Harrison Co. TX - William Grimes to Jesse Grimes __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Christine Grimes Thacker ___________________________________________________________________ ----¤¤¤---- Letter # 67 At Home, July 4th, 1845 Jesse, Your letter of the 4th May was not rec'd until the 30 June. That of 29th Septr came to hand llth Novr and that of 1st Novr 2nd Decr last. I have neglected to write believing that some of the family had kept up a corrispon- dence with Albert and that you would see the letters. I have but little to say that will be in any way interesting. I rec'd a latter from James G. Branch the 13th of April. His father, brother & Himself have their seperate interests. I expect Archy is at the Goshen place. Bright at a place east of the old place & James at old place. All farming and bleeding the pine trees & skinning tumble bugs to git rich. James has wrote me two letters since I was there. They are dry & stiff. I have answered them in my usual manner of writing. In his last he inquires, "how you were pleased with the settlement made with his father. Archy does not write nor do I write to him nor about him. Sam Sullivan died in Jany by a fall from horse. Giles Loftin l4th March from sickness. Myself & entire family are in excellent health. I was sick 4 days in the 1st of May, chill & fever from Exposure & imprudence There has been many cases similar to mine within my knowledge but none fatal. There has been three deaths within three miles in the last two months. A young man & his sister (grown) by the name Nunley at Howards old place. And John Dunbar's wife last week. Mrs. Prince is very low with pneumonia or broncritus. Page 2 Mary & Everitt were here in May. They have two children and are well. F. H. Womack has sold his place and moved to the old Courthouse. Is deputy sheriff & doing all the bus- iness in the lower end of the County. He is making money. Nancy has three children, two sons & a daughter. J. A. Worsham lives near where the widow Elizabeth Smith lived; is farming on the creek near Michel Gilbert's old place. Maria has a daughter six weeks old. Jeremiah Smith and family always sick & doctering but can't die. Last winter was as remarkably warm & dry as the proceeding summer had been cool & wet. The spring was early & favorable but unfortunatly for me I could not imbrace the advantages of planting soon. I had undertaken to build a cotton gin & press. It was the 20th Jany before I got my workman to make the running gear & press. Did not finish until middle of March. Then my cotton was to gin, pack & hawl to the river. Setting me to 1st April to commence ploughing. I have got a superb gin with cast iron wheels. Runs equal to any & gins two bales per day & decidedly the largest & best press I have ever seen. Bales 4 ft. 4 in. in length, 2 ft square, weighing 600 Ib with one horse to the leavers. Light squeezing this say you - (tis true) The ground has been wet but once since I planted my corn & about half wet since I planted cotton. I say one rain & a half & my corn is in roasting ear, cotton tolerable good. There has been enough to lay the dust several times during the season which has kept corn alive, but begltatlon generally is suspended and crops ruined where the drought is worst. Fortunately I got my crop clean while young and kept it so. Ploughed light & often & my crop looks better than my neighbors that I have seen. Page 3 The post office law which took effect on the 1st instant I Presume is intended for all appendages to the U.S. I have lately seen that an arrangement is made to forward all letters from New Orleans by steam to Galveston & from the latter to the former place. Letters going west, postage to New Orleans must be paid. Those coming from Texas to be paid for by the receiver there of etc. Politics is at a lower ebb than they have been for several years. In this county but one candidate yet for representative. I have never seen him but understand that his name is Horn; a democrat in favor of dividing the county & playing the devil. Col. Prince represented the county last year & saved the county from division by great exertion. He may be a candidate yet. He knows it will be hard work to be elected. Parties nearly equal division question particular in the ends of the county. A Governor, Representative to Congress, County rep. & Clerk of Co. Ct. to elect in August. I been thinking of proposing to you to meet me in New Orleans about the 8th of January next and spend about a week there together. I think we could afford the time and expense. I have given E. G. Collier fifty dollars for certain claim he held & have the fullest & strongest kind of acquittance for the same. I had to opperate through F. H. Womack, bought last summer. Frank will before long opperate on old Faith. I have authorised him to offer him the same. He will be certain to take it I think. Collier is now ready I understand to start to Texas. He has been making ready for years. Say will you meet me & when. (Signed) Wm. Grimes The envelope shows 90 cents postage mailed at Old Washington Court House, July 7th (l845) addressed to Hon Jesse Grimes, Montgomery County, Texas via New Orleans It also bore the impression of what appears to be a postmark at Galveston, Texas. P.S. July 5. Last night had a good shower. Wet the ground 2 inches in level places & I hope will revive the drooping spirits of men, beast, fields & forest. I believe I have seen more rain fall in 5 hours than has fell at my place In the last 5 months. This drought is not general. Consent to meet me at New Orleans in Jany. You can get a mouthful of sea air off the Gulf. You will be delighted with the trip