MONTGOMERY COUNTY, NC - MISC - Letter from James T. Livingston to his nephew Edward Livingston ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used 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 for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Harry Stracener ==================================================================== Contributor's Note: James T. Livingston was the son of Duncan Livingston and A. Williams. Duncan first settled in Anson Co., NC about 1804, then moved on to Montgomery Co., NC. There he raised his family near the Plantation of the famed Flora McDonald, who was famous for her loyalties to Bonnie Prince Charlie, and for her recruiting efforts in the American Revolution. Tradition reveals some of the children were actually born on the Plantation, including James T. Livingston. James moved from Montgomery Co., NC to nearby Anson, and bought a piece of land on Savannah Creek, where others of the same name resided, probably cousins. There he met and married the daughter of Nimrod and Sarah Redfern. In 1849, the family moved to East Texas where James built a two story log house. Sarah died around 1853, leaving James to raise his family alone and he never remarried. A grandson, in later years recalled that his grandfather James was a fine man, tall and broad shouldered in stature, as were many of his male descendants, enjoyed smoking his long stemmed clay pipe, and kept a jug nearby. He kept in touch with his kin in North Carolina, and on one occasion wrote to his nephew Edward, son of John, his brother who was still in Montgomery Co. Copy of letter follows. The original of this letter is among several letters of Harry Stracener, great grandson of James T. Livingston, living in Dec. 2000. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "HARRISON COUNTY, TEXAS, JANUARY THE 15TH 1873 (LETTER WRITTEN TO) EDWARD LIVINGSTON Dear Nephew: I take this opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that my self and family are all well at this time and I hope that when these few lines come to hand they may find you and family enjoying the same blessings. I received your letter on the 23rd of December which afforded me great pleasure to hear from you all. I would have answered your letter sooner - -------- very bad when I received your letter. My health has been very bad for twelve months. You wrote to me to know something about Legron. I never saw him but one time. He lives about 15 or 20 miles from here. He follows merchandising. I think he stands very high in his neighborhood, as to his property I know nothing about although I think he is in very good circumstances. You want to know how far to river I am. I do not now, you also wanted to know how far to Trinity river in Andison County it is about 100 miles I think. You wanted to know if I would accept an agency. I am not able. My health will not admit of it. I have not been able to tend to my own business since the war. Alexander attended to my business as long as he lived and since his death, Wilson has been attending to it. Alexander died the 6 of April 1871. He died withy consumption. Alexander had never been well since the war. He served in the war 4 years and surrendered in N. Carolina under I. Johnson. Alexander is my oldest son and James is my next. James died in the service in Arkansas at Camp Nelson near Little Rock with typhoid fever in 1862 -- After James death, I have only three children living. Nancy and Wilson and Henry -- Nancy and Wilson is living with me. Henry is married and lives 2 miles from me. He has 2 children. He married a Miss Hall. Nancy husband was killed at the battle of Altontat Georga. She has 2 children, Sarah Elizabeth Stone the oldest 13 years and Mary Evaline Stone the youngest- 11 years old. All living with me. Nancy's little girls is going to school in Marshall on the cars. I live near the station called Coldwater Station. The railroad is running right through my land. I live six miles from Marshall. It cost me twenty fore cents a piece a day to send the children to school on the cars. I generaly by a thousand mile ticket for forty dollars. They have fine schools in Marshall. Lizza is studying spilling, -------------- geography and history and Mollie the youngest is studying spilling reading arithmetic and geography. They are learning very fast. We made very sorry crops last year owing to the drowth. I made a little over a third of a cotton crop. I made about twenty bales weighing five hundred pounds and corn ------ selling at one dollar a bushel. Cotton at fifteen and a half ---- , I have not sold but fore bales. I want to hold the balance of it until a better price. We are all getting along very well. I make more clear money than I did when I owned slaves. You spoke of coming to Texas. I think if you would come there is plenty of --------- in Texas even to Free Nigros. We have a few carpet baggers and scalawags mixed with them but they begin to ----- ----- They can get office but they are not able to give bonds. It would disgust you to go to Marshall and see white trash associating with the negros. I consider them lower than negroes. I am very sorry that any of my kin are radicals. I must write to them and tell them better. You cannot immagin how much it hurts my feelings to hear how Duncan Parsons treated you. I thought that there was something the matter. I wrote to Sam Parsons time after time and never could get an answer. I was glad to hear from James Livingston. Tell him to write to me and let me know where he lives and what his post office box. Give my love to your brother John's wife____. I thought more of her husband than any of my kinsman I ever had. I never shall forget the day he left my house. I also want you to let me know where your sisters lives and who they married and their post office. I have heard but have forgotten. Give my love to your mother and tell her I would be very glad to see her. I must now come to a close by asking you all to write to me as soon as you can. Nancy says you must write to her. She says she remembers you very well. Give my love to all your children. So nothing more at present. Write soon and fail not your uncle James Livingston.