Teneha, Texas
May 31, 1950

Hon. W. MAYER
Alta Loma, Texas
P.O. Box --

        Dear Mr. Mayer,

        After so long a time I take pleasure in sending you what information on that I have regarding our brand of the KYLE family. I regret it very much, but Mr. E.S. KYLE has been misinformed. I have no records, Bible, or otherwise of our family back 1700. Date-1805 is as far as I have any record.

        Robert Edmondson KYLE - Father's Father - (My Grandfather) was born March 17, 1805. We think somewhere in Tennessee or N.C. (no record) from Tennessee. He must have moved to Mississippi for he married one Elizabeth G. MARTINDALE on Dec 20, 1833 (note: my records show 1835). The MARTINDALE's did move Miss to Texas about the time that my grandfather moved here. My Grandfather Robert E KYLE had one brother, Dr. James S. KYLE (Jacobus KYLE) who was older than my Grandfather. He also come to Texas about the time my Grandfather came or probably a year or two later. He was the only Dr. from Shreveport to San Augustine, Texas. He graduated from the Ohio College of Medicine and his "Sheepskin" bears date March 8, 1837. I am sending to you under separate cover a photostatic [sic] copy of his diploma which is written in Latin on sheepskin - This diploma is 113 years old and you will see from copy is pretty well preserved. I will enclose a free translation from Latin to English - However you may be a Latin scholar - I think there are a few mistakes in the translation but they are minor. If you would see if the translation is correct, via, digression, if permissible -

        The old log house that Dr KYLE built and lived in is still standing (1950) - It is about one mile from my home and I live on my Grandfather's old homestead - But the old double log house that my Grandfather built burned some 15 years ago (1935). We think that Dr KYLE and my grandfather, Robert E KYLE, were the only boys in the family - That they came from Tennessee or N.C. and their father was killed by lightning in Tenn. - [He] Had taken shelter under some trees during a thunderstorm - lightning struck the trees - killing him. I do not know his given name, nor the place in Tenn. Have you any records bearing this?

        While we are speaking of Dr KYLE - his wife's maiden name was a Miss Amanda JOHNSON of Mississippi. After Dr KYLE's death his widow married my mother's father, James MORRIS - However, my mother [was] a child by a former marriage - my mother's mother was Minerva McGEE - But to return to Dr KYLE's widow, after the Dr's death, practiced medicine throughout this part of the country - She being familiarly known as "Aunt Mandy" - My grandfather, Robert E KYLE and brother had several sisters to wit: Ellen who married a man named (Dangerfield) CARPENTER. Another sister (Susan) married a man named (Samuel) D. PACE (father of Paris PACE) who had a pallet in the roof of his mouth. Nancy who married George MEEK - date unknown. Sallie who married Dr. (John Leonard) RANDAL (or RANDLE) who lived at San Augustine, Texas. Who are the parents of Gen'l Horace RANDALL - a historic character, also were the parents [grandparents] of a [grand]daughter named Eva who was killed by and elephant - Eva married a man named DONAHUE - They were owners of the "Shoestring Ranch" of Kernes, Texas (NOTE: Eva was the daughter of Mary "Mollie" E Randal & James A Brocks. "Mollie" was the daughter of Sallie & Dr. Randal).

        There is in our branch of the family a peculiar coincidence to wit: Seven KYLE brothers married seven EDMONSON sisters somewhere along the line maybe in Ireland for the middle name of my grandfather - Robert Edmonson KYLE, also thus my (father's name) Robert Edmonson KYLE.
This also are we related to Lord Stanhope of England under George 1st thus the name for Dr. KYLE - Dr James (Jacobus Stanhope KYLE), and handed down to my own uncle James Stanhope KYLE. They must have admired old Stanhope - whom some say was an old reprobate - I suppose they wanted to flatter themselves with "English Nobility"! "(People are crazy aren't they?)".

        Now on my grandmother's side, Elizabeth G MARTINDALE KYLE, she appears to have had 4 brothers:

1. Bill MARTINDALE who settled near here
2. Henry of Indiana
3. Solon (NOTE: actually was his brother, Mose) who married an Indian squaw and settled on a league and a half of land in the heart of what is now Fort Worth, Texas
4. The Martindale's here didn't want me to tell anything about Mose - because he married a squaw- People are curious!

        I believe this is about all that is of importance - And probably this rambling isn't worth a penny to you or anyone.

        There is a large bunch of KYLEs in Ohio (Johnson) and they are organized and have a reunion at Kyle Part, Johnstown, Ohio each year. Have a card from them asking that I meet with them, but so far I have not. I will look up their address and write them. If I hear from them I will get you in touch with them. They are pretty wealthy so we had better claim kin with them.

        Please excuse all errors herein - errors and procrastination appears to be an irritant character of mine.

        Best Wishes to you and yours. And if rambling brings any information, would be glad to get details. Maybe you know more about my branch of the KYLEs than I do.

Thanks A Lot
Wm P Kyle