Some time ago we talked on list about Clarke County families we went out to Texas in the late 1870s. I had always been told that my Davis/Grayson relatives came to Texas when my grandfather was a year old (1877). Recently I found a letter from my grandfather's sister, Clara Jane Davis, written in March, 1880, to her half-sister, Susan Emma Evans Johnson (mother of Judge Albert S. Johnson of Clarke Co.). The letter includes some of Clara's impressions of Texas, and I thought it might be of interest to others who had families going O.T.T. at this time. I gather from this letter that my family's move to Texas must have been in very early 1880 or perhaps late 1879. Nancy Harwood Houston, TX Rockdale, Milam Co. Texas March 16, 1880 Dear Sue: Your letter of the 13th of feb was received a few days ago. We were sorry to hear that you had not been well since we left. You say if you eat it makes you sick if you don't eat you are sick. I think if you will come to Texas you will be well and eat a plenty, for everybody tells us that we will not be here a year before we will eat raw-hide. I don't think though we will get quite that bad. You say Georgia-Anna says she is living in a house that has seven glass windows tell her that I saw she is not the only one in Texas that is living in a house with glass windows we are living in one that has five. We live twelve miles from Mr. Allen and Lee six miles from Rockdale. there is one thing I did not like about this part of Texas at first that is I had no pine to start fires with but I have learned to start them with Post Oak first just as well. There is not much good water in this County. We have the best I have drank since I have been in Texas and it is about a quarter of a mile from the house. The best water we have here are mudholes. Mr. Lee uses that kind altogether. Tell Uncle William that Texas will suit him exactly. There is any kind of water you can mention here except good water. There is a great deal more wood in Milam than in Clarke, principally Oak. There is no pine. We have not got all of our crop planted yet. We have two acres of oats up and looking fine and Pa has got 8 acres of corn land ready and has two more to bed. He would have got his corn planted this week if it had not have rained. It rained last Saturday and Sunday so much that he could not plow at all. This week we have roasting ears up and have irish potatoes planted but they are not up yet. We have got the garden planted and have some vegetables up. I will close as I have no news of any importance. Excuse bad writting for it is night and the boys are bothering me so I can hardly write atal. Write soon to your affectionate sister, Clara