Saturday evening May 4, 1861

My Beloved Wife

I will write to you again notwithstanding it looks like you would never get it. I have not heard from you yet. I am going to Denton tomorrow and if I do not get a letter I shall despair of hearing from you. I suppose you are troubled in the same way about my letters. I, it is true, feel a great solicitude about you and the children. Yet when I think of how you are situated, in a healthy place and if any of you should get sick I know from experience, that the people of Pikeville are very kind and attentive and would not let you want.

Sunday morning May 5, 1861

After writing the above George Grissom came and insisted on my going and staying with him and so I did. Lainesday(?) seems very friendly and expresses great anxiety about seeing you. I showed her your picture. She says you look very much like you used to. Ella is universally admired. 

How I would like to spend this Sunday with you and the children. I think of you by day and dream of you by night. I am going to Denton to-day to see if I can't get some word from you. I believe now I would be glad if you had done as you spoke of doing - - write a letter before I left so it would be here ready for me.

I think we will start to-morrow to go out further west. We want to see the country and the Witchita rivers near their mouth. It is said that the water and timber are very fine in that part. I am better pleased with this country than when I first came here. It is a country where one may live very easy. All that any one need look to is to make bread. And it is very easy to make that; much easier than in Tennessee. I think too it a very healthy country. Geo. Real has been sick which is the only case I have heard of in the state except whooping cough. Real's sickness cannot be attributed to unhealthfulness of the climate. He has over done himself at work. To look at the country it would seem almost (difficult) for any one to be sick. It is a very high dry atmosphere and the air is almost constantly in motion. It (is) bound to be healthy. There is the finest range winter and summer. No one thinks of feeding in the winter. 

I feel fully made up that we must come to Texas. There is a fine prospect for me to do well at the Law. The great contest that will surely arise about land titles will insure a rich harvest for those who make themselves acquainted with the principles of Law. I think however that we'll not come by water as I once thought we would. I find the distance from Shreveport is so great that we could not get from there to the place where I want to go without as much expense as it would take to come from Tenn. But it will (be) time enough to fix these things after I return home. Erasmus has now determined to locate. He has been hesitating. I don't know whether he will get employment in this part of the State or not.

It is now 9 o'clock and it (is) 12 miles to Denton and I must get off soon. I do not know what to say to you about writing to me hereafter. I do not know where I will go when this gets to you. I will write to you often so you may know where I will be as soon as I know myself. Now give all the children a kiss for me. Give Love to Mr. Rogers and all friends. I am in good health and hope to live to enjoy a happy return to you in the valley and to return with you to Texas where you may live prosperously and happily. Then farewell. It makes me sad when (I) go to take leave of you. It makes the warm tears start. May God bless and be with you.

Your loving Husband

Real is getting well fast.


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

Archivists:
Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan