Individual Details

Marriage

Rene Prouty writes from Daleville to her brother C. W. in San Francisco to come home in a letter written June 15, 1921 - "Do you suppose you could manage to come the last of this month? If you want to see your little sister Bess “Prouty” any more, you will have to come before then, for if nothing happens, she will be Mrs. C.A. Graham the 30 of this month."

On July 3rd, Mama writes to her son C.W., "...Our Bessie has gone, she was very quietly married Thursday evening at 6.30 O’clock and went away with Mr. Graham for their home near Quitman, they spent Thursday night in Meridian going on to Quitman next day.
               Our Bessie looked very sweet, very serious and very pretty. We miss her but if she is happy we must be content. ..."

And on July 12 Mama wrote "I’ve heard from Dora – Bess twice since she went away. She seems very, very happy and of course He is the finest, “bestest” ever. In fact the only one to her. God grant that she may be always happy for our Bess deserves the very best life can hold. We are very lonely here at home without her but it is but natural for people to marry, it has been done since the beginning and will continue thro all time, first thing I know you will be married. That is all right Son Mama wouldn’t “cut up” if you did. My children are all I have to care for and their happiness is dearer to me than life itself."

Interestingly, C.W. had married Olive last September, but still hadn't told his family. Bess's marriage finally gets him to open up. Bess writes to Charles on July 13, 1921:

Dear Brother:-
               Your letter received several days ago. Of course I was somewhat surprised to know that you got ahead of me. Polly let me read the last letter she had gotten from you before I left home so I was prepared for something of the kind. But I had no idea that you had been married all these months. How could you keep so silent on such an important subject? I am glad, if you both are happy, for now you have someone to take care of you and everyone needs someone to take care of them, don’t they?
               I thank you and Olive for your kind advice. I shall try to profit by it.
               And the little spoons are just as pretty and nice as can be. We thank you both very much for them. It was so sweet of you to send “Little Bess” something.
               Alman says tell you to have some pictures made and we will swap with you. We are going to have some made nexttime we go to town.
               When are you going to bring your wife to see us? I wish you would some day. I know she is sweet and nice “n’everything”to have so completely won the heart of my brother.
               I wish you could know Alman. I know you would like him fine. He is so good to your “little sister Bess.” And his people are just as sweet to me as can be. We are in the house with his father and mother for a while. Alman is thinking of teaching next winter and tho’t it best not to build just now, as we would have to leave everything if he did. And of course that would not be best.
               Thanking you and Olive again for the beautiful present and for you kind advice.
               Your same Little sister Bess.
Don’t forget the pictures, for we do want one very much.
My address is Quitman Route 5. Alman’s initals are C. A. Don’t wait so long to write again.

Census (family)

418, 444, Graham, Alman, Head, rent, MW 32, married at age 24, AL AL AL, Farmer general farm
Dora, wife, FW 33, M-25, MS MS MS, none
Willie P. Daughter, FW 6, single MS AL MS
Alman, Son, MW, 5 single, MS AL MA
James, Son, MW 3 0/12, single MS AL MS
Thomas L, Son, MW, 2 1/12, single MS AL MS

Census (family)

wife Dora C Graham F 45 Mississippi
head C Alman Graham M 43 Alabama
daughter Wiilie Pauline Graham F 16 Mississippi
son Carlin A Graham M 15 Mississippi
son James C Graham M 13 Mississippi
son Tomas L Graham M 11 Mississippi
son Curtis H Graham M 8 Mississippi

Census (family)

2 miles on left
Carlin A Graham, Head, WM, 52, Alabama, High School teacher History, County School
Dora Graham, Wife, WF, 54, Mississippi