name of husband or wife, date and place of birth, marriage and children of said union with dates and places of birth. When possible to do so, give full names of parents of son-in-law or daughter-in-law with important notes of these allied families. Children inherit traits from both father and mother, and for this outstanding reason all allied families of Haynes and Stith descendants, will receive considerable comment. (The Haynes history will be a separate copy from that of the Stith.) (If full details requested above cannot be furnished, by no means hesitate to write any information at hand, if same is authentic. Oftentimes, the slightest clue will lead to a great wealth of information; this has al-ready happened in many instances with excellent results.)
2. Have you any ancient documents or records proving our ancestors were engaged in the Revolutionary War, of which a copy may be procured? Any ancient Wills or documents which would be of interest to all descendants and of which a copy may be made? If you possess authentic facts, give full account of exploits of our forebears during early American days.
3. Did any member or members of your immediate family line serve in the Civil War? Can you relate anything regarding this service - what regiment, etc.?
4. Did any member or members of your immediate family serve in the World War? In what capacity? What battles engaged in, How long did they serve?Any important incidents with which they were connected relative to World War - please relate same if you have the facts.
5. Are any of your children graduates of any schools? Any collages? Teachers or professors of any schools or colleges?
6. Any particular profession aside from institutions of learning? (Any items of interest other than those which deal with matters mentioned in this questionnaire, will be gratefully received at address given below.)

HAYNES - STITH

      This may be considered an international broadcast to all 1 descendants of William, John, Henry and Millner Haynes - four brothers born in Bedford County, Virginia, before the 19th. Century, to come forward and contribute their share in the writing of this history and genealogy. If you are a descendant of Richard L. Stith, born Jan. 26, 1786, and his 1st. wife Elizabeth Ann Jordan Stith, born July 1. 1788, or his 2nd. wife Sarah Sprigg, born Feb., 1796, please come forward with your family information.

A cordial invitation is extended to all - you are urged to take part.

      The writer takes this occasion to thank all those who have helped so graciously and contributed so generously with Haynes and Stith data within the past four years.

Former address -                                       Present address - Mrs. B.F.Crabbe
Portola, California.                                                                Box 414
                                                                                            Delleker, California.