Little did we think when we were holding our annual Cousins Dinner ["Cousins" here refers to the grandchildren of Joseph and Ann Clinch Campbell-wbt] at Nelson last October that two of the remaining twenty-one first Cousins would have passed away within so short a time,--leaving now only nineteen living. [The other cousin that had recently died was Dell Campbell-wbt] A copy of the Watkins Review received the other day and undoubtedly sent by Cousin Em Buck tells of the death of Cousin Herbert C. Hughey at his home near Brainerd, Minn.

Personally, I do not ever recall having seen Cousin Herb as he went West in 1879 and had never returned East even for a short visit. In fact, I have never had occasion to write Herb on any matter but last December when sending out copies of our little book of photographs [several of us have copies. I'll scan mine and place a link to it here-wbt] to the various first Cousins , I mailed a set to Cousin Herbert at the same time writing a nice long letter. In my letter, I requested that if possible he favor me with a copy of his photograph as I had not the slightest idea how he looked. Within a few days, I received from him a photograph of himself and also of his wife, both of which I prize most highly. There was considerable delay in answering my letter but I did receive a very nice letter from him, and inasmuch as his letter contains so much valuable history of himself and family, and inasmuch as he has passed away, I thought each of the remaining first Cousins should have a copy of his letter to me, which letter by the way may have been the last one he wrote to any of the first Cousins.

You have undoubtedly received from Cousin Em Buck a copy of the Watkins paper containing the complete announcement of his death but in case you have not, I am sending along a copy of this report and would suggest that they be put away for safekeeping and to be referred to in years to come by others in your family.

I might say that Herb's letter of February 15th was one of the nicest and sweetest letters in many respects than I have ever received. You will note that in many places the letter is filled with the finest of sentiments and ideals. It is to be regretted that in some way he and his wife could not have made a visit East to one of the Cousins Dinners and renewed his acquaintance with his own kind before having gone on. There must have been a great deal of satisfaction in his heart in his last days because of the knowledge that he had lived a correct life in every way and was the father of two fine boys and two fine girls who I am sure will prove a lasting monument to his memory.

Please pardon my writing you in this personal way but as Herb's letter was so nice and contained so much information which most of us did not know, I thought you would appreciate my passing it on to you.

With kind regards and best wishes and hoping to see you before many months, I am