ANDERSON COUNTY, TN - MISC - Letter from Wm Tunnell to Calvin Tunnell
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Contributor's Note:  This is a letter from Wm Tunnell to his brother 
Calvin Tunnell in Ill.  See additional biographic material at the bottom.
		* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                              State of Tennessee, Anderson County
                                                Aug 31, 1845     

Dear Brother.

     I gladly embrace the present opportunity of writing a few
lines to you to let you know that we are all well at present for
which great blessing we owe our sincere thanks to that "Benign
Being" who is the giver of every good and perfect Gift.  And we
sincerely hope that these few lines may find you all enjoying the
same great blessing.  We recd a letter from William A. which
appears to have been written before the news reached there that
the Grim monster Death has intered our earthly sanctuary and torn
from our fond embrace a beloved and dutiful son since he and
Luther left here --- Jesse -- is no more  !!  On the day that
Luther & William left my house he returned from the wedding
(where he was when they started) and immediately took his bed.  A 
Physician was called in who attended him very closely day & night
for better than a week when (it appearing that he was getting no
better but rather worse) Dr. Nelson a Skillful Physician of
Campbell station was called in, and a consultation held by his
bed side -- but alas! it was found to be too late to administer
any substantial relief (this was on Saturday night) he now
declined rapidly until monday evening -- when his spirit left its
dust to return to earth as it was and fled to God who gave it he
died the twelfth day after Luther and William left here.

     I am informed that your uncle-in-law James Adair (or Odair)
died recently and consequently a considerable sum of money is due
to you.  The widow Summers of this county being a half sister of 
the decsd received about fifteen hundred dollars.  Her son,
George Summers, has bought the share of Mrs. Johnson, another
half-sister for which he paid 800.00 of 1,000.00 (in land).  Jas.
E. Cummins from Va. says that a full brother or sister draws
(according to the laws of Va.) ----- 1500 this sum I left blank
when I was writing, I have heard since I wrote the above that the
sum Mrs. Summers received was fifteen hundred, therefore you and
your sisters will be 3000 -- twice as much as a half brother or
sister, consequently your share (as I am informed) will amount to
something like a thousand dollars. i.e. yours and barbara's
shares are worth two thousand dollars.  I am thus particular in
stateing the information I have received in relation to the
amounts and because, I am informed that Mr. Summers (the man who
bought Mrs. Johnson's share intends coming to your house for the
purpose of buying your share of the estate.  He represents the
estate to been enthralled by debts (& for what purpose you will
quickly conceive).  I am informed that the Summerses have sold
their possessions in this county and are going to move back to
Virginia.  They are also buying all the claims V.S. the estate

                               10.



that they can get.  This man, George Summers, has been to 
virginia since Adair died consequently you know he has a good
opportunity to inform himself of the condition of the estate and
how much he can make by buying the shares at the price he offers.
You will observe that it is a very material matter about your
father-in-law being a full brothers and Mrs. Summers being only a
half-sister or course your fatherinlaws share will be twice as
much as Mrs. Summers'.  I wish you to inform our children who 

page 15

live in that country and the relations Generally that we are all
well ' enjoy as good health as is common for people of our age
They may not have heard the melancholy news I write in this
letter about Jesse's death if so you will please let them know. 
Our relations in this country are all well as far as I know. 
William M. Farmer's relations are also well, his sister Massey
was married last Spring to Mr. Sharp I might have said "Rev" as
he is a minister of the gospel of the methodist denomination.

     I have nothing more worth your attention so I will bring my
hastly letter to a close by subscribing myself your loving
brother till death.                                               
                            William Tunnell
To Calvin Tunnell.

                   ...............................

William Tunnell lived near the present town of Marlow, Tenn.  His
great-grandson, Oscar Tunnell, lives on the farm.  William and
his wife are buried on the farm.

Calvin Tunnell lived near Carrollton, Ill., Greene Co. and he and
his wife are buried on the farm which is about 2 miles southwest
of Carrollton, Ill.  Mrs. Laura Scandrett Tunnell, widow of their
youngest son, owns the farm.

This letter is in possession of Alden R. Hicks, of Twin Falls,
Idaho, and Scottsville, Ill., who is a great-grandson of William 
Tunnell who wrote the letter.

     James Adair (or Odair) was the brother of Thomas Adair who
was the father of Jane Adair Tunnell, wife of Calvin Tunnell. 
James Adair was never married.  He died in Pulaski Co., Tenn. not
far from Pulaski City, Va.

     William Tunnell, who wrote this letter, was known as Col.
Wm. Tunnell and also as "Baldy" Tunnell.  He was a member of
legislature of Tenn. on several occasions and wrote, I am told by
different relatives "senit for senate".  He visited in Illinois
but did not like it; "it was too much on the frontier."

                               11.

     The daughters of William Tunnell who lived near WhiteHall,
Ill. Greene Co. were Mrs. Betsey Tunnell Hicks and Mrs. Kitty
Tunnel Farmer.  A granddaughter, Mrs. Kate Tunnell Linder, came
to Greene Co. Ill. after her marriage, years after her aunts.

The Barbara mentioned was a sister of Jane Adair Tunnell.