These receipts are part of Ina’s effort to sell off the cattle from the Dove family farm in Mississippi, which she and Walter had inherited. Ina later gave the land to her three sons, who finished switching the property from cattle ranching and mixed farming to tree farming for lumber and paper pulp. It remains a sustainable tree farm; proceeds from it have helped put three generations of Doves through college.
July 24, 1961
After inheriting the Dove family farm in Mississippi, Walter and his sister started managing it. This letter marks the beginning of tree harvesting on the place. Walter’s three sons eventually turned the entire property – just over 700 acres – into a sustainable tree farm for lumber and pulp. It still operates that way today.
July 16, 1956
Friday Nite
Sept. 11, 1925.
Dearest Sweetheart:
This evening we carried Claudelle to a banquet at the Sunshine Dining Room given by the Methodist sunday school in honor of the students of the church who are leaving for college. While she was there Mama and I visited. We have just returned and she reports a very delightful evening.
September 11, 1925 (Ina)
I suppose Dr. White left you yesterday. I can imagine you in deepest mourning today. Even though the latter part of his stay was more pleasant for you than the first, I’ll venture to say that you shed not a tear when you bade him goodbye and you feel a strange sweet sense of freedom today. You’ve had my sympathy all along, and I am so glad that you will not be burdened with him and his queer notions and habits any more. I imagine he was sorry to leave the work down there.
We had a letter today from Mama’s youngest sister, Mrs. L.W. Brister, who lives in Bogue Chitto, our old home town. She says that it has been a very prosperous year for most of the people in that part of the state. She says that most of the farmers made a wonderful cotton crop, and the way she expressed it “everyone is smiling and buying a Ford.” Her brother-in-law is in the Ford business there. We would be pleased to have a little bit of their rain and prosperity out here just now.
No doubt you will be leaving in a few days on your trip down the state. I am sure it will be interesting and you will enjoy it. I am looking forward to your reports on it from time to time.
I still love you, Sweetheart, just as much as ever, and, if possible, some more. I don’t think it would be possible for one person to love another more than I do you.
Always, your
Ina.