This book began as a labor of love for my children. I grew up within 15 miles of most of my great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I saw all of them frequently and knew them well. I listened to the adults tell of letters they received from family members who lived from one coast to the other. Many of them I never met, but I knew them through their own words. Sometimes one or another would visit, but I really knew more about them and their families from hearing their letters. Fortunately, some of the letters were kept so I have read them again in recent years.