Christmas letter from Charlie McCafferty 1902

Christmas letter from Charlie McCafferty 1902

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"Dear Santa: If you please, this is what I want. A drum, a milk wagon, a Noah’s ark, a bat and ball, a blank pistol, a little elephant and fruit, nuts and some candy." — Charlie McCafferty Jr., 8
I thought it would be nice to trace the children and see where they went in life. Merry Christmas! Jane Curci [email protected]

Here is a sweet gift from the 106 years past...


Fort Worth Star-Telegram [TX], by David Casstevens

In December 1902, the Fort Worth Telegram invited its "little readers" to write to Santa Claus and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. The newspaper published the letters, several each day, sometimes on the front page. The holiday feature became a tradition for the next seven years. Back then, the world, the news media included, was less cynical. Five years earlier, when an 8-year-old girl wrote to the New York Sun and asked if Santa really existed, the editors didn’t throw her inquiry away but promptly answered with a thoughtful, eloquently written editorial. Yes, Virginia, it emphatically stated, there is a Santa Claus. "The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see." So in faith, and with love, the children mailed in their wish lists. Printed among ads for holiday chocolates (35 cents per pound) and Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp-Root Kidney, Liver and Bladder Cure, the letters spoke of a frugal time when Christmas wasn’t so commercialized, when children didn’t ask for much — a popgun, a pencil box, a train, marbles, a wash stand, a dolly "that closes her eyes." For some kids, seeing their names in print may have been the most exciting gift of all. Signed "Yours truly," "Your loving boy," "Your little friend," the missives arrived by the sackful. Some were doubtless written by parents. Others contained misspellings, authentically childlike. The polite letters have a timeless quality. Some innocent, simply stated appeals touch the heart. Here’s a sampling of what ran in the Telegram of yesteryear:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>"Dear Santa: If you please, this is what I want. A drum, a milk wagon, a Noah’s ark, a bat and ball, a blank pistol, a little elephant and fruit, nuts and some candy." — Charlie McCafferty Jr., 8

'"Dear Old Santa Claus, I read that you was at the [newspaper] office this week and wanted your pack to go down so it will not be so heavy, so I want to help you unload it. That’s all. Bye-bye." — Chessie Clements "Please come down through the chimney at 1013 West Belknap Street." — Clarence Spensley

"Bring me a doll with light hair and one with dark hair for my little sister, Aurora, so we can tell them apart. If you don’t she will break her doll and claim mine. ?.?.?.? I have been a good girl but Aurora is mean and good mixed." — Nature Fournier

"I want a nice overcoat and a pair of gloves, and a dynamite cane and 500 caps, fifteen packages of firecrackers, fifteen Roman candles. I will leave .?.?. a card of thanks on the table for all you bring. I live on the North Side, on Poverty hill, on Abrams street, near Harvey’s tavern, and nothing to eat." — Edward Abrams

"I would like you to bring me a pair of football pance and a round football .?.?." — Robert Scott

"I would like to have lots of nice things, but will be pleased and appreciate anything that dear old Santa brings." — Zora Dixon

>>>>"My letter is kinder late. ?.?.?.? I am a smart boy and a poor boy and have had a hard time. I am 12 years old. Had an operation performed on me when 9 years old and had pneumonia twice and I guess you know why I ask for a good suit. Dear good papa would get them for me if he was able. Now please bring my sweet little sister, Tallie D. something, she is 7 months old. ?.?.?.? Knock at the door when you bring my things and I will let you peep at her. Good-bye." — Flynn Davidson

"I will take a doll and buggy and some candy and nuts and think of Carrie and Howard, my little brother and sister, because our house got burned up and paps can’t buy us anything much. Am 10 years old." — Nora Brown

"I need and want so many things that I cannon decide so I will leave it to Dear Santa Claus to bring me what he has to spare. I know you have so many to give that I will appreciate anything. I will be a nice little girl and help my mamma. My papa is dead. I am 10." — Sadie May Pope

"I have been very good ever since the change of the moon and will try always to be good. Please bring me a cap pistol, a wagon and a doll apiece for my little sisters and a jumping jack for baby." — Homer Malone

"Dear Santa Claus, I am a little boy, 5 years old. I bring in wood, split kindling, go to the store and market for mamma. I know most of my letters and can count [to] twenty. Please bring me a slate and pencil, a little red wagon .?.?. also a little bank to put my pennies in. I have 105 and keep all I get. Santa, if you bring these I will be a good little boy and help mama all I can. I will leave the back door open. Kiss me before you go. Your little friend." — Virgil Moore, 933 East Terrell Ave.

DAVID CASSTEVENS, 817-390-7436



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ID: I604522925
Name: Charles Burton 'C.B.' MCCAFFERTY
Given Name: Charles Burton 'C.B.'
Surname: McCafferty
Sex: M
Birth: 14 Aug 1864 in Harrison Twp., Daviess Co., Indiana
Death: 31 Mar 1909 in Ft Worth, Tarrant, Texas
Burial: Apr 1909 W. Oakwood Cemetery, Ft. Worth, Tarrant, Texas
Occupation: Clerk with the T & P Railroad
Event: Occupation #2 Unknown Freight Agent for the Rock Island Railroad in Fort Worth, Texas
Event: Land-Meridian/Survey Unknown N 1/2 10 BBB & C
Event: Land-Acres Unknown 320
Event: Land-Document No. Unknown File #17923, Class: School Cert. # 155
Event: Land-Township Unknown Jones Co., Bexar; Milam
Note:
REFN: 1190
The following is research done by Donna H. Donnell:
1892-1893 Forth Worth City Directory:
McCafferty, Charles B.-Night Watchman, Joint Freight Depot, r. 1108 Monroe
.
1894-1895 Fort Worth City Directory:
McCafferty, Chas. B.-Trucker-Ft. Worth & Denver Rwy, r. NW corner of Luel
la & Stedman.
1896-1897 Fort Worth City Directory:
McCafferty, Chas. B.-Truckman Fort Worth & Denver Rwy., r. H.G. Morton.
1900 Rockwall Tax Roll gives C.B. McCafferty as paying taxes on 7/8 acre v
alued at $300.00. He also paid taxes on tools or machinery valued at $20.
00. The total value of estate was $320.00.
Copied from gravestone in West Oakwood Cemetery, Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., T
exas:
(Emblem of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen is engraved at the top of t
he stone, facing East.)
CHAS. B. MCCAFFERTY, SR.
Born Aug. 14, 1864
Died Mar. 31, 1909
Asleep with Jesus,
faithful soul rest at last.


Father: George Washington MCCAFFERTY b: 21 Dec 1830 in Harrison Twp., Daviess Co., Indiana
Mother: Mary Asdelina Elizabeth RODDICK b: 1833 in Indiana

Marriage 1 Martha Isabella 'Lillie Belle' MORTON b: 3 Aug 1866 in Murphreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee
Married: 7 Feb 1887 in Parker Co., Texas 1
Note: REFN985
Children
Mabel Adell MCCAFFERTY b: 31 Dec 1887 in Royce City, Texas
William Burton, Rev. MCCAFFERTY b: 17 Nov 1889 in Royse City, Texas
>> Charles Jesse MCCAFFERTY b: 17 Jun 1892 in Ft Worth, Tarrant, Texas
Dolores Adeline MCCAFFERTY b: 23 Feb 1896 in Humphrey Farm, Hunt Co., Texas
Hallie Lea MCCAFFERTY b: 15 Jun 1898 in Ft Worth, Tarrant, Texas
Charles Barton MCCAFFERTY b: 30 Sep 1900 in Rockwall, Texas
Laura Bella MCCAFFERTY b: 23 Jan 1907 in Ft Worth, Tarrant, Texas

Sources:
Title: Parker Co., Texas Marriage Records 1874 - 1889
Page: By Weldon I. Hudson