Sep 30, 2021 - Sale 2580

Sale 2580 - Lot 277

Price Realized: $ 375
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750
(WEST--TEXAS.) Family letters of the Methodist minister A.E. Rector, two discussing a murder trial. 35 Autograph Letters Signed to or from A.E. Rector; condition mostly strong but a few torn or incomplete. With 9 original mailing envelopes bearing a variety of stamps and Texas postmarks. Various places, 1876-1895
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Additional Details

The Rev. Arthur Everett Rector (1855-1955) was a lifelong Texan and Methodist circuit rider. During the period of these letters, he preached in Boerne, San Angelo, and San Antonio. Most of these letters are from his brother William Earl Rector (1859-1957), his cousins W.K., Emmett and Frank Jones, and 13 courtship letters between Rev. Rector and his future wife Emma Donaldson from 1886 to 1887.

Brother W.E. Rector followed Arthur into the ministry in San Antonio, Junction City, and Weesatche; he wrote 14 long letters from 1884 to 1895. His cousin Frank Jones (1856-1893) wrote twice in 1880 and 1884; and Emmett Jones (1861-1930) thrice from Menardville, Curry's Creek and Del Rio, TX, 1883 to 1891. Most notably, cousin William Kenner Jones (1849-1925) wrote three times, in 1876 and 1891. The last two were as a county judge in Del Rio, TX, commenting at length on the charges that one José María Chavez had murdered his wife Francisca.