Letter from Calvin TUNNELL, Greene County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Jim Dublin, Virginia June 4th, 1860. Dear Jackson, Sally, and Mary. This is the first moment of leasure I have had to write. Perhaps it would be most satisfactory to give you a kind of Journal of my travel. We staid at the river until nine oclock Wednesday before the boat come it having run onto a bar. We arrived at St. Louis in good time. Took passage on the Ben Lewis and was to land us at MEMPHIS in two days we started about 4 oclock PM traveled slowly and on thursday night 50 miles above Cairo run on a bar and was detained about 19 hours another boat belonging to the same company took us off and left Ben on the bar. Got to Memphis at 11 oclock AM staid until 4:30 pm and took the cars. Tuesday took breakfast at Huntsville La About 9 oclock stoped at Scottsboro a few minutes, Inquired for Richard Kirby was told he lived 2 1/2 miles distant. Could hear nothing of Mrs. Price. Went on toward dicks found John Childres, he told me the Dick I was going to was not the one I was hunting and that Virginia's name was Pierce and lived 5 miles from Scottsboro I walked to her house, she is a very pleasant looking old lady, did not know me, next morning took a couple of horses and conducted me to Richards eight miles. He did not know me. We stayed with him until thursday when he took me to Scottsboro eight miles. They seemed to be very glad to see me, and sent their respects to all and especially to you Sally. They seem to be doing tolerable well. I was at the road before 9 oclock train and took it when it come. Arrived at Chattanooga about 2 P M, stoped till 4:40, visited Milo Coulter who did not remember ever seeing me, waited a little too long, came to the train when in motion. He took my arm and almost thrust me on to the platform and we were off for Knoxville one second more and I would have been left. We arrived at Knoxville at 11 oclock in the night, went to the hotel. Friday took the 9 oclock stage to Rockford 9 miles, was behind time, had rained nearly all night, traveled slowly through the mud. Arrived at Doctor Porters 1 oclock, got dinner, he told me your grandma was at James Singletons 2 1/2 miles distant, sent his son to take me over (he knew me as soon as he saw me although he had not seen me for 25 or 26 years). The old lady said she would never have known me. She looks more fleshy than I ever saw her, yet she is veeble indeed, she is worn out. After I got there Richard Kirby came to take her to his house he stayed all night and on satturday I went home with him and stayed till after dinner then they went with me to doctor Porters across, the river, she riding behind him. Sunday it rained so that I stoped with the doctor till monday when he sent me to the river at Knoxville with his oldest son. He has a very interesting family, his sons will be apt to make thier marks on the high places of the earth. I walked out to Tilleries, who married John Tunnell's Hannah. He took me to Johns 3 miles whose wife did not know me, she sent for him to the plough. He knew me he started to take me to Anderson on tuesday, dined at Jesse Worthingtons, and went to Williams a little before nigh, he had been there a week or two before and they were not expecting him again and when it was said John was coming and an old white headed man with him, William said; That is Calvin. We went in and John told his mother who was nearest to me that this is uncle Calvin she said she would never have known me in the world. When William heard my name and my voice he jumped up instinctively almost as quick as when a boy and reached out his hand toward me saying he could not see me but he knew my voice. I expect that they have seldom if ever in their lives exhibited more sattisfaction than they did on the reception of a visitor. Next morning before I was up he sent for Thomas to go with me to see Samuel and Sarah, said he wanted me if I could to stay all the time with him but I must visit all his children or they would think hard. Before we started Zerelda came on her way thither so I went with her and let Tom plow, went to Sam;s took dinner. It rained and kept us there beyond our time, then went to Peaks, Sally was gone to the store, took supper, started on our way, met her, she promised to see me at her fathers in the morning. We then called at Thomas' and returned to Williams at dark, stayed there all night. Thursday visited Zerelda's family, took dinner at eleven oclock and met John at Sam Worthingtons (the old homestead) and went home with him, was very tire, was going to take the 9 oclock train but John and his wife seemed to have a great anxiety to have my likeness and wanted me to go with them to Knoxville to get it which I did. Had two taken, they kept one and I brought the other for the girls, they are very good. After the rain it turned so cool that I thought I had better not take the 11 oclock train and be out all the coldest part of the night, so I went back with them and stoped and took supper with Mr Wallace whose wife is a sister to John's wife who had told John whe would be very glad to see me. They are fine people. On Satturday morning John took me to the road 7 miles. I took the 9 oclock train and arrived here about 11 oclock P.M. This is Newbern depo, when I came off the cars I asked a man if the Dublin post office was kept here, he said it was, I then asked him where Summers lived. Ezekile had then come within hearing distance and had seen me alight from the cars did not know me in the dark until he heard me speak. He said he would show me where Summers lived. Elizabeth was up. They are all well except the two least children who have had sickness; the little boy has been blistered and is now much afflicted with biles al over his person. Yesterday evening I went to Georges, their two least children have been sick and are not well yet but are up. A little negro boy got his eye hurt badly, they cannot find out how he done it he said a bee stung him and sometimes he says he fell down and hurt it. A younger negro babe is also very sick with a disease which is prevalent which the doctors call brake bone fever, it is said to make all the bones even to the finger joints sore. Nancy said the last child come very near dying last night. The doctor told me this morning he thought it was better. He feared the other would lose his eye. He put a blister on his temple. I thought it did not look dangersously bad but I did not examine it as closely as he did. I have written until I am tired. I now think but few men of my age would cause such a trip as I have taken without being more prostrated than I am. I have sometimes been very tired but I have enjoyed greate satisfaction in visiting my friends from whom I have received so many evidences of their kindly feeling. Calvin Tunnell ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jim