Marshall County History: Letters to Santa Claus

Each year as Christmas nears, children throughout the world reach for a pen and paper so they can write a letter to Santa Claus. Most adults remember taking part in this holiday tradition, but many have no real understanding of how it all started.

While Santa Claus is a Christmaslegend,heisbased on an actual historic figure from the third century. His real name was Nicholas of Myra near what is known today as Turkey. He was known for serving the poor around his hometown. He was a devout Christian who was first made a Bishop and then was eventually granted Sainthood. Hewasknownfor his generosity as he traveled throughout the area of his hometown giving to the poor.

One such story is how he gave a dowry to three sisters to prevent their father from selling them into slavery. It is said he put the money for each sister in socks they had hanging out to dry.

The image and name of St. Nicholas changed over the years until finally, the Dutch gave him the name Sinter Klass from which we get Santa Claus. Depictions of him dressed as a Bishop in a robe evolved into the jolly old man in a red suit we know today, thanks to illustrations by Thomas Nast for Harper’s Weekly. Hislegendalsogrew because of the poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known as “The Night Before Christmas.”

Originally, St. Nicholas would leave letters for children in their stockings, instead of children sending letters to Santa. The letters from St. Nicholas were notes from parents telling their children how they had misbehaved over the year and what they could do to improve. Parents would write these letters and leave them on the fireplace mantel. Eventually, children started writing response letters to Santa and therefore writing toSantabecamea Christmas tradition.

Most of these letters contained a child’s desire for a specific toy or other item, but in many cases, the letters also asked for actual needs. Letters to Santa became so popular in the United States that in 1912, the US Postal Service began the Letters to Santa Program which still exists today.

Beginning in about 1915, various newspapers in Marshall County began printing Letters to Santa written by the children of the County. For many years, the Madill Record held a “Best Letter” contest. One boy and one girl were selected each year for writing the best letter and were each given a prize from the newspaper.

Hundreds of children sent their letters to the newspapers over the years, and they were all printed. Each letter was in its way special as each captured the wants, desires and needs of children. But more importantly, they are special since they give a glimpse back to a simpler time. They are in essence, a historic time capsule of childhood in early day Marshall County. A time when life was hard and times were tough. Some of the letters are cute, some heartwarming, and sadly, some are heart wrenching.

So, for this Christmas edition of the Marshall County History article, let’s go back one hundred years and see what was important to the children of the county. Some of these names may be familiar. Some may even be related to Marshall County citizens today. The following letters are from 1915 to the early 1930s. They are being printed as they were written.

Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a blackboard and a big horn and a story book. Santa,wehavenomoneynow but we will pay you when we can. Momma is going to sell her butter and milk then we will have some money. Please Santa Claus, bring me some shoes, for I am almost barefooted. Best Love from Anna Garrido.

Dear Santa Claus: Will you please bring me a good strong grass book satchel, a musical top, a saddle-blanket for Dixie and a story book? Yours truly, Robert Chowning, Jr.

Dear Santa Claus: I have been very good this year. I wish you to bring me a little doll bed and a little doll mattress to with it and a little doll buggy. Frances Bain, Cumberland.

Dear Santa Claus: As Christmas is drawing near I will write you a letter and ask you to bring me a little air gun, freight train and some candy. Ellis Smither. Cumberland.

Dear Santa Claus: Will you please bring me a big doll and story book. Ima True Mayo. Age 6, Aylesworth.

Dear Santa Claus: Please send me a rubber doll and a set of dishes. Omego Mayo, Aylesworth.

Dear Kind Old Santa Claus: The same Santa Claus we have always had. I am just a year older than I was a year ago. I am glad when Xmas comes because St. Nick always brings me toys. I want you to send me a celluloid doll and a little doll chair. Some candy, nuts, oranges and apples. Also, a bugle, fireworks and a nice Christmas book. Decorate my toys with holly. I will thank my parents for having spoken a good work to Santa Claus for me. Will also thank Santa Claus for my toys and Dear Mrs. Santa Claus who does all the sewing, knitting and dressing of the dollies and toys. Will close wishing a Merry Christmas and HappyNewYeartoall. Marie Crockett, Cumberland.

Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a story book and a pocketknife. Logan Mayo, age 8, Aylesworth.

Dear Santa Claus: It is about time for you to come so I thought I would write you a letter. I hope you will come to our house but if you come down the chimney, you will fall into the stove, so come in the window. Please bring me a big doll and story book. Fromyourfriend,ImaDillow, Woodville.

Dear Santa Claus: I have been very good this year. I wish you to bring me a little rocking chair. My baby brother Douglas wants you to bring him a little train. Douglas and I want some candy and oranges and apples. Lovingly, Inez Thomas, Cumberland.

Mr. Santa: Fairy Land, North Pole. Dear Santa: I would like to have a vanity box, a ball and a little box of stationery. Santa, do you get cold traveling? I know I would. I wish I could see you. Leona Corder.

Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a little rake, hoe and shovel, and lots of nuts, candy, apples and oranges and please don’t forget some fireworks, and I will be so good so goodbye till next year. Joe wells, Madill.

Dear Santa Claus: I am a little girl seven years old. I go to school and in the first grade. I want you to bring me a doll, doll buggy, sweater, and a pair of gloves. Don’t forget my sister Jewel. She wants a doll, doll trunk and a pair of gloves. Bring my other sisters and brother something. This is all for this year. Your little girl. Pauline Vitatoe, Madill.

Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a wicker doll buggy, some stockings, underwear and dresses for the doll you brought last Christmas, and candy and nuts. Your little friend. Genevieva Landram, Madill.

Dear Santa Claus: I am a little boy, eight years old and in the third grade. I live in Oakland and Santa I want an automatic and some caps, an apple, an orange, a bunch of grapes and some bananas. But Santa, I fear you will not find me and my little brother, as we are very poor children. Santa, I would be thankful if you have anything to spare. Your friend, Ray Louis Mayfield. Santa, I wrote this all by myself. I will close.

Dear Santa: I will write as my sister is writing. There are three of us little boys and nine children in all and we are too poor to call on Santa this year as mother has been sick so long. We haven’t got to get things that we need. I feel like we will be forgotten. Please don’t forget we three anyway. We will hang up our old stockings and if the things fall out, I will catch them. Your little friend. T.L. And Garland Austin.

Dear Santa: I am a little girl with brown hair and brown eyes. I am nine years old and in the 4th grade. I want you to bring me a Mamma doll with real hair and a red wagon for Christmas. I wish you could eat Christmas dinner with me, but you will be on your way back to Nome. It sure is cold up there for I have studied about it in my geography. Best wishes to all. Mildred Louise Cooper, Madill.

Dear Santa Claus: I will write you a letter as it will soon be time for you to come. And you will have to know what to bring me. I want you to bring me an air rifle, some apples,oranges,bananasand some candy. My little sister wants you to bring her a little doll, and candy, apples and oranges. I will go to bed early and will be asleep when you come. You can come in at the door because we have no chimney. Your friend, Lesley Wheeler, Madill.

Dear Santa Claus: I am a little blond headed county girl, age five and love you dearly Santa. I will be so glad if you will bring me a little tub rub-board and wringer. I will be good and take care of them and always remember you. I close. Ina Muriel Young, Madill.

Dear Santa: How are your raindeers? I hope just fine. I heard you talk over the radio the other day. I guess it is pretty cold up in the north isn’t it? I don’t know what I want for Christmas yet so anything you have in your pack left you can give it to me. My little sister wants three things. That is dishes, a little chair, and nuts and candies. We have both been pretty nice this year. So don’t forget us. Your friend. Carrie Lou Scott, Madill.

Dear Santa Claus: I am writing you a letter to let you know what I want for Christmas. I am a little boy six years old; my daddy is dead and I stay with my uncle and aunt and got to school. I like school fine. Well,DearSanta,Iwant a red wagon and some shells for my gun and some apples, oranges, candy and nuts. So, Santa, don’t forget my wagon andthepoorboys,bringthem something. Your Truly, Lee Edward Sharp, Woodville.

Dear Santa Claus: How are you this cold weather? I hope you can come to see me at Christmas. Please bring meapairofboots,somewarm gloves, a little gun and a big box of caps, also some nuts and candy. I am a little boy nineyearsoldandinthethird grade. I like to go to school. I have a little brother. He will be four years old Dec 19. Please bring him something, too. Your little friend, Howard Reese, Woodville.

Dear Santa Claus: I am a little girl ten years old and in the sixth grade. I live one mile west of Woodville. I have been wondering if you would find the way to my home. When you come will you please bring me a rain coat and cap and a high top pair of overshoes and gloves. I would like to have some fruit also. Your little friend, Louise Reese.

Dear St. Clause: It is almost Xmas and I have been good. I want you to bring me a little trunk and lamp, a booksatchel a pair of mittens and a pretty doll and candys, nuts and fruit. Montie Mae Floyd, Madill.

Dear Ole Santa: I am a little boy almost five years old. I say almost because my birthday is only a few days. I have been a very nice little boy, at least I tried to be. Really, I don’t want much. Take part of my share and give them to the little boys and girls who have no mother or father. Please don’t forget my two little cousins who have no dear mother. Bring what you think best after you have visited the rest. Sincerely yours, Jerry Whittle. P.S. Here’s hoping a cowboy suit and a tool chest will be left in your pack when you step off at my house. Oakland.

Dear Santa Claus: I am well and hope you the same. My mother’s dead, and my father isonearmandcan’twork very much and I don’t know whether I will get anything for Christmas or not. If I get anything I want a little dress and pair of stockings and shoes. And Santa last year we got a little doll and rist watch. Well Santa, I am 10 years old I will close fore this time. Yours Truely, Christene Hoskins, Aylesworth.

Dear Sata Claus: I am a little girl 7 years old I go to school but I won’t get to go any more before Xmas as Dear Mother is sick in bed. I have to miss school and wait on her. Dear Santa please bring me a cap and shoes to wear to school in the cold as I have none and I have 2 more sisters and 3 brothers I want you to remember with something. Dear Mother won’t be able to fix things for Xmas like other Dear Mothers can. Your friend. Geneve Collins, Simpson.

Dear Santa: I thought I’d write you a letter to let you know what I want you to bring me. I’m a little boy 7 years old. I’ve been picking cotton all the fall and picked 92 pounds a day you no I’ve been working hard but Dear SantaI’mnotgoingtoaskyou for so very much as times are dull so bring me an ear-flap cap so I can go to school. I’m in the 1st grade my teacher’s name is Mrs. Brown I go to schoolatCumberland. Imust go Santa so remember me Christmas Eve Night. Your very best little friend, Hoyett Teague, Cumberland.

Dear Santa: I am a little girl 10 years old and in the fifth grade. I sure like to go to school. My teacher’s name is Mrs. Breco. Santa don’t forget any little boys or girls thisChristmas. ThisiswhatI want you to bring me. A Doll, a doll dresser and some fruit and nuts. Santa if you don’t think that you are able to bring me all of this just most anything will be appreciated verymuch. ButSantabesure and don’t forget me. Your little friend, Janeice Young, Aylesworth.

Dear Santa Claus: I am a little boy four years old. I do not go to school but my sisters do. I have tried to be nice, so thatyouwouldbringmewhat Iwant. Iwantacowboysuit,a gun, a pair of spurs, a tricycle, and some small toys if you have enough. Don’t forget the candy and nuts. I hope to see you Christmas. Your Pal, Walter Trellys Lemmons. P.S. Santa, I moved one door north, so don’t forget me. Walter Lemmons, Madill.

Dear Santa, I want a pair of roller skates, scooter, doll buggy, and some nuts and candy. Your little friend, BettyAnnHughes,Kingston.

Dear Good Old Santa Claus: Mychimneyis“kinda” little so please come through the front door and put my presents under the tree. I want a cowboy suit, cryptogun, a tool chest, and drader, and be sure not to forget some firecrackers. I am five years old but am going to school now. I can already read five books. Good bye, Delmas Lynn Northcutt. P.S. I have lost a tooth since you last came. D.L.N. Willis.

As stated above, some of these letters are cute and funny. Some are heartwarming. And some heartbreaking. From each we can see the joys and hardships these children faced. A reality most do not know today. But regardless of the circumstances in the lives of each of these children, one truth rings true. They truly believed in what Christmas really means.

ForatChristmas,abroken heart can feel alive and one can see a world of hope and promise. These children believed in the magic of Christmas. They believed in a world of hope and promise.

Some say the future of the world, is in the children’s hands. Perhaps if we let them lead, we would come to see what they see. Perhaps we would see a world of hope and promise too.

May your Christmas be filled with love, hope and promise just like these kids from days gone by.

May you believe in the Magic of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all, and God Bless.

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