These letters from Ida (possibly the daughter of Henry Turnbull and Josephine Jeffries) help explain why the family felt their notarized transcript from 1908 was so important. It was the only clue we had in the search for Wilma Jeffries Clinger's ancestry. Walter Jeffries is possibly the grandson of Mortimor's brother, Nathan.

Ft. Wayne, Ind., December 8, 1967

Dear Wilma,

I guess you thought I was never going to answer. I had to have Walter send his paper as I misplaced mine. So I am going to explain to you. Your father's name was Clinger. He was German, but he has nothing to do with this. This is for the Jeffries.

Your mother's father was Willy Jeffries. Your Grandfather. He was Irish and one-eighth Cherokee Indian. Your mother was one-sixteenth Indian, you are one thirty-second Indian, so your kids are one sixty-fourth and so on. So you see there isn't much Indian blood in any of us.

So you take that paper to a lawyer and have it typed off, and send Walter's back to him. You register it and send it air mail. Because if you lose it, it would cost around $30 for another from the Columbia City Courthouse.

I hope you get this straightened out. Jeanette said she was sending the paper direct to you. So maybe you will get the paper before you get my letter.

Love, Ida

PS. You better keep this letter or have one typed off.

Sunday

Dear cousin,

Well, Jeanette sent the paper to me. Because I knew more about it than Wallie did.

This paper was for the second cousin of your Grandpa Jeffries.

You see these Jeffries are NO relation to Albert and Walker Jeffries. You remember them. Well, we are no relation to that bunch of Jeffries. Well take care of this paper and you send it back to Wallie after you have one typed off. I suppose you have the other letter I wrote.

When you send that paper back to Wallie, put it in a good envelope and have it registered. Also better insure it. Ask at the Post Office. If they ask what is in it, tell them it is a Birth Record.

Ida