Rector Love Letter

During my Oklahoma Road Trip, I headed west, farther out in the panhandle. In Beaver County, the local historical society is located on the County Fair Grounds at the south edge of town.

Little did I know what this journey would reveal.

Jones and Plummer Trail Museum

Why the name? In the 1870s and 1880s, the Jones and Plummer Trail stretched 168 miles from Dodge City, Kansas to Mobeetie, Texas. The Trail ran southwest through the Oklahoma Panhandle at the present site of Beaver.¹Haywood, C. Robert. “Jones and Plummer Trail. “The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=JO017. accessed 26 February 2024.

The unassuming exterior of the Jones and Plummer Trail Museum disguised my family history gems inside.

Jones and Plummer Trail Museum, Beaver OK²Photo credit: Jones & Plummer Trail Museum Facebook page, accessed 25 February 2024.

Museum dedication plaque³Photo taken by Karrie Blees, September 27, 2016.

My Great Uncle Ralph Rector was one of the Directors when the museum moved to its new building at the County Fairgrounds. When I entered the building, the friendly volunteer asked what brought me to the town. Once I mentioned Great Uncle Ralph, she took me directly to his display case.

Ralph Rector Case at the Jones Plummer Trail Museum, Beaver, OK⁴Photo credit: Jones & Plummer Trail Museum Facebook page. Original post May 17, 2018. Cropped by Karrie Blees to remove the children’s faces. Accessed 25 February 2024.

Ralph Rector Case

In the center of the room sat the glass case labeled with my Great Uncle’s name. Ralph Rector Ralph and his wife Evelyn Harrington lived in Buffalo County and were very active community supporters. They donated many items to the museum like: Evelyn’s nursing cap, the original copy of their marriage certificate, family photos and memorabilia.

1949 Newspaper clipping about Milton and Lottie Rector in the Ralph Rector Case⁵Photo taken by Karrie Blees, September 27, 2016.

At the right-hand side of the case, the museum displayed a couple of items relating to Ralph’s parents, Milton and Lottie. This newspaper clipping inspired the November Nuptials blog post.

Also in the case was a Love Letter.

First page of 1877 letter from Milton A. Rector to Lottie Senate⁶Photo taken by Karrie Blees, September 27, 2016. Only the first page of the letter was visible through the glass of the case.

This original letter was on the top glass shelf within the Ralph Rector Case. What a find!

As I looked at the letter, I realized that there was more than one page. So, I asked the volunteer if I could see the back-side.

Unfortunately, she told me, the glass cases were back-to-back in the room with no access to the contents. When I asked if there was any way that someone else at the museum could get me a scanned copy, she had an idea:

Once a year, the cases are moved so that the carpet may be cleaned. When the cases were moved, the letter could be accessed. So, she attached a note to the back of the case with my request, name and email address. Several months later I received splotchy, but readable copies of both sides Love Letter.

Love Letter from Milton to Lottie⁷Rector Letter. Jones and Plummer Trail Museum Accession #1991.30.34. Milton A. Rector (Ralph’s Dad) to Lottie 1897? The letter was likely written in 1877, not 1897. Milton and Lottie married in 1878. This letter refers to Lottie’s parents and to permission to see her.

Dillon Ill
March 11th, 1877

Dearest Lotie
I cant wait untill you answer my
letter I enjoy myself more when I am
with you than I can with any other
person in my knowing or when
I am writing to you. this dirt
never come off of my fingers that
you see here. Darling I am a going
to ask you a question and I think
nay will be the reply. I am going
to ask you for your company
next Sundy night if you have no
Objections nor your parents have none
it is something that you are not
use to but there is nothing like getting
use to such things. these evenings
are so long and lonesome I cant hardly
stand it to stay away from you
especialy of Sunday evenings.

You will please let me know in the
Thursdays mail whither you will
except on not of my company but
I don’t think you will except of it.
I have stayed at home most all of the day
and just thought about you
my Darling. Lotie I want you to get
your Pictures taken so that I can
have one I just think it is real
mean you have one of mine and
I cant have one of yours nor even a
card. I Sent after Some more today
they will be a great deal nicer than
those others I got.

Darling I must close my
letter and go to my Supper So no more
loved one Lottie

            By rain or shine
            By day or night
            With thee Dear Girl
            I take delight

From Milton to Lottie

Please Darling don’t forget me for next
Sunday night and please answer
on next Thursday Evening

Excuse mistakes    Yours truely   M A R⁸Letter from Milton Rector to Charlotte “Lottie” Senate. March 11, 1877. Transcription by Karrie Blees. Spelling and punctuation as in original.

21-year old Milton pleads with 16-year-old Lotie [sic] to meet up with him. He was so smitten that he penned a 4-stanza poem.

Was this next meeting when he asked her to marry him? Did he ask her parents first? They lived in Tazewell County, Illinois, married on November 28, 1878, and stayed together for 72 years.

What’s next?

Do you have any photos of the young Milton Rector or Lottie Senate?
What about the calling cards referenced in the letter? Do you have one?

SOURCES

• 1
  Haywood, C. Robert. “Jones and Plummer Trail. “The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=JO017. accessed 26 February 2024.
• 2
  Photo credit: Jones & Plummer Trail Museum Facebook page, accessed 25 February 2024.
• 3
  Photo taken by Karrie Blees, September 27, 2016.
• 4
  Photo credit: Jones & Plummer Trail Museum Facebook page. Original post May 17, 2018. Cropped by Karrie Blees to remove the children’s faces. Accessed 25 February 2024.
• 5
  Photo taken by Karrie Blees, September 27, 2016.
• 6
  Photo taken by Karrie Blees, September 27, 2016. Only the first page of the letter was visible through the glass of the case.
• 7
  Rector Letter. Jones and Plummer Trail Museum Accession #1991.30.34. Milton A. Rector (Ralph’s Dad) to Lottie 1897? The letter was likely written in 1877, not 1897. Milton and Lottie married in 1878. This letter refers to Lottie’s parents and to permission to see her.
• 8
  Letter from Milton Rector to Charlotte “Lottie” Senate. March 11, 1877. Transcription by Karrie Blees. Spelling and punctuation as in original.