Boyd County KY Archives Letters.....Prichard Sexton Correspondence ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Teresa Martin Klaiber Prichard Sexton Correspondence Original possession of Extractor Extracted by: Teresa Martin Klaiber 22937 Long Branch Road Rush, KY 41168 October 1998 This is one of a series of letters between Marcus Lindsey Sexton and B. [Bill] J. Prichard prior to Marcus Lindsey Sexton's death, from measles, later in 1880 while in Indiana. Martin and Prichard Attorneys at Law H.B. Martin B.J.Prichard Office In Allens Block Greencastle, IN Jan'y 18, 1880 M.L. Sexton Esq. City of Cannonsburg, KY Friend Lindsey: With the author Mr. Young let me say: "Self flattered, inexperienced, high in hopes, then young with ...cheer and streamers gay, we cut our cable, launched into the world and fondly dream each wind and star our friend." And we want to say just here that so far I don't regret the day I don se. Before I enter upon my answer to your my welcome letter of the 9th inst. Which was duly received, I want to say a few words in general as to letter writing and something special to you. The art of letter writing is said to be a lost one, and today you find few who possess the power to set down and give a man a graphic and accurate statement of the happening of ones community. My own experience bears out this assertion, for (I don't want to appear arrogant however) I have corresponded with perhaps some 4 or 5 hundred individuals and I find the assertion that "the art of Letter writing is a lost one" alas to time out of that number I have found at least three fifths who cannot write a letter to interest anyone. Others may interest you by the news, but those who interest you by news and their style of presentation are few indeed. I want now to say to you that I can now county 26 parties in that section of country eleven of whom I have written to since I came to this state and of that number I have not found but perhaps two who will set down and answer a letter when they get it out of that eleven and out of the whole 26 there is not more than four or five who write an interesting letter. My object in writing to so many was to find some body who would answer my letters promptly and write an interesting letter when they do write. I want to say I have chosen you as my correspondent who comes up to my idea of a letter writer nearer than any of that number and you are only dificient in one thing, and that is you are not prompt enough. Now if you only knew it you have a claim upon that "lost art" and can write a good letter. If you will only try and ...letter writing is a field in which you will find but few competitors if you will only cultivate it, you may some day be proud that you done son. I shall not presume that you will be proud of a correspondence with me. The reason I say all this is I intend to find some body who will be a good regular correspondent and as to the others I shall drop them or else count time on them and use the same diligence in answering that they do. I don't suppose that my where abouts, my progress or my doings are expressly interesting to you but I claim yours together with the information you will be able to give me are. Hence as a Boyd County boy I claim the duty off of you and hope you will be willing to ...it. Now to your letter. I would like very much to have been with that jolly crows at Mr. Killgores. I assure you I would have "tripped the light fantastic" with them with pleasure but then a man can not be two places at once so I was in the vicinity of same time swinging some big "hoosier girl" at Cloverdale. I gave them an exhibition of a Kentucky dance how it came was this . The "Young Folk Dancing Club" at that place extended me an invitation to attend this ball New Year Eve and...I went and played green on them until I saw them dance awhile and found that I would be considered a pretty fair dancer so I layed off my coat and pinned by my ears and ....and to hear the young ladies tell I got some six or seven mashes. This of course I under- stood. They meet again tomorrow night and sent me an invitation to be on hand. I very sorrowfully decline by postal card telling them I was sorry but hoped to meet "bright eyed beauties" in the not distant future all of whichI intend to do. The reason I declined this time was my partner Capt. Martin is going away and I have to bring suit to foreclose mortgage on some church property here in town. If I had been present I think I would have swung "the ark Angel" once myself. You be with you all in all such sports, or those of any nautre you may engage in, in the future. Now as to the Greenbuckers I wills ay comment is unnecessary as you know my feelings. I just add that I am d--- glad they are getting what they deserve, and I hope it will learn them a leasson they won't soon forget. Success to you in your select school hope you will raise the requisite number to pay your price. And hope you will continue to have the good times you mentioned. Now a few words concerning myself and Indiana. So far as I am concerned I am perfectly well satisfied. I like the country better the longer I stay and it would take more money to hire me to come back to that country now than it would when I wrote you before. So far as to a young mans advantages are concerned I would simply say there is no comparison between the two places. Here you are out in the world where there you are in one corner. Here you have the advantages of all modern improvements. The country is so diversified with rail roads thus ten or 15 miles in most any direction will take you to one [no comma or period] there you know how it is. Here you find education generally difused there you do not. Here a young may who proves himself correctly he is recognized as being...without having ...large bank account, and a long line of illustrious family relations to ...form, there ...as to climate soil and health I would say the climate and health is good. A competent school teacher can command as good wages as there and is considered to be some body. There is generally considered as a necessary evil. He gets his pay regular and often than there. I find whole secret of the matter consist in this if a man is industrious and a strait forward fellow he will come and that too very fast. I think you have the necessary pluck to make a success here. Now I have only been here a little over two months and I find that a large number of our citizens who command the best positions in the country were formerly school teachers. I can name several merchants who started without a dollar simply by teaching school. In fact....[pages missing]