John, It will be my intent to send you whatever I have that will fill in the gaps from Granville, to the present day. Mike Preston, Texas June 4th 1859 Mr & Mrs Shannon I have taken my seat to try to write you a few lines on a subject that I am at a loss to know how to comence. I will try to write a few lines as the mail leaves this morning for McKiney. We have been looking for some of you for several days, but we learned from Mr Brown that you had never reciv our letters. I also sent word by him for you both to come as soon as posible as Mary was very low and wish to see you very much, but alas it is to late now. She lies a corpes. She left us on yesterday evening about 3 oclock. She was in hir right mind until about one hour before hir death. Please excuse me for the present as my mind is not in a situation to write on any thing else but try to come down as I wish to see you, this is one of the most trying times I have ever met with. the babes and the rest of the little ones are well do come soon Yours Truly John S Latta page 2 We recvd 2 letters from Alvarado by the last mail which Mary was able to read before she was taken so bad the others she could not read It is strange that you have never recvd my letters from John Stewart Latta who married Mary Jane , Granville Shannon's eldest dau.