1948

Source: From Rubottom Family in America, Volume 1, by Thomas W. Rubottom

Note: All street addresses have been omitted for privacy reasons.

Dear Mrs. Mac Q. Williamson,

Yours of the 15th received. Inote all you have learned from other Rubottom's as to H. W. Rubottom of San Diego, California. I can trace his lienage back to an uncle of my father, Lafayette Rubottom; Simon Rubottom, a brother, and only brother of my Grandfather; Ezekiel Rubottom. Lafayette born in 1824 is my father and son of Ezekiel Rubottom. In 1804 Ezekiel and Simon and their wives and kinsmen left North Carolina in a train of 20 wagons or more, starting to what is known as the Louisana Purchase. They all traveled in a body, but when they came as far as Indiana, Simon and wife said she would not go any farther west among the Indians.

The train stoped only a short time. Ezekiel, the leader of the emegrants seperated, coming on west of the Mississippi River and located in what is now Wayne County Missouri. My Grandfather Ezekiel Rubottom settled on the west side of the St. Francois River. Lived until his death in 1860. My father died in 1903, up to his death, never heard from his uncle Simon who stopped in Indiana. In 1905 I got in touch with a Rubottom that lived, at that date, in Mount Vernon, Illinois. I had correspondence with one Frank Rubottom and his father who lived near Vandaeia, Illinois. Later I visited Frank and his father Samuel and another son Edd and a daughter, all living in Illinois.

I soon could trace relationship. Samuel was a son of Simon Rubottom who dident come on west. Frank now lives in Uvalde and we are together quit a bit. I read your letter to him. He said he had an uncle who left for California in 1870 and never heard from or any of his family.

Now as to what H. W. Rubottom has to say about Uncle Bill Rubottom, who once lived in Sparta, California. * Up to 1875 uncle Bill had never seen or heard of any of Simon Rubottom family. I was twelve years old when uncle Bill came back to Wayne County, Missouri and spent six months, mostly at my father's home. I listened to all that uncle Bill had to say about his past life. He had been away from all of his relatives, except his own brother Ezekiel, he was dead, leaving his wodow and two sons. He had lost track of the two sons and their mother.

As to the character of Uncle Bill, the winter of 1941, myself and wife, Frank Rubottom, my cousin that now lives in Uvalde, made an auto trip to Sountern California, and spent two weeks in California. I had three nephews living in Long Beach ** Wife had cousins in Hollywood. While in Long Beach I read from the history of California some very interesting sayings about uncle Bill Rubottom. He was highly spoken of and was called Uncle Bill, as one of the best honored citizens among early settlers of Southern California

While there we visited Sparta and in the home of one of the closest neighbors of Uncle Bill, a Mrs. Frye, who knew Uncle Bill. She was eighty nine when we were there, she said he was highly respected. She had known him since childhood. I had a picture taken from a negative of inn where Uncle Bill lived in the early days. It is enlarged, I have it framed in my home. Mrs. Frye's son had the copy with many others. We stood at the tombs of Uncle Bill and wife Aunt Sarah and had pictures taken.

Sparta is now, has only one store and post office and the site of the house that Uncle Bill live in is only marked by two large tall palms. Theland is in an orange grove. I enjoyed so much our short stay in California, but I failed to see more of Uncle Bill's family, Uncle Bill had a grandson that came to Missouri in 1875 with him. His name was Kewen Dorsey. He was five years older then I, born in 1858. I have a daughter living in Los Angeles and one in Washington D. C. And about your daughter of the revolution. My daughter is Mrs. J. B. Orkie, wrote me to give some relatives who fought in the Revolution, I gave her the name of Great Grandfather, Simon Rubottom, who fought under General Green. I dont remember of other relatives, that was in the Revolution. As to Wade Rubottom, he is descendant of my fathers brother, Simon Rubottom. My uncle Simon Rubottom was born in Wayne County, Missouri. He married Eliza Wisecarver. They had one daughter and five sons. The boys were William L., Ezekiel, Richard M., (A lawyer), Oscar, Benjamin. They were born and lived to manhood near Popular Bluff, Missouri. Uncle Simon was a Doctor.

As to the opossom story in 1875 uncle Bill told my father; California hasent an opossum, so I want a box of opossum to start them in my; "Missouri Park". So my father and I caught two pairs of opposum and built cages for them and I fed them to give them plenty of flesh to make the trip to California. Father shipped them to Uncle Bill at Sparta, California. They got there safely. My father went out to California in 1876 and the opposum had commence to multiply. My nephew say there are lots of opposum in California.

Who was your Mother?

Will you answer and in the meantime I will get any other information. Will you give the address of the Rubottom you have located in California. With best of 1948 for you and your mother.
Richard M. Rubottom