This is a transcription of a letter that my grandmother had. It tells of the murder of Lewis (John Lewis) McDOWELL in McCullough County on 5/11/1868. The author of the letter is the 2nd wife of Lewis McDOWELL, Nancy (maiden name unknown). His 1st wife, Emeline TIPTON died in 1866 in McCullough County and is buried in the Cox cemetery next to Lewis McDOWELL. The letter is addressed to Lewis McDOWELL's oldest daughter Elizabeth Jane McDOWELL and her husband James Alford DYKES who were living in Gabriel Mills, Williamson County TX. The minor children of Lewis McDOWELL came to live with the DYKES family in Williamson county. There is no punctuation in the letter, but I have added "/" to indicate the breaks in the narrative that appear to be sentences. The spelling and capitalization is as close as I can manage to the original. State of Texas May the 15th 1868 Mr. James Dikes Williamson county Texas Dear Son & Daughter it is with a trimbling & aching heart that I seat my self this morning to drop you a few lines/ Dear children it greaves me to tell you that your kind father is ded/ he died last Monday well I say died he was killed/ me & him went up on Murkewater last Friday on a visit/ So our friends said lets all go down and take a dram/ So they went down to the Grocery but it was a long time before they could get him drink & then he wouldn't drink with no one but Ben Barton/ he said he was all the friend he had/ So he drank one dram after another till he got so drunk that he didn't know any thing at all/ well we was at Bartons & he was drink all night Sunday & on monday morning I seen he was goodeal better/ So he started back to the Grocery/ I told him to not go there to stay & drink some good strong coffee that making for him & then by twelve o clock we could start Home/ but he said no I will drink coffee when I come back/ So on he went but alas he never come back again/ for as he walked out of the grocery there was a dutchman standing at the corner of the house & he ran against your Pa & kicked him down & he was on his nees trying to get up when old edmonson ran to the door & shot him in the back/ This was done at close of day edmonson left that night wee dont know where he went/ but the people is after him & I hope they will get him & stretch him to the first lim they come too/ he spoke three times & said poor little orphans children was every word he said he was burried by the side of your mother. Well James we are all well excepting one of the boys has a fever / Sarah & the children is well they wanto to see you very bad/ James come as soon as you can & bring us some bread stuff if you can for we are about out & there is none in the country hardly/ Sarah say she wants you & Lizzy to come out here soon as you can & see us all & be shure & fetch some bread stuff with you/ come soon as you get this/ So I will come to a close by saying come soon & fail not. From your Mother Nancy Mcdowel Yours truly To James Dikes