Black Walunt Va., 20th March 1874 Dear Cousin John, Yours of the 8 just came to hand a few days since and gave me great pleasure. It seems a long time since I last had the pleasure of reading a letter from you. Up to our late Civil War all the preceding events - (4th Apl.) I had commenced this letter and was called away and only just now have resumed. I was aiming to say that up to the time of our late unhappy war my recollection of the events that ****** it was pretty good. Best that the exciting scenes and anxieties attending the war had clouded and obscured every thing that preceded it. All seems shadowy and like a dream. No doubt if we could meet and be together for some time a great many of the scenes and events of our youth would be brought to my recollections. Besides this the truth is that we are now old men and no doubt all of our faculties are going away gradually and perhaps to a greater degree than we are aware of. Although looking as they all say, young for my age, my infirmities are becoming more obvious to me. I have lived much longer than I ever thought possible, and have performed a great amount of labor physical and intellectual - and on the whole Providence has been very kind and merciful to me which I desire and I trust and do ful profoundly greatful. My children that have reached the age of responsibility are sober respectable and I trust, pious. I have tried to raise them all well - to keep them humble and free of pride and conceit. None of the are dashing extravagant or brilliant. But I trust they will all make good and useful citizens. My oldest son died two years since. My second son died a prisoner of war at Point Lookout. My third son Daniel is with me. My fourth Archer is at Hampton Sydney College. My oldest Daughter is married to D. Brooker and has several children. My 2 & 3 Daughters are grown & with me. My 4 Daughter 13 yrs old is at school at the Co H & my two little boys Mr Basley & Rufus are at home. Several years since I have received a letter from cousin Nancy (your Sister) which I answered promptly but it returned to me from the Dead Letter Office. I suppose that it was not properly directed. I think it was directed to Jefferson City. Please make this explanation to her and give her my warm and affectionate regards. You will find Mr. & Mrs. Rogers of your village very intelligent and clever people. We regreted their leaving us very much. Our relations are generally well. You no doubt have heard of the death of Uncle Thornton Easley. I should be very glad to see you. But it is hardly probable that I can visit Mo. I am loaded down with cases to such an extent to make it burdensome. Cases that can not be put off. It requires much thought and labor to take care of a large family and try to preserve the remnant of property accumulated by life time of toil and care. ****** the the times and the changes in the condition of the country has made all ****** and property less save and more hazardous and uncertain than *********. Can't you find it convenient to come in and see us all. You have no family and but few cases. We would be excedingly glad to see you and have you spend some months with us. My health for the past two summers has been bad and I am apprehensive that the coming summer will bring a return of my old disease. We are in our usual health. Remember me affectionately to all of my relatives Write as often as convenient. Writing to me has become irksome and after nearly filling the sheet I have scarcely said a tenth of what I would have liked to say if it could be by the mouth instead of the pen. My kind regards to Mr. & Mrs. Rogers & the other members of the family. As ever very truly and affectionately Yours Wm. L Owen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Wayne E. Johnson (© 2003 Wayne E. Johnson) http://www.rootsweb.com/~mocallaw/ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------