Letter to Ivan: April 13, 2017
Miscellaneous notes:
These jackets are from your great grandfather, my grandfather on my father’s side of the family. The best one was my grandfather’s class A coat from the 7th Cavalry originally at Ft. Meade, South Dakota. So, we have always referred to both coats as cavalry coats. Each of these is over 100 years old; we do not know the issue dates. The less decorated coat was property of Major Burke, my grandmother’s father at Ft. Meade. At some point the family, all on my father’s side, moved to Ft. Keogh (SP ?), Montana. I don not know exactly when. The family hired “Calamity Jane” to move furnishings and belongings. She used horse drawn wagons to move them. It may have been mules — I cannot remember that detail. I do have some photos of Ft. Keogh, Montana and a few others which I haven’t found yet. I shall send those to you as soon as I can.
There is an ammunition belt with buckle and a Sam Brown belt in the box with the coats. These were all property of my grandfather (my father’s father). The buckle alone is worth a lot of money and the coats are worth even much more. I could have sold all of this stuff but I wanted you to have all of it to keep it in the family. There is my favourite 1903 Colt single action revolver which you will get also, but after I pass on. This revolver was refinished for me by a member of the Colt factory some 20+ years ago. The refinishing reduced the value of the gun somewhat but it is a great shooter, very loud and lots of concussion. So, you will have to wait a bit for this. By the way, it is a 38–40 calibre and the ammo is still available. There is a belt and holster especially for this gun, plus an extra one I believe. Also, I did have the barrel replaced since the original was rather shot out.
I cannot give you details about such of the family history but I will tell you what little I know at this time. I believe (with caution) that my grandfather’s family migrated to Ireland from the north of Scotland. To the best of my knowledge the family name was Graham, not Thomas. My grandfather was born then in Waterford, Ireland, of Scottish parents. The family then moved to the USA at some point (when ?). The parents die or disappear — I do not know what happened and my grandfather was adopted by people by the name of Thomas. I think this is correct. So, Aubrey Graham became Aubrey Thomas. He joined the army (cavalry) when h e became of proper age and went to Ft. Meade Montana where he met my grandmother, Marjorie Burke (Scotch/Irish). They were married but I do not know when and my father was born in 1913 on the Cavalry post, Ft. Meade, South Dakota. My father’s first word was “horse.” The horses would peer in through the window of his room and nuzzle him in his little bed when he was a baby. So, cavalry and horses are important in my father’s life from that time on until he died in 1968 at the age of 56 I believe. That was a disaster from which my mother never recovered. I have never really recovered from that either. When the old Lord says “it is time to go,” then we must go and that’s that.
I have some paper work, photos, baby books from the family which I will send to you. I did ask Margie about all of this but she said that you should have all of this, not she. I am sure that Elizabeth would concur although I have not spoken to her about this for years.
My dear son, I shall get the remaining items together before I move — I am assuming that the house will sell. Right now I am just trying to prepare for the inevitable.
Got bless you, Heidi, Jake, and Jordi,
Love,
Dad
