CARTER COUNTY, TN - MISC - Hopwood Letters
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Letters from Sarah LaRue Hopwood to her husband, Josephus Hopwood, 
written from Milligan College, Carter County,Tennessee.



Milligan College
Sept. 20, 1882

My Dear Husband:

Your letter came this morning.  Thanks.  I wish an hour or two could be
spared this evening to talk to you but it will soom be mail time.  We got
through the days programs before 4.  All things move on pretty well. 
Indeed I think the students generally are earnest and studious.  Some are
real jewels.  Mr. Shoun (Noah) came last night.  Will room with Mr. Walker
I think.  He says he looks for Nattie Wills about this evening.  The new
rooms are vey convenient and these bright clear days the floors look very
nice all day.  Andrew attends to them well.  He is now cutting up corn and
Mr. Alley and Joe are digging potatoes.  I thought Andrew had best not
start to school till you returned.  Mr. Mattox wrote he would ship the door
first of this week if he could get a flat.  I'm going to sent to Johnson
this evening to see and have it shipped out and will follow your
instructions about it.

Mr. St. John and wife drove over Monday and brought his neice Miss nannie
St. John and placed her in school.  She boards at Rossies and is a very
pleasant and I think studious young lady 16 years old.

Mr. Henry B. is fixing Bro. Shelburne's cistern I think.  Will fix ours I
suppose when he gets through.  Mr. Tate is organizing the Reading Room.  He
has about 25 or 30 members.

Hope you will go to Mercer dear if you think it is best.  We will be sure
to get along.  We miss you ever so much but the work is not especially
needing you.  How much is to be done!  No wonder you are impressed with the
greatness of the field but we are not required to do more than we can and
must not waste our strength by trying to compass too much.  A little well
done is all our short lives can reach.  But I feel that little to is too
often neglected.  Help me to be more diligent.  Hope to hear from you in a
few days.  Be good dearest and may the spirit of all wisdom guide you ever.
 Bye Bye.

Eleanor

I love you

====================================

Miligan Tenn.
May 28, 1884

My Dear Husband:

	Your letter from graham reached me this morning.  We are anxious to hear. 
Hope Mr. Miller is better.  Write to him or tell him to be careful not to
relapse.  The great danger is in that.  I've known of so many who thought
they were well who took a relapse and died.  I fear for the boys who are
out and have the measles now or will have them.  Indeed this is just where
the danger lies.  Do caution them dear.  You know the temptation in their
cases will be to move out as soon as they think they are able.

	Andrew has thrown a light fence around the hillside orchard and a
protection around the trees near the house.  They will not suffer any more
now.  He also plowed the garden yesterday morning and John got quite an
amount of it hoed and we got many beans planted and corn where it was
needed.  The garden looks extremely well.  Will have peas for you if you
come home in a week; if you don't maybe we'll have them eaten up.

	The work is doing as well as possible.  Mr. Range came yesterday.  Mr.
Tate went collecting yesterday with some little success.  Come home as
early as you can dear.  Meantime we will get along well.  Miss Helen got
her register this morning.  Will leave for Va. on Friday I expect.

	Hope you will have a pleasant meeting at Edgemont.  Love to all enquiring
friends.  I'm most ready for my trip.  Bye, Bye.  Lovingly,

Eleanor.

===================================

Milligan College
October 8, 1884


My Dear Husband:

     Yours from Whitesburg to hand.  Would be glad to hear from 
you ever so many times a day but in your crowded condition of mind 
a thank you for so nicely writing to me nearly every day.

     Mr. Henry is just finishing first coat of dining room.  Will 
plaster the front hall this evening.  The parlor will be next in 
order.  But laths that are usable are out and Shell's Mill seems 
unaccommodating about saving more.  I sent Andrew to Mr. Taylor's 
suite just starting to try but they are too busy just now.  I'm 
going to find some force to the woods to cut some sort of a little 
stick for saw log and have it hauled this evening I think and will 
come out all right I'm sure.

     Mollie Linkous wrote you this morning to meet her and Eddie 
in Johnson tonight.  I'll get Mr. Tate or some other one to go.  
Aunt Sim has not yet returned.  I was sick yesterday but feel much 
better today and I'll have some help from some source if she 
doesn't come but I think she'll be here this evening or tomorrow.

     Hope you'll have a pleasant trip even though you're not 
seeking pleasure.  I hope your course as seems best all around.  
Milligan needs you much, very much to work for her and with her 
directly, and with an individual mind, but under existing 
circumstances you have rightly judged that the first matter to 
right up is the financial part of our dear college and if you see 
the way clearly to settlement of that we will try to open you yet 
a little longer.

     I've spoken to the girls of the matter you wrote about and 
the other little worry concerning them shall be attended to this 
evening.  Flora B. has       will of tooth ache and does not take 
it very hard that her sisters do not come.  Do not know why yet.

     Hope Cordie can come soon.  We will meet her in Johnson at 
any time they will write us.  Give my best love to Mrs. C's entire 
family.  I should care much to see them all.

     We are getting on quite well.  With much love and constant 
prayer that you may be guided aright.


                                   Eleanor

=========================================


Home July 1, 1885
[to Christiansburg, Va)

My Dear Husband:

     I have written you a letter for two evenings and send you 
this as a reminder that we are doing pretty well.  The boys 
suggest going to help Cad Hendrix tomorrow or rather work in their 
place to get them to saw for us.  If the arrangement can be worked 
I will send the and have the lumber all sawed and kilned at once.

     Bro. Price will come Tuesday 7th to build the chimney.  We 
send catalogues every day.  Irvin Miller sent some names this 
morning.  They are sent.  Some are writing for catalogues and 
information.

     Charlie Price and Frank Garrett are very kind to help.  I've 
had Shelors name and capacity put on every one sealed since you 
wrote.  But some were ready nicely wrapped.  Many of them stamped 
and we couldn't aford the outlay you see, so sent them so.  May 
our Father's richest blessing be yours.  Bye bye dearest.

                              Eleanor L. H.

Nettie says she got scared and spoiled her letter.  Afraid mail 
would leave.  Write often and come as soon as you can.


=========================================


Nashville, Sunday 9 PM
[1896?]

My dear husband,

     Your card came and your letter today.  I would have written 
earlier but wasn't at all well for two days and mother has been 
feeble for a day or two, but we're both up to the average in 
health this evening and hope to remain so for awhile at least.

     I miss you greatly dear and feel much solicitude for you in 
your new field.  Speaking every night to a new audience of 
strangers whose temper and tone you have never studied makes it 
difficult.  But you'll come out all right I'm sure.  Maybe I 
should not have insisted on your circular invitations including 
the 'daughters.'  That may have given a larger per cent of giddy 
hearers which are really no hearers at all.  It is a comfort to 
know thte solid ones listen.  I know they will be benefitted.  It 
is a high art to know how to manage an audience such as you are 
having and the speaker will share the benefits of the experience. 

     Mr. Tate came home on Saturday morning.  He may remain 
several days.  His throat is considerably sore today.  The paper 
does not reach the mail till tomorrow I believe.  We've not had a 
copy down home yet, though I think they were now off Saturday 
eveing. 

     Did you get the laundry?  Charles expressed it to Cauiden 
Friday.

     The folks all went to church today except mother, the 
children, and I.  Lettie and Mr. T. heard Bro. Cave.  Rosa and 
Charles went to the school home.  I have wondered often today what 
you were doing.  Did you talk to the people on the great issues of 
time and eternity?  I hope you have sown seed in good ground.  I 
hardly know how my days work will foot up.  I've been busy and 
there's quite a bundle of manuscripts of one kind and another for 
Charles.  Yours is already.  I copied the piece you left with me.  
It made a good editorial.  Pretty good length.

     All send love to you.  Good night dearest and may our Father 
guide you in every word and act.  Lovingly,

                                   Eleanor