Fam Hist: Rebecca Ann Langston Wright letter, April 6, 1851, Lincoln Parish, LA Submitted by: Dorothy Rinehart Taylor, 111 Racove Drive, West Monroe, LA 71291 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ This is a copy of a letter written by Sumpter David Rinehart in 1900 to his sister Johannah Randall in South Carolina. Louisiana- Jackson Parish April 6, 1851 Dear Mother I take the opportunity to drop you a few lines to inform you of our health, which is good at present. Mr. Anding's and Vining's also. I hope that these lines may find you and all the relation enjoying the same good like blessing, none of you excepted Mr. Wright has had the chill and fever, he has got tolerable, is out again though. I had a fine daughter born in January 14 last. Marzella has not had (? couldn't read) since we have been here and looks the best of any of the children. Sarah and Martha is a going to school at Vienna, Martha learns faster than any of our children. We are going to start Mandy in the morning, George has had a hard spell of sickness but has got well again. I want you to right (write) to me where James Langston is and how far he is from you and whether has bought land or not. What's he and family are doing and the reason he has not been down before now. I have been looking for him some time. Tell him for me to fetch Mary and the children, I wish you to come with him when he comes. I want to know whether Moses got his land of not, he seemed to think it doubtful when he was here. Tell Nancy I want to see her and the children and know how they are getting on in the world. How is Mary Mitchell and her family a getting along, Has Mary bought her a home yet and have they all got well or not and where a living this year. How is Jack Stocks and all of them a doing and what is the reason that Jack has not been here before now and whether any person has administered on the estate or not yet. Mr. Wright is done planting corn but a few little new ground and has commenced planting cotton, The people are generally very backward here for this Spring. We have sold almost all of our corn off that we can spare at 75 cents a bushel. Corn is now selling for a dollar per bushel and very little to be had at that. Last year we made 16 bales of cotton weighing over 500 pounds each. Of them we sold 4 at Trenton at 11 1/4 cents. We sent 12 to New Orleans. Them we got (?) -1/8 for. Flour is at $5.50 per barrel, bacon 10 cents per pound at Trenton, none in the country for sale that I know of, Salt is $1.50 per sack. Molasses 35 cents per gallon by the barrell, Horses and mues are very high here now and stock of all kinds. Improved land is selling very high also, so you may see from these few things how this country is to that in that line. The people in this settlement are generally very healthy this far., ever since we have been here. The people here are very accomodating, with a few exceptions and as neighborly as anyone could wish of them. This is a very sober, civil place generally. Dr. Scott had a negro hung the fourth of this month for killing of another negro of Dr. Scotts of West Pound (?) as yews to be, I like this country very much and am better satisfied here than I was in Georgia. I wish you and all the relation to write to us when convenient. I had rather that they would come and see us, Wish to see you and all the relation, I must come to a close. Nothing more at present but remain your affectionate daughter until death. Rebecca Ann Langston - to Lovey Langston The envelope addressed to: Mrs, Lovey Langston Arkansas, Ouachita County, Buffalo Mailed from Vienna, La. on April 10., 1851, Submitters Note: Note Vienna is now in Lincoln Parish. Rebecca would have been 39 vears old. This letter was found in an old purse belonging to a member of Rebecca's family and a copy was sent to me by Elliott Rabb Whitman and Mrs. Oren Wright.