CARTER COUNTY, TN - LETTERS - Amanda Bowers Bradshaw to Lillie Peters Watson ----¤¤¤---- The following two letters were written to Lillie Peters Watson from her half sister, Amanda Bowers Bradshaw. Lillie was the daughter of Benjamin Hawkins Peters & Ann Eliza Bishop. Amanda was the daughter of Leonard Bowers & Ann Eliza Bishop. Benjamin and Ann Eliza were born in Carter County, TN. and moved to Sullivan County around 1890. Amanda Bowers Bradshaw moved to Pasco, WA. Letter from Amanda Bradshaw to Lillie and Sam Watson - Pasco, Washington Feb. 19, 1897 as transcribed by Mildred E. Watson Willett. Mrs. Lillie Watson, Dear Sister and Brother. Yours to hand. Some time ago. Was very glad to hear from you for it has been so long since I had had a letter from that part of the country. I do wish some of you would write me at least once a month or two if you could find time. I wrote to Ma several times but I guess she can't write or she would. but you young people ought to it seems to me. You ask me to forgive you and you will do better in the future. I forgive freely. I do hope you will keep your promise. Rudie was down with Alice last month and staid four days. Rudie is well pleased with the country he says he likes it here. Gus was down a week ago and bought a team. He said he was going to let Rudie go to work on the RRRoad grading as soon as he got through plowing in some grain. he said he could get #3.00 a day. I think Rudie has improved wonderful since I saw him there. he is quiet good-looking. Gus said Rudie was thinking of going over to visit Butler. I am going over to see Butler as soon as school is out & take the children and leave Oscar with Butler. I don't like Oscar to be in town. There are so many boys here of Oscar's size & nothing for them to do but play & get into mischief. so that is why I want to stay with B. I know he is all right there. I wish I could send Johnnie but they fuss so when they are together Butler could not stand them. Well, this has been a long gloomy winter it rains & snows & melts off & then comes again. have not had many days of sunshine. it has not been very cold since Thanksgiving & then it was quiet cold. There has not been any ice to put up yet. the RR co. shiped ice here to fill their Ice house. Well Will got me a guitar for a christmas present. I was not expecting it. $8.50 it is nice & I am going to try to learn. I have taken 3 lessons & I can play 2 pieces. My Teacher says I learn fast, have to pay 50 cts a lesson that is high but I guess it is the regular price. by the time I come home again I will bring my guitar along & play some for you. I understand music but the hardest part is execute on the Guitar. how I would like to come home this summer. If I ever come again I want to come when everything is pretty & green. Neil sent me the pictures from the looks of his wife's face She is goodnatured & quiet a pretty girl. Neil thinks she is just right. & I hope he will all ways think so. I wish them success and happiness. there is lots of misery in this world. I guess Butler will live an old batchlor all his life. poor Millard. I fear he is dead. I have not heard from him in 9 years. It (line missing from the copy sent to me by Mildred E. Willett) children's name I have forgotten. poor Mary. I feel so sorry for her. she is so goodnatured. how I wished I live closer to you all so I could go home every year or 2 anyway. you dont no how lonesome I feel at times away from you all. do you intend to live there all the time. If you knew it, your are all better off there. There are lots of poor people here & everywhere you go & how they live. I can't see no work, no homes, nor money, & yet they live. I have the old head ache today. it makes me miserable but I dont have it like I use to. nor my side dont hurt me only once in a while. I think it is because I quiet sewing. Well I have just finished working me a night dress yoke with white floss. I took the pattern from a night gown yoke that I made when I was 15 years old. I am going to work an nother with black thread. I want to make 3 night dresses. so if I should die there would be a nice one to lay me out in. there are so many died last winter & had nothing to lay them out in. Then I thought I would prepare me something but if I should die now I would be in the same fix the rest was in. I have been making some shirts for the boys. & now I have to make some for Will. well I guess I will close for this time give my love to all the folks & a share for yourselves & children & write soon. Your loving sister. Amanda C. Bradshaw ----¤¤¤---- Letter from Amanda Bradshaw to Lillie and Sam Watson - Pasco, Washington Feb. 26, 1898 as transcribed by Mildred E. Watson Willett. My Dear Brother & Sister Your welcome letter to hand was glad to hear from you all. You say you have written. I have answered every letter I have ever recieved. it has been a long time since I have had a letter. your letters must have got lost in some way on the road. Gus was down a few days ago & got your letter. he said they were all well. he said Rudie had about got their pump and wind mill up. Rudie has not been down for some time. he gets quite a lot of work to do up there. Well we have had a very nice winter so far. we had lots of snow & rain at the first part but it has been nice all this month. not cold. You say Neil & wife has not been to see you. dont yhou think they are little selfish. I dont understand Neil he is queer boy. I was sorry to hear of Maggs little girl dying but if she could look at it in the right light She would come to think she was better off. I had a letter from Mary a short time ago. She wrote your Father had put up a Tomb Store to Sam's & Gennie's grave that was good of him. one to Gennie's grave that poor girl. I can't get over her death. I wonder if Collins got away with her. her life & death was a sad one. She had the wrong influence when she started out in life. she would listen to wrong advice and she saw She had taken the wrong road to be happy. She had prpented but she could not undo what was done. I could have done any way with her when I was there & if I had staid I might have done some good for her. or I might not. She left a sad impression over me that will take time to wear off. I am sick to go back to see Ma. She is getting & will not last much longer. I do long to see you all again. I only got acquainted with you all & I do want to come in the summer when everything is its beaty. Poor Mary stuck me the saddest of you all & I dont no why. do you ever have a sadness come over you as if the whole world laid dead at your feet. thats the way I feel at times & I dont see why I should feel that way. It seems cruel to me at times to separated from you all & that may be the cause of my sadness at times. I could not be contented to live in east in the country. It would seem to slow for me, there is not enough enterprize there. in the west there is something starting new buildings property changing hands people moving out & new ones coming in. this town is a great place for moving in & moving out but that is because it is a RR town. there is talk of a boom here shortly. new machine shops & new round house. the NP has bought the Hunt line that runs from here to Dayton this state. & that will bring more families here to live. Well Lilie have you made garden yet. We have mad a mess of spinach & green onions & lettuce. It came from Walla Walla. I have 15 little chicks & 3 hens setting I have only got 23 hens. I have been getting lots of eggs but I have not got many in the last few days. We have been talking of buying a cow but I dont no yet whether we will or not. We run the city dray & have a hired man to cook for all the time & I dont like it. We have lost on the team. One mane turne $5 over for the months's work & we boarded him and team & one mane before him blowed nearly $100.00 for us. He run it 2 months & made $217.00 but spend nearly $100 out of the #217. The man we have now seems honest but business is dull. He made $15 last month but we are out $45 expenses. Will is still working for the RR Co. he gets 75 a month but it takes lots to live on. We have $20 over our living a month when we dont have much clothing to buy. Well I must close & go get things for dinner. It is after j10. I have use nearly all my canned fruits up. I want to can 2 times as much this summer of berries. I like them so better than I do plums & peaches. Well, tell me all the news & what you are doing. give my & best wishes to all the folks & your selves. kiss each of the children for their Auntie & write soon. Your loving sister A.C. Bradshaw Will sends love & best wishes to yourself & husband & childre. A.B. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Steve Peters sspeter2@bellsouth.net ___________________________________________________________________