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Note: Some pages from letters form Bronna Chapman O'Neal Dad (Simeon Chapman) never saw his Bro's Henry and Jesse again, after he came back to MO. And rarely heard from them(that was over 70 or 71 years). But they wrote Maby 6 or 8 times & sent 2 or 3 pictures. Uncle Jesse looked so much like dad in his picture. Uncle Scott was more heavy. Dad had beautiful dark blue eyes and his hair almost silver color as I remember, and quite a temper. Don't remember to much about Uncle Scott. I was young when he died. But he was kind and good. Dad was a cowboy for a while. Grandma Emily, got some government land and when she started going blind, Dad brought her back to Cainsville, MO. She was buried at Grandpa Chris's side. Dad, Uncle Scott, and uncle Linc rarely ever mentioned their Dad Chris. But did mention their mother Emily J. A real hard worker, kind and so good to them all, and had such a hard life. I do hope you can sort this all out and use some of i Dad loved his mother very much, and dad too, but it always brought tears to his eyes to speak of his dad, as he was so young when he was killed. When I was about 10 yrs old, I went to visit a cousin (on Moms side) about 1 1/2 mi from us, and Moms half Uncle(Sam Crowley) and she told me Grandpa Chris was buried alive, as when they opened his grave to bury their son Billy by him, the grave diggers all took a peak, and grandpa's whiskers had grown quite a lot. I was frightened so went home, ran all the way too, and ask mom and dad about this. With tears in dads eyes he said no it was impossible, as he was in such a shape. He said his dad was a heavy man, and the flesh had shrunk and there fore the whiskers came up. In later years I heard he had his head blown off. Of course dad couldn't bare to talk of this Grandpa Chris and Grandma Emily J. ran the county home for aged, a while.(the Harrison Co. Home).Had a colored mammy helping out. Then when on his farm, Grandpa Chris traveled a lot. Emily worked on farm, did chores and all. My Dad (Sineon Bird) was so small his mother had to put him in a feed trough in the manger to keep cows and horses from tramping on him at first. Some of the boys were working out. Scott married(first time) at age 16, so my father said. Lincoln married at age 18, Jessie, not much on him. My dad, Bird and his mom traveled on emigrant train To California(cost $12.00 each). I forgot how long it took to make the trip. But it was a long time. I think dad got on half fair he was so smal Source: Cooper Family Bible; Census Records Source: 1880 Census Clay Twp., Harrison Co., MO image 15 Chapman Scott19LaborerMOKYKY Missouri20Keeping houseMOININ Martha C. 2MO Source: 1900 Census Marion Twp., Harrison Co., MO image 10 ED 105 108-108Chapman, ScottApr 1862 38MOOHMOCarpenter Fannie E.Oct 1877 22MOIAMO Alva L.Oct 1891 8MOMOMO WilmaJun 1894 5MOMOMO BasilJul 1895 4MOMOMO Samuel M.Dec 1898 1MOMOMO
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