LETTERS FROM WILLIAM JACOB WOLFF TO MABEL ADAMS BROWN --

Letters from my great-grandfather to my great-grandmother, written more than 113 years ago.
 

Houston, Texas
April 26, 1890

My darling girl --
It is unnecessary to tell you that your letter was appreciated, for you know already that my greatest pleasure is hearing from you.  Well, Miss Mabel, as we doubtless would not know each other better by longer delaying, what I for some time have been so anxious to ask you, I will plainly and in a blunt way give myself over to your disposal. No doubt you will think this is uncalled for, yet I trust you will consider it a still greater evidence of my love for you which you have been told of so often before.  To love and think of you is associated with every real pleasure and to think that I could have a companion through life so dear to me as you, one whom I could look to as a pure, sweet and noble girl, would be a treasure that would command my every effort to please and make happy.

May I now ask if you can find love enough in your heart as to give me that sweet privilege and consent of calling you my own?   Please give me your plain and decisive answer.  I would not make one single proposition of this nature that it would not make me happy to fulfill.  I would not ask the love of one whom I could not love in return.  I would not have you judge my people by me for of all that would cause me shame to relate - is that I reflect least credit to the name.

I do not consider myself so "very fortunate" when I fail to hear from you in a week.  So I shall with much impatience look forward to the time I will stop in Vicksburg, Miss., c/o Pacific House, when I trust your answer will be formed.

With all my love, I am ever your devoted
Will J. Wolff

(On a scrap of paper found with this marriage proposal is written in William Jacob Wolff's distinctive handwriting):

April 26th - P    (proposed)
May 10th - nothing definite
May 14th - accepted.
May 18th - took measure of finger.

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Rural Hall, NC
July 12, 1890

My dear Mabel -
To treat you as you deserve to be treated, I would not write you a line, neither would I object in the least to the absence that must follow.  Have I been else but patient, kind and devoted?  If so, I know not when.  I am unwilling to lay aside the confidence I have in you and while I feel that you have been very unkind to me in not writing still I cannot doubt but that you have had some reason for so doing which I trust you will explain.  Yesterday, I was very suddenly informed that it was necessary for some one to go South on special business and as Mr. _____ (Lewis?) does not care to go out again this season, I am to double up and make his trip as well as my own which will keep me out for almost six weeks or two months.  The only regret that I have to express is that I will not see you unless I can get through in time to reach Winston this AM, and if I find a letter from you I'll come to Piedmont Springs regardless of what time I start South.  If I understood your uncalled for neglect I would not go to Winston until Monday, as it is if I do not see you again I leave my love and my heart with you and if you are true to me all will come right.  While I am the one that is made to suffer, yet I will do anything for your sake and if you can say that you have complied with your feelings in showing me indifference then I can only say that I have never before so keenly felt any unkindness shown me.  I saw Mr. Pollard in Winston Thursday, when first I met him I was with Miss Ima M_______, who with Miss Hill came by the factory to have me go with them over to the club rooms.  I saw him afterwards and sent you a message which I hope has been delivered.  Please write me the day
you receive this c/o C. Wellborn c/o Charleston, S.C. as I leave Monday morning unless I find a letter at Winston.

Hastily, your devoted
Will
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Nashville, Tenn
July 8, 1891
My darling girl -
Your letter of 5th inst. rec'd this morning and let me assure you I do not think I ever appreciated a letter more.  I will leave for Birmingham tomorrow night will no doubt reach Columbus, Ga. by Sunday - so you will please write me then, c/o Rankin House.  You know when I left you said if I would stay over Thursday night you did not care if I stayed a day or two longer, so I will try and fix it so I will not have to go out again so very soon but it seems to me that this has been already one of the longest trips I ever made but I suppose it is from the fact that I want to see my sweetheart so bad.  After next Monday, please write me to Macon, Ga. c/o Brown House as I will be there until last of next week work through (illegible).  Don't I wish the time was here.  Sweetheart, why is it that you will not answer any of my questions?  Never mind, I will pay you back for it sometime.  Well, I must quit, with all my love, I am

Always your devoted
Will
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August 15, 1891
My precious Mabel -
Yours of 13th just rec'd and had it not been for your letter I would have left without the bible as the clerk had not put it in my box.  What is it you want me to get for you sweetheart?  Don't you know I would with pleasure get you anything I possibly could?  So write me not later than Tuesday c/o Kimball House, Atlanta, Ga. what it is and I will get it and send to you or bring it, just as you prefer.  Sweetheart, I had an awful dream about you last night and as many of my dreams, (illegible) me, I cannot for a moment think such a cruel fate as this will befall me.  I am sorry that you have been feeling so bad, please do not forget your promise and send for Dr. Gray if you feel so very stupid and anything like a dizzy feeling in your head.  I am coming home to you just as soon as I can and am sorry that I must be kept away in this way -- but what "can't be cured must be endured," so they say and it is no use to continually remind ourselves of all the unpleasantness that we have to bear.  Tomorrow Sunday - a long letter then from Columbus, c/o Kimball, Atlanta after Tuesday.  With all my love and kisses