Pikeville July 31, 1859

Beloved Mary

I did not forget to write to you last mail. I wrote but, being excited about a little lawsuit I was engaged in, in the evening - - I liked to got whiped. I will tell you about it when I see you. And another thing while I was writing the sherriff came and took Mary Jane to jail. So I put the letter in the office without "Mary M." being on it. I am sorry it did not go although it contained nothing much.

Erasmus arrived this evening. I was glad to see him but I had much rather see you. He had lost your letter to me. You are doing better about writing. I am so sorry you did not send one or both of the boys. Why did not you? I am thinking you are rather selfish. You certainly might let me have one out of so many. It would be such a pleasure to me. But I know you were not disposed to deprive me of any pleasure, if you had thought it proper for the children to come. And I was only jesting when I intimated that you are selfish. You are not selfish. I have had abundant proof that you esteem my happiness, scarcely less than your own. I know you are grieved even more than I am that circumstances are such as they are. We must endure. 

I intend seeing you all before a great while if nothing happens. But I can't tell when. We have court next week, and Billy has not come back. Mr. Rogers will have to go to Spencer next week and both of us ought not to be away at once. But I think I will be up in two or three weeks if you stay so long at Knoxville. I would be glad to be with you now if I could. Nothing would give me more pleasure I know. I am thankful since we must be separated that we can hear from each other so often. O, I could not endure it if I did not hear from (you) often. 

We had a fine rain last thursday night. It will do great good but we cannot make little more than half crops. My corn is injured greatly but it will make a plenty to do us one year. I will not make more than half as much as I would have made had it been seasonable. But I am grateful for the rain we had.

I said something about Mary Jane's being taken to jail. The sherriff had levied on the woman that lives with Prof. M Guire but she ran away the night before she was to be sold and to secure himself he seized Mary Jane. But he went and got two others and released Mary Jane. I thought we were going to have a bad time without a cook. We are doing very well so fare as fare is concerned, but I don't know how much waste is going on.

You want me to tell you about the household affairs. I don't know much about them. My shirts and drawers too are rather torn and ragged. The shirt I have on now is split nearly the full length of the bosom. But I will have Mary Jane to fix them. I will get along somehow.

Mr. Rogers and Erasmus have gone to church to night. The Rev. Dr. Sloan preaches. He is another physician that has lately located here. He is late of the city of Nashville. A Methodist preacher. He preaches pretty well. 

I gained the property for Dr. Farris from the Pendegrasses but he is on the eve of starting to Sparta. Mr. Rogers is going to move him and will start tomorrow I think.

But I have written enough. My pen is so sharp that I can't write to do any good. Give love to all and accept my all to yourself.

Your husband

W.J. Hill


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

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