Duplin County, NC - Jesse Grimes Letters ----¤¤¤---- Letter # 90 Old Washington C.H. Ala. Dec. 27, 1856 Jesse, Your letter of the 18th Sept. did not reach here until the 21 Octr. As I am alone and feel its influence I have undertaken to give you a letter. This will be a task not easily accomplished because I have nothing to make it out of. Christmas has passed off without the occurrence of any important event amongst us except that of the marriage of Ann to a doctor Buford on Christmas night. The company has all left and this is the cause of my lonely feelings today. In my last communications you were informed of Sun dry persons who had sold out with the intentions of moving to Texas this winter. Some have declined going before next fall and I now think the rest will not undertake this journey before Spring, if then. William Smith has sold off but will remain here until next fall, though he will have to give possession soon, Jim Worsham the same, Alfred Gough to. D.H. Land sold his land to a man that has run away before payment he will remain where he is. George Dunbar & Quincy Jordan are fixing and nearly ready for the road, say they will try it this winter. Albert sp---- from June till late in the fall brought on dropsy and today Drs. Buford & Gilbert have taped him and I think his prospect for an exit to another country less known to than Texas is very certain and that is land he has partially sold off and has perhaps as worthless a wife as any man ever was cursed with. When Albert dies I shall wish her h-ll or Texas with as much honestly of heart as ever I wished for anything. A good many waggons have passed here lately for Texas, some for one part and some for another, many for Polk County. The weather for this and the last month has been very wet and of late very cold. The crops are all gathered, sold and the proceeds spent by many. Our country has become healthy again after the sickliest year since you left here. Nothing worthy of penning has taken place in the country since I wrote my last. I have not forgot your chalenge to me, on the subject of your intended tour to the Bosques. There is a strong inclination on my part to accept that chalenge. How or whether I can or not is what I cannot at present tell. The distance between us, the time and expense are obsticles of considerable magnitude with me, yet I can over come them if I could at once determine on going. I want to see Texas again, see partys I did not see when there, look at the country as it now is and think as I go of its advantages and probable improvements and how and when to be made. Albert Lister has just left here for home, he speaks of moving on further west before they make another crop. Harrison Co. is a poor landed county and I did not like any land I saw in that County. These families that have left here this fall have located east of the Trinity river, those to leave intend going further. I believe they will go, if any fall through it will be Wm. Smith, he has been sick and trying to die all the winter, no doubt as much on account of moving as from disease. He is opposed to going to that country but his family have prevailed on him to promise to let them go and take him along as baggage. It is growing late in the evening and wish to give this a start to the post office so I conclude. Wm. Grimes Write soon. __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Betty Grimes ___________________________________________________________________