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2048 Oak Avenue
Port Arthur, Texas 77640
March 17, 1983
Lorna Lutes Sylvester
Acting Editor
Indiana Magazine of History
Ballantine Hall 742
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Dear Mrs. Sylvester:
Thank you for your letter of March 11th and your interest.
Enclosed is a copy of Edith Wilson Sutherlin's personal
diary. We have the original account and several years ago typed
it up and made copies to each of the nine grandchildren and
their families. We have enjoyed it very much.
For your information - Edith was born June 17, 1884,
in Russellville; her husband, Edgar, was born October 27, 1883,
in Ladoga. The children in the diary are Maurine, age 9 in 1917;
and now Mrs. Ted McElroy of Austin, Texas; and, Waneta, who was
three in October 1917; and, is now Mrs. Chesley Bowman of San
Antonio, Texas. My husband, James, was not born until 1925.
The Sutherlins moved to Texas in 1911 and Edgar owned his own
jewelry store in Port Arthur until 1954.
As you have probably guessed by now - we are "addicted"
to family research and have uncovered many interesting stories
about our early families in Indiana. Also enclosed is a copy of
the story of "Blind Billy", which was one of our discoveries.
Edgar's father was Dr. James F. Sutherlin who graduated
from Indiana Medical School in the 1870's ( we have his parchment
diplomas) and practiced medicine in Ladoga until his death in 1902.
Edgar's mother was Cordellia Brown, daughter of Captain J.A. Brown
of the Brown Biscuit Company in Indianapolis. Cordellia's family
was very disappointed because she married a struggling doctor. I'm
sure there is a good story there but my search for more of the
Brown family has temporarily come to a dead end.
"Blind Billy" was Edith's grandfather - I have some excellent
photos of him if you are interested; also, some snapshots of the
Indiana trip.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Sutherlin
