Perry-Calhoun County AlArchives History - Letters .....William Hornbuckle - Letters (1845 To 1864) 1845-1864 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley Mellon Dewberry dewberry@cableone.net July 27, 2010, 4:42 pm Source: Mrs. Roberta Aurelia Roberts Mellon, Oxford, Alabama (Granddaughter of William Hornbuckle) Re: Letters written by William Hornbuckle to his wife, Mary Benson Blassingame Hornbuckle Letter No. 1 Tuscaloosa (Ala) December 13 1845 Dear Mary, I embrace the pleasant opportunity of writing by Wm. Townes to inform you that I am well and that you may not expect me until the last of next week and as I believe my presence will be necessary to strengthen my friends in their efforts to promote my wishes. I think it my duty to them and my own interest to remain. I can't say at present that I am certain of my election but my friends flatter me with the hope that I am gaining strength with members and that my chances is at least equal to that of anyone that is now running for the same office. I can't advise you what to do in my absence but have all confidence that you will do for the best and if I am defeated here, I will soon be with you to advise for the best years on town place for a support for ourselves and dear little children. Yours until death Wm Hornbuckle ****************************************** Letter No. 2 Little Rock, Ark. May 23, 1851 Dear Mary We arrived here on Wednesday evening after much difficulty, seeing to one of the horses being sick on the road and died after we got here. There was a boat expected here the evening we arrived that would carry us to Orleans, therefore we let the mail boat leave us and have been waiting ever since for a large boat, but if it does not come this evening, we will leave in the morning on the mail boat. The river is now flowing slowly after a rise of some feet, plenty of water for the large boats and I hope one will be down tonight as there are now four or five now up the river. Hannah was quite sick yesterday. Some fever today. I am afraid we will have some trouble with her before we get home. Pay good attention to your bathing. I will write you from New Orleans. Yours affectionately, Wm. Hornbuckle Note: Mary Benson Blassingame Hornbuckle was in Hot Springs, Arkansas for treatment of rheumatism. ******************************************** Letter No. 3 Marion Sunday June 8 1851 Dear Mary You no doubt think a great while between my letters and perhaps you have c ome to think so seeing to our long journey and seeming misfortune in meeti ng the boats at the proper time and place. I wrote you from Little Rock a nd then again from Mobile informing you as well as I could of our progress up to the last point. We left Mobile as we expected on Friday evening after remaining in that city nearly two days and arrived at home on last Monday lacking only one day of two weeks from the time we left the Springs, but we had a safe trip, not the least accident of any kind happened to us, and all except Hannah kept in perfect good health. We got her home after some trouble and much anxiety of mind and she is now nearly well. I am thankful. I found the children and family generally well and although they were not expecting me, were very glad to see me at home and received a very warm welcome by the young ladies (Judson Female College Girls - William Horn buckle was a steward at the college) and servants. All were glad to see me. I have been quite engaged since in charging up what the young ladies have had out of the store during my absence. I have got through with that and visited the plantation last Friday. There were all well up there and have a tolerable prospect for a crop. The cotton looks very well, the corn crop (owing to the dry season) is rather small but we have had a fine rain this evening and I hope corn crops and potatoes and the gardens will do better. We have cut the wheat, but as it is yet in the field. I am unable to say much about it, but am satisfied that it is not so g ood as some of our neighbors. The crops of wheat generally are rather bet ter than common; will be plenty of new flour soon at about three dollars p er hundred pounds. Our garden is not so good owing to the dry weather tho ugh it has been well attended to, and plenty planted. We have the fine st Irish potatoes, both here and at the plantation that we have ever had a nd Lewis (slave) brought us some find squash and snap beans today. If t he rain continues I hope we will make plenty of everything to live on. I was very much pained and distressed in Mobile to hear that in Marion it was very sickly, but found on my arrival that there was not so mu ch sicknep (ss), as had been represented but that there has been and is n ow a great deal of discentary, cannot be denied. I found Doc Wyatt quite sick with it, but he is now much better and a great many persons both in to wn and country have been suffering very much though it is thought it is n ow abating and but few persons about town have died with it. John Elliott died with it the week before I got home. Some places they have discentary and measles combined and when that is the case it is generally very fatal. Mr. Harrison at Selma has lost every child (three in number) and every Negro (five in number) that he had and is not left only with his wif e. This is an extreme case though there are others who have lost Negroes and children. How thankful should we feel that our little ones escaped up to this time and out of all the young ladies in the Judson, not a case has occurred among them and most generally have all enjoyed good health . I am very anxious to hear from you and hope that when we do hear from you that we shall have the gratification of hearing that you are still improving and that you are determined to use every means in your power to rega in your health. Let it cost what it may in time or money. Although the sacrifice is great for you to make in staying away from home, the sweet dear children and friends, yet if you can get well, our happiness and pleasure and friendship of those we love will amply repay you for all those sacr ifices when you shall return to the enjoyment of your family in that state of health that we hope to meet you before the summer shall close. Then as one that loves you for your own sake and as the mother of our sweet ones, let me insist that you pay particular attention to your baths, a nd to all the many you left, hoping that under the providence of God you may be restored to health to your children and to your friends and to me. I attended church today with the children and it was one of those sweet communion sessions when we have met our Brother and Sisters and all knelt down with love for the Savior and for one another. How much I have enjoy ed this meeting and the presence of my friends no one can tell. Bro. Lawson's son, Richard, was baptized this morning. There is quite a meeting in the Presbyterian Church among the Negroes. Mary has made a profession of religion and seems to be quite happy. Nancy claims to have carried her up to be prayed for and seems almost as happy in Mary's conversion as Mary herself. I hope they may always feel as they do now. Say to Mrs. Fagan that her family is all well. Mr. Fagan can't account for her not writing. The last letter he had from her was dated the 9th of last month. I have filled my paper and have not said half what I intended when I sat down but will be certain to write every week or make someone of the children write. Give my best respects to Mr.. Heru-- and family as do all his friends from Marion. Your affectionate husband Wm Hornbuckle ********************************************** Letter No. 4 Marion Sunday June 15 1851 Dear Mary Elizabeth received your letter dated the 29th May this morning. We all with great interest read it one after another down to the smallest child that could read, and the rest inquired if it was from Mother. So you see if we are separated by distance, we are not forgetful of you. The children are very anxious to see you and often inquire of me when you are coming home. I can only tell them you are coming when you get well. I very much desire to see the day when I can say to them you are well and on the way home, but the children and family are all getting on very well, and up to this time have had no sicknep in the family here or at the plantation and I have heard of no new cases of discentary in town this week. It is thought it is rather alerting in town and county. Though there are many who have not entirely recovered from it. The Trustees of the Judson held their annual meeting last week. They appointed Mr. Jewett principal and myself steward for the next year at the same rent on my part, and have pretty well concluded to put an addition to the other wing of the building corresponding with our rooms. I suppose I will accept the appointment of steward as it will not suit me to move every year and the Trustees and Mr. Jewett will not hear to my leaving the in stitution at present and I don't hear of any complaint with the girls or their friends. All seem to be satisfied. I was at the plantation Friday. The corn crop is very sorry, the drought has injured corn crops in the sandy land very much. We may make corn to do us if it should be seasonable from this out, but if the dry weather should continue a little longer there will be but little corn made in the country. The oat crop is cut short also, but little of ours will do to cut. The cotton looks very fine and bids for a plentiful crop, our gardens have suffered from the drought, but we have plenty of squashes, and potatoes, some snap beans and plenty of collards and in a few days will have tomatoes and cucumbers. We make out tolerably well for provisions, but are at great trouble to procure what we have. Ned is here about two days in the week- - get plenty of eggs and butter and yesterday brought home some ten or fifteen young chickens, being the first since I got home, but this will not long be the case, as there are plenty in the country that will soon do to fry. We get plenty of beef stake and good hams . I got a letter form Mr. Pleasants last week saying he had sold my cotton at 8 cents. I have lost about three hundred dollars on my crop from wh at it would have brought if sold at the proper time but I am not alone in the matter of cotton. Mr. Wyatts, Mr. N- - and many others have mis took the market and are holding out to their cotton yet. The price may improve but I have my doubts whether the price gets up this season. We are expecting Mr. Pleasants up soon when I get my cotton money I will pay up as for as it will go with my creditors. I hope to have some little money left after the examination. I have in the debt from Miss Underwood, Miss Knox and a part of the amount from Miss Marshall and have paid out to different individuals since I came home nearly as much as I have now . Doc Wyatt has got well, but young Mr. Moatogue, one of the Howard bo ys is very sick at Mr. Wyatt. Mr. Melcher one of the Howard teachers is also very sick but on the mend. Bro. Ford is also sick. Dock Bradley unwell this morning. So much so that Doc. England has been out all day visiting his cases for him. James Lockhart's wife died on last Thursday. Several deaths among the Negroes since I got home but mostly old cases, one of Mrs. Tarrant's women and a woman of Alex Grahams that have been sick some months. I have nearly filled my paper. I fear I have written nothing that will interest you, in fact, I have no news to write. Our village is very quite a nd dull, plenty of work to do in the country and but few people come to town. Violet wants to know what has become of Charles since he got home he is here under very strict watch - - he is boarding at Mr. Tolers under a penalty that if he is not at all his meals and does not stay there every night he gets a severe whipping and if he is absent from any one of his meals and Tolers old woman does not tell of it in a half hour after meal time she is to have five hundred lashes. So it appears he is pretty closely watched and guarded. He seems to be ashamed to see me and has not ventured to ask a single question of me since I got home. I understand that Stephen Pleasant did not strike him a single lick but will sell him the first chance he gets. His pass was written by one of Lockett's Negro boys. They gave him a very severe whipping. I hope when we hear from you again that we shall hear that you are still improving and encouraged to remain until fall. How much we would like to see you at home. We would rather wait and see you well and healthy, and ab le to enjoy life and those you love. Our baby sleeps with me every night and she has not forgotten to lie on my arm or her father's boosom (bosom), is very willing to have her face and hands washed but her father has to get her to sleep or go to bed with him. I expect Mrs. Fagan's friends have written her but if not you can say to her they are all well. Say to Mrs. Goree that I saw Jones yesterday, his family is well. Affectionately your husband Wm Hornbuckle All of the children will write every week. Keep in good spirits. I am rather lonesome without you, but will hope to meet you before long. ******************************************* Letter No. 5 Marion, Perry County, Alabama October 7 1854 Dear Mary Having a few leisure moments this evening and supposing that you are expec ting to hear from home and perhaps anxious to know how we are getting along with a house full of young ladies and but little except bacon and collards to feed with. I thought I would just say to you that we are all well and doing remarkably well in the way of living and so far have no rig ht to complain of bad treatment nor - - - - boarders. We have about eight -five young ladies and still they come and what are we to do with our Baptist girls, I don't know for it seems that we will have all the Methodists in the country. The Misses Burdens are bringing a younger sister and two or three others from Mobile with them and I can't tell the number of new girls that have come in even at this early hour. There is Mississippi - The Misses Grandburys and some three or four new girls with them. Miss Marqup Askew and three others from Columbus. Miss Task, Earle and the ir crowd and a half dozen with them. Then there is Miss Allen, Hunter and another full grown young lady just arrived. Miss Maxwell, Richards on and Higginbotham. We expect the Miss Stephenson and for the life of me I can't tell who is not coming and such a fuss about rooms. A ll want the lower rooms. What shall we do with them? The house will be f ull. Where can we put them" Some are proud and can't think of going in to the basement story. Others are lame and can't get up to the cupola so here it is, we will have to put them all on the two middle floors, the best we can do. Now to be more serious with great pleasure I inform you that I had the good luck to get a load of small chickens the other day and we have our groceries from Cahaba and expect more from New Orleans, and Mobile. Still more flour and corn in a few days and our smoke house is full of beef and mutton and at the present we have plenty of butter so you see we are not so bad off at last. Don't you think Bro. Tarrant has finished that back shed and little ro om at last. Yes, he has and Mrs. Bolton and Lydia Ann has put your swe et meats, preserves and spices nicely upon the shelves and there is room for twice as much as you have got, but then we will fill all the shelves with something. There are the pickles and old jars and bottles that must go some where. All the Negroes have quilted their quilts except Mary and I have sent after cotton for her quilt but then day after tomorrow is Monday. I don't know how she will make out to quilt, the washing must be done even if she sleeps cold. I have hired the girl that Wm. Huntington had of the Codys until Christmas. I think we will be able to get along very well if we can keep well and hearty. If we get behind I must ship up Sally Yavington, that is all. The men are at the plantation gathering our corn. How I hope you will be benefited by your stay at the Springs and if you are, I hope you will give yourself no uneasiness about home. We will try to do the best we can and I hope you will drink the water and bathe and do all you can to improve your health and stay until you are satisfied you can receive no further benefit from the water by staying. If you get out of money, I will send you more when you want it. I want you to co me home well and in order that you may do so I want you to bathe freely and take all the advantages you can while you are there regardless of expense. I ordered a few articles from Mobile for you. I hope you have got them by this time and if there should be anything else you want, write to Fry Bros. & Co. for it. The boys are all well and going to school. Eliza is well and says she thinks you will get well at the Springs and so we are all hoping. Mr. Wyatt's folks are all well. I think Mary wrote to her Mother yesterday. No news in Marion. Affectionely, Wm Hornbuckle ********************************************* Source: Mrs. Roberta Aurelia Roberts Mellon, Oxford, Alabama Re: Letter written by William Hornbuckle to his son, James "Jimmie" William Hornbuckle. The following letter was written on April 4 1864. William Hornbuckle died on April 15 1864. Plantation April 4 1864 Jas. W. Hornbuckle Dear Son Mr. Robards came up to see me today in regard to the money he borrowed from you I suppose he used the money in getting home, expecting to get the amount from his Father here, but in this he was disappointed and consequent ly unable to pay over to me, the forty dollars he says he got from you .. he offered to give me his note for the amount but I declined to take his note, telling him that he could refund the money to you after his return to camp and his company was paid off. I speak of this in order that you may look after the matter there. If you desire to send, and have the money to spare, you will no doubt have other chances of sending home any am ount that you wish taken care of or funded. I head indirectly from Thomas (Thomas Howard Hornbuckle) not long since, his command or rather his company passed through Greenville, SC on the 7 th day of March, last. they stopped two days in the neighborhood and were invited to dine with Augustus and Samuel Townes, but I did not learn whether Thomas accepted of either invitation. He was well but very destitute of clothing. We sent him clothes about the time he left Tennessee by Jas. Rapel and a member of the company. I hope by this time he has received the articles sent. We heard from him since they got into Georgia. I suppose by this time they are at Dalton. I also heard from Frank when I was in town last wee k. He was then well and stationed for the present at Pollard, between Montgomery and Mobile. It seems that Lieut. Seldon and a part of Seldons battery was sent up there to guard that point and Frank Dock and some of the other Marion boys was in the crowd. You, no doubt, want to hear how I am getting on with the farm planting a nd - - - . The spring is very backward, wet and cold. I have not run a plow for two weeks and don't know when I can, the ground is too wet now, a nd threatens more rain before night. I have however planted about ha lf my crop of corn, but have none up. I very much fear that it will have to be planted over. I am now behind with my work and should I have to plant over again, will not be able to catch up this year. There is a good deal of sickness in Marion; mostly scarlet fever and ve ry fatal among the children. Mr. Garrett has lost two children in a we ek past. Harry Hurt has lost two of his youngest. Ludy Wyatt two and I don't know how many others have died. Old Major England died little over a week ago. Our family keeps well, both here and in town. Leathy's boy, John, was very badly burned Saturday was a week ago but I think, perhaps, that he may get well. The burn seems to be doing very well now. Well, my son, I am so little about town, that I can't give you any, or at least but little news. Our old friend, Aunt Sally Blakely was married two weeks ago to Tax Assessor Davis. What will happen next? Write to us often as you can. May God be with you, to guard you, and protect you in ever hour of danger and temptation. Trust him with all things. Affectionately Wm Hornbuckle Lewis Shoes owed perhaps some other articles for you were sent by Mrs. Pe ry's boys. I hope you will have received them before this reaches you. WH ************************************************************************** ** Source: Mrs. Roberta Aurelia Roberts Mellon, Oxford, Alabama Re: Letter written to James "Jimmy" William Hornbuckle regarding the death of his father, William Hornbuckle. To Uncle Jimmie Hornbuckle Marion Alabama April 15 1864 Prepare yourself, dear Jimmie for sad sad news. We received the painful intelligence of the death of your dear Father this morning. When Edmund went in to make a fire this morning at four o'clock, he found him dead, perfectly stiff. Dr. E (Eiland) left him yesterday apparently in good health, having spent the night with him. Edmund says he complained of feeling badly from a pain in his breast yesterday when he came down in the field (I suppose after Dr. England left) but soon wore off. He says he head no more of it last night but when he went in this morning he found him dead, lying as he supposed he went to sleep with the bed clothing drawn around him. No evidence whatever of a struggle. The family have all gone over and it becomes my painful duty to write to you this heart rending news. They are all very much distress, of course, and poor Puss looks as if she cannot bear it. God in his Providence has so rely afflicted you all in removing such a father from you but He moves in a mysterious way. While it is His hand that afflicts, He also gives us grace to sustain in time of need and often these trials which seem so hard to bear, work out for us a for more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. May it prove so in this case is my sincere wish and prayer. It may be that God will bring great good out of this calamity which h as befallen us. We can only bow with submission and cry "Thou will O Lord be done". I would write more but wish to write to the other boys before the mail closes. I sympathize deeply with you all, Jimmie and hope that God will grant you his all sustaining grace. I remain yours truly Mary P. Lovelace Note: Mary P. Lovelace (Mary Permelia Wyatt Lovelace) ****************************************** Additional Comments: William Hornbuckle - Steward of Judson College, Marion, Perry County, Alabama Mary Benson Blassingame Hornbuckle - Wife of William Hornbuckle File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/perry/history/letters/williamh343gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 23.6 Kb