Hi. I'm Hurshel Debord. Here is a letter sent to me by a fellow researcher in NC. It was written from Morehead in 1893 and has lots of info of interest to historians and genealogists. Elizabeth Russell, P.O. Box 2101, Sanford NC 27331 sent me a letter in Aug 1999 that contained Zerox copies of a Bible record for the Boaz and Ezra DeBorde's family. Presumably the Bible belonged to Mary Boaz's parents. Elizabeth Russell also sent me a copy a letter that was found in that family Bible. NOTE by HLD: The writer of the letter, W. C. Debord, was almost certainly William Columbus Debord (1877-1921) s/o Wm and gs of Gedion who never married and died in Rowan Co in 1921. He is buried in the Franklin Caudill Cem on Dry Creek Road in Rowan. The recipent of the letter was his cousin T. C. DeBorde in Trap Hill NC who was almost certainly Thomas Charles DeBorde s/o Ezra and gs of Gedion Debord. The handwriting was very legible and the spelling was better than mine. I have tried to transcribe the letter exactly as it was written; except I had a little trouble transcribing some of the symbols. The letter was two small pages written front and back and every square inch was utilized, suggesting that paper was a valuable commodity in 1893. Following is H. L. Debord's transcription of that letter. Morehead, Ky June 25, 1893 Dear Cousin and Relatives in general: It is with great pleasure that I take up my pen this morning to write a few lines to you in answer to your kind letter which I recieved yesterday. I scarely dared to hope that you would condescend to answer my letter after my tardiness in answering your last missive. This leaves us in tolerable health and I must sincerely trust that these lines will reach you and find you all well. I have nothing of very absorbing interest to write to you. More than I would like to see you all the best ????. page 2 Last Wednesday (21) we were visited by the worst rainstorm known in this section for years. In less than an hour every little rivulet was transformed into a raging torrent which swept everything in its path. Much damage was done to fences and growing crops. At Francis Fraley's farm, on the Ridge about 4 miles from here; on Monday evening, two men named Frank Templeman and David Kendall were overcome by gas while working in a 38 foot well and both were taken out dead. They were burried in the same grave on Thursday. A man named Cox was terribly mangled by a saw mill while working at Wm Cooper's saw mill near here on Monday evening, and died four page 3 hours later. His remains were taken to his home near Bloomington KY. Well, cousin, I suppose, I must close the list of casualities, for fear of promoting nightmare in you. Markets here: Corn 65 (symbol for cents). Flour $2. @ 3.00 per cwt Bacon 10 @? 12 1/2 (symbol for cents) per pound ??. I was very glad to recieve a description of Trap Hill as Geography is my particular hobby. We live some six miles from Morehead. It is quite a business place containing 13 stores, 4 hotels, 4 physicians; 5 lawyers, a livery stable, a printing office. publishing the Morehead Times (weekly) a furniture factory. ?? More Tanbark and staves are shipped from Morehead than any other station on the railroad. There are more saw mills in this county than you can Page 4 shake a stick at. You wanted to know if I knew anything about the rebellious acts of the Roman Catholics. We take Louisville and Augusta papers, but have not read anything about the Catholics lately except a church riot at Ft Wayne Ind. It however is the opinion of eminent Divines? and others that the Church of Rome will sometime attempt the overthrow of the United States for ???. Should they attempt it, I am satisfied that our huge war on sea monsters with Uncle Sam's boys on land would effectually quall it. So I will close by asking you to write soon. Your Cousin W. C. Deborde to: T. C. De Borde.