November 5, 1929

Alabama City, Ala.
Route #1
Nov. 5, 1929

Dearest Sweetheart:

Answering the letter I received from my sweetheart which I was very glad to get.  Say honey I don’t think hard of you for answering my letter so soon.  I am sorry I don’t answer your letters that quick.  No Ruby I don’t mind a little thing like that and I believe you love me like you say you do so I need not worry.  Yes dear, I really meant that question I ask you but we will decide later about the date.  I would be much happier if we had a home of our own.  My home is comfortable and pleasant some time.  Anyway I would be happier with you as my housekeeper.  You can believe me or not but you are the only girl I would have for I love you dearly.  Ruby dear, I hope we can go to my grandmother’s Sun.  It is her birthday and she is 88 years old.  I want you to go so the family reunion will be complete.  Ha ha.  That be right for some these days before long you will be part of the family, ha ha.  You know, I sure do hope so any how.

All these days we have gone through, but all the days that are yet to come.  And then look back and think of the happiness we have won.

Well Baby I better hush for it is slumber time for me, so bye bye sweetheart.

Yours forever if you wish with love,
Leslie

PS
Are we going to the party Friday night?  I would be glad to carry you.  If nothing happen, I am going. (Smack *heart drawn* Goodnight)

November 4, 1929

Nov. 4, 1929
Ala. City, ALa
Route #1

Dearest Sweetheart;

I will answer your letter which I was very glad to get and am very sorry I didn’t answer sooner.  Sweetheart, how are you at this time?  Sweet as ever.  I know you didn’t get to go anywhere Sunday, that just too bad.  We’ll go somewhere next Sunday if nothing don’t happen.  Oh, yes do you still love me like you used to?  Ha ha.  I thought I would ask for I haven’t ask you in a long time.  You said something about being jealous.  You are not by yourself.  I am jealous about that Purcell girl, her name is Ruby, ha ha.  The reason of that is I love you like nobody else can.  Say sweetheart, when are you and I going to get M_______?  A cold ha ha ha ha.  You know it won’t be long til Xmas.  I wonder what Santa Claus is going to bring me, ha.  You know what I said I wanted but that too much to ask of him.  Maybe he will bring you next Xmas.  Hope so anyhow.  I wonder what makes me love you.  Oh yes, I know because you are so sweet in your looks adn your way.  You make me happy from day to day.  I love you lots.  I love you worlds for you are my sweetheart, my only girl.

Well I will close for the period is nearly up so bye bye sweetheart.  

With lots, just worlds of love and yours if you want me,
Leslie

PS
A kiss to you, smack..ha ha

October 30, 1929

Oct 30 1929
At School
Third Period

Dearest Sweetheart:

I am not mad and wasn’t mad yesterday.  I was just worried.  Well, you speaking of troubles.  I have them too.  I am sorry you are heartbroken.  It hurts me for I love you so much.  And if you leave, I will kill myself unless you promise you will wait for me.  I would go with you, but look what a great responsibility I have driving the school bus.  I would hate to leave them without a driver, but I would for I love you.  I think you can understand my troubles.  I understand yours, I think. Couldn’t blame you for leaving.  Ruby may I come over tonight?  Will it be alright?  I want to talk with you.

Bye Bye Honey
Yours,
Leslie

PS
Answer your next study hall, please.  No dear I won’t think hard of you for writing.  I am glad you wrote. Always write or tell me your troubles and I will help you all I can.  Sure I will forgive you.

October 1, 1929

Alabama City, Ala
Route #1
Oct. 1, 1929

Dearest Sweetheart:

I will answer the letter I got from my sweetie and was more than glad to get it.  Always glad to get a letter from Ruby.  No, Ruby I haven’t carried those fines yet, but I will today.  I sure hope they are good.  Yes Dear, Wilbur and I are planning on going to Anniston, but not to see any girls.  I only want to go for your sake so you could see the place and would have already visited these small towns before we go on our--------you-know-what.  Don t you Ruby?  Anyway you could guess, but I better not talk too much for you wouldnt’ have me, but if I find my way we would go in about two years.  Well, I guess you think I am crazy but I can’t help it.  I really love you as my darling wife.  I have dreamed of that Ruby and Oh how I hope it will come true.  Ruby, I am jealous of you which I guess you have noticed.  Yes it pays sometimes, Ruby Dear.  You said you just give me two years till I be married.  Well, you  think you’ll be ready by that time...ha ha.  I know you wouldn’t have me, just teasing of course.  That is if you take it that way, ha ha.  Anyway somebody will be lucky if they get a nice, lovely girl like you.  Oh my, I wish I was lucky. Oh well, it won’t be that long till Sunday.  I wonder if you let me come over to see my sweetheart which is you, of course.  Well, you promise you be just my sweetheart?  And I am sure I be just your sweetheart, that is if you will let me, ha ha.  

You know I got knocked cold as an iceberg, but I’m alright now.  Sure was bad about the wreck that my friend had yesterday on the side of the mt.  Sorry for him.  I’ve got a heart for everybody.  He was a nice boy.  I  like him very much.  Well, so much for that.  Ruby Dear, I have went with a few more girls beside  you and you are the choice of the majority.  I love your looks, your ways and oh a smile from you helps me very much.  Oh yes, your poems sure were cute.  Ruby Dear, I must tell you you won’t have any trouble getting me now.  You have won my heart.  But if I only knew I could get you for my wife, some of these days two or three years any how.  We are quite young yet but about two or three years wouldn’t be bad for us to unite.  No one knows about our love affairs but Leslie and Ruby.  I guess you think I am fast, but I have a good reason for that.  Guess you are tired of reading such junk so I will close as it is time to hit the hay, fodder or feathers so bye bye, sweetheart.

With lots of love and hoping kisses everyday,
Leslie
(Look on other side)

PS
To you a kiss “smack”

August 1, 1929

August 1, 1929

Ala. City, ALa.
Route # 1

Dearest Ruby:

I will answer your letter which I was more than glad to get.  Well, Ruby I hope you will get over your trip soon.  Very glad you had a good time.  I enjoyed myself very much.  We will go again some day, hope so any way.  Ruby dear, you know I don’t like to say bad things about any girl, which I try not to.  My aim is to be nice and respectable to any girl.  But I have one thing to say that she has the wrong idea of the mishaps and trouble that is happening.  If she will consider things before talking it would help her in many way, but as it is poor business, I think.  Just have to let her talk, but no such business for me.  I think very little of a girl that would do you that way.  I don’t care for her.  Just went with her to past off time.  But I go with you because I have learned to love you.  I am jealous of you , can’t help it.  If you are with me we will try to make the best of it we can.  If true thoughts and happiness were in everybody this would be a world of joy to everyone.  The battle is hard but I am trying to reach the goal with a clear mind, sweet thoughts and a smiling face.  Everybody is my friend and I want to be everybody’s friend, hoping the future will be a better life for us.  Will tell you more later.

Bye Bye
With worlds of love,
Old Leslie

PS  But I can’t go with her any more.  I am not happy with her.  You are the happiness of my life for I love you best.

Dear Ruby:

Now to you I’m loving for I love you most
If my love to you was water it would go from coast to coast.
But as I go alone the roadside and see the flowers bloom,
It reminds me of the night I met you, just some time in June.
I am longing for you darlin, and hoping your love is true.
Thinking that some day our life will begin anew.

True

Leslie V. Watson

July 2, 1929

702 Elmwood Ave.
Gadsden, Ala
July 2, 1929

My Dear Ruby:

I will answer your letter which I was glad to get.  Would have wrote sooner but you know how it is on Monday nights...have to drill.  Well I hope you are O.K.  I am very sorry I made you mad but I just love you.  I hope it will be O.K. for I promise you I would not go.  Honest, I won’t go.

“Love is good but Oh how
Bitter to love a girl and
the can’t kiss her.”

Ruby, maybe I have been a draw back to your happiness in life.   I am sorry if I have.  Sorry I mistreated you.  I didn’t mean to.  If you knew how broken-hearted I was Sunday.  Oh my, it’s terrible.  It’s hard, Ruby Dear, but I don’t mind that for I love you.  Well, I will quit so good-bye.

From “Old Leslie”, the one who loves you best.

PS
See you soon.

June 18, 1929

By this time, Leslie had turned 16 and Ruby was still 14 years old. I love the promises made by my grandfather in this one: a ring, a wristwatch and a "chawk cat" which I suspect is a phonetic spelling of "chalk" but am not sure. If anyone can tell me what a "chawk" or "chalk" cat is or was in 1929, I'd love know.  This is also the first letter that mentions marriage. Apparentl,y it had been mentioned before in conversation and Ruby was somewhat hesitant, no doubt because of her young age.

Gadsden, Ala

702 Elmwood Ave
June 18, 1929

My Dear Ruby:

I received your letter and which was glad to hear from you.  No dear, I haven’t forsaken you and hope not to.  I was sorry I didn’t write you sooner, but I have been so busy that I haven’t had time.  Dear, I will explain to you later about how I have acted which I am sorry of.  Yes, I still love you and always will as I have said before.  That is one of the promises I will try to keep.  I love you as much as I ever did or more.  I like you more than a friend.  My dear, I want to call you my sweetheart now and maybe some day I will call you my dear wife.  Which don’t agree with you, but I hope and pray to God that my wish will come true.  I’ll tell you the truth, Ruby.  If you loved me like love you there be a wedding in a year or two.  I will tell you the promises.  You know I promise the ring I gave you.  I promise you a wrist watch and one of those chawk (sp?) cats.  I will try to keep them.  Ruby you know I am hard to understand things.  I take things different than they really are but things will change for I understand you better.  I know I have missed lots of things and haven’t done lots of things, but I see my mistake now.  Which I will try to recover soon.  I don’t give up for I would fight for you. You may love another, but you are the only one in my heart.  Well, I will quit as I have to go to work early in the morning so I will close.

Lots of love and hoping kisses.  Your friend,
“Old” Leslie

PS
Day are dark and sky
are blue but remember my
darling I have lots of love for
you.

June 11, 1929

702 Elmwood Ave.
Gadsden, Ala.
June 11, 1929
Dear Ruby:
You are no doubt surprise to get a letter but I just had to write you to let you know that I still love you.  And would be happy if I knew that you loved me.  You know, a brown-eyed boy is hard to win and hard to lose.  Well, I am still in hopes of winning back my loss.  When I lost you I lost the pleasure of my life.  But I hope to be happy again with you, Dear.  I guess you heard about Thurston and Mae bust up Sunday.  Too bad but it will happen.  Don’t forget I am going to keep promises.  I hope you are learning to love me more each day, which I can’t help but love you.  My Dear Ruby, you don’t know how blue I am, but that will grow old.  But you will never grow old to me..bear that in mind.  Will hope to see you soon.  Maybe Thursday night if it’s alright.  If not, tell me about it when you answer my letter please.  Well, bye bye, Honey.  

With worlds of love.  
From your friend,
LV Watson or ________

PS
(Answer soon)
If water was love
my love to you
would be a big as
the ocean.

Inside of envelope: To Miss Ruby Purcell from the one who loves you best. LVW

January 6, 1929

Several of the next posts will be a series of letters written by my grandfather to my grandmother when they were courting. We begin in early 1929 when he was only 15 and she had just turned 14.

Ruby Purcell, 1930

Leslie Watson, 1930

Alabama City, Ala
Route # 1
January 6, 1929

Dearest Sweetheart:

Yes dear I will write more regular too for I don’t get to see you as much as I use to.  I sure do hate that.  Oh, yes sweetheart I sure did have a good time Sunday and hope to have some more good times with you dear.  Why sure I let you drive again.  You couldn’t help the sudden turn...ha ha.  If you let me come up to see you Wednesday night I will ask if you may go with me to Lois’s.  Ruby dear nobody can beat your time, so don’t worry I am the one to worry, but I don’t believe you turn me down, at least you said you wouldn’t.  Anyway, I love you truly deep down in my heart.  Ruby, I know I am jealous of you but can’t help it.  I guess I am too jealous but it is just because I think lots and lots of you.  Just love you with all of my heart.  Do you think Santa Clause will give me my Ruby next Xmas?  I hope so any way.  Say Ruby how would you like to live in Akron, Ohio?  I believe I would like it alright that is if you lived with me.  Oh, my I wish school was out for if this half of term don’t rush over I might die on purpose.  I guess you are tired of reading this junk so I’ll quit.

Bye Bye Sweetheart.  
With worlds and worlds of love,
Leslie

PS
May I come up to see you tomorrow night?  Answer soon.

"Preacher-Man"

“Leslie Watson has milked a cow, made sorghum and hoboed on a train, all the things he thinks a man must do before he can say he has really lived.  He has also found time to preach the Gospel and put out newspapers.”

Thus began the newspaper article in the Anniston Star about my paternal grandfather and thus begins my journey into the life and legacy of Leslie Watson.  While I knew him as a sweet man who pulled quarters out of my ears, gave me candy and was willing to play “Ride a Little Pony...” for hours, I always knew there was more than met the eye.  My grandfather came from humble beginnings, and quite frankly, never quite left them.   In his mind, I think he saw himself as a failure.  He never made lots of money or worked for a big name newspaper.  In fact, he never even finished high school....although he never stopped gaining an education.  

To really understand my grandfather, we have to go back to 1913.  Leslie was born on May 5 of that year near the banks of Black Creek on Lookout Mt. in rural Etowah County, Alabama.  He was the second son and third child born to Willie and Lovie Watson.  Willie was a railroad foreman for L&N and the son of mixed blood Cherokees.  He was a tough man in his dealings with the world, but he also had a soft side, especially when it came to his wife and family.  

The Watson Family....Leslie is the baby.

When Leslie was a toddler, his family moved to Village Springs where the L&N had a station.  This community is located in southern Jefferson County near the border of Blount County.  Sometime before1930, the family moved back to Etowah County.  In the 1930 census they are living on Old Keener Rd. in Reece City which was on Lookout Mt., just a few miles from his birthplace.  Leslie and his siblings attended Etowah School.  When he was 15, he got a job driving the school bus.  On his route, there was a pretty little 13 year old girl with dark, curly hair and dimples.  Her name was Ruby Purcell and she was a sweet, soft spoken young woman who captured his attention immediately.  One day there was no room on the bus except the front seat.  It was Leslie’s lucky day.  Their courtship began in 1928 and they were married 2 years later at the tender ages of 15 and 17.    

After their marriage, Leslie had to quit school and make money to support he and his wife.  Jobs were pretty scarce in 1930, so he and his brother-in-law rode the rails from Gadsden to Miami, FL looking for work.  At one point, they were so desperate they ate cold biscuits and clabbered milk and slept on park benches...when they could find them.  Many people were doing the same thing and at one point, there were over 80 hoboes in two small freight cars.  It was just one memory of that time that he would carry for the rest of his life. 

Ruby and Leslie Watson

Finally, things got a little better and he was able to come back home and found work as a "printer’s devil" on a weekly newspaper near home.  It wasn’t much, but it was a place to start.  In the Anniston Star article, he called himself an “all around country editor, a man who could do whatever needed to be done on a small weekly.”  He eventually moved up to being in charge of such a newspaper called “The Bledsonian” in Pikesville, Tennessee.  He “ran the show” there for 3 years in the late 30’s, driving back and forth between his home in Alabama. Over the 40 years that followed, he worked as a compositor, pressman, stereotyper, ad salesman, reporter, editor and publisher at many small papers. He also completed divinity courses via correspondence and was preaching at different rural churches throughout the county, earning him the nickname “Preacher” at the newspaper.  However, he never left Lookout Mt. and never moved from the 2 room house he’d built with his own hands.  Along the way, he and Ruby had 3 boys...Bill, Jerry and Robert, my father. After their deaths, an old shoebox of love letters spanning the late 1920's and early 1930's was found. It was quite enchanting to be able to see my grandparents as teenagers in love. The next several posts will be some of those letters. I hope you all enjoy reading them as much as I have.

Leslie and Ruby and their boys.

School Days, 1924

This is my grandfather, Leslie Watson, and his fourth grade class.  This picture was taken in 1924.  He is the 4th from the left, second row from the top.