[Following is a letter from Thomas Smith Stokeley, to his sister Fannie Lillian (Stokely) Brown of Woodford Co., KY. The letter mentions their brother, George Marion Stokely, Thomas' wife, Elizabeth (Olivey?) and his daughter Florence. It explains the various spellings of the family name: Stokely, Stokley and Stokeley.]

Cleveland, Ohio

May 16, 1940

Mrs. Durand Brown:

Dear Sister and family:

Received your letter and will answer right away quick.

Am glad all of you are well and that Durand is up going around again.

Work is scarce everywhere, but it should be plentiful for all.

You asked for my wifes (Elizabeths) address. Her address is: Mrs. Thos. S. Stokeley, Gladden Heights, McDonald, Pa.

There might be a mixup in how we all spell our last name. Our grandady and all except our Dad spelled it Stokley - But our Dad spelled the name Stokely - it was spelled that way when he recorded our names in the bible. I understand that Bessie tore out the bible records - I don't know what for. Dad changed the letter e to the other side of the l because grand dad's people were opening his letters (by mistake?) and, sometimes, didn't even give it to him, when the mistake ? was discovered - so he changed the spelling for our family.

When I went to Pennsylvania to work, I learned that there were families up there who spelled it Stokeley - so I thought that looked better, and used the same letter on both sides of the l - so ever since then I wrote my name Stokeley, and Elizabeth spells it that way, also, as we were married under that name - But outside of how she spells the name I can sign it either way to correspond with Marion's Dad's name. Marion spells it Stokley - yet Dad spelled the name Stokely. Dad was a school trustee in district# 27 and he had to sign reports to the school supt about the school and it was spelled Stokely. So if the lawyer or judge wants to know - you can tell them altho, any way the name is spelled on the deed I can spell it that way also - The Deed might be in the name, Stokely, too, as Dad signed his name that way - take a look. If it is, explain it to Marion. If Elizabeth signs the name Stokeley, one of the e's could be scratched out, on either side of the l.

I haven't written to Elizabeth but once in 8 years - I never liked the way they treated me and caused me to live away from Florence nearly all her life - I haven't been with Florence much since she was 3 years old, when I lost my job with a street car company, after nearly getting killed in an accident. I had to work anywhere I could get work and board anywhere, while Elizabeth and Florence lived with the Mother in law - Mrs. Olivey.

I haven't seen any of them for 8 years - since I lost my last job because I was past 50 years old - I am 62 now, in July. 18 more years before I will get a pension. Elizabeth is 8 years younger than I am, she does the housework for her Mother. Elizabeth's sister, Margaret, writes to me about once in 2 months and sends me a one dollar bill once in a while. Margaret is a clerk in a department store, and have to ride a train 18 miles every day, to and from work in Pittsburgh- and of course train fare cost money, too. She has clerked in that store for a good many years - riding 18 miles, twice every day - after a hard days work, and early morning - winter and summer.

You can sign my name down there with the notary public, and save the trouble of sending the deed up here - if a notary has to witness each signature, he will charge, at least, a dollar each. If all the signatures could be signed before one notary it would only cost 1.00 if you could just get permission from each of us, and a lawyer sign the names for each of us, before a notary. I guess that would be lawful and would only cost 1.00 plus the lawyers fee.

I will write and explain to Elizabeth. She is cranky because I didn't buy us a home for ourselves.

Best wishes to all.

T. S. S.

contact Dave Sanders davesanders@fuse.net