Person County, NC - William Pearce to Robert S. Mitchell, 1870 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following letter was sent to Robert S. Mitchell b. 8 March 1848 in Person Co NC (age 26 at writing) from William Pearce (hometown friend about the same age), Hurdles Mills, NC (Flat River in Granville, NC). Moved to Vanderburgh, Webster Co KY in the household of stepfather, Mr. W. J. Springfield Sr. R.S. Mitchell m. Unity S. Trice (b. 2 June 1854) in Dixon KY by L. Hopgood They had 12 children I searched and found the niece, Margaret P. Eidson, of William Pearce still in Hurdles Mills, NC. in 1994. A copy of the letter was put into their family genealogical file. Anyone with knowledge of the people in the letter are ask to contact T. Moneyhan and I will send you a copy. tudla@aol.com ___________________________________________________ Mr William Pearce Hurdles. Mills. Person Cty. N.C. Hurdles Mills March the 12 1870 My Dear Friend I resume my seat to write to you for information which I hope will be received and answered soon as for my self I have no news of interest to write more then times is dull and hard at the present here and the prospect appears more gloomy than ever there fore I have concluded to write to you hoping to get all the news from your state true,, as it is my notion to leave old North Carolina I wish you to write me word how you are getting on and what the prospect is in your country in the first place I wish to know the price of land hogs cows sheep and horses bacon flour corn larde and even salt I also wish to know the prices of sugar coffee and iron and any goods generally from the lowest prices to the highest I also wish to know how you rent your lands and the people rank in society and the health of the country especially what kind of game you mostly have and if your ladies is pretty and tell me if you are married yet I am not my self and perhaps will have to pick me on out in the country I move to Your Uncle James Cates and Aunt Susan is well Cousin James told me if I would write to you I would get the truth about your country is the reason I write to you for information I saw Billie Allen and Jo, recently they are in my notion to try a better land but non of us is not settled yet where as we here to much news from Kansas, and Colaratto though I think those rods (roads) long for my Mother and Sisters to travel Mr Henry Reams speaks of leaving also though he is very sick at the present I presume you have heard of his factory getting burnt Page 2 Bob if you could come into the neighborhood it would not seem the same to you as great many alterations has taken place since you left Most all our ladies is married on Flat River and left together Miss Laura Webb and Miss Emma Tapp is the only two single ones left that rank with me When you where here I wish I know what for Christmas you had I certainly had a nice time as myself William Jo, Allen and Lewis Daniel left the country and put old Orange (county) through we was at a party every night with first class Miss Pattie Mangum also give us one of the nicest sort all the neighbors is generally well though the hard times is pulling us back every day we expect a stock law and a rail road in this county now and the taxes will take very high the ballance I wish you to write me word how you are taxed in your state on everything land stock of all kind and all about the laws even to that I man gets by marrying if the property comes by a lady here her husband cant spend it for anything but he is bound for her contracts everything is taxed here that is why I am so particular about the law I wish to know how a country is governed that I would move to the state and county laws I wish to know and all generally I wish to know if a man is aloud to steel his wife in your state as I expect I shall have to steel one if I ever get one Jim Jacobs married Miss Standfield and is gone to your old place I presume to die for I no no other prospect write soon and give me a true statement of your country and you will ablige your friend William Pearce Mr. Pearce is writing to inquire about the "country" of Kentucky which Robert had moved to a few years earlier, after the Civil War. Robert (my G-grandfather) was in Vanderburgh, Webster Co. KY at the time of writing. It is one young adult writing to another with information from home, the "ladies" and social activities in Orange, NC, as well as wanting information for the consideration of a move from the old hometown. Additional Comments: Names mentioned: Hurdles Mills, NC Flat River Vanderburgh, Webster Co. KY Uncle James Cates and Aunt Susan and cousin James Billie Allen and Jo Mr Henry Reams Miss Laura Webb Miss Emma Tapp Lewis Daniel Miss Pattie Manmgum of Orange Jim Jacobs and Miss Stanfield ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Trudy Herron Moneyhan - tudla@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________