Duplin County, NC - Jesse Grimes Letters #### Letter # 86 June 17th, 1856 South Carrollton, Ky Dear Uncle, It’s with some degree of imbarrassment I attempt to address one whom I have not seen, but from my connexion with the Family-and having your last letter to Reuben before me-I venture to address you a few lines. I have your sister Nancy’s baby to care for with her additional 8 babies also-and will give the name of the children. Corrines Jane, 17 years(Hansom). Virgil D., Isaac M., Reuben J., Joseph W., Saml. L., Jesse F., Alfred M.J., the seventh son. All stout, healthy, athletic boys, good boys. They obey me without whipping. I think its rong to whip children.—Ours, is a pretty little town, five miles up Green River from where the Old Farm is on which Bro. Asher now lives. We have 40 lots, worth from $50. to 100- each, 3, $75 each 2, $50 each, have a store house on one lot & a shop on another which I bilt, and will bring good this fall.—I am a turner or wheel right or carpenter or any such a thing--. I have 80 acres in cultivation, 18 in grass, fine prospects for a good crop--. I forgot to say, that on our lots we get the best of free stone water at 18 to 20 feet thru a 8 ft. sand stone. Our Town has 4 stores, 3 Groceries & Taverns, 4 Smith Shops. The county is improving very fast- 2 Steam Mills near town. Ten years ago I owned a Water Mill on a small stream which I worked six years, which almost made me a small fortune. I like Milling. Say to me in your answer if your streams 50 yards wide have good high banks and ample timber?----- We commenced this world with about $200. worked hard and by it acquired some property. Now at 40 years, I feel that I am on the decline and rather bald headed. Eda is 2 years younger and holds her age well---We would be glad to see our old Uncle & Aunt and the children, I hope that some of you will come as you know the way-----. You, perhaps recollect John Stroud, he was at our house last week after reading your letter he said, no one would he like to see as well as yourself—requested me to send his respects, his children are all married & gone they are alone with the Blacks. They are well off now. When you knew them they were poor as I learns. I was at Ashers last Sunday, his second daughter has been 3 weeks afficted with chora, she is improving all are well of the connexion, so far as I know and are doing well. I have some fears that the trade of our beautiful river will be injured by the construction of a railroad from Memphis to Louisville by the way of Bowlingreen 60 or 70 miles above which is the main points of trade now for steam boats-tho 10 or 15 miles above us. Iron Works are being constructed by a man whose annual income is half a million, he has a boat on this river which will ade in keeping open our River. Our vast coal fields and prospect for Iron which are being developed are attracting the attention of capitalists to a considerable extent which promises something for the future. We have a charter for an air-line rout from Memphis to Louisville which would come immediately through there coal fields, but for the want of capital they will connect with the Nashville & Louisville route by the way of Bowlingreen. I must say something to you upon the subject of Politics (tho not much of a politician). From the present indication of affairs it would become all to have an eye to that subject, melancholy, serious, but rather critical chrisis--- When sectional animosity causes senatorial strife of a fearful character that burns and kindles like a spark in dry stable—mark the fearful outrage commited at Louisville by a selfish aristocracy who would monopolize to themselves the right to dictate a religion and prescribe the limit of ones birth, they seem too, to be made of such material as a great many of them in the State appear to favor the abolitions faction North, this platform you have seen, doubtless.-----But I prefer the Cincinnati Democratic resolution and hope you are right on that subject, as also another of vast more importance, that of theology, for when we are right on religion we will be politically so. Serious and alarming apprehensions arise stupendous, finests-craft presents finest- crafts, so called religion, persecutes, religion, the earrings of a false and cruel theology brought to bare on the minds of a superstitious and traditional world produces its like, like begets like, let man divest himself of the bigotry and superstition generally instilled by his education, the mental and moral improvement is his certain destiny, he is then prepaired to advance on and forward to eminance in knowledge and glory. Whence he will progress to and attain to the excellence of divine wisdom and perfection attainable only in the resurrection from mortatlity to immortality. Cor.15 Chapter. Which I venly believe will be the final destiny of the whole human race. I know not how this view may suit you-but judge from your letters that your mind is unfetters. Uncle—will please in answer give sentiment on this subject in full. Then we but few here that believe and rejoise with me in hope of the trimph of the great God in his undertaking to save the world. We have a variety of religionist in our town, Calvinest, Presbyterian, there is system in this doctrine. But O how cruel---Comberlan Presbyterians, no system, Methodism, no system, chance you may & you may not think the good old Baptist, once good always so. We have abundance of preaching to but little affect the people wont repent, yes the Methodist portion repent occasionally but won’t stay so, it is to do over next time. They all agree that God is good, yet they tell us that he will punish endlessly without any good resulting therefrom, and that he created and made a monster “Devil”, who has caused a great deal of mischief in the world and still lets him run at large as tho he was one of his agents to assist him in affecting and tormenting mankind. From this kind teaching Judge, the people think that God is not all together so good so they don’t repent---This you see they do err not knowing the scripture that the goodness of God leadeth to repentance. Your neace sends respects to you and Family. She requests your Ministries, wants you to come and bring it, if not mail it. Nephew, Received respects from Strang. Samuel M. Ross ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Betty Grimes ___________________________________________________________________