Pikeville July 12, 1859

Mary M. Hill

Dear wife

I have had the pleasure of reading another letter from you. I know you do not know how anxious I get for the arrival of the mail from the east. I cannot help feeling a little sad if I do not get a letter from you. But I have not missed but one and that was last saturday. I know you have a bad chance to write. I am not complaining. I know you would and will write if convenient. I intended writing last sunday night to send out monday morning but after coming from Smyrna I was almost compeled to go to hear Bro. Powell preach.

O, I was so much rejoiced to get such favorable news from mother. God grant that you may be able to continue writing as favorable, but I cannot help fearing that the next news will not be so favorable. I hate to hear of the chills returning on her. I hope you may find time to write a few lines so that I may get a letter every mail. I feel so anxious!

We had Bro. Witherspoon to preach for us Saturday and sunday. He intends moving west this fall. Bid the church a final farewell - - created quite a sensation in the church. The church seems warmly attached to him. He is a very feeling man. We not the promise of anyone at protracted meeting.

I believe I promised to give you some of the particulars of the barbecue on friday last. The morning looked very unfavorable - - misted a while but soon cleared up. There was a fine turn out of the natives. As Col. Sam Smith said "If the hills and valleys have not given up their dead they have poured forth their living". Col. Netherland stayed all night at Aaron Swaffords thursday night. There was a long procession formed to meet him and escort him into town, accompanied by the brass bands from Athens and Cleveland. O they stired up Pikeville parading round the square. You would (have) not known your home if you had happened to return at that time. And then the flag twenty feet long on a pole ninety feet high with Netherland, Brabson, Tibbs, and Gillespie inscribed upon it fluttering in the breeze. They had invited a great many distinguished Know nothing speakers but none of them came. And as Gov. Harris could not attend, according to an agreement, Col. Netherland could not speak. Hence the day was given up to Smith and Brabson, the candidates for congress. They had made the appointment before the barbecue was thought of and was properly entitled to the stand. Of course the immense crowd called out the best efforts of the speakers. I will not say who I think gained the victory. I am partial. But I do say I have heard of a number of opposition men coming over to democracy. Brownlow is fooled when he thinks Brabson is gaining in every county as he says in his last weekly. I have no doubt but Smith will increase his former majority. The Opposition feel that they made a grand failure. They spent lots of money and lost votes. But I have written more about politics than will interest you.

I am still your loving

William J. Hill

We have not yet had rain. My corn will be burned soon without rain. It looks like being dry weather. Billy is not gone. He is a little sick. Has a great many boils. I want him to go home next week. O how I would like to (be) with you and the children as long as I have been writing to you! I suppose no more of them have the mumps. I will write to you every mail in hope that you will answer.

God bless you


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

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Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan