ANDERSON COUNTY, TN - MISC - Letter from Wm Tunnell to Calvin Tunnell ==================================================================== 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: James D. Trabue JD34TLO36@aol.com ==================================================================== 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.