A. B. Riddle Letter

1895: Copy of letter from Rev. A. B. to his son by his first wife, Rebecca Holland Byrd. Their daughter, Laura Ruth Byrd is the grandmother of Evelyn Tippet Sims, whose mother, Elnita Tippet Sims is Laura Ruth Byrd's daughter. The letter was obtained through Malcolm Redding and his wife, Evelyn Tippet Sims Redding:

My own Sweet precious boy,
No tongue can tell the Sweet pleasure that thrills through my heart as I am Writing to my Dear Sweet Boy Whom I have loved So long and for Whom I have prayed So often and So earnestly. You Wonder how I can say this and yet it is true.

I loved you all and it nearly killed me to have to leave you, yet it seemed to me that I had to leave you. I fell into a trap, did Wrong, Was disgraced, Badly treated, persecuted, publicly disgraced, My life threatened and Worst of all I lost the affection and confidence of the only Woman Who ever loved me, and Whom I believe to be one of the best Women in the World and she accused me of something of Which I was not guilty and treated me coldly in my own house.

This rendered me unhappy at home. Though I had done Wrong if she had clung to and been kind to me I might have been saved for I loved her dearly. God Bless you my Dear Sweet Christian boy. I am Speaking of your dear Sweet Mother and God Bless her for I Shall always love her and may God Bless you for loving her.

My Sweet Boy, I cannot write now my heart is too full. Though I am generally systematic and social to be almost faultless in my compositions I am rackity and disjointed now, but you Wished me to Speak freely. I am doing this from an honest heart though I would not cause your pure young heart one pang of sorrow. Please forgive me if I do this. I am only telling a bad tale that must be told. I fell into a trap I got out of or there's no such a thing as repentance. I determined by the help of the Lord to try to do Better.

Though I was reckless when I married I began to try to do better. I was Honorable and Virtuous, yet as a poor guilty Sinner I was miserable. I prayed to my God in his Infinite mercy to forgive my Sins and restore unto me again the Joy of his Salvation. I humbly trust that the lord heard my prayer and forgave me all for the Sake of Christ. Once more I had the Sweet hope of heaven Which I used to feel When I played with you and Sang little songs for you and prayed in my home With your dear Sweet Mother and the Children around me.

 I joined the Missionary Baptist church While I was teaching in the City of Geneva, Geneva Co Ala in 1880. But long before this I was trying to live right, and warn of the fearful consequences of Sin. I again felt my self called to preach, was ordained and became pastor of church of my membership. I am still pastor of the same church.

I have sometimes had as many as five churches, have preached all over this (area) as tried to serve the lord and do right in everything. I have been teaching public schools here about 20 years, have as many friends as any man ever had and this evening would rather die than do wrong.

I thought your Mother was no longer among the living - thought this till I read your letter, then a new thought came. My soul is precious. I must not Sin. I must forsake my present W. (wife) yet I must work for her and my little children. This I am doing.

My home is no Satisfaction to me. Married Dec. 1875 Viola Collins then aged 18. Children Lelia Sue 18 y 10 months John Madison 16 y 4 months Charles Dawson 14 y 7 m Albert Curry 12 y 3 m Ada Cleveland 10 y 10 m Simon Benjamin 8 y 4 m Raymond Osborn 6 y 3 1/2 m Ina May 3 y 4 m Edwin Bertie 1 y 10 m.

You see I am writing freely because I know you love me. Your first letter made me Sorry it contained a threat. Why did you limit till 20 June. Your last letter was full of affection. So much like my Sweet little boy. I read it and kissed it and prayed and Wept over it. Many Christians pray for me, but it is so sweet to think that the poor little deserted boy forgives and prays for me. God bless you for that letter. It Made me So happy.

If the deed was reestablished it is allright. I know nothing of it. I had some papers and a likeness of my Self but I certainly did not bring off the Deed. Please let me know about Cary and Sarah Where and how they died. Also about their children. You might get my likeness if you can find Jeff's sister S.E.B. Let me know how many children she had and what became of her.

Do not let them know about me. You must have heard of me from the turpentine man little Bird Mobley. He is in this County and has been telling that he knew me, that my name was not Riddle and that I left a family there. Let me know if your Mother has been deceased or married again. I would write more now if I had time. Direct as before to Prof. Riddles Bonifay Holmes Co Fla. God Bless you my sweet boy    

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