Pikeville July 26, 1859

Beloved Mary

Tuesday nights mail brought another of your letters, written the 22nd. You do not get your letters in the office till too late to come out that day. Surely, your letter should have come last saturday. But I was very glad to get it even then. I read with pleasure your allusions to the same day of the month five years ago. I can say that they have been, by far, the most happy years of my life. I attribute much of my happiness to your naturally,happy, cheerful, contented, loving disposition. I can more correctly estimate the worth of your influence in your long abscence. If home had not, heretofore, been rendered so pleasant by your society I would not have missed you so much. But I should not murmer. It is not allowed for any one to have things always as he would wish them in this life. Circum-stances might be much more grievous than they are.

You intimate that you have some hopes that your mother may so recover as to allow your return soon. I know I would be glad for her sake and for the sake of her family as well as for the sake of having you at home. The Lord knows how that will be. I feel very anxious about mother. I fear every new mail that I will get word that she is worse. And if I get no letter I am thinking, may be, you have not because she is worse and you have been prevented. Would not you write just a little every other day? You miss every other mail. But I ought not to murmur, for you have such a bad chance. I hardly know how you can get along with your children.

I have no news to give you. Every thing is moving on in its old channel. We have no excitement but that about cattle. They are driving the stears around making ready to start to Virginia. 

We will have an exciting week here next week, it being court week and the election comes off too. I am busy this week fixing up the points in my suits. I am employed to assist the Attorney General to prosecute two felony cases. One was put in jail last week. I don't expect to convict from my understanding of the proof in the case. Dr. Farris has bought the Kirklin property and has got into a law suit. He is trying to put old Uncle Matthew out of possession. The trial is next saturday. I am attending to it for Farris.

And now my dear wife I have nothing more of interest to write to you. You will please accept warmest love and write as often as you can to 

Your devoted husband

W.J. Hill


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

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Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan